Fostering Faust

by Randi Darren

  “Sounds fair.”

  “I agree and do so swear then. You’re awful, Master.”

  “I am, and I accept your oath. Look at it this way, though. You’re becoming my bed warmer, sure. But I do utilize you, take care of you, and make sure you’re used effectively in your job. No?”

  “A real saint of a slave owner,” Valeria said, with an acidic tone but also a warm smile.

  On the right, the troops fell onto themselves, broke, and started to run.

  The end of Alex’s line started to curl up on itself to defend the breach.

  “Max, light it up, time to go!” Alex called. Turning on his heel, he pulled Valeria along with him and headed out for the carriage.

  Valeria took several steps ahead of him and then kept her pace. Clearly moving as a bodyguard.

  Within seconds, they were in the coach with everyone else and rolling away towards the previous meet-up point.

  He was fairly certain this would be the fallback point.

  “I made sure the prisoners were set free several hours ago and given horses, just as you asked,” Riley said, her arm slipping into his and drawing it into her lap and cleavage.

  “I’m sure. I’ll just tell the duke we couldn’t hold anymore once our flank was exposed. We torched our own defenses to buy time, then scrambled off and reorganized, ready to re-engage when ordered to. The prisoners could have been mistaken for others, and I’d hate to have that on my conscience.”

  Alex shrugged.

  It wasn’t the best plan, and it was likely to get him a scolding, but he didn’t care.

  He wasn’t going to jeopardize his troops for the sake of an idiot.

  Chapter 25

  The wagons had been stripped down to their base materials rapidly. Broken down and put back together, they were reformed as defensive structures arrayed in a vast semi-circle. It was the only way up the hill from this side and had been constructed as somewhat of a wall with a gate.

  It was all built in the direction they’d just fled from. Laid upon where they’d all met previously, Alex watched as another batch of friendly soldiers came towards them.

  “Looks like Count Den’s people,” Max said. “At least he has his people retreating in good order, though they do appear hurried.”

  “Dan,” Alex said.

  “Sire!”

  “Get your mounted infantry in the saddle. Work as a loose cavalry unless you need to dismount. They’re all looking over their shoulder in a strange way,” Alex said, pointing at the distant soldiers who were hurrying onward.

  “I’ll get the archers loaded and ready,” Dave said, not waiting for the order.

  Max turned down the head-height palisade wall and bellowed a command.

  The gates creaked and opened up, the wagon wheels working as a ratchet system. Once it was open, a bugler’s call followed for rapid advancement.

  The count apparently understood, and his people who had been moving at a fast walk picked up speed to a jog.

  Dan and his people bolted through the gate, the makeshift cavalry unit breaking into two and sweeping out.

  “Master, perhaps this isn’t the time or place but,” Riley said, once again latched to his arm. “You seem… very different than people believed you to be.”

  “I suppose I am at that. Let’s just say I had an awakening,” Alex said with a grin. “How’s Two?”

  Nannie grunted and then sighed. “She’s fine. She’ll be up and about in no time. Stupid dumb fool. I had to threaten to club her. She was trying to get up.”

  “I’ll order her to lay in her bed for a week if she tries again; threaten her with that if you need to, Five.”

  “Yes… sire,” Nannie said, clearly uncomfortable.

  Alex looked at the big woman for a second before facing Riley.

  Leaning in close to her, he whispered into her ear.

  “One, would you please make sure my tent is in perfect order? I didn’t get a chance to give it a once-over. And as my personal maid, I’ve come to rely on you for my own comforts.”

  Riley gave him a beautiful smile and bobbed her head.

  “Immediately, Master!” she chirped. Letting go of his arm, she walked away demurely, heading straight for his tent, her collar tinkling prettily the whole way.

  Apparently Valeria had gotten the hint and left with Riley, her fingers trailing along Alex’s shoulders as she passed him.

  “Come with me, Five,” Alex said, pointing to one side where no one else was.

  “Mm.” Nannie shuffled along behind him, her eyes wandering around.

  “Talk to me, Five. What’s wrong?” Alex asked, trying to get her to make eye contact with him.

  “Wrong?” she asked, her eyes finally coming to rest on him.

  “Yeah, what’s wrong? I feel like I could go straight to fondling you and you’d just stare at me. Something is going on in that head of yours. What is it, Five?”

  Apparently Nannie wasn’t used to being called out like that. To the point that her response was uncharacteristic.

  She dropped her gaze to the ground.

  Alex reached out and gently lifted her chin with a finger. It felt oddly similar to the way he’d forced Valeria to meet his eyes.

  “Five… talk to me.”

  She blinked a few times, her head slowly shaking back and forth.

  “Are you ill? Unwell? Did something happen?”

  “No… I just… I don’t know.”

  Alex frowned, thinking hard on Nannie and the recent turn of events.

  The only thing that had changed was he valued her in an obvious way. He’d named her champion, depended on her, and relied on her.

  On top of that, it was clear that since then, the other Numbers had started showing her the same respect they held for each other.

  Is it that she’s unsure how to behave in a group that accepts her for what she is? A killer who gets off on violence?

  “Five… you really did well by me. Great, even. I respect what you’ve done for me. I’ll not forget it.

  “I must continue to rely on you, for all that you are. I need Nannie, my Five. I don’t need you to be anyone else but that,” Alex said, trying to hopefully cut to the heart of what was bothering her.

  “Yeah?” she asked, her cheeks flushing.

  “Mmhmm. I need you to be you. My fearsome savage, bloodthirsty, murdering, violence-loving Five. Ok?”

  “You want that?” Nannie asked, her voice breaking on the last word.

  “Of course. That’s who my champion is, isn’t it?”

  Nannie nodded her head.

  “Now, clear your head of whatever nonsense is in there until you’re ready to talk about it. If you don’t, I’ll have you warming my bed tonight. I just sent One to get it all prepped, just for you. I even told her to buy some delousing powder since you’re such a filthy monster,” Alex said, grinning at her.

  Nannie’s head twitched, and then she gave him a feral grin.

  “Couldn’t handle me,” she said, standing up straighter.

  “You say that, but all I’d really have to do is pet you nicely and tell you to lay down. I bet you’re even softer than One under all that tasty evil of yours,” Alex said, prodding her right between her breasts with a finger. “Some cuddling, a bit of caressing, a few kisses here and there. I bet you’d melt with some genuine attention.”

  “Wouldn’t you like to find out?”

  “I would. Soon enough Five, you’ll be nothing more than a bed decoration, asking for belly rubs and loving kisses,” Alex said.

  “I’ll fucking kill you and feed your dick to wild animals,” she said, her rage starting to build.

  “Is that your way of saying you’ll kneel placidly in front of me, take it in the mouth, and ask for more with those pretty eyes of yours, Five”

  “I swear to the high heavens and lowest hells I’ll pull your head off and grind one out on your skull,” she growled, all sense of humor now lost.

  “Actually, go lay down in
my bed Five. You can wait for me eagerly to return to take you tonight,” Alex said, pointing back at the tent.

  Nannie darted forward, pressing her forehead to his, her eyes nothing but hate.

  “I’ll see you dead, then I’ll murder all your pets,” she promised.

  “Want a real threat? Stay here for another two seconds and I’ll give you a kiss,” Alex said.

  Nannie shot upright after a second of confusion, her arms folding across her chest. Her lips were raised in a snarl, any sense of what she was saying lost between her teeth.

  “Good. Glad to see you back to normal, though it was kinda cute when you were confused. I probably should have fondled you when I had the chance,” Alex said, then deliberately patted her on the rear end twice.

  Without waiting for her response, Alex looked back out to the approach.

  Nannie’s roar was impressive, and he could actually feel her breathing down his neck.

  “Just don’t leave a mark if you’re going to start necking me. It can be a bit embarrassing to explain,” Alex said, his eyes searching the field.

  “Insufferable asshole!” Nannie shouted at the top of her lungs.

  Dan had kept his troops close to Count Den. There was clearly some conversation going on between the two.

  Then he saw them flee up over the distant rise. Heading straight for him.

  It was a flood of allied troops. All running pell-mell in a mob towards the defenses.

  “That can’t be good,” Alex said glumly.

  “Huh?” Nannie said, her rapid breathing against his neck coming to a stop.

  “I think our forces weren’t just routed, but are still being chased. The question becomes, are they far enough ahead of the enemy that they can all get through the gate in time…

  “Or do I close it on them?” Alex said.

  “Close it, fuck ’em. Not ours,” Nannie said, her voice an irritated growl.

  “That may be so, but I do have to at least look like a count, now don’t I?” Alex muttered. “I guess we’ll find out when they get closer. Let’s hope this is just me being overly concerned.”

  They couldn’t do much other than stare and wait. Watching as troops from a number of different levies swarmed toward them.

  “It looks like… everyone. It isn’t really from one vassal or another,” Alex muttered.

  “That’d mean everything fell apart, yeah?” Nannie asked.

  Alex nodded and started over to the gate. Count Den was just now passing through.

  “Count Den, what’s the word?” Alex asked the other count.

  A man in his middle years turned to face Alex, his wispy brown hair and brown eyes looking equally defeated.

  “The duke is captured; the entire force is routed. The enemy has the field. All for his damn pride,” the count shouted, spiking his own helmet into the ground. “Our entire duchy is going to end up beggaring itself just to pay off the ransom, I’m sure.”

  “Hm. Sounds like it’s time to pull out then. Any reason those fools are running like hell is behind them?” Alex said, pointing out to the field.

  “Fear,” Count Den said, then shook his head angrily. “Fear and stupidity. I’m heading home. This is pointless and done. As the third in command, and what I believe to be the highest-ranking vassal not captured, I disband this force.”

  Count Den kicked his helmet to the side and stormed off with his men.

  “We can go home?” Nannie asked.

  “That we can, Five. Though I think this isn’t the end of the situation. I think it’s just going to get worse.”

  ***

  Officially, Duke Tanulf stood and fought to the last man in his command tent.

  Unofficially, he killed himself in his cell and shit himself.

  His daughter was now the duchess, and Alex’s casus belli transferred to her instead. She could always uphold Alex’s victory over Count Ridge, which would clean that mess up quickly.

  But Alex didn’t think she would.

  She’d honestly have more pressing things to worry about. Like securing her titles before others could move on her.

  Her father had left her in a very precarious position, to say the least.

  Depleted forces from a butcher’s bill a mile long. Lost equipment and material. Several counts that’d have to be ransomed back from Gaelis.

  No, Regina won’t be looking to assist me. She won’t even be looking to me at all.

  I can use this to my advantage.

  Riley was seated at a table in his study. Looking downhearted and dispirited.

  “Do I have to go back to my cell, Master? Can’t I remain as your personal maid?” she asked for perhaps the twentieth time.

  Anna clucked her tongue and lifted a finger in the air, looking at Riley. She was standing next to Alex as he sat at his desk.

  “Does a personal maid address her master as such?” asked his wife.

  “No, Mistress,” Riley said, shaking her head.

  “Now, I know my husband,” Anna said, laying a hand on Alex’s shoulder. “He’ll need something from you to give you such a thing. My understanding is he has already bent over backward to keep you alive, let alone looking so healthy and fit.”

  Riley nodded her head a little at that.

  “And you were guilty, weren’t you,” Anna said. It wasn’t even a question to her.

  Riley nodded her head again after a second.

  “Hmph. Husband is a man with needs. If you want to remain his personal maid, you’ll need to truly be his personal maid. I believe he has an understanding with… uhm… Two?” Anna asked, looking to Alex.

  “And Three,” Alex admitted.

  “Oh? Good! We’ll work on the big one next. Five, was it?” Anna said, leaning into his side. Then she looked back to Riley. “Husband will need you to submit your body once a week, and your mouth once a week, to his needs.

  “I believe if you offered that, you’d get your wish as a personal maid.”

  “But… I have my maidenhead… I’m… I was to…” Riley said, slowly shaking her head.

  “Think on it. I’ll give you till the end of today to decide. Now go, attend your duties until midnight, then report to your cell. I had it cleaned and even added a bit of color for you,” Anna said.

  Riley got up, bowed to them, and left quickly.

  Alex grinned up at Anna.

  “You’re a ruthless snake.”

  “I only do what I know my husband wishes. Daddy likes what you did with the economy here and said to leave it alone for now and to watch it carefully.

  “Uhm… oh! I filled your dungeon with pretty women with crimes large enough for you to be in judgment of them.

  “Though I did make sure they were… uhm… clean. I didn’t want you to dirty yourself with anything too reprehensible,” Anna said, smiling at him in her simple way. “At least we can give them something to do rather than hang and get the most benefit out of them for you. Though we ran out of room and I had to start putting two of them into each cell. Douglas didn’t like that.”

  Anna was different.

  Wonderfully so.

  Different in the kind of way only a woman without a clear understanding of reality could be… to bind, imprison, and fill a dungeon full of “pretty women” for her husband to use.

  “You’re the best thing in my life,” Alex said, wrapping an arm around Anna’s hips.

  “Yes, I am. Have you decided to get rid of Holly yet?” Anna asked, jumping subjects as was her norm.

  “Huh?”

  “You already conquered her, husband. She has little value to your deals. She’d lick the ground from here to the gate if you told her to. She might as well be a puppy,” Anna said with a sad frown. “I like her, but she doesn’t do you any good. We should do something nice for her when you divorce her.”

  When I divorce her?

  “Sylvia is a nice girl, by the way. She didn’t think she told me much, but she told me enough. She’s rather simple for you to finish up
with. You just need to wait.

  “It seems like all her plans went awry the moment you caught her. She’s been working to fix it but… now that she’s more or less your concubine, no one is coming near her who could actually help solve her problem.”

  Anna was speaking rapidly now, her mind buzzing along as if it were one long, continuous thought.

  “Oh! And the crystal pillar has some black at the bottom of it. You must have made some good deals. Tell me about it over dinner tonight?” Anna said, draping herself around his shoulders. “I can’t wait to hear about who you conquered. Was it a noblewoman?”

  “It was. She—”

  “I knew it. Only a noblewoman would have that much pride.

  “Did you clean her when you finished in her? Two complains about that every time you do it in her. And she doesn’t look good. Were you too rough with her? Don’t break your women.

  “Though to be honest, it does kinda leak everywhere after you’re done,” Anna said, looking down to her hips as if she could see into herself.

  Then her eyes snapped back up to him and she gave him that wide smile of hers.

  “I missed you, husband,” she said, her arms tightening around him. “Wine me, dine me, and make love to me? Make me feel like your wife?”

  Alex grinned, overwhelmed by her.

  As he always was.

  “Of course, wife. Lead the way, and I’ll follow those hips of yours anywhere.”

  Anna snuck in close and gave him a quick kiss, then pressed her face to his neck, making delighted chirping noises.

  Either so smart she’s insane, or so dense she’s perfect.

  Don’t care which. She’s just what I needed.

  Alex sighed and laid his cheek to her head, feeling the weights of his life fall to the ground with a crack.

  He was home.

  Chapter 26

  Walter seemed harried. Pressed, one could say.

  “Calm down. You’ll give yourself a heart attack,” Alex said, watching the older man across the table.

  “Well. I never expected you to return with wealth and troops both. Perhaps one and not the other, but not both,” Walter said, looking at the paper in front of him.