Chapter 21 the Reaction

Fiona and I arrived at the house, with her gasping for breath, due to the screaming she had done the whole way. As a result of that, all my Wives, aside from Spashta and Wripple were assembled in front of the house, with a throng of children also curious. Even little Katy dripping wet, and practically naked had come running to find out what was up, so she could report back to her favorite Mothers, and their daughters. They all saw the Elf girls ears first, then noted the silver ring, and the pack on her back. Veronica spoke out, first. “Well this is a surprise!” Alian continued. “Indeed, especially when he insisted on confirmation even for me, though admittedly by proxy for everyone else through Marie, but still, Husband this isn’t like you, why the sudden aggressive move? Not that I’m upset, I couldn’t be happier, it’s just odd for you.”

Having caught her breath, Fiona answered instead of me. “He said all I had to say was infertile, and you’d understand.” Eyes sparkling Alian pulled the elf girl into a hug. “Well that certainly explains it, I was infertile too, but thanks to our husband, that’s no longer on my status, and according to his analyze skill, Pregnancy is a Status Anomaly. I am Pregnant! Do,…do you want to be pregnant with Rose and I, or are you willing to wait. Mark doesn’t want to overload us with children all at once, but,…” Fiona looked at me in wonder. “It’s true, you can give me a child, even though the healers?…” I simply nodded smirking. She smiled ear to ear, her golden hair ruffling in the breeze. “Ahem,…I’m happy too, especially having an elf in the family now, but dearest, can we get an introduction?!” Asked Harmony somewhat impatiently. The introductions, and welcomes took a while, but eventually even Spashta and Wripple had their turn greeting Fiona. “I’m so happy to have Undines living on this land, I wondered why it felt so lively here, and two at that, with their newborn daughters! Can I join you in the water?” The four Undines smiled eagerly, but Wripple spoke up. “Although we’d love that, Mark says you have to take off as much clothing as possible when swimming. Little Katy wears her underpants only, though why she needs them in the water I’m not exactly sure of.”

I overheard the last part as I was coming to check on them. “Technically she doesn’t, but I prefer that region of a girl only be shown to those whom she’s eventually intimate with. An adult I suppose can choose to go natural if she wishes but not wanting other men to see what only I should see. It’s just a Moral thing from before. Not like I’ll get made at accidents, just how Modesty was taught to me. However the less you wear in the water, the easier it is to swim. That’s the main point. I really need to make some swim suits for the kids, so they have something thin, light weight, but covers everything important.” Having heard my reasoning, and not having any reason to hide herself in her opinion, she didn’t even hesitate to strip down to nothing. “Am,…am I ok? I know I’m not like other women, you know, up here, but,…” I pulled her against me, and kissed her. “It doesn’t matter in the slightest, it’s you, not the body I accepted. Besides, trust me, you’ve got plenty in the body as it is.” I squeezed her rear, causing her to giggle and grin. Once I let her go, she jumped into the water, and played with the Undines, and little Katy too.

After I had drunk in the sight of my waterborn family frolicking, I went off to find Marina. We made a mold for the pool’s water heater, as well as one for the Bathroom I had designed. I also set out how many pipe segments we’d need, and she almost balked. “That’s a lot of material Mark, just what are you making?” I took a Platinum coin and handed it to her. “That’s a secret, talk to the old man, and see if he’s willing to get a wholesale lot of Iron Ore for us, and include his own order into the mix, get the biggest bulk discount he can for it. I’ve got plans, but let’s get these tanks poured, and cooling. Have to coat them in enamel later.” This project was going to need a foundry, what the Smithy could produce just wasn’t enough. More sketching, had to be done. Snapping my fingers, I realized that I hadn’t actually turned in the quest paper from the wolf subjugation yet.

I sketched out the foundry design, then took it, and dashed off to the Guild. Pearson was free as always when I arrived, though he wasn’t alone. Of all people, a Harpy was at his side, trying desperately to write with her wing fingers, but not having any luck. “Ahem, perhaps we should get her a type writer for dealing with paperwork. She wouldn’t be as quick as someone with humanlike hands, but a lot quicker, and more legible that how it’s going right now.” They looked at me blankly. “What’s a type writer Mark, I’ve never heard of that. If it could help Miss Vera here, it would be a welcome addition. She’s been tossed from one guild to another trying to find a place she’d fit, but lack of writing skill doesn’t help at all dealing with any sort of paperwork. This is quite frankly her last hope to work at the receptionist position of the guild.” Vera looked down obviously depressed.

“Miss Vera is it, just to be clear, this is what you genuinely WANT to do, not just all you can think of right? I’m sure I could find plenty of jobs for you on my land, if you’re not actually set on guild receptionist, but if it’s what you want, then I’ll get you setup. Least I can do for a member of my communities. I do need to act as a Knight of this territory sometimes after all.” She lifted her head in shock. “Lord” She stuttered, “Please excuse my ignorance, I hadn’t realized who I was talking to!” She was clearly flustered, and her feathers were fluffed in response to her Panic. “Calm down, I’ve only just become Lord of this community, WHICH I had come up with a name for. As I only have two towns under my influence, and I wish them to be Havens for the people under my protection, I’m naming this community South Haven, and the one to the North, you guessed it, North Haven. Pearson, can you get the Guild’s Sign altered to say South Haven’s Branch of the Quester’s Guild?” He nodded. “Honestly, with how things are going, especially since I know at least some of my Wives want a Harpy, I wouldn’t be surprised if you ended up as my Wife too, assuming you were interested that is. So the sooner you can calm down, and act casual around me, the better yeah?”

Marie all geared up, had chosen that instant to arrive, and seeing the Harpy girl I was talking to, absolutely drooled. She snuck up behind me, wrapped her arms around my body, and spoke out. “PLEASE tell me you’re bringing her home!” Vera’s shock had only grown. “This is one of my wives, and also part of my Questing party, as well as being Knighted at the same instant I was. Her neme is Marie, Marie, this is Miss Vera, and as you’ve clearly noticed, a Harpy, exactly as you mentioned you wanted.” Marie’s eyes were almost predatory, and I think slightly intimidated Vera, but she took in her breath, and spoke. “It’s a very great pleasure to meet you both,…and honestly,…I don’t know what I want more now, this job, and that type writer thing you mentioned, or just you, cause having a Man in my life would make me the happiest I could ever be, but I also want to feel useful, then not being fertile with non harpies, well I doubt you’d actually want me that way.” I shook my head. “I wouldn’t count on the not fertile thing, question, do you lay eggs regardless of if they’re fertilized?” She nodded. “How often?” She tilted her head. “Once a year, and I’m almost ready to lay again, why?” I leaned in to whisper in her ear, so other women wouldn’t hear us. “I have a perk that makes it certain that the women I lay with get pregnant, it even bypasses born infertility. If you want to try this year, we can. I don’t know if it bypasses species barriers, but I’ll be able to tell right off, even before you can, with my analyze skill.”

“Take me as your wife then, please I’d love that. I,…don’t like Harpy Men, so I just assumed, well if children are in my future with you, then I’ll be very Happy!” Marie Grinned. “Excellent! Welcome to the family! Can’t wait to see the little fluffy bundle of joy.” She then leaned in to whisper, “And your baby too.” Vera’s eyes widened, understanding that at least one of my wives wanted access to her. I smirked, letting Vera know that I knew, and approved. When she realized that, her eyes sparkled in anticipation. I took a silver ring out of my storage, and thought it wouldn’t fit on her wing finger, but to my surprise, if nobody else’s it expanded to fit perfectly.

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She was puzzled at first, then noticed a similar silver ring on Marie’s finger, coupled with the gold one on the outside. “What about the gold one?” We both smirked. “That’s for after.” That was all we needed to say, and Vera smiled at that. “So everyone knows now that you are going to take me, and they’ll know you have when I wear the Gold one?” We nodded, and the women in the hall all gasped, seeing the gold rings on all my other wives they had met, and realizing now what it meant, they looked at me hungrily. “I’ll get that Type writer made as soon as possible, let the master know I’m seeing to it, so Vera can work, but she’ll be taking a break until it’s ready. As to why I actually came, it’s to turn in the urgent quest the Master hand delivered the other night.”

Pearson processed the claim, and accepted the corpses of the wolves, though I was keeping the strange creature that Ruth had refused to identify, both to avoid panic, but also to keep it fresh for proper identification. The reward was six platinum coins as it was an urgent quest, and I had returned with all the material spoils unlike typical people would. The processors always loved getting my kills, as they were always fresh. Vera was astounded at the storage magic, and overwhelmed at the sheer volume of coin I was owed. I handed Pearson the sketch for the foundry. “Is there a piece of land where this could be constructed, somewhere between my land, and the old man’s smithy? This will serve both of us when we need it, and even the crown at need. I’ll take the land, and construction of this facility over any coins.” Pearson took the sketch, and then pulled out the deeds to lands the guild owned. Finding a perfect location, right next to the river, he brought the deed to me. This land should be perfect, the Guild has owned it so long, any structures that were there have already rotted away. Why nobody else ever thinks to ask the Guild about land I don’t know. I’ll get this project started right away, is there anything else?” I told him to add a water wheel, like the one on the mill, but not to worry about what it would eventually do, I’d build the rest later. He agreed, and amended the build papers.

As we left the processing plant, and Pearson returned to his station, Marie went to look at the quest papers. “Going out on a hunt?” She shook her head. “Not exactly, well maybe, I followed you after gearing up, not realizing you weren’t geared up yourself. All you intended to do was turn in the wolf quest, and I thought you were leaving me behind while you went to hunt. Sorry for jumping to conclusions there. Just a little sensitive about you out on your own I guess. Anyway, since I’m here, and geared up, figured I’d see if there was anything. Maybe a gathering quest I could fill on my own. Unless you want to gear up yourself, and we can hunt for real?” I smiled widely. “Why not both? You know we can carry anything needed back, so see what’s in a same general location. I’m going to stop at the old man’s smithy and get Vera’s type writer ordered, that will take a while, then I’ll escort her back home, and gear up, maybe Marina wants to come too?” Marie nodded happily, knowing I wanted her with me, as much as she wanted me with her. “Hurry back then!” I kissed her, and Vera feeling a little bolder now, followed my lead, and kissed her as well, though her aim was for the cheek, Marie was having non of it, and stole her lips to Vera’s surprise, embarrassment, and clearly happiness. “Naughty Marie, Mark hasn’t even done that yet.” She giggled, and Marie grinned.

The old man was in utter shock at the sheer volume of fine detailed schematics I had drawn out. I was just glad I knew how to actually draft out every part needed to make a mechanical type writer. My hand was slightly cramping when I was done, and I shook it out. “I know this is detailed work, so I imagine despite the smaller amount of material, that it will take considerably longer to craft. What’s your best guess on a time line, so I don’t bug you ahead of that.” He considered for a while before answering that it would be a Month at minimum for such work. I placed a Platinum on the counter, and he balked. “I know it’s way too much for the materials, but the labor on this one will include making jigs, and forms that you will use again. Once this becomes known, it will go EVERYWHERE! You’re going to be swamped with requests before too long, I know it. Also, if Marina hasn’t told you yet, I’m ordering a massive amount of Ore, and doing it through you, so as to get the biggest bulk purchase discount we can, so just increase the order with anything you think is excess.” Grunting, he accepted the coin, and smiled. “You’re a might better Son than I thought. I knew you were good, especially after, well you know, and now you’ve given Marina a Harpy to love on too. I know Marina is really fond of Harpies, always has been, not sure why, but still.” At that instant an older Cat woman came out of the back. “Is this my son in law?! Please tell me you’ve gotten my baby to work on her levels, at least a little! I’m always worried she’ll get hurt because she’s too weak. What was your name again, Matt?” I shook my head. “It’s Mark, and it’s very nice to meet you Mom. As it happens, she’s up to level ten now.” Both their eyes widened in surprise, then the woman frowned. “What’s this Mom thing you called me?” I chuckled. “Mom is a special term, given to any woman older than I am, who represents family, and Motherly power, or a guiding light in my life. Being as you’re the Mother of one of my wives, that makes you Mom, well one of many at this point, and I haven’t even met all of them yet.” Her eyes softened at that, and the pulled me in for a hug. Her tail swaying contentedly behind her.

I decided to do a quick analyze on her, and grinned at the old man. “I see you’ve got another bun in this oven, don’t forget to send a message the instant she starts labor, I know Marina will want to be there.” They both looked confused. “Analyze, it counts pregnancy as a Status Anomaly.” Their eye’s opened wide in shock, and delight. “So that’s what you meant by a bun in the oven huh? You’re sure?” I nodded at him, and wise wife hugged me even tighter. “Here I thought you just made it so we could have fun, I didn’t know I could get another baby again!” I pulled away after a while, and Vera timidly came in to replace me in the hug. “Congratulations on being pregnant. I can’t wait to see the little one, I’m due to lay an egg soon, and Mark says he might be able to make it hatch, though we won’t know till after we, well as you said, have fun?” The two clearly were happy about the thought of little ones so soon. “Well, we should probably get going. Marie is waiting for me to gear up so we can go hunting, and sketching all that out, well it took a while.” Once we got outside, and I told Vera where we were going, she leapt into the air. “I’ll follow this way, walking is painful to be honest, and I’d slow you down otherwise.” I smiled, and nodded.

Vera was shocked at my running pace, having expected to have to circle around to keep me in sight, but instead having to push herself a little to keep up. When she landed though, she was met with screams of pure excitement by first a horde of children, and second a scattering of overjoyed sister wives. The explanation of why she was also a wife, came from Vera herself. Allowing me to get geared up, and off to meet Marie. Marina had elected not to join on the hunt this time, as she felt the project was more important. Marie had found a few game requests that would be easy enough, and several herb collecting quests, as well as one subjugation request for of all things, a greater badger. That would prove to be nasty for most local questers, and the materials would fetch a premium due to alchemists needing several components. With Marie, it was anticlimactic as expected. Every shot was instant kill, and we had collected everything needed, including the Badger in under an hour. I didn’t kill anything, so paltry as it was, all the experience went to Marie. “Still no level, but a couple skill ups, so that’s good. Thanks for letting me have all the fun, it’s almost like a proper date this way.” She smiled widely at me. We kissed, and embraced for a while, until a loud rustling, and crashing came up on us. Whipping around, a great bear was charging at us, but it wasn’t normal at all, its eyes were glowing red, Marie and I leapt up onto a branch, and I quickly analyzed the thing. It was being controlled by a spell.

“It’s being controlled, this is an attack. Take it down, and let’s hunt the thing that’s controlling it!” Marie nodded, and we were moving. The bear dropped instantly with a shot through its eye, and as we landed back on the ground, I dumped it into my inventory. We dashed through the forest dropping creature after creature with glowing red eyes. Cougars, Boar, Wolves, it didn’t matter, they died quickly, and got stored as we followed the trail back. It was another green creature like before, and we didn’t hesitate. The thing was just about to send a Fox after us, when my fist cracked its skull. The Fox was able to break free, and it bolted off into the forest. I stored the corpse of this second creature, and we turned to head back. “Once is a fluke, twice is a coincidence, if it happens again, it’s a pattern. Have to let Ruth know about this second incident.” Marie nodded. We ran back to the hall, and were greeted by a merry Pearson.