by Randi Darren
“I cannot speak for Her Majesty. I can only carry out her orders. Please hand over Miss Lynn,” said the Mage who’d dismounted first.
“Maybe… maybe we should just let this happen,” Nikki murmured from beside him.
Steve was thunderstruck in that moment.
As if someone had sucker punched him and left him in the desert for a day.
His mind couldn’t process what he’d just heard. Nor could he handle it at this moment. Steve felt as if he’d just lost everything and everyone important to him.
Slowly, his fingers loosened their grip of Linne’s leash, the chain slipping from his hand.
Linne scurried away from Steve and dodged into the ranks of the Mages.
“Her Majesty appreciates your compliance,” said the Mage. “And… for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
Standing there, shocked and unable to comprehend anything, Steve watched as Linne was pushed up onto a Centaur.
In less than seconds, Linne, the Mages, and the Centaurs were gone.
Leaving behind Steve, who felt like he was dead.
“I’m so glad you listened,” Nikki said, patting his back. “Thank you, my brute. I really thought—”
Steve jerked away from her touch, not wanting to even look at her.
“Traitor,” he hissed.
Moving away from Nikki, Steve headed off toward the house.
He needed to get going, and he had no time.
Need to plan. Need to get things ready.
Need to… need to… need to fucking wreck the queen and take Linne back, and kill her.
She’s mine to kill. Mine. No one else’s.
“I… Steve, wait,” Nikki called, hurrying after him. “I’m not a tr-traitor! It wasn’t worth fighting Mages for. We have so much to live for and—”
Steve pulled away the moment he felt Nikki’s hand on him again.
“She killed Misty, Xivin, Kassandra, and Shelly. Maybe you don’t care, but I do,” Steve said. “They were my wives, and I loved them. I may not be the best at expressing grief or even having emotions most of the time, but I knew I loved them. And I miss them.
“And that… that monster… killed them. And you seem to think that’s okay.”
“Of course, it’s not okay,” Nikki said, still trailing after him. “But we can’t fight the queen. She’s the queen! We should… we should just… live our lives. Do our best to move on and live for those we lost.
“We have so much now. We can do whatever we want.”
“What I want? What I want is to pull Linne’s head off her shoulders, put it on a spike, and leave it overlooking the cemetery she caused,” Steve said. “That’s what I want. And you… you think… you believe… that you can just… live in harmony with these bastards.
“With the queen. Like you can bury your head in the sand and it’ll all just pass over without a concern?”
“She made you the citadel commander,” Nikki said. “That’s practically the second-highest position in the whole country. Of course she had to pardon Linne.”
“No. She didn’t have to. She could have realized Linne was a murderer, what she’d done and was doing, and given her to me, or executed her,” Steve growled. “I cannot accept she had to pardon Linne. Not even for a millisecond.”
Steve had kept moving the entire time, reaching his tool shed. Where he kept the tools he didn’t normally travel with.
Grabbing all of them, he bound them up with two cords and put the bundle over his shoulder.
“What… what are you doing?” Nikki asked.
“I’m leaving,” Steve stated. “There’s nothing here for me now that you’ve decided our marriage doesn’t matter. That we don’t stand as one. That you would rather duck your head and bow it than fight for justice for your wives.”
“No! Steve… no, you… no. There’s no reason to leave,” Nikki said, her hands immediately latching on his arm. “We can talk about this and work through it.”
“I don’t want to!” Steve shouted, finally looking at Nikki. It made him sick to his stomach. “I don’t want to talk about it at all because there isn’t anything more to say. You didn’t want to fight for the justice Misty, Xivin, Kassandra, and Shelly deserved. You wanted to just… roll over… and let it happen.
“Well, I’m not going to do that. I’m going to go get justice. And if that means murdering the queen on her own throne, then fucking so be it.”
“No, Steve, no. That’s… no. Your place is here, with me,” Nikki pleaded. “Remember? I’m your Faun, and your Faun needs you. I need you here with me. Everyone here needs you. The living need you.”
Steve snorted at that and gestured with his hand at his farm.
“I haven’t been home in a long time,” he disagreed. “It grows quite well on its own without me. All it needs is a feed from the watering-can. And I’ll make sure that happens, regardless of whatever I do.
“It’ll be just like it is when I’m not here. I just won’t be coming back, that’s all.”
“What?” Ferrah asked.
Looking over, Steve found there was literally a crowd standing there.
Ferrah, Lucia, Jaina, Geneva, Ina, Gwendolin, and Airlea.
“The queen just pardoned Linne for murdering Misty, Xivin, Shelly, and Kassandra,” Steve said. “I’m going to get justice for them. If that means a civil war or killing the queen, so be it.”
“Oh,” Lucia said. “Okay. Are we leaving today?”
“No, we’re not leaving at all,” Nikki said. “We’re going…we’re going to stay here and live on. We’re going to live for the living, and let the dead rest.”
“That’s certainly not a position I can adopt,” Geneva said mildly. “I’m not so sure about killing the queen, but I’m all for seeking justice on Linne. She’s been a problem for my family in the past.”
“No, no. No, this isn’t something we can do,” Ina said. “We need to stop. This is anger talking. We need to just settle down and really talk this out.”
“Yes! We could petition the queen to reconsider,” Airlea said.
“That and this is home,” Ferrah said, nodding her head. “This is where we should stay.”
Gwendolin scoffed at that, folding her arms across her midsection.
“This is exactly what I’d expect from the queen,” Gwendolin hissed. “She’ll send husbands and sons to die for no reason other than to die.
“Then care not at all for those left behind as families are shattered and broken. We should get justice for our fallen and put the queen where her ass should be.”
Suddenly, everyone began arguing with one another. Voices raised, and then became shouts.
Shouts became outright yelling.
“I don’t care what we do,” Jaina said, not far from Steve. “I love you. I just want to be with you and have lots and lots of sex.”
Snorting at that, Steve smiled at the Kobold.
At least I have one in my corner no matter what I choose.
“Alright!” Steve shouted, getting everyone’s attention. “If you want to stay here, stay here. If you want to come, come. My goal is to get justice, and I know where that starts.”
“Nia!” Gwendolin called, moving toward the house. “We need to pack up! We’re going on a trip!”
Lucia nodded at that and followed Gwendolin into the house.
“Where should I station my forces?” Geneva asked.
“Citadel city,” Steve answered.
Nodding at that, Geneva left at a very quick jog. Her armor rattled as she went.
“Steve…” Nikki said in a soft voice. “Please… stay. We can… work this out. Come… come to bed with me. Let’s make time for one another and then talk after you get some of that anger out. Okay? Please?”
Turning to Nikki, Steve smiled sadly at her.
You’re still a traitor.
Leaning down, Steve kissed her cheek and patted her shoulder.
“Be safe,” he said, then turned away from her. He
had to fetch the watering can and get back to the Creep lands.
Moving over to Ferrah, he grabbed her up in a hug and held tight to her.
“I love you,” Steve said in her ear. “I’ll come back eventually.”
Ferrah hugged him back, though it was obvious she was rather upset.
Shuffling away from the Dwarf as she started to look like she was going to cry, Steve moved to Ina.
“Steve, just… stay with me,” Ina said, smiling at him. “Stay with us. I know I can… I can do a lot to take your mind off things. And we could start trying for kids.
“Besides, you know you’ll miss what I’ve got if you leave.”
Grinning at that, Steve couldn’t deny it.
“I will miss you, Ina, and I love you. I’ll come back, and we can try then if you like,” Steve said.
Grumpily, Ina hugged him, leaving a rather ferocious bite mark on his neck.
Last was Airlea. He hadn’t known her long, but she’d done well by him.
“So soon?” asked the Unicorn.
“Yeah. But I’ll be back. Just you wait and see. Then we can pick things up from there. If you want,” Steve said. “I’m willing, if you are.”
Airlea sighed, smiling at him.
“I’ll wait. You’re interesting. Though I do think you’re making a mistake,” admitted the Unicorn.
“Probably. We’ll find out,” Steve said. Then he left.
The queen had declared war on him.
Steve was going to respond.
Time was wasting.
Epilogue
Standing at the edge of the farm, Steve felt like he’d made more than enough progress in the last month.
“It was a little close here and there, but… ehhh… we’re good now,” Steve said, leaning on the hoe.
“It really was, wasn’t it?” Gwendolin said with a heavy sigh, putting her hands on her hips. In front of her was a wheelbarrow filled to the brim with vegetables.
It’d taken some doing, but they’d managed to find any and every seed, tree, and vine Steve could ever want. Including fruit trees and nut trees.
He glanced at her belly, not very happy with her right now. Despite starting to show her pregnancy, the Siren refused any and all requests for her to not work the fields.
“Don’t,” Gwendolin said, smiling as she stared out at the field. “Pregnant or not, I can pitch in, and you need the help.”
He couldn’t argue that point.
The simple reality was the witch-knights spent most of their days and nights battling the Creep and its inhabitants.
If he hadn’t converted the entire royal guard to witch-knights, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to hold this land as he was.
A high-pitched keening sound rang out. Loud, shrill, and echoing, it seemed to endlessly travel over the open dead plains of the Creep lands.
“Sunset in an hour,” Gwendolin said, grabbing her wheelbarrow. As she lifted it up, Gwendolin’s newfound muscles bunched on her arms. Easily, smoothly, she began walking her load toward the warehouse and root cellar.
Nodding his head, Steve looked out toward the massive witch-stone tower Lucia was in. She’d been posted up there during the sunset watch.
The simple reality was that Lucia could see further, hear more, and actually be heard, given her odd vocal talents, better than anyone else.
That very same tower doubled as a water tower, and below it was a massive reservoir. Steve wasn’t sure it would do much, but he wanted to see if he could get the water to spread that way as well.
From that water tower, though, water spilled endlessly.
All that water ran into the new river that was life here in the Creep lands. The only reason they were able to grow anything in these barren, forsaken lands was the watering can and its cleansing effects.
Forming a channel, it ran through their farm, plains, and the area they’d claimed for themselves. From here it traveled down to the citadel city, all underground and out of sight.
Then on to Filch and back to its normal channels.
Steve made sure that Nikki and the farm wouldn’t notice a difference at all.
Deciding it was time to head in, since being outside during sunset was just asking for trouble, Steve started making his way for the massive farmhouse that he, his family, and his personal witch-knights worked out of.
Reaching the sleeping Kobold who never left his side, Steve bent down and lightly scratched at her stomach.
“Wakey wakey, my pretty Kobold,” Steve murmured. “Time to head in.”
“Nnnngh,” Jaina groaned, rolling onto her side and curling up around Steve’s food.
“Come on. We need to get a move on,” Steve said with a laugh.
“Carry me, I’m tired,” Jaina complained.
Rolling his eyes, Steve reached down and grabbed Jaina’s rear end.
“Get moving and I’ll make sure to visit you tonight,” Steve said.
Sighing, Jaina got to her hands and feet. Then she grabbed Steve’s hand and bit it gently, following that with several licks.
Laughing, Steve flicked a finger against Jaina’s brow and pulled her to her feet.
All over the farm, those who had been given tasks in the fields were heading home. Most everyone here had been given their own small dwelling. It wasn’t luxurious, but everyone had their own.
The wood was all chopped down in Lamals and shipped along the river. Though there was an entire forest being grown as well.
Passing under the tower, Steve spotted Nia. She was diligently using a stone to shape a stick.
Curious, he drifted a bit closer to see what she was doing.
“She’s making a bow.”
Looking to the speaker, Steve found Nancy.
He grinned and raised his eyebrows at that.
“Lucia’s teaching her,” Nancy said, walking up on Steve’s right. “Jaina.”
“Nancy,” Jaina replied, grinning at Nancy.
Everyone who’d come with Steve had become complicit in this venture. And grown all the closer for it.
Slipping her arm through Steve’s, Nancy walked along with him.
“Few more arrivals showed up today,” she said.
“Oh?” Steve asked. A number of unmarried young women had all started moving into the Creep lands. Predominantly, they were coming out of the prisoners Steve had captured.
In exchange for their freedom, they became Creep Witches and took on black-magic contracts with Nancy.
“More little girls barely able to wed,” Nancy said. “They’ll be earning their bite tonight.”
“Hum,” Steve mumbled. “Whatever. It’s their choice.”
“Gennie came as well,” Nancy added.
“Oh, guess I’ll be visiting her tonight,” Steve said.
“Lucia’s doing a very good job of managing everyone,” Nancy said.
Walking to the back of the manse he lived in, Steve shuffled up to the empty trough there. A quick couple pulls on the handle from the pump nearby got him some water pumped up from the reservoir.
They’d discovered quite a few convenience technologies in the ruins. Ruined and left to rot.
Imitating and repurposing the tech wasn’t hard.
“Haha, that’s what you get,” crowed a voice nearby.
Glancing over as he washed his hands off in the trough, Steve saw Kimor and Aubrey not far off. Kimor was wrestling with getting a tunic over her head.
“You’re the idiot who said it’d work,” she complained bitterly, the fabric caught up in her antlers. She was giving Steve a rather lovely show at the same time.
“Yeah, I was wrong,” Aubrey said. “I could pull on it really hard?”
“No, idiot, you’ll rip it,” Kimor said.
“They really are… stupid,” Hiren said with a sigh, walking up to his side.
“Yeah. But they’re fun,” Steve said with a grin. He liked Kimor and Aubrey. Both of them constantly wanted to fight. Him, each other, anyone.
Did
n’t matter the odds, they wanted to fight.
Right now, he really appreciated it.
“I… guess,” Hiren replied. “Everything alright?”
“Yeah, just coming in for the evening,” Steve said, looking up at the Human witch-knight. She wasn’t their leader, but his personal group of knights were looking to her more and more.
And Hiren looked to Nancy for direction.
“I’m going to take ’em out to the castle area just before sunset. Been finding unique and interesting Creeps over there,” Hiren said. “Giving us a chance to break into groups of two and train.”
“You don’t put,” Steve said and paused, pointing a finger at the two women who were now both struggling to get the shirt either on or off Kimor, “them together, do you?”
“No. No, no. They’d wind up dead,” Hiren said with a laugh. “I take Kimor, and Felisa takes Aubrey. Beati and Siena pair up after that.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jaina said, nodding her head. “I’ll maintain the dome. Yes, yes.”
“You’re welcome, of course, Jaina,” Hiren said with a wide grin. “You’re always welcome. Your power is a blessing and a great reassurance for us.”
Jaina grinned at that, looking quite pleased with herself.
“There you are, Steve,” Geneva said from behind him.
Apparently, everyone was looking for him today, or wanted to be nearby.
“I’ve got a letter for you,” Geneva said.
“Oh, thanks, Gennie,” Steve said, grabbing the fabric rag nearby and drying his hands off with it. “Can I see you tonight?”
He tried to get ahead of them asking him to bed. For whatever reason, it felt more genuine for him to ask than to make them ask.
“I… I’d be delighted,” Geneva accepted with a happy tone. “Uhm, just… before dinner maybe? Feels like my food goes everywhere when we do it after… and the baby gives me some terrible indigestion, too.”
“Course. Love you, Gennie,” Steve said, then kissed Geneva lightly before going into the home. He never wanted to disguise his feelings again after having lost so many people in his life.
Walking into the manse, Steve headed straight to Lucia’s bed. This was where he spent every night now, and it was more or less his room.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Steve broke the wax square that held the letter shut and unfolded it.
