Stacia giggled softly as she leaned into his embrace, “Ya say sweet things to me, love, but I stand by me faith and me words. Iffin ya ever want more just tell me and I will help ya bring another into our family.”
“Why doesn’t your father have another wife?” Alburet asked, suddenly struck by the thought.
“He was afraid tha’ it would come out tha’ me Ma’ be a Succubus iffin he did. It nay be for any other reason, only to protect her and us from the rest of the world.”
“And Stewart has been pining for Flora all this time,” Alburet said, considering the other Summoner he knew.
“Aye,” Stacia said as she nuzzled his neck. “Just keep me words in ya mind is all I be askin’.”
“You win, Kitten,” he said and dipped his head as he pulled her head back slightly so he could kiss her. After a few minutes he broke the kiss and leaned his head against hers, “If I ever decide to think about adding another into our life, I’ll tell you first, okay? But aren’t you afraid people might find out about your family if we do?”
“Tha’ be all I be askin’,” she whispered back, kissing him again. “It does worry me some, master, but with ya by me side I feel tha’ everythin’ will work out.”
Chapter Nine
The knock on the door reminded them that they were expecting company for the evening. Alburet separated himself from Stacia, who went back over to the stove. He watched her for a second as he shook his head, still wondering how he’d gotten so lucky.
Opening the door, he greeted his guests, “Kim, Rolland, welcome to our home. Please, come in and enjoy our hospitality.”
Rolland bowed and Kim curtsied, “Thank you for having us.” Rolland led his wife in, both of them looking around with interest. “It’s a nice, cozy place, isn’t it?”
“Aye,” Stacia said, turning from the stove, “it be just right for a new couple. Welcome to our home.” She hugged them each briefly. “Dinner be ready in a moment or two. Would ya like the tour?”
“I’d love to see the rest,” Kim said, following Stacia. Rolland stayed in the living room with Alburet.
“How have things been at work for you, Rolland?” Alburet asked.
“Boring. Ever since my wife came to work for you the time drags by. I used to be able to sneak off to chat with her for a few minutes here or there. Now, not so much. Using Mindstones just isn’t the same, really.”
“Ah. I’m sorry that it’s an issue, but she really has saved us.”
“No, it’s fine. She has been much happier since she came to work for your guild. She gets to chat with everyone who comes in wanting to know more about the guild, and there is no shortage of curiosity in Stormguard. She told me about all the stuff you’ve been having her do to help out, the letters to noble houses and scheduling meetings with them. She thinks it’s great fun.”
“I wish that part wasn’t necessary,” Alburet grimaced.
Rolland chuckled, “You got a Royal Charter for your guild. It was a foregone conclusion that this would happen. I’m really curious about the events which led to that point, if you don’t mind sharing. Kim said a lot of people have been asking about the Forgotten Prison.”
Shrugging, Alburet glanced at the hall as the women came back, “I already have one tale to tell tonight. I owe Kim the story of the quest I have to attend to in the next couple of days. I can tell you that story too, but I bet Kim already knows most of it from all the questions she’s been fielding.”
“You mean about how you came up with the latest two clues to the Forgotten Prison? Clues that are being put on public display tomorrow at the Royal Museum?” Kim asked with a grin as she took the seat next to Rolland.
“Yeah, that,” Alburet chuckled. “Knew you were smart enough to put the pieces together.”
“I believe that is one of the reasons you hired me.”
“True enough,” Alburet replied. At that moment, his message icon started flashing. Checking it he frowned, as he hadn’t even considered the implications of Diedre hunting earlier, until he read the message.
Message from Lilith Crowley:
Alburet, we are doing a celebratory dinner for Diedre tonight. She snuck out earlier to go hunting with Chris Eveningstar and did not inform us. As such we are throwing together her party now. Can you and Stacia make it?
“Stacia?” Alburet said softly after going to her, to speak without the others hearing.
“I already replied, Asthore,” Stacia told him. “Ma’ will understand tha’ we did nay know ahead of time. Our guests be here and the food be ready.”
“I’ll apologize to Deidre later,” Alburet added.
“Aye, but for now, dinner be ready,” Stacia said from the kitchen. “Please, come and take ya seats at the table. This be the first time I’ve cooked this meal, but me Ma’ taught me so it should be good.”
Everyone took their seats and Stacia placed the stew pot on the table for Alburet to serve them all. “This is her family’s secret recipe,” Alburet told them as he ladled stew into a bowl. “Each bite gets a bit hotter. The wine will not dull the heat, but does add to the flavor. The bread on the table is there to quench the spice.”
He handed out the bowls to them all as Stacia filled their wine glasses. Once everyone had been served, he smiled at them, “Dig in.” He took a bite himself as he watched them.
Rolland took a moment to breathe in the aroma before he took his first bite. Kim didn’t pause, taking her first as soon as she was told to dig in. Both of them sat back, blinking as they swallowed the first bite. In near unison, they took a sip of wine and smiles bloomed on their faces.
“This is amazing,” Kim said as she took a second bite.
“I’ll have to agree with my better half,” Rolland agreed, following his wife’s example.
Stacia grinned as she took her third bite. “Thank ya both. It be a little behind what me Ma’ can make, but I be getting’ there in time with nay doubt. The spice be a touch weaker than what she can do.”
“It’s still fabulous,” Alburet told her as he patted her knee under the table. He took another bite and sipped his wine. “I think I could get five bites in before I’m forced to eat some bread, but four will suffice I think. No need to see just how far I can push it.”
Rolland nibbled at some bread after his third bite, “How does the bread counter act all the heat so well?”
“Part of the special recipe,” Stacia giggled, sipping her wine.
“You wouldn’t be willing to teach me this, would you?” Kim asked.
“Nay. I be sorry, but I promised me Ma’ tha’ the recipe would stay in the family.” Stacia said with a sad smile, then brightened. “I will make ya some every time I make it for us, though.”
“Deal,” Kim replied, taking a sip of wine and another bite of stew.
“She does so love her food,” Rolland chuckled, which earned him a nudge from Kim. “Oof. I think she would rather I hadn’t said that.” He grinned at his wife.
“You want to sleep on the sofa tonight?” Kim asked with a hint of an edge to her voice.
“Justice forfend, light of my life,” Rolland replied with trembling lips as he held back laughter.
“Keep pushing tonight and see what you get, then,” Kim told him with a sniff. She turned to Stacia, “Husbands can be such a handful, can’t they?”
“Oh, aye,” Stacia agreed. “Sometimes it be all I can do to handle him with both hands,” Her tone was even and she kept her face straight, though her eyes darted to Alburet’s face.