by Marcus Sloss
“Why not just portal the army onto the tundra? You moved a hundred shamans no problem.” I asked as I finished off the first plate which had a nice sandwich on it.
“Rules, and energy. Muarta does not grant me infinite power. I can portal as one of his servants. Most shamans have not undergone the ritual initiation. Few who do survive. It is a mind bend of endless torture. To the outside world it only lasts for hours or days, inside the victims' mind it will last months. My trial was… There that look on your face… That is how you know contract magic. When did Unforina touch you? How did you survive?” Virtue said in agitation. “May I test you? Actually, that is my favor exchanged in full now.”
I look at King Aves who shrugged. I had finished the second helping of food while he talked. The only time I felt Virtue had been deceitful was on Rakmar’s orders. That didn’t mean I trusted him. Yet, I might find some answers in the test.
“I should be able to handle the pain. Go ahead. Oh, you sent a contract for the test. It makes sense you are about to inflict pain.”
“Indeed, now place your plates on the ground. Are you ready?” He asked and I confirmed I was. A boney finger with a clean nail was set against my nose. My armor covered too much so he had to reach up to touch my exposed face. “Here we go.”
I felt the tendrils of the test but nothing else.
“What is purple aura and by the seven gods does it burn bright in you? Yes, there it is… Yellow contract magic. It is small and new… How? You leave me with more questions than answers. When I retreat I will have to go to a planet of knowledge.”
“Okay, my part fulfilled. Rakmar will send multiple caravans, and we will want to keep the peace accords up. What else should we worry about?” I asked.
“Do not do further deals. If you continue to fund his wealth he will pour more through that portal and onto Vin. All it takes is for him to find one decent counter to the griffins and your advantages stop. Right now central command is busy fighting hundreds of species on thousands of planets. You humans, are but a speck in our quest to claim the universe. Stay that way. Win, but don’t draw too much attention here. If you see me one day again please do not kill me on sight. Any last questions before I leave?”
I was in information overload at the moment. My brain spinning at the realities of this universe.
“May I know what deal Gryff struck?” King Aves said and I translated.
“Excellent question, he is bound not to disclose. I am not any longer. He is making copies of our bible. They are extremely hard for us to duplicate and are considered holy relics due to the requirements to properly complete. They must be perfect. You have magic unknown to us which is rare. Earth magic. You can copy books with green tree worm blood I believe. Something else I plan to study in my retreat. He is going to copy a hundred bibles and return them to Rakmar. I can guarantee the cyclops will want more done. Again I recommend you refuse this due to attention drawn and empowering him.
“It may be years before you see me again. Farewell Gryff. This time you will not be the cause of my defeat and I properly warned Rakmar. Until next time.” Virtue said with a wave and stepped into a portal to vanish.
We stood there in silence for a few minutes. “Well, that should make things a bit easier,” I said.
“Yes. I will send a hundred griffins to escort you north in case dragons are around. Your mission must succeed. You will get the tree blood, copy the bibles, and then never deal with Rakmar again. Are we clear?”
“Very, and I agree. We got a lot from this deal and the Horde no longer has anything I want besides leaving the planet. I have enough locations to gather supplies to train you in the rest of the magic types… and before you stress it to me. As soon as the bibles are done, yes… I am going to Vartin Tundra to get catalysts. For everyone. Oh… I want to trade or buy human slaves, but I would not know how to value them.”
“It would be a tough decision, one I could allow. The hundred fly with you tomorrow. After you are sent off I will take some vole blood and cleanse Salvoni. Consider yourself the uncontested human Emperor by tomorrow night.” King Aves said and unfurled his wings to roost in Zenith and lifted off.
∞∞∞
I decided to walk the fields of pines and light underbrush. There were game trails in here, and I breathed in the cooling fall air. I exited the trees to stroll onto the northern fields. A few wolves played over a bone while monox scampered around. It made me think of Deb. I hoped she was alive and okay. I caught sight of Phen the animal master shooing a wolf away from the duck pen.
“Phen may I get a tour and an update, please. It has been too long since I have seen the animals. Your recommendations would mean a lot to me.” I told the balding portly man. He wore a dirty set of leather overalls and it was easy to see from the dried muck that this was a working man.
“Lord Gryff, I had been meaning to see you. Every time I seek you out, you are detained by business or adventure. I left Bella with a letter… Did you get it?” Phen asked and I shook my head no. “Well, I can summarize. Count Conway has been barking mad at your rat idea. He coined it first by releasing some wolves into the slums in Lakeland. They started to eliminate the rodents until the smart ones caught on. It is a story of mixed success. Now you going and hiring youngens and the poor. That is genius and he is tickled by your ingenuity. So much so, that when your contracts dried up, he placed his own to be filled.”
I frowned thinking about this. The greatest form of flattery is imitation until it involves business. I liked Count Conway though. No way could he keep the buying pressure up, and it was good for the Empire to utilize the rat protein.
“Well, that works into my next point. You are a smart man my lord. The larger a pie the bigger the outer the portion, if you make the pie twice as wide you get a lot more area. Fernlan is that pie, my lord. The northern fields have five times more room than they did before. We have only been slaughtering the feeble and elderly runtlets and I was running out of feed when the rats came into play. The runtlets just devour them, won't touch them live. Bonk one on the head and toss it in the pen and it’s a race to eat it first. Our stock is already bursting. The females only take two weeks to pop out tiny lets.
“That is the other part I wanted to talk to you about. Count Conway sent a list he made of livestock for sale from other markets. With your city expansion, the ryegrass growth, and rat influx, I say you buy everything you can. It will pay off in the long run, by large margins. I will need more help though and some upgrades. The numbers are in the paperwork Lady Bella has. She glanced at it earlier and was impressed. It will be for you to decide. How about that tour though?”
“Please,” I said as I thought about his idea. Expanding into the livestock market was a good expenditure of our gold in my opinion. Everything I did, was geared toward never facing starvation again. Grown runtlets were expensive. If we could hunker down this winter and eat Horde we could really explode our livestock numbers with rye and rat. Funny that. I was happy for Fernlan and the expansion. I would just need to see if I could afford it. Bella was looser with the purse than Addilyn and I was curious how Amber would be. Velia was a thrifty spender but focused on needs. She would for sure approve more livestock, understanding how vital it could be and desperate a village could become without it. Then I remembered I may be the best source to keep livestock alive during the winter with our northern location and the lava balls.
“Your ducks my lord. They are routine layers and we have been hatching one for every two. I admit I was worried about this winter until that condensed feed from Streb showed up. These ducks and the three yakin have been doing really well.” Phen said while we toured the duck pen. Sure enough, tiny ducklings were scattered about.
“Three yakin are here?”
“Pipi had three males hauled out of Streb and to here. Much shorter journey by ground now that we have expanded. A dozen horses were moved to Streb too. The yakin males are fine when the females are not around. Stick four of them togethe
r with a lady in heat and they fight. It was easy to swap the animals out when the Horde vacated. Even the Horde hanging around here vanished. Anyway, if you can get more horses up here I can start breeding them… Messy work that, but I do love horses. I plan to cycle the male yakin out every quarter. Should help the herd with inbreeding but if you want to long term them, get me some more, please. To be honest you are going to hear a recurring theme from me. More animals, more workers, more feed, which equals more money and security.”
“That Calia widow… Wonderful lady. My only wife is on her way up to meet her. We have been chatting real friendly like, and if the first wife approves, I will be moving my family into Dais to grow it here. I like it here… Need more animals though…”
“I do enjoy your honesty Phen, what about the monox? I see so few.” I was chuckling at Phen. I liked the farmer. He was a down to Vin kind of man. Easy to laugh with and a hard worker. The man knew his animals and I would fight to approve his recommendations.
“They are breeding like rabbits. You want to make thirty six monox turn into three hundred. Give them food and freedom. They really love critters and grub. Head down to the river… Oh, right you haven’t been able to. Can now! You will find them rearing young there already. Tiny little monox everywhere. I can get more… but you will see that on the list. Oh, speaking of Lady Bella here comes your wife. You have been found it appears. Excuse me, my lord. Welcome home and buy some animals.” Phen gave a mad chuckle and left to tend to ducklings. The man stank of animals, even with his smell I was sad to have him leave. I liked the honest nonpolitical talk.
Bella approached with Amber, Mina, an older boy of twelve and a younger girl.
“There you are, my lord. Amber and I met… Sad you were not there to introduce the Empress herself to me. You have outdone yourself Gryff, she is simply stunning. Gorgeous, smart, and humble while dignified. Very impressed and proud of you. Might make a Vin man of you yet.” Bella reached me and kissed me in a welcome home greeting. I scooped her up for a spin and she giggled in delight. “I do love seeing you again my lord. I saw Phen retreat at our approach. His list is on your desk. How about we walk to the fishing lines since it is such a lovely day? Before I forget these are Oomla and Asif. Oomla is on rotation for your wives to help as needed and Asif is a runner for you. Sent by King Omarr. I am sure he may visit himself when he learns you are the rightful Emperor. Assuming that he sides with you over Salvoni.”
I set Bella down and extended a hand to Amber. Bella snatch my other hand as I tried to play keep away from her. She smiled at the teasing fun. It was good to see them in high spirits.
“Salvoni will be dead by tomorrow night,” I said and Asif skid to a stop. I watched him realize he had overreacted to the news. “Something the matter Asif?”
“My lord, I was told to report back to my father about how things are here. I am young but not ignorant. You make a bold claim.” Asif said with caution.
“Indeed I do. I am not going to do it, or is an assassin going to infiltrate his fortifications. He will be burned by the magic of the griffins. You nor your father can stop it. Hell, I certainly couldn’t at this point. Lesson one from your time with your new master… me. Do not piss off the griffins…” I said and froze. Where were the terrible trio? I had let my guard drop and I spun around looking for them.
“Haha!!! I know that look. You are scared of the little terrors. Fret not they are being doted on by Velia. Also they really do not rough play when I am around. So I guess lesson two Asif is baby griffins scare even mighty warriors.” Bella said and we all had a laugh.
“Damn right they do. Have you seen the missing feathers on poor Lirkon, how is he doing?”
“I am fine, enjoy your walk.”
“Lesson three griffins can hear amazingly well, Lirkon said he was fine. So Amber what do you think of your new home?” I asked.
“It’s mud and clay. Everything is functional, nothing is for display. It is a far difference from the Vin I remember. It is like you took Fernlan back in time and built it from scratch.” Amber said while gazing around the western fields we entered. They had improved a lot. The windmill, little homes, supply sheds, and cut outs all were upgrades from the dainty shacks of before. I nodded at her words. “I don’t want to live above a bar. No offense to you both, but we are the ruling family now. We need a castle. I know castles. I know traps, moats, drawbridges, and the details. I want to build one that mirrors Zenith in its scope.”
I thought about this and agreed.
“Few problems, we will have to make it out of the hard clay. I do recall Zack, our earth mage mentioning ant chitin as a catalyst. Maybe he can take the smooth clay into rock with the catalyst. We build the bones and then design the exterior in a harder substance. Who knows if it will be more beautiful? The issue is there is no massive quarry here and importing is out of the question until we clear the Horde from in between our cities. Which would take years if not decades.” I said as we approached the old western gate. A tombstone sat under the wooden map. It contained the names of those lost not far from here. I gave it a nod as we passed it and entered the shrubs toward the river. I unslung my sword and cleared a path then I thought on it briefly. “Can we get a griffin to clear a path to the river with fire, please? Something we can walk on.”
I halted our party and had us sit on the benches. A dozen griffin launched from the roost and soared toward the trees. I was expecting fire but the first thing they did was turn at the last second and rip trees from Vin. They tossed them in a pile. Another dozen added to the number already at work and a path was quickly cleared. King Aves land beside us and Asif, as well as his sister Oomla, spooked. The work lasted mere minutes when King Aves launched into the air and projected a slow controlled burn into the shrubs and grass. As he went griffins followed behind in mighty wing beats to snuff out the residual flames and cool the ground. I think they were testing as much as showing off. King Aves approached upon his completion.
“Bow in thanks,” I ordered. The six of us bowed. “Mina would you be so kind as to fetch us a few mugs of water while we wait for it to cool further. Asif and Oomla assist her. She will be in charge of you when my wives are busy.”
The three left to get our waters.
“You sure, she is a knight’s wife. Having her order around the prince and princess might offend.” Bella said and Amber interceded.
“Donnie will not stay a simple knight. The Kights of Fernlan is now the Knights of the Empire. Counts all of them at the least is my suggestion.”
I nodded at this. It would be a worthy reward. Things were not going to get easier and promotions did little harm to me. There were not any negative consequences yet.
“Any downsides to doing such?” I asked Bella and Amber studied her.
“It will further bind them to you and make them harder to be agents for others to use. No very few downsides and you can even gift them territory. The new zones are yours. No one else obtained them. Not even the Empress. That was all you.” Bella said and gave me a hug. Amber joined and I saw the wives smile at each other.
We waited a few minutes when our waters showed up. Time to head to the river. I drank half my water in one thirsty gulp and let out a burp. The ladies giggled and it was Asif who was offended.
“I have been told men should not make rude gestures in front of women,” Asif commented.
“Let me guess no crude jokes or belching?” The lad nodded. “You can beat your wife if she disobeys or angers you?”
“Of course,” Asif replied.
“I need a snack… go run and fetch one for me,” I ordered and the prince rolled his eyes as he ran off.
“Fired, send him home. Mina head him off before I see him again. You know your letters correct?” I asked.
“Lady Bella has finished my schooling I had from before. I can write a nice note saying he did not respect women the same way you do. Should give the message you seek,” Mina said and Bella sent her away with approval.
That was the right thing to say because my wives smothered her in compliments. We walked down the trail that was wide enough for a wagon. When I heard the rush of the river I spotted Traz laying in a ball napping. I approached my friend to find Pipi sitting with Vern against Traz’s side. In their hands were five fishing rods with lines.
“Yes! Best surprise ever… you sneaky wives. Fishing! Vern let me teach you the most amazing trick.” I grabbed a rod and there was already bait on the end. It was a very simple setup but that was all we needed. Stick with bait on it, then drop the hook into the water. Wait for a bite and pull the fish out of the water and then play the stab to death game.
There was a nice rock on the river’s edge wide enough for ten of us. I planted my ass down and flung my bait into the water. My wives and stepson joined me. I noticed only a few monox digging in the river’s edge and did not see Deb. Maybe most hunted at night or they were nesting. We sat silently for three minutes until Amber broke the silence.
“Um… This is boring. You sit here and wait? How long?” She asked.
“This is perfect. Our family relaxing and enjoying watching the water pass us by. For how long… who knows? I don’t fish like this for food. My previous lines were to catch food and not enjoyment. Those damn orcs stripped them and probably tossed the lines into the river. Will have to buy new ones. This is about enjoying the moment with the company. I agree though a tad boring.”
Bella smirked and Pipi giggled. Amber titled her head in confusion and Vern was intently focused on his pole.
“Alright, I know when you two are up to something…” I said
Bella reached into her bust and unfolded a stack of paper.