AW8 CH1

Welcome to the start of the end. The saga of Alpha World ends with this book, I hope you enjoy the preview chapters.

Chapter One

Sitting in the library, Alburet’s hands clenched in anger as he thought back over the last few days: Alistern’s death at the behest of Bloodmoon, DrBone’s attempted framing of Alpha Company for the deaths caused by his burning of Giardino’s, Margret Wilson’s death at the order of Skippy, Gilden and Carradine’s attempt to assassinate the King.

“Husband,” Stacia said, coming into the room, “what be the matter?”

Her voice helped calm his anger enough that he could unclench his hands. “Just thinking about the last few days.”

Her face fell as sadness flowed from her, “Da’…”

Crossing the room to her, he pulled her into his arms. “We’ll pay Bloodmoon back,” he softly said, holding her tight.

“Aye, I know tha’ we will. It just be seemin’ like the world has gone mad.”

“How is Dennis doing?” Alburet asked, changing the subject.

“He be sleepin’ now. Emily be with him. He does nay have any other family, which means he be a ward of the city now.”

“He’ll be taken to an orphanage?” Alburet asked.

“Aye.”

A sliver of a memory tickled the back of his mind. With pursed lips, Alburet took one hand away from Stacia to pull out his Mindstone. Sending a quick message, he waited for the reply.

“What are ya doin’?” Stacia asked.

“Seeing if Dennis can be given a better life,” he replied and led Stacia over to the chair he had been in before. Sitting down, he pulled her onto his lap.

Message from Gerald Stoutheart:

Al, I don’t know how that works, but I’ll ask Wilbur. I agree with the idea, and would even go one further if Lilith is agreeable. Emily and Dennis get along, and it isn’t uncommon for nobles to have long engagements.

Message to Gerald Stoutheart:

I’ll ask Lilith her opinion. You’d still need a seneschal to hold the spot for him until he’s old enough. I’d suggest Lilith.

Message from Gerald Stoutheart:

That is going to be an interesting item to bring to the King. I’ll check with Wilbur on what’s needed for appointing an heir.

Putting the Mindstone away, Alburet smiled. “Emily and Dennis get along rather well, right?”

“Aye.”

“Do you think mom would be willing to see them engaged?”

Stacia’s eyebrows shot up. “Ya be wantin’ to engage them?”

“I want to ask if they are willing to consider it,” Alburet corrected her. “Gerald is going to adopt Dennis and name him his heir, as he has to have one by order of the King. If they were engaged, we can name Lilith as the seneschal until Dennis grows old enough. That would let her stay here in the city with Emily, I’m fairly certain.”

“I can ask,” Stacia said as she snuggled against him.

“Want to cuddle a bit longer first?”

“Aye.”

“Did Mother reply to our request?” Alburet asked after a couple of minutes.

“Aye. She thinks she can be havin’ them here tomorrow. We be needin’ to build another structure onto the house for tha’.”

“Wilbur said he’ll send over the crafters to get it done for us. He did tell me that forty is the maximum number of guards an Ambassadorial residence can have.”

Stacia pulled out her Mindstone and sent Mother a note. “Mother has been told, so she does nay try to give us a regiment.”

“Good idea,” Alburet chuckled softly.

“There you are,” Fluff said as she entered the room trailed by Karen. “Dinner is almost ready.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to vanish on you all,” Alburet apologized. “I just needed to step away for a bit.”

“We understand, Al,” Karen said gently. “We all felt your pain, and knew that you needed to be alone.”

“I didn’t expect Dennis’ sorrow to hit me like that,” he sighed. “I guess I’m still mourning my own losses still.”

Stacia kissed his head, followed by Karen and Fluff who were bookending his chair. “We be knowin’ tha’.

“We should go to dinner. Loralee said it wouldn’t be long,” Karen said after a minute.

“Okay. What about Emily and Dennis?” Alburet asked as he got to his feet.

“They are asleep,” Lilith said from the door. “I’ll make sure there’s something for them if they wake in the night.”

“Thank you, mom,” Alburet said, following his wives to the door. “We need to talk about Emily and Dennis. I’ve had an idea that I want your input on.”

“We can talk after dinner,” Lilith replied.

“Of course,” Alburet said, following the four women down the hall.

Dinner was delicious, as usual, and afterward they went to one of the sitting rooms. Rachel served them coffee before dismissing herself and leaving them alone. Alburet explained his idea to Lilith and the others before sitting back in his seat.

Lilith seemed a little shocked at Alburet’s suggestion. “You want to make three of my daughters nobles?”

“If Emily and Dennis agree to the idea,” Alburet reiterated.

“You’re trying to turn all the horror into something better,” Fluff said.

“Dennis will become an orphan otherwise. Gerald is going to appoint him heir and adopt him. I would just like him to have someone who cares for him at his side.”

“They’re only nine,” Karen pointed out.

“That doesn’t matter,” Lilith said softly, tears starting to trickle from her eyes. “Emily already has her eyes set on him. Like her sisters, she has made her choice.”

“Yeah, but boys at that age have no idea what love is,” Karen pointed out.

“That is a valid point,” Alburet sighed.

“You were in the room after Alburet left,” Lilith said. “Did you not feel how Dennis calmed when Emily held him?”

“I thought maybe you had done that,” Karen said.

“I didn’t touch his emotions. Emily was the one who held, comforted, and calmed him. They are of an age together, too, which means that when the time comes, they can attend training together if they both worship at the same temple.”

“That means either he’d have to change or she would,” Fluff pointed out.

“One of them will,” Lilith said with certainty. “The events of the last few days,” her voice hitched as she suppressed her own loss, “have just made them want to hold each other tighter, afraid to lose another they care about.”

“It will be sad iffin she chooses to leave the Dark Lord, but iffin it be to follow her heart, then it is meant to be.” Stacia had a sad smile when she finished speaking.

“You think they’ll agree, then?” Alburet asked.

“Yes. I’ll talk to them tomorrow, but I’m certain that they will both agree. I’m not sure I’m going to be allowed to be their seneschal, though.”

“We’ll make it work,” Alburet said, “even if it means calling in favors.”

Guild Quest:

All Members of Alpha Company have been issued the following quest by Gerald Stoutheart, backed by the Crown of Stormguard.

Quest: Root out traitorous nobles and bring them before the King.

Rewards: Reputation with Crown of Stormguard and one relic from the vaults per party.

Alburet blinked as he read over the quest again. “Damn. I guess that’s one way to hand those items out. I would suggest adding the Delvers to the list of Guilds participating.”

“I’m sure Gerald already has,” Fluff said. “Are we going to do this?”

All eyes went to Alburet, who was radiating a deep perverse joy. “I think tomorrow we’ll be paying our good, dear friend Skippy a visit.”

Karen’s smile grew, “Oh, it’s about time we get to hit that idiot.”

“Tomorrow shall be a busy day,” Fluff nodded as she got to her feet.

“Aye, ya have the right of tha’, Fluff. Shall we drag our husband off to make sure we can all get some rest tonight?”

Karen got to her feet, “Yup.”

“I’ll talk with the children tomorrow, and I’ll be here to handle Mother and the crafters,” Lilith said. “It might be my last act for you as part of the embassy.”

Alburet stood, joining his wives. “Thank you, Lilith.”

“Go get your rest,” Lilith smiled, but it was tinged with sadness.

Following his wives, Alburet made a note to check what kind of leeway they had in carrying out the quest. I’m coming for you Skippy. Time to pay the piper, you fucking asshole.