by Marcus Sloss
“Okay let me focus on the note from Bella and Pipi,” I said opening the letter.
Dear Husband,
We expanded! I do not know what you did or what deal you made, but Fernlan is now vastly bigger than it once was. My morning sickness still hits but Jak assures me everything is fine and Pipi has been at my side. I would be lost without her at this point. Next time you travel leave me Mina, at least. I know you want fewer expenditures, but I hired a few helpers for the future and now. Addilyn approved of them before we left, saying if you could not cover it, she would. She loves you almost as much as I do. It was sweet of her to ensure I had the help I needed. The trio of baby griffins have started to listen to me since Velia left. I do find feeding them enjoyable. They can sense our baby I think and do not rough house with me the same way they do with others. Oh, the wall around Fernlan, too funny. I have had endless griffins approaching me digging hearts in the dirt. At first, I thought they were showing their lady their love. Nope, they want goblin hearts now that the barrier has expanded. I chuckle at them and they don’t get the joke. Oh well. This letter is rambling. Let me return to important things. I love you and miss you. Streb is growing by the day and you will have to view it yourself to see the progress. Zack told me the mushrooms are growing and your rat farm… Shudders, and yes I am writing that. It is doing great. Your animal handler, Phen. I had to ask his name again. He sent a few runtlets up to Xiq after a few dead rats from shipping were gobbled up. King Omarr who rules southwest Vin sent a twelve year old son and an eight year old daughter to help learn all things griffin. I think he heard you were averse to adding to your wife list. Which leads to my final declaration. The sheet behind this one is for Princess Amber Heir to the Empirical Throne of Vin. May Emperor Igrad rule forever and until then in his stead her Empress Amber. Attached is your certificate of marriage. Just for you, I folded it and stuffed it in my bust before sending it south. Kiss it before you hand it to her. I know you will. You miss me.
Your loving dutiful pregnant wife Bella.
I miss you, Vern has been asking about you and watches training every day before school. He misses going to see Dennis work the smithy. Which lately has been pouring smoke nonstop. Things are a bustle here and my feet need a massage. Hurry home soon, tell those beautiful wives of mine I miss them also. Love you, my hunky man.
Your loving wife Pipi.
I sighed and almost got teary eyed. I got emotional over my wives, it wasn’t the manliest thing, but I loved them. It was an integral part of who I was. I leafed to the next page and sure enough, there was a marriage certificate. I handed both pages to Amber. She read over the first page and handed me back the second. I looked at it confused and Addilyn rolled her eyes.
“Told you, foot massage for me,” Velia stuck out her tongue and I didn’t catch on. Something was… wait for it… afoot.
I laughed out loud at my own pun as I reviewed the document Bella had stuck in her round bouncy bags of deliciousness. It was signed.
“Dina land us please.”
“I turn to ash, so I would rather not. We are almost over the battle remnants. If you need time I will climb. That way I can dart for safety if dragons appear.”
“Yes climb and wait a moment please and thank you,” I told Dina and then undid my seat strap. The girls grew wide eyed but I knew if I fell Dina was a rocket. She would talon me and return us to safety. I rotated to face Amber. “Amber you signed this… I guess… I am in shock.”
Both Velia and Addilyn went to speak and for the first time, I saw Amber assert some dominance. She waved them down.
“I like her,” Dina said knowing no one but me heard.
“I did sign it and you would be a fool not to. I meet with King Horus this morning.” Her nose turned up and her face soured. “It did not go well for him. With me or his daughter… Wait let me finish Addilyn. I knew since I was a little girl I would be married off. Since I was six. It has always been a sore point, for years I dreaded being married off. Four years ago, during the great battle of Zhipiter, my father parleyed. I was only fourteen at the time. When my father dragged me to the meeting he said a final message to his other daughters, wives, sons, and brothers. He said to flee to Westarly Bay. There awaited a fleet of ten thousand ships. The war for the northwest continent was lost. Take as many on the boats as possible and flee. Sail west until you reached the fabled Nagolands.
“You would think I held his hand or cowered in his shadow… Instead, I stood tall beside him. I was my family's bartering chip. His eldest child who walked with pride with her father into the enemies’ den. We were portaled to the same lounge room I met you in. The events that followed haunt me to this day. My father made a bargain. My protection… no rape, no blood spilled without a return blood reprisal, no injury without healing, and to be well fed and employed. All this and he would surrender himself and his forces would retreat. I saw him a few times in the years since that fated day. We talked, laughed, and reminisced. I remember giggling endlessly about how I was slated to marry some wealthy nobleman named Devon. Who is now a king. Those sad expectations became sadder moments when we discussed my lack of a future. My father said in my contract I could be bartered for.
“I met Emperor Salvoni, while he met with the cyclops. The man is a career politician, and he cared nothing for his people. Yet he managed them well.
“You or I may view him as evil, and to some degree he is. But King Horus is the same. No offense Addilyn, your father is a politician first, healer second, caretaker for his people third, and warrior a distant tenth. When I came home, I did not come home. I returned to a broken and shattered people. A Vin I did not recognize.
“My last conversation with my father spoke of a god. This god whispered in his ear. A god called Unforina who controlled contract magic. I know what deal you struck with the cyclops, I know their gods. Unfornia is a crafty bitch. She corrupted my father. He was set with a wild madness. My handlers never expected anything but love between us. He spoke of how Vin was gone. The Nagolands were only a myth and that he must kill me. You see, my contract allowed him to harm me while the Horde had to care for me. It was a scenario deemed unnecessary and the evil Horde is that… Evil. My father wrapped his hands around my neck, until I gouged his eyes out. I found his food tray, I beat him until he stilled and left him for dead. I lacked the strength to ensure his death but I sent Unfornia a clear message. Do not challenge me.
“So this morning after our wonderful time in bed I was dragged to a meeting with King Horus. His eyes not on me. Not for me. Only for politics. He gave passionate reasoning on why I should marry him. When I mentioned our coupling that very morning, he scoffed in not caring. I was to be his stabilizing factor in uniting Vin. When Addilyn told him he would have to challenge you by combat, he turned a ghostly white. Men fear you Gryff, the Horde trembles before you, and as I witnessed last night your women knell for you. You will be my Emperor, and the gods will rue the day they messed with my family. You will sign that paper and I will be your Emperess. Together we will raise humanity back to its glory with the blood of the Horde. Nothing else will satisfy me.” The long winded speech came to a conclusion with a pen dripping ink extended to me.
I knew the perfect thing to say. “May we warm our souls with the blood of our enemies! I swear myself to you, Empress Amber, to your heart, to your protection, and to our family.” I signed the paper and shoved it into her bust that was very exposed in her dress. I then crawled thousands of feet above the ground on a griffin’s back to kiss her roughly.
“Get back in your seat my Emperor. We have a battlefield to survey and you need to plan a trip north before going south… those tree worms are a priority. Get that done before all else. Promise me?” Empress Amber asked. Her face was rosy from me and the wind. Her eyes determined.
“Over the battlefield Dina… One second.” I said as I worked myself back into my seat and strapped in. “Okay hit those rockets lovely lady."
“I heard that and approve
Emperor Gryff,” Traz said from somewhere. Damn griffin hearing.
I remember being on my first rollercoaster when I was nine with a foster family. They were great people. The sensation of falling weightless from a car shifting from high to low never left my heart. It was a fond memory. Dina going from thousands of feet to dozens in a nosedive put it to shame.
“Wahoo!” “By the gods!” “This is amazing!” “Ladies rule!” We all screamed something as we raced for the deck of Vin. Our speed must have been in the hundreds of miles per hour until wings unfurled and snapped tight in the wind. We lifted off treetops to glide at a comfy fifty feet off the ground. Dina flared her wings further to slow our speed.
“Ah going fast is so much fun, here is your plateau,” Dina said as we flew over the flat elevated point.
It looked drastically different and much smaller than I thought it was during the night. Then again size is relevant. Stepping cautiously in the dark, makes distances seem longer. There was a pile of bodies showing the first signs of flies. Still recoverable if we hurried. A few goblins stood among the dead, lost in what to do. They were definitely worth coming back for.
The bay was a disaster. Thirty plus ships keeled over into the water. Some blasted to hunks of wood. Other sunk beyond recovery, while most were burned in demise. Bodies floated in the thousands. Where the fire scorched the ground the remains numbered in the millions. The blackened landscape was littered with dead Horde of all types. A lucky few goblins wandered amongst the dead.
“I need to see where the survivors regrouped and if there are any clumps of enemy close to Bavie,” I said to Dina who banked left in flight and thrust her wings to increase our speed.
“There are a few pockets of huddled goblins ripe for the slaughter. Let me show you some. We left them alive so a team can come run them down for collection. Most of our work from last night and this morning will go to waste. We griffins already are building a wooden map of the area. Will you want to go out before dark?”
I observed a few clumps of frightened goblins. Made sense they escaped. They were the first to bolt during a fight and they were also the most numerous Horde. I was keenly aware these might be ambushes but I saw no signs of any. We flew north for five minutes when I saw the remnants of the Horde army. There was a battle raging.
Orcs fought ogres, goblins cowered and shamans lobbed fire at both sides. I was shocked and amazed at the sight. I watched a dozen ogres flanked an orc formation. Clubs sent eight foot tall orcs soaring with each swing. The largest orc bellowed to keep his troops in line. It worked at first until they broke and the rout was on. I gave the chieftain credit. He charged his collapsing lines and right for the hundred plus ogres. He was smashed flat. A word in Horde reverberated across the fields. “TRAMASH!” It was clear even to us this far south. Magic had to have been used. The enemy froze and the fighting stilled. Whatever had caused the internal battle was settled and they once again were one unit.
I admitted to myself I wished there had been more death but it was nice to see. A charging ogre formation was effective and terrifying.
Dina turned us and we headed back for Bavie. We sped for the city and I had some hard decisions to make. The first and most important was securing my wives. I loved the idea of taking them on campaign with me, and not just for the sex. That was a super bonus. I enjoyed the downtime with them. I didn’t want to sit at a bar and drink after combat. I wanted to thrust, be loved, and not sleep alone. Maybe it was my abandonment issues from my childhood. I found myself really enjoying having a wife. I was still not used to more than one but the fact remained. A family to come home to was something I cherished. It hurt me to think that I would need to send them away from a lack of protection.
I saw Bavie blossom in the distance. As it grew in size I puzzled on my next move. We landed and I was the first to start to exit Dina’s saddle. As I bent over to get down, a resounding smack echoed across the roost area. I jolted in surprise at the mighty impact, wobbled from the force, and fell from my loose footing. I went down ten feet hard on my shoulder. I looked up with stars in my eyes to see Amber flush in guilt.
“Ladies… rule?” Amber meekly said. “I don’t think it is supposed to work this way…”
I chuckled and pried myself off the ground. I could handle a fall, my ego was embarrassed though. A young man raced up to me once I was back on my feet.
“Sir Gryff, King Horus would like to meet. He is not far from here in Duke Jarv’s manor. If you would follow me.” The young man said. When Amber, Addilyn, and Velia went to join me the man paused. “It was for Lord Gryff only.”
“A King does not dictate what an Empress does. We are going to our estate to prepare first. You will guide us after.” Amber said as she lifted her head high and walked to Igrad’s estate. I wondered if it was our estate now. There was a lot in limbo at the moment. The afternoon walk was brisk and cool yet not cold. We arrived quickly as it was not too far from the roost. Four griffins were posted at the estates four corners. A clear sign to keep out unless you were welcome. No one else would be getting by. I should have left a guard before we adventured yesterday. There were only so many hard lessons that could be learned before you had a disaster.
The grounds had been cleaned and when we entered the foyer. It was sparkling clean. Who knew it was so easy to get blood out? I wonder what they used. Was there bleach here?
“Push him forward Velia, don’t let him dally in thought,” Amber ordered.
I saw Velia smirk and her eyes gleam with joy at getting me to move. My ass cheek was still warm from earlier so I got a move on and bounded up the stairs to our room from before. When I reached the doors I saw new hinges and locks installed. All the bedding had been replaced and everything was neat again. It was like there had never been a break in this morning. I had to hand it to Duke Jarv, the man had an efficient team. It was nice to feel secure.
The ladies entered behind me and the door closed. Velia secured the locks and Addilyn stepped forward to talk.
“Gryff, my father is not out to harm you but that meeting will not be friendly. Amber spurned him and now you are married. There are two ways for you to handle this. First, leave me here with your team. Let me be your negotiator. It is my recommendation that while you are Emperor you let my father be your steward. You are often out on adventures,” Addilyn raised her index finger as she said this. The woman talked with her hands often. “If a matter is of large import, he can counsel Amber. This does a few things. You dictate policy and a broad direction you want the Empire to go. He will run the thousands of tasks it takes to keep the system running. Taxes, documents, trade, titles, disputes, and more. All those things he has grown accustomed to. Oh and countless meetings.
“I get why Amber does not want him as Emperor and I agree with most of the reasons. He is still a gifted manager I learned from. My course allows him to elevate his position, save face from not marrying Amber as a twelfth wife, and for you to be the Emperor.”
I watched Addilyn head over to a dresser as she said this. She stripped to underwear and folded her riding clothes neatly. A moment later she went into the closet and pulled out a nice yellow dress. I realized I should be doing something similar and went for my armor to lay it out on the bed.
Velia went to get changed but Amber came over to me. She wanted me to bind her bra and tie her dress. “Go help our husband Velia, please. Sorry, but you will not be changing. I do promise I am not trying to be bossy. You know Gryff. He will avoid my next suggestion.”
“Think nothing of it. I am not accustomed to the upper nobility dealings you two are. I am happy to help my sister wife. What will Gryff not want to do?” Velia said as she helped me belt on my armored pants. When she tugged at the thick leather strap she stared into my eyes and winked. The sexy vixen loved that belt.
“Too funny, he will belt you soon enough my love,” Amber said and Velia blushed.
“The second option for Gryff is to remove my father from the equation. Going in
to that meeting butting heads like two male goats will result in hurt pride of one if not a death. We need my father…” Addilyn walked over to us and gave Amber her back. “Let me be clear. If it comes to father or to Gryff, father will have to go. Gryff is our future and father is an old man stuck in old ways. I love him and would desperately not like to see him removed from the equation, but at the same time, I will not beg for him. It is your call Gryff. Griffins did not set up their capital in Tent Crossing. Griffins do not swarm to help him when he calls for aid. They love Gryff. They respect Gryff. And they know Gryff is our future. It is easier to transition this way.”
Both Addilyn and I were fully dressed and ready to go. I guess I had made up my mind by this point. I knew I wanted to go to the Vartin Tundra south of Bavie and murder ice creatures. The problem was I had other pressing matters. It was another day before a load of silver pikes arrived and I needed to avoid the power struggle here. I again wished I had a runner. I did see Tammy downstairs reading a book on the grounds by the griffins. She would have to do.
I stepped on the balcony and saw her talking with Lazra.
“Hey Lazra, Tammy, come up to the third floor. I need you to relay a message to the team.” I ordered without having to shout at them. I saw them both make their way inside hearing me. I capitalized on my time before they arrived. I scooped up Addilyn in a tight hug and kissed her hungrily. She returned my passion until I broke our embrace. “I trust you Addilyn, calm your dad and either stay here or return home when you can. I need a lot of those goblin hearts but I know that will be a negotiation point for you today. We have money and we can always get more. I have a feeling both King Horus and Duke Jarv will want compensation and due reward for hard work done. Give in, and give them more. In this case, leverage it in your compromise.”
