by Randi Darren
“Yes indeed, Sweetling. It truly will be. I’ll go let my sisters know,” Meliae said with a happy smile on her face. “Come with me, Green. Blue, you stay with Vince.”
Blue and Green shared a look, and then separated quickly.
Strange. They really are different than most of the other Dryads.
Quicker than he realized, they’d reached their destination. Sighing, he looked at Leila, his Ogre guards, Red, and Ramona. “Alright, you can wait out here, or inside the assembly hall, but the meeting I’m going to have with Felicity and Elysia will be a closed door one. Questions?” Vince asked.
Ramona looked lost, her reptilian blue eyes shifting to him and then away.
“Leila, get Ramona a room. I’m sure she’ll want to discuss something with me later today.”
Vince turned on his heel and entered, stepping through the big doors of the assembly hall. Elysia walked pace for pace for him on his left, both of them heading straight for a door off to one side.
Behind that door was a small wing which held the offices Elysia and Felicity worked out of.
No sooner had the door closed behind them after they’d entered, than Felicity came out like a rocket.
“Oh, thank goodness!” exclaimed the Dark Elf. She hurried up to Elysia and opened up her own ledger.
She really does take after Elysia.
“We ended up taking on almost every single person that was brought back. On top of that, we got another wave of refugees and the military came calling, asking if they could sell us more citizens. I… I accepted both.
“I’m sorry! The idea of turning them away… they had nothing. Not even a scrap to their names or—”
“It’s alright,” Vince said, interrupting the poor girl. He couldn’t help but grin at her soft-hearted self. “How bad is it?”
“We, we have enough for a month,” Felicity said quietly.
Sighing, Vince scratched at his temple with a fingertip. “Alright. So add a month to that, we got an agreement with Wooden Heart. Did we hear back from the west?”
“They won’t deal with us on anything other than military equipment and slaves. They’re claiming they need everything else,” Felicity said, her eyes downcast. “They might change their mind if you were to go personally.”
“That leaves us reaching out to others in the Waste. Suddenly I feel like we have a clear direction,” Vince said with a touch of sarcasm.
A clear direction with a dagger pointing back at us.
Chapter 18
Vince had two days to figure out a plan. More than that, and depending on the distance, they’d run out of time.
To help offset things, he’d sent the army’s scouts into the woods throughout the forest to hunt. He’d given each of them explicit counts to meet per week, and not a single kill more.
It’d tax the population heavily. They bred quickly enough though. So long as they left them alone for a season, it’d correct itself.
Between the increased hunting, and fishing, they’d maybe gain another month.
Maybe.
He’d hidden nothing from his people. The same day they’d figured out all the details with Felicity, he’d held an open council to discuss the situation with the councillors.
There was no doubt in his mind that everyone would be working on the problem in their own way.
Really, Yosemite only had to get through a year before their food situation would be solved.
Next year’s harvest would be enough to not only cover current needs, but the next as well.
Those Dryads are already pushing everything in the soil to their limits.
Leaning back in his chair, Vince sighed.
Having dealt with the news as best as he could, he’d retreated to his back porch. Evening was settling in and Vince was happy for it. Maybe tomorrow would bring better news.
“Vince.”
Tilting his head to the side he looked towards the voice.
Standing at the end of the decking was Ramona.
“Ramona,” Vince said, acknowledging her.
“I wish to discuss terms.”
“I wondered when you would. I can’t imagine the idea of not having your wing working at full capacity is a very fun one. I’ve already spoken to Meliae. It would take months of dedicated work to get you back to normal.”
Chewing at his lower lip, Vince rubbed his hand across his chin.
“The question becomes, what do you offer that’s worth that, when I’m the only one who can offer you that along with protection during that period. Especially since we both know that Mila turned you away.”
Ramona’s lips pressed to a thin line.
“I won’t buy your help by demeaning myself,” hissed the Dragonnewt.
“Demean yoursel—oh, no thanks. You’re pretty but I’ve got more than enough Dryads to keep me occupied till my hips give out,” Vince said without a hint of shame.
Turning his head, he looked out onto the field that was his backyard.
He could see Dryads moving about it. Making changes, planting things, planning things.
“I can get you an audience with the masters of Vegas,” Ramona said after several seconds of silence. “They owe me a favor, they can at least see you.”
“Vegas?” Vince asked curiously. He’d heard rumors of a city down that way. Never anything concrete though.
“It’s a trading hub for non-humans only. They deal with anyone and anything that you could imagine.”
Her offer was tempting. Very tempting.
Mostly because he didn’t have any other answers or plans. Sure there was the Wood Elf tribe to the northeast, but there was no guarantee for that either.
At least with this he could get an audience.
If there was a trading hub that could get him the resources he needed, then so be it.
Far better than sitting around doing nothing. Elysia and Felicity can handle things here while I make that trip.
“I’ll need to go with you, so you’ll need to take a Dryad or two with us so she can work on my wing. I won’t make the trip otherwise.”
Vince waved a conciliatory hand at her.
“Fine. Consider the bargain struck. Let me get my affairs in order and we’ll leave the day after tomorrow.”
Sighing, he shook his head and tried to clear the problems of the day away.
A possibility is better than what we had.
Levering himself up from the chair, and away from Ramona, Vince ambled back into the manor.
Without having made the conscious decision, Vince found himself inside of the nursery. Closing the door as quietly as he could behind himself, Vince could only smile.
There his four children lay in their four bassinets.
And behind every child was a Dryad sleeping on a cot.
Meliae, Daphne, Karya, and… Blue and Green?
He hadn’t noticed it at first but Blue and Green were sharing a cot behind Vince Junior.
Two ant-like limbs encircled his waist and drew him backward a step.
At the same time, two human arms slipped around his shoulders.
“This one greets her husband, her master,” Petra whispered into his ear.
Reaching up he laid his hands atop her own. “Hey, Petra.”
“This one is on night watch for our children. None shall harm them.”
“Ah.” Vince nodded his head to that. He didn’t like it, but it made sense.
A pair of red reflective eyes opened in the corner of the room. Then they closed again.
Apparently Red is guarding the young as well.
“This one appreciates master’s newest wife candidates. They are strong in their own ways. Though this one believes only the red eyed one is truly loyal.”
The conversation was drifting into an area he didn’t really want to talk about. He’d thought a few times about how Fes would take him bringing aboard Red, Leila, and Ramona. It seemed like Fes had gotten the wrong impression of his intentions.
“Why ar
e the Dryads here?” Vince asked, changing the topic.
“They’re here to insure proper growth and that needs are met. They take it in a rotation, similar to our night watch.”
“Is—is there something wrong with them?” Vince felt his heart lurch up into his throat.
Why do they need this? Did something happen?
“No, husband. Nothing is wrong. This one is happy to report they’re all quite healthy. This is Meliae simply acting to make sure they reach their full potential.”
“Oh. Good. I wanted to see them because I’m fairly certain I’ll be leaving again in a few days. We’ve got a lead on someone that might be able to handle our needs. We’ll see.”
“This one is glad to hear that. She regrets she will not be able to accompany her master and husband. She… does not wish to be separated from her son again.”
“I understand completely, and I expected no less from you.” Turning around in her grasp, Vince found himself eye to eye with his ant soldier.
Grinning, Vince gave her a kiss and hugged her tightly to himself. “I love you, Petra. I’m going to go hit the sack. Any possibility of you joining me tomorrow night?”
“This one will make sure that happens.”
Tomorrow we need to pop collars, and settle the grove. Then probably get packed again.
For a new father, I’ve really not had a chance to see my own children very much.
I suck.
This sucks.
Vince stared at the darkened room with a vague sense of unease.
Several hours before, in the morning, they’d had all the Dryads brought in for an assembly. Those who hadn’t planted their tree in him yet did so, and those who had, merely attended.
Since then, he hadn’t seen much of the Dryads, and now he knew why.
Meliae had collected them all. Brought them here. And set this up.
This being a Dryad fuck party.
For which Meliae had stripped him nude as soon as he entered.
He knew it would have to happen before he left, but this seemed bizarre.
Willing to bet that this serves their own needs more than my own.
His thought echoed clearly when he really looked around the room.
Curtains had been strung up, creating a corridor that ran the entire length of the large room.
Peeking out of the bottom of those curtains were the lower halves of what he could only assume were his Dryads.
All that was visible from his side of the curtain was from the waist down.
They were also completely nude.
Vince would be the first person to admit he was getting into the kinky swing of Dryad sexual needs, but this was something out of a juvenile fantasy.
Row after row after row of willing Dryads, waiting and willing.
Legs shifted, hips twisting as they moved around on the beds that had been set up.
“Meliae, this is…” Vince hesitated, looking to his side.
Meliae stood there, flanked by Karya and Daphne.
Sighing, the Lady of Yosemite grove gave him a small smile. “I know. But… this is the best way I can make this as random as possible. Everyone gets a fair chance.”
“A fair chance?” Vince asked, unable to keep himself from looking down that corridor of hips and legs.
“The order in which you give them your seed will also be their prestige. Almost like a rank. Like this, it’s random since you can’t really see who’s who,” Meliae said with a nod of her head.
Karya and Daphne nodded their heads to this.
“It’s true,” Daphne said with a frown.
“We can’t think of another way to give it an equal footing,” Karya apologized.
“Right,” Vince said with a grim tone of voice. “So I just…” Vince trailed off, waving a hand down the corridor of shapely Dryad legs.
“Uhm, yes. Sorry, Sweetling. This’ll be the only time, I promise,” Meliae said, looking at her feet.
“It’s fine. I understand. Let’s get to it then.”
Vince started walking down, getting an eyeful of each as he went.
Let’s see if I can’t find those two...
Chortling to himself, he sidled up to a waistline that was unmistakably narrow.
Elven, really.
“Hi, Blue,” Vince said softly, laying his hand on the woman’s knee.
The Dryad behind the curtain froze up. Then she relaxed, her toes wiggling in a nervous way.
That’s Blue.
Grinning he looked one row down from Blue.
And found a pair of legs that were rather short, and a wide set of hips.
Taking several steps over, he laid a hand on the Dryad’s hip. “Hi, Green.”
The soft intake of a sudden breath, almost imperceptible to the ear, gave her away.
He’d found both of them easily enough.
Moving back to Blue, he grabbed a hold of her hips and eased her closer to himself.
When he stopped pulling at her, the curtain rested just below her breasts.
Easing her legs apart, he got himself ready to claim Blue first.
“Damnit, Karya. They’re so obvious I could see them even from over here. Elven Dryads are too different,” Daphne hissed.
“You owe me more than you originally offered in exchange, sister,” Meliae said.
For her part, Karya only laughed, watching.
Hours and hours later, when it seemed like Vince was drained of vitality and seed alike, the grove seeding was complete.
That and he swore his hips were about to go out.
Blue had been first, followed immediately by Green.
After that he’d been scouring the room with his empathic sense. Selecting and choosing based on what he read from each.
Maybe it was cheating, maybe it wasn’t, but he wanted the grove hierarchy to be able to support itself without his direct intervention.
To that end, he picked leaders over passive Dryads.
The next day had been a flurry of popping collars from those who still wore them. Dumping all that magical power straight into the grove had an effect on his Dryads.
Between the grove seeding, and the magical power feed, he could practically feel the power coming off them.
Time, as was always the case lately, flew by. What time he had, he spent with Fes, Petra, Meliae, and their children.
Eva, Thera, and Elysia were never far. The way Fes treated them had changed overnight as well once she’d found out that he’d slept with them.
Soon enough, he was on the road east of Yosemite, heading back into the Wastes.
Red, Ramona, Leila, Blue, Green, and Vince were the only ones going this time. Ramona would be leading the way, Leila was a volunteer, and Red couldn’t survive without feeding from him.
Blue and Green were there for their Dryad abilities, and to heal Ramona. Between the two of them they took the place of Meliae and Karya, though neither was the fighter Daphne was.
Everyone else was struggling to do all that they could to acquire food, take care of the children, or grow the city.
The Dryads and Elves were both upset that they were unable to leave, but they were needed.
The situation was grim.
Beyond grim.
And it’d take everyone to make progress.
Even then, victory wasn’t assured.
Ramona grunted and dropped her pack on the shore of the lake they’d stopped at.
“We’re three days north of Vegas,” she explained. “Depending on speed, we can arrive in the morning on the fourth day, or in the evening of the third. Fourth is better.”
“Right,” Vince said, looking around. “So we’re camping here to make that timeline. Makes sense.”
Casually dropping his pack to the ground he looked around. Finding nothing of interest other than the lake, Vince walked to the edge of the water and bent down.
“The water isn’t right, people get sick from drinking it,” Ramona warned.
“Oh?” Leanin
g his head down, Vince gave the water a sniff. He couldn’t detect anything.
Feeling the irritation rising in his spine, and almost being tempted to drink the water regardless, Vince stood up.
Walking off, he decided to explore the lakeshore. It would help soothe his nerves and maybe give him some time to think
He knew he was being pissy. Even knew why. But damned if he couldn’t get his mind to straighten back out.
It was the first time he’d been separated from everyone in his inner circle.
At least Blue and Green are talking now.
Surprisingly after being given such a high ranking, they’d kept their nicknames.
Vince lost himself in the sound of his own footfalls and the almost too soft to hear rippling of the water.
He only fell out of his reverie when he saw the outline of something manmade in the grass.
Perfectly square, and laid close to the ground, it was definitely made by the hand of something sentient.
The only reason Vince had even noticed it was that a tree had fallen over and uprooted itself. The grass all around had been torn up, making it that much easier to see the square.
Moving in that direction, he could tell it was cement. Laid flush with the ground where it wasn’t disturbed, it blended in quite well.
Right up until that tree tore up the grass along the side of the concrete.
Leaning down to get a better look, Vince brushed his fingers across the edges. There was a crack there beneath the dirt and grime. Shifting to the other side, he worked at tracing the outline. At about the halfway point along the other side, the crack made a ninety degree turn towards the center of the concrete.
A door.
Keeping low, Vince reached to the center and worked his hands back and forth across the grit.
Feeling something cold and hard shift under his fingers, he stopped. Reaching into that spot, he found what could only be a handle that was inlaid into the door.
Pulling on it, he felt the locking mechanism pop.
Nothing moved or budged though.
Setting his feet, Vince took hold of the handle with both hands and then lifted with his full strength.
Metal screeched before the loud pang of metal breaking ripped through the evening.
