Fostering Faust 2, page 29
part #2 of Fostering Faust Series
Alex chuckled and kissed Valeria briefly.
“Thank you, my precious pry bar. Now… how much time do we have before the oldest Gaelis kid shows up?” he asked.
“Not enough for anything fun. But if I get my way, I’ll be seeing you tonight,” Valeria said, resting her head on him. “Until then, I’ll just comfort myself on your shoulder. It’s quite nice right here.
“Oh… Anna’s been talking to Regina and Alanna lately. The Tilly girl seems to be all aflutter at her attention.”
Anna does like the Tilly women.
“Though with the duchess… I get the impression she has realized the error of her approach and is now trying to bring Anna around into her ‘let me have some of Alex’ camp.
“Last I saw, it was starting to work,” Valeria said. “Regina is actually rather charming when she puts her mind to it. Rather than just trying to take what she wants.”
Well that’s just… wonderful.
“For what it’s worth, I’m not so sure she’ll be a poor ally to have. I just wouldn’t expect to get much out of it other than an association with her,” Valeria said, snuggling in closer to him.
Chapter 26
There was a soft tap on the door.
“Enter,” Alex said, looking up from the book he was reading. There wasn’t much for him to do, and the boredom was becoming a real and dangerous thing.
He now had a better appreciation for the deals he’d made with those he’d kept in his dungeon.
We should offer entertainment in the future. I’m sure I could get quite a bit from someone for just simple things.
Though… thank god for Rebekah.
More often than not, he found himself tumbling Rebekah repeatedly through the day. She seemed equally as bored as he was, so she was the one to instigate it just as often as he was.
The door opened and a young man stepped inside. Alex hadn’t met or seen this one before.
“Count Brit,” said the man. “I have two things to report to you. First, the duchess of Gaelis has approved your request. Your two attendants will join you as free persons, on your own oath pin.”
Alex froze, not quite sure what to say. He’d never met the duchess of Gaelis. It’d felt like she’d been avoiding him, to be perfectly honest.
Pressing his fingers to his oath pin, Alex lifted his chin.
“I do swear on my oath that I will not attempt to escape, and I will remain a willing hostage until my release can be negotiated, for the span of six months,” Alex said. He wasn’t about to swear an unending oath without a time limit.
“Six months?” asked the man.
“If I haven’t been released in six months, when we both know Duchess Tanulf will pay my ransom, then I would worry that the Gaelis family isn’t acting in good faith,” Alex explained.
The young man was frowning, staring at Alex. Then he shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll accept that for now and relay it to my mistress.
“The second item of information I have for you is that Duchess Gaelis will be taking you on a tour of the city today.”
A tour? That’s odd. Why do I get the impression she wants something from me?
And why now? Why not when I first arrived?
“I’m here and available at her pleasure and leisure, of course,” Alex said. It wouldn’t do to refuse the woman who had allowed him to have Valeria and Nannie on hand.
It was an obvious quid pro quo, but it wasn’t something that would cost him anything. At least as far as he could tell. Denying it would just be silly.
“I’ll let her know immediately. I’m sure she’ll be around two hours or so after the noon bell. The young master finishes his schooling around that period,” said the man. Then he stepped out of the doorway and left, though he left the door open.
Frowning, Alex had to think on that.
Is this another convoluted family tree? Is the duchess a second or third wife, perhaps? Her child with the duke being the youngest and least likely to inherit?
That’d explain also why she would like to meet with me. Wouldn’t it?
Ever deeper into politics.
Thirty seconds passed before he heard the heavy stomps of booted feet.
Snickering to himself, Alex got to his feet. He knew who it was already.
It’d be a good opportunity to introduce a good portion of his Numbered to one another. Moving to the attached bedroom, he cracked open the door and peeked inside. Eleanor and Rebekah were playing some sort of card game in the middle of the bed.
Both of them looked up at him.
“Would you two join me? Three and Five are about to join us, and I’d like to introduce you four to one another,” Alex said.
“Ah, our Numbered companions,” Eleanor said, laying her cards down on the blankets. “It’ll be nice to greet them and exchange pleasantries. Seven was unabashedly crushing me anyways.”
“Oh, it wasn’t that bad. I just cheat better than you play,” Rebekah said, laying her own cards down. Then adding six or seven more to the pile that appeared from almost nowhere.
“Ah… I thought I’d caught all the attempts,” Eleanor grumped, moving toward the door.
“You caught me quite a few times, but not every time.”
Eleanor sniffed at that, though she didn’t look too annoyed.
Moving back into the study, Alex only had to wait a second before Nannie and Valeria entered. They were both unarmed, but also unharmed.
“Master,” Valeria said, giving him a wide smile. “I have the most interesting story to tell you.”
I’m sure you do. I wonder if you even met with the eldest son of Gaelis at all.
Nannie turned and shut the door without a word. She had a small scowl on her face and looked much as she always did when she didn’t have Alex to herself.
The four women came together in the middle of the room, each looking to the others in side glances.
Alex stepped up between them and indicated Eleanor.
“This is Six. She’s a knight,” Alex said.
“Previously Eleanor Riff, knight and servant, now Six to Master Brit,” Eleanor said, inclining her head respectfully to the other women. “I’m well trained in mace, longsword, bastard sword, sword with shield, axe, and daggers. My specialty is the bastard sword. I’m proficient in many other martial weapons, but not ones I’d choose to work with if I did not have to.”
Valeria gave the woman a wide smile and bowed her head in return.
“Previously Valeria Marsh, now Three. Spymaster and servant to Master Brit.”
“What I was doesn’t matter. What I am now is Five,” growled the berserker. “Master’s champion and a bodyguard.”
“Ah, I look forward to working with you. One said you were quite strong, and very protective of Master,” Eleanor said, crossing the distance and stepping up to Nannie.
Before the big woman could do anything, the knight had taken her hand in her own and was shaking it.
“I truly cannot wait to spar with you. One said you were quite skilled with two swords and unarmed combat,” Eleanor said, giving the other woman a bright smile.
Nannie looked as if she wanted to be angry but didn’t know how to get to that point.
“Uh, yeah, sure… sure, Six,” Nannie grumbled.
“Much in the same manner as Five, I am Seven, and that is all I need to be. Thief and… well, personal comfort to our Master,” Rebekah said, waving a greeting at the other women.
“You’re… prettier… than One said,” Nannie grumbled, somehow managing to break free of Eleanor. “And your tits are huge.”
The noblewoman knight was now in a quiet discourse with Valeria.
Rebekah looked down at herself, then back to Nannie with a smile.
“Well, thank you. You’re rather fun looking yourself,” Rebekah said. “I wouldn’t mind Master pairing me up with you and him for his enjoyment.”
Nannie’s nose scrunched up before she blew out a breath with a grin.
“Thanks—flattered, but not into the other Numbered. Try Four or Three,” Nannie said. “Thief, huh? Was a bandit myself for a while.”
The conversation seemed to drift past him, and Alex was fine with that. Moving back to the desk, he picked up his book and resumed reading.
***
Alex and Eleanor were being led into a part of the keep they hadn’t been in previously.
It seemed to be more of a “family” wing, and the guards were on edge whenever they laid eyes on Alex.
Except that the person who was escorting Alex also seemed to allay whatever concerns the guards had. At least enough that they let him continue on.
Eleanor had been allowed a short sword since they were going out into public, but none of her armor.
Another sudden turn down a hallway put them in a small open courtyard. It also had a gate that seemed to lead into the town, but from a side path.
Huh. They really are letting me walk around in public.
Standing at the gate was a woman in her forties and a young boy who looked to be seven or eight.
They shared similar traits, the broad strokes as they were. Such as them both having brown hair, faces a bit rounder than normal, and brown eyes.
Though Alex could definitely see the duke’s stamp in the child’s face.
Luckily though, Alex had been able to get the story of what had happened from Valeria before this.
Apparently, the eldest Gaelis had never shown up, but this woman had. She had shown up, asked a few questions, and approved Valeria and Nannie to join Alex and remain free.
Valeria knew she wasn’t the first wife of the duke, but she didn’t know which number she was. The duke had had many sons, daughters, and wives.
Though now he was down to only a few children and one wife.
Except that most of the children had died in strange and mysterious ways. As if killed by other children.
Which means this woman is definitely looking to see the eldest slain and her child put on the heir presumptive title.
Putting on his best smile, Alex walked over to the woman.
“Ahhh, Count Brit. I’m so glad to see you. I was delighted when I was told you’d accepted my invitation,” said the woman. Then she gently eased her child out in front of her. “Marcos, say hello to the count.”
The boy looked up at Alex through perfectly straight bangs.
“Hello,” said the boy.
“Good afternoon to you, Marcos,” Alex said with a nod.
“Let’s away,” said the woman who had yet to formally give Alex her name.
“Of course, Duchess,” Alex said, falling into step with her as she turned to the gate.
She made no response. Apparently, she was content to be addressed by her title rather than a name.
Around them, a group of guards in the Gaelis colors formed up. At a sedate pace, they began to slowly walk down the path.
Alex’s earlier guess was correct, and they were heading toward the rich section of town. Where the nobility and affluent merchants lived.
Neither the duchess nor her son said anything. Leaving Alex with little to do other than walk quietly.
She asked you here for a reason. If she wanted you dead, that’d be much easier to manage rather than taking you for a walk.
She’ll get to what she wants, we just need to give her time.
Eleanor’s head was slowly moving around, her eyes taking in the area, the guards, and the people around them.
She always approached her position with the utmost seriousness.
Crossing into the city proper and leaving the path that led up to the keep, Alex realized just how much louder the city was down here.
It was strange, really.
“My dear count, I was hoping to speak with you privately, away from the keep,” said the duchess. “Primarily because I do believe Clark junior is working to have my dear Marcos removed.”
Alex opened his mouth, then closed it again. He wasn’t really sure how to respond to that.
The way she just dropped that in front of him felt abnormal. Being this forthright wasn’t how the peerage normally operated. Especially the higher one went in the ranks.
A duke was rather high in the peerage. There was only one rank above that, as far as Alex knew, and it was an archduke. But those were primarily created by the king or emperor when one duke had more than three ducal titles.
“I was hoping that perhaps I could enlist your assistance in this matter,” the duchess continued after several heartbeats. “While you don’t have any resources, your name, status, and your ability to turn the tides of war are all you need for me.”
“I’m flattered, though I’m unsure how I can help. I don’t plan on remaining very long,” Alex said, hedging.
“Well, that’s just it. You don’t have to be here that long. I think Clark junior will make his move while you’re here. Possibly even pin it on you,” the duchess said. “Then he’ll have secured the ducal title, and that’ll be the end of anything and everything else.
“Though what I need you for is more of a figurehead. Support in name for now. Eventually, I’d like nothing more than for you to tutor Marcos. I do think there is much to learn from you and what you’ve done.”
That seems rather vague, as far as what she wants from me. I don’t have as much influence as she seems to think.
That or she’s looking for me to fill the gaps for her and take action without consulting her.
Which would make sense if she’s under oath and unable to do anything about it.
“While I wouldn’t mind being a tutor for a reasonable price, I would of course still have to wonder what else would be expected of me,” Alex said, keeping his attention on what was going on around him at the same time.
“You’re a creative man, I’m sure you could help me out wherever you see fit. Though I really am only asking for your visible assistance. The word of Count Inferno goes quite far,” said the duchess. “The man who raises up commoners, makes them soldiers, turns them into officers, and then decorates them as if they were peerage.
“All the while running roughshod over armies who stand in front of their way, all at the behest of their beloved Count Inferno.”
In other words, the commoners see me as a hero, and that makes the rest of you nervous.
You’re somehow hoping I can raise a revolt and overthrow Gaelis, maybe?
“If it helps at all, I do believe Clark junior is also working on a plan to have his father, my husband, murdered,” said the duchess in a much lower tone. “He grows tired of waiting for his title, and wants it now.”
Nodding, Alex thought on that.
It made sense to a degree. History had often recorded the death of a father being the only roadblock to an eager and power-hungry child.
Familial bonds be damned.
Taking it several steps ahead, Alex could see how he could wreck Gaelis entirely.
Bring it to its knees and send the whole duchy into a death spiral. And if he did it right, it wouldn’t cost him a thing. It’d just look like a family imploding after an accidental death or two.
Though in the end, would it be better to kill the duchess, or let her live? And if I have her killed, do I need to remove the root?
It’s no different than what I said to Quinn, is it?
The duchess turned the conversation to much more mundane topics after that.
As if the previous exchange had never occurred.
Glancing to the guards around them, Alex wondered about them and what they meant to the duchess.
She seemed to trust them without any question or doubt. Which didn’t seem to fit if they were loyal to the duke.
Perhaps they’re loyal to the duchess’s family prior to her marriage? That’d make sense, and it would also explain why she trusts them.
Such a convoluted web here in Gaelis.
***
An hour of walking around the city left Alex with only more questions and few answers.
He needed to make a decision, and probably quickly. There was no doubt in his mind that the duchess or Clark would continue to make their moves, with or without him on either side.
The way he saw it was there were three sides.
The duke himself, Clark the inheritor, and Marcos the spare heir. Those were the three people who could end up holding the title of the duchy of Gaelis. It came down to which one Alex wanted to support—or whether he wanted to try and take out all of them.
If I did manage to take out all three, wouldn’t that possibly put a general in charge?
Or a new duke, pushed up by the king? That’d just become a lacky, would it not?
Something to consider, I suppose.
Stepping through the door to his apartment, Alex was still deep in thought. He wasn’t really sure how he wanted to handle this yet.
“Welcome back, Master,” Rebekah said, her eyes lifting up to his. She was fussing with a set of clothes laid out over a couch.
Valeria was standing next to her, hands on her hips in what looked to have been deep thought.
The door clacked shut behind him.
Alex waved a hand at everyone and then indicated the bedroom.
Valeria looked as if she might make a comment, but somehow, she didn’t. Instead she shrugged her shoulders and looked to Rebekah.
“We’ll figure it out later. Though I definitely think we can make it work,” she said.
In a minute, everyone had joined him in his bedroom.
Valeria handed a sealed envelope to Eleanor, but otherwise, everyone was looking at Alex.
“Duchess wants me to kill Clark junior, for her son to get the inheritance when the time comes,” Alex said. “It’s likely Clark will ask me to kill Marcos, and his own father. He wants his title now.
“And the duke himself might know of both, and will probably just want to keep the status quo.”
Valeria’s eyebrows shot up at that.
“That’s quite a lot of intrigue for a prisoner to be thrust into,” she said. “Then again, you’re Count Inferno.”
