Omnixius
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DKP 7-17 A lady of intrigue
🕑 Added 2022-01-17 01:02:15 +0000 UTCGersius knelt in prayer before the simple altar dedicated to Balisha. He was deeply disturbed that an army was approaching with the publicly stated goal of killing Lilly. He was ever more upset that they were more casualties of the lies spun by the Father Abbot. These people believed that what happened in the city of Whiteford was his and Lilly's fault. All the deaths that occurred in her escape were used to rally people to a cry of revenge. He prayed for guidance and asked for a way to turn this army away without having to battle it.
Lilly was in the outer yard in her dragon form, teaching the new acolytes while a crowd of onlookers watched in wonder. Many people of the city were slowly coming around to the idea that two of their empresses were dragons. They were beginning to gather whenever Lilly was publicly available to see firsthand the nature of the daughter of the silver moon. Lilly was the perfect symbol for them to see. She was patient, kind, and overly protective of her followers. She lay in the yard casually speaking to the gathered followers and occasionally answering questions from the crowd.
When these talks were at an end, sometimes she flew away, other times she changed, demonstrating the dragon's ability to take human form. A special tent was set up in the yard expressly for this purpose, and she used it whenever needed. Sometimes she addressed the crowds in her human form, teaching them of Balisha's love and her desire for Dragons and men to share.
Gersius did more of the practical training, teaching young followers how to pray and open themselves to the flow of power. He also taught them how to focus and, more importantly, to be a proper priest. A life of discipline and dedication to a divine was no small task, and many found the change of focus difficult.
Even he found it difficult in recent days as events constantly called for his attention. There were too many things in motion and not enough time to kneel, seek inner peace, and pray. So today, he would spend that time no matter what happened and hope Balisha had some insight to offer.
As his focus drifted to the divine, he wasn't aware that another had entered his presence. He drifted in the power of his goddess as warm hands curled around him and a gentle head rested on his shoulder. When he came out of his prayer, he was surprised to find Lilly clutched to him and silently waiting.
“I thought you were teaching?” he said when he came round.
“That was hours ago. You have been in here praying all morning,” Lilly replied without releasing him. “I was going to enter the prayer with you, but I thought maybe you wanted some time alone with Balisha.”
Gersius took a deep breath as Lilly rubbed her cheek on his shoulder. There were days when he struggled to remember this gentle heart was a dragon. No matter how much was piled on his shoulders, it all seemed trivial when her loving arms wrapped around him.
“Hmm, do you really feel that way about me?” Lilly asked.
“Do you ever stop listening to my thoughts?” he laughed.,
“No,” she answered honestly. “Your thoughts are what freed me, and I love listening to them.”
He relented and closed his eyes as her hands clutched at his chest, and she whispered in his ear.
“I wish we could have another baby, hurry up and give Thayle one.”
Gersius flinched and turned about to see her smiling face. He didn't dare let his thoughts wander at this moment, but he couldn't help but think of Thayle those few nights ago.
“Hmm, you’re right,” Lilly said. “You did just breed her, but she is always so careful not to do it when she can get pregnant.”
He breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn’t understood the thought and quickly changed it.
“I can’t wait for our egg to hatch,” he said as he put a hand over hers. “Do you have to do anything special to care for it?”
“I honestly don't know,” Lilly replied. “If it's born as a dragon, then I will sleep in the cave with the broodling until it is old enough to learn how to change and come into the house. If it's born human, then I suppose I have to care for it like a human mother would.” She paused as that thought circled her mind. “How do human mothers care for their young?”
“Why don’t you ask Thayle that,” he said as a smile crossed his face.
She shrugged and clung tighter, letting her mind relax as she closed her blue eyes. He let her hold on for a little longer before insisting they had to go. She frowned but took his hand as they met the guards waiting outside to escort them back to the palace.
Passing through the streets often drew crowds as people came out to watch the new leaders as they headed for the palace. Sometimes they cheered, but more often, they pointed and asked hushed questions they hoped were not overheard.
At the palace gates, they were ushered inside by a team of priestesses of Ulustrah. They guarded every gate asking questions of any who wanted to enter to test their true intentions. From here, they passed into the lower halls, and Lilly insisted they go by the kitchens. She loved to smell the foods and sneak treats out of the baskets. Sometimes they encountered Sarah here, speaking to the kitchen staff and even trying her hand with some of the cooking. She was making an effort to understand how food preparation worked and sampling the spices. She was also becoming fond of tea; something Thayle introduced her to. Lilly managed to find some honey cakes cooling in one of the corners and stole two before they headed down the hall.
Here they passed the barracks and living spaces for the palace staff. There were always dozens of people in the halls who bowed or saluted as they passed. Lilly was slowly becoming rather fond of Human displays of respect, often remarking that as a dragon, she deserved them.
She took his hand as they climbed the steps, passing through the upper halls and into the middle levels. There were guest rooms here, as well as an assortment of meeting and dining rooms. There were also spaces set aside for large formal events like the banquets and dances. It was here the strange dragon approached Lilly and demanded she leave with him. They skirted the outer gardens and found Thayle discussing something with Mingfe and Sarah. She finally released his hand to rush to the women and tell them all about the honey cakes.
“I have heard complaints from the kitchens about you,” Sarah said as Lilly admitted to stealing two.
“I am an empress,” Lilly said with her nose in the air. “If I want cakes, I can have them.”
Mingfe started to laugh as Thayle tried not to join her and moved to take Lilly’s hand.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Lilly said and turned to Thayle. “How do human women care for their young?”
“What do you mean by care for them?” Thayle asked, not sure what Lilly was asking.
“Do you hunt and bring them food?” Lilly asked innocently.
Thayle looked confused then started to snicker. Gersius knew Lilly had no real concept of how helpless human children were, especially infants. He waited patiently as Thayle lifted a finger and poked Lilly in the chest.
“These fill with milk, and the baby feeds from them,” she said.
Lilly looked down and grabbed at her chest, lost as to what Thayle meant. “Where does the milk come from?”
Mingfe nearly fell over laughing as Thayle tried to explain it. She told Lilly that her own body would make the milk and swell her chest. The baby would then suckle at her chest and drink the milk for nourishment.
“Ewwwww!” Lilly cried and staggered back as Mingfe announced she was going to pee.
“Lilly!” Thayle cried and tried to take her hand again. “It isn't bad at all.”
“Why can’t I just kill a horse and feed it that?” Lilly protested.
“Actually, I had almost the same response when I first learned how humans did it,” Sarah said.
Thayle put a hand over her face as Gersius joined Mingfe in laughing. She had to explain to Lilly that human children were born without teeth and couldn't chew solid food. Lilly was shocked by that revelation and wondered how humans managed to survive to adulthood. Thayle had to assure her that a bonding occurred when a mother fed her baby. It was a joy to the mother and helped unite the two in a very special way.
The look on Lilly’s face was all he needed to know she didn’t believe Thayle.
“Well, it isn't like you can do anything about it now,” Thayle protested. “I'm sorry, but when the time comes, so will the milk, and you will have to feed your child.”
Lilly looked faint and turned to Sarah for help, but it was Mingfe’s reaction that was most interesting.
“What child are you speaking about?” Mingfe asked with shock evident in her eyes.
The four looked at one another as they realized their secret had slipped. They had told the empire that the month-long trip to the valley was a matter of faith and necessary to establish Balisa. This was partially true as it was necessary to secure the egg out of harm's way, so Lilly was free to continue preaching her faith.
“I'm sorry,” Thayle said, but Gersius held up a hand.
“We all know Mingfe is trustworthy, and she is a friend to us all. I see no harm in letting her know,” he said.
Thayle turned to Mingfe, who was already starting to smile slightly at the potential of the news. Thayle first impressed on her the need to keep this news secret, as it was a vulnerability their enemies could exploit. She then told her about Lilly’s egg resting safely in the secrecy of her cave.
“But how?” Mingfe asked in confusion. “Shadros has assured me that this is not possible.”
“Balisha made it possible,” Gersius answered. “She blessed Lilly with the ability to become pregnant by me.”
Mingfe was silent a moment before she looked at Lilly to seek reassurance. She asked if all dragons had this ability, and Lilly assured her they did not. Lilly then offered to pray to Balisha for her and ask that she and Shadros be able to conceive.
“By the goddess do not!” Mingfe said in alarm and looked aghast. “I am not ready to bear that one a child.”
“Would it work the same if the mother was human?” Gersius asked as he pondered it.
“I don’t know,” Lilly admitted. “I wonder if she would have an egg?”
“Do not even speak of it,” Mingfe insisted as Thayle now started to laugh. “Do not laugh at me. How do we know you won't have an egg?”
“Because we're both human,” Thayle said, but Mingfe reminded them that they had very dragon-like forms. For all, they knew they were more dragon than human now, and hence would reproduce like one. “I don't want to think about it either,” Thayle said with a glance to Gersius.
Sarah chimed in and reminded them that Lilly had laid an egg. It was most likely that the child would be born a dragon, and all this milk talk was foolishness. She suggested that it made sense that the mother would determine the outcome. A dragon mother would have a dragon child, whereas a human mother would have a human child. Dragons already expressed this nature in their colorings where a female had the color of its mother, and a male the color of the father, though she did admit that in very rare cases, they could swap.
“I have only known it to happen to twice in all of dragon history,” Sarah said and then pointed out that in both cases, it had been males taking the color of the mother.
“Do dragons of different colors mix freely?” Mingfe asked.
Sarah nodded before answering. “Why wouldn’t they? A dragon is a dragon. What does the color matter?”
Mingfe smiled with a pleasing look and gave Thayle a nod. “If only humans could see things the same way.”
Thayle shook her head and argued that most people were fine with it, and the few who were not were often ignorant of the facts.
“Besides, Shadros doesn’t mind what color your skin is,” Thayle teased.
“He is more my shade than yours,” Mingfe pointed out. “He would be seen as a very handsome man in my culture with a lovely skin color.”
“I think her skin color is pretty. We should find a wife with color like hers so I can hold her,” Lilly said.
“Too bad Shadros claimed you before Lilly could,” Thayle teased and nudged Mingfe.
Mingfe laughed and asked Thayle if she could really call her a wife. Thayle made her jump when she admitted that she had thought about it all the way back to the duel with Gersius.
“You considered the idea of me being one of your wives?” Mingfe asked in surprise.
“Why not? I like you. Lilly likes you, and Gersius was so enamored by you he chose you to be my captain and fought a duel with you to prove your skill.”
“I was not enamored,” Gersius pointed out. “I simply appreciated her skill and dedication.”
“You still owe me a proper duel,” Mingfe snapped at him. “After seeing the display you put on with Lady Sarah, I am well aware you were pulling your punches.”
“I was only trying to prove you were capable,” he insisted.
“You dishonor me by assuming I cannot stand on my own. Had you fought with half the skill you showed Sarah, I might have sought to become a wife,” she insisted.
Lilly swatted his arm and accused him of losing her a wife as Thayle and Sarah both started to laugh. He had to promise not to interfere with any potential wives in the future to placate her. It was a light moment that went on when Lilly suggested to Mingfe that Shadros would probably want more wives.
“I am sure he would,” Mingfe laughed. “But I am not the sharing kind. He is mine, and I intend to be the only flower in his garden.”
“I bet you change your mind,” Thayle teased, but Mingfe was insistent and suggested that Lilly would probably find ten more before she even considered another one.
The jokes continued until Sarah reminded them that they were having an informal banquet in less than an hour. It was a simple affair and an open invitation for anyone of importance down to local leaders of trade and commerce. The banquet hall would be set, and light music played while visitors were given a chance to meet the Dra'Udwan.
“I am going to try and get Shadros to bring me,” Mingfe said with a smile. “He spends too much time asleep and grumbles when you insist he deliver a message.”
They parted ways and went to the main hall, where a small number of guests were already gathering. The whole of this level would be open to visitors allowing them to wander the gardens and find plenty of places to speak privately.
Lilly was disappointed that there would be no dancing but happy to see more honey cakes. Sarah brought her a tea with a stick poking out of it that Lilly played with incessantly. Sarah explained it was called cinnamon, and it helped flavor the tea.
Lilly sniffed at the strange stick before finally poking it into her mouth. Thayle started to laugh as Lilly hummed and chewed on the new discovery a moment later.
“I like cinnamon,” she exclaimed with the stick in hand.
“I had a feeling you would like it,” Sarah said as she stirred her own tea with a stick.
The night wandered on, and the group mingled with the guests, most of whom repeated the same old platitudes. Several hours in, Gersius found himself in the gardens looking at the night sky. He still remembered that first night Lilly took them above the clouds and how the stars shone like diamonds.
“So here I finally find the dragon knight,” came a sultry voice that caused him to look down. He was taken aback by the woman who stood before him with a wry smile on her gentle face. She was tall like Lilly, with flowing hair as dark as Thayle's but skin with a copper hue. Her eyes were dark and shadowed, with lips painted a shade of red mixed with midnight. She wore a gown of pure silk, colored in a metallic red that was dark like her lips. Her chest was split down the base of her breasts, allowing the ample curves inside to be clearly seen. She was covered in jewelry so much so that he hoped Lilly wouldn't see her or she would demand to have as much. In her left hand was a glass of red wine as she walked with a casual pace, her eyes searching him as her smile grew.
“Forgive me,” he said with a nod. “Have we met?”
“I would have remembered if I had ever met a man like you,” she said as her steps drew closer. “I am lady Cartain. I must apologize for interrupting your function. I am afraid I hail from the common lands.”
Gersius studied her aura as she drew closer and noted how strangely calm it was. She was ringed with green and streaks of blue. Occasionally there were little flares of purple, but the light was oddly consistent. He had never known anyone to have such a calm aura, but it flashed with truth as she introduced herself.
“You are most welcome here, Lady Cartain,” he said with a second bow of his head. “I am eager to show the people of the common lands that I mean them no harm.”
She arrived just a few steps away and lifted the glass to take a sip before speaking again.
“I have been told the man known as Gersius was a kind and inviting soul. I am also told he is a traitor to his faith and led a rebellion to overthrow the true faith of Astikar.”
Gersius took a deep breath to calm his nerves. It couldn't be helped that much of the old lie lingered in places. At least this woman had come to see for herself and would be able to witness to others that he was not a traitor.
“I am afraid that story was a lie perpetuated by those who sought to discredit me. It would take a long time to explain it so that you could understand the truth.”
“I have nowhere to be,” she said with a smile. “I would be delighted to hear your story.”
Gersius was strangely enthralled by this woman, and he found the garden relatively empty of guests, so he invited her to lean against the wall. He took another deep breath and began his story, explaining what drove him to begin and how quickly it fell apart. He explained how he found Lilly and the shameful moment of weakness when he yelled at her.
She was oddly reassuring, suggesting that anyone under such pressure would have reacted far worse. He considered the point and continued explaining the march to Whiteford and subsequent disaster. It was here the woman took on a strange expression. She asked him several times why he hadn't simply given them Lilly's true name. He told her that he had promised to protect it, but even more, he was falling in love with Lilly. He would willingly sacrifice his life for her and endure anything to keep her safe.
As if his words were a calling, Lilly appeared in the garden and came straight to them. She took his arm as he introduced the two women to one another. Lilly smiled and blushed when Lady Cartain blinked and looked shocked as she exclaimed that Lilly was exceptionally pretty.
“You’re pretty too,” Lilly said as she clutched Gersius’s arm. “Will you be staying long?”
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” Lady Cartain replied with a smile.
Gersius was about to continue the story when Lilly broke into his thoughts.
“She’s pretty. Offer her a room in the palace.”
“Lilly,” he replied silently. “I have just met her. I do not even know why she came here.”
“Is Lilly stalking another woman?” Thayle asked over the bind.
“I am not stalking her. I just think she should stay so we can learn more about her,” Lilly answered.
“I can see you two are very close,” Lady Cartain said with a gentle smile. “There is a saying in my homelands that a happy wife is a glory to her husband.”
“Gersius has three happy wives,” Lilly replied. “You should meet Thayle and Sarah. They are pretty like you.”
“Maybe later,” Gersius urged. “I was just telling her the story of how we met.”
“Oh,” Lilly replied and looked away. “Did you tell her about the dancing?”
“He did,” Lady Cartain replied with a nod. “He was just describing what he endured to protect your name.”
Lilly looked hurt and clutched at his arm all the tighter before laying her head on his shoulder. “I am so sorry you had to do that for me.”
“It is in the past,” he said softly. “Remember, we have all agreed that we had to endure that in order to find our way together.”
“I know, but your dreams are still tormented by it,” she whispered.
“Why does my dragon feel so sad?” Thayle asked over the bind.
“I’m fine,” Lilly answered silently before releasing Gersius. She smiled to Lady Cartain and excused herself as she hurried off to explain it to Thayle.
“I am sorry about that,” Gersius said.
“Don't be,” Lady Cartain replied with a smile. “It was lovely to see you two together. I hope to find a husband I can feel that way about someday.”
“You are not married then?” he asked.
“Goodness no,” she laughed. “Not that there hasn’t been plenty of opportunity, but I haven’t found the right one yet.”
“So you are looking for love,” Gersius suggested.
“Love, strength, compassion,” she listed as if the ideas had deep meaning. “It seems rather difficult to find all three in one man.”
“Nothing of ambition?” Gersius asked as he studied her aura.
“Ambition?” she laughed. “I think it is good for a man to have a goal, but when that goal consumes them so that they would trade their character to achieve it, then it becomes a curse.”
“Well spoken,” Gersius said with a nod.
“What about you? Are you a man of ambition?” she asked.
Gersius laughed and explained that his only ambition was to create a stable land where he could establish his farm and raise children. The empire was never part of his plan, but the path he had to walk in order to achieve the outcome.
“But will you ever achieve it now?” she asked. “You are the emperor, and this is your path until your days grow short.”
Gersius knew her words were laced with truth, but he didn't want to think about it. Slowly he was beginning to feel as Lilly did and wished to run away to the valley and live in peace. But, even if he couldn't have his farm and quiet life, he would provide the stability needed for others to have it. He was the one chosen for the task, and he would see it through.
“A man of dedication, not ambition,” she said when he explained it.
They continued to talk for over an hour as he explained how the ever-expanding efforts of the Father Abbot forced his hand. She was enthralled by the story, especially the part where he set Lilly free and she found him using a lover's mark. He noted how the light of her aura changed, tinging purple with an almost ring-like effect over her head. It was so unusual he used the bind to call to Thayle and asked her to join them. He told her what he had seen before she arrived, and she used the pretense of bringing him a glass of wine to join them.
Lady Cartain was delighted to meet Thayle and congratulated her on helping Gerisus and Lilly come together. Thayle was polite and cordial as Gersius relayed more of the story. Now he spoke about Thayle and her sacrifice to help them have a child. This didn't seem to move the lady Cartain nearly as much as Thayle watched for a reappearance of the strange aura.
Sarah eventually arrived with Lilly holding her hand. Lilly introduced the two women as Sarah spoke like the empress she was, cordially inviting the woman to stay in the night in the palace. Lady Cartain readily accepted but announced that she was growing tired and would like to retire. Lilly offered to show her to a room, but Sarah summoned a maid and instructed her to do it.
“So, what do you think?” Gersius asked as the woman walked off.
“Where did this woman say she was from?” Sarah asked.
“The common lands,” Gersious replied as he realized that her answer was exceptionally vague.
“That tells us nothing,” Sarah balked. “Still, she seems rather polite and straightforward.”
“I like her,” Lilly said with a squeeze at Sarah’s hand.
Sarah shook her head and went into a lecture about keeping guests at a distance.
“I wonder if she is from the desert,” Thayle said as she pondered the woman’s coppery skin. “While I am thinking about it, can you visualize the aura effect you noticed?”
“I think so,” Gersius replied as all three women reached out to touch his hand. He closed his eyes and tried to see the moment where Lady Cartain’s aura flushed with purple and produced the strange halo effect.
“That is very unusual,” Thayle said after she saw it. “I have no idea what produced that effect.”
“You don’t?” Lilly asked, surprised that Thayle was at such a loss.
“Never in all my experience have I seen purple engulf an aura and produce a sort of band over somebody's head,” Thayle insisted. “I am very concerned about what that means.”
“Her aura hardly moved otherwise,” Gersius added. “It was the most stable aura I have ever seen.”
“It looked absolutely calm while I observed it,” Thayle agreed. “It usually takes training to achieve a calm like that, but to hold it for so long.”
“And why would it slip when she learned about Lilly using the lover's mark?” Gersius asked.
“Is this woman a threat?” Sarah asked as her alarm began to grow. “Have I invited a viper to stay?”
“I didn’t think she was dangerous,” Lilly offered.
Thayle looked to Gersius, who had to admit they didn't know a thing about her besides her name. He pointed out that everything she said had shown as truth, but she was also vague about details.
“All I know for sure is she is from the common lands and is unmarried,” he said.
“She isn't married?” Lilly asked excitedly, causing Sarah to squeeze her hand and give her a firm head shake.
“I do not think she can cause us any harm,” Gersius said after a moment. “We can speak with her tomorrow and ask some direct questions.”
“Yes, let’s see how this woman answers a question that leaves no room to be vague,” Sarah agreed.
They decided to gather for a light breakfast in the garden and invite their guest. Thayle would watch the light carefully for any sign of the strange band as Gersius and Sarah asked direct questions. In the meantime, her room would be watched, and the guard on their level doubled. Until they understood the strange woman and her purpose for visiting, it seemed prudent to be cautious.
