Remnant II

by Randi Darren

  “Even the young girls are murderers,” Kassandra said softly, her eyes moving from person to person. “But not all of them. There’s quite a few in there who aren’t. Innocents.”

  Great. That’s just what I needed.

  Great, grand, peachy, lovely.

  Fuck me.

  “Yeah,” Steve grumbled. “I’m just going to be honest here and admit I fucked up. I didn’t think it was really a village.”

  “I said it was a village,” Nancy said.

  “Yeah, I get that—I mean that’s… ugh,” Steve groused. “You said it was a village, and all I heard in my head was ‘bandit camp’ and thought nothing more. I fucked up, okay? I fucked up.”

  Everyone was staring at the people as they walked around, angrily beat on the purple walls, or shouted soundlessly at Steve and company.

  “What do we do?” Kassandra asked. “We could go through and put all the murderers to death. Offer the innocents a chance to leave or work on the farm.”

  “I… don’t want to kill children,” Ina said. “Even if they’re murderers. I don’t want to. I don’t think I can do that, Steve. I’m sorry.

  “You know I’d damn well do almost anything for you. Or let you do anything to me. But I can’t. I just can’t.”

  “Me either. No, no,” Jaina said.

  The two Witches were off to one side, looking disheartened.

  Yeah… or me.

  Fuck, I fucked this one up.

  Fuck.

  “How many people do you think we’ll need defending the walls up here, my little snake?” Steve asked.

  “Hmm? A thousand, if you wanted all the walls watched. Thousand more for rotation and defense,” Kassandra said.

  “And there’s no… magical… easy-to-implement overpowered way to ensure obedience,” Steve said.

  “No, not with these numbers. There’s bits of magic that can bind a few people, but not like this,” Kassandra said. “That seems almost too fantastical to even comprehend.”

  “If we convinced them all to fight for me, live here, and die here, how could we keep them on the line, so to speak?” Steve asked.

  “I don’t know,” Kassandra said. “With the army it—you know what, that doesn’t make sense either. I can’t even tell you why I was so determined to follow orders. That I never considered having children and just… lived for the army.

  “I don’t know.”

  Steve frowned, wanting to change the subject away from that. He had an inkling that the army might be brainwashed in the same way as those with the need to breed.

  That there might be something going on around the world, and something else at a national level.

  On top of that, there was a clear distinction between the citadel soldiers and the country’s army. The citadel soldiers seemed far more like normal women with needs and vices.

  Kassandra had said many times that she was a model soldier and everyone was just like her. That the army was something special unto itself.

  Even citadel city soldiers were different than the army.

  And there was something telling Steve not to take any of this head-on right now.

  “Nancy, you think they’d take an offer like that?” Steve asked.

  “No. They’d kill you the first night,” Nancy said.

  “Right,” Steve said, having expected that answer exactly. “Then we… imprison the murderers and begin executing them. Offer the innocents a job or to leave, and carry on. The murderers who’re young can just… remain in prison, I guess.”

  “That doesn’t feel like a good answer,” Ina said.

  “No, it doesn’t,” Steve agreed.

  “What if I set up areas where they’re allowed to be?” Ina asked.

  “I wouldn’t even know how that would work,” Steve said. “What if they decide to rebel? To take up arms? Destroy the crops? The walls?”

  “Collars,” Jaina said, shifting her weight around. “Let’s put collars on them. They’re murderers; their lives aren’t theirs. They should all be executed. Hung to death till dead. Dead, dead.”

  “Collars with stones and magic. Spells that would prevent them from going very far from the outpost, from hurting any of us or going against orders, yes,” Ina said, picking up where Jaina had left off. “We could easily do that. So far, the magic we’ve been utilizing is all combat-oriented or triggered. I’m sure we could figure out how to put latent combat spells into a collar.”

  “Yes, yes,” Jaina said, nodding her head. “Very doable. Better than killing them all. We could make it so the collars leech off them to say powered. Tie it back in, so you can’t break the collar without killing them.”

  “Oh, I like that,” Ina said with a nod.

  “Get working on it,” Steve said. “I’d like something I can test out by the end of the day. Will this… hold?”

  He pointed at the square.

  “Oh, definitely,” Ina said, turning to him with a beautiful smile. “We can even pass them items like water or food as needed. Won’t even be an issue. Hardly an inconvenience.”

  “Good… get working on it then, and thank you. Both of you. This’d be much harder without you,” Steve said. He felt weird thanking them, but he knew he should.

  “Of course, husband!” Jaina said. Then she turned to Ina. “Oh! I was thinking—you don’t like him finishing in you, and I want his seed. Can I join you later? He can finish in me rather than you.”

  “That’d work out rather well, wouldn’t it?” Ina said, turning back to Jaina. “Deal. But let’s get to work first.”

  Rolling his eyes at that, Steve started heading back to the cabin.

  “Come on Nancy. Bring your friends. They can wait outside the cabin,” Steve said. “We need to talk.”

  ***

  Sitting down at the small table in the cabin, Steve gestured to the seat across from him. Nancy sat down in it.

  She was moving normally, but Steve got the impression she’d been beaten far more severely than she let on.

  “You did it,” Steve said, looking at the Wight. From what he could tell, she was tired, sore, and hurting, but generally healthy. Her cheeks were also slightly flushed, and her complexion looked much better.

  In fact, she was practically healing before his eyes.

  Then he realized what was happening.

  She’s feeding off them. She gets what she wants, remains free, and enjoys an unending food source.

  “You did it,” Steve repeated, holding his hands out neutrally. “I’m surprised. I honestly didn’t expect you to come back.”

  “Did… you not want me to come back?” Nancy asked.

  “No. I’m pleased you came back, I just didn’t expect it. You surprised me. Good job, Nancy.” Steve laid his hands down on the table between them. “Good job.”

  “Thank you. I… wanted to make it happen. I want to be your mistress and secret keeper,” Nancy said, her fingers curling into her palms.

  “Really? That’s it?” Steve asked, his eyes sliding to the door behind her.

  Nancy pressed her lips together tightly, refusing to turn around.

  “As your mistress, I would expect my family to be taken care of. My sisters, nieces, and nephew. Murderers or not,” Nancy said.

  “Fine,” Steve said. “Fine. I can do that. I’ll send them back to the farm, out of harm’s way.”

  And away from you.

  Nancy blinked her one good eye twice, the other swollen shut still, then nodded her head. “Agreed. May I contract us now? It’s black magic… you’ll be marked. The priestesses would try to have you executed immediately if they saw you.”

  “Have you looked at my status?” Steve asked with a chuckle. “I clearly don’t ascribe to the religious views of Lamals. It’s very likely they’d try to have me executed anyways.”

  “Okay. It’s not a pretty binding. I think we should use our feet. Probably the soles,” Nancy said.

  “What exactly do you mean by ‘not a pretty binding’?” Steve asked
.

  “It’s going to look like an inky blot. Almost like you were sick,” Nancy said.

  “Uh huh… and just what exactly is this going to do again?”

  “It’ll bind me to you, and you to me. If I betray you, I die. If you betray me, you lose your big toes,” Nancy said. Steve raised an eyebrow at that.

  He’d noted her deliberate imbalance last time. This time it seemed even more skewed to his side.

  “I’m not stupid enough to think this is a binding of equals. I’ll be a mistress. I’ll likely never have children, I’ll be a decoration for your bed when you wish it, and probably… I’ll probably be told to do many awful things. But it’s better than being a prisoner, or being executed.”

  Running his tongue along his molars, Steve thought on it. He really didn’t need her.

  He’d made a promise, though. He’d given her his word.

  “Alright, bind us, Nancy the Wight, my Mistress and Secret Keeper,” Steve said, making sure to really state those titles. “And let’s be clear here. If you tell my secrets to anyone, even my wives, that’d be a betrayal and I’d expect you to die immediately.

  “I understand. I can do that,” Nancy said.

  “Alright, bind us then. As soon as you’re done, I’ll mark you.” Steve leaned back in his chair.

  “Okay, yes. I’ll do it.” Nancy nodded. Then she held her hands up, palms upward, and clearly focused on them.

  Black flecks began to form on her hands. Settling into the center of her palms.

  Slowly, they continued to fill with pieces of absolute blackness. An ink-like color that seemed to devour light without any reflection.

  Minutes later and one was the size of a large orange, the other a marble.

  “Okay,” Nancy said in a wheeze, sweat dripping down her face and neck. “That’s done. I’m not very good at black magic. I’m sorry it took so long for such a simple thing.”

  “It’s fine,” Steve said. “What do you expect me to do exactly?”

  “Take this one,” Nancy said, moving her right hand out in front of her. It contained the small marble-like ball of darkness. “Just put it under your foot and then crush it.”

  Picking it up between thumb and forefinger, Steve inspected the marble.

  You’ve been given a black-magic contract.

  The contract binds Steven Bril to Nancy Abellis for all time.

  The majority contract holder is Steven Bril.

  The lesser contract holder is Nancy Abellis.

  The lesser contract holder shall obey, abide, and adhere to all rules given by the majority contract holder.

  The penalties of the contract are based on the perception of the majority contract holder.

  All penalties will be judged and assessed accordingly by the majority contract holder, Steven Bril.

  Major sub-clauses exist:

  Should Nancy Abellis betray Steven Bril, she will instantly cease to live.

  Should Steven Bril betray Nancy Abellis, he will lose both his left hallux and right hallux.

  Please confirm that you wish to accept this black-magic contract.

  Hallux?

  That’s a new one.

  Big toe would have been fine.

  Fine. Yes, but I don’t wish for anyone to know of this contract. Nor for it to have a physical manifestation.

  Contract accepted under condition of anonymity.

  Contract is now active.

  “Ah!” Nancy squeaked, the black magic in her hand vanishing. “Where… what… It’s active. I saw the message, but I didn’t—”

  “Yes,” Steve said, interrupting her. “And welcome to my first secret. I’m not normal. I can modify many things I wish to. I have enchanted tools. I can impregnate whomever I wish to impregnate. I can give people titles, names, and monikers. I’m incredibly strong, to the point that I worry I might hurt someone accidentally. I have no memories of anything before this year. I’ve heard a voice speak to me from nowhere, and apparently I’m in some sort of test that I already failed once.”

  Nancy was staring at him wide eyed right now, and her eye that had been swollen shut was rapidly returning to normal.

  The despair in the surrounding area seemed to be nourishing her to an absurd degree.

  “Okay,” she said.

  “Good. I name you Secret Keeper, but no one else will be able to see the title. I also name you my Mistress, which anyone can see,” Steve said. “In addition to that, I strike the Murderer title from you. In giving yourself to me, I rule that you’re no longer a free person, and are property.”

  Nancy gasped and leaned back in her chair, her eye moving to the space in front of her.

  Nancy Abellis

  Wight

  Father: Deceased

  Mother: Living

  Property of Steven Bril

  Mistress- personal mistress of Steven Bril

  Sellout- willingly became the property of another

  Prostitute- willingly sold herself for gains

  Depraved Predator- lives on the suffering of others

  Merciful- has spared others for no reason

  Secret Keeper*- the one who knows all *This title is hidden.

  Black-magic contractor*- vile magic enthusiast *This title is hidden.

  “What… what are you?” Nancy asked, looking at Steve.

  “No idea,” Steve said honestly and stood up. “And I’d tell you if I did, since you’re mine, my Wight. Go take care of your family and send them off to the farm. They can literally just follow the waterway.

  “Then get yourself ready. We’re going to need more taskmasters, and I’m going to make you find them and sort them out for me.”

  He walked over to Nancy and laid a hand on her shoulder.

  “Work hard, Mistress,” Steve said, then gave her shoulder a reassuring pat.

  Seven

  Leaning on his axe, Steve watched as Jaina and Ina systematically brought someone over to the edge of the purple square and collared them.

  Only after confirming they were a murderer, however.

  If they encountered someone who was innocent of crime, they were given food and water, then told to do as they pleased. They could stay, leave, or do whatever they wished.

  Which meant there were a lot of children all standing around near the farm fields with nothing to do.

  Kassandra had been directing them over that way as soon as it was clear there was going to be plenty of them.

  As soon as murderers were collared, they were brought through the square and then sent to the fields. Sometimes they’d go to the children, collect theirs, and then move on.

  Kinda glad we’re not killing them out of hand after all.

  Being a villain doesn’t make someone incapable of good.

  It just means they made shitty decisions and ended up in a downward spiral.

  Or maybe it means they had no other choice but to make shitty decisions. I’d become a murderer if it meant saving my loved ones.

  Or I’d do worse.

  I’m no better than they are.

  Sighing, Steve regretted his plan and not for the first time.

  In the same breath, he also didn’t regret it. He was going to get a massive influx of workers who could all assist with protecting what was his. The fact that they’d work for food, water, and the ability to continue on living was a bonus.

  “Kill me,” said a woman standing at the edge of the square.

  Ina turned and looked at Steve.

  Steve shrugged. He didn’t have any reason to deny her the request.

  “She a murderer?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” Ina said, looking back at the woman.

  “Then kill her for me, in the name of our farm,” he said. “Try to kill her without any bloodshed. We can probably use her clothes. Just need to make sure we get them off her before she shits herself.”

  Jaina flicked her hand out in front of her and then closed it.

  The woman crumpled to the ground, clutching at her
chest. That only lasted for a few seconds before she went completely still.

  Bounty collected.

  Coin to be collected (36s) at a government-sponsored fine, tax, and levy station.

  Steve has gained prestige for enforcing a cardinal law of the Lamals.

  Reaching into the square, Jaina grabbed the now-dead woman by her foot and hauled her out to one side.

  “You. Take her clothes off,” Ina said, addressing the woman Jaina had just collared. “You can keep one item for yourself if you do it before she soils them.”

  Immediately, the woman dove on the dead one and began working at her pants.

  Smart. The pants are what would get soiled. Doesn’t matter if the corpse does its thing when the pants aren’t there.

  Turning back to the square, Steve sighed.

  “You, come forward.” Ina pointed at a young woman.

  Steve judged her to be about thirteen.

  “Murderer, thief, and liar,” Ina said aloud. “Anything I need to know?”

  “No,” said the young girl, looking down at the grass.

  “Serve or die,” Ina said.

  “Serve,” said the girl.

  “Step over to Jaina,” Ina said, gesturing to the side. Then she looked into the square again. “You, step forward.”

  The young girl moved over to stand in front of Jaina.

  “Hi, hi,” Jaina said with a smile. “I’m Jaina. My husband is Steve. He’s who you owe your life to. He’s nice. Very, very nice.”

  Jaina formed a stone necklace, the slave collar, right there on the spot.

  “Do you have a favorite color?” she asked, smiling at the girl.

  “I like purple,” said the girl.

  Jaina dragged her thumb over the stone in the center of the slave collar, and it immediately became a bright purple.

  “Like this?” Jaina asked, holding it up. All in all, it wasn’t bad looking. It was an ornate collar, almost like a thick necklace with a bright jewel at its center.

  The girl nodded and then leaned forward, tilting her head toward Jaina.

  Jaina snapped the collar in place, then touched it to activate it and pulled the girl through the square.

  “Is your family still in there?” Jaina asked.

  “No. I’m alone. I have no family,” said the girl.