I went back into the Inn and high stepped my way to the bar in an effort to avoid people and gear sprawled everywhere. Zack and Jak, greeted me as I approached.
“This is your new employer Earl Gryff. Boss this is fire mage Lamont, air mage Eona, and water mage Tarkon.” Zack said introducing us.
“A pleasure to have you all here, nice to see we are well represented on the mage front. Which of you has the most war experience?” I asked. While I talked I vaulted the counter to get behind the bar.
“That would be me, anything I can help with?” Lamont asked.
“If I were to tell you the griffins were breeding specifically with the idea the peace accords will break. Well that or a failure to renew them in fifteen years. What would you say?” I asked the group with a quiet tone. I knew in the future a private meeting room would be required, but my quarters were busy and it was loud enough to currently mask most conversation in the bar room.
Lamont had curly red hair and lots of dark freckles. He was an older man but still in his prime, forty something if I had to guess. He had broad shoulders that spoke of keeping fit. A mean scar went from his cheek to his ear on the right side of his face.
“That the empire is not on the same page. Our mages receive less and less tutelage. The mage academy is more selective, and prestigious than ever. If the accords break or expire, and the griffins disappear, we humans most certainly would lose. I did hear the Emperor is building a fleet to expand onto the freezing southern ice shelves. I wrote it off as a silly notion then.” Lamont said.
“It is my understanding that we need to be prepared. I tell you what Lamont, do you trust Zack?” I asked.
“Known him for a decade, not much of a fighter, more of a scholar. Well read though, we go to each for favors and conversation over the years. I was surprised to see him here on the frontier, but I suppose the barrier keeps him safe while surrounded by Horde. No offense Zack, you being around fighting has never been your thing.” Lamont said.
“None taken, I find fighting causes me to freeze up. I do not wish to die, so I flee to safe zones. As for trust, Lamont is a trusted mage of Duke Riza and has worked for King Horus. Would be hard-pressed to find a better man to trust.” Zack said. They gave each other cheers of a mug and took a long pull. I went to the cups, grabbed one and poured myself a glass full of ale.
“Yum, this keg was on Melina's list. We need to find another barkeep now that we have people visiting again. Off topic, so give me a moment.” I reached into my belt and pulled out my marker bag. It was soaked in a mix of river water and goblin blood. I plopped it onto the bar and opened it. I pulled out five hundred in markers. Then thought on it and pulled another five hundred out. “Gross right. I need to find a rag to clean the bar after. So much on my to do list.”
“I Earl Gryff of Fernlan, hereby name Lamont Master Mage of the Fernlan mage academy. You may choose your council as to how you see fit.” I formed two fingers into a pretend sword and did the knighting routine.
“I do not understand,” Lamont said with a confused face.
“You are going to create a mage academy here. These thousand gold coins should help with supplies, personnel, and teaching staff. We will use this village as a minor academy to the capitals major academy. Those rejected can come here and train. It has a win win effect. I get mages hungry to test battle magic, they get schooling denied to them.” I pulled in close to the group. So only they could hear me. “And while you are bringing in students and supplies you will get your hands on all the catalysts you can for the griffins.”
This had their attention.
Eona the air mage with curly black hair and soft features spoke up. “I like the idea, I know many students denied from the academy in the capital. This would give them a place to learn and prosper.”
The others nodded in agreement and mentioned it would fill a need in the mage community.
“I think I get it. You want to make a small war front academy. This will not anger many because it is fighting goblins and orcs, where the real academy is the study of magic. Not adventuring. While doing so you want to teach the griffins as well. It is an audacious plan. I would need more than a thousand. If I tell the Duke and King your plan and fears of peace falling they may chip in too.” Lamont said quietly.
I reached into the purse and pulled out four thousand in markers and added it to the thousand.
“By the gods, did you rob the Emperor himself,” Jak said.
“No, I merely sold him a crown. A magical crown that the Horde made to allow chieftains to collect food from villages like Fernlan. Dumb orc was trying to tame a war boar and I killed him when he charged me in a challenge. So that is why I have the gold. Serves me no purpose sitting stored away somewhere. Not to mention we got a hefty amount of goblins and these gems today.” I said and then spilled the gems onto the table. They were also wet with river water and goblin blood.
“Not sure what they are worth but they will go south to the capital as well. Speaking of which what is the name of the capital?” I asked.
“You really are not from this world as the rumors say. I will be leaving for Lakeland first thing tomorrow, and then I will visit King Horus in Tent Crossing. I will be picking up more mages as I go to help teach and build this new academy. I will need a letter that provides your sworn statement on what the griffins are doing and why. The capital in Deltan, it is about a nine to ten hour flight from Lakeland, depending on the griffin. I got a lot of planning to do, and when I get back I should have a training plan ready for your approval. If you fine gents will excuse me I need to go get some pen and paper from Elan. He has great deals on things I hear.” Lamont said.
I grabbed the paperwork that needed my attention from the bulletin board and left behind the bar after saying my goodnights. I walked down into the basement and found the door locked. I unlocked the door and entered to find Bella moving items still. The place looked like a bomb had gone off and what exploded were woman things. Dresses, jewelry, music boxes, and some dolls were everywhere. The only spaces that had survived the mess were the table and the bed. I was about to protest when Bella smelled me.
“Out, out with you. Go bathe then come back. Wait, is that the blueprint for our manor and the bathhouse in your hand. Approve those first, then go clean up.” Bella ordered. She had one hand on her hip the other pointing at the table, demanding I approve better quarters and a luxurious bath. She was adorable, the frontier brought out a different side of her cuteness.
“Yes my lady,” I said and she stuck out her tongue.
I signed the paperwork and Bella handed me my only other set of clothes that were not armor. I managed to make it to the creek and back without being stopped. I was exhausted from such a tiring day.
∞∞∞
The next morning started with rain, and not a gentle downpour but the kind that you wanted to stay inside for. I had planned on getting smelons, setting fish lines, and doing some recon. Instead, I waited under the barn the wolves lived in and watched the north road. I was observing to see if the food we had set out was going to be collected. It was boring and slow. My only entertainment was I brought a lot of food. Pretty much all I could carry from the Inn’s kitchen.
All around me relaxed wolves and monox. Most had swollen bellies so large it was a wonder they still were hungry. A few of the monox rested on the wolves. It was weird they were so content with each other. I guess the fact that I had been nonstop feeding them, put them at ease. I dug out my brochure on river fishing I bought in the Lakeland market. It was a dud, I mean the trotlines were pretty cool but I wanted something that I could handle from the shore on one side. The end result was, get a line, get a hook, and use bait. Wait and if lucky get a fish. Oh well, it was cheap.
One of the wolves perked up and growled. This launched both groups of animals into aggressive postures. Una approached trying to stealt
h up on me, not this time. I gave out a light chuckle at her miserable look. She was drenched in rainwater and looked angry as well... Una. I said nothing to her and went back to my brochure pretending to ignore her after I calmed the animals.
“My lord your stupid horses arrived safely. They all belong in a stew, a nice warm yummy stew. We had three orc scouts follow us at different parts of the travel north but none attacked. Tell you what though, I should have asked for more. The men bitched nonstop, the horses fought to eat the entire way. Then this morning the rain starts with a vengeance and when we finally reach civilization the best this shit hole has to offer, is a damp cave. No bed, no warm fire to sit by, no manor wing or anything. A fucking half full cave to escape the rain. So I said let me talk to the Earl, and Bella comes out looking all pretty and dry. I got removed from the Inn shortly after. I really need to work on my temper.
“Well, what are your orders Sir, Earl,” She asked with a sour attitude.
“You want to work or rest? Or restive work? I am working right now.” I said as I spread my arms open in a revealing fashion.
“You mean feeding the pets food, please... that is something even Bella can do. What are you really doing here?” She had her hands on her hips now.
“I am watching that covered crate out there on the road, three hundred plus kilograms of food. Almost the entirety of this village’s near slave labor work. I killed the orc who used to come get it, he wore a fancy crown that let him in to accept the food. We have surmised that it is probable, your dad's words not mine, and that no one shows up today. Or if they do they realize they can't get in and bugger off.” I said.
“Let me start a fire in here, I promise not to burn down this shitty structure, though it probably needs it. When was the last time this was repaired? Actually, look at the ceiling there was a fire in here at one point. I am going to strip down a bit and let my clothes dry off. I promise I won't try anything sexual, I am tired and desperately want to get dry.” Una said.
She sounded defeated by everything at the moment. I moved some pine needles and loose dirt to dig a mini pit. I collected a few rocks for a circle and piled some old hay. She got a spark turned into a fire quickly. I watched as she went over to a knocked over stable thirty feet away. She returned with a few decent pieces of wood that were dry. Once the fire built up and shimmered off heat the animals spaced out giving the fire room. The cool rain air kept us from overheating. Una got down to her undershirt and boy shorts. She propped up a log to help dry off her clothes.
“Before you dry out go see if you can find something to cover you for when we leave. I used this board here, kept me dry.” I teased her with a wooden mock shield.
She tried to take it from me, but I was too fast. She gave in and took off to the rotting stable. I watched her return with a section of the wall over her head. A loud creaking noise came out from behind her as the structure slowly tilted. The old stable tried to stay upright but failed and collapsed with a loud thud and a poof. Well, I did not say anything about leaving the structure as is. Oh well, was going to tear it down and rebuild it underground anyway.
The two of us sat in silence around the dancing flames for a while. We watched the covered crate on the road while I ate. The wolves and monox ate some more too. Finally, Una gave in and asked for some food. There was no small talk or banter, we slouched in the calm and looked on. An hour or two passed when the monox got agitated and the wolves perked up. Nate was coming over with a small Inn table over his head.
“They said I could find you here. Got any orders for us, the men are bored. So bored they are willing to risk the rain. Especially if the work has bonus money in it.” Nate said.
This immediately got Una's attention.
“What bonus money, wait did you get more than ten percent, our contract is for ten percent. But there is shit all happening in this run down village. I cannot believe the Horde erected a barrier around this place. We will be lucky if we get a few coppers from bonus income. What, sell some extra fish we harvest, please?” Una said with a sneer. The girl needed a good ass kicking or a good fuck. I had done the first and was not interested in the second. If she keeps it up something would have to change.
Both Nate and I gave her a weird look. Apparently, she was not in the know about anything around here. She blindly took the job. This made me roar with laughter. I mean it hardly mattered but to me, it was too funny.
“Oh Una, you need to ask about work before you take it. In the past week, a half dozen orcs, an ogre, and over a hundred and twenty goblins have been harvested from these wild lands. While you were feeding horses, Nate, here used his sword as an ear picker for the ogre. Flung him ten feet, I kid you not.” I said as I closed my fist and pointed a thumb at Nate.
Her demeanor went from a frown to an ecstatic cheer. I even got a high five.
“Wait... so there will be fighting, and good chances at bonuses. When can we go out? How are we handling rotations?” Una asked. Maybe this is what made her become more tolerable. Insert money, add a mix of bloodshed, and she beams with joy.
“Well, I was going to hold a meeting over dinner time with all the combat role people. Instead, since you two are the team leaders of my fighting groups we will do it now. We will split each day in half. If you find you want mornings instead of evenings you can swap every eighth day, seventh day is everyone off unless something drastic comes up. Basically, you split the time evenly. If a mission runs long, the other team gets extra time the next day. That is the easy part. Sort it by yourselves, come to an understanding that I want it to be fair.
“The harder part is teaching you and your teams how to talk to griffins without words. We are going to make wooden maps and before each mission, a griffin will show you what is where on the map. There will be pictures and pointing so should not be too bad but who knows. Right now the only threat we have is a thousand plus strong settlement to the north. Orcs with goblins have been sighted. I was going to recon it today but the rain got in the way. If it was light and I could see through it, I would still go but this is... Hey, you guys see that.” I said and pointed at the spot where the north road meets the barrier.
We watched through the constant downpour as an orc pounded on the barrier. He was young, barely six feet. Not the next war chief for sure.
“Get in your gear now Una. Nate, I want you to get the men. Run, when you get to the point where you can see me again send a half team to me. Take the other half out of sight to the right flank and hit them from behind. Unless it is a lot, then backtrack and tell me it’s too many. Go.”
Nate was gone before Una got all her gear back on. “Ready for some fun?” I questioned the woman as she rapidly dressed.
“Took you long enough to ask, but men normally ask that when I get naked, not armored. Not complaining, battle gets my blood going and my pussy wet.” She replied with the typical vulgarity she had been restraining.
I shook my head in laughter and raced out of the wolf stable and into the driving rain. It was a cold rain that soaked my new armor immediately. I needed to swap to the kilt and metal single chest piece for rain next time. I got to the crate of covered food and slowed to a walk. I quieted the impulsive side of me that screamed kill, kill, kill. I got too excited. I was supposed to be stalling for Nate to send me back up and a flank team. All that would take time, probably ten minutes at least. I pretended to inspect the food as Una arrived.
“Uh, let us go. Why are you staring dumbly at the food, orcs to kill? Ah, I am so excited.” Una said.
This would actually work. The orc could clearly see us. If we argued it was a good stall tactic. Two enemies berating each other, what could you do but wait for them to finish and then hand you a pallet of food.
“Baldwic is your trainer right. That dude would cut off your dick and feed it to you if he heard you saying let us charge the orc. You know it, I know it. We are stalli
ng for back up, and I need to get eyes in the air. Oh, mighty griffin who is on rain duty!” I said singing the last line out.
“We hear you human, the rain is coming down too hard right now. Visibility is poor at best. What could you possibly want ?” I had no idea which griffin answered, but this one used a sultry feminine voice that was distracting. I tried to learn more of their names and get used to the voices but I had a lot going on.
“There is a single orc banging on the north gate barrier. I am stalling as men flank him, a quick flyby off to the side. Come in low and fast and tell me what you see, check another few hundred feet out then go back to whatever dry spot you found.” I told the air as Una gave me disapproving looks.
“A cave, I am in a cold cave, it is embarrassing for a mighty warrior griffin like me. I will do as you say but I will need a fire in my cave after... and some ogre meat. I am griffin Sly of Fernlan pride now. That is something we meant to discuss with you this morning, we left Cern for good even with the leadership changes there. We and our riders will be moving to rough it out here for now. Combat excites us and we have hope for the future with you. We heard of certain plans you are putting in motion and we want them to be successful. Enough so we are ensuring your protection. This means, even without the fire or meat, I need to go scan the orc and find his friends for you. Still, be a prince and help me get warm after. All I ask please .” Sly said sweetly.
“A fire and some meat! No issue Sly. At the moment I am without a runner to fetch things and relay messages so it may be a few minutes until after the altercation.”
Una tilted her head at me. “I should have a conversation with the air and see how you like it. I know, you are talking to a griffin, but still. You look beyond dumb with your facial expressions and hand gestures that only I can see. You were right on waiting, but I will never admit I said to go kill the orc without scouting. Also, I do not have a penis, so Baldwic would be out of luck. I may be a little bloodthirsty at the moment though. The men in my unit say my murder boner gets out of control.”
Gryff The Griffin Rider Page 24
