Wild Wastes

by Randi Darren

  Vince smiled at the crazed soldier ant and laid his head own on her shoulder, releasing her wrists above her head.

  As if they were made of magnets and his back iron, her arms slammed down around his shoulders, pressing him tightly to herself.

  “You seeded this one. Seeded her fully.”

  “Yes, I did. Damn were you sexy about it, too.”

  “This one lives to serve you, Master. Seeding her was a gift to her from you. Master need only ask for anything else. Anything. Only ask. She will do anything. Anything you want.”

  Vince didn’t respond to that, instead he closed his eyes and snuggled his head to her shoulder. He enjoyed the warmth and comfort that she offered.

  Chapter 20

  “Sweetling, I missed you!”

  Vince’s eyes popped open as Meliae pressed herself bodily against him. She nuzzled her head under his chin. Then she rubbed her body against his, her fingers digging into his clothes.

  Vince and Petra had fallen asleep on the stream bank rather than keep traveling. Of course that was after having their second time right there on the stream bed.

  A glance at the sky told him it was early morning. The sun was barely up.

  Petra was beside him, still snoring despite Meliae’s entrance.

  Her clothes were rumpled but she was dressed. He knew for a fact she was missing her underwear band though. They’d pushed her shirt up out of the way the second time and stripped the band off.

  Smiling at the warm and cuddly Dryad he wrapped his arms around her in a hug.

  “Well hello there. How’d you find us? I would have though you further south than us,” Vince admitted.

  Meliae scoffed, lifting her head up to meet his eyes. “As if I wouldn’t know where my tree was. I can always feel you. Always know where you are.”

  “Good to know,” Vince grinned and kissed her once.

  Looking up he found Fes a few steps beyond where he lay. She had one hand pressed to her midsection, the other holding onto her mount. She looked ragged, but on the mend. A wide smile was plastered on her face as his eyes met hers. “You’re looking better Berenga. I’m glad. I was worried for you.”

  “I’m well, husband. In pain, but well. Our seed grower has tended to me expertly,” the Orc said. Her shoulders had looked stiff at first, but she seemed to droop as she spoke.

  Meliae nodded her head, pressing her face into his chest. “You smell like Petra,” she murmured.

  “I don’t doubt that. Alright, get up my little nymph. I need to go hug that grumpy Orc Fes of mine,” Vince said teasingly, patting the Dryad on the back.

  “Only because you called me yours,” Meliae said, freeing him. She rolled over and curled up against Petra, resting her head on the soldier ant’s shoulder.

  Petra’s eyes opened, her head tilting down to find Meliae.

  The Dryad gave her a grin and then whispered something to her.

  Ignoring them both, Vince stood up and then walked over to Fes.

  Meliae had mentioned in her letter that Fes needed some attention. This would be a good opportunity for that.

  Trying to stand up straight, Fes let go of the horse and held her arms open to him.

  That alone was out of the ordinary for Fes. Pulling her into a tight hug he held her. Laying his head to hers he tenderly ran his hands up and down her back.

  “You ok, Fes?” Vince whispered in her ear.

  “I hurt. Our seed grower saved me from death, I’m sure of it. I think she understated how badly I was injured. She spends much energy to heal me every hour.”

  Vince let out a shallow breath and hugged Fes tighter.

  “She takes care of everything for me as I heal. I owe her. How can I be Fes if I can’t protect her, Petra, or you?”

  “Because you gained these injuries while being Fes, Fes. No one will slight you for being wounded tending to your duty. You just need to heal now.”

  “You’ve claimed Petra.” Fes said. It really wasn’t much of a question since it did look rather obvious.

  “Yeah, I did.” Vince leaned back and gave Fes a smile. “And you’re Fes.”

  Fes nodded her head at that. She didn’t seem upset in any way shape or form at that. If anything there was the slightest bit of relief in her eyes.

  “I was angry.”

  “Angry?” Vince parroted back, not quite understanding.

  “When fighting the soldiers at the village. They fought like Petra. They tried to separate me from you all. So they could flank you.

  “Was very angry. Everywhere I lose ground. Meliae warmed more than your bed, and she has your seed. Petra now shares your bed. I don’t think I can join your bed in my current condition. Petra fights me to a standstill and I can’t beat her. My aim with the rifles isn’t as good as everyone else.

  “I’m losing my place.” Fes’ eyes looked clouded to him. Lost.

  Vince frowned at that and thought about his answer. What he’d say to a human woman wouldn’t work with Berenga. She was a strong, proud, Orc woman. One who didn’t need any of them and chose to be here.

  Behind him he could hear Petra and Meliae whispering back and forth. He did his best to ignore it and tune it out, he didn’t really want to listen in to what they were saying right now.

  “That doesn’t sound like my Fes at all,” Vince said finally, having come to the answer he wanted to give her.

  “My Fes would learn from her enemies and how to beat them. My Fes would claim her place in my bed even if she could not claim me as violently as she normally would. My Fes would practice until she’s better than everyone else with the rifle. My Fes wouldn’t cower and whimper,” Vince said firmly.

  Fes’ eyes were wide and locked onto his face. Her mouth hung open and her breathing stopped.

  “My Fes is having a tough time right now though. She’s trying to hold on to her beliefs, to get what she wants, and to remain who she is.

  “I’m sure she’ll come to a decision once she recovers. Berenga is still my Fes, after all. Isn’t she?”

  Fes’ mouth closed and her jaw muscles bunched. Her shoulders straightened and her tired dark eyes looked like they were lit from the inside with anger.

  A ghost of who she had been before their journey north was coming back. The woman he’d met in the wilderness who wouldn’t bow down to anyone.

  Her hands pressed into his back for a second more, than she let go of him. Her hands drifted to the front of his chest. Trailing her fingers down for a second she then curled her fingers into his clothes. With a jerk on his clothes, she pulled him forward bodily towards herself.

  Then she kissed him. Roughly, wantonly, and very much in Fes fashion.

  Pulling back from him she pressed her forehead to his. “Your seed is mine tonight,” growled the Orc warrior.

  They made good time on their way back south. They made a brief stop in Salem to pick up supplies and another horse.

  The time on the road was spent mostly in rest. Conversation flowed easily between the four of them.

  Fes seemed as if she’d woken up. Each time they stopped she demanded Petra, as her subordinate, instruct her in her fighting style.

  Fes couldn’t put everything to full speed, but she seemed apt in her lessons. Often Meliae would have to halt the lesson when Fes was close to hurting herself or reopening her wounds.

  The Dryad doted on Fes as if she were an older sister to her. She brooked no nonsense from her once it was clear she’d overdone it. In everything else she submitted to Fes immediately.

  The Orc warrior had also decided she need to re-stake her claim, or so it seemed to Vince. She’d claimed his bed for a week straight. It wasn’t as rough and tumble as it had been before she was injured, but it was still rather violent all things considered.

  Suffice it to say, Vince tried to go easy on her, though he did allow her to come out on top once or twice.

  As if she’d re-solidified something in her own thinking she returned him to a rotation. Petra had moved i
nto the second night position and Meliae the third.

  He didn’t question it, and didn’t really want to. Whatever they were working out between themselves didn’t need him butting in right now.

  It wasn’t until they reached Sacramento that they’d stopped for longer than a night.

  Sacramento had a very large Ranger guild hub, a central banking site, and one of the largest news networks available.

  Which meant it was probably the best place for them to hunker down for a few days and get their bearings.

  Vince was alone as he exited the Ranger guild hall. He’d relayed everything he knew to his superiors, got paid for his work, with a considerable bonus, and asked to not speak of this incident to anyone. At which point they paid him another bonus.

  Buying my silence. No one wants it known that a Ranger guild not only fell, but fell internally.

  Vince shook his head and looked around at his surroundings.

  The mood had certainly changed since the last time he was here.

  Slaves were being walked on leashes instead of being allowed to walk free. Almost on every corner men and women were denouncing Washington for being in league with the Waste. There was a considerable amount of fear and anger coursing throughout the streets.

  On top of that, the militia forces had been called to active duty. Then told to assist the police in their work.

  Soldiers and anyone who could be useful in a war had been sent north.

  The Empire was responding to Washington’s break with the government. The slave guild was funding a huge portion of the war as well.

  Everything was going to shit.

  Under his arm was the box of vouchers. He’d planned on heading to the bank after this and negotiating a transfer to standards at a loss.

  Standards could be spent anywhere, the vouchers could not.

  Giving himself a quick once over he found he looked the part of an every day citizen. He didn’t want to stand out in case the slave guild started to ask questions about those vouchers.

  With a steady pace and a wary eye Vince made his way to the bank. He seated himself sedately in the lobby after having asked to speak with the branch manager.

  The branch manager at a location like this would be a rather influential person, he was sure. It’d also be the best person to work with on this deal.

  Vince surreptitiously studied the bank. Guards were in every corner. Armed with rifles and fixed bayonets. On top of that the bank employed two machine guns. They were both on raised platforms in opposite corners. Enclosed except for a narrow slit they could see out of.

  Security here was no joke.

  A woman stepped in front of him and held out her hand to him.

  “Hi there, I’m Nancy, Nancy Lu,” said the woman in clear tones. “I’m the bank manager. I believe you asked to speak with me Mr…?”

  She was an attractive woman of Asian origin. She dressed like someone in her mid thirties but her face and body skewed his perceived age of her.

  Long black hair fell down her back and her large dark brown eyes flowed over him.

  Standing up he immediately took her hand and gave it a firm handshake.

  “Names Smith,” Vince lied smoothly, giving her the brightest smile he could.

  Her handshake was strong, her skin soft. Then Vince gently caressed her mind with his extra senses. She was a vulture, a wolf, a buzzard, a lion, a shark. Everything she was, was predatory. Everything had a price in her mind, and there was no end to the length’s she would go to make money.

  Raising her eyebrows at him she gave him a warm smile. “Would you accompany me to my office?”

  “Of course, Miss Lu. After you,” Vince said, releasing her hand.

  “Please, call me Nancy.”

  She turned and walked off towards an office door that was in line with the teller windows.

  Holding the door open for him, Nancy closed it as soon as he crossed the threshold.

  “What can I do for you today, Smith?” she asked.

  Vince smiled at her and took a seat in front of the large wooden desk. Opening the box he removed the vouchers and laid them down in front of her as she took her seat.

  “I’m afraid I don’t quite have the confidence I used to in the Auction House. What with the war and all. I’d like to convert these to standards.”

  Nancy picked up one of the vouchers. She tapped a long finger against one of the seals and flipped it over to look at the back.

  “These appear authentic. Would you mind if I had someone inspect them?”

  “Be my guest. I was hoping to get ninety-five percent of their value in standards. The remainder being a service fee of sorts.”

  Nancy thumbed a button on a small plastic square in front of her. “Could you please have Andy come in here? I need him to authenticate a voucher.”

  “Right away, ma’am,” replied someone on the other end.

  “Well, Smith, I can certainly agree to cash these out for standards. We deal with the guild for many services and often.

  “I’m not sure I could do it at ninety-five though.”

  She gave him an underwear melting smile and leaned forward over her desk. While she was dressed modestly, her movement had revealed some cleavage. Belatedly he realized she had a body similar to Meliae’s.

  And there’s where it starts. The beautiful bank manager who gets a better cut because she uses her advantages.

  “I’m willing to negotiate. Many things have a price you wouldn’t normally think to offer,” Vince replied with a grin.

  In this case, he was the one with an upper hand. There were other banks he could go to. He also had a small harem that took care of his appetites.

  At that moment a knock came at the office door. Nancy sat back in her desk. “Come!”

  A soldier walked in, dressed out in dark brown fatigues with a helmet covering his head.

  “Ah, Andy, good. Here, please check this to confirm it’s authentic,” Nancy said, holding out the voucher she’d been handling.

  The man, who looked as ordinary as dirt, took the paper from her. Ten seconds later of intense scrutiny he handed it back to her.

  “Authentic.” Without waiting to be dismissed, the man known as Andy walked back out the door and was gone. As the door closed behind him, Vince finally noticed the slave collar around the man’s neck.

  Nancy huffed at the rude departure and put the voucher back into the pile. “His work is excellent, but his manners are awful.”

  The bank manager tapped a finger onto the vouchers in thought. Then she picked up the stack and began counting them.

  “There’s eighty there. All at ten-thousand marks.”

  Nancy nodded her head but kept counting. When she was done she realigned the stack and looked at him again. Putting her chin in one hand, supporting it with her elbow on the desk, she smiled at him.

  “You mentioned things that didn’t normally have a price. What’d you have in mind?” Her eyes had an inviting look to him that he was sure she’d practiced for hours.

  “Ninety-five percent of the value, in bank notes. No documentation other than ‘Smith’. I believe I’d like to tip you five percent of the value. So I’d need ninety-percent for me, five percent for your lovely self, and five percent for the bank.

  Personal greed always did nicely. She might be willing to sleep with him, but that wouldn’t help him in the long run.

  Not to mention Petra had kept him awake late into the night the previous evening. Nancy was beautiful, but Vince was still spent.

  Nancy’s eyebrows shot up at that, her flirty demeanor lost in an instant. She was more than likely well paid. Few without morals would willingly turn down forty-thousand standards.

  Considering it seemed like she was willing to sleep with him to knock down a few percentages he doubted she’d be unable to walk from a deal like that.

  Nancy thumbed the electronic square of plastic on her desk into an off position. Then she got up and went to the door. With a turn
of her wrist she locked it.

  She gave him a truly radiant smile then. “Done. Let’s get you taken care of immediately. Maybe we can talk more later tonight as well?”

  Thirty minutes later and Vince was at large with seven-hundred and twenty thousand standards in bank notes in a wooden box tucked under an arm. They were all in various denominations of ten, twenty, and fifty-thousand standards.

  Standing there he took a minute to collect his thoughts. Nancy would do whatever she felt would further her goals. And he doubted she was above having someone assaulted who had left the bank with more than half a million standards.

  Now he was glad he’d taken the time to think of an escape route if he was followed from the bank.

  He had no proof he was, or was going to be, but there wasn’t a reason to take a chance.

  For all he knew, she was genuinely interested in him as a person and nothing to do with his money.

  A healthy dose of paranoia keeps one alive.

  Taking a breath, he set off on a direct route for an inn he wasn’t staying at. Stepping in through the front doors he didn’t pause or hesitate. He acted as if he owned the place and went right up the stairs.

  At the end of the second floor hallway was a window. That window was open when he’d been planning his alternate escape route. Feeling quite lucky indeed, he found it was still open.

  Hopping through the open frame he dropped down to the alley behind with a dull thud.

  Hightailing it through the alley he kept himself to the back streets until he made it back to the Ranger guild.

  A flash of his card, a smile for the receptionist, and he was inside. Safe from prying eyes.

  As part of the services rendered to all it’s members, the Ranger guild offered key operated lock-boxes in a private vault.

  Vince paid the admin the minor fee and entered the vault. Walking up to the wall of lock-boxes he selected one with it’s key inserted.

  Forty-two.

  All the boxes were bolted to the wall and came out on a shelf welded to a giant steel frame. These weren’t going anywhere.