{Alex}

  At some point in the night, I woke and we all three made our way to the bed. I vaguely remember the bed being cold, but warming quickly as the girls took their places on either side of me.

  When I came to, I felt something wet on my chest. I hoped Gen hadn’t pissed the bed again. Oh, it’s Uta drooling on my chest. Wait a minute, why is Lily here? Why are we all naked? What the hell happened last night? My mind finally started up and I blinked as everything came back to me. Last night was amazing. With an honest smile, I rubbed both women’s backs. Uta’s tail started swaying as she snored in her sleep. How had I gotten so lucky? Looking over at my other lover, I saw her looking up at me with large eyes. “How long have you been up?” I asked my honey bunny. She smiled and started playing with my chest hair, a sweet smile on her face.

  “A while.” She whispered in the dim room. My hand drifted up and I started petting her ears. She hummed and pressed her head into my hand.

  “If you two are going to do that, we have to hurry, Gen and the others will be here soon.” Uta said as she sat up wiping the drool off her chin. I gave them an evil chuckle and yawned. We all stretched, and I took my time admiring the bodies of my women. Uta looked at Lily and gave her a playful wink before looking at me. What were they thinking? Before I could ask both kissed my cheeks at the same time. Safe to say, this was a great way to wake up. We all made our way to the bath and despite it being tight, we made it work. Yeah, as soon as I got back in spring, I was building a huge tub. Might need a bigger house. Before we left the bath, I whispered low enough for only Lily to hear and the two of us tackled Uta and made sure her tail was fully dry and brushed to perfection. After that Uta and I did the same with Lily. It was just a slow peaceful morning, and we were able to clean the house before Gen showed up.

  Uta was nice enough to start a fire in the fireplace as I had no clue how to do it without a lighter. Well, I might be able to make a fire or heating rune until the logs caught but having her do it was much easier. I picked up the discarded clothing and failed to find the girls underwear. “Don’t tell me both of you didn’t wear anything under those dresses last night?” I asked a very blushing Lily who nodded. “You two had last night planned out.” I said with an evil laugh.

  “Do you blame us?” Uta asked as she started breakfast.

  “Not at all. Thank you, my Honey Bunny and my Crimson Coyote.” Both blushed and Lily bit her lip.

  Gorloth came in and he only had Gen with him, riding on his shoulders. “Snow too bad, no work. I not risk Orthonai.” He said brokenly with a shame filled expression on his face.

  “Well, get your ass back home and relax with your wife.” I said with a smile at my big friend. He blushed and nodded. Maybe the wife comment was going a little far.

  “I want Orthonai as wife.” He said bowing his head to me.

  “Gorloth, you have my blessing.” I said and he stood up, his arms raised. Lily covered her ears and braced for his huge roar. He froze and nodded.

  “Thank you, Faz De Goul.” He said, a wistful smile on his face. I didn’t know that word. Maybe it meant something like friend. No friend was Umta. I would have to ask Mayor about marrying the girls. Taking a deep breath of my own, I thought about marriage. Was I sure I wanted to do that? Would they accept me if I asked? Better to see if I can before I get their or my hopes up. If I couldn’t, I would break this world until I was allowed to do so.

  We ended up being stuck in the house for two days. It was nice and relaxing, and I took my time tinkering and playing with ideas. Gen seemed to be a ball of energy and I had to make him some new toys for his table.

  After the second day, I had Lily start a reading class for all of us. Uta didn’t care as much, but Gen and I ate up every word. Now that I was forced to offer my full attention, it was far easier to learn it and I made several notes in a new section of my notebook. Other than that, we would cuddle on the couch under a blanket, play in the snow, or just relax. Now that I had the time I worked on my bracelet. I needed some way to make it automatic, so I didn’t keep running out of mana. If I tied the cores together with the same silver steel, mana wire braid that the coins had, something weird would happen. Before I was using linking runes, but with the wire braid, it would make my big goblin core larger and force the others to shrink. Could this be used to make larger cores? I wonder if I could force cores to merge making new ones. I would have to talk to Summoner. I made a note of that and took time fusing all the cores. The larger core could hold more mana and would take less time to pull from. I would need more Goblin cores.

  “Lily, can I use you,” I asked. She blushed and looked over at Gen.

  “Not right here.” God, she was in a frisky mood ever since we had that wonderful threesome.

  “I mean use you to remind me of things.” Why did she look depressed about that? “With so much going on I have been forgetting things and need your help.” Her eyes flew to me and started watering? Did I do something wrong? “I can understand if you don’t want to.” I just thought since her memory was better and she would always be by my side, it would be helpful. She jumped on me and started kissing me. They were fast short happy kisses, but her eyes were crying. “I don’t understand what is going on.” I said as I frowned at her. She pulled back and was still crying even though she was smiling. This was very confusing.

  “I’m happy you trust me to take care of you.” She said as she wiped her eyes.

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  “Yet you are crying.” Reaching up, I wiped her tears away. She smiled and held my hand there rubbing it with her cheek.

  “You don’t know some people can cry when they are happy?” She asked with a sad smile. Maybe I had broken her somehow. I just frowned at her; my eyebrows furrowed. “These are happy tears.” she said kissing my hand

  “Tears aren’t happy. They are for sad things.” I spoke to her like she was a small child. With a cute laugh she leaned forward and kissed me softly.

  “Master, my love, you are an idiot when it comes to feelings. Tears can be happy at times.” This made no sense at all. With a sigh I looked at her.

  “Will you tell me when people have happy tears?” I asked not fully understanding what was going on. Tears are only for sad moments. She pushed her forehead to mine and smiled.

  “I can do that, my love.” Why had my heart flutted when she said that? From that day on she became my assistant and would remind me of things. She would even help me when dealing with people. Safe to say my life got much better with her by my side.

  When things had finally cleared, I went to Mayor’s office. Well, I had Gorloth take me there. I didn’t ask how he knew where it was or ask why he might have been there. Maybe he asked if two slaves could marry each other.

  Before I knew it, I found myself in front of a squat house. I wouldn’t call this a town hall, but more a round home with a strange, tiled roof. It reminded me of a thatch hut, but one made of stone with a clay roof. Gorloth knocked and a middle-aged man replied to us.

  “Come in.” His voice sounded warm and welcoming. My apprehension grew. Gorloth opened the door for me, and I felt small as I walked in. Most of the room was covered in shelves showing different things. Books, monster cores in gold rings, a map of the town with each house labeled. Behind a large desk sat a man in his early forties, his salt and pepper hair was slicked back and pulled into a well-managed ponytail. He was dressed in a tight white shirt and red vest that seemed to strain against his slightly muscular frame. Was every man on this world either a porker or body builder? He gave me a warm smile and looked over his glasses at me. I gulped and pulled my cloak around myself. This man reminded me of some of the teachers I had back in school. The ones who seemed to know I was a sociopath and would keep a close eye on me. It made my skin crawl then and it felt worse now. “Welcome Alex.” He said, standing and bowing to me. “Oh and,” His voice dipped down as he turned to Gorloth, “Onia tena Gorloth.” He said in orc. I thought it was a greeting but felt formal. This man didn’t just know orc, he knew how to speak it to a high level. “What brings you two to my office today?” He gestured at two seats in front of his desk.

  Gorloth started talking in orc and I could tell by the words he was using; he was being careful so I couldn’t understand what he wanted to talk about. Was he planning something against me? No, I couldn’t see him ever doing something like that. When he was done, Mayor nodded and replied a little before nodding at me. He wasn’t as careful, and I caught the word winter and something about a knife or that could be a turtle? I needed to learn more orc. When they were done, Gorloth stood and moved to the door.

  “Friend Runt, I wait outside.” He said leaving the two of us alone. I turned to Mayor who smiled at me.

  “How can I help you Alex or would you rather Runt.” He said with a smile. I cleared my throat and felt so small sitting in his office. I wish I had a bit of metal to play with.

  “I was,” My voice cracked, and he laughed.

  “Relax Alex. You are in a safe place.” He said folding his hands. What the hell was he acting like a shrink for? It did help me relax and focus a little as I took a breath thinking about Lily and Uta.

  “I want to marry Lily and Uta? Is that allowed.” I asked sitting a little taller in the seat. He let out a sigh and gave me a sad smile.

  “There are two issues with that. One is moral. They are your slaves, and I can’t in good faith let you marry a woman you own and can force to say yes.” He said with a wince. It was a damn good point and one I had not thought of. He was right and I wanted them to be free to choose and do what they wanted.

  “I can understand that.” I said, hanging my head and feeling a twinge in my heart.

  “The other issue,” He winced and seemed to shrink in his own seat. “Beat-Kin and humans can’t marry.” I felt my anger build. “It is by the rule of the kingdom and only a local lord can overrule it. That being said, once they are free, I can give you an unofficial wedding.” I looked back up at him and saw a sad smile on his face. “If that is not good enough, I do understand, but please understand that in my eyes and in the eyes of most of this town you will be married.” He said with a sad smile. Did he think I would blow up or kill him. I didn’t want to kill him. It wasn’t his fault. It was the fault of the lords and kings. I would break them and make them see things my way.

  “That is acceptable… for now.” I said my eyes growing cold. He smiled and bowed his head to me.

  “With that business done, I have something to ask of you.” He said, but this time I could see how happy he was so this wouldn’t be anything like making him a tub. This was our first meeting, but he had used Woodcutter to ask me to build one when his wife was out. Woodcutter had said it was an anniversary gift and he paid for my time and service. “I know you are a wanderer and don’t know if you have been told what happens during winter.”

  “Some sort of celebration. We have something like it called Christmas back home.” I said with a shrug. Had he wanted me to play the grinch this year?

  “Yes, this year we are having a gathering at the inn. I know you don’t like large groups, but would you be willing to join us? If you can't, we understand, and you just have to be there near the end of it.” How did he know me so well? Was he spying on me?

  “Are my friends going to be able to come?” I asked, my eyes growing cold again. His smile brightened as he steepled his fingers.

  “Of course, they are citizens of this town and I know Tailor and Innkeeper would be upset if they didn’t come. Woodcutter would be more than a little miffed if he didn’t get to play with Gen.”

  “What about Gorloth and Orthonai?” I asked, feeling a little better about the whole thing.

  “That is a given. They have something nice planned and were hoping you would be a part of it.” He said with a wink. Oh, he must want me to be the best man. A winter party seemed like a nice place for them to tie the knot.

  “I can try.” I said with a sigh. Once Lily knows she will make sure I won't be able to get out of it.

  “That is all I ask.” He said warmly. Maybe this man wasn’t human either. With a slight grunt I stood and bowed my head to him. He smiled back and grabbed his pencil. “Oh, and Alex, thank you for coming to our town. You have made this place better in more ways than you know.” I cringed as I left, seeing my big friend shivering outside.

  “Come on Gorloth, Let’s get to work. I want to test an idea for a portable rune powered heater.” I said with a smile. It seemed like a good idea for winter. Maybe I could be able to make an AC unit for summer. Oh, climate controls for the Knights. I grabbed at my notebook and started scribbling. This was turning out to be a fun day.