Omnixius
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DKP 7-3 a new path
🕑 Added 2021-07-10 21:09:58 +0000 UTCSarah and Gersius led the way as they walked down the massive hall.
Thayle walked beside Lilly and chewed at her lower lip. She said nothing, but over the bind, they could feel her turmoil.
“Alright, what has you so twisted in knots?” Sarah asked with a glance.
“It’s Gersius and us. There is something shameful about our relationship I didn’t think of until just a few minutes ago.” She paused and took a deep breath before continuing. “Gersius, there is something I need to know.”
Gersius looked over at her with a raised eyebrow.
“If I know the answer, I will tell you,” he replied.
“I can assure you that you know the answer, and I am ashamed that I do not.”
Lilly walking beside her, took her hand.
“What can you possibly be ashamed of?” she asked.
Thayle took a deep breath and blushed brightly.
“What is my last name?”
Gersius began to snicker, and Thayle felt even more embarrassed.
“Why are you turning red?” Lilly asked.
Thayle knew the nature of their relationship was unique, but she still called him her husband. She shared his bed and her body, but she had no idea what his and subsequently her last name was.
“You do not have to take my last name, Thayle,” he finally said after he got control of his laughter.
“Last name?” Lilly said with a questioning tone.
Thayle looked at her as they continued down the hall.
“Most humans have two names. Some cultures or societies have three or more names. In my culture, the common person has two names. But the noble caste always has three, and the Sezar has four.”
“What is a Sezar, and why does he need four names?” Lilly asked.
“I knew that question was coming,” Gersius said with a chuckle.
“It is my people's title for king or ruler. In Gersius's culture, it is just a king; in Mingfe's, it is a Suldan.”
“So why does he need four names?”
“It is another way to express his rank. Some cultures add more names to show rank. In Gersius culture, they use titles like Lord or Duke. In Mingfe's culture, they add a sort of tag to the name. If Mingfe was a noble, she would be known as Sa'Mingfe Jerzell.”
“Jerzell?” Lilly repeated.
“It is her last name,” Thayle replied. “In her culture, people always have two names. Mingfe is her name, and Jerzell is her family name. Anybody with the name Jerzell is a member of her family.”
“My mother had more than one name now that I think about it,” Lilly said, swinging Thayles hand as she walked beside her. “So Gersius has two names?”
“I have three,” he replied.
“Three?” Lilly said, surprised.
“Yes, he has three names, and the last one is his family name. In his culture and my culture, when a woman becomes a wife to a man, she takes his last name as her own,” Thayle said, clenching her hand around Lilly's. “It is shameful that I do not know his name, yet I call myself his wife.”
“Nothing you ever do is shameful,” Gersius interjected. “Names do not bind us. We are bound by souls. You, Sarah, Lilly, and I are one. Our last names are just that, names.”
“Explain that to my parents,” Thayle said with a smirk.
“Yes,” Gersius said with a nod. “My family would not understand it either.”
“So should I have his last name too?” Lilly asked.
“Lilly, you are a dragon. I do not believe any of this would apply to you,” Thayle said.
“But I want people to know I am his wife? If the humans expect me to have his last name, what harm would it do to have it?”
“None,” Gersius said.
“Then I will carry this name as well,” Sarah added. “I want people to know I belong to this family.”
“Then husband, what is our last name?” Lilly asked.
“I am Gersius Udwan of house Udwan,” he replied.
“You're descended from house Udwan?” Thayle said with a hint of shock.
“I am,” he replied, not looking back.
“Your family is royalty. We know of house Udwan even in the silver isles.”
“I would expect so. My family owned several merchant ships on the coast.”
“Why are you a battle priest when you could be a duke or a viscount?” Thayle asked.
“My father was a battle priest. His father was a battle priest. And so was his. I could do no less to honor my family. It is important when one is raised in privilege to step outside that life and learn of the world. I am a battle priest because I wanted to learn respect for life and people. I cannot lead if I do not understand the value of those I lead.”
“You are the greatest man I have ever met,” Thayle said, reaching out with her free hand to take his.
They walked down the hallway hand in hand, all three of them silent for a moment.
“Well, Lady Thayle Udwan, are your worries put at ease?” he asked while giving her hand a squeeze.
“They most certainly are. My parents will not believe me when I tell them.”
“So I am Lilly Udwan?” Lilly asked.
“You are,” Gersius replied. “But I have been thinking. You, Lilly, are a special link in our lives. Both because you are a dragon and because you brought Thayle and I together. Sarah was also deeply influenced by your life with us. I want to honor you two dragons your role in our relationship.”
“Honor them how?” Thayle asked.
“Why don’t we all take the last name Dra’Udwan to signify that we are the Udwan of the dragon line.”
“I like that,” Thayle said.
“So Dra is short for dragon then?” Lilly asked.
“It is, Lady Lilly Dra’Udwan,” Gersius replied.
Thayle and Gersius felt the surge of satisfaction radiate out of Lilly across the bind.
“It is settled then. Our family name is Dra'Udwan,” Gersius said.
“I wish I could tell my parents!” Thayle squeaked. “They wanted me to marry a petty noble; they said I would be throwing away a great opportunity.”
“When we have time, I intend to meet them. Sarah will fly us to your family, and then we will Lilly's mother. I have so many questions to ask her.”
“You still want to meet my mother?” Lilly asked, and they both felt uncertainty across the link.
“Is that a problem?” Gersius asked.
“No, I suppose it isn't. If I go in to speak to her first and tell her that you are here with me, she will honor my wish not to eat you. The more I interact with you humans, the more I realize my mother was more like you than she was like a dragon. She would probably love to talk to you.”
“I wonder what her human form looks like,” Thayle said.
“I have never seen it,” Lilly admitted. “She was always a dragon when I was with her.”
“Just imagine sitting around a table sipping wine with your mother while we all talk about our adventures and ask your mother all the questions we want to ask her.”
Lilly shook her head. “I can't imagine it. It all seems so unlikely, or it did. To think that my mother could sit down to dinner with us in a fancy dress is impossible. I only know her as the dragon, and she is a big dragon.”
“Nothing is impossible. I still need to thank her for raising such a beautiful daughter,” Gersius added, drawing a long “Oooooh,” from Thayle.
“Lilly Dra’Udwan,” Lilly repeated as they finally reached the door to the banquet hall. “I like the sound of it.”
“Then let's make it official,” Gersius said as they walked into the room. Ten long tables were set across the floor; each draped in a runner of a different color. Men and women in fine clothes stood behind chairs and spoke to one another as they three entered the room.
“It’s a lot more than half,” Thayle said as they gazed into the hall.
“I put it close to four hundred,” Gersius whispered. “Very good.”
“Good? I bet half these people are just spies sent to size us up and bring back news to their lords,” Sarah added distastefully.
Lilly caught sight of the women from earlier who had suggested she was nothing more than a toy for Gersius’s sexual needs and struggled not to frown.
As soon as one person noticed them, hushed whispers spread across the room, and all heads turned to regard them. Lilly in her long lacy white dress with her hair braided and trimmed with blue flowers. Thayle, in her short black lace dress, stepped out and stood beside Sarah in her elegant red gown. Gersius stood tall and resplendent in green pants and a dark blue coat. All three walked across the hall to the steps where a private table was set for them to eat.
Gersius escorted his wives to the steps and stood behind the table to look over the assembled gathering. All of the city's nobles and many of the sub rulers of his new empire were here. This was the perfect place to make such an announcement.
“Before we begin, I would like to make a declaration,” he said, studying the faces of the gathered crowd. “My wives and I have been in discussion, and we have decided to make a change to our relationship. In honor of the special role Lilly fills in our lives, my wives and I have decided to amend our family name. No longer will we be known as Udwan. From this day forward, we are Dra'Udwan, the Udwan of the dragon. So may I present to you all then my wives, the Lady Sarah Dra’Udwan, The Thayle Dra'Udwan, and the Lady Lilly Dra'Udwan.” The assembled mass of people bowed and spoke quick words of praise.
“Let us begin then, be seated, and let us eat,” Gersius said in a commanding tone.
He turned to his wives and seated them before sitting down himself and looked out over the gathered crowd. Word of his new name would spread, and he was glad he had found a way to honor his wives.
“What is this?” Lilly asked as she poked at the object that had arrived on her plate.
Gersius looked over and smiled. He still enjoyed teaching Lilly about the world around her, especially the food.
“That is a meat pie. The outside is a pastry shell, and inside is meat and gravy and usually vegetables.”
“Mushrooms,” Thayle said from his left. “It is absolutely packed with mushrooms, and they are delicious.”
“I hope you both enjoy the fruits of the station we hold,” Gersius said, picking up his fork.
Lilly suddenly froze and then slowly turned to look past him at Thayle, who was looking back at her.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“No, nothing is wrong,” Thayle replied, but Lilly put down her fork.
“Yesterday, some women accused us of only loving you because you could provide things like this meal for us. They said you didn't love us, only the pleasures we could bring you in bed.”
Gersius nodded his head. “So they accused you of being shallow and pretending to love me to get a life of comfort and ease.”
“Yes,” Lilly said, not wanting to eat now.
“Lilly, you and Thayle loved me when I was a broken man with no money and no home. I had nothing to offer you but a long road of suffering and war. Nobody can accuse you of selling yourself to me in exchange for a place in my house. This empire was built on the blood and tears of my wives. I may have had the goal of reforming it, but you three made it possible. Never let anybody tell you otherwise.”
“I tried to explain this to her earlier,” Thayle remarked.
“And that didn’t help?” he asked.
Thayle shook her head from side to side. “Well, she decided it would be better for me to attend to her needs in the bedroom than keep speaking about it.”
“So that’s why I felt a sudden rush of pleasure from you both. I was talking to Lengwin and the king of the Altilan province when that hit me.”
Thayle’s eyes went wide as she dropped her fork.
“I am so sorry, Gersius! We hoped you were far enough away.”
“I hoped it would bring you to the room,” Lilly added, finally cutting open her pie.
“I wanted to come to the room, but I found it hard to walk away from the discussion. I had to ask them to move the conversation to the gardens so I could get farther away from you both.”
“I am so embarrassed now,” Thayle said, covering her face.
“Be at peace, my wife, I am not angry, and nobody had any idea why I suddenly wanted to move. But let us return to the topic at hand. Lilly, you have this life and these gifts because you, Lady Lilly, have earned them. You have fought men, giants, trolls, and other beasts of the northern wilds. You have escaped dangerous traps and rescued me several times now. You have striven to learn and understand humans and be accepted in their company. You have founded a church for a Goddess and teach her first pupils her faith. You have brought Thayle into your love, and you have never once made me question your love for me or her or Sarah. You, Lilly, earned all of this. You have earned more than this.”
“Then why did they say those mean things about us?” Lilly asked as she chewed on a bite of her food.
“Because they are jealous. Look out across that room,” Sarah said with a sweep of her hand. Seated at the tables were nearly four hundred of the lords and ladies of the city and surrounding provinces. They all looked the part and were dressed much like they were. They sat, ate, and spoke to one another, just as Lilly was now doing with her loved ones.
Gersius took over added on to Sarah’s comment. “Ask yourself, how many of those people have ever had to fight for their life or the life of somebody they loved? How many of them would risk their lives to protect somebody they loved? How many of those couples out there can honestly say that they love one another?”
“I thought all husbands and wives loved each other. Or I did until yesterday, and Thayle had to explain it to me.”
“When money and power are involved, people will sacrifice love and other values to get what they want,” Gersius said as he too looked out over the crowd.
“Are these people even worth saving?” Lilly asked.
“Some of the people here do love each other. And among the common people who make up the vast majority of the empire, love is far more important.”
“This is true. The common people do not have wealth or power, so they marry for other reasons. Most often, that reason is love,” Thayle added.
“So they are jealous of the love we have,” Lilly said as she understood.
“Exactly,” Gersius replied. “You, Thayle, and Sarah have come in and not only taken a place higher than they but you are loved like most of them wish they could be.”
“Why does that feel sad to me?” Lilly asked.
“Because, sweet Lilly, you have a heart full of love, and you want others to know what that feels like,” Thayle replied.
“I want my acolytes to love,” Lilly said as she fished for another bite of the pie.
“They will have to learn to understand love if they wish to have a strong connection to the goddess. One must love in order to establish a connection to the divine,” Gersius replied.
“I wish I could order all those women to have to join a temple and become priestesses. I wish I could order them all to have to learn how to love.”
“Sweet Lilly,” Thayle began. “Many of those women know how to love. They have simply chosen to forgo love in order gain wealth and position.”
“Why, though?”
“I am not sure. It seems to be a common trait with noblewomen.”
“If you ask me, it is because they are afraid,” Gersius replied.
“How do you mean?” Thayle asked.
“They are afraid they cannot attain success on their own. The world is not very fair to women. It looks down on their abilities and discourages them from trying to achieve success. Some kingdoms do not even allow women to own property. If they want a house, they need to marry a man with one.”
Thayle shook her head as she set down her fork. “This is true, but no matter where a woman is, there are temples that will gladly accept them. They do not have to follow the path of marriage.”
“Not all people are cut out to be priestesses. That title is a noble calling, a life of dedication and work. You know that more than any other. You forsook your titles to dedicate yourself more directly to your service to your goddess. How many women want such a life?”
Thayle chewed on her food a moment as she thought about it.
“There are other means. Other jobs women are suited for.”
“You mean waiting tables in barrooms where drunken men pinch at them all night?”
“Now your not being fair,” Thayle said with a hint of indignity. “Many of the dress shops we visit are owned and run exclusively by women. There is a bakery here that is owned by women.”
“These are all good examples, but too few,” he countered.
“Many women work the land on the farms. They harvest and thresh grain. They tend the flocks, and they mend the sacks and the work clothes.”
“I am not trying to upset you, Thayle. I know the struggles of women are close to your heart. I am just saying that I believe many of these women are afraid. They could have done those other jobs, but how many of those jobs lead to wealth and power?”
Thayle stopped eating and just stared down at her plate.
“We should talk about ways to change some of that in our empire. We are in a position to do some good,” Gersius added.
Thayle looked up at him with wet eyes. “Do you mean that?”
“Of course I mean that. Thayle, I am a man who has achieved all this because of women. Nearly half my army is composed of women. You sit at this table because you helped us get here. Without you and Lilly, there would be no empire. I think we should let people know that. We should make people aware of the role women played. I will order the open recruitment in the armies to women who want to fight. I will also allow women to buy and own land in the empire.”
“What will all this accomplish?” Lilly asked.
“We just need to create a few more paths to success for women than marrying a wealthy man they do not love,” Gersius replied.
“Why not teach them to love one another?” Lilly asked.
Gersius and Thayle both looked at her with genuine admiration.
“Sometimes, the size of your heart surprises me,” Gersius said.
“She would have made a powerful priestess of Ulustrah,” Thayle said.
“It just makes sense. They are married, maybe for the wrong reasons, but there is no reason why they could not learn to love one another. I am a dragon, and yet I learned to love a human man and a woman. We should try and set the example.”
“I am so deeply in love with her,” Thayle said to Gersius.
“To know Lilly is to know love,” Gersius replied.
Lilly blushed a little and looked down at her food. “I feel silly now.”
“Don’t you ever feel silly for being so wonderful,” Thayle remarked.
“What we need is a little music,” Gersius said, and he motioned to an attendant on the back wall. “Tell the musicians to start playing something light. I would like some background music.”
“Of course, my Lord,” the man said before running off. In moments, the air was filled with happy music tones, and both Thayle and Gersius smiled as Lilly began to sway.
“Why does she bring such joy to my heart?” Thayle whispered to Gersius again.
“Because she appreciates the joys of being human more than any human we know.”
“You humans were much more focused on love and family before the war,” Sarah added. “A lot of what you wanted us to help build was for beauty's sake. Great statues and gardens dominated many cities, and women used to sing together in great concerts. Queens ruled in just as many cities as a king did, and people were happy. I wonder if this change is more damage from that terrible time.”
“It could be,” Gersius agreed. “Perhaps we men feel something of the dragon's curse.”
“Or perhaps you remember some of what Solesta taught you when she built human armies of her own,” Sarah countered.
“Perhaps,” he agreed and went back to his meal.
They ate with little more conversation until Guests began to rise and Gersius and Sarah stepped away from the table to mingle and speak with them. Lilly was nervous about meeting the guests, so Thayle took her hand and led her into the crowds. She did most of the talking while Lilly stood by and answered a few questions. There were many about dragons and their nature. A few asked about her hoard, and she politely informed them that it was rude to ask a dragon about her hoard. The topic of her age came up, and she was quick to inform them that she was over five hundred years old. This, too, was a point of insult for dragons, she explained. A dragon was proud of its age and hated to be mistaken for being younger, especially in human terms. Thayle took over and explained how some had mistakenly assumed Lilly was in her low twenties because of her human form.
Gersius and Sarah spent their time talking to noble lords about borders, trade, and their new place in the empire. Gersius was focused on the flow of needed materials for the war effort, especially food. He wasn't surprised at all when the lords pressed the point that there had been no priestesses of Ulustrah to bless crops or chase away disease from livestock. Many farms were short labor because men had been conscripted to fight or fled the conscriptions to nations beyond the empire.
“It's a bloody mess,” one of the lords said.
“I am sure a solution can be found,” Gersius assured them as the music changed to a dance.
“I promised Lilly there would be dancing,” Sarah interrupted. “Would you gentlemen please excuse us.”
“Of course,” they said in unison as Gersius led her away to an open place on the floor. A slow waltz began to play, and they fell into the practiced steps arm in arm.
“We need to talk about Shadros,” Sarah said as she was spun about. “He performed brilliantly on his task and kept the bulk of the raven guard at bay.”
“I have heard about his exploits from the city engineers. They say rebuilding that bridge will be difficult,” Gersius replied.
“It was a brilliant idea considering the numbers he faced. Not to mention it allowed him to leave the battle and lend his aid at the gate. His was the first of the major gates to be captured and opened thanks to his heroics.”
Gersius could see Sarah’s logic and asked what a good reward for a dragon would be. Sarah suggested a title and perhaps a gift of gold. She also suggested a saddle be made for him so Mingfe could ride on him safely. He nodded at all the suggestions and even suggested they give him a house in the city so the couple would have some privacy.
“How about we name him a champion of the empire?” Gersius suggested.
“A fitting title,” Sarah agreed. “Perhaps you should encourage him to go back to his lair for a week or two. Let him rest and feed for a bit.”
“What about Mingfe? She won't be happy to be apart from him,” he pointed out.
“That is why I wish he had a saddle of his own. Hmm, I wonder if Lilly's would fit him?”
“They are about the same size,” he agreed as he leaned Sarah back in a dip to the music.
She smiled as their eyes met and felt a deep desire to kiss him.
“If you think this has stirred your passion, look to your side,” Gersius said as he swept her up.
Sarah turned to look and saw Lilly and Thayle dancing together. They were locked with one arm while the other held up a hem of their dress. They turned in circles about one another in a tender display of love and affection that had many guests watching.
“Oh, those two are so precious,” Sarah sighed.
“We should do another banquet in a month,” Gersius said. “Word of how this night went will spread to the hostile provinces, and some might come around.”
“I doubt it,” Sarah grumbled. “You have yet to tell the lords of your war demands for raw materials. They might see your requests as stripping them of their wealth.”
“What good will their wealth do them when the Doan are burning their lands?” he asked.
“I fully understand your point, but you know as well as I that others will not,” she said defensively.
“No, they will not,” he agreed and began to wonder how best to ensure those supplies started flowing.
After the dance, they changed partners, and Thayle whisked Sarah away so Lilly could dance with Gersius. It was like the wedding party all those months ago when he taught Lilly her first steps. Now she flowed through them with ease and looked into his eyes with a broad smile.
“I love you,” he said from the heart.
“I love you too,” she replied gently as she was turned in a circle. “Will there be more dancing in our future?”
“A lot more. We need to be approachable to the nobility and people. I plan to host events like this at least once a month. “
“Good, because I love dancing with my loved ones,” Lilly replied and laid head on his shoulder.
Gersius smiled at the gesture of love and held her tight as they danced slowly to the music. When the song changed, he danced with Thayle, and the two spoke about the plan acknowledge Shadros and his heroics on the causeway. She was all for it, especially the part about giving him a saddle so he and Mingfe could return to his hoard. Thankfully both Shadros and Mingfe had been invited, so when this song finally ended, he approached them both with Thayle in hand and explained it all.
When the time came, he spoke to the crowd with Shadros before him and named him a champion of the empire, and gave him the full authority a city guard captain would have. He then presented the dragon to the crowd, and as they cheered him.
Turning them loose, he took this moment to talk about the war and the need for men and materials. He laid out a plan to use the priestesses of Ulustrah to begin blessing the farms and flocks in an effort to restore some of the health of the empire. This was met with less cheering, especially when Gersius laid out the quantities of material he needed. Provinces would be taxed by population and productivity so that larger demands would be made of the larger regions. Some lords openly protested, stating it wasn't fair to drain their incomes dry. Gersius explained that the empire would pay for the materials in time, and once the war was won, all debts would be settled.
This did little to soothe the nerves of the nobility, but Gersius didn't care. He needed food, lumber, and supplies if his armies were going to march. They couldn't hide behind their walls forever, and being on the defensive only played into the Doan's hands.
He stayed on for hours, speaking to the nobility with Sarah as Lilly and Thayle spent time with Shadros and Mingfe. By night's end, he had said all he needed to say. The nobility was unhappy about the war demands, but he was sure it would get done. He also announced a second banquet in a month where any problems that arose could be addressed.
With the chore done, he settled into the night high on the garden terrace with his wives. Lilly leaned into his back as he looked over the city from the wall. Thayle and Sarah were at his side, sharing a glass of wine as he wondered how best to run an empire.
“Just the way you run everything else,” Lilly said as she read his thoughts. “With all your heart.”
“People want an end to the fighting, yet the war has just begun,” Gersius replied. “We still don’t even know why the Doan are attacking in the first place.”
“Well, maybe we could ask them,” Lilly suggested. “They seem to be working with the dragons. Maybe one of us could go and talk to them.”
Gersius let out a light laugh and patted her hand on his shoulder. “They may revere dragons, but that doesn't mean they will talk to us.”
“Isn't it worth a try, though? Think of the lives that could be saved.”
Gersius did think of the lives that could be saved, assuming what the Doan had to say could be settled without bloodshed. More than likely, this was a war of conquest, and no amount of peace talks would change the outcome. Still, if there was a chance to avoid an all-out war, should he take it?
With that thought, they settled into the night and shared the love they had for one another. Tomorrow the palace would be searched, and the staff questioned about the seal of Astikar. Hopefully, somebody knew where it went. If not, he would expand his questions to the wider list of traitors in the holy orders. One of them might know where the seal went. He might even spare their lives if they told him. For now, he lay quietly in bed with three women pressing on him from every side. Why did life's greatest rewards often come with the greatest of challenges? Why was he so grateful that they did?
