"All are equal. It simply depends on competency. Who ever shows a true aptitude for ruling shall inherit." Varnado said firmly.
"Very well. Would you like input on who will inherit the Isla? Traditionally whomever has more silver fur has inherited. But it's not a written law. Silver like mine, not really Dirthin's." I said.
"No, no, that's alright. I will have plenty to think about just dealing with this land mass." Varnado said.
I smiled at him, "Like today's meeting?"
He sighed. "Yes. Like today's meeting."
"Do they know I am attending?" I asked.
"Oh, I seem to have forgotten that part." He said.
I grinned. "Oh, good. I get to be a surprise!"
"Yes, and for everyone's sake, I hope they like surprises." Varnado said.
"I will come in once everyone is settled with Raiden." I said.
"Alright, the meeting should be starting soon, is there anything you'd like to do beforehand?" He asked.
"Hm. Probably not enough time. But if you'd like to after, there is a divination test in the Empire that can show paternity, even before birth." I informed him. "You can certainly believe me, but your mind and heart will feel better seeing proof."
"Alright. We can do that. I would like to see more of that territory anyway." He said.
"You've never seen the Isla either. I should look to organize that you will see it." I commented. I stretched up and hugged him, kissing his cheek. "For the record, if you like the term 'baby' better, we can use it. There is no difference, truly."
He laughed, kissing me back properly, "Cub is fine. It's different. We could call the cub akago."
"I always liked Nyuuji. Because it's the most comfortable to say. It means the same, but the literal can get frustrating. Akago is a little more affectionate. Like akachan." I replied. "I like it."
"Well, which would you prefer?" He asked.
"Akago for now? Nyuuji after birth?" I suggested.
"Sounds perfect." He said.
"You look very happy." I noted.
"That is probably because I am." Varnado said. "And for what reason could I not be happy?"
"Lack of free time?" I asked.
"True. Free time will be.. very impacted." He said.
I smiled and said, "You know, I've heard cats cat fit anywhere."
"Such as?" He asked.
I snorted and laughed. "I was making a bad joke, but anatomically, cats can fit anywhere their heads can. Not us anthromorphic ones, though."
He laughed a little. "I am sure we will find time."
I smiled at him, and we talked a little more before he decided to head to the meeting. The nobility would be in the room by then. I waited a full ten minutes before heading to where I'd been explained the meeting would be held. When I walked in they were talking about zoning and the like.
A few people asked why they were not informed I'd be there. I laughed, "Do you mean to dictate where and when an Empress shall be?"
"No.. it was just.. formality." One noble said.
"If the Emporer chooses to not relay my schedule, he shall not. And for safety reasons, since one of the Southern Nobility has already attempted to kill me, I will say he shall not." I said firmly, sitting near my husband.
"Indeed. The Empress' schedule will not be disclosed to anyone." Varnado said.
"I must say, I am quite irritated with your South, My Lord. I have seen the Northern Noble's come visit you, freely. Not a single Southern Noble had even inquired as to a time to visit." I said directly. "My Isla's nobility at least have the excuse of having no way yet to visit."
One of them said, "My Emporer, we are here to discuss territories. Might we resume this conversation?"
"Territories. My lord has already assigned sufficient lands to each noble family in the South." I said. "What am I missing that you call a meeting of redundancy?"
"The lands of the South have changed. So we all are here to renegotiate our lands." A noble said.
"The land was handed out after our marriage, which is when the land changed. By fact two days passed while it had changed before My Lord assigned land." I stated.
"Yes, and things were being discussed, and then all of a sudden we were assigned." The noble said.
"Yes. That is how these things are handled. Perhaps it is because this continent is ignorant in the ways of the world after being isolated for so long, but your King, Sultan or Emporer has control of the land. In the case of a drastic upheaval, when the Emporer chooses to assign their subjects to land, that is the lot permitted. My Lord must be very kind to allow you to have this meeting. I would not tolerate it." I said at length.
"Lucky indeed. Now can we get this settled?" Another said.
"Perhaps I should reeducate your nobles, My Lord." I said.
Varnado looked around, "Perhaps I should leave you to them."
I stood up, some stood as well. Laying out a map onto the meeting table. I pointed out each person's newly granted territory and some basic things they could accomplish with the territories that would generate income to their families. "So what's the problem again?"
One of the fatter ones said. "The problem is, after this land is developed, what do we do then? We'll need more land."
"If you are incompetent and incapable of managing your household, say so." I said.
"Alright. Let's reel this in. You have been given your lands. Make them profitable." Varnado said. "I will not have another meeting about this. You are all dismissed."
A few left, one of the remaining asked, "Is this how all future meetings will go? Because I believe I have quite a bit of work to do."
"Your current holdings are zero. Your household consists of twenty-seven maids, a butler, two children, another on the way, your retired parents, ten guards, four mercenaries, your wife and two of your siblings. One married, the other not. Ten spies, though fourteen were counted within your employment. Sixty-five people to manage, versus the Emporer's eight hundred million people he must see to. You are oh, so busy wasting my husband's time. Good work will always be rewarded. In fact, My Lord, I am aware that the noble houses here in the South called Chaumond has already begun construction within the territory allocated to them. I should like to see what they are doing themselves and reward them." I said.
"I do believe I have been dismissed. I will be on my way." The noble said.
"Good boy. I'll send you a cookie." I replied, offhandedly before turning to Varnado, "Would you like to make time to go with me to visit Chamound?"
He cleared his throat, "Yes. I believe we can do that."
"Anata, have you ever had a lemon berry cake?" I asked Varnado. "It is lighter than cheesecake, but also very fresh."
"No, I don't believe I have ever had such a thing." He said.
"I will definitely have to see that you can try it." I said. Since I had the Emporer's attention, the remaining nobles skulked out. Once we were alone, I said, "That didn't get very dramatic, hm?"
"No, that didn't get particularly out of hand. I was expecting worse really." He said.
"I can attend the next few meetings, if you'd like, to cow them further. I'll remain silent for the third." I said.
"Alright. Maybe even at the next meeting after hearing what happened here, they won't bother to speak up." Varnado noted.
"Perhaps. But do consider bringing Heint and Zinter into your close cabinet. They have been highly supportive of my every action thus far. Desquin are gentle people, like you, adored by their people." I told him. "They aren't pushover, though."
"In your opinion, is there anyone I should watch out for?" Varnado asked.
"I think Elmore is shifty. But they appear to be doing everything I ask." I frowned pensively, "I always feel off when they are speaking. Like washing oil out of fur."
"We'll have to keep a tighter eye on them, then." Varnado said.
I nodded. "Do you have time to go to a paternity location, Anata?"
"Yes, I don't have another meeting for another few items." Varnado said.
I nodded, we used his Port Key to go to the location mentioned. I told them what we wanted and they set it up. They first checked how the approximate time I'd been pregnant, only a week-ish. Then they drew blood from Varnado and I, mixing it into an odd liquid. After a moment, the blood turned the liquid blue. They declared Varnado the father, then.
Varnado, curious, asked what would happen if I wasn't the father, so they checked my blood against one of the other peoples there. The blood mingled, and separated, turning the liquid red. They explained that the babies blood cycles through my body mixing the father's blood and mine, and the liquid cancels out when the same blood is added to it.
But when a third blood is added, the liquid rejects it, keeping the blood seperate and not allowing the fusion. So blue meant two blood types in the liquid, and red means three. Varnado commented about it being fascinating, though not wanting to know the origin of the knowledge. I told him that this was a temple to Arawai, the fertility goddess.
After that, I took him to a place nearby for lunch, and got him that lemon and berry cake I'd mentioned, and I picked up a cookie. Meanwhile, my breasts were beginning to ache a lot. After we ate, we returned to Ymir's Town. I hugged and kissed Varnado, before leaving to return home. On the way, I sent the cookie to the whiney noble. I'd said I would, after all.
I still had the malicious grin on my face when I got home and approached Dirthin with our son. Cheerfully, I announced to him, "My boobs hurt."
"What do you mean your books hurt?" He asked.
"I think there is too much milk in there. They look swollen, and they are just aching. See?" I showed him my boobs. I was still cheerful.
"Phew, yeah. Those are swollen. Should probably empty those." Dirthin said.
"I planned to." I said, picking up our son. Once I settled him in my arms, without prompting, he began to nurse. I pet his face while he did so. "That meeting was incredibly frustrating. They have little respect for Varnado and none for me, to the point most of them didn't even follow basic chivalry of standing while a woman was standing."
"Then do they still breath? If so, shall I fix that?" He asked.
"Mm. They still breath. My likelihood of attempted assassination probably went up. When a particular noble decided to excuse himself after being dismissed, I called them a 'good boy' and said I'd send them a cookie. And I did so before returning home." I said, smiling brightly.
He laughed, "Alright, yeah, I'll probably have to kill that guy."
"Varnado also scolded me for not keeping guards with me." I admitted.
"Well, I can agree with him on that, at least. You really should have guards, you're the Empress, now." He said.
I pouted. "But I have a you. Is it necessary?"
"When I'm not around, yes it's necessary. I can't be everywhere, even with this port key. I just want you safe, alright? You're on several people's list." He said.
I just leaned against him, "Yes. You're right. I already agreed I'd be more mindful."
He rested an arm around me and said, "Good. I'm glad you can be reasoned with."
"Are you alright?" I asked, snuggling up to him, and getting our son to switch to the other breast.
"I'm fine, why? Have I been behaving oddly? I may have been replaced with a mimic, you never know." Dirthin joked.
"I noticed you haven't been very physical with me.. cuddles are there, but you don't do anything past that." I said. "It's fine, I'm not complaining, it's just not what I am used to."
"You're right. I guess your coma got to me. I don't want to run that risk, again. You almost did die." Dirthin said.
I reached up and stroked his face and said, "I am very sorry to have caused you trauma. If U had the choice, I'd do it again. I love our son, very much."
"I do, too. He likes to make faces alot. Now I'm not sure if he will be a fighter, or a performer." Dirthin said.
"I don't think he will really disappoint you, regardless of his choices. You're such a sweetie." I said.
"I am? Tell me what ways. Be detailed." Dirthin said.
So I did. I listed every cute and sweet thing about him, from the way he gentles himself with me, his caring and protective nature, how he is with his son and nephew.. anything I could think of that I'd noticed about him the nearly seven months I'd known him. And I gave him the details he asked for, in graphic detail in the case of his gentleness with me.
"Well, now you're tryin' to get a rise out of me." He pressed himself against me. "And I think it's working."
"Do you want to? I think he's fallen asleep." I said, checking our son.
"Let's put him to bed and have some fun ourselves." Dirthin suggested.
I kissed him, before putting our son in his crib. We went to my room, kissing eachother and feeling our bodies as if it was the first time again. When he finally entered me, we barely had any restraint left. We were very absorbed in our activity until it's completion. We probably would have gone again if it wasn't for our desire to check on our son. We started to get up together, but I took a step and my legs gave out.
He caught me, amused, and set me back on the bed. "I think I'll go check on him."
"Ok, ok, you can check on him and bring him in here." I said. "I need to exercise more."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wear you out after only one." He said, heading out of the room.
I flopped over, closing my eyes. I'd not meant to doze off, but I opened my eyes to Dirthin tucking me under covers, and our son propped up next to me. "I'm awake." I said.
"I'm sure not for long." Dirthin said.
I tucked my son up next to me, so he could feed himself as he pleased. "Guess I am a little tired. Cuddles?"
"Of course." He said, tucking himself around me.
Our son suckled lazily while I napped. I woke a few hours later to dress and make Dirthin and I dinner, which he helped with. After some conversation, we bathed together and went to bed. A week later, I attended another meeting with Varnado. After it he told me that he would be holding a celebration for my pregnancy in a month.
With that in mind, I went home to feed my son and begin preparations. Dirthin went on a few jobs offer the next couple of weeks while I worked on my papers and set up an established portal between the Isla and Valor's Crest for trade purposes. I also attended another meeting during this time, though I had to bring my son.
A week later, I was napping with my son, when someone entered my room. I'd woke at the sound of the door, and nearly fallen back to sleep, when I heard a ruckus outside. My eyes snapped open at my son's startled cry. I barely reacted in time to stop the assassin's blade.
It was their unlucky day, though, because my room's door was thrown open after Dirthin had heard his son's wails. He'd been exercising in the next room, after all. He quickly and painfully dealt with the assassin. Oddly, he contacted his brother immediately, who came, looking annoyed.
James identified who the assassin worked for. The Southern Noble who was the victim of the cookie incident. I contacted Varnado immediately about the situation. He used his Port Key to get to me. He checked on me, and my still crying son, then turned to Dirthin.
"I believe you'll enjoy this order.. By Royal Decree, I want Flaincha and his immediate line executed for high treason." Varnado said.
"With the simple fact that that eliminated all political orders, I'll take that order." Dirthin said, stroking the top of our son's head. He then used his Port Key to go handle it.
I was still trying to comfort my son when James excused himself and left, with my thanks. Servants began removing the body and tidying the area. I got out of my bed, heading to my office to allow for them to properly do so. Varnado followed me.
"My son does not normally cry." I said, holding my baby close to my neck and rubbing his back.
"I'd be more concerned if he wasn't crying after all that." Varnado said.
"It was quite the brazen attack, considering Dirthin was here and it's after noon." I commented, adjusting my son to where he could nurse if he wanted to. "Perhaps I should only sleep in my tree dome."
"That may be harder for them to sneak up on you. But that may be a little difficult for you currently." Varnado said.
"Mm. Maybe." I said. "I think I am a little stressed out from the attack. It was a close call."
"Would you like to sleep at the palace tonight? I do have quite a bit more security there." Varnado offered.
"Perhaps I should." I sighed, looking out the window. My son had settled to whimpering while nursing. "Varnado, do you see the clouds forming there? Those could be snow clouds."
"Snow clouds? I feel I should be concerned with that." Varnado said.
"The weather has remained warm here, in Wellspring, but. I did notice a small chill to the air the last time I attended a meeting with you.. I think Winter may have settled in." I said, noting bare trees outside of Wellspring.
"This will be the first winter in these lands in several hundred years." Varnado said.
I snapped my fingers suddenly. "That's what those reports were about! My Lord, Isarial has sent winter provisions to the small towns and villages."
He laughed and said, "Seems like he's ahead of us again. I will have to speak with him about what winter provisions are."
I returned to my desk and found reports of Hearthstone sending thick blankets, firewood, and non perishable foods, along with medicine, and tea leaves to places. "This, it seems." I offered him the papers.
He looked them over, "Alright, these are easily recovered."
"How did he even know?" I wondered, "How to protect against winter.. he and Dirthin returned the seasons, they said."
"I find it sometimes better to not ask too many questions when it comes to Isarial's knowledge." Varnado said.
"He's kinda like a god himself, isn't he?" I commented.
"In certain ways, I could agree with that." He said.
I leaned against Varnado, "Did I ever disclose to you that I have Devil's Sight and Eyes of the Rune Keeper?"
"No, I don't believe you have. What are they?" He asked.
"I can see in all forms of darkness as if it's bright, that's Devil's Sight. Eyes of the Rune Keeper allows me to read any and all writing regardless of what code it's meant to be in." I informed him.
"Goodness those are handy." He said.
"Boons Asmodeus gave me when he claimed possession of my soul." I said.
"Ah, I don't know about the cost." He said.
"Well, atleast I should have around eighty or so more years to live before I have pass, as long as I'm not killed or die early." I said.
"So we should get on breaking that, then." He said.
"The clause to the deal that was made is if I am released without him having his payment, the rakshasa would be released." I said.
"Could you describe this Rakshasa to me again?" He asked.
"It is a demon that looks like a large red Tigrine. However, it can shapeshift freely to take the form of anyone of influence, and does so to prey upon it's preferred food source en masse.. Humans." I said.
"So we simply have to end your deal and kill a tiger that can shape shift into people. I feel we have the resources to do so." Varnado said.
"It's immune to being damaged, or harmed by magic less than the low high tier magics. The only real way to hurt them is with a magic weapon wielded by someone who is good. And then, once beat, they must be followed into the nine hells to permanently kill them." I sighed.
"I'm surprised Dirthin hasn't already tried this." Varnado said.
I shrugged. "He's been busy doing jobs for his brother and keeping me and Dask alive.." I said, then I looked at Varnado, "He gets to play with Dask, making faces and getting smiles from him, but Dask just want me for comfort."
"Not to sound like a jerk, but he probably thinks Dirthin is a toy." Varnado said.
"Mm, I dunno, because he's seen his father since he was born." I shrugged.
"Unfortunately, I don't have any advice to give you on this. As you know, I don't have any children yet." He said.
I rubbed my head against him briefly. "Four and half months, and then one more and you'll have two children."
"Indeed. And then I will have years of experience ahead of me to live before I can come back and give you advice on it." Varnado said.
"Maybe I should ask Phintias." I said.
"You can, but gets a recent father as well." Varnado said.
"Yeah, but he has two babies." I said.
"True. You can ask him. Maybe he will have something." He said.
I yawned, and stretched a little. "Might. Look, my belly is already growing again."
"I still very much doubt it will get anywhere near as big as Dask did." Varnado said.
"Probably. I believe I said so already, but human hybrids are usually smaller." I acknowledged. "I could take you to have a peek at your akago. There is a machine there that uses sound to generate images of what the inside of bodies look like."
"That sounds interesting, sure." He said.
I smiled a little, wondering what Isarial would think of the technology. "I should acquire a book about it and see what the Hearthry's can do with it."
"Oh, I'm sure they will come up with some strange creation." He said.
Dask had fallen asleep. I checked on him, again. He was perfectly whole, with his tear stained furry cheeks. Irritation showed in the set of my ears as I wiped my son's face. "Haah. Fine." I touched my device, contacting Feldra to come see me. Then I contacted Raiden to bring me a book of protective magic glyphs. "I will have Feldra work more protections into the main floor I stay on. She is a wizard."
"Thank you for taking the extra precautions to keeping yourself and Dask safe." Varnado said.
"I was overly confident that no one would try anything when Dirthin was in the house." I sighed. "I can't risk it anymore, for my son's sake at least." I closed my eyes briefly. "With my being pregnant again, the risks are not worth my small freedom."
"If you can secure Wellspring in a way that someone as strong as Dirthin, or someone as sneaky as my lead spy, could not enter their own volition, then you wouldn't need the guards." He said.
"That is my goal. The intention part is hard to get right, though.." I thought about it. "Right. The spells on Hearthstone's front gate. Archimedes supplied those. So I should be able to employ Traxigor to it."
"If you are to do so, I have always had this question I'd like to ask him. If someone were to enter and then become hostile, what were to happen?" Varnado asked.
"That's a good question. But I think the rules of Hearthstone kick in, then. Because the guards have been hostile... rather, that adventuring groups was hostile towards Isarial.. but why did only a few die? A moment." I said. Touching my device again, I contacted Isarial.
"Hullo, Isarial. Sorry for bothering you, but I had a question to ask you." I said.
"... Alright. Ask as you please." Isarial replied.
"Some months ago a group of adventurers entered Hearthstone and only a few of them burst into flame. Can you explain what the enchantment is?" I asked.
"Oh. That. Well, it's simple. If bad people with bad intent touch the door it kills them. Good people can enter freely." Isarial said.
"Ok, so let's say I lived in Hearthstone and someone came to kill me..." I began.
"The doors would kill them." Isarial said.
"Even if they thought that was the right thing to do?" I asked.
Isarial didn't respond immediately. "No. Because the doors won't kill me, even though I will kill others if paid to do so.. Well, I haven't done that in years.. Anyways, intent forbidance would work to keep your home safe, but I would personally recommend adding a no-entry glyph. They have one in the treasury of the Elven Kingdom to the East. You need a special item that grants you permission to enter."
"Of course. The answer was right there, wasn't it! Thank you, Isarial. I'll send you a gift later." I said.
"No need, you are my cousin's mother." Isarial said, "So of course I will help you if I can."
I turned to Varnado and grinned. "Figured it out. The same spell that is on the treasury of my homeland can be used here. I can give keys to those who are welcome here while barring access to all else."
"Well, that sounds like a perfect solution." Varnado said. "How would we go about implementing it?"
"It's gonna take a lot of rune magic. I'll ask Traxigor if he can do it." I said.
"Unfortunately, I don't know much about runic magic." He said.
"That's ok, Anata. You still have your looks." I joked, with a sheepish grin.
"Ouch." He said. "My wounded heart. Or at least my ego."
I leaned my head against him, Feldra knocked and came in, followed shortly after by Raiden. "Oh, no." Feldra said, "You are not stealing her away this time."
She started to aim a spell at Raiden, but Raiden half smirked and raised showed a book to her. "Incidentally, no. I am not whisking Vexie away this time."
Feldra narrowed her eyes, glanced back at me, then lowered her staff. "Your Majesty, what is it that you wanted?"
"I asked Raiden to bring that book, so you would have access to appropriate spells to safe guard the top floor, since my son and I mostly stay up here." I said.
Raiden just offered the book towards Feldra, as she said she could do that. He then said, "Where is the little Leonin?"
"Dirthin is carrying out the execution of the latest person to send assassins after me." I said. "Also, don't talk about him that way. I do believe he can take you now. And I'll allow it."
Raiden raised an eyebrow. "What else do you want?" Then he looked down at my son.
"Nothing else for now." I said.
".. What did you name your cub?" Raiden asked.
"Dask." I said.
He seemed conflicted briefly. "A good name. I will go back now."
Raiden left, as did Feldra, to look over the book and deselect what she wanted to use that would adequately cover what I needed. I then contacted Traxigor, warning him about the forbiddance magic, and asking him for the defenses to be put on the Villa walls. Which he agreed to do.
"Alright. Traxigor has agreed to come and out the extra defenses on the walls and make the keys." I informed Varnado.
"Did he say when he'd be able to come out and do that?" Varnado asked.
"No, but I am sure it'll be within the next couple of days." I replied.
"Well, until he is able to get that handled, I would appreciate it if you were to stay at the Palace." Varnado said.
"Alright." I said. "I'll do as you ask."
"Thank you." He said.
I went and got myself a few things and organized my paperwork, and got a bassinet for my son. "Alright, My Lord, I am ready to head to the palace."
"Alright, I haven't used this key for multiple people yet, so this will be interesting." He said.
"You may just feel a bit tired." I said. "But I can help you recover."
"Off we go, then. I'll put us in my room." Varnado said, doing just that. He sat on the bed. "Wow, that took alot out of me. I really ought to practice more with this."
I used my restoration spell on him, before sitting on the floor and laying my head on his lap. My son still slept in his bassinet, where I'd laid him before we left. "You did well."
He smiled and said "I hope you'll be comfortable here untill your home is safe again. Would you like to stay in my room, or your own I know you enjoy your freedom."
"I can stay with you, Anata. It will not bother me. But that'll inconvenience to you." I replied, closing my eyes.