Chapter Eight
I made a new save point as I sized up the duke’s youngest son, but he didn’t look like much to me. Just another Loser Lord milking his dad for money and prestige. Still, the more I knew about the Edinburg family members, the easier it would be to find the duke.
Lord Exavier wore a thick fur cloak, so I couldn’t tell how muscular he was, but his face was thin and lean. He had stringy black hair that flapped around his ears, and a large hooked nose was his most prominent feature. It was hard to see more details about his person from the distance, but I didn’t want to draw any attention to me and my companions by getting any closer.
While I watched, the duke’s youngest son continued his spiel about contributing to the good of the land, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. It didn’t look like these people had much to give, but these bastards were taking anything they could from them. It made me wonder what the consequences for not obeying would be, and I watched closely to see if anyone rebelled against the slimy lord.
The soldiers began to scoop the people’s coins and other offerings into empty chests, and the crowd began to thin as those who had already given their share broke away from the horde.
I shook my head in awe at the balls on this guy since his dad had just been labeled as a traitor to the realm before he’d escaped prison. It didn’t seem like that information had made its way into Kassar, though, and these poor people were suffering the consequences.
“Who is this guy?” Elissa asked from her mare’s back as she squinted at the stage. “He doesn’t seem very nice…”
“It’s the Duke of Edinburg’s son,” I explained. “It looks like he’s collecting taxes, but I agree. He seems like a dick.”
“Isn’t that a word for the male appendage?” Ako asked, and his whiskers twitched in an amused fashion.
“Yep,” I chuckled. “But in this situation, I think it fits. He’s screwing the people over pretty hard.”
“I’ve never heard an Archduke speak in such ways,” the shapeshifter said. “You are a unique man, Sir Bash.”
“Wouldn’t it be awfully boring if I was like everyone else?” I winked, but then my face turned more serious. “We don’t want to get his attention. Even though we aren’t citizens of his territory doesn’t mean he won’t try to rip us off.”
“We should try to get as much information as we can,” Ako suggested.
“You read my mind,” I said, but then I returned my attention back to Lord Exavier’s speech.
“This is not a parent to child relationship,” the duke’s son declared. “We aren’t here to hold your hands while you release your bowels. We are your rulers for a reason, and any who forget their role in society will pay the price.”
“Wow, what a sweetheart,” Ako snickered. “I’m sure his people love him.”
The sarcasm in his voice was obvious, and I resisted the urge to laugh at his commentary.
“My people,” Lord Exavier said in a pained voice. “These are hard times for our lands.”
Oh, here we go.
“Our coffers are too dry to support the soldiers who protect our towns,” the duke’s son continued. “If you want bandits attacking every settlement, then by all means, selfishly withhold your coin for yourself. But if you want protection, and a civil society, then you must do your part. Your choice today will swing the balance from one direction to another. Pick wisely. Your lives depend upon it.”
Was he going to kill people for not being able to pay taxes?
I frowned as I watched the armed soldiers closely, but they all kept their weapons in their scabbards. I wasn’t sure what I would do if they harmed one of these innocent people, but I knew things could get ugly quickly. We were heavily outgunned by the platoon of men the duke’s son surrounded himself with, but we had the element of surprise on our side.
Plus, I was a god, so this loser didn’t stand a chance against me.
As people came up to donate their hard-earned coins and valuables to their lord’s cause, they grew more and more reluctant, and the items given became stranger. When a man threw a sandwich into the chest, Lord Exavier stopped his spiel about being a good citizen and stormed across the stage to kick the man in the face.
“Whoa.” Ako’s eyebrows rose up.
“Yeah, that escalated quickly,” I replied in a low voice. “Should we do something?”
“Not yet,” Ako said with a shake of his head. “We don’t want to start a battle with these men while all these people are nearby, but you’re the one in charge. It’s up to you.”
“I don’t want any innocents to get hurt.” I frowned. “But that’s already happening.”
“That man was asking for the kick.” Ako shrugged. “He put a sandwich inside their treasure chest.”
“It wouldn’t even be their treasure without these people volunteering it,” I pointed out.
“Doesn’t seem like they care for the alternative option,” Ako pointed out.
“They do now.” I straightened my shoulders. “There’s a god in town.”
“I would urge caution,” Mahini murmured. “Ako is right. There’s a lot of bystanders right now.”
“Please don’t interfere yet, Bash,” Elissa requested with wide emerald eyes, and she placed a comforting hand over her own abdomen. “We’d have to fight our way out of here, and we’ve been riding so hard the last few days… I don’t think I have the energy for that yet.”
“I’m sorry, my love,” I sighed. “You’re right, of course. I just hate the idea of this asshole getting away with hurting people like that.”
“We can change things later after we capture his father,” Eva said. “After all, once the duke is brought back to prison, his sons will have no power to stand on. The people in his territory may not know of his treason yet, but after the trial, all of Sorreyal will know Edinburg is a traitor.”
“I won’t interfere,” I promised my companions. I’d only just found out I was going to be a father, so I didn’t want to put Elissa in a situation that could cause harm to our future child. Caelia was also less-experienced with protecting herself, so I needed to keep their safety as my top priority.
We continued to listen to Lord Exavier go on and on about his father, and I quickly grew tired of hearing the guy’s voice, but I wanted to gather as much information as possible, so I endured the grating sound for a while longer.
Just when I thought I couldn’t stand it anymore, the arrests started. First, a woman threw herself down on her knees in front of the stage and confessed she had nothing to give, and the asshole in charge called for his soldiers to drag her away.
It was all I could do not to jump in and fight for the woman, but I kept my promise to my companions. This was not the time or place to fight for justice, but I would find some way to help the people of this town.
Several more townspeople were carried off by Lord Exavier’s soldiers, and then he began to talk about an army his father was building. My ears perked up at the mention of able-bodied men, and my blood was soon boiling. It seemed like Edinburg wanted war, but I wasn’t ready to give it to him, so it was better to catch him on the run than to allow him any time to gather his forces.
Edinburg was forcing his people to participate in his army, though, while I was searching for volunteers to recruit. I supposed we were very different men, but Sorreyal would be better off without him fucking everything up.
I could kill this minor lord and his retinue of hired hands easily, even single-handedly, but I wanted my companions to trust in me to keep my word. Still, I let my fantasies of taking Exavier’s life run wild while I listened to his grating voice echo out over the heads of the people.
We waited in silence while the rest of the people made their way to the stage to contribute what they could to the duke’s coffers, and I turned Goliath’s head away from the square. I nudged my heels against his flanks, but then I heard a voice call out for us to stop.
“Halt! You have not added your tithe,” one of the soldiers who stood nearby said, and the rest of the armed men were suddenly aware of our presences.
Lord Exavier scanned us over, but then he shook his head at his guards.
“They’re clearly foreigners traveling through,” the duke’s son declared.
I was very grateful for Ako’s odd appearance at that moment, since I was certain he was the reason we escaped Exavier’s scrutiny.
I inclined my head and flashed the duke’s son a fake, grateful smile, and then I led my companions back down the street we’d come from. I flicked my eyes from one side of the street to the other in search of a stable or an inn, or both, but I found rooms a short while later.
Once I’d paid for our three rooms, I asked the innkeeper about the stables, and then I followed her directions to the business. Ako helped lead the six horses to the stable, and then we returned to the inn to discuss what we’d learned so far.
I gestured for the shapeshifter to follow me into my room, but Caelia was already inside talking to the other ladies.
“Good, you’re all here.” I grinned. “I was just about to summon you for a meeting.”
“We figured with those soldiers in town we should stick close together,” Eva said. “If they’re helping the duke stay hidden, then they might not be very friendly toward us.”
“If anyone touches a strand of hair upon your head, then they are dead,” I proclaimed in a deadly calm voice. “I don’t trust anyone, though, so it’s good to stay close to each other.”
“What’s this meeting about?” Mahini asked, ever focused on the mission at hand.
“The duke’s son, Lord Exavier,” I explained, and I planted my hands on my hips. “And what we should do about him.”
“What’s there to do?” Ako shrugged. “He isn’t technically doing anything wrong.”
“He kicked a man in the face for a sandwich,” I reminded the shapeshifter. “And arrested several others for being too poor to pay him.”
“That’s a well-known consequence for not paying your taxes,” Ako countered. “It’s not like it’s anything the king himself wouldn’t do under similar circumstances. I don’t mean to be a pain, I just felt like playing devil’s advocate since I don’t think any action is required.”
“Where’s Edinburg, then?” I asked with a coolly arched eyebrow. “Wouldn’t his baby boy know where daddy is? The least we could do is ask him and find out.”
“He wouldn’t give you any information willingly,” Mahini pointed out. “You’d have to torture it out of him.”
“If the duke’s son is in this town, then it must be pretty important to the duke,” I mused out loud as I tapped a finger against my chin. “Maybe the locals know something useful.”
“What do you know about the people who live here?” Ako tilted his head to the side, and his tail twitched with curiosity. “I’ve heard rumors of your powers. Some say you know everyone before you even meet them.”
“Something like that.” I waved a dismissive hand as I gave the shapeshifter a mysterious smile.
Then I reset back to my save point to get back the time I’d spent listening to the duke’s son.
Chime.
“This guy is a dick,” I informed my companions in a conspiratorial tone. “Let’s poke around town some and see if anyone has seen the duke.”
“Who is this guy?” Elissa asked.
“It’s the Duke of Edinburg’s youngest son, Exavier,” I explained again, but I was already pulling Goliath’s head around to face the other direction. “Follow me, we’ll stable the horses and get rooms before we explore the town.”
“Where can we find an inn?” Caelia asked as she shot a worried glance around at the bustling street. “This town seems so strange and chaotic.”
I was surprised she wasn’t more used to larger towns, but then I remembered the stories from her past and how the general store owner had a somewhat sheltered life. I was glad for it, since it had saved her innocence and naivety for me.
A flush crept up my neck as I thought about how much I wanted the timid shopkeeper, but I was willing to wait for her to come to me. She’d already showed signs of interest, too, but I wasn’t sure what she was ready for just yet, so I’d have to spend some more time getting to know her first.
After I caught Edinburg, that was.
I refocused on the mission at hand, and I led my friends and lovers to the stable before I took them to the inn. I paid for three rooms, but I gestured for everyone to follow me into the one I’d chosen for myself.
“You guys ask around for any information on Edinburg,” I instructed in a clipped tone. “I’ll find out everything I can about Exavier. Meet back here after dark.”
We went our separate ways, and I began my task of spamming respawns until I learned about as many people as I could. I wanted to impress the citizens of Kassar with my god-like powers, but I only needed to memorize a few names in order to do so. When my brain was teeming with information, I reset back to my save point with a wave of my will.
Chime.
I explained the game plan for the evening again, and then I returned to the streets of Kassar with fresh steps. I started this run through by testing the knowledge I’d gained during my previous attempt, and once I correctly remembered the handful of names, I continued to learn a few more.
Chime.
I repeated the process a few times until I’d learned as much as I could from the people Edinburg ruled. They were a melancholy bunch, and most wore scowls or other unhappy expressions upon their faces. The Duke of Edinburg had long ago started to steadily raise taxes to an unbearable level, but he’d turned a deaf ear to the suffering of his people. His goals took precedence over everything else, it seemed.
The people of Kassar were unaware that the duke had committed treason against the crown, but I happily filled them in on all the details about Edinburg’s fall from grace. When I explained about the duke escaping from prison, however, I was met with fear and terror. The people wanted nothing more than for the duke to go away for good, and I was happy to oblige them.
Chime.
Edinburg’s citizens needed to know what kind of man was leading them, so I decided I would let everyone in on the reason for my mission.
Before I turned my horse away from Lord Exavier’s sermon on the stage, I waved my hand over my head to get his attention. I hadn’t promised my companions I wouldn’t interfere yet, so it wasn’t like I was breaking my word. Sometimes being a god had its perks.
“You there,” Lord Exavier said when he noticed me. “What do you want?”
“Why are you collecting taxes for a traitor?” I asked in a voice loud enough for the entire crowd to hear clearly.
Several faces turned to look my way, but I held my chin high and kept my gaze locked on the stage.
“What do you mean, traitor?” Exavier countered. “I am collecting taxes for my father, the rightful Duke of Edinburg.”
“The Duke of Edinburg lost his title when he tried to kill the Archduke,” I countered hotly. “That’s me, by the way. I’m the one your father tried to kill.”
A nervous hush swept through the crowd, and even more people turned to stare at me and my companions.
“My father is an innocent man,” the duke’s son spat. “These treacherous lies against his honor will not stand.”
“Then why did he escape prison and run away before the trial?” I pressed, and a shocked gasp shot through the gathered citizens. “I am on a mission to hunt the Duke of Edinburg down and return him to Vallenwood to face justice for his crimes. The king himself has given me this task, and I answer to no one but him. Do you speak against the crown?”
“What crown?” Exavier spat onto the dirt in front of the stage, and it landed on the feet of a woman wearing rags.
“What a rude man,” Ako muttered by my side.
“I don’t like him,” Caelia said.
“We should leave,” Eva suggested.
“Yes,” Mahini agreed. “Let’s leave before we end up having to fight those soldiers he has at his back.”
“Hold on,” I urged. “I want to hear his reaction to my words. He’s about to out himself as a traitor, too.”
“I trust your judgement, my friend,” Ako said in a low voice.
“Me, too,” Eva added.
“Can we help?” Caelia asked, but I could see the node of her throat bob up and down as she swallowed hard.
“Have no fear, ladies,” I comforted my women and Caelia. “But the people deserve to know they are paying taxes to a traitor. I won’t stand by while they’re treated in such a horrible way.”
Then I proceeded to ride Goliath forward in the direction of the stage, and I didn’t look back to see the looks on my companions’ faces. The crowded square was difficult to ride through, but once a couple people noticed us, the majority moved out of my way.
I rode my horse straight up to the stage so I could get a good, close look at the asshole lord, and I was surprised to see the duke’s son looked very little like his father. They both shared the same hooked nose, but that was where the similarities ended. Exavier must take after his mother, but he was fortunate there. Duchess Edinburg was fair looking, and she’d passed her hazel eyes on to her youngest son.
“Your father is a traitor to Sorreyal,” I announced in a loud voice straight to Lord Exavier’s face. “I’m going to arrest him myself. There’s no point in building an army. You’ll all be nothing soon.”
“That’s not true,” the duke’s son argued. “My father will win. He always wins, and when he does, Kassar will be mine to rule.”
“We’ll see about that,” I said in a menacing voice.
“Guards!” Exavier shouted, and he gestured for his men to come forward. “Arrest this man!”
I wasn’t about to sit back and wait for the soldiers to attack me, so I reset back to my save point.
Chime.
I spent the next several run throughs trying to sabotage Lord Exavier’s speech. I threw rotten vegetables at the stage, tried to get the crowd to do the wave, and argued everything he said in a loud, angry voice. I wanted to see how the duke’s son behaved under pressure, but he mostly remained calm, cool, and collected. He just wanted to get his money and get out of there, and the longer I stuck around, the clearer that became.
Chime.
Chime.
I noticed several of the townspeople I’d talked to among the crowd, and I called them out by name to ask if they would support a traitor. The people were too terrified of Exavier to speak up, though, so after a few failed attempts I ended up giving up on the idea.
Chime.
I got bored and impatient, so I decided to kill Lord Exavier and all his men. I maneuvered Goliath next to the stage again, but this time I leapt from my horse’s back to the platform. I had my feather sword free in my next breath, but then I was staring down the edges of multiple blades. I was surrounded by soldiers, and the duke’s son wore a cocky grin as he watched from a safe distance.
They still didn’t know who they were messing with, but they wouldn’t forget who I was after this encounter.
I stomped my foot to activate the fleetness ability of my griffon feather boots, and then I dashed around in a circle with my blade held outward. I sliced into the abdomens of several of the soldiers, but they wore heavy armor, so the blows weren’t fatal.
Still, I could relieve them of their weapons, so that’s exactly what I did. Finally, I skidded to a halt and dropped the armful of swords at Exavier’s feet.
“Yeah, I’m not sure if they told you or not,” I said in a friendly voice. “But I’m the God of Time, and no amount of men will be able to capture me. Your father has been trying to kill me for a while now, and failing miserably as you can tell.”
“My father will be king of Sorreyal regardless of who stands in his way,” Lord Exavier snarled. “You’ll never find him.”
“He’ll have to come out of hiding sooner or later if he wants to be king,” I pointed out. “But I don’t think his absence will last that long. You can always come visit daddy in prison if you like.”
“You have no idea who you’re up against,” Exavier said as a sly smile stretched his thin lips. “You can’t possibly think you’ll win against my father.”
“Not only am I going to win,” I said through clenched teeth. “I’m going to make him wish he never even heard my name.”
“You and what army?” Exavier scoffed, and his gaze landed on my companions. “You have five people at your back. My father has an army and a fortress. You don’t stand a chance.”
“We will see about that.” I worked the muscle in my jaw.
I was really getting tired of listening to this asshole speak, but I had a feeling I hadn’t heard the last from him. Still, I’d done as much as I could on this run through, and I didn’t want to tip off Edinburg that we were here by confronting his son, so I reset back to my save point for what felt like the millionth time.
I half listened to Lord Exavier’s spiel about the good of the land, but I was lost in my thoughts. I wanted to make Edinburg and his son pay for the way they’d treated their people, but my first priority had to be finding the duke and returning him to Vallenwood. I hadn’t gotten any leads on the duke’s location, though, and the others had returned empty-handed during every life where I sent them out looking for information.
Maybe Lord Exavier knew where his father was hiding.
I scratched my beard as I thought over my options. I could spend my time attempting to befriend the minor lord, or I could focus my energy on killing him, but then I wouldn’t be able to get any information out of him first.
No, I had to question him, but that didn’t mean I had to be nice about it.
I chuckled to myself as I realized what I was about to do. I was Sir Sebastian, Archduke, Dragon Slayer, and God of Kidnapping. I just hoped I didn’t have to become the God of Torture, too, but I would do what was necessary before I reset back to my save point.
Lord Exavier looked pretty confident up on his stage, but I turned Goliath away with a grin. He was going to answer some questions for me before I left Kassar.
And I wasn’t going to take no for an answer.