by Randi Darren
“Can we help you?” Steve inquired, deciding to make it easier on the woman. So far, she hadn’t been rude or abrasive. As far as he could tell, she was just a soldier.
Gimme some insight into this walking set of polished armor, Shitty Steve.
Geneva Gosti
Lionan
Father: living
Mother: living
Royal Captain- captain of the royal guard
Ambassador- speaks on behalf of the queen of Lamals
Envoy- designated to treat with other nations for the queen of Lamals
Noble Line- part of the nobility of Lamals
Royal Branch Family- a branch member of the royal family
Steve didn’t bother to close the window. He’d rather leave it up than admit he was peeking at her.
“I think maybe you can at that,” Geneva said. “You have quite the fortification going up behind you.”
Steve glanced over his shoulder, using the opportunity to swipe Geneva’s window away at the same time.
From here, it was obviously a fortification. Not an outpost, but an actual fortification. A big one.
Looking back to the Beastkin, Steve shrugged.
“The country was being overrun by the Creep, zombies, murderers, and bandits. I’ve lost three wives to it already,” Steve said. “We weren’t getting any help from the citadel city, and there was no word from the capital. So… here we are.
“I now have something akin to… what’s the count?” Steve asked, looking at Nancy.
“Close to a thousand,” Nancy said immediately.
“A thousand murderers all working for me. Magically compelled to do so,” Steve explained. “They make fairly decent soldiers, and they’re very well motivated to do their best for me.”
Everything that’d just gone back and forth was a threat, in a way. That Geneva was out of her league here. If he decided to attack, she’d take ungodly losses even if she won the fight.
That wasn’t his goal, though. He needed to dial it back a bit.
“We do what we must to protect our homes and our people,” Steve said. “We had an entire force of murderers show up the other day trying to rob us of our hard-won food stores.”
“Yes, that certainly… makes sense when you put it like that,” Geneva said, nodding her head slowly. “That would explain your… interesting status.”
What if I dialed it a bit further back?
What if I made this an easy and obvious choice for her, if she truly wants to succeed? Made her see that what I can offer through my titles, farm, and presence is more than she can get without me.
If I could bed her and make her mine, that’d be ideal.
Wouldn’t that bring a lot more power to my name?
Could I take on Linne if Geneva were mine?
She’s well esteemed in the Lamals court. Having her under my thumb and under me would be a resource all on its own.
“Yeah, it’s real colorful,” Steve said with a grin. “Speaking of colorful—you’re a rather beautiful woman, Geneva. Your eyes are simply amazing. The hue almost seems to shift when you move your head around.”
Geneva’s cheeks colored a soft red at that. Her ears slowly swiveled toward Steve and nowhere else.
Clearing her throat, Geneva couldn’t hide the fact that her fingers were tapping along the hilt of her sword.
Maybe that was too forward.
“I’ve been dispatched to bring this part of Lamals back to order. To that end, I’ve been conferred with the title of military governor. This pertains to all the lands of Filch up to and including the citadel city it supports,” Geneva reported. “In addition, this includes two cities above Filch, two below, and every village and town in those areas and between. My central base will be in Filch itself, as it was the largest city prior to the Creep invasion.”
“Uh huh,” Steve said, not really sure how to take that. It sounded a lot like she was here to try and make his life hell.
He could be wrong, but he didn’t think he was. Most people from the government seemed to be rather worthless to him so far.
“And what is it you want from me, exactly?” Steve said.
“First of all, I’d very much like for you to provide me and my soldiers with a place to lay our heads, and perhaps food,” Geneva said.
“Feel free to sleep anywhere around here, except for the fields,” Steve said. “The water is pure and good to drink, so don’t foul it up by having all those tin cans back there shitting in it. Have them dig a latrine.
“As for food, sure. So long as someone is paying. You paying for your soldiers, or are they paying for themselves?”
“I’m afraid I wouldn’t have the coin to cover all their meals in addition to my own,” Geneva said. “We’ve found that the cost of food is far different out here, and I don’t have the coin to back up those purchases. I’ve been mis-provisioned. From what you’ve said, it sounds like I’m not going to have any luck at Filch either.”
Oh? That’s an admission and an invitation of sorts.
Isn’t it?
“I could be convinced to sell the food at pre-Creep rates, or maybe even provide it free of charge,” Steve said, staring hard into Geneva’s face. This would give him a very good idea of how far he could push this little prim-and-proper polished soldier.
“Ah—” Geneva said, her mouth locked in an open position. She clearly understood his underlying statement, but it seemed she didn’t know how to take it. “I… and how does Filch procure their food?”
“The mayor’s my wife. I did mention that,” Steve said with a shrug. “It wouldn’t do to make problems for her, would it? Though the citadel commander will end up having to pay six times the going rate for food. I dislike her.”
Bed her, wed her, turn her to your own ends.
She already knows I’m bedding a Fae princess.
It wouldn’t be as if I’m beneath her in station.
“Would you care to join me in my cabin to discuss such an arrangement?” Steve asked. “If you like, you could always go back to your soldiers and decide what to do from there. We’re really just looking to protect our own and don’t want trouble from anyone.”
Geneva blinked several times, looking a lot like a small animal caught in a snare.
“I suppose I must,” she said, squaring her shoulders.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Lucia said with a smile on her face. “Though I can promise you the rewards are certainly better than if you choose not to take this course of action.”
Geneva put a smile on her face, turned to her guards behind her, and then gestured around them.
“Break camp, settle in,” she said loudly. They were too far to have heard any of the conversation, thankfully. “I’m going to negotiate for food with the homesteader. Dig latrines, post pickets, guards, and patrols. Keep everything on a tight watch and leash. Don’t pollute the water source; it’s drinkable.”
Turning back to Steve, Geneva gave him a feral smile that was quite similar to Chessa’s when he’d first met her.
Aggressive, combative, and curious.
“Well then, shall we go… talk?” she asked, clearly understanding what was in store for her.
Fifteen
“Before we go any further,” Geneva said as the door closed behind her. “I cannot give you my maidenhood.
“I understand exactly what you were requesting. I agree to it and will lie with you. But not tonight. And not anytime until my forces are safely away at Filch.
“If I were to give myself to you before then, I know very well that my soldiers would lose what little respect they have for me. I’m not a fool. I know exactly what I appear to be to them, and I cannot change that opinion anytime soon.
“Being taken to bed would remove any chance I ever had of changing their view of me.”
Huh. She’s not wrong… but… if she knew what she looked like to her soldiers, why would she willingly walk into it?
Must be more there.
&n
bsp; “You should get on your back and receive him,” Nancy said. She was standing by the door. “That is what you agreed to, so do it.”
“Yes, yes. Receive my husband willingly,” Jaina growled.
“Now, now,” Lucia said, laying a hand on Nancy’s shoulder. “I do understand her point. She’s actually quite right in her entire view of the situation. We just need to figure out a way to bind her that preserves her honor at the same time.”
“I’ll simply pledge myself to Steve in marriage,” Geneva said with a shrug of her shoulders. “It’s a rather common promissory oath to give amongst the nobility. Violating it is tantamount to giving oneself over to the queen for judgment.”
“That’d be fine,” Lucia said with a wave of her free hand, the other still resting on Nancy’s back. “Though we should speak more on what we’re expecting here.”
Jaina was crouched down in the other corner of the room, glaring at Geneva.
“I want her as my wife, and I want to use her to build our power base,” Steve said, looking at Lucia. “With her backing, we’ll have a much better chance against the citadel. Or the queen, if it comes to that. Isn’t that true, Geneva?”
“It… actually, it certainly is true,” Geneva said, looking back at Steve. “My family isn’t the strongest, perhaps the third, but we do well for ourselves. We’d certainly make a play for the crown if we had a better than average chance to win it.
“I may not speak for my family, as I’m not the head of it, but I could easily challenge for leadership on my return after we consummate our marriage. Although… what’s your final goal?”
In other words, she’s not officially an adult until she’s in a marriage.
“Dunno,” Steve said. “I’ve been thinking the current citadel commander failed. I’d be a better commander.”
Geneva watched him without a word or a move. She didn’t even blink.
Something else there. Can a man not be a citadel commander?
“That works,” Geneva said. “It would also benefit my family if it happened. On top of you having a Fae princess and the mayor as wives.”
“Splendid,” Lucia said. “And what is it you want, Geneva?”
“Food and water for my troops, a guarantee that you’ll support me in my task, and that you’ll provide assistance to that end,” Geneva said. “The better I can accomplish this task, the better my reward when I return. Coming back with a husband of worth will only make that reward all the better. I’ll be able to request much more. My long-term goal is to take over my family.”
“That’s… yeah, agreed,” Steve said.
This was all much better than trying to pussyfoot around Geneva while working with her and likely against her at the same time. Steve was looking for ways to increase his power base, and this would definitely be one.
All the better that it wouldn’t cost him much other than bedding an attractive woman.
“Done. With those understandings in mind, and providing that they are followed, I pledge myself to you in marriage as per the customs of Lamals,” Geneva said.
You’ve been given a nobility contract for a wedding vow.
The contract binds Steven Bril to Geneva Gosti for all time.
There is no majority contract holder.
There is no lesser contract holder.
Both parties shall obey, abide, and adhere to all rules given by each other during contracting.
The penalties of the contract are based on the perception the queen of Lamals.
All penalties will be judged and assessed accordingly by the queen of Lamals.
Please confirm that you wish to accept this nobility contract.
Yes, but I don’t wish for anyone to know of this contract. Nor for it to have a physical manifestation.
Contract accepted by both parties under condition of anonymity.
Contract is now active.
“I… didn’t expect that. Though I’m glad for it being invisible. Well, that’s that,” Geneva said with a wide smile for Steve. “Let’s get my girls taken care of. They’re rather beat, and I honestly can’t wait to bask in their thanks for getting them full bellies.
“Oh, and have you been getting any Creep attacks?”
“No, not since the Creep pulled back and left,” Steve said.
“Speaking of that, what happened?” Geneva asked. “One day the Creep simply stopped coming back.”
“I knocked down part of the wall and filled the gap with rubble,” Steve said. “By the way… it looks like Linne Lynn, the citadel commander, betrayed her neighbor. Something happened, something blew up, and the neighboring citadel city fell.
“Creep was pouring in through there until I filled it up.”
“I… Lynn did this?” Geneva asked.
“That’s the only thing we can figure,” Steve said with a shrug. “Looked like they’d opened the doors for her to come in and then were hacked down right there. Some type of magic blew up, and that was all they wrote. She seemed quite… angry… at the idea of a Human citadel commander. She didn’t like me much.”
“Yes, her distaste for Humanity is well known,” Geneva said, her brows coming together. “I never would have figured her to betray the wall, though. She’s a traitor then. And should be my first visit.”
“If you want to die a virgin, sure,” Steve said. “She’ll probably just kill you. She tried to enslave me as a sexual captive. I killed three of her champions and threatened her with titles.”
“Titles?” Geneva asked. Nothing else he’d said seemed to spark her interest. Which was odd in a way.
Steve glanced over to Lucia, wanting to know what she thought.
“She’s already sworn to you,” Lucia said, interpreting his look. “She’d have to learn eventually. Better now. Besides… it isn’t a bad thing.”
“I have the right to give someone a title if it’s valid,” Steve said, looking back at Geneva. “I name you Future Wife of Steve. And thus it is so.”
He didn’t need to check; he knew it would happen.
“Lynn will just kill you,” Steve continued. “She has no honor and obviously doesn’t care. She caused the entire Creep problem. I remove your Future Wife of Steve title.”
“Yes,” Geneva murmured. “Yes… I understand. You’re right. She really would just kill me. I’ll take your suggestion to heart.
“What… would you suggest then?”
“Go to Filch,” Lucia suggested. “Set up shop there. The assistant mayor, Xivin, also Steve’s wife, is operating there at this time. It’ll give you the opportunity to see what’s going on in the area while you plan the rest of your moves.
“You did say you had other cities in your purview?”
“Yes, I do,” Geneva confirmed. “Four cities other than Filch. Bexis, Faraday, Hilast, and Rennis.”
“Then you have your direction,” Lucia said with a bright smile. “You’ll take a small contingent of your troops, along with Steve, myself, and perhaps Xivin. That’d be more than enough to stake your claim all throughout.”
Geneva looked like she was digesting far too much too quickly.
“I’ll… take that under advisement,” she said finally, shaking her head. “I’m going to go get my girls settled in.”
“I’ll have food brought over immediately. Just have everyone drink from the moat; it’s perfectly clean,” Steve said. “It never has and never will hold even a trace of the Creep.”
“Good,” Geneva said, then turned and moved to the door.
Nancy held it open for the woman but didn’t follow her out.
When it closed behind her, Jaina moved to the door and stuck her nose against the frame.
Sniffling softly, the Kobold stuck there for a short period.
“She’s gone,” Jaina said, lifting her head and turning back to the others.
“Thoughts on our new wife?” Lucia asked, looking at Nancy and Jaina.
Nancy said nothing. Instead, she folded her hands behind her back and fell sil
ent.
“She’s okay,” Jaina said, moving over to Steve on all fours and rubbing up against him. “Seems nice. We’ll see. Smelled of honesty. Smelled like Chessa.”
“Considering her species, that’s not terribly surprising,” Lucia muttered, looking at Steve. “I don’t have a problem with her, personally. The nobility of Lamals has ever been the… barest… edge… of nobility, but still nobility.
“I do wonder about what she said regarding their perception of her, however. I wonder what her family dynamic is if she willingly puts herself out in front looking the military fool.”
Steve didn’t know what to think of that. He shrugged his shoulders.
“Anyone you underestimate is someone who has the drop on you,” Steve said.
“Mm. Yes,” Lucia said, then sighed. “Though I’m afraid we’re going to have to make a detour to the farm. Nikki will have to know about this.”
Nikki.
Yeah. She’ll say it’s the best thing for the farm, I imagine.
Thankfully, that shouldn’t be a bad conversation.
“You’re right,” Steve said. “So… head to the farm today, then to Filch after?”
“Probably,” Lucia said. “We’ll have to move some people around to cover here while we’re away. Then again… with that little army arriving, having wiped out the murderers, and the Creep not having returned… this place might just be safe enough that we can leave it alone.”
“Ill to speak in such a way,” Jaina said, shaking her head. “Calls bad omens forward.”
Yeah. Don’t jinx it.
***
Fuck, I jinxed it.
“I don’t like it,” Nikki said again. Her hand was idly curling through Steve’s hair. They were sitting out at the lakeside, with his head in her lap and her hooves dangling in the water.
“What part don’t you like exactly?” Steve asked.
“Any of it, honestly,” Nikki mumbled with a soft sigh. “Or maybe I’m just being a little prickly. I feel like pushing Geneva into our marriage just moves us ever forward in this forced confrontation with Lynn. And furthermore, the nobility of Lamals. It sounds like she has plans.”
