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AR Chapter 324
🕑 Added 2025-02-14 04:00:05 +0000 UTCI’d seen Ytte tear into the ants, so I knew she was somewhere, but I couldn’t lay eye on her. Before I could ask, though, she popped up from around the corner or a house. Her hands carved through the stone, leaving smooth connected walls in their wake.
“I apologize, Alpha.” Ytte bowed her head. “I could see that there were parts of the pit’s structure that demanded my attention. I went to ensure their stability before I came to this gathering.”
To my surprise, as I looked at her, I realized that Ytte was a Kha’Tal. Smaller than even Foire, Ytte had definitely shrunk when she’d evolved. She had happily been one of those that stood next to Brutus as he loomed beside me, guarding me as best as he could manage. The scales that covered her body were only slightly different from those of a khatif, the sole difference being the thick line that ran down the center of them. Apparently, those ridges could be considered a hallmark of the Keel, now that I’d seen every known caste of us. She, just like the rest of us, stood upright, her body obviously built and changed to become Keel. What I could tell would be the most important change to any Kha’Tal’s physiology, though, were her hands. Her claws were mere nubs, less than an inch long, and blunted at the tip, obviously no longer a weapon in any sense of the word. Then, while her fingers were thick but dexterous, the biggest change was that of her fifth finger.
Keelish had four fingers, a thumb and three fingers, though the thumb was weak and short. As a khatif, the thumb grew to better hold and control things, to better grasp tools that the keelish mind couldn’t truly understand. Keel hands were, as far as I could remember, effectively those of a human, minus the small finger on the end. That was, except for the Kha’Tal. Ytte’s hands had a second thumb on the other side, and her shorter, less-intended for violence fingers allowed half of one of her hands to fiddle with a rock idly in her hands as I looked at the changes she’d experienced.
“I wasn’t expecting this.” I stated, trying not to inflect anything.
“I realized as you gave my assignment to serve as a leader of the domestic military, that you had changed markedly since your evolution. The humans and Sunkindred and indlovu and others in Shandr that we encountered use tools and weapons. The body of the keelish is a weapon. We should allow ourselves to utilize every weapon we can find and create. You’ve seen how impactful merely taking a stone in the hand and throwing it at our enemies can be. If we continue to improve and utilize improved weapons, we can defeat anything that stands in front of us. In addition, the spear that you have carried–”
“Calm, Ytte.” I said as I raised my hands. “I don’t need you to justify yourself to me. I believe that, if you’re able to choose your own caste, you should do it, so long as you aren’t challenging my position. I’m interested to see what you can do with your new body, as it seems you’ve had or have gained no small amount of new ideas through your evolution. After all, that rock is still waiting for your attention.”
“Yes!” Ytte grinned as her tail flicked. “I think that I can continue to experiment and see what I can do with it now that my mind is so much clearer. It may have to wait for–I’m sorry, Alpha. This is not my time to sit here babbling.” Ytte bowed.
“Why did you decide not to dedicate yourself to the Alqat, like Brutus?” I wondered aloud.
“But I did?”
“How so?”
“All this progress will be in service of ensuring that you continue to be safe and cared for so that your reign will stretch until your scales have lost their luster and your fangs fall out from age. The stronger our military, the better we can protect you. I simply am dedicating myself to this aspect of protection and technological advance.”
I flared my frills in appreciation. She’d thought more deeply about this than I had.
“I appreciate your willingness. Now, I have given you responsibilities regarding what to do moving forward. Are there any questions now that you’ve finished becoming Keel?”
None of my Keel answered my question, and after several seconds, Sybil stepped forward. “Your commands were clear, but the evolution has muddied my mind somewhat. Regardless, we will have at least one day to approach you with any concerns that remain about your absence and our roles, correct?”
“Of course, Beta. In my absence, I will trust that you all will support her wholeheartedly in continuing to maintain her position over the rest of the Empire?” I phrased it as a question, but it wasn’t that, nor was it a request. It was a command, and my Keel responded in kind.
“Victory by fang and blood!” They chanted in unison. Then, Sybil stepped forward and bowed before speaking.
“We are the blade bared at the throats of those that dare to oppose you, and we will ensure that the Empire rises to heights beyond the comprehension of those who came before us.” She looked up and smiled, the look coy and teasing. I chuckled low in my throat.
“Very well. Then, I command you all to go and fulfill the role that has been assigned to you. I know you can surpass my expectations. Sybil, if you’d follow me.” Of the other nine Keel, seven left. Brutus stepped back behind me, his eyes ever vigilant and prepared to protect me from whatever it may be that attacked or approached. Sybil walked in front of me, and as I watched her, she twisted her tail ever so slightly.
“Did you miss me?” She asked sweetly.
“Of course. I’m glad you missed taking off my finger as well.”
Her eyes immediately widened. “That truly occurred, and to you no less? I apologize. I was entirely unsure as to if that was a dream or not. Unfortunately, my mind was so muddled as to diminish my mental capacity to the level of believing that your hands as they fed me were more food to consume. If you’d like, you can teach me a lesson, as you told me you would once I finished evolving to Keel.”
Sybil’s tone had shifted from embarrassed to sultry as she spoke, and I couldn’t help but chuckle under my breath as she did so. “I suppose I did say ‘as soon as you evolved to Keel’, didn’t I?”
“That was my recollection as well, Alpha.” The submission overt in her words triggered a need inside me and I laughed deep in my throat.
“And I must keep my promises. An Emperor cannot be found to be unable or unwilling to deliver what is promised.” Then, without another word, I lunged forward, grabbed Sybil around the waist, and carried her off to a building that was mostly completely repaired.
