Otherlife Awakening: The Selfless Hero Trilogy Page 6

  “I don’t like things I don’t understand.”

  “Considering your profession I can see how that makes sense. How can I help?”

  “You banished Alexia, my aide, to somewhere I know not when she refused to work with you. Then you set me up in a situation that generals could only wish for.”

  “Alexia is alive and well. She’s happy. She’s working for me in a different capacity right now. She’s handling everyone I’ve banished. Acting as an impromptu mayor or governor. She’s helping them rebuild their lives and is doing incredibly well.”

  “She’s happy?”

  “She is indeed, but she won’t ever be returning here.”

  “Can I see her?”

  “Of course. I planned on having lunch with her today. Would you care to join us?”

  Faye’s eyes fell to the table again before she finally shook her head.

  “No, that’s… alright. Another time. I’m glad she’s happy and doing well. You said you killed her at first. Then you once mentioned that she was assisting others. I didn’t feel I could press you on the subject, but now…?” she asked, leaving the question open.

  “Originally that was my intent. To kill her. She was the first person I banished, and I was going to return later to finish it. Instead, she has earned her second life in her work for me. Several times over. I can’t let her ever return here knowing what she does, but I’m most pleased with her. I couldn’t replace her if I wanted. Anything else?”

  “I… no. I suppose not.”

  “Great. Wanna hug? I give good hugs I’m told. Real good hugger.”

  Faye finally laughed and gave her head a shake. Her spine firmed up and her shoulders straightened. Tension visibly flowed out of her even though she looked anything but “at ease.”

  His confident general had returned. The woman who would have easily trounced him if it weren’t for his massive amount of cheating with force multipliers and toys.

  “Ah, not right now. Maybe later. Lord Runner, Thana still seems wary of me at times.”

  “She has her own reasons that have nothing to do with your abilities or trustworthiness. Truth be told, I’d suspect she’s more concerned about you getting in my bedroom than you doing anything.”

  It sounded weird even to his own ears, but he was pretty confident in it being the truth.

  “I’m sure she trusts you as much as I do. And as you pointed out”—Runner held up his hands in front of him—“I’m putting the possibility of you taking everything from me clearly in your hands.

  “Okay, now let’s go over the plan and what you need. As I said earlier, I need you to build a fort, conquer the frontier, and bring everyone into the fold. I’m giving you the entire army, all of the tanks save five, and all of the cannons.”

  Faye took that in with a blazing smile.

  12:36 pm Sovereign Earth time

  12/22/43

  Runner pushed himself back from Alexia’s table while checking the time. He was very unable, though willing, to eat another bite. That and time was flying by.

  “Goodness, Alexia, are you trying to keep me coming back for the food alone? That was absolutely delicious.

  Alexia laughed lightly and stood up from the table.

  “Maybe. I admit I want for nothing other than your attention, Lord.”

  “You have it, and then some. Now, let’s go get this receiver built. We also need to talk about you worshiping me as a god. The religion of Runner Norwood, as it were.” Runner met her gaze squarely with his own as he said that.

  She genuinely looked surprised at his statement.

  “Lord?”

  “Come, we can talk as we go. I assume you’re the head priestess?”

  “Lord, I’m sure that—”

  “Alexia, be forthright and direct with me.”

  She looked at him and then seemed to deflate.

  “I’m the head priestess. I have a number of those who serve in a more limited capacity. As our city grows, the faithful grow, so we must expand.”

  Runner nodded at that and held open the front door of Alexia’s house, gesturing with his free hand. She picked up her staff and passed by him into the open boulevard beyond.

  “And how many participate in worship then?”

  “All. Everyone here is a worshiper.”

  “I see. How many did you end up banishing from here?”

  “Six. They were disruptive and wanted to establish a church to Lambart.” There was no hesitation in her now when Runner pressed her for the truth.

  It was visible to him that she appeared to have lost her earlier confidence with his new line of questioning.

  Runner stepped up beside her after closing the front door.

  “I don’t plan on stopping you, Alexia. Though I do have to tell you, I’m not a god.”

  “You are a god without your divinity. We shall raise you up. You’ve given us Eden.”

  Runner felt the cold hand of fate at that statement. Fate had a thing for him. Sometimes she wanted to kill him, other times sleep with him.

  “All I ask is that you please keep everyone happy, healthy, and living well, Priestess. I’ll be content with that as my commandment to you.

  “Unrelated to this conversation, Faye was happy to hear you’re doing well. She would like to visit at some point.” Runner politely smiled or nodded at those they passed. Most stared at him and looked to be shocked into immobility.

  “Today is a good day. You recognize your religion, confirm me as your high priestess, tell me my true friend is well, and best of all, you had lunch with me.”

  Laughing ruefully, Runner felt like maybe she hadn’t recovered from her time in the dark as much as he’d thought.

  “Now, the receiver. It’s a large machine made from enchanted stones. Looks almost like a stone pillar with a basin without a bottom at the top.

  “All you have to do is put things in the top. It’ll sort and send everything back to me. You’ll need to decide where you want it. I’m assuming where I arrive is actually my main temple, so that might be a good building to use.”

  “Yes, very much so. It would be good to place it there so that they may make offerings to you during or after service.”

  “As you like, Priestess. I’m afraid I will be traveling to another city soon and may be gone for a time. I do not know how regularly I’ll be able to visit.” Runner fingered a ring out of his inventory and held it out to her.

  It was an electrum ring with a fire opal in the setting. It drew the eye with how bright it was. The jewel was shaped into a signet oval, though it had no inscription or device.

  “Figure out my divine symbol. I’m no good with that sort of thing, so I leave it to you. Once you do, I’ll set it into this ring. The ring is enchanted with several uses of Blink and is tied to where I arrive in the temple. I took the liberty of linking it earlier when I entered the temple today. If it grows hot, I have arrived. It won’t burn you, but it might be uncomfortable.”

  “Many thanks, Lord. This is a great boon.”

  Runner waved her thanks off as they took the steps up into his own temple.

  “Now, where do you want this? I’d say it’s four feet tall and maybe a foot and a half wide.”

  It took an hour of moving the receiver around until Alexia felt satisfied with its placement.

  “Done, then. I’ll have the other side set up as soon as I return. All you need to do is put anything into the hopper there and that’s it. Whatever you do, don’t put anything alive in it. It’ll break the machine and they’ll be stuck in there until I can fix it.”

  “Your will be done, Lord.”

  “Alright, things to do, preparations to make. Islands to conquer and people to lash to my will.” Runner leaned in and hugged Alexia tightly. “Be good, Priestess.”

  And with that, Runner left.

  Today would be one of the last days he saw Katarina or Thana for a while, and he wanted to spend time with both of them.

  5:15 am Sovereign Ear
th time

  12/26/43

  Runner was looking at the property owner screen and sorting various resources when the alarm he set up began chirping at him. Turning it off with a flick of a finger, he worked to finish his task.

  Selecting the barracks, he queued it up for construction to begin after the keep was finished.

  Moving to the finance screen, he put income tax at a paltry ten percent. Sales tax a meager two percent. Exports were duty free and imports had a ten percent tax.

  He was no financial wizard, but he felt like he was doing the right thing.

  The hope was that this would continue to drive in new citizens and enterprising people looking to start over from all over.

  Selecting an outlying area from the south to the west, he sectioned it off. Labeling it as “future farm fields,” he then moved one of the tokens there that represented workload to be done.

  One token represented maybe fifty people, but it was nowhere near enough. Not for the sheer amount of land he’d cut out.

  The workers would begin preparing the land to be divided up into farm parcels to be sold to farmers.

  He pulled out another token and set it down at a point halfway between the furthest known frontier town and Norwood. A quick use of the lasso tool gave him a square. Labeling it as “future city site,” he moved the token on top of it. They would begin to prepare the area for future use.

  Using the lasso tool once more, he selected a range of low mountains and marked it off. “Potential sites to mine” was the note he added, and he moved another token there to begin survey work.

  The rest of the tokens he moved to the keep.

  It’d have to do. He could make changes anywhere and keep apprised of the situation, but it wasn’t the same as talking to the overseers in person.

  I prefer to treat this as a world rather than a game, as of late. How would I feel if I thought this was real? If all the game mechanics were gone?

  Grunting, Runner closed the panel and looked to his bedroom. Srit slept peacefully, a light snore audible even at his distance from her.

  “Sunshine, I’ll be leaving in about fifteen minutes. Would you like to sleep in a bit longer?”

  “Mmmmfhhhf mffssh.”

  “Yeah, I think the bed is pretty comfy as well. Come on, little miss supercomputer, wake up or sleep in?”

  “Kiss, sleep in. Unconcerned. You’ll come back.”

  “Got it. Don’t forget to feed Nibbles.” Runner moved his way to the bed and lightly kissed Srit’s lips. He traced the line of her jaw with a finger, then left, shutting the door quietly behind himself.

  Now if he only had the same confidence in himself that Srit did.

  Grace slid in behind him, nodding her head at him.

  “Morning, sir.”

  “Morning, Grace. Ready to ride?”

  “I’ve prepared our guard appropriately. I drew up a reserve listing as well, and they’ll be traveling in a separate vehicle.”

  “That’s not what I asked.”

  “No, sir. But you asked me to make sure you were safe. I’m doing that.”

  “Fine, fine. Though we’ll be talking privately tonight about your disobedience.”

  “Promises,” quipped the Sunless woman, a predatory smile on her lips.

  “The hell is with you? I’m supposed to be the one saying that kind of thing to you. Not the other way around.”

  Behind him, a number of his guards chuckled and snickered at that.

  “Sir, you’re a cat with a lion’s roar. Everyone figured out long ago that you have no desire to be working your way through your people’s beds.”

  “Grace, why do I get the idea that there’s something I don’t know?”

  “I’m sure you’re aware of many things, sir. Speaking of, normally I have to forward all potential recruits who will be working in close proximity to you through Thana. While Thana is away, I’ve circumvented this necessity.”

  Runner hadn’t known that, and Sophia had told him, without telling him. Perhaps honoring an agreement she’d made with Thana.

  She had a hand in hiring his personal guard. Which meant she took an active part in everyone who interacted with him. He had to wonder what type of assurance Thana pulled from them during the hiring process.

  Runner could only guess that this happened to be part of the “council” she led. Apparently his love life was far more complicated than he’d ever imagined.

  “She’s quite the meddler. I’m sorry, Grace.”

  “Don’t be. I owe her much, and it isn’t that much of an inconvenience in truth. She does it because she wants you to be happy but is trying to protect herself.”

  “I know, I’m a poor excuse for a man.” Runner scolded himself, his feet carrying him to the motor pool, where the tanks were stored.

  “Not at all, sir. You merely have an open and generous heart.”

  Runner said nothing to that and instead focused on Boxy.

  “For a manwhore,” she amended.

  Runner scoffed and shook his head.

  Looking like her namesake, a box, Boxy had the look of a wooden box on wheels.

  The officer on duty for the motor pool came over to him and held out a piece of paper.

  “Officer. Boxy and one other. Grace, who’s your pilot?”

  Another woman stepped up beside her, a cute looking dark-haired woman. She was petite and short. Probably an inch shorter than even Thana. She would have to be a crafter to pilot a tank, but she was outfitted as one of Norwood’s Own.

  “Me, Lord Norwood,” she said.

  “Well, Me, sign here and get your key.” Runner handed a form to Me and popped open Boxy’s door.

  Inside the cabin Isabelle sat with Brunhild, Ernsta, and Amelia. The four women looked to him as the door opened and smiled in concert.

  “Uh. Hi there,” he said, a touch of concern in his voice.

  “Little lamb.”

  “Lovey!”

  “Runner.”

  “My lord.”

  Sophia looked into the vehicle and then moved as if she were going to go to Me’s tank.

  “Oh no you don’t,” Runner said, wrapping a hand around Sophia’s wrist. “Come on, you’re supposed to protect me, remember? This would be included.”

  Pulling her along behind him, he stepped into the cabin.

  “To what do I owe the pleasure? Aren’t you supposed to be helping Hanners, Minxy?” Runner asked, stepping through the middle of them to the driver’s seat. He released Sophia’s arm after she took the copilot seat slightly behind his and to the side.

  “My sisters and I are keeping a low profile while our people go through combining everything,” Brunhild explained. “I felt we would be of best service if we spend time with you. Amelia and Hannah will meet up as needed, but they have already made most of the arrangements.”

  “That’s right. We’re especially happy to be here since your little gatekeeper isn’t around. Hoping to sneak into your bedroll a few times. Don’t let these little choir girls fool you—I’m not the only one thinking about you like that.”

  “Oh? Sounds like I’m safe if you’re all trying to get in at the same time then. Barely has room for one, let alone six,” Runner said, activating the controls and pulling the parking brake lever.

  “I must confess, I’m glad to have your company,” Runner admitted, looking back over his shoulder. “It’ll be good to spend time with you all. I rarely get to speak with you about general things. Everyday things.

  “As to our mission, I’d like to ask you a question. We know pretty much nothing about where we’re going. Other than it wasn’t there when we left Vix originally. Any of you lovely goddesses able to add to that meager amount of information?”

  “It depends, little lamb.”

  “What she means, lovey, is it depends on if it’ll get us first shot at your tent pole. Your little minder there is hoping to protect you from inside your bedroll, and the tree rat is hoping you’ll pick her outright. Rather
than one of us, since they’re both already signed off on.”

  “Sister…,” Brunhild started.

  “Tree rat!?” Isabelle squawked indignantly.

  “Sorry, tree mouse? I almost went with tree fucker, but Runner isn’t a tree and you haven’t fucked him. I’d know, I watch.”

  “You watch him? I don’t even—wait, you mean…” Isabelle’s voice trailed off and she leaned in to talk more quietly with Amelia.

  “Never mind. This is going to be a long trip, isn’t it?” Runner lamented, looking over to Sophia.

  Sophia had turned a faint pink, but she managed to meet his eyes.

  “Very, sir. I don’t think I can protect you from them.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Keep me alive and breathing. I’ll worry about my sleeping habits.”

  Runner rolled the steering wheel in his hands, bringing Boxy around towards the motor pool exit. Sliding onto the road as Me’s tank took the rear, they set off for the north.

  Chapter 4 - Trickster -

  1:35 pm Sovereign Earth time

  12/29/43

  Runner peered at the palisade and the exterior of the city. A small unit of guards patrolled regularly around the base of the wooden perimeter.

  To his eyes, the entire layout had more the look of a shantytown than a city. About the only thing that looked like quality construction was the stake wall itself. At least from what he could see so far.

  “My lord, shall I sneak in and take a look around?”

  “Yeah, hop to, Belle. My gut tells me it’s a bit of a clusterfuck in there. Don’t look weak, don’t put yourself under anyone else’s influence for any reason. Do what you have to, and get back to me when you feel like you know enough.”

  “On my way, my lord.” Isabelle slithered out from the brush they were hidden in and began making her way towards the front gate.

  “Sir, if I may?”

  “Why her and not you, Grace? Or one of your people? Look at the guard,” Runner said, pointing a finger at the patrol and then the gate guards.

  “Poorly outfitted, untrained, the look of vagabonds.”

  “And none of them the same race.”

  Sophia fell silent as she rechecked the guards with that bit of information as a filter.