by Eric Vall
Temin glowered at the tabletop as he considered my words, and Dorinick scruffed his thick black beard while he thought to himself. Then the king took a deep breath and settled his stern gaze on me.
“You speak sense, Defender Flynt,” he admitted, “but this isn’t a task I can snap my fingers and have accomplished. The separation of the ogre region from the kingdom of Illaria instilled a great tension between our kind and theirs, and their ruler is not a diplomatic creature, he’s an ogre in every sense of the word. I cannot simply walk into Jagruel, offer my hand, and mend the divide over a cup of sherry. For all we know, the ruler himself is already residing in this fortress you spoke of.”
“What’s Jagruel?” I asked.
“Oh, it’s what they’ve chosen to call their region, apparently,” the king muttered with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Pleasant, isn’t it?”
“Well, what would it take to mend the divide?” I asked. “I’ll travel to Jagruel myself and see that it’s done.”
I could feel Dorinick’s gaze snap to me, and Temin stared blankly for a moment before responding.
“Defender Flynt, I cannot allow it,” he finally informed me. “Illaria requires your efforts here, not on the western coast where the ogres will likely tear your head from your shoulders and spread your innards on their bread for supper. The mages are relying on your leadership, the Oculus is not secure without your defenses, and the entire kingdom is minutes away from a deadly war with the Master’s army. You are telling me you would abandon your post when your kingdom is on the verge of destruction?”
“Every nation is on the verge of destruction the moment the Master gains enough power,” I countered. “He has rune magic and magery on his side, as well as years of mentorship under an elf who knew the most ancient secrets of his craft. Are you going to focus on your kingdom alone, or will you stand ahead of the rest and gain the alliance we all need in order to survive this? The Elders of Aurum will not go to Jagruel to see it done, will they Dorinick?”
Dorinick was still staring at me, but he quickly shook his head when I glanced over.
“Nalnora sure as hell won’t bother with it,” I continued, “and Cedis doesn’t possess the resources to make the journey. So, Temin, this falls to you. I have already secured the Oculus with scouts, Defenders, and my automatons. The mages in Falmount are being trained daily by the best we have. Everything is in place to begin reclaiming the mages we’ve lost to the Master’s hold. Surely, you can spare me long enough to ensure the ogres don’t become our greatest enemies in this war.”
The tension in the air pressed down on me as I held the gaze of the king without wavering, and for the briefest second, I thought I saw contempt in his eyes. Half of me knew I was taking way too many liberties with our relationship already, but knowing Haragh was back in Falmount fearing for his entire race kept me from taking back a single word I’d said.
Because I knew I was right, and Temin was a man of sense. Not only would he gain stature amongst the regions if he backed me on this, but he’d be preventing a deadly encounter between his vulnerable kingdom and the onslaught of hundreds of possessed ogres.
Dorinick’s fingers were fidgeting uneasily on his knees now, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see his beard shifting as he looked between me and Temin while the seconds ticked by.
Then the king raised his chin as he sat a bit straighter. “Very well, Defender Flynt. If it falls to Illaria to prevent a brutal war against the ogres, then so be it. You will travel to Jagruel and seek an alliance in arms. But first … please, for the love of the gods, could you address the issue of these tariffs? You’re more familiar with the dwarven nation than myself, and the barons will respect your input. More importantly, you will spare me having to spend another moment in the presence of this dwarf.”
“Ahh, don’t be sore about it,” Dorinick snorted, “I was just warmin’ up to you. Thought we ought to dine out sometime, seein’ as I can’t afford to buy a scrap of food from your greedy kingdom as it is. It’s the least ye’ could do for my troubles.”
“I’ll address the tariffs as soon as I return from Jagruel,” I sighed. “Is that fair enough?”
Dorinck grunted his approval, and Temin let a sigh of relief escape from his mouth.
“Fine, perfect, anything you say,” the king muttered as he rubbed his temples. “Nothing in this kingdom was so complicated as this when Abrus was head of the Order.”
I cocked a brow, and the king smirked.
“He may have been an underhanded, scheming, and maliciously-minded man, but he did his damned job, at least,” Temin admitted. “I need ten more Mason Flynts around if I’m ever going to sort this mess out. I don’t suppose you have any brothers?”
“Unfortunately, I’m one of a kind,” I chuckled.
“This is both a blessing and a curse,” the king sighed as he stood, and I shook his hand before turning for the door.
Dorinick and the king only exchanged a brief and hostile glance, and then the dwarf grumbled a few insults under his breath as he followed me back down the marble hall toward the entrance of the castle.
Once we were out of earshot of the few nobles strolling through the great hall, Dorinick nudged my thigh with his elbow.
“Never thought I’d hear a man talkin’ like that to his king,” Dorinick said with a smirk.
I grinned. “You told him to shove how many things up his ass?”
“Yeah, but he’s not my king,” Dorinick pointed out.
“And I never asked to be his knight,” I said with a shrug. “I got back from Nalnora and found out I’d been promoted, but if Temin wants me working for the good of Illaria, then he’s gonna have to stand aside and let me work. That’s all there is to it.”
Dornick let out a low whistle as we headed down the entrance steps to the courtyard. “You’ve gotten a bit testy since ye’ went to Nalnora.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I left all of my patience back in the jungles,” I chuckled. “Something about daggers flying at me every day put a few things into perspective.”
“Oh yeah? Like what?”
“Like fuck the elves, for one thing,” I muttered, and Dorinick let out a deep chuckle of approval. “Also, I’m well on my way to kicking the Master’s ass into the next realm as long as I stay in step, so that’s what I’m gonna do.”
“What’s a realm?” Dorinick asked as he furrowed his brows.
“Don’t worry about it,” I muttered. “Get in the car.”
“What’s a car?”
I couldn’t help laughing as we came to a stop beside Bobbie, and the dwarf’s knees gave out for the briefest second as he took in the sight of her. His green eyes shot from one fender to the other and back again, and then he reached out with a shaky hand to drag his palm along her steel curves.
“Wha … this … what?”
“This is a car,” I clarified with a broad grin, “and if you think you like her now, just wait ‘til we get on the road.”
Chapter 4
We must have clocked about eighty miles per hour at one point as Bobbie took us down the road from Serin toward Falmount Rift, but Dorinick kept requesting we go faster. His mustache was all bunched up from the giant grin on his face, and he chuckled heartily as we sped around turns and began to climb into the foothills.
Stan sat on Dorinick’s shoulder and steadied himself by clutching the dwarf’s beard, and the two made quite a pair with Dorinick’s feet propped up on the dash.
“Godsdamnit, you’ve really outdone yourself on this one,” the dwarf laughed as I finally slowed Bobbie down just outside Falmount. “That other metal contraption was a hell of a thing, but this has got some class to it. What are these seats? Velvet?”
“Yep,” I replied, “the finest cushions I could steal from Nalnora.”
“You stole ‘em from the elves?” Dorinick asked, and when I nodded, he threw his head back and cackled. “Now, that is dwarven-grade class, good on ye’. Wish I couldn’ve seen
the looks on their asshole faces.”
“Me too,” I chuckled. “I took off within five minutes of installing them, though.”
Dorinick was mopping tears of laughter from his eyes when I parked us beside my house, and he let out a heavy sigh as he climbed out of the Mustang.
“Well, that improved my mood about tenfold,” the dwarf informed me. “Almost makes me forget that son of a bitch has a fortress in my mountains. Almost.”
“I wanted to talk to you more about that,” I told him, but then Aurora appeared in the doorway, and when she saw us, her emerald eyes lit up as she jogged over.
“There she is!” Dorinick chuckled. “The fiery maiden herself. Hope you gave those elves a run for their money out there in Nalnora.”
“Of course,” my half-elf replied with sinister smile. “I even got to burn a few of them alive, it was very refreshing. How have you been?”
“Terrible,” Dorinick snorted. “The damn Elders are still after me with that promotion, and it doesn’t seem to matter how much I insult them, they just keep offerin’ me a seat among ‘em.”
Aurora shook her head. “I’m sorry to hear it.”
“Yeah, well, what are ye’ gonna do?” Dorinick sighed. “I’m too effective, is what it is, so I’ve locked myself up in a mine about twenty miles north of Aurum. Still hasn’t seemed to do the trick.”
“They’ll have a hard time promoting you this far south,” Aurora giggled. “Come in the house, Cayla and Shoshanne will be happy to see you.”
“Is Deya home?” I asked as we followed the half-elf. “I wanted to introduce her.”
A giddy snicker slipped out of Aurora’s mouth, and there was a twinkle in her eyes when she turned around. “Ohh, she’s home, and I think you’re going to enjoy the mood she’s in.”
I furrowed my brow as the half-elf parted the doors and led us into the house, and as soon as she called out to let Deya know I was home, I heard a loud gasp.
Then Deya came sprinting from the atrium, and in a single leap, her thighs were locked around my waist as her fingers clasped the roots of my hair. I could hardly breath with the beautiful elf practically swallowing my tongue for me, but I didn’t interrupt her. I just braced my hands on her ass and enjoyed her little moans while she pressed her breasts firmly into me, and my blood was nearly to its boiling point by the time she pulled away.
“I love you,” Deya said through her ragged breaths. “Please forgive me, I have been such a ridiculous elf, and I’ll never doubt you for another moment as long as I live.”
I raised my brows and glanced over at Aurora to see a shit eating grin on her face, and Dorinick was beside her looking almost as shocked as he’d been when he heard about the Master’s fortress.
“Uhh,” I chuckled as Deya began nibbling on my ear and working her way to my neck, “that’s alright. No forgiveness is necessary.”
Deya groaned and paused her kisses long enough to shake her head vehemently. “No, I’ve been horrible! I should have known you would never mislead me, but I was so conflicted, and I’ll never question you again. Nemris clearly holds you in the highest esteem, and it’s not my place to doubt the connection you have with her. Please forgive me?”
Her lips were already back at work as she pulled my shirt collar aside, and I cleared my throat as I tried to keep from laughing.
“Sure, I forgive you,” I muttered as I eyed Aurora’s cocky smile, “but you’re fully entitled to doubt me whenever you want. I’m only human.”
“No,” Deya insisted as she clutched me by the neck. “You’re so much more than that, you’re a blessing sent by the gods, and you deserve to be respected and honored as such. What do you want from me? Tell me and I’ll do it, anything.”
Now, Aurora snorted loudly and had to dismiss herself from the room, and I tried to ignore how ridiculously sexy Deya’s offer sounded with her panting in my arms like that.
“How about we discuss this a little later,” I muttered as I lowered the beautiful elf back down to the ground, and she clung to my side with bright pink cheeks as she gazed up at me adoringly.
“Anything you say, Mason,” Deya purred, and Dorinick’s bushy black brows shot up.
“Uhh … Dorinick, this is Deya,” I chuckled. “She’s the one who located the Master’s fortress for us. Deya, this is General Dorinick of Orebane.”
Deya seemed to notice we weren’t alone for the first time since I walked in the door, and a sweet smile of surprise came to her lips as she looked down on the dwarf.
“It’s an honor to finally meet you, General Dorinick,” the beautiful elf said softly. “Cayla has told me of your bravery in the battle against the ice giants. I hope your people have found peace in the north since the Master’s influence has been dispelled?”
Dorinick’s gaze gleamed a bit as he stared into Deya’s serpentine eyes, but when he realized she’d asked him a question, he suddenly cleared his throat and nodded.
“Y-Yes,” he managed gruffly. “My people fare quite well these days, thank you. I trust the elves are uh … well. I hope you’re enjoying Illaria, anyway.”
“Very much,” Deya sighed happily, and she pulled me tighter against her as she gazed up at me with a fierce blush. “Mason brought me here to live with him and the girls, and I’ve never been so happy in all my life as I am now.”
From the look on her face, Deya seemed about ten minutes away from building a shrine in my honor, and I couldn’t remember ever seeing a woman so wholly devoted as the beautiful elf was in that moment. Her violet eyes sparkled wistfully, and the blush on her cheeks seemed to be a fixed feature now. I could feel her breasts swelling against my ribs as she took deep breaths to try and steady herself, but her fingers kept tracing coy little circles on my abs as she stood waiting to do literally anything I asked of her apparently.
I found myself fighting against my every inclination to spend the rest of the day making a list of sensual demands, but Dorinick cleared his throat after a long moment of me warring with this.
“Umm … ” I mumbled blankly, and I desperately dug through the erotic imagery clouding my mind to try and figure out what my next task was. “The fortress! That’s right, we were talking about the fortress.”
“Aye,” Dorinick chuckled. “Though I can understand the difficulty of remembering.”
I felt myself blush as I sent the dwarf a sheepish grin. “Sorry about that, let’s head to the atrium, we can discuss this all there.”
Deya wove her fingers in with mine as she joined us, and when I sat at my stone stool beside the worktable, the beautiful elf dropped onto my lap with a contented sigh.
I grinned and slid my palms to rest on her slender thighs, and Dorinick was chuckling to himself when he settled in on the edge of the fountain.
“So, like I was telling Temin,” I began, “this fortress isn’t a place I’m planning on storming right away. We have to proceed very cautiously if we want any kind of leverage here.”
Dorinik nodded his agreement. “You said he’s got some sort of rune magic guarding the place?”
“I don’t know to what extent,” I admitted, “but I do know there’s a rune etched into the rocks surrounding the place for about a mile around, and it conceals all sounds. This rune has been altered from the original, though, which means he’s been pretty innovative with his defenses.”
“Great,” Dorinick snorted. “What’s his visibility like out there?”
“No idea,” I admitted, and I glanced at Deya. “You would know better than me.”
“Hmm,” Deya mused for a moment, and she furrowed her pink brows. “The structure was very shocking to me, and at the time, I was so upset about what I was seeing that I admit I did not focus very well on details like this. I watched the ogres in the grounds for a long while before I broke my connection with the dragon and returned here.”
“How many ogres did you see?” I asked.
“There were about a dozen, maybe more,” she guessed, “and they were moving
large chunks of rock from a place out of my line of sight. It was very unnerving, they moved like your giant metal men do. If they bumped into one another, they became incredibly violent all at once. Two of them were covered in blood and had their faces torn open by the time they went back to their work, and then they acted as if they didn’t even notice their injuries. That’s when I left.”
“They tore their faces open and still kept working?” Dorinick asked incredulously. “Shit.”
“Do you think you could go back and get a closer look at the fortress for us?” I asked Deya. “We need to know as much as possible about the structure, the entrance, any scouts he has in the grounds, the extent of the place, anything you can find out.”
“Of course, Mason,” Deya replied as she stroked my cheek. “I’ll go right this moment.”
The beautiful elf left a light kiss on my lips, and she lingered there for a minute before she hopped up from my lap and headed for the next room. I watched the sheer white gauze of her skirt sway methodically as she went, and then I turned to find Dorinick shaking his head to himself once more.
“Leave it to you to find the one decent elf in all of Nalnora,” he snorted.
“Her brother’s a decent guy, too,” I told the dwarf. “He makes elven weaponry from a material called Halcyan that his grandfather discovered. You see those daggers on the rack over there? Those are his work. The glaives and swords, also. He makes all kinds of blades with it.”
Dorinick’s expression darkened, and he stood to get a closer look at the Halcyan blades mounted on the walls of the workshop.
“You met the elf who makes these?” he clarified.
“Yeah,” I replied, but I was beginning to feel a bit uneasy as I noticed how angry the dwarf suddenly looked. “Like I said, it’s Deya’s family that first forged them. Her brother has carried on the work for all of Nalnora.”