"Are you trying to be playful, Anata? I've not gotten to know you well, yet." I said.
"I was indeed attempting to be playful. But I do not understand this word you have used." Varnado said.
"Anata? Mm. It literally means 'you'... it's used when wives address their husbands." I thought for a moment. "Think of it like when a wife would address their husband with, 'My darling' or 'sweetie'."
"Languages have always fascinated me. I must renew my study of them. But it does bring me joy to hear you call me in such an affectionate way." Varnado said.
"I can lend you a book on variations of the Isla Silver Reef communications written from the view point of a human scholar. It may help some. It has many of our words translated, and notes on our non verbal communications." I said. "Like how anata can also be quite rude to use. It really should only be used by a man's wife to address him."
"I would enjoy that quite a bit. I would love to get to know your language." He said.
I smiled and said, "That's sweet of you. I'll have one brought over and you can read it to your hearts content."
"Alright. Usually I am a decently fast study of things." He said.
A knock came on the door. "Your Majesty, someone has triggered the alarms around the Villa."
Varnado said, "Should we head over to the nursery?"
"Sure. Dirthin is there." I shrugged, standing up. I kissed his cheek before going to the door. Feldra was there. I went across the hall to Dirthin, and picked up my sleeping son. "There my be an intruder."
"Then I'll have to stay right here." Dirthin said.
I pretended to pout. "Sheesh. You're such a lax teacher that you have no faith in your pupil." I joked.
"You're right. I should leave ya to it." Dirthin said. He used my Port Key to head out.
I blinked, then turned to Varnado, who'd come with me. "Shall we head South?"
Dirthin opened the door, "That's all? Yeah. I'm gonna go find the intruder."
I snickered. "It's-" I stopped talking, hearing my Uncle's voice in my head.
"Sevexine, an assassin from our homeland had crept into the house. Shall I dispatch them?" My uncle asked.
"If they are the only one, bring them to my office." I replied. Then to the men I said, "Barak caught them."
Dirthin said, "Well, damn, no work out, then."
"Do you have an interrogator on staff? If not I have a few methods I may employ." Varnado said.
I smiled. Since Dirthin was in the doorway, I saw the assassin get led into my office. "Ah. Did you remove the poison bead from the wrist cuff, Barak?"
"Wristcuff?" He asked, doing so immediately. "Huh. How'd you know?"
"I have my ways." I said. "No worries, Varnado. I know what to do with him, and who sent him." I went back to my office, telling Feldra and her group to search the grounds and ensure they all are gone. My uncle had made the assassin kneel before my desk. So I went to it, turning and looking at the assassin, I said, "I have a plan for you, chīsana neko."
Dirthin was waiting in the doorway of my office, and Varnado was at my side. Curious at what I was gonna do. The assassin said nothing. "Tch. Boring. Alright, well, uncle. Wanna skin a cat?"
Dirthin grinned. And Varnado remained neutral. My uncle answered, "I certainly can. What then?"
"Of course, get the healing wraps, the kind that stings. Leave him alive to send him home, skinless." I said. "Athoz will understand the message."
"Wouldn't it be more efficient to just shave the cat and carve the message into the skin? That way when the fur regrow, the message will still be there." Dirthin said.
Varnado offered up a kukri. A knife with a surve to it. I answered, "Shaving is humiliating. Removing the skin and wrapping it regrows the skin and will leave them fullest until they find a method to regrow the fur. It's a greater insult and misery to Tigrine."
"I have a dull knife to use, Your Majesty the Emporer." My uncle said, with a slight bow. The assassins ears flattened and his eyes rounded as my Uncle started to remove him. "I will take him far enough away as to not scare our healing friend."
"Alright, so who is the one who sent that?" Dirthin asked.
"A friend of my cousin Shere. Lord Athoz. He's essentially a duke." I replied.
"And what was his reason for trying to end you?" Dirthin asked.
"... Well, Athoz is an ex.. He is part of my late aunts faction. He runs a merchant group that was extorting people and I put in orders to end that.. Shere was arrested a while ago and I've done nothing to have him released. I am sure there are plenty of reasons." I said.
"Well, as soon as you want to send out a team to take care of this issue, let me know." Dirthin said.
"It will be soon. I can no longer tolerate such attempts." I replied with a sigh.
"Good. Need to send a message that these attempts are done." Dirthin said.
"Hence the bald Tigrine I'll be sending home." I said.
"That ought to send quite a message." Dirthin said.
Varnado sighed. "I believe it is time for me to head home."
His voice was a little off, so I looked at him, "Are you alright?"
"My thoughts are currently very violent." Varnado admitted. "I do not enjoy such violent thoughts, so I will be going to try and calm down."
"Very well. I will see you upon your next visit, Anata." I said, checking on my slowly waking son.
"I hope to return within the next couple of days." Varnado responded, petting my head.
Dirthin gave him a small nod, "Emporer."
"There is no need for such titles in private." Varnado told him. "We have had many dealings."
"Good, I preferred calling you Sultan anyway." Dirthin said.
Varnado chuckled. "It was a comfortable title. See you both later." He said, leaving via Port Key.
"He's gonna have to get used to violence." Dirthin said.
"I think he is. Based on past conversations I have had with him, he is bothered by the targeting of one of his people." I said, sitting and playing with my son.
"I suppose that is possible. I haven't had any personal conversations with him." Dirthin said.
I smiled, soon nursing my son again. We got word that the Villa's lands were cleared of further intruders. Then I organized some punishments to be enacted in four days time. The next morning is when my tired Uncle returned. He told me the deed was done, the assassin publicly returned, and that he was going to take a nap.
I let him go. It didn't change anything that I ended up doing that day, like restarting my training with Dirthin while our son napped. Then I continued the paperwork and such that I needed to go over. I managed to get ahold of the book I'd told the Sultan about. I chose to hold onto it until he came over next. Which wasn't long, since he did manage to come the following day.
"Welcome back, you look awfully tired.. Do you think this'll make you feel better?" I asked, offering him the book.
"Oh.. papers that won't give me a headache. That's much appreciated." Varnado said.
"I see." I said, placing my hand on him and casting Lesser Restoration. Figuring it should make him feel better.
"Haah. That feels better." He said, seeming to relax some.
"I'm glad, then." I replied. "Would you like to just relax?"
"For.. for a bit." He said.
I nodded. It was time to let my son nap anyways, so I let Dirthin take him to his room in the nursery. After he did so, I took Varnado to a tea room. It had more comfortable furniture in it. I served him tea and snacks once we were settled in the tea room.
"Would you like me to massage you?" I asked.
"That sounds fantastic." He said.
I simply began to massage him. Starting from his head, moving to his neck, then shoulders. I got him to lay on the chaise, flat out, and massaged his back, then hips, and his legs. I was being gentle, yet firm with him. Working out all his tension. He sighed and groaned occasionally, enjoying himself while reading the book. Once I finished, he complimented my skill at massage, then asked about the assassin outcome.
"Mm. The assassin's return caused quite the stir in my homeland. There were inquiries made, that I haven't answered, and complaints lodged." I said. "The Isla is on the cusp of civil war. But I have a punishment to enact tomorrow that will settle everything down."
"That does sound like quite a few problems. What is your plan?" He asked.
"I will declare the noble houses who are close with my cousin to be traitors and send my Champion and Raiden to take then out. Of course, I'll state the years of abuse, and the punished Assassins are proof of their treason." I informed him. "As I said, that will put them in line. With Tigrine, Might often makes Right."
"Hmm. Sometimes the simplest route is the answer. I could ask Phintias if he wishes to make an appearance in your purge. I could understand if you don't want him to though, he can be a bit of a show stealer." Varnado said.
"If he felt like joining them, that's fine. I do know he had a newborn and another child, though. So he may prefer to stay home, especially since he said his wife was harassed during her first pregnancy." I said.
"True. He did say he was trying to avoid the area due to some 'mischief' from about three hundred years ago." Varnado said.
I nodded a little. "Any news?"
"Just some backlash from the Southern nobles. They want land in the verdant forest. I have tried to explain that if they try to, they will disappear and I will not bother looking for them." He said.
"Mm. When is your next meeting with them?" I asked.
"Oh, I managed to push them off until next week." He said.
"Alright. Are they afraid of Dirthin?" I asked.
"A few. They have had run ins with him before." He said.
"Would Raiden be enough to dissuade them?" I asked.
"Physical threats very rarely work." He said.
"My idea was to intimidate them through Raiden's size, and Chihul, the Archdruid, turning him harmless before them." I said.
"Now that may work." He said.
"Of course, I could always play at being your tamed tyrant." I said.
"Oh? And how would that play out?" He asked.
"I'm sure they've heard of my display during the banquet that we announced our then upcoming marriage and how I ordered the ledgers brought to me. They'll probably also know how I took over. All I need to do is act like I have a short temper before them, and you hold me back from doing it." I said. "We could go as aggressively as needed, or be as lenient.. Have you explained that an Archdruid lives there?"
"I have, but most druids they have interacted with have been... very laid back." He said. "I am certainly open to trying your plain. The meeting I have is only with a few of the dissenters."
"We could tie it together, you know." I said, smiling. "I put on a show, you call for restraint, I call in Chihul to discuss, and if they push, I call in Raiden, and Chihul handles him at your request."
"This sounds like an excellent plan. Might put them in their place." Varnado said.
"Maybe. It sounds like a lot of fun anyways. Cats are fickle, you know." I said coyly.
"It certainly does sound like it could be fun. I bet we could give them a good scare." He said.
I nodded, then kissed his cheek. "Besided, I should meet the Southerners. They may find it rude I haven't bothered to meet them."
"Possible. They tend to hold grudges about the oddest things." Varnado said.
I shrugged and started massaging his arm. "I don't mind if they do. It's common practice to leave noble complaints off for a week in my home place."
"I bet they love that." He said.
"It depends on who, why, and what they want. No one is treated with urgency there, except the commoners. Because commoners making the track is harder and royalty need them working, so royalty tend to handle their matters swiftly. This ensures steady work flow and happy people. The nobles don't complain because that's just how things have been for nearly three lifetimes now. Ah. It'd be closer four or five human lifetimes." I explained.
"If only the Kingdom could have been run by someone with those ideals. Could have avoided alot of suffering." Varnado said.
"To be fair, little Isarial is the hero of this continent. He restored the seasons with Dirthin, and prevented Shadows from taking it over and destroying the world. I think he has a way to deal with Asmodeus, so it won't be lost to flame. And everyone is aware and working on the undead issue." I said, shrugging. "And with the change of leadership, people will be better off now. All suffering won't end, it's in all our nature to suffer, but it will be lessened."
"This is true, we will all suffer through out our lives. But the joy we will all feel can overcome it. Isarial, I'm sure, will do many more great deeds all while saying it's to serve his own purposes." Varnado said.
"I've heard him converse a few times. He speaks as though the things he's done were accomplished by others. But the exercise things he has in the guards section of Hearthstone, he speaks of them with a little pride." I commented. "He is a strange child."
"That I can agree to. Even if he were an adult, I would consider him a little odd." Varnado said.
"Do you feel any better, Anata? Since you first arrived?" I asked.
"By leaps and bounds. Your masseuse skills are astounding." He said.
I grinned and said, "I'm glad I've pleased you, then."
He smiled and said, "Arigato."
I showed some surprise, before excitedly hugging him, and cuddling him with my full body. "Wow! You're so amazing. You're pronunciation was very good! And you included the non verbal very well." I rubbed my head against his, purring.
"The non verbal part is what's going to take me longer to master." He admitted, unperturbed by my enthusiasm. "I'm glad it's making you so excited, though."
I kissed his face and said, "Shiawase desu."
"I'm sorry, I don't quite catch that one yet." He admitted.
"Just means 'I'm happy'." I smiled.
"Emotions will definitely be something I will have to work on. It seems like emotions are going to be complicated." Varnado said.
"You'll get it, I trust in you." I said.
"In a weeks time, we will see how many words I can surprise you with." Varnado said.
I tucked my head under his chin. Giving him a light squeeze. Then I pulled back at him, frowned, and turned my self around so that I was sitting neatly in his lap. I leaned back against him, feeling his chin in the top of my head. "Huh.. I really am mini."
"I would say that you are just the right size." Varnado said, wrapping his arms around me and squeezing. I shivered. He turned my head toward himself then kissed me, "You fit perfectly, in more than one way."
I hummed, kissing him in return, and stroking his jaw. "Think so?"
"Indeed I do, for it has been proven." He said.
I felt him skim his hand from my waste, up my ribcage. He paused before reaching my breast, so I moved his hand onto it. This action spiraled into an intensely pleasurable encounter for the both of us. This time, I was more eager for a second round, and he obliged. We were certainly a good fit sexually.
As we were finishing the second time, a servant knocked and let us know that my son had woke from his nap. So I redressed myself and went to feed my son. He wasn't even fussing, but instead, staring at his father and making fierce expressions. Dirthin was mimicking the expressions his son made.
"Do you think he's hungry? Or are you both just playing?" I asked.
"Hm? Oh, um.. he's probably hungry." He said.
Our son looked over at me, then immediately began crying and fussing as if he'd being doing so all along. I looked at Dirthin, picking up my son and beginning to nurse him. "Great. You're the fun Dad and I'm the mean Mom that interrupts already."
He laughed boisterously. "I'm sorry, was there ever going to be a doubt in that?"
"Yeah, you coulda been the mean Daddy." I said, pretending to pout.
"I suppose I still could be." He said. "Someone wants to be the cool mom."
"I'll stick with living mom." I said. Booping Dirthin's nose.
"That's a good one to be." Dirthin said.
I smiled at him. Leaning my head against his arm briefly, before telling him I was gonna make cheese cake. I went to my room and got a sash to wrap around myself and Dask to free up my hands while he nursed. Then I went to the kitchen and made it. It took two hours. My husband came looking for me while I was making a strawberry glaze.
"Oh, sorry, I forgot to tell you I was gonna make some dessert. You'll have some, won't you?" I asked.
"I would be hard pressed to turn down such an offer." Varnado said.
"The cheesecake has nearly cooled." I said, "Once it has, I can add the glaze."
"Is this one of the creations from your homeland?" Varnado asked.
"Yes. Though the Four Kingdoms tries to claim it. Our recipe dates to five twenty and theirs was first noted in six seventy two." I said.
"Well, then, I believe there is a clear winner." Varnado said.
"Yes. Though likely Phintias could say which was true. Many recipes are passed orally, after all." I said. Dirthin laughed, so I asked, "Have you thought of something funny?"
"Yeah. Ask the vampire what's been passed around orally." Dirthin said.
Unintentionally, I looked downwards on Dirthin. Then turned back to what I was doing. Varnado said, "Shall we not judge someone on what they are?"
"I've already put in a declaration to help people like Phintias, Plight, Bibs and the like." I said. "But I do believe Dirthin was laughing because vampires suck, are considered sexual creatures, and oral is a position..."
Dirthin was grinning broadly. Varnado said, "Ah. Understood."
I giggled and said, "I imagine this should be a lot more awkward. Dirthin making sex jokes around Varnado of all people. I am just glad Dask is too young to understand."
"What? It wasn't anything explicit, per se." Dirthin said.
I laughed. Working to cool off the glaze. Then I got out plates and served my darling men. "Here we are. Have a bite." I said, boxing up a couple slices, separately, for Bibs and Kershka. I called my Uncle in and gave him the boxes, telling him to deliver them to Kershka and tell him it's from me, and that one is for Bibs.
Dirthin was very engrossed in the cheesecake, while Varnado was taking small and measured bites. Quite mannerly. "This is an astounding little thing. Packs quite a lot of flavor." Varnado said.
"Thank you for the compliment. It took me a long time to be able to make it not feel sandy in the mouth. There are some Chefs on the Isla who can't make it creamy." I said pridefully.
"Must cost quite the pretty penny to get one so finely crafted." Varnado said.
"Three gold coins to get it from a baker near the palace at the Isla. Ten if you get it at the Port from the Chef Bryguz." I said. "His restaurant is so booked you have to put in your reservation half a year out."
"Well that's impressive." Varnado said.
"Worth it." Dirthin said, finishing his plate.
I chuckled. "I'll make dinner in four hours. Do you want another slice?"
"Of course." Dirthin said.
"I think I am good with just the one." Varnado said.
So I served Dirthin another. Then I contacted Bibs with the black stone. "Hi, Bibs. I thought I should let you and Kershka know that I sent my Uncle Barak to bring you Cheesecake I made."
"Cheesecake. I haven't had that in ages, and I don't think Kershka has ever had it." Bibs said.
"A welcome treat for you, then? I am sure Kershka will like it." I said. "I had intended to make some for you both sooner."
"I'm sure it will be lovely. I think I will leave ot as a surprise for now. I'll just tell Kershka we have a guest coming." Bibs said.
"Alright. When my Uncle learns its cheesecake, will you tell him that he can only have some if he comes home?" I asked.
"Easily done." He said.
"Thank you for assisting my torture method, Bibs." I said.
"Anytime if it involved cheesecake." Bibs replied.
I stopped pestering him, paying attention to the men again. We talked about some political things, and joked plenty, until I made dinner for us. After we ate, Dirthin headed home for the day. Which was fine. Varnado had decided he was staying with me over night anyways.
When it was time for bed, I moved my son's crib into a room adjoining mine. So he'd be close enough that I could get to him quickly. Dask normally slept in his crib, near Dirthin and I or in my arms. But he'd be safe sleeping there instead. I left it cracked open anyways.
Varnado and I had sex again. A few more times before we fell asleep. My cub started fussing in the Night, so I got up to check on him. I was initially confused, then remembered I'd moved his crib. Varnado had sat up some by the time I'd gotten Dask and brought him to bed with me.
I set up some pillows so that I could place Dask within them and he could nurse at his leisure while I slept. I'd organized it as though I had Dirthin in the bed, so I was cuddled up to Varnado. Though I didn't really notice until dawn when I woke up. With my husband and son still sleeping, I didn't bother to get up. About an hour later, Varnado did wake up.
He stretched, and said, "Good morning, Vexie."
"Good morning, Anata. Dask and I have invaded your space." I said.
He smiled, "I am alright with the two of you invading my space."
I gave him a good morning kiss, and got up to handle my cub's needs. "Would you like a morning bath?"
"Yes. Sounds like a grand way to start the day." Varnado said.
So I ran him a bath and helped him bathe before making us breakfast. Varnado went home shortly after breakfast. I went over my paperwork, sending things off as need be, and exercised while tending to Dask on my own. It wasn't until after dinner that Dirthin contacted me, saying he'd be back in a few days time. I just told him to be safe, and went to bed with my son.
Bathing the next morning was tricky business, because Dask was being clingy. I figured he was missing his father, though I wouldn't tell Dirthin so. I managed to bathe while keeping my son with me. The sling was a great idea, that I repeated, while ensuring I ate enough to feed Dask. Varnado and I had another political conversation. Him checking in on me, and such.
The following day, I went with my son to see Varnado, myself. It was quite the surprise for him, and several others. I even went and chatted with Pyla for a while. Then I returned to the Emporer, to kiss him, before returning hone. Varnado visited me the next day. I massaged him before we had sex while Dask slept in the nursery. He didn't stay the night.
The next day, I woke up nauseous and throwing up. Though the feeling passed after an hour or two. Dirthin came back by noon and played with Dask, who actually smiled when he saw his daddy. I cried over his first smile. Dirthin was, of course, over the moon with joy at getting there to see. And be the cause of, our son's very first smile.
The next day was very similar to how it had been, only I concerned Dirthin with the throwing up first thing in the morning again. After that first hour, I was fine again. Still, he insisted I rest and eat light or soupy meals. Eventually I realized it's been over two months since Dirthin and I had any sort of sexual contact.
Oddly enough, my mood soured over it, and I started feeling unattractive, despite the fact that I was having sex with Varnado as much as he pleased to. The next morning after my bout of sickness, the worried Dirthin fetched Plight to check on me. With Nia guiding Plight, we got to find out that I was pregnant again already.
It didn't take much to realize that this time it was my husband's child. I had a meeting to attend with Varnado today anyways, so it made no difference to me. I would tell him while I was there. To prepare for the meeting, Dirthin helped me bottle some of my breast milk in these special bottles with odd nipples that Hearthstone had come up with.
We stored them in a bag of holding to keep them fresh and warm. The method of extraction was crude, and uncomfortable, but it would allow Dirthin to feed our cub while I was away. Getting there before the meeting was to occur, I decided to not hold into my news and to just directly tell Varnado.
"Anata, I am pregnant." I told him.
"Oh?" He looked happy, but suppressed it. "Not that I wish to be rude in anyway, but have we need to verify anything?"
"I intend to, because people will talk, but Dirthin and I have not done anything in a few months." I said.
He smiled broadly, giving me a hug. "Then this is wonderful news! Shall we have a nursery prepared here, or at your home? I suppose it would be more comfortable for you there, and more than likely safer than here."
"We can arrange one in both places. It would be practical." I said, showing him affection. "Then I can bring the cub to spend time here, too. It will be good to bring them around nobility and such the like so they acclimate as they grow."
"Alright, I'll have it done. I will have Archimedes stop by when possible to set up magical defenses as well. I doubt he will be thrilled about doing it again so soon, but I can bribe him easily enough." Varnado said.
"Mm. Use this?" I suggested, taking some bags of residuum from my bag.
"You just carry that around, hm? But yes, that will certainly do it." Varnado said.
"I have some in my bag. People here don't know it's value." I shrugged. "When they do, I'll have to keep guards with me more consistently."
"You're the Empress. You should be having guards with you more consistently either way." Varnado gently scolded me.
I grinned, "I am pretty strong, you know. I even surprised Dirthin by how hard I hit."
"I do not doubt your strength. I simply try to be over cautious." He said. "And how are you feeling today?"
"Just fine after the morning sickness passed." I said. "It alarmed Dirthin, so he brought Plight and Nia who confirmed it to be pregnancy related."
"Are you sure you'll be alright having another one so soon? Granted ours should be much smaller." Varnado said.
"If I had not been healed during and after my delivery, then I would not be safe with this pregnancy. But my body has recovered enough to carry again, though I will have Plight checking on the progress steadily." I told him.
"Good. That's reassuring." Varnado said. "You must stay healthy. I believe I would become quite upset if you were to pass."
"Thank you for caring for me, Varnado. I am fond of you as well." I smiled at him. "Dask should be old enough to only be nursing for comfort by the time your cub is born. Oh.. shoot.. I think I'll give birth before Pyla.."
"Then I am very much glad that she is not after political power. Else wise that may have caused several problems." He said.
"It is not going to matter?" I asked. "Perhaps it would be good if I can have a daughter this time.."
"A daughter would be nice, yes. Except all the marriage proposals I'll have to reject." He said.
"Would there be? I wouldn't think so since my approval rate is low due to my race." I said.
"That won't matter simply because you're the Empress. Our children will have claim to this Empire." He said.
"That is true, but a daughter has little claim compared to a son." I said. "Or is that different for your laws? I didn't review your laws and policies, yet."