Alex}

I watched the town fade as we made our way down the road. On the sled behind the RV, Carnage hidden under a tarp. Walking around us were three Knights and a Dire Knight. I had yet to name the two new ones, but that was an issue for later. Inside the guts of my RV sat a bundle of twin rabbit cores allowing all the pilots to talk to each other without using their speakers. It just sucked that I had to link each one up, so it was like everyone was in the same room. Luckily, I could easily turn them off its things got distracting. I made sure my bedroom and office despite being cramped had two-way sound runes. It would be nice to block out any noise at night and during the day. The rune could only be completed when the door was closed so I could easily choose when to cut off the noise. Our speed was limited by the walking speed of the Knights so it should be fairly fast. If we were moving like a normal caravan, it should take us three months to get there. The first day went well and we made camp. Overall traveling with everyone was relaxing, but I was having trouble focusing. Uta said cooking in the RV made her life a lot easier.

It ended up taking slightly over a month and we made our way to the edge of the city. Hena and Uta had been sleeping beside me at night. Hena claimed that she was scared and wanted my warmth, we hadn’t done more than light petting and I was okay with that for now. Sometimes it’s okay to take things slow. Uta on the other hand was an animal at night and would make sure we were both tired. At times Hena would watch us, but those were rare nights. We set up camp on the edge of the barrier of the city. I would have to go check out the city when there was time. Radish seemed worried and kept wringing his hands. In the morning we would be meeting with our employer. Once he was happy, I’d head back home as quick as I could. This was clearly a trap and I wanted to be back home where it was safe as soon as I could. That being said I was going to be on high alert as long as I was here. The sun rose, Radish was back to wearing his tight uniform and I was in my Lord Savage costume. Uta was playing the role of my maid and Hena was in an elegant outfit that showed she was an elven noble. The four of us standing there made a striking scene. A white carriage rolled up to our camp and a white-haired man, dressed in fine white robes stepped out. His hair had gotten slightly longer over the past year, but everything about him still came off like a snake.

“Lord Savage. You work quickly. I gave you five years and here we are barely a year later,” he said, with a cold smile. “Show me what you have.” I waved my hand and Carnage stood from under the tarp and quickly wrapped it around himself like a cape. Woodcutter and I had worked it out to make the best impression. Snake looked up, his eyes wide and a large evil smile on his face. “That does look amazing.”

“Are you satisfied?” I asked. It would not be this easy and I knew it, but I had to try.

“My employer needs to see this thing in action.” He waved his hand and one of his guards took off on horseback as quick as he could. “Can I try it out?”

“It is your Knight. I am naming this type of Knight a Warden and this one is called Carnage.” I said with a proud smile.

“Fitting.” Woodcutter lowered himself down and the cockpit opened to let Snake look inside. “The controls seem easier, the chair is nice, over all I am impressed.” Woodcutter bowed and explained everything to him. He took the Knight around the clearing.

“I have added a device to allow us to talk.” I spoke into the walkie talkie.

“Amazing Lord Savage.” He moved to the edge of the woods and hid. “I want to make an impression on my employer.” Something was up and I was happy I had my kill switch. Another carriage rolled up and a tall, thin, well-built man stepped out. He was dressed in tight fitting clothing that made him look like a prince in a fantasy movie. I swear if he breaks out in song about his long-lost love, I was going to lose my shit. He looked around and walked up to Radish and I.

“Are you the man I am here to see?” He asked looking down at me.

“I am just a lowly crafter hired to build.” Carnage stepped out of the woods and stood in the distance.

“That is right. I hired him to make this, My prince.” Snake said. So, the man beside me was a prince. “I hired my patsy beside you to take the fall for when I kill you, my prince.” Inwardly I tried not to laugh and readied my chain. “I had not expected him to bring an elf. It will be the perfect cover. My Lord Savage, not only did you give me the weapon to make my place as a greater noble, you gave me the perfect cover story.” He was monologuing. I started laughing. From behind me there was a slight crying sound. So, he isn’t a complete moron. He had ordered Radish to kill me. I let my chain snake out and quickly wrap up his feet, tripping him and then break away to wrap up his hands. Issue one down and now I was safe. The prince looked back and smiled at me.

“Good job. I hadn’t even seen that one coming. Do you have something to deal with the Knight?” He said with a slight smile. I was starting to like this man.

“I want to give him a little more rope.” I said with a sneer.

“Rope, you fool. I am in the most advanced Knight this world has ever seen. Nothing can stop me. I will kill the prince, blame it on you and the Elves and use this Knight to solidify my place under Prince Kalven.” Carnage started running at us.

“Are you satisfied?” I asked the prince. He just nodded and I calmly raised my hand and pressed a small silver button. Carnage kept running, but a hatch opened and it vented mana. The eyes dimmed and it fell forward.

“What the fuck?” Snake cried out. “What did you do?” I laughed hard and in a truly evil way.

“You misjudged me. I was not hired to kill a prince, be a fall guy or a patsy. I was hired to build a Knight. Nothing else. You broke our deal.” I said coldly into the walkie talkie.

"Fuck you.” He said crawling out of Carnage. “I can still fucking kill you at this range.”

“My Prince, I am going to look away, we are safe, but I don’t want to see this.” I turned my head knowing that Snake was standing on Carnage raising his hand and there is the boom. I knew his arm had just been blown off. Trying to cast a spell in a mana filled environment never ended well. He was screaming and it was ended by the sound of a bolt to the head. Radish lay on the ground crying and trying to move to us. His arms and legs bound. “My Prince may I ask to deal with this one?” I said looking into Radish’s eyes. The prince turned to me and nodded.

“Uta, Hena please bring him into the RV. I will deal with him shortly.” The two women nodded and left us alone. The prince and I would be alone if not for the guards standing around me with spears pointed at me.

“Stand down, this man just saved my life and exposed a threat.” The price said with a smile.

“As you are the employer of my former employer, the contract still stands. Are you satisfied with my work?”

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“Not yet. There is a party in two days. Are you willing to do a demonstration of this Knight?”

“That I can.” Two more days and this man seemed more open. The trap was sprung, and I escaped it for now. “Can I be given free run of the area to plan things out?” He smiled down at me and nodded.

“I await your display,” he said, “Oh, and Savage, thank you.” I bowed to him, and he stepped back to his carriage. I let go of a breath I was holding and went to the RV. Radish was inside and still trying to squirm to me as he cried.

“I take it you can’t talk.” He nodded and looked sad.

“Uta, plan two.” She quickly left. I moved out of his field of view as she brought me the thing I asked for.

“I know you can’t hold still so I will try to make this quick.” I put a hand on his collar holding it tightly as I touched the thing in her hand. A bright flash of light later, I sat on my couch drained. I had just enough to break his chains and he lay there breathing hard. Uta pulled my head to her lap and started petting my hair. Radish rolled over to look at me, his neck bare and tears still flowing. Why was he crying?

“You didn’t kill me?” I laughed.

“Why would I kill you?” I asked back. He just swallowed as he looked at me in awe.

“I tried to kill you.”

“No, your former master tried to kill me. I made sure he died. You just followed orders. If you still have that control coin, why not bring your new slave here?” He reached into his pocket, his hands shaking. He handed the coin to me, and I held up a hand. “Nope that one is on you.”

“Come to me as quick as you can.” He said with a shaking voice. He rose to one knee and bowed his head. “My Lord Savage, I swear my life to you.” Fuck that.

“You can only swear your life to me if you plan for it to be a long one. You have babies to take care of.” He looked up at me blushing hard.

“You knew?” I smiled and closed my eyes.

“I need a nap.” There was a sound at the door and a small redheaded older bunny woman ran in. Radish stood as the woman ran up to him and bowed.

“Mother?” he said a question in his voice.

“Radish?” She asked looking up and then started crying hard. “How are you free?” He knelt and held his mother holding her close. Radish turned to me and beamed.

“Mother this is Lord Savage.” Awe was in his eyes. The woman had to be in her early thirties with long red hair. She wore a tight maid outfit that didn’t flatter her figure. Large Green eyes looked around the RV. “Radish repeat after me. “Disregard any orders anyone has given you in the past.” He did so and her collar glowed. Last thing I needed was that one cutting throats in our sleep. “Good now, please change back into the uniform I make you wear and then I think your mother could use some tea.” He jumped up and bowed to me.

“Yes Lord Savage.” Uta laughed and smiled sweetly at the bunnies. He left his mother there and she looked at us.

“Not sure what you want me to do?” She asked sweetly.

“Relax for now. Hena, could you and Uta take our new friend into town to do some shopping for clothing that fits?” My elf smiled sweetly and pat my leg. “I’m going to get a nap in.” Both helped me to my room and tucked me in. Undoing a slave collar that quickly was not fun. I watched the two leaving and delighted in the view. “Make sure you get something for yourself too.”

“Yes Sweetheart.” Hena said to me smiling.

“Can do, Darlin.” Uta added with a wink before slapping Hena’s ass. It made the elf jump and giggle. I smiled at my women and closed my eyes.

The next day I was exploring the grounds at the palace looking over everything. It was a nice set up and I took my time making notes of everything. Woodcutter was beside me and working as my bounce board. He started off agreeing to everything until he realized how upset I was getting and then he started offering things and by the end we were just walking and talking about plans. I had a training table set up in the lower level that doubled as a dining room table. I would have to build a model of the parade grounds. Radish’s mom was a nice bunny, but she liked to be under foot a lot. If I or my women moved, she was there asking if we needed anything. I asked her if she wanted her collar off, but she refused. People would easily take advantage of a free Sagebrush in this city. For that reason, I made a fake collar for Radish by his request. He thought my idea seemed a bit extreme but should work. I called his mother in to the living room.

“How can I help you, My lord.” She asked with a bow. Now she was in a blue well-fitting dress that seemed far easier to move in.

“Call me Alex. I was wondering if you could tell me about all the lords and ladies coming to this party.” She nodded and started explaining everything. I took notes and one name stood out. I wasn’t sure why but would have to ask Lily. The walkie talkies connected all the way back to town. After I was done, I went to my room and sat on the bed.

“Lily, how are you holding up?” I asked into the small box.

“Master,” She sounded happy. “Everything is okay here. How did it go?”

“I have to show off Carnage at a party tonight and was wondering about a name that came up. Do you know anything about a Hentergolt.” She went quiet. “You, okay?”

“He was my former master.”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” I said not sure where this was going.

“He would select a slave to spend the night with him. I was with him for three years before he chose me. When I saw him nude, I laughed, he was just so small, and I couldn’t help myself. He got very mad and threw me into the dungeon.” She was starting to cry, and I wished I could hold her. “The next night he brought my sister in and, and” Now she was openly sobbing.

“That is all I need to know. Lily, tomorrow he will pay for that.”

“No, Master, Alex, he will kill you. He is a skilled duelist. I have seen him easily kill other lords in public. It is how he expands his lands.”

“Lily, I know you can’t see it, but I am smiling right now.” The radio was quiet for a while.

“Make sure you keep your promise.”

“I always keep my word.” I said coldly.

“Stay safe my love.”

“Keep our child safe my Honey Bunny.” I turned it off and returned to see Radish’s mom sitting on the couch knitting a blanket.

“Tell me everything about Hentergolt and duels.”

It was the night of the party, and I was in my Lord Savage costume. Everything was set up, Uta and Hena were behind me in dresses that made my mouth water. I couldn’t wait for this to be over so I could help them out of the sheer fabric and take my time with each. I licked my chops and smiled. A redheaded male bunny at the door asked us for our names and then walked into the ballroom before us.

“Lord Savage, Lady Hena Gotyho Tovoear and Lady Uta Ember.” I thanked him and walked into the room. All eyes were on us, and I felt very uncomfortable. Alex, focus you are doing this for Lily and for your future. This is a thing you have to deal with. The prince walked over to me beaming.

“Welcome Lord Savage. I assume everything is ready.” He asked.

“That it is my prince.”

“Lady Tovoear, Lady Ember welcome,” he said, bowing to each woman. I smiled at the prince and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, my prince.” I said to him.

“Thank me for what?”

“You offer my women honor. That pleases me.”

“You did save my life. Showing them respect is the least I could do.” Several eyes were on me now. It made my skin crawl. I just want to build Knights not be a fucking hero. “We will talk after your demonstration, until then please enjoy the party,” he said, with a kind smile. I took a deep breath as I looked around the room. I didn’t see my target. We walked around and I talked with several lords and ladies. They were all boring, shallow and just unpleasant. Uta and Hena mingled, and I mostly just waited. I heard Uta give an outraged cry and quickly made my way to her side. My target was holding his cheek and swearing at her.

“Fucking bitch. You slapped me.” The slightly fat, bald man said. Rings and bracelets covered his hands and arms. Everything about this man showed he was compensating.

“I assume a man as small as you are must have done something to make her look down on you.” His face turned red as he looked at me.

“She is an animal and should be put down like the dog she is.” he roared.

“Now, now little man, I don’t want to belittle you, but I think your SHORT temper is getting the best of you.” I made sure to say short as I held up my pinkie and waved it around. Some of the lords were starting to laugh. His face turned a lovely shade of red as he turned to me.

“Perhaps I should put you down instead.” He growled at me.

“Boring, dealing with you LITTLE MAN would be child's play.” I made sure to look him in the eye as I said little man. I leaned in close. “Lily Cottontail says hi.” I said smiling at him. He exploded and roared to the room.

“I DEMAND A DUEL. YOU HAVE OFFENDED ME!” He screamed.