by Randi Darren
“You… you’re going to be reborn?” Aerin asked, sounding curious. “Am I… am I going with you? You took my soul… Does… does that mean I’m tied to you for all time?”
“Technically, yes. Why, want to give me five children in every lifetime, Aerin?” Alex said with a smirk.
“Heavens above, no,” Aerin immediately replied. “Being a mother is a job all on its own. I’m not sure I could have five every lifetime. I could probably do one or two though.”
Huh.
***
Quinn rode up to Alex quickly, her horse blowing rather hard.
“Husband,” she said, smiling at him. She pulled lightly on her reins, making the horse dance sideways until it came up alongside Alex’s.
“You’re too good a horsewoman,” Alex muttered, watching her with some envy. “What’d you—”
Quinn grabbed him by the collar, jerked him partially out of his saddle, and kissed him hard. Much in the same way Nannie or Carla would.
Several seconds passed before she released him, pushing him back into his saddle.
“The enemy is there, of course. They look like trash,” Quinn said, giving her head a shake and making her braids tremble.
At times, the small woman seemed more like an animal. Especially when she was amongst the Imperial citizens.
“They are much lesser in number than when we first encountered them, they seem to have little in the way of food, and it looks like they don’t even have the ability to repair or replace their uniforms,” Quinn said with disgust. “They even make the rabble we dismissed in the first Xer campaign look like soldiers.”
“That bad, huh?” Alex asked, turning to look at the enemy encampment far away.
He hadn’t gotten a chance to see Regina. She was tied up in a vast number of negotiations with vassals who were defecting to her from Gaelis. Word of Alex’s refugee act was spreading, along with word of how he’d handled the counts and barons down in the southlands.
Most seemed to think it would be better to surrender to Regina now than to Alex later.
“Your wife is quite fat with her pregnancy,” Quinn said, smirking at him. “She looks rather uncomfortable. Six is on her way to rejoin you as well. I reported my findings to the duchess on my way back. I assumed you’d want me to.”
“That’s exactly what I would have asked. Good job, my queen,” Alex said, watching the tiny barbarian. “It’s a shame you’re not a Numbered.”
Quinn let loose a single laugh at that, eying him. “From Numberless to wife, to Numbered. I think your way of keeping women is broken. And I don’t need a number, I’m your Quinn. First Empress of the Xer, wife to Count Inferno. And Empress I am. All of the Wilds is now mine.”
“Make her a Numbered. Get her a tag with a Q on it,” Nannie said. “Or an Eight.”
“Fine, fine. I appreciate the confidence, Five. I’m a Numbered now,” Quinn said, looking at the much larger woman. “You look pretty today, by the way. I like your new armor. And the makeup.”
Nannie looked down and to the side. Somewhere along the line, she’d been convinced to wear a full breastplate and chain mail from shoulders to shins. Though that was as far as it went. It covered the vital bits of her but kept her arms and legs mostly free.
“Alex… said he didn’t want to lose me. So I armored up. Six helped me. You should talk to her about getting armored yourself,” Nannie said.
“Oh? Why, he doesn’t want to lose me either?” Quinn asked, looking at Alex.
Alex rolled his eyes at Quinn.
She was watching him with a smile. Her eyes bright and shining.
The mousy princess was gone. The concubine queen was gone.
All that was left was the empress of the Xer. A formidable woman who could probably cause the empire a great deal of problems if she weren’t his wife.
“Yeah, get some armor, Quinn. Eight,” Alex said. “And a silver tag with a Q or an eight on it, whichever you prefer. I personally like black leather for the band.”
“Can I have a bell on it? Like One? Several bells?” Quinn asked, starting to dance her horse away from him again. The things she could make the horse do were impressive.
“As many as you want. We’ll tie them into your hair as well, so you tinkle when I make you give me head,” Alex said to the grinning Quinn. “Go tell Regina to call Gaelis for an audience tomorrow. Preferably far from the front.
“Dave, Tael, bring up that pay chest we packed. We’re going to enact the plan tomorrow morning. This seems like an optimal time to do it.”
“Make me? You’re a fool husband. I rather enjoy doing that now. I’m a single bite away from ruining your life, and you willingly put yourself in my power. I’ll tinkle beautifully while you worry if I’ll ruin you,” Quinn said as she rode away laughing to herself, her hair blowing out behind her.
“I really like her,” Nannie said.
“Me too,” Carla said.
Sighing to himself, Alex thought on the situation.
Tomorrow would decide everything as far as the duke went.
He’d have to give his best pitch. He’d only get one chance at this.
Leah? You back?
There was only silence as a response.
Chapter 24
“I think it’s about time, sire,” Tael said, breaking the silence.
“Mm. I suppose it is at that,” Alex said, then sighed. “Alright. Let’s go.”
Pressing his heels to the sides of the horse, Alex clicked his tongue sharply several times.
His group began to move forward along next to him. Consisting of Carla, Nannie, Eleanor, Quinn, Tael, Dave, and William Brush, it was everyone Alex trusted.
A second group was moving along behind his, this one made up of heralds and soldiers.
“Tell me, Alex,” Quinn said, sliding her horse up next to his. She inadvertently moved Carla further away from Alex, but the bigger woman didn’t seem to mind it. Other than to give Alex a smirk with a quirked brow.
They all give her leeway as they would a Numbered. She doesn’t even have a collar yet.
“Why do this? And why now? It seems very unlikely to succeed and, if anything, it will just enrage his soldiers,” Quinn said.
“What, try to buy them outright? Because I’m not going to appeal to their greed. I’m not going to buy them at all,” Alex said. “I’m going to appeal to everything around it, and then only offer the money as a way to give them something tangible up front.”
“I still don’t get it,” Quinn said, shaking her head.
“We’ve attacked everything in their life without attacking them,” Alex said. “Their stability is completely ruined. They’re losing vassals faster and faster. All around them, they’re watching as their way of life is coming to a close. There’s no mistaking what a commoner, a citizen, would think if all the nobility of their nation were switching sides.”
Quinn’s eyebrows were low over her eyes, but she slowly nodded her head. “We did the same when we made me Empress of the Wilds.”
“Somewhat. Vassalage is a bit more fast and loose in Xer. It’s a lot more contractual here in the empire,” Alex said. “A soldier is even more regulated, though. Doesn’t get a choice at all once they sign. They’re contracted, and that’s the end of it.
“Vassalage can shift much more easily for the nobility than it can for the soldiery.”
The enemy line was in view now. They were one and all watching Alex’s small procession and their white flag moving out in front of them.
“That being said, we’ve created a rather unique and interesting environment,” Alex said. “The very people they’re contracted to may have already switched sides. Leaving their soldiers with little opportunity to do the same. How could they? The duke would have them killed outright as traitors.”
“Okay,” Quinn said, clearly looking for more.
“Beyond that, we initiated our refugee plan. It is extremely likely that letters are still being delivered. It takes quite a lot
for the post to fail in their duties. Especially paid post. Written by others, since most can’t write, and read by others, since most can’t read.
“And for soldiers, that’s one of the few luxuries they have and typically expect from their loved ones,” Alex said. “Now… imagine if your family was suddenly paid a large sum, given a job and an escort out of a war zone. And not just out of the war zone but into actual safety—inside the enemy’s territory.”
Quinn nodded slowly. “If I became a prisoner of war later, it would be very hard to explain to someone where my family was.”
“Indeed. Now, beyond all of that, and much closer to the unfortunate situation they’re in… I don’t think they’ve been paid in close to six months,” Alex said, coming to stop in the middle of the enemy formation. “Now add all that up together, along with how badly they’ve been whipped and outnumbered. Then throw in me offering them three months’ back pay, a month furlough to rest, and one month’s pay up front.”
Quinn let out a slow breath and stopped her horse near Alex’s. “They’re going to come running in droves. That’s why you asked Regina to keep Gaelis occupied. To keep him at the negotiation table today. This is going to take a while.”
“Oh yes. And then some,” Alex said. “It’s also why we have that group of Coffin’s people looking for messengers trying to tell the duke what’s going on.”
“Yes… yes, it all makes sense,” Quinn said.
Sighing expressively, Eleanor clanked into place on Alex’s left, her armor rattling in the saddle. “I do dislike the messenger part of this. They’re only trying to do their job.”
“Yes, I’m aware. I did tell our people to just keep those messengers from going anywhere if possible,” Alex said.
“I know,” Eleanor said, still sounding uneasy. “War is a terrible thing.”
Alanna would agree.
Gritting his teeth, Alex lifted his chin up partially and moved his horse forward by ten or so paces. Putting himself out in front of his group.
On each side of him, heralds were moving forward to stand equidistant from one another. Expanding to the ends of the enemy forces. All the heralds formed a line with Alex.
They were all looking toward him at the center.
It was his speech he’d written out for them, after all. Alex would be the lead speaker, and everyone would see him exactly for what he was.
“Good morning, soldiers!” Alex called at full volume to his enemies. “My name is Count Brit, but you all probably know me by my other name. Count Inferno.”
He deliberately left off the butcher piece. He would do everything he could to knock that little moniker off his name as quickly as possible.
“Your leaders have abandoned you,” Alex shouted. “They’ve begun signing agreements, contracts, and getting protection for themselves. From me, to be more precise.
“In fact, they’re trying to surrender to the duchess just to avoid surrendering to me.”
Alex turned his head, slowly looking down from one side of the line of soldiers to the other.
“A number of them are already back home, enjoying their lives as vassals of the duchess. They’re no longer in any danger,” Alex said. “Even while you, their soldiers, remain here and fight for a cause they no longer have any attachment to,” Alex said.
He could see people nodding as if in agreement to what he was saying. He was striking a chord with them, even if they didn’t want to admit it.
“Even your duke has gone to the duchess. To beg for terms so he might return to his home and act as if nothing at all happened,” Alex said, his tone bordering on incredulous. “And to you, soldiers who have fought and bled for him, you can all guess what your reward for your service will be when it ends. Right?”
There were some responses from the crowd. Alex clearly heard someone say “nothing” quite loudly. It was enough for others to figure out what Alex wanted to hear.
Which meant he just needed to ask again. It was something he expected to happen. He’d even written it into the speech and made sure the heralds knew not only to expect it, but to play into it.
“What was that? Come now, I’ve heard your battle cries! I know firsthand you’ve got lungs and balls aplenty! I’ve seen them both in equal measure as we clashed in the fields! What will you get when the war ends?” Alex called.
“Nothing!” came back the roar from the enemy army.
“That’s right. Nothing,” Alex said. “He won’t pay you, won’t give you a conclusion of service bonus, medals, awards, nothing.
“Not. A. Thing.”
Alex counted to five in his head as the soldiers digested that.
“I’ve come to offer you a deal,” he said, holding his arms out to his sides. “I am Count Brit, Count Inferno, blessed of Leah, mistress of deals and trades. And I’ve come with a deal exclusive to you, the common soldiers of Gaelis. This deal will not be given to your liege lords, nor the citizenry.
“To you, my enemy, my honored foe, I will provide you this only because I have great respect for you. For what you fought for. For how you fought.
“Your leaders have forsaken you. Even now, your officers are probably trying to get you to ignore me. Because they know very well what will happen if you hear my offer.”
Once more Alex waited, counting to five.
“My offer is simple. I will pay you for the past three months based on your rank, equivalent to what my own soldiers make,” Alex said. “I will also pay you for one month furlough, during which you may rest. Recover. Regain your confidence. Train with your new comrades in arms, the soldiers of Brit.
“Finally, I’ll pay you a month in advance as well. Consider it a security deposit on your well-being and upkeep. Your salary would then continue forward at the same rates as my own soldiers, after I of course armor and arm you accordingly.”
Alex saw it then. The ranks were breaking. People were moving from foot to foot. Changing their balance.
Unlocking from their rigid mindset.
Reaching his five count, Alex let his arms fall to his sides.
“All of this is yours, if you only swear yourselves to Leah, and to me. That you’ll not assist, help, or work to benefit Gaelis in this war in any way,” Alex said. “And let’s be honest. If all of you come and take me up on my offer, the war would be over anyways, and you’d get essentially five months of pay from me.
“You could singlehandedly end the war. Today.
“And go home… tomorrow. With your pockets full of pay you deserve, free soldiers, with an employer who would have you take that month off and then return fit to work. Because you’re soldiers, I respect you and want you for my own.
“Though I do warn you now. As you’ve seen from my own army, we have high standards. We will hold you to the same bar we hold ourselves. The same moral codes, ethics, training, and military professionalism,” Alex said with a chuckle.
“But can you blame me? You’ve fought against your would-be comrades. You know how valiantly they defended one another and bore their fellow’s harm upon themselves.”
Once more Alex saw bobbing heads. Though this time, it was practically a sea of them. They apparently all knew the ferocity of Alex’s troopers.
“And so here we are,” Alex said, which was also the cue to begin bringing out tables, chairs, refreshments, and pay chests on the far side of the field. Where he’d ridden out from. All the soldiers of Gaelis had to do was turn their heads, and they could see it.
Things were being carted out, laid out on the field in plain view.
“If you care to join the house of Brit, I welcome you to form orderly lines, preferably in your rank and regiment, and come with me back to my camp,” Alex said. “And I shall offer you this in trust, just to facilitate this endeavor.
“I, Alex Brit, offer the soldiers of Gaelis the opportunity to join me in my camp, free of persecution or aggression, so that they may seek to enlist with my army. There they will be given three months’ back pay equal to
their rank, one month of furlough paid, and one month of pay up front. They will be held to the same regulations as my own soldiers and provided the same opportunities, training, and equipment.
“And this I all swear upon Leah. I hope to see you all in the encampment today and then going home tomorrow.”
Finished, Alex turned his horse around and slowly began riding back toward the encampment he’d come from.
He didn’t look over his shoulder.
Instead, Alex did his best to project an aura of confidence. That even if they didn’t follow him, it wouldn’t matter to him. He would only finish what he started and go home later than he’d intended.
Riding his horse without a care in the world, Count Inferno the Butcher left the field.
The unmistakable thud and tread of many boots behind him became slowly more and more obvious.
Eventually, it became a full army march, including cadence calls.
“Woulda bought me,” Nannie said.
“Me too,” Carla said.
“Likewise,” Eleanor said with a sigh. “It’s embarrassing to admit, but even I would be forced to say I would follow.”
“I think most people would,” Alex said, shaking his head. “The duke failed to account for the fact that his people are pressed in on every side right now.
“If he’d just… paid them… I probably wouldn’t have been able to steal them away… at least, I think I did. How many did I get? I don’t want to turn around.”
“I think… all of ’em?” Nannie said. “Seems like all of ’em. Or most of them, if not all.”
“Huh, alright then,” Alex said. “That’ll be costly to a degree, but… I do think the price is worth it. Having this war end now would be absolutely lovely. More so if I can preserve his soldiers. We’ll need them in the future in one way or another.”
***
“That was amazing, Alex,” Riley said, squeezing his arm tightly against her. He was sitting at a table nearby, overseeing the massive number of soldiers who were filing through, collecting pay, swearing themselves to Brit, and moving into the camp.
