Chapter 146: A Family Outing

Sarah remains leaning against my shoulder while we watch the settlement continue taking shape beneath the late-morning sun. Another timber is lifted into position along the wall. Beyond it, farmers are clearing more land, guards are moving along their patrol routes, and workers are carrying lumber toward the growing collection of buildings.

I squeeze Sarah’s hand.

"We should take the afternoon off."

She lifts her head.

"All of us?"

"Yes."

Her eyes brighten immediately.

"What did you have in mind?"

"The river." Sarah smiles.

"That sounds wonderful."

I look west toward the trees. The river is only about one hundred fifty yards from the settlement. We chose this location partly because of the easy access to water, but since arriving, everyone has been too busy building, guarding, training, and organizing the settlement to actually enjoy it.

"We can spend a few hours swimming, bathing, and relaxing."

"All thirty-three of us?"

"All thirty-three."

Sarah’s smile widens. "And the children?"

"All forty-two of our adopted daughters."

She looks surprised for a moment.

"Every one of them?"

"It’s a family outing. I’m not leaving most of my daughters behind just because they don’t have combat classes."

"I agree."

"The girls who are apprentices can bring their mentors. We still need security."

Sarah nods.

"That should be more than enough protection."

"No male guards or apprentices."

"Considering nobody owns swimwear, that’s probably best."

"Exactly."

She looks toward the direction of the river.

"We should establish the bathing areas before everyone starts using it regularly."

"Separate sections?"

"One for women and one for men."

"Good idea."

With hundreds of people already living in the settlement, the river is going to be used constantly. People are already collecting drinking and cooking water from it, so it makes sense to establish permanent rules now instead of waiting until someone causes a problem.

"The drinking-water collection point stays upstream." I say.

Sarah nods.

"Then the women’s bathing area should be downstream from it."

"And the men’s section farther downstream."

"Far enough that neither group can casually see the other."

"There are plenty of trees and bends along the riverbank."

"Then that works."

Sarah releases my hand.

"I’ll gather everyone."

"You want to announce it now?"

"Better now than after people have already started making their own bathing spots."

"Go ahead."

Sarah sends several people through the settlement to call everyone together.

It takes a while. Construction slows as workers leave their jobs. Farmers return from the edge of the cleared fields. Guards remain spread around the perimeter while those who can safely leave their posts come closer to listen.

Soon a large portion of the settlement is gathered.

Sarah steps forward.

"We are establishing permanent rules for the river."

The scattered conversations gradually stop.

"The current drinking and cooking water collection point will remain the settlement’s clean-water area. Bathing, swimming, and washing will be done only in the designated sections farther downstream. The women’s bathing and swimming section will be the first designated bathing area downstream from the clean-water point. The men’s section will be farther downstream, with enough distance and natural cover between the two areas to provide privacy."

Sarah looks over the crowd.

"Men are forbidden from entering the women’s bathing area or deliberately watching the women using it."

A faint glow appears around dozens of collars.

The magic accepts the order.

"Erik is exempt from that restriction and may enter the women’s section whenever he chooses."

The collars glow again.

Sarah continues.

"The men’s section is for the men of the settlement. The women’s section is for the women. Unless there is an emergency, everyone will use the appropriate section."

More collars briefly glow. That settles the rule for nearly everyone here. Sarah then looks toward the adopted children gathered among the crowd.

"The children don’t wear slave collars, so these rules aren’t magically enforced on you. You’re still expected to respect them."

Several of them nod. Sarah dismisses the crowd, and people gradually return to their work. Lucy approaches us first, followed closely by Amber, Lyra, Hazel, Ginger, and Roux.

"So what’s this I hear about swimming?" Lucy asks.

"We’re taking the afternoon off."

Amber’s fox ears perk up.

"Really?"

"Really."

"All afternoon?"

"A few hours at least."

Amber grins. "I approve."

"You weren’t being asked."

"Then I approve of your decision." Lyra laughs.

Hazel rests both hands against her stomach.

"Swimming actually sounds wonderful."

Lucy glances at her belly.

"The water should help take some pressure off your back."

Hazel looks relieved just thinking about it.

"Then I’m definitely going."

"You were also not being asked." I say.

Hazel smiles. "I know."

Sarah looks at the women.

"Spread the word. Erik wants all thirty-three of us and all forty-two daughters ready."

Lucy’s eyebrows rise. "All forty-two?"

"It’s a family outing." I say.

That earns a softer expression from Lucy.

"Good."

The women separate to tell everyone else. I

watch Amber and Hazel leave together. Hazel is exactly five feet tall, and Amber is also one of my smaller wives. Their quadruplet pregnancies look especially dramatic on their smaller frames.

Sarah catches me looking.

"They’ll probably spend half the afternoon floating."

"Can you blame them?"

"No."

We begin walking back through the settlement.

The women we purchased in Emerald City will probably appreciate the river most. I had all of them taken to the bathhouse immediately after buying them, before we left the city, but that was nearly seven weeks ago. They’ve obviously washed themselves during the journey.

Nobody has gone seven weeks without cleaning themselves. But washing with a cloth and basin beside a wagon isn’t the same as being able to properly bathe. Sarah seems to reach the same conclusion.

"I should explain something to the women before we leave."

"What?"

"Your exemption."

"They just heard it."

"They heard that you’re allowed into the women’s section. Some of the newer women may not understand exactly why."

"Fair enough."

Sarah had already established long ago that I was permitted to see the bodies of the adult women who belonged to me. My wives understand that. The women who have been with us longer understand it. The newly purchased villagers and guards have never actually had Sarah explain that rule to them.

"The river is probably the best time to tell them."

"I agree."

We pass one of the training areas.

Several of my adopted daughters immediately notice us. Annie is among them, bow in hand. Amanda and Sophia are nearby, along with some of the melee-trained girls and several of their mentors.

"Are we really going to the river?" Annie asks.

"Yes."

"Can we come?"

"Every one of my daughters is coming."

For a second she just stares at me. "All of us?"

"All forty-two."

A grin spreads across her face. The reaction spreads almost instantly through the girls nearby.

"What about training?" one of them asks.

"It’ll still be here tomorrow."

Several of the mentors smile.

"This is family time." I continue. "The apprentices can bring their mentors because I still want security around the group, but nobody is spending the entire afternoon training."

One of the mentors nods.

"We can establish a perimeter around the river and rotate."

"That’s what I want. Check the area before anyone gets comfortable. Tracks, nests, anything unusual."

"Yes, sir."

"The rest of the guards can continue protecting the settlement. We don’t need half the village following us."

The girls begin talking excitedly among themselves. Sarah watches them.

"They needed this."

"So did we."

The settlement has changed quickly.

For weeks we were constantly traveling.

Before that it was cities, orphanages, slave markets, goblin farms, battles, weddings, pregnancies, shopping, planning, and more problems than I can count. Now we finally have a place that belongs to us. I want at least one afternoon where nobody has to accomplish anything. By the time we return to the family area, news of the outing has already spread.

Women move between the tents gathering soap, towels, brushes, clean clothes, and whatever else they want to bring.

Storage rings make most of it easy.

Sarah is still organizing things anyway.

"We’re walking one hundred fifty yards." I say. "Not crossing the forest again."

"I know."

"Then why does it look like you’re packing for a journey?"

"I’m making sure nobody forgets anything."

Amber walks past us.

"Everything I need is already in my ring."

I point at her.

"See? Amber understands."

Sarah gives me a look. Amber laughs and quickly keeps walking. Nearby, Lucy is helping Hazel decide what she wants to bring. Ginger and Roux are gathering with several of the other women while Lyra ties her long silver hair back so it stays out of her face. More daughters begin arriving. Some are excited about swimming. Others seem more interested in simply spending the afternoon with everyone. That is exactly why I wanted all forty-two of them here. The apprentice girls eventually gather with their mentors, but for once their weapons are secondary. Bows, swords, shields, and other equipment remain available for security without making the outing feel like another patrol. Sarah checks the growing group. Thirty-three women.

Forty-two daughters. The apprentice mentors needed for security. And me. The settlement behind us keeps working. The wall keeps rising.

The farmers keep clearing land. The guards keep patrolling. But for the next few hours, my family doesn’t have to build anything, fight anything, or travel anywhere.

Sarah slips her hand into mine.

"Almost ready."

I look over everyone gathering supplies, tying back hair, checking storage rings, and calling for sisters who haven’t arrived yet. For the first time since we entered this forest, the entire family is preparing for something that exists purely because it sounds enjoyable.

I smile.

"Good."

I look toward the trees hiding the river.

"Let’s get everyone together."