{Alex Savage}

  Someone tried to steal Lobo that night, but it was useless as I made sure the rune that let the engine fire up was damaged. It would only take me touching any part of the Dire Knight to remake it and after McDonalds I wasn’t taking any chances. Meathead got in several fights and never seemed to lose. It was like a huge wolf playing with a farmer’s son. I wasn’t sure if it was him and Woodcutter practicing every day or that he would often hang out at the inn, but he was much better than all this slop here. The other Knights were just normal ones after all.

  Boss was able to set up some targets to show what Lobo could really do. I smiled watching the hidden blades lift from his back, slide down to the side and out. He ran at the target and then the blades started glowing red. Enchantments don’t work on weapons that size, but that wasn’t an enchantment. It used Battery’s heating rune set linked with a Manawire Silversteel braid that the slave collars used. Those runes and wires ran up the length of the blade on the inside making them heat up and glow a bright red. The blades slid through the targets smoothly leaving behind a burning heap. It made me swell with pride with how quiet everyone was. A few just stood there slack jawed, their magic cameras falling out of their hands. This was the nightmare I wanted to unleash on the world. He turned and bit through the next target and ripped it from the ground, tossing it aside with the powerful jaws of Lobo. I could almost smell the mithril that we would be swimming in. He swung his tail and knocked the last one back, ripping it from the ground. It was a beautiful moment. Someone walked up beside me and coughed.

  “Are you the one who made that?” It was a small bunny man who meekly stood next to me. I just nodded and smiled down at him. Standing five foot two inches, he held his hand behind his back. He had a nice, pressed suit that looked uncomfortable as hell with how tight it was. A silver slave collar gleamed in the daylight as he looked up at me with bright green eyes. He had a red ponytail pulled back and I noticed that he had larger buck teeth that stuck out much like my Lily. “Good, are you willing to meet with my master?” He asked, bowing his head in respect. I liked this little man. Everything about him spoke of someone who acted with dignity.

  “I can.” We have our first buyer. I inwardly cheered. “I would need my employer for any meeting though.” I said, nodding at the small man. I wonder if he was related to my Lily.

  “Master Hervot will be joining us,” he said with another bow. I turned and followed him, Lily walking behind me. Her eyes were locked on the small bunny man. I would have gotten angry, but everything about her spoke of someone who was watching a snake. We were taken to a large tent that seemed to be covered in lavish furniture and thick rugs. A huge bed sat on one side and a heavy wood table sat in the middle with ornate chairs. Why where they camping out here when there were several inns inside town. A white-haired human sat on the other side and looked up at me with slanted eyes. He was dressed in a white robe with gold trim. Everything about this man screamed snake and that he was not to be trusted. It wasn’t just that he was human, but rather he reminded me of Gin from bleach. I was on guard as I stood there.

  “Welcome Master Savage. Your Partner should be joining us soon. Am I to understand that you made the thing people are calling a Dire Knight?” He didn’t call or acknowledge me as a lord. Was my cover blown? I just nodded and stood at the entryway. “Please come in and have a seat.” Lily had told me that I had to be asked to come in by those I thought might have a higher station. I walked calmly in and pulled out the chair. It was solid and covered in ornate carvings of animals. This simple chair looked like it cost the same amount as a Knight, and this was what he took with him to camp. Who the hell was this man? Lily stood behind me, her hands protectively on the back of my chair. I knew I could kill him if things went bad, but this could also mean more coins for us. “That is some amazing work. I wonder if you can make others?” Careful Alex this could be a pay day or a noose. Boss walked in and joined us drawing the eyes of what had to be some high class noble. “Welcome Master Hervot. I was just talking with our dear Savage here.” Boss just nodded. I could see the sweat forming on his brow. “I was wondering if this was the only thing you can make.” He put his fingers together and propped his chin on them as he smiled at us.

  “This is only the start.” I said cryptically. Boss just sat there shaking lightly. Calm down man, you are making me nervous. The stranger just nodded and smiled. That must be what a rat sees before a snake eats it. I knew Midna would be wetting herself if she had to go against this man. Who the fuck was he?

  “Good, good. If I was to offer you a sum, would you be able to make something better, stronger?” I just nodded. He snapped his fingers, and a bag was placed on the table. With a practiced motion, he dumped it out and five large green coins rolled across the desk. Each had the image of a man’s face on one’s side and the head of a Knight on the other. Boss’s eyes bugged out at the show of wealth. This had to be a large mithril coin. “If you had this, could you give me your best?” I put my hand on my chin and thought for a moment.

  “I could make you my best for now.” I said with a smile. He raised an eyebrow.

  “For now?” He asked and gave me a nightmare smile that matched my own. My heart ticked up a few notches and felt Lily’s hand on my shoulder. She was always my anchor, and I needed her more than ever today.

  “Yes. For now. I plan to keep making better things as I learn. Why settle with one weapon when you can have an arsenal?” I said, waving my hand around as though to show him that his own wealth was an example of my words. He leaned back and laughed coldly.

  “Good, good. I like the idea of that.” This was a trap. I had to be careful. My mind was already going over ideas to stop him if it came to that, but those five coins would set my plan ahead by years.

  “Contract magic. In exchange for five large mithril, you must produce the best Knight you can make at this time. Your deadline is five years. You cannot talk about this deal with anyone. You cannot sell other Knights until our deal is complete. The contract will be completed when the best Knight you can make at this time is delivered to me. Do you accept?” I could do it in one, but the extra time would be nice if anything happens or hell forbid, I come up with a crazy idea I could pull off in the time limit.

  “I accept.” I said with my own, all be it mildly, evil smile. Boss turned to me, his eyes wide, shock and fear clear on his face. “Can you leave one of your slaves with us so we can get in touch with you?” I asked, crossing my arms. He beamed at me as he pushed the coins across the table.

  “I like that idea. It would be nice to stay in touch.” He said as he went back to writing on a sheet of paper. I handed the coins to Boss who just sat there for a long moment.

  “Master Hervot, it seems like we have been dismissed.” I said standing. Boss stood, slipping the ungodly wealth into his bag and stumbled out like a drunken man. Outside he pulled me deep into the woods, Lily trailing behind us. She was looking at me oddly as though I was someone new.

  “FUCKING HELL? FIVE FUCKING MITHRIL LARGE!” Boss started screaming.

  “Calm yourself Boss unless you attract everyone with fast fingers.” I said in a warning tone.

  “Pull that fucking mask off now.” He said reaching for it. Once it was off he looked into my dark grinning face. “Five Large.” He said, his hair standing on end as he scratched it.

  “I know. I think I can do it in a year, maybe less.” I said with a smug smile.

  “I nearly shat myself when you talked about one large a year. I thought you were blowing smoke up my ass. You aren’t a hen that laid a golden egg. You are a whole flock of golden fucking hens.” He said as he sat on the forest floor.

  “Lily, please keep an ear out and let us know if anyone is coming.” She nodded at me as I turned back to Boss who was holding his hands over his eyes. “I take it you are happy?”

  “No, I’m fucking over the moon. How are we going to hide this?” He said patting the pouch at his side.

  “I can hide it in the sled, inside the metal. Let someone try to steal that.” I said smugly. Lily’s ears were turning this way and that and I really wanted to pet them.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “You can do that?” Boss asked.

  “How do you think I hid my slave coins?” I asked and I noticed Lily’s ears focused on me. “Yes, you are precious to me and I would never let anyone else get their hands on your coin.” I said to my Lily.

  “Good point.” He said standing up and looking around. “Let's get back, hide our spoils and enjoy the rest of the gathering.” He said holding the pouch with both hands.

  “Call Gorloth. You’ll feel better if he is with us.” I said putting my hands on my hips.

  On the last day, I took Gorloth and Lily to the slave master. They had a few small tents set up on the edge of the convention. My heart was heavy as I had dreaded this moment, but it had to be done. Lily looked worried and Gorloth looked a bit pissed. I didn’t tell them what I was doing because I wasn’t sure how they would take it. It being the last day and given where we were going, I didn’t have my Lord Savage costume on. Boss had given me Gorloth's control coin at my request and without asking me to pay for him. He said it was only fair given how much money I was bringing in. He knew what I had planned and approved of it. A slimy man came up to us rubbing his hands.

  “Master Savage. I got your message, and we have everything set up. Please come this way.” My mind was too muddled to notice that I had given my identity away. He led us into a dark tent near the back of the caravan. Lily had started crying and Gorloth was openly growling at me. “Now what one do you want to start with first?” he asked me. I wanted to get the most painful one done with first and pointed at Lily. I handed him her coin and felt my heart break. This is where everything goes south for me. She is going to show her true self and show me that every feeling she had for me was just a lie to get to this moment. He placed the coin on a tool and pressed it to the link of her collar. It glowed and her eyes went wide as the collar clicked falling away. It broke my heart to set her free, but I loved her and wanted her to be free even if she didn’t want to be with me. Even if I hadn’t given my word, she deserved to be free. She started crying and stood as Gorloth just looked at me blankly, shock clear on his face. “Come on my big friend. You're next.” Gorloth sat stunned as his own collar was taken off. I just walked out of the tent not sure what would happen. I expected Lily to attack me, curse me for all the things I did to her, expected Gorloth to run off happy to be rid of me. With my heart sinking, I sat on a log, tears threatening to fall. I saw the two standing in front of me and I looked up. Lily was crying. Was I that bad to her? Gorloth had a strange smile as he looked down at me. It reminded me and I reached into a pocket pulling out Orthonai’s coin.

  “You may want this.” I said as I put it in his hand and just sat there. Would they beat me to death, or would they just leave me alone again? Did Lily ever even love me?

  “Master, are you unhappy with me?” Lily said, her lip trembling.

  “Lily I could never be unhappy with you. I love you and want you to be free.” She tackled me and this is where she starts in with the insults and beating me.

  “What if I don’t want to leave you, you idiot?” What? But she was free. Why would she want to stay with me? “What if I’m happy with you? What if I love you too?” She loved me? I found myself crying and holding her close.

  “You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to.” She pulled back, snot leaking from her nose. I wiped it away and kissed her softly. Gorloth reached down and helped us up, his eyes still wide.

  “Friend Runt, you are my war chief. I cannot leave you.” He said with his own huge smile. His new tusk was coming in nicely.

  “I don’t want either of you to leave. You are my friends and Lily; you are far more to me.” She kissed my cheek and held my hand. Gorloth, that is Orthonai’s coin. I want the both of you to be happy. Boss said you still have a job if you want one, he just knows that you have earned your freedom.” Gorloth nodded and I went to celebrate with my now free friends.

  {Lily Cottontail}

  She woke in her love’s bed. She had worked very hard to show her master how happy she was to be free and free to love him openly. Something was bothering her though. Something she would have to check on. With a cloak hiding her face and ears, she went to find Gorloth. He was sitting by Lobo and turning over Orthonai’s coin. He smiled up at her a wistful look in his eyes. “Friend Bunny, what need?” The large orc asked.

  “There is something I want to check out and was hoping I could lean on you. This might benefit our war chief.” She said with an evil smile. He nodded, put the coin in his pocket and stood taking up a stance behind her as they started walking. She knew the huge orc would keep her safe and insure they both stayed free for a long time.

  {Yen}

  She sat nude, her one arm chained to the tent post. She had picked up Alex’s scent earlier and tried to call out to him, but she was too weak. Only useful slaves get fed. She had not eaten in a long time and would be dead soon. Even if she died, the only regret she would have would be not telling that man her true feelings. Luhea had taken her left arm at the shoulder as punishment for thinking she could stand in the same light as a human. Luhea was right, Yen was nothing more than an animal. The stump of her arm still hurt as an infection had set in. She didn’t deserve Alex’s love, but if she could just tell him how she felt. If she could just say goodbye, she could die happy and with a light heart. A smell came to her. It was him. She called out weakly and much to her joy the scent came closer. It was him, but there was something else with it. It had been almost a year, had she gotten the scent wrong? The flap opened and a small woman came in covered in a long cloak. Behind her stood a huge orc. He looked down at her with disgust. Her new master came in behind the two as they all looked at her.

  “This is Yen. Yen you are to answer any questions these two ask. Do you understand?” He said coldly. She knew she would die from another round of beatings tonight if she failed to be sold. Her collar glowed and she looked up at the two and nodded. She could see long white hair, red eyes and soft cute female face under the cloak. “I’ll leave you two to talk. Call me when you’ve made up your mind.” Her master said. Yen didn’t even have the strength to cover herself. The woman knelt to look into Yen’s eyes. Why did she smell like him?

  “Alex?” Yen asked, and the white-haired woman looked shocked.

  “No. How do you know that name?” The cloaked woman asked. Yen looked at the ground, shame filling her face. This woman knew her love and would kill her for having the nerve to love him.

  “Sorry, you smell like a man I love.” Yen said as a tear fell. The other woman just knelt there for a while looking Yen over.

  “What would you do if you saw this Alex again?” She asked, tilting her head.

  “I would tell him that I love him. He is the only man I ever loved. The only one who made me feel like I mattered.” Yen replied, the tears falling freely.

  “And if he rejected you?” The cloaked woman asked. Yen looked into those red eyes not caring any more if she lived or died. She couldn’t lie and even if she could, she would tell this woman the truth.

  “I wouldn’t care. All that matters is letting him know how I feel. Even if I am just an animal, even if I die soon after. I would just be happy he knew and happier knowing he was safe.” She said, spilling her heart to the tent. The big orc was smiling openly behind the white-haired woman.

  “Sir, how much for her?” The white-haired woman asked as she stood. Her master came in rubbing his hands together.

  “She is worth fifty gold.” He said beaming at the cloak woman who tilted her head.

  “She has one arm and is half dead. I say she is barely worth five gold.” she said coldly. Yen felt her heart fall. She knew she was worthless, but hearing it said aloud hurt on a new level.

  “You want her, you pay. I can go as low as twenty.” He scoffed.

  “Fifteen and I am willing to walk.” The white-haired woman said. He held out his hand and she counted out the coins before handing Yen’s control coin and a sheet to hide her body.

  “Follow us, Yen.” Her new master said. The orc took his place behind her, and it felt like she was being led to the slaughter. Would they take her somewhere where she would be cut up until she finally died. Her new master took her to a healer’s hut who removed the infection and healed some of her sores. Yen wasn’t sure what was going on or why they were helping her. The large orc only looked at her sadly, but the white-haired woman refused to say anything or even look at her. From there she was taken to an inn where was she given broth and ordered to eat slowly and until she was full. It brought back some of her strength and she wanted to cry with how it felt being full for the first time in months. After the meal, the orc left, and she was taken up to one of the rooms. Would her new master kill her there? Would she demand Yen pleasure her? If she smelled like Alex, she could do it if she closed her eyes. The white-haired woman whispered to her, and Yen could hear someone snoring inside.

  “You are to go in, undress and lay behind the one sleeping in the bed.” Yen’s collar glowed and she walked in, the smell hit her, and she started crying. Only one person could smell like that. She shed the sheet and climbed behind Alex, laying on the stump that remained of her left arm. Now that the infection was gone, laying on it felt comfortable, and she wanted to hold him. She cried softly as she lightly kissed the back of his neck. Her new master must love him just as much as Yen did. The door closed and she heard the other woman undress and join them. She lay in front of Alex and sighed as he wrapped around her. The white-haired bunny smiled and kissed him softly, careful not to wake him. He smiled in his sleep and Yen melted at that smile she missed so much. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Yen. I’m Lily, welcome to the family.” She said with a sweet smile. This amazing woman had reunited Yen with the man she loved with all her heart and for the first time in nearly a year, Yen felt loved and happy as she reached over and stroked her new master’s face.

  {Alex Savage}

  The sun light hit my eyes, waking me. Yep, still hate the fucking sun. I froze as I felt something large was wrapped around me. I hope that isn’t Gorloth. I thought as I looked down at the arm holding me and saw a thin arm covered in stripes. I know that arm. Where do I know it from? Oh, it’s Yen. Why was she here? Why was she naked? Why does this keep happening to me?