"I have somewhere I can go for a nice view of the desert, I suppose." James said, heading out.
Dirthin watched his brother go before I snuggled into his chest. I looked up at him and said, "Should I make some squid?"
"Sure. Squid was tasty." Dirthin said.
I kissed his cheek, then called for Sangir, telling him what I wanted. He sighed a little, but left to get it. When he returned, he brought the ingredients to the kitchen with Dirthin and I. We were able to start making the dishes immediately upon entering the kitchens. We ate together once it was ready.
He pestered me during the meal, which led me to eating more than I had been. That and the squid was absolutely delicious. I felt stuffed like a fig by the time we were done with the meal. We headed to my room afterwards. We cuddled and he spoke gently to his son, then we had sex a few times before sleeping.
We woke around the same time in the morning. His massage to my belly led to him being buried deep inside me when the servant girls knocked on my door to begin getting me ready for the wedding. Still, we finished before he let me up. I covered myself with a thin nightgown, knowing I'd be bathed before they dressed me. And Dirthin dressed in his typical attire.
I went out, and allowed them to take me to the scented bath that was prepared. There they scrubbed my fur and conditioned it, making it the softest it's ever been. I smelled lovely, like sweet flowers, once the bath was over. They dried me then, being careful of my belly. The result of this was to make me fluffy.
Then I was to be dressed. I waited patiently while they clothed me in the unnecessarily complicated garbs of my wedding ensemble. Which included jewelry and a crown. All of which would likely only be worn once. They brushed my fur as well, making sure it was silky. By the time I was ready, and perfectly clean, the ceremony had begun. Outside as intended.
Everyone had clearly arrived safely, and the Sultan was waiting before a high ranking priest. It had reached the point where I was meant to walk the aisle to him. I did so dutifully, keeping my head up, eyes forward and senses open to danger. I was glad the Sari was enchanted to hide my belly.
Once I arrived next to the Sultan, I took his offered hand. Once vows were made, pretty much to our people because Royalty didn't vow to eachother but instead to their subjects, we were officially married. Traxigor alerted Chihul to it, and as the Sultan and I kissed, a harmless gust swept in from the desert, drawing attention.
On the South Wall, a man cried out, "Oh God's, the desert!" Another shouted, "What's happening?!" And then people went to see. I began a broadcast, that showed the desert being quickly changed. Vines and greenery, plants and trees, swept across the planes. And soon, it reached the Kingdom's walls. Some of which were damaged.
Shock and awe was uttered from the people, a few openly thanked the gods for the miracle, then, as expected, people began to say the miracle was brought on by approval by the gods of our marriage. I glanced at my new husband, as he swiped a tear away quickly.
"It's wonderful." He said.
I simply gave a small smile and took his hand, waving Pyla to follow, and took them up on the wall, people making way for us as we went. "Here you can see better now."
He looked at me and asked. "Would you like to address our people with me?"
"I am at your side, by whim or will, from this day on." I said. "Shall I center the broadcast on us and include all of our holdings?"
"By all means." He said.
And so, I reunitiated a broadcast, expanding it's reach to all dwellings in the South that had large groupings of people, as well as all the major places back at the Isla. It centered on us, and I smiled at him. "Our people are ready to hear you, My Lord."
"To all peoples of the Kingdom and Realm, it would seem that even the Gods agree that it is time to unite our Continent. I would not dare to spit in the face of the Gods, so no longer shall we be known as the Kingdom or the Realm. Henceforth, We shall be known as Cestria Empire. A unified Continent with our Empress' allied Silver Reef Isla." The newly declared Emporer announced. "A great many things will be changing. The Empress and I will be doing all we can to improve the quality of the lives of our people. We appreciate your patience during these new times. We all have much work ahead of us."
"Thank you for your time." I concluded the broadcast.
Quietly, he said, "I never enjoy giving speeches."
"If you would like, I can handle it in the future. But I do think you spoke well." I said.
"I dare say Phintias would not agree. But I appreciate your vote of confidence." He said.
"Ready for the next part?" I asked. Our next duty was to sit still in thrones while people came in waves to stroke our egos and try and win favor with gifts.
He sighed deeply. "I suppose I should get that underway already."
Just as we started away, a bright golden light shone from the Eden tree, drawing all attention it's way. It darted upwards as a ball of light, then flashed forward towards us. It paused before us, manifesting into a tawny skinned young girl with white hair and blue eyes. She wore white, and had gold jewelry on.
"Creation has deemed it befitting that I be reborn here, as the Goddess Celestia. Thank you for birthing me." She said, before vanishing.
He looked at me, "Did I just have a hallucination, or did you see that as well?"
"I did say the Eden tree would birth a god... it was supposed to be a minor one, though." I said.
"Young, certainly, but I didn't feel minor godship." He said.
"Looks like we have a new Greater Goddess." I said.
"We will have to discern what she's the goddess of." He said.
I agreed. We headed to the throne room, though, as that was our responsibility. And so began the long line of people stepping before us and speaking. Eventually, we were able to open the banquet and snag some food. Then we had to start the stupid dancing. It was at this point that we excused ourselves, leaving Pyla to play, and retired to a quieter place.
"I was expecting a busy day, but that was.. eventful." The Emporer said.
"I did get you a gift, my Lord." I said.
"Oh? What kind of gift?" He asked.
I withdrew the box from my pocket and offered it to him. It was three inches wide, and the same long. The ribbon was a royal purple color, and the box was white. He accepted it from me and opened it, seeing the platinum skeleton key with silver ribbon designs around an intricate Celtic Knot.
He looked it over, and asked, "What does it go to?"
"It is a Port Key. It goes to where ever you'd like to go, or to whomever." I said. I touched it, activating it and taking us to the Villa's patio. "Welcome to Wellspring Villa."
"Hm. This is the place you'd mentioned." He said.
"Yes. With a thought in your mind of where you'd like to go, you can go anywhere. Before you is my pool, it took a lot of digging and stone placing to make it. And these trees are jungle trees from my homeland." I told him. I escorted him about, showing him the rice paddies that were harvestable, and the buildings I'd had redone. Including the church. Then I showed him about the mansion.
"Who did you purchase this place from?" He asked.
"No one. I asked Zinter about staying in his lands, and he agreed. Simply stated, no one knew about this place, until I restored the magic here." I said.
"What do you mean by restored the magic?" He asked.
"I'll show you the machine." I said.
"Well, this seems like it could be dangerous." He said.
"Yes. If you touch it. I burned all the research related to it." I said.
"Is the machine what caused the magic to leave in the first place?" He asked.
"Yes. I am counted as a magic creature, by the way." I said.
"So.. yes, that is terrifying. Burning the research was a good mood." He said.
I took him downstairs, showing him the room I found Trevor in, showing him the treasury, then showing him the machine. "I had to recalibrate it to be able to return the magic. It causes an explosion which destroys magic reaching the walls, or, as it is currently set, restores the magic."
"I wish we had someone who understood the workings of this machine enough to take it apart." He said.
"A lovely idea. Perhaps when my cub is born I'll look into it more." I said.
"Alright, what else would you like to show me around here?" He asked.
"There is not much else to show. We may rest, if you'd like. Or you may have a bit of privacy. A rare commodity in our line of work." I said.
"After a day like this, rest does sound like a nice idea." He said.
I took him upstairs to a sitting room, then. "Would you like anything to drink?"
"I've come to enjoy tea, I'd like a cup, yes." The Sultan said.
I nodded and went to the kitchens to get us tea and snacks. I brought it back to the room. "Sugar and or cream?"
"I have never been much of a fan of sugar, so I will try cream." He said.
I nodded, pouring his tea as he'd asked for it, and handed it over. "Here you are." I smiled.
He smiled back, "Thank you. So, do you not have any workers here? Or did you send them away when you left?"
I took the sari portion off, that had been hiding my belly, and set it aside. "I have not transferred staff here, yet. I had not bothered to hire anyone previously for this place."
"So it's more of just a rest home?" He asked.
"It is a place I find relaxing. Particularly if Dirthin's mother never approaches me again." I said.
"What happened with his mo- I don't think I've ever heard of his mother before, actually, what happened?" He asked.
"Mm. She visited me while he was away on a job. The conversation went fine until I said we were gonna spoil our cub, and she then said 'maybe I should take the cub.' And so, I left. Until I came back and talked with you.and Phintias." I said.
"That sounds like a very idiotic thing to say to someone." The Emporer said.
I nodded. "Sometimes people think they are so all knowing that they misstep in a big way."
"I am reminded quite often that I am not all knowing. I feel people need that." He said.
I smiled, stretching a little. "A little bit of a warning about the Port Key, it will feel like an intense workout if you use it a lot. More then two times a day, I'd say."
"Understood. I will do my utmost to not use it to much. I will continue walking from there to here." He said.
I laughed. "Raiden can use it up to six times, apparently."
"Whereas that does sound better than two, it's still a little much for me to be lazy with it." He said.
"I figured it can be useful for safety and visiting purposes." I said.
"Yes, that would work quite well." He said.
We relaxed and talked some more before I decided to be direct with him, asking if we were going to consummate the marriage. The point to consummation is considered to confirm the marriage, so he said we were. Acctepting the decision, I invited him to my bed room in the Villa.
He had to assist me with removing my clothing. As he did so, I informed him that he can do as he pleases with my body. Apparently it pleased him to trace every stripe on my body, which was oddly erotic. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the softness of my fur.
Then he began kissing me, even with the difference between our mouths, it was a nice sensation. He wasn't demanding in anything he was doing, even as he stroked the fur on my breasts and stomache. When I began getting into it, and moaning, he eased us forward, turning me to face him and laid me back on the bed.
Still, he kept up the kisses, to sensitive areas, and petting my fur. I'd become a trembling and moaning mess before him when he finally slipped inside me. I came almost immediately from the sensation. My husband had an expression as though he'd discovered some great hidden knowledge in this moment.
Most frustratingly, he was even more gentle than Dirthin. Somehow, that didn't stop me from asking for more when we were done. Oddly, he obliged. Once we were both adequately sated, I fell asleep. When I woke, I noticed he was still in bed, sleeping, and not touching me. It was nearly strange to see my human husband resting peacefully.
I got up, dressed, made breakfast, ran him a bath and once it was all ready, I gently woke him up, "Good morning, My Lord. I made us some breakfast, and ran you a bath."
"Good morning, Vexie. That all sounds quite wonderful. I dare say I am not used to such things from a wife. Not to speak ill of Pyla, ir is simply not her forte." He said.
"Domestic affairs are not common among high born people." I said. "Nost have staff to handle such things. Speaking of, think your personal guards are concerned?"
"More than likely they are very concerned. Should probably check in." He said.
I giggled, "I'll contact Phintias and Sangir and they can handle it. Eat and bathe at your leisure."
"Thank you. I think I will." He said.
I nodded, leading him to our breakfast in a sunny and comfortable room. While he began to enjoy the strange to him foods, I contacted Sangir and told him I kidnapped my husband. That was all I said before contacting Phintias.
"Is there any excitement?" I asked.
"Loads. People are making rumors that you two have been kidnapped." Phintias said.
"No, just him. Wiled away by a vixen." I said.
"Oh, well, that's good. Are you enjoying your time together?" He asked.
"He seems very relaxed, so yes? I'll bring him back after breakfast and a bath." I said. "I took him to my Wellspring Villa."
"Oh, you two take as much time to get acquainted as you want. I'll handle the incepid fools for a while." Phintias said.
"Phintias said he'll handle the people for some time." I informed the Emporer. "It could be a good chance to rest, My Lord."
".. Do you plan on calling me 'my lord' the entire time we're together?" He asked.
Being called on the behavior, I ducked my head slightly, and looked up at him through my eyelashes. ".. I have been doing so.out of pettiness."
"Pettiness?" He asked
"Yes. You never introduced your name to me. Only time you did was to Raiden." I said.
He opened his mouth, closed it, then said, "I apologize, I.. I never did. I will not ask you to call me by name, I have slighted you, accidental as it may have been, and just for any future reference, my name is Varnado."
I smiled, "Thank you. I'm not really bothered by it, like I said, I was just being petty. You noticed quickly."
"Well, it made sense while in public, but even when alone you continued." He said.
"So I wasn't sneaky enough. Got it." I said.
"No, I would say you were not." Varnado said.
"Oh, my poor tiger heart. Sneaking is very important, you know." I said, pretending to be upset.
"Oof, I wound you on every front." Varnado said.
I grinned. "Well, I'll leave the decision to you. We can go back after you bathe, or take some time for ourselves. I can invite Pyla, if you'd like, though as it is not staffed, she may be uncomfortable."
"Indeed. She would find it a little exasperating doing things without staff." He replied. "We can take a little time to ourselves. Phintias will handle it for a little bit."
"As you please. I have been advised by a knowledgeable artificer in the Empire that I should rest as much as possible when my belly rounds. My son is growing quickly." I told him, conversationally, hoping my anxiety over it wasn't too apparent.
"Well, I'm glad you have someone looking into it. Obviously we will have the best healers looking in, and we can have that artificer looking in as well if you'd like." He said.
I nodded, "Yes, everyone has said so. As long as I survive, I will be ready to try to bare you an heir, though I understand a child of Pyla's would have preference."
"That's something we can worry about in the future." Varnado said.
I half shrugged. "I don't know how warm you like your bath to be."
"On the warm side." He said.
"Once you're done eating, I can help you wash up, if you'd like." I said.
"Alright, I haven't been helped bathing in a long time." He said.
"I'll mind my claws better." I said. "It surprises me you haven't been. It's uncommon."
"True, but I just never really got into it." He said.
"If you prefer to not, I don't have to help you. I just wanted to help you be comfortable." I said.
"I'm open to it, it's just a different experience." Varnado said.
I chuckled. "Alright. You can ask anything you like."
"What did you do in your off time, back when you had it?" He asked.
"I explored and learned how to survive. Almost got sold as a slave a couple times. I've been to a few different continents even. Drowned once, too." I said.
"I was expecting more along the line of reading books." He said.
I laughed lightly. "Had a few different ill-fated lovers in that time. Their attitude changed every time they found out I was royalty. Then they wanted favors and such." I sighed a little.
"Yes, I went through that myself in my prince days." Varnado said.
"Had a wild streak as a boy?" I asked teasingly.
"Could say that." He said.
"I have a wild streak." I grinned.
"Oh, do you?" He asked.
"Of course, I'm practically feral." I said, jokingly. "Besides, you did spend the night with me."
"True. I could understand the feral claims." He said.
I laughed. "I'll admit, I was a little concerned that we'd be out off by each other. Cause of my fur, and your lack of it."
"I am glad that wasn't the case. That would have been really sad for both of us." Varnado said.
I grinned and leaned on my hand, "Would it have been sad?"
"From what I experienced last night, it would have been sad." He said firmly.
"Well, I am glad you don't mind. I generally enjoy sex." I said.
"I could tell." He said. "Glad I am able to perform well enough to sate you.. at least a little."
"You're gentle in all ways, it seems." I replied. "You did well, or I would not have bothered you further."
"With an ego boost like that, I fail to see how I could have a bad day." He said.
I laughed again. After we finished eating, I reheated his bath water with a simple spell. After helping him bathe, he dressed, and asked for a second tour of the place. Which I obliged. We did notice the completed dome pretty easily. I was very happy about it, to say the very least.
"Why did you want this dome?" Varnado asked.
"Safety, of course.." I said, tilting my head looking at him.
"This is a lot of protection. I don't even think the palace has that much." Varnado said.
I blinked. "It made me feel very unsafe and violated when Dirthin's mother.. visited. This makes me feel safe. That's invaluable."
"The feeling of safety is invaluable. I am glad you have that." He said.
I took a breath, "I would assume you are curious about the rain aversion.. Floods have always been a very dangerous thing on the Isla. Sangir has died by drowning a few times there. And I almost died in a particularly bad one."
"Well, you certainly don't have to worry about flooding in this region, even if the rains got particularly bad." Varnado said.
"I am sure you are right. But I promise you that the fear I experience when it rains is the same as a house cat afraid of thunder." I said.
"You must feel truly safe here then." He said.
"Funnily enough, when I was helping bury the skeletons in this place, I experienced heat exhaustion for the first time. It's nice and cool now." I said.
"I find it to be a little chilly myself." He said.
I smiled. "You'd be cold in my homeland, then."
"I find myself cold in most places. That's the thing about growing up in a desert." He said.
"Mm. Need a jacket, then? Cause your home will be cooler now." I said.
"I didn't think about that. I suppose I will. So will a lot of people." Varnado said.
"Did you want to see Plight's church?" I asked.
"What kind of church is it?" He asked.
"A church of Pyreleos. I don't know what it's like, I just know where I selected it and their home to be." I said.
"Alright. Let's go take a look." Varnado said.
So we went to the church, realizing that Plight and Nia was home, they were simply tending the church. I bumped my husband lightly with my hip, "Looks like we caught some lovers desecration the church."
"Well, I suppose we'll have to burn them.at the stake." Varnado said.
I chuckled. Nia looked at us and said, "Welcome home Her Majesty Vexie. We appreciate your visit, Your Majesty the Emporer."
Plight gave an awkward bow, "Your Majesties."
"I would rather be greeted by name if it's just my husband or friends with me." I said.
"Yes, that's fine by me." Varnado said. "No sense in being so formal in your own home."
"Very well. Your jokes could use some humor." Nia said. "They fell a little flat."
"Yes, I've never been much of a jokester." Varnado said.
"You did fine." I told him. I looked at Plight and noted how nervous he looked. "I brought some Pyreleos followers to this continent. Are you excited?"
"I am, and I am also scared." Plight said.
"Is it because you're undead?" I asked.
"To hit the nail on the head, yes." Plight said.
"There are no commandment specifically against the undead in Pyreleos' tomes and teachings. Only to be merciful when you can, and to burn the problem away when you can not." I said.
"That is correct. We don't have a particular reason to hate or ..exterminate.. any particular race or being." Plight said. "It's just very common among holy people to do so."
"Varnado said he would not change the work I put into things, so I don't think you need to worry. If anyone discovers your race, or affliction, then they'll have to gather information on you harming people before they can touch you. And you live with me, I'll protect you." I told them.
"We appreciate your kindness, Your Ma- Vexie." Plight said.
"This is a bit of an open secret, but my advisor Phintias, is actually an undead. So you will have nothing to fear of me." Varnado said.
"We are aware. We visit his wife often, and are plagued by his present every time." Nia said.
Varnado chuckled. "Well, I'm glad you get along so well." He said once he recovered.
Plight was chuckling, still. Nia said, "It's just a shame we can't be of more help when Lucretia gives birth again."
"Mm. Then, is she an undead as well?" I asked.
"Yes, we're vampires. Plight and Lucretia are siblings." Nia explained.
"Oh. Well, is there much threat to her life during childbirth, then?" I asked.
"Some. Not as much as for living people, but she can not be healed." Nia said.
"Why can't she? There is a spell that many necromancer favor. It's Life Transference. It's probably the most potent healing spell that exists. It does hurt the caster, though." I said.
"We do not know many necromancers." Plight said.
"Some clerics know it, too. I'll see if I can't find a necromancy spell book for you. It contains many healing spells, too." I said.
"That is not what I would have expected from a necromancer's spell book." Plight said.
"All healing spells are necromancy spells." I said.
Plight looked confused. "Really? You would think that people would have that more widespread."
"No, the term 'necromancy' sets peoples teeth on edge. Gods had once declared healing to be unnatural and sought to outlaw it. Dark gods have always been open about it, but light gods simply removed the spells from their priests books, and told them to pass it down verbally. Or they bestow it." I explained.
"Well, that is unfortunate." Plight said.
I shrugged. "Pyreleos is a relatively young god, as gods go. Not quite as young as our newly born Goddess, though."
"Is that what all the lights were?" Plight asked.
"Yes. The goddess is names Celestia, after Cestria, no doubt." I said.
"Do we know what kind of goddess she is?" Plight asked.
"Unfortunately, we do not know at the moment. I do wonder if gods are born with that knowledge." Varnado answered.
I lightly stroked the back of Varnado's hand with the fur of mine. "As far as the writings indicated, they are born with all the knowledge they must possess. But that could be religious ideation."
"Well, it would be hard to prove, one way or another. I doubt a god would tell you if they are incompetent." Varnado said, returning the small affection.
"I do have an unrelated curiosity." Nia said suddenly.
"And what might that be, Miss Nia?" Varnado asked.
"How is this working with Dirthin and his child?" Nia asked.
"... Leave it to a vampire to go for the throat." I joked.
My husband laughed. He looked at me, "Would you like to explain?"
"Varnado has not barred me from keeping a seperate lover. Traditionally speaking, My Lord only needs to lay with me when it is possible to conceive. We have covered that I am to not have any children with my lovers aside from this one." I said. "Though we did not further discuss anything about that."
"We can sit down and discuss it a little later." Varnado said.
I nodded, and Nia asked, "Dirthin is fine with all this?"
"No, but he accepted it... I think you are misunderstanding something, though. This was an accident." I said pointing to my belly. "Dirthin and I do not love each other, and he is simply possessive because I am carrying his child."
"Are.. you sure?" Plight asked. "He seemed to enjoy your company quite a bit."
"No, I am not very positive of his feelings. We haven't discussed it. But I am positive of my feelings." I said. "Leonin are naturally protective and inclined to having strong family bonds."
"Well, alright then." Plight said. "That family certainly does have strong bonds."
"Yes. That, our cub, and a friendship of sorts is why Dirthin is attached to me. His protectiveness is causing him to hang around me instead of doing his jobs. It's boring him terribly and making him stir crazy." I said.
"I could certainly see that. He is a very active person." Plight said.
I simply nodded. With the topic essentially closed, Varnado asked, "Do you have any plans to further develope this area?"
"No. I had intended this to be my private home. I did grant Zinter permission to turn the Southern part if this territory into farmland, though." I said. "Do you have any requests?"
"No. Just simply a curiosity." He said.
"Are you still going to do as Isarial suggested for the South?" I asked.
"To have the nobles take parts of the lands and develope it?" He asked.
"Yes." I said.
"Yes, it was a solid plan, and I do plan on using it." Varnado said.
We excused ourselves from Plight and Nia after a bit of conversing with them. We walked around soon, but asked if we should try calling our new goddess. I admitted to not knowing. I'd never experienced this before, just like him.
"Maybe we should talk to someone who is a little more knowledgeable on the matter." Varnado suggested.
"Recommendations on who?" I asked, hearing the gates open from the North side.
"Well, we could ask some of the people you invited over here." Varnado suggested.
I looked towards the North gate, seeing Tilton and Cassae coming in. Then turned back to my husband. "Sure. There are people I can ask."
"Alright. Now, who do we have here? Does that elf have wings?" Varnado asked.