Magic

Chapter 9

It is now eight months later.

Kate was downstairs and out front watching her new sign go up. CASTLE BEER. It had a white castle on it. She was very pleased with it. She had spent the last eight months buying all the equipment she needed to make beer in large volumes.

She even had a selling table that was more like a bar than anything. She had serving spigots to dispense the beer and mugs to put it in. She also had mugs in the shape of a castle for purchase. A local vendor made those mugs for her, and Kate intended to pass along the costs of having them made plus a little extra.

She wasn't quite ready to open, but she was close. Then Kate put a hand on her belly, her very extended belly. She was seven months pregnant. It was bound to happen eventually as often as they made love. This land didn't have condoms, and they didn't have birth control pills, so it was inevitable.
Right now, the baby was using her bladder as its punching bag. Kate talked to her baby. "Will you please calm down?" She didn't know if it was a boy or a girl. They didn't have electricity, so they didn't have an ultrasound machine. They were going to be surprised.

Kate watched the installers come down, and she looked at it, pleased with what she saw. She gave them a few copper pieces as payment, went inside, and closed and locked the door. Kate walked to the back room where the kettles were and did a quick taste test. She was pregnant and shouldn't drink it, but it tasted good.
Now, there would be a difference between what this place called beer and what she made. She made beer more like a Budweiser-made beer. The local beer was thicker and more like soup than real beer. Kate hoped they liked it. She went up the back stairs, entered the living room, and found Rick playing with Alexis. Alexis was almost a year old now.

"MA-MA!" She spotted her and raised her arms, wanting picked up. Kate picked her up and kissed her. "Are you playing with Daddy?"
"Da-da," she told her and grinned.

"That's my girl." Kate peppered her face with kisses, and Alexis chortled.

"So, are you about ready to open?" Rick asked her.

"Almost. A young woman is willing to come in tomorrow to help me serve beer when I open officially. I think she'll work out. I'm paying her a good wage based on what others earn locally.

"I've only got the one flavor of beer for now, but I have plans for others. My crafting points are all at maximum, and I've made enough batches as a test. You liked it," Kate reminded him.

He nodded. "I did indeed. Let's hope the others are ready for a modern beer because the local beer isn't anything like this one."

"That's the one part that worries me. I guess we'll see. It's a strong beer with 13 percent alcohol. I could have made it stronger, but I thought 13 percent was enough of a kick," Kate explained. "I made it with citrus, brown sugar, and spice," she added.
"I'm making my own malt (kiln-dried germinated barley), hops, and yeast. I only hope my local supplier can keep up with me. If not, I'm out of business." Kate was worried about that.

Rick hugged her. "They will, Kate. You don't have that big of an operation."
"Yeah, I've only got that one kettle, but I have room for more of them," she said, glad that she did.

"Ma-Ma!" Alexis called out since she wasn't being paid attention to.
"Sorry, Pumpkin. I'll play with you." Kate put Alexis down, got on the floor, and played with her.

"How's the baby?" Rick asked her while she played with Alexis.
"Still alive and kicking, literally. Are you ready for your half of the store?" Kate inquired.

"I'm using my little portable alchemy kit, and because of that, I can't make that many potions, not like I used to, but I'm ready. I plan to charge a competitive price compared to the others," Rick replied. "So far, I've made 30 potions and have one cooking right now."
Kate looked at his equipment set up in the corner of the dining room. It was indeed smaller than what he used to have. It was good that he had that, or he would have nothing.

"I've made a nice mix, I think," Rick told her.

"What's that one." Kate nodded toward it.

"Phantom Steed," Rick responded.

"Oh, I love that spell," Kate exclaimed. "That was such a useful spell."

"It's what got us here," Rick said. "Otherwise, we would have been on the road and probably living in Waterdeep."

"I like where we live. It has taken some getting used to, though. "No electricity means no to a lot of things. I'd kill for a washing machine, not to mention a dishwasher. No running water, no air conditioner, not even a fan." Kate sighed, thinking of everything else they didn't have here.

"I set up the tent in our bedroom," Rick told her.
"And I thank you for that." It made sleeping at night that much easier. "Now we need another tent for Alexis and the baby."

"I'll visit the magic shop and see if they have one. No time like the present. Wish me luck." Rick left their home, went downstairs, and across the bridge to the next section filled with warehouses. Then, across yet another bridge to another island and across the invisible bridge.

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"Did they have one?" Kate asked when he came home.
"Yes and no. There was a tent, but this one is different. Kate, this is a Wizard's Tent, which takes up a five-foot by five-foot space. The inside creates an extradimensional space. The space inside is twenty feet by twenty feet, maintaining a temperature of 70 degrees. Inside is a comfortable bedroom with a king-size bed, a full-size bookshelf, and a table with two chairs.

"Think that will work?" Rick asked her.
"I think I like it better than our tent. Maybe we can make a switch," Kate suggested.

"And, I think the room for our little girl is big enough for a ten-foot by ten-foot tent. I'll need help moving furniture," Rick said.

"I'll be happy to help you with that," Kate told him.

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Kate was resting on the sofa. She tired quickly these days. Being pregnant did that to her, but they finished, at least. Now, they had a bed they didn't need, which went into Alexis' room for a while.
Rick went out, purchased fresh food for dinner, and cooked it over the grill in the fireplace.

Alexis was awake and active. "Ma-Ma!"
"Go bother Daddy, sweetie. Mama is so tired," Kate told her, though she felt pretty bad about that.

Alexis toddled away to her father. She wanted someone to play with her. "Da-Da."
But Rick shook his head. "Daddy is cooking, Pumpkin. I can't play with you right now."

Alexis' lip quivered and she wailed, "MA-MA!"

"All right, I'll play with you." Kate got up, went to her playing place, where she managed to get down on the floor to play with her.

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"So, how did it go?" Rick asked Kate once she came up the back stairs after closing the store.
She plopped down on the sofa. She was tired, and her feet hurt. "Do not even ask. I sold all of three drinks all day. But I did sell two of your potions."

"Do you know what your problem is, love?"
"No idea. Why don't you tell me what it is? Besides not selling any beer?" Kate asked him tiredly.

"You opened your store too early, and you closed it too early. People drink late at night, Kate. Think like a bar. After all, that is what you are, a bar," Rick explained. "You just so happen to sell potions, as well."

"OH!" Suddenly, it made sense to her. "It's a bar! What a good idea. Thanks, babe." Then Kate put a hand on her ever-expanding belly. "Will you please stop?" she asked her baby. "I swear it kicks like a boy." She motioned him over, took his hand, and put it on her belly.
"I felt that!" Rick looked at her and grinned. "That baby is an active little cuss, isn't he?" Rick kept his hand on her belly, then he bent down to kiss her. "Dinner is just about ready. I made a soup."
"Rick, where is Alexis?" She didn't see her anywhere, and downstairs was one big open room.
"In her room. She managed to catch a cold."
"Poor baby. Is she all right?" Kate would get up and check on her, but she was stuck right where she was.

"I bought her a Cure Light Wounds and a Cure Disease potion, so she should be fine. She's in her room."

"Help me up." Kate raised her hands, and Rick helped her get to her feet. Kate went upstairs to check on Alexis. She sat on the floor and played with her until Rick hollered, telling them dinner was ready.
Kate groaned as she got off the floor and sat at the table. She took a bite. "This tastes so good, babe. What is it?"

Rick relaxed. He hadn't been sure Kate would like it even a little. "Oyster Mushroom Soup, made with fresh oysters and mushrooms. I'm glad you like it."
"God, I love summer here. Spring was nice, but summer is better. This is yummy, isn't it, Pumpkin?" She watched Alexis while she fed her. "Now we just have to wait until you're two years old to get you potty trained." Kate tickled Alexis and watched her giggle. "I guess we'll work on it someday."

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The next day, Kate opened later, but even with short notice, arranged for her worker to be there. It was now 1 a.m., or was it night? She didn't know; it was just late. Dead on her feet, she took the back stairs slowly after locking up for the night.
"Rick, you didn't need to wait up for me." She kissed him for it anyway. "You were right about staying open late. We sold so much beer! I almost ran out. I had to go in the backroom and start a new batch for tomorrow night."
"Told you so," Rick said and smiled at her.

"My mom used to always say that to me. It was her favorite saying." Then she found herself in his arms.
"I really am sorry about your mother, Kate. And I took you away from your father."

She let him hold her. "It's all right. I love you, Rick."
"I love you, sweetheart, so much. I saved you some soup yesterday. Alexis is in her bed inside the tent. I think she likes it. It's like camping indoors."

"I like our little tent too. It doesn't take up the entire room, but inside, it's twice the size of the room. The bed is nice and it's comfortable as well," Kate said. "Now feed me, babe. I'm starving, and the baby is hungry."

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"Make love to me. The baby will be fine, promise," Kate told him.
So Rick made love to her, found her G-Spot, and she squirted like she always did when that happened. Kate loved letting go and letting her body have as many orgasms as she could.

The new time for her business was now 1 pm to 1 am, five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday. Kate had to create a new batch every night and the next day. So far, she got a delivery every two days. She was making money!
A week later, she was a hit. She needed to figure out how to move out front and create a patio with seating and a kind of cover, assuming it was allowed. She was looking into that this morning.

"So, what did the city say?" Rick asked her when she returned.
Kate sighed. "That they need to survey the site before they would let me spread out. But that won't be for a week."
Rick frowned. "A week? Why so long?"
She shrugged. "Dunno. That's just what they told me. I guess I wait." She put a hand on her belly. "I wish you would stop already," she told her baby.
Rick rested his hand on her belly, which seemed to calm the baby somewhat. Kate leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, babe. You're the baby whisperer."

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Kate had to hire a second person once she became too pregnant. She only came downstairs to start a new batch of beer to be sold the following day. Rick replenished his potion stores for her store. He was making money selling potions, too.

His Phantom Steed potion was a hit, but thanks to the size of his lab, he could only make one a day even though his level allowed him to make four a day, now that he had gained two levels. Those six War Trolls and the four Trolls did it for him.

He was a seventh-level Wizard and a ninth-level Master Alchemist. Soon, Rick would max out his Master Alchemist and was thinking of adding Alchemist to his skills. The two were completely different classes, even though they shared the same name.
The skills were very different. But him adding to those skills would not happen anytime soon. For now, Rick was happy. He had a child, a wonderful wife, and another child on the way.

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Kate was downstairs making a new batch of beer when suddenly, her water broke. "Oh, not now, not now! I'll have to close the store." Kate didn't bother cleaning up; she went back upstairs to try and find Rick, but he wasn't home. Neither was Alexis. She was on her own.
She made it up to her bedroom and lay down on the bed. She hoped Rick would be home soon. Perhaps she should have gone to a Temple but didn't. Kate knew there were no hospitals to help her. She had no phone to use to call anyone.

Her contractions had started, and she screamed through the latest one. Kate heard Rick shouting her name, then she heard footsteps. He had snatched up Alexis, and they came running into their bedroom.

"My water broke."

"Your water broke… Your water broke! I'll get the midwife. You stay here with Kate, baby." Rick ran out of the room and went flying down the stairs.
"Ma-ma?" Alexis asked, her eyes huge, staring at her.
"I'm okay, Alexis, I promise. Come here." She waved her over and hugged her. "The baby is coming, is all." Kate felt another contraction hit her, but she didn't scream this time, not wanting to scare Alexis.
"Boo-boo?" Alexis asked her.

"Yes, but I'll be fine," Kate told her, and the two were silent until Rick showed up with the midwife.

"All right, everyone out. OUT!" The midwife shooed everyone out of the room including Rick. He wanted to be there for the birth of his child, sort of, but he left with Alexis.
"Ma-ma good?" Alexis asked him.
"Yes, Mommy is good, sweetie. How about you go play," Rick suggested.
"'Kay." Alexis went off to her corner and played with her toys.

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Rick heard a baby crying, which got his attention. It took some time, but finally, the midwife hurried down the stairs, looking for him. "You can go up now. There shouldn't be any problems, but if there are, I suggest you take her to a Temple for treatment."
He paid her, giving her extra for coming immediately. "Alexis, come with me to see the baby." Rick kicked himself for not asking if it was a boy or a girl. But he would find out soon enough.

He carried Alexis upstairs and walked into their bedroom, where he saw Kate holding a baby.
"She is so beautiful, babe," Kate told him as she looked down at her baby.

"We have a girl?" Rick asked her.
"You aren't disappointed, are you?" Kate had expected a little boy since the baby had kicked so hard.

"Never, sweetheart. Never." Rick came to see for himself. She was all bundled up, but he could see her. "Come see your baby sister," Rick told Alexis, who came closer with some coaxing.

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Kate had no choice but to close the store for a day. Thankfully, the following two days were Monday and Tuesday. The store was normally closed then anyway.
She went downstairs to start a new batch and then went to her bedroom. Johanna was asleep, which was good. Kate took a break, hoping to nap, but a crying baby soon woke her.
"I'm coming." Kate got up slowly and went over to Johanna. She changed her diaper, picked her up, then carried her over to bed, where she breastfed her.

Alexis came into the room alone. "Come here, sweetie." Kate let Alexis watch while she breastfed Johanna.
"Hurt?" Alexis asked her.
Kate shook her head. "It feels funny, but, no, no hurt."

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"I remember this when Alexis was tiny, but it's different this time, somehow," Kate told Rick.
"How so?" Rick inquired.

"This time, I'm the one who has to get up every two hours. I'm the one who changes the diapers, who feeds our baby."
"Well, for your information, wife, I've changed a few diapers while you were sleeping," Rick told her. "I can't do anything about feeding her, though. That's all on you."

"I didn't know that. Thank you, babe." Kate felt grateful to him.
"Why Johanna?" Rick wondered.

"That was my mom's name. It seemed fitting that I named the baby after her – Johanna Elle Castle."
"That's nice. Maybe there's a bit of your mother in you," Rick suggested.

"You think so? Maybe there is just a little. I miss her so much," Kate told him as a tear escaped and ran down her cheek.
Rick sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand in his. "I'm still sorry about your mother, Kate."

"Thank you, Rick."

"Maybe I shouldn't tell you this," he hesitated.
"Tell me what? I want to hear it," Kate insisted.

"All right. We have Clerics here who can bring back the dead. Before you get your hopes up, you need to know a few things. One, she needs to be on this planet, and two, there is a limit to how long she can be dead," Rick said, watching her.
"Really? Shoot. She didn't die on this planet, and it's been a while. That makes me sad," Kate told him just as Johanna finished. So she held the baby on her lap, supported her body with her hand, using her fingers to hold up her head. She burped her and put her back down.

Rick picked up Johanna and laid her in her crib. He returned to sit on the edge of the bed. "I am sorry, Kate."

"It's not your fault, but thanks. I can dream, can't I?"

"You know, dreams do come true," Rick said, brushing away another of her tears.
"That's what they say. Look, Rick. I'm tired and think I'll sleep while I can."
"Yes, of course." Rick kissed her. "I love you, Kate."

"I love you, too."

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"Thank you for seeing me. I won't take up much of your time," Rick told her. "And this is Alexis."

"Greetings, Alexis. I love your hair."

"Tanks," Alexis said shyly and hung onto her father.
"How may I help you?" she inquired.
"My wife's mother is dead, killed. I know there's a spell to raise the dead, but there is a complication. She did not die in this world, and I know the spell has a time limit."

"It's true there's a time limit to the spell, which is ten days. And it wouldn't work if the woman is on a different plane," she said. "However…"
Rick felt his hopes rise. "However?"

"There is a spell called True Resurrection. This spell functions like Raise Dead, except you can resurrect a creature that has been dead for as long as ten years per caster level. This spell can even bring back creatures with no bodies because they were destroyed, provided you unambiguously identify the deceased in some fashion. Reciting the deceased's time and place of birth or death is the most common method.

"Upon completion of the spell, the creature is restored to its full hit points, vigor, and health immediately, with no negative levels – or loss of Constitution points – and all of the prepared spells the creature possessed when it died.

"Now, it's a powerful spell, and as a result, the one who casts the spell must be of a very high level. So, 17 times ten years makes 170 years. But, there is a catch."

Rick sighed. "Of course there is."

"The spell will only function on this plane of existence. Assuming the woman died in another world, casting the spell has got to be there."
He scrubbed a hand over his face. "Great, that's just great," he muttered. "It took us ten days to reach Silverymoon from the portal that brought us here. I can't ask a cleric of that level to come with me, or us, back through the portal just to cast one spell."
"There is still a way," she told him. "I could make you a scroll with that spell on it. You could find a way to travel back through the portal and read the scroll, but there are a couple of catches to making this work. One, you will need to be able to read the scroll, and two, the scroll is costly."
"I'm a seventh-level Wizard and a ninth-level Master Alchemist, so I'm more than capable of reading the scroll," Rick said.
"Wonderful. Then there is just the cost. It's thirty thousand gold pieces."
"Thirty thousand gold? That would nearly wipe us out. My wife and I need to discuss it first."
"Of course. Come back when you decide what to do. The scroll will take me a day to write, so keep that in mind. I'm sorry, I can't give you better news."
"No, no. You've given us hope. Thank you. I'll leave a donation on my way out," Rick told her.

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Kate summarized what he told her. "So we need to come up with thirty thousand gold, travel back to the portal with this scroll to make it work, and we have 170 years to do it?"
"That's the gist of it. Of course, we can't do it right now. Besides, it'll cost us thirty thousand gold. That will nearly wipe us out, and you can't go with a baby," Rick told her.
"We came here with Alexis," she reminded him.
"Alexis is different, Kate. She wasn't a newborn infant. She was capable of sleeping the night through. Additionally, I'll need to make a lot of fireball potions. We don't have too many left."