Fostering Faust 2, page 7
part #2 of Fostering Faust Series
“Water, coin, and heavy troops,” Alex said immediately. “Last scout report put his troop numbers at something like eight thousand soldiers.
“Almost all conscripts, though.”
“Will they not simply envelop our soldiers?” Quinn asked.
“They might, but even if they did, it’s unlikely they’d get much done. The cavalry would engage at that point and just mow them down.
“And the foot soldiers know their business,” Alex said confidently. “It’s enough that they can’t just flood us either, as we’d just back into the city and hold the keep. No… for as much as I’m annoyed at their tactics, they are likely far angrier at us.”
Alex blinked a few times, staring at the dry grass that was everywhere. The plains looked one spark away from becoming an inferno.
“Quinn, is there any reason to not set fire to the plains?” Alex asked.
“I beg your pardon?” Quinn asked, her voice going up an octave.
“I want to set the plains on fire. Is there a reason not to?” Alex asked.
“Yes! Fire is bad! That’s why,” Quinn spluttered.
Ignoring the queen, Alex looked to Drew. “Get the cavalry seated and off to the wing. Have them attach bags of oil to their saddles. I want them to chase after the enemy on their next press.
“Mark the distance to the point where you couldn’t hit the spot with a flaming arrow.
“Drench the whole area before that point with oil. Empty the bags completely. Spread it out. I want them to be encircled by fire.”
Dan and Drew were standing straight up, listening intently to Alex as he spoke. Quinn looked like a statue of incredulity.
“Then the next time they come in, I want you to light the field. Set it on fire,” Alex said, then looked to Dan. “I need you to have the infantry create a firebreak in the plains in front of them. Use the existing earthworks and expand it. Break out the shovels and the engineers, and get to work.
“Have the citizenry start doing the same all around the city. They’ll need to be quick about it, but have them all start with the area facing where we’re going to set the blaze.”
“You can’t be serious,” Quinn said, her voice acidic.
“Master is very serious,” Nannie said sternly. “He burned down an entire forest to kill an enemy force.”
Valeria and Riley nodded their heads in agreement with Nannie.
Sylvia was in the city working on establishing contact with the black market for him. She may not have the same contacts here in Fis’Er, but she knew how to make them.
“It’d definitely knock them back. Maybe even catch some of them if my guys pushed up after,” Dan said thoughtfully.
“Shouldn’t be an issue if that’s all my people have to do. They’re not suited to chasing these horse archers,” Drew said with a shake of his head.
“Great, get to work on having that done. I’m going to head back to town and talk to Four while you do. I need to see what she can do about getting us a good read on what the citizenry is up to,” Alex said.
Spinning on his heel, Alex began walking back toward the keep.
His Numbered fell in line with him. After several seconds, the queen hurried up to catch him on his left side. Placing him on her right.
Alex wasn’t about to argue with it. He was still more than happy to push her to the front in the public eye.
“You can’t set fire to my plains,” Quinn hissed.
“Can. And will. There’s no reason not to. It’s just grasslands. If it kills some of their soldiers and gives mine a reprieve, that’s the only reason I need,” Alex said.
“You said you’d listen to me,” Quinn said.
“And I will. But when it comes to what tactics will win this war, so long as it doesn’t harm your city, your people, or your reputation, I’ll do it.
“The End.”
“You’re going to burn the plains!” Quinn said, her voice going up in volume.
“Yes. I’m going to burn the plains. And if I have to, I’ll burn Shishish to Shish-Ash.
“I’ll make sure everyone understands what happens if the count has to come down here. And woe be the person who raises their hand to you and causes the count to come back,” Alex said, turning a harsh stare on the queen. “Did you think this was going to be a tea party or something? That we’d play patty-cake and talk out our differences?”
The queen turned to his Numbered, as if to seek them out as allies.
Riley, Nannie, and Valeria stared back at her. Their eyes were hard and cold.
“Master does what he will,” Riley said, giving her head a small nod, her collar jingling.
Valeria smirked and tilted her head to one side, as if inviting the queen to try to talk to her.
Nannie just glared at the diminutive royal leader.
“Be thankful I did not take everything from you, little queen, because I could have.
“Instead, I’m treating you fairly, and have given you all you asked for. I’ll not let my troops suffer wounds to preserve your country’s niceties.
“No, they gave that up when they rebelled against you and you asked me to intervene.”
The conversation fell off sharply, and no one said anything. Quinn didn’t retreat, and she didn’t look happy.
Reaching the steps up to the keep, Ash noticed a large number of citizens wandering the streets.
They were casting gazes up to the keep and the soldiers on its steps. One and all, they looked confused to Alex.
Lost.
“Quinn, I need you to take some of my soldiers, or your personal house guard if they exist, and start talking to people,” Alex commanded. “Hold a speech, or several if you can. You need to start talking to people as their queen, and they need to see you.”
So long as the citizens of Fis’Er supported her, Quinn would have no issues in her reign here.
“What?” Quinn asked. Her voice had taken on that royal preaching tone she tended to use. “You—”
“Yes. Now do it,” Alex said, interrupting Quinn. “If I have to teach you how to lead, then so be it, but you’ll obey me.
“Five, you’re on guard duty for Quinn for the rest of the day, until she can get her own guards sorted out. Can’t have my vassal assassinated.”
“Sure, Master,” Nannie muttered.
“One, I want you to get this keep squared away as best you can. If you have any of your maids with you, use them. If you don’t, hire some from the citizenry, but make sure you take oaths from them.
“I want this damn place locked up, cleaned, and ready for long-term habitation.”
“Of course, Master,” Riley chirped.
“Three, you’re my guard for the day,” Alex said. He suddenly regretted not having Carla around.
For all the evil she was, she cared for him and did her best to guard him.
“As you will, Master. Though that means I need to play the arm-candy role today,” Valeria said, sidling up next to him. Taking his arm, she wrapped it around her hips and then practically hung on him.
Nannie walked into Quinn deliberately, pushing her off the path Alex was taking.
“Come on, Numberless, time for you to obey the master,” Nannie grumbled, setting a hand on Quinn’s shoulder.
Numberless, huh?
Apparently the status as my bound slave has been turned into a rank of privilege.
Riley slipped away, heading for a side entrance. As she went, she collected several guards with only hand signals to them.
Valeria’s head was on a delicate swivel as they climbed the steps to the keep.
“May I ask a question, dear Master?” Valeria asked.
Dear, huh?
“Of course,” Alex said, giving her hip a squeeze with his hand. She’d put it there, after all, far be it from him to not enjoy it.
“Have you figured out Four, yet? You seem to peel us apart pretty quickly, and then fill whatever needs we have.
“Have I mentioned that Five has become exceptionally pleasant to deal with lately? As if you figured her out?” Valeria asked, her eyes tracking a nearby citizen.
“Oh? Why do you ask?”
“Curiosity. And maybe because I’d like to be used as a tool. You know my preferences, Master. And I love that you help me with them, so maybe I can help you at the same time.”
Not a terrible idea.
Sylvia is mostly about control. Control, power, and game playing.
With her it might end up being less about having sex with her and more about making it obvious I’m sleeping with the others.
Domination without pain or emotion.
Control itself.
“Four isn’t that complicated,” Alex said, deciding. “She’s all about power. Control.
“I imagine her life from an early age was filled with dealing with those who would see her dead for any misstep. So she cultivated her power, her control. Taking it from branch-family noble to crime lord—that’s her need,” Alex said. “I imagine for her it’ll be similar to what you desire, just without the pain, humiliation, or shame.”
Valeria looked at him, a soft heat in her eyes.
“Master, it is positively… erotic… when you figure out what makes us tick like that. Maybe later you can… talk to me more about it?
“If you teach me, I can help you break others. Make sure they all stay nice and loyal. Needful of you.
“Use me?” Valeria asked. There was an undercurrent in her tone he didn’t miss.
Using her as a pry bar on other women would fill her own needs more than she was letting on.
Anna helps when I’m home, but it’s true I could use a hand while out and about.
“Alright. You can help me with Sylvia today, then. Remember, she’s about control. And sometimes control isn’t about what you do to someone, but what you won’t do to someone,” Alex said. “She should be in the office Quinn said I could have.”
As he opened the door that led into the keep, his soldiers remained on guard.
Valeria stepped out of his arm and moved out in front of Alex. Walking ahead of him, she inspected every corridor, doorway, and turn.
Soon enough, they were in his office. Sylvia was sitting at a table off to one side, organizing documents.
Valeria glided into the room, checking the corners while walking over to his desk.
Alex followed her in, smiling at Sylvia.
Actually, I want to do something now. It’d be a nice distraction.
“Hello Four, did you have any luck this morning?” he asked.
“Yes, Master. I did. I did tell you I’d be worth it, and I will show you,” Sylvia said, smiling at him.
Standing up, she took one of the piles of papers in hand and followed him to his desk.
He stepped up to Valeria and gave her a kiss, taking the opportunity to whisper into her ear.
“Get under my desk and start working me with your mouth. Be loud about it and enjoy it,” Alex said.
Valeria quivered once as he pulled back from her. Her eyes immediately came to light with desire.
She does love to be hurt. Emotionally or physically.
Valeria carefully undid her dress and let it slide off her. She stood there in nothing but a pair of panties. Quickly stepping out of those, she made a show of getting down on her hands and knees, then crawling under his desk.
All the while, Sylvia watched. Looking very shocked.
Moving over to stand in front of the desk, Alex waited, looking at Sylvia.
“So, what’d you find out?” he asked.
Valeria eased up out from under the desk and began unwinding his belt quickly. In short order, she was pulling his pants down to his knees.
Without a bit of hesitation, she immediately took his semi-erect shaft into her mouth and moaned loudly around it.
Petting her head softly, Alex pulled his chair over and sat down in it. At the same time, he gently pushed Valeria under the desk. Until only the top of her head would be visible from Sylvia’s point of view.
“I… that is,” Sylvia said, her eyes glued to the small bit of Valeria she could see.
Resting his left hand on Valeria’s head, Alex set his right elbow on the arm of the chair and put his chin in his hand.
“Well?” he asked, his fingers lightly sliding through Valeria’s hair as she slowly moved her head up and down.
Valeria slurped loudly at him as she drew her head back, then moaned and dove back down to his hilt. She sucked hard at his girth as her tongue swirled around the tip.
“I found multiple contacts,” Sylvia said, her eyes slowly moving back up to Alex. “They’re mostly all trying to sell information. A few are selling food, arms, and armor.
“No one is selling water.”
Valeria slipped his tip down her throat and kept it there, sucking at him. She let out delicate and soft moans as her well-manicured nails scraped along his thighs.
Taking in a deep breath at her attention, Alex continued to pet Valeria’s head.
“Oh? That’s good news for us, then. That means no one suspects there will be a problem at all,” Alex murmured.
Valeria eased her head back, her lips pulling at him as she did so. She made sure it sounded loud and messy. The wet suckling noises dominated the room.
“I… that is yes, it seems they have no idea. I asked around about what traditionally happened when war broke out,” Sylvia said, her eyes slowly moving back to Valeria’s head as she blew Alex. “By and large, it seems fighting is fairly common. But both sides typically avoid damaging cities, the plains, or resources.”
“In other words, their version of war is fairly civilized,” Alex said.
Valeria’s head dipped back down, letting out soft, whimpering moans. Her tongue worked furiously along the underside of his manhood, her lips tight around his shaft.
“Mm, goodness Three, that feels wonderful,” Alex said, unable to help himself.
“Mmmm,” Valeria murmured around him. Even that had sounded needy, but also as if she knew she was doing well.
Sylvia licked her lips nervously, then coughed, bringing a hand up to her mouth.
“That’s how it seems, Master. Hiding my intention as best as I could, I put in several orders for all the potable water I could get my hands on.” Sylvia’s eyes were still locked on Valeria as she noisily and sloppily worked him. “I stated the use would be for fire control. The drought they’re going through made it a very valid purchase reason.”
Unable to really pay attention to Sylvia due to how well Valeria was going down on him, Alex only nodded his head and leaned into the chair. Spreading his knees further apart.
Taking the extra space given, Valeria moved further up on him, her head coming out from under the desk entirely.
Getting atop him, she began to move her head faster back and forth.
Moaning and sucking loudly, she was diligently trying to get him to pop. Her world was his lap.
“Sounds like you did really well, Four. Anything else?” Alex asked, watching Valeria, who was staring up at him with wide eyes.
“Uhm. I managed to sell false information to people I think are spies. Pretty… pretty good money for it. I’ll find out tomorrow if they were spies and—” Sylvia paused.
Valeria had moved to the tip of Alex’s length and then come off it with a messy and loud slurp. Leaning her head back, she ran a finger along her chin, visibly catching saliva that had dribbled out.
Guiding it into her mouth she swallowed everything with a gulp. Looking pleased with herself, she dove back down onto him, pushing him straight into her throat.
“And then I can… I can act,” Sylvia finished, blinking several times.
Gently as he could, Alex sank his fingers into Valeria’s hair and deliberately slowed her down. If she kept it up like this, he was going to climax.
Groaning unhappily, Valeria did as she was guided to do and slowed down in her efforts.
“Great work, Four. I’m going to reward you now. I’m going to give you what Three here worked so hard to get,” Alex said. Valeria whined around his shaft, clearly in complaint. “Do you want it in your mouth, or your womb?”
Sylvia took in a slow breath, her eyes going back to Alex’s. They were wide open still.
“Master? I don’t… that is… I didn’t—”
“Do you want your reward in your mouth, or your womb, Four?” Alex said.
“Master, I—”
“Mouth, or womb?” Alex repeated.
Sylvia took in another deep breath, setting the papers gently to one side of his desk.
“Ah… I’ll take my reward in my womb, Master,” Sylvia said, her fingers trembling as she linked them together.
Valeria groaned again, her eyes staring up at him in a pleading way.
“Three, you did such a wonderful job, but Four earned this. She really went above and beyond. Part of her oath to me was that she would always strive to do so, and now I must reward her for it,” Alex said.
Valeria responded by moving him down deep and literally swallowing his tip while making a cooing noise at him.
Not really wanting to, but knowing he needed to keep twisting Sylvia into his personal tool, Alex eased Valeria back.
“Either bend over the desk or get on your back on the desk, Four,” Alex said.
Valeria sucked him roughly the entire time he pulled out of her mouth. When he came free, she swallowed again and eyed him with a smirk.
Sylvia came over to the end of the desk and then slowly lay down atop it. Reaching down, she gathered up her very lovely dress and began hiking it up to her hips.
Moving up between her knees, Alex looked down.
She’d either not been wearing panties or had removed them already. Her slit was hairless, smooth, and very clearly wet.
Not wasting any time, Alex stepped in close and grabbed his shaft with his right hand. Guiding it into her, he fit it against her lips.
Reaching up, he grabbed hold of her hips in both hands and pulled her a bit closer.
Her feet came off the desk and she lifted her knees in response, her legs in the air. Her toes curled up as he leaned forward, sinking himself into her depths.
Sylvia took in a shuddering breath, watching him.
She was tight. So tight he wondered when the last time she’d gotten laid was.
