WOLVERINE'S WORLD - THE THREE LORDS
I had a plan, but for the moment I had to stay at the fort. There was more to summoning the Blood to war than just making the call. I had to make sure that it at least began effectively. I needed to have the right people in place. People who understood their role in what was coming.
Lord Shea was a tall and lean Blood with pure white hair. His holdings bordered those of the Point, but relations between Shea and the Captain were relatively cordial. He and I had known one another for a long time - since long before I convinced the Howler to leave his holdings. In fact, I knew him back when he was just another wandering ronin, looking for nothing more than his next fight, next meal, and next woman.
He tracked me down within hours after I made my declaration in the marketplace. By then, night had fallen. He found me sitting on the front porch of the old barracks.
"What the fuck, James?" Shea snarled at me.
Actually, he seemed more exasperated than angry.
Blood warriors were already converging on the fort. Some ronin arrived in formation, but the Blood militia was appearing without any semblance of organization. They traveled as individuals, bands, and families.
The biggest contingents would consist of lords and their vassals. Shea was the first of those to appear.
The samurai of the fort were trying to get the new arrivals organized, but that wasn't going to be easy. The Fort's scouts were reporting that some particularly determined self-organized war-bands were already moving north. I hoped they would be smart enough to only engage dark-elf scouts and patrols and not seek out large enemy formations and camps. It would be even better if they joined the thin line of Point samurai who were trying to control the frontier. However, that was up to the individual band. When a seeker invokes the Old One's name and calls for war, the results are not neat and controllable. I knew that when I gave the call.
But no matter what, things were about to become bloodier and more difficult for the dark-elves.
"I'm glad you're here, Shea," I said - and I meant that.
Shea lifted his hands helplessly. "Dammit, James, I'm here because most of my people are here! When they heard the Old One's call, my vassals dropped whatever they were doing and just left. My samurai asked for my forgiveness and begged that I lead them here. What choice did I have?! So now my holdings are guarded by children and the elderly. A raid by a half-dozen Creed would be a disaster."
I shook my head. "Your people heed the Old One's ways, Shea. That's nothing to ashamed of. And if the dark-elves ever get to your holdings, you'll definitely see carnage. This way, we have a chance to stop them in their tracks."
Shea gave me a hard and angry look. "We're the first to arrive. My people will take casualities. A lot of casualties."
That was most likely true. And there was little that could be done about it.
"Shea... lead your people," I said quietly. "Gather your vassals around your samurai. Find ronin who are looking for guidance. Create a formation that can fight, survive, and do honor to the Old One. I've seen you do it before. Do it again."
Shea's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "I will, but I just wanted to take a moment to tell you to go to weaponex."
I smiled at that. "I'll save you a place in the operating table next to mine," I replied.
Shea shook his head and stalked off. He was yelling orders to his samurai before he was a dozen steps away.
"Well?" he called back to me. "Get your ancient ass over here and say the words to my people!"
Lord Shea's force consisted of two dozen samurai, another dozen ronin he'd apparently picked up on the road, one- or two-hundred militia Blood of both genders and all ages, maybe two dozen Wilder, and perhaps another fifty able-bodied Folk archers.
They were standing in a rough semi-circle, just inside the front gate, their eyes glittering in the moonlight as they waited for me.
Shea stepped to the side and nodded in my direction. Everyone was silent as they stared at me.
"The Old One is gone, but his spirit remains..." I called, not bothering to raise my voice. There was no need.
"We remember the Old One," came the inevitable rolling thunder of a response. It wasn't just Shea's people who responded. Members of the garrison and some local civilians who happened to be within earshot also repeated the ancient reply.
"...and he is with us," I finished.
The answering growl seemed to rumble the earth.
As I walked away, I swear could I see tears in Shea's eyes.
"When this is over, I'm going to kill you," the young lord told me. His voice was like ice and there was little doubt that he meant what he'd just said.
It was around midnight. Another band of samurai and lesser warriors had entered the fort.
"Who are you?" I asked curiously. I didn't recognize him. He was a wiry Blood of average height, clad in some light-chain armor that looked like it had seen more than a few fights.
It also seemed to me that there was an ominous aura of viciousness about him. Or maybe I was just reacting to his threat on my life.
The young lord paused, his eyes hot and angry. He'd just killed his way into a lordship, but he obviously hadn't learned the finer points of the position. And now he'd been given an unavoidable call to war that might very well destroy everything he'd accomplished. Actually, I could see the reason for his frustration. But I just didn't care.
"My name is Daken," he spat out. "Lord Daken."
Speaking of names with meaning...
I nodded politely. "Tell you what, lord Daken, if we're both alive when this is over, you'll have your chance at me. However, you might have to get in line - a lot of people are unhappy with me right now. In the meantime, go lead your samurai and your people. You say you're a lord, so start acting like one."
Rage flaring in his eyes, Daken took a dangerous step towards me. In my mind, I'd already mapped out his death - Daken's fighting style was almost certainly very direct and dependent on his obvious raw speed and savagery. Killing him would be regrettable. While I'd probably be doing his people a favor in the long run, at the moment we needed him to be in charge of his samurai. Otherwise, they would start in-fighting over ascendancy. If I killed Daken, I might even have to become a lord for a while. And I just didn't have the time for that.
Perhaps I could put Anna in charge and have her give orders in my name?
"My... he's a pretty one," Anna said from behind me. I suppose she was right - Daken was a handsome young Blood.
"But a little hot-headed," Emma responded critically.
Daken froze, his eyes looking past me. The expression on his face was still hard, but now he also seemed more than a little puzzled. He wasn't used to being addressed in that way.
Making sure I didn't lose track of Daken, I stole a quick glance over my shoulder. Anna, Emma, and Rahne were at my back, standing just inside the door to the barracks. Daken had caught their attention - the poor wretch.
The expression on Anna's face was contemptuous - she has a problem with self-import lords. Emma just looked amused. Rahne had a tiny and pleasant smile on her lips that worried me. I knew what she what she was capable of.
"New lords are always so touchy," Anna added thoughtfully.
"I think it's all the time they spend posturing, scheming, and fighting," Emma suggested.
"They do seem to be a little pent up," Anna suggested. "Why, they probably don't even have time to find a willing bed-partner! Do you suppose that's the reason they're such a bunch of assholes?"
"Perhaps," Emma replied.
Anna nodded slowly as she dismissively examined lord Daken.
"Okay, here's the deal, kid," she finally told him. "My husband is a busy man and doesn't have time for your juvenile idiocy. Get the fuck out of here or Emma, Rahne, and I are going to kick you completely around the perimeter of this damned fort and leave you a bloody, sobbing, mess right in front of the gate. Then I'll write a song about what we did to you and make sure it becomes common fare in every tavern and inn from Novscot to Kwest. You'll lose your lordship and never get another one. And you'll be a laughing stock for the rest of your life."
The transition of facial expressions - from angry, to shocked, to amazed, to curious - that flickered across Daken's face were truly a sight to see.
"Your wives?" he asked me. For the first time, he didn't seem angry.
"The blue one's my wife," I answered. "The Fire Priestess is my concubine. The young one is dear to me, but not in that way. Oh, and this a fair warning, they can actually do that to you."
Daken nodded slowly at me. "I withdraw my threat. There's nothing that I can do to you that's worse than leaving you in the clutches of these harpys."
Then Daken turned on his heel and stalked away.
"Hey! I'll have you know that James here is a deliriously happy man!" Anna shouted after him in outrage.
"Actually, that was a pretty good comeback on his part," Emma told me appreciatively.
"We've done things to him that a virgin like you couldn't even begin to understand!" Anna yelled.
Lord Daken froze for a moment. I could see his shoulders tremble in anger, but then he took a deep breath and continued back to his people.
That was smart. Maybe there was hope for him after all.
"Nice shot," Emma complimented Anna.
Rahne was still staring at the space between lord Daken's shoulder-blades. And she still had that predatory half-smile on her face.
"If I kill him," she asked me, "would that make me a lord?"
I made a mental note to keep Rahne and Daken far away from each other.
"Fuck you, James," Lord Dugan told me tiredly.
It was just an hour or so until dawn. The fort was packed with warriors and more were setting up camp outside.
"I've been getting that a lot lately," I replied. "Let me guess. My call to war is a terrible inconvenience for you?"
Dugan was tall, bulky, and a red-head. He was one of the strongest Blood I knew - and a lot faster than most suspected. Those who opposed him usually discovered that far too late. Long ago, he and I had tried to kill each other. It didn't take with either one of us.
"I really wanted to just spend the rest of my lordship indulging in good whiskey and loose women," Dugan told me with a regretful shake of his head.
"Not a bad aspiration," I admitted, "but what happens when you get too fat to fight and a younger Blood decides he wants to be lord?"
"Then I die," Dugan shrugged.
"So perhaps I'm saving your life by forcing you to do something important?"
"We all die," Dugan pointed out reasonably.
Which was true, but some die easier than others.
"Where do you need me, James?" Dugan continued.
"Find Shea and start organizing this mess," I suggested. "The fort's senior samurai is competent, but he's used to dealing with professionals, not militia. He needs help. When the Captain shows up with the rest of the Point's warriors, advise and support him."
Duggan nodded, casually accepting the responsibility.
"Oh..." I continued. "A young lord named Daken is here."
The stormy look that appeared on Dugan's face informed the he knew Daken.
"Just point him at the enemy and let him loose," I said.
Dugan smiled in response.
It was like a tremendous weight had been lifted from my shoulders. The two men I'd needed - and perhaps the third - were present. I could pursue other goals. There was something I had to take care of.
"I hear Anna is with you," Dugan said conversationally. There was some careful caution in his words.
"Yes."
"And how's that going? As I recall, the last time we spoke, you swore you were done with sticking your dick into that particular example of crazy."
I considered Dugan's words for a while. I was sure I hadn't phrased it that way he remembered, but his words did have a certain resonance with me.
"I like having her with me," was all I could think to say.
Dugan smiled broadly. "Of course you do! You're in love, you damn fool."
I shook my head. "Don't be ridiculous, Dugan. I'm too old for that."
"You're never too old for love, my friend! Look at me - I have three wives, seven concubines, and a pretty girlfriend on the side. I fall in love all the time."
I tried for visualize dealing with that many Annas and Emmas. I think I shuddered.
"I need you to say the words to my people," Dugan asked.
I nodded and got to my feet. It was the fifth time that night.
"So now that you've given me and Shea a job, what do you plan to do?" Dugan asked as we walked towards his expectant people.
"I'll be leaving at sunrise," I told him. "There's someone I have to kill."
Dugan nodded placidly.