4.7 In Which the Dark Lord Isn't Even the Most Dramatic Person in the Room

4.7 In Which the Dark Lord Isn't Even the Most Dramatic Person in the Room

We had made it back to North Watch before noon and my interlude with the queens was brief, but getting everything sorted out took most of the rest of the day. In a way, the large influx of wolf refugees came as a relief because we were prepared for that, had no particular history with them and Minifrits careful framing of the matter had my people pleased to be in the position of extending charity from a position of strength. And the wolves made a nice, comfy buffer between the North Watch contingent and the few catfolk whod been handpicked and carefully placed here to begin getting these groups accustomed to each other. Sneppit had quietly reported to me that there had been no incidents yet, but the air was crackling with tension.

I also found that in my absence, Sneppit had commandeered the Kzidnak structure closest to Maugros old offices and then commandeered Zeckls team to rapidly refit it into a kitchen, then moved Gannit and her staff down there. Consequently, though it took a bit longer to get food to the mess hall, dinner preparations were not stymied as they would have been by the practical realities of moving almost two hundred people and all their worldly belongings single-file through North Watchs already overworked kitchen. Far from being miffed at Sneppit for going over my head, I felt relieved and validated in my choice of chief administrator.

Better than the other strong-willed woman in my life who had a habit of going over my head

Of course, it was too much to hope that this would go entirely smoothly, but when a fight actually broke out I was surprised at the cause.

Rath Kadora and I were just returning to the mess hall; he had insisted on accompanying me down to inspect his peoples future quarters before letting them go there, and I had found this too reasonable to chide him for getting insistent with me. Said quarters were separate, as discussed, but Sneppit had managed to find places entirely within the central cavern of Fallencourt so the wolf tribe would be able to visit each other easily. Then hed wanted to personally oversee everyone getting settled, while I moved back and forth, checking in with various groups and making myself more visible than useful. The nice thing about Sneppits effect on administration was that I was more of a figurehead now, but that was still an important job. Also, Junko was of course accompanying me and everybody liked her. Especially the wolf tribe, somewhat to my surprise. I had just met up with their chieftain returning from below when we heard yelling from the direction of the foyer.

Fortunately I pulled ahead as we stepped into the narrow passageway from the kitchen to the mess hall, so I was the first to emerge and see what was going on. Had Rath Kadora stepped out and seen his daughter under attack I dont think his immediate reaction would have been productive.

Dont like it? Then do something about it. Go on, bitch, fucking try me!

To my amazement, that was Sato. Ears flat back, teeth bared, pushing right into Drun Kadoras personal space despite the fact that she loomed over him head and shoulders and was still carrying a spear. He really didnt have the proper voice for impressive yelling; it kept cracking with emotion.

Drun Kadoras restraint was frankly impressive. She eased back from him, slowly enough to avoid looking like she was retreating, her own ears lowered though her face was impressively calm.

Youre pretty brave all of a sudden, now youve got a Dark Lord looking out for you, she said.

And what of it? Whatre you gonna do about it, huh?

He took another step forward, raising both hands in a position to shove her.

Hey! Aster barked, striding forward out of the crowd. No fighting! Yell if you have to, Sato, but you keep your hands to yourself.

Me?! He seemed to find this unfair.

A rumbling growl served as warning; I glanced back just in time to spot Rath Kadora start to stride past me with a thunderous expression.

Dont, I ordered, quietly but firmly, putting out an arm in front of him.

He could have pushed right pastor in fact picked me up and thrown me with one handand I saw him think about it, but at least he stopped. For a second his competing instincts warred, the natural urge to defend his daughter conflicting with the knowledge that I was the apex predator here, and out of that stalemate his higher reasoning reasserted itself. Drun was not in any actual danger, after all, and Rath Kadora the seasoned tribal leader understood how to avoid escalating an already tense situation.

Also, Junko had bounded in front of him the instant she inferred that I wanted him to stop. Even somebody capable of forcing his way past a large dog will usually stop and think about it before trying.

Unfortunately, the byplay caught the attention of this dramas protagonists, and Sato immediately swiveled on us.

You. He pointed one accusing finger, snarling in something very close to bloodlust. There you are, you coward.

At that, Junko and I both had to physically block Rath Kadora from surging forward, while Aster did the same to Drun, who took this far less gracefully than she had similar comments directed toward herself.

You watch yourself, boy, Rath Kadora snarled.

Yeah? Whys that? Its true and you fucking know it.

Brat, Ive fought and killed things you would drop dead from terror at the sight of!

Theres nothing like that on Dount, Jadrin commented helpfully from the sidelines, where she was leaning against the edge of a table, chewing a piece of jerky. Fortunately, everyone ignored her.

You know what a coward is, dont you? Sato retorted, taking a fearless step forward. It means you wont face things that scare you. Big man with an artifact, youre not scared of fighting or hunting. You love that shit. But you were scared of arguing with that bitch shaman, so you didnt. You were scared of looking weak in front of your tribe of fucking mongrels, so you didnt. And youre gonna fucking stand there and take it no matter what I say to you, because youre scared of the Dark Lord. You fucking miserable little chickenshit coward.

Rath Kadora actually hefted his spear. Im not going to tolerate

Yes, you are.

I kept my voice even and calm, but projected with a force that boomed off the walls. Everyone stopped, the chief warrior freezing mid-brandish to turn a wary look on me.

As Aster said, I continued, after maintaining the silence for a moment to lower the ambient energy in the room, no fighting. Neither of younone of youis going to start throwing hands or I will personally put you down, and nobody wants to experience my method of doing that.

Another graphic pause, to let them all vividly recall the spectacle of my Immolate.

But as for words? Youll take whatever Sato chooses to say to you, and you will listen politely, because hes not wrong. What you allowed to happen to him for the sake of your own advantage was vile beyond description. And youre gonna get your back up because he calls you names over it? Please. Man up, Kadora.

I had turned toward him completely, risking leaving Sato out of my line of sight to maintain the full focus of my personality on Rath Kadora, which at that moment was the majority of what was keeping him under control. And oh, yes, he was mad. I could see it in the clenched, quivering line of every bulging muscle in his gigantic body. It was a terrifying spectacle to be this close to on a primal level, and had I been a hair less magical and heavily armed I might well have backed away from him. But I was the Dark Lord, and not only couldnt afford to look weak, but did not need to.

Besides, there was more than anger here.

I could see it in the position of his ears, lowered to the sides. The way he couldnt hold my gaze, or even glance in Satos direction. The shame. Sato was right, I was right, and Rath Kadora was a decent enough man to know it. Not decent enough to have taken a stand when it would have counted, but enough to bitterly regret his weakness.

Not unlike Rads, the goblin mining foreman. I could work with that.

You need to offer amends to him, I said in a calmer tone after letting him stew in it for a while. I dont know what could possibly begin to sufficeprobably nothing, to be frank. And hes certainly underno obligation to accept any overtures from you. But you need to make an honest, sincere attempt, Rath Kadora. You can do it because the Dark Lord commands it, if that helps you. But you should do it because this business is a stain on your honor, and if Im right in my judgment of the kind of man you are, you will do whatever is needed to put that right.

Slowly, he straightened back up from his braced stance, inhaling deeply and moving his spear back to upright position. After a second, Rath Kadora nodded at me, once, deeply.

Hn. Make it a command if you wish, Dark Lord, but you are right. I thank you for the reminder. The boyis owed. I must think on how to begin redressing this, must do it properly. For his own suffering, and also His ears twitched once, and he looked away again. I was not chief warrior when his mother was cast out, but that was no less a disgrace. I am chief now, and the tribes shame is my shame. Hm. If I only knew where to start.

I turned back to Sato, wary of his response to that last revelation, but fortunately it seemed the fireworks for the evening had subsided. Well, in one sense.

Sato was currently in the process of being gently ushered out of the mess hall by a pretty young woman who was halfway wrapped around him. At the doorway, Keffin paused, glancing back at me with a grin and a wink, and then tugged the wolf boy out into the hall.

Well. That was one way to handle that.

Hummm, Zui said from beside my waist, where I had not expected her to be. I only didnt jump in surprise out of habituation; shed been doing shit like that all week. Right now she was staring after the departing couple with a faint frown. For some reason Im a little uncomfortable about that.

Is it because Sato is in a highly emotional and vulnerable state, or because Keffin is at least somewhat fetishizing him due to his race? Minifrit asked lazily, sashaying up to us and trailing a cloud of sweet-scented smoke from her lips as usual. Or merely because he is just barely old enough for such things to begin with?

Well, it was just a vague, general sort of discomfiture, but thanks for the horrible specificity, Zui grumbled, scowling at her.

Minifrits eyes crinkled in a smile even as her lips were fully pursed around her pipe. She blew smoke toward the ceiling before answering.

What? No I havent. Im on top of

An hour later, my arms finally gave out. It wasnt the exertion, I was in the best shape of my life, but just I couldnt remember ever having felt so relaxed in my life. It had been far, far too long.

At last I had the presence of mind and remaining stamina not to just collapse on top of her, managing to lower myself more gently to rest upon the warm, delectably soft shape of the woman beneath me on my bed.

Minifrit adjusted her grip around me, keeping me tightly embraced as I rested my face in the crook of her neck, feeling her labored breathing as I slowly regained my own. One of her hands slid up to cradle the back of my head, fingers twining into my sweat-damp hair. Slowly, her legs relaxed, though she made no move to dislodge me from between them, just twining them more gently through mine.

Now this I had needed this, more than Id realizedwhich was saying something because it certainly wasnt like I didnt know I had needed it. More important, Id been able to do it. All of it, from start to finish, for the first time since coming to this absurd hell world. Not a single flashback the whole time.

We didnt rush the afterglow; you dont spoil a good thing. It was a few minutes, not until after our breathing had steadied, before Minifrit chuckled throatily right under my cheek and caressed the back of my neck.

Congratulations, my lord.

Mmm. I nuzzled playfully at her throat. You too.

She lightly flicked my forehead with a fingertip.

Ow. So violent.

Crybaby.

All teasing asidewow. Just, wow, Min. Still somewhat laboriously, though with my strength a bit recovered, I lifted myself up on both arms so I could look down at her face. You know, youre actually sort of good at that.

And you Gently, she ran her hand over my cheek, smirking up at me in utterly smug self-satisfaction. are teachable. Dont worry, Im not done working on you yet.

I flicked her forehead, prompting an even wider smirk.

Ooh, you brute. Just waitll I tell everyone the Dark Lord abuses his mistress.

Typical. I ended up in the one Dark Crusade where that would actually hurt my reputation.

She laughed, twined her arms around her neck, and pulled herself upward to kiss me. I was no longer surprised by her upper body strength, but I remained impressed.

Really, though, I said when I could. This is Just for the record, Min, you are absolutely welcome in my bed for the foreseeable. But I dont want to make this seems like an obligation. Youve already helped

She kissed me a lot more firmly this time, actually managing to push herself more upright and me along with her without ever dislodging her lips from mine. That really didnt seem like it shouldve worked, but Minifrit was adept at maneuvers like this. She was adept at a lot of maneuvers, including quite a few that would never have occurred to me. We ended up kneeling upright, wrapped around each other, before she let me breathe again.

This is not a moment for you to be all responsible, she finally lectured, rubbing the tip of her nose against mine. I know youre not going to make me do anything. You know Im here voluntarily. We both know what this is, and the point is for you to stop being the big commanding Dark Lord for a little while. You may be as tightly wound as the next three most tense men Ive ever known, Seiji, but if you cant manage to relax a little while enjoying the attentions of your lover, Im going to start taking it personally.

Hmm? Sorry, that sounded important, but I zoned out. Its just that these boobs feel really nice in this position.

Of course, I brought my best pair. Nothing but the finest for my lord. She had squirmed all the way into my lap now, straddling me. As for the future With all due modesty, I dont see you getting bored of me any time soon. I plan to stick around until you find an actual, more meaningful romance, just as I told you when we began all this. And frankly, Ill probably notice thats coming before you do. So relax, Seiji. Just let me take care of you.

Mm. Not that my prospects are good. Yknow, for being a Dark Lord surrounded by prostitutes

Well, she said very solemnly, I seem to recall I did specifically suggest a dark elf princess. And oh, look, you actually went and found one!

Ugh. I grimaced, turning my face away. Dont even get me started on that bundle of havoc. You know, she actually tried to hit on me tonight?

Well, of course she did, Minifrit said, as if this were entirely obvious.

You werent there, it was a debacle. She did this I dont even know how to describe it. I dont know how somebody so composed could fuck up simple flirting that badly. It was like watching a cuckoo clock try to pole dance.

That is a very helpful description, because I definitely know what both of those things are.

Hummm. Now that you mention it Grinning, I started to ease her back down to the blankets. I bet if I installed a pole and described the basics, youd figure it out pretty

I could actually see her trying it, too. Composed and borderline domineering as she was in public, Minifrit had shown herself willing to express a softer side with me, downright eager to yield to mypersonal requests. Professional that she was, she managed to be as pliable as a kitten without relinquishing any of her poise and self-assurance. I could definitely get her spinning around a

I couldnt breathe.

The stink in the air, of the canals, of blood and vomit and human shit, and nothing before me but the next person who needed my help. And if I got to her in time, the next after that, and so on, until I came to the one I hadnt been fast enough to save. There were always more, always someone I was too late to reach. Always glassy eyes accusing me in death

I was on the floor, somehow, on my knees, gasping for breath. Minifrit had a death grip around my upper body, keeping my arms pinned to my sides where they couldnt Id bloodied my knuckles against the floor. I could see the red droplets on the akorthist panels where Id clawed at them.

Shh, shh, youre right here with me. You are here, not there. All that is over. Breathe, Seiji. In. Out. One at a time. There we are, there we are. Youre okay.

She leaned her forehead against my temple, relaxing her grip slightly now that Id gone still. For the second time very recently I let myself loosen up in her arms, slowly getting my breath back. It was a lot less gratifying this time.

The noise that rose in my throat was half growl and half unreleased yell, seasoned with more of a whine than I wanted to admit.

Fuck. Fuck. God dammit. I thought Come on, we just finished This is supposed to be over.

Hey, dont do that, she soothed, stroking my hair. Its all right. We already went over it, you know this kind of thing doesnt work that way. Its a process, not a cure. It will continue getting better. It may never go away entirely, Seiji. But youve come so far. Tonight was an enormous step forwardan absolute victory. Dont discount that just because it wasnt perfect. Its not any less big a step because it wasnt the last one.

Breathing a bit more evenly now, I raised my head to look at her. Minifrit was always a pretty woman, but having her curly black hair cascading loose around her really was stunning. At the moment, though, half of her face was reddened and just beginning to swell, where someone had clobbered her good.

Oh, shit, Min. Heal! Im so sorry

She placed one finger on my lips, smiling. Shush. You had best remember to give me credit, Lord Seiji, I knew very well what I was signing up for. Heal yourself too, dont forget.

Ahright. Heal. Hands aside, I had skinned a shin tumbling off the bed and it was starting to feel like Id broken my big toe. Man, it was nice having that spell. How did anybody get through flashbacks without it?

Minifrit rose smoothly, pulling me up in that gentle yet inexorable way she had. Thats about enough roughhousing, I believe. Come back to bed.

I, uh I dont think Im up for any more

Yes, I figured, she said with a wry little smile, leaning in to give me a quick kiss. There are a lot of things two people can do on a bed, you know. You should lie down, let the tension fade, and try to sleep. Its big enough to avoid the wet patch. After all that, I think you deserve to be held all night. If youd like?

Come on, youre not supposed to just ask that. A man has his pride, I cant just I mean, how could I say out loud that

yes, please.