Metal Mage 15, page 8
Cayla glanced over skeptically from behind her burrito. “Are you sure Dragir didn’t arrange this on purpose to keep us from beating him there?”
“I’m sure,” I chuckled. “We mapped out our routes before this business about the Elite leaders came up, and judging by the map, it does look like our safest option. We can’t risk anyone connecting a dragon’s presence to our arrival in case word gets back to Luir. By landing in this area, heading to the capital from the west, and starting with the southernmost House in Lyralus, we’re covering our backs as much as we can until we get to the point where there’s no stopping us.”
Shoshanne’s eyebrows crinkled with worry. “What if Luir uses his own transmuters to track our progress from there? We’ll have no element of surprise.”
“Honestly, we shouldn’t expect to surprise this guy either way,” I told the women. “When we were at House Orrel, he knew House Ceres was going to fall days before it happened thanks to his owls, so we’re not going to slip under his radar taking down the Elite. Luir might not know we’re here when we get to House Elyn, but by the time we move on to House Pree, he’ll know we’re back in Nalnora.”
My women looked at me with concern, and I knew what they were thinking before Aurora even opened her mouth.
“Hold on, why are you letting us go ahead with this, then?” the half-elf asked. “You said working our way to House Orrel would give us an advantage, and I know Dragir suggested this, but if we’re hurting our chances of defeating the Master--”
“We’re not affecting our chances at all,” I assured her. “The Wendigo who was sent to scout the fortress after the siege saw Dragir and I watching him, which means the Master saw, too. They know we’re coming for them already.”
“They want you to,” Cayla corrected. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t have let the Wendigo stay out in the open like that.”
“Which tells us the Master thinks he’s prepared,” I added.
“Do you think they’ve already begun branding the Elite to increase their numbers?” Shoshanne asked.
“I’ve considered the possibility,” I assured her, “and working our way through the Elite Houses will help us find out, but I don’t think Luir would go in for that just yet. If we showed up at House Orrel first thing, decimated his army, but failed to take him or the Master down, then he’d probably stoop that low. Luckily, he’s the most arrogant elf in Nalnora.”
“More arrogant than Aeris?” Aurora snorted.
“Yes,” I replied, and Nulena nodded.
“The other Elite leaders all think they’re superior to the rest, but they rely on one another,” the Baroness pointed out. “They know alone, their individual Houses couldn’t maintain their stations. It’s only because they’re all in this together that the hierarchy has remained in place for so long. Luir, on the other hand, thinks even the other Elite are far beneath him, and he’s correct. His age and wealth of runic knowledge put the others to shame.”
“It’s actually to our advantage that the Master went to him,” I added.
“I don’t see how,” Cayla scoffed. “The Master could probably learn more from Luir than he ever did from the head of House Syru.”
“Exactly,” I agreed, “and Luir knows it. Even if the Master’s plans intrigue him, Luir won’t follow him. He has no reason to. So, when all hell breaks loose, and Luir’s legacy is at stake, do you think he’d defend the Master?”
“No,” Shoshanne answered.
“He said himself that his students were more valuable than anything the other Houses hoarded,” Aurora recalled.
“And he’ll fight to defend them,” I clarified. “On the other hand, though, he has his own reasons for wanting to destroy us, and an army he thinks is capable of doing so. I’m guessing that from his side, having the Master show up was his lucky day. The Master’s branding turns his already violent army into a more unstoppable one, and making it look like the two have joined forces is Luir’s best means of drawing us out of the woodwork without having to lift a finger.”
“But he has no loyalty to the Master,” Shoshanne realized. “He’s using him to get to you. With you dead, he can take Deya back.”
“And capture Dragir,” Cayla muttered. “Mason’s bringing him right to his doorstep, but before they met, Dragir remained secluded. Mason’s weapons and allyship are the only reason he can take a risk like this now.”
“Pretty much,” I agreed, “but all of this contributes to why taking down the Elite first works to our advantage.”
“I don’t see how, though,” Shoshanne admitted.
“Think of the scene we’re about to make,” Cayla chuckled. “One by one, the Elite Houses are going to be slaughtered, and the last two Houses in the south are joining in the fight. If you were Luir, wouldn’t you find this all convenient?”
“By the time we’re done, there will be no Elite left to worry about,” Aurora said with a nod. “The only remaining Houses would be entirely inferior to him, if they survived the attacks at all. Luir won’t touch us.”
“It’s in his best interests to let us handle our business and wear out our assets along the way,” I concluded. “If we started sneaking through Nalnora with his owls lurking around, Luir probably wouldn’t hesitate to go after us at any moment. We’d be in a vulnerable position. Tearing a hole through every Elite House in Lyralus is the best way to make sure this fight is on our own terms, and it happens to satisfy all our needs. You get what you want, the Elite get what they deserve, and I gain an advantage.”
I grinned at the thought, and I took a victory bite of my next burrito while I considered the matter settled. Then I noticed my women didn’t seem nearly as contented as I was, and something about the look Cayla and Aurora were sharing made me wonder if I’d missed something.
“What’s wrong?” I mumbled through my bite.
“Well,” the princess calmly began, “based on this reasoning, not only are you the one man Rekekis and the Master want to take down, but you’re also Luir’s primary target.”
“I know,” I replied, “and I’ve spent the last week considering every aspect of the situation and preparing for all scenarios. I’ve got this.”
“When you told us we’d be leaving our army behind, you said it was to protect them,” Aurora reminded me. “I thought it made sense given Luir’s rune magic, the God of Destruction smiting you, and the possessed Wendigo waiting for us, but if you’re the only one all of these assholes want to kill…”
“Mason, the point of gathering an army as large as yours was to ensure when a situation like this arose, you would succeed without question,” Shoshanne finished.
“True,” I allowed, “but a lot has come to light in the last three days. You heard Pindor’s report. The Master hasn’t accomplished anything at the points he had marked on all those maps. This is his last chance to gain the upper hand, but who is he?”
“My brother’s only pawn,” Nulena answered for the others.
I nodded. “The Master is Rekekis’ last chance at getting me in this realm, and he knows what’s at stake right now as well as I do. So, we adjust our strategy to account for all threats. A thousand mortal soldiers would be effective, but given who we’re up against, I can do more damage with an immortal fleet.”
“The Boms might hold off the Wendigo, Mason, but they won’t stop a god,” Cayla countered.
“They’re not the only immortals joining us,” I snorted. “We’ve got Nulena. She’s actually the one who suggested I leave our army behind.”
Aurora went rigid as she turned a glare toward the Baroness, but Nulena didn’t bat an eye.
“As you have pointed out, I know my brother’s powers better than anyone,” the Baroness reminded my half-elf. “I’ve been watching his advances since the siege, and he is reserving his strength.”
“Shit,” Shoshanne whimpered. “He’ll be stronger than he was at the fortress?”
“Yes,” Nulena said, but she didn’t sound concerned in the slightest. “Up until now, I’ve been unable to counter his advances for fear of harming Mason’s forces. By removing mortal soldiers from the battlefield, and moving this war far from Mason’s allies, I can finally harness my own weapons.”
Aurora wasn’t glaring anymore, and I recognized the way her lips curled at the corners. “This sounds so sexy.”
“It does,” I chuckled. “And fucking dangerous. The point is, though, I’ve got this. Can we all trust that I’ve considered all the options, and that I’ve gone to great lengths to prepare for all scenarios?”
“Yes,” Shoshanne said with a sweet smile.
“Of course, we trust you,” Cayla purred.
“Thank you,” I replied. “Now, the only thing I want you ladies worrying about is enjoying your new tank and decimating the Elite Houses. Leave the rest to me.”
Aurora squealed as she shimmied her legs under the table. “I can’t believe we’re finally doing this! I have dreamed of nothing else for a week, and I think my rebel baby’s been giving me ideas! Every morning, I wake up with new and gruesome ways to dismember these fuckers.”
“Is that why you keep growling in your sleep?” I snorted.
“I heard that, too,” Nulena chuckled.
“I can’t help it,” Aurora laughed. “It is grisly in this mind right now.”
“I’m eager to begin, too, but it will be a great relief to see the work done,” Cayla sighed. “I’ve been so distracted with plotting murders that I wake up malicious instead of frisky, and I don’t like it. Nulena, I don’t know how you manage to keep a balance in your life.”
“I don’t,” Nulena coolly replied. “I thrive on imbalance.”
“Well, I wake up frisky either way,” Shoshanne said with a shrug.
Aurora rolled her emerald eyes. “Yes, you live and breathe for cuddles lately. I worry you’re not taking this massacre seriously. How are you going to stay focused?”
“Hey, I’m still thirsting for blood!” the healer clarified.
“Thirsting for Mason,” Cayla muttered under her breath.
“Okay, just because I can’t go more than ten minutes without physical contact doesn’t mean my head isn’t in the game,” Shoshanne shot back. “I might get wet every time I see, smell, hear, or think of Mason, but I can still mutilate a bitch with abandon! I’m ready for this!”
I raised my eyebrows at the conviction in the healer’s tone, but whether she noticed or not, she’d grabbed my hand when she said all this and was now stroking it in her lap.
I cleared my throat. “Well, good, because we’re here.”
Aurora’s eyes lit up as she whipped around to look out the window, and Cayla shoved the last of her burrito into her mouth while she vaulted from her seat. Shoshanne didn’t bother joining everyone else at the windows, though, and the healer was still moaning against my lips when we broke through the canopy and touched down in the jungle.
“Gods, just the sight of ferns makes me want to kill something,” Aurora sighed. “You remembered to bring the daggers, right?”
“Seventy-three of them,” Cayla confirmed.
“I hope that’s enough,” the half-elf muttered, and she caught Shoshanne around the waist to drag her off me while she headed for the driver’s hatch. “Come on, Cuddles. We’ve got a massacre to get to.”
The healer let out a pathetic squeak, and the way her breasts swelled against Aurora’s hold derailed my mind as I watched her try to claw her way back to me.
“But…” Shoshanne whimpered.
“Go,” Cayla ordered. “Deya has to get out of here, and Mason won’t be kissing anyone if something happens to her.”
“Shit!” I gasped, and I scrambled into the turret basket and out the loader’s hatch.
Then I quickly unlatched all the transport clamps to release the green dragon from her chains, and Deya snorted a tuft of flames from her green snout as she looked down at me.
“Head straight back to the Illarian border as fast as you can,” I instructed. “Then break your connection from there and let the dragon fly north to Mors Pass on its own.”
The green dragon nodded instead of screeching in response, and she jetted up through the hole she’s carved into the canopy like a shot.
I took an uneasy breath while I listened carefully to her progress, and I scanned the terrain around us for any signs of an owl lurking in the trees. Nalnora was muggy with late afternoon heat while the foliage billowed around the tank, and dense vines clung to the tree trunks with blooms the size of my fist pluming from them.
I could hear exotic birds squawking in the canopy while the distant roar of sphynxes echoed across the jungle, and the dank smell of moist soil and plant life filled my lungs with every breath. My women were stretching beside the tank while they discussed what they should wear for their first attack, and as the flap of Deya’s wings faded from my registry, I decided to keep busy and get the chains stored below.
Judging by the speed Deya kept up without a massive tank strapped to her, it wouldn’t take her more than a few minutes to be back in her elven form. So, I kept half my focus on listening for any soft rustling of feathers in the area while I worked, and from what I could see and hear, Dragir had chosen correctly for a safe starting point.
There were no signs of owls in the area, but there also weren’t any swift footsteps sprinting in our direction, and no daggers came flying through the fronds. When I scanned the soil around us, the largest things prowling around were only the lizards, and after sending my magic out for a mile around, I didn’t sense a single footstep.
Then I heard an adorable “oof!” from inside the tank, and I chuckled as I realized Deya couldn’t figure out how to get out of her seatbelt. I found the beautiful elf furiously jolting against her restraints, and she let out an irritated huff when I came over to free her.
“You just push this button at the center of your chest,” I explained. “Then lift the straps over your head.”
“I hate this invention!” Deya growled. “Wh-Why? Why strap anyone in such a strict way if sex isn’t involved?”
“It’s for safety,” I reiterated. “You’ll see, we’ll hit some rugged terrain, and the seatbelts will be a blessing.”
“I’m not wearing one,” the elf informed me, and she tilted her nose up into the air while she stalked off.
I swore even her ass cheeks were giving me an attitude right now, but I still snickered to myself as I followed Deya out of the hull.
Of all the people I’d ever seen pissed at a seatbelt, she was definitely the cutest one.
The elf was already in a better mood by the time she hopped down from the tank onto the jungle floor, and she took a deep breath as she stretched her slender arms high above her head.
“It’s a beautiful evening to enact our bloody revenge against our oppressors,” the elf decided.
“It is,” Aurora agreed and tossed back her blue braids. “This jungle smells like victory.”
“And the humidity is making my hair look fantastic,” Shoshanne added as she fluffed her copper curls. “We’ll be the most beautiful beacons of death these elves have ever seen.”
Cayla nodded. “Without a doubt.”
“And look!” Deya squealed as she clutched my arm and pointed to the vines. “The ferilia are in bloom! I’ll make us flower crowns for our massacre.”
“How sweet,” Nulena chuckled.
“Alright, but we have to leave in three minutes if you want to beat Dragir to House Elyn,” I informed the women, and I rested my back against the tank.
Deya gasped and began gathering as many blossoms as she could hold, but then Shoshanne shrieked like a banshee as a black snake that had to have been ten feet long dropped from the canopy and landed on top of her.
I’d never seen a person jump as high as the healer did while she wriggled and chucked the snake off her shoulders, and Aurora swiftly lit the thing on fire until there was only a squiggle of ash left on the ground.
“Gods, it’s good to be back,” Deya sighed.
Shoshanne managed a polite smile. “Lovely.”
My women began teasing the murdery healer for her earsplitting screech while I admired Deya’s glowing smile, and the beautiful elf was humming to herself as she plucked one bloom after another. It had been ages since I’d seen my elven lover in her natural habitat when she wasn’t a dragon instead, but with her little belly bump rounding out beneath her gauzy dress, she looked so stunning, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Her long pink hair fell in waves down her back while she propped herself on her bare toes to reach a flower, and I decided we should have a vacation house in Nalnora.
Once my women murdered the Elite, and I destroyed the last of my enemies, settling down for a couple months out here would be the perfect way to switch gears. I could leave Falmount Rift in Haragh’s hands for a bit while the rest of my women’s bellies rounded out as well, and we could find a secluded glade somewhere so they could spend half their day naked and splashing around.
If I had my Boms on patrol to handle the larger beasties for me, I wouldn’t have to miss out on a single moment with my pregnant lovers, and Deya could finally relax in her homeland for the first time in nearly seventy years.
The beautiful elf sent me a blushing smile when she caught me eyeing her between the leaves, and I was halfway through a lopsided grin when something else caught my attention.
At first, I figured my ears were still recovering from Shoshanne’s shriek, but as I turned my head to the side, I realized the sound was getting louder.
“What is that singing?” Deya asked as her pink eyebrows knitted together, and she turned full circle while she eyed the canopy. “Is it a bird?”
“It’s beautiful,” Cayla mused while she did the same. “I’ve never heard so soft a call before.”
I couldn’t pinpoint where the song was coming from, and it didn’t look like my women could, either, because all of us were wandering in circles while we scanned the dense foliage around us. Normally, I probably would have given up and continued on with my day, but something about the lilting song was impossible to ignore.
It drifted through my mind like a strand of silk, and I needed to know what creature in this world could possibly create such an enchanting sound. It made my women starry eyed while they giggled and began brushing the fronds aside to look further into the trees, and without a thought, I walked off as I finally pinpointed the direction it was coming from.
