The Axe Falls 2 -ch 9-

Julie gently pushed open the door to the home and gestured inside.

The home was just a few streets away from the guild house and only a single street away from the restaurant they’d just had dinner at.

It’d been a pleasant evening for Nick and Julie had quickly devolved back into her previous self.

He did note that her way of speaking had changed just a bit but overall she wasn’t that different from what his memory told him.

“After you,” she said with a grin.

Nick didn’t hesitate and walked straight into her house. No sooner than he did than he took a step to the side to wait for her.

From what he saw, it was a nicely decorated home quite suitable for a single woman who might be leaving in a year or so. Everything matched every statement she’d given him so far.

Entering the house, Julie closed the door, locked it, then laid a hand to the door frame. Nick got the impression she was reinforcing her security.

“If I’m housing my king for the evening I need to make sure my security is at it’s peak,” Julie muttered, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.

“I mean, that’s fair. Sara is my officially appointed personal body guard but… I’m fairly certain I could handle any threat she’d be strong enough to handle,” Nick admitted. “Outside of just dying for me, which I won’t be allowing.”

“That… Sire, can I see your status?” Julie asked, letting her hand fall away and turning to face him.

“Sire? Really?” Nick asked with a grin. “Do I need to find some rope so we can go back to our first time?”

Julie turned a sudden and deep bright red color.

“Nick, would you please show me your status?” she asked, ignoring his statement as well as the fact that she couldn’t be blushing any deeper.

“Of course I will. You should know I have four classes, not one. Swordsman, Sorcerer, Prince-In-Hiding, and Executioner. Mind if I sit down, by the way?” Nick asked and gestured at the living room that the entry way led to. At the same time he casually threw out his status screen to Julie.

“Please do, S-so that we can speak easier,” Julie murmured, her eyes now locked to the screen in front of her. “You were much lower level when we met, weren’t you.”

It didn’t sound like a question to him.

“Yes, I was. With worse gear,” Nick agreed. “Why, nervous you wouldn’t win this time?”

“I don’t think I would, no. I have extra spells and things as a magician but… if you really do have Sorcerer and with this hitpoint pool, you could tank up most of what I could throw at you,” Julie confirmed, her eyes still stuck on his status. “Our level difference isn’t high enough for me to get easy criticals on you.”

“Hey, good thing we ended up fucking like rabbits then became friends,” Nick said then stuck his left ankle on top of his right knee and promptly put the Dimensional Ledger he’d been holding onto in his lap. “So it really isn’t much of a concern of who would win in a fight. Now you’re my personal Wizard.”

Julie had winced as soon as he mentioned that they’d had sex and then dismissed his status window. She moved off to the far side of the living room and through a doorway.

“Can I get you anything? A drink? After dinner snack? Something?” she asked.

“No. Just the resource list if you don’t mind,” Nick said with a smile. He had briefly considered flirting with her, but he realized that this wasn’t the time.

As fun as it was to poke at her a bit, he wasn’t quite interested in her in that way. He was already trying to secure Jessie’s insecurities while balancing the fact that Claudia was his fiance.

“Yes, yes, I’m getting it, I’m getting it,” Julie answered from the other room. “But I need another drink. If you’re going to-going to keep reminding me that I’ve known my king carnally than I need-I need more alcohol.”

“You had three glasses of wine!”

“I need more. I wish you understood my point of view.”

“Which one? On your knees, on your back looking up, or when you were on top?” Nick asked, deciding to actually push in this moment. If she was already this flustered it wouldn’t matter.

That and he was fairly certain that when he finally got around to telling Jessie about all of this, she’d probably find it funny that he was tormenting Julie to a degree.

Jessie was a Dark Elf and while much of the reputation of her species was undeserved, she did have a mean streak as well as a deep sense of enjoyment through others suffering.

Especially if it involved him, he’d noticed.

That or she just really liked watching Sara suffer because it was Sara.

“I-you-no! That-that right there! You can’t just keep hitting me with that!” squeaked Julie from the other room. It sounded like she’d put down a glass suddenly.

“I never hit you. Unless those hand prints I left on your ass when I rode you face down in the bedroll,” countered Nick.

Julie sputtered loudly as if she were choking on something as she came back in the room.

She didn’t have a glass in her hand.

Instead, she had a full bottle of what looked like hard liquor.

As she walked by him she worked the top off it, flicked it with a finger, and then upended the bottle. Drinking directly from it.

After several loud chugs she slammed herself down in a recliner and glared at him. Her other hand held a sheet of paper.

“You’re never going to let this go,” she said finally.

“Probably not,” agreed Nick with a wide smile for her. “I mean, you were the first woman I had sex with that wasn’t me having to pay for time.

“In a way, you were my first intimate relationship. How ever could I forget such a thing?

“Of that dashing and daring strong magician that stole me away, used me against my will, and ransomed me off.”

Julie shook her head, her eyes wide as she listened.

Only to put the paper down on the coffee table between them and look like she was considering taking another long drink from her bottle.

“You’re going to get me killed,” she hissed.

“Not at all. You’re not allowed to die till I say you can. Besides, I owe you pay, remember? You even wrote out how many times we need to have sex further,” Nick countered and picked up the paper. “I do still have that letter you know. You even signed it. I should frame it and put it in my throne room later.”

“Oh my gods,” whined Julie, closing her eyes. “I did do that. I thought I was being so funny and flirty. That maybe at some point in the future I could run you down.”

“I thought so. Surprise, I’ve run you down instead,” Nick agreed as he looked over the list. He noticed that there was already an ink-pot and quill on the table as well. Opening the ink-pot Nick glanced at the nib and saw it was recently trimmed. “Okay. Let’s start going over this.”

Putting the Ledger down on the table he then set the paper down next to it.

Opening it to the correct page, Nick quickly wrote down the first line item. Which unsurprisingly were basic second promotion healing potions.

The response was prompt and immediate.

Nick simply opened to the first listing and looked to the prices that were there.

“Looks like the current running price on healing potions is about five smiv. I think that’s pretty close to what the price was before the war,” he relayed and looked to Julie.

Who was staring at him blankly.

“Right now it’s like eleven smiv, isn’t it?” Nick asked.

“Yeah,” Julie confirmed. “That’s about right, I think. It can go up or down from there. At one point it was as high as eighteen smiv.”

What should be the price if I want a small amount of profit, cover fees, and not have to worry about much, Lucian?

I’m no master trader.

“Ah, thank you for consulting me, Sire. After having gone through many transactions with our family I can easily say that you need only charge the Dukes seven smiv. You will make a small profit and providing this many potions outside of the market will bring prices down a degree as well.

“While I don’t think it bears repeating, it’s probably a prudent time for me to remind you that quality control is not an issue when using the ledger. Everything must be exactly as labeled.”

Great. Thanks Gramps.

I appreciate you.

“I can sell as many potions as the Dukes want at seven smiv,” Nick said and then wrote down a price next to the line-item after dipping the quill in the ink-pot. “There really is no limit on the number as far as I can tell. There’s lots for sale at the moment.”

“They’ll buy as many as you can sell,” mumbled Julie.

“I doubt that. There are… sixty-three thousand potions for sale at that price,” Nick replied with a chuckle. “Just go back to your contact and get a number as well as payment for it.”

Glancing down to the second line item, Nick snorted.

Third promotion healing potions.

“Well, this’ll be boring but needed,” Nick said to himself as he began to write down the item into the search window.

“Can you buy anything at all from there?” she asked.

“Indeed. Even mercenary forces. Would the Dukes like to hire mercenaries?” Nick asked after he had considered it for a second. “Be sure to tell them that this is a magical contact you made.

“You can’t control when it contacts you or where. That you’re not even sure it’ll happen again in the future.

“Just in case they get it in their heads they want to try and make my acquaintance without you.”

“Already did so,” blurted out Julie who them promptly took another several large gulps from her bottle. “It won’t be an issue, Nick.

“Can I also buy some things from you? If we’re going in as a party, I want to be prepared.”

“Certainly,” Nick said with a nod of his head. “I won’t even make a profit off you. You’re my personal Wizard, after all.”

“I’m your Wizard,” agreed Julie. “I’ll likely need to leave for a time once we finish up, by the way.

“Likely a week or three, depending on what the Dukes response is. I can guess already that I’ll need to get in touch with someone higher up when I tell them their wish list, isn’t so much a wish as it is just a list.”

***

Yawning, Nick rolled over and reached out.

He found Jessie, wrapped an arm around her, and drug her directly against himself. Then promptly stuck his other arm around her.

“Nicky, too warm,” grumbled Jessie.

Nick only grunted, kissed the side of her cheek, then stuck his face into her hair. Not releasing her.

If anything he pulled her closer and tighter.

Jessie grunted, let out a soft sigh, then turned around. Facing him directly and snuggling in close.

“Love you,” she mumbled.

“Love you, too,” replied Nick, nuzzling the top of her head. “When I was kidnapped I slept with Julie repeatedly. I wasn’t sure if she’d kill me out of hand and I was looking for an angle.

“I didn’t tell anyone else about it. Wasn’t sure how they’d take it. Don’t plan on telling them either so you’ll need to keep it a secret.”

“Mm, makes sense,” Jessie answered without even sounding bothered. “Makes more sense why you were so quick to accept my offer.

“You also never told anyone that I’d originally bartered my ass out just to live. That you could have as much as you wanted whenever you wanted.

“You just tell people we fell in with one another and let them assume we just went from there.”

Nick kissed Jessie’s cheek again and relaxed in their bed. He felt better for telling her and more so that she more or less dismissed it without it being an issue.

“Nothing happened last night?” she asked curiously. “Just the talk about materials?”

“I tormented her endlessly that she had kidnapped me and raped me. I mean, she didn’t rape me but it’s fun to mess with her,” Nick confessed. “Nothing happened though nor did she suggest anything.”

Jessie laughed at that. It was a dark chuckle that blended into his perception of her and fit perfectly.

“I think I should probably take you back sometime to meet my family. I think they’ll like you once they get over that you’re not a Dark Elf,” Jessie muttered, then let out a sleepy sigh. “Get out of bed. You’re too warm and you’re clearly awake. I want to sleep a bit more.”

Jessie gently thumped a fist against his chest.

“I could put you back to sleep?” suggested Nick.

To which Jessie nodded her head eagerly.

Thirty minutes later Nick left the room. He adjusted his armor as he stood there in front of the door.

The room to his right was Sara and Claudia. The room beyond that was Rahak.

Nick had the back corner room on the second floor of the inn.

If he needed to, he could go out a window and escape.

No sooner than he had started to move than the door opened and Sara stepped out of her room.

She met his eyes, smiled and then fell in with him as he walked past her.

“And what’re we doing today?” she asked.

“Going to go see about putting up a small stall and offer a commissions service,” Nick muttered. “Going to buy a golem to man it so that I never have to be seen. Ever.

“Can also use it for cover with Julie if she needs it or I need it. That way there’s a cut-out that can be dropped at any given time.”

“Who’s idea is that? It’s rather good,” offered Sara as they walked to the stair-case.

“My own,” Nick lied. It had been Lucian’s idea, but he wasn’t about to tell anyone about Lucian.

His grandfather was a secret to everyone for the time being.

“I finished up that list of items I wanted. Though I’ll need to take a  out a loan from you,” Sara murmured. “I’m sure the things I want won’t be cheap but being able to get exactly what I want is rather worthwhile.

“As for collateral, well, as a potential fiance, I’m sure my line of credit is good. Isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it’s fine,” Nick allowed with a chuckle. Given how many items were on Julie’s list and the prices involved, it was quite likely Nick was going to become a very wealthy man, very quickly. “Potential fiance, hm?”

“Yes. I’ve already sent out several letters to my family as well as government minders,” Sara confirmed. “I’ve revealed nothing about the situation and my statements and questions were all roundabout.

“About the king, the situation, the Dukes, and what our stance is. Nothing about what’s happened or could happen.”

“A wise course of action,” agreed Lucian. “Sara is a valuable ally and has been well trained in politics.”

“—I think their response will likely be reasonable and in favor of the Dukes. Then I just have to push the idea of me being a politically useful tool to throw at a young… nobleman… as a wife and there we have it,” Sara murmured, gracing him with a pretty smile. “Hardly an inconvenience.”

“You are literally saying you want to push out children for the sake of an arranged marriage,” Nick replied, still feeling very odd about how Sara was handling all this.

“About that, is there any chance I could get that child before Jessie does?” Sara asked, dodging the main thrust of his comment and somehow ending up where she did. “She’s not actively trying right now, is she? If she is… that’s… hm.”

Blinking, Nick got his answer.

It also left him feeling a bit cold.

Sara just wanted to compete with Jessie.

“I mean, I’m attracted to you, and I wanted you to ask me out, but even then, it’s a bit fast to rush straight to a kid if you’re already trying with Jessie,” grumbled Sara, watching him intently as they went down the stairs.

“Kinda trying, kinda not. Leaving it to chance,” Nick confessed.

“Damnit. Alright,” Sara groused as they went through the common room and out onto the street. “I suppose I’ll just have to wait. I don’t want to rush our relationship. I can beat Jessie in other ways.”

Well… that makes me feel better.

I’m something to fight over, but also because she wants to be there.

“Though I need to get into your bed sooner than I want to. I can’t let Jessie dictate the pace or I’ll never beat her,” grumbled Sara with a shake of her head. “Okay. I demand a date night. You took Julie out, now it’s my turn. I want to take you to dinner tonight and tomorrow. I’m asking for them up front.

“I’d ask for more this week, but I think more than two days would alert the others to my plans.”

Blinking, Nick shrugged his shoulders.

“Uh… you don’t need to force yourself on my behalf. Or rush anything,” he said and kept walking. “As far as dinner… alright. I think we’re planning a dungeon dive just before lunch today and being in there till about dinner.”

He wanted to get to the more run-down part of town. Where it bordered another section, in fact.

Somewhere that wouldn’t be high visibility at first, but could easily shift population by it.

“I don’t think I’m forcing myself, per-say, just moving past my own limitations faster than I expected I would,” Sara countered, her head moving around as she eyed their surroundings. “I mean… I had already felt rather strange that I was so attracted to a Human.”

The way she said the last left Nick feeling a bit odd.

It’d sounded strange in the way she said it. As if there were a lot more lurking beneath the surface of the statement.

“You said no,” he blurted out as an argument.

Coming to a slow stop as he said the word, Nick looked around. He felt like this was the right area for what he wanted.

He could see homes that dropped in value down the road from where he was as well as middle class houses around him right now.

“Yes. I did. Foolishly. I genuinely thought you’d chase me further,” hissed Sara, her brows drawing down and her eyes flashing. “You were supposed to run me down and ask me out again. Then we would have started our secret relationship that we couldn’t let others know about.”

Gramps, are Elves really that different than Humans?

She sounds kinda strange.

“They aren’t human, my boy. Your family has never dated or wed anyone other than a Dragon or Humans,” offered Lucian. “I can only provide you insights from associations that were friendly at best, nothing romantic.

“Elves are… very… much not Human. They tend to have certain qualities that make them very focused on a few things. Often related to their species or upbringing.

“For all we know, Sara’s focus is on her self worth and perception. You not fitting with her expectations could possibly have unnerved her.

“If that’s what it is. I’m merely speculating and I truly don’t feel confident in my own answer.”

Ah, alright.

Gramps…

“Before you ask, I’ve only heard of two types of elves. Dark and High. I never met any other race while I lived, nor after I passed,” Lucian answered, jumping to the question Nick wanted to ask.

Got it.

Alright.

Anyways.

This looks like a good spot.

I need a golem I can put down from a distance and retrieve from a distance.

Any chance you can help me find something in the ledger for that?

“Gladly, Sire.”