“It’s a spineberry” the High mage said. “This one must have planned on getting lucky tonight, I think he would have stood an okay chance with all the servant girls running around”.
“The Gaea don’t react to spineberry” the royal healer replied. “To them it is just any ordinary fruit, they have resistances we don’t have”.
“That is why I am trying to breed it into our populace” the Queen said as she joined them. “Already I am coming up with legislation preventing any half-bloods from marrying each other, in five or so generations the Gaea will have been all bred out and only our people would remain”.
“Mother I think our guest is waking up” Melody said as she heard the Gaea move.
Melody watched in horror then fascination at her mother as she skillfully tortured the boy, of course she was asking questions she mostly knew the answers to already but it was necessary to judge his truthfulness. What she was doing looked like it hurt, the big Gaea cried out each time. When the Queen was finished, Melody did not miss the look the Queen gave her, inviting Melody to have her own fun. Melody walked over and touched her mother, her mother could read minds and asked if she was reading her signal correctly. When her mother broke the connection and took the high mage and the royal healer with her, it was a chance Melody could not pass up. Her mother was probably watching, this she already knew but had to impress her mother somehow. Melody stroked the Gaea and had him inbetween feelings of horror and bliss, his face was easily read and if she was truthful it was exciting her a little. She finally let him release after a little while and wiped the sticky substance off her hands and on to his chest. It was a lot she thought as she smiled a little and remembered the Gaea’s sister had said he didn’t have a girlfriend. Melody was surprised he didn’t go to one of the brothels or something and really had a laugh when he told her he had never been with a woman. She kissed him deeply and made him return it, his mouth was too big but it was still pleasant. She broke the kiss an issued out a threat before she left.
The next day she found out her mother already had him untied and bathed, a message had been sent to his family that was staying in the Crow’s Nest for an extra outfit as he had ruined his when he became sick and vomited on it. Melody smiled at him once he came out of the room where she had him dressed, her mother had four serving girls bathing him despite his protest but nothing came of it other than their giggles and sly looks to each other.
“Lord Riverdale how was your night?” Melody asked as the big Gaea looked shocked and backed away a little. “I think you are forgetting about the grand time you had last night, we can revisit it if you like”.
“My stay was nice” the Gaea said as Melody didn’t think he showed the emotion she was looking for.
“Oh you need a lot more emotion than that” Melody replied. “Remember your entire family is coming and we can’t let any news of our adventure last night get out. It would hurt our reputation and I know of only one way to silence critics. You just spent the night as a guest of the royal family and has had access to the Queen and Princess and they bought up all your stock. Of course the Walton’s were crushed they were not able to make the deal but we outbid them. I think I found 11 of the staves and you sold them for 11 gold a piece, and increased your bank account by a third. The money is already in there and the staves along with your spineberry vines are also gone, you made an addition 20 gold on that so you are beyond overjoyed at your good fortune”.
CHAPTER 6
Two can play this game
Ray looked over at the princess who was reddening each time he spoke. Melody and her mother were scary as hell but now they were at a breakfast table with Gregory, Tyla, Twyla, their mother Martha and the Baronet himself along with Ray’s mother and sister. Gregory had been bragging he thought the princess liked him and Ray had been silently fanning the flames.
“So brother did you find a girl you thought was suitable?” Teresa asked.
“Demi Walton seemed nice enough, she laughed at my jokes” Ray replied. “Of course, we don’t have the connection I think our dear cousin has found but I think we could work well together eventually”.
“Well whatever you did you and Teresa did you must have impressed” Gertrude said as she ruffled his hair. “I have had three missives from people I don’t know wishing to join me for a meal”.
“Only three?” Martha said snobbily.
“Yes only three from people I don’t know, altogether I think I received around 10” Martha replied. “I think most of them are for my Teresa, they specified having a male guardian there”.
“Well I received over twenty” Martha snapped.
“I am positive you did Milady you should probably prepare for one more” Ray replied as he kept hijacking the conversation from the royals. “Princess Melody spent all night asking me questions about my dear cousin Gregory, I admit I am a bit jealous I don’t measure up despite all my dedication”.
“What do you expect Ray” Baronet Treacher said as he chewed on some bacon. “Gregory is a landed noble, a mage and he can produce full Holyan babies, things you can't do or don’t have”.
“That is true Milord, why I think the princess is even blushing” Ray finished as he looked over at Melody who was silently mad with fury.
“Lady Riverdale, do you think your son will find a match here?” the Queen replied.
“I desperately hope not Your Majesty” Gertrude replied. “I worry about him because he is Gaea, it would be easy for some noble girl to abuse him and steal his money while running around behind his back. I really only wanted to come here to show off we are not as poor as we once were and to find Teresa a match. Ray was just brought along to keep her company and run the riff raff off”.
Ray stared at his mother who looked like she came out of a trance as her face reddened with embarrassment. Ray remembered getting foggy headed and thought the Queen must have had something to do with it. He eyed the Queen suspiciously as she then started asking Teresa questions.
“Lady Teresa” the Queen began. “Do you have a match in mind for your brother?”
“Not really Your Majesty” Teresa replied. “But he is a good man and I hope he could marry a mage or someone that has a job that would let him travel. He mentioned going to the forest and I am scared he would do so, he said he doesn’t find any of the women here attractive. I think he is just worried about rejection though, Mage Demi Walton seemed to like him and he spoke to her for longer than a second which is more than I have ever heard him speak to a woman that is not family”.
Ray winced as Teresa spoke about the forest, he had only said it in passing and wasn’t too serious about it but he noticed the princess’s eyebrow raise when she said it. The Queen was using some kind of mind control power and his family had no defense but to tell her what she wanted to know. The Treachers giggled to themselves and started giving sly looks when the Queen stopped her control and continued eating her food. Ray made it a point to ask about Demi, he wasn’t really interested but his sister enjoyed talking to him about any girl and the Treachers were dropping hints about Gregory being available for Melody. When breakfast was over Ray had gotten up to leave, he would be traveling with his family and couldn’t wait to leave Xalen. His mother and sister would probably be crushed but he would insist on it.
“Lord Riverdale I think we still have some business to discuss about your staves” Melody replied. “You have made a tidy profit but we want the exclusive rights that were talked about. I only need a signature”.
“Of course” Ray said as he turned to face Melody. “Come cousin, it might be nice for you to see how business is done” Ray finished as he snatched Gregory up and pushed him in front of Melody.
“You should go home and change Lord Gregory” Melody said putting on a charming voice. “I wouldn’t want you to be late for our lunch date”.
“What lunch date?” Gregory asked.
“The one you were just invited to” Melody said and smiled. “Run along now, your cousin is a big boy, signi
ng some papers shouldn’t be too hard”.
Ray saw Gregory smile then leave with his parents, the Queen was making small talk with his mother so he was stuck following the princess out the side door. As soon as they got out the door she turned on him with a face full of fury.
“Get down on your knees” Melody said looking up at him. “I am not going to look up at you”.
Gregory did as he was told and was nervous but not scared, this little slip of a girl had power but it was in the morning and servants were all around. The princess looked at him and shook with rage unable to say anything.
“My knees are hurting and I am tired of being here Your Highness” Gregory replied. “If you have something to say then out with it, I am not some tied down prisoner and your mother isn’t here to back you up”.
“You think I need my mother to back me up?” Melody said as she inched closer.
“Yes” Ray replied meeting her gaze.
“You must want a repeat of last night” Melody threatened.
“No” Ray replied. “Worst night of my life but I won't be a victim to it, now what do you want”.
“You were not serious about Demi Walton” Melody asked.
“How do you know?” Ray replied. “She was a very nice girl, besides you have your very own Baronet trying to court you, you should deal with that. Just imagine your babies, all cute and chubby, it is enough to make me cry”.
“I can make all the inquiries about your sister disappear” Melody began as Ray jumped a little at her declaration. “I can make it so anyone interested will suddenly lose interest, I can do that for yourself as well”.
“You would go after my sister?” Ray asked.
“This is a game to you but this is life for me” Melody replied. “If I ever have reason to believe that you have went into that forest your family will suffer for it. You are to return to that hole in the ground and if you decide to move you will send word. I want you up here for the winter festival, if you have any more staves you can sell them to me then and only me. You are not so chatty now are you?” Melody finished as she put her hands on either side of his face.
“Can I leave now?” Ray asked.
“There is my boy” Melody said and smiled. “I was looking for the worry to come back in your eyes. Your mother was right about someone manipulating you, I almost laughed when she said it. She and your sister are both whores in my book, maybe they can be tried for aiding the enemy and thrown into a brothel? Those titties your sister and mother like showing off with their low cut or tight blouses would fit in real well in a place like that. There are many dark places like that the general public doesn’t know about, and they would both say nothing and endure the pain just to keep their precious Ray safe. Now open your mouth, I have a little something for you to suck on”.
Ray opened his mouth and waited for the kiss that never came, instead Melody thrust her hand under her dress then smiled as she placed a finger in his mouth.
“I want you to suck on it” Melody said as she wiggled her finger in and out of his mouth. “There you go, enjoy the taste of it. Maybe when this is all over you can become my mistress or whatever the male equivalent is. For now I want you to remember me while you are riding in your little carriage with your mother and sister. Go to your family now, enjoy the rest of your stay in Xalen”.
Ray got up and practically bolted outside but could hear Melody laughing. His family would just have to catch up to him in the carriage as he left the palace and was happy to find the carriage was waiting for him along with his guards, he ignored them as he climbed inside and waited. He searched the carriage and was angry he could not find even one spineberry to clear his mouth out. He wanted his mother to hurry up, he needed out of Xalen and needed to do so now. The door to the carriage opened up and his mother and sister climbed inside looking a little shaken.
“Are you alright?” Ray asked.
“I don’t want you with that mage girl” his mother said angrily as she climbed inside. “She is only after money and her mother regularly cheats on her father. I cannot imagine you living that way, I am letting her people know you are not interested”.
“I agree” Teresa replied. “I am only happy the Queen broke their confidence to share the news about their horrid family. To think I was excited about you being interested in someone, they are only out for money. She probably knew your items were worth good money and just wanted to exploit you, it makes me so angry sometimes”.
“Ray the Queen also mentioned you are supposed to go nowhere near the border” Gertrude said. “She is a very nice lady, just like an old friend but she has a kingdom to run. I feel like I can talk to her about anything and she has agreed in helping me find you someone. She is very happy that you can grow things with whatever Gaea thing you do and only wants the best for you. She even invited us to the winter festival where the princess will announce her choice”.
“I hope it is not Gregory” Teresa said as the carriage started moving.
“I hope it isn’t either” Gertrude replied. “Ray would you be broken up if I cancelled all of the get togethers concerning you? I feel the queen should have a say and having her there will make me feel more comfortable”.
“You just met this woman mother” Ray replied. “Why does she need a say in anything? I can turn down her suggestions quite easily”.
“Because she is the Queen!” Teresa said surprised. “Her majesty offered her help and I think she should be a part of this process”.
Something had happened to their minds, this was not his mother and sister Ray thought. The Queen had done something to them and he knew it would eventually wear off. Ray sat in the carriage and did not feel at ease until it reached the Crow’s Nest, he wanted to leave but knew he could not while his family was under whatever influence they were under. He helped them get out of the carriage when Simon approached him.
“We were tailed” Simon said softly. “They tried to be slick about it but it was easy to spot if you have ran from the law as many times as I have”.
“Who is the tail” Ray replied as he was about to look around as Simon grabbed his shirt.
“Don’t look around” Simon replied. “Help me unload this and act natural. When we first left there was a rider that took off ahead of us and started riding towards this place, he nodded at different people on the street who tried their best not to make eye contact. He broke off once we reached here but one of the stable boys aint right”.
“He don’t smell right” Sam replied. “Stable boys stink, this one doesn’t and barely knows what he is doing. I sent Frank to block his escape, I don’t know how many people is with him”.
“Follow me boss man, I know how to get an idiot to out himself” Simon whispered.
“Lead the way” Ray replied.
“That’s him right there Milord” Simon said loudly as he pointed to the shocked stable boy. “Don’t let him escape, he is the one I saw take your gold he is a bold one to come back here”.
Ray watched as Sam pulled his sword and advanced on the stable boy, he wasn’t a boy really Ray thought as he looked around 19 but could have been a lot older with a baby face. Frank came up from behind him with his weapon drawn and the stablehand twirled around and produced two daggers, ready for an attack.
“What are you talking about?” the stablehand said as he kept his daggers up and ready to attack.
“Are you sure this is him Simon” Ray asked.
“Aye Milord” Simon said with his sword raised. “How do you suppose a urchin like him was able to afford two fine daggers? That is the man we saw rummaging around in your carriage, he took something then ran before we could stop him”.
“Drop those knives or I’ll stick you with them and leave you to die” Ray snarled.
“I haven’t did anything, you can’t do this” the stable hand said as they closed the distance on him.
“Go get the manager of this place Sam” Ray replied. “I want to know if this man works for him, if not I
am going to kill him”.
“Now wait” the man pleaded. “I don’t work here, I am new and trying to get a job, I thought free labor would be accepted and I can make money off tips”.
“So you are stealing from real stable hands then?” Ray replied.
“What is all this yelling?” A voice said from behind Ray.
“We caught this thief and we are going to run him through” Simon said talking to the new voice. “Lord Ray is a noble and this is an urchin who stole 5 gold off him”.
“If he can’t produce the money right here and now he is dead” Ray replied.
“We can come to an agreement” the voice behind Ray said. Ray turned around and looked into the eyes of the man who opened the door to the inn for his family. He was an older man that Ray had seen before, that meant the Queen had eyes all over the place. The stable hand was probably new and sent here as backup but did not have a good alibi but instead thought he could pass.
“I don’t see an agreement we can come to, I am missing money and my men said this one stole it” Ray replied.
“Your men are lying, they took the money” the stable hand pleaded.
“Take off your boots men and turn your pockets inside out” Ray demanded. “If that five gold aint there then we have little to talk about, nobody is going to miss an urchin”.
Ray watched Simon, Sam and Frank make a show of taking off their shirts, boots and pants until they stood in their small clothes with weapons still trained on the stable hand who was sweating, when Ray grabbed one of the swords he really got jumpy.
“This is my nephew” the older man said. “I gave him the job, give me some time, I can dig up the money”.
“Take those fancy daggers Milord” Simon said and pointed. “They look to be made pretty well, take them and all of the urchin’s clothes, leave him naked running the street. He will come back for his fancy daggers”.
Ray nodded and watched the stable hand strip down, the man had lean muscle all over his body and definitely was not a stable hand. The older man protested about him being naked but Ray sent the stable hand out which caused ladies to scream and men to shout as he took off down the street. The older man went back to his post as Ray could barely contain his laughter.
The Mage Slayer Page 6
