Wild Wastes Omnibus

by Randi Darren

  Seville.

  “Seville. Funny to see you here,” Vince said casually, his eyes locking on to the man.

  He was leaning up against a wall, his arms folded in front of him.

  Searching out the Elf, Vince found her on top of the roof above him.

  “Ask her to come down or we might go up to get her,” Vince said, before there could be any misunderstandings.

  Seville quirked a brow at that.

  Petra lifted her left set of legs and placed them on the wall. She wasn’t one for subtlety.

  “Fine. Come on down,” Seville called upwards. “Don’t try anything. Just… come down.”

  A rush of air was all Vince heard before the Elf dropped near silently next to Seville.

  Petra set her legs back down and then shifted from the left to the right. She was obviously considering things.

  “Well, Seville? You wouldn’t be chatting unless you wanted to ask something.”

  The Elf flared in an angry mental hue at his tone and words.

  “Calm. If he wanted to kill us, he could.”

  Vince said nothing to that; instead, he took the time to slowly encase the Elf’s mind in a vice.

  She was the danger. Her magic would be swift and sure.

  “My head feels funny,” murmured the Elf, her hands coming up to her head.

  “Seville?” Vince asked again, slowly increasing the pressure he had on the Elf.

  The man who seemingly knew Vince and his secret said nothing. When his companion fell to a knee, both hands planted firmly to the ground to keep herself up, he held up his hands in front of him.

  Vince’s vision wavered for a moment as he continued to push in on her mind.

  “Nothing. Merely curious as to who might come out. We were expecting someone else.”

  “Dead. Killed him to make our escape,” Vince said, flipping the rod that was a key out to Seville.

  “I see,” Seville said, rotating the rod in his hands.

  “Anything else?” Vince asked.

  “No.”

  “Before I go, you know me. Know me and my parents. Yes?”

  There was a brief flash of unadulterated hatred bleeding out from inside Seville’s mind at the mention of his parents. Like a pan heated up to the point that it’d instantly sear meat on first contact.

  Murderous, boiling hatred.

  As quick as it had come, it vanished.

  Then Seville smiled slowly at him and then shook his head.

  “You can tell I’m guarding my thoughts, can’t you? No matter. Yes. I did. I haven’t seen them since they vanished. They visited often considering… considering that you were being corrupted by the Wastes. The Elves in the north have always been more willing to work with humans. You were brought there many times by your parents to consult with them.”

  Vince grunted. It was something he didn’t know or couldn’t remember. Releasing the Elf, he felt his mind clear.

  Either way, if true, it was information. Information always had a price.

  He would be in no man’s debt. Especially this man.

  “The vouchers you stole are fraudulent. The ones you have will explode after a certain distance. I’d recommend tossing them back over the wall.

  “Knowledge for knowledge. Goodbye,” Vince stated firmly.

  Petra needed no instruction and took them straight up the wall they stood beside. In seconds, they were atop the roof and moving swiftly towards the south end of the city.

  Gliding from rooftop to rooftop, Vince could hear a disturbance running throughout the city. From the brief snatches of conversation he picked up as they moved along, it seemed like the army had been deployed.

  Looking back towards the castle, he could see the men and women of the military charging down a street. Squads broke off at intervals and entered houses with their weapons unsheathed.

  Turning back to face forward, Vince rested his forehead on Petra’s shoulder blades.

  “This one senses fear. Fear everywhere. Something is happening,” Petra said as she skittered along a rooftop.

  “Yeah, I saw soldiers being deployed behind us and I could hear some of the conversation from below us. The army has been mobilized. No idea why.”

  “Master can see them? And hear them?”

  “Yeah. I can. I think we’ll need to have a long talk with everyone after this. Me keeping secrets won’t be helpful.”

  Petra made a noncommittal noise as she leapt from the building they were on to one adjacent.

  “…freeing any slave they find. The king’s ruled that slavery is illegal! Apparently they can neutralize orders on collars and are going from house to house.”

  “What? Quick, get—”

  Vince felt the pieces click together in his head with that snippet of conversation.

  Seville had been meant to rob the vault, so to speak. The king would then sweep through and confiscate all slaves.

  It’d ruin the guild.

  In one greedy swoop, Vince had hindered the plans of a group to free slaves everywhere. The Auction House would inevitably recover from this since the vouchers weren’t in the hands of the king.

  That would have been an awful amount of leverage he could have leveraged over the Auction House guild.

  Seville seemed as if he was a ringleader of this operation. One who knew his parents and had deliberately said nothing to him.

  Working with people who wanted to kill him.

  Vince was torn, as he could easily support the cause, but not the people.

  Deciding that he’d find no answer in this train of thought this night, he instead tightened his grip on Petra. That and he tried to desperately not look down or think about the height they were traveling at.

  Dusk was closing in on the next day as the two wearily stumbled into the village Fes and Meliae were staying in.

  Without horses, the journey had been exhausting. Petra had carried him an admirable distance, but even her stamina and strength flagged after a time.

  She was no horse to be ridden unendingly.

  Dragging his feet, Vince pathetically shambled up to the man behind the counter.

  Vince barely recognized him as a man and didn’t bother to catalog his features. “Man” would do well enough in his own head.

  “Sir, what can I do for you this evening?”

  “I believe you have accommodations set for the week under the name Vincent. Two of my companions should already be here,” Vince mumbled.

  Petra came to a stop beside him, wavering a little to and fro as she tried to find her balance.

  They’d truly been on the run and had only stopped for a brief meal from a bush or tree and restroom breaks.

  “Ah, yes. I’m afraid they couldn’t remain and departed. They left a note for you should you come here.” The man disappeared behind the counter then came back up, holding out a letter for him and a key.

  Vince took the key and letter, blinking at them.

  “Last door on the left on the second floor. Enjoy your stay.”

  Nodding his head, Vince set off for the indicated room, his steps heavy and plodding.

  Unlocking, opening, then closing the door after Petra entered took what little energy he had.

  He dropped the key and the voucher box onto the dresser top without a care for the noise it’d inevitably create. Then he slumped into the bed like an empty sack.

  Holding the letter up above his head, he cracked open the wax seal and thumbed out the paper inside.

  Focusing on the words, he began to read it.

  Dear Sweetling,

  People were paying too much attention to us. Perhaps because we were slaves, or simply because we were female.

  In either case, we’ve moved on. It wasn’t worth the risk depending on how long they’d keep you hostage.

  Macy was quite kind and gave us more supplies than we could have ever needed, as well as some coin.

  She also left a letter for you. I’ve put it in the dresser drawer. The key fo
r it is stashed in your saddlebag with some prepared trail food.

  Vince glanced to the right and found the indicated dresser did indeed have a drawer.

  A few feet away, Petra was stripping off her clothes. Her armor was still tied together and neatly piled on the ground next to the door.

  Before he could protest, or even speak, Petra was nude. Then she crumpled into the bed next to him, and promptly began snoring.

  Smiling to himself, he returned to the letter.

  We should now be on the trip back home. We’ll be moving slowly and carefully off the beaten trail.

  I know you have powers you have yet to disclose with us. Powers that may make it easier for you to find us. We’ll stay to the eastern side of the road as we move, unless we have no choice.

  We’ll keep an eye out for you; be sure to do the same.

  Do not fear or worry for us. With the power you’ve granted me, my beloved tree, I can guarantee we’ll not come across anyone.

  It is also why I’m able to travel so far from you. The amount of power you put into me is immense, and I should be more than able to survive for at least a month or two.

  Beyond that, I admit I’m fearful of the consequences.

  I stabled your horse at the corral a few streets away and made sure the saddlebags, which are in the armoire, are ready to go.

  We left your weapons, two rifles, and a can of ammo as well.

  If you end up having your way with Petra, please be sure to use protection. Or do it much closer to home so I can make sure to slow down the pregnancy. So long as it’s within the first month, it shouldn’t be an issue.

  Fes is yet to become pregnant, after all.

  In closing, Fes is healing well. I’ve sped it along as much as I possibly can, and we should reach home at a reasonable time. Perhaps only an additional week or two due to our caution.

  Love you, Sweetling.

  Yours alone,

  Meliae

  P.S. Fes is getting grumpier by the day without you. Be sure to give her lots of attention when you catch up with us, or meet us back at home.

  Setting the letter down on the bedside dresser, Vince closed his eyes and immediately dropped off into sleep.

  Muted shouting interrupted Vince’s sleep. Opening his eyes, he blearily stared up at the ceiling above him.

  Someone was having a pretty loud argument.

  Beside him, Petra snorted in her sleep.

  Everything was as it should be, other than the racket downstairs.

  Focusing his hearing on it, he only had to listen for a second to realize what it was.

  Soldiers were here. Searching for them in particular. The innkeeper had tried to play dumb, but apparently someone had ratted them out.

  It was only a matter of time till they started checking each room.

  Reaching over, he gripped Petra’s shoulder and gave it a light shake.

  The soldier-ant’s eyes snapped open and her head whipped around to him.

  Holding a finger in front of his mouth, he made a finger walking motion with his hand, and then pointed to the window.

  Petra nodded and shimmied out of the bed, her breasts swaying as she maneuvered her ant body off the mattress.

  Ripping his eyes from her unhidden and well-displayed features, Vince got out of the bed.

  Snatching up the letter and the voucher box from the bedside dresser, he moved to the armoire. Pulling his saddlebag out, he shoved the letter and the box full of vouchers into the main flap. Then he fumbled around inside where he kept his food for the key Meliae mentioned.

  Finding it quickly, he spun on his heel and went to the dresser. He popped it open quietly and snatched the letter.

  Tossing both the room key and the dresser key on the bed, he went back to the armoire.

  Petra grabbed him as he went by and pulled him in close.

  “Help this one with her clothes and armor, Master,” whispered the soldier.

  Vince nodded his head at the request.

  Petra picked up her bra and pulled it on, turning her back to him as she reached for her undershirt and padding.

  Vince frowned as his fingers pulled the clasp shut. Pulling at the fabric, he adjusted it until it settled flatly across her back.

  Her shirt and padding went next, and he had only a second to smooth it out before her chestplate and hip guards were being hauled on.

  Vince immediately went to work on the buckles while she worked on something else. He couldn’t quite see what she was doing with her back to him.

  “This one can take it from here, Master. Please continue to prepare.”

  Vince shut the clasp he was working on and then moved back to the armoire. Picking up their weapons, the saddlebag, and slinging the rifles over his shoulder, he felt beyond encumbered.

  Moving back to Petra, he hesitated for a moment and then put the saddlebag over Petra’s abdomen. Giving it a quick cinch, and fitting it as best to her as he could, he then slid in her sword and spear into the appropriate racks.

  He’d loaded her up like a pack horse.

  The soldier-ant glanced at him, down at the bags, and then went back to her armor.

  Pulling his sword and sheath into its place around his waist, Vince felt better immediately.

  He pressed his hands to the side of the armoire and slowly began pushing it in front of the door.

  Once he got it into place, with little to no noise at all, thankfully, he pulled the dresser over and pressed it against the armoire.

  Then he slung both rifles over his shoulder and picked up the ammo can.

  Looking to Petra, he found her cinching up a buckle under her chin for her helmet.

  “This one is ready, Master.”

  “Out the window. Can you manage it with me riding you and all this weight?”

  “This one will not fail her master. Though once she has reached the ground, her master will need to dismount.”

  “Agreed. After that, let’s get my horse and go. I say southeast. The further we go into the Wastes, the better our chances are. Most will avoid it as much as they can.

  “Once we get out of Washington, we can head back inward towards the main road. With any luck, we can link up with Meliae and Fes.

  “They left a letter; you can read it when we get out of here.”

  “This one cannot read. She would ask her master to read it to her.”

  Vince blinked at that and then shook his head.

  “Certainly. You need to learn to read later, though. I’ll teach you myself.”

  “If Master wishes.”

  “I do,” Vince said with a nod. Moving to the window, he unlatched the lock and pushed it open. With a deep breath, he then stepped out of the room and onto the roofing tiles.

  Petra was beside him in an instant.

  Looking out into the dark night, he realized it was still several hours before dawn.

  Shaking his head, he mounted up on Petra, hooking his legs around her midsection. Reaching around her, he gripped onto her with his arms as well.

  “This one would ask for a saddle. She enjoys being her master’s mount, but this could be more comfortable, she believes.”

  Not being able to respond to her request, Vince could only hang on as Petra moved to the side of the building. In seconds, she’d shimmied them down the side of the building and into the street.

  Rather than slowing down to let him get off, Petra sped up, dashing across the street and straight up a wall.

  It wasn’t until they slipped into the stables that she let him off.

  Petra was gasping for air, her hands pressing to her sides as he dropped off her side.

  “Soldiers… standing outside inn. Sorry, Master. Time… is short,” gasped out Petra.

  Vince tilted his head to the side and heard the stomping of boots in the distance.

  Rushing down the line of stalls, he checked each as he made his way down the line.

  Finally, he found his own and booted open the door.

&nbs
p; His horse practically jumped at his sudden presence.

  Not waiting, he reached out to the hook on the side of the wall and pulled free his saddle. Dropping it down on his horse, he went through the act of saddling his horse as quickly as possible.

  Sliding one rifle into the holster for the saddle, he grabbed the reins and led it back out to Petra.

  She was still huffing and puffing but sounded like she was recovering.

  Pulling the saddlebags free from her, he put the second rifle into place in the receiver slot they’d made for it on her abdomen.

  After he set the saddlebags in their rightful place, he vaulted into his seat. Then, pressing his heels to the sides of his horse, he careened wildly off for the gate.

  Unsheathing his saber, he wheeled the horse around as they passed by and swung at the metal latch holding it shut.

  With a crack, his blade broke the thin metal and the gate swung open.

  That’ll be a notch in the blade.

  Petra gave the gate a shove and exited the corral. Vince was right behind her as they turned back onto the main street and headed east.

  Eventually, the only thing Vince heard was the sound of his horse’s hooves pounding the grass as they exited the city.

  Looking rearward, he could see a multitude of lights. Torches, buildings being searched, people being roused.

  They’d gotten out just in time. He wouldn’t squander this reprieve, though.

  Speed was the name of the game until they got the hell out of Washington.

  Looking towards the path they were traveling, Vince leaned forward over his horse’s head and hung on.

  Chapter 18

  Vince entered their camp as quietly as he’d left it. Petra sat, as she was able to, at least, on a nearby tree trunk. She was quietly inspecting her weapons and gear for any damage.

  He eyed her for a second as he made his way over.

  Not looking up at him, she continued to work field stripping her Springfield. “This one would like to know what her master has seen.”

  “How do you always know, exactly?” Vince asked, taking a seat across from her in the grass. He pushed his back up to a log and let himself relax.