David

  The café was warm enough that the windows fogged at the edges, blurring the view of the street. I sat at a small, round table near the front, with Seraphina on my right and Veronica on my left. Our cups steamed between us, and the smell of roasted beans mingled with the scent of fresh bread drifting from the counter.

  The early morning crowd filled the place with a gentle hum. People leaned in close at the other tables, talking over each other, laughing, sharing gossip, and arguing casually about nothing. Nobody paid us any mind, and for once, I appreciated that.

  Through the glass, I watched the Tower Garden across the street. The trees had already shed their leaves, leaving their branches bare against the pale sky. Fallen leaves scraped and skittered along the paths as the wind pushed them around. A few people walked through the park with their hands buried deep in their pockets, heads lowered against the chill.

  Beyond them, the Black Tower rose. It pierced the sky like a blade. Even from here, it felt heavy. People walking beneath its shadow moved faster, as if they sensed something they couldn’t quite name.

  I took a slow sip from my cup, allowing the warmth to chase away the last bits of cold from my walk over. Seraphina watched the tower with her usual calm. Veronica took a sip of her tea and looked at me over the rim of her cup. She smiled when I caught her. I reached out and took her hand on the table. She gave mine a small squeeze.

  I turned to Seraphina. “So, darling, ready to leave here and go see your father?”

  “I do not know,” she said as she set her cup down. “It feels like ages since we left.”

  “It has only been eight weeks, sweetheart. But yes, a lot has happened.” I paused and rested my hand on her thigh. “And we still have plenty to do. Those other towers are still hanging over my head.”

  “What is this?” Veronica asked. “Towers? How many?”

  “You weren’t there when it came up,” Seraphina said, placing her hand on mine. “When we open the other towers, the problems with the demons should be resolved. The issue is finding them.”

  “There are eight,” I said. “We know where two are. Here and Vaelthorn.” I waved for a waiter. “Do you want anything else?” He said as he arrived at our table.

  “Yes. Another Danish and more tea,” Seraphina said.

  “Just tea for me,” Veronica added.

  “Yes, sir,” the waiter said as he arrived. He was tall, dressed in the café’s black pants and orange shirt with a dark green apron.

  “So, that would be three teas and two danishes, right?” I said, looking at both of my wives.

  Seeing them both shake their heads in agreement, he scribbled the order and walked off.

  “One problem is that we will be here for most of the summer,” I said. “There is no way around it with the royal wedding and the little one. That is time we cannot spend hunting for towers.”

  “I thought I would be in Brakenreach for the birth,” Seraphina said.

  “Do you want that? I will move everything around if that is what you want.”

  “I do. But let us talk to Papa first. He might like a trip here for the summer.” She smiled. Honestly, that would be ideal. If Edmund came with us to Eldros, things would be easier.

  The waiter returned with the teas, and another placed the danishes on the table. I slid a few silver pieces over, and they moved on. I handed one Danish to Seraphina and kept the other for myself.

  I watched people walk past the café while Seraphina took careful bites of her pastry. I lifted my tea and rested my free hand on Veronica’s.

  “So, what is next?” Veronica asked.

  “We do not have anything pressing. We board the airship and head back to Vaelthorn.” I turned slightly to Allyson, who stood behind me. “Allyson, are the golems from the Vaults already on the airship?”

  “Yes, master. They moved aboard and took their stations an hour ago. Aside from myself, Ava has not boarded yet. Supplies and baggage are being loaded now.”

  “Thank you.” I looked back at the table. “It is roughly a three-day trip to our tower. Any plans?”

  Seraphina chewed, swallowed, then looked at me with a spark in her eye. “Well, you did promise some bondage for the last six weeks. I am still waiting.”

  I almost spat my tea across the table. It took a moment before I could breathe again. Veronica slowly turned red and leaned closer, hiding her face behind her cup.

  “Hmmm. Today is Veronica’s day,” I said, trying to keep a straight face. “Yours is tomorrow. I was going to surprise you.” Seraphina fought a smirk and failed.

  “Bondage?” Veronica whispered.

  “Yes. He promised to tie me up ever since he gave me this ring,” Seraphina said, pointing at me.

  “Hold on. I used a string to measure your ring size, just as Veronica did. And you were the one who asked if I was going to tie you up instead.”

  “David, do not tell me you are into that too,” Veronica said, leaning on the table toward me.

  “If I am ever into anything, ask Seraphina. It seems I promised her first.” I grinned as Seraphina winked at her.

  Over the rim of my teacup, I noticed Seraphina eyeing the danish I had not touched. Without really thinking about it, I slid the plate over to her.

  “So, Veronica, what are you into?” Seraphina asked as she tore a piece from the pastry and popped it into her mouth. “All six of us have different needs, so what is yours?”

  I could not believe this conversation. Part of me did not want to hear it, and at the same time, I very much did.

  “I am not sure,” Veronica said. “David is my first. Everything we do is new to me.” Her cheeks flushed bright red. “I tried to read the book that Aria has, but I don’t know…”

  “Remember, dear,” Seraphina said as she nibbled another piece of the danish, “when you find something you like or dislike, tell us, just as much as you tell David.”

  “Why?” Veronica asked.

  “So we know what you like or dislike,” Seraphina replied. “For example, I love when he massages my feet.” She patted my arm. “The stress relief is amazing. Some people do not like it, but I do. So I make sure he knows. It is good for a relationship to be open like that.” She turned her eyes on me. “David, you should give Veronica a good foot rub once we are finally on our way. That way, she will at least know if she likes it. It is a starter.” She smiled and tore off another piece of the danish.

  “Sounds like you want it more, sweet,” I said to her.

  “You know my feet, my back, and…” She glanced down at her cleavage. “My poor breasts have started to hurt more with every passing day,” Seraphina said. “I need your loving hands on me more and more.”

  I smiled and looked down at my now-empty teacup. “Anytime, my dear. You deserve it more than anyone.”

  Outside, a carriage pulled up across the street in front of the Tower Garden. I could see people busy unloading crates and luggage from it.

  “I believe the two individuals we have been waiting for have finally shown up,” I said, watching the carriage. Seraphina and Veronica followed my gaze.

  “There is a lot of stuff for two people,” Veronica said, squinting as she tried to count. “One… two… three… is that six?”

  As the carriage pulled away, I could see two women standing beside the stack of boxes. Captain Davies and Lieutenant Woods waited at the edge of the garden, looking around as if unsure where to go.

  “Allyson, would you send a few maids down to pick up their luggage?” I asked my assistant.

  “Yes, Master,” she replied.

  “Well, ladies, shall we go and meet our Royal Guards?” I asked my two wives.

  They both agreed and stood. I reached out and offered my hand to Seraphina. She took it as she rose.

  “Oh, that hurts. See what you did to me,” she said, smirking.

  I pulled her into a gentle hug. “Spankings,” I whispered into her ear.

  “You have been promising that also,” she murmured back.

  “You are bad,” I said.

  She only smiled and took my hand. Veronica led us toward the door, and together we stepped out of the café into the chill morning air.

  We took our time crossing the busy road. When we finally reached the two officers, they were still facing the traffic, watching it.

  “Captain Davies, Lieutenant Woods,” I said.

  They turned at once and saluted.

  “You don’t need to salute me,” I told them. “Now, this lovely woman is Seraphina, and that beautiful woman is Veronica.”

  “I am sorry, David can be thick-headed at times,” Seraphina said as she shook their hands. “I am Seraphina Robertson, and this…” She guided Veronica forward. “Is Captain Veronica Robertson.”

  “Nice to meet both of you,” Veronica said, shaking their hands as well.

  “Allyson, how soon?” I asked, turning to my assistant. “I do not want Seraphina out in the cold if I can help it.”

  “Sweetie, I am not fragile,” Seraphina protested, though I could see her shoulders tighten with the chill. I took off my coat and set it around her anyway.

  “I know,” I said softly, watching three maids come down the path toward us. My perception flared a moment later as five red dots appeared at the edge of my HUD.

  “Veronica, take Seraphina. Something’s up…” I said under my breath, keeping my expression neutral.

  Davies and Woods stiffened. Their eyes followed mine, but they clearly saw nothing. Confusion swept across their faces.

  “Yes,” Veronica whispered, stepping close to Seraphina. I stood between them and the approaching threat, pulling Emberline from storage without moving my gaze. I shut my eyes for a moment and watched the red dots close in on the HUD.

  “When I say, all of you drop,” I murmured. When I opened my eyes, I saw the five men. They wore a rough mix of leather and metal armor, and my analysis windows popped up at once.

  [Ferdinand Glasg]

  Class: Swordsman Level 24

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  [Hartwin Engbergs]

  Class: Swordsman Level 23

  [Hadufuns Geislerg]

  Class: Swordsman Level 22

  [Lothar Beumersd]

  Class: Swordsman Level 30

  [Gernot Fenne]

  Class: Mage (Affinity Fire) Level 25

  Four swordsmen, and one of them is level thirty. Either he was the leader, or the fire mage behind him was.

  “I am sorry, Seraphina…” I said as glyphs and markings lit up along my arms. I saw it in her eyes, worry. As my blue glyphs began to shift, the blue gave way to a slow red hue.

  Woods actually gasped when the glyphs lit across my arms, bright as fresh wounds.

  “What… what is he…” Davies said behind me, but she never finished the thought.

  Behind the leader, the fire mage’s energy swelled. He began to chant, his markings glowing.

  “Step away from the women, Earl, and we will not hurt…” Beumersd began.

  “Now,” I said.

  The officers barely had time to react before the entire street turned violent.

  Seraphina and Veronica dropped at once. Veronica shielded Seraphina with her own body as they hit the ground. Emberline flashed free in a white blaze that lit the street. Beumersd flinched, but too late. My blade tore across his neck, and Davies and Woods went rigid, struck silent by what they’d just seen.

  His head didn’t just fall. It spun once in the air, then hit the ground with a wet crack. Blood fountained from his open neck, spraying across the pavement and my coat. Woods threw a hand over her mouth. Her eyes went enormous. Davies’ legs locked, her breath hitching as blood sprayed across the pavement. Beumersd’s body staggered two steps before collapsing to its knees, then slumping forward in a pool of red.

  [DING]

  [1,000 Sword Fighting XP Gained]

  3275 XP Until Next Level

  I spun before the body hit the ground. The fire mage tried to cast, his markings glowing. I drove Emberline into his chest, through his core, and out his back. The air filled with the stench of scorched flesh as his spell surged uncontrolled, setting his arms ablaze with wild red flame. His eyes widened with disbelief. I wrenched the sword free. Fire guttered out as he collapsed face-first, blood bubbling from his mouth.

  [DING]

  [1,500 Sword Fighting XP Gained]

  1776 XP Until Next Level

  When I drove Emberline through the fire mage, the two young officers stumbled backward instinctively. Woods bumped into a garden bench and sat down hard, eyes locked in horror. Davies grabbed her arm, but the knuckles of her other hand were white around the hilt of her sheathed sword. As the fight escalated, their shock only deepened.

  Behind me, I saw Geislerg sprint toward my wives. Hostages or something worse, maybe. I would not allow him a single step more.

  I pivoted, slammed my foot into the ground, and hurled Emberline. The sword whistled through the air and hit him hard enough to lift him off his feet. It drove through his sternum and pinned him to the dirt, legs twitching before going still.

  [DING]

  [800 Sword Fighting XP Gained]

  976 XP Until Next Level

  The other two swordsmen charged at me, driven by either stupidity or panic. They swung wide, careless strikes that would never hit me.

  I caught one by the arm and yanked him forward with my strength of fifty. His shoulder popped out of the socket with a sickening crack. I slammed him into the other attacker so hard that they both lost their footing. The second man’s teeth scattered across the road as he hit the ground.

  When I hurled Emberline and pinned Geislerg to the ground, I heard Davies say, “Gods…” Woods shook her head slowly, saying something like “No way… no way…” as she watched me fight bare-handed.

  I reached out in the stance I always joked looked like a Jedi’s. Emberline tore itself free of Geislerg’s chest, ripping muscle and bone on the way out. When it flew back into my hand, it was soaked in blood. Engbergs had just enough time to see it before I swung upward. The blade split him open from hip to shoulder, spraying the stones behind him.

  [DING]

  [800 Sword Fighting XP Gained]

  176 XP Until Next Level

  The last man, Glasg, sprawled on the ground. His sword slipped from his fingers as he saw me coming, glyphs across my arms glowing red through the blood already coating them. I wanted to kill him. He had come for my wives.

  But then I felt arms wrap around me.

  I looked down. Seraphina held me tightly, her face pressed against my chest. She did not say a word. She did not need to. Her warmth cut through everything.

  I closed my eyes and held her. I do not know how long we stayed like that. When I finally noticed the sounds of the security forces around us, I opened my eyes to find myself just standing, standing still. Seraphina still clung to me. Veronica stood nearby speaking with guards, and the last surviving attacker sat in chains.

  Combat golems formed a quiet ring around us. The crowd stayed well back, wary of the constructs. Allyson stood close, calm as ever.

  I let my eyes move across the scene, then lowered them to Seraphina. She gave me a small smile, steady and warm. I looked once at the bodies on the ground, then back to her.

  “I’m sorry,” I said.

  She rested her head on my shoulder, and nothing else mattered for a moment.

  A guard cleared his throat before stepping closer. “My lord, forgive the interruption. Do you know these individuals? Your wife…” he nodded toward Veronica, “said she has never seen them.”

  “That is true,” I said. “We were meeting these two officers, and they attacked us.” I pointed toward Davies and Woods.

  “Yes, sir. Everyone gave the same account. Do you need a healer?”

  “No. I am fine,” I said, keeping my arms close so the blue glyphs stayed out of sight.

  “Witnesses described what happened, but… I cannot believe it,” he said.

  “What did they say?” I asked.

  “That you defended your wives with that sword and fought them off. It is how you did it that surprised them.” He scratched his head. “Either way, I’ve had enough. If we need to reach you, where will you be?”

  “We are returning to Brakenreach in a few hours. Contact either the mage Catherial in Vaelthorn or Vaktar if you need us; they know how to get in touch,” I said.

  “Understood. Good day, sir.” He bowed lightly and stepped away.

  I held Seraphina close until Veronica returned. “Everything is handled,” she said. “They will interrogate the last one and figure out what they were after. We can go.”

  I looked at Captain Davies and Lieutenant Woods. They stood stiff, wide-eyed, unsure whether to speak. “Is that all your luggage?” I asked.

  Davies nodded slowly. “Y… yes, sir.” Her voice cracked. Woods just stared at me like she wasn’t sure I was human.

  I motioned to the maids. “Allyson, would you have everything brought to the airship?”

  “Yes, Master. It will be done.”

  “I need a bath,” I said, looking down at myself.

  “Yes, you are starting to smell, dear husband,” Seraphina said, and Veronica nodded.

  “Captain Davies, Lieutenant Woods, please follow us. We will take you to the Princess.”

  I wrapped my arm around Seraphina as we walked toward the tower. The doorway opened as we approached, and we stepped inside. I glanced back and saw the two officers hesitate, then enter. The doors slid closed behind us with a soft click, sealing the outside world away.

  As we entered the residence, I followed the women into the living space.

  “Why are you covered in blood, David?” Allira asked. She tossed her book aside and hurried over.

  “I’m fine,” I tried to reassure them. “We ran into a small issue in the garden. I just need to clean up.” I slipped past them and headed for the bedroom.

  On the far side of the room, I stepped into my private dressing room and closed the door behind me. I stripped down and went straight into the shower. Warm water hit my skin, washing away the blood and grime. The red spiraled down the drain in thin streams. I just stood there under the water for what felt like forever before I decided to finish cleaning up.

  As I rinsed my hair, I felt hands on my back. I turned, startled, and saw Seraphina in the stall with me. She had slipped in without a sound. She wore nothing, water dripping down her skin as she slid her arms around me and held me tight. My wife. My beautiful, stubborn wife.

  “You’re not okay,” she said softly. There were tears in her eyes.

  “I don’t want you to see that part of me. I’m afraid…” I began, but she pulled me gently out of the shower. I shut the water off as she guided me toward the bed. We sat, still wet, still holding each other.

  “David, what are you afraid of?” she asked. Those eyes could melt metal.

  “I’m afraid I’ll turn into something that makes you fear me,” I said. My throat felt tight, the words rough and heavy. “I feel something pulling at me…”

  She pushed me back onto the mattress and swung a leg over me, straddling my hips.

  “Listen, David Robertson.” Her voice was firm, steady, as she poked me in the chest with her finger. “You are stuck with me forever. Whatever you need to do to protect your family is fine, but you have to come back to us. Always.” She leaned down until our foreheads touched. “I love you… We all love you. I will not let our child lose their father. So always return to me.” She kissed me, slow and full of heat. When she finally pulled back, her breath brushed my lips.

  “Now,” she whispered with a smirk, “you have your naked, very pregnant wife on top of you. What are you going to do?” My hands were already sliding down her body, and the smile she gave me told me she knew exactly what.

  _____________________

  Captain Rebecca Davies

  The carriage rolled to a stop at the entrance to the Tower Garden. The coachman opened the door, and I climbed down to the road. Lieutenant Woods stepped out behind me, turning in a slow circle as she watched the morning crowds drift past.

  I had never been to this part of the city before. I had only seen the Black Tower from a distance, but standing here beneath it was different. It rose above us like it wanted to pierce the sky, a dark shadow stretching over the park even this early.

  The coachman finished unloading our luggage. I gave him a generous tip before he climbed back onto his seat and drove off, leaving Woods and me standing alone beside a small mountain of boxes and bags.

  The Earl said to meet at nine. I knew we were early. Woods would have slept half the morning away if I let her, but not today. Not on the day we were assigned to the Princess. Are we in the right place?

  I heard our names called and turned to see Earl Robertson approaching with two women. I remembered hearing he had six wives. If that was true, I wondered if these two were among them.

  “Captain Davies, Lieutenant Woods,” he said.

  We snapped to attention and saluted before I could stop myself. I wasn’t sure whether we were supposed to, but it felt safer than assuming otherwise.

  “You don’t need to salute me,” he said with a small smile. “Now, this lovely woman is Seraphina, and that beautiful woman is Veronica.” Perfect. We had already embarrassed ourselves.

  The one called Seraphina stepped forward and offered her hand. She was stunning. Red hair, flawless features, the kind of grace you expect from paintings, not real people. If all of his wives looked like this, Woods and I were going to stand out like farm girls at a royal banquet.

  “I am sorry, David can be thick-headed at times,” Seraphina said warmly as she shook my hand. “I am Seraphina Robertson, and this…” She drew the other woman close. “Is Captain Veronica Robertson.” Veronica Robertson looked shy, almost reluctant to step forward. Honestly, that was refreshing. At least we had that in common.

  “Nice to meet both of you,” Captain Robertson said, shaking our hands.

  Behind them, I noticed the Earl speaking quietly to the woman who followed him. His assistant, I guessed.

  “Allyson, how soon? I do not want Seraphina out in the cold if I can help it,” he said.

  What a normal thing to hear from a man who supposedly terrified General Kitch. For a moment, I wondered if the General had been exaggerating.

  “Sweetie, I am not fragile,” Lady Seraphina protested.

  “I know,” the Earl said, though something in his tone made me think he already felt guilty.

  Before I could decide whether to relax, something in the Earl’s expression changed. Not a dramatic shift, just a tiny tightening around the eyes. He turned his head slightly, as if listening to something I could not hear. Then I noticed the woman behind him stop moving. Allyson, I think her name was. She froze like a puppet whose strings were suddenly pulled taut.

  “Veronica, take Seraphina,” the Earl murmured. His voice dropped into something calm. Too calm. Seraphina didn’t argue. Veronica didn’t question it. They both stepped close together behind him.

  Lieutenant Woods shot me a look, brows raised in confusion. I didn’t have time to respond.

  A soft glow flickered across the Earl’s arms, faint at first, then bright enough that the lines burned through his clothes. Strange symbols, like carvings of red light, crawled over his skin.

  “What in the saints is that…?” Woods whispered.

  Then he drew his sword.

  I’d seen swords drawn before. I had drawn one myself. But none of them ever sang like that blade. None of them ever shimmered with white fire as they left the scabbard. The light spilled across the path, reflecting on the frost-touched stones. I stepped back without thinking. Woods did as well.

  The Earl didn’t look at us. He stared past us, toward the trees. A moment later, five men stepped out from behind the bare trunks. Heavily armored. Weapons drawn. Faces hard.

  “Step away from the women, Earl, and we won’t hu…”

  The Earl blurred. I did not see him move. I saw him leave, then suddenly appear in front of the man who had spoken. White flashed. Something hit the ground with a thud. It wasn’t until it rolled that I realized it was a head. The body collapsed forward, spraying blood across the stones in a crimson arc.

  I stumbled backward, my hand flying to my mouth. Woods let out a strangled gasp.

  The Earl spun with a grace no man his size should have. His sword pierced the robed man behind the leader. The mage’s spell, half-formed, erupted in a burst of sparks as the blade tore through the man’s chest. His scream ended in a wet choke as he slid off the steel and crumpled.

  Woods grabbed my arm so tightly that her nails cut through my sleeve. “What is he… how is he…?” she whispered. But the fight wasn’t over.

  One of the attackers rushed toward us. Toward the wives. Toward the Princess’s pregnant sister-wife. I tried to draw my sword, but the Earl was already reacting.

  He didn’t run or shout. Instead, he threw his sword, and I felt it pass by my head, blowing my hair into my face. The blade spun once through the air before driving straight into the attacker’s chest with a sickening crunch. He dropped instantly, pinned to the earth like a specimen.

  The last two attackers lunged at the Earl. He caught one by the arm, twisted, and slammed him into the other with a crack that echoed across the garden.

  Woods made a sound, half fear, half disbelief, as the Earl stretched out his hand. His sword ripped free from the man it had skewered and flew back toward him. I could feel the rush of air as it passed by. Lydia shook her head slowly, saying, “No way… no way…” as the sword flew back to the Earl.

  The Earl caught it without looking. Then he carved through the second attacker. A single upward swing. Clean. Efficient. Horrifying.

  The last remaining attacker lay on the ground, scrambling backward, his armor scraping the stone. The Earl walked toward him slowly, his arms still glowing under the blood that covered them.

  I thought he was going to kill him. I was sure of it.

  Then Lady Seraphina threw her arms around him from behind. He froze. Completely. The glowing marks dimmed. He sank to his knees, and she held him while he trembled. That’s when I realized that I was shaking too.

  Guards swarmed the area, but no one went near the Earl. Woods and I just stood there, unable to speak, unable to understand how quickly a quiet morning had turned into a slaughter. Captain Robertson spoke with the guards. The surviving attacker was dragged away in chains.

  Eventually, the Earl rose. Seraphina rose with him. They looked calm again. Normal. Married. Like nothing had happened. I stared at him, unable to hide my fear. My awe. Both tangled together. One of these days, I would like to experience that with someone.

  He glanced at me. “Is that all your luggage?” I nodded because I couldn’t trust my voice.

  “Yes… Sir.” I heard Lydia say from behind me.

  His expression softened as though nothing had happened. He gestured the maids forward. “Allyson, would you have everything brought to the airship?”

  “Yes, Master,” she said.

  Then he turned to us. “Captain Davies, Lieutenant Woods. Please, follow us. We will take you to the Princess.”

  As we walked up the walkway toward the Black Tower, Woods leaned close to me and whispered, voice shaking: “Rebecca… what did we just see?”

  I didn’t answer, but I knew one thing for sure: General Kitch was right. If we learned even a fraction of what the Earl knew, reaching level thirty in swordsmanship by summer was no longer just a dream. It was within reach.