My two cats take me to my nexr world trilogy plus related stories by D.A. Sanford - HTML preview

Chapter 3: The Mage

I'm sitting in my office when the visitor was shown in by my butler. It seems that I know him.

He is a local merchant, John Bagley. He owns the general store in the village of Beall. Not wealthy, but was well off by local standards. He was married and had both a son and daughter. The son was helping him with the store while the wife and daughter were visiting relatives in the next town.

John was desperate. He had just gotten word that the caravan his wife and daughter were returning on was attacked. It appeared that they were just robbers but they also took the women with them to be sold off as slaves.

This was heard by a man who was wounded and played dead. He said that all were fitted with slave collars just in case of magical abilities of the women. I had the knowledge that come to me of how those collars worked but also how to defeat them. It seems that I had encountered them in the past and found the secret of removing them.

Mr. Bagley offered everything he had to rescue his wife and daughter. All that he owned, money, store, house and possessions is being given as reward for getting them back. He had it in writing and handed the paper to me. It was a hastily written document. Signed and dated, all official.

I looked at it then said “I’ll take the job but on my conditions.” then I ripped up his paper. “I will take the job with the promise of reasonable expenses also I have exclusive rights to the salvage and spoils.”

I reached out my hand and Chip gave me our standard letter of agreement stating with what I just said.

“You must agree to this in writing. There are other conditions. You must never tell anyone about my conditions with the exception of the salvage and spoils. You will agree to speak up if there are any questions as to my rights to them.” Mr. Bagley is stunned but agrees, then signs.

“We will start right now. Please give my butler the location of the incident and any other information you have that will help us.” John immediately says that the survivor said that the gang acted like one of Everett Ratten’s mob.

13

Everett Ratten is this countries’ criminal boss. He runs a collection of smaller local gangs. He is an Orc about 6 foot 6 inches in height. He really is bad on his hygiene, brags that the only baths he has is when he gets caught in the rain.

He’s smart enough to run the big operation but leans more on numbers rather than talent.

Generally, he is trouble but Justin knows him and how to deal with his type. Goad him into anger then he will throw more expendables than talent. His leaning on numbers beats numbers in battle is a weakness I can and will exploit it. Never gets the idea of skilled people.

Everett Ratten

That’s all I needed to hear. “Chip get that information."

"Missy, we have a quest, get the packs ready and include a week’s rations for each of us. It will be you, Chip and myself. We leave within the hour.”

She always waits just to my right side when we have a client. The watcher told her where to stand but it was a past memory that told me she would be there. That program again. She nods, then leaves the room. In less than that hour, the horses were saddled, bags tied down and an arsenal of weapons on our bodies, no fire arms in this world. Much the pity. We climbed on to the horses, we were off.

14

The attack was to the west of Beall about six or eight miles away from the village. We headed north east. That is where I knew Everett’s local safe house was. The gang would be heading there by the roundabout route. It was going to take them a day or two to get there because they would want to make sure they were not followed, also the women walking factored into the time. That was their usual course.

Habits are good but when you are a criminal, habits can be a problem. They were cautious but they relied on the fact that they had numbers on their side. Everett made sure that all his gangs had approximately twenty-five to thirty members. That way the prime members had expendables to wear down any opponent.

Their biggest problem is that they now have to deal with a three perfectly trained team of rescuers. Training and knowing that each member is not expendable is the key to success.

Each member is an integral part of the attack force.

The worst situation is being in a defense situation. What we do is put the enemy in that defensive position. Planning is important but knowing that your team members have each other’s backs makes numbers null in void. That is my team. Luck does not play into this.

Every action is planned beforehand including contingencies.

I knew that it should be around dusk or early night time when they would be at their safe haven. Most likely night because they were forcing hostages to walk those miles. I plan to launch the rescue attack just after the gang reaches the safe house and settles down. They will be tired; most will be either drinking or asleep.

The hostages will be in a locked down room in an out building so I do not worry about them.

Chained, collared and locked down, the gang will not be that worried. They will post minimal guards. We have planned the situation and practiced the actions before. I do like the idea of a night time ambush.

The safe house is approximately ten miles from the attack scene and around five miles north east from the manor. Our horses will be able to make it there in a few hours. Slower than a horse at a full gallop but it will allow us to sneak up to the location. This pace will still give us plenty of time for scouting the lay of the land. I really expect the operation to be done before midnight. This gives us time to finish setting up the ambush.

Why take a week’s worth of food for the three of us you ask? Not knowing exactly how many women there are and knowing that they will not have been fed, they will be tired, hungry and scared. Not the group you want to be marching through the countryside in the dark. Food and rest, knowing they are safe, is what is needed. The morning light and breakfast makes a journey shorter.

As I said, we got to the location of the safe house just before dusk. The area is woodland as you would expect for a hide out. It could have been a farm at one time but was abandoned for a long time before the gang discovered it. Now over grown, the small crop field shows signs of tree saplings growing. The house appears to be a one story, maybe two if the attic space is open.

15

There is an outhouse around fifteen feet from what is the back of the house. The intimation that other structure was a barn is questionable. It very well could have been a large chicken coop. For all appearances it may have been a good farm at one time. Whether it fell on hard times, family tragedy, no one will ever know but now it has fallen into the wrong hands and only will produce woe instead of produce. A sad thing.

That small pen should be where the women will be caged. There appears to be just two maybe three people that are here guarding the place. One of those should be the guard for the night watch. It will be Missy that attacks that guard, then will defend the hostages. She is more than just eye candy that I may be tasting really soon, Missy is a cat fighter. Meaning, when she fights, she is a mean, nasty berserker. Merciless, unless they surrender, which is not likely. Depending on the crime, we take no prisoners. Too much trouble. Try to kill us, so sad, too bad we will kill you and may not even bury you. The wolves need to eat.

Chip will take one side of the building and I will position myself among the saplings in the field. Once the hostages are locked up and an hour has passed. Missy takes her place. The guard then will take his forever dirt nap. She will try to keep the women quiet by sneaking up before her kill and telling them to be quiet.

Once she has done what she needs to do she will screech like a wildcat when ready to fight.

That is our signal. Both Chip and I will converge on the house.

Anyone that comes out is dead, both of us can do the dance of the swords. We will then rush the house and the martial art demonstration begins. When the outside is clear. Missy joins us in the main event.

It was just at nightfall when the party guests arrived. There was only twenty gang members escorting their prisoners. That makes me cautious. There should be more so I caution both Chip and Missy to plan on extra guests. There was no indication that they lost any members at the hold up.

As expected, they lock up the women but we hear the talk of taking a few inside for fun but they needed to eat and have a drink before they chose. That eliminates the option of waiting until they sleep. We set the plan in motion just as soon as the gang enters the building.

We reach our positions. Missy was able to get to the women and tells them to keep quiet, hopefully they listen but their guard sees her and tries to yell out to the house but can’t. It’s hard to yell when your throat has been ripped open by two sets of razor sharp claws.

Naturally seeing the mess, some of the women scream at the sight and some cheer. Missy gives the signal, I’ll tell you this, it’s a sound that you don’t want to hear unarmed. This causes the gang to come out of the house. I said to myself

“Well, I guess the dance is open air tonight”

16

The gang is now outside, Chip and I get into the dance of the swords. I will say that for my first new world fight, I was astonished that the initial fear that I felt disappeared when I started.

It just seemed natural. Chip and I were playing slice and dice with our swords. I don't know about Chip but I really felt no real difference between flesh or bone. Must be the swords strength, maybe not.

We were making short work of the gang when I was in a position of seeing Missy. There was a group of five that were trying to gang up on her. Missy screamed then slipped into berserker mode. It was a fascinating yet frightful sight. Claws, teeth and blood, the blood is theirs not hers.

She was a blur, she looked like that cartoon Tasmanian Devil. A tornado with teeth and claws popping out of the funnel. There were not any body parts falling to the ground. All that you could see was them disappearing into a red mist resulting in just a red puddle left on the ground while the tornado winds itself through the enemy.

As I watched I thought that's fantastic, I heard “Berserker skill Select all or” I did not let the voice finish.” Current page, copy and paste, ENTER!” I again felt the momentary buzz and then I had that skill..

Much to Chips dismay, seeing that there were only a few left and those had to be the leaders, I threw down the swords and went into berserk mode. I suddenly had claws and teeth like her, I became a blur. Now I was creating the red mist.

I had almost as big a thrill as I did with the birth of my son in the old world but this was a primal feeling of satisfaction. I didn’t stop until Chip yelled at me about clipping my claws.

Both Missy and I stopped dead, pardon the pun. We shifted back to normal. My normal teeth and hands were back.

Looking around at the scene, it was like a celestial blender was used on the gang. There was not a solid body left especially the ones that fell to the claws of the two of us. Those ones were just a red puddle. I say claws because I don’t remember if I bit anyone throats off. Chip looked at the both of us. Shaking his head,

“Her, I expected this but you. Throwing your swords away during the battle almost caused me to have a heart attack. If you value our lives, please warn me first. you left it out of the play book.”

I say, “Spur of the moment. I’ll try to write you a memo before the next time.” Missy giggles.

With the lecture over and the dust so to speak settling, the women caught our attention. There was absolutely no noise coming from them. I went over to the cage and asked,

“Is everyone all right?”

“You aren’t going to kill us? Please don’t hurt us. We want to go home!”

Missy tells them that we are here to free them, not hurt them.

17

“Is there a Mrs. Bagley and daughter here?” I ask the women.

"Here we are”

“Your husband John contracted me this morning to rescue you. Are you okay?”

“Yes, just totally confused.”

“That will be cleared up by the morning."

"Who here can cook?” A few of the women step forward and say they can cook.

“Good. See Missy over there and have her give you the supplies we have but first let me remove those collars.”

“No don’t. They told us that if they were taken off by someone other than the buyer, we would die.”

“Don’t worry, I know how to remove them safely”

So, I remove the collar from the first brave person. When the others see that it came off, they lined up.

About half way through the process, there stood before me a goblin woman. She was four foot eight inches tall, green skin, with brown eyes. Her hair was white and mid back in length.

I immediately felt an attraction.

Missy had come over and stood by her, looking at me. She spoke softly to me "the Watcher told me about this one.” The Watcher again, frustrating.

I released the collar and that woman thanked me. Once free, she deliberately walked over to the mess that once were her tormentors and proceeded to incinerate each and every remains to ash and then washed away the ash.

She is a very talented mage that was knocked out at the opening of the caravan attack. When she woke up, she felt no magic in her. It was a strange feeling. It triggered memories of her village. She was so powerful that the other goblins felt threatened and drove her out.

When she was collared, she was picked on by the slavers because of her race. When they got to the house, she was told that she was going to become their toy. Used for their satisfaction with no say in it.

I had removed all the collars and sat just reflecting on the work we had just done. I told the group that they would eat, stay the night to rest then go back to Beall.

The goblin watched him, waiting for him to assert his power as the victor over them. He only showed mercy to all including a lone goblin.

18

In the morning after everyone was fed, we started back to the village. The goblin, because of her small stature, started to fall behind as she did under captivity. Instead of prodding or kicking her, I came back to her.

Beez

I was, like Chip and Missy, leading the horses back instead of riding. Both felines had picked up the young ones and put them on the horses to spare them the walk. I came back to her, picked her up and placed her on my horse.

“Can’t have a beautiful lady get tired out.”

"Why do you insult me by saying that I’m a beautiful lady. To you humans I’m just an animal, a goblin.”

“Don’t you dare lump me in with those idiots. I call them as I see them and I see a beautiful young lady. Matter of fact a very talented beautiful young lady. I would even go as far as to say that you would make a wonderful addition to my team, Interested?”

She didn’t know what to say. Did she find the one that would truly accept her for who she is?

She dared not to hope.

“Missy” I called.

Missy let another woman take hold of the horse and came back to me asking,

“What would you like?” while cuddling up to my arm. She was starting to really wear me down.

19

“Would you mind keeping this lady company? I need to look at the condition of the others to see if we need a break.”

Missy said sure. I went forward and talked with others.

She asked the goblin her name. The green lady with the white hair answered,

“Beez, my name is Beez.”

“That’s a nice name. Why, if I may ask, were you traveling in the caravan?”

Beez told her story to Missy. When Beez was done with her story, she asked Missy,

“Is that guy for real or is that just bull he was spouting?”

"Oh, he’s the real deal alright. That is just who he is. Let me now tell you a story. You see there is this entity called The Watcher……”

By the time Missy was done including the fact that the Watcher told her that Beez was a perfect fit for the team and especially for Justin’s wellbeing. Beez was baffled. He called her beautiful. Missy says he does not lie about his feelings, she started to feel something she never felt before. She felt she was welcomed for who she was and not scorned because of what she was. That strange feeling was causing her to feel warm all over and embarrassed for those feelings.

When they got back to Beall, the families were reunited, the dead of the caravan mourned and people that were moving on waiting for the next caravan, Beez walked up to me and asked,

“Sir," I interrupt and tell her to please call me Justin.

"Justin, was that a true offer of joining your team?”

“If you’re asking if you can join, I’m saying welcome.”

Beez teared up "I really don’t have anywhere I can call home."

“Well, Beez, may I say, welcome home."

I was on my horse so I picked her up and placed her on my lap. To make her feel welcome, it was princess style.

“We’ll have Missy show you to your room when we get home. It seems that you have no baggage”

"Missy, when we get to the manor, Beez will need a permanent room, new clothes and such."

Missy retorts, "That was done and is in her room before we even left."

20

"Let me guess, the Watcher?"

"You got it!"

I shook my head

Then the four of us rode home from town. It really was a profitable trip and the spoils were delightful.

Chapter 4 The Mage’s Find

Everett was not pleased when he heard of the massacre of his minions. Yes, they were not the brightest and there were more than enough people to replace them. The thing that got him mad was the loss of his merchandise i.e. those slaves and the safe house. He wanted his people to find the culprits and dispose of them.

In the old world, Saturday evening used to be special for my wife and I, up until the last six years of her life, we would retire to our room and make love. I say right here that a lot of men don’t like dining at the Y but I really loved my slice of pie. It was a vital part of our love making.

When my wife started to go downhill that was not happening due to discomfort and darn right pain in all her joints. So, I have not had a Saturday night in the last eight years but I remember what it felt like and I was feeling something like that now but it is an hour or two after mid night in the new world.

I was dreaming that my wife and I were having sex. It felt good. I assumed that this was going to be a wet dream. Not wanting to wake up, I kept my eyes shut. Wait, that moaning is not my wife’s voice and the bed is bouncing like I was in a bounce house.

I opened my eyes and found a beautiful black haired totally naked feline humanoid riding me like she was in a rodeo. I almost expected to see her raise one arm high, holding a cowboy hat yelling “Yee Ha”

“Missy! What the hell is going on here?” I could barely get out

“I'm doing something very important. You can just wait until I’m finished! We’ll talk in a few.”

I put my hands behind my head leaned back on the pillows and watched her ride the pony.

Her hands were working on her pleasure button, Missy was really into it and I could see that she was getting close. Her pussy, pun intended, felt tight and very good so I was close to bursting myself. “Don’t you dare come before me!” she demanded as her dam broke.

I felt the contractions and watched her shiver as her eyes rolled up. Her tail was fully up, puffed and ridged. Hearing her in climax, hearing her guttural sounds, I said I was coming to which she said inside,

"Do it inside. Fill me up with your seed." I could not hold any more and filled her.

21

After the effects calmed down, she laid down on top of me while we were still coupled. She propped herself up on her elbows on my chest, put her hands on her cheeks then asked,

“Now what was so urgent that you tried to interrupt me?”

“I was going to ask you what was up?”

She casually said, “You were up, or at least the lower part was up. I couldn’t resist any more.

You are definitely going to initiate Bebe into your harem. I was told that I needed to become your first before her.”

“Bebe, who is Bebe?”

Missy stated in a manner that showed an “ah duh” moment was coming at me.

“Beez the goblin of course! She will be you second, probably before the end of the day.”

I was dumb struck with the answer. I found Beez very attractive and had to admit the thought was on my mind but she had only been living in the manor for just under a week.

“She watches you in that manner you know.”

“So why did you have to be before Beez?”

Missy told me it was the Watcher that told her about Bebe. How she would be a very important part of the harem and the team. So, she has to be initiated.

“The Watcher?”

“Yup, but I needed to be your first!”

She trotted out leaving me with the memory of her pert ass swinging as she left purring and tail swaying.

“Damned Watcher, again. It has to be a running gag of some sort.” I thought but Beez came into my mind.

“Twice in one day, it can be done." I went back to sleep.

Training is the morning routine for us. Now Beez is joining in to learn our ways. I watch as she sneaks peeks at me. I look back and she looks away so I take the initiative and go over to the area she is working in.

“Morning Bebe, is it alright if I call you that?”

"Missy has talked to you about me hasn’t she! Yes, it’s alright by me.”

I ask her, “What direction are you trying to take with your training?”

22

I wanted to see if she had a definite goal or just here to ogle me. Beez explained that on the march back to town I ended up having her ride while I walked. It bothered her so she was trying to improve her endurance.

“What is your skill set?”

I saw what she could do on the bodies of the gang when she was released from the collar. I wanted to know if the two elements of magic we saw was all of her skills or were there more. I pointed to the six archery targets at the outermost point of the training grounds.

“Show me what you can do to those targets. If you can use different methods of destroying the target. One target, one method.”

Bebe said that it was alright with her. “What distance?”

“Why don’t you use close on one and on the next your most effective distance away from that target.”

Chip and Missy heard what I was asking Bebe to show me so they came over to watch. Bebe looked a little nervous but I explained that each member needs to know each other’s capabilities and limitations. I also said that I don’t use the word weakness because we all have limitations. It’s how we are. Bebe seemed to calm down and stepped up to the firing line.

“This will be the closest and most destructive then the furthest and still be effective. We will need more targets than what we have to show you all my skills. I can do variations of both fire and water."

She told me with a pride. That showed me that she was realizing that I care. She wanted to impress me.

I told Chip to see to it. He turned towards the manor, raised his hand and instantly someone appeared. The servant is told to get more targets but asks Bebe,

“Will twenty more be sufficient? “

“That will do” was her reply.

I thought this will be interesting. Bebe starts going through all the portions of her skills. It turns out that she has the affinity for fire, water and earth. Three out of the four elements are extremely rare.

She was able to, with each do a constant stream like a flame thrower, a water jet cutter, and a very powerful sand blaster. She could shoot balls, bullets and bombs in each of the elements.

She was effective at a goodly distance. By the time she was destroying the last of the twenty-six targets, she looked very tired but asked for more targets.

“That’s enough”

23

She needed to stop or she would have dropped.

“I have more I can do. I can still do more.” but she looked exhausted.

She has the talent and the drive; she just needs to work with the others.

“Beez”

The use of her real name made her jump to attention. It was like when a parent used your full proper name. She thought she was in trouble because I stopped her.

“I wanted to see your skills but also, we needed to see your determination. With what you have just shown us, there is no doubt that we desperately need your talent on our team," as extend my hand.

It was a matter of only a few seconds for it to register with her that she was not in trouble, rather she was welcomed into the group.

“Does this mean I won’t have to leave? I finally have a permanent home where I am fully and truly welcome?”

It was Missy that ran over to her and hugged Bebe saying “You are one of us.”

Beez took my hand then proceeded to hug me tightly. “Thank you, thank you, I’m finally home,” as she burst into tears.

I could feel her long suffering aura change into a brighter feeling.

“Okay, let’s all eat breakfast. After that we’ll take a ride. Missy, we need packs for four now and rations for at least three days. See to it, after breakfast and our meeting of course.”

As usual, before an adventure or quest, I hold a team briefing. That way we are all on the same page.

“There are old ruins a day’s ride from here that I want to explore. It belonged to a powerful mage. Until now I did not feel that we would be equipped to handle all the situations there.

People have tried and most have disappeared. Now, due to those disappearances, no one goes near the ruins.

The mage is buried there somewhere on the grounds because he was very possessive of his things. So, there may still be traps that need to be dealt with.”

“Walking or riding?” Chip asks.

“Riding”

24

“Thank the gods” Missy states “I don’t mind the walk but you have a tendency to get into more trouble that way. Anything you see or hear, you’re like a dog that is distracted by a squirrel. Off you go. At least on horses, we can keep up with you “

This way of talking is strange to Beez. Her race doesn’t question the leader let alone in the manner that Missy just did.

“Why are you talking like that to the master?” Beez questions Missy.

Before Missy could reply, I speak up. “I want each team member to state their opinion and feelings up front. I don’t tolerate outright disrespect but it is better to voice the questions now rather that have doubts that would affect the team in battle. Mirth is also acceptable”

I turn to Missy “I’m like a dog after a squirrel?”

“Yup”

“Well, you better pack some biscuits for me.” We laugh and get ready.

Beez was a natural. With just a few instructions on handling a horse. She walked up to the horse, it was slightly smaller than the other horses. She patted it then mumbled to it for a minute. Then, with a step the stable master provided, Beez climbed on the horses back, like she had been riding for a long time, then rode out of the stable to our amazement.

“What did you do?”

“Master, all I did was talk to the horse, it told me it would help me. We have an understanding.”

Horse whisperer. I shrug then say

“Okay then, let’s go”

It was a relatively uneventful ride, only stopping to rest the horses and get lunch. Fortunately for me no squirrels. We camped for the night close but a healthy distance to the ruins. It would be only a ten minute walk in the morning. Need to be fresh when exploring for the mage’s hoard, if there is one. This way we can spend the day exploring then decide if more time is needed or a return trip at a later date.

Around the fire after the camp is set up, we talk about what the next day looks like. “First thing, Chip I need you to scout the area for any snares and traps that are still functional.”

Beez pipes up “I do have the ability to detect magical signatures. Any trap the mage set that are magical, I should be able to detect and hopefully deactivate.”

“Another talent we really needed! That's great Beez” I reach out and rub her back. Her face turned a darker shade of green. Is this what I think it means? Maybe just maybe. I wouldn’t mind a bit.

25

Old world experience. My wife was eighteen and I was twenty when we got married. We were both virgins. We, in the entire time, never had any other partners. I would have fantasies that I would have a harem on that imaginary world, even though the loss would still hurt but the loneliness of having no one to intimately talk to would not be there.

By intimately I don’t mean exclusively sexual, I mean being able to embrace and just feel there are still intimate loved ones very close to you can share themselves with you physically and mentally. I did not have that in the old world. Now I have to let go of the monogamous background I had. Missy and Beez? I feel that I like the idea. Yes, I can like it a lot.

I go into my tent and settle down for the night. Shortly after I turn out the light, someone gently sneaks into my tent. I think it should be Missy based on her pattern over the time we’ve been in the new world but I also must be on alert.

I look and see a small green figure. Beez’s timid voice asks

“Can we talk a little in private?” Game on.

I tell her “Sure come on in. What did you want to talk about?”

“I’ve been always unwelcomed and even abused everywhere I have been. I grew up figuring everyone hated, period. Then I met you. I realized that I was acting just like everyone else, I hated, I was just as bigoted as the people I met. Master, I feel safe for the first time in my life.”

“I feel wanted and I feel loved. The love from and for my team mates but master, no Justin, I love you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I need you in my life because you are my sunshine in what was a dark world. You are my lifeline. I want to offer myself to you. Please make me yours.”

“Beez, you are remarkable. One of the top mages I have met”

I sit up.

“One of the most likable people I could have met.”

I stand up.

“I have liked what I have seen. You are a beautiful woman”

I walk to her and embrace her.

“I love you also. I accept you as mine.”

“Then mate me and mark me as yours in the fashion of my people. Scar me by biting me on the shoulder during our mating.”

26

I know of that practice.

The next morning, we emerge from my tent. I’m tired, very busy night. Bebe is proudly showing her mark. Missy has a funny look to her. On one side she looks a little sad. Like I did something wrong but on the other side she looked happy for Beez. She now knew that the harem was started.

“What’s wrong Missy?”

“Well, now I have to share you. How I feel is that I'm sad that I will not have you exclusively, but I have a real sister now. Sister, just know I’m the first and now you’re the second in line.

We will need to work out a schedule.”

Schedule, I think, I may not be getting too much sleep for a while.

“That schedule needs to have breaks in it so I can sleep through the night.”

“Sleep is vastly over rated!” Missy says waving her hand over her shoulder as she leads Beez away to get a recap.

“This doesn’t look good for you” Chip states while holding back a laugh. He adds

“You said it plenty of times in the old world, be careful of what you ask for. You might just get it.” Then he did laugh.

“Fuck it, their all conspiring against me. You hear that, Watcher! Let’s get to the ruins.”

A short walk to the ruins gave me time to think and laugh.

“This is going to be fun and I’m not talking about these damn ruins. The ruins may be a bust but so far I have two pair in my hand."

Both women are giggling with me and at me.

“Enough, time to get serious. There may be traps up there.”

Missy can’t contain herself

“Yah, but it’s certain that there are traps back here!”

Missy, Beez and now Chip break down laughing.

“Ha, Ha, have your fun at my expense”

“Poor master Justin” Chip retorts and sprints ahead “I’ll scout around and have a basic report in a few”

27

The path that led us to the ruins was well on the way to being reclaimed by the surrounding woods. Some trees looked dead, while others lingered in various stages of the slow process of dying.

Only the faint patterns cast by crumbling stone walls that ran off into the forest showed that once, long ago the area had been clear and well maintained. The size of the trees that broke through these traces of that past made me guess that neglect had started at least seventy-five years ago or more.

I recalled the stereotypical scenes used in most zombie apocalypse video games. Broken windows, rotten timbers, even the slant of shadows that all seemed designed to draw the word ‘spooky’ to mind, like a dare not to feel unsettled. It made clear that the word ruins described such places, they’re ruined.

We get to the site and find Chip is waiting.

“The site is old and a lot of what would be traps have since either gone off or have corroded to the point of being inert.”

Beez answers, “Don’t let the appearance fool you. They may be a trick. Let me do a scan for signatures. Chip would you tell me if the areas I point out are where you found traps?”

Much to our surprise, half of what appeared to be dead traps are really traps themselves.

“Behind that one is a mutate trap,” Pointing to another Beez says that there was a bottomless hole. “Step on it and you will fall for eternity. As long as we are aware of where the active ones that I can't set off, I suggest that we mark and map them. If we decide that we need to come back, we can remove the markers. That will protect our claim to this site. We need to post the site alerting to hidden active traps. If we are done, we should post the map so others can explore the ruins."

“Good points” I said, “let’s do it.” It took a few hours but she was able to find the active traps, deactivate some. The ones that she could not, we mark them.

Inside the main house, as you would expect there wasn’t much of a house left other than walls. The ground floors were barely solid but the ones above were unsafe for any weight heavier that a mouse. The roof was for the most part gone. I knew that we would not be more than today.

I did not tell anyone but the main reason for this adventure was to see how we functioned as a team with the addition of our new mage who, fortunately for me, is the new member of now what is a fledgling harem. It is easy to see that we were needing just such a person.

Unfortunately, my mind flashed the Watcher. I shook my head as if I could shake that thought out my ear and lose it.

There were no hidden spaces that we could find but when Beez scanned for signatures, she got a hit in the cellar.

28

“There is a room down there that has a conceal and preservation spell on which I should be able to break.” Beez reports.

So, we go down and she points to the area. She recites an incantation. Sure enough, a door appears. It opened, still like it was new. Inside was the mage’s work space. There were books of all sorts that will make a fine addition to the manor library.

“Will take all these. Missy, the inter-dimensional bag please.” She puts it on the bench.

“Put every book into the bag. Beez, look at the other things here. If you feel they are useful, put them in. This trip is turning out to be a good one.”

By the time we were through almost everything was in the bag. The only thing left were the chair and desk.

When we emerged from the cellar, Beez suddenly looked in terrible distress.

Going over to her “What’s wrong?”

“Over there” and she points to a small area at the side where there is overgrowth of thorn bushes. “Something is buried there. It’s crying out to me. It is begging me to please save it.

Master, we need to dig it up. Breaking the cellar spell woke it up, but it thought it was a trap going off. When we came out, it felt my presence.”

“It? Is it something living?”

“Yes and no. It is not alive in the sense that we understand but it is aware and now is crying out to me. It senses my magic. Please, we need to dig it up.” She runs over to the site and starts digging with her hands.

I stop her, bringing her back to her senses. No, I did not use the classic slap, I just held her.

“Calm down and think. You can use earth magic so use it. Don’t dig with those delicate hands.

They’ll get rough and that will hurt. Displace the dirt with your magic. It can sense your magic; it will know you are coming for it. Just beware, this could be a trap.”

She understood. “I’ll use the earth magic to make dirt blocks. When I get close to it, I’ll really know if it is a trap, but it’s not. I know it’s not.”

"Do what you can.” Missy shouts “I’ll back you up sister.”

She gets down to around the five foot level and encounters a large wooden box. Each of us knew what it was. This is the old mage’s grave and that is his coffin. Beez opens the lid before I could caution her. There lay the bones of the mage in his now deteriorated burial clothing.

Clutched in his bony hand is his staff. Surprisingly it is the only thing that is not deteriorated.

“This is what was crying out.” as she grips the staff.

29

“Watch for signs that he may be a Lech” I caution her.

“He’s dead” as she pulls on the staff.

His bony hand would not let go. It’s like he still is saying mine, mine, mine, you can’t have it.

That startles us and we go into alert mode. Beez pulls a second and a third time. Still the hand won’t let go. She does the only thing she could think of.

“Water cutter” she shouts as she points to the wrist. Instantly the bones of the wrist were cut and the finger bones dropped off.

“There, you stingy bugger, it’s mine now” and sticks out her tongue at the skeleton.

I help her out of the grave and we cover it back up. Beez is glowing, I mean she is really glowing. A white light is encompassing her whole body and the staff.

“Beez!” I shout as I make a grab for her. Chip steps in front of me to stop me from touching her.

“The Watcher is controlling this situation. It will not harm your new wife. This will make sure that she can protect you so no harm comes to you."

This frustrates me to no end. This is all I get from the both of them so I yell “Why won’t the Watcher show itself to me?!”

“In the Watcher’s own time” Beez replies. There is a calmness in and on her like she has had an epiphany from a god.

“All in good time” Missy tells me “But know this, it is for your own development that the Watcher stays hidden from you. Please bear with it. You will realize why in the end.”

Beez, now over that white light tells me “I have been transformed. This staff is now contented.

It did not like the greedy mage. It wants only to do good. The Watcher has given me the power of that mage and this staff. All their secrets are mine now. I have full control over the seven aspects of magic.”

“Seven, there is only four. The four elements” I tell her like I was a magic teacher.

“That is what this world thinks but besides the fire, water, earth and wind elements there are also light, dark and time magic.”

“Light and dark I can semi understand based on what I read in my old life but time?”

“I now understand the aspect of time magic.” Beez says “Time is fluid even though it seems linear. All we normally understand and experience is today, here and now. Go a second after midnight, today doesn’t change. Only this today becomes yesterday and the expected tomorrow becomes today. We never leave today. I now can, so to speak. With the time 30

element I can contact the tomorrow me for advice on a course's direction. I contact the yesterday me and correct our today’s mistakes."

" All of you must remember this. Tomorrow me may contact the today me to tell me don’t do that, do this. That will be a prevention. Today me may contact the tomorrow me to get a report on an outcome of an action, positive or negative. This way we are prevented from being killed. That is the Watcher’s gift to me.”

Almost sulking “I guess I now have two watchers, lucky me.” I cross my arms and give a harrumph.

“You are wrong on that count. There are now four watchers.” as she looks at Chip and Missy.

Chip nods as Missy giggles.

“I’m never going to get alone time, am I?”

“Nope” they say in unison.

“Let’s get out of here and back to camp. I have a head ache, If that’s okay with all you watchers!”

“That’s okay” Chip tells me “It gives these two an excuse to, quote, rub your head, unquote.”

The two giggle “That’s a good idea” they both tell me.

I lost, but there again, I will win. Go headache.

We break camp the next day and let’s just say I don’t have a headache anymore but I am tired. Thank you for the horses.

31

Chapter 5 The Healer and the Sick Village

As he kicks the dead body down the stairs, Everett yells at the guard at the bottom of the stairs

“Get that piece of shit out of here. He made a mess of my office. Now get me someone that has some brains in their puny skull." Continuing the rant "That bastard had the nerve to come to me and say that he could not find the person who stole my slaves. Tell whoever you find that I want a list of so-called criminals that are not in my gang. One of them might be the culprit. Oh, also get someone up here to clean up this mess. He got his blood all over the place.”

He throws a chunk of meat down the stairs at the body. The guard knows it is the piece is the missing chunk of the dead man’s throat.

It’s been a very tiring couple of weeks since the ascension of Beez into the harem but most importantly to status of the all-knowing mage and time keeper. She has now gone through most of the books brought back from the ruins.

She tells me that some of the books need to be locked away with a prevention spell that would destroy the tomes or the person if someone unauthorized tries to steal them. Some are good knowledge that would not harm if it were to be found. But the remainder are only good as fire starters if it wasn’t for fire magic. Worthless ideas that went down the wrong path to utter humiliation.

I have not been sleeping as long as I should. It’s a proven fact, so the old world television commercial stated, that sleep deprivation leads to other illness. Believe me, it is an interesting, most enjoyable situation, but those women are wearing me out. I need to add endurance training to my routine. I would but I’m tired. It is a harem master's responsibility that I must endure but I think I will have Beez contact her tomorrow self to see if I die again from being drained. They even tag teamed me.

Missy didn’t even have to say she was tagging out, get in there Bebe. The second one is done the other goes in. It's the seconds and attempts at thirds that will be the death of me.

They need a hobby but not me, I'm not a hobby. Considering the first time with Missy maybe I'm the hobby horse. At the end of each night’s romp, I’m shooting dust.

I managed to find the strength to do my morning workout, the one on the field not the girl’s workout, when Chip told me there was a representative from a village that needed desperate help.

32

“He’s in the waiting room outside your office."

"Tell that person that I’ll be there after I clean up."

“Just be prepared. I think that you will be surprised with this one.”

It took me a short while to wash up and get dressed in my “normal” clothes. I need to see if there is such a thing as blue jeans here, if not that will be my new financial investment. These clothes look lame to me. Oh, also tee shirts. If this world had name brands or big bands, we could have those printed on the tee shirts. I need to remind myself to discuss this with Chip.

I sat down at my desk. This time I decided to have my two wives also stand behind me. First impressions are important. Chip escorts the man in and stands this side of the closed door.

This man has the appearance of death on a cracker. The handkerchief in his hand and constantly dabbing his nose. He reminds me of those, in the old world, that depended on those face masks all the time, even when they were driving alone in their car. He also had a light cough that sounded almost forced but unconsciously.

“What brings you to me today?” I even don’t care about his name. He creeps me out by acting like I will give him some disease.

“Our village is sick. Our healer has gone out and has not come back. We are worried that something has happened to her. Maybe she has even died. What’s going to happen to us?

We have been left to die. We need you to find our healer and bring her back. We need her.

We are willing to pay your fee. Anything you require because, we’re sick you know.”

I’m choking back the laughter and also the bile.

“To do this job, I require that you cover expenses plus an extra 200% of that amount for my fee. We will need a signed contract to those conditions with a forfeiture clause that states that if you do not pay, I will own title to your entire town.”

I laid it on as thick as he did, but I was totally aware of what I was saying. As I was dictating the terms, Missy was putting them on our form contract. I hold out my hand. Chip takes the document from Missy then hands it to me.

“All you need to do is sign and date this.”

I hand him a sharp knife,

“I will need a drop of blood on that contract. My mage wife” pointing to Beez “can read the blood and prove that you signed, as representative of your village and of your own free will. If that is acceptable, please sign. If you need, my mage will draw that blood.”

“I'm sick you know, so please have her be gentle, I’ll sign. Anything to get our healer back.”

33

He signed, Beez got the blood.

"Chip get the village location and the direction 'their healer' went. As soon as this clown wakes up. He seems to have passed out at the sight of his own blood. He’s sick you know. We’ll leave in the morning. Missy, please have this office cleaned while we are out. We don’t want to catch anything he may or may not have.”

Missy laughs. “It will be done. What will it be like to own that town?”

“If the rest of the town is like him, it will be an open field because I’ll burn it to the ground. I wouldn’t help them if it wasn’t for the fact that someone is missing."

The next morning, we set out. Our individual packs are ready but this time we are using a pack horse since we do not know how long it’s going to take to find the missing healer. Beez casually asks me what was my expense rate.

The currency, in this world, is in coin form by the tens, copper being the lowest. Ten coppers make a silver, ten silvers make a small gold then there is a large gold and finally a royal coin.

“Beez, the average person makes maybe a silver and three coppers a week if they are in a town situation. A farm community may work on the borrow against harvest system. Like a barter system. Normally I base it the person doing the asking.”

“When I was on the quest to recover the wife and daughter of that store owner, which is when we got you, he offered everything. All his money, his store, his house with all the belongings.

You see he offered everything to get them back. That was why I set the rate at expenses and the right to spoils and salvage. You were the price I received. The store owner never got even the expense report. Just a heartfelt letter saying paid in full. I got the best end of that deal”

I leaned over and gave her a kiss.

She was bubbly. She turned to Missy and said “I have him all to myself tonight, I have to work off that expense he is owed.”

I’m looking dumb founded as I hear Missy.

“You go for it, girl, but I got dibs on him tomorrow night."

We camped for the night in a pleasant clearing. It takes two days on horse to reach their village from the manor. I ask myself how did that so sick man make such a harrowing journey just to see me? Should have sent a messenger. Oh, I forgot, the village is sick.

After a solo mission last night, tired again, we reached the village midafternoon. We were right, everyone looked like they thought they were on deaths door. We’re not staying here for any longer than it takes to gather the final information.

34

“Missy, Beez, check out the healer’s home. See if there are any clues as to a region that she would gather medicinal herbs. Chip and I will try to find someone that is well enough to answer a few questions. I want out of here no longer than an hour.”

“I sense that the healer's house is that one over there” Beez said. “With the powers I have now I may only need a quarter of that.”

“Good. Find us and we’ll get the hell out of here.”

It actually was less time. They found the healers journal with the herbs, locations and recipe formulas.

I did not find any one that could give me any more information. Most of the town was sitting outside the undertakers waiting for their turn. The undertaker was sick also.

We left South towards the mountains. That is where we should find Christine Shaw, healer in herbs and healing magic. All I know is that if she is alive, we will find her.

The area I think she is in is near those mountains. That looks as if it would take us at least a week to get there on horseback. Someone walking it would take considerably longer since they did said that they thought that the horse she had might be sick.

She must have told those people that she would be gone for at least a month. With her notes we found out that those medicinal herbs couldn’t be bought. They only grew in a certain section a lower valley in that range. Yup, I’m burning that town. I must sterilize with fire.

Camping that night, we heard a very loud voice.

“Attention in the camp, okay to come in? I have no hostile intention.”

Past new life once more kicked in.

“Drako, is that you?”

"Yes, it is.”

“Then come on in, you old fire fart!”

As he enters the camp fire light, Drako, appears to be humanoid, red wings with horns otherwise mostly human. He is rather large but that is not his true form, you see he is a full dragon that can transform into a semi human shape. That full dragon form is awesome, imposing and downright frightening.

“I was flying over on my way home when I thought I smelt something familiar although a kinda funky smell.”

35

“Drako, I'd like you to meet my wives, Missy the felid and Beez the goblin mage. This is Chip, my team mate. Team, meet Drako an old friend that I met over the years on adventures. He has pulled my fat out of the fire many times. By the way, kinda funky smell? I washed myself!”

“Why haven't you come over to my place. It’s been a long while and you know that Sorra loves to hear your tales of adventure. Dashing tales of the hero rescuing people in distress, saving maidens and such.”

The mention of Sorra brings warm thoughts to my mind. A very healthy dragon newt she is a few years younger but very attractive.

No get those thoughts out of your head. She’s still a child in dragon years. I say to myself.

"So, what brings you out this far?” Drako inquires.

“We are trying to find a healer that has gone missing from a village. They want her back. They are all...sick.”

“I think I know that village. Bad feelings come when I get near it. Feelings that I need to burn it away.” Drako adds. We laugh because we have the same feeling,

“You guessed right. That’s the village”

The night was getting late so Drako decided to leave. As he said he was flying home and it wouldn’t take him long to get there. It made no sense to offer him to stay the night, but I did anyways but he declined.

We parted with a promise that I would visit very soon. I was told that I need to bring my team with me, for the tales of course. I wouldn’t leave without them but it made me wonder why he emphasized it.

I dismissed the thought and went to bed, with my two ladies. It seems that Missy's dibs were canceled by mutual agreement. Why wasn't I involved with that decision?

Chip looked at me, “I do miss those quiet nights back at the manor. My room is at the far end away from any nocturnal noise.” Then he went into his tent. Sure enough, the noise returned.

The next few days went smoothly and then we were at the valley. Off in the distance we could see a woman just lying down on the grass looking at the sky and singing to herself. She is alive. Her healthy horse grazed near her.

I yelled from that distance “Christine Shaw, is that you?”

The woman shot up and was ready to run for her horse. She was a five foot nine human with long reddish brown hair tied in twin braided tails. Why were the women in this world so gorgeous?

36

Christine Shaw

“What do you want?”

“I was hired by your village to find you. They were worried that you might be dead.”

“NO! Those shit head hypochondriacs think they are sick and need their medicine or they’ll die. They are worried about only themselves, CRAP! Why do you think I am out so far? This is for my health, my mental health. I go on these little vacations just to get away from them."

" When I’m away, I have a crazy wish.”

“What’s that?” I ask.

“I wish someone would burn the place down. Fire purifies you know.”

We laugh again. It seems like everyone feels the same way. She yells and screams obscenities stomps the ground then tells us to come on over.

“Are you four healthy?”

“Yes, we are, why you asking?”

“You looking for a good healer for your team? I think I need a change in scenery.”

I look at my team,

“Do we need a healer?”

They give me that look, so I reply.

“You’re hired”

“Good, let me get my things. We can discuss the terms on the way back. I only hope now that it isn’t burnt down because I really need to tell them where they can shove their village.”

Beez says “I think we have a lively one here.”

37

Missy smiles that smile which only means, the Watcher, but Justin tries not to see it. Beez just nods to Missy.

We started on our way back to the village. I got to know Christine and her story. They had paid for her to get the training when she showed the aptitude for healing. She was originally from that village. It seems that the sick migrated there.

The deal was that she would be their healer. She would get the use of a central house and a modest living wage. She had to stay there for three years but at the end of that time they came up with an altered version that increased the servitude time. Then they attached back rent for the house.

"They give me permission so I could go looking for my materials but I have to be back within two days, they always added because they were sick. I stayed but this time I decided that I was going to leave. I came here to get up the courage to just leave. I think that they will try something because they sent you to find me."

“You are with us now. There is nothing you need to fear.” I assured her.

We were sitting at the night camp when I started the conversation.

“I ask you to tell us about what your able to do? Is it just herbal?”

"Besides the herbal, I can use high heal magic but only once a day on one person. The village does not know that, but I can cause just about everything to regenerate. Short of a severed head or a killing heart wound. I can cause your body to regenerate that body part.”

This caused all of us to be dumb struck. “Damned Watcher again” I thought. We scored big again.

By the time we got back to the village, much to everyone’s surprise it was gone, completely burned to the ground.

“We had to do it.” The last villager said as he was leaving the town. “It was cursed, the town was cursed we had to burn it to cure everyone.” He just kept muttering that as he left.

“Damn, they burned my house also. I could replace everything with the exception of my journal. I’ll really will regret that loss. It represents years of research.” She was almost in tears.

I reached in my bag and pulled out a book that I almost forgot I had.

“Is this what you are talking about?”

She grabbed it from me and hugged it like a lost child.

“How, how?”

38

Beez uttered those words,

“The Watcher.”

I told her that we searched her home to find out where she could have gone. We kept the journal just in case you were not there and we had to look elsewhere”

"Thank you, Let’s get out of here”

“Yea, let’s go home and get you some new things”

Missy reached into her inter-dimensional bag and pulled out a change of clothes for Christine.

They were the exact size for this almost six foot woman and she had boots that also were exact size.

She said "The rest of what she needs is in her room at the manor."

I tried not to think about it.

39

Chapter 6: Abigail and The Amazon

Everett is starting to lose it. The last person he sent out to get the information never came back. He was last seen crossing the border to the next country and showed no signs of stopping there. “What the fuck! Do I have to go myself. If that’s what it takes, there will be more heads rolling that just the people who stole my slaves.”

We've been back at the manor for a week. Having a healer is just like insurance, good to have but you hope that you never need it.

In my old world, mid-November, there was a heavy rain and then a micro burst. I came home around nine in the evening. The micro burst hit, causing a large ash tree to come through my roof, down to the attic floor. It cost twenty seven thousand dollars to fix it. Thanks to insurance, I only had to pay the first five hundred dollars.

Having Christine as a healer is just the same when we need one, we have the top of the line.

The only thing is that now the three women are plotting something. I feel another member is in the near horizon. All I will have to go on is trust the Watcher. If I see the glow like what happened with Beez I’m running.

I just give up. The light thing will happen, the women giggle, I’m doomed. I did wish for a harem.

The hinting now started, the looks and whispers. We are back on the training field for our morning routine. Beez is now keeping up with us for the most part. She is now being trained in hand to hand with Chip as the instructor.

Unfortunately, accidents do happen. Beez in trying to take Chip down moved and twisted her ankle. Christine ran to her, knocked Chip out of the way and cast high heal on Beez. Almost instantaneously the white glow was on Beez’s ankle, in the blink of an eye she was healed.

Christine turns angry, “Can’t you be more careful?!" Looking at Chip.

Beez tells her “Chris, calm down. It was my mistake. I did not compensate for footing conditions. I need to learn this and I really feel that you do too.”

40

I go over to the scene. “First, calm down everyone. Christine”

“I prefer that you call me Chris”

“Okay Christine"

But I have a habit of reverting back to the full name,

"We get into dangerous situations and sometimes there will be injuries. This training is to ensure that they die, not us. Training must be in actual force. If we don't, you may cave in actual combat. Beez can use powerful magic but what if she gets in a situation that a magic canceler is used. She needs to protect herself."

"Chip did you use excessive force?”

“No, I was using normal force since she is just learning. It will be weeks before she will be able to use above normal force so I will continue using normal force.”

“Good answer”

“Beez, did you feel he used excessive force?”

“No, it was my error. My foot caught in the dirt and my body continued twisting. It was bad foot work.”

“Christine, I know that you are now, in a very short time, protective of my wives, I like that in you, I really like that, but you need to observe closely to what is happening not just to who. I saw her foot stick. We’ll have the field serviced but, in actual combat, you can't have and most likely won’t have perfect conditions."

"I encourage everyone to voice their opinion but when you yelled at Chip you showed that in, what could be a crisis, you could jeopardize a mission. On the battle field, anger can be useful, just watch, and watch out. When Missy gets angry at the enemy, they disappear becoming mist. When one team member gets angry at another team member, it could cost our lives.”

"I want you to take hand to hand with Chip. Beez is right, there will be times that you need to defend yourself. This will give you a greater understanding of the team. Now we are not mad at you. Just take the advice and show up to train tomorrow morning. Okay?”

I give her a gentle pat on the back and felt a little tingle. What was that? I think I’m in trouble.

That night there is a knock on my door. My two don’t knock they come in when they feel in the mood with the exception of a called night. They still walk in.

“Come in.”

41

The door opens and it is Christine. She is decked out in what could be described as covering as much as shear drapes on a summer window. They don’t cover anything, boy they don't.

"Justin, I just want to apologize to you for my actions this morning. Thinking about what you said, I was wrong. I came to ask, are you going to throw me out? Please don’t, I beg you.

With that village burnt, I have nowhere to go.”

“Please don’t tell me that is why you’re wearing that outfit because I’m not throwing you out.

As long as you learn, I have no problem.”

“Missy and Bebe told me to wear this. They did assure me that either way, you would not throw me out."

I can’t believe what I’m going to tell her,

“Christine, If I think your intentions are what you feel you need to do, you don’t need to. Don’t degrade both of us by thinking sex is the answer. I’m going to tell you to go back to your room for tonight. I am not available, as much as I want to, I will not. Please go back to your room.”

“Aw come on, do her!” I hear through the crack of the now slightly open door.

“Missy, you go back to your room. You’re also cut off tonight.”

“See I told you”

“Beez, you’re cut off also. Both of you for putting her up to this.”

“Spoil sport.” as the two walk away. Christine wants to say something but hesitates.

“Christine, that hesitation is why you got stuck in sick town. We will talk in the morning. Good night. Please close the door”

Tomorrow is going to be interesting.

During the night I heard a whisper in my ear telling me,

“Chris was the third. You need to accept her.”

"I recognize your voice, Missy."

“No this is the Watcher.”

I roll over, look directly into her eyes and yell,

"OUT CAT, OUT”

42

Morning came after a restless sleep. Thinking how we are going to resolve this. As per my routine, I got up, washed and dressed. I headed out to the training grounds. Chip was already there doing his warm ups.

As usual we are the first out so I have a talk with Chip. I tell him what I have in mind. I believe that the two wives will get the intention and join. Very shortly Beez arrives and I fill her in on the plan. She agrees to join in but admits that she won’t be up to our levels, yet. Of course, she would not be at our levels. Neither would I if I hadn’t used my power of copy.

We start the dance of the swords as Chris along with Missy come out of the mansion. Chip and I start a side by side dance. We were going through all the movements slowly at first. To my surprise, Beez pulls out two long daggers. With her size they could be like a sword to her.

She has seen Chip and I do this almost every day, at least once or twice. She aligned herself on the other side of Chip and is able to keep up with our slower movements but with a twist.

We are using one sword and counter balancing the sword with our other arm. Beez did not have the weight of a sword so her other arm was doing countering movements. Even I was impressed and thought I might try to learn that style.

“Dance of the daggers” the mind voice said “select all or current page.” I like what I see but decide only to use current page at this time. “Current page, copy and paste enter” The buzz hit me and then the understanding. As I was using the sword, I said, “Beez after the routine is finished, I want to have you show me that dance, you willing to teach me?”

She smiles “Yes”

We continue while starting to speed up. At the agreed point we drop our weapons and proceed to go through the martial arts dance. Missy gets the message and joins in but, just to be coy, the imitation watcher steps in front of me and copies my movements as if to counter.

Beez steps in front of Chip and does the same. Christine is watching intently.

When we reach the end of the dance. We take a break. Beez does the unexpected and throws a curve ball at Chip. She walks over to him, gives him a hug and says to him that she was sorry for being so clumsy. She releases Chip with a promise that she will be more aware of her footing. Then walks away to sit with Chris and Missy. They again appear to be conspiring.

Both Missy and Beez tell Christine that they were sorry for putting her in an awkward situation.

She replied “It’s not like I was forced. I can tell he is a decent person especially when it would have been easy for him to take me last night but he didn’t. Instead, he sent me away gently. I want to talk to him later about last night."

Missy stopped short of saying anything when she noticed I was right there.

“The watcher came to visit later last night but turned out to be an impostor, Missy”

43

She shrugs her shoulders as her head goes down taking so I’m busted look.

“I tried to voice my feelings” with her poor me, pet me, eyes staring at me. I didn’t buy it.

I turned to Christine

“Christine, if I had let you in my bed last night, both of us would not be able to look each other in the eye this morning. You were worried about being thrown out. I could tell by the tone of your voice. You were truly scared of that possibility. These two goaded you into coming to me room and dressing you up like that.”

I look at the both of them

“I’m dismayed that those two, who I thought knew me, would think so little of me as to think I was on the animal level”

I used my cave man voice “Um, pussy, mine, here.”

"That’s not me and I thought they knew it.”

They both said their sorry. I patted their heads in an I understand silent gesture then continued

“Missy actually stole a ride just after Beez came here, I was timid and she wanted to, no, I’m sorry Missy, the Watcher wanted her to be first.”

“That’s right. I didn’t steal it I was instructed to.”

“That aside, Beez, you entered my tent and told me that you loved me. There was truth in your words that you told me and I accepted you”

“Yes, you did” as she put her hand on my claim scar on her shoulder.

“Missy the very next night demanded that I also claim her the same way.”

“Christine, I know you did not mean it to sound that way but my take was please don’t throw me out, here take my body and use it as rent. Can I stay?”

She now hung her head down and said. “It felt like it”

I got up and sat by her, put my arm on her shoulder and pulled her close. “I really like you but please never, I say never, degrade yourself like that again. The fierce woman that yelled at Chip is what you are. You need to think about what I have told you.”

“Now when you can come to me and I hear it in your voice also see it in your countenance that you have an affection for me and you are truly willing, I would gladly accept you. But let’s not do anything until you are really sure.”

44

I look at the other two “I expect better of you two from now on”

“Yes Master” and they meant it.

I got up.

“Beez, show me the dagger dance of yours.”

The remainder of the exercise period went well. Beez showed me what she was doing and explained why she did each counter move with the other dagger. She does this by holding the right hand dagger blade up and the left hand blade down. Stab up and plunge down. Christine was with Chip as he started showing her the basics. Missy was just doing her running and random attack on the poles. Although it looked like she was enjoying the “scratching posts”

After a while I said "Enough, let’s clean up and get breakfast. Then we have a meeting.

Something has come to my attention that needs our help.”

Washed, changed and fed we all met in the office. Looking around I commented,

“Even one more and we’ll need a bigger room to meet in.”

Chip tells me “We have plenty of larger rooms. A few that could easily hold twenty.”

I cringed “I hope we don’t get that big. We'll start to look like Everett’s gang. Get that set up as soon as possible. Maps, inventory lists and anything that we will need to have to plan. If we have one that has a side room that can hold a few sofas for casual meetings would be even better”

He nods as if nothing more need be said.

"The thing I wanted to discuss is that a forest that is around a five day ride from here has become infested with feral goblins. In deference to my lovely wife, feral goblins are those ones that have no leader, just want to fight, rape and appear to be dumber than a red brick”

“Aren’t all male goblins like that?” Beez comments with a chuckle.

Christine adds “Aren’t all males like that?” Now the three women are outright laughing.

“We are straying from the subject at hand and by the way you two”

looking in the direction of Missy and Beez.

“You both have gone feral on me plenty of nights.”

“That’s different” they say in unison.

“Back to the subject. There has been a marked rise in destruction and kidnapping of females in that area. This will be a good exercise for our team. Beez, no going berserker on them just 45

to get payback on your previous treatment by your tribe. We need your head in the game. The rest of you” I give Beez a kiss, “this is my wife and your team mate. She does not have the dangling male equipment that the male goblins have. Kill only green dingles.” Now we all laugh.

"Beez, I have been meaning to ask. What happened to your staff? You haven't been carrying it of late." She has the biggest smile. A smile that tells me that she feels something good has happened.

Beez thinks about that night at the manor. It was shortly after her rescuing the staff from the grave of the old mage. She was reading one the mage’s books. The staff has been helping her understand the writings. This was the way she was able to tell Justin which needed to be kept under lock and key, which could be public and the rest, as she said, could be used to light a fire.

On that night. the staff started to talk. She knew, by its tone, that it had something it wanted to talk about. She felt that it weighed heavy on it.

Beez said "It seems that something is bothering you. If it would help, I'll listen."

"I do not know how you will respond but I know that you are the one I have waited for. You are truly the one I was meant to be with. My perfect owner"

She did not know what to say.

To hear that she, an outcast goblin mage, was the one the staff had been longing to be with made her warm. Now she was special to both the staff and to Justin. Beez could not see her life getting any better. The staff told her about the different owners, some good and some bad but the last one was greedy to the bone.

Beez said "That mage wouldn't let go even after death."

"The Watcher gave you my powers" the staff told her, “But what the Watcher did not mention was that I am the key that fully opens them. I chose not to open the time skill for all my previous owners. The damage they could have caused could have destroyed this world. The Watcher showed me your soul. I knew then I could unlock that last skill."

It continued "I want you to be my last owner."

.

"Your last owner? You are eternal. How can I be your last owner?"

"I want to merge with you. I want to become one with you. If we do that, I will be linked with your life. When you die, I will die with you. I never want another person to have me after you.

Please let us merge? You will have access to all my experiences, I will become just those instinctive thoughts you will have. With those, you will be the greatest mage ever."

Beez only concern, "Will this change me in the way that it will affect my feelings and relationship with Justin? If it will, I will not agree to the merge."

46

"Nothing will affect those feelings. They are too strong even for me. That is part of the reason I know you are my one."

"Then I agree to us merging. How do we do this?"

"Just hold me and clear your mind. The words are in you. When you feel them, I'll know when you feel them. At that moment we both do the chant. Once done we will become one."

Beez relaxes, clears her mind. Not knowing how long she was in that state, she saw the words of the chant. She read them and at the same time as the staff said them. When the last word was done. A golden light enveloped the both of them. She felt warm, enlightened, enriched with a feeling of peace. the staff was gone physically. What seemed like an idle thought was the staff giving a relaxed sigh and thanked her. Beez was truly one with the staff and it was correct. Her feelings for Justin were the same but now she also felt love for herself.

She thought.

"Thank you, staff, I can feel that you are happy."

"I am"

Beez came back from those thoughts and answered Justin,

"The staff and I have merged. It did not want to be stolen and back with evil. It asked if it could merge with me. It said that it would take on my life span. The staff said that I was its perfect owner. It never wants anyone else, so when I die it will perish with me, never to exist again.

This way I do not have to carry it to weal our power. Especially with the time affinity, I now can use it without needing the staff in my hand. The staff and I are one."

"As long as you are comfortable with it, so am I. I'm truly happy for you."

I continue. "Chip we are riding again with three ride able pack horses, just in case we need it.

See that Christine is comfortable with a new horse."

The horse she rode on when we found her was old so we put it out to pasture to live the rest of its life in comfort.

"Missy plan on a month of essential food and supplies. We should be able to hunt for meat.”

Missy reminds me of her inter dimensional bag but better to be over cautious than too complacent.

“Christine, we need enough medical supplies to cover us. There may be no time to brew up potions.”

“I will do that”

47

“Good, Chip, she will need an inter dimensional bag for her stuff. If we do not have another bag like Missy’s get one today. We leave at sunrise”

"We have extras" Chip affirms.

One thing about Chip is that he has access to an information network that outsiders don't have access to. He dresses like a butler, acts like a butler and talks like a butler. For that reason, when he goes into Beall to buy things that I request, he is invited into the circle of gossiping servants of other nobles.

He sometimes shares what he hears with me that is pertinent information to the team. That is how I heard of the goblin rampage. I wonder what he shares with the other servants. I hope it is not about the harem’s night maneuvers. Don't want to know.

A week on the trail felt good. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. Ride a little then walk the horses. Eat trail campfire food, eliminate a few feral goblins. Ordinary stuff. Adventuring is better than sitting at home alone. I’m happy. Out with friends, two with benefits. I’m doing, just not existing. I have been on other adventures since coming here but now it's different. In the old world after my family was gone, I could have traveled but what’s the sense without pleasant company no one to share memories. Now I have company, to share, and share we did.

During the week we met a new feline humanoid, Abigail, Abigail is tiger striped, two tone brown with green eyes. She is an athletic hunter with what I would call street smarts. She is almost hyper which makes her a good fighter but best in gorilla fighting, snipe and run.

Abigail found us setting up camp for the night. She asked to stay the night with us, safety in numbers. We said it was okay. Missy and Beez, already in contact with the Watcher, look at each other and shake their heads as if to say she’s not a candidate for the harem.

The Watcher is absolutely quiet. It seems that Abigail has no interest in a human. Very uninterested in Justin but her eyes are following Chip like he was catnip. Even to the point of ignoring the two humans. She also is looking at Missy with almost angry eyes, challenging eyes.

48

Abigail

Missy had enough. She accepts the challenge and goes nose to nose.

“What the hell is your problem bitch!” Missy yells with attitude. “We let you into our camp. We fed you and what do you do? You ignore my husband”

Now Abigail looks puzzled “What? Is Chip not your mate?”

Missy suddenly breaks into a full blown belly laugh. I swear I thought that she was going to pee herself she was laughing so hard.

“You can have that one, Justin is my mate and Bebe’s also. Soon Chris” as she looks at Justin and winks.

“That poor excuse for a cat is my brother and Justin’s butler.

"Now why were you ignoring our husband?”

Shocked is the best word to describe Abigail. For the first time in a very long time, she is dumbfounded.

“I’m not into humans, sorry” she gets out, “I wanted to stake a claim on this handsome feline, if his owner will allow it.”

"That’s up to him” putting myself into the commotion “Chip is not a bonded servant; he really is a close old friend. It’s a long story that does not need to be told but he is my butler, my defender, my team mate and most important, he is my friend. So as is said, whatever he decides is fine with me."

49

"If he is agreeable, I would like to join up with your team. I have been a loner for too long. I have realized for a while now that solo life is not what it is cracked up to be."

Abigail tells us. Having been alone for those couple of years in the old world, I can feel that she really means what she says. Being alone sucks.

"The only thing I will demand is that you do not disrespect anyone in my team. I mean anyone, that includes future additions to the team or my harem. If you accept those terms we will see if you fit into the team. As of now you must leave your racist views at the door. We deal with anyone that needs our help, any race. Those attitudes don’t belong here and could prove a detriment in combat. Do we have an understanding?” I extend my hand to her.

She looks at Chip. She can tell that he is in full agreement with me.

” Okay, I was rude, I’m sorry” she took my hand.

I feel that she took it to heart. Chip’s demeanor brightened, could it be our boy is interested.

Is that ice melting? What an interesting trip this is turning out to be.

Since that first encounter, Abigail has mended fences to the point that the self-appointed nickname giver is now calling her Abby. My girls are not calling her sister. I don’t think that they will. Maybe Missy since Chip is her brother but that relationship has not blossomed, Yet.

We continued on to the infested forest.

The closer we got the more trouble we found. Also, a group of thieves. This far out? We can only assume that by the low quality, they died quicker than expected, they had to be Everett’s.

Normally I’d say it's good to whittle down your opponent’s resources but Everett is into cheap labor so it does not matter. At least we now have their horses. I tied a string of three to the pack horse. This way we could rest our horses by switching them out. We let the rest of them run free.

I also insisted that Abigail rode. She protested that she felt better running but I told her that, if necessary, we had to break into a run and she would be left behind. She could have kept up because we weren't doing more than a trot but I don't want to lose her. I'm selfish. I watch Chip and I see the concern in his body language every time she breaks for the woods to run.

for our sake she needs to ride.

We also started running into the feral goblins. I will say now that Abigail is turning out to be a great asset. Her stalking and scouting is second only to Chip. Of course, I have my own predisposed favorites. She will be an asset.

This trip is proving fruitful. We snagged Abigail but the next one is a gem. Her name is Hilda.

An Amazon, who is a skilled warrior. Excels in all around combat. Seven foot two inches goddess, green hair short as not to interfere in combat tan skinned with red eyes. We found her in a fight with an extremely large hoard of goblins. She was swinging her sword but it really appeared that she was about to be overwhelmed.

50

“Mind if we join the party?"

As we came to her aid not waiting for an answer. With the now seven of us we made short work of the remainder. This is more than an infestation. Something or someone is behind this.

I get a nagging feeling in my gut no actually the pain at the exit of the digestive track. Everett, but how?

Hilda

Resting we introduced our selves. She told us that her name is Hilda

“We came to eradicate these hoards because of the trouble they are causing.”

Something hit me like a ton of bricks, women are being abducted could that be the objective of Everett? Let’s think about that for now. I need time to think.

After quite a few battles with the feral goblins, the encounters have trickled down to a point that we are returning to the mansion.

Hilda was fierce in battle but now she seems almost shy. Leave it to my girls, unlike when Abigail joined the group, the three take Hilda off to the side to talk.

“What type of man is Justin?” Hilda asks the three.

Missy, being the first “The thing you should know is that Bebe and I are his wives. The plan is for Chris to become the third tonight.”

Christine adds

51

”I went to him weeks back begging him to not cast me out because I messed up during a training exercise. I went to him to exchange sex for the permission to stay. That did not work.

He refused my advances even though I was all but nude. He taught me to have a greater respect for myself.”

“He told me that if I came to him honestly and stated my desires with no strings attached, he would accept me. I now realize that I will not be able to live without him in my life. Just like these two I now find that I love him and need to share my life with his. Tonight is that night. By morning I will be his third wife, I will then have that contact with the Watcher. Justin will be accepting more wives in the future. We won’t know until an entity named the Watcher chooses the next. We three are connected to Justin because of the Watcher."

“Now as for you,” Missy clearly states “The Watcher has told both Beez and me that you will be his fourth bride. Our job is to love him, comfort him in his times of sadness and defend him by fighting beside him.”

Hilda ponders what she just heard. She looks at the three. A feline, a goblin and a human.

She thinks that he may be the one she is looking for. All her life she only was looked at for fighting in battles. As far as relations she only encountered sex driven men that would have cast her aside the moment they were finished. Could she really find happiness?

“I look at the three of you and see three different races with one thought, Justin. Would he accept someone like me? An overgrown fighting machine?”

“What are you talking about” Beez questioned "I, no we can tell that he has been taken by your beauty. Your fighting skills are secondary. They are important but not his top priority. He can tell when beauty is skin deep or when it is a beauty of heart. You have both.”

Missy states, “Sit with him, just talk to him. Be honest with him and watch him. You will almost immediately have the answer you need. When you find the answer come talk with us but we will already tell by how you look after. Just remember be honest, the Watcher is now watching over you. After you decide we’ll tell you more especially why the watcher’s endorsement is the most important thing that can happen to you. The Watcher only wants what will make him happy and keep him safe.”

“Now go over to him and talk but remember not too late, Chris has called for a solo tonight.”

It’s night, time to go to bed, so I go into my tent. I do a quick field wash, dry myself off then climb between my blanket and my cushion. The tent flap opens and there standing in the tent is a fully clothed Christine.

“It seems like you have finally made up your mind. So, I am willing to hear what you have to say.”

“The last time we were like this I was trying to bargain sex for lodging. I did not have any other feelings except the terror of being thrown out. For that I beg your forgiveness. I come to you now fully dressed for a purpose.”

52

“And what would that be?”

“I have watched you for the few weeks I have been here and realize that my feelings for you have blossomed. Justin, I love you. I would like to become your third wife if you will have me.

No strings attached, no false feelings. I hope that you will let me be with you. Your future is a shining star, so full of life and light. I want, no, need desperately to be a part of that sunshine.

Will you accept me?”

I get up and embraced her “I always hoped this would be the outcome. Yes, you shall be my third wife."

She tells me “Then take me and claim me like you did with Bebe. No ring on a finger is needed. Her mark is her pride. I want that pride also.” she starts to undress. Another night to remember.

The next morning two wives and an Amazon are anxiously looking at the tent door. When we emerge. They run over like school girls. They look at her shoulder and then drag her away for all the glorious details of the night. I swear, again with the glow around her, just like Beez had.

Looking at them makes my heart feel a little warmer. I love them all, including Hilda. She probably will be at my door soon, I hope she will be. My life is good, tiring but good.

When we’re on an adventure or quest, I’m going to need a bigger tent. I need to have Chip get a large on that holds at least twelve. For the room, only for the room. Nothing more. Five people need elbow room.

We manage to take out the remainder of the goblin infestation but are unable to find any trace of those women taken. Not even bones that would suggest that they were eaten. Everett!

Chapter 7: A Tea Party in the New World

Something has been bothering me since we returned from the goblin infestation. Where were those abducted women? There is no trace of them. No bodies, no bones, nothing. That is what is bothering me. Goblin males abuse, torture, sexually assault and kill their female captives. Normally you would see either whole bodies or at least remnants, like gnawed on bones. we found absolutely nothing. Not a trace of them.

One name keeps popping into my mind. Everett.

Everett deals mostly in slaves that he has had abducted. Mostly female due to the special needs of his clients. I need to call a team meeting to see what the others think. I don't want to jump to conclusions. I still remember a wise old man from the old world saying,

"It's only paranoia till you're proven right."

I feel it's not paranoia.

In the lounge that is off the war room,

53

"I must say Chip that you have done a wonderful job on this room. Restful but semi formal.

That painting needs to go"

"Ask your wife, you guess which one. She insisted that it was going to be in here."

Looking at the painting you see a seductively posed nude figure. She is stretched out on what used to be called a fainting couch. One that has a long backless part where your legs go with only a small portion of back that a fainted person can rest their back and head. The nude is …

."Missy, what is up with this?"

"Hopefully you" she smirks "The other two paintings are almost finished."

"Nope, it comes down and the others won't be hung here."

"Oh, so we can hang them in your rooms?"

"That's not why I called this meeting"

"I want to hear what the teams take on the goblin mission?"

"My take" Christine says "We came, we killed." The others expressed the same.

"What caused the infestation? That's my first question. The second is Where are the abducted women?"

Silence. All had that look of 'can you read my mind' so I voiced my feelings.

"I feel that the answer to both is just one name, Everett. Here is what I think has happened.

Let's suppose that someone got those goblins stirred up into frenzy as a distraction to get more slaves."

The room was still silent but only for a moment.

"I was worried that I was the only one" Abigail told us, "I had some encounters with slavers in the past. They never turned out good, for them at least. They were a rag tag outfit that only could have been Everett's low lives."

I add, "Beez has firsthand experience with being abducted."

I ask Beez "As our resident, and might I add beautiful expert, what do male goblins do with their captured females?"

She winks at me, "I'll show you later just how a beautiful expert shows her appreciation. I call solo dibs."

Missy, without missing a beat "I'll pencil you in."

54

"Can we get back on the subject. Wait, pencil her in? I will meet with the harem on that subject later. so Beez, sorry, please continue, about the male goblins!"

"Okay. Male goblins, when it comes to female hostages, are merciless. Rape, sodomy, cutting, mutilating and eventually killing those females. It is also not uncommon for them to eat them. In extremely rare instances, a small number of captured women would be taken back to their base for breeding stock but not when they are on a frenzy rampage. "

"Abigail, while you were out scouting did you come across any signs that this is what took place?"

She answers "No"

Hilda also confirms that she never has seen any signs like that in this out break but,

"I have, in past travels, come across the, shall I say, the remnants of their captives. Not a sight that you will forget."

"Did they appear to try to hide any or all of the evidence?"

"No. The pile showed that they never were concerned with that."

"Logic dictates that, if there is no trace of the females, the goblins did not take them so it had to be someone else. Chip, I'm going to need a few things from Beall's general store. No hurry for you to get back so I'll let you hang around. Talk to your fellow servants. In other words, tap into the gossip hot line. We need anything concerning female slaves. Where and who sold them to who. Any information you can get even if it doesn't make sense. The rest of you, I want you to think about anything that you may have heard or seen that, now after this talk, seems to be suspicious. Again, think about it. We'll meet again when Chip gets back from my errand."

Chip has returned with the new tent that I had wanted. He had to wait while the store contacted the local who made tents. Chip instructed that it needed to be of excellent quality, large enough, including ability to walk standing and he needed it today. He said he told them that he did not care about the cost which made the wheels of progress turn very quickly. He spent his leisure time talking to the people that came in and out of the store. With certain off hand questions to the right people, he found some very disturbing rumors.

The team could see that he was not sure, not of the information, but of how we would take it.

So, to start it off he told us of his day. The four, yes, they have been, gently, talking to Hilda, are delighted with Chip's description of the tent.

Then he says "While I was waiting, I heard some very troubling gossip that needs to be investigated before we go off. I ask you women to please contain yourselves. The long and short of this is that there is a fat disgusting noble in the area that has a not so secret fetish.

He is a sadist."

Gasps are heard but we all keep quiet as Chip continues

55

"He buys female slaves regularly from Everett's stock. It seems that at first, he would just torment by ordering them to do degrading things, by having them wear barely nothing so he can tear what little they had on off. After a week or so he starts the sexual assaults that include severe bondage with suspension while he has his way with them."

I am getting angry but the women are already in their minds sharpening their knives. Still, he continues.

"Once new batches arrive the older batch of slaves are moved to their next stage. The cellar.

That is where he does his final debauchery. According to what was said, no one comes out of there" he hesitates "alive."

Seeing how it is turning everyone's stomachs I stop him there. "Son of a bitch doesn't deserve to take another breath if this is true but how do we confirm this information. It may just be vengeful gossip rather than fact."

Abigail speaks up "I'm going to go over there after dark today, do some window peeking and listening."

"I'm warning you Abigail, don't you do anything in reaction to what you see. I care about you as a team member, but also as a friend. Don't take any action but come back here as quickly as possible."

She agrees. She then takes off but not before a further caution from Chip.

When she returns

"I wish that you did not make me promise!"

Abigail remarked. She looked like she was a combination of total of almost feral primal anger, disgust and horror all at the same time.

"It is far worse than you can imagine. It's a butcher shop with that fat bastard as the butcher. I could tell that he was in the cellar. The mansion is completely stone construction but you could hear the tortured screams of agony coming from the cellar. Upstairs the females were totally naked, bruised beyond belief."

She was going to continue but, like I did with Chip, I stopped her. did not need to hear anything further as Chip went over to her and hugged her tightly to comfort her. "I'm going to have nightmares over this!" was the last thing she said then burst into hysterical crying.

I thought that I was totally angry but my women were seething with absolute righteous vindictiveness. I could tell that they were out for blood but they did not want him dead quickly.

They wanted to exact more than a quick death. That would be too merciful. How did that law go "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction"

56

They were going to prove it.

Beez, through the anger and tears, "That more than likely would have been my fate. Justin, Chip and Missy, THANK YOU!" Then she broke down in my arms.

Once they calmed down somewhat, I spoke,

"I need to tell you a tale I was once told by a very old lonely man. He spoke of a colony that was governed by a tyrannical king who was on an island on the other side of the ocean. The king was greedy and he taxed the colonists heavily. A ship sailed into the harbor with goods that could not be produced in the colony. The colonists were informed that the tax had been doubled to a point that they had had enough. That night they dressed in a local enemy's clothing and raided the ships throwing the goods into the harbor ruining the product. The costumes that they wore were to throw the king's men off on a wrong trail."

The team, with the exception of Chip and Missy, look at me thinking he has lost it.

Disregarding their apparent thoughts, I issue my orders and it becomes clear to them what the story meant.

"I want all of you to put on clothes that are what Everett's gangs wear. We will need bandanna masks; we are going to liberate those women. You need to subdue that fat ass but do not, I repeat do not kill him. I have a special surprise for him that you will love. Christine your healing skills will be extremely needed tonight. Be ready. Let’s get moving."

I have never seen such a motley crew, including myself as what was on horseback riding into the night. Chip had a large wagon that he was driving. We needed it to bring out the survivors.

If I had encountered a group dressed like we are, I would have, without a doubt, thought of Everett Ratten.

We tied the horses a very short distance from the bastard’s mansion. The sounds immediately assaulted our ears. I would have never believed that the human voice could sound like that, God help him, I may kill him myself. There was a smell of decay permeating the air. A body dump had to be somewhere on the property.

We broke in by destroying the front door. Grabbing hold of the closest servant we demanded that person to show us to the cellar. What we saw was exactly what Abigail said would cause nightmares. There in the middle of blood, skin and amputated body parts stood the fat fuck still holding his knife while cutting a finger off a hand that had only that finger left.

In a coal fire station by him he had irons heating and had cauterized the stubs. In other areas of the cellar were women strapped down in various states of dismemberment. There were a few, possibly the oldest owned that were dead. Mainly eviscerated. He just stood there and had the nerve to say

"How dare you interrupt me." as he was being very violently subdued by my ladies.

Christine steps up after getting her kicks. I mean literally kicks. I don't feel a bit sorry for him.

She tells her sisters to strap him down to a vacant table to be near the other women.

57

She tells me that she cannot do anything for the few that are dead but she said

"Stand back and see what the Watcher gave me!"

Uttering those words that I heard many a time in the old world anime shows. She yelled

"AREA HIGH HEAL"

As soon as she said that, the white light covered all the enslaved women both here and we could hear the gasps coming from the other floors.

I watched as all the injuries were healed. I watched that hand of stubs as it regenerates back to new perfect fingers. All the women were physically back. but mentally.

"Unstrap them" she tells her sisters.

"Justin, please go up and see to the servants. Your wives will be up there momentarily."

I trust my wives, so I go up. I do need to secure the servants. It's per our emergency plan.

Missy now talks with the freed women, "We will be up on the main floor. If you want to say your good byes to this disgusting imitation of a man, His tools are right here. For those of you that just want out of here come with us to the main floor."

The worst mental cases seem to have no thoughts, so my women help those ones up to the main floor.

There were four of the slaves that stayed in the room. In the space of a few seconds, we again here screams that a human should not be able to voice. There was one difference, this voice was male. The four women come up.

"He's still alive down there but he won't be the same. He'll need to squat to pee."

One woman drops a familiar chunk of meat.

"The hot irons stopped the bleeding."

I now have all the servants in one room as women are being loaded onto the wagon. Our faces are covered. I start yelling at those servants.

"You are just as guilty as your boss. You let this guy get too crazy. He has come under the eyes of the government. Everett cannot have the attention. If you want to live, you have only five minutes to get out of here. You can use that time to try to get your things or you can run now. The only reason you are being allowed to live is this one reason, Everett Ratten is being generous. You only have to do one thing. You need to spread the word that you don't fuck with Everett and live. At the end of the five minutes, we have the order to get rid of all 58

evidence. That means we burn this place down with that fat fuck in it. If we spot you outside, you are fair game. Get lost NOW."

All you see is the sight of assholes and elbows as they are disappearing into the night. My team drop our masks and tell the rescued women that we were here to save them. They thought that we were Everett's gang They still are not sure but they stay put because most of the team are women.

I now go into the cellar only to find that the idiot is still arrogant. Demanding that the healer heal him and turn him loose. I have cracked myself. In my whole life, I have never wanted to torture anyone as much as I do right now. As calmly as I could, I take the dead out of the cellar a safe distance from the mansion. After I removed the last one outside, I respectfully cover them.

I made one last visit to the cellar. "You will be happy to know that I and my people will not kill you." I then leave.

On the main floor I drop my torch into the large puddle of lamp oil that I had poured on the floor Then leave the mansion as it goes up in flames and the fire quickly consumes it. For a short time, you could hear screams that ended when the mansion's wooden interior structure collapsed into the cellar.

In the morning, all those women were in the manor, being fed and bathed. After getting their names and where they were from, they settled into a peaceful long awaited sleep. Most were able to be reunited with their families but there were four from the cellar that never recovered their sanity.

My harem, bless them, adopted them as their guardians.

Those women live here at the manor and will do so for as long as they live. Safe and well looked after. We will never let them be in harm’s way again. They now have the Watcher looking after them. That was the unanimous voice of the harem.

Word got out that, surveying the aftermath of the fire, the authorities found the latest bodies neatly outside. They found a body dump with a lot more there. When they combed through the ashes of the fire, they found the burnt body of the mansion owner in the basement. The official ruling was that the owner was the murderer of the women but had a sudden feeling of remorse. He put his latest victims neatly outside. He then set the main floor on fire, went down into the basement where he took his own life hoping that the fire would completely cremate his remains.

The real story was told to the authorities by a servant that worked in the mansion. They were told of the torture of the women. That Everett Ratten was upset that he was being connected to the sadist so he sent a gang to repossess the slaves and they burnt down the mansion with him in it.

Everett is now losing his customers. They are telling him that they received his warning and burning down that mansion was too much. They no longer are willing to take the risk of him coming for them. They told him that since they were involved, they would not and could not go 59

to the authorities. Most of those have since gone on extended vacations on their estates in neighboring countries. They would stay there until they received word that Everett was gone to meet his maker. The stream of words he used are still echoing in his office.