Doc woke with his wives still around him. The barest hint of dawn was in the sky through the window. Rosa’s eyes met his, prompting him to smile down at her beside the bed. His movement woke Lia, who murmured and kissed his chest. The late train from Olimna to Port Townsend got them to the small town and checked into a hotel near the station before they fell asleep.
“Good morning,” Doc whispered back, kissing the tip of her ear, getting a shiver from her.
“We have a ship to get to, but maybe a delay wouldn’t be too terrible,” Lia whispered back.
Rosa’s eyes began to glow, making Doc chuckle. “We’ll wake our wives up if we start that.”
“And then they’ll join us. We’ll be on the ship for days, Doc. There’s not a lot of room or privacy from what I’ve been told.”
Doc couldn’t fault her logic. They’d be in dock for just short of a week, and then they’d have the slow sail up the coast. Fall was approaching fast, and they hadn’t even made it to their destination yet.
His brain stopped thinking when her hand found her target. Exhaling, he met her eyes as he gave in to her desires. “I’m in your capable hands, Lia.”
“Thank you,” Lia whispered, nibbling his neck. “Just relax; I’ll make you feel good. Then, when you’re ready, our eager Weed will join in to clean up the mess. By then, our pliant wives will be awake, and I’ll guide them in pleasuring you and me. We’ll be getting a late start, but it’ll be worth it.”
“It always is with my wives,” Doc murmured. “Can I have a kiss before you stop my brain from working?”
Lia snickered, but shifted enough to claim his lips with hers. That’s what the kiss was: her marking him as hers again with a passionate need that she forced onto him. His willing acceptance only fanned her flames, driving her to make sure he knew she’d never let him go.
Ayla shared a smirk with Sophia. The pair had woken up shortly after Lia, but neither had moved or spoken. They both looked forward to what Lia was suggesting— it would mean staying still for a bit longer, listening to the passionate lovemaking of their husband and wife. Lia would reward them when they did join in, though, so they bided their time.
Rosa’s eyes glowed as she watched Lia’s and Doc’s minds. The love they had for each other, and their hopes for the other to be filled with joy and acceptance were breathtaking. She knew Doc loved her just as much; they all loved her just as much. Each of them depended on her in their own way. She was the center of Doc’s garden, and she reveled in that secret knowledge.
~*~*~
The hotel staff was courteous, but Doc caught some of the disapproving glances at his wives. He didn’t let it show, but it pricked at him. The ingrained habit of seeing them as lesser wouldn’t be easy to overcome. It’d likely take far longer than dealing with the church, but if things went right, eventually, those sneers might be envious glances, instead.
Breakfast was decent— not great, but good enough. Ayla arranged for a wagon to get their luggage carted to the Anastacia while Doc flagged down a pair of cabs to take all of them. That had them on their way to the docks before midday.
Port Townsend wasn’t a city, but a dedicated town. The whole town revolved around the port that took a majority of the cargo for the towns in the sound. The railroad that’d been completed just the year before then shipped that cargo where it needed to go.
The docks were massive, with warehouses taking up the land right near the ships. Hundreds of men were moving cargo to and from the ships and warehouses. The train line for shipping ran right along the back end of the docks, making it far easier for loading and unloading.
A handful of ships ranging from big to huge were tied up at the port. The Anastacia was the biggest ship currently in dock; Doc had no idea what type it was, as he’d never been big into naval history. The triple masts spoke of sail power, but Doc saw signs that it also had a propeller. There were also some side-hulled paddle boats waiting nearby, and the reason why was on display: another ship, nearly as big as the Anastacia, was being towed into dock.
“A decade or two ago, they’d have been moored away from the docks with smaller ships going back and forth to ferry goods,” Ayla said, seeing Doc staring. “The switch to powered boats and ships, is still catching on. Most modern ships are using the soulstone system for power, but keep a mast or two just in case. Older ones, like the Anastacia, retrofitted the power system into place.”
“Shipping has sped up tremendously since then,” Sophia said. “Since the first powered ship, my family has called it the end of the Age of Sail. Sail driven ships on their way out.”
“They really are,” Doc murmured. “The Age of Sail was romanticized on Earth for generations afterward.” He shook his head.
“People always yearn for the ages past,” Ayla said. “We all think the past was better. Luckily, some of the past is being restored to us. It’ll give us a chance to make the future better.”
The cab pulled to a stop near the Anastacia, getting as close as the driver could get without causing problems. “This is as far as I can go,” the driver said.
“Thank you.” Doc got out, helping his wives down before handing the man money. He then walked over to pay the other cabbie while Lia and Rosa were getting out of the second cab. “My thanks. Have a good day.”
The second man thanked him, tipping his hat before he left. That let the wagon hauling their baggage roll up to that spot.
“It’ll be a minute,” Doc said, tossing the man a dollar coin. “We’ll be back as soon as we have permission to load.”
“Right you are, sir,” the wagon driver grinned.
Doc led his family down the docks, moving around the hustle and bustle to reach the gangplank of the Anastacia. A grim-faced half-dwarf stood there with a man who had distinctive striping in his fur. Doc addressed the half-dwarf with the clipboard, “Excuse me, I’m Doc Holyday. We’re due to ship out with you and were hoping to board now. Our luggage is in the wagon.” He motioned to where the driver sat.
The half-dwarf gave him a glance before shouting at someone unloading a net a dozen feet away, “If you break that barrel, I’ll break your damned knees and drop you in the water!” Coughing, he turned his attention back to Doc. “Captain told me. Head up. The boatswain will see to you, and I’ll arrange your luggage. Name’s Witter. I’m the quartermaster. We’ve only received half of the goods we’re shipping for you.”
“We have time,” Doc said, motioning to the gangplank for his wives. “We’ll head up. Thank you, Witter.”
Doc was the last to get on the deck. Looking around, he realized that most of the crew were half-dwarves, half-elves, or bestials. Only a couple of humans could be seen handling rope. The man heading their way was a full dwarf, except his beard had been trimmed short.
“Who are you?” the dwarf asked pointedly.
“Doc Holyday. And you, sir?”
“Alexi Fireblood, boatswain of the Anastacia. Did not expect you week early.”
“Complications,” Doc shrugged. “The quartermaster said you’d see us settled.”
“Da. Follow.” Alexi’s name and accent were obvious indications of his being from Tsarrus.
They were led below deck to a snug cabin, but Doc was sure it was luxurious by ship standards. It contained two beds that they’d have to snuggle in for all four of them to sleep. Rosa would just kneel between them as she normally did.
“Latrine down at the end,” Alexi said. “This is officer hall. Only officers and you allowed. As safe as can be.”
“Thank you. If the captain wants to see me, I’m at his disposal,” Doc said.
“Da. On ship, we all are,” Alexi laughed before stepping out of the room. “Mind your feet. Don’t interfere with ship duties.”
“What about food?” Ayla asked.
“Twice a day in mess. You will join officers’ table. I will get you when time comes.”
“Thank you.”
“Da. Luggage will be brought.” Alexi left them with that.
Doc exhaled. “It’s the best we can do. If I can, I’ll try to get the captain to leave as soon as the riverboat gets here.”
“That might cost him more than is feasible,” Ayla said. “Asking isn’t a bad idea, though, and he might be amenable.”
“Are you going to heal the crew?” Sophia asked.
“Hmm… maybe,” Doc said. “I’ll want to speak to the captain first. I’d like to. It would engender goodwill with the crew.”
“It always makes you feel better to heal people,” Rosa added.
“We’ll make this space work for the trip,” Lia said. “I’m glad the riverboat has a bigger cabin for us, though, or that would be difficult.”
“Agreed,” Ayla and Sophia said at the same time.
“The deck was busy, so let’s just settle in as best we can for now,” Doc grinned at them.
~*~*~
About an hour later, a knock came on the door. Lia opened it to find a young man standing there. “Yes?”
The boy bowed his head to her, his skin slightly gray. “The captain would like to see Holyday, ma’am.”
“Hmm? Are you to take him to meet the captain?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Doc got to his feet. “Just me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll be back,” Doc said. He paused to kiss each of his wives’ cheeks.
The cabin boy was slack-jawed at the display, but he managed to regain his senses before Doc got to the door. “This way, sir.”
As Doc was led down the hall, he asked, “Are you a dolphin bestial?”
“Ah… yes, sir. My skin kind of gives it away,” the boy said awkwardly.
“Glad to hear it. If it’d been a medical condition, I would’ve done my best to help.”
“Thank you, sir?” the cabin boy half-asked, not sure how the guest would’ve healed him.
Doc just grinned, as they’d reached a door that the lad knocked on before opening.
“Captain, I brought him.”
“Thank you, Ludwig,” the captain said. “Two glasses of my best, then dismissed.”
Doc stepped into the room, taking a seat across from the captain at his desk. “Captain, thank you for allowing us passage.”
“A moment,” the captain said, holding up his hand.
Doc took a moment to look over the dwarf. His accent meant he was from Tsarrus, and he had what Doc thought of as the Tsar’s eyes because of Svetlana. The red-black color of molten lava for his irises was distinctive.
When Ludwig delivered the drinks and then left, the captain raised his glass. “To Luck, Voice.”
Doc smiled. “To Luck, Captain.”
The ale was rich and dark. Doc smiled as he set his mug down, while the captain smacked his lips in pleasure.
“I’m Damir Moltenhand, Captain of the Anastacia. We are a neutral trading ship, but you clearly can see my allegiance.”
“I can, Captain. Now I understand why we found a ship willing to help us so easily.”
“I was surprised when my old friend asked for me to help a customer. More so, when I found out who he meant. Your name is spreading across the Motherland. I was the one who took Svetlana Molteneyes, our shaman, across to the home country. She spoke highly of you on our voyage. I hope to spend time discussing your plans, as well, but maybe after we leave port. Just in case.”
“That would be for the best. We have inquisitors on our tail, Captain. We came to board early in hopes of avoiding them.”
Damir took a long pull on his mug. “That is bad news. Here in Emerita, the church has a lot of sway. If they demand to board, I’d be risking a lot to deny them. They could prevent me from trading here.”
Doc took a drink. “That’s a problem… Can we ship out as soon as the riverboat gets in?”
Damir considered it, then drained his mug. “I’ll discuss it with my quartermaster. Let’s hope it isn’t needed, but I’m sure the Tsar would reimburse me to aid you. We’ll discuss it again in the future. For now, I need to see about moving quicker.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Doc said, then downed his mug. “For the drink, the cabin, and the help.”
“For Mother,” Damir smiled as he stood up.
“Before I forget, I’m willing to heal the crew. Depending on the severity, that’ll limit how many I can do at a time. I was recently gifted the ability to replace fingers, toes, and even whole hands or legs.”
Damir stared at him for a long moment before he barked a laugh. “Luck smiles down on us. I will arrange things.”