Wild Wastes 5 -CH16- (Patreon)

Jerking awake just as the dream swapped to a nightmare of watching Leila being taken apart piece by piece by a formless force, Vince started up into the foliage above him.

Panting, taking slow deep breaths, he felt like he’d been running a marathon. His heart was pounding and his head was swimming.

“Ugh,” he groaned and rolled to one side. He lifted a hand and then rubbed at his face.

Especially his damned eyes.

They felt like they wanted to tear up and that was the absolute last thing Vince wanted right now. Falling asleep with thoughts of Red, Leila, and Sam drifting through his mind had been hard enough already.

A firm shake of his head helped to shake a few thoughts loose. Once he’d felt his mind empty of the thoughts that threatened to bubble up from below he swung himself into a seated position.

He hadn’t spent much time on a shelter and had settled for an upturned log that he threw a number of branches over the side of. The work had been done in a way that would hopefully make it look more natural to the area, rather than a lone person hiding out.

Briefly Vince had contemplated going back to the follower camp but didn’t want to take that risk. While unlikely, the officer he hadn’t killed could have possibly noticed him.

Unlikely, but possible.

Sitting there on the ground, Vince looked up to the fading sunlight.

He’d woken up several times to a great number of Nullifier’s on mounts flying one way. Then the other.

Only to come back again.

There was quite a number of them flying about in the sky every time he’d opened his eyes. Quite clearly they were all looking for Vince and his people. Searching far and wide for a man, a Ratkin, and a Lamia.

If he had to guess, they were primarily looking for Zathira. She’d be much easier to spot from the sky and easier for aerial scouts to focus on.

“Me on my own though, not so much,” remarked Vince and stood up, then brushed at his rear end and backside. He’d slept on a pile of boughs but that could be just as messy as dirt.

Standing there in the late evening Vince took in a slow breath.

He could smell the trees and bushes.

The grass that was under his boots and partly wilting due to the weather shift.

A frgance that one could only describe as nature was everywhere and all around him. All of it hitting him at this moment brought a deluge of memories for him. Running about by himself through the wastes on missions and the like.

Only to flip right to the moment it’d all changed for him. Where the world had flipped over on itself and Vince couldn’t have dreamed of it being any different.

When Berenga had pushed her way into his life and led it down a far different path.

Vince had only a moment of reflection as a nearly invisible presence rushed at him from the trees beyond. It was putting out a great deal of aggressive signals and didn’t seem to care for anything that was in it’s way.

More akin to a charging boar that wanted to gut anything in it’s path.

A lone Orc charged out of the brush, straight for Vince.

The Orc was on the taller side for many Orcs but not as wide. They were in fact as tall as Vince was. The light green skin was mostly covered up under hardened leather-armor and a chain-mail hauberk.

Short black hair flowed back from the Orc’s head, cut in a human fashion that did a wonderful job of framing the facial features that made her quite an attractive Orc, or so Vince had always found whenever he looked at her.

Surprise crossed Fes’ face as she spotted him, the two-handed long sword was in a sheathe at their side though one hand was on the hilt.

“Yeah, Fes came into my life just like that,” Vince murmured as reality intersected with his thoughts. Fes grinned and slowed to a walk, moving straight toward him.

Only to stop a foot away from him and then started to laugh.

“You’re right! It was just like that when we met,” she said and reached up to grab him by the front of his dirty tunic. She leaned in and kissed him warmly for several seconds then pulled back to gaze into his face, her dark black eyes searching. “Perhaps I’ve grown a fondness for human romance stories after all. It’s rather endearing that you said such a thing to me as I appear.

“You must’ve been thinking of me. Were you thinking of your Fes, my husband? Wishing me by your side?”

The beautiful and strong Orc let her eyes drift away from him as her left hand began to gently touch at him. Moving him this way and that as her eyes moved across him.

He got the impression she was checking him for wounds or issues that would need to be mended.

“I was indeed thinking of you, Fes. Though not because I needed my beautiful Orc Warrior woman to rescue me and bring me back from the brink of death. Just… thinking of you,” he answered, his hands coming up to rest on her hips. “Definitely wishing you were by my side.”

Fes made a clucking sound with her tongue but the smile on her face was wider than ever. There was no way for her to hide her obvious pleasure at the situation.

“Well, your Fes is here. Yarie insists I maintain that name and there’s no reason not to. She’s the only woman in our marraige who can beat us so… it isn’t terrible for the title to be mine. Especially with her growing towards being a deity,” Fes said quietly, lifting up the edge of his shirt and peering at his side. There was a bruise forming there that he hadn’t noticed. Her fingers gently pushed at it. “Once I heard you’d fallen from the Dragon I prepared a team to come after you. Elizabeth to sense you, Ynes for wounds and magic, and myself as the leader. I briefly considered bringing an Elf but we were already growing in size and would need more supplies than I wanted to carry. There was no way I’d be leaving the father of my children in the wild alone and more supplies would slow us down.

“My place as your Fes is by your side in a situation like this. I had my team prepare quickly and then we left We’ve been moving toward you as best as we can at night but it’s been slow going. Elizabeth said she could feel you up ahead and that you were close. Through her horn that’s in you. Then I smelled you and… I couldn’t wait.”

Stepping forward Fes put her left arm around his hips and put her head down on his shoulder. Her face nuzzling up to his neck.

“I worried terribly for you,” she whispered.

Vince put his arms around her in return and just held onto her. He knew for a fact that his Fes, Berenga, held a love for him that was every bit as deep and fierce as anyone elses.

If not perhaps more so.

She just didn’t show it that often.

Then he heard her sniffling, her arm tightening around him. Then her prosthetic right arm came up and encircled his middle. She was practically hanging onto him now.

“I like your hair-cut,” Vince offered, holding to her just as firmly. “Maybe you’ll get mad but… it really highlights how lovely you are for as a woman. Orc, Human, or otherwise.

Snorting, the crying Orc Warrior rubbed her face against his neck. Her crying continued, but he could tell she was quite pleased as well as relieved.

Elizabeth and Ynes stumbled into the small area a few moments after that. The former looking tired but without worry. Her horns were prominently on display but her wings were tucked in under a great coat.

In her hand was a long spear though she also had a basic revolver at her waist.

Ynes was next to her and looked quite excited to be here.

The charming Dryad gave him a smile that made his heart skip around and gave him a wave of one hand. A simple steel helmet that’d clearly been on her head a minute ago was under her armpit.

Both were wearing hardened leather armor with chain mail as well.

Dressed in gear that would mark them as dangerous in Francia’s territory, but not out of the ordinary either.

Even the rifle and steel-shod clubs that Ynes was carrying looked extremely similar to things he’d seen around these parts.

Though, he didn’t for one second believe that the rifle she was holding onto wasn’t from Mr. White.

He had no reason for his assumption but he was fairly certain he was right. The man had probably drafted up something to look similar, then made it a terrifying Legion weapon.

Vince could easily imagine it was every bit as terrifying as the normal rifle Legionnaire’s carried.

“I worried,” whispered Fes, not letting go of him in any way.

Vince had the impression she wasn’t going to release him any time soon, either. That she was going to cling to him like this until she was wrung empty of emotions.

He was more than happy to give her time.

Patting Fes on the back, he just held her in return, his hands moving up and down her back.

“Ah… my lord… husband… Grove-Master… er… I’m not really sure what to call you,” Ynes said and looked to him with some confusion.

“Grove-husband, my Grove-wife. That or Vince is fine,” he answered, pressing his cheek to Fes’ temple.

“Wonderful, Grove-husband. Your Grove-wife would like some of your time. Could… you tell us everything that happened after you fell from Elizabeth?” Ynes asked, bobbing her head toward Elizabeth as she spoke. “We weren’t expecting you to be alone.”

Sighing, Vince realized he’d have to dredge up everything he’d been trying to put to the side.

“Sure. After we fell,” he started, then nodded his head.

He’d tell them everything all the way up to where his plan was currently.

Fes just cuddled him even harder.

***

“— and just woke up,” Vince finished after laying it all out. He was sitting on the log now while Fes hovered over him. Her fingers were casually moving through his hair, across his scalp, and across his brow. He knew she could feel almost everything with her prosthetic hand after Ryker had made a few changes and she wasn’t hesitant to touch him with either hand anymore.

Moving over and across as she lightly moved his hair back and forth.

“Then we all arrived,” Elizabeth added. “It explains why there’s so many of the Nullifier’s flying about. We even had one of them fly low over us before we realized they were actually enemies.

“They looked us over for a short bit then left without a word despite us addressing them. They acted as if we were beneath notice. Or… I guess… they were just in a hurry. Needed to find you, not us.”

“It makes sense, yes,” Ynes agreed with a sharp nod of her head, then shook her head as her eyes scrunched up. Looking up and to the side as she processed things. Suddenly Vince realized that she was every bit of pretty as Dionara. He’d just never realized it till that exact moment. Then her eyes snapped back to Vince and she gave him a smile that made him feel almost bashful. “Alright! I’ve let Blue know. Everyone will know shortly that we’re fine, what’s happened, and what to do next.

“She’s not very concerned about Leila, Sam, or Red, though. Of everyone who could have been dumped somewhere, those three are actually quite likely to make it back unharmed. Good group composition, as she said.”

“I agree, I don’t think it’ll be too bad,” Elizabeth said and then held out a knife toward Fes. She’d been sharpening it briefly only moments ago. “This’ll be perfect for your needs, Fes.”

“Thank you,” murmured the Orc and took the blade from her. She ran a metallic thumb over the blade’s edge and grinned to herself. “I cursed my arm for a while. Then I grew to love it and what I can do with it. Then Ryker made it quite a bit better. I’d honestly rather not give it up now. It’s more useful than I gave it credit for.”

Lifting up the knife she looked to Vince.

“Now… time for a shave and a hair-cut my shaggy Human. You look far too peasant like. We need you looking like a mercenary that’s moving about the country,” stated the Orc. “I’m going to give you a trim, a shave, and then we’re going to move on to your plan. It sounded like you had more in mind.

“Though… if that’s all you really had in mind, we’ll discuss what to do next instead. Do you have any concerns with this?”

“No, Fes,” Vince answered, grinning up at the Orc. “Other than… is it your night, tonight?”

“Most certainly,” stated the Orc. “As you likely remember from our first child… I get needy when pregnant. Which I am. Now… head up and facing forward. Ynes, could you put the water nearby as well as the soap? I know you brought some despite me saying it wasn’t needed.”

“Sure, just don’t use it all. It’s hard to make any if I’m not at a city,” agreed the Dryad. “While I don’t mind a natural smell… I… Vince… he likes herbal so… you know?”

Fes chuckled and nodded her a bit. She ran her left hand across his eyes and closed them.

“I know everything of him. I know exactly what you’re talking about. What I’ll counter with… the dirtier you are, the more he doesn’t worry about mussing you up,” Fess offered. “Now… Vince… plans?”

He felt Fes toying with his hair now, followed by the soft swish of what sounded like the blade moving through some of his hair. He couldn’t tell where though.

“Go to Toulouse, kill, destroy, ruin, and generally be an absolute menace. In every way,” summarized Vince. “No real plan other than that. Just want to really… really go and make a problem of myself. Do everything I can to be a problem to help Petra out.

“I figure she’d send me out on similar missions anyways. Though… you didn’t mention how things are going at home? I’ve only been gone a few days so I didn’t think much had changed. Unless there was?”

“The Praecantrix stormed out and took Barcelona with the Bellum Dryadum. The Draco Custodes dropped them all inside the walls then joined in with their new Legionnaire armor. It wasn’t even a fight,” Ynes said with a rather cute little flip of her hand. He found that she often did things that didn’t line up with what he knew of the woman. That she’d spent more hours behind a machine-gun and putting rounds down range than many other Dryads, but also seemed the most feminine and warm. “Lots of new Dryads joining the ranks of the civilian Dryads. Certainly picked up more Bellum Dryadum soldiers. You’ll need to work with them to get them situated.

“More Dragons showed up on their own. They’ll needto join as well. Though… what was interesting is Elves have started to show up. They can feel Yaris through the portals apparently. It’s very curious, I honestly didn’t quite believe it but… it seems like it’s true.

“We’ll figure it out soon enough. My Elves are working with Elysia to ferret it out but so far, so good! Also, we think we figured out a way for you to absorb the Elves like you did the Dryads and Dragons!”

Vince was listening quietly as Ynes babbled on. Her voice had a warm and whispery like feel to it at the moment and left him feeling like he was sitting in a forest. Listening to the trees try to talk to him as he ran through them.

“It’s actually quite simple. Elves are magic. They can live indefinitely with enough magic,” Ynes continued as the soft swish of the knife around his head kept moving. Cutting hair free with each pass. “They’ll give you all the magic they can hold and link it to their soul. One of the reasons they always avoid Curses and Necromancy or the like is because their souls are a bit more fragile than others.

“They’ll just… pop over a great ball of magic to you, imbued with their soul, and there we go! Once it joins the Grove we’ll bind them to their Dragons, then through the Dragons, to their Dryads. Than we’re all set and ready. We’ve been operating in those squads for the most part already and it’s turning out really well.”

“It actually is,” agreed Fes in a soft tone. She was right above him and leaning over his shoulder. He could feel the heat coming off her. She was close enough that he could feel the unnatural body temperature that Orcs had in comparison to humans. “They’re working very well together. I asked one group to fight me as a whole.

“I only knocked down two before they brought me down. Yaris managed four, but she also lost. They work almost too well together, really. That’s the joy of Yosemite though. Better together than as individuals.”

More or less that’s the whole of it.

Better than the sum of our parts.

“As to your plan, I’ll make it work,” grumbled Fes with a sigh. “We’ll figure out some more details, get an idea of the area, then start pushing things around. It’s a shame Elizabeth can’t fly, but we can’t risk the Nullifier’s spotting her. We’ll just have to move things around until it all fits.

“Then we can proceed with what you suggested. Hitting them until they can’t handle it. Making it impossible for them. That the cost of continuing the pointless fight isn’t worth it.

“The question becomes… is our dear general thinking of taking land from a position of power, or if she thinks we’re better off waiting.

“Considering the special forces of Yosemite are clearing the cities in Spain by the day… I think she’ll push forward.”

A smooth and soft pair of lips were pressed to Vince’s and then a hand patted his cheek.

“Alright my love. Lift your chin and let me put a knife to your throat and get you shaved,” purred Berenga.

Apparently he’d be wrestling the Orc for dominance tonight. She was obviously feeling feisty.