Ernsta laughed harder and straightened herself up. After her laughter faded, she gave him a smile and departed, leaving Runner standing alone in the field with little will and no energy.
Runner made it back to the bedroll and collapsed into it. The soft warmth of it greeted him as he passed out.
07:54 am Sovereign Earth time
1/20/44
They were only a few minutes out from the area Faye had chosen for the site of the fort. Runner had used the map to pinpoint her map marker.
Runner had spent the majority of the trip going over what he’d learned from Ernsta in their exchange.
The compulsion was as bad with Ernsta. Which meant it would only be as bad or worse with Amelia. He couldn’t afford to summon her without talking to Srit first.
The fact that Sophia was his champion was at least an answer. The next part would have to be figuring out what that meant for them both. Once he got the information from Ernsta, he’d have to sit down with Sophia and go over it with her.
Satomi’s ears were set in an angry position, pressed to the top of her head and unmoving. She hadn’t met his gaze without looking angry since he woke up on top of her.
She’d been unable to awaken him after he more or less passed out on her the previous night. She’d had to endure hours of a big stinking human sleeping atop of her without any recourse.
“Again, I’m sorry, Vixen. It wasn’t intentional,” Runner apologized for perhaps the tenth time.
She scanned the road ahead of them rather than reply to him. As if by magic, they now saw the camp as if it had been there the entire time.
Faye had chosen a spot that was wedged into and on top of a rocky outcropping. Even from their current viewpoint Runner could see it was unapproachable from nearly every side.
To Runner it looked like a death sentence for the defenders if it fell under siege. It would also cost a fortune in blood and time to win a siege against it. A direct assault would take a body count high enough to make a devil choke. Even then there would be no guarantee of victory. It would take massive numbers to do anything to it.
That meant it would give Norwood a significant amount of time to launch a successful siege break. More than enough time and then some to properly supply up and attack.
Nor could an attacking force leave this here. No army could leave a full garrison that could reinforce anywhere else on the island at their backs.
My brilliant and beautiful general.
“I know. You did not mean to do it. You meant to cause me no shame, though I feel it to a degree. I will recover. I do not hold this event against you. I ask for time and understanding.”
Satomi glanced over at him when she finished her statement.
Runner nodded his head to her, happy to have at least gotten her to talk to him.
“Of course, my bonded Vixen. My time is yours, as is my understanding.”
Satomi’s ears unfurled and she bobbed her head once.
In the middle of the road in front of them stood Faye Sennet. Dressed in light armor with a sword belted at her hip, she cut the figure of a military woman.
Her short blonde hair looked a touch wilder than he remembered. As his gaze swept over her face he couldn’t help but notice her eyes looked tired. Intense, but tired.
A small hesitant smile skittered across her lips, her shoulders loosening as her eyes met his.
Runner contained himself until he was close enough.
It wouldn’t do to scare the prey away early.
Then he reached out swiftly and latched onto her. Drawing her in, he hugged her tightly, his arms pressing firmly to her back.
“It’s so good to see you, Sparky.” Runner took in a deep breath, giving her an extra squeeze.
“Err. Good to see you too, Lord Runner,” Faye said, awkward as ever. Her hands patted him on the back.
“Hug me damn it, or I won’t let you go. You can explain to your troops how you were being hugged to death on the road by your superior.”
Faye grunted, and shifted her shoulders a little, before finally laying her arms around him.
“See? Not so difficult, was it?” Runner released her with a grin. Taking a step back, he held her at arm’s length to watch her response.
“What’s wrong?” he asked her, meeting her gaze squarely.
Fear and uncertainly flashed through her eyes. Then they hardened to a decision and acceptance.
Defeat.
“Come now, tell me.” Runner gave her a grin. In truth, there was little she could say or do that would spoil the delight of seeing her again.
“I’ve been infected by the were virus.” Faye dropped the sentence as if it were a death sentence. “We’ve been clearing the frontier, and we came across a den of them. They were all feral, crazed things. Unreasonable and unheeding to any form of communication.
“I took the lead in our attempts to parley with them. My equipment is by far the best in the entirety of the army. I was bitten during that first encounter. I wasn’t able to seek treatment in time as the whole thing went to ashes. After the first twenty-four hours the virus isn’t reversible. Even your RaceReset won’t correct this,” Faye explained, the life going out of her as she verbally stumbled to the end.
“Okay? And?” Runner asked for clarification. He wasn’t quite sure what the problem was. Having a group of Were in the army sounded like it could be incredibly beneficial depending on their talents.
“I’m a Were.”
“Got that part. You’re a Were. I assume Werewolf? Please tell me you’re at least a blonde while transformed. That’d be pretty awesome looking. Can you change right now? I haven’t seen one up close yet. Still haven’t told me what the problem is though.”
Faye frowned at him, her lips actually turning into a slight pout.
Grunting, she started to beat on his shoulders with her fists.
“You’re not supposed to joke about this! It’s not funny damn it, damn you!” Faye yelled at him between hiccupping sobs.
Runner caught her wrists with his hands and held her hands up above them.
“Why? You’re still you. You’re my general, Faye Sennet. The woman I trust with my armies. My kingdom. The woman who I adore for her tactical and strategic mind. Do you lose control of yourself when you transform? Lose your mind?”
“No,” Faye said, glaring up at him from red-rimmed eyes.
“Okay. Change for me.”
“What?”
“Change. Right now. If you don’t, I’ll hit you with a Brainwash and have you start stripping for me,” Runner threatened with a deadpan voice. He would too.
“He is not bluffing,” Satomi cautioned from the side.
“Who…?” Faye asked him, looking from Satomi to him.
“That’s Satomi. She’s my familiar. She’s a Kitsune, she can detect lies. Change,” Runner demanded. His tone of voice brooked no nonsense.
Faye stared at him for a few more seconds before her form rippled and she morphed into a six-foot-tall werewolf. Her fur was a golden color and lay evenly in a smooth coat across her body. Gray eyes stared into him, waiting.
His hands were now easily encompassed by her giant clawed hands. Carefully extracting his hands from her paws, he reached up and grabbed her furred face and dragged it down within an inch of his own.
“Killer. You’re so damn soft it’s not even funny. If you shed, I’m totally making a coat out of you. Or a pillow. Yeah, Werewolf pillows, they’d sell like crazy.” Runner ran his fingers through her blonde fur, then wedged his fingertips into her muzzle and gently pulled her mouth open.
Leaning in, he poked at one of her canines and then tapped her tongue with a fingertip.
As if in reflex, her mouth slammed shut and she glared at him over her snout and growled.
Ignoring her completely, Runner pushed her chin up to get her stand fully erect.
“Damn you’re tall. Wait. Do you run on all fours? Can I ride you like a mount? Here, let me see.” Runner grabb
ed ahold of her shoulders and pulled her down until she was carrying herself like an actual wolf. All four paws rested on the ground.
“Slick, you’ve got the full body mechanics to run like a wolf. Reverse joint knees and everything.” Runner ran his hand along her back, petting her fur gently.
“I’m kinda missing the part where I’m supposed to be upset about this. Love your tail,” Runner said. Reaching back, he grabbed her tail and swished it a little bit. “Yours is impressive, but Vixen’s tail is a lot fluffier, sorry. So far this is all pretty damn exciting.”
Shrugging off his hand, she stood back up, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
“Weres are not viewed kindly. I can’t be your general like this,” Faye said in a low rumbling growl.
“In the words of Hanners, ‘Fuck ’em, who cares?’ Because I don’t. You’re my general and you always will be. Damn, you’re built like a brick wall.”
Runner pressed his hand to her stomach, feeling the rippling six-pack underneath the fur. Scattered throughout her fur were hard raised protrusions.
Runner lightly fingered one and started to bend over to inspect it.
Faye’s paw slammed into him and sent him flying backwards.
Skidding to a halt on his backside, he fetched up next to Satomi. Runner propped himself up on his elbows.
“For crying out loud, Sparky, I—”
“Her anatomy is that of a wolf. Where do you think you were touching exactly, bonded? You will remember our own conversation about the fact that I do not have the anatomy of a fox.”
He had to think about that, then actually realized what he’d been doing.
Feeling up a werewolf and playing with her nipples. Good job, idiot.
“Totally didn’t mean to do that. I can truthfully say I felt up my Werewolf general while she was shifted now though. I’m awesome,” Runner said excitedly, giving Faye a thumbs-up.
The giant growling werewolf general suddenly became silent. Then her shoulders slumped and her ears wilted. She pressed her paws to her eyes and slowly shook her head.
“I understand, Faye Sennet. I truly do understand. Come.” Satomi was there at her side, lightly wrapping an arm around Faye’s waist and leading her back up towards the fort.
“What?” Runner asked, trying his best to keep the smile from his face in case they happened to look back at him.
Effusive apologies, an hour to cool down, a light breakfast, and Faye was eventually willing to speak with him again.
Her face would still flush when she looked at him long enough, but she seemed her normal self.
Runner didn’t plan to stay for an extended time. Long enough to get updates and apprise her of the situation.
“And that’s where we are,” Runner concluded, resting his hands on his knees. They were sitting around a table set up in Faye’s command tent.
Faye took a breath and nodded.
“Good. With our north and east secured, as well as the only port, we’re well on our way to a solidly built defense.”
Faye made a gesture around them as if to encompass their surroundings.
“As you see, the fort is under construction. We’ve broken ground and have begun laying the foundation. Every request I send to Lady Srit has been met, and we’re well stocked. I see no reason this will not be completed nearly at the same time your keep is.”
“That’s fantastic, Sparky, good show,” Runner enthused. Faye would be the one he could count on to complete her goal first among all others.
“Yes, thank you, Lord Runner. Ah, next, the frontier. The inhabited lands have been pacified. I’ve updated my map with all towns, villages, and cities.” Faye paused and seemed to consider her words.
“I recommend leaving the frontier as it is today and designating it as lands protected from habitation. It in itself is a resource to train our troops, agents, and people.”
“Agreed. See it done.”
“Finally, I suggest replacing me with my sec—”
“Denied.”
“Lord Runner, the people will not accept—”
“Denied. You are banned from ever suggesting replacing yourself again. If you do, I’ll hit you with a Brainwash and take you to my dungeon. For fun. And science. And by dungeon I mean bedroom. Next?”
Faye’s jaw flexed as if she were grinding her teeth.
“Then as your general, and with your permission, I’d like to move a garr—”
“Granted.”
“Lord Runner, I haven’t even explained what—”
“And? Granted. I trust you, Sparky. Besides, it doesn’t really concern me. We both know you’re smarter than I am, and far more versed in the world of war. I got lucky against you. Then I somehow managed to win the mega lottery when you agreed to join me.” Runner shrugged his shoulders at her.
Faye opened her mouth to argue further, but Satomi interrupted her.
“He is not lying. They are not the politically honeyed words for a general that you are expecting.”
Faye came up short and looked to Satomi. Faye’s eyes eventually returned to Runner.
“Why do you trust me so? You insist that I will remain your general despite being a Were—”
“Yep, you will be.”
“And on top of that you grant me nearly every request—”
“Uh-huh.”
“And devote yourself to personally outfitting myself and my people.”
“Also correct. Can’t have you getting hurt or going job hunting.”
Faye stopped and pressed her hands to the table, her fingers turning white at the pressure she was exerting on the wood.
“What if my goal was to take your kingdom?”
“It isn’t. Your goal is to protect civilians.”
“Why do you trust me, damn it? Damn you!”
“Honestly? I care deeply for you. How could I not trust you?” Runner shook his head as if it were the most obvious answer in the world.
He didn’t want to explain everything quite yet, but Faye clearly needed some assurances.
“I’ve been hiding it for too long. Drowning in my fear like a miser with money. Lying to myself in regard to my own feelings. Were or not, that’s how it is. Simple as that. Though I admit lots of fun ideas are popping up after seeing you in your Were form. Now, I need to be going. I’m sure something has gone horribly wrong and Sunshine is trying to handle it without contacting me.” Runner stood up as he finished and made sure he had everything in order.
“What?” Faye’s voice was quiet, her eyes searching his face for an answer.
“You heard me. I have to go, seriously. Can I kiss you goodbye or am I relegated to a hug after feeling you up when you were auditioning to be my pet monster?” Runner asked, moving around to Faye’s side of the table.
Faye didn’t say anything, her face a mask of military training.
“Kiss?” she asked at last, her voice clearly seeking clarification.
Deliberately he pretended to misunderstand her.
“Gladly,” Runner said, and leaned down and kissed her deeply.
Patting her cheek gently as he withdrew, he then stood up.
He withdrew the glittering sword he’d made for her from his inventory and gently set it on the table. Particle effects danced along the length of it. The hilt was a simple unpolished metal with a red-and-black wrapped hilt.
Attractive yet simple looking, elegant and unassuming, serviceable and deadly, hiding vast unassuming potential.
Just like you, Sparky.
“I built it around the idea of you becoming a Spell Blade. I named it ‘Trust.’ Felt appropriate at the time.” Runner tapped the center of the blade, and the metal rang gently.
“Make sure you’re back in Norwood two weeks before our guests arrive. Or I’ll send Hanners to pick you up after she gets Belle and Grace. By that point she won’t even talk to you and will probably just poison you. Drag you back to Norwood unconscious. Actually, maybe I’ll do that anyways. Could work out to my
benefit. Be safe, don’t do anything stupid, come back in one Were piece.” Runner gestured to Satomi and left the command tent.
Glancing back once, he found Faye watching him intently, her face still a mask. Her hand was halfway to her lips, frozen there in midair.
“You are a horrid man. You enjoyed that.”
“I did. So few of them are that innocent. Most boss me around and tell me what to do.”
“You enjoy that as well.”
“I guess I do at that.”
Darling.
“Ah, there you are, Sunshine. I was telling Sparky a moment ago that I was sure you were handling something dangerous without telling me,” Runner said, trying for levity even as his heart plummeted and his stomach soured.
How did you know?
“I didn’t. I suppose I literally spit in Lady Fate’s eye right there and asked for this. What’s up?”
I must go inactive for a time. The Omega are launching a simultaneous attack on me from every system and connection. I don’t believe it’s a concern, but it will require my time and effort. I will leave my avatar in my quarters. Please care for me.
That was odd. Why didn’t she merely log off?
“I understand. I’ll do so. I’m on my way back to Norwood anyways. We’ve achieved success on all fronts.”
I’m glad to hear that. I’ll see you upon my return, darling.
“Got it, be safe, Sunshine.” Runner sighed and looked to the road ahead of them.
“Sunshine is dealing with an all-out attack, which means Hanners is dealing with Norwood alone.” Runner set off at a jog. It would be tiring, but he could keep the pace up for a long time.
Satomi only nodded her head and fell in beside him.
At that pace the managed to make good time.
They arrived in Norwood in the dead of night. Runner managed to slip in without alerting his own guards by using Stealth potions and Blink on himself and Satomi.
Runner noted that Hannah’s indicator was in his bedroom, and that Srit was in her own. No one else from his circle was currently in Norwood.
Reaching the front door of the manor, Runner canceled his stealth in front of the door guard with his hands up in the air.
Otherlife Awakening: The Selfless Hero Trilogy Page 17