by Logan Jacobs
Jaxtom and Riondale swapped barbs and banter while they drank, and their antics caused everyone to laugh. I was excited about having the two of them join my team, and I knew their leadership skills would come in handy on the road.
It was a night I knew I would always remember, and I cherished every moment of it. My girls finally pulled me away in the wee hours of the morning, and I waved a drunken goodbye to the townspeople remaining at the bar. Most of my victors had already said their goodnights and farewells, and they claimed the need to prepare for the journey as their reason for leaving the party early.
I couldn’t blame them, though, since there was still a lot I needed to do to get ready for the trip to Vallenwood, but that would be the focus of the following day. For the moment, I was content to pass out in a drunken stupor among the super-hot women who loved me.
I woke up reluctantly the next day to the sun blazing in the window like a hot stove burner. It had to be close to mid-day already, and I groaned as I pushed myself out of the bed. I was alone in the bedroom, so I quickly dressed before going in search of the three beautiful women I called mine.
I found them downstairs packing for the journey ahead of us, and I grinned at the sight of their busy movements. They had to be well acquainted with loading our saddlebags by this point, but this trip would be a little bit different. For one, we’d have more people with us than we’d traveled with for a while. Secondly, we were going to a social function for nobility, so we’d be packing more heavily.
Going to the king’s palace meant dressing the part, after all.
I was grateful Bellona would be going with us, so we would have constant access to a professional seamstress. I’d be sure to make an awesome impression on all the nobles with her at my back.
“Need help?” I asked with a wide grin.
The girls jumped and turned around to face me with admonishing but playful glares.
“Bash!” My wife slapped my arm playfully. “Don’t sneak up on us like that.”
“Sorry,” I chuckled. “But in all fairness, I’ve been standing here for a minute. It’s not my fault you didn’t notice.”
Mahini shook her head, and Eva snorted, but no one argued my point, so I grinned proudly.
“Here.” Elissa grabbed an empty bag and shoved it into my hands, and she flashed me a wink before she turned back to her own belongings. “Come back when it's full.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I chuckled.
I did as I was told, and when we were done at the house, the four of us went into town for the rest of our supplies. We arranged for everyone to have a horse, plus a couple to pull the wagon full of supplies. Then we purchased tents for everyone and enough food to last us the whole trip. It took us most of the day to make all the necessary arrangements, but I made sure to stop by each of the stores to ask if they had any special requests.
It took us two full days to get everyone and everything ready, but then my crew assembled near the stables on the morning of the third day for a final check over. I had everyone line up while I inspected the ranks, and I made sure they were wearing good traveling clothes before I nodded in approval.
“Bellona,” I said, and the seamstress stepped forward. “Did you manage to make uniforms for the entire entourage?”
“I started them.” She frowned. “I’ll have to finish them along the way. My apologies, Great One.”
“No need to be sorry.” I smiled gently at the seamstress. I wanted only good vibes on this trip, and that started with how I handled situations like this. “It’s not like you had a lot of notice. Do the best you can with the time you have. I just want us all ready to be presented to the king by the time we reach Vallenwood.”
“It will be done.” She smirked. “And you’ll be the best-dressed archduke there, I can promise you that.”
“Good.” I nodded, and then I turned my attention to the rest of my team. When I was satisfied, I clapped my hands together. “Time to head out, people!”
We mounted our horses, and Riondale helped Bellona up on top of the wagon’s bench before he took a place beside her. Then the lieutenant snapped the reins, and the horses pulled the cart forward.
When my entourage was ready to leave, I clicked my tongue to Goliath, and the war horse neighed before he trotted forward to the head of the line. Then, with some of the best damn people in all of Sorreyal at my back, I rode out of the gate of Bastianville with my head held high.
Vallenwood and the king awaited.
Chapter Eight
Carleone was our first destination, and it was less than a day's travel west of Bastianville, so I expected us to arrive before dark. Riondale and Bellona sat on the bench of the heavily-laden wagon while the rest of my entourage rode horses in front of or behind the cart. Mahini, Elissa, and Eva took up positions near the front of our caravan, and I rode between them with a proud grin on my face.
With how many good people I had at my back, this was sure to be my easiest journey yet.
Jaxtom trotted his horse up next to mine, and the blacksmith flashed me a cheeky grin across the distance between us.
“What’s next, boss?” Jax growled as he eyed the road ahead.
“We’ll reach Carleone before the end of the day,” I informed him as I mirrored his infectious happy expression. “We’ll take some time to stop and say hi to Mak, too.”
“Aye, I haven’t seen the ‘ol boy in a long time.” Jax nodded thoughtfully.
“Keep your guard up, though,” I instructed as my gaze flicked to the scrub brush on either side of the path. “We were attacked by kobolds the last time I came in this direction.”
“I’d love a chance to get my hands dirty.” Jax let out a loud belly laugh, and then he clicked his tongue to his horse before he trotted forward to ride beside Mahini, and a moment later, I heard the two of them discussing the various qualities of leather armor. Jaxtom seemed to be having the time of his life already, and the walls of Bastianville were still visible behind us.
It made me happy to see him so pleased with himself, and I was glad I’d decided to end the last event of my impromptu tournament with a tie. Having the blacksmith and Riondale both with me meant my fighting force was strong enough to handle anything we encountered.
“I finished our first flag,” Bellona announced from her seat on the wagon, and she flourished the fabric with a flick of her wrist.
Embroidered on the face of the flag was a griffon and a dragon, both rearing up and facing each other as though they were fighting. The dragon was crimson-red, and the griffon a burnt-gold color, but the background was black like a pirate’s jolly roger.
“It’s perfect.” I grinned. “It will surely cast fear into the hearts of our enemies upon the mere sight of my standard.”
“Good.” Bellona returned my smile. “I’ll stitch the same crest onto the breast of all of our uniforms. That way everyone will know we serve you and only you.”
“Plus, you’ll be given free range of the palace and all the power of being in the presence of a god,” I reminded the seamstress with a smirk. “You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.”
“I can’t wait to see the big city,” Caelia breathed in a low voice. “Is it really made of solid gold?”
“The walls are painted a gold hue,” I said. “But when the sunset rays strike the walls of Vallenwood… It does look like it was built from pure gold.”
“I’m pretty sure the glow of dragon fire added some to the effect as well,” Riondale pointed out.
“True,” I chuckled. I was glad I didn’t have to deal with Smiguel the great crimson asshole anymore, so this time I could focus all my attention on the summit of nobility.
I still wasn’t entirely certain what would be expected of me once we reached the palace in Vallenwood, but I was curious about what I could learn while playing dress-up with some nobles. There were far more important and more interesting things to do, but being a god brought its fair share of responsibilities.
“Wai
t.” Bellona frowned. “We won’t have to face any dragons this time, right? You killed it, didn’t you?”
“Fair and square.” I nodded. “No, the worst we will deal with will be bandits, kobolds, or something like that trying to attack us along the way. We are well-protected, though, so I don’t think anyone will be brave enough to step up to us.”
I had to be careful saying things I couldn’t back up, but with half my team being heavily armed and the other half constantly keeping a lookout, I felt confident enough to assure the seamstress of her safety.
I lost myself in thought for a while after that, and I entertained myself by taking in the scenery. I’d traveled to the north during my last quest, so while the landscape was still familiar, it was more inviting than the road to Arginold had been. I was looking forward to seeing the two snow-capped mountains that held Carleone nestled in between them, though, and I was even more anxious to speak with Carlisle, the town leader.
Carleone was one of my new holdings, and I wanted to make sure it was thriving just as much as Bastianville was. I wouldn’t have a lot of time to spend in town during this journey, but I could find out information I needed to help them out on the way back home.
The evergreens were thick and lush in this part of Sorreyal, and the road was wide enough for us to ride four abreast. The air was brisk and chilly, but it held aromas of the woodlands that teased my nostrils. Pine needles crunched beneath our horses’ feet and the wheels of the wagon, and birds chirped in the distance.
It was peaceful, and serene, but a part of me didn’t trust the serenity. Danger could be lurking beneath the shadows of the trees, or around the next bend, but I shook off my paranoia with a shake of my head. Then I reminded myself to trust in my own power and abilities.
I was the God of Time, after all.
Having more people to protect did amp up my adrenaline, but I knew they would lend a helping hand, so it all balanced out in the end.
The rest of the day passed by without incident, and the sun crept steadily across the sky as we rode at a decent pace. With the afternoon rays beaming brightly down onto the road ahead, I spotted the snow-capped mountains first, and then the walls of Carleone bloomed in my vision through the mist like it had just been created before my eyes.
Carleone was tucked between two mountains, and the walls filled the distance between the slopes. I spotted far less blurry dots moving about on top of the walls this time than I had during my previous visit, and I wondered why their guard forces had diminished.
I nudged my heels against Goliath’s flanks to urge him forward at a quicker pace, and I took the lead of my little caravan. Everyone tightened their formation around the wagon behind me, and out of the corner of my eyes, I saw shirts being straightened and hair combed with fingers. My team wanted to make a good impression on their neighboring town, and I didn’t think there was anything wrong with that at all. In fact, I held my chin up proudly as I approached the closed gates of Carleone.
The guards at the front of the town looked familiar, and I wracked my brain for the memory of their names.
“Greetings, Sergeant Jack!” I called out in a friendly tone, and I waved to the man on the left.
Jack stepped forward, and he squinted up at me for a long moment before recognition bloomed on his face.
“O Great One, you have returned!” the sergeant gasped as he swept into a low bow. “We have heard tales of your deeds throughout the land, and everyone has been wishing you would come back to Carleone soon.”
“My duties have kept me away for a while,” I said with a sympathetic smile. “I’m actually just passing through this time as well, but I need to speak to the mayor, too.”
“He’ll be up at the mines for a little while longer,” Jack informed me. “He’s up there til dark every day.”
“Working himself to death.” I shook my head. “I’ll fix it.”
“Uncle Carl loves this town,” my wife murmured as she nudged her horse up next to mine. “He’ll do whatever he can to keep it going.”
“Well, soon he won’t have to worry about anything just like your father.” I grinned. “At least his house isn’t full of homeless people anymore.”
“True.” Elissa’s vibrant eyes twinkled with joy. “And if he’s working the mines himself that must mean there is still some ore coming out.”
“We’ll figure out what’s going on soon enough.” I nodded. “In the meantime, let’s get everyone some dinner while we wait for him to return to town.”
“Good idea.” Elissa grinned, and then she turned to the people behind us. “Follow me to the stables, please.”
We would spend the night in town and head back out early the next day, but I wanted to have plenty of time to talk to Carlisle and the other people of Carleone while I was there.
A short while later, my entourage and I were seated in the tavern with full bellies. We all held half drank mugs of ale in our hands, and happy sighs could be heard all around the group. Sarah snuggled up against her husband next to the crackling fireplace, Bellona furrowed her brow in concentration as she stitched on one of the uniforms, and Caelia whispered excitedly with Celeste and Adelina.
Kylor, Corvis, Niconor, and Jeron stuck to each other like glue, and they all kept their eyes peeled in every direction, so I could tell they were taking their duties as my guardsmen very seriously.
Riondale and Jax sat shoulder to shoulder to my right, and judging from how often the big blacksmith let out one of his deep belly laughs, they were having a good time joking around with each other.
I’d have to give my people a little bit of guidance about what was expected from each of them during this quest since I’d come up with roles in my head, but I hadn’t explained them in detail yet.
“Listen up, everybody,” I said in a loud enough voice to get all twelve of their attentions. “So, you’re part of my entourage, but do you know what that will mean once we reach the palace?”
“I assumed me and the other women would act as waiting women for Elissa, Mahini, and Eva.” Bellona met my gaze, and she shrugged her shoulders.
“And we’re your guards,” Jeron supplied with a glance at the other men around him.
“That’s true enough.” I scratched my jaw as I thought over what else they would need to know. “But there may be times when I ask you to perform certain tasks. Whether that be to follow someone without being seen, or to fetch something from a far distance, I expect my instructions to be followed to the letter.”
“Of course, Great One.” Bron sat up a little straighter. “We will not fail you.”
Everyone echoed his words of affirmation, and my heart swelled with pride at their passionate insistence that they would follow my commands without question.
“I have the best damn followers in all of Sorreyal,” I insisted in return.
“Bash!” Carlisle greeted in an excited tone as he burst through the tavern door and rushed toward me with a huge grin on his face. “What a sight for sore eyes you are!”
“Uncle Carl.” I grinned as I gripped his forearm in mine, and I clapped him on the shoulder with my other hand.
“Where is Lissy?” The Mayor of Carleone scanned over the faces of my entourage until they landed on his adopted niece, and my wife, Elissa. “Ah, there you are. Of course, you are with your husband, such a faithful wife.”
“I will go with Bash anywhere until our children are born,” my wife replied with a sweet smile. “ How are you, Uncle Carl?”
“I’ve been better,” the mayor sighed, but then his worried gaze flicked to my face, and he hurried to explain. “But I’ve also been a lot worse. I’ve just been busy.”
“Busy how?” I gestured to an empty chair next to mine, and the mayor followed me back to my seat.
“Yes, please, catch us up with everything going on in Carleone.” Elissa pulled her chair closer to the two of us, and she leaned forward on her elbows and rested her chin in the palm of her hand.
“After your
last visit, things have improved a lot around here,” the mayor reported in a pleased tone. “Many of our citizens moved to Bastianville to alleviate some of the unemployment we suffered, but now we are basically a ghost town. We get the travelers who come from the east to Bastianville, but they don’t stay long, and they keep their gold for your town.”
“The merchants don’t stop here and share their wares?” I frowned.
Did the hometown of a god hold that much sway?
Carleone was now my town, too, so I needed to do what I could to help it thrive. Maybe the travelers just needed to learn that fact, and then they would be just as intrigued by the neighboring town as they were by Bastianville.
“No.” Carlisle shook his head. “And without the guardsmen Bullard provided, our protective force has dwindled. I no longer have a personal guard.”
“I’m building my forces, so you’ll have more than enough protection soon enough,” I assured him. “Plus, I’m going to spread the word that Carleone is in my territory now. I’m going to the palace to talk to the other nobles, so it will be the perfect time to announce my claim to the lands the king gave me. That way everyone knows you’re within my protection.”
“This is much appreciated, Great One.” Carlisle raised his mug for a toast. “To the future.”
“To the future.” I clinked my glass to his and drank heavily until I downed the rest of my ale.
We spent the rest of the night talking to the various townspeople in Carleone. Annette brought me her fat, happy cat that she’d named Sir Bashy after me. A couple people asked me how Hal was doing, and I was pleased to tell them he owned his own stable back in Bastianville. Cliff, the tanner who’d taught me how to work hides, had more than a few drinks with me, and we joked about having plenty of piss for tomorrow’s skins.
When we were all good and plastered, we made our way across the street to the inn where Nelly provided us with comfortable beds to sleep in. Riondale informed me he was going to stand guard over our wagon, and I commanded that he assign two other men to watch shifts as well.