Wild Wastes Omnibus

by Randi Darren

“She’s a good second. She’ll make a fine Fes when she decides to take it for herself,” Berenga said.

  “About that,” Vince said with a smile. Leaning against the wall, he shrugged his shoulders. “I think you’ll be Fes right up until you die of old age.

  “Or so Yaris has decreed and told me just a minute ago.”

  “Huh?” Fes asked.

  “Until you’re old and gray, she plans to keep you as Fes.

  “In her own words, ‘I can wait.’”

  Fes blinked at that and looked back to the door.

  “I think I underestimated her,” Fes said slowly.

  “Think we all did. Come, Fes. Let’s go see what’s going on. I need to get a handle on where we’re at with the Tri-lliance,” Vince said. “Then annihilate them.”

  ***

  Thera stood in front of the large, wall-covering map in the war room.

  Elysia had refined it. To the point that it had to be redrawn due to the sheer amount of changes completed on it.

  It spanned from one wall to the other.

  Rather than recreate it again at another point in the future, they’d put a metal backing on the wall. All points of interest, locations, and details were put on the map with magnetic “pins” now.

  And the map was full of them. Always being updated, changed, moved, altered.

  It was a living representation of Yosemite now.

  Vince frowned, looking at it.

  It really didn’t make much sense to him.

  He wasn’t a commander. Wasn’t a leader of men.

  The battlefield or wandering the Wastes was where he belonged.

  “I know what you’re not saying,” Thera said, turning to smile at him. “And we’ll cover it all in a way that will make sense. I promise.”

  Vince shrugged in his chair.

  “Sorry. Just not my area of expertise,” Vince said.

  Thera came over to him and laid her hands on his shoulders.

  Leaning down, she kissed him lightly and pressed her forehead to his.

  “I know. And you do all that you can with the skills you have. I’ll be using them on this campaign.

  “Putting you in harm’s way.

  “Because I believe in you, and I need you.”

  “Oh. Well, when you put it like that, I’m suddenly a lot less grouchy,” Vince said with a smirk.

  He did feel better, too. Sitting in the back lines made him feel worthless.

  “I figured. Now, sit there and be a good liege,” Thera said, tapping him on the brow.

  The door opened behind them, and the bespectacled Mr. White walked in.

  His self-confidence and small smile ever present.

  “Greetings, Lord Vince,” he said, bowing his head.

  Moving to a chair around the table placed in front of the map, he sat himself down and got comfortable.

  Tapping something in his ear, he began to speak quietly with someone else.

  He settled in rather quickly. His confidence is out of sorts with how he looks.

  “Apparently, the Orcs love him for his ability to build, modify, and create weapons,” Thera whispered in his ear. “He has a number of Orc women all vying for his attention.”

  Vince blinked at that, seemingly confused.

  “I know. But apparently… the weapons and armor he can make out of nowhere, with little materials, are far beyond their needs for a warrior husband.

  “A Fes who wrangles him in would become quite a strong Fes among the rank and file,” Thera said. “Doesn’t hurt that he works directly for the brother of their lord.”

  Vince chuckled at that and nodded.

  Orcs were adaptable, if nothing else. There was a reason they did so well in the Wastes in large numbers.

  Moving away from him, Thera went back to the map and took her place at its side.

  Several seconds after that, she suddenly felt like Petra to him. The way she held herself, looked around the room, and waited.

  Opening behind him, the door heralded the arrival of more people.

  In walked Elysia, Fes, Mouth, Meliae, Eva the Elf, Ramona, Taylor, and Julia.

  “Welcome, one and all,” Thera said, her eyes flicking over everyone. “Please take a seat. We’ll begin immediately. Yaris is still sleeping.”

  Everyone nodded at that, though Fes looked a bit uncomfortable.

  “First, the bad news,” Thera said, moving to the right side of the map.

  “The king of the East, Richard, is dead. His line was exterminated in the riots that occurred after,” Thera said, gesturing to a red triangle marker situated over Nashville.

  Vince hadn’t expected that. Shaking his head, he leaned forward.

  “We were just there. We wiped out their food source. I killed their Dragon personally. How did they manage to lose?” Vince asked.

  “Someone got close to him a week ago and killed him in his sleep,” Thera said, her tone rather bland.

  “He was assassinated? What?” Fes asked.

  “So it would seem. Early reports say it was a man in his middle age, but no details other than that.”

  “Seville,” Vince said with absolute conviction. “We saw him at the port, but he wasn’t on the boat after. Seville is running around in the east.

  “He clearly was known to Richard, if he got close enough to kill him.”

  “That answers one question but leaves us with no change whatsoever.” Thera pointed to a small red triangle to the northeast. “This is what’s left after a good portion of their soldiers showed up in Texas to chase Vince.”

  Thera’s hand moved down to Texas and indicated another red triangle.

  “The last report of this army is that they’re out of supplies, facing a very angry Orc horde, and will be eliminated within the next week if nothing changes.”

  “Goodness,” Meliae said, her hands caressing her very large stomach. “It seems so… grim.”

  “It is, and isn’t,” Thera said. Moving to the left side of the map, she indicated the emperor’s own problem. “Last report states the west is holding their own. We need not fear any type of problem from that direction quite yet.

  “We’ll not assume it isn’t a problem, but we can staff it minimally for the time being.”

  Thera now moved to the south of Vegas.

  “We were able to drive the enemy out of their trenches and back past the original border boundary,” she said, indicating the red triangle at that position and the two blue circles just above it, along with a blue square.

  “They suffered especially large casualties as the Wardens and artillery were used effectively and as a surprise.

  “I do not think we’ll have such a one-sided victory again, now that they know we have them. But it was definitely a start.”

  Setting her finger to one of the circles, Thera shifted it across the map to the eastern border along the Mississippi.

  “As much as I dislike this, we have no choice. We need to send the army under Duke Gerard back east.

  “His orders will be simple. First, attack and engage the army the Orcs have penned up, and stomp them out.

  “It’ll give him a chance to stock up on Undead before he must redeploy to hold the border.

  “There’s no telling what we’ll get from that direction—refugees, soldiers, or bandits.”

  Thera paused as she pulled out several small blue Xs from a box nearby.

  “We’ll be concentrating our efforts on the major roads into Yosemite territory,” she said, placing the Xs. “We’ll also be stepping up patrols of all the roads heading in and out. It’ll tie up more resources, but I cannot leave our eastern flank open for the Tri-lliance to dart in.”

  Vince nodded.

  So far everything did make sense, and it was a reasonable strategy she was suggesting.

  “The biggest issue we’ll have is that we have two armies in the south to contend with,” Thera said, then indicated the two red triangles near Vegas.

  “One we are already engaged with;
the other is that force you found, Vince. They seem to be reinforcements that can go in either direction, but they’ve yet to move.

  “I think the moment we begin to engage their primary army, this one will shift over to assist and flank us,” Thera said.

  Moving the red triangle up, she placed it at what seemed to be the most likely position.

  “I plan on using the Wardens to hold our right flank as we sweep down. Our left flank will move around their side and begin trying to roll them up onto themselves.

  “Our artillery should be more than enough to keep them down and not watching as we make our move.

  “I’d like to do this before they settle in and build another trenchworks. We lost too many taking the last one.”

  Mr. White cleared his throat and leaned forward over the table.

  “About that. I’ve commissioned several more healing beds, and they’re portable. They’ll be deployed to the front lines. We can triage those most needy and put them back to rights,” the man said, his ever-present smile growing wider. “I do believe they’ll arrive tomorrow.

  “In addition, I’ve manufactured twenty or so armor dispensaries. They’re also portable, which means the product won’t be as good as I’d like it to be, but it’ll certainly be better than what they’re wearing now.

  “Just like the Warden ammo cans—dump material into the hopper, get armor.”

  Mr. White sniffed and then shrugged his shoulders.

  “I’ve also upgraded the armories I built. They’ll turn out rifles and pistols that utilize the same ammo between the two.

  “I then modified the ammo converter to utilize only that ammo as its output.

  “It’ll take time to make the change for the whole army, but we’ll definitely be more efficient within a month.

  “As a security measure, I put in a lockout for anyone other than the one who binds the rifle.

  “Binding the rifle simply requires a drop of blood into a small chamber in the handle.

  “Won’t function at all without it, though it does mean rifles can’t leave Yosemite without being assigned.

  “Bit of a risk, but I think it’s worth protecting our advantage.”

  Mr. White nodded his head. “Ah, and that goes for all the dispensers as well. Until they return here and get fitted back into their home unit, they cannot be utilized by anyone other than the five personnel assigned to each item.”

  Yes.

  Yes, I can see why Orc women would want him now. The reward far outweighs the risk in his plans, but he did balance it as best as he could.

  Damn me, I want him as my armorer for Yosemite.

  Maybe Felix could loan him to me, or—

  “I’ve also put in a request to Mr. Campbell that I be allowed to remain here.

  “I didn’t think I’d enjoy this world at first, but I find it’s grown on me rapidly.

  “The local population is rather unique and interesting, and the fact that it’s a bit of a medieval world has its own appeal,” Mr. White said with a grin.

  Yes. Yes.

  I’ll need to contact Felix immediately and plead with him to let me have Mr. White.

  His output by himself is already worth crates of gold.

  “Doesn’t hurt that you can’t seem to fight your way free of the Orc women that mob you every time you go outside,” Fes said with a toothy grin. “I approve of their choice, as well. You’ll be an immeasurable asset to any Fes lucky enough to catch your eye.”

  “No, that doesn’t hurt. Not at all,” Mr. White replied, smiling right back at her. “I can’t deny I’m enjoying the attention. Though now it’s just… finding someone I enjoy being with.

  “That I can spend my life with. Wouldn’t want to just… screw everything up right at the start. Need to really be sure that I care for her and she for me.

  “Whoever that might be, Orc or otherwise.”

  That comment made all the women in the room light up with smiles.

  Thera quickly smoothed out her own grin, then cleared her throat and turned back to the map.

  “We’ve had reports of several Dragons in the area, but they seem to be keeping their distance,” Thera said, looking to Taylor.

  “My wing has told me the losses they’re taking are staggering. It isn’t the old ones out here.

  “No, they sent the next generation. The young. To test their mettle and learn of war.

  “They’ve lost many. Many that would have been an entire breeding generation.

  “If they don’t have to engage, they won’t.

  “It’s a shame I plan on hunting them,” Taylor said with finality. “They can join my wing and submit to Vince, or die and I’ll bring their hearts back for him.”

  “And I’ll need their souls,” said a voice near the door.

  Turning in his seat, Vince found Leila standing there.

  She had dark circles under her eyes, though they were bright. Bright and shining.

  “I need to be there to take the souls of the Dragons if they resist. I need every Dragon soul I can get my hands on,” Leila said.

  “I don’t understand,” Vince said. “Why do you need their souls?”

  “I’ve figured out how to weaponize them. And I can give you a demonstration,” Leila said, then took a deep breath and let it out. “But it’s very dark magic. Dark magic that doesn’t seem to dissipate anytime soon once cast.”

  Red peered into the room over Leila’s head, her nose wrinkling.

  “Red hates these meetings. Can we leave now, Leila? Red would like to nap and wait for Bringer to come home and feed her,” Red said. Then she waved at Mouth. “Do come over tonight, Mouth. Red invites you willingly so we can share Bringer.”

  Mouth blushed prettily at Red and bobbed her head.

  Leila elbowed Red in the stomach and looked to Vince.

  “Come with me? I want to show you what I can do now,” she said.

  Dark magic that can’t be undone, huh? Let’s see what she’s been working on.

  “Sure, Leila. Come have a seat and we’ll go have a looksie after this meeting,” Vince said. Pulling out a chair next to him, he gave it a pat.

  Leila blinked twice before she entered the room and moved over to the chair next to Vince.

  Before she could sit down, he snatched her up and plopped her down in his lap, wrapping an arm around her waist.

  Leila struggled for a second before going limp. She laid her head against Vince’s shoulder and closed her large eyes, snuggling up to him.

  Red huffed, her tail swishing angrily behind her.

  Finally, she came into the room and sat down in the chair Vince had pulled out.

  Reaching over, he began to lightly scratch at Red’s ears.

  “Be calm, Red. This is important.”

  “Yes…” she murmured, pressing her head into his hand more firmly.

  “Sorry Thera, please continue,” Vince said.

  Grunting, the Dark Elf turned back to the map.

  “Our goal is to keep them moving, unable to stop or rest. I want to push them all the way back to here,” she said, indicating the point where old Mexico was at its thinnest in the south, with water on both sides. “I want this ground. I want this as our border. Our very narrow and highly defensible border. We’ll de-militarize everything in front of it for miles and turn it into a fortress.”

  Fes nodded her head, scratching at her shoulder with her robotic arm.

  “Makes sense. I support this plan in its entirety. It’s something Petra would do.

  “She’d be proud of you, Thera. She complimented you frequently to me,” Fes said.

  Thera had a tight smile on her face, but she did nod her head once.

  “Otherwise, I’d be interested to see what our local Warlock has in store for us,” Thera said. “Unless someone else has a concern or question?”

  There was no response to her inquiry.

  Everyone turned to Leila.

  Who was now snoring loudly against Vince.
<
br />   Chapter 30

  Vince gently tapped on the door to Leila’s bedroom. He leaned in close to the wood, practically pressing his ear to the door.

  Listening intently, he closed his eyes, trying to hear anything at all coming from the inside of her room.

  As far as he could tell, she hadn’t left since he’d broken into her room the previous night.

  The goal had been to get her put to bed, though he had taken the time to get her into a nightdress.

  She hadn’t moved at all during the tricky operation of removing her clothes and getting her redressed. Such was the extent of her exhaustion.

  He’d left her there, just like that, after tucking her in.

  Vince had spent the rest of the day the same way he did with all his free time, whenever he managed to get some.

  With his children.

  Though most of yesterday he’d been with the oldest ones. The children he’d had with Petra, Karya, Daphne, and Green.

  It’d been a strange bonding-in-grief situation for all of them.

  He’d also found out that the Dryads were smothering those children in affection and care. To the point that there were always two or three Dryads around for each child.

  It was unlikely the kids truly understood their mothers were not coming back yet. There was no telling when they would.

  With a violent shake of his head, Vince broke his thoughts from that dark path.

  Grumbling, he lifted his head and knocked again, though with a fraction more force this time.

  “Nnnngh? Huh?” came a muffled voice from inside.

  Taking a step back at the sound of Leila moving within, he rebalanced the tray on his arm.

  “Good morning; it’s Vince. I have breakfast with me as well,” Vince said.

  “Morning? How could it be? We were just… it’s morning!?” Leila asked in a squeaky voice from inside her room.

  The sound of small feet pattering on the floorboard in a rapid cadence came toward the door.

  It was jerked inward, revealing Leila standing in her red nightgown. Her large purple eyes were blazing with fury.

  “Why was I asleep!? Why didn’t you wake me?” she cried.

  “Because you passed out in my lap. That’s why.

  “Now, are you going to invite me in so I can feed you breakfast? Though, I don’t dislike the view from here either,” Vince said, letting his eyes roll down Leila’s figure.