Fostering Faust 2, page 35
part #2 of Fostering Faust Series
“Good work. It’s a good thing you took the time to make sure their gear was updated and upgraded as well. I’m sure they’ll be very impressive on the field,” Alex said, letting his eyes move to the hideously emblazoned shields with Clark Gaelis junior’s personal heraldry.
Lifting up his arm, he set it around Clark’s shoulders and gave the man a friendly pat.
Responding to the situation exactly as Alex figured the man would, Clark laughed boisterously, throwing his arm around Alex’s middle.
“Thank you, my friend, thank you. It’ll be good to know my personal soldiers are out there making a difference,” Clark said.
Alex sidestepped as if unbalanced, taking the younger man with him. Rebekah was there instantly, stabilizing the both of them.
“Hahaha, sorry Clark, looks like I’m not as strong as you are,” Alex said self-deprecatingly as he moved back into position.
Clark only laughed louder, releasing Alex and waving to his troops getting closer.
Glancing down at the other man’s hand, Alex saw the ring was gone.
Good. Very good.
The duchess is on the hook for a mass amount of coin, junior here has broken open what little left of the Gaelis piggy bank there was, and he’s about to be robbed blind.
Everyone but the duchess will be broke, and she’s being bankrolled.
I’d say… we have our power play.
Now we just need to squeeze, and land will rain down from the sky upon us.
Until then, we stay next to Clark all day and make sure we have our alibi.
***
The young Gaelis had taken to having Alex brought to his personal dinner table. Alex assumed it was more about being seen with the infamous Count Inferno than anything else.
Today was different already, though. Alex had arrived promptly at the time dinner was served for Clark and found that the jovial mood from earlier in the day during the procession was long gone.
In fact, Clark looked absolutely devastated. He was sitting alone at his table, head in his hands and fingers clutched in his hair.
“Is everything alright, young Gaelis?” Alex asked, wandering over to the seat he usually took.
“I’ve been robbed,” Clark said darkly.
“What? Someone broke into the treasury?” Alex asked, doing his best to sound shocked. “How is that even possible?”
“What? No, no. Not… not the treasury,” Clark said, lifting his head up. “My personal account. My own money. It was all stolen. All of it.”
“Is that even possible?” Alex asked, sitting down in the chair. “Who had your money? How was it stolen?”
“The temple,” Clark said, shaking his head a bit. “Where else? Someone showed up with a bunch of notes with my seal and signature. They said it was for the new troops and just… walked out with it. All of it.”
“Hm. Sorry to hear that. Any ideas on who took it all? That isn’t something that can just walk out of a city without someone noticing, is it?” Alex asked.
Clark was staring at him now. Alex wondered briefly if Clark had considered Alex as the culprit. Considering the only time he hadn’t been with him was just before dinner, that would have been fairly difficult.
“Never mind,” Clark said, dismissing the whole thing with a wave of his hand. “What’s done is done and I can’t seem to catch a break.”
“Maybe I can help. Do you need some type of monetary loan?” Alex asked. “I might be able to assist.”
“Hah, and what kind of bankroll does a count have that a duke’s son wouldn’t?” Clark asked, his tone bitter.
Alex raised his eyebrows at the man and said nothing. He’d played with the man-child long enough over the time he’d been here. Alex wasn’t about to rise to petty insults now.
Sighing, Clark let his head dip back down after holding a staring match with Alex for several breaths.
“I’m sorry, Count. That was… childish. I’d be curious to know what it is you could provide assistance with,” Clark said.
“My father-in-law has a presence in your city. I believe you would know him as Master Merchant Ulles,” Alex said, baiting the trap. “I believe I could easily provide you with a line of credit from him. Though the rate of interest would be thirty percent, and you’d need to provide signed or actual collateral to the amount.”
Clark’s head shot up, staring at Alex now with a look he couldn’t identify.
“You’re the one who married his daughter,” Clark said, a tight tone in his voice.
“I did. And I love my wife quite dearly. It’s a wonder your father hasn’t arranged for my release yet. I’m sure my family and the duchess are beginning to wonder why that is,” Alex said with a small smile. “Now. Would you be interested in taking out a loan?
“I would personally recommend land deeds for collateral, but that’s just me.”
And the more land I hold in hock from your family, the better I can beat you to death with a casus belli later.
Especially if I own more than fifty percent of a de jure land holding.
“Land?” Clark asked.
“Just a personal suggestion. Land and the deeds for it in total ownership. Land has a nice measured value,” Alex said with a shrug. “Now… would you care to take out a loan?”
Hours later, in the late hours of the night, Alex got back to his own apartments.
Feeling rather worn out, he didn’t immediately notice that all of his Numbered were there, sitting around the table in his study.
From One to Seven, they were all there.
“Master!” Riley said brightly, bouncing out of her seat before anyone could say or do anything.
She practically ran over to him and wrapped him up in a hug. Then began smothering him in kisses. “We all came in with the ambassador. We can’t stay tonight, but they said we could remain until you got back.”
Eventually managing to pry the lively woman off him, Alex gave her a smile and looked to the rest.
“I’m so glad you’re all well,” Alex said honestly. “I was genuinely concerned about your safety.”
Walking Riley back to her seat, Alex patted her shoulder. Then he turned to Carla and hugged her tightly, kissing her.
The bandit murderess kissed him back hungrily, her hands pressing to him and curling into his clothes.
“I’m sorry, Master,” Carla whispered in his ear after breaking the kiss, holding him close. “If I hadn’t been ill, I could have fought my way clear, and we could have joined you.”
“You’re a silly one, and a peach. Don’t worry about that, Two,” Alex said, then kissed her again. Disentangling himself from her, he moved over to Sylvia.
She was watching him the same way she always did. Somewhere between predatory and amused.
Leaning down over the noblewoman, Alex hugged her as well, then kissed her.
Sylvia surprised him and responded in a much more receptive way than even Riley had. She practically hauled him down into her lap with how aggressively she kissed him.
Breaking the kiss on her own, she pressed her hands to his face.
“You owe me rewards and punishments in equal measure,” she hissed at him.
Only after he nodded did she release him. Then she smoothed out her dress and went back to her demure posture, watching him.
“Master, everyone has already introduced themselves to one another. The duchess, Anna, and Mary are all at the front line not far from here,” Carla said. “They came together to write a formal letter to threaten the duke with involving the king if he doesn’t finally consent to the already agreed-upon ransom for you and your people.
“Anna and Mary will probably already be on their way back home by now.”
“Oh? That’s rather interesting,” Alex said.
“Not really,” Sylvia said, one of her hands snagging his trousers at the waist and pulling him a bit closer. “The winter snows are coming in heavily. There is no point in keeping you here, other than as a punishment.
“Which, for someone given full guest rights in a surrender, is simply… not acceptable. Soon the roads will become absolutely impassable.”
Alex nodded at that, laying a hand on Sylvia’s shoulder.
“Suppose that makes sense. I don’t think he’ll ever agree, though. I’m sure he really does want to punish me. Especially after that bonfire we left him in,” Alex said with a smirk.
“That really was your doing?” Sylvia asked, looking up at him.
“Oh, indeed. The whole place was a giant match waiting to be struck. Any idea of how many soldiers I got with it? Or what really happened to the duke?” Alex asked, looking around to all his Numbered.
Sylvia cleared her throat, smiling up at him.
“I know all that. I thought you might ask,” she said. “You killed everyone in the city. Not a single soldier made it back out from there. Something like ten thousand soldiers were killed that day.
“As for the duke, he’s maimed. The left side of his body is an angry burn, including his face. They have to strap him into the saddle each day.”
“Hah, grand,” Alex said, feeling quite pleased with that.
Serves him right for invading my lands. Forcing me into this.
I really just want to sit at home and manage Brit.
“Your moniker has spread far and wide,” Riley said, looking quite happy to contribute something. “Queen Quinn apparently had a momentary uprising in the Xer lands. She threatened to call you back, and said that if she had to, she’d marry you on the spot. Then you’d visit her court often too.
“The rebellion dissolved the same day and the leaders were brought to her.”
“I’m not sure it’s as fanciful as One makes it out,” Valeria said with a small smile. “But it does seem the title of Count Inferno is becoming known as a homicidal madman who has power over fire and will happily burn down anyone or anything in his way.”
Alex frowned, and finally shrugged his shoulders.
“Whatever. I really don’t c—” Alex froze mid-sentence, thinking. “Three, Four, is there a midwinter holiday or festival held in Gaelis?”
“Yes, why?” Sylvia asked.
“It’s the winter solstice,” Valeria said, adding more information. “Which I believe is in two weeks.”
“That’s… the longest night of the year, right? The day with the shortest amount of sunlight?” Alex asked.
“Yes, it is,” Valeria confirmed.
“How exactly do they celebrate it?” Alex pressed. There had been quite a few old traditions back on Earth around the winter solstice that involved fire and bonfires.
“Here in Gaelis?” Riley asked, forcing herself back into the conversation. “They make a giant bonfire of brightly painted trees. They stack it all up really high. It’s amazing.”
By the way she described it, it sounded like she was looking forward to it.
Valeria must have thought the same thing, the way she was smiling at Riley.
“Well, be that as it may, the festival hits its high point when the duke himself lights the main bonfire. It’s held in the central square. He tosses a hand-carved torch down the center of it from a platform,” Valeria said, expanding on the whole thing. “Every year the bonfire and the platform get a bit higher. Though this year it’ll have to be the duke’s son who tosses in the torch. I don’t think the duke will be climbing the platform.”
Perfect.
“Here’s what I want, then. I don’t know how we’ll get it done—this is just my end result,” Alex said, prefacing the whole thing. All eyes were on him now. “I want the duke’s son to fall into the bonfire. After it’s lit, I want him to take a header into it.”
“You… want to kill the duke’s son?” Eleanor asked. “While I can certainly understand the desire, I’m not sure it fits the right points of honor for a count.”
“You’re right of course, Six.
“But, yes. I do want to kill him. He’s the enemy, and they’re holding us here long past when they should have. I’m tired of being a gracious prisoner,” Alex said. “Though I do appreciate you reminding me that it wouldn’t be condoned as chivalrous. As always, I thank you for being my voice of reason.”
Eleanor sighed, then nodded her head.
“I despair that you’ll always hear me and thank me for my words, Master, but that you’ll always do what you feel you must,” Eleanor said boldly. “But I find… I don’t care as much as I once did. Your treatment of your people has been admirable. You only break convention for your enemies.”
Huh. That’s… an interesting change in her.
“It does no one any good to be Master’s enemy,” Nannie grumbled. “Better cutting off your left hand and calling it even. Master is a nasty sonuvabitch.”
Everyone looked at Nannie in a startled way.
“What? It’s true. Master is a dangerous man,” she said, shrugging. “Can any of you deny it? Master is Master.”
Every Numbered eventually nodded their heads, turning back to Alex.
“Right, so… anyways, how do we go about turning the young Clark into part of the bonfire?” Alex asked.
Chapter 32
Alex was cooped up in his room again.
Apparently, something had happened or changed, because no one was letting him out.
Not even for a walk.
Leaving Alex with nothing to do but sit and wait. Either for the return of his Numbered, the duchess, or young Clark Gaelis.
“Two and Five are quite strong,” Eleanor said, breaking Alex out of his thoughts. Looking across the table, he found the knight-errant polishing and buffing out her armor.
She’d somehow talked a guard into bringing it to her.
“Yes, they are,” Alex said, watching as she worked at a joint in the shoulder pauldron. “They’re also very good at what they do. Three sometimes assists them, but she isn’t really suited for that purpose.”
Eleanor nodded as she worked.
“I would agree. Three can do in a pinch, but it shouldn’t be her primary function. I believe Two, Five, and I shall work very well together. We spoke a bit about our job last night before you arrived,” Eleanor continued. “I’m quite pleased with my work and who I’ll be working with. Though Five seems…”
Pausing, Eleanor looked up from her armor.
“Unfiltered,” she said after several seconds, then went back to her work.
That’s one way to put it.
“I’d definitely say that’s a fairly accurate word for her,” Alex said.
“She’s also very dishonest with herself and her emotions. The way she looks at you is as a woman in love,” Eleanor said, her fingers deftly working at her armor. “It’s… heartwarming… to see. I never would have thought someone like that could be as much of a maiden as I am.”
“Oh? You’d consider yourself a maiden as well?” Alex asked with a hint of mirth.
“Hmph. Just because you’ve shared a bed with me every other night doesn’t make me any less a maiden, Master Alex,” Eleanor said, smiling shyly at him. “Besides, I find myself understanding how easy it is to fall in love with you. We’ll be with you until we’re old and gray. With no one else. Except… though I do enjoy our couplings, I don’t think I care for you.”
“No? I grow on people after a while,” Alex said. “Maybe one day you’ll wake up and all you’ll want to do is carry a child to term for me and be my pretty little wife.”
Eleanor snorted at that, detaching a piece of plate armor and flipping it over.
“Fine. Maybe I care for you already. A little. It’s hard to admit any of that as your charge, though,” Eleanor said.
Sitting there unmoving for a second, she looked to be considering her words.
“I suppose I must admit I care for you. It’s likely you’ll end up putting a child in me at some point as well. But I don’t think I’ll ever be a pretty little wife.
“You have far more attractive women to play with, and I think I’d become bored very quickly at home.”
“That’s a disservice to yourself,” Alex said, leaning back in his chair. “I think you’re rather pretty. Especially when I can convince you to ride me. Do you have any idea how lovely you are to watch?”
Eleanor’s face was as red as a tomato now, her eyes studiously faceted to her armor as she worked.
“Master Alex, you enjoy teasing me,” Eleanor said gruffly.
“A little. Ok, quite a bit,” Alex said with a chuckle. “In all seriousness though, you’re very lovely, Six. I’m attracted to you. I wouldn’t be asking you to get into my bed so often if I weren’t, would I? I’d just be turning Seven inside out.”
“That’s… fair. I admit it’s flattering how often you ask me to accompany you,” Eleanor said, laying her hands down flat on the table. “Though it does worry me at times. I know you need me. I can feel it. But… I wish you’d tell me what you wanted. Give me direction.”
That’s one of the very reasons I won’t give you full direction, you silly thing. It would only enforce the bad parts of your psyche.
“You want some direction?” Alex asked, deciding to tease her a bit.
Eleanor’s eyes shot up to his.
“Yes, Master. Direct me,” she said.
“Love me. Be my pretty little wife. Stay home, give me as many children as you can, and learn to be a seamstress,” Alex said with a grin.
Eleanor’s nose wrinkled up, and her lips peeled back in a grimace.
“Master, you’re an idiot,” she said finally, her mouth turning into a grin.
“Fine, actual direction? Be yourself for now. Tell me what you want and desire. Help me figure out how to make you happy while you serve me as my knight.
“Beyond that, accompany me to bed when you feel like it,” Alex said. “And speaking of that… I know I asked you to join me last night, but… would you be willing to join me tonight as well? You may not be able to admit you care for me, but I care for you. I would feel very blessed to make love to you.”
Alex decided to wedge something into her heart then and there. She was his, and there would be nowhere else for her to go.
If he was going to build up her confidence, it had to start from somewhere she didn’t expect but could respect.
