| Logs |
2013 May 15
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
Yield to the Flood of Your Beauty
'Chana holds out her hand to Bringer, her voice hopeful, "Come sit with me a moment, please? I heard you outside..." she hesitates, then adds softly, "-heard you say I was... dearly loved...?"
Bringer's face is solemn, but a gentle light comes into his eyes as he watches 'Chana nursing the little girl, "You heard right, sweet soul."
Sulochana is still feeling a bit emotionally shaky; at Bringer's confirmation she hiccups a quick breath, and then tears start rolling down her face. She blinks, half laughing and half crying as she rubs the back of her free hand over her face, "I'm not s-sad -- I mean, these are happy tears, really!" She sniffles, then gives Bringer a tremulous smile, "Come ssit with m-me, please?" She runs her fingers in a delicate caress through the fine, soft dark hair on the nursing baby's head, then looks back at Bringer again as she extends her hand in invitation. There's a warmth and a softness in her bright golden eyes as she looks between her precious infant and her dearly beloved.
Bringer settles on the bed again and brings her and the baby close against his chest, "Shhh... sweetling... you'll upset the baby." Sulochana shifts to make room for Bringer, but when he actually cuddles her up against him she looks for a moment like she's going to cry in relief again. She wriggles a bit, curling her tail about him, and gently wrapping one of her hands about his so he can help hold the nursing baby too. She sighs then, leaning back against him and finally relaxing, her head resting on his shoulder. She doesn't say anything for a long while -- just smiles faintly as she watches Rohana nursing -- but Bringer can feel her current burstingly joyous emotions. She's so happy she has to struggle a bit not to start crying again. Bringer snuggles both Naga and hums quietly under his breath; it's Greensleeves. After several minutes 'Chana has to switch the baby to the other breast. She smiles at the soft humming, her tongue occasionally flickering to caress either the tiny infant's forehead, or the soft skin of Bringer's throat as he hums. He strokes her hair and finally murmurs, "I thought you knew."
'Chana sighs softly when he speaks, murmuring in slow reply, "I thought it was still more the concept you loved, dear heart... not the actual person, you know? Concept of a priestess and holy woman for you, I mean." She adds thoughtfully, "I very much enjoy being that for you... but for a beloved and a bondmate? I want someone who returns my feelings."
Bringer murmurs, "I admit it might have been that at first, but things have changed. I have grown to know you and your family."
Sulochana sighs softly again, almost limp with relief where she leans against the manitou. It takes her a second to work up the nerve to ask; then she hisses shyly, "W-would you... would you... ssay it, pleasse?"
The manitou smiles indulgently at her and says, "Yes. I'll say it. I love you."
Sulochana twitches startledly at how immediately and easily he says it -- then she blinks and starts crying again. She laughs shakily, "Oh, dear! I d-didn't m-mean to start crying, r-really!" She loops her free arm about his neck, rests her forehead against his head, and sniffles, then murmurs softly, "I... I l-love you too, sweetheart." She sighs gustily, trembling, and just hugs him tightly with her arm and tail, trying to share the immense relief and happiness and affection surging through her -- both for him and the little infant they're both holding. Bringer laughs warmly and kisses the Naga's tear-wet cheeks. He hugs her tightly and laughs again, almost crowing with it. Rohana makes a sleepy little fussing noise as she's disturbed from her nursing.
Sulochana's tilted golden eyes are shining with happiness, and her tongue flickers with gentle affection against his warm skin as he hugs her. When the baby fusses a bit, 'Chana laughs and murmurs, "Oops! Sorry, sweet baby -- give me a moment!" She leans her head against Bringer in a small nuzzle, closing her eyes for a moment as she simply savors how incredibly warm and safe and loved she feels... then she glances at the manitou and grins wryly, "Need a moment to burp baby and lay her down for the night again, please. After that..." she thinks a moment, and Bringer can feel the touch of nervousness -- but also the swelling joy and excitement, "after that we have some unfinished business, please, yes?"
Bringer smiles and kisses her forehead, "I'll leave the two of you be for the moment, then, and make sure Moses is sure I'm fine."
The Naga pauses in slithering carefully off the bed and looks back over her shoulder at Bringer. A little anxiously she says, "You will come right back? Don't let Sna'tha stop you, please?"
Bringer gives her a smile then that has some rather fierce heat in it, "It's my house. My territory. I would respect her requests, but she cannot order me."
'Chana sighs and relaxes a bit, smiling at him, "All right. Thank you, lover." She stands next to the cradle, crooning quietly to Rohana as she spreads a towel over her shoulder for the baby. As she pats the baby's back, still crooning, she smiles in quiet happiness, swiveling slightly to watch Bringer leave.
The manitou slips out, feeling almost ebullient as he goes to make sure his guardian golem is fine, and to reassure those who were worried when there was such a commotion. When he returns he's got his shirtsleeves rolled up over his forearms and is humming again -- this time, something different. Sulochana is standing by the bed, still completely nude. She's carefully unwinding the bandage about her left elbow, but she turns and smiles as she hears him coming, feeling a tingle of both delight and anticipation. Bringer pauses in the door and then steps in and very deliberately closes and locks it. "Poly is keeping your godsmother busy, apparently. They were talking very intently in my study as I passed by it." He's letting his eyes wander over her. The fact that the lovely Hetaera has non-human forms is actually a good thing for him.
'Chana raises an amused eyebrow at the door being locked -- then grins delightedly as she turns and flows towards him. "I shall have to think of some way to properly thank her tomorrow, then." She hesitates as she realizes how carefully he's studying her, and asks a bit shyly, "Do you mind, ahh... if I stick to this form for now? ...in the house?"
Bringer rumbles, "I would very much like it if you would."
The Naga brightens a bit, "You like this form?" She's still holding the bandage in place with her right hand, but she slides forward to rest her left on his chest, then lean against him. Her eyes go half-closed as for a moment she simply enjoys the promise of strength and protection in his solid form... then she grins and murmurs teasingly, "Which form is your favorite, lover? The human, the tiger, or the Naga?"
Bringer laughs warmly and lifts her hand to his mouth, nibbling playfully at the base of her thumb. "I like whichever one happens to be in my arms at the moment. They all have their good points."
'Chana giggles at that, then sighs happily as she watches him teasing at her fingers for a few heartbeats... then she grins, "Then definitely this one for now. Come to bed?" As she starts to swivel towards the bed she adds happily, "I didn't realize it would happen, but staying in my native form has been really good for me! I can control the lisp now, and shift forms easier and more swiftly -- and best of all, commanding doesn't knock me on my rump with exhaustion, like it used to!"
Bringer lets her go so she can move toward the bed, sighing with a sound like the wind through the trees high in the mountains. "Indeed... and there is something lovely and sensual about serpents."
Sulochana glances over her shoulder in surprise -- then nearly glows with happiness at the manitou for that lovely comment! She's still beaming as she finishes unwinding the bandage and drops it into a trash can, then slides onto the bed, "You are incredibly sweet to me, Bringer; thank you so much!" She shifts a bit, then looks rueful, "Urgh. I'm going to have to use the breast pump, darnit -- Rohana can't quite finish both breasts yet." She glances towards the bedside table, then smiles hopefully at Bringer, "Would you be willing to wait just a few minutes before we... cuddle and stuff?"
Bringer's eyes widen and he says, "Wait... may I?" He steps near her and reaches to let his fingertips trail over her breasts, "I believe I can help you with expressing the milk in a way that is less... mechanical."
Sulochana blinks, watching Bringer's caress, and he can feel the sudden small surge of arousal at the light stroking. She blinks again, taking a deep breath and licking her lips, then murmuring a bit huskily, "Ahh... all right?"
Bringer chuckles throatily and guides how she lies on the bed, "Let me feed from you this way, beloved?" His hands move to continue caressing her breasts.
The Naga shivers slightly, her eyes going half closed as she shifts on the bed and stretches out comfortably. She slides her hands along his, up his arms and over his shoulders... then pauses and asks hopefully, "Take your shirt off? I would really like to be skin to skin, if that's all right?" Bringer pauses reluctantly -- only long enough to get his shirt off. He considers taking off his trousers as well, but decides to take the path of prudence for the moment and leave them on. When he joins her on the bed, he is careful to slide himself along her body in a slow and deliberate motion. Sulochana's breath escapes her in a long, slightly hissing sigh of pleasure, and the end of her tail flips almost automatically to coil about one ankle as he moves. She holds out her arms to him, her face alight with mixed happiness, heated anticipation, and relieved love -- and just a hint of nervous delight.
The manitou can feel her hunger; he slides up until he is holding himself just inches over her, then lowers his head to kiss her with a slow and lazy pleasure. 'Chana turns her face up to his, feeling alight with warmth. She raises her hands to run her fingers languidly through his thick, salt-&-pepper hair, a dreamy smile curling up her lips. She feels safe and cherished and beloved; she adores being able to feel that way when her child and she are still so vulnerable. Curiously, now she knows she's loved... being vulnerable doesn't scare her so much. If anything, she just feels a bit sheepish at yanking away so hard before. Fortunately Bringer heals near-instantly, and the long scratch across her inner elbow will heal fast as well, she's sure.
After the kiss Bringer nuzzles his way down to Suraksha's breasts, kissing each of them almost reverently and murmuring something in the sing-song language of his original people, saying afterward, "The fountain of life..." His lips close upon a nipple and he suckles. Sulochana knew her breasts were sensitive, but being made love to in this way she finds incredibly erotic! She clings to Bringer in rapture, gasping and shivering with pleasure; to her tongue he tastes and smells amazing. When the warm milk touches his tongue, he sighs and pulls her closer against him. The sharing of mother's milk is a sweet intimacy that slowly becomes a heated need.
Lovemaking in this half-form is different than in a fully human one, but it is no less tender and no less pleasurable for the pair of them. Bringer's hungers don't pull the darkness in completely, but it is warm and dim in the room as they come to their fullness together... and then they lay in a tangle of limbs and hair and long, sinuous tail, basking. The young Naga relaxes into afterglow, purring with dreamy pleasure in Bringer's arms. She finally mumbles in limp bliss, "Thank'oo... 'z wunnerf'l..."
Bringer laughs lazily and runs his fingers through her hair, "Mmm... yes, it was." He turns his head and kisses each of her breasts again, "Sweet soul."
The Naga sighs contentedly, quite happy to lie there for a while with her beloved... a small part of her is elatedly and metaphorically squealing, [Bondmate, he wants me as a bondmate!] -- but eventually she remembers one small thing left which she really, really wishes to see occur. She turns her left arm slightly, where it is wrapped around Bringer, so she can see the inner elbow... then smiles and strokes the manitou's hair, where his head rests still on her chest. There's a nervous internal flutter inside her, but her voice is low and smoky-warm and intimate with invitation, "Sweet love, turn your head, please? Want to share with you..." Bringer mmms in that sort of deliciously drowsy way he has when he's post-coital and turns his head, thick grey hair tousled as he looks where she directs him.
'Chana has turned her arm so the soft inner part of her elbow -- with the long scratch from her yanking away from him earlier -- is next to his face. She leans her head down to whisper to him, "Go ahead, beloved. I'm truly ready now. I want to share with you." He can feel the warm, dry caress of her tongue at his ear as she speaks.
Bringer feels hunger surge in him. She has shared so much with him and now she offers even more. He whispers a little prayer of thanks against her skin and cradles her arm carefully; then he pauses, "It will be less painful if I use my beak..."
He can feel the sudden surge of curiosity mingling in with the affection, "Really? Huh, how cool! You can drink with your beak?" Sulochana grins, her eyes alight as she adds, "I wondered what teeth you were using. I mean, human teeth aren't very good for that sort of thing, you know?" The Naga laughs softly, leaning to nuzzle against his hair and murmur, "Go ahead and shift, lover. I like your feathery shape too -- feels so nice!"
Bringer chuckles, "It won't feel like Fantine feeding, but birds drink as well." He slows his breathing and shifts gradually so she doesn't have to move very far. Sulochana sighs softly, her tongue flickering lightly and curiously along his feathers as he shifts. She buries the fingers of her free hand in the feathery warmth as well, scritching contentedly. Eventually it's the owl-headed form which lies with her and he turns his sharp beak to her inner elbow, biting carefully but quickly. She twitches a bit at the sharp nip, then growls in quiet happiness, wrapping her free arm around Bringer almost protectively as he drinks. This, to her, is the way it should be: an extraordinarily intimate sharing between people who love each other deeply. Dreamily she wonders what it will be like for Bringer, when she nips him as well. She hopes he feels just as lovely as she currently does.
It doesn't feel a thing like Fantine's feedings, physically. The owl's tongue is very different than that of a humanoid, and it flutters and wriggles almost like a caress as he feeds. His wings shift and whisper as she caresses and scritches him. He is holding her arm gently, controlling the blood flow very carefully, and he takes only a few sips before pressing his hand over the bite, resting his feathered forehead against her bicep. Sulochana sighs softly again, her eyes bright with happiness. She whispers, "Lover? Was good, I hope?" then grins in slightly nervous mischief, "Worth the wait?"
Bringer shivers and makes a soft hooting sound, then wriggles his way back to his human form to scoop her close for a kiss that would curl her toes, if she had them at the moment. Sulochana's tail curls quite a bit instead, and Bringer ends up with several coils of happy snake, as well as arms, wrapped snugly about him! When they finally part for air, the Naga sighs softly, her breath warm against his skin, and murmurs blissfully, "Love you too, beautiful man..." Bringer finds himself completely unable to speak -- not for lack of air, but for the huge bubble of happiness in his chest at those words. He simply hugs her tightly.
Sulochana sighs happily again, quite content for the moment to cling to her beloved, wrapped up safe and warm in his arms. Her arm aches a little, and she wants to try drinking his blood in return... but that's mostly for the sense of completeness and intimate closeness she feels it would bring, rather than any real thirst. She wishes a little wistfully she could feel Bringer's emotions too... so little blood for such powerful feelings! She smiles contentedly, savoring the feel of him against the length of her body, and occasionally nuzzling against him. Bringer murmurs, "Do you want to have your turn, sweet love?" He doesn't sound nervous. Indeed, he sounds pleasantly relaxed, almost eager.
Sulochana grins at that, and he can feel her cheek curving where it rests against his skin, "If you do not mind?" She sits up, her eyes bright with interest as she tries to gently lift his upper lip with a delicate finger, "So which teeth do you use? Do you have sharp pointy canines, or what? Is it all right if I use my fangs, or should I try to use my regular teeth so there's no possibility of venom, even though you're immune?"
Bringer laughs and curls his lip back for her to look. His canines are a little sharper than a normal human's, but not so much that they're obvious when he smiles; she's seen his smile a lot recently. "Most of those I feed from actually prefer a small nick with a knife. I have bitten with these teeth. I only did so the first time because there was already a wound. My beak is sharper."
'Chana hmms and nods with interest, staring intently at his teeth... then she sits back a bit within the circle of his arms and grins at him, "What would you like me to use then, sweet man?" She blinks at a curious thought, then adds, "Wait... whoa! Do all your retainers know you change shape too?" Her voice is wondering, "Goodness... and you've never had any retainers change their minds or be a shill? How did you manage that?!"
Bringer smiles, "Those from whom I feed, yes. If I am going to trust them enough to know I need to feed differently than a human, they should know the truth. And my people have usually been very loyal, because I am generous and I treat them as family. But I did not say I have never had one betray me... did I?" He brushes his fingers over her lips, "Use your fangs, dear heart. It will be easier to break the skin."
Sulochana sighs softly and nods, her voice quiet, "We've... had one or two betrayals in the caravan too. It's always painful." She smiles and kisses his fingers at the caress, then takes a deep breath, "All right. I've never done this before, lover, so... pick a spot for me that's easy and safe, please?"
Bradley shifts until he's more braced and turns his arm upward so she can see the skin of his inner elbow, and then he makes a fist. It would be more obvious with a tourniquet, but his arm is muscular enough that the veins show clearly, "The elbow is fairly safe and the veins are close to the surface." Sulochana takes a slow breath, her eyes sparkling a bit; she sure does like the way his muscles move so nicely under the skin! She grins at herself -- focus! -then wriggles down so she can take his arm in her hands. She takes her time, not wishing to rush, so it's special for him as well as for her, and her tongue flickers softly, almost ticklishly a time or two before she nuzzles with slow pleasure against the warm skin. Finally she sighs with near-dreamy pleasure, closing her eyes and brushing her sensitive lips slowly over his warm skin to make sure she's in the exact right spot...
Bringer has not fed someone else in this way for a long time -- and now it will be his lover and priestess. His beloved. He doesn't know if she will get the same sort of response from it that he does, but he hums softly to her, soothing; not a lullaby, but a reassurance.
The Naga is indeed reassured by her lover's calm. Eyes still closed, using her other senses, she opens her mouth and feels the fangs descend, then gently presses down. Performed so slowly and sensually, even the slight ache and shift of flowing venom becomes curiously arousing, and she inhales deeply as she lifts her fangs away from her lover's arm so she can drink. The blood tastes different than human blood; not as coppery, but warm and salty, like the ocean. Bringer strokes her hair gently, not wanting to startle her. He can feel the unexpected intensity of her pleasure and hunger as she bites. His arm flexes, but he doesn't pull away. If he is going to be bound with her, then he will share all he has; all he is. She flickers her tongue languidly once, twice, three times... then her eyes open, almost glazed over in a surfeit of sensation.
Sulochana draws a slow, long breath, deliberately lifting her head away from Bringer's arm. She puts her thumb over the small wounds, applying pressure to stop the bleeding, and her voice is a bit slurred as she whispers, "D-don't... I think besst if I don't ever drink your blood again, beloved." She swallows hard, then turns her face so she's not watching his arm any more, resting her head against his chest. She's trembling slightly as she adds huskily, "Th-that... that wasz-z... amazing..."
He strokes her hair gently and whispers, "The hunger could be too much, yes?"
Sulochana closes her eyes and nods silently... then her blood-red lips curl up in quiet rue, "It really does feel like life essence, sweet love. Like... like you're pouring out for me... part of your Self, your power, your... I don't know what to call it." She sighs, eyes still closed, and adds softly, "If that's how it feels to you, I don't know how you ever stop!"
Bringer murmurs, "Centuries of discipline," and then he hugs her close against his chest.
It's been a few years since Roy and Sulochana have been able to see each other, due to the caravan lead having to take time off to birth and wean little Rohana. Now, though, it's early summer, still not oppressively hot, and the river-rat king is nearly ecstatically happy at how well things are going! He and Sulochana are riding in a carriage together, headed someplace beautiful to share a picnic, and their beautiful little daughter is sleeping peacefully in her basket. 'Chana is sparklingly happy as well at Roy's pleasure, fanning herself slowly and beaming as he tells her about how dramatically Houston was routed -- despite her having sternly refused, way back during the abortive 'talks' with Houston, to allow him to ask any of her family to join his ranks!
Roy tends to gesticulate and make a dramatic story out of it, because he loves watching his cherie's eyes sparkle, and listen to her delighted giggle. He starts by telling her the Warlord of Houston was definitively routed by the combined forces of Baton Rouge, St. Louis, and several other allies who also sent help... but even at the time, Roy had wondered at how disorganized and thin Houston's army had looked when they lined up for the attack. 'Chana giggles at that, her eyes bright, and Roy grins, relating the odd occurrence he'd heard had happened, the night before battle: a tall sidhe woman had come to Roy and warned him to have no stallions on the battlefield the next day. Roy had experience with Sna'thaid, so he'd believed this inhuman woman too.
The next morning before dawn Roy had dismounted his handful of (highly disgruntled!) knights and heavy warriors, surrounding them with archers and other distance weaponry... then waited. Sure enough, even as he and Houston were setting up, an ethereally lovely, half-dressed woman on a mare in heat had galloped down the line between the two massed armies, laughing and waving at the Houston army. The Houston warriors -- all still mounted on over-heated and over-excited stallions -- had been utterly discombobulated as the near-frantic, aggressive beasts had broken ranks and started attacking each other -- and then the knights had been decimated as well, since Roy swiftly realized what was up and called immediate attack!
Sulochana laughs aloud, her face alight with pleasure, "Ooh, wonderful! I'll have to thank my godsmama!" Roy blinks at 'Chana, then realizes that makes sense -- his cherie had wanted him safe, sure, so she'd talked to her sidhe contacts. He grins and goes on to describe the news he'd received from his spies later: Houston had been dogged by incredible bad luck the whole way! According to the spies, on the trip from Houston to Baton Rouge, initially the conquests had gone well enough... until about halfway through the trip, when an unexpected hurricane had blown up from the Gulf and ripped through the army one night. That had been a lucky break for the Baton Rouge defenses, since it gave them another week or two to bring in more allies to settle in, while the Houston army dragged itself back together and re-collected its scattered goods.
Roy blinks, then smiles in fond disbelief at his cherie as she murmurs, "Awww! That was so sweet of Fearsome Grandmamma, to help out even though she doesn't approve of you!"
Roy chuckles, "She may be fearsome, ma cherie, but I doubt she controls the hurricanes, y'know?" The Hetaera just smiles with serene confidence at him, and he hastens to continue the story, hiding his small pang of disquiet. He has something truly dramatic to relate, after all: the Houston army had just started moving towards Baton Rouge again when suddenly, one night -- the Amazons attacked!
Roy explains to 'Chana how unusual that is, since he figures his cherie's not a tactical whiz nor familiar with Amazonian war policies, despite having two in her caravan: usually the Amazons stay pretty much within the rough boundaries of the Great Plains, and have a strong "don't bother us and we won't bother you" attitude. This time, however, they swooped in under cover of darkness and drove off over a quarter of the fine warhorses kept near the main army encampment! That had been a shocking blow to the Houston army, and they knew they'd have to set up watches. They figured they had a day or two to get that sorted out, though... but they were very wrong.
The very next night the Amazons were back -- and this time they didn't attack the more guarded army tents. No, this time they stampeded the herd of cattle the army had been living off of... through the main encampment! It was a horrible and embarrassing rout for the Houston army, made worse when they discovered the next day that a few more of the priceless warhorses, and over half of the supply wagon dray horses, had been stolen in the ensuing fracas -- as well as the majority of the herd of cattle!
Sulochana delightedly laughs aloud again, clapping her hands, "Oh, marvelous! I'll have to ask Hippolyta to convey my thanks to the Amazon Warlord!"
Roy blinks at that, his eyes widening a little, "You know someone who knows the Warlord of the Amazons?!"
'Chana giggles and reassures Roy: "Nono, dear, I know the Warlord herself! Lovely person. Go on? What happened next?"
Roy's a bit taken aback at that news, but... "Well, true dat travelin' a lot, you. Make sense mighta met th' dreaded Warlord an' lived t' tell th' tale, right? True also dat y'got Poly 'n Pippa in th' caravan as well."
Sulochana giggles again and gently corrects Roy, "Actually, I'm the Warlord's hearthlady, sweetheart. Hippolyta is our shared daughter! Go on, though? Finish the story?"
Roy's quite startled at that unexpected revelation about his cherie! Nevertheless, he simply nods gamely and takes a deep breath -- his cherie never stops surprising him, he guesses! He grins then, remembering the next issue Houston's aggressive king had faced: as the army traversed the nearby Bayou des Ourses, there'd been a mysterious disappearance in the night, without a trace -- of the Warlord's young son and heir! The boy couldn't have been more than, oh, five or six years old? All that had been found, though, were small hoofprints in the mud leading down to the water's edge -- and nothing more. Roy grins almost mischievously at Sulochana, adding, "Dat due to... our equine water frien', ouais?"
Sulochana giggles and bounces on the bench seat next to Roy, clapping her hands again and delightedly announcing, "Oh, marvelous! Yes, indeed -- and we'll both have to congratulate Eacharn on his newly discovered heir when we see him next!"
Roy laughs at that, hugging his beloved, "T'ought dat might be de case!" He grins then, relating the next problem the Houston army had faced: apparently while continuing their travels towards Baton Rouge, they managed to camp on the largest collection of snakes anyone had ever seen! That had caused all kinds of havoc, too -- since the next morning there had been snakes everywhere! Crawling through supplies, dropping from tent poles, curled in people's sleeping bags... the army had abruptly lost a significant portion of its members, as well as a few of the remaining animals who'd been unfortunate enough to step on a rattlesnake. By that point it wasn't just people dying from snakebite, either -- morale was seriously flagging, and people were starting to whisper that Houston and his bad-luck army are cursed!
Roy expects Sulochana to be wide-eyed at the mysteriousness of that occurrence. He's rather startled when she smiles, slowly fanning herself as she murmurs, "Goodness, Damballa plays rough when he gets annoyed! I'll have to thank him too; that was quite effective."
Roy blinks, studying 'Chana almost warily -- how many immensely powerful entities does she know on this sort of... of chatting and/or exchanging-favors basis?! Then again... well, she does meet an awful lot of folks in her travels, he supposes... so he takes a deep breath and then continues -- there's one more thing to tell, and he's internally certain she can't possibly be responsible for it! This time the story is of the return home of the tattered, bedraggled remnants of Houston's conquered army -- and how they were greeted by the news that the Warlord's winter wheat crop had failed. Worse, within the main Houston fort wheat-rot had been discovered in storage, and every well in the fort had dried up -- but not a single well or storage facility outside the fort had been affected! The Warlord had confiscated/seized quite a bit of grain and water as a consequence, causing much bad feeling and worries of hunger and starvation that winter. There were rumblings of revolution in the air as a consequence, and Roy's spy thinks it won't be very long before the ailing Warlord of Houston is replaced.
Sulochana beams at that, "Oh, fantastic -- I shall definitely have to thank Onca as well when I see him again, next year!" That seriously impresses Roy. He understands a Hetaera successfully persuading King Eacharn to ally with him -- but how could she possibly have been even indirectly responsible for routing an entire army? He (only slightly smugly) decides he is clearly the Chosen of quite the most amazing woman he's ever met!
[Previous Log] [Index] [Next Log]