The Axe Falls 2 -ch 21-

Sitting at the desk in the study Harlowe had made her room, Nick turned the page on the account book.

This was the written account of all the monies that were currently in his dimensional coin pouch, secured in his personal pack, along with the ledger.

Given that Rahak had left last night, Claudia and Julie this morning, that left him as the one responsible for managing their trade and finances.

Claudia and Julie had both decided to leave separately from Nick.

After all, they would be going in different directions after a certain point and realistically, there were still a few things to handle in the city.

While those two journeyed together, Nick would be responsible for closing out a few more deliveries on Julie’s behalf as well as a few contracts she had to close.

All he had to do was pick up several signed contracts and put a bags of coin together to be picked up by newly hired recruits.

Beyond that, he personally didn’t really want to go traveling up that way during the dead of winter. Julie and Claudia didn’t seem to think much of it, or that it would even be much of a problem.

He, however, just didn’t like the idea of being that cold. To be wandering the roads as heavy snow-fell constantly and even having to camp out in such weather.

No… no thank you.

I’ll wait a bit and do some work.

Blinking, Nick refocused himself on the page.

It was the final working sum of the current month.

Through their trade deals with the Dukes, selling a few things in the Ledger, and generally working with the war economy as a whole, they now sat a grand total of ninety-five thousand, four-hundred, and thirty two golders.

The next big shipment would be going out to Wretin, amusingly enough. A list of prices as well as the expectation that it’d need to be paid up front to get all the goods had been given.

Wretin had accepted it and told them to expect a purchase within two months.

That time frame should be ending relatively soon.

Which was exceedingly large considering Nick had left home with a small fortune of around two-thousand-five hundred golders.

They were easily at the amount of coin a Duke might expect to have in their vault and making more and more money.

With each and every month that went by, the Dukes had increased Julie’s budget as well as started to put in actual trade requests. Their suspicion and desire to meet Nick had both fell away once they realized his goods were legitimate.

Even Jessie made us money selling all that fake coin for us.

Though, even with all that, this isn’t enough to take on the King.

Point of fact… if anything… I should be selling all this to the King too.

Though, not anything that would cost lives of the Dukes.

Maybe just save lives of those fighting for the King.

After all, when this is over, wouldn’t they technically end up being my citizens as well?

I wonder if there’s such a thing as a long recovery potion.

Where they can drink it, make a full recovery, but it takes a month or longer. Putting them out of the fight.

Or something similar for lost limbs and the like.

“There are indeed such things, Sire,” confirmed Lucian. “They’re not as pricey as regular medicinal aids given their side-effects, but that doesn’t mean we can’t charge a higher price.

“After all, the prices were charging to the Dukes are quite low if only to make it easier for them to fight the war on your behalf.

“Though I do worry what they will want for themselves when the time comes. We’ll need to prepare ourselves to have to fight down the Dukes even after the King has been laid low.”

“Mm, a valid point,” Nick muttered and then closed the account book. Now that he had gone over it, he felt better for knowing the situation accurately. Thankfully, the book matched the exact coin count of his purse, too. “I’m not looking forward to that kind of fight either.”

“What fight?” Harlowe asked from the doorway.

The Werewolf had apparently been standing there and Nick hadn’t noticed.

While they hadn’t had many interactions given how often they were all in the Dungeon as of late, Nick hadn’t changed his opinion of her. He thought that she would be a valuable addition to his forces if he could make it work.

Maybe this was just such a time.

“Who do you support, the Dukes or the King?” Nick asked in his ‘Harlowe tone’ and met her eyes.

Harlowe’s almost eternally neutral expression didn’t change in the least.

Rather than answer him, she entered the study, closed the door, then stalked over to the desk.

The way she moved belied her non-human heritage, which was curious to Nick.

Despite their brief interactions, he had noted that in company that wasn’t Nick or his party, Harlowe acted the part of a Human. To the point that she wouldn’t be easily found out without someone already having suspicions.

Unfortunately Nick found her Werewolf nature rather pleasant for some reason.

“It’s that Dragon blood, my boy. She’s a predator and you likely respect that,” advised Lucian. “It’s not surprising she has your interest.”

You make it sound like I want to fight her and then mount her.

“Don’t you?” argued Lucian. “It’s no different than how my daughter felt toward my son-in-law. They fought often and seemed to enjoy it.

“There’s nothing wrong with it. So far… no one can really stand up to you or handle your presence if you actually push. Even our dear Queen would quail.”

Nick at that moment had been staring into Harlowe’s eyes as she sat herself down in the chair across from him. There was a pleasant tension he could feel that left him indeed feeling like he wanted to fight her.

“Want to spar, later?” said Nick, suddenly unable to curb the desire.

“Yes,” Harlowe said with a very soft growl, her mouth finally curling up at the corners. “Now, about your question though, on who I support… well… I don’t really care.

“It doesn’t concern me at all personally.

“Unless… it concerns you?

“If it concerned you, then I suppose it would concern me.”

“What if it did concern me,” Nick said, sliding back into his ‘Harlowe tone’ and breaking eye-contact. Instead he turned away from her and bent down to his pack. He quickly pulled out a slab of raw beef as well as a small defensive trinket. It wasn’t much, but it would help anyone attempting to blend in with nature, to blend in more successfully.

Such as a Werewolf Hunter laid out in the grass and acting for all the world like a small hump of greenery.

“Then… it’d concern me,” Harlowe answered, her eyes following both items as they were set down on the desk between them. The beef on a small wooden tray and the charm, which was a cape clasp next to it. “Thank you for the gifts, Nick.”

Harlowe tilted her head to the side as her eyes went back up to him.

“Should it concern me?” she asked when he met her eyes but didn’t respond. Only to break her gaze away and pick up the clasp. She gave it a once over, then reached up and neatly clipped it into her cloak. Right next to several other trinkets he’d given her.

They didn’t cost him much of anything at all, but had been small things he had kept from the Dungeon or purchased from the Ledger. He had done similar things with everyone in his party.

In his mind, it didn’t hurt them at all to have a number of trinkets that might provide small benefits.

“It concerns you, but I think you already suspected it. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it before I give you anything further,” he pressed. He really did want to know what she thought.

“That you’re Dominic Randolph, the Dragon King,” Harlowe said with a small shrug of her shoulders and then picked up the beef. She held it up to the corner of her mouth and nipped off a piece easily. She chewed at it several times before she swallowed. “You’re a predator, you smell of something more than human, and you treat me as a predator in your territory that you’ve graciously allowed to remain.

“You have no fear of me at all despite the level difference. To the point that I’ve wondered more than once if there was something I was missing.

“To the point that I’ve distinctly felt my instincts tell me that you were a danger once or twice. Though… only when you stare.”

“I really am working on the staring,” Nick apologized with a smile and a nod of his head. “Apparently I do it often.”

“You often reek of attraction when you do,” Harlowe put in neutrally and then bit off another chunk of the flesh.

“I’ve been told that by others, yes, just not in the same way,” admitted Nick, then he clicked his tongue. “Harlowe, I’d like to hire you on as the Royal Warden. Werewolf or not.”

Harlowe’s brows slid upward slowly as she continued to snip pieces off the beef. Nick couldn’t deny that her rear teeth were fascinating and he found their usage to be quite interesting.

Lucian had told him that Dragons had similar teeth though they were often used for cutting things in half, rather than taking bites off.

“What if I wanted to run off to the King and tell them about who and where you are?” Harlowe countered, without any threat or hint of malice in her words. It was a simple question.

Nick met her eyes and held her gaze.

At the same time he contemplated just how hard it would be to kill her here and now and where he would have to dump the body. As well as what guards he would likely have to bribe if there was a response to a concerned citizen.

On top of that, how much he’d have to pay to the guild for Harlowe’s death.

After the calculation was complete, he nodded his head.

“I’d kill you, sell your body on that special market I have that I’m sure you’ve heard a few things about, bribe a guard or two, pay your death fee, then see about hiring another Werewolf. I find I enjoy the company and my… Dragonblood… finds them companionable,” stated Nick as casually as he could, even if his ‘Harlowe tone’ failed him and his words took on a rough and somewhat ugliness.

Harlowe held his gaze, only to instantly drop it. Looking down at the ground between her boots. She took another bite from her meal without looking back up.

Nick let out a soft breath and leaned back in his seat, letting his eyes trail away from Harlowe’s face to the spot on the desk in front of her.

“I think I’d like that Royal Warden position,” she said and then finally looked back up to him. “If you tell me what the positions of everyone else is, first.”

“Jessie is my queen and Royal Thief Catcher. Julie is the Court Wizard. Claudia is my noble fiance and doesn’t have a technical position. Rahak is my steward. The count of Distis is my Chamberlain. Sara is my Royal Bodyguard. I also have a Head Butler and Royal Physician who you haven’t met,” Nick answered without a concern, his voice trailing back into his ‘Harlowe tone’ finally.

Harlowe let out an odd huff that he couldn’t quite place, then grinned at him.

“You have a Dark Elf for a queen?” she asked, looking quite amused.

“Mm. I mean, if I’m already trying to put a kid in a Dark Elf, hiring a Werewolf for a Warden is pretty easy,” Nick mused with a grin in return for her.

“That certainly makes more sense,” Harlowe murmured. “I accept the position. Though… you should tone down your gifts to me. You’re making me very confused as a Werewolf.

“You and your Familiar gift me constantly. To the point that I’m quite convinced you’re attempting to talk me into a bed to carry a pup for you.

“And don’t try to argue that your Familiar isn’t you. Your Familiar is an extension of your own personality and feelings. I’ve met many spellcasters with Familiars.

“Collectively, between you and your Familiar, I’ve put on weight due to the sheer volume of meat you give me. You’re making me fat and confused.”

“You look good with a bit of weight to you,” complimented Nick easily. He couldn’t deny that she had indeed put on a touch of weight, but it’d been in good places for it. Then shrugged his shoulders. “My apologies. I feel like I should be giving you meat every time I see you.”

“And the constant defensive trinkets?” she pressed, her head still uncannily tilted to one side.

“They seem appropriate,” he answered honestly.

“You give them to your consorts, fiance, and queen, as well. You treat me as a woman you would breed upon,” Harlowe said accusingly. “My fat, confused, self, feels as if she’s caught in a trap and is sitting there happily rather than gnawing her leg off.”

“I have no idea how you can call yourself fat when you’re literally the leanest woman around me,” Nick argued. “You could do with a few more pounds even now.

“As to your trap, if you’re that uncomfortable I’ll stop. It isn’t my intention to bother you. I was just following… my instincts.”

Harlowe nose twitched once, as she sat there. Unspeaking and staring at him.

Only to sit up straight, then shrug her shoulders.

“You may continue. I understand the need to follow instincts. My fat, happy, and mollified self will continue to get fatter I suppose,” she drawled with a hint of dislike. “Well… what now?”

“Let’s exchange status plates and then I’ll gift you that position,” Nick requested. He didn’t for a moment think Harlowe was any lower than ninety on her max level, but he wanted to be sure of it.

Before she could do anything, he casually flicked over his information to her.

A fraction of a second after that, hers arrived. As if she responded immediately to his request.

Name: Harlowe

Race: Werewolf

Class: Huntsman

Strength: 19

Dexterity: 19

Stamina: 17

Intelligence: 09

Wisdom: 09

Charisma: 04

Equipment-

Head: None

Shoulders: Leather Pads

Hands: Leather Gauntlets

Chest: Leather Chestguard

Forearms: Leather Bracers

Waist: Leather Belt

Legs: Leather Tassets/Greaves

Feet: Leather Boots

Back: None

Left Hand: None

Right Hand: None

Level: 65(95)

Experience: 42

Hit Points: 455

Mana: 325

“It says Human,” Harlowe declared then looked to him. “This is a lie. You are most certainly not human, your highness. The Dragon King must be of a Dragon.”

Quest complete!

Rewards Granted:

One chosen skill upgraded.

The Shield of Randolph, a Rapier.

Stave of the Lady, a Staff.

Queen’s Dignity, a Ring.

Additional Reward granted: Bloodline reinforced.

Additional Reward granted: Bloodline reinforced for all future heirs.

“It… it changed,” Harlowe mumbled suddenly, her finger curling in partially. “It… says Dragonblooded now… that’s… odd. It sounds correct, however.”

Nick didn’t even need to think about what he’d spend the chosen skill upgrade on either now that it’d been given. He’d just taken Draconic Regeneration.

Hey.

Gramps.

I need to stay away from Dragon’s now, don’t I?

Cause if my Bloodline was reinforced, I’d be more akin to your actual very first grandchild, won’t I?

Were they fairly Draconic?

“Very. They were… very… yes. You’ll need to stay away from other Dragons, my boy,” confirmed Lucian. “Though, I’m glad to see the line is stronger again and… well… Dragon King. What is my family if not my family?”

Nick didn’t miss the pride held in the words.

Lucian was quite proud that this was his family line.

“As the last of the royal line of the Randolph family, I Appoint you as my Royal Warden,” said Nick, putting the command of an ability into his words while capturing Harlowe’s eyes. “This is a lifetime position that only I can take from you. Do you accept Harlowe? Curious that you have no last name, by the way.”

“I accept. A last name is given once a pack is joined,” Harlowe said, suddenly blessing him with a predatory smile. “Would you be surprised to know I’m now Harlowe Dol? Packnames are our family, after all.”

Well.

Can’t tell Claudia or Jessie about that.

That’d make them go crazy since neither of them are technically married to me.

There’s no way we could hold a marriage ceremony until I’m recognized as the King. Otherwise I’d just end up fighting all my nobility over it.

“Quite right, Sire,” Lucian said.

“Well… that’s done,” Nick said as he considered what exactly to do next.

The only thing that really came to his mind was waiting a week or two, finishing Julie’s needs, the deal with Wretin, and then heading north and making the trip to seeing Count Distis and then Julie.