It wasn’t even noon when they arrived in Elka. The town only had a thousand people living in it— it’d lost most of its population over the last ten years as the mines in the area dried up. Doc wore a smile as he rode into the town. It looked exactly like what people imagined an old west town to look like: wooden buildings, dirt streets with plenty of horse droppings, men in rough clothing, a good number of them wearing guns. This was exactly what he thought he’d find when he was told about the rustic charm of the old west.
The stables were just ahead, and it was easier to stable the horses there than to try holding them at the house they were using. It didn’t take long to get the horses settled, so carrying their bags and guns with them, the trio turned toward home.
“I’m looking forward to a bath,” Doc said, “even in the small one we have.”
“It’ll be good to get a full scrub and not just the important parts,” Lia agreed.
“I will be glad to help you both,” Rosa giggled.
“If only we didn’t get dirty like you,” Doc said. “It would make things easier.”
“You might have that option,” Lia said thoughtfully. “You had one for your clothing. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was another one in there for your body, too.”
“Huh… that’s a thought.”
“After you get more defensive gifts,” Lia said firmly.
“Agreed. Being alive is more important than not needing a scrub. I’m glad we were provided with the basin every night at the pau-wau, at least. I would’ve felt disgusting if we hadn’t.”
“For those who tested, a basin is provided to help cleanse, as I told you. While the tribes are depicted as savages, we are not.”
“I know. It would help if people could see the tribes themselves. Experience life as part of the tribe, not just what society tells them. I know that it probably wouldn’t work, but it’s a nice thought.”
Lia leaned in to kiss his cheek as they walked. “You are a dreamer. You’re what the world needs.”
“Disgusting,” was the muttered comment from a woman passing by. With her nose lifted in the air, she swished past them. “Vulgar to display such unseemly behavior in public.”
Doc snorted, shaking his head. “Right. Public displays are unseemly. I forget that. Gods forfend that mild displays of affection be visible, as if love is wrong and should be hidden away.”
“Society is broken in many ways,” Lia agreed.
“At least that part got better later,” Doc snorted. “Holding hands, hugs, and kissing became the norm on Earth before I was brought here. I’ll hold out hope for something similar to happen here in time.”
“But even your old world had limits on public decency,” Rosa murmured.
“Public nudity and actual sexual acts were still not accepted.”
“Because the body is something to be ashamed of?” Lia asked.
“Probably puritanical values,” Doc shrugged, “but that’s not the change I’m looking for. I have enough trying to help Mother push back the Darkness.”
“A big enough task for a lifetime,” Rosa said.
“It might take a lifetime, but I hope not, especially if we can spread Luck’s name fast enough and interest other gods into helping.”
As they left the town behind, their current home was just ahead of them. Sonya was on the porch in the rocking chair, and she got to her feet when they came into view. A bright smile filled her face as she waited for them.
Doc handed his saddlebags to Rosa, who giggled as she took them, her eyes blazing. Doc sprinted down the road, leaping the small fence that separated the yard from the land around it with ease. Sonya laughed, then clutched him when he reached her. Words weren’t said as Doc claimed her lips, kissing his dwarven wife with all the love in his heart.
“Welcome home, husband,” Sonya murmured when they finally pulled apart.
“Do you mind if I slip in there?” Lia asked, having caught up to them.
Doc stepped aside so Lia could claim a kiss from their wife. He didn’t go far, though, as the front door opened and Ayla and Sophia came out. The family spent the next few minutes kissing each other, all of them glad to be reunited. Doc felt a pang in his heart that Fiala wasn’t with them, but he set it aside the best that he could. They’d be reunited eventually— he would make sure of that. The best he could do was finish his business quickly.
“Welcome home, Doc,” Harrid said when the family stopped kissing. He’d waited patiently to speak up, as interrupting them was not a good idea. Doc’s wives had been nearly buzzing with joy that he was going to be home today.
“Thank you, Harrid. I only heard that things have gone well here, but not about what, exactly. I also have news to share about the pau-wau. Shall we head inside to swap stories?” Doc asked, taking Ayla’s and Sophia’s hands.
“That might be for the best,” Ayla smiled.
~*~*~
Doc told them all about the pau-wau first. When he’d finished, Ayla asked for the descriptions of his new gifts so they could understand them fully.
“Perfectly presented makes anything I’m wearing clean and presentable,” Doc explained the least of the newer gifts first. “It’s not much, but it was nice to have.”
“I’d take it,” Ayla murmured.
“The next two were for clerics,” Doc went on. “Chosen successor will make Posy the next Voice of Luck if I die.”
“Oh, Doc…” Lia whispered. “She would be elated to know you value her that much, but crushed if it ever happened.”
“Which is why I’m not telling her. Luck can explain it, if needed. Maybe that’s selfish of me, but I can’t tell her. I needed to take that gift for the one after it, spread the faith. That one lets me automatically make people clerics if they believe in Luck. They can choose any three gifts that I’ve unlocked, minus those related to clerics and elementals. As they bring more faith in, they’ll slowly be able to select more gifts themselves. If their belief falls apart, their gifts are revoked.”
“Which is how you made five new shamans,” Lia nodded. “What about the elementals?”
“Elemental growth lets me raise three a year on a rotating calendar. Elemental boon made that nine, instead.”
“So you get the slot when that date comes around again? Not all of them resetting at once?” Sonya asked to make sure she understood.
“That’s right. I’m down one for the elemental I gave to the Ironbeard clan, and now five more for the tribes. I’ll be holding back on giving any more unless it looks vital. I’ll need at least one for the Pale River tribe. I doubt we’ll get all the way this year, but it’s best to be safe.”
“You split them mostly to earth to help with the mines, and then two water to make sure the tribes couldn’t be pushed to the brink as easily,” Ayla murmured. “With a water elemental, they could set up crops easily, especially if the other tribes help with the earth elementals.”
“Giving them the chance to rise. Did you explain how to make the women fertile?” Sophia asked.
“Shit! No, I didn’t,” Doc sighed. “It’s based on healing, but they might not know that.”
“I can tell Yucca, and she can explain it to them,” Rosa said.
Looking down at her smiling face, Doc stroked her unruly hair. “Thank you, Weed.”
Smiling, she nuzzled his leg from her spot beside him. “You’re welcome, Voice.”
“That fills you all in on what we were doing,” Doc said.
“Doc,” Sonya said, making sure he looked at her, “we promise that we’re all fine with what happened. The fact that a couple of them will have children is fine. That was one of the reasons you took the cleric gifts, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. I can make them shamans and won’t have to do the rite myself anymore,” Doc nodded. “That was a major reason, besides just making sure there were more shamans for the tribes.”
“We understand, and we love you, Doc,” Sophia said. “None of us were upset with what happened. I will admit that I’m happy that you found a way around it. It’s not jealousy that I felt, but envy. I envied them for having your children before me.”
“I agree with her,” Ayla added. “You want us to tell you how we feel. That was my feelings on it, too. I was envious that they would know the joy of your children before us.”
“But none of us are upset about it, either,” Sonya added when she saw Doc’s face shift, “so don’t think that.”
Doc glanced her way, and his lips twitched up. “I’m glass to my wives. You all seem to see right through me.”
“You like that,” Rosa murmured. “Just as you are happy they came to you with how they felt.”
Harrid got up from the table. “I’ll go check in with Clyde for a bit. He was visiting a local tavern.”
Doc looked his way, puzzled, until Sonya’s hand rubbed his thigh. “Oh! Uh… yeah. Sure. See you for dinner.”
“I’ll have dinner out,” Harrid said, a hint of wistfulness in his tone. “Have a good night. I’ll be home late.”
Doc saw the look before Harrid left; that got him wondering if he shouldn’t send Harrid back to his wife.
“No, Doc,” Rosa murmured when the dwarf had left. “Just as you feel pain for Fiala, he does for Ginger. He would be upset if you tried to send him away right now.”
“That would be foolish,” Sonya said firmly. “He chose his path, Doc. We can’t take that from him. If he wants to go home, he knows he only has to ask.”
“Fine,” Doc exhaled. “I bow to the wisdom of my wives.”
“Good,” Lia said. “Right now, our wives want you. We should go bathe, then join them in the bedroom.”
Doc looked at them before he chuckled. “I guess I can hear about what you all were up to later.”
“Tomorrow will be soon enough,” Ayla smiled.
“Nothing that won’t keep,” Sophia nodded.
“We’ll be waiting for you,” Sonya murmured, her hand stroking his thigh. “Go wash up.”
“As my wives wish,” Doc said, standing up to comply.