by Randi Darren
Everyone in the opposing party had a bolt of lightning reach out for them. Then a second as the first was stopped. Then a third.
“Stop! Elysia, stop. I was going to ask you to show them your collar. They think you’re bound,” Vince said, laying a hand on her forearm.
In the time it took him to get her to stop, half of the High Elves had collapsed or fallen to their knees.
Elysia looked to Vince, then the High Elf who had spoken so haughtily to them.
“My liege is merciful. You should die,” Elysia said as if she were looking at a worm.
Deftly, she removed her collar and waggled it at the other group. As if to confirm the point, Eva and Thera did the same.
“As you see. Everyone here wears a false collar. Yes, I purchased everyone here. Then freed them and gave them jobs and a home.”
Kitch stomped up to him, sword unsheathed and glaring murder at the visitors.
“It’s alright, Kitch. Elysia gave them a lesson in manners. We’re merely talking now.”
Kitch growled deeply, menacingly. Then she turned her head to Elysia and ducked her head.
“Now, what can Yosemite City do for you today?” Vince asked the High Elf male he’d been conversing with. “And if you say die again, I’m going to tell Kitch to eat you.” He paused. “Wait, would you eat him, Kitch?”
“For you, Lord. Sometimes upset stomach. Magic.”
“Ah, makes sense. So? Are you lunch, or a polite dignitary of an Elven tribe come to seek something of Yosemite City?”
The High Elf looked from Elysia, who was re-buckling her collar, on to Kitch. “Even the Troll?”
Vince looked up at Kitch and smiled for her. “Who, Kitch? Yes. Even her collar is for show. She doesn’t like taking it off, though.”
“No. Lord’s collar.”
“I would like to request the gift of guest rights,” said the humbled High Elf.
“Granted. Thera, could you see they’re taken care of?”
“A Dark Elf?!” the High Elf said, as if only now noticing her.
“Hm? Yes. She, Elysia, and Eva—she’s the Wood Elf there—are my bodyguards, companions, and chamberlains. They manage everything here, really. Be lucky it wasn’t one of them I asked to help out. I don’t think I can reattach limbs and things.”
Thera and Eva were simply next to the High Elves in the next instant.
“We will take care of your needs for our lord,” Thera said gravely.
Eva nodded her head, circling around behind the group.
Vince shook his head and turned to Elysia. “Anything you need to do?”
Elysia looked at him and then slowly smiled at him. Then she reached out to tap his chest with the ledger she carried with her at all times. “I shall remain. You can’t function without me.”
“True enough. Alright, notetaker, let’s see how good you really are. I need to find the dresses we bought for Petra, Fes’s new armor, and Meliae’s plants. Which wagon is that all on?” Vince asked, gesturing vaguely back at the city.
“I know exactly which one it’s one, my liege. It’s with the other presents you purchased.”
“I purchased other presents?”
“Of course. I bought them for you on your behalf,” Elysia said, flipping open her ledger. Thera and Eva trooped by with their new charges. Kitch eyed them balefully as her troop did the same.
“That’s great. Did I buy anything for you?” Vince asked, grateful for the High Elf.
“You did. A beautiful chess set and a silver tea service. You were very kind.”
“Oh, those do sound pretty nice. Would you like to get all these presents and then go play a match? Have some tea? I’m sure you’ll stomp me out, but it’ll be fun, I hope.”
“I will indeed beat you, my liege, and I’m sure it’ll be fun. I promise to still respect you in the morning, though,” Elysia said, looking up at him from her ledger.
Vince blinked at that and then grinned.
They’re all getting so much more lively.
End of Book One
Chapter 1
Vince sat upright, taking a sudden deep breath. His eyes darted around, his brain struggling to catch up.
The fog slowly cleared from his mind. Setting his head back to the wall, he felt his mouth turn up into a small smile.
He was in the school. All around him were desks and chairs of various sizes.
Being such a mixed community his carpenters had built a vast array of chair types to accommodate any race’s progeny.
He’d been doing a walk-through to see how things were going. He’d gotten curious about the progress of the school.
That curiosity more than likely stemmed from traveling in the west, doing another round of purchases and sales.
Vince had joined the class, sat down, and propped himself against the warm glass. The sun shone on his back as he listened to the deep, gentle drone of Crus the Centaur teaching the history lesson for the day.
History was interesting to him, but they were covering a story he’d heard previously in his life. A history lesson for kindergartners about how the Waste came into existence.
He’d managed to stay awake as they discussed the experiments that ripped open the world and created the Wastes. It was about the time that the crusades were being launched that he’d slipped into slumber.
Standing up he shook his head.
More tired than you thought, fool.
“A good number of the school children wanted to sleep next to you, Master,” Eva said. She was a few feet from him, sitting against the wall. “Crus managed to convince them to go to their next lesson.”
Vince nodded his head and then yawned. Stretching his arms above his head it felt like his jaw was going to unhinge. “Did I sleep long?”
“Long enough, Master, for the Dryads to come sniffing you out. I drove Daphne and Meliae off, but if Karya comes I do not think I can keep her back. She’s less likely to listen and far more persistent.”
Vince dropped his arms and nodded his head. “Yeah, she’d have me halfway undressed before she realized we weren’t alone.”
Looking down he gave himself the once over and found everything as it should be.
“Thanks, Eva. I appreciate it.” Vince pressed a hand to his neck and worked it to one side with a satisfying pop. “Where are your sisters? I should probably check in with Elysia.”
Eva smiled faintly at that and then got to her feet.
She twisted to one side, stretching her lithe athletic body in ways that only an Elf could look graceful in doing. Then, with a toss of a brown braid over her shoulder, she looked to him with warm eyes
“My sisters are waiting for you outside. I believe they’re sparring.”
Eva had been the one most resistant to the idea that she could ever truly be familial with other races of elves. Her Wood Elf heritage set her at fatalistic odds with other Elves. That’d changed some six and a half months ago during the battle of Yosemite City.
Since then, she’d been nothing if not a caring little sister, being the youngest of the three.
“Ha, she getting any better?” Vince shook his arms out, then started for the door.
“She could probably keep someone back long enough that one of us could get to her, Master.” Eva ghosted into place beside him, taking up the position on his left.
Vince found himself smirking at the idea of the High Elf wielding a blade. Thera and Eva had both browbeaten her into the training.
For her own safety.
Being a mage was well and good, but knowing a sword in addition would only be a help.
Personally, he suspected they just wanted her to spend more time with them. From his own view point, Elves were fiercely loyal to what they viewed as theirs.
Home, hearth, and family.
Stepping outside of the school Vince took in a deep breath. The air was clean, brisk, and with a bite to it. Winter was fading, and soon, the Wastes would be open to travel again.
Need
to start planning that trip. Before they send another contingent of “diplomats” to come talk to us. Don’t really need to house another group of snooty High Elves. Kitch damn near ate them last time.
Elysia and Thera both turned in place from where they were working. Elysia looked like she’d been going through her footwork with Thera’s expert advice. She insisted on giving her personal instruction.
Where Eva was tanned, short of height, and brown eyed, Elysia was tall, blonde, pale, and blue eyed.
Thera was of course their contrast, being ashen skinned, black haired with black eyes, and had a height that was in the middle ground.
One could never mistake them as anything other than Elves though.
Both women paused in sparring and began to make themselves ready to leave.
Vince gave them a tired smile as he approached, looking from one to the other.
“So much for taking a tour to see how everything is,” Vince said apologetically.
Elysia glanced up at him as she settled her ledger under one arm, then gave him a crooked grin. “Have no fear, my liege, we’ve already completed the tour on your behalf.”
“Indeed, Lord, all is as it should be. You need not worry,” Thera said, checking the catch over her sword after sheathing it.
“Oh? Wonderful, give me the short version?” Vince asked as he turned back to look at the school.
It was an impressive building to be sure. Built while he was away, it’d taken on a life of its own.
Not really a school, is it.
Built in a fashion more similar to a mansion with multitudes of classes, labs, and libraries, it was a massive building.
His carpenters and masons had outdone themselves, stating that it would be the place the young of generations would learn. So they needed to make a place that would survive generations.
“Frit reports that everything is on track. He’ll be ready for the next batch of recruits as well, Lord,” Thera said, her wrists crossing behind her back. “Henry reports the same, though he mentioned he’s put in a requisition for a mock battle. He’d like to have his people do a run on Frit’s.”
Vince nodded at that. It wouldn’t be a bad idea. They’d have to have the Dryads and Elves on hand for medical duty when it ended. Deaths simply wouldn’t be likely with blunted wooden weapons. Broken bones, cuts, and other horribleness would definitely be a problem though.
“Alright. What are you three’s thoughts on that?” Vince turned from the school and began walking to the east at a sedate pace. The road lead onward, away from the “school” grounds.
“Wait for the next batch of recruits to be trained up. That way we can plan it accordingly and get the most return, Lord.”
“Master, I agree. It would be best to go ahead with it, but delay it.”
“From a magical standpoint, my Liege, it would be prudent to wait. It’ll give everyone time to charge up accordingly. Especially now that you’re not allowed to charge us all up as much as you used to.”
Vince felt a slight flutter in his stomach at the reminder.
A month ago, the trees living inside of him had been unable to power up the Elves to the same level that he used to.
Where before he could put them at a level that would have taken them a year to reach in minutes, he could only give them the equivalent of a month or two.
Meliae had explained it well enough, he just wished it wasn’t so.
In converting his three trees into a grove, he’d limited the amount of power that would be available to him. Though he significantly increased the resilience of the trees, the power to the Dryads, and their inherent strength.
From that point of view, it’s still worth it. Daphne is alive and well.
Sighing, Vince could only nod his head. Turning off the road that led to the school, he entered the city’s streets. Around him went to and fro the citizens of Yosemite.
His citizens.
Those who depended on him for guidance and the leadership to maintain their freedom.
They carried bundles, walked idly, or in a few cases, jogged to wherever their day was taking them.
None passed him without casting a look and a nod of acknowledgment. Everyone respected his wish that they only give him the barest of shows of respect when he wasn’t operating in an official capacity.
People had work to do, and having them bowing and scraping would only waste precious time.
“What else?” he asked, prompting someone to continue the debrief.
“Kitch reports her people are progressing with the Gryphons. It’s slow, but… it’s working, Lord. However, I’m not sure the investment time is worth it. It’s been months and they’ve had only the smallest amounts of success.”
Vince frowned and scratched at his cheek. He wasn’t sure what to say to that. He didn’t tame or train animals.
He had no patience for it.
“My Liege, I agree with my sister, but I would say that the time spent per each training will decrease. It’ll go down with each successive targeted generation. They’re pack animals and we’re using that to our advantage. Their life cycles are slow, but that’s where we’ve seen what success we have.”
“The first ones born in captivity?” Vince asked, not completely unaware of the irony.
“Yes. As we Elves have experienced first hand, my liege, being bred and born to something increases the results dramatically with each successive generation.”
“Alright. Anything else?” Vince turned at the intersection, his destination becoming clear to everyone. His own home was on the north end of the city.
Yosemite had been built up around it.
“Nothing that needs to be discussed at this time, my Liege. Everything else is exactly as you would expect.
“The only thing that needs to be done is the expedition into the Wastes to see the Verix tribe of High Elves. Though I suppose it’s more of a city state. If we could open trade with them, especially for food, that’d really help.”
Vince didn’t say anything at first. He didn’t really want to.
With so many new faces and citizens, their food was being stretched dangerously thin. Things weren’t looking like they’d get better in the immediate future either.
Long term we’re alright, short term it hurts.
I just wish it wasn’t Verix.
They’d annoyed him with their entrance. Their attack on him. How they conducted themselves. He honestly would have been happy to feed them to Kitch and her band.
But he had to think of the long term plan. And how relationships with their eastern neighbors could be a blessing or a curse.
Which meant an expedition trip to see the city of Verix and try to begin negotiations.
He wasn’t foolish enough to simply head into their city and start up a conversation, no. First would be a neutral area. A meeting between the two leading elements for each.
Per the original conversation with the ambassadors from Verix, it’d be a group of five from each group. The location would be in an open field south of Mono Lake in the Wastes.
Vince wasn’t one to play by the rules though. Not with people who started negotiations by attacking him.
Immediately after the ambassadors left, he set a trio of scouts on them.
A Ratfolk, a Wolfman, and a Fairy. The three would be able to watch their prey, their surroundings, and work during any hour.
They were under orders to track the Elves back to their city, then stake out the area the meeting would be held at. If there was nothing out of the ordinary, they’d be setting up and keeping an eye on the area. Should they find something that proved to be dangerous or dishonest, they were to return immediately.
He had no illusions about this situation. It would be beneficial, but it wasn’t needed.
“Alright. Do I need to do anything or have you already set up the expedition?” Vince asked, looking over to Elysia with a grin.
“Indeed I have, my liege. Eva and I will be accompanying you. As well as Dap
hne and Karya.
“Thera will remain to keep our family together and make sure Yosemite runs smoothly in our absence.”
He grunted at her list. It was pretty much everyone from his inner circle who could travel.
It’s not like Fes, Petra, or Meliae can go anywhere being as pregnant as they are.
Up ahead was a twelve foot high wall that ran the outer perimeter of what was his home. Rising up behind that wall, looming impressively, was his house.
Mansion now, really.
It’d been expanded to three times its original size, and he was fairly certain there were plans to expand it again once the next set of pregnancies had been figured out.
An entire squad of Frit’s people stood at the gate, while another several squads were spread out all along the wall on guard.
Frit took Vince’s security seriously.
The ranking squad member at the gate unlocked it and swung it open for him.
“Welcome home,” said the big Bearman in a growling voice.
Vince nodded his head in thanks and passed through the gates.
Arranged on the front porch were three very pregnant women.
Berenga sat in a chair on the deck, his Orc Fes, or first wife. A warrior who trained and lived each day on how she could improve her skills, build her clan’s strength, and add to her husband’s power.
Her black hair wasn’t pulled up in her standard warrior’s knot. Instead, it was gathered loosely behind her head and flowed down her back. Those dark black eyes pierced him through when she saw him, her lips forming a smile.
On the Orc’s right, in the position of Second, was Petra.
She was seated in a chair specially developed for her soldier-ant body. Due to her non-humanoid dimensions the carpenters had taken it on themselves to build something just for her.
The armor she usually wore had been put away months ago when she couldn’t fit into it anymore, and she’d let her blonde hair begin to grow out, pulling it into a ponytail. She gave him a quick glance with her blue eyes, acknowledging him, but returned her attention to the Dryads beside her.
The trio of Dryads resembled each other on some levels. They all possessed bodies that caught a man’s attention. They also shared a pair of green eyes that bore into a man’s libido and would stoke the desire of any. Beyond those traits, they differed quite a bit.
