Luther's Pride - Part 17

Luther woke in the gray hours of morning twilight before the sun rose from its bed beyond the mountains. The halls of his house were silent. Even the servants slept, and only the ghostly lights of the crystals illuminated the space. The fire in his room’s hearth had burned to its embers, and even they cooled to match the gray stone of their encasement. 

Two bodies lay in the bed with him. Helena snored gently, curled into a tight ball beneath the blanket. Jo slept with her arms above her head as if reaching for the headboard. Luther slid from between them without jostling either and dressed without washing. 

He walked silently, dressed in a loose-fitting shirt and pants that did not look out of place for a beggar. The leather sword belt draped across his hips clashed. Its intricate embroidery made it look fancier than such a plainly dressed man could afford. The boots were comfortable and suitable for running, which he did as soon as he left the kitchen door behind him. 

The horses in the field lifted their heads to see him and lost interest before he passed them. The birds were changing shifts as their night song changed its melody to welcome the forthcoming sun. The foxes slunk to their dens, ending their nightly hunts as the owls went to bed and the mice woke to search the fields for food. 

Luther stood at the edge of his property and breathed deeply. His energy was refreshed and full despite sleeping far less than usual. His wives– 

He paused to reflect on that title. He was married to not one but two ladies who were eager to aid him in surviving his inheritance. Memories of their wedding night stirred him to think of the future. If nothing else, he had two more reasons to live than before. If Branan laid the challenge before him, Jo and Helena would help him. Three against eight seemed more survivable odds, even if it was still bleak. 

The empire’s tradition sounded logical before he’d stood to be challenged for something. The strongest must protect the empire, and the mightiest must use their strength and prove themselves to hold their positions. His lands, the shire of Raefandale, deserved a valiant defender and a capable leader. There was a chance Branan and his spouses might be better suited to the task, but Luther had to try. His father would not have named him his heir if he’d thought Luther incapable. 

The mansion loomed large in his view of the property from its edge. It still shook him to think of his father's work in his absence and how he’d grown his fortunes. As a child they had never been hard set for money, but they’d lived in a tower filled with books, never a mansion like this. He wished he could ask his father’s advice on how to lead and proceed with the threats he might face as this valley’s lord. He was an adventurer in many ways, not a ruler. 

The reality of his father’s death stood before him, but he turned away from that contemplation and drew his sword. He moved through the practice forms he’d learned with practiced ease. He gripped his longsword with one hand, leaving his left free to sign for magical purposes. He felt the pool of magic in him, and his eyes widened in alarm at first, but then he calmed. He wasn't used to feeling the presence of so much magic yet, but he supposed he would grow accustomed to it. 

When he finished his sword forms, he moved on to his unarmed combat forms, then his spell forms. The sun rose and filled the valley as he trained. The practiced movements were ingrained daily to reinforce them. Over the years, they’d become meditative, helping him clear his mind and lighten his focus for the day ahead. When he finished his forms, he began his exercise. 

He drew his sword again and used the weight of the blade to stress the muscles in his arms, shoulders, and back. The exercises looked foolish if he’d been trying to fight with his sword, but that wasn’t their purpose. He was nearly finished, another hour into his exercise, when he heard his name faintly on the wind. 

Turning, he saw someone calling to him from across the pasture, waving at him. He waved back. A moment later, Criella appeared before him in a shimmer of the world. 

“There you are, sir.” Criella said, huffing. “Half the staff is searching the house and the grounds for you while the other half is trying to keep your guests from realizing you’re gone.” 

“I haven’t even left the grounds.” Luther said, frowning. “I just wanted some exercise.”

“Yes, sir.” Criella said, sighing. 

“I thought I told you to quit it with the ‘sir’ title.” Luther said. “We’re friends, Criella. More than that, if you ever agree to marry me.” 

“I’m your solicitor, sir, and you are married now. Our relationship should remain as professional as possible.” Criella said. 

Luther’s expression fell as he staggered to sheath his sword. He tossed it on the ground instead and glared at Criella. “What?” 

Criella frowned but held her ground. “I am your friend.” Criella said calmly as she squatted and lifted his sword by the hilt. She turned it over in her hands and offered the hilt to him. “But I am also your solicitor, your advocate to the law. And I must insist that… that come first. Friendship second. And that you stop asking me to marry you. I told you no.” 

Luther didn’t take his sword. He stared at her and frowned. “You feel nothing for me?” 

Criella didn’t answer and couldn’t hold his gaze. She swallowed and looked away, focusing on the treeline beyond Luther. 

“Ours would be a marriage full of love.” Luther said. “We could be partners.” 

“We don’t know each other as well as we used to.” Criella said. “What if you don’t love who I am now and only think of who I was when you left?” 

Luther hesitated. He was a very different person from when he left all those years ago to his recent return. His skills had increased, but that was not the only change. His views and opinions of the world had shifted several times since they’d truly known each other. 

“But…” Luther protested. “We could get to know one another all over again.” 

“You have wives enough to get to know at the moment.” Criella said. 

“You can’t encourage me to get married to as many partners as possible, as soon as possible, and then use them as your excuse.” Luther said. “If you truly feel nothing for me, I’ll accept that. I hate it, but I’ll accept it. But… if you feel even a little of the flame I feel for you, please consider my proposal seriously.” 

Criella breathed and offered him his sword once more. “I still love you, Luther. But I can’t marry you. Not right now.” 

“In the future, then?” Luther asked. 

“Or maybe in the past.” Criella sighed, her voice wistful and her gaze distant. “I will consider, but in the meantime, please focus on the wives you have.” 

“Okay.” Luther said, carefully removing his sword from her and lifting its blade from her palms. He sheathed the weapon, and Criella bowed. 

“Now, have you unlocked your Arcana?” Criella asked, her red eyes bright and burning with curiosity. “Now that you’re married, can you access your spouses’ abilities?” 

“I can access their magic for certain.” Luther said. “I can feel their presence as if they’re standing beside me, and I can feel the power in me much more than before.” 

“Have you tried to use their abilities?” Criella asked. 

“No.” Luther said. 

“Well, you saw Helena use hers. Do you think you could give it a try?” Criella asked, shifting her stance so that her hand was on her hip. 

Luther sighed and steeled himself. “I don’t know that it will work. We still don’t know if this is my Arcana.” 

“Try.” Criella said. “Funnel that power into those muscles of yours and, I don’t know, jump or something.” 

Luther laughed. “I’ll try running.” He said. “Race you to the house?” 

He didn’t wait for her answer before he took off, pushing her to the side as he passed her in a soft shove. She rolled her eyes as she cried out and stared after him before she started running. All the years disappeared, and they were children again racing to the kitchen for the first pick of their morning snack. 

Criella chased after him, forgetting herself and laughing as she ran, then clenching her fists and really giving it her all. She was fast, and her tail helped her balance over the obstacles in their path, but Luther was in better shape and faster. His stamina held despite the night he’d had and the exercises he’d done that morning. Criella’s energy flagged as they reached the stables, and the horses lifted their heads again, then snorted and shifted away from the fence. 

The stable hands laughed to see them and nudged each other, pointing at their lord and master outrunning his lawyer. 

He waited for Criella by the door. 

“So you did it?” Criella asked. “Did you tap into your magic?” 

Luther frowned and shook his head as he drew in a deep breath. “No. I tried, but… nothing happened. It didn’t work.” 

“Well, that’s hardly a conclusive test.” Criella said. “We’ll have to see how you do when training with Jo and Helena.” 

“Yes, we’re all eager to see how you fare, sir.” Wulfric’s voice met them at the kitchen door. “But if you’ll excuse me, Dame Helena and Dame Jowangshin are asking for you, Sir, and your guests expect you at breakfast.” 

“Where are Helena and Jo?” Luther asked, looking between Criella and Wulfric. 

“Upstairs, sir.” Wulfric answered. “You’ll need to elect handmaidens for each of them, but at the moment, your valet is afraid to enter the room.” 

“Right.” Luther said, sighing. “Uh… bring me a list of candidates, will you?” 

Wulfric produced a short parchment from his pocket with exactly two names written on it. “I had anticipated your request. These are the maids most eligible for the position.” 

“Thank you.” Luther said, nodding. “I’ll present the names to Helena and Jo and see what they think.” 

“Of course, sir. They may even have women from their own staff.” Wulfric said. He stepped aside for Luther to enter the kitchen, with Criella walking behind them. 

The previously empty kitchen was full and brimming now, with extra hands helping to man the ovens and produce rolls and pastries for the guests. Luther carried the names in his pocket, following the rear stairs to his chamber so as to avoid his guests in his low dress. 

There was always the chance Jo or Helena might have their own attendants they wished to bring with them, but given their lack of station before their marriage, Luther thought it unlikely. To be fair, he didn’t marry them for their economic standing, and most eligible partners within equal economic standing of his father’s, now his, wealth wouldn’t have been willing to marry him so quickly and in such dire straits. Helena and Jo were risking their lives to marry him; it seemed only fair they should gain by their gamble, and he didn’t resent them for that. 

He opened his bedroom door to find them talking, sitting on the bed wearing nothing but the furs covering their lower halves. Luther blushed slightly, but the women smiled at him. 

“Out training already?” Helena asked. “I would have thought we’d tired you out between the sparring match, the wedding, and the wedding night.” 

Jo laughed, her voice a delicate melody as Luther closed the chamber door behind him. 

“A quick bath to wash away the sweat, and I’ll be able to join you and our guests for breakfast.” Luther said, unfastening his sword belt and hanging it on the wall where it belonged. “My butler gave me some names for eligible young women you might promote to your handmaidens if you wish.” Luther produced the parchment and presented it to Jo. 

“Straight to business?” Helena asked, frowning. She stood and stepped forward, kissing Luther good morning. “Relax, a moment, husband.” She said softly. “No need to rush getting dressed and to breakfast.” 

“Our guests will forgive us for spending more time with each other than with them.” Jo agreed, climbing out of the bed herself. “We were discussing how we wished you’d woken us for your morning training.” She explained. “My routine is to meditate, then practice my forms before breakfast.” 

“I break my fast first.” Helena said. “But after fueling, I spar.” She gestured to the dummy. 

Luther nodded. “I break my fast after and vary my training, but today I practiced my forms.” He said, shrugging. “I’m sorry I didn’t wake you. You looked so peaceful I didn’t wish to disturb you, and I’m not accustomed to having someone join me yet.” He said. “Tomorrow, I’ll wake you.” 

“Good.” Jo said, smiling and giving him a hug. 

Luther hugged her, then Helena, who joined them. 

“You smell like horse hair and sweat.” Jo wrinkled her nose. 

Luther laughed. “I did say I needed a bath.” He gestured toward the door leading to their bath chamber. “Would you like me to tell Wulfric to fetch your maids so you can dress?” 

“We get maids?” Jo asked, surprised. “I wasn’t sure you’d be so well-prepared for your spouses with how quick our weddings were.” 

Luther shrugged. “For that, you can thank Wulfric. The man plans ahead.” 

Helena smiled, then pushed Luther toward the bathroom with her hand on his back. “Go on then, husband. Call our maids, and we’ll dress. Right, wife?” She asked Jo, who smiled. 

“If we must.” Jo sighed, rolling her eyes and falling to the bed behind her. “This bed is much more comfortable than my cot at the temple.” She sighed. “I think I will sleep here more than there whenever I can.” 

Luther smiled and opened the entrance to their bed chamber, where Will waited on the other side. “Tell Wulfric we’ll promote the maids, then let them come in.” 

“Yes, sir.” Will said, nodding. He took the parchment from Luther and ran off. Luther turned, smiling as Helena rejoined Jo on the bed. Desire spiked his heart, but there was work to do. Luther entered the bath chamber to prepare for the day and have breakfast with his guests.