Chapter 63 part 1

Maelia woke up from the dream conference, even as it felt like it was fading around her. The weirdest part of it was that it felt so real, like the Blue Rose was already back and giving them her directions in person rather than however far away she was.

Yet, she remembered what she was told. She'd be the ambassador to the wolf-kin and jackalope-kin, whatever those were, which meant that she was being given an important assignment. Although, she wouldn't be alone, since there'd be two going with her, one to learn the wolf-kin's language and one to learn the jackalope-kin's language.

Although, she couldn't actually head out until the Blue Rose returned to give her report in person to whichever her stand-in was at that time. A process Maelia couldn't say she liked.

A soft groaning startled her. She was afraid her thinking woke up the person she'd been sharing her bed with the past couple nights. Someone who was different from all the others she'd been with before. She hoped she hadn't woken him up, but on the other hand, if she did, then they might be able to engage in a repeat performance before she had to go meet with the others to deal with the details of the Blue Rose's directions.

"You're up early than usual," a soft, deep voice remarked next to her.

She wanted to tell him what she'd been told to do, but she doubted that the Blue Rose would be happy with that, but there was some things she could tell him without mentioning what the Blue Rose directed them to do.

"Just got a few things I need to do today," she replied, giving him a soft kiss.

As they kissed, he pulled her against him, allowing her to feel the sensation of his naked body against hers again.

"If you keep that up, I'll make you late for whatever it is you have to do," he warned playfully.

"I can think of worse reasons to be late," she replied. In truth, it wasn't like she had a specific time she was supposed to meet with the others. Just that they were to meet that morning.

She enjoyed it as he repeated the same ministrations as the other times when they'd made love. It was almost as if he was used to the man taking care to please the woman rather than it being the woman's job to do that for the man. While it was strange, it felt nice at the same time. Though, she made sure to make sure he enjoyed it too. Otherwise she feared he might get tired of her, especially since he was so young himself.

While she'd already had a few children before, she couldn't say how many actually survived, since she'd never seen them for long past the time they'd been born. Though, she couldn't say that she expected many to live, since it was rare for a slave to live as old as her when they were born into being a slave. Like she and her twin sister had. It just wasn't something that occurred that often. She was merely lucky herself to have survived that long. Especially with the individuals who owned her through her life. If only her twin had been as lucky.

She also hoped that she'd be able to find some kind of happiness with this man while serving the Blue Rose. She wasn't sure what else there was for her that would make her happy if he decided to leave her, but she wasn't going to force someone to be with her if they didn't want to. That would make her feel like she'd become as bad as the worst of the owners that she'd had in her life.

When he finished, she felt more relaxed than she had knowing that the Blue Rose was okay when she woke up. "Thank you," she said, even as they remained joined.

"What for?" he asked, as he brushed some hair away from her eyes.

"For making me feel like I should be cared for when it's my job to care for you," she replied, not sure why that felt important.

"But it's the man's job to look out and care for women," he replied, sounding a little confused.

"Rick," Maelia sighed, holding him gently against her. "I don't care if you say you're from another world like the Blue Rose, but it's always been the woman who looks after the man. After all, he's the one who nurses their children. Just like the church says, 'The woman shall carry the children while the man shall rear them. In this both shall see they have equal parts and will have to answer for what they teach or don't teach their children.'"

Rick merely chuckled in response. Maelia couldn't understand why he'd do that. It wasn't like it wasn't common knowledge. She didn't understand what was so funny about what she'd said. Though, she was at least happy that he wasn't pushing her away for having a different point of view as he did.

"I guess our cultures are just that different," he replied, kissing her softly, even as his hands groped her chest. "It may not be what I'm used to, but I could get used to some of this here."

Maelia wasn't sure what he meant by 'some of this' but she didn't care at that moment. She just wanted to bear at least one more child. It was a long shot, she was sure, but if she could have at least one child with this man, then she would be happy about that.

"What're you thinking of, Maelia?" he asked gently, as if she might run if he spoke any firmer or louder.

"Just that I hope to have a child with you," she replied, not sure why she was being so honest. It was well recorded that she'd given birth to three children already, so she didn't need any more to ensure that she wouldn't have any barriers to what position she could reach. Yet, at the same time, she wasn't sure how Rick would react to her being so honest about this. If he wanted children of his own, he should be with a younger woman, so why wouldn't the idea of having a child with her push him away? Push away one of the few people who had recently made her live have hope in it again.

"I'd love to give you as many as you'd want," he replied, surprising her. "You're much better than any one else I've even looked at before."

The knowledge that he might have been with others saddened her a little, but at the same time, feeling like he viewed her better than all the others certainly lifted her spirits a little. In a way she hadn't even expected.

"Well, in that case, I better get to work then," she replied, giving him one last kiss before she started to extricate herself from his embrace and groping. She didn't mind the groping, especially since Rick seemed to like it so much, but it did make her wonder if other women were like that. She hadn't slept with other women, so she didn't know, but it did make her wonder for some reason.

_

Embris couldn't say how happy she was to be back in Ferusha. Not only was she now free from her contract with Nuem, but she could get paid. Pay which she could start outfitting herself with gear to make her more desirable as a mercenary. Gear with which she'd be able to protect her brother and sister.

She and the other mercenaries never found out what that cargo was, even after Nuem returned from the palace. Almost as if it was still some big secret that no one was allowed to know about. Even when word was likely to eventually leak at some point from the palace guards, at the very least, if not servants in the palace.

Still, that wasn't important now. Now it was time for her to collect the pay from the guild that she'd earned. That she would be able to use to not only help herself, but care for her siblings with her. They weren't with her currently because she'd left them at the gate so she wouldn't have to worry about them getting lost before she could get a room at an inn for them to stay at while she figured out her next move.

However, on her way to the guild, she was stopped with the other mercenary guards she'd travelled with by an older woman with one eye. "Sorry to bother you ladies, but would any of you consider joining our mercenary band? We just started out and are looking for any members we can get."

"Not a bad pitch, but you kind of sound a little desperate," Laurise asked, sounding doubtful about what was being offered.

The woman nodded. "I guess we kind of are," she admitted. "Just after we registered as forming, we agreed to provide security for the Forest of the Lost, and as I'm sure you can imagine, that's a lot of ground to cover, so we need as many as we can get and as quickly as we can get them."

"What kind of time off would I be able to get if I decide to have children?" Taesin asked, which Embris couldn't argue. It was a requirement for them to advance in ranks as a mercenary, or any military, as a matter of course.

"We'll provide time off when it's necessary, and even provide side jobs for when you are pregnant," the woman replied, intriguing Embris. However, while she didn't have a problem passing through the forest with Nymis and Rephis, she couldn't imagine bringing them around with her wherever she'd patrol in that forest. It felt like she should pass this opportunity up so she could find a more stable place for them to live. A place they could eventually call their home.

"I'll pass," Embris said, before any of the others did. Her brother and sister came first for her. "Thank you."

Embris then passed the woman by, though she did hear Taesin agree to join before she'd gone out of earshot of them. She wished Taesin the best if that's what she wanted. Though, Embris wasn't sure what the chances of her getting pregnant in a forest of other mercenaries was going to be. After all, she wasn't aware of how two women could get pregnant together, unless it was through the magic that the great Mother allowed, and even used Herself to bring Her Daughter to Telekario.

When she reached the guild, she was a little surprised to find that she'd gotten a letter. Not that she knew who would send her a letter, but when it was explained that they paid to have someone write it for them, she understood not only some of the other services of the guild, but also how someone she knew would have been able to write that letter.

However, she wasn't sure she wanted to pay them to read it to her. So, instead she took it with her as she collected her pay, which naturally was more than she'd originally expected, due to the detour to that quarry on their way back.

Still, now her first order of business was to collect Rephis and Nymis before selecting an inn that she'd be able to afford for a while rather than one that would just be nice to stay at for at least one night.

While she'd gotten more money than she'd seen in her life, she knew she had to make it last. It wasn't going to solve all the problems they'd had in life if she spent it all on luxuries that they didn't need. Especially when it came to something that wouldn't last. That would only be there for the time they were at that inn.

However, as she was walking along the streets after collecting Nymis and Rephis, taking a different route than she had when she was going to the guild, she was surprised to find the same woman who tried recruiting her to that mercenary band. The name of which, Embris realized she hadn't caught when she was talking with her before.

"It must be fate to run into you again," the woman said, clearly not having given up on getting Embris to join. "Though, I see you have two children of your own, which would help you in-"

While Embris wouldn't mind a leg up in advancing, she couldn't bring herself to think of Nymis or Rephis as she son or daughter. They would always be her brother and sister, even if it hurt her in her vocation.

"Sorry, they're my brother and sister," she interrupted, wanting to clear the air as quickly as possible. She also didn't want them to think of anyone other than their parents as their mother or father.

"Well, regardless, if you need a place to leave them where you know they'll be safe, we offer a place you can leave them and if anything happens to you, you can be assured that they'll be well taken care of," the woman said as if she hadn't been interrupted.

Embris wasn't sure how to respond. That statement could go any which way. Not just where Nymis and Rephis would be taken care of but also where they'd be made slaves and taken care of that way. She wasn't sure if she wanted to risk their lives for something like that. Not when that's precisely what she was trying to avoid by keeping them with her.

"I… think I'll manage," Embris replied, not sure how else to decline at this point without sounding appreciative of the offer.

Embris started to walk by with her remaining family, but was stopped when the woman spoke again. "I just realized, I didn't ask your name," she said. "Mine is Riewis."

Embris nodded, not sure if this was a strong arm tactic or not. All she could be sure of was that this woman wasn't very good at accepting 'no' as an answer.

"I'm Embris," she replied warily, not sure if this somehow could be a trap.

"Well, if you want, you could come at least take a look at where your brother and sister would live. We wouldn't expect it to change your mind, but you could at least see it for yourself to know what kind of place it would be."

Embris merely shook her head. "I can't risk them being made slaves," she said quietly. She wasn't going to take a chance on that. After all, if her brother or sister got separated from her and mixed in with the slaves, she wouldn't be able to live with herself, since she doubted they'd do anything to mark any of them as different from whatever slaves they had.

Riewis started laughing, making Embris look back at her. She also quickly pulled Nymis and Rephis close, just in case it came to combat. She wasn't going to risk her siblings being made into slaves just to press her into joining this band.

"I'm sorry," Riewis said when she calmed down a minute later. "It's just that the one in charge of the band and where your brother and sister would stay doesn't allow slaves."

Embris scoffed. While it sounded nice, and maybe would fool some people, she knew one important fact in life: Show me someone promising no slaves, and I'll show you a person who's up to something.

Even the church had claimed to oppose slavery and yet it was still around them. Where it was clearly not going to go anywhere. Especially when Embris had seen priestesses trade slaves in the past when she'd been in Ferusha with her own mother.

"Embri' I want to see it," Nymis whispered to her in a pleading tone.

Embris couldn't help but glance at her. She was still determined to say 'no,' even if she had to disappoint Nymis.

"Embris," Rephis added. "I'll take care of Nymis. We just want to see what kind of place that is. Can't we just take a look? She said that there isn't any slaves there, so there shouldn't be a reason for us to end up as slaves, right?"

Embris opened her mouth to reply, but closed it almost immediately. That was a fair point. If they claimed that they didn't have any slaves, then if Nymis or Rephis got lost, there shouldn't be any slaves for them to get mixed up with. If there were, then Embris would be able to call them out and make her escape, even if she was pursued by this mercenary band the entire way.

Embris turned to face Riewis, dreading what she was going to say, because somehow she was certain that this woman would get her way. She wasn't sure how, but she felt confident about it. Even if it was through underhanded means like she was expecting.

"Fine," she said, feeling more defeated than anything at that moment. "We'll come to take a look. As long as we're not required to join afterwards."

Riewis nodded, seemingly with some self-satisfaction. Like she expected that to me the outcome from the very start. A reaction Embris couldn't help but detest.

While she just wanted this to be over right then, she couldn't help but ask," What other benefits would there be for joining?"

Riewis nodded, like she expected that question. "The Blue Rose has decided that everyone is to learn to read and write, among other things."

"Wait, 'the Blue Rose?'" Embris asked, feeling a little confused. This person hadn't been brought up before, or at least not that Embris had been able to tell.

"Sorry," Riewis replied, looking a little annoyed, but more at herself than at Embris. "that's what the leader is called. Uh, I think only a few people actually know who she is, and my best friend is one of them, even though she won't tell me."