The Axe Falls 2 -ch 22-

Sara had just finished working at the embassy of Wretin to finish off the deal that’d been struck.

In the end, the purchase had been ludicrous.

Ludicrous and to the point that the individuals sent with the gold were all in their final promotion and in their eighties. A force that would be measurable as a vanguard to an invasion force.

Nick had no thought at all that this group had snuck across the border rather than going through official channels. If they had gone through the border, they’d have been sent back almost immediately.

A foreign power sending that much might was just too much at that point.

Then again, the purchase is literally a hundred-some-odd-thousand golders.

So.

It justifies that type of force.

Shaking his head, Nick looked up from his poleaxe. He had broken it down for regular maintenance and put it back together only a moment ago.

He was doing his best to take care of it so that it wouldn’t be as likely to break in the future. The last thing he needed was it’s haft snapping in the middle of a fight.

Across from him, Harlowe was quietly doing similar work on her long-sword and long-bow.

On his left was Sara, who had her armor out and was oiling the straps and fasteners.

Jessie was… snoring.

Sleeping quite deeply on the couch not far off and sprawled out in it. Wearing only a tanktop and a very ratty pair of shorts that hid just about nothing of her at all.

Sara clicked her tongue at one particularly loud snore.

“I wouldn’t fret over it, Sara,” Nick murmured quietly. “It’s just how she is. How she’s always been. She’s actually quite refined compared to how she was in the bottom of the Dungeon with me.

“Your best friend is much better. As for her behavior as of late, it’s just to win against you. If you’re failing as a teacher, she wins. I’m surprised you didn’t figure that out yet. She’s been lording that over you for a week now.”

“Two,” Harlowe countered and then ran her polishing cloth several times along her weapon. “Two weeks. She delights in it when it is especially embarrassing.”

“Right? As soon as she figured out she could drop sexual things into a conversation where she wasn’t supposed to she got even worse about it,” Nick mumbled as he finished settling everything back together. He gave it a shake to see if it would rattle at all.

It made no sound at all.

“Ugh,” Sara spat out. “Uuuuuugh. She has… hasn’t she? She’s… just… ergh!”

“Your best friend loves to heckle you. To be fair, you do the same to her whenever you get the chance,” Nick argued and then put his poleaxe aross his knees. “Well, if that’s done. Do we head north? Everything complete here?”

“Hm… I… yes, it’s all done,” muttered Sara, sounding rather annoyed. “We made ninety-thousand golders with Wretin’s purchase. Apparently they plan on sending another delegation in a few months once they figure out what they need next. We’re done here.”

“We should head north,” Harlowe stated. “Staying cooped up all day as the snow piles up makes my insides itch.”

Uh.

What?

“Wolves breed in winter. Werewolves may be similar, Sire,” offered up Lucian.

Errr… yeah.

What about Dragons?

“The same,” Lucian answered. “You’ve been staring at Harlowe for about half a minute now. She’s staring back at you. The two winter breeding predators should likely get a move on, rather than ‘denning up’ for the winter.”

“— mean anyways,” Sara said, as if she’d been speaking for a while. “It almost sounds like a euphamism but I don’t think you’ve ever even cracked a joke, Harlowe.”

Nick realized he really was staring at Harlowe who was indeed staring back at him.

The pleasant tension was back again and he felt as if she was asking him a question.

“Time to go north, or we might start denning up for the winter,” Nick said, repeating Lucian’s own term. Then broke his stare away.

“Yes, we should,” agreed Harlowe. “I’ve never denned before. Do you think it would have been fun?”

“Denning?” Sara asked, sounding confused. “Like… making a den like Ker did?”

“I imagine it’d be quite fun,” Nick answered, enjoying the secretive by-play he’d been developing with Harlowe. “North it is, though. Who wants to wake up Jessie?

“Would you like the honors Sara?”

“Please. Fuck. Yes!” cursed the Elf uncharacteristically. She also gave Nick a wide eyed gaze. “Let. Me.”

***

The trip north hadn’t been overly terrible, though it’d been boring.

Sara, Jessie, and Harlowe were actually rather good travel companions. It’s just that there wasn’t much to do other than ride, chat, or camp.

What had been surprising had been when a scout met them halfway along the road north. As if they had been expecting Nick to travel along it.

Only to deliver a note to him that was quite simple, as well as explosive.

Duke Fash had been slain in combat along with his only heir, who was yet, childless.

The Duke’s nephew, Erica’s father, had taken up the title after that. All others in the line of succession had fallen out of it over the years.

Only for the newly minted Duke to swap sides and joined the Dukes force’s as well as all of his retainers and vassals.

Which included Count Distis.

“Doesn’t that mean Julie is here, too?” Jessie asked suddenly, turning to look at Nick from her saddle.

“Indeed. It seems most of the group will be back together before we had expected it to be,” acknowledged Nick. They were currently moving toward the tent-setup where the Duke’s were.

They’d already passed through a number of security checkpoints and a picket line at the extreme edge. It’d all been done quickly, efficiently, and only lasted long enough to confirm the Knight known as Nicholas Dol who served Count Distis did indeed exist, and was an expected entity.

“Awesome! I can’t wait to tell her about that fungus that came in! It’s way too potent compared to how quickly it grows. I didn’t expect it to completely take over the warehouse like it did, but hey, it’s working out,” Jessie said with a rapid fire laugh. “Not to mention it’s really only deadly if you grind it up into powder and spray it in the air or eat it.

“When it’s just sitting around doing nothing it’s as harmless as a hole in the ground. Only a problem if you fall into it.

“But really it’s just such a nice thing to have around. I think it’ll work really well in similar situations to what we did previously. In fact I was thinking of ways that we could absolutely flood an area with it and just have her put up a barrier around us. After all we’d be the ones who could test it out and see what works and what doesn’t.

“Although I’m a bit nervous about the fact that I hadn’t heard of it before. I wonder if it’s just the benefits of trading far and wide as well as —”

Sara let out a sigh even as Jessie continued to ramble on.

After Nick and Harlowe had pointed out Sara’s loss, the Elf had given up on her interruption as she had.

“Jessie, you’re about to make a fool of yourself,” she said instead when the Dark Elf took a breath.

Which caused Jessie to make a sputtering noise that ended up with her just running out of breath, her tongue stuck between her lips as if held there between her teeth.

“Thanks, Sara,” Jessie said after taking a breath.

Harlowe made a soft chuffing like noise that Nick had taken to her snickering.

Ever since discovering that the two Elves constantly went back and forth like this, and were otherwise quite friendly, she had found the whole thing funny.

Or so Nick interpreted it.

Sara and Jessie had ended up riding side by side with Nick on Jessie’s left. Harlowe was on his own left.

Ker was sat on the back of Harlowe’s horse and looked quite comfortable.

Ahead of them wasn’t the next security line, which would be the last before they were allowed to enter the tent area. Truth be told, Nick wasn’t expecting them to allow Jessie, Sara, or Harlowe up, but he wasn’t going to leave that to a question.

He wanted to make sure of it, just in case.

At this point, he’d feel weird without his people around.

Reaching the guards, Nick got an answer he hadn’t expected.

They didn’t bother to address him.

The guards simply nodded at him as he and his party moved right past them.

Belatedly, Nick dismounted just inside of the security perimeter and moved table off to the side.

All three other horses weren’t combat trained like Table, but they were all trained to obey no one other than their rider. Table would do the rest if someone approached them.

“Sara… help?” Jessie whispered in a very quiet voice. One that Nick almost missed. “Please? I… I swear I’ve learned everything. Just make sure I don’t fuck up?”

“Of course, Jessie, of course,” answered the other Elf. The two of them were standing quite close together. “Stand behind Nick and to the right by one step. Make no eye contact, do not exist.

“Say nothing. If they ask you a question, I’ll try to answer for you okay? Just believe in me.”

“Okay, thank you Sara,” Jessie hissed back.

“Of course. Can’t just let my best friend get executed, now can I?” Sara said in a whisper so quiet, that Nick doubted her heard it.

“Thanks,” said Jessie, equally as silent.

Nick caught Harlowe’s gaze as it moved from the Elves to him.

Then grinned at him.

“It’s nice to have a horse that doesn’t throw me,” she said and patted the overly well trained horse he’d bought for her. Only for Ker to get up, stretch, then look around.

The big Fisher hopped down to the ground and immediately began trundling away.

“He’s probably found Claudia,” Nick said, watching Ker and deciding to follow.

The group of four fell in behind Ker as he waddled along the grass and led them straight to a tent that Nick recognized. Count Distis’ tent and just as he remembered it.

What was surprising though, was the tent next to it was the Duke Fash’s, which Nick equally remembered considering what’d happened in it last time he saw the man.

Then again, he’s dead now.

I wonder how Erica’s doing.

The guards at the entrance to the tent glanced at him, his people, then looked past him. An invitation to enter without a security check if there ever was one.

Ker went right past them and entered.

“Ker! Hello. I’ve got a tasty fish head for you. I even stuffed it with it’s own guts!” Claudia said in a sickeningly sweet way.

Which Nick knew for a fact, Ker liked.

Shaking his head, Nick entered the tent.

Sat at the desk he had seen him last at, the Count was writing away at a book. At a small table off to the side was Claudia who now was bent over and hand feeding Ker a fish head.

What surprised Nick was next to her was Erica Fash.

Her dark black hair had grown out since he’d seen her last. It was pulled back in a short pony-tail behind her head. Today she was wearing a form fitting robe that was quite similar to Julie’s in it’s cut and fit.

Erica filled it out quite well.

More so than he honestly could remember her doing.

Her wide green eyes, somehow seeing larger than possible, immediately latched to him.

“Nick,” she breathed out, a wide smile spreading across her face.

Claudia looked up even as she fed Ker and smiled at him. There was something else in that smile that he couldn’t place.

“Welcome, Nick. I’m glad you made it,” she said, her fingernails lighting digging at the fur around Ker’s ears with one hand. “Erica, would you mind, please? We could use a bubble.”

“Oh, sure, not a problem,” Erica replied with a laugh. She made a gesture with her left hand and a bubble of magic rapidly expanded around the tent and then formed. Though it didn’t vanish as Julie’s did. It, in fact, seemed to create a magical curtain. One that looked almost physical and could be touched. “All set! Now I’m really glad I swapped over into Conjurer. That was a lot easier. That and you said you don’t have a conjurer.”

Hm.

Am I about to get saddled with another political relationship to manage? Because I’d really rather not.

“My apologies, your Highness. I will eternally manage political relationships on your behalf, when, and as, I’m able,” count Distis said at the desk. Working away at the book. “In this case, I took Duke Fash into our trust. No sooner than I did, than he immediately swapped to the side of the Dukes. Which brought myself and my forces over, which is… helpful.

“And I don’t think anything will happen. Brandon Fash is a childhood friend of mine and I’ll kick his ass if he does something stupid. You hear that Erica? I’ll kick your dad’s ass.”

“Yes, uncle Rick,” drawled Erica in an almost bored way. She hadn’t looked away from Nick even then. “I’m positive daddy won’t be anything silly at all. In fact, he’s been excitedly chattering on incessantly about Nick and what he was like.”

“Mm. Well. I’m glad to hear it,” the count said, tapped at the paper, then leaned back. Putting his writing implement down he sighed. “Good to see you, your highness. How’re you?”

“I’m well,” Nick said with a smile. “Moving along. This is Harlowe but… I’m sure you saw the message.”

“I did, I did,” the count said with a grin. “Moving right along! We don’t need too many more people. It’s fantastic.

“I’ve also heard you’ve been able to make a great deal of coin off the Dukes, which is also… fantastic. Great, even.

“I will be pushing to make large purchases from you for anything at all that we need that can be pushed off for non-immediate use, rather than anyone else. Since it’ll be going to my lieges coin purse anyways.

“That and… well… the Dukes who are likely to spend the most money, are also those who are probably more likely to fight you receiving your full powers.”

“Thank you, Chamberlain Distis. You have my thanks,” Nick said after a brief pause. “May I also compliment you on your daughter? She’s become quite a valuable member of my party as well as a companion.

“She’s highly intelligent, graceful, aware, and well suited for her role.

“If I ever had a doubt, she had long since buried it, planted several trees over it, and turned it into a lovely park.”

The count chuckled at that and then blew out a heavy breath.

“I’m glad you’re here. I could use some help from you,” the count stated. “Would you mind if I called in the Duke Fash to speak with us as well?”

“Not at all. Please. Do whatever you see is fit. I barely have enough power to take on a mid-level Dungeon, let alone be here in this encampment,” Nick stated plainly. He knew his place and right now, it wasn’t at the heart of the Dukes camp, nor was it trying to order people around who had resources he could barely consider the edges of.

“Ah, that’s actually part of the reason why I’m glad you’re here. I think it might be time to push a bit more than you have,” the count said as if there were a lot more to say. “I’ve also called up Dr. Palt on the assumption you’d be coming by.

“I’ll be asking him to come as well. I don’t think it’ll be long before he shows up.”

“That’s all fine as well,” Nick allowed with a smile. He was appreciative of the Count.

“Great… then… I’ll be right back,” the count said, stood up, and hustled out of his tent. Nick noted that as the man passed by he had lost a considerable amount of weight. He actually looked well on the way to becoming fit.

“I’m sure daddy will pitch me head first at you. My apologies, Nick,” Erica said the very moment the count passed through the curtain. “It isn’t as if I can naysay him nor would it matter if I did. You know how the nobles play their games.”

“Aren’t… you a noble?” asked Nick with raised eyebrows.

“I never considered myself one. Remember our dungeon dives? I was peeing in a corner without much of an ado from anyone,” Erica countered with a chuckle. “So… please don’t hold it against me or daddy when it happens. It sounds as if the Count did the same thing with Claudia after all.”

“Quite right,” said Claudia with a laugh then reached out and patted Erica on the shoulder. It was clear to Nick the two women knew each other and were actually quite friendly. “It’s fine. Nick doesn’t mind or even care much about it. I do begin to fear I’ll lose my fiance status though.

“I think many more Dukes will throw daughters at him.

“You, most of all, are a threat. After all… you’re the current royalty. Nick is the true royalty. What easier way to heal the throne than having you produce royal heirs?”

Erica grimaced, nodded her head, but said nothing.

It was clear she’d already considered that at length.

“I fuck him regularly,” Jessie blurted out as if needing to stake her claim on Nick. “I’m not pregnant yet but… I’m always kinda goopy. It’s rare when I’m not all filled up like some sort of milkbag with baby-batter.

“I’ve given up on having any type of cute underwear since they just get ruined so fast. Now I just—”

Sara had reached out and gently circled Jessie’s left wrist with her right hand.

“Anyways, I’m Jessie,” said the Dark Elf with a smile and a wave. “Sorry, I’m awkward as fuck but they’re helping me. I swear I’m really better than I ever used to be.”

Erica’s face had locked up when Jessie started talking.

Only to break into a grin.

“Not a problem at all, Jessie. I’m sorry you’re goopy all the time. That sounds like… an unpleasant dilemma,” Erica kindly offered up as if this was an okay conversation topic. “I’m not sure how else you would go about establishing an heir, however, other than being said milkbag.

“Though I’ll thank you for attempting to provide us with a royal heir. We do need one so you’ll have to continue to suffer for us.”

“Oh sure, no problem. He rails me so good that I’m kinda always desperate for more,” Jessie said with a laugh and a wave of her hand. “Like, goodness. I didn’t think I was such a sex-fiend until Nicky became the Lord of my Bits. Now it’s all I think about. I just want it all the time.

“I had to beg him last night since Harlowe and Sara were there, but eventually he got up on me and—”