Optimizing Profit: A More Efficient Fantasy, #4

By N E Riggs

To save his new family, Mika must start a war between the elves and the dwarves. He might as well make some money at the same time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: N E Riggs
• Release date: May 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201729356

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Optimizing Profit

A More Efficient Fantasy

Book 4

N E Riggs

Copyright © 2021 N E Riggs

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

N E Riggs

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NERiggs.com

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Illustrator: Rebekah Smelser

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Editor: Leanore Elliott

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While the others ate, Mika slipped out of the house to the shed. After he entered, he pushed aside a chest and opened one of the hidden compartments. Diamonds glittered inside the small space. Mika took one and held it up so it caught the light from the window. It was so bright, so beautiful. Yet it was also strong, hard enough that the corners threatened to cut into Mika’s fingers. No wonder everyone wanted diamonds, when they looked like this and felt like this.

What good were all these diamonds doing, hidden here?

At first, keeping them hidden seemed a good idea. Other than for paying Bibim, Last Chance didn’t need such treasures. Back then, they would have been in more danger had others known about their treasure. Demonians wouldn’t have hesitated to kill them to get the diamonds. Just showing the demoneyes to Rova and Zivi had been a risk.

Not a foolish one, Mika maintained. He knew Demonians, knew when to hide and when to taunt. After a first meal and drink, Rova had already been half-way to becoming his ally. She was willing to listen to him. More importantly, she was willing to see he was useful and that, if she took the obvious treasure now, she might miss other, better ones later.

With one raiding party knowing their worth, there was no need to tempt others with the demoneyes. Especially, since most raiding parties had male captains. The male orcs were tougher, bigger, and maybe smarter, but the women were wiser. A male orc would steal the demoneye immediately and damn any future treasures. A clever woman like Rova knew better. Mika guessed that from their first meeting, a guess encouraged by Rova’s closeness to Zivi.

His guess had proved correct and then some. Not only did the prickly clovers tell other Demonians about getting food and beer from Last Chance – and that Last Chance was worth keeping around – they invited Mika with them to steal from the elves. Now what was left of the prickly clovers were as much a part of Last Chance as anyone.

Which brought Mika here today. Zivi was recovering quickly. Mika had loaned her his demoneye once more, to speed up the process. Her natural healing would finish the job from here. While she would be weak for some time, her life was in no danger.

Zivi’s powers were strong enough to drive off four elves while she herself was weak, but that was only with the demoneye. Without it, she would have been as overpowered as she had been in Elfland. The elves would be back, and in greater numbers. The forest-loving bastards always came back.

Last Chance wouldn’t win a second time. Even if Mika gave Zivi the demoneye again – and he’d rather not – they would be overpowered. Zivi could hold off six, maybe seven elves. No one else in Last Chance had magic. The elves would return and slaughter them all.

Unlike Demonians, elves couldn’t be bought with beer, food, and a convenient place to stay. They felt themselves righteous. If that meant murdering their enemies by the hundreds, so be it. The elves had done so before. Mika didn’t doubt they would again.

They would wait until the snow melted. It was safer that way. Even if Rova, Zivi, and Fiko left, Last Chance would still be here. Mika and the others had nowhere to go. They could live only in the Empty Fields.

Perhaps they could move elsewhere in the Empty Fields. They could pack up their things and their animals and move. If Rova or Fiko spread the news to the other Demonians, they could even continue their business. It would be an inconvenience, but it could be done.

Mika didn’t like inconveniences. He held onto that as a last option if everything else failed him.

For now, he had other ideas. He hated elves. The elves hated the Demonians, Rova and her companions especially. There were many the elves hated, and others who hated the elves. Since Mika and his fellow Last Chancers couldn’t fight, they needed to find someone else to fight in their stead. That they had no close allies didn’t bother Mika. He wasn’t looking for an alliance. He preferred other methods.

He took all the diamonds out of the hidden compartment and deposited them into the pouch he brought with him, then headed back into the house. As soon as he stepped through the door, his eyes sought Yadis. It still surprised him that he had to look for her. He had noticed her from their first meeting of course. How could he not? She was beautiful, brave, and had a Demonian brother. Mika couldn’t dream up a better woman for him, and he only liked her more as he grew to know her.

Ever since they spent some quality time alone together in the barn yesterday, he couldn’t seem to look away. It didn’t matter that she only let him kiss her and touch her a few places. He was hooked on her. He hoped she didn’t know – she had enough advantages over him already. Yadis wouldn’t use his weakness against him – he didn’t think she would. Still, he disliked having a weakness, even one so wonderful as this.

Yadis sat close to the fire, between Nelen and Fiko – Paka, of course, pressed against Fiko’s other side. Not for even a moment had Yadis seemed afraid of the orcs, even when the three came to live here a few days ago. Having grown up with Paka, it was normal for her not to fear orcs the way other humans did. Still, it made Mika happy to see it.

Yadis looked up from her breakfast, caught Mika’s gaze, and lowered her gaze, smiling.

A fissure ran through Mika. He wanted to run to her side, grab her with both hands, and press her tight against him. He wanted to kiss her until he ran out of air, and he wanted some more private time with her in the barn. Anywhere, really, though one of their beds would be the most comfortable.

Where were you?

Welal’s question, loud and annoyed, pulled Mika’s attention away from Yadis. Looking for a plan to survive. Mika sat between Rova and Shalif. He placed the pouch before him and opened it, showing the diamonds.

The three orcs stared – they knew he had one demoneye and maybe had access to more, but they didn’t know about the diamonds.

Fashan leaned around Welal to glare at Mika. What the hell are you doing? Those were supposed to be a secret!

Mika raised an eyebrow. After everything we’ve been through the last few days, you still wanted to hide these?

We hadn’t told Yadis and Paka yet, Welal snapped. You should have asked! But you didn’t, did you? You never ask, you just do as you please!

What? You want to stay here and do nothing, waiting ‘til the elves come back to kill us all?

Welal glared. I didn’t say that. You could have explained your plan to me first.

Mika waved a hand. "Yes, but this way I only have to explain once. It’s faster and