Mythran's Master Of All

“What do you mean you have 5 more personal maids?” Nathalia asked, incredulous. “Ren, what did you do?!?”

Ren explained about what had happened with the rescue of the girls, how they had gotten away, and what he did when he was captured.

“I understand that part.” Nathalia said. “Tell me about the women.”

Ren told her about taking care of the rest of the thieves by burying them, and coming across the hidden room. When he opened it, the women had been inside and trapped, and he had healed them and stored the things inside.

“That must be when it happened.” Nathalia said. “Once you took possession of the items in the room...”

“I'm sorry.” Ren said. “I didn't think that storing something I didn't own, gave me ownership of everything inside.”

“It wouldn't normally.” Nathalia sighed. “But you killed the previous owner, then took his things.” She explained. “His personal maids are included in that, apparently.”

“I can't apologize enough for this.” Ren sighed. “I even gave them their contracts and they tore them up.”

“You did WHAT?” Nathalia asked.

“I gave each of them their contracts, and they tore them up into little pieces.” Ren said. “When they were done, I was fined and charged for the replacements.”

“Oh, no.” Nathalia said. “You... you have Binding Contracts.”

“I've had binding contracts before.” Ren said. “But, that sounds like something different when you say it like that.”

“It is.” Nathalia said. “It's something that...” She sighed. “...more unscrupulous people put as a condition of the contract. The contracts don't expire, even if one or both of the participants die; either the holder, or the one under contract.”

“By the gods.” Ren said. “They literally signed their lives away.”

“Yes.” Nathalia said.

“What do I do now?” Ren asked her.

“There's nothing you can do.” Nathalia said. “If the contracts are what I think they are, then you can't give them away, change the contents, or alter in any way the agreements made.”

“Dammit.” Ren said and sighed. “I'll be home soon.” He said. “I just have to stop off at the dwarf's place to pick up the reward for this quest.”

“You've already missed supper, and you're late for your Adventurer's business.”

“I'll deal with it when I can.” Ren said. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Nathalia said, and the Sending Ring stopped glowing. She sat down at the kitchen table, and put her head in her hands.

“Wow.” Ereka said. “I'm so sorry.”

Nathalia let out a bark of laughter. “You don't have to be sorry.” She said. “It's not your fault that 5 more women have been added to Ren's life.”

“No, it's not; but, I know how much spending time with Ren means to you.” Ereka said. “I'm sorry that you have to deal with it.”

Nathalia nodded slightly. “Thank you.”

Ereka walked around the table and knelt by Nathalia to give her a hug.

*

That went a lot better than I thought it would. Ren thought. I'm going to keep my promise, though. I'll spend as much time with Nathalia as I can.

“There's Princess!” Teepo said, and Ren smiled as he looked and saw her as she raced down the road towards the spot where the castle used to be.

“AHHHHH!” Several of the women screamed and jumped to their feet as they noticed Princess as she barrelled down the road towards them.

“It's okay!” Ren said. “It's just my mount coming to pick us up.”

The women calmed and sat back down to finish eating, and Princess skidded to a stop right in front of Ren.

You! *Lick* Scared me! *Lick* Don't you EVER! *Lick* Do that to me AGAIN! *Lick*

Ren laughed as Princess slobbered all over him. He could feel her annoyance at him; but, he could also feel her great relief.

“I won't let a few tons of dirt stop me from getting back to you.” Ren said. “Do you want something to eat?”

Yes, please.

Ren took out a plate of food for her and let her eat. He stored his armor and bodysuit to clean it, and equipped his set of Travelling Clothes at the same time. The slobber magically disappeared, and he took out the Staff of the Earth. He concentrated on the dirt around the hole that he and the female dwarves had escaped through, and watched as the dirt rippled, slid forward, and entered the hole. It didn't take much to fill the room, and then he flattened the dirt out to make it look like nothing had ever been there.

Ren went around to each spot where remnants of the castle stuck up from the ground, and used the staff to pull dirt over and covered them. Near the entrance of the castle, or where the entrance to the castle used to be, were several almost completely buried bodies. He looted them and they disappeared; and he used the staff to cover up any mess what was left. When he was done, you couldn't tell that there was anything supposed to be there, except for it being a big clearing.

“We're done eating.” One of the women said. They had gathered the dishes into a stack, and Ren gave them scraps of cloth to clean up with. He stored the plates and table, then the chairs when the female dwarves stood up.

“Please allow me to help you into the cart.” He said to them. “Right this way.”

The women followed him over to the cart and he introduced them to Princess, then helped them climb into the back.

“I'm sorry it's not plush like my other carts.” Ren said. “It's borrowed, and I left most of my crafting supplies back at the Keep.”

*

“Why is he being so nice?” One of them whispered when Ren went to the front of the cart to talk to Princess. “He doesn't have to try and win us over. He knows he already owns us.”

“I... I don't think that's what he's doing.” One of them whispered back. “I think he's just acting normally.”

Another one chuckled. “Now I really regret not meeting him first.” She said. “I wouldn't have had to deal with Throgg for the last two years.”

*

“How does the cart feel when you run?” Ren asked Princess.

It's old and unbalanced. Princess thought to him. Like the people you just introduced me to.

Ren chuckled. “I'll check the cart and see if I can fix it.”

Princess huffed and Ren checked the cart. It was cheaply made, and the materials weren't quite up to a standard that should be used for a transport; but, it did technically work. Ren saw one of the wheels was slightly smaller than the other, and there wasn't really anything that he could do with it.

“The right wheel is more worn than the other.” Ren said. “I don't have anything on me to replace it.”

Princess huffed sadly, because it had been her idea for Ren to lighten his load for the trip to the giant lands.

“I wasn't complaining.” Ren said, then pat her neck as he felt her regret. “I would have done it to lessen the burden on you, anyways.”

Princess nodded, Ren climbed up into the saddle, and Teepo flew over and landed on his shoulder.

“Please take it easy. There's no real handholds back there.”

Princess huffed her agreement and started to trot. She felt the balance was still off, but it wasn't as pronounced with the extra weight in the cart, so she ran faster. The cart started to vibrate as Princess picked up speed, and Ren glanced at the women in the back. They all had smiles on their faces as they were shaken around, and one even laughed.

At least they're enjoying it. Ren thought and faced forward.

“I think there's going to be a lot of things for them to enjoy.” Teepo said. “If my calculations are right, none of them even know who you are.”

Wait, what? Ren asked his friend.

“You haven't been in the dwarf lands for that long.” Teepo said. “They've been locked up for a year or more.”

Oh. Ren thought. I wonder if I should tell them about everything that's been happening?

“Don't bother.” Teepo said. “If they want to know, they'll ask.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Ren smiled. I don't know if I want to be there to see their reactions or not.

“I do!” Teepo said. “I definitely want to see their faces when they find out you're the Dreaded Foe, and that you just saved the entire Dwarven Kingdom from two invasions.” He chittered in delight. “From giants!”

*

“Please have this delivered to House Neram.” Queen Narhilda Neram said to the messenger, and handed him a rolled up scroll. “Take the fastest cart from the stables.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The messenger said and ran from the office.

“What makes you think he'll even look at it, let alone read the instructions?” Barnar Slatebreaker, the Stonemason, asked.

“He has to.” Narhilda said. “I addressed it to both of them, and Nathalia will make him.”

Barnar chuckled. “Make him? Are you kidding?”

Narhilda chuckled herself. “I'm joking, of course.” She said. “She'll read it and tell him about it.”

“Is two days enough time?”

Narhilda nodded. “If there's one thing that the staff here can do, it's throw parties.”

“That's true.” Dural, the Advisor to the Throne, said. “Plus, we haven't had a reason to celebrate in a long time.” He said and smiled. “Having the Kingdom saved from an invasion from the giants is definitely a reason to throw a party.”

*

We are almost there. Princess thought to Ren, and slowed down to take a turn onto a side road. She didn't pick up speed again, and Ren didn't have to wonder why for long. They approached a driveway to a small house, and he saw the dwarf stood there with all seven girls around him. They waved frantically at him, and Princess came to a stop on the road. Ren hopped down from her saddle, and he braced himself for what was to come.

“YAY!” The girls yelled as they mobbed him. He laughed as they all tried to hug him at once. They had divided themselves up and had attacked their chosen spots in earnest. Two of the shortest girls had his legs, one slightly taller one had him by the waist, two moderately tall ones had his arms, one had him around the back, and the last one who was also the tallest at 4 feet, snuggled into his chest.

Ren could feel a dampness on his shirt, and a soft sob came from the girl in front of him. He looked at the girls that had a hold of his arms.

“I need my arms for this.” Ren said, and they let him go. He gripped the girl in front of him, and she cried.

“Thank you.” She whispered. “Thank you so much.”

“It's okay now.” Ren said and rubbed her back. “You're safe, and they are never coming for you again.”

“How... how do you know that?” She asked, and looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

“I killed every Thieves Guild member that was there.” Ren said. “I made sure that no one was left to come and get you.”

“T-t-thank you!” She sobbed, hopped up, and kissed him on the lips. It lasted for only a moment, and Ren had wide eyes as she blushed a deep red and stepped back. He handed her a piece of cloth to dry her face, and she accepted it gracefully.

“My turn!” One of the other girls said, then wrapped her arms around Ren's neck.

“W-wait!” Ren said; but, she pulled herself up and kissed him anyways.

“Me, too!”

“Me next!”

Ren wasn't sure how it had happened; but before he knew it, he had received a kiss and a thank you from each of the girls. He'd even knelt for the youngest one to kiss him on the cheek.

“I'm just going to say thank you.” The dwarf said, then glared at his daughter who stood surrounded by the other girls. “Like someone else should have done.”

The girl giggled. “But daaaad! He's so handsome and strong!”

“All right.” The dwarf sighed. “I'll let it go this time.” He said. “But you better not be doing that with anyone else!”

The other girls giggled, even the young ones, and the dwarf turned back to Ren.

“Kids these days.” He said, and Ren chuckled.

“I was given some great advice by a healer once.” Ren said. “She told me that sometimes it's just best to accept things for what they are when they are given, and move on.”

The dwarf looked at him. “You just took my daughter's first kiss.”

The girls giggled again and he turned to them.

“It better be your first kiss!” He said, and she covered her mouth so he wouldn't see her laugh. He sighed and looked back at Ren. “Never mind.” He said and handed Ren the All-Seeing Mirror. “Thank you for getting my daughter back.”