“We got him good” Simon laughed. “You wanna divvy up the rewards? That was one of my better cons, that will teach him”.
“You three can split everything even the daggers” Ray replied.
“You sure Milord?” Simon asked. “Those daggers are worth good money, I aint no smith but I am a thief and those go for at least 4 silver a piece”.
“You take it as a reward” Ray replied. “I have never done anything like that before”.
“Why were they following you Milord?” Sam asked. “I think the old man is in on it to”.
“Who did you piss off?” Simon asked seriously. “I don’t mind working for you but whoever set this up went through a lot of trouble”.
“Don’t know but don’t kill any of them” Ray replied. “Just keep your eyes peeled for any more. I owe you all a silver for outing that one, whoever is following me will get smarter now they have seen their man stripped naked”.
CHAPTER 7
All Eyes on Me
Ray had been home for a month now and just got everything back the way it should be with some exceptions. When he finally returned he found all of his trees cut down to the stump and anything he was growing dug up and removed. Someone had even ransacked his home and took every potion and poultice they could find. His mother blamed vandals and let Ray keep the three bandits on as security since they could afford it now with the big amount of money the Queen had spent during the ball. Ray chose not to grow any more trees but instead put his rosewood seeds up for safekeeping and instead made his money by traveling once a week and selling vegetables and any animal he could lure in and kill. His family went back to living thrifty, they all understood with Teresa’s nuptials coming up.
Teresa and Baronet Brownlee were to be engaged, the man had no sense of business and was struggling mightily but the 500 gold Ray had scraped together would help out a lot. In addition Ray promised to visit and show him how to grow crops, in reality he just planned on enriching the soil which should last five or so years until they could find something else to do. Teresa was excited about the whole thing, she would have peasants to look after and could feel like an important noble. His mother Gertrude wanted to visit and Brownlee had sent correspondence saying she could move in and teach him how to run his home as he was still a novice. The Queen wanted all couples who could prove they met at Princess Melody’s party and were in talks of marriage to do the deed at the winter festival and that she would pay for it. Teresa was excited about this, the plan was to visit Xalen then visit Brownlee’s lands.
“You have been taking it easy since we have been back” Teresa replied. “What happened to constantly working or reading? I don’t think I have seen you play with one piece of wood since you returned and our field is starting to look a little bare”.
“You still eat okay” Ray replied.
“Yeah but that is food you bought or traded for” Teresa replied then pointed to the field. “You haven’t kept the house stocked with the foods you like since we came back. Still upset about me and mother not liking the Waltons and refusing to see anyone else?”
“Pit no” Ray replied. “Wouldn’t have worked out any way, I am happy where I am at”.
“You don’t seem like it” Teresa replied. “At least three peasants have come by asking for work making the same amount as your so called guards and you sent them away. I thought you liked helping people, you even fired the one mother hired”.
“We have to conserve money” Ray lied. The two women and one man were obviously sent by the Queen along with his new neighbor that decided to build a house directly next to his property. The area was horrible and Ray made sure the land the newcomer was on grew nothing but weeds and thorns. The family had come over a few times and asked for help with crops, Ray refused and treated them nastily which got him chided by his mother but he didn’t care. Why would someone move to horrible land to grow things? Still the family kept coming over, a widower husband with three daughters who were all very pretty. Ray had his neighbor followed and knew the man didn’t work anywhere but they always had food on the table, Ray had refused to sell them any of the little he did grow and managed to be elsewhere when the daughters came over to talk to Teresa.
“You keep saying that but I don’t believe you” Teresa replied. “You seemed depressed since you left the capital. Me and mother were talking, maybe you should just try to court one of the Smith girls. They are not noble but they are pretty and they would make a fine enough wife”.
“I’d rather get gang raped by a bunch of stags” Ray replied.
“They are nice girls, why do you run from them?” Teresa replied.
“I don’t run from them” Ray replied.
“Yes you do” Teresa replied. “I don’t think you have spoken two words to either of them, your guards think they are pretty, maybe you should just try to date one of them. They are all very interested in growing things and one of them is trying to become a wood carver, didn’t you say you needed help in learning how to sculpt wood?”
“Not anymore” Ray replied. “You excited about this marriage?”
“Way to change the subject” Teresa laughed. “I am very excited about this marriage, David is a little slow but he has a good heart. I will be the Baronetess, I can’t wait to see him again and finally meet my people”.
“I am glad for you” Ray replied. “Mother to, she always hated this place. Maybe now you two can walk around like big fish”.
“I worry about leaving you here though” Teresa replied. “You haven’t got any friends and there has been a change in you since the ball. After my wedding, I swear I will never force you to go anywhere like that again”.
“I am going to hold you to that” Ray replied.
“Here comes Krista Smith” Teresa said and pointed to the blond haired girl that was walking up.
Ray doubted her name was Krista Smith and doubted her age was really 17. She was the tallest of the three fake sisters and had a slim build with a decent amount of curves. She wore a light green dress which brought out the green in her eyes and was carrying a picnic basket and a blanket draped over her arm. Ray looked her over and was preparing to get up from the sunny spot he was resting when his sister tugged at his shirt and told him to sit down. Ray looked at her oddly and went to swipe her hand away but she shook her head and started speaking.
“Me and mother both think she is a nice girl and want you to at least have lunch with her” Teresa said as she stood up. “I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here with no one to look after you and neither does mother. I already have a letter written that I have not sent asking David to hold off on the wedding”.
“I said I was coming with you for a bit” Ray replied. “I won't be alone, I would be in Brownlee with the rest of you until I teach him my business”.
“But then you will come back and be miserable” Teresa replied. “Now I want you to stay, you wouldn’t want to ruin your sister’s wedding would you?”
“You conniving backstabbing little b-” Ray said as Teresa put a finger to his mouth.
“I am all of that and more” Teresa smiled. “Now enjoy your lunch”.
“Hello Teresa, hello Ray” Krista said as she sat down the basket and started fanning the blanket out.
“Hi Krista” Teresa replied.
“I saw you both out here and figured you might be a little hungry” Krista replied as she started taking food out of the basket.
“Not me I just ate” Teresa apologized. “I would love to stay but I have to decide on what letter I should send my darling David. I have one already written but I am not sure if I should send it or not, maybe whenever you two are finished eating I will decide then. My brother is absolutely famished so you will have to excuse his manners while eating”.
“I am sure I can manage” Krista said as Teresa turned to leave. “I have all sorts of things to eat here and a pie cooling on the window still”.
“Let’s stop playing games” Ray said as he watched
his sister go into their home. “I know what you are, no way a woman looking the way you do would take this much abuse”.
“I don’t know what you are talking about Milord” Krista replied.
“A girl like you would have already been married to some wealthy merchant somewhere” Ray began. “And would have passed on chasing me a long time ago, I am not a complete idiot. I look okay but no way does three full blooded Holyan sisters keep throwing themselves at the same guy. I have had you followed and you don’t even give the other lads a chance. Not to mention you moved to the middle of nowhere and are a little too friendly. So come clean and tell me what you want, not like I can do anything with my family present. I am sure you have plenty of back up when the time comes that you need it”.
“Very well” Krista said changing her tone. “You are the first man I know who tossed away a sure thing. You could have been having fun with me but instead you are too paranoid”.
“Whatever, get to the point” Ray replied. “I know who you work for and I am not stupid enough to fight back”.
“I want you to continue with your life” Krista replied. “You barely grow anything, I think you do your work at night when it is hard to see and I have not seen you make a staff or bring in materials for one”.
“Because I am not an idiot” Ray replied. “All that hard work to see it ripped to the pit and back? Only a complete fool would start up again when there is no need to, I have enough to survive already”.
“We have tried to make your life easier” Krista began. “You turned away any worker we sent you”.
“You want me to invite a thief into my house?” Ray laughed. “You must take me for a complete idiot”.
“We figured our cover was blown” Krista began. “You haven’t even been talking to your family really so they are useless when it comes to information. You know if you go to the forest we are authorized to kill you?”
“You could try but I aint stupid” Ray replied. “I still have a family I love here”.
“I know you haven’t told anyone about your meeting with the Queen, keep it that way” Krista replied.
“I know your fake Da has been trying to romance my mother” Ray began. “And he should know if her heart is broken I’ll snap him like a fucking a twig, Queen be damned”.
“You have made that clear” Krista replied. “But I oversee this operation. It is refreshing to get all of this out into the open, no more sneaking around. I hate this shit hole and wanted to leave a long time ago. We tried to do this the easy way, you could have stayed here and kept your life and got some real good pussy on the side. When you travel to Xalen you will not be coming back here until the Queen is finished with you. I will watch your home while you are gone, the official story is that you are renting it out. I already know your mother has plans to move so she would not be in the way”.
“Good to know” Ray replied as he got up.
“You are not going to eat any of this food?” Krista asked. “It is high quality”.
“And it is laced in spineberry” Ray laughed. “Perhaps you should study up more on Gaea physiology”.
“Most men are happy with a pretty face and some food” Krista smiled.
“Not this one” Ray finished.
CHAPTER 8
Melody
“This is better than I could have ever imagined” Synfany said as she read the scroll. “Largen is tearing itself apart as we speak, we might be ready to gear up for war”.
“You want to war with the Largenians?” Melody asked.
“Of course” Synfany replied. “They are in the mists of a civil war and it looks like the country will be split into three parts. Commoners are upset the nobility hasn’t done anything about the baby shortage and killed the royal family. The nobles had been taking all of the viable men away from their wives and using them as studs with noble women. The studs themselves are probably having fun but their wives, sons, daughters and parents are beyond angry. The powerful dukes of course struck back but the situation is lost. The Free Nation of Largen is what they are calling themselves and have elected a leader instead of going by blood lines. Each Duke is trying to declare himself a king and have closed off their borders. Now is the time to strike, we can amass our army and start taking out Largen little by little. They are already in disarray and are more worried about fighting each other than worrying about us”.
“The Largen have strong mages mother” Melody explained.
“That don’t matter” Synfany laughed. “We have more now that they are separated, how goes our little experiment with the Gaea?”
“He is on to us” Melody laughed. “You were correct once again mother”.
“He should have just taken the pussy and money” the Queen said shaking her head. “He could have been at home doing something he loves and making good money doing so with a nice side of pussy”.
“What are you planning on doing?” Melody asked.
“I want you to take the lead in this” Synfany replied. “You remember my lessons, you have seen them in action enough. What should be your first move, think back to that love struck mage we plucked away from his wife”.
“First we need to show him who is boss” Melody replied. “I don’t think the Gaea can be intimidated by fire”.
“Don’t have to” Synfany replied. “You remember going after his manhood? You let him know he didn’t even own his body, sure he had a happy ending but it was on your terms”.
“That mage, he didn’t go for Marabelle though” Melody replied. “And she was one of our best agents, we can’t control him that way if he doesn’t take the bait”.
“Silly girl” Synfany replied. “The mage that didn’t want to cheat on his wife, what did we do?”
“You tied him down, fed him spineberry and let the mage women who really wanted a child have their way with him” Melody replied.
“Do not forget he got paid handsomely for each one” the Queen replied. “There has to be a reward in there somewhere instead of fear whether they want the reward or not. Now how is our dear little mage?”
“He has gotten quite fat and doesn’t work very often anymore” Melody replied. “He keeps hounding his contact about more work but I think he is just back to working as a regular mage. His replacement doesn’t seem to mind the work so I think we are good”.
“What do you think though would happen if you called the first mage even though he is happily married?” the Queen asked.
“He would come running in a heartbeat” Melody replied.
“Exactly” the queen said triumphantly.
“The Gaea was fun to play with but we really don’t need him mother” Melody began. “We have numerous other resources available”.
“Never let a good resource escape Melody” Synfany laughed. “Besides, he looks like he would make an excellent bed warmer, you might as well make sure he has some practice. With time you can make him fuck on command, whether it is with a man, woman or child. You need to learn how to break people and you can start with him”.
“I was thinking mother” Melody began. “Your new law about anyone with Gaea blood being a couple. I know if they are found you plan on throwing the woman out of the country, that got me thinking about your reason behind it”.
“It was to have men that can actually do their duty” the Queen replied.
“Well Ray Riverdale is a grower, what if we breed growers into our society?” Melody asked. “I don’t even think we need to be choosy on the women, pay each woman that gets pregnant a gold and be done with it”.
“Don’t start that one just yet” Synfany replied. “That will give him the idea that you are only doing something to better the kingdom. You need him to think you are doing it just because you can, a man that big has probably been used to threatening people his whole life. Whenever you get him to crack it will be magical, the night you had him I thought he was going to cry”.
“I can make him cry if I wanted” Melody replied.
&nbs
p; “Can you do it and leave his family out of it?” the Queen asked. “And you cannot command him to cry either or use any method that results in physical pain”.
“Well what I did the last time was physical” Melody replied.
“No that was mostly psychological” the Queen explained. “He felt some discomfort but the fact you took away the one thing men think makes them superior is what does it”.
“I’ll bet you a copper I can make him cry” Melody began. “But I will start off by being nice and asking him to do what we need. I am curious to watch his magic in action, I know he is in the city since his sister is one of those getting married”.
“Speaking of marriage” Synfany said and let the statement hang.
“Mother I think I am going with one of the mages” Melody replied. “At least my child will be a mage”.
“One is overweight and the other one is so short and frail I think you would break him” the Queen replied.
“Doesn’t matter, I plan to take lovers anyway and I will make that perfectly clear” Melody replied. “I’ll also let him know their title is the Royal Consort, not King and if they are ever caught fooling around they will be punished”.
“So you want to play and don’t want him to have any fun?” the Queen replied.
“Isn’t that what father did to you?” Melody asked. “I am going to pick Jemson Jennings, the frail mage. He has little man’s syndrome but as long as it is not directed at me he will be fine. At least I can get Gregory Treacher to leave me alone, by marrying another mage I save face”.
~
Melody watched the last of the 18 couples get married and made her announcement, she had told Treacher her plans earlier in the day and had sat by Jennings for most of the day. The crowd gave great applause then she informed the Gaea’s family that he would be needed in the capital. Currently she was wondering how she would escape from Jennings who was far more annoying than she pictured for a young man that needed his staff to use as a walking stick to get around.
The Mage Slayer Page 7
