I returned for Lunch. “I told you I’d finish everything today. It’s only lunchtime, and I feel like I didn’t even scratch my Mana today.”
Alian looked relieved. “I’m glad you're finished, and truly, this town is beautiful now. Though admittedly a bit monochromatic. So now we can spend the rest of today relaxing, maybe take a bath in the tub you made upstairs?”
I chuckled at that. “I’ll try to put hot water into the Bath with magic, I think I can pull that off, though it might take a try or two to get the temperature right.”
We did spend the rest of the day relaxing, and took our bath together, with Gabby, and our new Son. The tub was rather large, intended to allow for communal bathing of the same gender, or of the married trio if they desired. They had decided to wait for us, and the Guard Detail took turns by gender, with the female guards taking our Prisoner, more to keep an eye on her, than because they wanted to bathe her, but they might as well reduce the smell a bit. They changed her into one of her spares from her old house, so she was at least somewhat clean, though they didn’t bother to straighten her hair.
Shortly after breakfast the next day, a runner from the capitol stopped dead in his tracks just inside the gate, stunned at the changes to the community. Bobby noticed the man shortly after he’d stepped out for a stroll. “Come on, Man! You’re her on Business right, snap out of it, and tell me what you’re after.” Visibly startled into his brain working again, he turned his shocked head to see Bobby so close. “You were so focused on explaining to yourself what you’re seeing that you didn’t even notice me approach. I wasn’t even trying to be quiet.”
“Ah, yes, I have a message for the First Princess and her Wives. Can you direct me?”
“Better, I’m one of Milady Jane’s guards, I’ll guide you myself.”
Relief flooded the man’s face. “I had thought perhaps I was mistaken on where I was, it’s changed so much. Is this all her doing?”
Bobby Nodded. “Not a word of what you see, as to those shiny structures, for the time being, they don’t exist, aye? King’s Orders and all.”
“Your Highness, the First Princess Alian, I have a Message from the King.”
So saying, the runner handed the Scroll to Bobby in front of Alian, who, upon inspecting the seal and ensuring nothing was amiss, handed it in turn to Alian. “Thank you for bringing this a Moment, please, in case I need to send a Reply.” She cracked the seal and read the letter. “I’ll send my reply verbally, I have accepted the message, and understand, I will respond appropriately.”
“Yes, your Highness.” He bowed and turned on his heel to return to the Capitol directly. Jeanette had handed him something to eat that he could carry.
Once the runner was outside, Alian sighed in disappointment. “We’ll have to head home tomorrow, I’m afraid. Something’s come up with the Rebellion nonsense on their end, and we have to attend some executions.”
“If that’s the case, we should go today instead, as much as I don’t want to, but having a prisoner involved in the same situation, it’s better to deal with her early, so her punishment can be included.”
Alian nodded. “You’re right, I’m sorry, Jeanette, I truly wanted to visit properly now the work is done.” Jeanette and I hugged her tight. “It’s not your fault, and I’m sorry too, but we should get going now. Mitchell, Darla, and Gabby, get ready quickly, please. Have the prisoner prepared, and Mira, can you get the Baby, please?” Instant quick action had everyone prepared to leave in under half an hour. Alian carried the baby as we left the house to a tearful goodbye from the rest of the family.
Starting from the Gate, I began paving the road ahead of us, and we moved faster. What originally took two days to travel, took only one day back; we actually saw the runner as he was entering the City Gates just ahead of us. He ran fast despite the awkward footing. The Gate Guards were stone-faced in shock as they watched the road being paved right up to the gate. They stepped several feet to the side to allow the magic to finish. Once it was done, they looked at my perky tiger ears and snapped to attention. “Back onto the path for a Moment, while I pave the places you’re standing. No sense stepping into the mud when I can pave those spots, also, should I make a larger paved area for thorough searches where you have to unload wagons?”
The guards stepped onto the path, and the one on the left responded to my question. “That would be most helpful, if you could make that patch about ten feet by twenty feet on this side of the road, that would be perfect for such rare occasions. Thank you very much, Milady Jane, yes? I know all other Tigers at least on sight, and you’re the only new name, so it seems obvious and especially with the First Princess behind you. May I ask why there isn’t a carriage, and only one group of adventurers with you?”
I smiled as I spread the pavement. “They aren’t adventurers, but my personal detail in disguise. We left under an illusion, so our ears and tail looked like a Cat Clan when we left. Honeymoon and all. Didn’t want to draw undue attention. This paved road leads to my Concubine’s farming community home, so we didn’t want to have a muddy mess later if we visited again. Since we cut our trip short for official business.”
We then moved to the Palace directly. Sending a Maid ahead of us to warn the King we had an issue to drop onto him. Having moved to our Room to change into proper attire, while our Guards watched the Prisoner, leaving Gabby to rest in her room, everyone else proceeded to the audience chamber for private matters. “Welcome home, daughters. I see a Raccoon woman bound, and a toddler in your arms. So is the bound woman the problem you need to drop on me?”
I nodded. “Yes, she’s part of the Traitor issue, but she had been duped by her idiot husband, who is already dead. She’s only still alive to formally hand custody of this little angel to me. Congratulations, you’ve got your first grandson! Also, since she was fooled, and thought she was serving the Kingdom, instead of betraying it, you could enslave her to the Mines, but I don’t know if that would be a blessing or not. I also don’t know if she wants that or not.”
The King looked at the Woman, whose name I never bothered to learn. “Is that a fate you’d want? I’m thinking it would be worse than death myself.”
She shook her head. “No, your Majesty, I’ll join my husband in death. I just want my Boy to survive, as he’s innocent, I even refused to give his name, so they’d have to give him a new one, like his mother died before he got one. Can this settle the formal adoption?”
“I have heard your words, and acknowledge the adoption. It will be paperless from your side, but I shall sign it myself as approving official. Keeping it secret where the Raccoon child came from. You’ll join the rest for the execution day after tomorrow.”
She nodded in understanding and acceptance. With a snap of his fingers, a couple of guards entered. “Place her with the other traitors. Add her name to the list, same as everyone else, as if she were taken at the same time.”
They bowed and took her away. “I was going to ask her about the Slave thing ahead of time, and not bring it up if she refused, but this makes it official in any event, and it worked out the easy way in the end. If she hadn’t told me about her Son, my Son now, I’d have killed her then, and just told you about it.”
He smiled. “A proper response, do tell me how it happened.” I did so, with little embellishment since I wasn’t exactly proud of it, but it was needed. “Very good, and what about the work in the community?”
“All done, with extra. Everyone has a new house, the old town was dismantled, and a new city center was built. A water tower, plumbing system, and sewer system were built with a sewage treatment plant outside the town center. Also, they have two grain mills and one saw mill now. Lastly, I had an accident, though it’s a good one.”
His eyebrow rose. “Do tell.”
"Remember how the Cats just showed up? Well, it’s like that, only it was about food. I accidentally summoned five hundred head of Beef. Don’t ask me how this works, but the Community couldn’t be happier. A farmable source of meat, and milk, not to mention the leather.”
“Leather, is it truly good for Leather, and how large are these animals? Are they carnivorous?”
I shook my head. “Strictly herbivores, and they weigh nearly a half ton on the hoof, maybe more. They’re a staple food source back in my world. How I pulled them here, I have no clue. I guess I have to be very careful about my wistful thoughts in the future. They’re also the main source of Leather, while other things are made into furs. Since Beef have such short hair, it makes leather making easier.”
Donican beamed in pleasure. “So it’s a steady food source, and a better leather source. Shaving fur off beasts is rather difficult, so this is truly a happy accident, the same as the Cats. We couldn’t be happier about ours, and the Litter boxes have spread throughout the palace, and several people have copied your tree designs in wood for their own chambers.”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
I smiled. “Yeah, I got lucky on these two accidents. I just need to try not to have any more accidental summoning occur. Still, it should be nearly dinner time, and we skipped lunch to make it here on time, OH, and I paved the road with stone magic.”
Donican’s grin expanded, or seemed to, though I’m not sure it’s actually possible. “Excellent work paving the road, I presume the community has a superior protective wall to keep out any rabble in the winter?”
I nodded. “Also, I made some Sledge Runners for the winter, so they’ll have two Sledges to haul supplies during winter at least. Their smith believes he can make more by themselves.”
“Sledge Runners, what are those?” I chuckled and explained, shocking the King again. “Outstanding, that’s something I’ve never even thought could be done.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, there are lots of ways to combat Snow, but I just assumed this was one you knew. In any event, that will make winter deliveries of produce and meat much easier. Probably only a day’s travel on the paved road even in winter, while during summer, it’s probably half a day with a wagon.”
Donican was truly pleased by this point as we walked into dinner, our places had been set, but before we could sit, the two newcomers, in addition to the Baby, were noticed by the King. “Ah, and who are these two wolf clan youngsters?”
“Jeanette’s siblings, here to learn reading and math from me, and get a break from an overamorous set of parents for a couple of months. Would you two prefer to eat in private, or sit next to Gabby, or maybe there’s some protocol I don’t know about?”
Donican beamed, and Vanessa, along with Darnel, Cassandra, and Adel, all rose to meet their newest family members. “They most certainly may sit with Gabby if they choose to, dear, though I’ll understand if they’d prefer a more private dining situation. There’s a table in the kitchen if they’d prefer that. Welcome home, children, it’s good to have you visit. May I have your names?”
Darla spoke first, as Mitchell was stunned into muteness by Vanessa Adel, and Cassandra’s beauty, along with their power of position. “Please forgive my Brother, your Majesties, it seems his brain stopped seeing you, he’s really not that rude, but he is that age. My name is Darla, and my currently mind-wiped brother is named Mitchell. Please let me know if there’s anything practical I can do while I’m here studying. I’m used to working all day, so no matter what, this will be a relaxing time. Perhaps I can help with hauling things around once I learn my way.”
She curtseyed and forced her brother’s head down into a Bow at the same time. Darnel laughed heartily at Mitchell’s inability to function. “Relax, boy, you’ll get through this. Just try to focus on eating till then!” He slapped Mitchell on his back in pleasure.
Two chairs and a high chair had been provided while we were talking. The staff was truly amazing. We took our seats, and the staff provided a bite-sized plate for the Baby. “You’re Majesty, I haven’t bothered with this since I’ve been here, but I was a person of Faith back home, and I’d like to Bless our Meal today, with all the Treason issues, I just feel I need to do this if you’ll permit it.”
The King nodded. “I don’t know what faith you serve, but a Blessing sounds like just what we need.”
I stood and asked all attending to clasp hands, and focus on my words, and if they agree with them at the end, say Amen, which in an ancient language means I approve. “Dear Lord in Heaven, I ask that you bless this food of which we are about to partake, may it nurture our minds, bodies, and souls in these troubling times. May you guide us on the correct path, so we may protect your children, whom we are responsible to serve, from the corruption that is swarming our Nation. Help those who are lost to find the light of truth, and return to the flock before the beasts of the world can rend them asunder. May all God’s Children say, Amen.”
Every person in the room repeated the final word. “A Fine Blessing, my Daughter. General, yet specific. Nothing about crushing our foes either, as I feared you might do. Knowing how fierce you are against enemies, but this is different. I like it, and though I don’t know the name of this God, I feel that’s intentional. Nobody can know God is that it, you just know he, or she, is good, and watches. I think I’ll attempt this Blessing of a Meal myself.”
All of the assembled Nobles agreed. ”Splendid custom.”
Someone across from me spoke directly to me. “I actually felt at peace in that Blessing, like someone was paying attention to us when you spoke.”
I laughed. “God is Omniscient and Omnipresent. There’s nothing God doesn’t know, but being that nobody in this Nation has prayed to God before, I can imagine a little extra intensity to the attention. I wouldn’t expect too much in the future, though.” We enjoyed a meal, with the kids exhibiting signs of utter bliss at the enhanced flavors of the Food here. “Is it possible to get Seawater shipped in Barrels? I can get salt from Seawater if we can. Otherwise, there’s a method using Blood, and I’d have to build something to make that work. I think I can manage that, but even then the salt will taste weird compared to sea salt.”
“I don’t think it should be too much trouble to get sea water, but how much salt can a Barrel produce?”
“Not a lot, I suppose, the sea salt plants have huge vats to condense the seawater for salt. The Blood method might be the easier way. Since everything that gets slaughtered, aside from people at least, or things with toxic blood, can add to the process. Then the remnants from the Blood can be dried further, and used as fertilizer for some crops.”
“In that case, I suggest talking to the Butchers about collecting the Blood you need for the testing of your device when you’re ready. Once you have the process established and perfected, the Butchers can take over production of Salt, as it will be a side business for them, and extra profit with not much cost.”
I smiled at the brilliantly simple suggestion. “I just had a thought, there’s something we used to have way back in the day, called an Ice House. It’s an underground structure that is allowed to freeze in winter, and the whole thing gets filled with cubes of ice that can be used throughout the year. I can make the underground part with earth magic easily, and then manifest the upper structure out of stone to last for centuries. We can have the opening right out of the Kale Yard’s outer wall. Should I do that, or not?”
Donican thought for a moment. “Having a supply of Ice might be very beneficial. Several times in the past, I’ve heard healers lamenting about not having ice to cool a fever during the heat of the summer. I approve, that location is perfect as well, there’s nothing underground there, so nothing to ruin. You can do that at your leisure. I sense that half of this is an attempt to distract yourself from what’s coming. I’m sorry I had to insist on your being here, but it’s a Noble’s Duty to witness Justice carried out, even when it’s deplorable in its own right.”
We went to bed that evening, finally able to satiate our carnal desires. Much panting, and grinning after the intense love making. It wasn’t even that many days, but the deprivation seemed to intensify everything. Passing out in a nude pile of limbs the way we wanted to for days was pure bliss. The next morning, I made an announcement. “After our Bath, and Breakfast, I want to come straight back here, and strip naked again, and right back to bed with all of us till Lunch, and repeat the Process until dinner time, only to come for bed after that. With all the snuggling and everything else that entails.”
Two beauties giggled merrily. “Love, I don’t think we can handle THAT much in one day, though the idea is appealing to be sure, there is doubtless much to do, including introducing Mitchell and Darla to Math, and teaching them the basics of characters, and how to spell their names.”
Alian was quite forceful with this logic attack. “Really, you had to ruin my Brilliant plan with Logic, how rude!” I pouted as I lay there in my Nudity. More Giggling.
“Jane Sweetie, I love your idea, but it won’t really solve the problem that’s making you want to hide away. We’ll still have to stand there tomorrow and watch, there’s no avoiding it. So why avoid everything else that doesn’t bother you in the first place?”
“UGH, You too, with the total Logic attack, I’m hurt, I’m going to die from this broken place of debauchery.” My hamming things up caused more giggles, but at least lessened the tension I felt. A round of kissing commenced before the unmistakable sounds of the bath being prepared.
Gabby soon came out of her room, and we entered the bath, where Darla had already been brought. “Good morning, Darla, did you sleep well?”
She had just finished with her washing and started to climb into the Bath. “Yes, Jane, thank you very much for asking. It was a little weird sleeping in such a big room, but Mitchell’s snores put me right to sleep.” She giggled, and soon we joined her in the Bath water to relax a while before Breakfast. “Do you take morning baths all the time?”
Alian answered. “Yes, it’s half concession, half requirement. A Noble, especially a Royal, isn’t allowed to be unkempt or to smell strongly. I feel it’s a wicked indulgence sometimes, but I couldn’t skip it here, even if I wanted to, which I really don’t.”
“It’s the one thing about Palace life I don’t disagree with. In my Nation of Origin, everyone had a Bath in their home. That’s why every house I constructed back in your hometown has Baths. I just wish I could figure out a way to make a water heater. Here they boil all the water they bring around to all the rooms. Takes forever, and wears down their backs over time.”
After breakfast, we took Darla and Mitchell to the Library to start on their studies, Cassandra and Adel, all too eager to help their new extended family and simultaneously show off what they had learned. Our new Scholars quickly learned the numbers and basic addition and subtraction, and they could both write their names as well. “This level of progress is great. If you keep this up, maybe we can get you finished early, and just let you have some play time before we travel back to your home. I did say we’d take a couple months after all.”
They giggled, and Gabby joined in on the conspiratorial snickering at the Parents' expense. “Really Jane, you’d do that?!”
Asked Cassandra. “Uh, yeah, these are Farm Kids, and our siblings, so letting them play hooky without going over the expected time is a must. They’ll be working like animals when they get back home, regardless of anything else. I won’t lie, I just won’t mention they had finished their studies early is all. If it comes out, I’ll be honest about it, and just say I thought they earned the break for working so hard to get it done early.”
Adel piped up. “It’s true, she’s not telling lies, she just isn’t stopping the trip early due to faster-than-expected results. They would be earning the break after all.”
“I also never promised I’d bring them back the instant they were done learning what they could, I gave a Time Frame instead.” Cassandra relaxed, having realized that no actual deception was occurring.
We generally busied ourselves for the whole day. I made the Ice House, and after setting up some forms with water in them, then casting Ice Magic over them to freeze them solid, rather than manifesting ice that would disappear after a while. I filled the Ice House with chunks of solid Ice.
My centrifuge contraption with buckets was a success, and I was able to separate the plasma from the blood, then slowly heating the Plasma turned it into crystallized salt, slightly yellow. It was laced with nutrients and flavors from the animal blood, but it was mainly salt. The Kitchen was overjoyed at the sample I offered. Then after taking the contraption to the Butchers, and explaining the whole process, and giving them a sample, they too were overjoyed. The simplest things seem to cause that reaction.
