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Chapter Text

    She had come again.  The small ooman female from the day before.  She was wearing a blue, silk dress, barefooted, carrying wild flowers in her small hand.  Her black hair was dishevelled, a leaf was stuck amidst the small strands.  She entered his temple, a skip to her step, and made straight for him.

    It took her a moment to climb the large pedestal on which he stood, his ki'cti-pa was fully extended at his side, planted, his fingers wrapped around the shaft.  He stood, statue still, his legs parted at shoulder width, staring straight ahead.  He was fully armed, and heavily armoured.  Like him, everything he wore matched his onyx colouring.

    "I brought you flowers," she grunted as she finally climbed up and sat next to his armoured legs.  She did not touch him as she put the flowers on the ground between his feet. "This looks like a big temple," she dropped her voice to barely a whisper, "we have temples back at the castle… but i am not allowed to go there." 

     She prattled on for hours, discussing everything from her family to her teachers.  He said nothing during her litany, and listened.  It had been centuries since anyone had actually spoken to him, he found that he did not mind that it was a ooman child.

    He was a priest of Cetanu, and his name was the same.  This planet was sacred to the Black Hunter, no yautja could hunt these lands without first seeking him out for a blessing from Cetanu.  Except… worthy prey had long ceased to be, the oomans that lived here had driven them to extinction by increasing their own populations.  Too long had passed since another yautja had sought him out.  He could not remember when… and he was old.

     Guardian of his temple, abandoned as it was, he could not leave this planet unless the First Priest called him.  His paw tightened on his spear and he glanced down at the ooman child at his feet, without moving his head.  She was the first to come within the temple grounds.  His post was right at the entrance, he was surrounded by a waist-high stone fence, the cobblestone was cracked in places as were the walls.     

     The child was twining the indigo and white flowers she had brought him into a loose crown.  She was humming under her breath, her bare feet nervously twitching as she worked.  He raised his eyes to stare in the distance, listening to her music.  It was nice to hear something different.

     She came almost everyday, for close to four years.  She'd grown from a chubby ooman child to a lean youth.  Her name was Princess Nave Morana Cypress Freya Mirtis, Heir apparent, next in line for the throne of Soal, she had introduced herself to him formally, had even curtsied.  He had remained silent and unmoving at the time.  She did not need to know anything about him to keep him company.

      Her family was large.  She explained she had an older half brother, Richard, and five younger siblings; Alexi, Matteo, Henry, Antoinette and Maxine.  Her mother was sickly, and her father was a good king.  He doubted she understood what she spoke of, but he listened regardless as she prattled on about her life and how lonely she was.  She ran away from her tutors to come and visit him, the king was much too lenient in his opinion.

       And then she stopped coming abruptly.  He'd waited two weeks before he engaged his cloaking and went in search of the ooman child.  He only left his temple to feed, and relieve himself.  He patrolled the grounds of the ravine, looking for traces of her recent passage, seeing no fresh tracks.  He switched the views on his mask and found her bare foot prints in dried soil.  Old tracks.

      The yautja tracked her path backwards, keeping to the trees, scanning the area occasionally for disturbances, mainly looking for her body.  If she had come into misfortune on her way to visiting him, he'd waited long enough that she would have died of dehydration long ago if she hadn't made her way home somehow.  He found nothing and ended up tracking her back to her fortress.

      He raised his head from his perch in a willow tree.  The turrets were hundreds of feet high.  Stone walls, large balconies, archways and stained glass adorned the structure.  He purred to himself and switched through his views.  He scanned the building from his vantage point.  Guards were stationed two per doorway inside .  

     Cetanu chuffed as many of them fidgeted and moved, yautja guards did not move, primitive oomans with no pride.  S'yuit-de.  There were many people crowded in one large room on the first floor, others patrolled hallways.  He moved to another tree facing the western wall, scanning all the while.

    There were many small figures he could see, children of servants.  He craned his neck back and perused the higher floors.  His mask zoomed in on the western tower, there was a great archway closed off with heavy drapery, a large balcony surrounded the structure.  There was a small heat signature, curled into a ball up there.  His eyes scrolled over the tower, guards were on each level.  It would take him a long time, maybe half a day, to creep up to her room from the inside without killing anything.

     He jumped down from his tree.  It would take him thirty minutes to scale the outer wall of her castle.  He would remain cloaked.  He'd have a little trouble with the balcony, but it was not impossible to do.  Took him an hour to surmount the challenge posed.  He had taken his time inching across, his talons had sunken in the rock.  The sun was at his back by the time he pulled himself up over the railing.  He crouched on his tiptoes on the edge of the rail, completely still as he scanned the tower.  He prevented himself from clicking comfortingly at the huddled figure within.  

      He moved slowly as he reached in a pouch at his belt and pulled out the dying half-made flower crown she had left near his pedestal and placed it on the ground outside the doorway.  He climbed up the archway and settled on the roof of her tower, crouching to overlook his surroundings.  He whistled once, loud and sharp like the jungle bird from the ravines, that should get her attention.   

       Her head snapped up, large black eyes peering intently at the garnet velvet porriere, waiting. Nothing. She unfurled slowly from the mound of pillows that piled her bed, smoothing the vermillion, satin duvet with her small pale hand as she stood. Her toes wiggling on the cool marble floor.

      Deliberately, Nave shuffled to the stone archway leading out to her balcony, her ears straining to hear the faintest sounds.  She'd never heard the birds this far from the jungle before.  Her heart pounded in her chest as she peeled back the weighted drapery, just enough to peek her head out. There was nothing on her veranda, tentatively she pushed her way past the bulky curtain. As she stepped towards the stone balustrade, there was a crunching sound that rang in her ears. 

      She stepped backwards, her gaze dropping to the ground, she gasped. Laying there was the dried out remnants of her half finished floral crown. The petals had been severely damaged when she walked over them. Crouching down, she scooped up the remains, before straightening and placing it on the stone rail. 

     Her onyx eyes scanned the horizon, someone had brought this to her… her friend. This should be frightening, it should scare her, someone knowing exactly where she was. She looked down, over the railing, towards the ground, far below.  Someone had scaled the rock wall to deliver this to her… and done so quietly too. She hadn’t heard any heavy breathing or gasping, from inside her room. She lifted her gaze back towards the horizon, searching. 

      He stood on the rooftop of her tower, looking down on the tiny ooman.  He was cloaked and perfectly blended with his environment.  She was alive.  He zoomed in on her bare feet, no wounds, old or new.  Exactly as he remembered her.  

      Why had she stopped coming then? 

Chapter Text

2

     Nave backed up, until her back hit the wall beside the archway, she slid down it until she was seated on the floor.  The crown had been left in her hidden temple, her secret place, with her friend, Sir Knight.  She missed her statue… well he wasn’t hers per se, but she liked to imagine he was.  He always listened to her, the idle musings of a twelve year old.  He never told her to shut up, or leave the room.  He was her knight.  

     She loved that he was still painted black despite how old everything around him was. She paused slightly, he must be very old, not even a chip or crack was on him. Whomever took care of the temple grounds had focused all of their energies on preserving Sir Knight. A small smile crept across her face, she was pleased with this fact. 

     Maybe… her friend was still near? She missed having someone listen to her, and clearly whomever was at the temple cared enough to track her all the way back here…. it would be rude not at least thank them…. right? “Uhh… thank you… if you’re there….” 

     He nodded his head regally from the rooftop, her back was to him.  She did not see him.

    She must sound so silly, but it was oddly comforting, like back at her hidden temple. “You’re probably wondering why I haven’t been back…” her small voice trailed off.  Nave had to be careful on the palace grounds, the walls had ears, so to speak. Her pink tongue licked her bottom lip, swallowing the tiny lump in her throat. 

     He nodded again, he was curious.  

    “I got caught leaving the castle grounds a couple weeks ago,” she breathed, barely audible.  He tilted his head, he had figured it would have been but a matter of time, “Richard caught me,” she shuddered at the memory. He was always lurking around, always trying to get her in trouble. “You remember him, right?" He did. "My older half brother,” she murmured, her dark eyes pricked. “I don’t want him to know where I go when I leave,” her lips pressed together as she closed her lids. 

     Her hands twisted together as she bent her head forward, “I lied to him…” she trailed off again, admitting to lying was horrible, she felt her stomach flip as she uttered truth. “It’s so shameful,” Nave confided, hot tears trailed slowly down her cheeks, “but… he would have ruined the temple, he would have told father,” her head was spinning at the thought of the temple being desecrated by her father’s men. “They would have come,” her tiny hands fidgeting quickly in her lap, “taken the entire thing down brick by brick,” her voice cracked as more lacrimations spilled from her ebony eyes, “they would have ruined him. Sir Knight. I-I-I couldn’t let that happen.” 

     He wanted to laugh.  Her father's men would not have touched a single brick of his temple.  Cetanu was the Guardian, his technology and weapons outmatched the primitive oomans, even alone as he was.  He wanted to tell her as much but remained silent.  

     A pale hand quickly brushed the tears from her face, “...I told him I was going to play with the village children.” She sucked in a deep breath to calm herself, “he, of course, told father what I was planning on doing,” her head tilted forward, she focused intently on the marble in front of her. “I’m not allowed to leave my room now… at least for a while,” she ran her soft fingertips across the ash colored satin of her dress, “even my tutors come here so I can’t leave.” She placed her feet on the floor and pulled her knees into her chest, then she bent forward and rested her head and arms on them, “I miss him,” she purled, “Sir Knight,” her only true friend. 

    Not allowed to leave was she?  He would respect her prison for now, she was safe in her tower.  He would return to his temple, to his duty.  He stood on top of her tower until the sun fell.  Surprisingly, the little ooman stayed outside, sitting on the balcony until she fell asleep.

     He returned a month later.  He'd grabbed a handful of those same flowers, and had tied the stems with a leather thong, he deposited them in front of her balcony door.  He had then ascended her archway and stood guard over her tower, cloaked and invisible to all.  He whistled, she came out and saw the flowers and resumed her incessant chatter.

      This was a pattern they followed for three years.  She was locked in that tower.  He came once a month, from morning to morning he remained on her rooftop, statue still and invisible.  He brought the flowers every time, and she came out when he mimicked the dto bird.   

     And one day, while he was at his temple, on his pedestal, she walked through the underbrush, he heard her, and directly into his temple square where he stood guard.  He straightened as she approached, he was surprisingly content to see her. She no longer had to struggle to climb and sit between his legs.  Her hand tentatively reached out for his armoured leg, but stalled and then went back to the granite at her side.

     She tilted her head back to look at the masked face of the statue, “It’s been a long time, since we last saw each other,” she sighed.  

     He'd seen her last month, but had remained invisible.  He was glad to see her return to his temple.  He had missed her presence here.  Her humming music and incessant chatter.  

     Nave sat quietly for a while, watching the branches sway in the breeze, “Mother is ill again,” she finally muttered, adjusting herself between Sir Knight’s legs. “I think… she’ll birth another prince soon,” her gaze fell to the stones just in front of the pedestal. “You know, it’s risky for her to be with child,” she bit the inside of her cheek as she contemplated saying more. It was liberating to speak freely, but she was talking to a statue.  She did not care that she sounded delusional.

      Her blunt teeth grazed her bottom lip, “Mother is already sickly, but when she’s with child…” she paused for a moment, looking back up towards the sky, the warm breeze tousled her hair a bit. “She could die,” she concluded solemnly. Her feet dangling from the pedestal swung back and forth, “Traditionally, there’s supposed to be an heir, that’s me,” Nave pointed at herself, her index finger brushing against her emerald silk bodice, “and a spare… in case I die.” 

     Her feet slowed to a stop and she wrenched her hands together in her lap, “I must sound so selfish,” she thought she did anyways, “of course I love all my siblings, but…” her dark eyes started to prick in the corners, “I don’t want to lose her.” There.  She said it.  Albeit to a statue, but she had finally confessed her true thoughts on the matter. She really did care for all her brothers and sisters, was happy that each of them had been born, but each pregnancy seemed to get progressively worse. Her soft hand brushed across her orbs, wiping away the tears that had started to form. There was no need to cry. She sat quietly for a long time, not thinking about anything in particular, just enjoying the comfort of her stony champion. Sometimes, deep down, she wished he was real. 

      He chirped quietly, but did not move.  He stilled his purring as well.  Comfort would soften her.  She was royalty, she needed to show strength.  He remained silent, staring in the distance while his ooman companion buried her face in her hands, and began to cry between his legs.    

    Her tears lasted fifteen minutes or so.  She hiccuped once and sniffled before she apologized to him. "I apologize," she sighed, and then swallowed, "I just can't cry at the castle," she finally murmured.

    Cetanu agreed.  She was showing him weakness as it were.  He wouldn't admit it, but he was secretly pleased she had.  She showed she trusted him.  

Chapter Text

3

    She updated him, two more siblings were born during the three years that had passed.  She came often, more than before.  She was older now, stronger, more able-bodied, the long trek to his temple not as terrible.  Her muscles grew and she glowed with the vitality of youth.

    Cetanu came to look forward to her appearances.  Her chatter was not as incessant as when she was a child, but she still kept him company.  Although she talked less and less with him, he found he did not mind.  He enjoyed her company whether she spoke or not.

    "You know," she said suddenly, "you are extremely handsome," she leaned her head back to look up at him, "I'm always comparing other men to you, and let me tell you…" she chuckled and lowered her head.  He puffed up visibly. 

    He straightened and chirped down at her.  It was a shame she always came when he was on guard duty, he could show her how strong he really was.  This was the first time he regretted not having a trophy wall.  His duties did not allow for the kv'var.  He was dead.  He trained constantly, as if he would have, though when not guarding.

    Cetanu was not his birth name, in truth he did not remember what he had been called before becoming a representation of the Black Hunter.  His colouring was the same as their death deity’s, with the red eyes.  He had been selected as a suckling; only red-eyed, black scaled yautjas were given this honour. 

     He had been segregated, with others of the same shade, almost indistinguishable from each other.  Their chivas were done without the fanfare of others.  They were never returning, if they lived.  Each dropped to their own corners of space, guardians of temples sacred to the Black Hunter.  Honour bound to live their lives bound to the temple and its planet.

    She stayed an hour more, discussing the differences between him and the oomans males of her castle.  Her praise and appreciation for his form had him enlarging quite drastically.  He purred accidently, a brief slip of concentration, he'd rumbled barely a second.

    Nave’s eyes widened slightly as she stiffened on her pedestal between Sir Knight's legs.  That had sounded suspiciously like an animal growling.  She glanced around quickly, and swallowed nervously.  She craned her neck the other way.  The temple was deserted, there wasn't any wind either.  A big cat or canid would not be able to sneak in here undetected.

     If she was attacked though, she would be able to dash for the large doors behind Sir Knight.  She had tested them on a previous occasion, they weren't locked, she could hide inside from a predator.  

     She was silent for another minute before she sighed heavily, "I have to go…" she jumped down from her seat, and turned to glance back at the big statue. "I will see you tomorrow!" She waved at him and took off running.

     He watched her go silently.  He nodded, once and briefly, as she waved her hand and left his temple at a jog, her heavy, braided black hair bouncing down the middle of her back like a living snake.  His mask zoomed in on her bare feet and he chuckled, she had not changed much.  Foolish ooman, she would cut her feet eventually.

    A routine formed, like old times, except not.  Three years passed this way.  Oomans, he noticed grew faster than yautjas.  More siblings had been born, some had died.  She feared for her bearer and cried quietly each time she came.  And then one day, while she sat between his legs, she sighed heavily, and muttered under her breath, "Richard is up to something, I know it."

     He remained unmoving as she sighed again and shook her head slowly. "He's been acting strange…" she trailed off.  

    She did not elaborate and stared off in the distance for the remainder of her visit.  He watched her leave and tilted his head to the side.  His ooman was nervous and anxious.  He could hear her heartbeat accelerate as she moved away.  

    And she stopped coming after that.  He only waited a week this time before he engaged his cloaking and took off in search of her.  He tracked her back to her fortress.  He went straight for the western wall.  His mask zoomed in on the western tower and froze.  It was empty.

    He scanned down the tower and realized the guards were no longer there.  He scanned the entirety of the castle, he walked the perimeter, scanning and zooming.  He could not find her heat signature.  

    Cetanu returned to her tower and scaled the side in record time.  He had gotten better at maneuvering the balcony, less than thirty minutes.  He made no noise as he climbed over the railing and crept towards heavy drapery.  He stepped into her chamber and stilled.

     He switched his views.  Everything was covered in white sheets.  Not a single piece of furnishings was uncovered.  The bed was completely bare.  He straightened suddenly.  He understood immediately.

     His ooman had passed. They had stripped her things, this room would be given to the next heir, the spare as she had called it.  He straightened in her room and purred to himself.  His paws clenched and he whirled on his feet, his black tresses slapping against his back.  He left her chamber and jumped from the balcony.  

     There was work to be done.  He made no sound as he landed on the balls of his feet.  His muscles bulged and he took off running for a large willow tree.  He needed to hunt.  A worthy trophy. 

     She was unblooded, so one trophy was enough.  He would give her a yautja burial, and give her rites as per his people.  He would grant her passage into the Black Hunter's hunting grounds.  

     He crouched on the tree and flipped his computer on.  He ran a claw across the keys deliberately.  What was considered worthy prey on this planet now?  What could he present as a trophy for her?

     There was a medium-sized, striped mountain cat.  A smaller canid-like creature.  Despite how nice their skulls looked, the large, horned vegetarians were not even worth considering.  He settled on the cat. 

     It took him a couple weeks to find one of the elusive felines.  Striped black and yellow, with beady amber eyes not that dissimilar from yautja eyes, the teeth were just under three inches in length.  Its head was smaller than those normally hunted for sport.  He took everything from the corpse, and wasted nothing.  He would tan the pelt and polish the skull. The meat would feed him a week, and he kept all the claws.

     Cetanu took another week to return to the ravine to gather the flowers necessary.  Over the years, he had watched her make those flower crowns dozens of times.  He knew how to make one with his eyes closed.  He was quick and efficient, taking just under a half hour to make a sturdy crown of the plants, as she had always done so.  

     He uncloaked his ship that was at the back of the temple.  He unlocked the airlock and entered in the room that was equipped specifically to be a trophy room.  The yautja worked steadily, cleaning the skull and polishing it to a sparkling white.  He removed all the meat and even cleaned the teeth.  

      The ship vanished from sight as soon as he left and the door locked.  He walked deliberately back towards the entrance of the shrine and pushed into the inner sanctum.  He needed a large offering plate on which to place the items.  He took what he needed and left the temple.

      He sat, cross-legged, about ten feet in front of his pedestal and placed the circular plate on the ground.  He arranged the crown of flowers to wrap around the th'syra.  He then placed it on the plate, arranging it just so.  He draped a necklace, newly made with some of the claws of the cat, over the flowers.   

     A small representation of his unblooded ooman companion.  He placed a hand over his top heart and lowered his head solemnly, giving her a long moment of silence.  He would miss her humming the most.

     "May you dance with the fallen gods, Princess Nave," he said slowly in his language, his voice hoarse from disuse, "Blessed to dance amongst the bounty of the Black Hunter," he paused, and continued reverently, "may you walk, head high, into his awaiting embrace.  thar'n-da s' yin'tekai."

     Another long silence followed his blessing before he dug a hole about four feet deep.  He gently placed the platter down into the hole and covered it over fully.  He went back to his pedestal after he finished.  He nodded to himself.  He had buried her where he could see her, should he wish it.  He would watch over, what he considered, her remains.

     He would keep her company as she wandered the hunting ground of the Black Hunter.  He would eventually see her again. 

      Death was only the beginning.

      He turned away from the pedestal and her grave, his dreads slapped against his back as he walked back to his ship for much needed sleep.  He'd stripped to his loin cloth as he dropped into his circular bed on the floor of his room.  

      And there, as sleep crawled over him, Cetanu admitted to himself, this one time.  He would miss her terribly.

Chapter Text

4

    Nave's onyx eyes snapped open, she was still engulfed in the darkness.  There had been a noise, it had not been a familiar one.  She strained her hearing, listening for it again. There was nothing, she closed her orbs, but there was a nagging feeling in the recesses of her mind. It had sounded like a muffled scream almost.  Her lids fluttered open again as she sat up from her bed and wrapped a silk robe about her nightdress as she tiptoed towards the big wooden door of her shared room.

    Her steps paused briefly as her gaze wandered over her two youngest brothers, Michael and Sven, aged one and two respectively, and her youngest sister, Gwendolyn, aged four, none of them had stirred.  She cautiously moved towards the ornate door that led to the main hallway in the north wing of the palace. All of her other siblings shared rooms along this corridor, it had been that way since their mother died. All of the responsibilities of taking care of the younger siblings had fallen on Nave. Their father slept in the west wing and did not want to see them anymore. 

      This was their first week back since Richard had sent the family packing to their northern property in Mortimer.  The queen had died last year, only a few weeks after Michael had been born.  Their father's health had been declining rapidly ever since.  Nave feared he would not be much longer for this world.  There was some resentment on her part towards him, she blamed him partly for her mother’s death, but that did not mean she wanted him to die… 

      Nave tentatively pushed the heavy door open and gasped quietly as she spotted soldiers carrying torches, entering the room of Alexi and Antoinette, she quickly pulled back as to not be seen.  She heard another muffled sound that chilled her blood and her eyes widened in horrifying realization.  Something was happening in her sisters' room that should not be happening.  She raised a shaking hand to her mouth and mobilized immediately.

     She closed her large wooden door and barred the door as quietly as possible.  Her room was connected to two other rooms. Nave ran to the brothers' chambers first and woke them. Matteo and Henry were strapping boys of fifteen and fourteen, she would need their help to carry the toddlers, she would take Gwendolyn.

      The children grumbled a little, but, thankfully, did not cry.  She softly kissed Gwendolyn's temple and ran to the other connecting room.  Maxine, Galahad and Francine shared this room, there was a large bed where the girls slept, and a smaller one where their eight year old brother was sleeping.

      Maxine, aged ten, was rubbing her eyes and was just crawling out of bed, while Francine, aged six, was clutching her rabbit stuffed toy to her chest, her mouth opening in a tired yawn when the large wooden door of their room creaked open extremely slow.  Nave's black eyes widened and she practically pushed her kin out of the room silently before they were seen by the soldiers.  She securely locked the connecting door and ran for her brothers' room, siblings in tow.

      Her heart was in her throat as she barred the connecting door and slowly crept to the doorway leading to the north wing’s hallway.  Her siblings were beginning to sense something was amiss and some started to whimper and cry,  her head whipped around and she shushed them urgently.  They did not question her and all closed their mouths.  The heavy door groaned softly as she cracked it open just enough to peek down the corridor. She clutched Gwendolyn tightly to her chest as she watched the soldiers silently run into Maxine, Galahad and Francine's room. 

      Once the hallway was clear, Nave pushed opened the door and ran, her family following as quietly as possible.  They took nothing, no shoes, no clothes, no food.  She felt her eyes water as she ran for the throne room.  She knew this castle so well, she had no issues navigating it in the dark.  And it was pitch-black.  All of the torches that typically offered light the hallways remained curiously unlit, there were no guards anywhere.  No one would help them… hear them… oh gods!

      Nave swallowed back the gasp of pain as she was forced to acknowledge that Richard was killing them.  He had ordered this.  He was behind this, she knew it.  They were all supposed to die quietly in their beds…  she blinked back tears and uttered a small prayer as she got to the throne room.  They were so close to outside she could smell it.  Almost there!

      And then all hell broke loose.  She heard the soldiers shouting, and booted running footsteps echoed loudly in the silence of the castle.  Armour rattled, shaking her teeth in fear.  They were coming!   She had to save her family!

      Her temple flashed in her thoughts.  She had not been there in two years, but she could walk there blindfolded.  Her feet had memorized the trek so many times.  It was dark, the soldiers would not know the trail, they would be safe there… she had a friend there… she thought of the flowers appearing impossibly on her balcony… Her friend would help her… had to help her!

     Maxine and Galahad pushed past her and shoved the front doors open.  Nave watched in horror as they all bolted into the darkness of the night, scattering like deer chased by wolves.  No!  They had to stay together!

     "Follow me!" She called as soon as they were outside, drawing unwanted attention, but it had to be done. 

     "W-wait!" It was little Francine, "I can't see!  Navey !"

     An arrow whizzed by her head in the blackness of the night.  By the gods they were firing arrows blindly!  Uncaring who they hit!  A sharp pain hit Nave in the right shoulder from behind.  She stumbled and almost dropped Gwendolyn.  Warmth spread down the front and back of her shoulder.  An arrow had sunk into her flesh.  

     Nave almost screamed.  She clenched her jaw tightly, grinding her teeth together and sobbed as she ran for the jungle.  She heard Matteo grunt and then heard the baby scream.  Oh no!

    "Matteo!" She whispered urgently, and then stopped running as she waited for her siblings.

     "Nave!" Galahad, and Maxine ran by her and stopped behind her.

     Henry appeared, she could barely make him out in the moonlight, he was carrying Michael in his arms.  There was no sign of Francine, Matteo, or Sven.  She couldn't hear the baby anymore. The noise she did hear, curdled her stomach. The deafening neighing of the horses filled the air, just before a high pitched scream that was unmistakable pierced the night.  

      "Oh gods…" Nave swallowed back a sob as she visualized Francine trampled by horses. She couldn’t stop herself from imaging their sharpened hooves stomping repeatedly on Francine’s back as she desperately searched for them to help her. Nave shook her head driving the thought from her mind. Her feet felt like lead as she turned and forced herself onward.  She had to save the others.  She would come back for Matteo and Sven.  She had to save the others first.

      "The others are dead, aren't they?" Maxine whispered in the darkness as Nave focused on her memories.  The temple was deep in the jungle, down into a hidden ravine.  She had to find it.

      Nave presses her lips together, "I don't know...," she answered solemnly, ignoring the pain in her shoulder as much as she could.  

      "They are," Henry snapped angrily, huffing at his sister’s omission.  Maxine sniffled, Galahad whimpered.

      "Henry," she scolded and then winced.  Gwendolyn was getting heavy… and hard to carry… she pushed forward, squinting in the darkness, barely making out what was in front of her.  

      "I'm scared, Navey…" Galahad murmured somewhere behind her.

      "I know…" she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, trudging forward, "I'm scared too."

      Henry’s eyes flashed, "It was Richard, wasn't it?" he queried aggressively.

      "Not now," she pleaded with him as she glanced about her surroundings.  Her eyes were adjusting to the darkness of the jungle.

      "I'm going to kill him!" Henry vowed.

      "Please, don't do this now," she grunted, "I don't want them to hear us…"

      He was blessedly silent after that.  It took her twice as long to follow the trail to her temple.  She did not hear the soldiers any more and was not sure if they had followed.  Her feet hurt, her shoulder was on fire, her back hurt so much it was like someone had stuck a red hot poker on her flesh.  Thankfully Gwendolyn was asleep and not fussing at all.  

     She stumbled when she found her temple, the moon lighting it nicely, and sobbed uncontrollably as she made her way towards the pedestal where Sir Knight… she blinked.  His altar was… empty…?  Oh no… She pushed the sad thought of Sir Knight falling apart in the two years since she had seen him and placed Gwendolyn gingerly on the pedestal.

    The relief was immediate, but the pain in her shoulder did not abate.  Oh gods...

     "What is this place…?" Henry asked, placing a sleeping Michael on the mount beside Gwendolyn.  

     "My secret place," Nave answered in a hushed voice, and then motioned Henry over, "I need your help…,” licking her lip, “you need to pull it out…"

     Her brother came to stand beside her as she lowered herself to her knees in front of him.  She could see a worried look on his face. "You'll scream…" 

     She raised her left hand and bit into the soft flesh between her thumb and forefinger.  Henry shook his head and bent to pick up a stick. "Bite this," handing her the piece of wood.

     Nave didn't think twice and bit down on the wood.  She nodded curtly and whined quietly as a sharp, hot pain flashed through her body when Henry stepped behind her to grab the arrow shaft.  His other hand touched her collarbone and he gasped as he felt the arrowhead.

    "It went all the way through, Nave," he whispered and then cleared his throat awkwardly, "I heard Smith," he was the captain of the guards that Matteo and Henry had followed around on rounds all the time, "mention once that all the way through, it comes out with arrowhead." 

     She closed her eyes tightly and nodded.  Uncaring what he had to do to remove the arrow.  

     "I have to break the shaft, Nave," he explained.  She took a fortifying breath and nodded again.  "On three," he murmured, his voice surprisingly firm, she nodded again, and clenched her eyes closed, "One," her teeth sunk deeply into the stick in anticipation, "Two," she had just started inhaling deeply for the last number when Henry broke the shaft in one swift motion.    

     The scream of absolute pain was muffled and she fell forward, barely catching herself with her left arm.  She was sobbing into the stick.  She felt like Henry had ripped her arm off and cauterized the wound with a hot iron.  Her head was pounding with how hard she clenched her eyes shut, her jaw muscles bulging, the wood cracking in her mouth.

     "Almost done…" Henry soothed and helped her back to her knees.  He reached blindly for the arrowhead sticking out of her shoulder and pulled it through the wound.  She screamed again, though it hurt considerably less than the breaking of the shaft had.  She lost her strength when Henry stepped away from her.  She fell forward, lying face down into the ground, sobbing uncontrollably as her shoulder pulsed.

      Maxine knelt beside her head and patted her matted hair in the darkness.  The little girl was sobbing as she tried to comfort her older sister.  Galahad was pressed to her side, also sobbing, clutching Maxine's other arm.

     Henry walked the perimeter of the courtyard, looking at the broken, bloody arrow in his hand.  A deep fear coiled in his stomach as he thought of infection setting in the wound.  His eyes widened even more as he realized that Nave had carried Gwendolyn.  Had… had the arrow hit his other sister?  

     He made his way to the stone ruin, where they had placed the youngests siblings.  It was dark but as he looked over Gwendolyn, there was no mistaking it.  Her azure eyes were open, unblinking, it appeared as though her cloudy orbs were staring off in the distance.  His gaze drifted slowly from her face and noticed that there was a dark spot on her night clothes. He knew it was blood without needing to really see it.  The arrow had killed his other sister.  He bit his lower lip and slowly backed away from the pedestal.  He did not know what to do… 

    There was a building they could probably all sleep in and hide from the elements.  Was it booby trapped?  He had read novels in the castle library about ruins being booby trapped...  The place was not as dark as the jungle surrounding it.  He turned back towards Nave and came to sit beside Galahad.  He didn't know what else to do in the darkness.  He grabbed the younger brother and pulled him into a tight hug, rubbing his hands up and down the crying boy's back.  Galahad sunk his wet face into his shoulder and clutched him hard, falling asleep with tears still rolling down his cheeks.  Henry gritted his teeth and clenched his eyes closed tightly as hot tears rolled down his cheeks in silence.  Smith has said men don't cry.

     Nave eventually sat up, and pulled Maxine into her left side, hugging her close as they cried quietly together, their backs against the pedestal.  She was tired and sore… her heart hurt so much.  She couldn't stop the images of her lost siblings flashing inside her head.

     Alexi's dashing smile, she had dimples that were so big, it made whoever was the recipient, smile back in return.  She had smiled at Nave tonight, not long before bed.  She had reminded Nave of their mother, with her long brown hair and soft brown eyes.  She would have been nineteen soon.  

     Antoinette had just turned eleven… she had given her trouble tonight after supper for making Maxine cry.  Nave cried harder as she thought of the scolding she had given her.  Those had been her last words to her… she had sent her to her room.  She had been the only other sibling with black hair like her.  Guilt riddled her frame… she had not been able to save her… 

     Matteo had decided he would join the guards and the army.  He'd kept his blonde hair short, cropped close to his head.  Henry had decided this as well, and had done the same, the brothers were close.  They had wanted to enlist together.  Nave reached out with her left hand and touched Henry's arm comfortingly.  She heard a soft intake of breath, and knew her brother was crying too.  They had all lost.

     Francine… Nave tried not to think about her soft spoken, cute as a cherub with almost white hair, and so well behaved, younger sister getting trampled by horses.  She prayed that it had been quick.  She had only been six years old… oh gods… she swallowed back a whimper as her last words echoed in her head.  She had sounded so scared...

     Sven's chubby little legs and arms, despite walking everywhere, her younger brother flashed in her mind as he had been at supper.  Laughing as he sat on Galahad's lap, who was making sure he sat up, and was eating.  He'd been such a good child… he would have been such a big boy… 

     Nave leaned down and kissed Maxine's head softly before she drifted off.  She was so very tired.    

Chapter Text

5

     Cetanu knew immediately something was wrong the moment he stepped out of his ship.  The coppery scent of ooman thwei was heavy, it lingered in the air as though a yautja had cleaned a trophy in his temple.  He activated his cloaking immediately, his dah'kte slid from his gauntlet with the barest of sounds. The yautja scaled the walls of his post and crouch-ran across the surface until he was overlooking his pedestal.

      He stilled completely, his mask zoomed in on the heat signatures around his mount.  There was a dead child surrounded by blood beside a sleeping live suckling where he usually stood.  He counted four larger ones sitting on the ground, all huddled together, two were young children, one was a youth, and the largest was a petite adult.  

     Sunrise was an hour away, the ambient noises of his jungle hid his landing as he walked off the roof.  Three strides had him looking down at the pedestal.  The views of his mask switched and zoomed in on the wound of the dead suckling.  He remained silent as he moved around the ancient stone monument.  The views switched again as he scanned the smaller oomans.

     He stepped around until he stood, invisible to all, but three feet in front of the adult.  His mask scanned her over just as the wind rustled and blew her scent towards him.  Cetanu froze, all his muscles locked as his breathing halted.  His red eyes widened in surprise behind his mask.  He would have recognized her smell anywhere.

      It was Nave.

      She was alive!  She had come back!

     He inhaled deeply, and forgot himself.  She was bleeding… his mask scanned the ground, he spotted blood, her blood.  Cetanu chirped at her worriedly and dropped his cloaking.  

     This was her family, her siblings.  She had brought them here for protection.  She was in danger.  It hit him like a gut punch and he moved to crouch in front of her.  He chirped again, actively trying to wake her.  

     The youth close to her opened his eyes and he gasped loudly as his gaze locked on Cetanu.  The boy stiffened, waking the child that was sleeping on his chest.  The yautja turned his head sharply in the boys' direction, his tresses arcing over his back.  His head tilted and he nodded towards the youth, before he returned his attention to Nave.

     A small shriek escaped the young girl next to Nave as she opened her eyes and saw him there crouching not two feet in front of her sister.  He straightened and nodded to the youth, the sun was beginning to rise in the distance, motioning him to stand.  They could not stay here.  The boy seemed to understand and shuffled himself and the two younger children to their feet.  Cetanu nodded to the sleeping suckling on the pedestal, motioning for the youth to grab him.  He would carry Nave, he turned his head to look down at her. 

      Nave’s heavy lids fluttered at the commotion happening around her. Her shoulder still burned, almost as though it was on fire. She had barely slept last night, between the pain, Maxine, and the noises from the jungle. Had Richard's soldiers found them here already?  A heavy purr sounded as she cracked one, blurry, sleep-deprived eye open.  Her heart stopped immediately, her breath caught on a sharp intake, he was in front of her.  

      “You’re not broken…” Nave whispered. She was relieved to see him, it had been almost heartbreaking to think of him deteriorating and crumbling into nothingness. Her eyelids nictitated briefly before closing completely again, it was too taxing to keep them open any longer. 

     He crouched down very slowly in front of her.  His head tilted, his dreads sliding off his shoulder.  Broken…?  What…?  He was purring loudly, his chest rumbling.  He scanned her shoulder looking for infection.  Was his ooman delirious?  Cetanu hoped not, and realized that she might need his advanced medicine.  He reached forward and as gently as he could he wrapped his arms around Nave and picked her up. She nuzzled her face against his broad chest, the black metal felt cool against her cheek. She had seen him one last time. Her knight.  

     The other children were staring at him wide eyed, the youth had picked up the live suckling.  He motioned with his head for them to follow him.  They did not say anything although one of the younger ones whimpered.  He led them back to his ship, bringing the vessel out of cloaking so that they could see it.    

     They all gasped and one of the younger children looked up at him. "You're a wizard!" 

      He did not answer, instead he led the children into his ship.  They huddled together staring with wide eyes at his technology, not touching anything.  He took them to his room and pointed to his circular bed on the floor.  They all piled on it, their eyes bulging out at him as he left the room with Nave.  He was taking her to his infirmary.

     Once out of sight of the sucklings and youth, he moved down the hall across from his control room.  He'd rarely had to use this room, it had been a couple centuries since he'd even stepped foot in it.  He was not surprised to find everything in perfect order and not covered in dust and debris.  His ship was self cleaning.

     Cetanu was gentle as he placed Nave on the large table in the middle of the room.  Her fingers tightened on his armour but did not cling to him as he stepped away from her to grab his medikit.  He placed it on a smaller table and pushed the panel to open it.  The burner, he placed on a stool, on his other side and activated it.  He would need to inject her to stop the infection he knew was already growing in her wound, but first…

     He reached up and tore the fabric of her dress, exposing her torso and the wound on her right shoulder. Nave felt the cool air against her skin, her flesh prickled slightly.  She knew she was partially exposed, but it didn’t matter now. There was no energy left to fight.  He clicked down at her as he gently rolled her to the side to look at her back.  The injury was clean through.  The tissue was gnarled and though it had stopped bleeding, a graze of his talons had it leaking red again.  Nave winced at his intrusion, she tried to crack open an eye, but it was too bright. She must be close to the eternal life, Sir Knight had come to escort her there. 

     The cloth from her dress was enough for him to make the paste needed to close the wound.  He tore the material so that he had a foot of fabric, shredded it and placed it on the circular burner.  He grabbed the blue vial and dribbled it liberally over the shredded dress and turned the flames on. 

     It took but a moment for the fabric to turn into a blue, smoking, crystal paste.  He grabbed a spatula from his tools and scooped a large amount.  His fingers tightened on her arm, ready to hold her down as he brought the medicine to her wound.

    Her skin sizzled as he pushed the burning crystals into her wound, essentially cauterizing it.  There was an unearthly scream that escaped her and he held her down easily.  She barely struggled, he figured due from blood loss.  His ooman was weak right now.

    The pain was excruciating, it felt as though a hot poker was held against her already tender shoulder. Whatever was happening to her was infinitely worse than when Henry had extracted the arrow hours earlier. Nave attempted to pull away, but the grip around her arm was strong and held her in place. There would be no escape from this torture. Her dark eyes clenched together tightly as she continued to endure the agony being inflicted upon her. A warm tear trickled down her cheek as she swallowed back a sob. 

     Cetanu put her back on her back and placed a large hand against the middle of her torso as he brought another scoop of the blue crystals to her frontal injury.  Again the skin sizzled as he pushed it into the wound, again she screamed, her small body trying to arch off the table.  He held her down with almost no effort.  Her hand shot up and struck him weakly, but it mattered not. 

     He gave her body a quick scan with his mask before he finally grabbed the large needle filled with medicine that would combat all forms of disease.  He purred down at her.  The sound was soothing as she laid on the table, it almost made her forget about the misery she was in. Almost. This would hurt worse than anything his ooman had probably ever felt.  Yautjas, with their high tolerance of pain, roared in agony when this was injected.  He hoped she would lose consciousness.

    Where could he inject this without hurting her internal organs?  His mask scanned her and three places were highlighted.  A fleshy breast, her buttocks or her thigh.  He decided on injecting her in her fatty teat.  It was close to her heart, it would spread the medication faster.  He handled the needled carefully and while still holding her down, injected the thick needle into her breast, a few inches from her nipple.  

     Nave was relieved that the burning of her skin was over. The pain was over, finally. She had barely breathed a sigh of relief when the needle punctured the flesh of her breast. Her eyes snapped open involuntarily and locked in on Sir Knight. She raised her arms to try and push him off of her as she screamed vociferously, it sounded inhuman to her ears, except it was her.  Her hands barely grazed his scales when darkness filled her vision. Her knight was the last thing she remembered before she slipped into the dark abyss. 

    He was still purring as he scanned her again.  A talon touched her chin carefully before he bundled her up in his arms and took her back to her siblings.  They all gasped as the door opened on its own and they moved to the edge of the bed as he approached it with a sleeping Nave. 

     Nothing was said as he placed her onto the pelts.  They stayed away from her until he stepped away from the bed.  They said nothing to him as he left the room.  His paws clenched into fists at his side as he left his ship and cloaked it.

     They would pay.  Whoever had done this. 

     He vowed it to the Black Hunter.

Chapter Text

6

     Nave hissed through her teeth as she came to. Her shoulder burned, the pain was not as intense as… her thoughts trailed off as her memory turned fuzzy.  Wait… had Sir Knight been real?

    She cracked open a dark eye, shutting it immediately.  It was so bright… the light hurt her sensitive eyes.  Were they still outside?  How long had they been at the temple? 

     "Navey…" Maxine had immediately noticed her sister's fluttering eye movement and shuffled close to her side.  The little girl licked her lips and tried again, "Navey!"

     "Shut up, Maxine!" Henry growled from a few feet away,  "Let her sleep!"

     "I saw her eye open!" Maxine leaned over her sister and gingerly reached to her left arm, "Navey!" She shook Nave's arm gently.

     Nave hummed in response, the voices seemed farther away than they actually were.  It surprised her when she felt her sister push against her, she had not expected her so close…  

      Henry shifted closer as he realized that she really was awake. "Nave!" His tone was obviously relieved. 

      "Your wizard friend hid us!" Galahad suddenly spoke up.

       Her dark eyes snapped open. “Sir Knight is alive?” she sucked in a breath of anticipation.  That hadn't been a dream? She vaguely remembered seeing him… she had been close to death.  He had not come to guide her to the final place.  

       Henry blinked at her, "His name is Sir Knight?" He deadpanned. 

      Nave’s head whipped towards her brother and narrowed her eyes at him, “Yes, that’s what I named him,” she quipped defensively.

       Henry opened his mouth to rebuke when the door to the room opened and Sir Knight walked in.  His tread was heavy, he did not turn to look at any of them as he made across the room.  His foot prints leaving clear blood tracks.  The youth blinked again as he stared with wide eyes at the enormous black armoured man striding slowly towards an empty wide wall.  He was covered in blood.

       Cetanu ignored the children as he made for his awu'asa wall.  He was drenched in the red thwei of the ooman soldiers that had tried to invade his temple.  Twenty oomans had been sent after Nave.  They had not found her, instead they had found him.  He'd killed them all in the name of the Black Hunter, in defense of his temple.  He had taken five skulls from today's skirmish, they were in his trophy room, waiting to be cleaned.

      He moved without hesitation as he began the ritual of disarming.  He placed each piece of his awu'asa on the floor in a half circle.  Cetanu would clean his armaments and then he would bathe himself, a sharp odour of urine and feces  assaulted his senses as he inhaled, and the children.  His ship was self cleaning, a push of a button would clear away the mess they had no doubt made.  

      Nave pushed herself up on her uninjured elbow, she wanted to see him. Needed to see him. As her wounded shoulder left the mattress, a searing pain radiated down her arm. She bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from crying out. The children were already worried about her enough as it was. Henry seemed to understand her intent and quickly crawled over to her on the bed. He took the weight of her body off her elbow and slowly pushed on her until she was sitting up completely. 

      The fur that was covering her chest began to slip. Henry swiftly grabbed the pelt, “Hold this,” he murmured, his face flushing slightly. Nave nodded, her onyx eyes transfixed on Sir Knight. Even covered in blood, he was handsome… There was a desire to ask him if he needed his wounds tended to…. there was so much blood covering his large body. But it seemed like the improper thing to do, not that she could with her family watching and her injury anyways…  so she continued staring at him, watching him intently. 

     He raised his dark arm, a talon ran along the keys of his computer.  His wall opened, displaying a vast collection of different weapons, armours and useful miscellaneous, poisons and oils.  He grabbed his d'lex stand and placed it on the ground next to his awu'asa.  He stepped out of his armoured sandals and sat cross legged on the ground, his profile to the children and Nave.  Cetanu began the arduous process of cleaning his armour with his laser.

      The process took a couple of hours, the thwei on his scales had dried.  He needed to bathe.  He moved quickly to place all his armour in the wall before he turned towards his bed.  He scanned the faces of the oomans and motioned them all with a paw.  He made a motion for them to follow him.  He pointed to the baby, and beckoned all the oomans with both arms.

      Galahad and Maxine jumped to their feet, not at all hesitant to follow Sir Knight.  Henry grabbed the sleeping Michael, and then whistled for Maxine.  The little girl came running back towards him.  Cetanu tilted his head to the side as he watched for a moment. 

      "Baby or Nave?" He gave her the choice.  She grimaced at Michael, who was ripe,  and went to stand beside Nave who was barely supporting her seated position on her own.

      Cetanu chuffed to himself as he realized the child was to aid Nave to her feet.  He doubted she would have the strength to stand.  He growled faintly, three steps took him to Nave's side, she smiled faintly up at him. He was gentle as he bent to pick her up. She was so small in his arms, she weighed barely anything.

     Her thin fingers gripped the pelt resting against her chest tightly, keeping it in place as he lifted her into his large arms. Instinctively, she rubbed her face against his pectorals, the dried blood flaked off his body and fluttered down onto the brown fur across her body. She quite liked him holding her against him. It felt safe. 

      He walked to the bathing chamber, fully expecting the family to follow him, he growled again and carefully deposited Nave on the edge of the tub.  Her fingers flexed in his hide and he purred reflexively, she calmed and he moved to the panel to start the water.

      There was a collective gasp as the large hole in the ground began filling with clear water.  He removed his loincloth, dropped it to the ground and entered the water beside Nave.  He started washing his body and then realized no one was moving, they were all watching him with wide eyes.

      He sighed and understood he would have to teach them what this was, they did not possess any technology on this planet.  He pushed a panel not far from Nave and a clear pitcher raised from the floor.  He grabbed the pitcher and filled it with water before handing it to Nave and bringing it to her lips.  Her twelve year old voice came from his mask. "Clean."  He titled the jug a little so that the water touched her mouth.

    Nave’s eyes widened in surprise, that was her voice.  Coming from him. Maybe he really was a wizard. She probably should have called him The Black Warlock instead. 

    "Did he just use your voice?" Henry whispered, bending close to Nave before a struggling Michael forced him to stand straight.

     "He's got no penis…" Galahad whispered loudly, looking up at Henry.

     "Maybe she's a girl!" Maxine declared happily.   

    Nave’s head snapped back at her siblings, they were being incredibly rude to Sir Knight. Her dark eyes glaring at them, her siblings stilled. She shook her head, clearing the thought from her mind.  She was incredibly thirsty… she tentatively lifted the pitcher to her dry lips and gingerly tilted it back, feeling the water fill her mouth. 

     Cetanu purred as she drank greedily.  Nave had handed the pitcher to Maxine next.  He nodded as the children followed her example.

     "This is delicious!" The girl exclaimed.  Galahad grabbed the pitcher from her hands while she was still ingesting and followed her example.

     "Where is the latrine?" Henry asked.  

      Cetanu pointed to the water. "Latrine," Henry's voice repeated from his mask, "Bath," came Nave's young voice again, "Water.  Thirsty." 

      Galahad gasped and was throwing his clothes off as soon as he understood this was the bathroom.  He jumped in the water and almost drowned in the depth.  Cetanu reached below the water and pulled the young boy to sit on the bench beneath.  The youth coughed up the liquid before he took a deep breath.

     "It's deep…" he gasped, his eyes wide.  

      Cetanu nodded and returned to scrubbing his scales while Maxine and Henry disrobed and also entered the water.  The teenager had placed the smelly baby next to Nave.  

      "So we drink latrine water?" The young man swallowed nervously, the water lapping at his chin.   

      Cetanu chuffed beneath his mask.  How to explain the advanced filtration unit of his people?  He clicked his tusk beneath his mask and Nave's young voice repeated, "Clean." 

      “Magic?” Maxine whispered, clenching her eyes shut. 

      Cetanu nodded once.  Technology was considered magical by most primitive bipeds.  He would not correct their assumptions.  The younger children cooed and raised handfuls of the clear liquid to their mouths. 

     Wrinkling her nose, Nave glanced over at Micheal, her eyes flicked back to the bathing hole where everyone else was sitting in and then back at the baby beside her. An errant thought struck her suddenly… Where was Gwendolyn? 

     She shifted uncomfortably along the edge of the pool, she didn’t remember seeing her younger sister in Sir Knight’s room earlier… And Henry wouldn’t have left her alone while she slept… Nave dropped her head and bit her bottom lip. Gwennie was dead. Her eyes pricked and she felt a hot tear begin to fall down her cheek. 

    Quickly, she used the back of her hand to wipe it away. Nave did not want to alarm the younger children. She would have Henry confirm what her mind already knew.

    He finished cleaning himself when he realized he would need to hunt more.  Oomans ate meat he knew from spending time at the castle, and fruits.  He remembered Nave eating apples and berries found around the temple many seasons ago.  Did they ingest raw meat like him?  He would need to research… 

     "Food?" His mask only had Nave's voice for recordings having never been in contact with anything else.

      "You're a girl, right?" Maxine asked suddenly.  Ignoring his question completely and not giving time for the others to answer him.  He blinked behind his mask and chuckled as his chest puffed out.  He was pleased to be compared to a female, they were fierce and powerful within his race.

      “Maxine!” Nave scolded. 

      "I think that's a yes!" Maxine pointed out to the enlarged Sir Knight.

      "R-really?" Nave turned her gaze towards the yautja in surprise.

      He shook his head and pointed to Henry.   Maxine's grin vanished and she looked glum.

      "You don't have a penis," Galahad piped up, "Did you lose it in an accident?" Nave buried her face into her hands. This was mortifying. How must Sir Knight feel?

      Henry grimaced and looked empathically towards a chucking Sir Knight.  The black yautja shook his head and then reached up to the hoses on his mask.  It would explain everything once they realized that he was very different from them.

      A hiss of pressurized air echoed in the chamber.  He was deliberate as he placed both paws across his faceplate and removed his mask.  His tusk clicked, and his mandibles flared as he placed his helmet on the edge of the pool.  The children exploded into speech all at once.

     "You are ugly!" Galahad exclaimed uncontrollably.  

     "You're an orc!" Henry gaped openly, "I have heard of Orcs living in seclusion far away! Is that what you are?"

     "Are you a monster?!" Maxine gasped, staring at his tusks with wide eyes.

Chapter Text

7

    Nave stared at him, his face was definitely not what she had ever imagined. His ebony forehead was sloped and very bony looking.  His hair… was it hair… was thick and tubular, she had always thought it had been a part of his helmet. His crimson eyes were tiny and sunk back. Her eyes flicked towards his mouth, the teeth were sharp like those of a carnivore and he had pointed tusks that covered them, it somewhat reminded her of lips on a person… except they were not lips… She supposed all her previous thoughts of kissing him when she was younger were completely off.  Could she even… she shook her head to remove the thought quickly from her mind.

     He chuckled again and grabbed the pitcher from the edge of the pool where it lay forgotten on its side.  The children amused him with their excited chatter and he chuffed as Galahad stared at him in awe.  Cetanu filled the pitcher and drank deeply, two jugs full, the liquid spilling down his chest.  He was done cleaning himself, but he remained in the water as the children openly squawked amongst themselves about his appearances.  He didn't want to leave until the suckling was cleansed.  His odour permeated his surroundings.

    They thought him an orc, a dumb creature that did not exist on this planet.   He did not correct their assumption.  It didn't matter what they thought he was.  He raised his head towards Nave and pointed to the babe.  He motioned the water.  

    Her eyes returned to Michael and grimaced slightly. He was saturated in urine and feces, his clothes would be ruined too. Gingerly, she untied his bedgown and carefully pulled it over his head, ensuring not to get anymore of the waste on his tiny body.  

     Once the gown was completely off, the odor that had been somewhat masked hit Nave’s senses. She suppressed the urge to gag as she lifted him up to bathe him. She leaned over the bath, dipping the baby in the water, his chubby legs kicked at the water excitedly. 

    "You stink, Michael!" Galahad made a retching noise. 

    "It's floating towards me!" Maxine shrieked and dove for the other side of the pool. "Get it away!"

     Cetanu remained where he was and made a second attempt to broach the subject of food a second time, but with Nave.  He reached back for his biomask and strapped it on his face before he brought his question forward.

     "Food?" Nave's childish voice said, he repeated it to make sure it was heard distinctly, "Food? Food?"

     Nave glanced over at Sir Knight as she pulled Michael from the bath, Maxine was still screeching loudly.  He tilted his head to the side, a couple of black dreads sliding over his shoulder.  She did not feel particularly hungry, but she hadn’t felt thirsty until he had her drink from the pitcher either. How long had they been here…?  The children certainly needed something to eat.  She licked her bottom lip and nodded softly. She felt nervous talking to him now.  

     He nodded once at her and pulled himself out of the pool.  He did not glance towards the oomans bathing and made his way towards his room.  The door opened with his presence and he made straight for his weapon wall.  A click of keys and his awu'asa came into view.  He wasted no time in arming himself.  He grabbed the soiled pelts from his bed and left his ship, his cloaking already engaged, the airlock programmed to lock with his exit.

    The perimeter was secured, he laid a few spike traps, using the soiled pelts as coverings for the snares.  He wanted to lure the oomans to investigate, animals would know to stay away.  He programmed the contraptions to engage if anything over a hundred and fifty pounds stepped within.  He calculated the awu'asa and weapons the humans wore gave them an added forty pounds.  These traps were small and inconspicuous.  A disc smaller than his chak'ra, covered an area of ten feet in all directions.  Once engaged, thin legs would extend from the trap and seek to wrap themselves around anything within the target area, and then explode in spikes.  A nuisance to big prey, death to oomans and smaller bipeds.  

     He checked for signs of life in the nearby jungle.  An antelope would feed everyone if he could find one.  He kept close to the temple, not wanting to venture too far.  He expected more soldiers to come.  He did not know how long it would take for Richard to notice that his soldiers had not returned.  Cetanu moved silently towards the castle, searching for suitable nourishment.

    Nave sat motionless, holding the wet baby on her lap as her dark eyes watched the excrement disappear in the water. It was oddly fascinating to see… magic. She wanted to bathe in the pool, but she was not doing so with all her siblings and she certainly had no intention of doing it while Sir Knight had been in the chamber. Her gaze flicked over to Henry, their eyes met, and she glanced back towards the door on her right. He nodded and quickly gathered Galahad and a babbling Michael, leaving Maxine with her. 

    Gingerly, Nave pulled the fur from her shoulders, wincing as she set it to the side. The pain was dull, but it sharpened each time she moved. She glanced down and finally was able to look over her gown and why it was as destroyed as it was.  A large portion of her bedgown was completely ripped off, exposing her breasts completely. Her face flushed pink, Sir Knight had seen her partly naked!?  Mortification settled over her like a scratchy blanket.

     She ran her fingers along the delicate lace around the bottom of her gown. It needed to come off, but she was apprehensive. Lifting it over her head would cause more pain to shoot down her shoulder. Movement in the water caught her attention, Maxine was wading towards her with a smile.  When her sister was close enough, she very carefully helped work the bedgown off, ensuring that the injured shoulder was only minimally moved. 

     Slowly, Nave sunk into the bath, the calm bath water felt relaxing against her sore and tired muscles. She leaned her head back against the metal side and closed her eyes, she heard liquid slosh and the dripping sound of water against the floor, presently the rustling of fabric forced her ears to perk up.  Maxine was leaving her. 

    “Call for me when you’re ready,” her sister whispered. The door slid open as the shuffling of Maxine’s feet against the floor faded, a few moments later it snapped shut, the room sank into silence. Finally, she was alone. All of the emotions Nave had been holding back spilled forth, she raised her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms tightly around her legs, leaning forward slightly. Hot tears flowed from her eyes as she rocked back and forth attempting to soothe herself. She hated Richard for what he had done to their family.      

     Cetanu's head tilted to the side as he stared down at a huddled corpse.  His vision changed a couple of times as he zoomed over the face.  It was a young ooman male, there were a couple of arrows sticking out of his back.  Clutched in his rigor mortis arms,  a ooman suckling, still alive, but barely, the heat signature was not strong.  The dead boy's one hand covered the babe's mouth, and he held the suckling tightly with the other.  He knew immediately this was another sibling. He had come close to the castle deliberately.  

     "May you dance with the fallen gods," Cetanu croaked, looking down at the youth.  He was deserving of worthy burial, he had protected his family to the end.    

     The yautja bent and grabbed the pair, not bothering to separate the dead boy from his sibling.  The suckling whined weakly but did not struggle as he turned on his heels and ran back to his ship.  He would kv'var after he returned the suckling to Nave.  He would feed the unblooded brood and then he would bury their mei'hswei.

Chapter Text

8

    She uncurled her legs and slowly leaned her head back against the metal floor, sinking deeper into the clear water. The pain in her shoulder had started to dissipate, though it was still tender.  The sharp stabbing feeling that had awoken her earlier was gone. 

     Her thoughts drifted back, and her face flushed crimson as she remembered that her night dress had been torn across her chest. She slapped her wet hands against her heated cheeks, the cool liquid ran off her fingers and assuaged her face. He had seen her naked.  How mortifying!  No one had ever seen her that way… 

   Nave rubbed her temples and straightened, she had to get out of the bath, and before Sir Knight came back to get her. How embarrassing would that be…  She turned her head towards the closed door, “Maxine,” she called out gently. 

   Her ears strained to listen for any acknowledgment or sound, but there was none. Nave cleared her throat, perhaps she hadn’t been loud enough. She turned around, resting her weight on her knees, cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, “Maxine!” Again, there was no response. She sat back down and smacked the liquid with her fist. The water jumped up and slapped against her face. She mumbled under her breath as she leaned back in the bath, she would have to wait for Maxine to come check on her. 

    He knew before he entered his ship that Nave was bathing, her heat signature was alone. He did not acknowledge any of the siblings as he walked across the room towards the chamber, carrying the suckling he had found in the dto, the little ooman was not making any sounds.  

    Cetanu stalked through the bathing doors, he did not remove any armour and jumped into the pool with Nave.  Her eyes widened instantly, “Get out!” she screeched, immediately infuriated and horrified he had entered the room while she was naked. This had to be a dream, an abhorrent dream. Her eyes narrowed and flared indignantly at him, he was just standing there, abdomen deep in water. “I said….” she hissed, enunciating each word, “get…” she paused as her eyes flicked down to his hands. Matted golden hair peaked above the top of his fingers, her heart dropped to her feet, “Sven!” 

     He pressed the placid toddler into her arms, ignoring her words and stepping closer to her.  He proceeded to scoop the healing ju'dha over the mouth and face of the tiny ooman.  The bacteria would give the suckling a fighting chance, he was a little sunburnt, and severely dehydrated.  He purred deeply, his chest vibrating, tusks clicking at the suckling from beneath his mask. 

    "I t-thought he was… " she did not finish her sentence, her eyes filling with unshed tears as she stared down in shock at her younger brother, Sven.  She had presumed he had died with Matteo… "Thank you…” Nave whispered, suddenly embarrassed by her strong reaction, “...sorry for screaming at you…” it was still mortifying though. She lifted her head up and peered at him, Sir Knight was a little too close to her, her face heated slightly again. 

    His head tilted, his dreads sliding off his shoulder.  He chirped once, and then proceeded to scan the babe with his mask.  The water would repair much of the damage… there was still a chance he would die of shock.  He cut the coverings off the toddler with talon, a full cleaning was in order, the suckling was covered in filth and stank.

    "Brother," a clipped recording of her twelve year old voice sounded from his biomask, "Found.  Found.  Dead."  

      Nave blinked rapidly at her own voice speaking back at her, she had assumed Matteo had died during their escape, but having it confirmed to her… her eyes closed, her teeth grazed her puffy lip before sinking down into the warbling flesh. She clenched her lids tightly and attempted to suppress her sobs as the tears spilled over and rolled down her cheeks unheeded.  Five of her siblings were dead, maybe six, and all for what?  So Richard could seize the throne?

     Cetanu chirped at Nave, sensing her distress.  He purred as he stared down at her, steady and rhythmically.  He would do what he could for the small ooman, and made a second attempt to scoop ju'dha over the little cracked lips. 

    She lifted her head and peered up at Sir Knight as he tended to her brother, she opened her mouth to speak, but it was dry. She wet her lips and swallowed back the lump that had formed in her throat. Nave took a deep, steadying breath, “Can you…” her voice trailed off. Could she ask him this? Should she even ask him this… she shook her head pushing the doubt from her mind. There was no other option. “Can you help me kill Richard?” she choked out, forcing herself to say the words. 

    Cetanu was focused on the suckling until her meaning washed over him.  He raised his head and stared down at her in absolute silence.  His ooman was asking for thei-de.   

    The silence was uncomfortable, he had definitely heard her… she was desperate. If Richard lived, her family would die. “I’ll do anything! Please!” she begged. How utterly humiliating… a princess did not beseech, not that it mattered anymore.  If she returned to her castle, she would be killed on sight.

    Anything, she said.  Only his chest moved as he breathed.  He straightened to his full height beside her.  She sought to make a pact with the Black Hunter, he could facilitate this.  He was a priest of Cetanu, death was his domain.

    "Kill Richard?" his mask repeated her question with her voice, and then he spread his mandibles beneath his mask and spoke her language, his guttural and rusty growl inhuman, "Price.  To.  Pay." It was his turn to enunciate every word.  She had nothing worthy to offer the Black Hunter.  She was not yautja, her blood and her skills not good enough, she would not be able to offer a sacrifice befitting his god. 

     Nave had hoped he would tell her what he wanted… she felt herself deflate slightly. She could offer him gold, jewels, but she doubted that would work. He was a wizard of sorts, he could conjure these things if he wished. What was the price of her vengeance? 

     Cetanu raised a paw and with a black talon poked her in the middle of her chest gently. "Soul," he growled slowly, "Give.  Cetanu."

     She nodded her head sharply in agreement.  Death.  That was her price.  That was fine, when she died, Cetanu could have her soul, so long as Richard was dead and gone.  She did not care what happened afterwards. 

   He raised his right arm and the blades from his dah'kte extended with the sound of metal grating on metal.  Nave jumped at the scraping, a hard lump formed again in her throat. Maybe he planned on collecting her soul now. 

     Cetanu held them still in front of her face, "Vow," he motioned the knives, "Blood."

     Slowly, Nave swallowed, and licked her bottom lip. She would die for her family, her mother had taught her that. A ruler was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, and she would do it. Her arms wrapped tightly against Sven, kissing his temple before setting him on the floor near the pool. Again, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, “I’m ready…”  she whispered softly, “watch over them for me, please.” She felt her body tense as she waited for his blades to pierce her heart.

     He cocked his head to the side, watching as she squared her shoulders and raised her chin defiantly.  Her heart beat wildly, like the fluttering wings of a bird.  It dawned on him then, she was waiting for death.  Her death, by his paw.  He trilled a series of rapid clicks and reached for her small hand.  He raised it to his knives and sliced her palm open, she hissed with surprise.  He lowered his head by crouching his legs so that she could reach his mask and placed her bleeding hand against the faceplate, under the mark of his clan, marking himself with her thwei.

     “You’re not going to… kill me?” she mused. She had to admit she was relieved, but very confused. 

     After he was done, he retracted his dah'kte,  lowered her hand to the water and pulled himself out of the pool. He had his back to her. 

     "Death will come on swift wings," he said in his language, "You belong to Cetanu the same as I do," he paused, realizing she probably had no idea what he had just said, so he summarized in her tongue, "Richard.  Dead.  Nave.  Stay.  Forever."

Chapter Text

9

    “Forever…” Nave repeated breathlessly, all the air in her lungs had rushed from her when he spoke to her in his gravelly voice. She had so many questions!  Was she supposed to stay here for eternity?  What about her siblings?  Were they going to be staying here too?  Would she ever see them again, if they weren't? 

     Cetanu nodded once, confirming for her, his back still turned.  He would kill Richard, and she would be bound, same as him.  

     Her eyes widened at his confirmation, her mouth went dry, before she could string her thoughts together she blurted out, “Questions!” Nave felt her face redden in her fluster, she cleared her throat, “I mean… I have some questions…” she corrected sheepishly. 

    He chuffed and left the bathroom without further delay.  Her questions could wait.  He needed to kv'var still.  He was not sure how long ooman sucklings could live without nourishments.

     Nave whirled around to face the door as he left, infuriated that he would leave in such a manner. “I haven’t dismissed you yet!” she seethed, curling her hands into tight fists against the metal floor. As the egress began to close, her heart accelerated, no one would hear her when it shut. Then she would be stuck in the pool again, until who knew when, “Maxine!” she cried out, attempting to hide her panic.

     The yautja paused and looked down at his bed where all the children had gathered, he could hear Nave's calls.  Michael was whining, his head leaning on Henry's shoulder, the suckling obliviously hungry.  His mask detected their stomachs grumbling.  Galahad and Maxine were staring at him with wide eyes.  He pointed at the girl and then pointed to his bed. "Stay," he used Nave's young voice, "No.  Help. No." He then pointed to the bathroom, "No," he repeated.

    Maxine was chewing at her lower lip, "You... don't… want me helping Nave?" She ventured.  He nodded his head once, she nodded back, "Alright… I won't help," she sighed, leaning back on the bed.  He purred down at her and left the chamber.  The little ooman could not carry Nave's weight.

    Nave sat on her knees watching the door intently, waiting for her sister to appear. Time slowed as she unclenched her fists and began drumming her fingers against the cool floor. Maxine wasn’t coming to help her. She groaned and gingerly picked Sven up, holding him close to her breast as she deliberately turned back around, she sulked as she rocked him back and forth, more so to comfort herself than the unconscious baby. There was a twinge of guilt for being irritated at Sir Knight, he had done so much for her… and her family, but the way he had dismissed her had irked her greatly. 

    Cetanu ran out of his ship.  He engaged his cloaking and took to the forest.  He knew immediately what he was going for.  Six oomans and a yautja would probably eat enough that he would need to kill a Lox.  A rather large, four legged, horned herbivore that dominated the planet, it was fairly friendly and the locals had long domesticated it though many still roamed free.

     It looked like a cow had mated with a deer and a lizard, it had scales along its back with a furred underbelly, a large horn protruded from its snout, with multiple smaller horns in behind it.  He could find a medium-sized Lox, it would feed all of them.   

     He checked his traps, and found all of them empty.  His tusks clicked together as he took to the trees, running and jumping as fast as he could, searching methodically for the right sized Lox.  The creatures were easy to track and it took him a few minutes to segregate one away from the herd, kill it, skin it and butcher it.  He took the skull, but not as a trophy.  He was curious to know if Henry could properly clean it.  He should be close to his chiva soon, the oomans aged very differently from the yautjas.

   Cetanu had to make several trips to bring all the amedha back to his ship.  He placed the bloody th'syra and pelt in his trophy room, and packed most of the meat away in his cargo hold.  There was a small platter that he filled with meat and fruits he had gathered.  

     The children were all on the bed when he walked in with the plate of food.  Galahad had fallen asleep, and so had Michael.  Maxine and Henry were watching him with wide eyes.  He placed the dish on the floor and continued on towards the bathing chamber, he would carry Nave back to her family.

     She sat on the submerged bench, Sven had wiggled a little earlier, there was hope for him. He had snuggled into her and was now still against her chest. She huffed to herself, still annoyed at Sir Knight. Her ears perked up at the door sliding open, she gasped in surprise, maybe Maxine was finally coming to help her. She turned her head, and felt her face drop when she saw him there. 

     He made straight for her, hopping into the water and grabbing her with both arms as she clutched the suckling in her arms.  Cetanu used the bench as a step and jumped out of the bath without even pausing.  He gave himself a shake and walked out, still dripping water.

      Sir Knight had not even given her the chance to respond before she found herself out of the bath. Her eyes enlarged like apples, horrified, as she realized what was happening, “Stop!” she shrieked, “Put me down!” There was no way, she was leaving that bathing room, naked . Nave wanted to claw at his arms with her nails or perhaps even strike him in an attempt to force him to put her down, but the unconscious baby in her arms caused her to endure.

     Cetanu carried her out of the bathing chamber, ignoring her screeching and directly to his large bed where he deposited her and the suckling amongst her siblings.  Maxine immediately wrapped a large fur around Nave's wet, naked shoulders while Henry flushed a dark red and looked away.  The yautja turned back to the plate of food he had brought and placed it on the bed. Nave felt her eyes prick with humiliation. 

    "That's not cooked…" Henry looked at the raw meat.  Cetanu tilted his head to the side curiously.  They did not eat raw amedha.  He was a little surprised, and he did not like the feeling.  He had not read everything the yautja had on the race and he felt foolish suddenly.  He whirled on his feet and left his room, heading directly for the infirmary where he had left his medikit.

     "Are you all right, Navey?" Maxine whispered as soon as the big, black wizard left the chamber.

    Nave placed Sven on the fur blankets by her side and curled her knees into her chest, burying her shaking head into her arms. She was completely abashed by what Sir Knight had done. Her fingers curled around the brown pelt, drawing it around her more. She was furious and exceptionally confused as to why he was treating her this way. He hadn’t even stopped when she screeched in trepidation, hadn’t he heard the agitation in her voice?  Didn’t he care that he had forced her to be in this compromising position? Is this how it was going to be… forever? Everyone had seen her… her face flushed a deep scarlet, she didn’t want to look at anyone right now. Or maybe even ever again. 

    He returned with the burner from his medikit.  He climbed on his large bed and sat cross legged in front of the oomans.  He placed the apparatus on the bed and pushed on the button to activate it.  The little girl gasped and whispered the magic word as the bowl formed and the flame appeared at its center.  He raised his right arm and released the blades from his dah'kte, Henry gasped this time, his eyes widening.

    Cetanu stabbed two chunks of amedha and held them over the open flame.  The smell of cooking food roused Galahad from slumber and the boy sat up groggily, his eyes focused on the sizzling meat.  He motioned the fruits on the plate with his left paw and then touched his talons to the mouthpiece of his biomask.

    Maxine reached for a red fruit and bit into it with gusto.  Galahad grabbed the apple from her hands as soon as she started chewing and bit into it as well, handing it to Henry who also took a large bite, his teeth tearing into the flesh.  He then held the half eaten apple out to Nave. 

    "Nave…" Henry shook the fruit in front of his sister's face. She lifted her head from her arms, just enough to peak out at her siblings.  The apple looked delicious, and her stomach clenched tightly in hunger. She was famished, but… if she grabbed it from her brother’s hand, she risked humiliating herself further. Nave silently shook her head and rested it against her body again. Hopefully, there would still be food after she got her clothes back. 

    Henry shrugged and handed the sweet fruit back to Maxine who took another large chunk.  It was finished by the time it made the full circle again.  

     It took a few minutes before he guessed the meat was cooked enough for the oomans.  He removed the chunks from his blades and poked two more pieces.  He was going to cook half the amedha he had brought, it should be enough for the lot of them.  He would eat the rest.

    The children ate more fruit, and then started to eat the meat tentatively.  It was Galahad that announced what it was, "It's lox!" He squealed in delight as he bit into a juicy piece of amedha, "I love lox!"

    Maxine blinked and grabbed a chunk, "It's lox?"

    Galahad nodded enthusiastically, his mouth full.  It was at this moment, Cetanu retracted his weapon and took his mask off, the sound of pressurized air breaking the silence.  He placed his mask on the bed and grabbed a piece of the raw meat.

    "Ew!" Maxine made a face as he ate the piece whole, his fangs stabbing into the bloody amedha that his tusks held in front of his inner mouth.

    "Nave says you can't eat raw stuff," Galahad recited, staring at him openly, "You'll get sick!"

    Cetanu chuffed and swallowed another piece whole, he purred as Maxine gagged at him and pointed at his chest. "You're dripping blood all over yourself!" Nave turned her head just enough to look over at Sir Knight, her sister was correct. The crimson liquid was dripping down his abdomen. It made her stomach churn. Suddenly, she wasn’t as hungry anymore. 

    "Your stomach is going to hurt," Galahad said matter-of-factly, looking at the way Cetanu's mandibles facilitated the way he fed in fascination.

    "He's an orc, stupid," Henry muttered at his brother, "they eat raw meat, right?" The youth glanced at Cetanu questioningly.  The yautja nodded and Henry snorted at his brother, "See?" 

    Galahad stuck his tongue out at his brother and stifled a yawn while rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hands.  He was still very hungry but tired as well and sleep was about to win out. "Will you sleep with us?" He asked Cetanu.

     The yautja tilted his head as he looked at the boy intently, his long black dreads slid off his shoulder and he nodded.  Galahad grinned and laid back down beside Michael and Sven, "Good," he mumbled before he yawned again, reached a hand out to grab Sven's chubby palm and went to sleep.

     Nave’s eyes had grown to the size of gold coins at her brother’s request. She did not want to sleep, naked, next to anyone, and especially not Sir Knight. It made sense to her as to why Galahad had asked, the black wizard protected them, made her family feel safe. That still didn’t mean she liked the idea. She would make it a point to sleep far away from him. 

     Maxine ate half her piece of meat before handing it to Henry, who finished it for her.  She yawned and impulsively hugged Cetanu before she went to sleep beside Galahad.  The yautja had stilled completely, uncertain how to react.  

     “You’re supposed to hug her back,” Nave grumbled under her breath, still angry with him. 

      Cetanu turned his head to look at Nave intently, he chuffed at her and returned to eating his meal.  There were some fruit and a couple pieces of uneaten, cooked amedha left on the platter.  He pushed it towards Nave as he had noticed she had not touched the food.  

       “No, thank you,” she quipped, turning her head back into her arms, dismissing him. 

       He grabbed the plate and stood to his feet.  She was hungry, he knew this, he could hear her stomach rumbling, so he placed the food on the floor not far from the bed where he knew she would be able to reach it and made his way towards his weapon wall, opening it as he went.  He would clean his armours, put everything away and sleep with the oomans.  He would see Henry's trophy cleaning skills in the morning, and then he would take them to his kehrite, maybe even duel with the youth to see his form.  

     She had almost expected him to force her to eat, she was relieved he had not. Maybe… he wasn’t as terrible as she was making him out to be.  Nave lifted her head, all of her siblings were snuggled close together, Henry had laid down next to Maxine, and were beginning to drift to sleep. Once they were slumbering completely, she would talk to the wizard again. 

Chapter Text

10

    He was sitting on the floor, cross legged, in nothing but his loincloth and biomask.  He was taking his time cleaning his awu'asa, using his laser to heat each piece to a bright crimson.  Smoke would waft in the air as blood, dirt and gore vaporized.  

    Nave watched him work, she really didn’t understand the magic he was performing, but it appeared that he was cleansing his armor. It was fascinating to see. She glanced back towards her siblings, they were all still. It had felt as though hours had passed since Henry had laid down. Her eyes flicked back towards Sir Knight and she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, he would talk to her now. 

    “Pssst!” she whispered, waving her hand at him trying to get his attention. 

    He switched his laser off after he finished with the piece he was working on and slowly turned his head in his ooman’s direction.  Cetanu tilted his head to the side curiously.

    She was pleased he wasn’t ignoring her this time, she definitely hadn’t appreciated that behavior earlier. She had questions, but her lack of clothing was on the forefront of her mind. It had been humiliating not only to have him see her naked, but her siblings as well. “Can I have my clothes back, please?” she mumbled, embarrassed that she had to ask. 

    His head tilted to the other side.  Her clothes?  He frowned behind his mask and rolled to his feet.  Everything that she had worn had been left in the kyt-sha’la.  The door opened, three steps in he reached the pile of cloth and picked it up.  It was shredded.  He chuffed and dropped it back on the floor.  He engaged the acidic cleansing of his bathroom as he walked out. Nave would not be able to wear that… 

    She smiled, the second he stood and watched him go into the bathing chamber, finally she could get dressed again. Something still had to be done about the rip in the chest area, but at least she wouldn’t be naked anymore. Her face dropped when he emerged empty handed. 

    “Where are my clothes?” she quipped, trying to keep her tone from sounding agitated. 

   He ignored her and made for his armour wall.  He had some clothing he could modify to fit her.  He pulled out a long, black leather loincloth that reached his knees.  He could fashion something from this for her.  Cetanu turned and made for the bed where she was sitting, wrapped in fur.

    She didn’t immediately react as he reached down and pulled her to her feet in front of him, away from the bed.  He tossed the fur she was wearing to the side, and raised both of her hands over her head as he dropped the loincloth over her head and arms.

    Her face flushed a deep scarlet, “What do you think you are doing!” She hissed between her teeth, trying to yank her arms out of his hand.  His grip tightened, “You’re not supposed to look at me when I’m naked!” She wanted to strike him, he deserved it at this point. 

    He knelt in front of her and arranged the loincloth over her beasts, it was still too large and drooped beyond.  He released her hands and grabbed two sets of tendons he had rolled in a pouch at his belt.  Cetanu tightened the loincloth so that it covered her teats and used the tendon to hold it in position, he wrapped the other about her waist like a belt.  He glanced down at his work and nodded in satisfaction.  

    Cetanu got to his feet and returned to his spot amidst his armour, leaving the ooman panting.  He grabbed another piece of equipment and using his laser, returned to cleaning it as though she had not interrupted him.   

    Nave huffed, crossing her arms under her chest, she was thankful for the strange clothing he had fashioned for her, but again he had forced her into compliance. She walked over to him and stood by his side tapping her foot impatiently at him. “You can’t treat me that way,” she groused. “You can’t just do what you want because you’re bigger than me,” Nave continued not giving him a chance to respond, although she wasn’t even entirely sure he was listening to her. “Care about my feelings too.” she quickly unfolded her arms and pointed at herself.

    He picked up a black boot and placed it on the d’lex stand.  His ooman was still prattling incessantly.  He hadn’t paid attention to what she had been saying as he had been dealing with a particularly stubborn piece of flesh stuck in a pauldron, so he only got the last phrase of her rant, and it confused him.

   Cetanu turned his head in her direction as he switched off his laser.  Her feelings were hurt, she wanted him to care about them.  He thought for a moment, and then realized that her family had just recently died.  She wished to bury her mei'hswei now… 

    Apparently, Sir Knight had heard her. The issue of being naked was over with, for now. But maybe she could at least get him to commit to minimizing her embarrassment. “Can you at least try to consider how your actions make me feel?” 

    He bowed his head respectfully.  He had not meant to offend her.  He chirped at her.  He would bury her brother, he had the perfect trophy for him.  A th’syra from one of the oomans that had hunted Nave and her family.  It would be worthy of the unblooded youth.  Nave would be pleased at the honour and would no longer be angry with him.  He jumped to his feet, he would clean the skull now, Nave could be a part of the ceremony.

    She stumbled backwards, she had not expected him to stand so suddenly. “Where are you going?” Nave asked. 

    He picked her up gently and took her out of his room and into his trophy room.  He lowered her cautiously and pointed to the bloody skulls on the table.  He would give one for her mei'hswei, he would have an honoured burial.  He would even fashion a weapon for the youth for he had died protecting a suckling. 

    Nave grimaced at the heads, she was unsure as to why he had brought her here. Did he want her to clean the bloody skulls, she cringed inwardly, she hoped not. He was already putting her to work for eternity…. in the most repulsive way possible. She looked up at him, swallowing slowly, “Are… are you wanting me to…” her breath hitched, “clean those…” pointing apprehensively towards the skullcaps.  Please say no, her mind begged. 

     He frowned behind his mask.  He hadn’t considered that she would want to clean the skull for her brother herself.  He bowed his head respectfully and nodded towards the trophies. “One.” her young voice said from her mask. “One. One. For. Brother.  One.”

    She gulped, her eyes widening to the size of saucers. Tentatively, she crept towards the table and looked at the five skulls… at least it was only one… her nose crinkled in disgust. Deliberately, Nave turned back towards Sir Knight, “I… I don’t know how…” she whispered, licking her lip. 

    “Choose,” he growled using his voice.  He would do it for her.

    Nave turned back around, “Uhh…” she looked over all of the skulls, inspecting each one carefully, all were revolting. The center one, however, had less tissue and blood on it. “That one,” she mumbled, pointing to it. Least she didn’t have to clean all of them, she was thankful for that… had he seriously not heard a word she had said earlier? 

    He nodded and purred at her.  A good choice.  That one had almost wounded him in the fight, and had not screamed as he had died.  He had been looking forward to displaying that one, but her brother could have it.  

    Cetanu moved towards the chair and paused, turning his head in her direction.

    “Why do you make me do these things?” she queried softly. 

    He frowned and tilted his head in confusion.

    Nave stared at him, blinking.  He stared back, unmoving, “You have no idea what I’m talking about…” her voice trailed off. She bit the inside of her cheek before taking a deep breath, “We need to talk,” she asserted. She paused for a moment to see if he would respond. He nodded once and chirped at her.  “What is this place?” motioning to the room they were standing in.

    “Trophy room,” he used his gravelly voice, clicks peppered his speech.

    She nodded, she supposed skulls were trophies then, but would make sure to clarify that, “Why did you bring me here?” Nave asked. Again she hoped the answer wasn’t for her to clean the heads. Her stomach churned at the thought. 

   “Honour,” he struggled with the words, and then used her voice, “Brother.”

    “You want to honour Matteo…,” if it was for her fallen sibling, then she would clean the skull. That seemed fair. But she didn’t understand why it was needed to begin with. “How?” 

    His tusks clicked and he sat down at his work chair, in front of his table.  He turned his back to Nave and grabbed the skull she had chosen.  His tools whirled to life and he began the task of cleaning and polishing the trophy, removing the blood, gore and brains efficiently.  He pulled out five back teeth and wired the jaw shut.  

    She walked towards the bench and stood next to Sir Knight, watching him intently. She had to admit, she was relieved he had decided to unsully the skull himself. The entire task seemed revolting, but she was confused now… She glanced over at his mask, they were eye to eye now, and began contemplating on whether she should interrupt him. She lifted a finger to poke his shoulder, but quickly decided against it. It was better to watch for now. 

   Cetanu used his drill to put holes in the zsi’se, he would make a necklace for the youth, like he had done for Nave when he had thought her thei-de.  He used another tendon and was quick to build the piece of jewellery.  Once finished he got to his feet, grabbed the polished th'syra  and beckoned Nave to follow him.

    His strides were much longer than she expected, she practically had to jog behind him to keep up. 

    The door to his airlock opened and he paused on the threshold.  It was pitch black outside… Nave would not be able to see anything.  He chuffed and turned around to face the small ooman, the doors closing behind him as he stepped away from them. 

    “Are… you getting rid of me?” she questioned, concerned as to why he was leading her away from her family. 

    He tilted his head and huffed at her. “Dark,” her voice spoke from his mask, “Tomorrow.  Tomorrow.” She would have to understand that burying her brother in the darkness would be an inconvenience for her.  He was trying to accommodate her.

    “You sound irritated,” Nave replied, maybe he hadn’t liked that she hadn’t cleaned the vile thing, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know how to do those types of things,” she whispered, scraping at her thumb nail absentmindedly. 

     Her apology stumped him.  What was she going on about now?  He tilted his head in confusion as she stared at the ground and then at him with uncertainty.  

     “Besides, I should be mad at you,” Nave continued, “you kept putting me in compromising situations,” she crossed her arms over her chest, as though she was covering herself.

     He picked the words carefully, using her voice. “What.  Compromising.  Situations.” 

     Nave’s arms dropped to her side as she stared at him in disbelief, “When you ruined my night dress, and looked at my…” she gestures toward her breasts. 

     “Injury,” he rasped slowly in his voice.

     “Yes…” that was true, she had been wounded, “But then you came into the bathroom… repeatedly… while I was naked,” she responded. 

     This confused him more.  He had been naked as well and so had her siblings.  Why was it an issue in regards to her?  He tilted his head the other way, unsure how to proceed.  

     Sir Knight was staring at her, and seemed exceptionally confused about her argument. “No one, except my future husband, is supposed to see me naked,” she clarified. Maybe he would understand now. 

    “Husband,” he repeated in her voice, and then chuckled as he pointed to her chest with a talon, “Belong.  To.” He used recording for the first two words, but he switched to his own voice, “Cetanu.”

    “Who is that? Cetanu?” Nave asked, raising an eyebrow. She probably should have asked before she agreed to belong to this individual. 

     He fisted his chest. “Cetanu.”

     “No, you’re Sir Knight,” she stated matter of factly. 

     “Sir Knight,” he used her voice and nodded, “To. Nave.” He fisted his chest again, and used his own voice, “Cetanu to Yautja.”

Chapter Text

11

     Her mind was swirling with everything he had just said. “Two things,” Nave whispered, holding up two fingers to show him. “What is a y-yautja?” Had she pronounced that right? She licked her bottom lip and swallowed audibly, “Does that mean you’re my husband now?” 

    “Yautja,” he fisted his chest, and if she wanted to think he was her husband, if it made it easier for her… He nodded and held up two talons, to show he was answering her second question. 

     She sucked in breath. Now she was his wife. Years ago… days ago even, if she was being honest, that prospect would have thrilled her. None of her suitors had ever been considered his equal, she had always compared them to him and had always found them wanting.  But mere days ago, he had been a statue, not a living yautja or orc or whatever he was.

   “Oh!” her mouth went dry, “Oh… Sorry! One last thing… I promise,” Nave exclaimed, her heart in her throat. Hopefully he would answer her, “When you…" she paused, took a breath and forced herself to continue, "...kill…” her voice trailed off. 

    “Richard,” he supplied with a recording.

     Nave nodded deliberately, it was slightly unsettling hearing that voice, she didn’t recognize it… but it had to be… her… Henry had mentioned it was her voice he used… “after that… " she cleared her throat awkwardly, "my siblings…” she paused again, swallowing the lump that was forming in her larynx. “They’ll go back to the castle… right?” she mumbled softly. It felt morally wrong to speak of someone’s imminent demise, but she had already made the pact. She would see it through now… just like her half-brother had. 

    He tilted his head.  He had no intention of letting the sucklings leave the temple until he eliminated the threat and Henry proved he could protect them, like Nave had.  He would test Henry’s mettle in the morning, if the youth was ready or not.  He remained silent, looking at her passively.

    “It’s just me here forever… right?” she stressed, his silence unnerving her. The kingdom would be thrown into chaos if one of her siblings, preferably Henry, didn’t take the throne… and since she was his wife now… A feeling of dread crept over her, why wasn't he responding. “ Right?” 

   It was a long moment before he chirped, "Henry,” her twelve year old voice came from his mask, “Henry.  Henry.” He paused and switched to his voice, “Sucklings.” he pointed back towards his room, “Henry.  Protect.  Sucklings.  Leave.”

     She acknowledged his response with a slow nod. Henry could protect the children, she knew he could. He had planned to become a guard, join the military even. Nave was relieved that the children would be back home and that Sir Knight was ensuring their safety for the long haul. “I accept those terms,” she replied. She had a feeling she didn’t have a choice in the matter, but it made her feel better. 

    He nodded and pointed back to his chambers.  They would bury her brother in the morning, when she could see better. “Sleep,” her voice said.

    “After you,” she quipped, gesturing down the hallway. She had no idea where to even go, she hadn’t been paying attention while running down the hallway after him. 

    He picked her up without hesitation and carried her back to his room, depositing her on his bed.  He placed the th'syra and the necklace in his weapon wall and returned to cleaning his awu'asa.  He would join the oomans on the pelts after he was finished. 

    Nave watched him cast magic spells and lazily grabbed a slab of lox meat off the plate. She ripped a large piece of flesh with her teeth, she was so hungry that she didn’t care about decorum. It tasted juicy, even though it had cooled down from when Sir Knight had first cooked it. She quickly swallowed and continued staring at him as she finished the remaining lox. 

     “By the way…” she began, selecting a crimson apple, “Just because you say you’re my husband… doesn’t mean you get to see me naked,” she declared before biting into the fruit, her eyes peering at him intently, searching for any indication that he had heard her. 

   He ignored her and finally finished with the last piece of gear.  He gathered his stand and arms and put them all away in the wall.  He then removed his mask, and placed it on its stand before turning back towards the bed.

    “Can… I see your face?” she requested, placing the apple core back on the plate. 

     He chuffed at her, spreading his mandibles, he had removed his faceplate, she could look at him all she wanted.   Cetanu joined the oomans on the bed, he was far enough away that none of them touched him, he laid down, making himself comfortable.

     “I wanted to touch you…” she grumbled under her breath to herself. Nave crawled in his bed and laid down by Henry. 

    He sighed heavily, “Div'ra,” he growled, turning his head in her direction and motioning her with a dark talon, "Come."

    Nave sat up, and stared at him for a moment before scooting across the pelts on her knees until she was kneeling next to his shoulder. Tentatively, she reached out her palm and touched his bony forehead. His skin was rough, she leaned forward, her ebony hair brushing against his face. His flesh was made of scale… that was interesting. 

    Her fingers brushed over the top and to his… hair… “Your hair…” she whispered, poking a fleshy follicle, “it’s different, kind of… squishy.” His tress swayed slightly, her hand grasped it at the base of his scalp and ran her palm down the length mindful of the beads and clamps. “It’s smooth,” she remarked as she continued to rub it. 

     “Sleep,” he repeated, closing his eyes.

     “But…,” Nave huffed at him, she wanted to continue exploring him, but maybe he was right. She was feeling a little tired, perhaps he’d let her touch his hair again tomorrow, she liked the way it felt. She yawned and laid down next to him, her back barely touching him, “Don’t try anything…” she warned, raising a finger threatening, he was her husband now… maybe in his culture, hers for sure… he could demand she perform wifely duties. 

     “Sleep,” he growled again, his tusks clicking together.

     “Good night,” Nave whispered, closing her eyes. If he had responded, she hadn’t heard, sleep immediately took her. 

***********

      She cracked her eyes open and arched her back to stretch, when she didn’t bump into anything, Nave rolled to her belly. He was gone. She hadn’t even felt him leave. 

     As she sat up, she looked over towards her siblings, they were all starting to stir and would wake soon. Nave crawled to the edge of the bed and found more food sitting on the floor waiting for them. A small smile crept across her face, the children would be hungry. 

     Nave got out of the bed and walked up to the door leaving the bedroom, the magic egress didn’t budge. Tentatively, she poked the metal with her finger, but again it didn’t move. Maybe Sir Knight was using the bathing chamber… she paused for a moment, she decided to not check for now, but would send Henry or Galahad after they woke up. Maybe her wizard thought because she had seen him naked that one time, he could see her as well. She wouldn’t make that mistake twice. 

     Henry was the first to rouse, Nave walked back towards the pelts and sat on the edge, beckoning him to join her. Maybe she should tell him about her deal with Sir Knight… Her brother took a seat across from her and grabbed a berry off the plate and tossed it into his mouth. 

     “I have to tell you something,” she whispered, eyeing their siblings closely.  The babies, Michael and Sven, were making noises…  

    “Where’s the wizard at?” Henry queried, not bothering to keep his voice low, and then seemed to notice her clothing, "Nice dress," he snickered.

     Nave exhaled a frustrated breath at him, “I don’t know! The bathing chamber, maybe,” she groused. “Look, I have to…”  she stopped abruptly as he stood up and hurried to the latrine. 

     “He’s not here,” he called back at her before disappearing into the room, the doors closing magically behind him. Nave put her elbow on her knee and dropped her forehead into her hand, if he didn’t hurry up the babies would wake up before she could tell him anything. 

     A small coo from Sven caught her attention, she would have to speak to Henry later. She stood and carefully walked over to the toddler and gingerly picked him up. He was doing much better today, his skin was still red and his lips were cracked, but he was alert now, watching her with big blue eyes. 

     When they reached the edge of the bed, Sven began reaching out for the assorted fruits, babbling incoherently. Nave extended her arm to grab his favorite fruit, a purple plum, when he shrieked with impatience. She practically thrusted it into his hands, attempting to quiet him. 

    Sven sank his tiny teeth into the purple fruit and squealed with excitement, the sticky juices dribbling down his chin and all over the fur blanket he was wrapped in. She would have to wash it before Sir Knight came back. 

    “Quiet, Sven,” grumbled Galahad burying his head into the mattress. 

    "You be quiet, Galahad!" Maxine moaned, her voice muffled as she was hidden from sight beneath a mountain of furs.

     Henry chose that moment to come out of the bathroom with the large see-through jug filled to the brim with fresh water. "This is the best water ever… " he murmured, depositing the jug beside the plate of food.  He grabbed a handful of berries before he walked towards the invisible weapon wall where he had seen the wizard place his armour, except there was nothing there, just a wall.  

    Nave turned towards Henry, “Don’t touch anything,” she warned sternly, raising an eyebrow at him. There was magic involved and it was best not to tamper it. 

     Henry snorted back at her, "There's nothing to touch," he turned his head to glare back at her, "I'm not a child."

    Her face deadpanned at him, “I know what you’re planning on doing over there,” Nave scolded, he was looking for Sir Knight's swords. “Behave.”

    He frowned at her, his brow furrowing, "I can help him," he said with conviction, "I was training to be a guard!"

     Nave stared at him, if he had only listened to her earlier… but this side of him was reassuring, he would be able to protect their younger siblings, especially since… she shook her head at him. “Isn’t it rude to take another soldier’s weapon?” she asked, hoping it would cease his curiosity in the wall. 

    The youth rolled his eyes at her, "There is no decorum in war," he looked at her as though she was daft, "You're such a girl, Nave," he said bluntly, "I am not stealing anything, this is my family too."

   “Then wait for Sir Knight to return,” she quipped, maybe she could discretely push Henry into asking the dark wizard to train him, proving his worth. “Then you can ask him how you can help,” she stared back at him, unblinking to convey her seriousness. “Besides, you can’t leave the room to help anyways.”

    It was hours before Sir Knight finally returned.  She'd bathed and fed both of the babies, Michael was napping again and Sven was sucking on another plum.  She had no clothes for them so they were naked, already a furry blanket was in need of cleaning.  Galahad and Maxine were playing guessing games with each other and Henry was staring at the door intently.

    He walked into his bedroom slowly, he had stood guard on his pedestal most of the morning, the dead ooman had been moved with the other brother.  He would bury them together later, after he was finished in his kehrite.

    Henry jumped to his feet and followed after the wizard excitedly, "I can help you," he exclaimed as the large warrior stopped in front of the magical wall.

    Cetanu stilled and turned his head towards the unblooded ooman, somewhat surprised that the youth was offering him aid.  He wouldn't need to drag him to the kehrite. "Follow," he growled slowly, touching a talon to Henry's chest.

    “Can we come too?” inquired Galahad loudly, staring at Sir Knight with large eyes.

    “We’re bored,” exclaimed Maxine, joining her brother. Nave shrugged her shoulders, she was interested to see how Henry would fair.

     A series of clicks came from him before he chirped, "Follow," he repeated in that guttural tone.  He paused at his wall, debating if he needed to grab anything else when he decided he would just use what he had in his kehrite.

    Nave carefully picked up a slumbering Michael and held him close to her chest as she rounded up the younger siblings. Maybe Sir Knight would take them outside and the children could run and play in the temple walls. 

    It felt like an eternity since they had all gone outside.

Chapter Text

12

     Cetanu took all the oomans to the kehrite on his craft.  It was not very big, but big enough that it was equipped with four self-repairing robots.  He pointed to a spot by the door, indicating where he wanted the oomans to sit, this area was out of the way.  Nave sat down and held the still sleeping Michael against her shoulder. Maxine and Galahad sat down quickly, Henry dropped Sven in Maxine's lap and turned to look at the big warrior.

     "I am ready!" The youth exclaimed, straightening his shoulders and attempting to make himself bigger.  Cetanu tilted his head, his dreads sliding off his shoulder, examining the boy.  There was not much muscle on the lean frame, more gangly limbs than anything else.  

     The yautja turned away from the youth and walked to a weapon rack.  He picked a light weight training ki'cti-pa, he didn't bother arming himself,  ooman did not have the strength to even pierce his hide.  He motioned with a talon for Henry to come forward.

     "Ooo this is going to be so good!" Galahad squealed as Henry advanced on the wizard with determination.

    Nave leaned forward slightly and bit her bottom lip anxiously as her brother followed Sir Knight. She was hopeful that his skills would be impressive, she had always thought so when she had seen him train with Matteo.  They had always been serious about going into the military together, had both spent many hours training with the captain of the guard. He had to do well. Had to. 

     Cetanu held out the weapon and clicked as the boy took it.  He pointed at the ground a couple feet in front of him and then motioned for the ooman to come at him.  He was not expecting much.

    "I don't want to hurt you," Henry said assuredly, raising the spear and taking on a fighting stance. Nave pursed her lips together, why was her brother the only one armed?  She didn’t want him to hurt Sir Knight either, her eyes flicked over to the dark wizard, he did not seem concerned.  He stood there tall and unmoving, staring at her brother. He had killed at least five of Richard’s guards, maybe he was confident in his own skills as well. 

      The black yautja trilled and raised a paw, he motioned for the youth to come at him again.

      Henry's fingers tightened on the spear, his heart was pounding in his chest, he raised the weapon and ran at the wizard.   

      Cetanu didn't even move, he slapped the weapon up and grabbed the ki'cti-pa.  He yanked it out of the boy's hands as he ran by and tossed it to the other side of the kehrite.  He chirped as Henry whirled on his feet, confused, his eyes wide.  Nave blinked slowly, processing what had just happened.  Sir Knight hadn't moved… had he?  It hadn’t appeared as though he had. She watched as he pointed to the weapon.

     "Again?" Henry blinked.  Cetanu nodded, he waited while the teenager ran for the spear.  The youth twirled it in his hands, showing off, and then charged him immediately. 

    He would do better this time, Nave knew it. Henry just hadn’t been prepared for Sir Knight’s speed… that was all… Her brother was a good fighter. He was strong… 

     He stepped to the side and grabbed the weapon from behind Henry, pulling on the shaft and tossing the ki'cti-pa back across to the other side of the kehrite.  This continued for an hour before Cetanu shook his head and held up a paw to stop the sweating youth.  He had seen enough.

     Henry had removed his pyjama shirt, it was soaked through.  His body shone with perspiration and he was panting a little.  He had not hit the wizard once… not once... and had been disarmed every time.  He gritted his teeth angrily, and clenched his hands around the shaft of the spear, thinking about all the times he had bested Smith… it occurred to him that maybe the captain of the guards had… let him win… his jaw hurt as he attempted to grind his molars into dust.

    Cetanu chuffed at him and motioned him forward.  The boy came slowly, his eyes narrowed, his mouth a grim, tight line.  The yautja took the spear from his hands and pointed back to the other children.  

     "Sit," he growled.  He watched as the boy took a deep breath and stalked back towards Nave and the others.  His eyes glittered with unshed tears of frustration.

     "You were terrible," Maxine snickered behind her hand and then rubbed at her hair as Henry swatted her in the back of the head, "Ouch!"

     "Shut it," he snarled angrily, glaring at his younger sister before sitting beside Galahad, his back to the wall, glaring straight ahead, both of his fists clenched tightly closed.

     “Don’t hit Maxine!” Nave scolded, raising a finger at him threateningly, while bouncing Micheal up and down on her lap. “And you,” she snapped, turning her head toward her younger sister, “don’t be rude!” hissing through her teeth. Henry was frustrated, she knew this, Sir Knight had hardly expended any energy in disarming him. She glanced over at her brother, he was brooding. 

     Cetanu watched the youth pout for a moment before huffing and raising his left arm.  He had wasted enough time on the suckling, he needed to train for real now.  He clicked a couple of keys, activating the automatons.  He reached back for his ki'cti-pa and his dah'kte extended.  He turned his back on the oomans and focused all his attention on the four robots coming to life.

    Nave tilted her head at him, what had he been doing with his bracelet. Is that where his magic was stored? Galahad gasped loudly and pointed at the magical beings excitedly, nudging Henry. "Golems!"

     He spread his arms and let them come to him, conserving his energy.  They moved fast and he did not want to be caught unaware, they were programmed to kill him.  He disabled one quickly by throwing his spear directly in its center, sending it crashing to the back wall.  It shrieked and electricity moved up and down the metal frame as it powered off to repair itself.  

    The second robot slashed out at him with serrated blades on its arms.  He dodged, decapitated the third opponent as it tried to backstab him stealthily.  He kicked the body in the chest, sending it flying away from him.  He ducked a slice, grabbed the metal head and rolled to the right of the second robot as it slashed at him again.  

     The fourth shot a blade that skimmed the scales of his arm as he hopped away, it buried itself in the wall.  He threw the metal head at the fourth machine sending it crashing back.  He snarled as the second sank a six inch blade into his abdomen, fluorescent thwei splashed the floor as Cetanu grabbed its arm and pulled the limb out of its socket completely.  Sparks flared and he beat the second with its own arm before burying his dah'kte in its chest.

     A metallic sound had him turning his head, the fourth robot was back on its feet.  He dove for it as it raised its arm to fire multiple knives at him.  His body hit the android in the legs, sending it crashing atop of him.  He snarled as it tried to stab him in the back.  He grappled with it before he stood, the struggling automaton in his arms.  He roared as he pulled the machine apart, torso and legs separating at the waist amidst a shower of sparks.     

     The first robot was already rebuilding itself and fighting to dismount from his spear.  He threw the kicking legs at it with all his might, breaking the first before it managed to fully repair itself, he then threw the torso at it, destroying both of them completely.

     Cetanu glanced about the room, all of his training dummies were broken, scattered in pieces all over the place.  It would take them an hour to rebuild themselves and then he could start all over again.  He raised his left arm, clicked a couple keys to stop the training program and turned back towards the oomans.  They were all, except the smaller sucklings, watching him with wide eyes.  Henry and Nave's mouths hung open in shock.  He straightened, puffing himself up automatically.  He liked that reaction.        

     Nave sat, peering at him intently, she had gasped when one of the magic, metal men stabbed him in the gut. She deliberately closed her mouth and frowned. He didn’t seem to notice that bright green blood was dripping on the floor. He… he was a killer. The thought made her blood run cold. Henry would never be able to beat him…. he… he would never live up to Sir Knights standards. They all would be stuck… here… forever. 

     Her mouth went bone dry, she swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat as she continued staring at him. She had made a terrible mistake. Richard would be killed… and when Henry couldn’t prove himself… prove himself to be a protector of the younger children… Sir Knight would force them all to stay. The kingdom… her heart accelerated rapidly in her chest, it would be thrown into utter disarray. 

     There would be no heir.  No leader. The land to the south, Greyrealm, would invade them amidst the anarchy and confusion… she fought off a wave of dizziness as she thought of the warlord that ruled that godless place.  They had been sniffing at the borders of Soal for months… 

      She should not have asked her wizard to kill for her. There was no possible way that she could take it all back. She had made a vow, and she was now bound to it, her word was her bond. Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes, the kingdom would fall… and it was all her fault. 

Chapter Text

13

      He paused in front of the oomans, their eyes had followed his advancement, he motioned to the door.  He would return the sucklings to his chambers, and then take Nave outside to bury her siblings, and then he would check his traps and the perimeter. 

     Galahad moved Sven to Henry's lap and jumped to his feet.  The oldest brother secured the toddler in his arms and got to his feet, silently.  Maxine was still staring at the mangled golems, not moving from her position.  It had never occurred to her that Nave's wizard was really strong… impossibly strong.  She had a new respect for Orcs… and decided that a trade route with Orcs should definitely happen.    

     "Come on, Maxine," Galahad nudged her roughly in the shoulder with his knee.  The little girl jumped, startled, and quickly got to her feet.  

     Nave stood by the door, holding a squirmy Michael against her chest. The bright green liquid on the floor caught her attention, it was so different compared to hers. Her eyes flicked over to Sir Knight and settled on the glowing wound in his abdomen. Didn’t it hurt him? He was completely unphased by the injury.

    “Do…” her voice trailed off slightly as she lifted her gaze to his metal mask, “you need to heal your wound?” she queried. Nave had to admit, she was curious if he would use magic. She hoped he would. 

    He gave his head a shake, sending his dreads slapping against his back and shoulders, "No," her voice said back at her from his mask.  His yautja innate healing abilities would not require that he do anything to the wound, it was superficial.  It would mend on its own, already it was not bleeding.  The scar would be unimpressive.   

     Cetanu led the procession of small oomans back to his chambers.  They all clambered on his bed, Henry, he noticed, said nothing and refused to look at him.  The youth sat in the middle of the pelts, staring off in the distance.  

    He chuffed at the boy and made straight for his weapon wall.  The yautja collected the necklace and the th'syra he had prepared and turned back towards Nave who was still holding the smallest suckling on her hip.  He tilted his head in her direction and approached her with the objects in his paw.

    She eyed the ivory skull for a long moment.  He had, Nave shuddered inwardly, cleaned it… for Matteo. Maybe, he planned on honouring her brother now, Sir Knight had said he wanted to. Slowly, she lowered Michael down on the mattress near Maxine. Henry was deposed of mentally… he wouldn’t be watching the children. She peered at him briefly, his brooding tugged at her heart.

    Henry was thinking about his performance, and was depressed.  Sir Knight had made it obvious that he needed more practice. Nave reached out to give him a pat of assurances, but lowered her hand. Something else was bothering him too, she wasn’t sure what it was, but she would talk to him later this evening after the rest of the children went to sleep. Maybe he would feel better then. She followed her magician through the egress, shaking her head slightly to push her concern for her brother to the side for now. She was interested to see more of his culture in regards to death, that would take her mind off things, for now.  

    It was bright enough outside that his ooman would be able to see what was going on unimpeded.  He led her out of his vessel and towards his pedestal.  He placed the trophy and the jewelry on his stand and then pointed a claw to its surface.  He did not want her touching anything. 

    Nave cautiously looked around the temple grounds, the carmine splatters of dried blood along the cobblestones caught her attention first. Her nose wrinkled at the stench. Her gaze lifted to look at Sir Knight when she saw them. There was an overwhelming urge to retch and she felt like she was standing at the end of a windy tunnel as realization dawned on her. Along some of the trees were… bodies… they had to be… hanging for all to see.  Her stomach dropped to her feet and a wave of vertigo assailed her.

    All were skinless and massive pools of dried blood lay under them, almost as though they had died right there. A few were headless… a sickening feeling washed over her… the heads in his trophy room belonged to them. She had known it last night, but to actually see the carnage… Nave swallowed the massive lump forming in her throat. These men had been Richard’s soldiers. Is this what he would do to her half brother? “Did… you do... this?” she asked quietly, while pointing towards the hanging carcasses. 

    He tilted his head to the side, he was still at his pedestal, trying to motion her to sit. Nave stared at him intently, waiting for his response. She had to know. Had to. 

     Cetanu nodded deliberately after a long moment of silence.  He had protected the temple, her, and her family.  He clicked at her, and tapped an onyx talon against the stone this time.

     She licked her bottom lip and slowly tore her eyes from the massacre in front of her, maybe… she didn’t want to know that much about his culture. It seemed incredibly bloody and violent. He was most definitely not who she had imagined him to be.  He was a warrior… definitely a killer. She supposed, given the circumstances, she was glad Sir Knight was her husband. She wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of his weapons. Eventually, she stood in front of his granite stand and climbed on top to sit like she had years ago… except this time, he wasn't standing above her. It was an odd feeling, seeing before her. 

    It took her a moment to settle, and when she had, he moved and chose a spot next to where he had buried her representation all those years ago.  Her siblings would be close and he would keep an eye on them here.  Digging the grave with his paws took a little more time than he liked and when he was satisfied, he hopped out of the hole.  

    He made for the temple's inner sanctum where he had placed the bodies of her siblings the night before.  Cetanu had arranged a large pelt around the pair, the little suckling he had placed on the chest of the youth and had wrapped his arms about the little female.  He brought them out in his arms, they were fully covered except for the Unblood's legs that dangled. 

    Nave felt her eyes well up with tears when she saw Sir Knight emerge with what she knew were her brother and sister. She hated Richard. Hated him for what he had done to their family. He had murdered five of their siblings, and all for the chance to be king. At least she could say goodbye to two of them. The younger children had unintentionally forced her to be strong during this ordeal, but now she didn’t have to be. Her eyes clenched tightly together and hot tears rolled down her cheeks unheeded. 

      Cetanu placed the bundle of fur into the hole he had dug and retrieved the th'syra and necklace he had put on the pedestal.  He draped the necklace and trophy over the pelt before kneeling by the hole.

     "May you dance with the fallen gods," he spoke in his language.  He purred heavily as he lowered his head reverently.  There was a long moment of silence given to them before he stood and pushed the dirt over the fur.  Nave's face was leaking a lot of water from her eyes he noticed as he turned and headed back towards her. 

    “Will you…” she paused for a moment. “Will you hold me? Please,” she needed comfort. Needed it. Her younger siblings wouldn’t be able to offer her any, but… maybe… “Please Cet… Ceta..." she trailed off, struggling with the pronunciation of his name.

    "Sir Knight." His mask corrected her.  

    "Please… Sir Knight?” she pleaded, wiping the tears from her eyes. 

     He stood in front of her silently before motioning back to where his vessel was cloaked.  He waited while she composed herself.  She was royalty, he would not comfort her, it would show weakness.  This would make her stronger.

    Nave had been slightly taken back that he had made no attempt to offer her solace, but… he had been alive her whole life and had never done so.  She took a deep breath to calm herself down, before climbing down from the pedestal to follow Sir Knight back to his… magical home…. “I’m ready now,” she replied, straightening herself to her full height while wiping the last remnants of water off her face. She would look as though nothing had happened by the time they reached her family. 

     "Sir Knight," he used a recording, "Watch.  Over." He pointed back to the grave.

     She smiled solemnly and looked up at him, “Thank you,” she voice barely above a whisper. 

     He nodded regally and led her back towards his ship.  He still needed to check his traps and his territory before he took Henry to his trophy room.  The youth had been a terrible fighter, Cetanu needed to see how well he cleaned a trophy. The yautja had to know how far behind the youth was, and when his chiva would be.

Chapter Text

14

    Nave was silent as Sir Knight led her through the forest of bodies to his enchanted home.  She kept her eyes downward as to not see the corpses, focusing on the back of her wizard's legs.  It was either them or these soldiers, she reminded herself.  Richard's men would have killed her entire family… They had already murdered five of her siblings by the time they had reached the hidden temple. A shiver shot down her spine, nothing would have stopped them had they been found. 

    The jungle was quiet, too quiet… 

    Her heart accelerated and she swallowed a lump forming in her throat.  It had been silent like this that night… the night Richard’s guards had come to slaughter them all in their bedrooms… cold sweat broke out across her body and she felt faint at the heavy scent of blood assaulting her from all around.  

   A calming, loud rumbling purr cut through the fog of panic swarming her mind, her eyes snapped up to Sir Knight's back.  He was… soothing her… Nave blinked away tears, sending them rolling down her cheeks. She raised a hand and quickly wiped them away, she took a deep breath and felt her heart slow to its normal cadence. 

    He pondered taking her with him to check the traps for a brief second but thought better of it, he could do it more efficiently from the trees.  He led her back to his ship, purring all the while.  Cetanu had smelled the panic seeping from her pores, heard the excited tattoo of her r’daya.  He purred to ease her anxieties. 

     The airlock opened as they neared it, he made his way to the bedroom, the children were quietly playing with each other.  He returned Nave to her family and left to check all his traps.  They were all empty, he clicked with annoyance.  Richard should have sent a second unit already… the first had never reported back.  What was taking him so long?   

    Cetanu returned to his vessel, he entered his chamber silently.  He would unarm and then take Henry back to his trophy room.  The youth had failed the physical inspection, he was curious to know his knowledge in this, the most basic ritual.  The easiest one, generally taught first in yautja culture, most sucklings could do it.  

    Oomans must have something similar, he had read that primitive cultures on other planets had revered yautja like gods.  It made sense to him that they would have the same basic rituals.  He removed his sivk'va-tai, and his ki'cti-pa, storing them into the wall securely before closing everything with a click of a button, he’d kept his mask.

    Nave followed his movements with her eyes as her siblings played together. He was always silent, the sound of the large door opening was her only indication he was entering the same room as her. It was unnerving, especially since she had seen what he was capable of. She caught herself smiling slightly as she watched his movements, he was her protector. 

    He glanced back towards his bed and found Henry staring back at him.  Cetanu nodded and approached the bed deliberately. "Henry," he used a recording, "Come. Come." He motioned with one paw.

    The youth swallowed and got to his feet slowly, his head was lowered and he was staring at the ground as he came to stand in front of him.

     “It’ll be okay, Henry,” Nave offered reassuringly, trying to lift his spirits. Sir Knight didn’t appear to have discounted him yet, maybe there was still hope and he would prove himself this time. He had to… the fate of their kingdom depended on it. 

    “Come.” He pointed at Nave, using her childish voice.  She was the one in charge of her siblings, it was only appropriate that she watch his progress.

     Her heart skipped a beat and she put Michael down on the large bed with the rest of their siblings before standing near the wizard. She had realized when Henry was called over that she had been slightly disappointed to not have been invited. Nave liked being with Sir Knight, he made her feel safe. Plus, she had to admit, she was fairly interested in seeing what additional training her husband would give her brother. Hopefully, it would be something that would boost his confidence. He needed that right now. 

    Henry swallowed, and followed after Sir Knight meekly, not giving Nave a second look.  The large wizard unnerved him now, he was definitely a lot more dangerous than the soldiers Richard had.  They left the bedroom and the orc took them to another room.

   It was awkwardly quiet as they followed Sir Knight. It hadn’t felt that way when he had taken her to the room with the human skulls the previous night. She licked her bottom lip, it probably had to do with what had happened in the training room earlier. Her eyes darted along the corridor, nothing felt familiar to her. She hoped he wasn’t taking them to that place again. A shiver went down her spine as she remembered the bloody heads lined up on his workbench. Although… they hadn’t been as terrible as what she had seen outside. His culture was very different… she would need to get used to it. She wondered briefly if their significance was only for burial rites… she would ask him later about it. 

    A gasp escaped Henry’s lips, and his eyes widened as he spotted the four red, bloody skulls and spines, bones that had most definitely come from another human.  Nave wrinkled her nose, she had hoped they weren’t coming to this room. Maybe her wizard was going to have her brother clean them since she hadn’t the previous night. Her eyes turned down guiltily, maybe she should have…. Sir Knight motioned for him to stand in front of the table, there was a leather satchel unfurled on the table filled with glimmering silver tools.

    Cetanu grabbed a th'syra and placed it in front of Henry, he then stepped back to stand beside Nave, folding his arms across his wide, black chest.  The youth glanced back at him nervously, and swallowed again.  He tilted his head to the side, his dreads sliding off his shoulder as he stared back at the boy questioningly.

   Was it possible that the older suckling had no idea what Cetanu wanted?  His eyes looked blank enough… 

    "Clean," Nave's twelve year old voice quipped from his mask, he pointed a black talon towards the th'syra.

    “Did you...” Nave paused for a moment and licked her bottom lip, “did you learn how to clean bones in the guard?” She was pretty sure the answer was no, based purely on the way he was looking back at Sir Knight.  Her brother was horrified.

    A deep blush spread across Henry’s cheeks and he turned wide eyes onto his sister. “This is barbaric…” he whispered without moving his mouth, “The guards don’t do this! ” His voice was frantic.

     Nave bit her bottom lip, she felt conflicted. Her brother was right, it was considered barbarous in their culture… but technically since she was Sir Knight’s wife, it was her culture now too. “What about other things… like deer?” she murmured. She could feel her face heating with embarrassment. He was insulting her husband’s customs.

     Cetanu refrained from sighing disappointedly.  He’d heard the suckling clearly and rolled his eyes behind his biomask.  He’d have to show the unblooded male how it was done. 

     “This is not deer, Nave!” her brother hissed, and then gasped as Cetanu stepped forward and moved the boy to the side as he took his place in front of the table.  He glanced at the child and was deliberate as he grabbed each tool and showed it to the youth carefully before using it.

    Nave crept to Sir Knight’s other side and watched him carefully as he trained Henry on how to clean the skulls. She was relieved that she hadn’t been expected to do it, but she would probably be tasked with the job once her siblings returned back to the palace. Maybe if she paid close attention she would remember and impress her husband when the time came. She wanted to… 

    Cetanu cleaned the first two th'syra, and purred heavily as he did so.  Both Nave and her sibling were peering at what he was doing, crowding him on both sides, watching him intently.  This pleased him, there was almost a sense of… he chuffed suddenly and took a step back as he motioned the third cranium to the unblooded.  

     Henry licked his lips, but instead of shying away like before, he tentatively grabbed one of the defleshing tools and glanced back at Cetanu.  The yautja nodded regally, pleased with himself.

     Her mei'hswei was redeemable.

Chapter Text

15

     Cetanu sat, cross legged, on the floor in his room, surrounded by his weapons and arms, his mask affixed to his face.  Galahad was kneeling to his side, arranging each piece of gear neatly in a row.  Maxine was close to him, wiping everything down with a rag before handing it to her brother to arrange.  They were helping him with his awu'asa.  

     “This is very nice!” Galahad exclaimed placing his ceremonial knife closest to him.

     “It’s really sharp too!” Maxine huffed, “It cut the rag!” Nave glanced over at the children huddling around Sir Knight and bit the inside of her cheek. She did not particularly like that her siblings were touching his weapons. They could injure themselves terribly. She surmised that her husband would ensure their safety… but still she didn’t approve. 

      A pudgy hand gripped at his back as Sven stood behind him on wobbly legs, using him to keep his balance.  Henry had fallen asleep shortly after dinner on the large bed. Nave was sitting near him holding Michael close to her chest. She was attempting to sooth him to sleep, he squirmed for a few moments before resting his head against her shoulder. Her hand rubbed  his back comfortingly and he yawned loudly. 

     The children had finished wiping and sorting his awu’asa, he liked their company. He deliberately reached into one of the pouches on his belt and pulled out a bunch of small bones and teeth.  Many already had holes drilled into them. He laid them out on the floor in a couple small piles, those with holes and those without.

     “What are you doing?” Galahad scooted closer to him and peered at the white bones. 

     Nave balanced a slumbering Michael and inched towards the edge of the bed to observe them better. She was also interested in what they were doing. 

      Cetanu remained silent as he pulled a long piece of sinew from another pouch and proceeded to show the suckling how to thread the bones along the string.  Sven plopped down behind him and leaned back against his back.

      “Ooo you’re making jewelry!” Maxine piped up and dropped beside him, “Can I help?!” 

      “I want to help too!” Galahad whined as Cetanu handed the sinew to Maxine.  She was humming to herself as she continued to add bones to the necklace.  He chuckled and pulled another string from his pouch, Galahad beamed at him as he handed it to the boy. 

      “Can I keep this?” Maxine asked the yautja as she held it up to her dirty nightgown.  He nodded and trilled at her.  She made a sound of glee and raised the necklace up to better show Nave. “Navey!” she called unnecessarily loud, “Look!”

      “It’s very becoming!” Nave gushed at her. Her sister had alternated the small bones and teeth in a pleasing way. It would have been suitable for court… had it been made of gold and jewels. 

      Maxine grinned and using her weird mouth clicked back at Cetanu affectionately, as though she were answering him.  It surprised the yautja when Galahad also did it, followed by Sven, clicking their tongue.  He purred loudly, pleased that they were actually trying to mimic his sounds.  He was flattered.

      Nave smiled softly at the brood, she wished it could be like this forever. 

***********

     Heavy steps reverberated across the stone floor of the throne room, two nights had passed since the coup. Nave had proven herself to be more resourceful than he had first thought.  He had underestimated her intelligence.  Sequestering the younger children in her chambers somehow while the guards executed Alexi and Antoinette at the exact same time… 

     That she had known it was coming...  really annoyed him.  How had his insipid sibling figured it out so quickly?  Was there a traitor amidst his soldiers?  He would not put it past Nave to spread her legs, she was a Lesit.  He made a face as he thought of her mother’s country, a kingdom to the east of Soal.  An eastern soiled princess, a political marriage to the King of Soal, his father over twenty years ago.  It still rankled after all those years that he and his mother had been tossed aside like trash, to make way for the Queen.

    Nave’s blood was not pure, nor any of the brats with legitimate claims to the throne.  His mother was Soalis, born and bred, but with no ties to nobility, a commoner.  The only way he could lead was to kill his siblings.  They all had to die…   

     Where had Nave led them?  He had only three dead royals instead of the eleven he needed.  His blue eyes narrowed to mere slits of contemplation as he reflected on his younger sister.   She had a habit of sneaking out of the castle when she was a child.  Where did she go?  He racked his brain.  He was no fool.  She had no friends, no allies to call upon that he had not already dealt with.

     He paused in front of the large throne, remembering the night he had caught her leaving the palace. She had informed him that she was going to the village…. He had believed her then. The only other option had been the jungle near the castle. It had seemed the most logical explanation, it still was honestly. What would a silly girl be doing in the forest? 

    Richard resumed his pacing, his captain had told him about her leadership during their flight. Trying to wrangle all of the children as they bolted from the castle in the dead of night. Nave had given away their position in an attempt to prevent them from scattering outside the palace… she had led them into the forest. Richard flexed a fist but forced his hand to relax.  His men had followed her.  

    There was something in that jungle that Nave deemed safe. A place that she had purposely kept hidden from everyone, choosing to lie to her father and King when questioned years ago. Wherever this secret location was, he’d find it.  She could not escape her fate forever.  He would destroy her and her brood of heathens.  They were half breeds, his prestigious lineage tainted.   

     As he ascended the steps to the stone throne, he called out to his captain of the guard, “Tybalt.” Richard settled in the cathedra, sitting regally as though he was in fact, King.  He would be soon enough. His gaze followed the tall man as he quickly and silently crossed the room. He bowed briefly at the bottom stair before rushing up to Richard’s side.

    “Send four scouts into the jungle,” he ordered, resting an elbow on the arm of the throne, “I want them tracked.”

    Tybalt bowed his head slightly, “It will be done, Sir.”

     “They are not to engage with anyone,” Richard demanded. He didn’t want his silly half-sister knowing he was onto her. He would lull Nave into a false sense of security. Have her drop her guard before he dispatched the lot of them. He waved his hand dismissively and watched as his captain left the throne room.  His men should have returned by now.   

    Richard slumped in the chair, the plan he had worked tirelessly on for years was not unfolding as he had anticipated. It was at least a small consolation that the disease he had brought into the kingdom was running rampant, aiding his cause.  The king was ill, as was his land. 

    Wet Shingles had been named because of the way the scabs looked once infected, like tiny wet shingles falling off a roof. The skin would peel off in layers, causing the body to leak putrid smelling pus constantly. As the disease progressed, the musculature would eventually become exposed, if an individual was unlucky to have lived that long. It was highly contagious, it didn’t take much for it to infect a healthy individual. The only way to stop the spread was to burn the victim.  A disease born of war and death… 

    He was not proud of it. It had spread like wildfire within the villages, throughout the kingdom as a whole. He had sent his family away to the country feigning concern for their well-being, but in actuality he had been working on bringing it closer to the castle. Richard had been slightly disappointed that none of his half-siblings had caught Wet Shingles, it would have dealt with the problem at hand.  He did not enjoy killing them, but they were in the way. 

     The subjects of the kingdom would learn that all of princes and princesses had contracted the plague and had died. Their bodies would be wrapped tightly in shrouds and burned. The kingdom would go into mourning. His father would quickly succumb to his own illness and then he, Richard, would be crowned King. Restoring his kingdom, his lineage purified of the stain. 

    “Lucio,” he called out to his loyal groomsman, “inform the staff of the unfortunate deaths of their Royal Highnesses Alexis, Antionette, and Francine.” Richard spoke solemnly, and then straightened on the chair, “the plague took them, god rest their souls,” he continued, looking somberly down at his servant. “I sent the remaining royal family to the country estate for their protection.”

    The man bowed deeply, and left Richard in the throne room alone, contemplating his next move.  He had to send supplies to Avaly, they would not survive the winter without food or medicine.  Gretchen Watch would need more animals and blankets, the church was overrun with the sick and diseased.  He could ill afford sending more of his men… 

     He sighed heavily.  Nave surviving his coup added more stress, but it would be dealt with.  Richard would see to it that it was dealt with.

Chapter Text

16

      Richard's blue eyes roamed critically over the four scouts he had sent for.  Hector, a large, barrel chested man with silent feet; Pham, a blonde, blue eyed slender man that was more acrobat than soldier; Iago, a swarthy man of the forest, dressed in the furs of a trapper; and Ahmad, his personal man, covered in the mud and leaves of the jungle, camouflaged expertly.  He was by far the best tracker he had in his retinue.

      "You must find out what happened to my soldiers," he said calmly, sitting regally on his father's throne, "None ever returned," he made eye contact with each, "I'm having a hard time reconciling that an unarmed princess with a gaggle of children dispatched twenty of my armed warriors single-handedly," his fingers clenched on the armrests, "Find my sister, find out who is helping her, and report back."  

      The four men bowed.  Richard gritted his teeth and watched them leave.  His knuckles had turned white from the force with which he gripped his throne.

************    

     Hector's emerald eyes ran along the underbrush of the forest, searching for tracks. There was none. He moved silently, his gaze focused to the ground. He doubted any of the unaccounted children could climb the colossal trees here, Matteo and Henry were probably the only two capable. 

      A small smirk formed on his face as the image of Princess Nave trying to ascend the thick trunk formed in his mind.  It was hilarious, considering she'd fled in her nightdress.  

      He gave his head a shake and continued tacitly stalking through the jungle.  Now wasn’t the time to get distracted. Hector crouched down to examine the soil close by, it hadn’t been disturbed lately. His gaze scanned over the landscape in front of him and locked on a small river ahead. He surmised that it was possible the children might be near it. It offered fresh water, food, and safety, he wouldn't underestimate the princess, she'd proven resourceful already… 

      A piercing squawk of a disturbed bird grabbed his attention as he stood to his feet. It sounded as though it was coming from the direction of the stream, he rushed towards the water, making nary a sound. The children had to be there, had to. What other reason was there for the fowl to make such a noise? 

     He was almost to the river when he heard a deafening click in his ear.  Immediately, he froze, sucking in his breath as he took stock of his surroundings.  What was that?   His jade eyes darted around frantically, searching for what had instigated the sound.  He'd never heard that kind of noise in the jungle before… he held his breath, wondering if it would come again.  

    A large, cautious foot took a step, an attempt to continue on course towards the steam was made, but he suddenly felt sharp dagger-like objects pierce deeply into the skin and muscles on both sides of his body. The pain was immense, his nerves down both his arms and legs quivered.  He'd never before experienced an excruciation such as this.  

     Hector wasn’t entirely sure how this had even happened in the first place.  His thoughts drifted off as ebony swirls began entering his field of vision. He felt warm fluid running down his arms, his legs, his neck…  he tried to lift his hands up to view them but he was engulfed in complete darkness. 

************

    Iago was crouched between a sizable rock and the massive above ground roots of a nearby mangrove.  He wanted to remain hidden in the event a child or foreign soldier wandered his way.  He was fully expecting Lesitian soldiers… or worse Greyrealm… he hated the Greys the most.

     His thoughts were on the missing men, and the fact that they had not returned.  Princess Nave must have figured out Richard’s plan beforehand and sought help from a neighboring country. Perhaps she had betrothed herself to one of the princes of Greyrealm, further tainting the Soalis royal line.

     The warlords had been systematically testing their southern border as of late, they would certainly consider supplying her aid if it meant an easy takeover of Soal. She was a traitor, what else should he expect from a half-blooded princess. Richard was right to rid the country of their filth.  He was the rightful heir, and Iago would gladly give his life for his king.

     An uneasy feeling crept upon him as he kept to his hiding spot, the hair on the back on his neck stood at attention. It felt as though he were being watched. His narrowed gaze flicked to the underbrush ahead, then up into the thick jungle canopy. 

      Iago squinted at an enormous branch ahead of him.  Maybe something was there… it shimmered… a mirage?  He frowned but kept staring, it wasn't hot enough for a mirage… the sun was barely shining through… There was nothing there… He rubbed his face aggressively and peered intently again.  His mind had to be playing games with him.  He was just on edge… that was all. 

     He closed his eyes briefly to regain his focus. They snapped open and he crouch-walked to a nearby bush, keeping himself close to the ground, his furs gave him the appearance of an animal, and he kept himself low to fool anyone not paying close attention. The feeling of dread continued washing over him, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being tracked. It was unnerving. 

     As he contemplated his next move, he noticed a crimson glimmer in his peripherals. His head snapped to the side so he could properly view the luminescence.  Iago blinked once, twice.  He had never seen anything like this.  It had to be magic. Princess Nave must have hired mystics to help her take control from Richard.  That is how she was able to escape!   There was no other explanation for what was right next to his head. 

     The rest of the light moved over his head, Iago sucked in his breath and resisted the urge to track it more than he had already. The scarlet beacon hadn't located him yet, and he wanted to keep it that way. No knowing what the magical properties would do to him. He would definitely report it to Richard upon his return, perhaps hire sorcerers. 

     Suddenly in a large branch in the tree directly in front of him he saw it.  Evil, claret eyes flashed before him then disappeared into the foliage. Iago willed himself to move, but his legs refused. A burst of light exploded from where the iniquitous orbs had been, had he died of fright? Had the gods come from him already? 

    His head popped like a grape before he could ponder further.

*************

     Pham moved north as soon as they had split up.  He trusted Ahmad and Iago to do their jobs, but his knowledge of Hector was almost non-existent.  The man had just transferred to their squadron. 

     His eyes roamed trees, and brush, looking for marks, telltale signs that feet had stepped here, disturbing the natural beauty.  He would not miss the trail if he found it.  He'd played in this jungle as a child, it was massive, stretching for days north and west of the castle.  

     A woman dragging seven children should be easy to follow.  He kept himself low, moving close to the trees to blend.  The kids would not know how to hide their tracks, and the princess was a noble.  Except for Richard and the sickly king, his opinion of nobles was low.  Pampered, rich fools the lot of them.  Pham stopped moving and listened to the ambience of the jungle.

    There was an odd sounding clicking or buzzing.  Insects?   He never heard this kind of droning before.  Sharp eyes scanned about, there was nothing amiss.  

     He moved further north, and frowned as he finally came across tracks.  Pham crouched and touched at the footprints.  He counted four different sets, they ranged in size from child to adult.  Seven children, plus the princess.  Three were babes, and would not have run, two were teenagers, but he only saw one set of footprints that would belong to a teenager.

     The tracker followed the tracks backwards, now that he had found the trail, there was no escape.  He needed to account for all the royals.  Had they become separated?  It was close to the castle that he found the tracks of the missing teenager.

     He'd been hit.  Pham touched dry blood and followed it to where the grass had been disturbed.  He could still see the imprint of knees in the ground, surrounded by blood   

     The teen had dropped a baby… there were small feet, and no further tracks… 

     His brow furrowed.  The boy had not left here… he glanced about, double checking all around.  He wasn't missing anything… he raised his eyes to the canopy.  

     Was it possible the wounded teen had climbed a tree, with a baby?  His frown deepened and he looked for traces of blood on the climbable trees.  Nothing on the ground or branches… nothing disturbed… no branches broken, no evidence that a wounded youth had climbed his way to safety.

     Pham couldn't explain where the boy had gone.  He retraced his steps and followed the tracks.  There was a good chance one of the older boys was dead, but he could not confirm it as he hadn't found the body.  It bothered him that he hadn't. 

     He walked for hours it seemed, the ambience of the jungle changed, it was starting to sound like the noise of the battlefield at night.  Vultures squabbling amongst themselves, the deafening buzzing of flesh flies, he'd never forget the sounds.  Pham grimaced as the coppery scent of blood became overpowering.

     His steps slowed, his stomach curdled as he spotted something in the distance…. red and… oh gods… wet… 

      The forest ground gave way to a unkept cobblestone pathway that was slowly being overtaken by the jungle.  Pham didn't notice as he was fixated on the red object that was beginning to resemble a man the closer he got… 

     Pham stopped moving completely as he stepped into what could only be described as a barbaric battlefield.  This was a realm that defied the imagination.  He'd never seen this level of savagery before. There were skinless, some were headless, corpses of men, hanging everywhere.  He hurled his breakfast all over the bloodied cobblestone pathway.

    He did not count how many… but he didn't need to.  He spotted a discarded and mutilated chestplate armour of Richard's infantry nearby.  It had a hole in it that should not be there, the metal of the armour was thick, inches thick, and plated… 

     The princess hadn't done this… 

      Pham's eyes widened and his heart accelerated.  He needed to get back to the castle and warn Richard.  This was an invasion… Nave had sold out Soal to a barbaric nation… he whimpered a little and turned on his heels.  This was no way for anyone to die.

     He never looked back as he took off like an arrow.  Of all the trackers that Richard had sent, he was the swiftest.  It would not take him long to return to the castle at the pace he was—

     Something hit him in the back and with such momentum that it carried him forward without his help, his toes were dragging along the jungle floor.  He glanced to the side and noticed it was a net before he made contact with a mangrove.

      The air rushed out of him and then he heard a whizzing sound that scared him half to death.  The net that was plastered against him vibrated and then started shrinking over him.  He screamed and tried to push against it but it was cutting into his legs and head.

      What the fuck was happening?!

     Pham screamed as his hood was shredded and the metal cut into his skin.  What was this?!  He struggled for all he was worth, blood seeping into his eyes.  His heart was about to explode when a sharp pain pierced his back.

     A thud reverberated in his ears as the bark of the tree beneath him cracked.  His last coherent thought was that he'd pissed himself.

************

    Ahmad watched with wide, terrified eyes as a black giant killed Pham with a long retractable spear-like limb.  He'd never seen or heard of whatever it was; it looked like a living shadow. He could see no eyes or facial expression, the weapons it held were of the same shade, as though extensions of it.  He could not separate it… He wondered if, perhaps, the gods were angry at what was happening and had sent their champion.

     For the first time since Richard had hatched the plan all those years ago to take the throne, Ahmad doubted.  

    He prayed silently as he watched the black entity rip Pham off the large tree, and drop him to the ground unceremoniously.  It glanced about the forest once, Ahmad pushed himself closer to the tree he hugged as its blank face looked at him and then moved on.  That it had not seen through his camouflage almost had him sagging in relief.   He was covered in mud and leaves from head to toe.  The light, tight leather armour he wore was caked with it, his brown hair was slicked back with the cold clay.  He blended perfectly in the jungle. 

     Ahmad watched horrified, unmoving against the tree, as it dug its hand in Pham's lower back and ripped his spine and skull from the body.  It placed the bones in a loop at its hip and then crouched next to the corpse of his friend.

    There was nothing he could do as Pham was desecrated.  It stripped him of all clothes and armour, and then skinned him as though he were a beast.  It folded the hide, secreting it in a large pouch before it strung up the dead tracker by the feet.

     It gathered the metal net and hung it on its belt, before turning on its heels and leaving the clearing.  It cast an invisibility spell on itself, he could tell it was magic for it did not completely disappear.  He could see its outline, until it jumped out of sight. 

     Ahmad swallowed and stared at Pham's corpse as it swayed lightly in the wind.  He had to get back to Richard.

     Something other than a country was helping the princess. Ahmad feared she had gotten the aid of the gods, and what they were doing was blasphemous.  The king was considered the head of their temple and could commute with the gods.

    Was that power granted to the princess if she was not crowned queen?  Or had the king died and Richard had not announced it, thus making Nave the queen… So many questions were running through his mind that Ahmad found himself staying put for quite a long time.

     The sun was setting when he finally pushed away from the tree he had clung to desperately, and very cautiously made his way back to the castle.  He begged Pham's forgiveness for not cutting him down.  It would have alerted the champion…  

     Richard was in the throne room when Ahmad dropped to his knees at his feet.  His commander helped him up and gave him a shake.  A look of worry on his handsome face.

     "The gods," Ahmad swallowed, his black eyes were wide with sanctimonious fear, "the princess has a god helping her."

Chapter Text

17

    This made three.

    Cetanu stood unmoving, blending perfectly within the darkness of night, in front of the dead ooman that was stuck in place.  He'd stepped on one of the many spike traps the yautja had hidden around the temple and the sharp needles had kept the corpse on its feet.     

     He deactivated it, the cadaver dropped to the ground as soon as the legs retracted into the disc-size trap.  Cetanu moved the body away, rearmed the trap and proceeded to collect the skull.  He'd never seen so much action at the temple in all his time.  

     It took a few minutes to collect the skin and hang the dead ooman.  He needed the material to clothe the sucklings, they were starting to stink.  He had never noticed how strong they smelled until he had many packed in a room.

     Those tiny, naked sucklings were constantly urinating and defecating everywhere, he was constantly cleaning the floor.  He would fashion a leather loincloth that would hold it to them.  It would give Nave time to reach the bathing chamber with her sibling. 

      He made his way back to his fighter, dropping the th'syra and the hides in his trophy room before moving on to his bedroom where Nave and her family were sleeping.  He could see the heat signatures all piled on his bed, it comforted him that she was safe in his domain.  

      Cetanu would bathe, then clean his awu'asa and weapons of ooman thwei. Then he would crawl into bed with Nave and her siblings.  He liked that Galahad and Maxine would find him in their sleep and he'd wake with one or the other plastered to him. 

      All of her siblings had fallen asleep hours ago, but Nave had forced herself to remain awake, waiting for Sir Knight. She wrung her hands together anxiously, he had been gone for what seemed a long time.  

      He would be back, she was worrying over nothing, she had seen him train earlier… and he had killed the guards that had followed her and the children into the forest.  She shuddered at the memory of what was just outside his home, he would be fine. 

      Nave unlinked her fingers and spread them against the thick pelts he had stacked all over his bed. She shouldn’t doubt him… she paused, they were married now, at least by his culture’s standards. What did Sir Knight expect of her now? 

      She had been pleasantly surprised he hadn’t asked her to perform her wifely duties. Maybe he couldn’t… she remembered when he was naked that she hadn’t seen his… Nave cleared her throat as quietly as she could, her face heating.  Perhaps it was better that way, he was much larger than herself and if he could procreate he’d probably want her to produce a heir of his own. She doubted any pregnancy with half of a yautja would be easy for her, especially since they had always been so difficult for her own mother. And her children were all humans. 

      Her parents had been a love match, it had been obvious to everyone. It may have been a politically arranged marriage, but it had been more than that. Her father had always doted upon her mother, Nave was almost certain he had never taken a mistress during their union. The queen had always been pregnant, even though each new parturient had been increasingly more burdensome. 

      Did she love Sir Knight, or was she doomed to an unfeeling marriage of convenience? Her nose wrinkled as she pondered upon her musings. She did… she had been in love with him for years, all of the princes that her father had attempted to broker a deal with had never met up to her standards.  

    Her perception of him had been vastly different than reality, she hadn’t known of his barbaric culture at the time, he'd been her stone prince.  She pursed her lips thoughtfully. Barbaric was such a strong word, there was no denying his ferocity… Although he had never been that way to her, or her siblings… he protected her…  

     She swallowed the lump in her throat, she was uncertain if he returned the feeling… perhaps, he was difficult to read. She hoped he did.  Her mind wandered to all those times she had visited him as a child, never knowing he was real… he'd never interrupted her or cajoled her.  Was that a sign of affection?  

      Her eyes suddenly snapped open as she reminisced, he had to have been the one who visited her each month when she had been locked in the tower, leaving flowers on her balcony. Sir Knight wouldn’t have done that unless he had some affection. She stifled a laugh as she imagined him going to the fields of wildflowers and picking them for her. Maybe it wasn’t a love match per say, but it definitely wasn’t one forged strictly for necessity. 

     Nave scooted to the edge of the mattress, she would ask her husband what he expected of her when he returned. The cleaning of the skulls was likely to be on the list, she frowned slightly at the idea. Hopefully he didn’t expect her to become some sort of killer… she doubted she’d have the ability to do so. 

     The door to his room hissed open as he approached it.  The lights brightened at his presence.  Nave peered at him expectantly as he walked past her, covered in blood, tracking bloody prints across the floor.  It wasn’t the emerald color she had seen earlier, had more soldiers come?  He did not glance at the bed as he made his way towards the bathing chamber.  She cautiously climbed off the mattress and followed after him. 

      He was already stripping his armour when he slapped the panel to start the water.  Nave’s face flushed as she lifted her gaze to keep herself from watching him undress. He may be her husband now, but she was unaccustomed to seeing a man actually naked. 

     Cetanu was in the water scrubbing his scales of the thwei before the ju'dha was even done filling, he'd kept his mask on in case Nave wished to converse with him. She sat by his side at the edge of the pool waiting for him to acknowledge her. 

      He sunk to his knees and submerged his head.  The ooman stench no longer clung to him.  He rumbled in satisfaction and leaned back with his elbows resting on the floor.  He turned his head and glanced at Nave who was sitting on the floor idly.

     "Bath?" His mask used her voice, while he motioned to the water.

     Nave felt her face heat, that wasn’t exactly what she had in mind when she followed him into the bathing room. But… maybe this was one of the differences in their culture… she took a steadying breath, she would get in the water with him and then ask him her questions. Slowly, she dipped her feet into the pool, her fingers faltering at the knot in her… dress. She wished he’d stop openly staring at her, it made her more nervous. 

      Cetanu watched as Nave touched the ju'dha, he hadn't expected her to actually join him.  He purred gently, encouraging her to relax with him.

      She finally loosened the tie and set it to the side, keeping the leather covering herself as much as possible. Again she took a deep breath, and slid into the water until it reached her knees. Hastily, she ripped the garment from her body and slunk into the pool, attempting to keep the amount of time naked in front of him to a minimum. 

      He pulled his mask off and placed it on the floor, before lowering himself to be at eye level with her in the pool. 

     “Ummm… I was curious…” Nave began, biting her lower lip nervously, “what do you expect of me… now that we’re married?” She lowered her gaze from his face, he was closer, and clasped her hands together under the water. Her nerves were getting to her. 

       Married…?  He chirped at her, and stood to access his computer.  What did that mean?  Nave was surprised when he rose suddenly, and scurried back against the wall of the bath to give him space. Maybe he was leaving her now, had she offended him? He couldn’t be upset with her for not knowing his expectations of her. Their cultures were vastly different. 

     He blinked at his computer.  Mated?   They were mated?   He blinked again and closed his computer.  He parted his mandibles and deepened his purr, he submerged himself back in the water causing it to dance with the vibrations.

     She was relieved he wasn’t abandoning her in the bathing chamber, Nave was curious about what had caused him to stand so abruptly. She felt herself relax next to him again. Her eyes glanced over at him, he seemed ruminative about her question.  

      What did mated oomans do?  Did they fight?  Did he shove at her shoulder to engage?  Would she respond to violence?  Females of his race usually wanted worthy males, with large trophy rooms, and they battled to make sure only the strongest provided pups.  He did not know if oomans were the same… there was nothing on mating habits in the archives except there was no season to their heat.   

      She was watching him.  He chuffed and stood to grab his mask, strapping it back to his face. "What. Expect." He used her own words to form the question .

      Nave straightened in her seat, and looked into the eyes of his mask, “In my culture,” she twiddled her thumbs under the water, “when you’re married, you, the husband," she licked her lips, "You provide food," he already did that, "shelter," and that, "and protection," and that as well, he puffed his chest out proudly, showing off his physique, "and I provide you with heirs," her gaze dropped, “is that what you expect as well?”

      His head tilted to the side.  Provide him with sucklings…?  Could she?  Were they compatible?  There was no fight?  He chirped again, and ceased his mental debate.  Why was he thinking about this…? 

      In his culture he was dead.  He could not have sucklings for he was Cetanu, the embodiment of death.  

Chapter Text

18

     She stared expectantly at him, he hadn’t responded yet, he was merely sitting there staring back at her through his helmet. Maybe he was thinking of countering her expectations with some from his own. What were… women… like where he was from? Nave blinked at him, maybe he wasn’t keen on her cultural expectations. She licked her bottom lip nervously and cleared her throat, “What is expected of women in your culture?”

    He glanced down at her, his head tilting. "Women," he used her voice and her word, "strong," he paused as he searched his database for the correct way to describe a female yautja.  He clicked and then huffed. "Control. Marriage." He used her word for mated, "Control. All."

     Nave sucked in a breath, that was almost the exact opposite of her own culture.  She wasn’t physically strong, at least not by his standards, not that she would ask him anyways; it would be humiliating to hear him say so. Honestly, she couldn't bear the idea that he might see her negatively.

    It was interesting that the yautja woman was in charge of the entire marriage, she hadn't expected that with how powerful he was. She paused, perhaps she just needed to be more confident with him when she wanted something. Maybe that was why he wasn't acting in accordance with his own culture at times. 

     Straightening, Nave squared her shoulders and stared into her husband’s metallic black eyes, she took a deep breath, “I want to touch your hair,” she asserted as best she could. She had been disappointed when he had forced her to stop their first night together, she liked how it had felt in her hand.  She had never felt something like that before.

     Cetanu chirped at her in surprise, the noise involuntary.  His tresses?  She wanted to touch his dreads?  His mandibles tightened over his inner mouth and he raised a claw from the ju'dha to point at her hair, "Cetanu," he used his real voice, and then switched to recordings of her, "Touch. Nave. Hair." She was initiating with him… he would reciprocate.  

    “Yes,” she breathed softly, and then quickly added, “after I touch yours,” she had almost forgotten to be authoritative in her response. 

     He wasn't paying attention to anything else she was saying after her consent was given.  Instead, he rose from his seated position and moved closer to her in the pool.  He lowered himself in the water until they were face to face, so that he was no longer towering over her.  A black paw very deliberately reached out towards her hair and touched the silken strands carefully as to not hurt her if they were sensitive.  It was incredibly pyode.

    Nave gulped audibly. No man, unrelated to her, had ever been this close to her before, it was slightly terrifying, but also extremely exciting. She lifted her hand out of the water, he appeared to be larger than usual. His hair had puffed out slightly, it reminded her of one of the kittens she had grown up with in the country. Its fur would poof similarly as though it were offended.  Tentatively, her fingers clasped around one of his pulsing locks.

    He visibly stiffened as her palm ran consciously down the tubular shaft. It was still as squishy as she remembered. “I like your hair,” Nave murmured. She gently squeezed the thick lock, she could have sworn it felt as though it had tensed in her hand. That was unexpected. 

     His purr made the water dance around him, his talons were gentle as they scraped along her scalp.  She had so many follicles, he wondered briefly if touching it had the same effect on her as it did on him.  Already his ze'pha was pushing through the petals of his sheath.  He moved closer to her, rising a little out of the water, but not enough that she had to stop touching him.  He placed his other paw on the bench at her side and leaned forward into her.

    She closed her eyes and bit back a moan from the scratching on her head. It was incredibly relaxing. Nave had never felt anything like this before, maybe she should request to touch his hair more often.  She enjoyed the physical affection he was offering her. 

    He hovered over her for a moment before lowering his masked head to touch the cold, black metal to the side of her face.  She shuddered involuntarily at the coolness, but sighed contentedly to prevent him from leaving. This closeness was something she craved — had craved — for such a long time.  It felt nice… 

     His purr increased and he stepped even closer into her, his big body forcing her knees to part around him.  He straightened suddenly, raising his head away from her, and for the second time since he'd entered the bath, he removed his biomask.  The metal scraped along the floor as he returned to press his bare crest against the other side of head. Nave leaned her cheek into his boney face, his affections were odd, but it was attention nonetheless. 

     The thought that he shouldn't be doing this with her crossed his mind briefly but he discarded it.  The embodiment of Cetanu he may be, but she had bound herself to him and the temple, a slave to his deity.  She claimed they were mated, then so be it. He would mark her with the brand of the Black Hunter after Henry passed his chiva, make it official.  She would be dead to the yautja, as dead as he was; a slave to death, the same as he.  

     His dai-shui seeped from his glands for the first time ever as he pressed his full erection into her bare stomach, pushing her against the wall of the pool.  Nave’s eyes went wide as she felt him against her.  Where had that come from? He was crowding her with his size, caging her with his body, surrounding her on all sides.    

    She dropped the lock from her hand and turned her head to look at Sir Knight, he wanted to consummate their union now? Nave took a deep breath and paused, the entire room smelled as though she was standing amidst a field of wildflowers. She felt herself lax slightly against him, had the water gotten hotter suddenly? 

     Cetanu rumbled and very cautiously moved his paws to wrap around her, signaling his intent.  He was gentle as he picked her up and turned so that he sat on the bench, his back against the wall with her on his lap, it took a moment to arrange her so that she was straddling his wide hips, facing him.  The water lapped against her shoulders softly.

     Nave’s lips parted as she stared intently at him with glossy eyes. She shifted against him and felt his girth beneath her. It surprised her at how nervous she was, yet also how eager at what she knew was to ultimately come.  She had always envisioned being with him her first time, but it would hurt… a lot. He had to be bigger than any human man. Would he even fit?

      She leaned forward, resting her forehead against the ebony scales of his chest. “Be gentle with me,” Nave whispered almost pleadingly. 

      His tusks clicked as he placed his arms up along the edge of the pool, stretching them out on either side, he dug his talons into the floor.  Gentle? He chuffed at her and then resumed his heavy purring.  He wasn't planning on touching her at all, as the female, she set the pace.  He'd seen and read enough on the mating habits of the yautja to know that he had no power in this instance.  His body was hers to use as she wished, he was ready for anything.

     Time had slowed considerably for Nave as she waited, huddled against him. He had pressed himself against her and turned her so that she was straddling his legs, his manhood rose up between her thighs. Hadn’t he shifted the balance of power back to him?  It sure felt that way to her.  Why wasn't he moving?

      There was no way she was going to initiate intercourse!  She had no idea what she was supposed to do!  She had always believed her future husband would assume that role and guide her through the intimacy of the marriage bed. What if she made a fool of herself… 

     She was content to cuddle against him while waiting him out. She was patient, he had no idea who he was messing with, she'd grown up with twelve siblings after all.  

Chapter Text

19     

    It seemed as though hours had past, his purring was the only sound in the room. He still hadn’t touched her yet. Was he waiting for something? Nave lifted her head from his chest and peered up at him sullenly, he was unmoving, no reaction at all much to her annoyance. She licked her bottom lip, “Are you going to touch me?” she asked quietly. 

    Cetanu's purring stopped and he shook his head slowly.  This was the female's prerogative, he had no rights in this instance.  He resumed purring after a few moments of silence lapsed, he did wonder briefly why Nave was not proceeding.  His erection was beginning to pain him.

    She felt her stomach clench, he was going to make her initiate. Her head dropped and she focused intently at the ebony scales on his chest, “I…” she paused, this was so embarrassing, he probably had experience and yet was still unyielding. “I’ve never had intercourse,” she mumbled. She traced a faint scar on his chest to focus on something other than her mounting mortification, “My mother was supposed to tell me what to expect on my wedding day.” Nave wrinkled her nose, “But that didn’t happen… she… passed away…” She hoped maybe he would do or say something, anything. "I don't know what to do…"

     His rumbling stopped abruptly and he straightened, bringing his arms around her so as to not have her fall off his lap.  She didn't know what to do…?  He chuffed.  He didn't know what to do either… he'd never had dealings with the opposite sex, and he was at a complete lost as far as oomans were concerned.  He'd never left his temple before her… 

     He repeated her phrase exactly back at her, his voice guttural, "I don't know what to do."

     Nave’s jaw dropped and she looked up at him in surprise, it was astonishing that he hadn’t. He was clearly a well bred man… yautja… strong, patient… maybe he had been here a long time and had never had the opportunity. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, “What should we do?” 

     "Yautja way," he spoke slowly, hoping she understood his words and meaning.  He'd seen her nude, she hadn't looked that different from yautja females.  Her genitals looked similar enough.  His mandibles parted and he reached under the water to grab his ze'pha with a paw, "Sit on Cetanu."

      She looked down briefly, and nodded. “It will fit, right?” 

       He did not know if he would, maybe he needed to check if she could take him.  He knew vaginas stretched for birth, could they also stretch for sex?  He released himself and without saying a word, moved his paw to her center.  His talon grazed her cunt underwater.    

    A tingle shot down her spine and she grabbed at his arm as he touched her. He immediately stopped, and pulled his paw away as if burnt, her head snapped up to look at him, “No,” she yelped, “Do it again!” She kept her hand on him, prepared this time for the sensation. 

     He purred and very tentatively swiped his talon across her cunt lips again.  He waited for her to say something.  “More,” she urged, “don’t stop,” her fingers tensing against his scales again. 

    Cetanu chirped, his tusk clicking together before he became embolden and touched her again.  This time, he went looking for the hole that should be at the apex of her thighs.  He'd seen naked ooman males, they weren't built like a yautja, but they had an appendage similar to his.  He frowned as he felt some kind of slick that made him think it was thwei, it wasn't the water… 

     He grunted and stood, gathering Nave in his arms he placed her, on her back, on the floor outside the pool before pulling himself out.  Cetanu spread her knees apart and peered at her genitals worriedly.  She was not bleeding… he hadn't cut her… 

      “What are you doing?” Nave inquired tartly, she had been so close to what she assumed heaven must be like only a few moments before.

      Cetanu chirped and touched the wetness that leaked from her cunt.  He rubbed liquid between his thumb and forefinger, it felt like lubrication.  This surprised him, yautja males created a lot of discharge to help in mating with the females, but he didn't think they created this as well.

      She lifted to her elbows to look at him, “Can you not be so… close…” her face was heating as he was investigating her most intimate areas. Nave attempted to shut her legs to prevent him from looking at her longer, but he stopped her from doing so. 

      The yautja ignored her and raised himself up onto his knees between her legs.  Her body was not that different from his, she created natural lubricant just like he did.  In theory, he should be able to mount her without too much difficulty if she let him.

     He tilted his head down at her, and stared at her intently before deciding it would be better if he let her impale herself on him.  He was likely to hurt her with his fumblings, she was so small.  He was ten times heavier than she was… he could crush her or kill her if he made a mistake.  He was no young blood, well over a thousand years old, and yet he had never done this before.

     Cetanu shifted and stretched himself out beside her on his back.  He turned his head in her direction, "Sit," he pointed at her and then towards his dick.  

    Slowly, Nave closed her legs and pulled herself to sit next to him, “I’m nervous,” she confessed quietly, “but… I’ll try.” She stood and straddled his wide hips, her knees were not touching the floor on either side of him.  She frowned, stood and looked down at his manhood as it rested on his stomach.  Would he grab it and straighten it for her?  Was she supposed to?  She stood over him for a long moment before he took pity on her and reached down to grab himself in hand.

      "Sit," he repeated, his growl fierce to her ears, she felt her thighs clench at his gruffness. Her teeth sunk into her lip and she deliberately lowered herself over him. 

      His member had grazed her core, Nave took a deep breath and sunk further down, however his penis skimmed over her quim. She groaned internally at her fumble, her eyes closed briefly to center herself. She could do this. 

      He raised his head to watch what she was doing.  She wasn't using her hands… He raised his other paw, and touched at the fur covering her cunt gently, before moving down and using his talon on one finger to make her hole more accessible.  He lined himself and chirped at her, "Sit."

     Nave’s eyes shot open and she jerked away from his hand, she had not expected him to touch her there. She licked her bottom lip nervously as she moved back over him, “Sorry…” she whispered. He was trying to assist her, she knew that, hopefully hadn’t offended him.  Cetanu purred deeply and lowered his paw back to the ground.  He should have known better than to help her, he'd forgotten his place for a moment.

     She glanced down, maybe… if she held his manhood, she would have an easier time keeping it in place and maybe… she would spread herself over his penis like he had done a few seconds ago. It probably would have helped had she been prepared for it. 

     Her gaze shifted back to his face as she gripped his member, a few inches from the tapered tip. There was a very brief moment where her eyes widened nervously at the ridges on the shaft, and she wondered if it would hurt more than she had previously anticipated.  Were those going to cut into her skin?

       Swallowing audibly, she lowered herself deliberately until the tip brushed against her again. Nave stilled and used her free hand to spread the curls at her core, she shifted until there was an uncomfortable pressure against her vagina. This was it, she braced herself for her descent.

     His purring turned into a stutter at the tightness and heat that engulfed him at a torturous pace.  It was borderline painful, but not wholly unpleasant.  He wished she would move faster, Nave was being cruel to him… his fist tightened around the base of his shaft while his claws dug into the floor.  

      Cetanu had watched videos of yautjas mating, there were plenty in the archives, and none had been like this.  They were brutal and fast, lasting for hours… this felt like it would go on for days at this rate…  

     Nave sunk down on the tapered tip until she rubbed against her hand holding his manhood. She sucked in a breath and tensed, stopping immediately. It felt like fire had erupted within her, it had hurt. A small whimper escaped her lips as she tried to move past the pain.  His claws scraped along the floor.

    There was a trickle of fluid running against one of her fingers, glancing down she saw it was smeared crimson. She had broken through her maidenhead, she surmised that the discomfort would not get any worse. Cautiously, she rocked her hips trying to position herself better on him.  She gritted her teeth and put both her hands on his hard abdominals to support herself.  The pain would subside… 

      Cetanu hissed in a breath, his mandibles tightened over his inner mouth.  It took all his considerable willpower to not buck beneath her.  He released his shaft and fisted both of his paws at his sides.  Nave wasn't moving much, she was panting, and her skin was moist.  

     He raised his head and glanced down where they were joined.  She was barely halfway down his shaft, her legs were quivering with the effort it took to support herself.  The scent of thwei assailed his senses and he sat up suddenly. He chirped at her.  Why were oomans so fragile?

     The movement made her gasp and she wrapped her arms around him as he moved to lift her off his ze'pha.  She was wounded and bleeding, he could smell it on the air.  His paws reached beneath her thighs to dismount her from his body.  He wanted to inspect this new wound.  He hadn't touched her with his claws… 

     His motion had surprised her, causing her to topple over him. Her teeth clenched together as her hips met his scales. That had been unpleasant, however it was probably for the best, she was prolonging her pain by going at the pace of a snail. She assumed that the pain from taking him to the hilt would subside again, just as it had before. His hands around her legs made her tense, she wasn’t ready to move yet, “Stop!” Nave choked out. 

     Cetanu stilled completely, his paws on her legs.  Her chest was pressed to his front and she clung to him tightly.  He chirped.

      "Blood," he gurgled, his words rougher than usual, "Nave.  Blood." 

Chapter Text

20

       She peered up at him in astonishment, he was worried about the blood… “It’s fine,” she soothed, rubbing her hand against his arm, “I’m supposed to bleed a little the first time,” Nave added to alleviate his concern.  Perhaps he hadn’t been told that occurred by his father growing up. His culture was much different from hers. 

      Oomans were supposed to bleed?  He thought it was odd but she didn't seem panicked, just uncomfortable… he purred, making his entire body vibrate beneath her.  She knew better than he in this instance and he had to trust her.  He didn't know if yautja females bled… his thoughts trailed off as Nave settled against him.  That had felt… interesting…  

     It was the first time since they started that she really listened to the sounds he was making. They were... calming. Her head rested against his chest, the pain was subsiding much faster this time. Tentatively she began rocking cautiously, it felt good. It was starting to mask the dull throbbing of her first time. 

     Cetanu grunted, and his paws moved from her thighs to her waist.  She was small enough that his claws touched at her back.  Her movements were out of sync and awkward, his tusks clicked together as he pressed her firmly down on his body, stopping her gyrating and burying himself deep.  Nave’s eyes widened, it felt as though the air was being pulled from her. She didn’t know he could go any further into her. He hissed a breath as her soft skin enveloped his scales. 

     His chest rumbled at the tightness, before his red eyes snapped open wide and he released Nave completely, his paws no longer touching her at all.  He'd overstepped his boundaries… 

    Whining, she looked up at him. She had liked him holding her close, “Why did you stop?” she murmured, nuzzling her head against his pectoral. “I want you to touch me," Nave reached for his wrists, and brought his hands back to her waist, "please?” 

     He stilled, he held his breath.  Nave's actions made it blatantly obvious that he had not mistranslated.  She wanted him to touch her… oomans were so odd…  

     His purr turned into a growl and Cetanu took control of the mating.  If touching was permissible, then he would.  Her gentle rocking was torturing him.  He pulled her off him and without warning put her on her back beside him.  

    The yautja rolled himself to a kneeling position in between her legs, and grabbed her knees.  It took no effort to push her knees into the ground, at her side, practically folding her in half; his weight alone prevented her from breaking free of his grip.  Cetanu made an attempt at guiding himself back into her body but she was so wet and so small, he kept missing his mark. Instead, his ze'pha was gliding roughly over her cunt lips.

    Nave had not anticipated that he would yank her off of him, she was pleased though. He was finally taking over this tortuous affair. Once he grabbed her knees and jerked her onto her shoulders, her heart began pounding against her ribs, only no longer with arousal.  She instinctively knew that this was not good.   

     An attempt was made to pull her legs from his grasp, to make him stop, anything, but his grip was firm against the back of her knees.  It felt like she was trying to move a mountain, there was absolutely no give in his fingers.  She was trapped and completely at his mercy, her body open and defenseless.  Her eyes clenched tightly shut as he attempted to penetrate her again and again, this would hurt… badly. 

     There was a sense of short lived relief as he fumbled. “Sir Knight,” she gulped. He had to hear her, "Sir Knight!" Her arms tensed against the floor, preparing for the imagined agony that would come in the event he didn’t stop.  The way he was holding her legs, pinned her arms to the floor, she couldn't even push against his chest.

     Her arousal wafted up between them as he rubbed against her over and over again.  She was so wet… he flexed his hips and repositioned himself as he had seen the females of his race do in the videos he'd watched.  He spread Nave's legs wide and was getting ready to sink into her, using his weight for momentum.

     He paused as he looked down at Nave, his tusks tightening over his face.  She was staring at him horrified, her heart beating rapidly like that of a bird's.  He chirped apologetically and released her legs.  Cetanu had not liked her look of fright.

     Quickly, Nave pulled her feet away from him, somersaulting backwards over her head. She raised to her knees and peered back at him carefully, “That was too rough,” she panted, putting a hand to her racing heart. 

     He made a high-pitched noise in the back of his throat.  All yautja mating was rough… he was confused on how to proceed with her.  And for the first time in his life he questioned his willpower and self-control.  How was this going to be possible for them?  

     Her head tilted at him, “You’re much bigger than me,” she breathed, "And heavier," she had really liked him touching her, "and stronger…" but he had manoeuvred her as though she were merely a doll, and that had scared her. “I want you to love me.” 

      Love her? If she meant attachment, he could admit to this.  He was attached to her, he'd been pleased to see her alive.  He'd intervened with her, saving her life rather than letting nature take its course.  If it would make it work between them, he would do it.

     "Admit," he gurgled, and nodded his head, fisting his chest, "Saved. Life," his people were not known for interrupting the cycle of life, "Not. Yautja. Way," he was unblinking as he struggled with the words, "Cetanu. Attached." Now what? He knelt, unmoving, all his attention on her.  Was that it?

    Nave’s breath hitched, she hadn’t meant actual love, but he had just confessed that he returned her feelings. She was elated. Years ago, she had conceded that any marriage brokered between her and a neighboring prince would strictly be one for political gain. She had received what she had always, secretly wanted. A love match with Sir Knight. 

     Smiling widely, she scooted across the floor to kneel in front of him. She would show him what she meant. Slowly, she reached out and grabbed his large hand and positioned it on her collarbone, mindful of his claws. A small tingle ran down her spine. “Like this,” Nave extended her arm and placed her palm on his chest, leisurely running her fingers down his abdominals. She licked her bottom lip, “You try.”

     He chirped, and purred, she hadn't applied enough pressure for him to feel much at her touch, but oomans were different.  His dai-shui permeated the air around them, and he slid his paw down her chest mimicking her action, he made it a point to not apply pressure with his talons.  Her skin was pyode like cloth.  He kept his eyes on her reaction, he would memorize her expression.

    Nave's lips parted slightly, and she leaned into it encouragingly, she liked the roughness of his scales against her flesh. It made goosebumps break out at his touch. She continued grazing his chest with her fingertips, occasionally tracing along some of the deeper scars there. “I like this,” she moaned. 

     He rumbled deeply for a moment, in acquiescence with her.  She was being more receptive to him, and not scared like she had been earlier.  Cetanu could taste her arousal, it saturated them.  His erection was getting uncomfortable, most of his natural lubricant had dried, but he was content with her being so close.  He was a skilled kv'var-de, he would show her patience. 

     Her gaze drifted down his body, he was still erect. She sat back on heels and allowed her fingers to drag down his massive physique, gripping the base of his member. He had done what she asked to make her feel gooey, and she wanted to reciprocate. Her hand lingered for a moment before she ran her palm down the length, the ridges and bumps were interesting. It had been surprising that they hadn’t hurt her when impaling herself on him. Maybe… they had attributed to the wave of pleasure she had briefly experienced. Nave’s thighs tightened, she wanted to feel that again.

     Cetanu's purring stuttered and he ran his paw down her chest again, he was careful as he went over her teat.  Nave shuddered involuntarily. He used his other paw to do the other side, it seemed that this was an erogenous zone for oomans.  She was touching his ze'pha, giving him another chance to pauk her.  He clicked down at her and lowered his crest to rub his forehead against hers.

    “I want more,” Nave whispered, peering up at her husband. 

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21

    Cetanu pushed his crest against her again, her long hair tangled with his tusks, it felt so… different.  Her fingers flexed on his ze'pha, his purr deepened.  He liked how she touched him, a good different. 

    She enjoyed the intimacy the two of them were sharing, he felt open with her. Nave briefly wonders if the forehead nuzzling was part of his culture. It was peculiar, but it was a physical manifestation of his affection for her. Deliberately, she rubbed her head against his in return, copying him.  

    His head turned and he glanced back at the pool.  There was a bench under the ju'dha that he could use as a means of controlling his strength.  He chirped excitedly and without warning, pulled himself from her grasp and returned to the water. Nave’s eyes widened in surprise as she watched him jump into the bath,  leaving her kneeling on the floor. 

    Cetanu made a point of standing in the middle of the ju'dha, he squawked at her, mimicking a quieter version of the familiar jungle bird to get her attention.  Nave tilted her head at him, curious as to why he was getting into the bath again.  

    He pointed directly in front of himself, and then pointed at her, and then back in front of himself.  His tusks clicked, "Di'vra." 

    Quickly, she rose to her feet and shuffled towards him. Nave was curious as to his plan, she hoped that they weren’t done attempting to consummate their union.  She didn't want to stop trying.

     It took her a moment to get within range, she was cautious of him.  He clicked, grabbed her, and dragged her into the water.  He positioned her on her knees in front of him.  The water lapped just below her teats in this position.  He would show her he could control himself.

      Cetanu placed his paws on either side of her on the edge of the pool and advanced until his thighs hit the bench, he could still pauk her if she was close enough.  He made a point of stopping to show that the seat would keep him from crushing her, or forcing his weight on her.  The pool would keep her safe as long as he kept his feet planted on the ground, she could pull away from him.  He would keep his paws as best as he could on the edge. 

      Nave nodded her head, her arms folding across her stomach awkwardly, he was showing her that he wouldn’t be able to harm her this time when they attempted to fornicate. Relief washed over her, and she appreciated that he was taking the time to show her this. It had scared her greatly when he had practically had her upside down, waiting to be crushed into the floor of the bathing room. She bit her bottom lip, “I am ready,” she declared, uncrossing her arms.

   He ran a paw down the left side of her chest, from collarbone to stomach, like she had shown him to do.  He wanted her to allow him to mount her, he would do better.  This was her erogenous zone, like his dreads.  He used his other paw, and grabbed her tiny hand to bring it up to his tresses.  He continued to rub down the left side of her torso.

     She grasped the squishy treadle and gently stroked it, it seemed odd that he wanted her touching his hair like that. “Does this feel good for you?” She tightened her grip and slid her hand all the way to the end. His purr deepened, vibrating his entire body and making the water dance.  He nodded his great head once.

      He grabbed her other hand underwater and brought it to his hard cock before he returned to gripping the floor at her side.  His rod twitched in time with the stroking of his dreads.  This was his erogenous zone.  Nave released her hold on his hair and stopped his awkward petting, dragging his arm away from her breast and further down her body. She had liked him touching her vagina much more. Once she situated his hand where she wanted it, she reached up and began stroking his hair lightly again.

     An attempt to step closer was made, but the edge of the bench kept him in place.  He bent his large frame over hers, she was inviting him to touch her cunt, he could barely resist the urge to mount her against the far wall.  Cetanu took care not to cut her delicate skin as he explored her center tentatively.  It was slicker than the water.  He purred.

    Nave felt the spark within her beginning to ignite again, he was bringing her closer to the gods again. Her back arched slightly, her knees parted more as he delved further, exploring her depths. “Sir Knight,” she moaned, she needed more from him, “please.”

     He pushed his crest into the side of her head, rubbing his face into the point where her shoulder and neck met.  His tusks fluttered along her skin nervously, his dreads fell over them like a cloak.  He could not resist, his long, forked tongue slithered out and tasted the salt from her throat.

     Her husband kissed her!  Nave moaned uncontrollably, her body shivering in pleasure.  She had wondered, even prayed, if it was even possible with him when she had first seen his face. Her head tilted to the side as much as she could and pressed her lips against his leathery cheek, “Kiss me again,” she breathed, "my mouth." 

    Cetanu raised his head, crimson beads of intensity focused on her weird mouth and blunt zsi’se.  He hesitated but a moment, his talon circled the entrance of her cunt before he plundered.  His long tongue licked across her lips just as he pushed his digit into her warmth.   

     She gasped, he invaded her mouth, his finger entered her; she had not expected him to do that at that moment.  Nave had been focusing entirely on him kissing her again. Her husband tasted good, like spices. Her fingers tightened around his tress, she wanted to be closer to him.  Needed it.

     His other paw moved to her fleshy ass, he grabbed the globe and pulled her against him.  He was walking against the bench continuously at that point, trying to push her against the wall.  Her soft belly cushioned around his dick, her knees spread more to accommodate his thick waist.  She tasted hot.

      Deliberately, Nave ran her palm down his shaft to the tapered tip of his manhood, this time sliding her hand completely off. She released her hold on his hair and pressed against his chest.  He pulled away from her, his mandibles parting as his tongue retreated back into his mouth. 

     He stopped touching her cunt and put both his paws on her ass.  Cetanu spread her cheeks wide as he pulled her against himself, forcing her knees further apart.  He rutted against her stomach, making his desire known physically, his purr stuttering. 

     She smiled to herself, her husband wanted her to initiate. Nave turned around and gripped the edge of the pool as he had.  He froze as Nave moved in his arms, he let her position herself.  A great rumble shook him as he placed his paws back on the floor, beside hers.  He would control himself.

     This was how they would consummate.   She would impale herself this way, she would push back against him to regulate the depth and speed. Nave scooted back on her knees until she felt his throbbing member press against her posterior. She took a deep steadying breath, this was it. 

     He growled against her back, licking up her spine, Nave shuddered. He jerked forward trying to pauk her and missed, his talons dug into the floor.  He purred against her th’syra as he rubbed his ze'pha up and down her ass crack.  He wanted to bury himself…   

     Nave took a hand off the ledge and snaked her arm between her legs to line herself up properly with his thrusting. She pushed backwards and felt a familiar pressure against her core.  

    She moaned with pleasure.

Chapter Text

22

     Unnatural glowing grey eyes narrowed from the shadows as a man wearing a burlap sack on his head, dressed in common night attire was dragged into a deep, dank cellar.  His hands were bound loosely in front of him.

      The prisoner grunted as he was pushed forward, landing on his face on the earthen floor.  There was a squawk of indignation as he struggled to a sitting position, ripping the sack from his head.

      The room was poorly lit, one lantern hung from the frame of a door behind.  Everything in front was cast in shadows.  A void black pair of scaled boots stood unmoving at the edge of his vision.    

      Deliberately, Richard’s gaze lifted up the plated leg, they were massive, the color that of a raven. A Grey. He snarled vehemently, they dared come into his castle and kidnap him in the dead of night, that would not stand, "You've some nerve kidnapping the King Regent of Soal!" he spat, struggling with the rope binding him.

     Silence answered him, he glanced away for a moment to free himself before he squinted into the dark abyss, not seeing the pointed-eared man properly.  Ebony dragon scales glinted, his eyes widened and his jaw slackened as he fell back on his haunches in a panic.  He knew that armour. His nails dug into the palms of his hand, his fist clenched tightly together. 

      His gaze flew up and sure enough, even within the shadows, the unnerving animalistic glow that marked all those gifted with magic could be seen.  Slits of ire were staring coldly down at him, glowing silver in the darkness. Richard gritted his teeth together, he would not be intimidated by him, his blue eyes narrowed indulgently. 

      "Richard," the smooth drawl of the south edged his words.  

      "Kagan," Richard swallowed, the warlord of Greyrealm, stood before him. On Soal ground.  In his city, his country. More importantly, how had he penetrated the castle walls to retrieve him. It unnerved him greatly, this was grounds for war. 

      "Your sister," he purred, the Grey accent thick as he moved around the table in a manner befitting a great predator, which he was, "survived your pathetic attempt on her life."

      "Wet Shingles," Richard corrected, his gaze following the large fey man, a tingle went down his spine as he realized his immense height towering above him. He swallowed audibly, the Greys were hardly human, with their nomadic ways and long lives. The warlord smiled at him, raising the corners of his mouth briefly, exposing sharper fangs as he stepped into the muted light.  His unnatural pointed ears were finally visible amidst the long white hair.

      "Now, Richard," Kagan stopped and looked down on the reigning monarch of Soal from his seven foot frame, "Don't play coy with me, I had you kidnapped from your castle," the smaller man licked his lip and glared up at the Warlord, "Where are you keeping her?" 

      “She’s at the country manor,” he would keep up appearances. He was not foolish enough to admit his coup, and especially not to the Grey. The warlords didn’t know where the estate was, right? The exact whereabouts were a closely guarded secret, of course he would be believed. Richard only hoped he wouldn’t be forced to produce her. 

     "I have a proposition for you, highness," Kagan's eyes glinted, a black gauntleted hand bid the human to rise and join him at the table, "I care very little for your internal, petty squabble," he paused for effect, "What I am interested in, is your fertile land," the eyes narrowed further, "In this, your hour of need, I bring you a choice," he bared his teeth in a smile, "Give me your sister as wife, ally yourself to us, share your land and give us tribute in grains," Kagan made a fist, a small burst of green healing stars exploded from his motion, "And my mystics will heal your people."

      "And… the other…?" Richard swallowed.

      "You disappoint me, by not knowing," Kagan replied slowly, a sinister smile forming, he continued, "I will wait until the plague ravages your country, and famine sets in," the warlord barely moved, "Your diseased defenses will not stand in the face of a full scale invasion, you will lose the trade routes necessary for survival without magic," he bared his teeth a little, "I will take all your land, and wipe your meaningless lives away like the stain you are." 

      Richard looked down and intently stared at the wood grain of the table.  That was not new information, Kagan had been testing their borders for years.  He should have tried to sell the little half breed off to Kagan before he initiated his coup, he hadn’t thought the warlord was that interested in her after she declined his original proposal.  

     He had wrongly assumed she had gotten help from the Grey in evading her execution.  Kagan was not involved with her escape.  Now that he thought about it, Richard quite liked the idea of her living the rest of her days with that barbarian.  The Greys were a magical, nomadic warrior race.  Until Kagan had united them, Greyrealm had been in a constant state of some form of civil war or another.  He’d heard rumors of their life, he snorted at his own short sightedness. She could taint the Greyrealm bloodlines for all he cared. 

    Clearly, the Grey didn’t care about the fate of the other halflings and Nave would be in no position to barter for their pathetic lives from him or her betrothed once she was found. He placed his hand on the table and slowly drummed against the top. “I will need to,” he paused for a moment, “retrieve her for you.” 

     "Tell me where," thin lips lifted, silver eyes stared intently, "And I will have her fetched."     

      Richard’s face fell, that blasted fey warlord was obsessed with her, and that was a tremendous problem for him. Kagan wouldn’t believe him when he told him an onyx demon god was helping her in the forest. How it had decimated his men, only leaving one lucky survivor behind. It was unbelievable!  

     That fucking bitch was making this entire coup impossible. And now that he had a solution to wipe everything clean and establish an alliance with their greatest enemy, she was galavanting in the jungle ordering that… spirit to enact her revenge. He should have reached out to Kagan originally! He would have been hailed a hero by his people for brokering peace with the Greys. He would have had everything by now. 

      He closed his eyes and took a steadying breath, he had to tell the barbarian the truth… maybe omit a few small… insignificant details, like the ebony deity… if he could. Richard cleared his throat, “She and the others are in the forest, hiding,” he licked his lip and stopped tapping the table, “they are being helped by someone…” his voice trailed off as he looked up at the Grey. 

      A white eyebrow arched, over cold, glowing eyes, "Helped?" 

      “Yes,” Richard swallowed as he lowered his gaze, “I know she has assistance.” He swallowed again, he could feel the intense stare of Kagan, it sent shivers down his spine. He would have to tell him about her demon… he’d be lucky to leave the basement alive. 

      Glittering silver orbs watched the human across the table levelly, "You know," the Grey leaned forward, "I have spies all over your city," a faint smile formed, "And we can see in the dark," there was a brief pause, "The trampling of the little princess was a nice touch," Richard’s eyes widened, the barbarian continued, "What I am trying to say, Richard, is I knew of your fumbling attempts before you did." 

     Sighing, the Soalis resigned to his fate, the Grey was threatening him. Maybe not outright, but he could read the situation as plain as day. This was his final chance to give up the information he had. If he continued to dance around the truth, he would be killed. And knowing Kagan, it would be excruciating. “She has a god helping her,” he muttered. 

     Kagan stood to his feet and looked down at the human as he deliberately walked around the table, his thread heavy, "A God?"

      “Yes,” Richard drummed his fingers against the table again, trying to ignore the imposing man in front of him. “A black god…” he paused, “death comes of swift wings to those it finds.” 

     Silver eyes narrowed on him before they widened like those of a hawk.  The Grey looked down at Richard with predatory intensity, "Say that again."

     This was it, the warlord did not believe him, he would be killed when all was said and done. Richard swallowed and ceased his tapping, he dared not look up. “A black god of death," he forced himself to say, "it… brings death to those it meets,” his voice trailed off as he looked up into the demonic eyes of the barbarian. He sniffed, “It has already killed many of my men,” he paused, “hung their skins around his temple, by the time you see him…you’re already dead.” Clenching his hand into a tight fist, “That is who Nave has helping her.” 

    Richard released his hand and laid it against the table, “Will you still help my people?” He surmised that before he succumbed to the Grey, he could at least ask that his people be cured from the plague that was sweeping his lands. At least he would go to his death knowing that the innocent would be saved… even if it was by the hand of this barbarian. 

    The Grey looked down at the pathetic human a long time before he turned regally on his heels. "I will help your people," the glowing silver eyes narrowed, "After Nave is my bride."

     A black gauntleted hand raised and without warning he grabbed Richard's head, "Sleep." The human dropped like a sack of potatoes.

     Two Greys stepped from their camouflaged hiding spots.  Kagan nodded to the unconscious, pathetic monarch, "Take him home."

      He watched without seeing as his men covered Richard's head with a burlap sack and dragged him away.  Kagan was preoccupied by the prophecy of the Black god of death, the harbinger of the plague.  

     His people had known for centuries that a plague would come, the oracles had declared it centuries ago.  He'd done everything he could to stop it.  Kagan had killed the only known black dragon many years ago, a beast sacred to the divine, trying to force the entity to come forward, to provoke Death into action. It had failed.

      If he killed this God of death, he would stop the plague across the world.  The other kingdoms would bow to him.  He'd already united the clans in Greyrealm, a feat thought impossible for millennia.  Silver eyes narrowed in contemplation.

      And he would have Nave.

Chapter Text

23

    Deliberately, Nave pushed back on Sir Knight, feeling each ridge scrape against her entrance. She whimpered quietly as she tentatively sunk back on his manhood. There was a feeling of being stretched, but no trace of pain this time. 

    She licked her lips, caution thrown to the wind as she bucked backwards just as he thrust forward, feeling her backside sit flush against his scales. She needed him. 

     His talons clenched on the edge of the pool, he wanted to bury himself in her tight, wet cunt.  He jerked forward, a squeal of surprise leaked from him.  A line of saliva escaped his mouth as the perfume of her arousal tantalized his senses.  Paya herself could not smell this good.   

      Her ass jiggled when it impacted against his hips, it mesmerized him, drawing his predatory gaze.  Cetanu parted his legs a little more, lowering his center to make it easier for her and planted his feet in the bottom of the pool.  This would give him more control.  His talons dug into the floor, and he bent his neck to rest his crest against her shoulder.  She was so small.

      Nave arched her back and moaned with concupiscence. The bumps along his phallus were sending her into flight, her senses were reeling, her pleasure mounting. She could feel the bright light just within her grasp. “Kiss me, please,” she panted, wanting to taste him again, needing it more than anything.

      His mandibles fluttered delicately along her neck like the wings of a butterfly.  He raised his head slowly, he'd give her what she wanted.  His long tongue caressed her throat as he went, licking up her cheek to her mouth.  Cetanu enjoyed the salty taste of her skin, yautjas did not sweat like oomans.

      Nave gasped as his hot breath wafted over her damp skin, and his tongue invaded her parted lips like a snake.  She groaned and pursed her lips around the wiggling appendage, suckling on it greedily.  She loved his exotic flavor.

      The water sloshed around them as he jerked his hips forward.  He wanted deeper inside his ooman's warmth, he wanted faster, rougher.  His purr stuttered to a stop as she pushed back simultaneously, and picked up the pace as though she had read his mind.  Nave knocked the air out of him.  He could do nothing but growl pathetically, letting her pauk herself on him. 

     Her breath hitched when he had thrust forward, burying himself further into her. It was idyllic pleasure, with a slight twinge of pain, that had been all she needed to soar to blissful paradise. Nave felt her vagina spasm around him, she threw her head back and moaned against his tongue. 

     Cetanu's stomach rolled as her cunt clenched on him, and he felt his abdomen tense.  Something was happening inside of him that had never happened before.  His talons dug into the floor and he bent over Nave more, crowding her with his body, flexing his hips, desperately trying to match her rhythm.  It became a need within him, and it took all his yautja fortitude to not grab his ooman and unleash himself on her… 

      He'd kill her if he did that… 

     His big body shook uncontrollably, his hide reacting to the new sensations being inflicted on him.  Her scarred shoulder gleamed with her sweat and droplets of water, drawing his predatory eye, his tusks clicked and flitted.  The yautja's mouth pooled with saliva, and it dribbled onto Nave.  He had to physically fight the urge to sink his fangs into her flesh.  He was close.

     Cetanu trilled, the pitch high, his stomach tensed and his inner testicles clenched tightly, he felt his seed rushing out, pleasure fogged his brain.  He arched behind her, separating his tongue from her mouth.  His body rocked, pushing into her as he ejaculated violently.       

     She panted as he continued surging into her body, Nave had liked that her husband had continued kissing her as she had ascended to heaven. It had made her feel closer to him, his member pulsed briefly before he buried himself as much as he physically could into her.  She choked out his name before the air rushed out from her lungs.  His release shocked her, and had her eyes widening to the size of gold coins. It gave her the sensation of being filled completely, she had not thought it was possible to experience it further. 

    Cetanu's breathing was laboured as though he'd faced off an entire hoard of r'ka.  He rubbed his crest alongside Nave's face before he rested his forehead against her shoulder limply, and leaned his heavy frame over her.  His body shuddered as his ze'pha slid from her cunt, he'd filled her womb so much that it had shot back down his shaft.  His abundant seed coloured the ju'dha before the bacteria dissolved it.

     Nave leaned against the wall of the bath, resting her chin on her hands.  Her heart was beginning to slow to its normal cadence.  She was glad they had not been quick to give up on consummating their marriage. That had been exhilarating. 

    "Nave," he growled her name slowly, causing her entire body to vibrate, "Hurt?"

    “No,” she sighed dreamily. 

     He pushed away from her and climbed out from the bath.  His ebony ze'pha hung limply, not fully retracted behind his scales.  He bent and grabbed his mask, strapping it to his face before he gathered the rest of his armour.

    Nave watched him lazily, “Cetanu, can you hold me a little longer?” 

    He paused. "Clean." His mask spoke using her voice, and then he raised the bloody armour to motion it, "Armour." He growled in his own voice.

     “Hold, then clean,” she asserted, hoping to bend him to her will. 

     "H'ko," he shook his head and then motioned for Nave to leave the bath. "Di'vra," he pointed to the doors.

     Nave steadied herself, before climbing out of the pool, “Can you help me with my dress first, please?” picking the ebony leather off the floor. 

     He tilted his head to the side, his dreads sliding off his shoulder before he chuffed at her and left the bathroom carrying all his awu'asa.  His cock had fully retreated into his sheath.  

      She pursed her lips together, so much for women being in charge. Nave wrapped the onyx hide around her body and attempted to tie the belt piece as he had. She grumbled to herself annoyed that it wouldn’t cover her completely, 

      Cetanu had set up his gear on the floor, near his weapons wall.  The sucklings were all still sleeping on the bed, he made no noise as he retrieved a black loincloth for himself and his d'lex stand.  He would clean his armour, and fetch a plate of fruits to set on the floor for them in the morning. 

    After several attempts, Nave shuffled out to the bedroom, she was embarrassed to have to ask his help again. What was she doing differently? 

     He turned his head as the bathroom door opened and Nave stood just inside, "Psst." Cetanu chuffed at her and beckoned her to him with a paw. Nave sighed but acquiesced to his request, “Help,” she whispered urgently as she tugged on the belt of her dress. She did not want to be naked around her siblings. 

   Nave was quick to run to his side, peering over her shoulder at the bed.  She dangled the tendons in front of him and held the loincloth with her fist at her breasts, clumping the material so that it wouldn't slide down her body.

    Cetanu chuckled and sat on the ground cross legged.  He grabbed Nave about the waist and pulled her to sit on his lap, her back to his front.  She squeaked and then glared at him as she attempted to straighten. " My dress!" she hissed, struggling against him, "Please fix it!"

       He huffed and rolled his eyes behind his mask.  This obsession she had with her nudity was odd and irritating, more so now that they had mated.  Why were oomans so weird?   It took him but a brief moment to wrap the tendon above her breasts and tighten it so that the leather would not slip below, he was quick to do the same about her waist.        

     “Thank you,” she whispered. Why did he insist on making things so difficult? It was probably cultural… Nave stifled a yawn and made an attempt to get off his lap when he shook his head and wrapped a heavy arm about her waist, holding her down. “You want me to stay?”

     "Hold, then clean," his mask repeated her earlier words exactly, "Cetanu," he used his voice, before switching back to hers, "Hold. Clean."

     Nave chuckled, and nuzzled the side of her head against his chest. Clearly, they had different ideas of what constituted cuddling, but she appreciated him trying to fulfill her request. She felt protected and loved when he held her against him. 

    He ignored the small ooman on his lap as he began the long process of cleaning his awu'asa of thwei using his laser and d'lex stand.  Nave kept her hands on his hide, and he was able to concentrate on his work without being distracted.

    She watched him clean his armour lazily, he was very fatistious with his gear. Nave peered up at him as he worked and smiled to herself. He hadn’t been anything like she had imagined growing up, their cultures were vastly different, but it mattered not. They had a long time to figure each other out, an eternity according to her husband. Truth be told, it had already gotten a little easier. She leaned against him and closed her eyes.

    Nave loved him. 

Chapter Text

24

     Her husband had already left for his rounds and had provided everyone with leather clothing; they had found it upon awakening. The children sat on the pelts eating the fruit he had left them for breakfast. During a lull, Nave took the opportunity to announce to her family that she and Sir Knight were officially married. There was complete silence at her revelation, and it felt as though the air had been sucked from the room. 

     "But he's so ugly!" Galahad exclaimed in shocked surprise.  

      "Don't be rude," Nave chastised, handing Sven and Michael a juicy berry.  Her husband wasn’t grotesque, she’d always found him to be pulchritudinous. 

       Galahad frowned at her, "he is ugly," the boy pouted, grumbling under his breath.  Nave raised an eyebrow at him in silent disapproval. He changed his nightclothes for a smaller leather loincloth as he bit into a ruby apple.  It was odd to see him partially undressed.

      "Do you love him?" Maxine asked at the same time as her brother, her voice drowning out his mutterings.  She was wearing a dress similar to her sister’s, it even had tendons to tie it closed, exactly like hers.  Nave had been relieved that she had not struggled helping her tie it.

     Nave pursed her lips slightly, “It’s complicated,” she lilted. Maxine was a princess, it was likely that she would never achieve a love match of her own. As her older sister, it wouldn’t be altruistic to give her false hope. “I have aligned myself with Sir Knight to protect the kingdom from Richard.” 

     Maxine rolled her eyes at her lengthy explanation, "So you do then." 

    "No, she don't," Galahad defended Nave quickly, "it's spolitimical!"

     "Political," Nave corrected his pronunciation without thinking. She paused briefly, and grinned wide at him, "You used that word correctly!" She praised, scooping him into her arms for a grandiose hug, "I’m so proud of you!" 

     The little prince blushed and gave Nave a cheeky smile, "I did!" 

      Henry was silently eating an apple, ignoring them all in his brooding.  He hadn't said a word all morning, looking forlornly into the distance, lost in thought.  The loincloth provided for him was ignored and still at the end of the large bed.

     It bothered her that Henry was still sulking after his training session with her husband. He was so focused on what he was lacking, that he didn’t see that he was improving each time Sir Knight sparred with him. Nave hoped that he would regain his composure and believe in himself. She did.  

   "You're going to have Orc babies!" Maxine gasped suddenly, breaking her train of thought.  Nave blinked at her.

    "She can't have Orc babies!" Galahad reminded her, "He's got no penis!"

      “He’s a wizard, remember!” Maxine countered, popping a red fruit in her mouth, "He don't need a penis, stupid." Galahad rolled his eyes exaggeratedly while she continued, "He can make a baby appear in Nave's belly with just a look," she nodded sagely, swallowed her food before grabbing a second piece, "I heard Hilga," it appeared to Nave that Maxine considered old Hilga, the cook, to be the wisest person she knew, "mention that some guard named Yuto could put a baby in bellies with just a look."       

      Nave coughed in an attempt to cease the conversation, she did not appreciate her siblings talking about any future children she and Sir Knight might have, or his lack of anatomy for that matter. Could they even progenerate? Her husband was so large compared to her, surely he had been massive as a baby. 

    "Think about it," Maxine continued unabashedly, chewing loudly, "If Yuto can do it, the Sir Knight can do it better!" she snickered at a horrified Nave, "You'll have twins!" She declared proudly, and then gasped, "Maybe you’re pregnant now!  He's always giving you the look !" Before dissolving into a fit of decidedly unlady-like snorts and giggles.

    Onyx eyes grew to the size of gold coins, “That is quite enough, Maxine,” Nave objurated. What made her sister think she could speak about such things? It was imperative that her siblings get back to court life soon, clearly they were beginning to take liberties unbecoming of royalty. 

     The little girl sighed heavily, "Fine," she muttered, returning her attention to her food.

     The door opened and Sir Knight strode into the room slowly.  Galahad jumped to his feet and ran after his new brother-in-law immediately. The yautja made no sound as the little prince jumped on his muscular arm and struggled to climb up the wizard.

     "Galahad!" Nave rebuked, surprised that her brother would act in such a disorderly manner, "Stop tha--"

     "Stop," her voice came from Sir Knight's helmet, followed by Henry's voice, "Nave." 

     Nave stared at him for a moment, before closing her mouth. Cetanu did not mind the suckling using him to practice his climbing.  He showed more promise than the young unblooded ooman warrior, able to use his whole body as he struggled to clamber up to sit on his shoulder.

     The youth avoided pulling on his dreads, knowing without being told that it would be painful for the yautja.  He'd come back before his guard duty to make sure that Nave had dressed the little sucklings in the leather clothes he'd provided for them, and to see if his mate wished to join him outside.  He'd scouted the perimeter, it was safe for her to join him for a few hours.

     Galahad grunted as he used the netting across Sir Knight's body to heft himself up to his shoulder.  He giggled when vertigo assaulted him as the wizard quickly sat down cross legged, jostling the young boy purposefully.  There was a faint gasp from Nave as she watched her brother lurch slightly, she trusted that her husband would catch him, but she couldn’t help but feel worried. 

      The small fingers and toes had tightened on his thermal netting, he ignored her mei'hswei as he tilted his head at Nave.  The suckling vaulted up his back without touching the ground and sat astride his large shoulder.  

     The boy glanced at his mei-jadhi and giggled, "I won!"

     “You did!” she aggrandized, grabbing Sven as the little boy tried to escape the bed.  Michael babbled at her, sucking on a juicy, red fruit.  Both toddlers were wearing leather loincloths in such a way that would catch their refuse.

     "Nave," Cetanu began with a recording, and then switched to her voice, "Come.  Outside." 

   She nodded, and handed Sven to Henry. His mardy mood was beginning to wear on her. He would be king soon, he needed to start acting like a ruler and not a petulant child who was not getting his way.  

   "Can we come too?" Maxine brightened and turned to glance from Sir Knight and Nave quickly.  

     Galahad hopped in place on Cetanu's shoulder, and grabbed the big warrior's helmet, "Oh!" He squealed, "Oh! Oh! Please !" He begged excitedly, tapping on the helm with both hands.    

    It took every fiber of her being to not screech her response, she knew what was outside. The little ones would not understand why what had been done was done. Frankly, it was not entirely clear to her either, but she understood better than the others. There was a vast cultural difference between them and her husband. They would think of him as barbaric, he was not. “No, you cannot,” she firmly responded. 

    The tension was palpable and the mood in the room darkened.  Both children looked at her as though she had personally kicked their favourite puppy out of spite.  

    "Why not?" Maxine frowned at her, and then turned to Sir Knight, "I promise to be good!" She jumped to her feet and ran towards the sitting up yautja, "We won't leave your side!" She placed her small hand on his arm as she sat beside him, mimicking his pose exactly, "Like this!"

     Nave looked down at her siblings, “My answer is final.” There would be no negotiation on this, “No.” Sir Knight had told her women were in charge in his culture, and she would prove to him that she was. 

     Cetanu clicked at Nave, and glanced down at the little girl, "Dangerous." He purred deeply, his entire body vibrating as both children started crying, "Dangerous." He repeated the recording a second time to reiterate.  It would be easy to protect Nave from a threat, not so much if she came with her entire clan.  

     Galahad climbed down from his shoulder and ran for bed, both hands covering his eyes as he threw himself on the pelts, wailing  dramatically.  Maxine remained where she was, her lower lip wobbling, her eyes shiny with unshed tears.     

     There was a twinge of guilt in Nave’s heart as she walked to the bedroom door, but it was better this way. She was glad Maxine hadn’t pushed further, her sister had grown substantially the past few years. There had been a time where she would have responded much like Galahad had. 

     Cetanu rolled to his feet and ignoring the sucklings, moved to walk ahead of Nave.  She followed close behind him as he locked his bedroom door with his wrist guard.  He did not trust the sucklings to not find the manual release without Nave guarding them.  This way they would still be trapped within his room.

    He led Nave out of his ship and to his stand where he jumped up and assumed his pose.  She expressly ignored the thwei and gore, giving him her full focus.  A sharp talon pointed to the pedestal between his legs as he chirped at Nave.  Cetanu wanted her company as he stood guard over the temple.

     She climbed atop of it and sat between his feet, like she had done for years. But this time, she wrapped her arm around his armoured leg and leaned her head against him. She sighed deeply as a breeze fluttered across her face, this was infinitely better than before. 

Chapter Text

25

    His race wasn't nostalgic in the least, and Cetanu had never considered himself to be either.  It was a weakness, oomans in particular were plagued with it. However, the yautja found himself incredibly satisfied to be guarding the temple with Nave between his legs again.  She was even humming one of those silly songs she used to sing to him when she was a suckling.   

     He purred, his second pair of vocal cords warbled from disuse momentarily before settling into a soothing rumble, he liked that his ooman was holding his leg, that she was touching him.  Cetanu was proud to be doing his duty surrounded by the bodies of his enemies. His mate could see that he was worthy, that he was strong.  There was a lingering annoyance that he had no trophies to show her, he was a good kv'var-de.  

     Nave’s gaze was focused intently on the ground in front of her, she couldn’t stomach looking directly at the carnage her husband had suspended around his temple. She shuddered slightly, her arm tensing against his leg at the thought. The bloodshed around her was worse than having to see the heads of traitors raised up on spikes outside the castle walls, and she hated that . 

     Her fingers larked in a familiar pattern as she held onto his leg with her arm. Creating her floral crowns had always calmed her, perhaps it would settle her nerves now too, definitely distract her. If not, at least it would be a way to make amends with Maxine later. Her humming ceased and she looked up at Sir Knight before tapping his leg to get his attention. 

     Cetanu switched the views on his mask regularly, going through all the spectrums to ensure nothing snuck up on him.  He wished a good soldier would wander nearby, he wanted to show off to her, display his power against strong prey.  There were only two recordings of himself hunting that were worthy enough to show her and her brood.  His chiva and when the humans invaded his temple.   

     He chirped without moving, acknowledging her action. “Can I get some flowers," she licked her lips before continuing, "they are just past that wall.” 

     "H'ko," he growled with finality, a recording of her voice translated, "No."

     “Please,” her voice raised slightly, her arm fell from his leg and she pointed at the wall so he could see where she meant. “It’s not that far, and you can see me from here,” Nave hoped he would let her go now. 

     "Dangerous," her voice said back, "Dangerous.  Dayan," he paused, realizing he'd spoken his language instead of her own, he growled the word out, "Trap." 

     Nave sighed disheartenedly and was about to give up her silly notion of collecting flowers, when she realized she was in charge, he had said so himself. She jumped off the pedestal and stood to her full height in an attempt to look intimidating like he did. However, she purposely avoided looking directly into where his eyes would be. “Then take me,” she quipped. 

    The ambient noises of the jungle intensified as the silence between them became heavy.  Nave could feel an uncomfortable tingle shoot down her spine, but she held her ground, staring back up at him. He would never take her seriously in the future if she backed down now.  

     He waited a full minute, his predatory eyes narrowing behind his mask as he looked down at his ooman calculatively.  His mouth watered as he envisioned challenging her for her tone, but thought better of it.  She would not be able to distinguish his traps meant for her people, she was blind to his technology, this planet was too primitive.  He had to take her.

     Cetanu jumped down from his pedestal and chuffed at her as he silently strode past her towards the wall she'd pointed to earlier.  Nave felt her heart flutter with excitement, as she chased after him. It had worked. He vaulted up the section of decrepit stone barrier and huffed to himself as he crouched on the ledge.  

      There was a small meadow amidst the jungle but a few minutes from the temple.  He'd lined the dto between with mine traps, knowing the soldiers would stake it out.  Nave had always been fond of flowers; and if he knew that, then so did they.

      He held a paw out to his ooman, who was panting behind him, "Climb," he growled. 

     Tentatively, she grasped his rough hand with her own and licked her lip as she placed a foot against the crumbling rock of the wall. As she prepared to mount next to him, Cetanu yanked her up effortlessly so that she landed against his back, the action knocked the air out of her lungs.  He tapped his shoulder indicating that she was to hold on to him tightly.  

    “We aren’t walking to the flowers?” She asked as her arms tensed around his large metal necklace. 

    "Trap," he pointed in the jungle from left to right motioning the whole.

    Nave nodded her head in acknowledgement, and decided it was best to say nothing further while they were on this excursion. Her husband didn’t appear to be all that pleased with her right now. She wasn’t exactly sure how she knew for certain, but she could feel it. Maybe she could make it up to him later… her flower crown would likely not be substantial enough to expiate. 

    Cetanu jumped down from the partition as soon as he figured Nave was secured and immediately ran for the trees, climbing the first one quickly.  All his dayans were on the ground, easily avoided by using the dts.

      His talons sunk into the bark of the topiary as he expertly made his way across to the meadow without touching the ground.  Nave was jostled roughly behind him, but she held firm.  She clenched her eyes tightly together, chastising herself silently for practically forcing Sir Knight to take her here. This was not what she had envisioned at all. There was a substantial vellicate that caused her to shriek sonorously, her thin legs attempted to wrap around his thick waist as she secured herself tightly against him. He could feel her knees digging into his sides.

      He purred heavily as he straightened on a high branch overlooking the little flower field. "Look." Her childish voice came from his mask.  Cetanu wanted her to see the view from where they were.  This was not something she would be granted, she could not climb like he could. "Look."

     She took a settling breath before cracking a lid partly open, her dark eyes immediately opened in shock and her arms tightened reflexively around Sir Knight’s neck. Nave felt as though she might have garrotted him had the onyx metal bands not been there. Her knees dug into the strange netting that covered his sides as she gave a small screech.  They were a hundred feet over the meadow, standing on a thin branch.  The sapphire and cream flowers almost looked like an unnatural lake from this angle, complete with rippling waves as the plants swayed in the breeze.

     Cetanu chuckled, a long drawn out clicking before he turned on his heels and cautiously climbed down the large tree.  He had almost jumped down, but realized Nave wouldn't have had the strength to hold him when they would have landed and that could potentially kill her if she were to hit the ground from that high up.  

     “You can climb very well,” Nave noted once they reached the earth. “Is that how you came to see me in the tower?” She debated on letting go of him, but held her grip, he hadn’t told her it was safe yet. 

     "Sei-i," he nodded, and then translated with a recording, "Yes."  He crouched once he was in the middle of the field and tapped a talon to her arm. "Flowers," her voice repeated from his mask, "Safe."  

     Deliberately, Nave released her legs from his side and let them dangle behind her. Her arms inchmealed from around his neck until she slid down his back. She dropped unceremoniously on her posterior, how mortifying . Quickly, she scrambled to her feet, hoping her husband hadn’t noticed. Eventually, she’d get the hang of this. 

     Cetanu straightened and scanned the surroundings leisurely.  All his traps were still active, no one had come through here.

     “Where can I go?” she asked, looking up at him. 

     He motioned the field with a talon, and nodded slowly.  She was safe as long as she stayed out of the jungle. "No. Go." His mask spoke choppingly as he pointed to the dto beyond.

     She took a few small steps forward until she was in front of Sir Knight and held out her hand to him “Die-va.” Her face flushed crimson and looked away sheepishly, she'd misarticulated that horrendously.

      He blinked, and then a long purr came from his chest as he realized she was trying to speak his language. Nave had remembered.   It felt incredible to hear his tongue from someone else… it had been so long…  He bent forward and pushed his crest into her head affectionately. "Di'vra," he corrected deliberately.

     “Die-vra,” Nave repeated, she couldn’t quite get the beginning of the word yet, but it was much closer than previously. She pressed her face into his large forehead, and gingerly reached up to stroke his squishy hair.  Her fingers caught a swaying tress and she slowly ran her hand down it. 

      His purr intensified, and he naturally released his dai-shui as she made her intention to mate with him known.  This had not been something he had foreseen, but would gladly accept.  

      She inhaled the redolent scent of wildflowers that had suddenly manifested, it reminded her of the previous night in his bathing room. Perhaps it was how he let her know he wanted to lie with her. Her husband must be keen on her producing an heir. She would provide him with many… if she could .