Bard's Tale 01 - The Beginning

Tahna pursed her lips, digesting her sister's words. Mindal thought her bitter and lonely?

"Reison is right," Tia responded. "He saw right away that we are a package deal, and I agree with his assessment. We are a family, and we are discussing adding him to our family. If we aren't all agreed, it'll cause problems in the long term."

"I love you both dearly," Mindal said. "I have no doubt that I always will. But I need him, and I need what happens to me when he's around me. I'm not going to pass this up. I want to hear my song!"

"Your what?" Tia asked.

"My song! He says... " and her voiced hitched. Mindal swallowed, then resumed more quietly, "He says when he looks at me, he hears music, that the more he sees of me, the more complete the song becomes. And last night... Words can't adequately describe it. He hears music for both of you, too. Don't make me choose. If you do, you might not like the result."

Tahna said, "I have a song?"

A slow smile crept onto Tia's face. "We each have a song."

"You love him that much?" Tahna asked.

"I don't know if love is the right word. I'm sure that will come. I need him, like I need air and sunshine. With him, I live. Without him, I die."

"Don't you think you're being rather melodramatic?" Tahna said.

"I know it sounds that way. Somewhere along the way, I lost my joy for life, and with it, what made my music special. I've been a walking ghost for years now. Tahna, what if you were injured, and no matter what Tia or the other priests did, you couldn't be healed? Or worse, stuff you used to know -- bits or all of it gone."

Mindal pushed her chair to the table. Going to a cabinet, she opened it up, took out a large shot glass, went to a second cabinet, and retrieved a bottle. She set both onto an end-table next to an overstuffed chair by a large shuttered window. Plopped into the seat. Uncorked the bottle, filled the glass, and tossed back the drink in one go.

Tia got up, walking over to stand in front of Mindal.

Mindal poured herself another glass. "Are you going to join me?"

She smiled at her sister, then squatted down, so they were at eye level. "I can sort of understand your need for music. It's like my need to give to others. When I'm doing it, I feel good. Alive. Music is both more eloquent and less precise than speech. It evokes strong emotions because it relies on our memories that are often shared with others. I've often thought that we have been strong together as sisters because each of us brings to the other two the things we need in a relationship."

Reaching out, she took the glass from her sister's hand and drank it down. Took a steadying breath as the liquid fire descended. "Come on, baby sister. Let's get Tahna and commiserate together on the bed. I think we all need to be held."

Mindal took the empty glass from Tia and set it onto the table. "Tahna doesn't need to cuddle. She's tough as nails. Always has been."

"Something's happened to her, too. I'd wager, from the dream last night. Yes, Tahna is tough, but she's not invincible, though she'd have us believe otherwise. The loss of Lysandra is only part of it. Behind her walls is the pain of seeing all those dead children. She needs to grieve, and she needs us as much as we need her. We'll cry together and then talk about our dreams."

With a sigh, Mindal corked the whiskey, and with Tia's assistance, stood up. Together they went back to the table. Uncharacteristically, Tahna was staring off into space.

"Tahna?" Tia said. "Let's go to bed. We need to talk."

In a subdued voice, Tahna said, "Okay."

Mindal and Tia glanced at each other. Tahna moved like she was dazed. Together, the two sisters guided her to their bedroom. Tia pulled back the blankets, then undressed to her panties. Mindal undressed Tahna.

Tia touched her holy symbol and whispered the spell, blanket of comfort. The sheets now warmed, she slid into the bed. Mindal moved Tahna to the bed, and Tia helped draw her in. Mindal just let her clothes fall where they may. Climbing into bed, she saw Tia spooned up behind Tahna. Moving close, she pulled her big sister until she rested against her chest.

Propping up on her elbow, one hand rubbing slowly along Tahna's back, she said, "Hey, little sister. Tell us about your dream."

"He said that I was... beautiful."

"You are beautiful, Tahna!" Tia assured her. "And you are loved. I love you. Mindal loves you. You are lithe, graceful, devoted, strong, brave, tenacious, and a wonderful companion. You are a good sister, Tahna."

"I hoped... to catch him in a lie. But he really wants to be my friend. I've been reading him since we woke up. Looking for the truth of his words. Getting his feelings, too. I knew it was wrong, but I didn't think it through. Now I feel so ashamed. He didn't deserve to be treated like that."

"Wait. You can read his thoughts?" Tia asked in surprise.

Mindal looked at Tia in surprise. Tahna could read his thoughts? This was new!

"No, not his thoughts. When he says something, I know how much is truth. And I think the more I do it, the more I'm getting. His feelings, his intentions. He said I was beautiful. But look at me! Spying on his feelings! What kind of good person does that? He admires me, but I'm not very admirable. And... last night. The Dark Warrior talked to me. Lysandra is undead! I can't help her, even with both of you helping. She'd kill us all, and I need to let her go and... what am I going to do?"

Tahna let loose with loud, heaving sobs, bawling into Mindal's embrace.

To Tia's mind, her sister was finally letting out all her grief and anguish. Though this confession about scanning Reison's intentions and feelings was a new and darker wrinkle. Tahna's desire to protect had gotten the better of her ethics. Still, she was pleased, for Tahna recognized her moral lapse.

Mindal had been feeling sorry for herself. Tahna had been the image of calm, exuding control for decades. Even in the face of horrific murders, when tears slipped from her eyes, her voice always remained measured and under control. Mindal had accompanied her big sister to a few of the murders. The spell replay of the past often revealed the murderer's face, but Mindal found the screams to be too much. The second time, the images of dead children began to haunt her dreams and she had to stop. It was too much to bear. Whenever she needed someone to lean on, both of her big sisters had been there for her. That Tahna needed her now made her feel good. Not because her strong sister was finally breaking down. Rather, because it was a chance for her to give back.

By unspoken agreement, further talk would wait until later, doing their best to hold and comfort Tahna, offering her love and support by their presence and their words.

* * * * *

Downstairs, in a corner booth with little light sat Rena and Brigit. The Irish goddess remarked on the coldness of the beer.

"Not as good as real Irish mead, but it's damn tasty!"

"You didn't need to push Tia like that. She was already committed." Rena waved, and the scene of the Landers sisters in bed faded away.

"The priestess? It didn't hurt anything. And who doesn't like to cum?"

"That's not the point. It's about their choice."

Brigit paused in Her drink, concerned. "Are you angry with me?"

Rena shook Her head. "No. And, yes, she did enjoy it. But it's close to manipulation. We want the marriage to take place by their choice."

"It's you that wants them to choose this. If it were me, I'd command it. We need their participation in the days ahead. It was you who showed the coming danger. Otherwise, it will be difficult to stop things without direct intervention, and we both know where that will lead. A repeat of what happened in the North. War among the gods and everything destroyed."

"If it's their choice, they will work harder for its success. They will feel personally invested in the outcome. They may diligently obey a command, but they might unintentionally miss something. Free will is always better. That's the only way to have real friends and real love."

"You can afford such luxuries, Rena. I'm trapped in a political marriage with a husband I despise. I've given him a son, and fulfilled my family's honor and to keep the peace. I will not breed for that cowardly pig again!"

"Which is why," Rena replied, "I took you to see my brother last night. By the way, were you walking a little bow-legged afterward?"

Brigit rolled her eyes as her cheeks flushed. "Your brother doesn't have a cock. It's a war club, and every time he's in me, I feel like he's splitting me apart. Every thrust, it's like he's excavating, opening me up wider and deeper. He's fucking gi-normous."

"Yeah. Once he's done with you, you know you've been fucked."

The Irish goddess snickered. "Aye, he tilled my furrow and seeded me proper to overflowing seven times, he did. If it wouldn't cause war, I'd lay back and spread for him every day until I swelled with your brother's child. By Mother Dana, I would." She took another drink of the cold mead. "Wishing, I were, I didna have to return home."

"Brigit, do you want me to go with you?"

"Don't you have your own things to attend?"

"You've seen me. I can be in many places at once. Besides, now you have my interest. What troubles you?"

"Bres isn't gentle when his ire is up." She stared off into the commons area, where almost two hundred mortals chatted, ate, watched other patrons, and otherwise went about having a good time in an inn with a reputation of having plenty to do. The Irish goddess looked at her glass and set it down.

"He's hitting you, isn't he." Not a question, a statement. A caress of Brigit's cheek, and the events were revealed. "Not in the face to reveal his base ways, but on the back and belly."

And the tone was angry enough that Brigit turned to look at her friend.

"If'n ye be my friend, you canna do what I long to do and wipe that ugly mug into the dirt. It'll start a war, and it'll be his people and mine against you and yours. He's the king and I am his wife."

"As long as you are tied to him, I'm not leaving your side. You may tire of me, because even when you shit or piss, I'll be there, and stand between you and his reach. And if he tries anything with me, he'll regret it."

"Even when I'm consulting with my angels?"

"If he can be there, then I will be, too. My pledge that anything I learn to your detriment will remain between us and will never be used against you. Anything you need kept secret, we can negotiate."

"Rena, we're friends. What ye be talking of, that's closer than a marriage. Why?"

"Because the thought of someone touching your body in anger hurts me to my core while filling me with rage."

"Even if I dinna feel the same?" Even as she said this, Brigit reached over and took her friend's hand and clasped it.

"Love isn't given with expectation of return. There may be hope, but you give it because your heart has no other recourse." Rena squeezed her hand in return. "Your accent's getting thicker, my Irish lassie. Is that the alcohol or the subject?"

"Traveling together has been grand, it has. I could stand to make it permanent. Ye wish my word on it? Or do ye prefer spit or blood?"

"Blood, freely given, is one of the oldest and strongest ways, cailín deas." Brigit reached for her dagger, but Rena touched her hand, shaking her head. Leaning closer, angling her face in, Rena whispered, "At the moment, spit is good enough, my strong, fiery girl, and this is the manner of exchange I choose."

Lifting her face, Brigit's mouth opened as their lips met. Gentle at first, enjoying the sensation. Then tongues touched. Her breathing deepened and her heart began to race. The fire goddess sighed as the wind goddess fanned her flames higher. Passion ignited and drew them both in.

More patrons drifted inside the crowded inn. One party happily discovered an empty booth that they all had been sure was occupied only moments ago but was now quite vacant. Quickly capitalizing on their good fortune by sitting down, they hailed the waitress, eager for a meal and plenty of drink.

* * * * *

Part 8

* * * * *

Reison met them downstairs in the Commons for breakfast at six bells. They had to be at the temple by eight, and it took about an hour on foot to get there.

Truth to tell, Reison hadn't slept well. On the one hand, he was excited about the possibility of actually getting married to three women, each of them powerful and respected by those who knew of them. But Tahna's reticence bothered him. He hoped they might become friends, but if she still felt that way after he was done with this rite, that she at least owed him a reason why she held back. He knew that if he couldn't persuade Tahna, that the others might back out. He had enjoyed kissing Tia and Mindal a lot. With a name like wild heart, he wondered what her kisses, freely given, would be like.

His father had once told him he had three rules to a happy marriage. He warned his son that there might be more as he was still learning, but the rules were this. First, listen to her when she says something. Second, spend time with her; parent time was good, but husband-wife time wasn't to be neglected either. Kissing and holding, but also doing things to let her know she's important. He remembered that father helped with the dishes, laundry, and that sometimes he read aloud to his mother. Third, do everything to keep her happy. And of the three, his father believed the last one was the most vital.

As he looked around, he saw that all three women were already downstairs at their usual table. Reaching the landing, it looked like all fared as badly with their sleep as well. He hoped that wasn't a bad sign.

Mindal and Tia smiled as he approached, and moving over to them, he leaned down and kissed first Tia on her left cheek, then turned and kissed Mindal on her right. Both women smiled at him and offered their lips, which Reison took the time to kiss thoroughly in turn.

Moving around the table, he sat himself next to Tahna. He didn't feel comfortable trying to kiss her, so he smiled, trying to be as friendly as possible. "Hi, beautiful!"

Tahna winced, then looked away.

Reison wondered what was going on. She looked ready to cry. Her long, black hair was normally kept in a fighting queue, tightly braided and folded three times to keep it from enemy hands. This morning, her hair was braided but not folded, reaching all the way down her back. And one lock had escaped, hanging by her face. Almost before he thought, his hand reached over and brushed the hair behind her ear. Tahna winced.

Looking at the other two sisters, he raised his eyebrows.

Tia asked, "Tahna? Do you need to leave?"

A quick shake of the head, and the monk closed her eyes briefly, taking slow breaths.

Mindal said, "Hi, handsome! What's my nickname?"

He intended to come back to this. Tahna's actions perplexed him. Then he smiled at Mindal. "I guess that's one of the things I want to know. Are nicknames interchangeable? Or is it that once used, they belong to that person forever and ever?"

Mindal frowned, but Tia chuckled, her dark brown eyes mischievous. She replied, "You can re-use them at will. The other would be too limiting. After all, maybe you think all three of us are beautiful."

She glanced at him, and he nodded. "S'truth, I do!"

"Good save for both of you," Mindal muttered, disappointed in Tia's intervention.

"I... uh, actually have a few questions before we leave. It is all of us that are going, right?"

Tia and Mindal both nodded. "Ask away."

Mindal signaled the waitress, and she began bringing covered platters of food over. Pancakes, slices of ham and beef, scrambled eggs, and fried potatoes. Jars of honey and jam. Mindal and Tahna had coffee; Tahna took hers black, but Mindal added milk and sugar to her cup. Tia had herbal tea. Reison signaled he would try the coffee.

He blew on the steaming liquid like Mindal did. Gave it a sip. Scrunched his eyes shut. Bitter! He tried another sip. Nope. Not a mistake.

Mindal laughed at him as she pushed the sugar bowl over to him. "Give this a try. It helps."

Reaching over, he ladled two spoons worth and stirred them in. Giving it another taste, the underlying bitterness was still there, but now it also very sweet. "How do you two stand the taste of this?"

"Practice," Mindal shot out.

Tahna nodded. "You get used to it."

"She takes it plain because she has ovaries," Mindal added.

Reison frowned. Didn't all women have those? "Uh... okay?"

Tia smiled. Tahna raised her eyebrows at Mindal.

Mindal explained. "If she were a man, we'd say she has balls. I mean real, hurky big, hairy balls, and that her chest is covered in hair--"

"Hey!" Tahna said, frowning.

"But since she's all woman," her little sister hastily added, "We say she has ovaries. And for the record, I saw her this morning before she dressed, and I can verify that her perfect, pert breasts are sag-free and totally hairless."

Tahna's eyes got wide. "That's really too much information, Mindal."

"No, it isn't," Mindal replied. "We're talking marriage here. Until and unless you are willing to show him the goods so he knows you are healthy and all woman, he can take our word for it, because Tia and I are immanently trustworthy."

"Tia!" Tahna said.

"It's true," Tia told him, barely suppressing a grin. "Tahna is a paragon of a healthy, no, rather a nubile woman. Everything about her is toned and pert. And her breasts are hairless."

Tahna's shoulders sagged.

Reison cocked his head and looked at Tahna. "Well, I can clearly see she is beautiful. Not that I was worried in the slightest. Being a half-elf, I don't have much in the chest-hair department, so I hope that doesn't disappoint you. But who knows? I've several years of growing yet, so that may change."

Tahna was mortified to discover she was actually blushing. He was already as tall as she was, and the thought he might grow taller and his chest wider set her heart beating faster. She caught Tia glancing at him thoughtfully.

Mindal and Tia started in, helping themselves to food, so Reison began filling his own plate.

"So how does this multiple marriage thing work?" he asked, before taking a bite of food. "I mean, there have to be rules on how things are done. You grew up in such a home, so I'll defer to you."

Tia nodded. "I can't say how it goes with others. Our parents had rules that they went by, and we know some of them, and I suppose if we have questions, we can always ask what they do. There are, however, some rules from our faith, too. When there's one wife and many husbands or one husband or many wives, the first one of the many to marry is the prime or first spouse. In this case, I'll be the First Wife. I'll be my job to make sure the household runs well and to keep my sisters in line."

Mindal stuck out her tongue at Tia. Tahna focused on her coffee.

"What about sleeping arrangements?" he asked.

"Well, that's open to personal choice. Our parents each have their own room." Tia blushed before adding, "I'm not sure what kind of arrangements will work for us. I guess we'll have to try things out and see what works."

"Not really an answer, but I guess it can wait."

"I'd also like to bring up hygiene," Tia said. "We like to bathe or shower daily when we can. And brushing our teeth. We can't always do that on the trail, but we do have preferences."

"I like being clean, so I'm good with that," he said.

"Do you want us to take your House name as part of the marriage?" Tia asked.

"I didn't know there are other options."

"I'll take that as a yes," she replied. "We have a rule in our faith, though. You will be in charge of the whole family, but as First Wife, I will be in charge of running our home. And because you are the head of the family, the tradition is that you will serve us in the bedroom."