The Axe Falls 2 -ch 3-

“Don’t make that face, Master Dol,” the count said with yet another dismissive hand wave. “Before you fret, I keep a small artifact in my tent that prevents anything inside the tent from leaking out, and anything outside the tent, leaking in.”

Claudia had a strange look on her face as she looked between Nick and her father.

It took Ralph a moment to realize it was incomprehension. She didn’t understand what was going on.

“Now, the reason I know, is I’ve met your family. I think I might have even tried to recruit your uncle, if I don’t miss my guess. We weren’t friends exactly but we were acquaintances. We had gone into your little village to recover after a fight with bandits. Your father executed them for us so we could take their heads back with a write of execution,” continued the count, delicately putting a forkful of food into his mouth. It wasn’t very large and he chewed it several times and swallowed. “From there, it was an easy enough thing to guess. Though I admit it took some digging on my part and poking about. Mostly about the names, where they went, what happened. It wasn’t easy and honestly if I hadn’t met you when I did, it wouldn’t have been believable.

“That little adventurers identity of yours was backdated due to guild policies by the way. Standard procedure but… not that many people know that. Your identity was easily set two weeks before the notification about you coming back. There was also Erica Fash’s family supporting you to the guild since you were in her party.

“The king briefly suspected you as well, by the way. He no longer seems to think you’re who everyone is looking for. I’m not sure why, but I do think it was partly the Fash family’s recognition of you as well as my own words. I’m sure there’s more but I wouldn’t know it.

“As far as I know though, the king has focused the entirety of his ire on some poor scapegoat the Dukes have brought up as a strawman. You’re no longer on his awareness at all.

“I think the Dukes realized there was a concern with you being caught and… I think they’re attempting to take the search off… well… you.”

“But… they wouldn’t be looking for him unless… that… Nick?” Claudia asked, sounding someone confused. “They wouldn’t… unl… unless… Nick?”

As if the sun had just managed to break through the cloud cover, Claudia’s confusion cleared off her face.

“Should I assume I won’t be handed over to the pretender?” Nickolas asked, looking from Claudia to the count.

“Certainly not. I’d most certainly be put to death for giving you a knighthood. I did make a secondary set of paperwork by the way with your actual name,” the count said with a snicker.

Nick blew out a breath and smiled grimly at Claudia.

“My name is Dominic Randolph. The last surviving family member of the true royal family,” Nick stated to her directly. “When the rest of my family was murdered, the old contracts were made null and void and here I am.”

“You’re… the king?” she asked.

“Well, prince in hiding, at the moment,” Nick answered with a rough chuckle. “Doctor Palt knows who I am and has helped me.”

“Sandy knows then,” the count put in. “They probably still sleep together so that’s not a surprise. I’m sure I’ll get an apology from both of them in the future for not telling me about you.

“Not that I blame them. The Fash family wasn’t doing that great as our leader. They weren’t holding up the peak of our kingdom. Nor could they compete at the top levels with… with what’s out there.

“And I’m guessing… your peak level is impressive. Isn’t it, Nick?”

Claudia was looking at him in a very different way now. As if she were embarassed, in fact.

“Peak level? Two-hundred as a Prince in hiding. King in hiding is likely higher. Followed by one-hundred and eight-nine, then a hundred-and fifty-four. I can hold four classes at the same time.”

The count had paused in what he was doing and was now staring at Nick.

After a short pause he laid his fork down onto his plate and then nodded his head.

“Well,” he said in a hoarse whisper, then cleared his throat. “Well. Alright. I think that certainly answers that. It’s clear you’re a better fit by level alone.

“Though… what is it you want to do?”

Nick chewed at the inside of his cheek for a breath, then another.

Only to offer nothing but a shrug for the count.

“I don’t know. I didn’t know who I was till the covenant was broken,” he admitted. “Right now I’m just looking to level up and strengthen myself.

“I’m currently hiring people for my house as well. That’s it.”

“House?” asked Claudia.

“Chamberlain, Head Cook, Knight Captain,” Nick rattled off as examples.

“Wife?” asked the Count.

“Yes, Sire. You will need an official wife. One that would become true heirs and the legal line would follow.

“Don’t argue the point.

“Jessie will be a good queen and her children with you will have their own rights, but as we’ve already stated, you’ll need other heirs. That would include a noble wife,” Lucian argued before Nick could answer. “I did warn you previously that a noble wife would be needed. You must appease nobles and that would include royal issue.”

Nick held his breath, sighed, and nodded his head.

“I have a candidate for a queen already selected, though she wouldn’t be my noble and legal wife. She’s a queen that would help me earn my throne through blood and sword,” he confessed. “However I do indeed need a noble wife, as well as a number of concubines. I’m the last of my line and while having too many heirs can be as problematic as having none, it’s different when the family has but one heir… as a whole.”

The count clicked his tongue at that and nodded.

“Well, I’m not sure if you’re taking oaths of vassalage, but I give you mine in secret,” the count said, with a dip of his head. “I’m sure there are otheres who have done the same. Secret or otherwise.”

“There are, Sire. You don’t need to offer anything in return, other than confirmation that there are others,” Lucian instructed him.

“I receive your vassalage in good faith and will keep it secret as I have others,” Nick offered in return.

“May I suggest my daughter as your noble wife?” the count asked, his rapid shift of subject catching Nick off guard.

“Father!?” squawked Claudia, turning a hot glare on him.

“It would be good for him as well as us, dear. Admittedly that assumes he wins but… I think he will,” the count expressed with a smile.

“We should accept, though with the understanding that should a better match be found, Claudia would have to be set aside,” said Lucian with a sigh. “As an example, a suitable young woman of marriageable age in direct line of succession from the Fash family. Like Erica, though higher in the peerage.”

“I… accept on the condition that if a better match comes about then… then I’d be forced to set Claudia aside, even if I didn’t wish to,” answered Nick.

“Accepted then,” said the count.

“I didn’t!” argued Claudia.

Quest updated!

Plunge it in: Impregnate Erica Fash, and/or Claudia Distis!

Hm.

Why didn’t it update for Jessie?

Is it because there’s no formal recognition of us as a couple?

No ring, no promise to wed, nothing?

But… that didn’t apply for Erica, either.

Though it did drop off wanting me to kill her.

That’s nice at least.

“Yes, that is rather strange. Given how often you have lain with her it’s—”

Quest updated!

Plunge it in: Impregnate Erica Fash, and/or Claudia Distis, and/or Jessie Tiller!

“Well,” Lucian drawled. “That answers that. It would seem it prefers you to spread your seed out a bit as well. Given how close the family came to being exterminated, I can’t blame it.”

“—settled. You don’t have a choice in the matter. As the current count, and you as my heir, I have that right,” the count stated as fact. “That’s done and done. Now… I assume you’ll be traveling from here to go empower yourself?”

“Yes. We’re going to head to another dungeon city and begin strengthening ourselves again,” confirmed Nick.

“Father!” squeaked Claudia.

“Good, good. Please take your fiance with you. She’ll need to gain levels as well. I’ll remain here and act as an information gathering point. I’ll also let slip to the Dukes through a back channel that there is the possibility the Randolph heir has been found. That they should continue with their ruse as it’s providing you cover.

“I’m sure they’ll try to send information or questions back. I trust the person I plan on sending implicitly so it shouldn’t be an issue, though I won’t say no to return correspondence either.”

“As long as your safe, sir,” Nick said gravely.

“Of course, Sire,” answered the count with a smile.

Hesitating, Nick wasn’t really sure what to say to the situation. Or what to do. This was all beyond him honestly.

“As the last of the royal line of the Randolph family, I Appoint you as I name you the Royal Chamberlain if you’ll have it. I don’t know what I’ll need, don’t need, have, or don’t have,” stated Nick, forcefully pushing the command out. “This is a lifetime position unless I revoke it so there’s no going back.”

The count was looking at what was likely a window that’d appeared before him. His eyebrows slowly rose up as he read through it.

“I… accept,” said the count then looked to Claudia. “Be sure to stay close to your fiance at all times.”

Household member gained!

Royal Chamberlain has been assigned as Rick Distis!

“I hear the level up is… ‘unexpected’,” Nick offered. “Dr. Palt was surprised when he took the Royal Physician position.”

“Ah, yes. That would certainly be one way to put it,” muttered the count. “Did you offer anything to Sandy? If you didn’t, you should consider her for a position related to house and home.”

“Uh, I could do Head Butler, Head Maid, or Head Cook. I also have Blacksmith and Stablemaster,” Nick listed off.

“Head Butler. She’s and ex-knight and will be able to put together any house-staff in a flash. She enjoys household things more so than she ever did fighting,” the count remarked, still reading through whatever had popped up in front of him. “Just offer it to her now. She’ll accept. I guarantee you that Dennis already told her everything.”

“I… ah… offer the Head Butler position to Sandy… uh… Sandy of Sandy’s Garrison,” Nick bumbled aloud. “I don’t know her last name… damnit.”

Household member gained!

Head Butler has been assigned as Sandy Palt!

“She married Dennis, I guess. Same last name as him,” said Nick, looking to the count.

“Did she? Huh. I’ll have to send them a present,” the count remarked with a wide wolfish grin. “That’ll be fun to get one over on them. I feel like I’m always behind.”

“Fiance?” whimpered Claudia, looking back and forth between Nick and her father. “But… I don’t… what do I do?”

“Get stronger,” her father answered and stood up. He put a hand on her shoulder as he walked up to her and stood in front of Nick. “Alright, Sire. Time you get moving. No reason to linger around here if the job is accomplished. It wouldn’t look right.”

Nodding his head at that Nick was then surprised when the count hustled him and Claudia both out. Gently pushing on their shoulders until they were firmly outside of his tent.

“Footman, please take my daughter and the good knight to the perimeter. He will need to collect his weapons and mount,” advised the count.

Being dismissed, Claudia and Nick walked mutely behind the footman to the front of the camp.

Sara wasn’t far off and was walking about gingerly. Clearly trying to work some of her muscle aches out.

Without a word she came back over as Nick was given his weapons.

The trio didn’t say anything as they walked three horses along. At some point someone hat brought Claudia her horse.

It wasn’t until they were outside of the inner camp that Sara couldn’t hold herself back anymore. Where there was so much noise and people talking at the camps nearby, that nothing would ever be heard.

The sound of thousands of soldiers all talking at once was quite loud.

“Apothecary?” she asked, leaning forward to peer at him under her horses neck.

“I… we were kicked out. I think. If not kicked out… kindly guided out,” confessed Nick, looking to the woman. “The count more or less said have a nice day after I reported in.

“I didn’t have a chance to ask or even collect anything at all. I’m sorry. We’ll head to the nearest town. I don’t think the outter camp would actually have what we need, and if they did, the prices would be substantial.”

“Is there something wrong with you?” Claudia asked in a hollow voice, turning to look at Sara. Then she blinked and did a double take “Wait, Sara? You’re… the guild member Nick brought?”

“Ah, hello Claudia. It’s good to see you. Yes, I was hired on by Nick directly,” Sara said with a small smile and a wave of her hand. “I’m surprised you’re joining us, but glad for it as well. Having a healer that’s competent and kind is always hard to find.

“And… ah… I’m not used to riding. I hurt all over. In ways I’d rather not admit to.”

Claudia nodded her head minutely while making “O” type of face. Apparently she’d had a similar feeling at some point, Nick guessed.

She held her hands up, then spread them apart in front of herself.

Summoning a spell directly that didn’t look as if it were a standard spell, but something she was making happen directly.

Blue and green magic swirled out from between her hands and settled all across Sara.

“Oh blessed bells that’s wonderful,” whimpered Sara, her entire seeming to relax. Going from a strange gait to moving quite smoothly and without issue.

“I can cast it again right now if you need me to. It costs a bit but it’s really good for things like body aches and cramps,” Claudia mumbled. “Uhm, where’s… Iris?”

“She didn’t make it, Claudia,” Nick answered, sighed, then coughed once. “Her head got bashed open in the dungeon collapse. I think even on the way down. Dead before she knew it kind of thing. She’s buried down there. There was no way I could carry her back out.”

“That’s… ah… that’s a shame. I liked her,” Claudia said. “She was kind if a bit blunt. I rather enjoyed her company.”

“It’s alright, Claudia. I’m your tank now. I guarantee you that I’ll be able to protect you just as well as she did, if not better. My whole goal is to not get hit as a tank, but take every strike put out,” put in Sara, clearly looking like she was feeling much better. “And please cast it again tonight before bed? That’d be great. It’s been terribly hard to sleep at night.”

“Not a problem,” whispered Claudia, slowly looking ahead again.

“Also, I forgive you Nick,” Sara said with a smile for him. “I won’t do what I threatened you with now. I can see both of you are a bit in shock. Did the talk go badly?”

“Not badly. Just surprising. As well as how quickly the count pivoted,” answered Nick, still feeling stunned. His brain wasn’t really quite over the pace at which everything had happened.

“Honestly, Sire, I think the count was aware for a while and was choosing his moment,” advised Lucian. “Given your response, making sure his daughter was safe, and then returning to him… well… I know what I would do if I was in his position. That would be to tie a relationship to this person. A nice and tight one.

“Like say… wedding his daughter. Though I do worry for Claudia. She was hurried out of there without even a chance to fetch her clothes.”

“Shit,” Nick blurted out then looked to Claudia. “Do we need to go get your things? Coin, clothes, anything?”

Claudia looked at him and blinked.

“No. I have a room in the village nearby,” Claudia answered. “My stuff is there along with my security detail. Father had some knights come and pick me up today to discuss Dayton and what’s going on there.

“I guess… they won’t be going back with me. I’ll be just… going back into my disguise as an adventurer healer. Instead of Claudia Distis.”

“I mean, I spent a good while pretending I wasn’t an adventurer myself so I definitely get it,” said Sara, all bright optimism again. As if she hadn’t threatened Nick not that long ago with what would equate to death. “It’s always surprising to find out the truth. At least to me.

“But hey, that’s fine. We’ll all push forward together and keep learning new truths. Back to Dayton we go for now and our homebase.”

“Yes. Yes… it is,” said Claudia sounding lost. “I’m glad you’re here Sara, though I’m surprised you knew about all this. It’s just so shocking.”

Uh?

Nick’s brain suddenly turned on and he realized he was in trouble. He hadn’t actually considered the fact that Claudia might just simply assume that Sara was already included.

“Claudia, I—”

“I never thought he was the real king,” Claudia said at the same time Nick was trying to shush her. By the time the last word was said, he knew it was too late. “I mean, it makes sense once you realize it I just… I never thought I’d meet him. Let alone know him.”

Sara’s eyebrows had shot up to the top of her head and a blazing smile had gone up across her face. He could practically feel the intense interest from her coming his way.

Her eyes boring a hole through his head to see if she could peel his head apart and discover more secrets.

“Right?” Sara said casually. As if she really had known all along. “Especially… especially when you think of his name. It’s creative enough that you’d never guess it, but obvious when you realize it.”

“That’s a really good point, Sara,” Claudia said with a soft and forlorn laugh. “It’s just a shock. All of it. My father was so quick to swear allegiance, too.

“He’s always been someone to find his spot and claim it though.

“Have you already sworn to him, by the way? What position did he give you in his entourage? As a tank I imagine there would be a lot of roles you could take.”

Fuck… fucking fuck.

Fuck, shit, shit fuck.

Shit fuck fuck titty motherfucker balls asshole!

Nick was mentally screaming endlessly.

Endlessly and without words.

Incoherent.

There wasn’t anything he could do to cudgel his thoughts into something usable.

“I’m sorry Claudia, but that’s really between Nick and I,” Sara apologized sincerely. Even going so far as to move to the other side of her horse, reach out, and touch Claudia’s arm. “I’m so sorry, Claudia. I’m sure you understand. You wouldn’t want to share your own role either, would you? Just in case something happened and we needed to protect him.

“By the way, have I mentioned you look lovely? You really shed any immaturity about you at all. You’re a beautiful young woman all of a sudden.”

“Ah… no. I wouldn’t. I don’t. You’re right. Sorry about that,” Claudia replied with a chuckle. She was suddenly looking and sounding better after Sara’s compliment. “Thanks, Sara. I appreciate that. I still feel like this gawky ugly stick figure of a girl rather than a woman.”

“It’s your clothes, dear. I’ll help you shop for something more fitting when we get back,” Sara advised her. “Oh, we’ll also need to talk about the woman Nick has chosen for-ah-intimate things. I think you’ll need a quick run down of that just so you don’t have the same reaction I did.”

Sara had closed truly on Claudia now and casually put a hand behind Claudia’s back.

Over the top of the other woman’s head, Sara was staring at Nick with wide hungry eyes. A grin that promised she’d suck the marrow from his bones to get the best deal possible out of him.

All while closing the gap between herself and Claudia seemingly to make sure he couldn’t just get rid of Sara.

A cunning little Elf.

“Ah… yes. She is most certainly going to demand a position and take us for more than we would normally give.

“I would agree with your previous sentiment, Sire. Fuck, shit, shitfuck,” concurred Lucian. “Shit fuck titty motherfucker balls asshole.”

The profoundity of the words felt just as heartfelt as Nick’s own.