Fostering Faust

by Randi Darren

  “This is… a significant amount of money. This is accurate?” Walter asked, looking up.

  “According to Dan, but I trust him. He seems a good soldier to me.”

  “And… we stole… borrowed… all of this from Count Frenis?”

  “That’s who owned the supply depot they torched.”

  “Torched?”

  “Burnt it right to the ground.”

  Walter wiped his face with his hand, blinking several times.

  “I must say… lately… you’ve not been yourself at all. Your humor has changed completely, you alter our entire economy for the better, you even curb your own impulses, and then single-handedly lose a war but come back as if you were victorious,” Walter said. “I am truly at a loss.”

  Hm. He’s not wrong. I did… end up just becoming me, didn’t I? Well, me with a lot less morals.

  It’s easy to force people under the knife when you live under it yourself.

  No anti-trust laws. No regulation.

  No police.

  “I suppose so, Walter. Just consider it a rebirth after my kidnapping. It forever changed me.

  “Now, do you have any actual concerns or worries we should work out?”

  “No. Not really. Though your wife…” Walter started.

  “I have two.”

  “The… simple… one.”

  “Ok. What about her?”

  “She’s been… absconding with women from the courts. I can’t find out what happens to them after. They just… vanish.”

  “Ah. Worry not, she’s working on a project for me. I promise it was done with my approval, and everything is according to my law. Anything else?”

  “No… my lord. Nothing at present.”

  Alex nodded, then stood up. Walking over, he clapped the older man on the shoulder lightly.

  “It’ll be well, Walter. This is a new chapter for us. Maybe I’ll get that ducal title back. You should probably start looking into which vassals are de jure to the duke of Brit. They’d be the first to go after.”

  If we do go after any.

  Exiting his study, Alex headed off to Carla’s private room. He wanted to check in on her and make sure she was there.

  And resting.

  “Worried for your pet?” Nannie grumbled, walking beside him.

  “Just as worried as I would be for you, Five.”

  “Not your pet.”

  “Yet. Eventually. I’m glad you’re letting your hair grow out a bit. Looks better. Though I think you shouldn’t let it get too long either.”

  Nannie reached up with a hand and ran her fingers over her prickly skull.

  “Gonna shave it.”

  “You could do that. I think it’d be a loss, though.”

  “A loss?”

  “I bet with a short hairstyle you’d be rather pretty, Five. Think on it.”

  Growling under her breath, Nannie said nothing.

  “Unless you want to crawl into my bed and wait for me, you should probably stay in the entryway,” Alex said, opening the door to his private living area.

  “Is that all you ever think about, fucker?”

  “Often, yes. Hard not to. I mean, look at you.

  “So, in the bed or right here,” Alex said, waving at a point just inside. Not waiting for the reply, he went off to find Carla.

  “Surprise you one day, be in your bed with a gods-damned blade,” Nannie called at his back.

  Stopping in front of Carla’s door, Alex knocked twice.

  “Yes?” came a voice from inside. It sounded like Carla, at least, but he wasn’t sure.

  “May I come in?”

  “Master?” Carla asked, Alex finally identifying her voice. Her tone sounded rather awkward, though.

  “Indeed. I’m alone. May I?”

  “Ah… yes. Come in.”

  Opening the door, Alex stepped inside and closed it behind himself.

  Her room was larger than one would expect it to be. It was also furnished and tastefully decorated better than he remembered.

  Looking around, Alex was surprised.

  “Mistress Anna did it…” Carla said.

  Her voice guided his eyes to the bed. A rather modest affair, but it looked quite comfortable with expensive bedding.

  “She said since I shared a bed with you at times, my room needed to be fit to receive you,” Carla said, as if she needed to explain herself.

  “I won’t argue with Anna. If anything, I’d agree with her, though more for the sake that you’ve earned it rather than anything else.”

  Alex walked over to the side of the bed and leaned in, peering at her temple.

  “It certainly looks better.”

  “So I’m told,” Carla said, eying him.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Well enough. Nannie came in earlier to give me shit. Dumb bloodthirsty bitch,” Carla muttered, her mouth turning into a frown.

  “I get the impression she doesn’t know how to show her emotions. Much like a certain murdering bandit I know,” Alex said, leaning back from Carla’s head wound.

  “Ass.”

  “I’d try to grab it for you, but I think you’d have to lean to one side or the other for me to get to it.”

  Carla started to snarl at him, then abruptly smiled and laughed softly.

  “You’re such a spoiled twat.”

  Alex shrugged. “I’m told that often enough. Or something along those lines.

  “Do you need anything?”

  “Ah… no. But… company would be nice. It’s… a bit lonely locked off in a room.”

  Thinking on that, he couldn’t help but agree. He’d probably go stir crazy himself.

  “How about I move you to my bed—not insinuating anything by that, mind you—and have One keep you company? She’s a nice girl. Anna would drop by from time to time as well, I imagine.”

  “You wouldn’t try anything?” Carla asked, her disbelief clear.

  “Not a thing.”

  “Even if I fell asleep in your bed tonight?”

  “Even then, though I might peek. A bit.

  “Ok, I’d stare and try to look at you from every angle. But no touching, promise.”

  “Swear it on Leah.”

  “I swear on Leah that I’ll make no move against you tonight, regardless of where you rest your head.”

  Carla let out a breath and then flipped the sheets back, revealing that she was completely nude.

  “Great. I couldn’t get my stupid ass into my clothes. Got dizzy and just lay down instead. Help me get dressed into a night shirt and then into your bed.”

  Fuck me.

  ***

  Looking into the cell, Alex was rather confused.

  Anna had said each cell contained two, when he’d spoken to her about it.

  What she failed to mention was that each cell had been divided into two on top of that.

  “I think… we need to expand the dungeon further,” Doug said, sounding rather sheepish.

  “I would tend to agree,” Alex said, then sighed. “It’s my fault. Countess Brit is a good woman who does exactly as she’s told, or allowed, without concern.”

  Valeria didn’t say anything. Apparently remembering her own time in a similar cell here.

  “Are they at least… comfortable?”

  “Oh yes, sire. Well fed, left alone, and we make sure there’s no funny business one way or the other. A handful made trouble, but we locked them into that attached warehouse. Into the coffins there, to be clear.”

  “Coffins, Doug?”

  “Yes, sire.”

  “Why do we have coffins?”

  “Mistress Anna bought them and put them there.”

  “Ok, but why?”

  “I… sire… I don’t honestly know.”

  Sighing, Alex scratched at his head.

  “So you put them in coffins and locked them in?”

  “Yes.”

  “And did they behave after that?”

  “Most did. Th
ere’s one still locked in.”

  “Let’s see that one first, I suppose. Get… get a team of people to dig another level to the dungeon for now. I’ll speak to the countess.”

  Alex shook his head and gestured to Doug to lead on. Following his dungeon guard captain gave him some time to think on how to handle the situation.

  But even then, Alex was unprepared.

  The warehouse was full of coffins, stacked several high, as far back as he could see.

  “I… yes. I see,” Alex said expansively.

  It had been meant as a storage area for items that could be used in deals. Which were still there, thankfully. At least as much as he could see of them.

  “Coffins,” Doug said. “And this is the one with our guest in it. She’s shackled as well. She kept trying to claw at people when we opened it up.”

  Doug indicated one coffin that had been pulled down from the racks and set in the center.

  Rapping on the lid twice, Doug then pulled out his key set and went to work opening it.

  When it popped open, a woman sat up immediately, her hands reaching out despite being shackled to the inside.

  “I’ll kill you all!” she shouted.

  “No, you’ll stop or I’ll just have you impaled and put out in my front lawn like a decoration for the crows,” Alex said, stepping up to her.

  She had dark black hair that was wildly uncombed across her face. Dark eyes peered out at him from between strands of her hair.

  He had no idea what she looked like.

  “And who are you, prissy pants?” she asked.

  “Count Brit. And you?”

  She didn’t respond, just stared at him.

  “Look, it’s rather simple. And I don’t have time for your games,” Alex said. “You either swear on a god-backed oath to me to be civil, protect my secrets, and not betray me, or you go back in the coffin and then back to whatever fate you were going to meet before the countess pulled you out.

  “That’s it.”

  The mess of black hair didn’t move for several seconds.

  “And if I agree?”

  “Then you go back in the coffin until I can get a cell ready for you, since you can’t seem to play nice. Unless you can swear to play nice, too?”

  “Coffin.”

  “Right. Swear to Leah that you’ll be civil to me and my people, that you’ll keep my secrets and privacy, not betray me at any level, and harm no one in my employ, including yourself.”

  “Yes, yes, I swear all that.”

  “On your life and soul.”

  “On my life and my… uh… soul?”

  There was a strange buzz in his ear, followed by a soft crackling sound. Then nothing.

  The black-haired mess lay back down in the coffin, seemingly content. A small smile playing across her lips.

  “Do you want the shackle off?” Alex asked, indicating her hands.

  “Yes.”

  “Alright. You take care of her, Doug. I’m going to go see One. Three, go find your prospects,” Alex said, leaving the three of them there in the coffin warehouse.

  On entering One’s cell, Alex found her sitting right where he expected her.

  Riley had sat herself on the edge of her bed and waited there. Unmoving, he imagined.

  “Master?” she said, jumping to her feet and moving straight to the bars.

  “Hello, One,” Alex said, coming to stand next to her. “How are you?”

  “I’m very well, Master. Should I strip for you?”

  “No. Not anymore. Your uniform and collar really do look good on you. It’d be a shame to dirty them right now. Remember?”

  “Yes, Master. Of course, Master.”

  “Have you decided? I’m afraid my time is limited, and I really can’t stay here long. There’s lots to do. I’m partially concerned that the duke of Gaelis will be bringing his troops around. There’s nothing preventing him from doing so, other than… well, nothing.”

  Riley looked alarmed at that, her hands tightening on the bars between them.

  “Master, I’m… I’m unsure. I secretly hoped… that you would release me?” Riley asked, looking up at him.

  “I do believe I told you that would never happen, One. That you’re mine, until you collapse and die.”

  Riley nodded her head and pressed her forehead to the bars.

  “I’m guilty of the crimes. I did do those things. But it was for my family. I’ve been sending them all the pay I receive.”

  “All of it?”

  “Yes, Master. All.”

  “Do you want to talk about it at all?”

  “No. I don’t.”

  “Ah, alright. Your story is yours. I’m afraid that doesn’t change the situation, though. By all rights, you should already be dead. Instead, you face life imprisonment.

  “I’ll make this offer to you, and then we’ll move on, regardless of you saying yes or no,” Alex said. “Are you willing to barter?”

  “Yes, Master,” Riley said, not lifting her head.

  “It’ll be exactly as the countess said, though with a few tweaks.

  “Previously, you received pay equal to a personal maid’s. What if I gave you pay equivalent to that of a personal maid serving a count. I imagine it’d be a few gold more.”

  Riley’s face turned to the side, as if considering his words.

  “Can… can I get more?”

  “More what, exactly?”

  “Money.”

  “We could consider that. But I’d want more from you in exchange.”

  Every night in my bed or on your knees. At my beck and call. Till your heart gives out or you die.

  “I know…” Riley said. She gave him a small smile, gazing up at him in abject defeat.

  Suddenly, Alex couldn’t do it.

  He couldn’t force her to give up everything she was to him.

  Not this poor soul who doted on him and did all he asked of her. But who still had a tiny bit of pride in herself at some level.

  He could crush her ruthlessly if he chose, and she’d probably accept it.

  And he couldn’t do it.

  “I’ll need you to arrange an entire detail of personal maids for me. All who are willing to swear themselves to life and death in my service, their very souls to my secrecy. To me, personally.

  “You’ll be able to pick them out from anyone the countess detains, but I’d get final say. I’ll double your pay for being their supervisor.”

  Riley’s head jerked up, her face now wedged between the bars as she stared up at him.

  “Double? To be the boss of a group of personal maids?” she asked.

  “Yes. Though the earlier part of the deal still remains. One night in my bed a week, and one night on your knees a week.”

  “Of course, Master. I swear to all of that. Immediately. Please let me out and if possible, can I get an advance on this year’s pay?”

  Why is that the first thing they all ask for?

  “That’s fine, but I’ll want—fine. That’s fine. Go see Walter,” Alex said, pulling his key out of his pocket and unlocking the cell.

  Riley shoved the door open and smashed into him with a rib-crushing hug.

  “Thank you, Master. I’m worth it, I promise.”

  “Of course, One,” Alex said, patting her atop the head lightly.

  Then she was off like a rocket, exiting the cell and gone. He could hear her practically running down the hallway.

  “Getting soft on me?” asked a scratchy voice.

  Right on cue.

  “Usually,” said the shadow he knew as Leah. She stood in the center of the cell, unmoving.

  “Is there a reason you appear like that? Is it theatrics or… I mean, we both know you’re a woman. That you’re married. It was neat when we first met in that room in nowhere… but now?” Alex asked.

  Moving into the cell, he sat down at the table and looked up to the owner of his soul.

  “Huh. That’s fair,” said the shadow, and snapped
her fingers.

  A woman popped into being.

  She was dressed in black leathers, with red peeking out from the interior.

  He could easily call her pretty, with features that were clean. Straight.

  Almost put together with purpose.

  She had tawny-colored hair that was trimmed short. Almost a hairstyle he could recognize from his previous life, but couldn’t quite name.

  Dark emerald eyes seemed to inspect him as he inspected her.

  “Don’t get any ideas. I’m a married woman and I’d carve out your eyes if I thought you were even considering it. You’ve been a lot more flirty with your women as of late as well,” she said in a far more normal tone.

  “Perish the thought. I’ll simply say your husband is a lucky man. Is that acceptable?” Alex said, trying to appeal to her strange devotion to the man.

  “I… yes. That’s acceptable. Good. I like that. Yes. I’ll tell him that,” she said with a snicker, her face going from serious to childlike delight in an instant.

  “As to going soft on you,” Alex said with a sigh, putting his chin in his hand and beginning to toy with his lower lip. “Maybe. I just… couldn’t do it. She’s a good little thing. She gives quite a bit to me without receiving much.”

  “And after Mary, you’ve had doubts,” said Leah.

  “A few. Though in the end, it’s their choice. It was harder with One. Riley. I know her. Much more intimately, even though I bedded the baroness several times.”

  Leah nodded her head, then scratched at her neck.

  “That’s fair. You haven’t let me down, and you’ve been storing up a great amount of power for me. I’ll not complain about you giving someone mercy on occasion. So long as you’re working to fill my pillar.”

  “Of course, of course,” Alex said, still unsure of himself.

  “Cheer up. You’re doing well. And this might sound a bit… well, wishy-washy, but so far you haven’t ruined anyone.

  “All those women you’ve collected so far had a set fate. You intervened and have given them longer lives than they were due,” Leah said, coming to stand over him.

  Lifting his head, he peered up at her.

  “Yeah?” he asked.

  “Mmhmm. My husband would approve of the result, if not the means. He’s a bit of a softy lately. Though he did have a flash of anger the other day.”

  “Oh? And what does a god with you as a wife get angry about?”