Nine #3
"So how are we getting there?" I asked.
"There are links from the third world you pass through when you make your trips to Stepheen's that not only go to Earth but will take you to an island in the same sea as Ithaca."
"Sicily?"
"No, Malta."
I shrugged. "Works for me. Hopefully, we can get a flight."
"Why Malta?" Evean asked.
"Malta has a thriving black market, and the portal trader's shop there is quite helpful. With the permission of your gods, I've instilled the ability to speak Greek in both of you, as well as Suzona."
"So how are we going to get to Riverhead?" I asked.
"I'll open a portal to my temple there. You can spend the night to check on your children, William, but you must be gone by morning. It is a long trip. Understand that the events on Earth have caused echoes in some of the closer spheres, so be on your guard. You may encounter unexpected events."
I snorted at that. The only 'unexpected events' I was worried about would be the ones between Suzona and Evean. Anything else would be mild by comparison.
"Well, let's be on our way then," I said. Grabbing Evean with one hand and Suzona with the other, I led them through the gateway into Aryanna's temple in Riverhead. Nodding to the priest who smiled at us, I all but dragged the two of them out of the temple and down the road to the local stables.
"Now, just to be clear, you're going to be sleeping in the same bed. With me. The only person you're allowed to get mad at is me. I want the two of you to get along very much because I love both of you. Yes, I'm sure it'll be difficult at times, because you're both spoiled brats."
"William!" Suzona protested.
"Sue, I freely admit that I'm spoiled," Evean said.
"How am I spoiled?" Suzona complained.
"Because every man out there has always bent to your will, and your god spoiled you."
Suzona pouted.
"However, if we're being honest here, Will's a bit of a brat, too, aren't you?" Evean teased.
"Not anymore," I said with a sigh. "Now, we're going to buy some horses, and in the morning, we'll head out."
"Oh? What are we going to do tonight, then?" Suzona asked.
"Each other," I said, smiling at Suzona. "I haven't seen you in months. If you don't think I've been missing you, well, I'll be sure to prove otherwise."
"What about…" Suzona said, looking over at Evean.
"You can take turns."
"Villiam!"
"Excuse me for being a greedy bastard, but I want you both, and if you don't think I'm looking forward to having you both, you're quite mistaken."
"Evean?" Suzona said, looking at her.
"Sue, if you're looking for help from me, I'm not gonna go against Will on this one."
"Of course you wouldn't, more for you," Suzona grumbled.
"Sue, if you don't, I won't. Okay?"
"What?" Suzona said, her head coming up in surprise as she looked at Evean.
"You know he's all about family, well, we're family.
Me and you. Yeah, I'm surprised he's pushing this hard, but I'm not gonna say 'no'.
Sure, it'll be different, and it may take some getting used to, but you knew who he was when you went after him.
Me? I was blindsided, but I don't regret it. Nope, not at all."
"You got blindsided?" Suzona asked, eyes wide in disbelief.
"I have never in my entire life hung off of a man like I hung off of Will that morning in Japan. Never. Not even once. Sure, I can be a psycho at times," she said, giving me a wink, "but that's only because I know what he has to offer, and I sure as hell want it. You want it, too."
"I'm… I'm embarrassed."
"I was my first time, too."
"You were?"
"And the second, and the third… I think it was like the eighth before I finally started to relax."
"Could have fooled me," I said, giving Evean a look.
"Dani could tell, but she just let me pretend I wasn't and hugged me a lot."
Suzona looked thoughtful and didn't say much as we stopped at the stables, where we were both recognized as I got our horses for tomorrow.
"Dad! What are you doing here?" Travis said when we finally showed up at the inn.
"We've been given a task to deal with, so I thought we'd spend the night here before we leave in the morning. Now you know Suzona, Aryanna's champion, and this is Evean—I'm not sure whether you've met her or not—she's Roden's, who's a god back home."
"Well, come on into the back and let me introduce my wives. I'm surprised you didn't bring either of the moms with you."
"We didn't know we'd be leaving from here when we set out," I said with a shrug.
"Well, sit, and I'll get Kayla to serve you some dinner after I've made introductions."
"Thanks, Travis."
Travis came over and gave me a hug. "It's always nice to see you, Dad, even when you're working."
I seated both girls at the table after Travis brought Kayla and Rianna in and introduced them.
I did spend some time chatting with Travis about how things were going after we'd eaten, but eventually I gathered Suzona and Evean up and took them off to bed.
I could tell Suzona was definitely nervous, something that for her was obviously not a common occurrence.