Goblin Wives - Arden Valley

Goblin Wives - Arden Valley Pt 4

© JAKwriter - January 2025

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It's a beautiful day. Storm is over, snow is on the ground, but the sky is clear, and the sun is shining brightly. Unfortunately, I'm starting my day a bit late.

It's been loads of fun this morning. Me, Jak, got to try and take control of two red heads. Regardless of how things are now, I bet it's all going to blow up in my face at some point. Maybe not today, but it will. Kaylin and Elle are like oil and flame. I'm not sure if I can keep the coming conflagration from happening.

Anyhow, I'm wandering about town, meeting up with each resident at each house, doing the wizardly things a Hedge Wizard does. Firstly, checking on everyone's health, providing healing and medical advice if needed. That's my local healer job. Then there's checking of the enruned heater, stove, and oven for each house, topping off the stored magic. That's my wizard job. Then there's all the oddball stuff that people want to talk about, need advice, or need my help in other ways.

Visiting adventurer's and mages have noted what I do and have told me I'd be a very wealthy man if I did the same thing for nobles and wealthy merchants in the more populated areas. Despite all the money they say I'd make and how well I could live, the ones that are telling me this are bigger assholes than Harlan and Lianne, so why the fuck would I want to have anything to do with them? They just don't get that I LIKE being in Arden and that I have other reasons that are none of their business.

But then there's our weird economics. For us, it's buy high and sell low. We are the end of the line for traders and the start of their return trip. Because of that, everything we export is either finished or semi-finished. Except in town, nothing is sold as a raw product. Cost of transport is too high. That biases what we grow, farm, and harvest. Just about everything is consumed locally. Wool is the main exception. About 75% is exported, woven into various products, mainly cloth and blankets. There are a couple of other things we sell for export, but most of that is consumed, here or on the road home, by the visitors to the Daylen ruin and Greystone's tower. For them, it's cheaper to buy our overpriced products than to get a delivery from out of town.

And all that money I've been talking about. How many beers it can buy at the local tavern? What really sucks is how much I do earn pays for stuff coming from very far away. Stuff doesn't come cheap, especially for someone about as far away as you can get from where they are produced. Even things from nearby towns are expensive due to how hard it is to get to Arden. We're a couple of days away from the nearest village and almost a week away from the nearest town.

Enough of this crap. Next stop is my cousins' place to check on Galena and Josina, her partner, and their four year old daughter, Sophia.

Oh...one more thing about Arden. About half are first or second generation. Everyone else has been here for three or more generations and, one way or another, we're all interrelated, like I am to Galena, Josina, and Sophia. The other fun fact is most kids leave town once they grow up. Some settle down in the nearby towns and villages. Others keep going to the cities. Rarely, one comes back. Then there's the folks that just don't stick around. Come here for a few years then hightail it out of here for one reason or another.

A quick knock on the door. After a moment, it is Josina letting me in. As always, Sophia dashes forward and hugs my legs. I feel a spark between us. I look down at the girl and smile. She raises her arms signaling me to pick her up. Alley-oop, she's in my arms, her head buried into my left shoulder. "Sophia, did you touch the heater or stove today?" She shakes her head side to side. "You didn't do it for Elle?" Another head shake. "Were you waiting for me?" Nodding her head up and down, she mutters into my shoulder, "Yes Unca JAK."

Looking over at Galena and Josina, they give me a smile and a quick nod towards the heater. "Sophia, do you want to show me how you fill the heater?" Pulling her head out of the crook of my shoulder, she shyly looks at me and nods her head. So, we walk over to the heater, I set her down, and I put on hand on the heater. Sophia reaches out and touches the heater. I sense the flow of energy from her. When she finishes, she looks at me with a tired smile. I pick her up then put my hand back on the heater. It's almost completely full, so I do a quick top off. A check of the stove and oven in the kitchen showed they were fully charged. Galena and Josina obviously left the heater partially charged just for Sophia and me.

Carrying a sleeping Sophia, I wandered over to the two young ladies. I call them my cousins, but a few years ago I was their "Unca JAK". Galena is due in six weeks or so, but Josina is also pregnant, about three months along. Kneeling down, I checked Galena. The babies were doing fine. They were healthy girls, positioned correctly, and nothing amiss. Galena was also managing her pregnancy well. Whispering in her ear so Sophia wouldn't hear, "So, are you going to tell me? Which of our illustrious visitors is the father? Was it one of the adventurers? One of the guards?" Her eyes were telling me I was close. "Ah...the dashing guard captain! Or was it the charming mage? The one with the mustache and trimmed beard?" The mischievous smile clued me in. "Oh my, you naughty girl? The guard captain and the mage? Each is the father on one of two your daughters?"

Galena at first didn't say anything, but it was clear she had manipulated her reproductive system to allow two men to impregnate her, each to father a child. Looking me in the eye and giving me a "cat got the bird" smile, she confessed, "I couldn't decide which one, so I decided to have both." Whispering in my ear, even though Sophia was asleep, she continued, "I had both of them over and challenged them. Oh, they were so motivated! So very, very motivated. I told them if they come back in the Spring, they can find out which one won." I could hear the smirk in her voice as she finished, "and I'd let them have a rematch."

Sophia shifted as I moved over to Josina but remained asleep. She's still early in her pregnancy and is expecting a daughter. Looking at her, I asked, "Are you going to keep the father secret like Galena? Or are you going to fess up?" Thinking back on the last visitors to Arden Valley, I made a guess. "It wasn't the young mage?" The look on her face told it all. "Oh my, you had that young, shy, bashful mage?"

Her reply was only mildly shocking. "He looked so lonely and, well, virginal. I was certain he hadn't had many lovers." With a broad smile, she continued, "Turns out he was a 26 year old virgin and was MOST appreciative that I'd be his first."

Yep...that's the way Arden Valley keeps its population up and growing. Available women seduce or allow themselves to be seduced. It's only a few women that do so, but it helps due to village demographics. Four out of every five men born here end up leaving. One in two women also leave, generally attaching themselves to the visiting adventurers or guards. Additionally, roughly three in five that move here end up leaving, sometimes leaving part of their family behind. Those that do abandon their family are typical men who came to Arden for one reason or another, stayed long enough to have a few kids, then decided to leave.

Addressing both, I stated, "I know Elle checked you both earlier and everything looks great from what I can see." Turning to Galena, "Elle or I will be checking on you every day, weather permitting. I'll be having you move into my place for the last week, so that if anything happens with you, the babies, or the weather goes bad, I'll be right there." As I handed Sophia over to Josina, I instructed both, "Don't forget to have Sophia charge the heater at least twice a day." I saw their nods of agreement as I prepared to leave. "Galena, don't forget to send someone to Elle or me if you have any problems." Knowing that they would, I left after giving Sophia, who was still asleep, a kiss on her head.

The day is still nice enough, though a few clouds are now dotting the sky. Another storm is slowly rolling in and will hit sometime tomorrow. Motivated, I continue to check on each household, not rushing, but working expeditiously. Fortunately, everyone is in good health, and it is easy enough to top off their stoves and heaters.

As I make the final rounds, I think about how magic ability manifests differently in each family and each person. There are many ways to categorize the ability. Visiting mages and even my mentor Mabel all view things differently. In my own mind, there are four main categories: Spark/Ember, Flame, Fire, and what it takes to be a Hedge Witch or Wizard. Most people, from my conversations with visiting Mages, are in the Spark/Ember group. Something like 1 in a 500 to 1 in 1000 are powerful enough to be in one of the higher groups. These I lump into Novice, Adept, and Mage though the categories are less precise, as each Academy, School, Coven, or other controlling group has their own designations. For a small village, Arden differs greatly from that, in that roughly 1 in 2 I categorize as Flame or Fire. Most of those were born in Arden, making me wonder if there is something in the water or air. I know Galena and Josina are hedging their bets, as were Sarah and Leela, by having their children's fathers be strong magic users.

The last couple of houses take longer. The next to last stop is the home of Karl and Karla. He's Arlen's master woodworker and they have two kids, five year old Karl and two and a half year old Karla. Karl is amazing. He can craft just about anything from wood just from his own visualization. No notes, measurements, or other aids. He just sees it in his mind and makes it. Perfect every time. I'd attribute it to some magical ability, but he's got about as much magic in him as a common rock. It's all skill, tying together eye, hands, tools, and wood. He's also a very quiet man, rarely talking.

He and Karla showed up in town almost three years ago. They had little Karl, their son, in tow. Karla was pregnant with little Karla. Even then, travel worn and tired, Karla is an amazingly beautiful woman. She can make a potato sack look like an empress's coronation gown just by putting it on. Pisses off many of the women, but she's dedicated to Karl, well, sort of.

Just as I was about to knock on the door, it was opened by Karla, who immediately stepped forward, hugged me, and whispered in my ear, "When are you going to give me a baby?"

She's been saying that every time I've visited since she gave birth to little Karla. For good or ill, I'm the midwife. Might get help from other women, but I'm it. Anything goes wrong, I'm there to deal with it, making sure there is a healthy mom and healthy baby. That means I get to see every pregnant woman's lady bits, upper and lower. Somehow or another, Karla got it in her head that since I'd seen her in all her glory, I'm eligible to be the father of her next child.

Breaking her clinch, I pushed forward into their home and Karl's workshop. Little Karla grabbed my leg as little Karl studiously, as well as a five year old can, helping his dad. Picking up little Karla kept me safe from her mom. Karl kept working, while I first checked their stove. It was nearly depleted, so I charged it up while little Karla watched, apparently fascinated with what I was doing. Once done, I moved to the two heaters, one for the main room in their house and a second in Karl's workshop. Both were at half capacity. After charging the house heater, I entered the workshop to charge the heater there, still holding little Karla. Karl indicated he wanted to talk.

"It'll be another couple of weeks, maybe three, before your new home is ready. I'm finishing up the last of the new furniture this week. Should have all the doors installed next week. Would be nice if the new heaters could be ready before that happens. Building has gotten cold with the turn in the weather. Fitting the doors will go easier if it's warm."

That was more than Karl normally said any time I visited. But knowing that the new place was almost done and so was he, I'd check in with Davin, our blacksmith after my next stop. But Karl didn't wait for a reply, just went back to work, knowing I'd gotten the message.

Done charging the workshop heater, I handed off little Karla to Karla, mostly to avoid another clinch. My life is complicated enough, I do NOT need her to be part of it. Saying my goodbye's I left, pondering over how little Karla was so interested in what I was doing. Unlike her mother, father, and brother, it appeared she had a stronger affinity with magic. I'd be curious to see how she developed, as she was the only one born in Arden. Maybe there is something in the water or the air.

Estela and Caylin are my last house stop and next to last stop of the day. Weather is still holding, but a storm is coming. Things will take longer with the two pregnant widows. They are both just about due to have their babies and are being moved into my house today. Complicating matters is they are also permanently moving out of their home, so it's not just a few cloths and odds and ends, but everything, which still isn't much.

Two reasons for the permanent move. The first, my new home is much larger than the current one. It's being indirectly paid for by several mages, one who wants MY house to live in starting next spring, and the second that is tired of camping in one of our fields since our tavern has only two rooms to rent. Both mages fronted a disgusting amount of gold for the privilege and will pay more when they and their entourage arrive. My new house has extra rooms for visitors, in addition to those for my own needs and for any sick or injured I need to attend. Estela and Caylin will be my housekeepers and cooks, as needed, for any guests.

The second reason is much more complicated. Estella was married and had a son, who married Caylin. Estella and Tomas moved to Arden fifteen years ago, bringing along their son Tommy. Tomas became one of the primary wood cutters in town. As Tommy grew, he started aiding his father. Caylin's family came much later, moving to Arden seven years ago with a teenaged Caylin and her younger. Just after Caylin married Tommy, her family abruptly left town. I expect they were hiding out. They never really needed to work, though her father did odd jobs around town. Likely left after whatever they were hiding from wasn't a problem, leaving Caylin behind. All should have been good, Arden's wood needs are minimal, mostly for construction/repairs, with very little burned. That cut the hazard to Tomas and Tommy, and the two other wood cutting families in town, as there was less need to be cutting and hauling wood every day. To add a bit of coin to their coffers, the two cut down one or two Ice Trees every winter. They only grow in the coldest weather, creating a wood desired by crafters and enchanters. The trees can only be cut once winter has taken root in their groves. Cutting at any other time results in wood that is worthless, not even burning well.

As I said, it is much more complicated. Last winter, the father and son went into the forest to the south of Arden. There's a small grove of Ice Trees amongst the pines, fir, aspen, and others. Unfortunately, a rogue ogre found them. They fled but not fast enough and were caught and killed. I killed the ogre but couldn't do anything for Tomas or Tommy. This leads to the complication. Estella and Caylin were pregnant, miscarrying despite Elle's and my efforts. Widowed, then childless, I got sucked into making things right.

Men rule the world, right? Nope! If you think so, you are full of shit! The women in town got together, led by Elle and Lianne, Chad's mom. Guess what their unanimous decision was? Yep, you guessed it (or maybe you didn't). *I* was told that *I* was going to get both Estella and Caylin pregnant. Best yet, the great fiction would be that the deceased Tomas and Tommy would be the "fathers", but *I* would be responsible for them and my new house would be the perfect excuse to move them in with me after their babies are born.

So here I am, in front of their house. Elle has already checked them and is ready to escort them to my current home. Two other women will accompany them. Five men, well, two dads and their three sons will carry Estella's and Caylin's household to either my current home or the new one. Their wives will be with Elle, making sure both expectant mothers make the journey without any issues. Looking at Elle, I signal for her to come over to me.

"Elle, put Estella and Caylin in separate rooms."

"But what about..."

"Elle, I know you want to move in, now that your eighteen. But we just don't have the room."

"I can put them in the same room..."

"You can, but then I have to keep the last room available for Galena or anyone else. We should be in the new house before she's due, but maybe not. Karl said two, maybe three weeks, if nothing goes disastrously wrong."

I threw that last bit in to make a point. I could see she was thinking. As her mentor, I needed her to understand what her choices were. She needed to see what her options were. She needed to decide how much compromise she was willing to endure. I could see the war going on within her with no clear winner. Everyone was looking at her, waiting for her to start the procession, at least the women were. The men just picked up stuff and started moving it.

Minutes passed and still Elle hadn't resolved the competing options. She looked at me and I shook my head. Understanding my intent, she finally came to a decision. I could see the fire in her eyes. I could see the clenched muscles in her body. She knew this was going to hurt. But this was part of her trial. Did she truly have it to be a Hedge Witch. Hard choices are required, and you have to make them, whether you want to or not. Fathering Estella's and Caylin's children was just one of many I've had to make over the years. In small towns and villages, everyone knows everyone, and nothing is a secret.

Barely containing her magic, Elle's hair flared out like wild breeze was blowing. The strain in her face was excruciating to see. Opening her mouth, she whispered, "I share a room with Kaylin." Oil and flame, sharing a room. What could go wrong?

"Ok Elle. Once Estella and Caylin are settled, meet me at Harlan and Lianne's."

Giving me one last glower, she turned, smoothing her features into a more pleasant mien then proceeded to escort Estella and Caylin to our new home. I'm sure Elle was already packed and ready to move. I expected she'd be ensconced in house before leaving to meet me. Before going to see Harlan, I need to visit Davin.

Davin is Arlen's only blacksmith and has two assistants that were apprenticing with him. Arriving at the shop, they were hard at work forging steel plates for one of the heaters. Davin's smithy is different, mainly due to the enchantments I've placed. He's one of the only people that needs to burn wood, or in his case, charcoal. The coals in his forge are needed to convert iron into steel. I have placed multiple enchantments, one of which captures heat energy from the forge exhaust. That heat then powers a set of ovens he uses for softening and tempering, while another pair of ovens is used by his wife for glass blowing. I did this partly to reduce the consumption of wood for fuel, just the stoves and heaters for the rest of Arden do. The other reason is I need glass and crystal bottles and vials. Lots of them for tinctures, unguents, and other medicinal and magical concoctions that I make for use in Arden and for export. While I'm Gwen's main customer, particularly during the winter, several others buy in Arden, and she does a brisk trade with our fairer weather guests. She was not in the shop, otherwise I'd have said hello.