Mason chewed his...whatever it was called...and grinned. Just watching and listening to his girls calmed him down, made him feel something approaching...normal. Though he knew his life was far from it.

"Oh!" Becky turned to Haley and slapped her arm. "I went down to the temple yesterday lookin' for yer thyme, and I smelled this...amazin' thing, so I went over to see some flowers. And I was gonna pick a few to bring home, and one spit at me! Hit me right here.” She gestured to a little patch of red skin on her hand. “I was so surprised I just turned and ran like hell."

Haley gave a sympathetic face. Mason laughed. They both looked at him with disapproving glares.

"Oh come on. The mighty Rebecca, who can charge a line of murderous orcs, defeated by a flower. It’s funny.”

Haley slowly smiled until Becky looked at them both with an open mouth in mock offence.

"Some sympathy I get!"

"I'm sorry, you're right," Mason reached across for her hand. "Show me where the little rose hurt you. Are you OK? Do you need the infirmary?"

She slapped his hand and clearly fought a smile. "I'll remember this. You'll rue the day."

"Very intimidating." Mason chewed and grinned, then cleared his throat. "So, I need another nymph visit." He could see both girls were about to comment about not being enough last night so he held up his acorn. "I need them to tell me what to do with this, and a bag of little magic gems."

He stopped and wished he was as clever as Blake but just gave up and said what he meant.

"I need to take Rosa to Calypsa, but I don't want to come right back after. I was thinking you could come with us Becky and take her home. Maybe...get to know her a little."

Becky mostly just stared. "With you and Rosa,” she said finally. “To the nymphs."

"Um, yeah," Mason said, and Haley nudged Becky with her shoulder.

"It's a good idea, no?"

"Peanut butter and chocolate is a good idea," Becky mumbled. "This is more like…whatever the hell’s in dynamite."

"We won’t...stay," Mason winced, "I just need their knowledge. Rosa needs recipes from Calypsa. And…you and she need to get to know each other."

Rebecca quirked her head as if to say 'oh do we?'

"Just me and her in the woods?” she said. “Alone?"

"I’ll know if you kill her," Mason said deadpan. "She’s in my contract list. I’d technically have to punish you. Or the system would."

Rebecca glared and stuck out her tongue.

"I don’t...dislike her," she sighed. "I just don’t like to share is all."

"You share with Haley right now," Mason countered.

"That’s different. Haley’s the best."

Haley grinned at that and the girls exchanged another shoulder check.

"Rosa is good people," Mason said. "Get to know her, it’ll be good for you both. For me?"

Rebecca rolled her eyes and squirmed a little.

"Fine."

"I’ll take that as an excited yes." Mason leaned across the table and lifted Rebecca's chin, then gave her a good long kiss until she was getting into it. Haley winked at him beside her, and Mason kicked her a little under the table.

"OK," he said when he finally sat back, scooping the last of his food and washing it down with coffee. "Breakfast with girls, check. I'm supposed to talk to the craftsmen, right? Anything else I'm forgetting, Haley, before I run off again?"

She smiled. "Nothing that can't wait. I'll tell Rosa to be ready to go."

"Right. Thanks." Mason stood to leave before Rebecca gave Haley and then him rather meaningful, judgmental looks.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Um, yeah, you forgot to ask how Haley is doin’,” she said, and for a long moment Mason just stared, literally no idea what she was talking about.

Right. Pregnant. With my child. He looked at Haley helplessly, and she just winked.

“It’s still very early. I’m fine. Some weird cravings.”

Mason had no idea what else to do except pull her up and give her a squeeze. He also had no idea what to say. She put a finger to his lips before whispering in his ear.

“No need, master. I already know.”

He gave her a good, long kiss, then stuck his tongue out at Rebecca over her shoulder.

“OK. Leaving. See you later.” He turned and left the house without another word, feeling slightly incomplete when Streak didn't leap off the porch and chase after him.

He went down to the crafting quarter to find people already hard at work. He shook hands with several civilians whose names he didn’t know, all of whom took turns showing him their various projects.

Apparently they were making actual weapons and armor now.

"It's not pretty, but it works," said a shy, middle-aged leatherworker. "We've got layered linen. Gambeson, I think it’s called? Which is stronger than you'd think. And we've got boiled leather we’re trying now. Main problem is supplies. We need more hides and materials to work with, sir. But we've got the players who are here to get sized in some of it. Can we make you something, Patron?"

“Good work…Cynthia, was it? Sorry I’m terrible with names," Mason said, impressed with the efforts. His instinct was to tell her to just call him Mason, but he fought it. Maybe titles and hierarchy would make people feel better, would help keep control. "I'll try and deal with the supply side. In the meantime, I'd be happy to take some. Prefer the leather, if you've got it. Talk to Haley about measurements, OK?"

"Sure, boss.” The woman smiled. "Just let us know if you..."

"Any chance you can make a bow?” Mason said to the general group of civilians all watching. “I mean…I sort of know how to make myself something, but 'crude' likely wouldn't begin to describe it."

The big blacksmith, Peni, put a hand to his chin. "The system has knowledge on just about anything from the old world. We could...look into it. I expect it'd be a group project."

Mason smiled, certainly not expecting anything as fancy as his compound bow, and trying not to be angry about the loss again. But something was better than nothing.

"I'd be grateful. I'll be back in a few days and we can talk about it then."

"Sure, chief," said the smith absently, clearly lost in thought. "See you later."

Mason talked to the builders, too, who said they could make new tools to start moulding metals and plasters and all kinds of things. But they too lacked supplies, especially material to practice with.

He told them he'd try and do something about that, though not yet entirely sure what. He looked into more patron options and definitely had some things he could do. But it seemed something like a 'mine' was not possible until they found actual resources and locations in the real world.

He glanced over the walls towards the large mountain not far in the distance, knowing it was very likely time for a visit soon. And not just for materials, but because the last dungeon implied he might find a certain ‘guild’ of goblins there that might need a lesson in consequences.

Streak’s excited howl interrupted his thoughts, and the increasingly large wolf bound inside the settlement walls ahead of Phuong and the others. Some nearby citizens and player guards went to greet them, but John and Seamus were clearly awkward as they mostly stared with open mouths at the settlement.

"Sweet merciful Jesus," Seamus said, frenzied eyes moving from trees to buildings to houses. Then Mason realized Haley had come out and walked down to greet them in her more formal clothes, and Seamus' eyes finally found something to focus on.

"Welcome," she said, with a glance at Mason to make sure they actually were. He nodded, and she smiled. "I'm Haley, Mason's assistant. I can help get you settled."

"We've found bloody paradise, Mac," Seamus beamed as he smacked the bigger man's arm. Then he pointed a finger at Haley and lowered his voice. "Are you single, darling?"

Her smile strained ever so slightly.

"I am very not. This way, please. You must be tired. But you're in luck, we have free houses again."

"If he gives you any trouble," Mason called without any indication he was kidding, "just let me know. I still debate killing him occasionally."

Seamus laughed with exaggerated volume. "He's a funny one, that one. But nevermind, sweetheart. We’re good pals now."

Mason sighed and turned to Phuong.

"Can you…

"I’ll keep an eye on him, Patron. Don't worry."

Mason put a hand on the man's arm and gave it a squeeze.

“The trip back was uneventful?”

"Quite peaceful. You’re off again?" Phuong added, eyebrow slightly raised. "Need any help? I wouldn't mind a bite to eat but..."

"Watching Seamus is more than enough help. I've a lot of ground to cover this time, but I'll take a few people to the great tree first. Take care of everyone for me."

Phuong nodded and smiled, then walked off towards the 'restaurant'.

Mason told Haley he was ready, then soon found himself at the gate with an awkward and obviously competitively 'sexy hiking' dressed Rebecca and Rosa.

Streak came loping over chewing on...something, obviously no intention of being left behind again.

"OK." Mason put on whatever small charm he had. "I've still got a lot to do. So let's get running."

The girls both looked rather determined as they stepped out into the trees, and Mason legitimately wondered if they’d both run until they dropped.

“I bet we can make it today,” Rebecca called back, rolling her shoulders and lifting or bending her limbs. Rosa was similarly preparing, both of them unintentionally giving Mason a leg and ass show from his position at the gate.

“Possibly,” he said, knowing if he offered either woman a ride at the moment they’d be telling him to go to hell. “But let’s not overdo it. You’ll need to actually be able to walk back.”

Rebecca and Rosa gave each other the briefest glance before looking back at him with a ‘well let’s bloody go’ sort of intense stare.

Mason sniffed and clicked for Streak, leading the way as he set the pace. He wanted the women to get along, of course. But if he was honest, the competition wasn’t entirely turning him off…