After The Rabbit (Waldo Rabbit Series) (12 page)

She could feel the sunshine bathing her. The bed was very warm, and her feet were pressing against the bedpost. A familiar form snuggled up against her.

“Alice… you… are… crush… ing… me.”

Her eyes half opened to the nearly purple face of her beloved husband.

“Oh, so it was all a dream,” she said as she loosened her embrace and allowed Waldo to breathe again. “I am so glad.”

Her head ached, and she was thirsty. Other than that everything was fine. As the bed rose and fell, she relaxed. Things were back to normal. She could forget all about that crazy dream and return to reality. “Let’s stay in bed for a little while, darling. You can play with my breasts if you want. They’re as soft and firm as ever, you know.”

“Bed? Alice, we’re not in bed.”

“Hmmm?” She wasn’t completely awake yet.

“Oooh,” the still sleeping ogre murmured. “Yes, Master, right there.”

Waldo was the only one who was fully conscious. “Uh, Alice, what are you doing with your feet?”

“Nothing, just rubbing them against the bed post.”

“What you’re rubbing isn’t a bed post, Alice.”

It took her a moment to fully open her eyes and really take in where they were. She and Waldo were lying on top of Gronk. And the three of them were completely naked. What she was rubbing her feet against was definitely NOT a bed post.

“Aaaaaaaahhhhh!” With a blood curdling scream, she bolted off her resting spot and ran away as fast as her legs would take her.

XXX

After a long and very thorough bath in a nearby stream, Alice returned to the campsite. Gronk was back in his loincloth and Waldo had on his robes. Alice got dressed behind some bushes where neither could see, though truthfully she wasn’t sure why she even bothered. Through their link, she could tell Waldo was slightly nervous but not at all embarrassed. When she reentered the clearing, Gronk had their packs and all their equipment on his back and was ready to go. Breathing deeply, she rejoined them.

She was calm, completely and totally calm. “All right, I am only going to say this once. Last night and this morning never happened. We will never speak of it again.”

“Alice, there is nothing to be embarrassed about, just because you…”

Her left hand grabbed Waldo by the collar and yanked him forward until they were literally nose to nose. Without intending to, the claws of her right hand popped out, so did her tail, which lashed back and forth.

“We NEVER speak of it again. Right?”

Waldo quickly nodded. “Absolutely!”

She let go of her husband. The claws and tail vanished. She took another deep breath, smoothed her blouse and skirt, and gave him a cheerful smile. “Good, now let’s get back on the road. I am sure it will be a beautiful day.”

XXX

As they walked, Gronk went to Waldo and asked him something in a whisper. “So, Master, what do you do for your birthdays?”

“Well, my family would simply have a small celebration and the giving of gifts. My mother would also offer to grant any single wish within her power.”

“Wow. What would you wish for?”

“Cake.”

“Nothing else?” the ogre asked in surprise.

Waldo shrugged. “I like cake.”

Chapter 9

Blooddrinker

Castle Blooddrinker was unique.

In the city of Alter, here alone plants grew. Within its courtyard existed a small orchard with apple and pear trees, rose bushes, shrubs, ferns, and various other flowers and grasses. These plants could only survive thanks to special magics that provided them light and kept out the black rain.

So much effort merely to keep a fragment of the natural world here,
Lilith thought.
Such a waste.

The Blooddrinkers certainly comprised an unusual lot, even in a place like Alteroth. Their family motto, “From blood, strength” summed up their obsession with breeding and with creating both pure and mixed bloodlines of the different races. There were no pure humans within the clan, branch families included. Every single Blooddrinker had a mixed heritage. Most were partly elven, while some boasted dwarf, goblin, and even werewolf blood. The family kept huge numbers of monster slaves, more than the other six Houses combined. Entire regiments of well-disciplined goblins and orcs served, as well as handfuls of Great Monsters such as ogres, giants, trolls, and medusa. Baldwin’s familiar surpassed them all. How the clan acquired Zeruel remained a mystery. A half dragon, the brute proved himself far and away the most dangerous creature in Alteroth. Even Enver would stand no chance against him.

Their obsession extended to their human slaves as well. The clan refused to purchase any but the most attractive and physically gifted. The women were used as breeding stock and given to specifically selected males, not all of whom were human.

The breeding program did not spare the members of the family. Marriages were arranged with an eye to the progeny. Political alliances, money, and love all being of no consequence, what mattered was that the children created from each union be as gifted as possible. Obviously, children with any sort of defect had to be quickly disposed of. Blemishes needed to be cut away to ensure the tree would grow healthy and strong.

Lilith Corpselover was seated with her fellow Council member. Baldwin had extended her an invitation, and she was currently a guest in his home. His troops had escorted her all the way here from her own castle’s gate, and when she was done, they would safely return her. Since she had received an open invitation from Baldwin, Lilith knew she was completely safe. If any harm came to her while under his protection, it would be seen as an act of war between their two Houses. She didn’t think Baldwin had any ill intentions towards her, but even if he did, he would never act on them while she was his guest. Such a thing would be uncivilized.

The two of them were in a small dining hall enjoying a pleasant meal. Four elven maidens in bright silks of green, blue, red, and gold served them. Such lovely creatures with angelic faces and fluid grace. To the eye, they might appear to be in their early twenties while each could be over a thousand years old. Elves kept their beauty and vitality almost to the end of their lifespans. Only the truly ancient ever showed signs of age. The older Lilith got, the more annoying she found that.

Even more irritating was the way they fawned and smiled at their master. Lilith didn’t mind a little obsequiousness from the servants. Propriety demanded it. Their lack of fear was what was so irksome. When they spoke to Baldwin it sounded friendly, like talk between equals. The women had none of the deference you would expect of a servant with her master. And Baldwin actually seemed to encourage it. He smiled at them, called them by name, and even thanked them.

The Blooddrinkers were a strange bunch indeed.

Lilith motioned to the nearest one to fill up her cup. The elf took a pitcher and began to pour. Her hold slipped and a little wine spilled onto Lilith’s hand.

Lilith snapped her eyes to the girl and looked at her, simply looked. The servant paled and quickly bowed low, gracefully of course. “I beg your forgiveness, Mistress.”

Lilith held out her hand as she turned to Baldwin. The girl took a cloth napkin and dried it as swiftly and gently as she could.

“Your servants don’t seem to be very well trained.”

“You must forgive, Aelissa,” Baldwin said while lowering his face in apology. “You make the girls nervous.”

“If they’re only nervous, they don’t know me very well.” She snatched her hand away without bothering to look at the clumsy fool again. “I assume you will punish her.”

The girl flinched and backed away, careful to keep her eyes lowered.

“For a little spilled wine? What, would you have me execute her?”

“No, I think a whipping would be sufficient. At least for the first offense.”

“Why don’t you go, Aelissa? I am sure we’ll be able to manage with three attendants.”

“Yes, Master Baldwin.” She bowed to him and swiftly departed.

“Why do you indulge them so?” Lilith asked. “I have my favorites, too, but I never let them think I will tolerate poor performance.”

He smiled at one of the maidens who wore red and had hair the color of polished brass. She smiled back at him. “I love them.”

“So? I have fucked plenty of my slaves. It doesn’t keep me from punishing them when they deserve it.”

“You misunderstand. They are not simply my lovers. I truly care for them and want them to be happy here. They are my sunlight and my night sky. I would never hurt them for something so trivial.”

“When you say such things, it makes me think you belong more in Avalon than here.”

He gave a soft laugh. “Considering they would view me as an abomination and kill me on sight, I will have to disagree with you.”

“Then, maybe you would be happier in Ostagraad, where the monsters reign. You could go to one of the elven kingdoms and frolic in the sunshine. Flowers were never meant to grow here.”

“I would be as welcome in the elven lands as I would be in Avalon. They view half elves with disgust and loathing. Elves see humans as being far beneath them, much as you would see a goblin. Like too much of the world, they have no appreciation for what can be achieved by taking the best attributes of different races and melding them together.”

“Oh, it must be horribly unfair: humans hate you for being too elven, and the elves hate you for being too human. Life is so very cruel.”

Baldwin frowned. “Are you mocking me Lilith?”

“Not at all. My heart is simply filled with sympathy for you.”

“How very kind. In any case, this is where I and my family belong. It is the only place where we can be truly accepted. And flowers can grow here; it merely requires some effort.”

“Then, I suppose it’s really all a question of what you think worth the sacrifice.”

Baldwin leaned back into his chair and steepled his fingers. “You asked me for this invitation to my home. What is it you want?”

“Oh, nothing of any great importance. I simply wanted to meet with you as a precaution.”

“Precaution for what?”

“In ten days, I will be leaving the city to tour my lands and holdings and visit my relatives.”

Baldwin nodded. “Very wise. It is always good policy to introduce the next head of the family to the branch members.”

Lilith gave a weary shake of her head. “Hera is not my heir. Part of the reason I am making this trip is to make it clear to everyone. I think they need a reminder of why they fear me. I intend to chop off a few heads and bring the branch families back into line.”

“Couldn’t you have done something the other day when your relatives were here?”

“What? And ruin the solstice? In any case, it is much better to arrive unannounced. It always unnerves them. You also get to see things with your own eyes. It’s dangerous to always rely on reports.”

“Is Hera truly not your heir? Why take her as an apprentice, then?”

“My plans for Hera are my own concern. The reason I wanted to meet with you is to give you this warning. I will be absent for about eight weeks. I intend to depart under cover of night and keep my journey as quiet as possible, but it’s impossible to be gone for so long and have it not noticed. Darius may see this as an opportunity.”

“Even if you are unavailable, he would still need four votes. I doubt he can get them.”

“I agree, but the stakes are too high to take unnecessary chances. If Darius does see this as an opening, you are the one most likely to secure Soulbreaker’s vote. He would have to try and win over Xilos. He has no hope at all with Gawreth.”