“Why wouldn’t he take me serious?” Glen asked. “I beat the Breaker.”
“People are saying I set Onslaught up” Samuel said. “They are saying I already knew Rupert was leaving and that I was training you just to fight Breaker to make Onslaught look bad. Breaker was expecting an easy fight and didn’t really train, he wasn’t expecting a staff user and that it minimized what he normally did in fights. Onslaught just grabbed one of the best fighters they had and threw him out there, someone that wouldn’t be a victim to the same attacks that fell Breaker. Breaker couldn’t walk for a week after that, said his thighs swelled up to twice their size and are purple and black with bruise. With any luck Roberts is just thinking about fighting an unarmored staff user and not doing anything different.”
“He is going to try and hurt me then?” Glen asked.
“Yes he will” Samuel admitted. “If you are in a bad spot I want you to quit immediately. Without your weapon you won't be able to stand up to him and trade blows.”
~
Glen was amazed at himself during this fight, Samuel might had not been the greatest fighter but he was a spot on trainer. Glen was picking Roberts apart, almost everything he was doing was landing and Roberts was fighting his fatigue just as much as he was fighting a fresh Glen. Mother had put down an outrageous wager, fifteen gold which was more than anyone else wagered including Glen’s father David. Mother had also arranged for two lovestruck girls to meet Roberts and show him a good time. It was Monica and Ruby and the both of them spent the majority of last night and most of the morning drinking and having sex with Roberts. Glen was even aware that Roberts hid from his trainers and got in a quickie just before the match started, now the man was regretting it as Glen danced around him and peppered him with blows. Glen thought he had struck Roberts at least twenty times in the head and was close a few times in tripping him up. Now Glen just went after the tops of Roberts armored feet in hopes of bending and crushing the metal there to get at the small bones underneath. The crowd was going insane as Glen moved around and kept on the attack, Roberts would charge forward but lose sight of Glen then find himself fending off blows from the rear. Glen saw an opening and struck Roberts in the side with a jab, the man stumbled for a moment then threw down his weapons and opened up his helm. Vomit flew from his mouth and spewed all over the fighting area. Glen wondered how much the man had to drink last night as he rested his staff over the vomiting man’s shoulder. The crowd went wild as Roberts rolled over to his back looking horrible, he was obviously sick but went out to fight. Glen was walking away as a finely dressed man angrily walked out into the fighting area flanked by two other fighters. Samuel made his way out as well and met the older man as he came up to Glen.
“You fucking cheater!” the finely dressed man said as spittle flew from his mouth and into Glen’s face.
“We don’t cheat Walter” Samuel said. “Your man lost.”
“You poisoned him” Walter said.
“Say that again” Samuel said as he got into Walter’s face. “That is a serious accusation that I want the City Watch and the mages to look into. You are trying to shut down my school and I want a thousand gold as recompense for saying I tried to kill your duelist.”
“You didn’t do it with poison idiot” Walter said shouting back. “You had a couple of whores brush up on him and keep him plied with pussy all night and this fool was dumb enough to fall for it.”
“Not my problem who your man lays down with” Samuel replied with a smile. “Your boy smells like he has been hitting the bottle like a babe on his mother’s tit. You should go see about him. Any rematch will run you three gold. I can't waste his talent beating up on your bums.”
“Bums?!?” Walter said loudly and angrily. “They are duelist unlike your man, watching him fight I thought he was a dance teacher or something.”
“You both need to clear the area” said the announcer as he joined the fighting men. Glen had noticed the crowd had quieted down to listen to the argument and at least three mages had cast a listening spell so their conversation could be heard by all.
“I am not going anywhere” Walter screamed. “I want this bastard to agree to a rematch, right here and right now. This time without having whores fuck the energy out of my duelist and ply him with eight bottles of wine.”
“Your boy lost” Samuel said. “The best fighters come out of the Tavern school of Dueling. We beat his giant and now we beat one of his best. Someone needs to call the watch, it should be illegal for me and my duelist to make money this quickly and easily.”
“You take that back” Walter said as he was right up in Samuel’s face.
“Alright I take it back” Samuel said. “Maybe the best duelists do not come out of the Tavern School of Dueling, maybe it’s just that the worst duelist come from Onslaught!”
The crowd laughed at Samuel as Walter punched Samuel in the nose and made the old trainer fall on his ass.
“That will be five gold now if your man wants the shit kicked out of him again” Samuel laughed as he held his hand up to his bloody nose.
Glen watched as the announcer had five or six men escort Walter back to the trainers area. Walter’s own men were holding him back as Walter spat curses at Glen and Samuel accusing them of everything from sleeping with goats to sleeping with each other. Glen had placed the same six gold on himself but this time the odds were three to one. Eighteen gold was a good haul for this kind of fighting.
“Rich boy this is what I am talking about” Samuel said. “I have been waiting over thirty years to reach this big time. We got lucky in getting a fight with the Breaker and you made him look bad. I know I owe Mother some money, I am assuming the girls Walter went on about were hers?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about” Glen said.
“Sure you don’t” Samuel said. “This war is big business for Dueling, everyone needs something to take their minds off things. Another big call up will be coming soon, not just the mages but commoners as well.”
“Eighteen to forty for anyone without a hundred gold to buy their way out for four months” Glen said. “I heard that is only for all the men without magic though. The mages don’t have that luxury to buy themselves out of the war. Whoever is in charge changed their points system, any woman over eighteen and under fifty-five with magic and less than twenty-five points has to go. All men from eighteen to sixty with under a hundred points has to go as well.”
“Don’t know about any point system” Samuel said. “I do know a lot of Duelists will be gone next month unless they have the money to keep them here. I expect a lot of old or rich men will be around here. That and a bunch of women, Mother probably won't feel the sting of that but a lot of other people will. Getting you a fight may be tricky after that happens, anyone still here would be elite with a lot of coin to spend. The prices to see those matches will go way up, you stand to make a lot of money, you still have a full year most likely until you have to go. Hopefully you would have made and saved a good number of coin to see you through everything. You taking off with your father right now?”
“After I get my winnings and meet up with Mother” Glen replied. “She has her own plans to see me and Darius through the war. After that I am going to meet him at his home, his wife is going to be angry but it can't be helped.”
Glen retrieved his winnings then saw Mother wave him over. All of her children were there and apparently all of them had placed big bets on Glen. Glen smiled as Mother stuck out her hand.
“You owe Ruby and Monica six gold a piece” Mother said. “I know you have it since with all of the betting going on you made at least thirty gold.”
“I don’t mind handing that over” Glen smiled as he hugged Ruby and Monica. “That Walter man was as angry as I have ever seen anyone get.”
“Well that trick won't work again but I always wanted to try it” Mother said. “Now in the carriage, I need to talk to you and Darius. I will drop you off at your father’s house as we sp
eak.”
“What is it?” Glen said as he followed Mother and Darius into the carriage and shut the door.
“Next week is when the next sendoff is going to happen” Mother replied. “They have moved up their schedule so we should as well.”
“What are you talking about Mother?” Darius asked nervously.
“You and Glen are going to have to carry the load” Mother said. “There is going to be an influx of women and very little men around. Our main customers will soon wonder why should they pay so much for a premium product when they can grab any random girl. The women that are left over from the war will be horny and poor, a lot of them are going to overlook a big age difference and look for someone to take care of them. Men on the other hand will be rare, as it is male children of mine are rare. Both of your prices will go up dramatically, Darius you will only have to shoulder the load for a small while. I am in talks to find you a permanent home as a permanent playmate of some rich couples. Until then I need you both to go out there and start recruiting.”
“Recruiting?” Glen asked.
“I need poor good looking boys willing to fuck” Mother replied.
“Mother your language” Darius said shocked.
“I am not looking for more children” Mother asked. “I am putting Ruby in business and that business is just someplace for people to go drop their loads. Young men are going to be extremely rare around here and many will think about it seriously instead of going off to war.”
“Mother that would be preying on people” Darius replied. “That is not like you.”
“What do you think will happen to those same boys and young men?” Mother asked. “The war must be going badly for this second call up so soon. Those boys will be killed at best or slaves at worst. Do you think they will have the choice if some depraved owner of theirs want to pass them around to the rest of their sick friends? Or what if they wanted to see them go at it with an animal or something?”
“How are we going to do this?” Glen asked.
“By pretending to work at the skin house” Mother replied. “You both are going to be sent all over the city to where the poor reside. I am only looking for five to start out with. Those poor boys will have to work hard if they don’t want to be sent away. I can front them the money to start out with, after that they have to work hard on their own to see themselves through it.”
“How do we pretend to work there?” Glen asked.
“You can figure that out” Mother replied. “We are at your stop Glen.”
Glen climbed out of the carriage and continued to the front of his father’s home. It felt weird coming up to the front door and weirder when he knocked on it.
“Come on in” David said with a smile. “Who owns the fancy carriage?”
“I was with my friend Darius and his mother” Glen replied.
“Darius was with you?” Darla asked.
“How do you know Darius?” David asked as he looked at Darla.
“From the sendoff festival” Darla said and blushed.
“Glen” David said. “Did you find other people with Fae blood?”
“I don’t want to answer that question Da” Glen replied.
“So you have” David replied. “A bunch of people have been asking me all about it. Apparently a group of you made some sort of scene at a restaurant.”
“Tavin made the scene, I was just trying to eat and dance” Glen replied.
“So have you found a young Fae lady then?” David asked.
“I have not found ANY lady” David replied. “Fae or otherwise.”
“Well I have your winnings for you right here” David said and grabbed a sack of coin from the table. “I thought I was going to have to get involved, one man said something about women taking up too much of his duelist’s time. Are you sure you don’t know any Fae women?”
“Why are you worried about it and why is he in my house” Martha said as she walked up angrily. “And I know you didn’t just hand over my money to your bastard.”
“You don’t have a house and I’ll give whatever I want to whoever I want” David said. “This money if you must know belongs to Glen anyway, he had a big fight and I bet on him to win. Here is his eighteen gold from his victory. Unlike most of you he takes care of himself and brings money into this house. Now what do you want Martha, me and you haven't spoken in a while and I want to keep it that way.”
“You are just throwing him in my face” Martha said and began to cry. “You won't even help out my son.”
“I am going to give him the same help you have given my son” David replied. “The exact same help. All of the people you were worried about pleasing are on their way. Best part about everything is that you and a lot of others were adamant that Glen not be classified as a mage since you made fun of his power. If this war is still going when he is eligible I can just put up the money. The only one of your kids who doesn’t have to worry about anything is Darla. Now run along, your tears mean shit to me. For fifteen years you made my life the pit.”
“You just want to go off and have more Fae bastards!” Martha yelled. “You never loved me.”
“Best part about not caring about you and your feelings is that I don’t even have to argue with you anymore” David said as he motioned for Glen to follow. “And Darla, you are not to see whoever this Darius is until I meet him.”
“Darius?” Martha said as she wiped away a tear. “I don’t know any mages named Darius.”
“Neither does she” David replied.
“That doesn’t make any sense” Martha said. “Wait, is he one of those Fae that are infesting the city?”
CHAPTER 7
“We did the right thing” Ruby said. “Women have been going through this for the longest time.”
“It still doesn’t feel right” Darius said. “We at least were eased into this life style and we didn’t take multiple partners for the most part.”
“Speak for yourself” Glen replied.
“You only do women, trust me it’s different” Darius said.
“The boys you picked already like men” Ruby said. “If they didn’t they never would have flirted with you.”
“We flirted with them” Darius said. “Just look at us, what were they supposed to do? They had as much of a choice as that duelist did when you and Monica approached him. No one in their right mind would pass up something like that if they were interested.”
“Well they are here now instead of marching off to war” Ruby said. “And the girls we have saved have a safe place to be. No more getting beat up, killed and thrown away like trash. The boys you found will get a good home and will never go hungry. They were barely making it first, we will try to make this the best place possible.”
“It was this or going to war” Darius said.
“Isn't that the same choice you have” Ruby asked.
“Yeah but I don’t have to do the things they are” Darius said.
“If you want I can set them free right now” Ruby said. “It cost five hundred gold to get them. I can set them free and they can live out the few months they have remaining.”
“You know we can't” Darius said.
“Well I have my exit strategy just in case” Glen said. “I plan on getting a commission into the royal army. The price has went down to fifty gold, if it comes to that then that is what I am going to do.”
“Me as well” Darius said. “I am glad you convinced me to start learning the sword.”
“Here comes another customer” Roamer said. Roamer was one of the guards Ruby had hired, he was just over the age limit and made other money by fighting duels. Now that most of the men had been taken away, most of the duelist were either underage like Glen or a lot older. Glen still hadn’t gotten his rematch against Roberts yet since most schools were dealing with the fallout from most of their fighters, sparrers and trainers leaving.
“Keep on your robes and look out of it” Ruby said as a man walked through the door.
&nbs
p; Glen glanced at him and thought he looked in his thirties, this man was in great shape and was either rich or young looking for his age. His eyes didn’t linger on Glen or Darius which meant he wasn’t interested, he walked right up to Ruby and started talking.
“How much for you?” the man said looking Ruby up and down. Ruby was not dressed like a working girl, the name she called the others. Ruby had on fine clothes that made her look like merchant more than anything.
“I am not for sale” Ruby replied. “Perhaps you can describe what you are looking for?”
“I said I want you whore” the man said angrily and slammed down a silver coin.
“Still not for sale, this is my place” Ruby replied. “But if you are looking for someone like me maybe I can help you out.”
“You are a whore and that is a silver piece” the man said angrily pointing to his coin.
“Time for you to leave” Glen said as he stood up.
Before Roamer could make it over the man pulled out a dagger and lunged, Glen turned the blade aside but the angry man just picked another target and buried his dagger into Darius’s chest up to the hilt. Darius stumbled back as the angry man looked around, Glen was on him now with fast punches and kicks. The angry man backed towards the door as Glen followed him out, the angry man was in defense mode but it didn’t matter, Glen had his number and his punches and kicks were landing at will. Another man appeared holding a sword that Glen recognized, it was one of the men from the Onslaught.
The Fae Mage Page 7