Shadowborn

Chapter Seventy-Two: Building Relations

Chapter Seventy-Two: Building Relations

I wish I could say that after the baths we all returned to the manor and christened our new home by fucking like rabbits till the sun came up. In reality, after nearly dozing off more than once while I soaked (it was, unfortunately, not a mixed bath, so I bathed alone), we all staggered home and I barely made it to the pallet of bedrolls someone had made while we were out before I passed. The fuck. Out.

I genuinely couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept so hard. When I finally woke up, feeling like I had a mouthful of cotton, rocking a full-body ache, and struggling to remember how to operate my limbs, it took me a minute to realize I was laying on my front. To say I’d always been a paranoid sleeper was an understatement, so being face down was always too vulnerable a position for me to ever be comfortable sleeping in.

Yet, as I groggily managed to open one of my eyes, that was how I woke. I made a rather incoherent grunt of pleasure as fingernails dragged lightly down my back, which was answered by a soft giggle and words that could only be described as gibberish since my brain was still playing catch-up.

Lips pressed to my shoulder, then long, slender fingers brushed my hair out of my face. My one open eye—the other was still a little gunked shut—fixed on Tiana’s smiling face. “Good morning sleepyhead,” she said, laughter rife in her voice.

I tried to formulate a response, but my tongue felt too big for my mouth so all I managed was another grunt. She pressed her fingers more firmly into my muscles and I groaned. “Good lord, Zaren, your knots have knots.” Words continued to fail me as she started massaging my back and shoulders.

“What year is it?” I mumbled, my head falling back down onto the pillow.

She giggled again. “Same year, just about fifteen hours later.” She brushed her lips to my back right between my shoulder blades. “Not sure I’ve ever seen you sleep quite so hard.”

“Not sure I ever have,” I admitted. Then I did the math—something that took entirely too long. “I missed breakfast, then?”

“You missed lunch, love.” Her hands went lower and lower, working magic into my muscles. Every part of me ached like the day after a fight. I felt like I’d pushed every muscle I had too far, and my body was voicing its many, many protests. “We’ve so rarely seen you sleep for more than a handful of hours we all decided to let you rest.”

Fuck, I did not want to get up right now. Especially with Tiana’s fingers undoing weeks of living in fight or flight mode. Unfortunately, I had so much to do and not much time to do it. “Need to get working,” I said, despite my eyes sliding closed again.

When Tiana spoke, I could hear the laughter in her voice. “I took half the girls shopping, then Serena took the other half when she got back. Picked you up some clothes, too. Deetrik’s men have already started. He’s got all hands on deck, and they’ve already fixed up and furnished a dozen rooms with the furniture one of Arianna’s contacts has been dropping off all day.

Cynthia arranged for a delivery of food that should at least last us a week until we can get more, and Friya, Zerali, Sani, and Brinya have been cooking for Deetrik’s and Euribald’s employees as well as the rest of us.”

“Deetrik anticipates the master bedroom being done by the end of the week,” she continued. “Indoor plumbing should be up to snuff in a few days thanks to Caliel’s affinity for water. Euribald brought the proximity wards up to snuff, and we had him transfer it to me and Serena so you could have a chance to sleep. I can loop you back in once you’re up and moving.”

“And I’ve just slept through all this?” I asked, finally regaining enough motor control to rub the gunk out of my eye.

When she spoke next, her voice came from so close to my ear that I had to reposition to give my cock some room to stiffen without being pinned underneath me. “Rhallani designed some simple runes that cast a nice silence bubble when powered up. Apparently she’s gotten another level.”

I lifted my head, pinning her with a look. “And why exactly is Rhallani designing silencing charms?”

She smiled wide. “I can’t go giving away the surprise now, can I? I can’t wait for you to see it. Rhallani’s outdone herself this time.”

“She always seems to.” I rolled onto my side, getting a good look at her. She wore a figure hugging sundress with a low cut, her legs tucked underneath her, and her long waves of hair cascading over a single shoulder. I scooped up one of her hands and pulled her down so she was laying next to me, then grabbed her by the hips and pulled her body flush with mine. Her smile widened and her cheeks colored, moreso when she reached up to trail her fingers along my jaw. “And how are you doing?”

She pressed her forehead to mine and slid her hand around to play with the hair at the nape of my neck. “I’m doing good. For now, at least. Keeping busy certainly helps.”

“Buuut...” I prompted.

Her sundress rode up when she hooked a leg over mine. “But, once the shock of being here, with all of you, fades, then...” she trailed off.

“Then I’ll be here. So will everyone else,” I promised.

She dipped her chin, a smile on her face, and nestled into me. “I know I’ve asked before, but... You really aren’t bothered? By how I made my way before?”

“Never.” I rubbed her back. “And you never have to stop asking. I’ll never stop telling you the same thing. If you’re willing to take me after the things I’ve done—the things done to me—then I’ll never judge you on anything you did before me.”

She took a long breath, then let it out slowly. “I knew it was a good idea to wake you early.”

My cock jerked, and considering she was pressed into my front I knew she felt it. “Early, huh?”

Laughing, she pulled back just far enough to lightly smack my chest. “Not early enough to do half the things I want to do to you, so you’d better go find some pants if you want to make it to your meeting with Alianna and her contacts.”

I nodded, but I still kissed her before I pulled away and got to my feet. Her massage had done wonders, but I still winced as I rolled my neck from side to side. I pulled her to her feet and she gestured towards a stack of clothes. “I love the dress,” I said, slipping on underwear, followed by some nicely cut black pants.

She did a little twirl that didn’t make it any easier to tie my pants closed. “I bought it with the spider money. It’s wonderful not having to worry about my outfit making me look appealing to adventurers.”

“Well,” I said, grabbing her hips and pulling her in for a kiss, “it’s definitely appealing to me.”Nêww chapters will be fully updated at novelhall.com

She beamed. “I like in-town Zaren. He’s much...lighter.”

I chuckled, then went looking for a shirt. Everything fit surprisingly well, and they were of a nicer quality than I was used to. Nothing overly high end, but better than my traveling clothes. “I do better when I’ve got walls and buildings around me,” I said with a shrug. “Open roads, plains, and forests make me think of battlefields. Ambushes.”

“That’s good to know.” Once I’d donned socks and boots and strapped the Jailer’s Blade to my back, she linked her arm in mine and led me out of the room we’d claimed for the night. The difference was apparent immediately, especially when we made it into the main entry hall. Already much of the dust and grime had been taken care of. Most of the windows had been replaced, and the few winged demi-humans under my employ were helping the workers get to the rest. There was much more natural light because of it, and made the room look much bigger.

The floor in the entryway had been replaced with marble and carpet. The old paintings that were either damaged or so faded they weren’t discernible any longer were gone, and demi-humans in matching blue robes were installing what looked like sconces with gems where the torch would have been, carved to imitate flame. A wide variety of burly demi-humans were carrying in a near steady stream of furniture while Elena directed, and when I glanced at the main stairwell I had to laugh.

The area was roped off with signs reading ‘No Zaren’s past this point!’ “Rhallani’s doing?” I guessed.

“Oh yes,” Tiana said, overly serious. “She doesn’t want to risk you getting even a peek, and since we haven’t even started on the second story rooms yet she figures there’s no reason for you to go up.” She guided me between the stairs and into a large dining room. The long tables there were only placeholders, but it was at least a place where people could sit and eat.

And eat they did. A half dozen demi-humans I didn’t recognize chatted while they ate. Employees on some kind of break, I assumed. Iris, Friya, and Zerali were bringing out plates of food with wide smiles, making sure everyone seated got some. My eyes fell on Rhallani, whose nose was buried in a book. While I watched, Safina rolled in with a heaping plate, snagged Rhallani’s journal, held it up high enough that my little Arelim couldn’t reach it, and set the plate in front of Rhallani.

“There aren’t any reassurances I can make that you’ll believe,” I told him, “but I have no interest in servants who don’t want to be here. Everyone wearing one of my collars wears it by choice. If you have anyone who wants the money, I’m more than happy to pay. Demi-human or otherwise. If you have anyone who needs the protection of a collar, I can offer that as well. You can ask any one of my servants what kind of Patron I am if you’d like.”

More muttering and hushed whispers. “You’ll be looking for servants, then?” The Dragonling asked, curiosity in her gaze.

“I’ll have to before long. I’m sure a visit to the Pens is in my near future.” I made no attempt to keep my contempt for the place from my tone.

But the dwarf was having none of it. “You would support such a place?” he demanded.

“No,” I said evenly, “but I’ll save as many innocent souls from that shithole as I can until I can find a way to get rid of it.”

More than one of them seemed surprised by my answer, but none were unhappy about it. The Dragonling picked up a piece of meat and took a bite. “You’re an interesting man, Zaren Nocht. Your... father... would be proud.” She leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. “You can call me Zephyr. I specialize in people. I can think of a couple promising heads in the quarter that would suit your needs and are desperate enough to take the risk.”

I wasn’t a big fan of her phrasing, but the glint in her eyes told me she planned on that. “I won’t just give anyone a job. Cynthia and Liana both have final say on acquisitions, be it an employee or a servant.”

She hummed. “You want to earn goodwill? I think I know a way.” When I urged her to continue, she went on.

“Everyone knows someone who's done a stint in the Pens. Voluntarily or otherwise. You scoop up a few members of key families and give them a good home like you seem to be capable of doing, then you’ll make important friends. If you don’t...” She let the threat hang.

But I grinned. “And let me guess, those names will be interspersed with other less important names?”

That seemed to amuse her greatly. “Well, well, you do know what you’re doing.”

“Hang on, Zephyr,” the Lycanine man said uncertainly. “That feels like a risk.”

“It does,” I agreed. “I’m not normally one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but...”

She took a swig of whatever drink Friya had brought her and made an appreciative noise. “I’ve never seen my father vouch for anyone, Lord Nocht, yet the way he spoke of you makes me very interested to see what you do with the rope I give you.”

I chuckled. Leave it to Lizard to have a daughter as good at what she does as he was. “Well, when you put it like that, how soon can you get me a list?”

She just wordlessly pulled out a folded sheet of paper and slid it across the table. It came to a stop just in front of me, and I arched a brow. She just shrugged. “I like to come prepared.”

Several of the others at the table looked uncomfortable about the exchange, but if I had to hazard a guess, Zephyr had the reputation to back up her decision. After that, conversation turned towards the details, so I let Cynthia take over. Zephyr slipped out and the other demi-humans followed, but their expressions were more curious than anything else. I knew I hadn’t made any friends, but I’d laid the groundwork. As long as I could put my money where my mouth was, I was fairly sure I could win them over.

Alianna stood when Cynthia started whipping out contracts, and I met her at the door. “A moment?”

She inclined her head with her hands clasped in front of her. “I’ll admit that went better than I thought it would. I still fully expect you to betray us, but there’s a small part of me that hopes I’m wrong.”

“I appreciate your candor.” When I glanced over my shoulder, Safina was watching our conversation closely. “I was wondering if you might help me with something.”

Her fear spiked again, but she quashed it quickly. “If I can.”

“A number of the demi-humans who have found their way into my household, as far as I can tell, are from pure bloodlines. A couple of them are struggling with the instincts that come with that, and I was wondering if you knew of anyone who might specialize in demi-humans.”

She pursed her lips. “I might know of someone who could help.” Her gaze drifted to Safina as well. “Your Half-dragon?”

“Safina is one, yes,” I admitted.

Alianna thought it over for several seconds, then nodded. “I’ll see if I can find someone. Half-dragons are exceptionally rare, especially pure ones, but Amesseria is a big city.”

“That it is. Thank you again for your help. I hope I can prove that hopeful part of you right.”

A ghost of a smile pulled at her lips, but she just inclined her head and took her leave. The humans filed out one by one, all of them with an expression of surprise. It was Yolena who stopped on her way out to talk to me. “My father always said that if a thing was too good to be true, it often was, Lord Nocht. Your bookkeeper’s contract is better than I could have hoped, so you’ll forgive me if I decide to wait for the other shoe to drop.”

“Of course,” I told her, shaking her offered hand. “I plan to pay those in my household, so hopefully I can send plenty of business your way.”

Almost against her will, she cracked a smile. “Don’t tell me that or a part of me might start hoping you’re a shit boss so your people end up needing somewhere to drown their woes.”

“I won’t hold it against you,” I told her.

She took her leave as well, and Cynthia started packing up. My servants swept in to clean away the remnants of the meal and I waved Liana over as I walked to Cynthia’s side. “I’ve got plans tonight, but I’d like to get started on this list before fate steps in and the people we need get poached.”

Cynthia nodded, taking the list. “I needed to stop by and finalize the acquisition of the fourteen demi-humans we acquired on the road anyways.” She read over the list of names, no doubt committing the eight names to memory.

“Take Liana since she’s head servant, that way she can get them settled quicker,” I said.

Liana looked over Cynthia’s shoulder, then nodded. “We should have enough rooms set up, though a few will have to share. It will still be a step up from the Pens.”

“My thoughts exactly,” I said. “I’m sure Serena will want to be there in case any of them were mistreated, and I’d feel better if you took Safina as backup since Rhallani will be with me.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll get it done,” Cynthia promised.

With that finished, I headed to where Safina had finally given Rhallani her journal back. I could tell from the set of her shoulders that my Arelim wasn’t actually seeing the words on the page. I put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s almost time. You ready?”

“Not in the slightest,” she said. “But we can’t wait any longer.”

Safina put her hand on Rhallani’s shoulder. “Your sister will understand when you explain things. If she loves you half as much as you clearly love her, it’ll all work out.”

Rhallani pushed herself to her feet and Safina followed suit. “Right. Let’s go try and convince Xara that getting indebted is the single greatest thing to ever happen to me.”