There was a glimmer of hope in her eyes, “Okay, but I want a kiss to make up for it.”
Alburet snorted once, “Yeah, that sounds more like the Karen I know.” He pulled her forward and their lips met gently, tenderly. After a second he pulled back to meet her eyes again. “Good now?”
Her eyes were dancing with mischief as she shifted her weight on his lap slightly, “Now I am, yes.”
He was aware that another part of him was apparently very aware of the willing woman on his lap. “And we’re done.”
Laughing, Karen got off of his lap, “At least I know that was for me.”
The door behind them opened and Stacia and Fluff came into the front room, “We be ready now, Asthore?”
“Nope,” Alburet said. As she came closer he pulled her into his lap and squeezed her tight. “I still had a wife to snuggle.”
Stacia giggled, “Aye, tha’ ya did.” She kissed his nose before he let her go. “Now we be ready to go.”
“Alright. Let me send out this guild announcement and get hold of Bloodmoon,” he told them, opening his interface.
They went to the guild hall to wait for Bloodmoon and her group. When they entered, Vanessa was talking to a gentleman. Alburet frowned, vaguely recalling having seen the man before. The name came to him, “Sir Carter?”
Cody Carter turned at his name, interrupting the conversation he’d been having with Vanessa. The smile vanished as Cody took in Alburet’s appearance. “May I help you?”
“That’s my question, actually,” Alburet replied simply. “I still have your card. So, why the visit?”
Squinting for a moment, Cody looked taken aback, “In the name of Justice, what happened to you?”
“A gift from the Dark Lord. I’m waiting for an answer about why you came back to my guild hall.”
“I have heard that the upper houses are failing, some of them spectacularly, to achieve any of their goals where your second is concerned. I feared that my original visit might seem to be prompted by the same motives they have. I wished to alleviate those concerns if you were having them.”
“What is it you want?” Alburet’s tone was abrupt, as he wasn’t in the mood to deal with a noble.
“I just hope for a simple favor, to be notified when your guild reaches the Dead Lands. Once you get there, you might need additional support to really push into the interior and I would like you to consider my House should you seek out allies.” Sir Carter’s tone made it clear that he believed his offer to be of significant importance.
“Noted,” Alburet replied simply. “I will keep your request in mind, sir. Now, if you don’t mind, I have other pressing business to attend to.”
“Of course,” With a small bow Sir Carter left the guild hall.
Vanessa arched a brow, “Thanks. I was about to have him ejected. He kept insisting on speaking with you, and wouldn’t accept that you weren’t here.”
“Where’s Kim?” Alburet asked.
“She was picking up some breakfast for us, should be back in a minute.”
“Bloodmoon and her group will be here shortly. Direct them to the meeting room, please.”
“I will,” Vanessa replied, and they went to the meeting room to wait.
About ten minutes later Bloodmoon and her group came in. Bloodmoon was a tall, statuesque Lunari with red fur. DrBone and the three other members of the group followed her in. Alburet noted the male Lunari, who was probably the Druid, with a lion’s mane.
“Please have a seat,” Alburet told them. Once they were seated he explained why they’d been called in. “I’ve had reports of some issues between your group and another group in the guild. Would you like to tell me what happened?”
Bloodmoon snorted, “We were hunting and they got in our way. It wasn’t an issue for us.”
“Twice?” Alburet asked, focusing on Bloodmoon, who was staring at him challengingly.
“They can’t understand a basic rule of life, the strong make the rules,” Bloodmoon’s lips curled into a vicious little smile. “We didn’t call them any names or hurt them, so what’s their problem?”
Alburet looked to DrBone then to the Druid, both of whom were looking uncomfortable. He brought his eyes back to Bloodmoon, letting his normal personality shift into what was work mode when he’d been a guard. His eyes went flat and his face became devoid of emotion. “Really? So the story I’ve heard of you forcing the other group out of their spot is false, then?”
Bloodmoon growled as she stood up, her chair went skittering backwards, “It’s a free world out there, and they were where we needed to be. They had plenty of other places to go. We didn’t do anything, so what the fuck is your problem?”
“You deliberately causing issues for other members of Alpha Company is my problem. I am going to ask you just once to stop. I know that some of your group isn’t really onboard with your tactics. For those of you who aren’t, next time she starts up, walk away. Otherwise, you’ll end up in the same boat.”
“I thought this was a guild, not a dictatorship,” Bloodmoon scoffed. “So, you’re saying we can’t hunt where we want now?”
“Not what I’m saying,” Alburet told her levelly as he kept eye contact with her. “What I’m saying is that if you deliberately force another group to move again, then there will be consequences. Free will is still very much a thing. Not just yours, either.”
“Whatever,” Bloodmoon snorted, “come on, guys, we have a couple of quests to complete.” She stomped out, followed by the tank and a caster of some kind. DrBone and the Druid both hesitated visibly before they followed her out.
“Tha’ did nay seem to go as well as ya hoped,” Stacia said.
“Sad. Some people only seem to be able to have fun when they’re ruining things for others,” Alburet sighed.
“If they step out of line again, then what?” Karen asked.
“They will be removed from the guild.”
Karen nodded with her lips pursed, “This ought to get interesting over the next day or so, then.”
“Let’s go check out the Dwelden city while we wait for Gerald,” Alburet said, getting to his feet.
Fluff stood up with a pensive look, “She won’t listen. Maybe we should stay closer for now, that way we don’t waste so much gold since we’ll just have to come back.”
Stacia nodded, “She makes a good point.”
“We can check out the Blight Hills,” Karen added. “They’re on par with the gnolls, so more in line with where we should be.”
“Okay. Let’s go,” Alburet said, ushering them all out into the main room. Everyone was startled to see a pop-up appear in front of them.
House Theron has found an Heir.
Wilbur Theron, formerly of House Gilden, has taken over House Theron.
Alburet chuckled, then frowned, “Huh, if that just happened, it took longer than Lady Theron thought it would. Must have been issues.”
“Wait, is that the guy who was hanging out with Erin?” Karen asked.
“Yes,” Alburet replied, “and tomorrow we should be hearing even more news about House Theron.”
“He is going to marry her,” Fluff said quietly.
“Aye,” Stacia said, giving Fluff a hug, “she will be gettin’ her dream.”
“Like you did,” Fluff replied.
“Aye. Me husband seems to make dreams come true for those around him,” Stacia winked at him.
“When is it my turn?” Karen asked archly, looking at Alburet.
“Or mine?” Fluff mumbled.
“Patience,” Alburet replied quickly, “it takes a lot of effort to achieve dreams, you know.”
“I better be next,” Karen muttered.
“I think me sis Deidre be next, actually,” Stacia said matter-of-factly. “She likely be marryin’ Chris Eveningstar in the next week.”