As the days passed Lanthim continued to heal, with all but his eyes fully healed. Under the circumstances, Leinea had hoped that he would return to meditating for a time. However, this hope had been rudely dashed by her husband not leaving her alone for anything. This inevitably leads to her current condition of being naked with Lanthim after a long night. Her feelings were mixed over her current situation, for one thing, she was happy with the attention he gave. But was not pleased that he had waited her out until her fertility cycle to do anything sexual with her. While it was not all bad, he had recovered for the most part only twelve days ago.
But the possibility that he only paid attention to her at present because of her position. While not something she would usually worry about, was beginning to make her feel uneasy ever since becoming the Matriarch of the clan. It was not a secret what her grandmother felt about her slow approach to getting closer to Lanthim. All that would change Lanthim had been with her for the last seven days. While this time spent was not full of them making love. Leinea could not say that she could remember when they would start or finish on a given day. So she accepted the fact that she would have a baby but that was not what concerned her at present. In her thoughts at present was what Lanthim had spoken of twelve days previous concerning his mother's desire to remarry.
After hearing that the clan would go to the dragon lands for a season Leinea understood the reason. But would the many dragon clans accept the idea of a human woman with no order seal? She was worried but it was a fact that many now knew. The Yuikra clan had spread the news of a third order being residing among the Drathalkin. While many took this as an attempt by the Yuikra to play them for fools. When the representative for the Halgothma clan had met with Lanthim he wore his third order Neytriel. As the news began to spread many of the subordinate clans did not know whether to believe or to carry on as before. For Leinea it was obvious that her husband was prepared to leave people in no doubt as to the fact of third order beings while saying nothing about how high in order he was.
There was also the fact that Leinea's new position and understanding of the power of her clan. The idea of her mother-in-law marrying a second order made her feel like there would be a loss of face. It was apparent that Lanthim was going to simply allow his mother to make whatever choice she desired. Litralia was still young and the clan was small so Lanthim would not care too much as to who his mother chose.
Rolling out of bed Leinea dressed herself in a fine red bight gown that was in easy reach. As a child, she had enjoyed the finest clothing her father could buy. After marriage, she felt that there was a kind of quality to the clothing that made it feel like it was not even there. Almost a year had passed since she started living in this place and still everything was largely unexplored. As she left the bedroom heading in the direction of her study Leinea was caught by an idea.
'Lanthim knows the best candidates for his mother's hand are among his students. So by going to the dragon lands he opens a door for them to try to gain her attention.' {Leinea}
As most of Lanthim's students were almost all second-order or greater. The fact that he would himself be going as third order. Would mean that unlike going among the humans there would be a better crowd among dragons than any other. The only issue was the fact that most of Lanthim's students were either the same age as himself. Or at max two years older the rest were younger making for a interesting age gap.
'But Lanthim does not see age as a barrier to marriage at least within reason. He did marry my grandmother after all.' {Leinea}
It was comical thinking about the age difference between Mynrea and Lanthim. At four thousand and thirty-four years Mynrea was vastly older than her husband Lanthim who would only turn eighteen in the coming year. In retrospect, Litralia was only in her mid four hundred which to dragons was young.
'It must be nice to be able to marry your own choice.' {Leinea}
The fact that her marriage while for the most part happy was arranged for Leinea a sore spot for her at times. The idea of marrying one's own choice was entirely foreign to this world. Behind the scenes, there was always someone who would use their relations to move themselves up in society. Almost every clan had a sponsored matchmaker to oversee all marriages. When the notice came to her that the Drathalkin would not employ a matchmaker in her mind it was a burst of fresh air while also frightening. The watchmaking system had been going on for so long that almost everyone was complacent. All they would have to do is feed their children into the system and marriage would result in no real work required.
Leinea now would have to raise her children to an unknown standard. Which if she knew her husband would be incredibly high, not impossible. But to the extent that they could outperform any individual that came out of the other system.
A challenge that if she succeeds would result in her clan becoming even more powerful in the future. Looking through the paperwork on her desk Leinea felt that there was someone else in the room with her. He was always there, it was like he never slept or ate just always there. Sitting with his stack of papers was Lanthim in a blue shirt and black pants he was more dressed than she. His black emerald hair like the upper jaw of a dragon looked to bare its fangs at the world. This kind of imagery was something Lanthim paid particular attention to his imposing figure in every respect. The papers that he had before him were the results of the most recent class that had entered the forest.
Every year groupings of forty or more students would enter the forest and attempt to get as deep as they could. To not overload the participant the number of groups, and how long they were in the forest was strictly controlled. Today Lanthim's brother and sister would enter the forest for the first time.
"Are you scared for them? You looked at the same document for hours the other day." [Leinea]
Having seen him look at the same piece of paper that note their names. Leinea could sense something from him but she could not say what.
"It will be difficult for them." [Lanthim]
Turning his attention from the document to his wife.
"The three of them are without the proper understanding. While they have studied what has been provided. They do not have the mindset of the children who live every day, knowing what to expect from this place." [Lanthim]
The Forest of Legrcstim a place so dense in natural mana that anyone under the third order is crushed to death by it. That, however, was not the most dangerous thing about the forest. The animals that dwelt in the forest were larger and far more powerful than any other creatures in the entire world. Being infused with natural mana one would have to fight to get deeper into the forest. In such a place would he send his precious family members and yet Lanthim know the experience would be invaluable.
"Frelimta will be going with them as well so it is not like they will not be short of help if things go bad. It is not like you are sending them too far this time around anyway." [Leinea]
What Leinea said was true Lanthim would only allow this small group of four to spend only two weeks in the forest. With such a limitation it was unlikely that they would be able to get too far.
"You are right Leinea it is unlikely that anything could happen. That being said I still worry." [Lanthim]
Picking himself off the couch Lanthim moved slowly to his wife's desk. As he moved closer she gestured towards him with a document in her hand.
"The estate at Galtoran was completed this morning mind explaining to me how you built it in a few hours since you have not left my bed in the last seven days." [Leinea]
Stopping for a moment Lanthim looked at the document.
'Well, I should have known having a decent information-gathering network would bite me in the ass one day.' {Lanthim}
"My wife, I felt that you would prefer to have your estate than have to rely on your father. While I know he would without question offer our clan a place at his table. How would a nationally ranked clan feel to host a continental ranked? Who are not even affiliated with the same global ranked clan?" [Lanthim]
With a sour look on her face, Leinea retracted her hand. She had known that relying on her own family was not possible. But she accepted the hidden answer that he had given. Without shame, he had built this new estate for her and she while not pleased by the lecture. With all her heart she would happily receive this gift.