Savior
Chapter 23
Epilogue
Rick had been proven right. They bought both buildings for a song. They were attached at the sides, with the burned-out building on the end. They were both two-story houses and were at the very corner of the southwest corner of the Protectors District. The back and side of the building were burned-out, ugly green spaces.
There had been a fire in the kitchen of the burned-out building, and the house next door was affected by it. It even smelled burnt still. The burned-out building was sold for ten gold, while the next house sold at fifty gold.
They were both two-bedroom units with a living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom off of the kitchen. Upstairs was a study and two bedrooms with a deck off the master bedroom out back.
Kate played and sang the first week and fixed the damaged building. That just left the burned-out building.
Now, they just needed to furnish it. They decided to stay at the Inn for those three weeks, not that Rick and Kate had a choice since they were taking the unit on the end, that being the burned-out building.
Meredith and Javier said their farewells. They were not ready to settle down yet. The four hugged them and wished them well, inviting them back when they were tired of adventuring. They waved at them as they left out the North gate. They headed for the Crags Mountains to the north, where Humans and Dwarves, as well as various species of Goblinoids, including Goblins, Bugbears, and Hobgoblins, and monstrous Humanoids, including Gnolls, Orcs, and Ogres, could be encountered.
Kate sighed. "I'm going to miss them."
"Me, too. It feels like our family is breaking up," Lanie added.
"They'll be back, eventually," Roy told them. "Come on, we have to do some shopping for furniture. We need everything except for the bed." They planned to keep the Wizard's Tent and put it in the Master Bedroom in one corner. The rest of the bedroom would be a sitting room. But that left everything else.
They sold the +3 shield and the +3 leather for 9,000 gold each, and had split it with Meredith and Javier, meaning they each got 3,000 gold. They also gave them the third Wizard's Tent to use and enjoy.
The second week, Kate played, sang a song, and watched the burned-out building transform into something else. The neighbors were there to watch as well. By the time she finished, Kate had quite a following watching her.
"Do you do... Can you change our house when you finish yours?" Kate was asked.
"I don't see why not," Kate replied.
"That brings me to my idea," Rick said. "We open up a contractor store. Maybe we purchase a small shop somewhere in the city, hire out, and use the Lyre of Building. What do you think? We could call it R&R Contracting."
"Which one of us gets top billing?" Roy asked him.
"That depends on who's answering it. We're interchangeable," Rick said, using his hands to show the interchanging.
"I like it. It'll bring in income, and we won't be living off of what gold we have. So what will we charge?" Roy asked him.
Rick shrugged. "I guess that depends on the job. We'll play it by ear."
"I still like it," Roy said.
oo0O0oo
Neighbors watched while Kate played and sang the next and final week as she built the house.
"Amazing," several neighbors said as they watched 100 humans doing their work. "I could use some work on my house," another mentioned. "I wonder what they charge?"
Kate finished playing and singing, and together with Rick, Roy, and Lanie, she went inside to look around. "Not bad, not bad at all." Kate liked it.
"Considering it was a burned-out shell, it's amazing." Lanie was impressed.
Kate sighed. "Now we just need to furnish it."
"It's a different way of life, Kate. You have your cooking, cleaning, and lighting a fire for your hot bath. The only thing feeling familiar is the bedroom where we have the tent," Lanie told her. "That and the making love part," Lanie whispered, getting Kate to chuckle.
"Rick and I do that now at the Inn. I can't get more pregnant, Lanie."
Lanie nodded. "I hear that."
Like Roy's and Lanie's place, this place had two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a study, a kitchen, and a bathroom. There were four fireplaces, one in each bedroom, one in the dining room, and the largest in the kitchen.
oo0O0oo
"I've arranged for the four of us to be married in The House of Knowledge. It's a Temple to Oghma. I know it's not a Temple where we worship, but it's a good neutral place for us. They can handle us in two weeks. There will be a little food and some dancing," Roy told them.
The House of Knowledge was a library and the primary temple to Oghma in Neverwinter. The people regarded it as one of the most impressive and beautiful structures architecturally, featuring abundant windows and an impressive arched roof. Its vast libraries contained many centuries of precious records and materials.
Kate stared at him and raised an eyebrow. "Two weeks?"
"It seemed like enough time. I mean, we have no one to invite. Meredith and Javier are gone. I don't know where the other Roy is. It seemed right to me," Roy told her.
"No, two weeks is fine," Kate said. "I guess I can find a nice dress by then." I hope, she said under her breath.
oo0O0oo
"My Stone Golem! What do I do with my Stone Golem?" Kate asked Rick.
"I don't know. It depends on how big it is, I guess. It could go out front, I suppose." Rick watched as Kate walked up to the front door and looked around.
"I guess he could go here. What do you think?" Kate asked him.
Rick shrugged. "It's as good a place as any."
"Great! Now I need the material to make him. But we need furniture first. We can't spend all our time in the Tent in bed," Kate told him.
"Oh, I don't know about that." Rick put his arms around her. "Being in bed doesn't sound so bad."
Kate frowned. "That's what got us into this mess, remember?"
"I remember, and I'm not at all sorry," Rick said, and he kissed her. That got Kate to melt in his arms. Still, they needed furniture to live on.
oo0O0oo
They had a dining room table which seated six, two armoires for the bedroom to keep their clothes in, two sofas for the living room, and one end table. Also two comfortable chairs with an ottoman for each one in the study, and rugs for the living room, dining room, and study.
They even had a bassinet for the baby, a changing table, and a little tub where they could bathe it. They had a large pot in the fireplace in the kitchen and a grill in there, too. There were plates, a pot, pans, glasses, and silverware to eat with. There was also a small table to eat off of in the kitchen and three comfortable chairs.
Kate was busy cooking her first meal in the pot. It was a cheddar potato chowder. Then Rick walked in, wrapped his arms around her from behind, and nuzzled her neck.
She tilted her head to give him space. "Where have you been?"
"You already have two magical rings so I bought you a wedding ring."
That got Kate to spin in place. "You bought me a ring? Can I see?" She wanted to see it.
Rick shook his head. "Not until I slip it on your finger at our wedding." He silenced anything she had to say about that by kissing her.
She pouted. "I suppose I can wait. It's only a week away. Now go wash up, dinner is just about ready."
"Yes, Ma'am!" Rick gave her a quick kiss, went into the bathroom, and was back out in a minute.
He took a bite. "Mmm, not bad. Is that celery and ham I'm detecting?"
"It is. I take it that you like it?" Kate asked him.
He smiled. "It's delicious. At least one of us is a good cook."
"Soups I can handle. Anything more complex than that, I'm not so sure, Rick."
"I can handle the grill while you handle soups," Rick told her.
She smiled at him. "You got yourself a deal, future husband."
oo0O0oo
It was finally time for them to get married. Each of them got dressed in their gowns and suits at home and walked the short distance to the Temple.
Rick kissed her hand. "Kate, you look amazing!"
Kate felt pretty amazing. She was dressed in a billowing gown full of soft colors. It had a bustier top made of similar colors.
"Thank you. I like your suit, too. You look so handsome," Kate told him as he stood in his almost all-white collar, open-chested suit.
"Shall we?" Rick put out his arm for her to take and she slipped her arm through his as they walked to the Temple.
There they saw Lanie and Roy. Lanie was wearing a lovely purple and green billowing gown. Roy was wearing half-white and half-black with a high-collar suit. She looked beautiful and he looked so handsome.
They smiled at each other and walked toward the Priestess and her subordinates – the Clerics and Paladins. There were a few flowers here and there but not many.
They went through the ceremony and Rick slid her ring on her finger. It was a pearl ring and she loved it.
Roy slid on Lanie's ring. She looked at it and smiled when she saw it was a ruby. She loved it.
"It is my great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." She smiled at them, and they kissed. There was a bit of food and bread, and they talked to the Clerics and the Paladins while they ate.
They were offered a chance to view the inner library that the public never got to see. It was a Chasm that could be sealed and was filled with books and scrolls. It was only because Roy was a Paladin himself that they were given that honor.
"It's magnificent," Kate breathed.
"It's amazing is what it is," Roy said. "Imagine the knowledge hidden away in this place."
oo0O0oo
They went home, undressed each other, and made soft, passionate love to one another. Followed by a hard fucking full of need.
They had to heat their water to take a hot bath that morning. Then they dressed and put away their outfits, maybe never to be worn again, but who knows?
Then Rick and Roy met to look for a space to set up their R&R Construction office. All they needed was just a place to have an office. They only needed a one-room space to purchase.
They found three prospects and returned home to Rick's house, where Lanie was visiting, and they sat down to discuss them. One was in the Prospectors District, while the others were in the Blue Lake District.
Two of them were simple office spaces, and they were both in the Blue Lake District. The one in Prospectors District had a front office space and a back room with a back door. It was more expensive because of the size and was also in Prospector's District, the most expensive district.
They decided on the Prospectors District office. It was closer to home, mostly. Now, they needed to come up with a sign. They ultimately decide on back-to-back capital Rs. One R was correct, while the other R was backwards. So, R&R Construction was born.
No sooner than they opened it, then they had three clients. They were all neighbors who had seen what they could do to their home. So that was three weeks of clients.
oo0O0oo
They hired someone to run the office. That person would take orders and keep track of them all. They used the back room to store all the paperwork. They paid to have new locks installed on the doors and paid to have the sign made. It was black with white letters.
Three months in, they even had an offer in the Castle to have some work done. By now, Kate and Lanie were showing that they were indeed pregnant. The morning sickness had also started, so they went to the Temple to see if they could ease the pain.
Some projects had Kate play and sing. For other, larger projects, they did the playing and singing themselves. They took turns playing and singing.
oo0O0oo
About six months later, Rick brought someone home with him. Roy and Lanie were over for a visit. They seemed to switch back and forth about who was in whose house.
"Look who I found." Rick stepped back and showed them off.
"MEREDITH, JAVIER!" Roy got up and greeted them. The women hugged them and kissed them on the cheek.
"So you came back," Roy said.
"We did. We fought Orcs, Ogres, Goblins, and Bugbears. Enough that I reached the thirteenth level. I gained a seventh-level spell, and I gained a Positive Energy Burst. What it means is I can give a burst of energy that will deal damage to all Undead within 100 feet of me," Meredith explained.
"How long are you here for?" Rick asked them.
"Our first stop was at the Castle. We offered ourselves to them to do the odd job. They haven't yet committed to anything, but we're here to stay. We're semi-retired," Javier told them.
"That's great!" Roy was happy. "You're going to need a place to stay. Together or separate?"
"Separate, we're thinking. Nothing too big, not like this place, but nice," Meredith told him.
"I'll look around for a space for each of you," Roy told them.
"We both will," Rick said.
"And you two are most definitely pregnant," Meredith said, smiling.
"Yes, and we keep getting bigger and bigger. Thankfully, we're past the morning sickness. I don't know why it's called morning sickness when it's more like all-day sickness," Kate told her.
"Sounds like something a guy made up," Meredith offered as both Kate and Lanie laughed.
"They'd be fools not to hire you. I'd go with you, but…" Kate trailed off and put a hand on her ever-expanding belly.
"We're staying in an Inn for now," Javier told them.
"We'll get started on finding you a space. We'll even fix it at no charge. Did Rick tell you we started a construction business?" Roy asked them.
Rick rolled his eyes. "Yes, I told them, Roy."
"Well, you're staying for dinner, and I don't want any arguments. I'm making a soup. It's turkey and wild rice," Kate told them.
"She makes great soups," Rick told them with pride, and Kate smiled at him. She would kiss him, but he was way over there.
oo0O0oo
Rick was downstairs pacing back and forth as he listened to Kate screaming. She was giving birth to their son or daughter. A midwife was up there with her, helping her through it. They had found her by using the Temple of Knowledge.
Finally, he heard a baby crying. He felt a lot better but still prayed for Kate. Eventually, the midwife came downstairs and looked at him. "You can go upstairs now, Sir. Both the baby and your wife are doing fine. She will have some residual pain, which is usual. If it becomes a problem, I suggest you take your lady wife to a Temple."
Rick paid her fee, took the stairs two at a time, and entered the Tent in the corner of their bedroom. He stopped when he saw Kate lying in bed, holding their baby close to her.
He sat down on the edge of the bed and looked for himself. Kate looked up at him. "Isn't he beautiful?"
"He?" Rick asked her.
"We have a son, Rick. We need to name him soon."
"How do you feel, love?" Rick asked.
"Tired, sore. There's some pain, but it's not bad. Come say hello to your son."
oo0O0oo
Rick went next door to tell Roy and Lanie, and they came over to see for themselves.
Kate looked at her friend. "You're next, Lanie."
"I'm ready not to be pregnant any longer. My back hurts, my feet hurt, and my breasts are tender. I'm so ready not to be pregnant any longer," Lanie told her.
oo0O0oo
A week later, Lanie was giving birth to their baby. Roy was pacing to and fro, listening to Lanie screaming. Then he heard a baby crying. The midwife came downstairs and told Roy the same thing she had told Rick. Roy paid her fee, thanked her, and took two steps at a time to see Lanie holding their baby.
Lanie looked up at him and smiled tiredly. "You have a son, Roy."
"A son?" Roy sat on the edge of the bed and looked for himself.
"Get used to not getting any sleep," Lanie warned him. But he already knew that after listening to what Rick told him about their baby.
Roy's baby was named Lance, while Rick's baby was named Peter, and neither family got any sleep at all except for a few quick cat naps.
Meredith and Javier were over to see the babies and thought they were cute.
Lance was all human, while Peter was a Half-Elf. Then the fight started. It wasn't exactly a fight but an argument. "He's going to grow up to be a Paladin," Roy told his wife.
"My boy will grow up to be a Vassal of Bahamut," Lanie countered.
While next door, it was, "He's going to grow up to be a Ranger."
"My son is going to grow up to be a Sorcerer," Kate insisted.
"Whatever he becomes, he's going to be loved," Roy and Rick told their wives, who agreed.
The R&R Construction business was busy. They never seemed to have a week off. They were forever doing something somewhere. It didn't hurt that they could usually do it in one day.
oo0O0oo
One day, the Volcano erupted, ruining the city and bridges, leaving them with just one working bridge. Thousands were killed. But that wouldn't happen in their lifetime.
Lance and Peter would be out adventuring with Javier. His being a Half-Dragon also granted him a long life.
Lance grew up to be a Cleric of Oghma, which was no surprise. Peter followed in his mother's footsteps, sort of. He became a Wizard and started with three magic spell books that went up to fifth-level spells. He also inherited her magical items from both rings to her Staff. Together, they all shared the Wizard's Tent.
They became quite a force when combined with the strength of a Half-Dragon, one called Uncle Javi.