by Dan Raxor
“Cleaner than I’d have imagined,” I said politely.
“The King takes pride in his prison, and yes you heard that right. He is restricted to this city except for rare occasions. Those who defile this beacon of prosperity enter the Crown’s Servant’s dungeon. Which, huzzah for you, should be full,” Varin said, waving to people who watched us.
“Will you be a guide?” I asked.
“No, after your gold is secured, counted, and you’re issued a voucher of value, we depart. The upper city is relatively crime free. Which, I must warn you. Your… party. It is filled with Lornians not fit for proper society,” he said and I grumbled at his statement.
This amused him and even Libby frowned. Siofra said, “Fear not, Master. We can always rent a lower city establishment if you want to give those without stature freedom to roam.”
“No. While it’s not fair, ensuring the peace, and that drama stays at a zero is more important. I’m sure we can send runners to fill our needs,” I said and there were nods.
After ten minutes of soaking in the warmth of my dashing ladies and the views of the stone city, we transitioned into the upper city.
The business section was right after the wall. There were big blocky buildings with general merchants, specialty crafters, jewelers, and a whole row of investment banks: one for each duke. I was escorted into the King’s Bank not far into this section and given a comfy room to wait in.
I was allowed one guard and one servant, so I picked Siofra and Rivinia. This was going to take a while; there was over five million dollars in gold coins in those wagons. Even at this point, I was still concerned we might have issues.
“Fret not, Master. Norlan and Varin will ensure everything is handled,” Siofra said, handing me a pocket book to study. She was sweet like that. Rivinia patted the spot beside her and I plopped down, leaving no place for her to sit. “I’ll rub your feet, Master.”
Lornian women for the win.
She sat on the floor, trying to get comfy from between my legs to undo my boots. I was tempted to spin her around and open my robes, but resisted.
Rivinia smirked, seeing my desire. She stuck her head in my lap to lie sideways. I ran my fingers through both of their hair, knowing that was what they desired.
“Your father runs a whorehouse in Crimm?” I said, enjoying the foot rub and warm room.
Siofra glanced at me over her shoulder to say, “Uh, first I’m hearing about it. A city this big, well, there are probably a thousand of them. Master,” she said hesitantly, looking at Rivinia.
“She is my forever pet, just like Susanna and Libby,” I said and she nodded in understanding. Rivinia kissed the back of my hand lovingly. “There will be very few times you get to see me alone now that we’re out of that dreadful carriage.”
“I understand, Master. Susanna has welcomed me into the group and she asked for a favor. We’ve been getting along well.”
“And the favor?” Rivinia asked.
“First pleasuring,” she said in a wince. “You mentioned our reward,” Siofra said, blushing profusely.
I snatched her hair, tilting her head back, and leaned down to kiss lay my lips onto her forehead. “Are you a virgin?”
“What’s a virgin?” she asked.
“Maidenhood,” I said sharply.
“Uh… lost that riding horses and yes, I have been with a… a guy?”
Rivinia giggled and I kissed her forehead again.
“It honestly is irrelevant, you just blush a lot. Telling me you’re nervous or inexperienced,” I said directly.
“Both,” she nodded with a mutter. “Yes, both.”
“Siofra. Do you wish to join with me?” I asked directly.
“Absolutely, Master.”
“To the point you’ll bind to me and swear to me and to me only?” I asked.
“But the realm law dictates no leader can bind themselves above the King.”
I sighed, eyeing a frowning Rivinia who shrugged. While she was knowledgeable, she was not all knowing. “Fine, King then me? Removing all other bindings.”
“You worry I’ll favor Farlake over you?” she asked.
“Indeed,” I responded honestly
She spun to sit cross legged and face me.
“You want me to marry you?” she asked in a puzzled tone.
I ran a hand down her smooth red cheek. “Yes and no. I want your commitment. At the same time I want my freedom. It’s not a fair deal, but it is what I have to offer,” I told her.
She grabbed my hand, softly kissing the back of it. “I… I want children though.”
I rolled my eyes. “So do the others,” I said, happy that she was negotiating and knowing she likely would. “Of the three of you, you stand to have the most stability of a mother, and if something were to happen to me, Rivinia can’t rule in my stead. Susanna would be respected the most after you since she is human. Libby would struggle, and maybe Norlan but a higher noble would replace all of them without you. The son of a noble can though. I’d hate to marry a daughter of -”
Rivinia shot up, placing a finger over her mouth. Her elven hearing must have picked up something.
A moment later there was a soft knock on the door. Siofra opened the door, revealing an older woman for Lornia standards. Mid-thirties, warm smile, and a younger version of herself in her mid-teens that had the same brown hair and brown eyes of Siofra.
“Lady Juniper,” Siofra said, racing up to hug the woman like a family member. “Leena, so great to see you.”
Both women curtsied after greeting Siofra and saying friendly greetings.
“We will be waiting with you for a few minutes,” Juniper said politely.
I wanted to protest but a man came in from behind them with something similar to a clipboard.
“I’m Hoogi, a bank manager. So… we have a problem, but nothing too drastic. I cannot convert some of your gems or materials,” Hoogi said, handing me a clipboard.
“What does that mean?” I asked, checking the paperwork.
“An auction. So you get two vouchers today. A voucher for itemized auction items, and a voucher for your account so you can spend freely. Since you lack a ring,” he fished out a ring from his vest pocket, “use this. Baron Trevor, I must warn you. Your title was given by a temporary Viscount.”
“Of Trimi. He is the -”
“He is filling in while his father pleads for mercy. The King may grant him leniency and then your title vanishes. This ring supersedes those trivial things,” Hoogi informed me.
“And the auction date?” I asked.
“During the winter we rarely received such items. If I rush the process there will be less bidders. If you let rumors about you swirl, longer is better. Say ten days?” Hoogi said.
I stared at the paperwork wondering where to sign. He handed me a thumbtack to puncture my skin. I agreed to both documents and then to the auction.
“Thank you for your business, Baron,” Hoogi said, leaving the room.
Juniper tried to see the sheet that held a six figure number. I handed the documents to Rivinia. After I removed my necklace with a bristling stone I applied the ring to the metal band.
With the bank portion done I felt it was necessary to head directly to the nobility market.
“Where do I buy a castle?” I asked with a smile.
“Madames are handling your arrivals, probably best if we went to the King’s Administration Quarters. It is a section of the upper city where the King himself appoints others to manage. We can walk or carriage, your choice,” Juniper said.
I slid my boots back on, growling at the fact they were still cold. “A walk sounds nice, assuming I’m safe.”
“You’re not going anywhere without an escort,” Varin said from outside the room. “And yes, I’ve been waiting here the whole time.”
I grumbled and Rivinia frowned, growing angry to the point she blurted, “A silence spell?”
“Mages have their secrets. Come on. I know this great p
lace by the ocean that is for sale,” Varin said and I rolled my eyes.
“Imagine my surprise when I arrived in the capital as the wolf burning inferno mage, capable of ruining Lornia, and yet… I learn everything is pre-arranged. Did you hire my army already too?” I asked.
“No you get to pick those and your ship,” he said, peeking his head into the doorway. “Maybe.”
He burst into a knee slapping laughter as if this was hilarious.
I finished lacing up my other boot and said, “Uh, so… the ship. Like a pleasure yacht? Do you have those here?”
“Lord, I don’t understand some of the stuff you say, but I can tell you this. Let’s buy you a proper title,” Varin said with an ear to ear grin.
Thoughts of a large hearth, a cozy setting, and a warm brandy had me daydreaming of owning a castle. I can say this was never a fantasy of mine until I arrived in Lornia, and now… Now, I was excited to make it a reality.
CHAPTER 39
Lornia - Crimm
352nd day of the 1st year of King Partel’s Reign
An ambush. There was no other way to describe what we encountered at the nobility office. There were lords with their daughters casually crowding the large room as if it were auction day.
Except there was no auction.
There was nothing to even bid on.
There happened to only be a rumor that a man powerful enough to be a master mage was in Crimm and unmarried.
Hell, even a few mothers with sons showed up.
A few stormed out when they saw I wasn’t a woman as they had hoped for.
I wanted to stop them to insist I was completely happy and indeed a devoted lover and then realized who cared. This was dumb, and while Siofra was thrust to my side, she served a purpose. I had no purpose for these young women, and the few men who stayed.
Not to mention, half the idiot ladies’ eyes shot to Varin or Rivinia and I ground my teeth. They’d know I wasn’t an elf, and I knew I was handsome. I had great features, high cheekbones, brooding features, more muscles than normal, and a great attitude. Sure I had my faults, but it didn’t matter because I had loyal ladies who adored me… for me.
The fact I was being overlooked flustered me, and it was not Rivinia’s fault she was born as a stunning elf or Varin’s fault for being somewhat famous and dashing.
I was seething, and one look from Varin had him pushing me outside of the building.
“Careful, brother,” Siofra warned him.
While I liked being pushed out of safety, I didn’t enjoy it this time. Varin broke into a run, circling around the building. He sighed, waving me to catch up. I decided to placate the man and ran to catch up, dropping a document. Rivinia retrieved my bank statement as I clamped the top of my robe shut.
Those who followed us watched us vanish around the side of the building in a hurry. We entered a side door with special guards in black and gold. They were about to protest when they recognized Varin.
Varin set me down in a foyer for employees. Rivinia came to me, handing me the bank statement with a few panted breaths.
“I’m sorry, Master, I -”
I silenced her with a kiss on the lips. The contact was tender and sweet. “Cover me please,” I said, facing the wall and opening my robes while Varin and Siofra faced the other way. “Rivinia, never apologize for who you are. You’re far more than a pretty face to me.”
“You’re going to make me cry more,” she said, wiping her tears on her sleeve. “I’ve grown soft. I’ll be stronger.”
I kissed her forehead this time. “What the hell, Varin?” I said when she finished fixing the pockets on my robe.
“I… an accident. I was told to diffuse any situation. Even the King and his advisors, whom I represent, can’t control everything. This won’t stop and even when you leave, you’ll be hounded. I - I -”
“Suggest you marry!” Juniper said from outside the building, the guards not letting her in.
Varin stuck his head out, letting them into the building.
“I don’t want to marry,” I said with a shrug. “I want a harem. Scratch that, I have a harem and they are what I desire. I can burn the rest.”
“Uh, no you can’t,” three voices muttered. Rivinia and Siofra smirked. One of the voices was from behind me.
A young man no older than twenty five stood in the hallway. Varin was gob smacked at the sight of the lad, telling me he was important. We followed the young man into a large room.
This was a courtroom of sorts. Two short benches faced a judge’s bench. The young man sat in that seat while flanked by two guards who shone just as bright as Master Mage Telfi did. The mages eyes widened from my presence, whispering in the young man’s ears.
“Silence, I understand the risks. Baron Trevor, I’m King Partel. The man holding court up the road in the fortress is my decoy. Handsome, charming, and actually in charge of nothing. Remind you of anyone?” the young man who probably was the king said.
I looked around the room and saw what he meant. We were not nobles. “Was planning on fixing that, your grace,” I said and bowed.
Everyone winced except for the king, who laughed. “You should practice your mannerism. There is truth to the rumors you’re not from Lornia. You certainly shine bright enough to be Arenia’s demigod. The very god they say that favors Farlake,” he said in a boisterous laugh.
Suddenly it hit me like a hammer. He wasn’t a young man. He was a fey. The king was a halfling, and I doubt I’d ever figure it out, but he certainly wasn’t the kid he appeared to be. That laugh gave it away clear as day.
I was torn, knowing what was coming.
Did I lie?
Did I expose myself?
There was only so much I could cover with those damn horses I brought. I thought I could pawn them off as some rare breed to make money off of, but no.
They were probably sending rumors through the entire kingdom that a foreigner was pretending to be a Lornian with his big gorgeous horses.
“So, Baron Trevor, what brings you to my city?”
“Your city or kingdom?” I asked.
“Better, the latter.”
“Magic that connects two worlds,” I said and he held up a hand.
“Define world.”
“Lornia is on a ball that rotates around a sun. When the ball faces the sun you have daylight, when it faces away night. If you travel east in a straight line you will eventually arrive right back at this point from the west.
“I know this because we use a different form of magic called technology to do exactly that. I come from that world to this world through these rubies that contain magical power. This is Rivinia, she has been to my planet.”
Rivinia almost scraped her knees in an odd curtsy. “He tells the truth, your grace. They have instant hot water, instant cooking, and unlimited food. The horses grow big but they don’t use horses. They use a variation of machines far beyond what dwarves do. The downside is they have no elves to tend their forests or keep the lands wild,” Rivinia said and the King was on the edge of his seat.
“Is that why your gold is beyond pure?” he asked and I nodded. “And the horses?”
“Rare, and expensive but not unattainable. I… I underestimated their value here,” I admitted.
He scoffed with a head shake of dismay.
“Already confiscated them. I had no choice. They will be the King’s Gift from a foreign emissary of Pangea.” I went to raise a hand and he flicked a wrist. “Yes, your big one you’re partial to will go with you. The others I’m keeping and I already sent an army, yes an army to Trimi to retrieve the final horse.”
I opened and shut my mouth. Trimi had been under siege and he did nothing. I left a horse there and he sent an army.
“Why should I trust you?” he asked.
“Obviously I’m not in my element here. Trust me with what?” I said.
“A holding of mine that you control,” the King said, rubbing his temples. I doubted he relished dealing i
n such matters.
“Uh, I was planning on using gold, not platitudes,” I said, causing everyone besides me and the King to cringe. “What!? Does honesty not matter?”
“It does, dear Trevor. Indeed, it does. They know what I am. I kill people for intentional slights. Your decorum is lacking, but your honesty is refreshing. Why do you want a holding?”
“Commerce. Trading between my world and yours. And… I want to live here while I conduct my trade,” I said and I saw him wanting more. “I can be a lord here even as a young man. There is nothing similar on my planet. I want to rule, protect, and live a good life that I enjoy.”
“You come from a magically advanced realm and you wish for a simpler one?” he asked, placing his chin atop his folded fingers while looking down at me.
“Yes.”
He eyed me intently. “Tell me about the magic you use to get here.”
“Unknown to even my advanced race. I dug rubies from a cliff and they glowed. It took time but I unlocked a portal,” I said and he flopped into his chair. “There is a transition place where I arrive, and then I walk into a shining light, arriving onto Lornia.”
“As prophecy dictates,” he muttered.
I frowned. “Excuse me?”
“There will be an arrival from a distant realm, bringing about a beacon of flame to defeat the darkness. The champion with the mightiest horses Lornia has ever seen,” the King said.
I couldn’t help it. I laughed to the point it was his turn to frown.
I said, “Sorry, you Lornians have an unnatural horse fetish to me. I’m better now.” I controlled my chuckle.
“Alright, I have good news, and bad news. The bad news. War will ravish the lands, and even unknown foes will assail our kingdom. I have no Dukes in the south besides Duke Lacroy who is in the southeast to stage off dwarven invasions,” the King said. “And I haven’t failed to notice Farlake children everywhere. He marches to the tune of gold thankfully. Reliable mercenaries are hard to find.”
He paused, musing over something. I said, “Okay. That sounds -”
“I wasn’t finished. Lacroy won’t march to defend Clruss or Trimi or Jasmine Shire. No one commands the south. Every king before me that tried to have Clruss become a dukedom fails in the duke votes.
