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Loose Threads
One Hundred Thirty Two
Ninhursag watched Iain open the gate to Twenty Three. “How long will you be gone?”
“On this side, a handful of seconds. On the other side, I expect it’ll take a couple of days for Zilvra and the others to get ready and travel to the valley. I also have to touch base with Shatris so she doesn’t get her feelings hurt and I want to see if her daughter has finally set a date with that ruffian she insists on marrying.” He glanced back at where Pandora waited with Scheherazade. “I am kind of looking forward to the day that I take them with me and they find out I don’t have security over there.”
“Then I’ll just be the big furry needy girlfriend who has to follow her boyfriend everywhere,” Scheherazade said clearly. Pandora stared at the Dread Wolf for a second before she burst out laughing. “Pandora will be my lesbian lover who has to go with me, or I’ll start hitting people in my frustration.” Pandora laughed harder as the tears began to roll down her cheeks.
“Oh, that’s going to be a fun fight,” Iain grinned at Ninhursag.
“You have a strange definition of fun, but I’ve mentioned that before,” the Elfqueen noted amusedly. “Bring them home, Iain.”
“I will.” He waved to Scheherazade. “See you crazy girlfriend and her lover.” He could hear Pandora still laughing as he stepped through the portal and into his bedroom in the valley. Zilvra, Arithallos, Helesatra, I am in my bedroom and plan on staying here for a few days while you get ready to come visit One.
We will be ready in four days, Zilvra said, if that is acceptable.
Iain chuckled, having had this conversation before with her. And if it isn’t acceptable?
He felt her amusement. Then we will rush our preparations so that we will be ready in four days, Iain. Do you have any specific plans for those days?
I want to visit Shatris and reassure her that she’s still in my good graces. And, of course, I want to tease Tasini about Sir Ponytail.
His name is Sir Petlamin. Zilvra managed to sound both amused and stern at the same time. I understand he is very proud of his heritage. What are you going to do if you accidentally call him Sir Ponytail?
I’ll apologize profusely and grovel a little, Iain replied with a grin nobody could see.
What if he challenges you, Helesatra asked.
Tasini will need to find a new boyfriend, Iain said seriously. I let some Keltormir noble defeat me and they’ll all be out for my hide and I don’t have enough for them all to share.
If Sir Petlamin was stupid enough to think he could challenge the Grey, Arithallos noted, Tasini wouldn’t love him. Thanks to her Uncle Iain, she’s too practical to think someone like that would be an asset to the royal family. Besides, if he was that stupid, Vatorin would have already killed the elf. And Tasini told me that he already knows your private nickname for him because she told him about it. She calls him that when she’s irritated at him.
That just ruined my fun, Iain grumped.
I think that was her intent, Arithallos said. Vivahdri came by here looking for you. I think the valley is her next stop, although she said she’d probably visit Laraxithius and Tagiss first. I don’t believe her. I’ve heard from a contact at court that she may have decided Iain can help her with a quest that she’s required to complete as part of being considered for queen of the golds.
I have more than enough quests right now, Iain said as he stripped to change into local clothing. I’ve told her no before, she’ll get to hear it again.
She never likes hearing that, Arithallos noted.
Then she should have loved Iain and married him, Helesatra said. If she had, she’d already be Her Resplendence and Iain would be turning the golds into clan dragons, where they’d actually be useful.
You just made me laugh and spit tea all over my secretary, Arithallos complained. I’m leaving so I can apologize without laughing more at her.
Four days, ladies, Iain reminded them.
I will be ready then, Helesatra assured him. I want to meet my other sisters and some time away from the throne would be welcomed.
Then I’m off to Keltormir. Iain left his bedroom. I’ll take the Lemon Sour and do some fishing on my way back.
I am coming with you, Zilvra announced. I want to practice net casting. I will meet you at the ship.
Good.
***
Iain stepped back through the gate. “I’ve verified the coordinates and Ninhursag says hello. Why are we doing this in my bedroom?”
Zilvra smiled. “It is the traditional place for you to open gates to One.”
Iain shook his head. “I’ll talk to Quick Bite about moving my bedroom.”
“We like your bedroom,” Zilvra took his hand. “If a gate opens anywhere else, our security will know that it is unwelcome and respond appropriately. It has been that way for centuries and retraining them would take a great deal of time and effort that is critically needed elsewhere as the clan here in the valley grows.” She squeezed his hand and released it, gesturing towards Arithallos and Helesatra. “How are we supposed to proceed?”
Iain looked up when his bedroom door opened. Xune hurried in, followed by Mielikki and Eilistraee. His daughter looked around with a grateful smile. “Good, we’re not late.”
“We are going too,” Mielikki announced. “I have been gone long enough and Xune wants to meet her sisters.”
“Do you have what you need to travel,” Arithallos asked.
“I have clothing at the Sabine House and I gave Xune some Dikon,” Mielikki said.
“I brought seeds for Ninhursag.” Xune grinned. “Now you can’t leave me here, Father.”
“I wasn’t going to. Why are you really coming along?”
“I have given Xune some advice,” Mielikki said, “on dealing with Miriam.”
Iain had been turning back to the gate. He stopped to look at Mielikki and then Xune. “I hope it works.” He glanced at Eilistraee and turned back to the gate. “Ladies, Ninhursag is waiting on the other side for you. Also waiting there is Pandora and Scheherazade, who will be my guards once we leave the Danger Room.”
“We can meet them too, can we not,” Arithallos asked.
“Yes.” He gestured towards the gate. “Ladies, after you.”
Everyone walked through except for Mielikki and Eilistraee. Eilistraee nodded to him. “They cannot see me. You cannot either.”
Iain shrugged. “Yes, Lady. You’ve already met Ava.”
“I have, but I want to see this place without being noticed. And if the Danu sisters try anything, they will not be aware of my presence until too late.”
“I already said yes, Lady.”
She nodded, her expression serious. “Good.”
“Since you weren’t present for the briefings, we will exit the gate on the Danger Room, what is essentially a space station like some of the ones in Realmspace. I’ll lead everyone through a door to the Sabine Ranch on Earth. I have warned Kerrik Wolf about this visit, but only so he doesn’t show up and try to kill everyone. No matter who won that fight, it would be bad for everyone, especially everyone else in the vicinity. Do not pick a fight with someone named Caintigern. Now I’ll go back to not seeing you.” He looked at Mielikki and gestured towards the gate. “Shall we?”
Mielikki took his hand. “It has been several centuries but nothing will have really changed. I am not used to that.”
“Kasumi gave birth,” Iain said with an amused smile. “Mariko is like my other children, although she becomes a Nipponese dragon. And we’re looking at conquering a different Nippon to add the populace to the clan, somewhere in the early to mid thirteenth century. And it’s only been a bit more than a month.”
Mielikki’s eyes widened. “There have been more changes than I anticipated.”
“Will this conquest be beneficial for the inhabitants of this place?” Eilistraee’s eyes were focused on his.
“In the long run, yes it will be. In the short term, a lot of soldiers will probably end up dead when they resist our changes. The local religion is a mishmash of beliefs, but one thread that runs through them all is that their gods live and can walk among them. You’ll have to visit and establish yourselves there.”
“How many worlds do you intend to spread our religion to,” Eilistraee asked.
Iain smiled. “All of the ones that we’re on, of course. Maybe even more after that.” His smile faded. “Are you forbidding it?”
Eilistraee exchanged a glance with Mielikki. “We are not.” She smiled grimly. “The next time I have to face off against my mother to protect my people, she is in for quite the surprise, and it is because of yours and Zilvra’s work.”
“When we set foot on the Danger Room, you will have access to Theodora, Daya and our network with your twee. It’s not something that you’re used to. You’ll find it very useful, though, and we intend to put a similar network into place on Twenty Three. You can get a lot of information in a short period of time. Once we do the big reveal of your presence, I’ll tell Theodora and Daya that you and Mielikki are cleared for Orb Weaver and she’ll give you a lot of details quickly so you can see what we’re planning. That’ll include a background, so far as we have, on the situation that currently exists there. We won’t have specific details until we select the world and begin gathering information on it, just like I did here.”
“I look forward to learning about these marvels that you and Mielikki have told me about.”
“Then let’s go.” Iain led them through the gate.
***
Ninhursag stepped forward with a broad smile on her face. “Zilvra, Ari, Helesatra, it’s so good to see you all again.” She gave each of them a welcoming kiss on the cheek and was kissed on the cheek in return. “How long has it been for you?”
“It’s been a little over two tendays,” Zilvra said. “And for you?”
“It’s been a month; I mean a little more than three tendays. And I made Iain wait so certain things could be ready for your visit.” She turned and gestured behind her. “The tall canine is Scheherazade and the purple haired woman is Pandora.”
“I recognized both of them from the paintings,” Arithallos said. “I must remember to tell Iain that I was wrong and that he did color Scheherazade properly. I wonder if that means he did Lynn properly as well.”
Ninhursag frowned. “Paintings?”
“I will have to show you the gallery.” Zilvra smiled. “In it, Iain has painted all of you, from something he once told me.”
“Iain paints?”
“He learned to do so for his magic,” Zilvra said. “Most wizards at least learn to draw and some of them move on to painting. For those who are very particular and want to craft the items they will later enchant, they can learn some woodworking to make wands and staffs, how to make statuary of various types, weaving or clothing making, smithing and some even learn how to be jewelers. That’s more common among the longer lived races than, say, humans. Iain took up painting as a hobby, although he has tried his hand at many things. He paints on and off as the mood strikes him. Some of the work is portraiture and some of it comes from his imagination. At least I believe that some of it is imaginary.”
Ninhursag shook her head. “It’s hard to believe that Iain was really gone for so long. Then a conversation like this happens and slaps me in the face with it. I would love to see this gallery.” Her eyes flicked past the three women. “Who is your companion?”
“I am Xune,” she said with a grin. “Father didn’t know I was going to come along until just a second ago.”
Ninhursag smiled. “When you told him?”
“Exactly.”
Ninhursag kissed her on the cheek and Xune returned the greeting with a grin. “Welcome to One, Xune.” Her eyes lit up in delight when Iain walked through with Mielikki. “Good to see you again, sister.”
“It is good to see you again, Ninhursag,” Mielikki smiled back at her. “I have missed being here.” She blinked when Ninhursag kissed her on the cheek. “You decided to keep the moon elf greeting of Ava and Kasserine?”
“I did. It is friendly enough and much nicer than shaking hands.”
“But I am not a stranger.” Mielikki pulled Ninhursag’s head back down and kissed her firmly on the lips. “I believe this is the proper greeting for family if you fully adopted that tradition.”
Ninhursag nodded as she straightened. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted that greeting and I didn’t want to suggest that Zilvra and the others are not family by greeting you differently.”
“I like this custom,” Xune said with another grin. “When do I get greeted that way?” Her grin widened when Iain gave her an amused look. “She’s hot.”
“That she is,” Iain agreed.
“Don’t mind her,” Zilvra said. “Our goddess is exactly that and should be greeted differently than we should.”
“I am still harem,” Mielikki noted.
“And we three do not completely understand what that means,” Helesatra pointed out. “But we want to learn about being harem because we are harem too. It’s part of why we are here.”
“You didn’t explain it to them,” Ninhursag asked Iain as the gate closed.
He shrugged. “How can I explain what you’ve been deliberately keeping me from learning all about? I certainly wouldn’t want to have given them a partially correct and still completely incorrect explanation of the harem and how it works.”
Ninhursag’s eyes twinkled as she gave him a teasing smile. “I guess that is true enough. We’ll teach them.”
“Have you met Xune?”
“Briefly. She told me that she invited herself along.”
“She did, but it may be for the best. She wants to have a talk with one of our problem children.”
“Oh?”
“I am here to have words with Miriam,” Xune said. “She is my sister and should never be harem. I am going to explain that to her and show her where she is mistaken in her ideals.”
“Then I wish you complete success,” Scheherazade said as she and Pandora joined them. “Lucifer is too easy on that child just because she’s an orphan.”
Xune smiled coldly. “I was never told who my sire or my dam is or was. She at least knew her birth mother before her untimely death.”
Pandora looked surprised. “You don’t know who your mother his?”
“My mother is Eilistraee and my father is Iain. I was never told who the drow and male who mingled their egg and sperm to create me were. They are not my parents. Father knows who they are, but has never revealed that information to me and, honestly, I do not see where knowing would have improved my life.”
“I think we need to get this cavalcade moving,” Iain said quietly to Ninhursag.
“I agree.” She raised her voice. “If everyone will come with me, I’ll take you to the door chamber and we can proceed to the Sabine House at the ranch. I’ve arranged a little reception for you all after you’ve been shown your rooms. I’m afraid they won’t be as luxurious as the ones you gave us, Zilvra, but I hope all three of you will like them.”
“Will we have to share a room,” Arithallos asked.
“Of course not.”
“Then it’ll be more than acceptable. Besides, we hope you’ll have so many activities for us that we will only be sleeping in them.”
Ninhursag chuckled as she motioned for them to follow her. “Then come with me and we’ll get you set up in your rooms. Then you can meet everyone else.”
“What about you, husband,” Helesatra asked him curiously. “Are you coming with us?”
“Ninhursag wanted to show you around as hostess and I’d just be in the way. I’ll meet you in a little bit.”
She gave him an understanding look. “Always things for the Grey to do?”
“Miles to go before I sleep.”
She smiled. “I love that poem, you know. And I love the woods on a snowy evening.”
“I know.”
She winked and followed the others, leaving him with Mielikki and Eilistraee. “Is there anything I need to do for you right now,” he asked Mielikki.
“No. I will go,” she glanced at Eilistraee, “to my cottage. Have you started introducing the concept of the Sisters to the others here?”
“I have, but it’s been less than a moon and things are just getting started. Ava and Dancer have copies of the revised holy texts and are still digesting them before deciding how proceed with how the new instructions they give have changed things. Some of the conversations we’ve been having are quite lively. Once they’ve assimilated the new information, I’ll approach Arianrhod and the goblins. Having you and your sister be present would help a great deal.”
Mielikki smiled. “I am certain that my sister will have joined us by then.” Beside her, Eilistraee nodded once. “She wants to see our religion grow as much as it can just as I do.”
“Good.” Iain paused as he remembered something. “If you could, please take a look at the herd. There’s something going on in there that I’m not aware of. Golden Cloud says nothing is wrong but I get the distinct impression that things are a bit unsettled,” he frowned. “It’s weird, but I think that things there are a mite more tense than Golden Cloud is letting on. It could be my imagination and it could be that it’s the new herd members settling in and I’m completely misreading the situation.”
“I will investigate,” Mielikki reassured him.
“Thank you.” He motioned towards the exit. “Shall we?”
***
Lucifer looked up from her book of Nipponese history and watched as Iain led what her twee identified as a drow elf towards her and the children. Theodora, I thought Zilvra had red eyes but here she has blue eyes. And that hair looks more silver than white in the sunlight.
That is because you are looking at Xune, Iain’s adopted daughter. Zilvra is with Ninhursag and April and preparing to run the obstacle course with Arithallos and Helesatra. Xune came along with them as did Mielikki.
Lucifer rose gracefully as Iain smiled. He spoke in elven. “Lucifer, this is Xune. Xune, this is Lucifer. And this is Olivia and Seraphina while that is Miriam.”
Xune looked at Iain. “Do we shake, bow, hug or kiss?”
“As hostess,” Lucifer stepped forward and kissed Xune on the cheek. “I decide. It is my pleasure to meet you, Xune.”
Xune kissed Lucifer on the cheek. “And it is my pleasure to meet you, Lucifer.” Xune smiled down at the three girls. “I am also pleased to meet you. I’m your sister.”
Seraphina looked up at her. “Are you really?”
Xune nodded. “Father adopted me like he did you while he was away. He was gone long enough that I had time to grow up and, eventually, have children of my own. You will too, someday.” She looked back up at Lucifer. “I would like to borrow Miriam for a few hours. She and I need to have a talk about some of her life choices and about how they are more misguided than she knows.”
Lucifer’s smile smoothed into a slight frown. “I agree with her on those life choices,” she said coolly.
“And we all know that the future is not set in stone until it has become the past,” Iain said quietly. “Let me ask you a question: While you agree with the reasoning behind Miriam’s decision to become my wife, do you like it? And would you allow it to be changed, if it could and it was better for her?”
“That isn’t a fair question,” Lucifer protested. “We are not supposed to allow our personal feelings to become involved with our mission.”
“Ok, it’s not fair. However, the question has been asked. Now answer it.”
She sighed and glanced at Miriam for a moment, who was watching attentively. “I don’t like it. She wants to take Eve’s place and nobody can ever do that for either of us.”
Miriam’s face tightened and she looked like she was going to say something until Olivia clapped a hand over her mouth.
“And if the circumstances have changed and Miriam’s assistance with that particular situation is no longer absolutely necessary,” Xune said quietly. “And, yes, I believe those circumstances are no longer truly applicable. Iain has three other women in his life who are as concerned about his soul and behavior as you are. They are not your daughter.”
Lucifer looked past Xune at Iain. “Who,” she asked bluntly.
“Xune, why don’t you take Miriam while I talk to Lucifer,” Iain said. “Just remember that she’s an Angel, but she’s not indestructible.”
“I understand that perfectly, Father. I will protect her with my life.” She turned to Miriam. “Now, you can walk with me or you can be thrown over my shoulder for the first leg of our trip. Your decision.”
Miriam looked up into her eyes and swallowed hard at what she saw. “I will walk,” she said quietly.
“An excellent choice.” Xune looked at Iain. “Father, a gate home please.”
“Mother, we want to go too,” Seraphina said.
Lucifer gave her a startled look. “Are you sure?”
Olivia nodded. “We need to see this. We will be safe.”
“I see. Xune, is this acceptable?”
Xune was watching the two Megami Sama children. “You will swear to do what I tell you to do without argument or delay.”
“We swear,” they chorused.
“Lucifer, are their words of honor good?”
“They are,” Lucifer said proudly. “My daughters would never break that oath.”
“Then you may come with me, my sisters. Father, I did not plan for them. I will need access to your hoard.” She smiled. “We will return all of the things we do not use up.”
Iain pressed his palm to her forehead. “You get access. They do not. Update the inventory in real time for a change, please.”
“Understood, Father. I love you.”
“And I love you too, Xune. And I love you as well, girls.”
“Come, children.” Xune led them though the gate and it closed behind them.
“Iain, how will you know when they want to return?”
“Xune has some scrolls she can use to contact me.”
“If you didn’t trust her with our children she would not have been allowed to take them,” Lucifer said quietly. She nodded. “They will be as safe as they can.” Her gaze sharpened on him. “Who?”
“Off.” Smoke poured from Iain and became three forms. “Lucifer, this is Sorrel, Matilda and Selsharra.”
Lucifer’s eyes narrowed. “They are all liches, Iain.” Her voice was harsh and angry.
“We are,” Selsharra said. “But you can tell that I am not evil and they do not desire to be evil.”
Lucifer eyes went wide. “You tell the truth, but how?”
“I am the product of elven magic and am a kind of lich known as a baelnorn. Baelnorn are not evil. Other liches are, but in truth they were usually evil persons while alive. These two were not evil while alive and do not embrace undeath like the others in the undead harem do. They have chafed at their existence since they were recruited into the undead harem. They have yearned to be free of it one way or another but Iain will not allow them to destroy themselves.”
“And none of these three will be undead for much longer,” Iain said. “Ygerna is already making preparations to bring all three of them to life. Matilda and Sorrel will be joining the harem.”
Lucifer blinked. “Why?”
“I love him,” Sorrel said. “I have known him for centuries and I have found him to be a man,” she smiled slightly, “or drake worthy of my love and so I have given it to him. Still, sometimes he needs advice on proper behavior.”
Matilda chuckled. “That is putting things mildly. Like Sorrel, I have found him to be a mostly good drake and I love him as well. We are both powerful trained formal mages and have been battling for over seven hundred years. We bring a lot to the family.”
“And what about you,” Lucifer asked Selsharra. “Are you also joining the harem?”
“Privacy.”
Lucifer blinked. “Can you even invoke?”
“I am clan. I am invoking.”
The Megami Sama nodded. “Accepted.”
“Accepted,” Iain said.
“Accepted,” Sorrel and Matilda said together.
“First of all, I am not a pokegirl. Have you been informed as to Iain’s actions while he was gone?”
“I have, if only in brief.”
“Iain has placed Helesatra on the throne of Vyshaan and Shatris on the throne of Keltormir. Arithallos would laugh at the idea of being a queen since she believes that she already outranks anything so silly and is a governess of one of our most prominent colonies while Zilvra rules the Grey Valley in all but name. He has another throne and queendom picked out for me and I am going to help him take it and make it clan. Eilistraee and Mielikki know about this plan and approve of it. So does Kasserine, Ava and their Selsharra.”
Lucifer gave Iain a confused look. “Why?”
“Everything we have been doing is about making us stronger, so our enemies will leave us alone.” Iain gave her a crooked smile. “That’s why we built the clan, why we’re going to conquer Nippon, all of it. I didn’t forget that mission while I was away. I didn’t go there to build the clan. But the opportunity presented itself and I decided to act on it and do what I could to help.”
“I see,” Lucifer said slowly. “Does Ninhursag know about these two?”
“Not that they’ll be coming back to life and joining us just yet, but I’ll brief her before it happens. And if she protests because she didn’t get to help pick them out, I’ll laugh at her. She’s been nattering on about adding to the family ever since the attack on Melanie’s. So have you, for that matter. These two would do any tamer or husband proud, even if neither one of them loves magic like I do. They’re good enough to join us.”
Matilda glanced at him. “Nobody loves magic like you do, my lord. Sometimes I think not even Mystrl loves magic like you do.” She smiled at Lucifer’s puzzled expression. “Goddess of all magic on Twenty Three.”
Lucifer smirked at Iain. “Is she another of your lovers?”
Iain shook his head. “Nope. She is way too whimsical for that. Never pet a wild lioness, no matter how tame you think she is. If you’re lucky, when she turns on you, you’ll only lose the hand, but turn on you she eventually will. It’s not an if situation, it’s a when situation.”
“You have learned caution around women?” Lucifer sounded surprised.
“I had that before I left. I haven’t slept with Lorena yet, have I?”
Lucifer chuckled. “Yet. Does yet mean that you would sleep with her if the conditions were right?”
Matilda laughed as Iain looked offended. “I am not going to even slightly dignify that question with an answer.”
“That is unsurprising, my lord,” Sorrel said. “You do not wish to lie to your wife and you should not.”
“See? Trying to be conscientious.”
“I do see that,” Lucifer wrapped her arm around his. “You should speak to Ninhursag soon.”
“I have a meeting with her and April tomorrow morning after breakfast about it.”
“Good. Is privacy over yet?”
“Yes,” Selsharra said. “Privacy is ended now.” The three liches returned to Iain’s body.
Lucifer pulled up Iain’s shirt to peer at the tattoo of Matilda on his side. “Will they be able to do that once they are alive?”
“We haven’t found a way for that to be a thing.”
“Have you done research into the subject?”
“Not really. In the beginning I wasn’t completely enthused about having my undead harem riding me. I really don’t like the idea of you and the others being able to do it too.”
“I agree. You need some privacy in your life and you would get none from some of the harem.” She looked into his eyes. “Something to consider is adding women to the harem without including Monica and her harem. Is that fair to her?”
“We have been dating, but Monica has been the one holding me at arm’s length. I have not been holding her at arm’s length. It’s her decision but it doesn’t put me into a holding pattern while she thinks about how she is going to get what she wants from us.”
“I suppose that could be true. I will speak to Ninhursag and we will speak to Monica about it. What of Caintigern?”
“Why does everyone seem to want to involve me with Caintigern?”
“We have never had a guest stay for so long and remain our guest. She is powerful, she seems intelligent and you should find her attractive.”
“Any relationship that I may or may not have with Caintigern is not up for discussion. Right now, that’s all I am going to say about her.”
“And later?”
Iain gave her an exasperated stare. “What did I just say?”
“Why are you so defensive about her?” She frowned. “I accept privacy.”
“You can’t invoke for me to tell you things.” He kissed her gently on the lips. “Lucifer, you are my wife and I love you desperately. You’re smart, powerful, three hundred years old and a Megami Sama, a powerful psychic and magical pokegirl. Sometimes you’re so good that it makes my teeth hurt. But your mind can still be read by others and some things cannot be shared without being terribly dangerous for everyone.”
“I can keep my mind from being read.”
“Not from someone like Misery or Ganieda, you can’t. I am not doing this. Let me go.”
Lucifer tightened her grip. “I will drop the subject.”
“Will you?” She nodded emphatically. “Then we have an hour before the kids return. What would you like to do?”
***
Xune led the three girls through the gate, which closed behind them. Olivia looked around the massive chamber. “Where are we?”
“This is Father’s bedroom in Grey Valley. The kobolds made it so large because they thought he’d be in here in his dragon form a lot. He doesn’t normally sleep like that but didn’t move out so as not to offend them after they did so much work for him. Now he uses the room as a hobby room, workshop for nonmagical things, his music and he still uses it as a bedroom.” She headed for the door. “We can tour Father’s room later. It’s got lots of neat things to see and play with, but right now we’re here on business. You’re going to see elves, dwarves, humans and kobolds around here. They’re clan so don’t stare at them and stay close. You’ll be introduced to some of them on your next visit, when your mother is with you.” She led them down the hall and stopped in front of a door. She pulled a key from a pouch and unlocked it before pushing it open and waving for the children to go in front of her. “Inside.” In the room was a table with a dozen chairs around it. On the table, in front of each chair was an ink pot that had a pen in it. A chalkboard was on one wall. “Have a seat.” She picked up a small silver bell from a shelf and rang it once before sitting down with the children.
There was a quiet knock on the door and it opened to reveal a female dwarf. “You rang for a steward, lady Xune?”
Xune smiled. “Yes, Mirrin. It’s good to see you again. How are the children?”
“Lady Xune, I am on duty now and should not socialize.” The dwarf winked. “They’re bigger than ever and as rambunctious as a pair of colts. Come when I’m off duty and you can play with them.”
“I will. Please bring us some tea and snacks.”
Mirrin nodded. “Yes, lady. Would you also like some wine or beer?”
“Their mother would not approve at this time, so no.”
“Yes, lady. I will be back in a few minutes.” The door closed.
Xune turned to the children. “All right, first of all, which of you is Olivia and which is Seraphina?”
“You can’t tell,” one of them asked.
Xune’s eyes hardened slightly. “I am only going to say this once. You agreed to obey me. This is your only disobedience. If there is a second, I will have security lock you up while Miriam and I continue on this journey without you. If you disobey me somewhere else, you might just get us all killed. If we don’t die, I will punish you and then I’ll tell Father what you did and he’ll punish you too. If I could tell you apart, I wouldn’t have asked the question.”
“You’re mean,” Miriam said firmly.
“I am serious, and you should be serious too. This is not kids playing. This is life, death, good and evil and you get to be adults in this or you don’t go.”
The door opened and Mirrin rolled in a trolley with a pot of tea and some covered trays. “Lady Xune, here is your tea. Do you wish me to return after a while to refresh or remove it?”
“If I need it refreshed, I’ll ring, but thank you for asking,” Xune said. “When we leave, I’ll ring to have it removed.”
“Yes, lady.” Mirrin parked the trolley next to the table and quickly moved everything from it to the table. Then she quietly left.
“I am Olivia,” Olivia said.
“And I am Seraphina.”
“Thank you. I’m glad we understand each other,” Xune said. “Would anyone like some tea or cookies? I think I smell peanut butter and I’m certain I smell chocolate chips. The cooks really like to make chocolate cookies with chocolate chips in them.”
“Yes, please,” Olivia said.
Once everyone had tea and cookies, Xune waited until they’d slowed down a bit on eating before speaking. “We are here because Miriam thinks she should not be my sister and instead marry Father to protect him and the world from him doing something terrible. She’s mistaken and we’re here to convince her of that.”
“I am not mistaken,” Miriam said distinctly.
“We’ll see what you say at the end of today. We are going to have a talk and then we’re going to go on a trip so you can see what real evil looks like.” She looked at each girl in turn. “I am a gold dragoness and, like you, I am intrinsically good. I don’t really care if Miriam marries Father. It won’t affect me. It will, however, and has made Father unhappy. I love Father very much and want him to be as happy as he can. He has enough unhappiness that he can’t avoid. And, once upon a time, I wanted to marry Father too. I mean, he’s Father and he’s perfect.” She smiled. “Only he’s not and we’re not and he’ll never be that man for us. There are other men out there for us, or, as in my case, drakes. Hell, we know lots of drakes who are unmated and some of them might be interested in a short or long term relationship with one of you. Only time will tell.”
“I like Zilvra. I like Ari. Helesatra is kind of creepy when you meet her because she will trip your not good detector since she’s half fiend. It’s not her fault, however, and it has never ruled her, unlike some that I have seen and known. Once I got to know her, I liked her too. But I think they’re all just a little bit crazy to love Father like they do.”
Olivia laughed. “We love Mother, but you’re right.”
Xune looked at Miriam. “You’re too young and too innocent to have that kind of crazy.” She looked around the table. “What is evil? Is a tigress killing and eating a baby triceratops evil?”
Miriam shook her head. “No.”
“Exactly. I have a definition of evil that I think will appeal to all of us. Do you want to hear it?”
“Yes, please,” Seraphina said.
“I believe that evil is when a sentient being enjoys or is indifferent to the unwilling pain and distress that it or someone close to it causes to another sentient being.”
“What if someone deliberately hurts a kitten and enjoys it,” Olivia asked.
“That is terribly cruel, but it isn’t evil. Now, someone who abuses a helpless creature and enjoys it will most likely also enjoy abusing a helpless sentient and therefore they are probably evil, but the act itself is not evil. Despicable, yes, cruel and deplorable, yes. Remember, animals sometimes kill and mutilate because they can too and they are not evil.” She looked from face to face. “Can evil be done for good?”
The three girls looked at each other before Seraphina spoke. “We don’t think so, but you’re probably going to say that it can be.”
“You’re using your twee to consult each other?” Seraphina nodded. “Very good. We may be doing that later too. And, yes, evil can be done for good.”
“Can you give us an example,” Miriam asked.
“A group of jungle goblins attacked an outlying hamlet at my colony. These people were not clan but they had been allowed to build there because I knew that we would make them clan eventually. That means they had no twee and could not call for help. The goblins tortured them to death and then roasted and ate them before burning their houses. Only a single boy escaped the slaughter. I sent my military after the goblins. My troops quickly located the goblins and then they wiped them out. The soldiers, when they returned, were happy because they’d exterminated the goblins. So they enjoyed killing them, which is, under my definition, evil.” Xune looked at each girl in turn. “But the goblins had to be wiped out and I knew what would happen when I sent my forces out after them. I ordered them. They were my instrument in destroying the goblins, so I am as guilty of that evil as they are. But it was done to keep the goblins from murdering more people which is good.” She looked at them again. “Is that too complicated for you to understand?”
“We are not dragons,” Olivia said. “If we did not have twee, it might be too complicated for us to understand immediately, but we do and we do. When we are older and we destroy an evil being, we are doing an evil act but for a good purpose.”
Xune nodded. “Yes. As good people dedicated to fighting evil, we must understand that we will do evil in the course of destroying it. For some of us, knowing that we have destroyed evil justifies what we did, at least to ourselves. For others of us, it is necessary to atone for what we have done in some fashion, be it something like a quest or a confession to a religious authority, who then may forgive us in the name of our goddess or send us on a quest. For still others, they feel they cannot atone for what they have done and it eats at their soul and, for some, eventually destroys them. We do what we can to save those poor people, but it is, in the end, up to them to decide their fate.” She took a drink of her tea. “Do you know why we’re discussing this?”
“Daddy,” Olivia replied.
“That’s right. Father has done evil things. I know he has. But he has done these things for what later turns out to be in the service of good. However, at the time, I could not tell if they were for good or not, which is probably why I didn’t find out about them until afterwards, so I couldn’t try to stop him.” She gave Miriam a meaningful look. “Like you plan to. Is what he will do something that is for good? Is it an evil act in the service of evil? Or do you not know?”
Miriam stared at her for several seconds. “I do not know. What did he do that was evil but was for good?”
“Many things, but the one that comes immediately to mind involves the Empire of Vyshaantar. Helesatra’s family had ruled it for many generations and had sunk it into the depths of depravity and evil. They had used the empire’s people to conquer other kingdoms and their magic to murder thousands of people who had done them no ill. They were so evil that their head god renounced them and declared holy war against them, a war that involved all of the elven kingdoms around the Empire. When Father got involved, that war was still going on and the forces were matched well enough that it wasn’t obvious as to who would win this war. Vyshaantar’s armies were powerful, but eventually it became clear to the emperor, a sun elf named Morefin, that there was no way he could win and he was going to, in time, lose the war. He didn’t care about the soldiers, just his family and, honestly, them only as far as they could be useful to him. He went so far as to sell his daughter and firstborn to a devil, a pit fiend, who used her to sire a child. That child killed the daughter, her mother, while being born. That child was to be given to the pit fiend in a few years and, in return, he would supply Vyshaantar with an army from Hell to sweep all of their enemies away before them. And, of course, to pollute the sun elves of the empire as well what women of the places they invaded that they could catch with their fiendish seed.”
“Was that child Helesatra,” Olivia asked.
“It was. She was smuggled out of the palace and so the pit fiend refused to send his armies until she was given to him, but the war raged on. Originally, we’d thought the head elven god had arranged her escape but now I believe it was the pit fiend’s followers who spirited her away so that the family would fall even further into debt with the pit fiend in order to win the war. Father gathered up the ruling family and gave them to Helesatra to kill in revenge for what they’d done to her. Then he made her queen, changed the name of the empire to the Queendom of Vyshaan and ended the war between Vyshaantar and the kingdoms, sparing countless lives that would have been lost if the war had continued. I think, but I can’t prove, that he also destroyed the pit fiend responsible for killing Helesatra’s dam. Father, of course, admits to nothing involving the pit fiend, but Helesatra once told me that she knew that her sire would never bother anyone ever again. Her confidence in that fact was absolute.”
The three children looked at each other. “Could you have seen that his plan would bring good,” Olivia asked Miriam.
“No,” Miriam replied.
“And any of us would have tried to stop him,” Seraphina added.
“Which would have been a mistake,” Xune said. “Miriam, you have to trust Father. But you can’t do that unless you grow up with his love and as his daughter. And, in the end, you cannot force Father to marry you if he does not want to. Nobody can force him to do anything if he decides it is not something he is going to do.” She waved at the table. “Now finish your tea and cookies because now we’re going on a trip so you can see true evil and get a better idea of just how much your help could aid the people of this world and our clan.” She smiled. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Stay here. I’ve got to get some specialized potions for you from Father’s hoard since I only brought enough for Miriam. If there’s a problem, call me with your twee.”
Less than five minutes later the door opened as she returned. Xune smiled at the girls as she put a pouch on the table. “I want to take you to a place where you can see what real evil looks like, since you’ve never experienced it before. It is dangerous, but it is not immediately dangerous to us as long as you do what I tell you to. I will not insist that you do this, so you may refuse to go.”
“Will you tell us more about it before we decide to go?”
“I have three potions that will make you look like young drow and we will travel to the city of Guallidurth to the home of House Dinaen. The leader of this house was approached and suborned centuries ago by Father and, in return for his aid in making sure that the house prospers, it has allowed us access to the city to rescue worshippers of Eilistraee who needed to escape. It has also given us access to the innermost circles of the city’s leadership and knowledge of their plans for the city and the surrounding area. This has allowed us to find ways to stop many of their attacks on their neighbors without implicating House Dinaen in our efforts.”
“Why do they attack people?”
“The drow worship Lolth the Spider Queen, who teaches them to hate everyone who isn’t drow and to wage war on weaker drow and their enemies, who are, conveniently, everyone who isn’t drow. She demands living sacrifices of sentient beings, preferably of surface elves, but anyone, including weaker drow, will do. She encourages chaos among the drow and wants stronger drow to advance by assassination and murder, often with poisons, but they use whatever they think will work. They use torture on anyone that is weaker than they are, including each other. We work to rescue those that we can and help them find a hopefully better and peaceful life, either with the clan or with surface dwelling drow who worship Eilistraee.”
All three Celestials had horrified expressions on their faces. “That’s terrible,” Olivia said in a trembling voice.
“It is. It’s terrible, cruel, rapacious and it’s evil. House Dinaen isn’t good either, but they are less evil than the others and allow us to do good work in the city. I believe that Father intends to eventually bring the government of the city down and conquer it, but right now we’re not ready and right now, even if we won, the price that the clan would pay to do so would be horrific.” She smiled at them. “And there are even worse things than the drow. We will see one of them during our visit. If you go.”
“Are you challenging us to do this,” Seraphina asked.
“I am. You are supposed to be the next generation of Megami Sama and Angels, dedicated to fighting evil and helping those who critically need that help. Yes, you are still children, but even now, this can help focus your determination on what really needs to be done and show you the face of true evil. Later you can help me bring this knowledge to others of the family who seek to styme Father’s and the clan’s plans because they don’t understand.”
“What if this gives us nightmares or something like that,” Miriam asked uncertainly.
Xune laughed for an instant before sobering and giving the Angel a hard look. “I would be worried if it doesn’t give you nightmares. You don’t have to go, but if you can’t face this then you need to find a different way to help the ones who need it.”
“She could help with Prometheus,” Seraphina said. “They will fight the ferals and send supplies to those who need it.”
“I am not a coward,” Miriam announced.
“I never said you were,” Xune smiled warmly at the young Angel. “Knowing your limits is one of the wisest things anyone can do. Not everyone can fight everything. There is no shame in realizing that you cannot face some things and,” she looked at Olivia and Seraphina, “you will not torment her over her decision, nor will you let anyone else do so.”
“We would never do that,” Seraphina protested. “After all, according to you, that would be evil, and we are warriors of good.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” She opened the pouch and pulled out three small potion bottles. She placed one in front of each child. “Now drink.”
“Miriam said she wasn’t going do to this,” Olivia said. “Why give her one?”
“Miriam hasn’t said either way if she will do this or not,” Xune’s response was gentle. “She said she was scared, which is actually very smart. She has not made a decision yet as to whether or not she will come with me. Neither have you.” She looked at Miriam. “I think you need this. I also think you can do this. If I didn’t, I would not have bothered to make you the offer. It is, however, your decision to make. Only you know if you can really do this.”
Miriam looked at the bottle in front of her and picked it up. “I am going. What do I do?”
“You will drink the potion that I have given you, which will change your physical form to that of a drow child and give each of you the innate abilities that a drow child of your age would have. This will last for twenty four hours or until I break the enchantment. Then we will use a portal to go to Guallidurth. While there, stay close to me and do not let me get out of your sight. Do not laugh and do not smile. Guallidurth is a city of drow and it is an unhappy place, especially in public. Laughter and smiling there usually involves cruelty of some kind. Do not interfere in anything that happens or anything that you see. If you do, first you’ll be disobeying me. More importantly, you will draw me and House Dinaen into whatever conflict you have started. This is a mission to gather information only.” She turned to Miriam. “They have sworn to obey me. I want your oath too.”
“I swear I will obey you immediately and without question on while we are on Twenty Three.”
“Excellent. Drink your potions, ladies.” She watched them drink their potions. Their forms shifted and they became drow children of the same physical age they’d had before. Even their clothing changed to become drow. “Now, I am officially adopting all three of you as my daughters. You are my children now and you can truthfully tell that to anyone who asks. I am a Grey, but I am also a recognized member of House Dinaen, which makes you part of that house as well.” She pulled a ring out of the pouch and put it on. Her clothing changed so that she was wearing a black leather and chain bodice and leggings that put her cleavage and upper chest on display while baring her midriff and upper thighs. “This is how the adult drow women dress. They know they’re beautiful and they dress to show the perfection that is a drow woman off to everyone around them. The men dress provocatively too.” She smiled. “Many of the clan drow still dress this way because, well, we are beautiful. It’s also probably less than what most of the people you know wear.”
“It’s more than mother Zareen wears,” Olivia smiled.
“Oh?”
“She wears nothing at all if she can.”
Xune smiled. “Yes, that is less than what I’m wearing. Where we’re going, public nudity is for slaves or public sex shows. The sex shows usually involve slaves, unless some House wishes to degrade someone as part of their punishment for something that they either did or were blamed for. We will try to avoid those as much as we can. Usually they only take place in certain areas of the city.” She rose, her clothing making no noise as she stood. “Come with me. We must get to the portal now.” She opened the door and rang the silver bell three times as the children left the room before closing it behind her and leaving it unlocked for Mirrin or whoever came to clean up.
She led them to another room and unlocked the door before waving the children inside. On the other side of the room from the door they’d entered stood a huge stone door. It was barred with a large iron beam that was six inches wide, six inches deep and five feet long. A short piece of heavy chain was welded to the bar at each end. Each of the hooks the bar hung on also had a short piece of chain, identical to the chain on the bars, welded to it. Each chain on the bar was connected to the chain on the hooks with a simple padlock to keep the bar from being removed. Beside the door was a small mirror.
Xune stopped in front of the stone door and the girls heard her voice through their twee. Security, this is Xune Grey. I am unlocking and opening the door to the portal to House Dinaen for passage to House Dinaen. There are four of us. I will close the door behind us.
Several seconds later, someone replied. Four people are going through to House Dinaen and will close the door behind you. A team is on the way to secure the door after it is closed and you will have to call to have it opened on your return.
I will. Thank you. Xune produced two keys. Using them, she unlocked the padlocks and removed them from the chains. “Stand back, girls.” They moved away from her as she lifted the beam from the holder and slowly turned to lean it against the wall. “The beam weighs over six hundred pounds. I can move this because I am as strong in this form as I am in my dragon form,” she said to them. “It would take a team of humans or dwarves to move it. It’s considered polite to lean it against the wall so they don’t have to pry it up from the floor with a steel bar of some kind. The door is just as heavy as the beam and is hung to want to stay closed.” She slowly pulled the door open to reveal a cramped chamber on the other side. “Go through.” She let it close behind her as she followed them.
“Why all of this,” Miriam asked curiously.
“This portal should only be able to be accessed by us and our people, but they could be coerced to do so,” Xune said. “It is a potential invasion point into the Grey Valley from Guallidurth and so we intend to make it as hard as possible for anyone to use it. You couldn’t get enough drow in this room to push the door open even if the door was unbarred. They have servants such as demons who could push it open if it were unbarred, but there’s an alarm built into the wall inside the door where it can’t be disarmed that will alert security if it’s opened. The door is steel, and it’s covered with liner of stone to protect it. If they do make it past the door, the room and hallway outside it can be collapsed, but the alarm will sound if the door is opened without security being informed and they can see inside the room with the mirror.” She held out her hand and sang a brief snatch of song. A portal opened on the far wall. “Always coordinate with Alyfaen, the matron of House Dinaen before using the portal or they will kill you when you arrive without warning. She knows we’re coming. Now follow me.” She stepped through.
Iain Grey
Harem
Ninhursag Grey - Elfqueen & maharani
April Grey - Duelist & beta
Dominique Grey - Blessed Archmage
Pandora - Fiendish Archangel
Zareen - Nightmare
Sofia - Ria
Vanessa – Evangelion
Lucifer – Megami Sama
Ganieda – Snugglebunny Splice
Heather - Elfqueen
Marguerite – Unicorn
Scheherazade – Dread Wolf
Irena – Sanctuary Goth
Lynn – Dire Wolf
Rosemary – Mistoffeles
Dianthus – Elfqueen
Candace – Nurse Joy (kami)
Bellona – Dragonqueen
Elizabeth - Vampire
Outer Clan
Golden Cloud – equine unicorn
Arianrhod -Fey Goblin Female
Satellite Clan
74 male Goblins
89 female Goblins
Queendom / Outer Clan
73 Elves
Dionne - Elfqueen
Adrianna - Elfqueen
Heltu - Wet Queen
14 Wet Elves
Dead Harem
Eirian - Silver Dragoness
Aurum - Gold Dragoness
Skye - Blue Dragoness
Emerald - Green Dragoness
Beryl - Red Dragoness
Julia - human
Ling - Cheetit
Matilda - White Tigress
Liadan - Twau
Sorrel - Armsmistress
Natalie - Blazicunt
Maria – Slutton
Alabaster – Dragoness (white)
Onyx – Dragoness (black)
Lapis – Dragoness (blue)
Garnet – Dragoness (red)
Iolite – Dragoness (purple)
Malachite – Dragoness (green with white swirls)
Dabria (was Loviatar) – Dark Queen
Omisha (was Hel) – Demoness
Viersunuth great wyrm blue true dragoness
Talyl – drow commoner
Zarza – drow commoner
Sabrae – drow commoner
Sintree – drow commoner
Alyfaen Dinaen – drow, matron of House Dinaen
Phaerxae Dinaen – drow, former matron of House Dinaen, mother of Alyfaen
Selsharra of Evermeet
Mother Children
Vanessa
Myrna (Age 4)
Saoirse
April
Dorothy: Duelist (Age 3)
Meara: Duelist
Regan: Duelist
Lucifer
Olivia: Megami Sama (Age 6)
Seraphina: Megami Sama
Miram: Angel (Age 5)
Zareen:
Caltha: Nightmare (Age 0)
Kim: Nightmare
Xanthe: Nightmare
Epona: Nightmare
Philippa: Nightmare
Nott: Nightmare
Nyx: Nightmare
Sofia
Anna: Ria
Esmerelda: Ria
Monica Chambers
James: Jamie Harris kid (Age 2)