Chapter 56: What Will a Man Give in Exchange for His Soul?

I now have an editor, so you all shouldn’t need to put up with my typos and poor/dyslexic editing skills anymore. :)

Ethan looked at the two drop-dead gorgeous 20-something-year-old guests on the Argo, then at Alana, then at the letter she was holding which mentioned a third gorgeous woman, and then thought to his wives. ^∗Three? Three drop-dead gorgeous women who were born on the sixth day of the sixth month, are telepathic, and have experience in the legal field?^∗

^∗It’s Selene’s exact skillset in women who couldn’t be more different from her in temperament.^∗ Rachel pointed out.

^∗Not her exact skillset.^∗ Kendra said while clenching her teeth. ^∗None of them know how to fight and none of them can replace Selene; even Thor knows that.^∗ She flicked her eyes toward the kitten, who had been watching the large lunch crowd from the doorway to the lower decks. He seemed a lot less interested in meeting new people without Selene around.

^∗No they can’t; no one ever could.^∗ Ethan agreed. ^∗Let’s go into the captain’s cabin or someone might figure out that we’re talking telepathically.^∗

^∗We didn’t have to worry about that with Selene.^∗ Kendra grumbled.

“Ladies.” Ethan said and all of the assembled women looked at him. He smiled wryly. “Sorry, I meant my wives. We need to talk in the captain’s cabin for a few minutes.”

Everyone shrugged or nodded and then he and his wives headed into the captain’s cabin.

^∗Telepathy only.^∗ Ethan thought to them once he closed the door. ^∗I don’t want anyone to overhear this.^∗

They nodded.

^∗So what the hell does this mean?^∗ He asked. ^∗ I have a guess, but I want to know what you all are thinking.^∗

No one said anything initially.

Everyone looked at everyone else except for Kendra, who was breathing rather heavily, had her fists and jaw clenched, and was glaring at the floor like it had done her a great personal wrong.

^∗Master, I think Illuminar is giving you a choice.^∗ Taloni finally said. ^∗I think any of them could fall in love with you and you can choose who you want as your sixth wife.^∗

Ethan didn’t say this out loud, but his mind went immediately to Selene. Sure Victoria and Myla were nice, and the wood elven king’s ward almost certainly was as well, but he missed Selene. That was probably because of his bond with her and the logical part of his brain was telling him that he would feel the same about Victoria or Myla if he bonded to one of them.

But he wasn’t bonded to them.

He was bonded with Selene.

He’d known that he would miss her, but he found himself a little surprised at how much he missed her. He felt like a part of him was missing, which again was probably a result of the bond.

^∗I find it odd that we learned of three other women with Selene’s qualifications so soon after she left; it’s been just over twenty-four hours.^∗ Rachel mused. ^∗The only thing that’s different about them is that Selene doesn’t share their birthday.^∗

^∗That’s not the only difference.^∗ Alana replied, beating Ethan to the punch. ^∗They might have the same skills and abilities, but they are very different people.^∗

^∗Agreed.^∗ He nodded. ^∗People aren’t just interchangeable like that.^∗

^∗But Master, that doesn’t mean they won’t make good wives.^∗ Taloni pointed out. ^∗You have five wives and we are all different from one another.^∗

^∗But all of you are great wives, though in very different ways.^∗ Ethan mused, catching on. ^∗So you’re saying that none of them could replace Selene, but they could be good wives in other ways?^∗

^∗Yes Master.^∗ Taloni replied, but she didn’t look happy about it. If he didn’t miss his guess, she preferred Selene.

He did too.

^∗Kendra, please don’t take this the wrong way.^∗ Alana said looking at the raven-haired woman. ^∗But even though I would prefer Selene, there’s no reason that Myla, Victoria, or the king’s ward couldn’t fit just as well as she does.^∗

Kendra made a sound that very nearly resembled a growl, but she didn’t disagree.

^∗You’re talking like there’s a choice between Myla, Victoria, the king’s ward, and Selene.^∗ Rachel pointed out. ^∗But that’s not the case because Selene’s birthday isn’t Setas sixth.^∗

Kendra’s head snapped up and her eyes went wide as she sucked in her breath. ^∗Yes it is.^∗

^∗What?^∗ Ethan asked as everyone else looked at the former Aldmiri.

^∗It’s the only thing that makes sense.^∗ The raven-haired woman frowned. ^∗Myla and Victoria have too much in common with Selene for it to be a coincidence; it fits too well. Selene lied.^∗ Her frown turned into a scowl. ^∗I’ll never forget that moment when she said her birthday didn’t fit the pattern. I didn’t even consider it then, but thinking back now? With my training in lie detection... ^∗ She clenched her fist. ^∗Selene lied to us.^∗

^∗Oh?^∗ Rachel cocked her head to one side. ^∗Oh.^∗ She cocked her head to the other side. ^∗Thinking about her reaction at the time... ^∗

^∗ ... and how weird she was about it afterwards.^∗ Alana added, then grimaced.

Tee looked at him. ^∗That would make sense Master, but do we really think that she would lie to us?^∗

No one answered.

^∗She shielded her emotions from me.^∗ Ethan said after a few moments. ^∗She might’ve been worried that I would notice her feeling guilty. Now that I think of it, I think I felt some guilt from her before she did that.^∗

Slam!

Kendra had slammed the bottom of her fist into the side of the large wardrobe nearby.

Everyone jumped slightly.

^∗I should’ve been paying closer attention^∗ The former Aldmiri scowled. ^∗I could tell something was off with her reaction, but I never even considered that she might’ve... ^∗ She set her jaw. ^∗How could she...?^∗

^∗I don’t know.^∗ Ethan replied. Honestly, he felt a little gut-punched. It had literally never occurred to him that Selene would lie, but now it seemed awfully likely.

^∗Are you sure?^∗ Beth asked while looking at Kendra.

She nodded. ^∗Looking back, all the signs were there. I didn’t notice at the time, but... ^∗

^∗What does that mean?^∗ Taloni asked.

^∗I think it means that Selene could have married Ethan but she chose not to.^∗ Rachel replied, but she was frowning as well.

^∗Oh!^∗ Beth exclaimed as her eyes widened. ^∗I just remembered something. When I was trapped by that demonic tendril in Arcanum, Gabriella gave me the choice to help Ethan or not. I asked what would happen if I chose not to help him, and she said that Illuminar would provide help from another source if I didn’t. Thinking back on it, I think she meant that Illuminar would’ve given you a different wife; someone other than me if I had wanted that.^∗

^∗I’m glad you didn’t.^∗ Ethan replied, not even wanting to think about not being married to the blonde.

^∗Me too.^∗ Beth smiled, then looked around at everyone. ^∗I think Rachel is right. I think that Selene had the same choice that I had and she chose not to marry Ethan.^∗

^∗Maybe.^∗ Alana countered. ^∗But assuming her birthday is Setas Sixth--^∗

^∗June Sixth.^∗ Ethan interjected. ^∗That’s the sixth day of the sixth month on Earth’s calender.^∗

Alana nodded and then continued. ^∗--then assuming that Selene’s birthday is June sixth, there’s no reason that she couldn’t change her mind and still marry Ethan.^∗

^∗I hope she does Master.^∗ Tee almost managed a smile.

^∗Do you want her to change her mind Dominus?^∗ Beth asked.

^∗Honestly, I don’t know.^∗ He sighed. ^∗I’ve had enough of women lying to me for an entire lifetime.^∗

Everyone looked at him confused.

^∗Your ex-fiancée?^∗ Alana guessed.

He nodded. ^∗Though, I don’t think it was premeditated with Selene so I guess it’s not quite the same thing.^∗

^∗I hate to put it in such an uncouth manner my lord, but you do have options if Selene lying concerns you^∗ Rachel pointed out.

^∗Maybe, but I’m only one half of the equation.^∗ He replied. ^∗There’s nothing to guarantee that Myla, Victoria, or the king’s ward will fall in love with me or want to marry me. Hell, there’s nothing to guarantee that I’ll fall in love with them.^∗

^∗Master, look at their birthdays.^∗ Taloni spoke up. ^∗I think Illuminar picked them because they could fall in love with you and you with them.^∗

He smiled at her. ^∗You really are a wonderful wife, you know that?^∗

Tee beamed.

^∗So both you and they have a choice.^∗ Rachel summarized. ^∗It seems like Selene made hers though.^∗

^∗Maybe she did.^∗ Alana corrected gently. ^∗Nothing has been decided until wedding vows are exchanged. Until then, we don’t know.^∗

^∗Good point.^∗ Ethan nodded slowly, then looked at Kendra. ^∗Time to weigh it.^∗

Her fist was closed, her jaw clenched, and her breathing heavier than normal as she replied. ^∗I think you should tell Selene about the three women and their birthdays to see how she reacts; that’ll confirm that she lied.^∗

He nodded, noticing the sureness in her tone.

Selene was on her thirty millionth game of Solitaire and half ready to chuck the deck across the compound because every time a six came up, she remembered how she had lied to Ethan and his wives. Somehow, sixes seemed to come up every other card.

And more than that, she felt ... weird.

She missed Ethan.

She missed his wives and especially Kendra, but the way she missed Ethan was ... different. It was unexpected. Strange. She just felt like something inside of her was ... missing? No that wasn’t right. Hollow? Well, that was closer. Empty? That wasn’t far off. It was weird and she’d never felt like this before.

It must be the bond.

Stupid magic.

She started yet another game of Solitaire, cursing her luck that the first set of three cards she drew had a six on top. It had been a boring previous 30 hours or so. They’d fed her the same meals everyone else got, let her use the bathroom whenever she needed and generally been nice to her. That didn’t change that she was basically a prisoner attached to a nearby support pole by a length of light chain.

^∗Hey Selene, got a minute?^∗ Ethan thought privately to her.

^∗Sure, I’m just bored here; what’s up?^∗

^∗Well, something happened here that I thought you’d want to know about.^∗

He then explained about Myla, Victoria, the wood elven king’s ward, and their very particular set of qualifications and shared birthday. The longer she listened, the more she felt her blood pressure rise.

^∗So basically, ^∗ She replied when he had finished. ^∗You can pick any one of the three you want and Illuminar will make her fall madly in love with you? What the hell! He is such a fucking dick!^∗

^∗I don’t think it’ll work like that.^∗ He replied.

^∗Oh really? Because from where I’m sitting it sounds like He’s giving you the pick of three gorgeous women. You just need to decide which flavor you like and presto! He’ll make her fall right in line and into your bed. Seriously, what a mind fuck! How is that different from ... I don’t know... ‘third party rape’ for lack of a better term.^∗

^∗You know, it might be possible that they could fall for me without being forced; I’m not exactly Lord Farbrottan.^∗ He replied evenly. Oddly, he didn’t sound hurt or offended.

She wasn’t sure why that bothered her.

She took a deep, calming breath. ^∗Fair, I just think that... ^∗ She shook her head. ^∗I’m getting really tired of Illuminar not giving people any choices.^∗

^∗Now wait just a minute.^∗ He interjected. ^∗You just said that He gave me a choice -- even if I disagree that it’s how things will play out -- and now you’re saying He doesn’t give people choices?^∗

^∗Well of course He gives you a choice; you’re the ‘prophet of Illuminar’.^∗ She tried to keep the bitterness out of her tone but wasn’t entirely successful. ^∗The rest of us peons aren’t so lucky. We don’t all have gorgeous women falling at our feet.^∗

^∗Why Selene, do you want gorgeous women falling at your feet?^∗ He teased.

She didn’t dignify his teasing with a response.

^∗Alright Selene, what’s really bothering you?^∗ He asked. ^∗And don’t give me a BS line about how you’re pissed at Illuminar; I’m pretty sure there’s more to it than that.^∗

^∗I don’t like bullies.^∗ She replied. ^∗When I feel like I’m being forced to do something, I just dig my heels in and fight back harder.^∗

^∗I call bullshit.^∗ Ethan replied. ^∗You might not like it, but I’ve never seen you ‘dig your heels in’ when someone tells you what to do. Besides, who’s forcing you to do anything?^∗

She grimaced.

Damn, she really needed to be more careful about what she said. He didn’t know that she had lied about her birthday because she had felt like Illuminar was giving her no choice in the matter.

^∗No one is; I detest it on general principle.^∗ She finally replied, acutely aware that she wasn’t as calm as she should be if that was actually the case.

Ethan didn’t reply for several seconds, and when he did there was a strange inflection to his mental tone that she couldn’t place. ^∗I was afraid you’d say that.^∗

Selene didn’t reply.

She didn’t know what to say.

^∗Anyway, I thought I’d let you know what was going on here.^∗ He added after a moment. ^∗Let me know if anything changes over there.^∗

^∗Will do^∗ She tried to sound cheerful but was pretty sure that she had failed miserably. Hell, she’d failed miserably at pretty much everything lately, or at least she felt like she had. She’d lied to Ethan and worse, she’d lied to Kendra. She knew how much the former Aldmiri had trust issues and it just occurred to her now how much those would be triggered if she confessed.

She couldn’t do that.

Not to Kendra.

In the back of her mind, she knew she was rationalizing. However, she did a pretty good job of ignoring that part of her mind. If she confessed, Kendra would be hurt. Worse, she might find it harder to trust others. Thus, it would be better if she didn’t confess. Yes, it would be better for Kendra. The fact that not confessing allowed her to avoid admitting just how colossally badly she’d screwed up was just a bonus. That’s all it was. It certainly wasn’t a driving motivation or anything.

She shook her head and went back to her game of Solitaire. Seeing no moves, she flipped over the next three cards from the deck.

The top card was a six.

Ethan looked at his wives who were still assembled in the captain’s cabin. He took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then whispered. “Yeah, I’m as sure she lied as I can be without a confession.”

Kendra’s face became a stone mask. “I’m going to train.”

She turned and left the room without another word.

No one said anything for several seconds until Alana held up the wood-elven king’s letter, which she had been holding the whole time. “We should probably reply to this soon and let him know if we are going to attend his ward’s coming-of-age ball.”

Ethan nodded, looking at the door through which his newest wife had gone. “I think we probably should go given all that he’s done for us. Does anyone disagree?”

No one did.

“I would agree, especially with the wood elves.” Rachel replied. “It would be a rather egregious snub to refuse the offer.”

“I definitely agree.” Alana added. “And honestly Sir, I think we could use something as relaxing as a ball given all that’s happened lately. I think it would be good for us.”

“I would love that Dominus.”

“Me too Master.”

“I as well my lord.”

He nodded, still thinking about Kendra. “Okay, tell him that we’ll need to finish helping the orcs at Dotmier before we can attend, but that we’ll be there.”

Sarah yawned and stretched on her horse, slowly starting to recognize some of the nearby scenery.

“How much further?” Amy asked as she adjusted herself in the saddle yet again.

“Not much further if I’m reading the map right miss.” Ellis replied.

“It’s not much further.” Sarah agreed. “I recognize some of this and we should be there before dinnertime.”

“Thank Illuminar.” Amy adjusted herself in the saddle again and then looked around at the scenery. “I can’t wait to paint all of this.”

“I lived my whole life in this forest except when father was taking me around to try and fix my problem.” Sarah said as she looked around. “I don’t think I realized how beautiful it was until now.”

“It is.” Amy sighed, then adjusted in the saddle again. “I don’t like riding anymore.”

“You’ll change your mind once you aren’t so sore miss.” Ellis chuckled. “I’ll leave some of that salve with the two of you so you can use it in the morning. Just don’t use it more than once per day.”

“Why not?” Sarah asked.

“Your legs will fall off miss.” He replied with a perfectly straight face.

Sarah and Amy laughed.

Ellis cracked a smile. “It’ll give you a rash miss; best only once per day.”

“Okay.” She nodded, looking forward to seeing her father again. Less so Rindrin, but she wouldn’t even mind seeing him. He was a good man and her betrothed; she could learn to be happy with him and to love him. Well, she thought she could.

She hoped she could.

“Miss Dawson.”

She looked up to see a soldier approaching her. “Yes?”

“The next scheduled portal opening is approaching.” The man said. “I’ve been assigned to escort you into the temple.”

She held up her wrist and he unlocked the handcuffs. She rubbed her wrist, still trying to keep her mind off the conversation with Ethan an hour or two ago.

“Thank you.” She looked down at the deck of cards that had been her companion for much of the previous day and a half. “Can you make sure these get back to their owner?”

“Yes ma’am.” He nodded.

She stood and stretched, missing the movement she usually got while training on the Argo. She tried to keep a scowl off of her face as she thought about that and about how Illuminar was sitting somewhere up in the sky dictating how everyone down here would live their lives. She resisted the urge to growl -- she must’ve been spending too much time with Ethan -- and remembered that she was here on serious business. She had a mission.

She followed the soldier through the camp and into the ruined temple that the portal was in.

It had changed a lot.

Before it had been covered in animal droppings and moss, and there had been stalactites on the twenty-foot-high vaulted ceiling. No more. The place had been scrubbed and militarized. There was a steel ramp that looked like it could support a tank in front of the portal. There were computers, battery banks, crates of supplies, weapons, and ammo along with dozens of people who looked like they were ready to move a lot of things quickly. She supposed they needed to given that the portal would stay open for less than a minute. There were also about a dozen people who looked like they were heading through; perhaps rotating back to Earth?

They were standing in front of the portal which still looked like it had been abandoned for centuries. However, the wood that formed the portal lacked the splitting and dryness usually associated with old wood. It was about ten feet on the inside and fourteen on the outside. It looked like there was a place for gemstones, but they were gone, probably long gone.

“Over here Miss Dawson.” The base commander said.

Selene walked over to join her.

“We’ll be sending you with the men rotating out.” She said. “Go stand with them.”

“Aye, Aye.” Selene nodded and then went to stand at the designated place with the designated people, still hating how Illuminar was telling people to go places and do things. She spent the next several minutes resisting the urge to clench her fist and scowl.

“Portal opening in one minute!” Someone called.

She spent that minute trying not to seethe about Illuminar. She wasn’t very successful. In fact, she found the feeling growing now that she didn’t have that stupid card game to distract her.

“Portal opening in 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...”

Ahead of her in the very center of the portal, something that looked a lot like water appeared. It almost seemed to bubble for a moment and then it started ‘spilling’ out. It looked like water swirling down the drain only in reverse. It swirled open for several seconds, moving like viscous water until it met the edges of the portal ring.

“Hold.” The same man called. A second or two later, the surface of the portal changed slightly, taking on a slightly rainbow-esque shimmer that was quite subtle and looked more like calm water.

“Move out!”

Selene double-timed it forward and through the portal with everyone else. Passing through the portal was just as unpleasant as the last time. It felt like getting a bone-deep chill which then completely disappeared, only to be replaced by a slight warming sensation and simultaneously no small amount of chills. She did her best to ignore the sensation and keep moving though because the people around her didn’t stop.

The moment she was through, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side.

In front of her, unfathomable interstellar distances from where she’d been for the last month, she saw the Earth counterpart to the base she’d just been at. It looked much the same, only it was a concrete room instead of a stone one. The same military types were there and similar equipment. She could see Gonorran there with his cold, all-black eyes and several dead goats were around him. Next to him and staring right at her was Smithbond-- No, Clive Eustace Humphry.

Still pissed about the birthday thing and Illuminar, she said the first thing that came to her mind. “Hey Clive, ‘sup.”

In hindsight, not the smartest move.

“Drago?”

Alana turned to see Kendra standing behind her with her mask firmly in place, addressing their husband who was right next to the wood elf. Alana had been standing outside the captain’s cabin practicing with her bow and new travel arrows.

She was determined to get her accuracy with the new travel bow and the new travel arrows at least as good as it was with her original bow and arrow set. She didn’t want to be in a position like the other night where she had a perfect shot at Lord Delmar and couldn’t take it because of accuracy concerns. She was getting much better, but she wasn’t where she wanted to be just yet. Her arrows were all landing in an area the size of a small apple at 75 yards, but she knew she could do better once she really learned this bow well.

Myla and Ethan were next to her watching. Alana had noticed that Myla did that a lot; she seemed to enjoy watching people, perhaps analyzing what they were doing.

“What’s up?” Ethan asked the dragon huntress.

“I promised the man who told us about the dragon who kidnapped Victoria that I would return with a few dragon scales in payment for the information.” She paused. “I don’t lie.”

Myla frowned.

It didn’t escape Alana’s notice that the dusky-skinned woman frowned in reaction to Kendra’s comment about lying. She looked at Ethan for a moment, then Kendra, and then seemed to hesitate for a moment.

“Meelas?” The dusky-skinned woman said in her slight accent after several seconds. “I had not wish to interrupt, but since you will be departing from the Argo on a journey, might I inquire concerning a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Alana indicated that you would be willing to fly me to the Midnight Sun so that Luminar Kossel could write a divorce certificate for me.”

“Oh, sure.” He nodded, glanced at Kendra, then back at her. “Would you be okay waiting until Kendra and I return? It won’t take too long.”

“Hai.” She nodded but didn’t say anything else.

“Then Kendra and I should get going.” Ethan said. “I’ll fly you over there when I get back.”

“Thank you mast--” The former slave stopped. “Thank you Meelas.”

“You’re welcome.” He replied, after which he grabbed the grenade satchel and his weapons and then took off with Kendra on his back.

Myla seemed to relax slightly once he was gone.

“Kendra wasn’t insinuating that Ethan lied.” Alana said once they were gone.

Myla looked at her.

“Kendra just found out that someone she knows lied to her and she’s rather upset about it.” Alana explained. “Ethan is one of the most honest men that I know; he doesn’t lie.”

Myla nodded, but didn’t say anything else.

“Myla, you’re among friends here.” Alana said kindly with a smile. “We aren’t perfect, but we do try to help whoever we can, however we can. Ethan is nothing like Lord Farbrottan. He actually prefers when we speak up and share our opinions.”

Myla nodded slowly and glanced into Alana’s eyes for a moment. The wood elf got the strong impression that there was rather a lot going on in the other woman’s mind that she wasn’t sharing. She was not dissimilar to Rachel that way, in how you could almost see the wheels turning in her head. Unlike Rachel however, Myla’s silence didn’t seem to be nervousness or insecurity. It seemed more intentional and deliberate; a choice rather than because of insecurity.

“My heart is filled with gratitude for your explanation.” Myla said after a moment.

“You’re welcome.” Alana smiled.

Fiona took a deep breath as she stood outside the Gibstine drawing room in the castle at Karnas. She had no idea why Sir Warrick wanted to meet her for tea, but Marge had suggested that perhaps Fiona’s meeting with Lord Delmar on the Helene the previous night might not have gone unnoticed.

As she thought about it, Sir Warrick was the man who had asked if Lord Delmar had found a wife when he had returned from picking up Lady Ekthros and Sarah in Ivernia, making it even more likely that this had something to do with the proposal. The copper-haired woman frowned, not particularly happy with this turn of events but also not sure it was a bad thing either.

She looked down to see Conner snoozing away on her chest, held securely in place by the wrap that her mother-in-law had given her. Sean’s mother had sworn that Fiona would learn to love it and the woman had been right. She was also wearing one of the nicer dresses that she owned, not that it was fancy. It occurred to her just then that she hadn’t worn anything special to see Lord Delmar but had to see Sir Warrick.

Hmm.

Perhaps she was more comfortable with the lord?

She took another deep breath and then opened the door.

The Gibstine drawing room was fairly typical for a drawing room in this castle. There were bookshelves on one wall, windows to the outside on another, several tables, chairs, and a few couches arranged in the room. Everything was obviously of the highest quality but none of it was ostentatious. No one would doubt the wealth of the owner, but no one would accuse him of flaunting that wealth either. The room had a decorating scheme primarily in a pale green color.

Sitting at one of the tables that was large enough to comfortably seat four was Sir Warrick himself. He was probably in his sixties and was slightly overweight, but not overly so. He wasn’t tall and his hair had greyed somewhat, though he still looked reasonably healthy and fit despite his slight gut. He looked up when the door opened.