The messenger didn't react to Isa hiding behind me. I got the feeling that he just was not interested in women. It caused me to vaguely wonder if it was related to him being sterile, but I put that thought out of my mind as fast as it came. The man was a special and tied directly to our lord. If our lord had a problem with it, he would have done something about the man.
He handed me a cup and I couldn't stop a grimace as I took it. I could smell the green stuff already. I should really ask him what is in it and how to make it. It seemed to work great, and I couldn't be sure he would always be able to make it for me, but I really didn't like it.
I managed not to choke on it. Mostly. My head started to clear as soon as I stopped coughing. The messenger shook his head at me. "You should not push yourself so hard." I handed the cup back to the man who handed it over to Vera. "Take that back to the kitchen, please."
Vera bowed as she took the cup and headed out again. "No one else is able to do what I do."
"All the more reason to not push yourself so hard." I shrugged and the messenger continued. "Well, you are going to have to leave some things to other people. You have orders."
"Yes, but there are other things that others cannot do that must be done first. Don't worry I am working on the problem as fast as I can but if I skip steps right now it will cause more problems later that will take more time and effort to fix."
The messenger frowned at me and opened his mouth to say something, but the black flames moved up to cover more of him. I still couldn't hear what the messenger was hearing but I felt I had a better understanding of it now. The powerful black flames weren't completely overwhelming my senses anymore. Was magic like a muscle that needed to be used? Or was I just getting stronger with age? Too bad there only seemed to be one of me. It would be nice to have someone to compare to or family history to know what I am.
I paused and looked at the wall. I thought I had felt something. The messenger came back to seeing and hearing what was around him, he was still frowning but not at me now. "Our lord is fine with you taking your time. He seems to find you entertaining."
"Well, if you will excuse me then I need to get dressed. There are a few subjects I might get a lead on today. I won't leave until tomorrow. Do you think a message could be sent to Mother that I would like to speak with her, at the main house tomorrow?"
"I will see the message is delivered." The messenger bowed a bit and then turned on his heel and left my room. I felt Isa jump a bit as the door closed behind the messenger. He didn't go far; he was back to playing shadow after all. I stood up off the bed and walked steadily to one of the dressers.
I picked out an outfit for me and one for Isa. Vera didn't have any clothes in my room. I tried the spell I remember our lord using to summon the meat, but it didn't work. Lucky for me it just didn't do anything. I shrugged as I closed the dresser again.
It turned out I didn't need to do that anyway as Vera didn't return until Isa and I were dressed, and she was wearing some clothes. Another robe that barely covered anything and made her look much curvier than when she had nothing on. She looked much better than the first time I met her. It made me regret having work to do. Not that Isa being in my room as well didn't already have me regretting having to get some work done today.
"Let me help you with that, Isa." I had seen Vera about to say the same thing, but I wanted just a few more seconds with my wife. It was only a matter of time before I pissed her off. Finishing the buttons on the back of her top didn't buy me much time. Now that my head was feeling better my stomach was telling me I need to eat soon.
After everyone was ready, I headed out into the living room where the messenger stood against a wall out of the way and the dirt leaned against the other one watching him. "My brothers fed you before putting you up here, right?"
The dirt kept his eyes on the messenger. "Yes, sir. They also brought up food for lunch. You eat well here."
Isa moved to the couch facing the dirt, she didn't sit down but she was between the dirt and the messenger. "You look like your mom."
The dirt twitched forward but stopped when I growled. The dirt's eyes flicked to me then back to Isa. He leaned back against the wall again placing one arm on top of his bent knee. He looked relaxed but looking the part wasn't enough to fool me. Then again it seemed to be relaxing him. "Thank you, mother?"
"Mam, I am not the mother of the house. Which is good for your mother since she was the one that stabbed me and killed my unborn first daughter." Isa looked back at me, "I am willing to admit that she was just the one that got through." Isa looked back at the dirt. "Which means my husband's smarter if not calmer mind has given our house an advantage. You can never have enough cards to play." Isa shrugged then looked back at me, "We should get Bella before we go down for lunch, dear."
I smiled at Isa, so she had made up her mind. She trusts me. It warmed my heart more than a little. My eyes flicked to the dirt. "Tonight, I will let you see your mom. Tomorrow you will start training with my brothers. After that we will see." I caught up to Isa while I walked, and Vera stayed a step behind me.