Vaid Empire: Conquest
Chapter 47
47th of Thriduin, 12 AVE.
Domani, Capital of The Vaid Empire.
Silence lingered like a miasma of anticipation throughout the throne room as Irith stood still beside Dominax, cradling their son. Upon the second tier of the throne’s pyramidal dais The God Emperor drew a dagger, specially forged for the ceremony, holding it aloft above the prince.
Dozens of onlookers held their breath with curiosity, yet where common citizens had crowded the colossal chamber mere days ago to witness the birth of Vixin‘s son, only Lords and greater were now permitted to witness the ritual. Even the calming waters of the throne room’s baths stood deathly still, as every slave of their ruler’s royal harem dutifully lined the chamber’s far walls, their beauty for once unable to claim the attention of Dominax’s vassals for the moment.
“Prince Arinax of House Vaid, inheritor of The Empire’s will and mantle, I name you Prince Upholder of Vaidrin, protector of the title that gave birth to our glorious Empire, and heir to the throne of The Vaid Empire!” The God Emperor’s powerful voice boomed through the chamber, echoing off the solid walls as he brought the sharp edge of the dagger across his left thumb. His holy blood spilled forth, dripping lightly upon the prince as Irith held the boy steady.
Fear lay plainly across Arinax’s features, yet he made no move or protest, merely laying still in his mother’s hold. His small body was garbed only in a banner of his House, wrapped tightly around him as his father’s blood fell upon its white chimira-silk surface.
“My heir, my blood, you shall follow me when I’ve left this world. The throne shall be yours,” he continued, reaching down to lay his wounded thumb upon the boy’s forehead. Slowly he dragged it, painting a crude crescent moon of House Vaid upon Arinax’s skin, sealing his fate.
As he closed his glowing silver eyes, Dominax concentrated, touching the mind of his heir. Though he felt the boy’s fear as clearly as the sun shining upon the shallow riverside beaches near Domani, he found little confusion inside his son’s quick mind.
Opening his eyes brought him back to reality. Or so he thought for a mere instant, for he found that all color had drained from existence. As he looked around, he realized that time itself had come to a stop.
“Dorian?” Dominax asked the frozen air as he stepped away, leaving his body behind. When no reply came, he looked down, seeing that Arinax too continued to move, father and son trapped together in a halted reality.
“Fa…ther?” came Arinax’s only question, far more frightened than before as he looked up at his mother’s colorless face.
Only a single known possibility lay before Dominax, for if Dorian hadn’t seized their souls in the moment, he himself must have. Just as The Creator had first made his presence known on the bloodstained streets of Nitri, Dominax grinned down upon his concerned son.
“Calm yourself, boy,” his booming voice echoed through the eerily still air; in reality a projection into Arinax’s mind as a soul speaking directly to another soul. “You’ll find nothing more natural than the state you find yourself in.”
Despite his firm tone, Dominax couldn’t help but share a sliver of the prince’s misgivings. How had he managed to pull them from reality, a feat that until this lingering moment he believed only The Creator to be capable of? Moreover, how did one wrench themselves free, returning to reality.
As he stood next to his unmoving physical form he felt the familiar pull, as if venturing forth from his body strained the spiritual links binding them as one being.
“Iiii oooo”
The sound brought his attention down towards The Sword of Order as it hung from its sheath, the orb in its center glowing like a blazing inferno. Dominax instinctually reached out with his ghostly hand, unthinking as he sought its raging power.
A surge of images rushed through his head the instant he made contact, visions morphing and merging. As he had during the creation of the blade itself, he saw the figure of a man lying in bed, his details beyond the reach of his observer’s gaze. Another stood at his side, younger, though far older than any ordinary human could hope to achieve. Dominax could feel them, their vast years, their spiritual bond, only the faintest sensation of their souls.
Still the sword remained clutched in eldest man’s hands, yet now Dominax watched as he moved to place it in the second’s grasp. Together both men held the hilt, ripping the vision away.
For the briefest moment Dominax felt as though he were falling, collapsing until his silver eyes flashed open and he was once again returned to reality within his body.
“Are you well, my love?” Irith whispered with a sideways glance at her mate as thunderous cheers erupted throughout the throne room, her smooth words hardly loud enough to hear above the commotion.
Centering himself in the moment he nodded before turning to the roaring crowd, standing proud and concealing a sudden deep exhaustion that threatened to overtake him. Whatever the purpose of his vision, if any truly existed, he’d have ample time to ponder later.
The clamorous noise gradually eased as he once more raised the dagger, inciting every watcher to quiet before speaking. “Each of you serves The Empire, the throne, and now you must pledge yourselves once more. Kneel, pay obeisance to your future God Emperor, the shepherd of your descendants, Prince Upholder Arinax of House Vaid. In doing so you and your successors swear to obey my choice in heir, vowing to one day serve him as you’ve served me.”
Each Lord, High Lord, a King, and a Queen Regent began to kneel in turn, bowing their heads before the throne. In moments none remained standing aside from the guards, watching over the mass of nobles intently.
Dominax’s gaze swept over the audience, his silver eyes assessing each of them. Many faces spotted amongst the crowd were familiar, such as King Foin of Domexia, Queen Regent Elmia of Cendia, The Lords and Lady Kixanil, Priax, and Dunith of The Cities Luxi, Crosia, and Omrin, and High Lord Girnax of The Ashin District. In other faces remnants of the past lingered, such as Lord Monil of The City of Avila, son of the fallen Lord Ainir, or High Lady Vora of The Tarin District, daughter of old Voris. Yet others were entirely new to him, such as High Lords Janarin and Fanir of the fairly new Argin District and the accursed Deci District, or High Lady Adra of the struggling Kilian District in Cendia. Even Mayors found themselves amongst the crowd, yet the simple Administrators of countless Villages were too numerous for The God Emperor to bother with.
The future secured in blood, he allowed them to rise as he looked down at Arinax. The new Prince Upholder of Vaidrin nearly trembled under his gaze, as if understanding the unliftable weight of duty that had been thrust upon his young shoulders.
For an instant Dominax found the corners of his proud smirk dropping.
***
“So…the self-proclaimed God returns…”
Dominax heard the faltering voice of The Creator as the door of the pod sealed shut behind him, stepping into The Chamber of Deliverance. “Many attempted to prevent such a thing.”
Through the darkness of the chamber only the faintest outline of Dorian’s ghostly form was visible, pacing slowly as Dominax strode to the center of the consuming expanse. He studied The God Emperor, eyes peering from beneath his spectral hood. Slowly he approached, step by soundless step, before a sudden smile burst across his face. He reached out to clasp his son’s forearm, his lightly transparent hands unable to truly touch the younger man’s skin without passing through. “Ah my boy…it is good to see you…”
Feeling nothing more than air upon his arm Dominax granted him a satisfied nod. “Indeed, old man. None could keep me from the embrace of this inner sanctum.”
“You were…successful then?”
“Kinia lays in ruins beneath my throne, ready to be rebuilt into something grand.”
The ancient brows resting upon Dorian’s face lifted, accompanied by a frown. “I suppose that was…your wish. In time we shall see…if you hold true to your word.”
“Don’t over concern yourself with the fate of your creations, for I will bring them eternal peace,” Dominax replied with folded arms.
The Creator returned to his slow encircling pacing. “How odd it is…to hear of their end. I watched their departure…from what is now The Great City of Visti. I watched…the first hut raised, the first tribe…to settle where Privin lays…”
“The end of one Era and the birth of another,” Dominax stated before waving his hand in dismissal. “Think no more of them, for they are only the beginning. In any case, I’ve come to discuss a matter of some concern.”
“Then you don’t come…simply to pay an old man a visit?” Dorian asked with a sarcastic chuckle. “I know of what you speak…”
“Do you?” Dominax tilted his head slightly. “I’d very much doubt that. Much has occurred in the years since my departure.”
“Much…indeed…” The Creator’s words oozed weakly from his lips as he met The God Emperor’s eyes. “Yet the burst of power…I sensed this morning is not something…to be taken lightly.”
Dominax nodded. “I pulled Arinax and myself from our physical forms, though exactly how remains unclear. However, something…more occurred, as the orb granted me a vision once more.”
“A vision?” Dorian asked as he halted.
“Spoken directly into my mind,” Dominax replied before beginning to describe every detail of the vision. From the old man lying in bed, to the younger reaching out, Dorian listened intently. Every word seemed to pull him closer, his spectral form slowly approaching until he stood before his son.
The Creator loomed beneath his hood, replying only after considering his words. “The orb…is a mere byproduct of creation…a drop of reality taken from my forging of Ayphieal. It was never intended…to grant ‘visions’.”
“Yet it was formed by your own will, was it not? How can a creator be unaware of its creation’s capabilities?”
“One would be surprised…at just how far a creation may differ from its intended purpose.” Dorian eyed the younger man without humor. “I can offer…little insight, though it appears the very fabric…of reality spoke to you. As to why, or even how…who can say?”
The response brought a frown to Dominax’s features. “If not you, who indeed? What’s more, though I remained unable to clearly see the forms of the two men, I sensed something quite familiar, if only a small taste of their souls. I confess…I believe the eldest man was myself.”
Taken aback, Dorian nearly chuckled as he reached out to place a hand onto his shoulder, unable to truly make contact. “My boy…visions are at best unclear…and at worst entirely false. You cannot possibly know…that the man was you.”
“Yet I sensed him, a whisper of myself,” Dominax stated firmly. “I could feel Arinax beside him, surely the younger man.”
“Or your descendants…carrying your blood,” Dorian countered. “A God Emperor of the far future…passing the blade to a successor.”
“The feeling was faint, it’s true.” He nodded. “Yet had you sensed them, I believe you’d agree. A possible death, peacefully resting after a lifetime upon the throne, all of Magnius beneath my banner.”
“Are you…so sure? If not a death in victory, what of one…in defeat? Casting aside your blade…as your empire lays in ruins at your feet?” The Creator replied, taking no joy in his words. “You witnessed very little…no hint of the world around these two men. Such a tiny glimpse…may prove to be misleading…”
“Ah, yet I saw the royal chambers atop The Grand Pyramid, nearly completed as we now speak. A man in exile doesn’t die at home.”
“Yet a man surrounded by rebellion…may very well,” Dorian said as he stroked his hairless chin. “Still…that assumes you truly saw yourself…rather than any number of possible alternatives. Hypothetically, if we simply accept…that the man was indeed you…how can you be certain it wasn’t conjured from your subconscious? A hopeful dream…rather than a vision of a future reality?”
“I admit I can’t be certain,” Dominax replied after pondering, folding his hands behind his back. “I know little about the possibilities of existence, less than you. Yet if there is a single hope that such a fate awaits me…I shall seek it, crave it, ensure it becomes a reality.”
Dorian somberly pulled his hand away. “None more than me…wishes for such a fate to befall you. My only desire…is to see you in peace, though I fear you’ve failed to see the purpose…in such a vision, if any exists. Focus on one path, assured of a calm victory…and you shall overlook very real dangers that threaten to cut it short. My boy…don’t allow a dream to destroy your future…”
A silence lingered, and Dominax thought to the first instant he had glimpsed such visions, the orb speaking to his mind as The Sword of Order came into being. A warning, it had claimed, yet for who? “Very well, Dorian, though any discussion about the validity of these visions may prove entirely useless without dealing with a single factor. Arinax.“
Straightening up, Dorian met his eyes. “What of the boy?”
Though his jaw tightened with gritted teeth, Dominax forced himself to speak. “He is my blood, my legacy, yet he’s weak. Not in power, of course, as I sense he’ll eclipse even Vixin in capability, though in valor. I seek his ambition, his passion, his hunger, and I am met with a frightened boy clinging to his mother’s breast.”
“Can you…expect any different? He’s merely in his third year and already faced…with unprecedented expectations.”
Dominax shook his head. “I sensed little of his reluctance in his siblings. As children they thrived, explored, yearned to seek their place. Arinax seems only to dread, as if each day brings him closer to fulfilling his duty.”
“Why seal him…as heir, if such is the case?”
The God Emperor’s face hardened. “Because he has the makings of a worthy being, the raw material that needs only a skilled hand to forge him into something glorious.”
Dorian frowned once more. “Arinax…is a good boy. I’ve watched over him in your absence…of course, a silent guardian. Please, use only a gentle hand to guide him…”
“I’ll do exactly what is necessary, nothing more, yet nothing less,” he replied before releasing a sigh. “He must be made strong. The Arinax in my vision held none of his fear, none of his weakness, only the hunger and ambition required of the Prince Upholder of Vaidrin. If such a fate is to ever become reality, I require that Arinax.”
Dorian lowered his head. “Already this vision…drives you. In your haste to seek peace…be careful you don’t undo yourself…”
“The vision was a mere confirmation, Dorian,” Dominax said as his hands tightened, a memory of Nitri burning flashing through his mind. “Survival demands the strength to do what’s necessary. His fear shall not be permitted to claim him.”
As his form gradually began to fade, the old ghost nodded in understanding. “I can only hope…you proceed with caution. I shall need…to rest, my boy, though I cannot express…what a joy it is to see you once more…if only for a moment…”
“Very well, I shall return soon,” Dominax said as he turned to depart.
“Before…you go…” Dorian’s voice called out faintly. “I’ve yet to congratulate you. Your first…grandchild? My boy…I’ve never been so proud…”
Dominax turned with a satisfied grin. “The first of many. Our line shall never wither.”
“Yet I sense…our line intersects. I feel the father…of my granddaughter’s child…” Dorian revealed quietly, giving no voice to his thoughts. “I sense…the spiritual bonds…”
For a single moment The God Emperor peered at the fading figure, unsure of himself. “And this oddity disturbs you?”
Finally, Dorian smiled. “Such was…inevitable, for it seems the sins of the father passes to his son. We’re more alike…than you know…”
Dominax chuckled, masking a flicker of relief. “Inevitable indeed.”
2nd of Fonic, 12 AVE.
Domani, Capital of The Vaid Empire.
Vixin cradled her son in her arms, seated beside her father at the massive table. The feast held in the new Prince Upholder’s honor raged throughout the massive dining room, each level of the three-tiered chamber bustling with lords and ladies.
As if steps made for a giant extending from the room’s entrance, each of the three leveled tiers of the floor had remained empty in The God Emperor’s absence, only for the chamber to explode with lively echoes of conversation and revelry, breathing life into The Grand Pyramid. The three expansive tables resting upon each level were claimed by vassals blessed with an invitation to celebrate The God Emperor’s chosen successor, as dancing slaves writhed atop their carved stone surfaces.
The object of their festivities, Arinax sat upon his father’s lap, silently watching the commotion with worried silver eyes. Upon every passing minute he’d turn his head once to his right, seeking his mother as she sat beside Vixin. True to her word, her support hasn’t ended the moment the child slipped from her stepdaughter’s loins, for she continued to dote upon the princess and her baby. Where she had been expected to claim her seat beside her mate, Dominax was instead flanked on either side by Cendra and Vixin, daughter’s holding the honorary position of their father’s lovers.
“He’s precious,” Irith said, looking down upon the baby cradled within the princess’s arms. “Still, you should be resting. Childbirth is no easy feat, and none would think less of you if you decided not to attend today.”
Vixin chuckled lightly at that, recounting the pain of the moment she received her first gift. Though unpleasant to be sure, the suffering of ordinary humans during birth remained FAR from her experience. It had felt natural…nearly pleasing on a deeply instinctual level, as even the act itself had lasted far shorter. Her body had recovered quickly, leaving little to hint of her pregnancy and birth. Already she had begun to regain the tightness of her loins, confirmed repeatedly by Dominax’s inspections. “I shall be fine, Irith. Already I feel like my old self again, if not better.”
To her side The God Emperor interjected, thinking of his daughter’s recounting of the birth. “Of course. Perhaps the bodies and vaginas of Vaids are simply better designed to reproduce.”
The comment brought a blush to both women’s faces, causing them to giggle to each other. Cendra, placed on the other side of her father, blushed alone, knowing with a flare of excitement what would soon be expected of her.
Dominax watched as a Lord stood from the first and lowest table and began to approach, climbing the slanted steps connecting each tier as he was followed closely by his family. He stepped up, separated by The God Emperor by the wide width of the table, and bowed respectfully. Though years had weathered the man, there was no confusion as to his identity. Lord Kixanil of The City of Luxi, had come. “Your holiness…”
“I am pleased to see you’ve accepted my hospitality,” Dominax greeted him before his eyes shifted to the man’s side, met with a face that could never be forgotten. Wros bowed her head, unable to keep a smirk from her lips. The Arkos concubine had matured since their last meeting, yet she retained every inch of her deadly beauty. Her gray body had been dressed in a fine chimira silk skirt, decorated with intricate patterns. Her top remained bare, as if to display his prized lover with pride, a thin gold chain hanging loosely between the dark nipples of her firm breasts.
“You remember my Wros, don’t you, your holiness?” Kixanil asked with a confident smile. “You were quite smitten with her all those years ago, when our glorious empire was but a mere dream.”
“I remember quite well,” Dominax replied, his eyes narrowing knowingly. Wros met his gaze, an unspoken acknowledgment pulling the corner of her lips upwards.
“Ah, but you won’t remember Wronax. He was but a boy when last you saw him,” Kixanil said, gesturing the third and final member of the family forwards. Though a hybrid, the young man’s features practically made him appear as if an Arkos version of Dominax, his face so similar The God Emperor nearly felt as though he were looking into a mirror.
Wros met his eyes once more, neither granting voice to their thoughts. How Kixanil remained blind to the truth even now remained a mystery to Dominax, for even Irith turned to grant a questioning glance at her lover.
Oblivious, Kixanil bowed his head once more. “I shall not take a further moment of your time, yet I’d like to thank you for your generosity this evening. When I chose to fight alongside you all those years ago, I held no doubt that greatness awaited us. You continue to prove me correct with each victory, the building of an Empire I am proud to serve.”
Dominax nodded to the man, half in thought during his not-quite groveling words. As the Lord of Luxi departed, he watched Wronax from behind. He had laid with the mates of many men, though typically with the expressed encouragement of said men. Many wished to see the bellies of their lovers, daughters, and sisters swell with the divine children of The God Emperor, to have their homes blessed with his holy seed. Yet he held no doubt that Kixanil would consider the truth of Wronax to be neither a blessing nor an honor, for the paranoid Lord retained a tight hold over his precious Wros. The Arkos concubine took a sneaky glance back at him, and whatever guilt had attempted to seep into his awareness was quickly held back, locked away.
As if unwilling to be undone by a mere Lord, King Foin caught the attention of a nearby serving slave, forcing her to lean down to whisper into her ear. Then, as if mimicking Kixanil, he stood from his seat at the highest table and walked to the center, bowing lower as his family followed his lead. Rather than speaking he gestured to the nude slave, who stepped forwards to announce him. “King Foin of House Feun, ruler of Domexia, along with his concubine Enalia, and their sons.”
“Welcome,” Dominax greeted them, unable to keep a hint of annoyance from his voice at the ever-fattening appearance of the King. If possible, more ornate rings had been squeezed onto his thick fingers from when last he saw him, and his robe displayed only the finest and most expensive detail one could buy. A triumph of decadence stood before him, turning his stomach.
Where he may have found guilt in his actions against Kixanil, none came to him upon viewing the king’s family. Foin had agreed to their arrangement, after all, and though Dominax had taken much from the man, far more had been granted to him in turn.
As the king began his speech, Hesin watched the writhing body of a nude slave dancing upon the table before him, his single eye peering intently as she ran her fingers down her midriff to caress her bare womanhood. Beside him Tildra sat quietly, none of her displeasure visible through her own mask.
He felt her hand tap his arm, only turning his head slightly to acknowledge her. She pressed herself close to his ear, whispering. “Master…could we not talk? It’s been far too long since I’ve sat at your side.”
In response he pulled his arm away slowly. “You’re the invited guest of The Grand Master of The Hesian Order. Is that not enough?”
“But our child-“
He held up his hand to quiet her, receiving a curious glance from Salduin on his other side. “Your child. Make no further mention.”
Foin performed a final bow, the finishing touches of his prepared words, before making his way back to his seat. Vixin watched, and as she had many times before, she closed her eyes to sense the spiritual lines of the king’s children connected to her own father, a fact all were quietly aware of. She could only bite her lip in amusement, the thought stirring a warmth between her thighs.
Next came a face from long ago, an echo older than any before. Lady Dunith of The City of Omrin stepped up, bowing beside a dark-haired young man. “God Emperor.”
Dominax couldn’t keep an amused grin from his features, laying his eyes upon the very first of his vassals. The spark that had grown into The Empire itself stood before him, slim arms clasped behind her back. Though older now than the young woman he had claimed beneath her father’s hospitality, the daughter of Korvis carried herself elegantly, displaying no reminder of the crude Era before The Empire. “Ah, a face I’m actually pleased to see.”
“Congratulations on the sealing of your heir, your holiness. The Prince Upholder is…well, let us say you produce healthy sons,” she said with the same glint of ambition he had utilized at those years ago, before gesturing to her companion. “Allow me to introduce my own heir, Drivis.”
The same age as Cendra and Vixin, though only a month younger, as Dominax knew well, Drivis granted him a bow before straightening up proudly. A strong and fit young man, he possessed the graceful posture of his mother. Dominax was pleased as he studied him up and down, ever curious how the secret seed he had left in Omrin had developed. Yet his gaze came to a rest upon the young man’s belt, displeased by the sight of a hilted dagger nestled in its sheath.
“I apologize, your holiness. I know it’s bad form to bear a blade in your presence during a feast, though I believe you’ll find the weapon to be rather curious,” Drivis said, sliding the weapon from its black leather just enough to reveal its pristine white surface. The guards lining the back wall behind their ruler stepped forwards, held off only by Dominax’s raised hand.
“I’ll humor you. There is only one blade of note in your family’s possession,” Dominax replied.
“Indeed.” Drivis pulled it free of its sheath, holding it outwards with two fingers supporting either end. “The very blade you gifted my grandfather. The first weapon to ever be forged into chimira steel. The White Teardrop.”
Vixin winced at its name, recalling her mother’s smug confession of Korvis’s end, whispered to her on a night she was far too young to understand. She nearly wanted to excuse herself, met with the aftermath of such tales.
“We remember the price we paid to serve you,” Drivis continued, rotating the blade. “And we shall continue to do so, both under your son, and his son after him. I won’t forget what you’ve done for us.”
As the young man returned the blade to its sheath, Dominax met his cold eyes, seeing his own features. “Neither shall I.”
Already Queen Regent Elmia began to make her way over as Dunith and Drivis granted him a respectful goodbye, replacing them quickly.
“You appear to be in good spirits,” Dominax said after Elmia bowed. “A far cry from when last we spoke.”
“Of course, much has changed in Cendia these last few moons, your holiness,” she explained, placing her hands onto her hips as she turned to Vixin. “Though it seems the same is true here. Our new ‘Goddess of Fertility’. I’m sure you’re proud.”
Vixin’s cheeks reddened, remembering the night Elmia had assisted in Rosila’s lesson. “It seems the population has taken father’s words far too literally. The Sages claim their crowds pray to me, yet I’m unable to hear.”
“Hardly a problem that many would want to avoid,” Elmia chuckled, before focusing on the child in the princess’s arms. “Still, I doubt I’d have the strength to give away my own son.”
“She’ll do what’s best for House Vaid,” Dominax interjected, placing his hand upon Vixin’s thigh beneath the table. He caressed her soft skin, mere inches from the treasure between her legs.
Irith looked down, granting him a questioning glance as she viewed his hand, yet held her tongue in front of their guest.
“I have no doubt,” Elmia replied, a motherly tone dripping from her next words. “I do regret that Prince Galis has remained in our capital. He may be learning to rule on his own, yet I would have liked to see his reaction at just how similar he appears to your child.”
The comment brought Cendra’s attention to her sister, doing little to keep a scowl from her face. Vixin sensed her disgust, turning to meet her gaze as Elmia began to relay the progress of her kingdom to The God Emperor. For once, rather than backing down in the hopes of pleasing her sister, she retained her stare, thinking of the disappointment she had felt when she realized Cendra had abandoned her during the birth. A tingle of anger nudged her awareness, a foreign feeling as she held her baby closer.
Cendra merely turned away after a moment. They had both been claimed by their father, of course, yet she at least had the decency not to fall pregnant. She could expect little else from Vixin. ‘Goddess of Fertility’, a fitting title for a whore.
“We shall nearly be prepared to march with you to Spirexia, your holiness. The north will fall, one kingdom at a time,” Elmia stated, finishing her explanations.
Cendra looked across her father as he and Elmia said their departing words, seeing his hand. She watched as it moved further up her inner thigh, forcing Vixin to bite her lip subtly.
“Cendra?” Clin whispered from her other side, looking at her scowl with concern.
She shook her head in response, leaning to whisper as well. “It’s nothing. I just need a moment from this den of sycophants.“
In surprise he watched her stand up. “Wait-“
Leaning down she whispered once more. “My father plans to speak to his advisors before the end of the feast. Go with him, hear his words, then seek me out near the main gate.“
Without another word she departed, before Dominax himself had even granted her leave. He turned to Clin with a questioning eye, yet the blond man merely shrugged, perplexed.
Annoyed, Dominax returned his focus to the next vassal that replaced Elmia before him. Yet when he recognized the man, his lips parted in a savage smile. “High Lord Linnax, welcome.”
Irith remained nearly frozen, watching the ruler of The Valia District bow before her mate. The man she fought beside during The Battle of Unification, only to be turned upon and served to their enemy like a captured animal. Slowly, her blue eyes narrowed.
“Your holiness, it is an honor to stand before you,” the man said with a smirk. “Though once we were enemies, such a path led us here. Now you punish the pompous northern kings that looked down upon us throughout the entirety of our histories. I can freely admit my relief in losing our little wager, for the outcome is grand.”
“Wager…” Irith replied under her breath. Vixin placed a hand on her forearm, sensing her emotions.
In response Linnax turned to her, smiling brightly. “I suppose I should not forget your beautiful mate. Concubine Empress Irith, I am honored to dine within the same walls as you, the glorious mother of our future God Emperor.”
“Are you?” she asked coldly. “I seem to remember that my wrists were bound when last we saw each other, as your men dragged me through the mud.”
“Ah…” Linnax replied, lowering his gaze. “That was…unfortunate. It seemed to be the best course of action at the time, though I apologize for the way it was handled.”
Nafalya looked to her mother with confusion, holding Zela in her lap as she sat on the other side of her. The youngest princess attempted to grasp at the table, ever curious.
“Apologize to me if you like, yet no further. Little good is an apology to dead men,” Irith responded harshly, her accented words striking like lunging serpents.
Clearly uncomfortable, Linnax shifted his feet slightly as he remained standing. “Commander Enil was a great man, such is true. I would have liked to see him survive the battle, yet war is war.”
“A great man whose sister you sold before his body had stopped bleeding,” she retorted, receiving an amused look from Dominax.
“Indeed…though had I known what you’d become-“
“That my mate wouldn’t simply use and discard me? That is quite the miscalculation,” she cut him off.
He straightened with a sigh, folding his strong arms behind his back. “Very well, I do not desire to disturb your festivities,” he said before turning his attention to Dominax. “I’ll excuse myself, though it is an honor to see you both.”
Dominax allowed him to depart with a nod before turning to Irith. “The man is no longer our enemy. He plays a part in maintaining The Empire, a loyal servant. Without him, you would have never fallen into my possession.”
“That is why I thrust my words, my love, rather than my sword. The man may sit beneath your roof, yet I don’t need to tolerate his voice.”
Grinning at her fiery tone, Dominax allowed the matter to fall away. Then, after a moment of consideration, he summoned a slave to his side. “Enough politics for tonight. It’s time. Inform them.”
Obeying, the slave moved towards Clin as Dominax rose from his seat, cloak flowing behind him as he descended the many stairs of each tier. Cheers erupted as he passed, though Clin was still able to hear the words whispered by the slave. “His holiness wishes to speak to you. Follow me.”
Remembering Cendra’s words, he stood as the slave moved to Salduin, then Hesin, whispering in their ears as well. He granted Salduin a perplexed shrug when the big man looked to him, before the trio followed her nude form towards the exit.
***
The labyrinth of corridors passed by as they followed the slave girl deeper into The Grand Pyramid’s complex depths. At a point in the journey they descended a stairway, entering the levels of the massive fortress that extended below ground. Finally, they seemed to reach their destination, for she came to a stop outside of a wooden door. Without another word she pushed it open, gesturing for them to enter.
“Welcome,” Dominax greeted them, placing his hands firmly onto a tall table standing in the center of the small room. “Come, let us begin.”
“And this is concerning…what exactly?” Hesin asked suspiciously as the slave sealed the door behind them.
Dominax chuckled. “You should know, for this isn’t the first conversation we’ve had regarding this subject. Gentlemen, I come to you with an offer.”
They joined him at the table, its surface reaching their waists as they remained standing. Salduin folded his powerful arms. “We’d serve you in any way we can, though this secrecy is a bit odd. I’d have thought that the throne room as secure enough.”
“Secrecy? No longer, for what I offer will be made abundantly public. However, I’ve brought you here for a purpose, as this is the very table where you three pledged yourselves to me, sealing your fate as my advisors,” Dominax explained, running his hand over one of the three deep marks in the wooden surface. “No better place than here to further your service, nor to reward you.”
The three men looked to one another, and Hesin wondered if their conversation in Argin was finally coming into reality.
“A plan of immense importance has been in motion for some time, and now it falls to you three to see it through,” Dominax explained, every word calculated. “Each of you possesses a duty and purpose. Hesin holds command of The Hesian Order, Salduin assists The Sages in structuring our new religion, and Clin shall one day lead an Order of Knights, as we near the day of enacting his plans. Each of you are integral to The Empire’s foundations, the first three to pledge your loyalty at my feet. It’s time our bond is sealed in blood.”
Clin touched the stump of his missing finger, unsure of what other blood possibly needed to be spilled.
“You three remain childless in the official records, for whatever unknown bastards sired during these long years, if any, are entirely irrelevant. Thus, I desire to pair each of you with a princess of House Vaid, mates to assist my daughters in conceiving the next generation of our dynasty.”
Hesin smiled behind his mask, having waited for this moment for more than two years.
“No Vaid can ever be considered a mere concubine, yet whatever children these pairings produce will be fully legitimized and Vaidimated. Your titles, your duties, all will pass through your bloodlines, three branches of House Vaid to assist the line of God Emperors. Three pillars to support the throne eternally.“
Clin cleared his throat. “You humble us, your majesty. I can think of no greater honor.”
“Good, then you may begin at once. Clin, I shall grant you to Cendra. Salduin, to Vixin. And Hesin, Nafalya, though you must wait until she reaches maturity.”
The masked assassin nodded, his grin only showing through his words. “Of course. My patience has yet to fail me.”
Satisfied, Dominax tapped lightly upon the table. “There are parameters to this deal, however. I don’t choose the specifics of these pairings lightly, for I expect each of you to mentor your mate in the ways of your respective Orders,” he said, before meeting each man’s eyes one by one. “Further, a Vaid must be free to seek whatever desires seize them. Beings of my blood are far more than mere humans and cannot be caged. Each of my daughters shall be free to breed with any male they encounter, and you shall do nothing to stifle their lusts. Though they have my permission to produce as many bastards with any number of lovers they wish, only the children sired by you three shall be accepted into House Vaid.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Hesin replied with ease.
“In turn, just as they may sleep with anyone they crave, you shall be allowed the same standard. Use slaves, lovers, it matters little, so long as you perform your duty and grant at least one legitimized child to your true mate. Is that understood?”
“Of course.” Clin nodded, heart beating firmly in his chest. Thoughts of Cendra flowed through his mind, a dream finally solidifying into reality.
Dominax grinned insidiously. “Then the future is in motion, moving to emerge,” he said, before sensing Salduin. Emotions radiated off the big man, clashing with clear conflict. “Is there an issue, Lord Salduin?”
As if ripped from his thoughts, Salduin jumped back into the moment. “No. Apologies, your holiness. I’m honored to be granted such an opportunity…though I simply ask for time to consider your offer.”
Clin and Hesin peered at him with disbelieving confusion as Dominax’s face hardened. “I offer you a chance to combine our blood, to forge a worthy legacy…and you hesitate?”
“Do not mistake my words for reluctance, for Vixin is certainly desirable, a mate any man would be honored to have,” Salduin was quick to reply, aware of the danger he prodded.
“Yet you hesitate nonetheless,” Dominax countered, folding his arms menacingly. “Is it the occurrence of her previous birth that concerns you? I make no false promises, such a thing will occur again. No doubt she’ll explore a magnitude of lovers, though when the time comes, I shall ensure that your paternity is of no doubt. Such is the point, Salduin, the children of worthy men prepared to do what is necessary. Shall you? Or should I seek elsewhere?”
Salduin lowered his gaze, unwilling to meet his ruler’s silver eyes. “For many years I thought I’d never take another lover. Considered it a betrayal, perhaps, in some small way. Vixin truly is gorgeous, the only woman that could tempt me. I’d merely like to make peace with myself beforehand, to see if such a thing is possible.”
Hearing the pain in the man’s voice, Dominax’s face eased. “Then you’ve loved another?”
“I do not seek to discuss it. One day, perhaps, when the time is right, though not here. Not now. Please, your holiness…”
Studying the large warrior, Dominax finally nodded. “Very well. I expect to speak of this further, yet you shall have your time.”
“Thank you,” Salduin breathed, allowing thoughts of his buried family to slip back into the recesses of his mind.
“As for you two, swear to me. Pledge that you shall care for my daughters, and vow to protect them with your lives,” Dominax said firmly. “Fail, or harm them in any way, and my wrath shall reduce you to ash and bone.”
Both Clin and Hesin, for once, agreed. They made their vows as Salduin remained quiet.
“Then you are dismissed. The next generation of House Vaid shall rise, another step in an undying line,” Dominax stated, silver eyes beginning to glow with ambition.
***
No sooner than the moment he emerged from the small room did Clin immediately make his way towards the main gates of Domani.
He moved briskly despite his limp, attempting to avoid appearing overly eager as he sought out his princess. The subtle ache of his leg had reduced dramatically, no longer requiring a cane to hobble along. The skill of the healers was surely to thank, as though their concoctions were odd, they appeared to work wonders.
Following her instructions from the feast, he arrived at the gates minutes later.
“Lord Clin?” a small voice came from his side, and as he turned around, he was met with the appearance of another slave girl. She approached him quickly, keeping her voice low. “You seek her trail, do you not?”
“How did you-“
“She’s not here, but I’ve been instructed to relay a message to you,” the girl said, opening her hand to reveal a small piece of cloth containing the pre-empire symbol for ‘legacy’ sewn into its surface. The girl then pointed towards the tree line of the jungle. “Come, I’ll show you where to begin.”
He followed her forwards, approaching the trees until the slave found her specific target. Pointing, she guided his eye towards a symbol of ‘legacy’ etched into the wood, matching the cloth exactly.
“There are more, my lord. Simply follow them and you’ll find your prey,” the girl said through grinning teeth.
“This is…elaborate. The princess did this?” Clin asked as he held up the cloth.
She nodded. “Of course, she’d do anything for you. She’s been planning this for a while. I helped…but that matters little. Go, my lord. She’s waiting.”
Clin eyed the cloth, the tree trunk, and the slave, before nodding his head respectfully. “Thank you.”
She giggled before backing away, twirling to begin walking back into the city. Alone, Clin assessed the cloth once more before sighing, no longer caring to be cautious. He ventured forth into the thick rainforest, keeping his wits about him as he sought the next symbol. Then, finding it, he maintained the direction it led until he found another.
For several minutes he trudged through the vegetation, using his sword to hack apart anything blocking his path. Every symbol he passed brought him closer to his goal, each one in eyesight of its predecessor to guide him along steadily.
After an hour he began to long for the conclusion of his journey, though it would take another before he found it. Finally, as he emerged into a tiny clearing just large enough to remain shaded by overhead branches, he was met with the very sight he craved.
Alone, Cendra waited quietly, her eyes closed in a deep meditation. Only the noise of his approach appeared to disturb her, and she finally rose from the ground as he peered through the vegetation. Dressed in only a thin white shroud, he could see the outline of her curves through the chimira silk.
“Well, congratulations. You’ve found me,” Cendra said with a smirk, her finger enticing him forwards. “I suppose that means you’ve accepted father’s offer. Unless you’re here to spurn me, that is…”
Emerging from the vegetation, Clin sheathed his sword with steady hands. “Could you have doubted me, even for a moment?”
“Perhaps…if only because you kept me waiting for so long,” she said with a coy grin. “I won’t wait further.”
“Nor will you have to.” He stepped forwards, only to stop short. How long had he hoped for this very moment? Dreamed of it? Now she stood before him, a fruit he needed only to reach out and pluck.
Slowly she began to circle him, following the outline of the clearing. “Clin…we’ve waited for so long…don’t hesitate now.”
He followed her with his eyes, feeling his anticipation building. “Is this truly what you desire? A crippled old man?”
She chuckled lightly. “You’re hardly crippled, nor old. If your damned honor requires it, yes, I want this. I need this. Does your honor approve of denying the needs of a princess?”
“If it did…I don’t believe I’d care anymore,” he said as he stepped towards her. She came to a stop, closing her eyes as Clin wrapped his arms around her and pressed their lips together. No simple kiss could continue to hold him back, taking in her taste as she pressed her tongue into his mouth.
His hands slowly explored her, once afraid that simply touching would shatter either her or himself. Now he searched, hungry and unyielding. Fingers gliding over her form, only the thin fabric separated them as he found her hips.
A string of saliva hung between them as she pulled her lips away, pressing her forehead against his. “Clin…the time to act falls upon us. I want you inside me…”
Her words flared his gathered arousal further, hearing the command he had hardly dared to imagine. Only when she pulled away further did his mind return from its hazy depths, opening his eyes to watch as she backed up.
Slowly, she released her grip upon the shroud, allowing it to slide from her shoulders. It tumbled to the ground in a fluttering heap, revealing her entirely nude form as she made no move to conceal herself. She wanted him to see every inch of her beauty, the sunlight shining through the vibrant green leaves to glimmer against her pale skin.
As if viewing a goddess, Clin remained momentarily frozen, before allowing his gaze to trace up and down. Every inch was as flawless as he had imagined, the perfect representation of female beauty. He took a step closer without thinking, then another slower when his mind caught up with him.
“I’m yours…as promised,” she said with a seductive grin, feeling his hands gently fall upon her waist.
Her skin was softer than anything he had ever felt, nearly inhuman as he caressed her curves. His manhood throbbed to be free, forgetting the faint ache of his leg entirely.
As his hand traced upwards, fingers gliding over her skin, he found her breast. Cupping it in one hand for the second time only, he felt its firm roundness, driving his instincts to act.
“Here, you won’t be needing your armor,” she said, her fingers working to undo his straps. “I’d see you as you are, not some decorated soldier.”
He assisted her in removing the light chimira steel plates, allowing them to fall to the ground in clusters. Though he had punished men under his command for less, it mattered little, for his entire world focused solely upon her.
With only his one-suit to protect him, Cendra ran her hands over his muscles, built over years of battle. She reached behind his neck, slowly pulling the suit down. Making no move to stop her, she revealed his chest, then his waist, then…
Looking down, her eyes fell upon the object she had waited for, already hardening in the open air. Gracefully she knelt, feeling the slightly damp mud against her knees as she met her prize. She bit her lip in lust, moving her hands, though stopping just short. Then, unable to contain herself, she lightly wrapped her fingers around his manhood.
“Oh…” she nearly moaned, feeling its weight as she assessed him. Though not quite as large as her father’s, he’d be quite adequate.
He shuddered at the feeling of her touch, his cock as stiff as it could possibly become. Nightly fantasies could do little to compare to reality, for even her careful handling sent tingles of desire through him.
A deep blush claimed her pretty cheeks as she placed her hand to cup his testicles, feeling their size and weight as she released a needy whine. The seed within would get her pregnant, a fact she’d do anything to ensure. The thought of receiving his potent gift brought an ache to her loins, every second of delay feeling as if an eternity.
Mutually, Clin could no longer resist, every inch of him desperate to finally feel her. Though the act of her hand leaving his manhood pained him, he carefully pulled away and moved to spread out the discarded shroud upon the ground. He then politely took her hand, granting it a light kiss before leading her to lay down.
She followed his guidance eagerly, lowering herself onto her back with skillful elegance. The shroud protected her feminine back from the mud and dirt, only opening her legs wider when he had kneeled at her feet.
The vagina of The God Emperor’s gorgeous daughter lay exposed before him, entirely at his mercy. Years of desiring such a sight culminated with an aroused shiver down his spine, her womanhood just as perfect as the rest of her. “Cendra…”
“Come.” She beckoned with her hand, urging him forward. He settled between her legs, holding himself above her body as he stared down at her. Beneath him she remained the very image of an alluring goddess, lying in beauty as her legs spread further for her lover. “I’m yours…finally we may act.”
Cock hanging painfully erect, he reached down to gently caress her lower lips, feeling her wetness. A royal vagina lay under his fingertips, eager to breed. He pressed his cock forward, resting his tip against her tight entrance. For the first time their loins touched, sending a burst of arousal through them both. “Are you ready? I don’t want to hurt you…”
Nodding she leaned up to kiss him once more, chuckling. “More than you could possibly imagine. Quickly, take me like our ancestors once did…breed me like two naked animals out in nature. I love you…Clin.”
No longer was he certain if he could even stop himself. With a push, years of desire erupted into reality, pleasure sparking up his shaft as he slid inside. Together they moaned, loins interlocking as the warm tropical breeze flowed over them.
“Cendra…oh gods…” he groaned, sliding inside until he reached her deepest depths. Just large enough to touch her cervix, his tip twitched, knowing her fertile young womb was dangerously close.
Her mouth opened in pleasure, gazing into his eyes as she felt every inch of his cock. She nearly wanted to feel him spurt his seed inside immediately, her body demanding his warmth to fill her, yet there was no rush.
As if afraid that moving might end the moment, that he’d wake from a dream he didn’t deserve, he finally forced himself to begin slow, gentle thrusts, pushing his hips back and forth. Her vagina caressed him, stroking lovingly. “I…love you…”
She chuckled through her moan, wrapping her arms around him as she felt him slide in and out. “Take me…for there is nothing else I desire but your…oohh…cock…”
“You’re…not a…?” he began, leaving the question open as he moaned. Though extremely tight, her clear lack of hymen drove his curiosity, only momentarily able to place his mind anywhere beside her blissful depths.
She shook her head, offering no explanation as she held him close. Her body writhed seductively beneath him, reacting to each of his movements.
Caring only for their moment of carnal pleasure, he discarded any lingering question of her past. As Dominax’s agreement allowed, he cared little for her potential lovers, for her heart and mind were his alone; all he had ever wanted.
Each thrust sent shockwaves of ecstasy through his shaft, her vagina naturally caressing and clenching in ways that he had never before experienced. The enjoyment of his limited sexual past faltered under comparison, for a Vaid’s loins seemed practically designed for pleasure.
Under the overhanging branches Cendra moaned, feeling primal and wild as he pumped into her. Gone were crowns, thrones, empires, reduced simply to mates seeking to breed.
Rhythmically he thrusted, delving as deep as possible. Sliding inside each time was surely the greatest sensation of his existence, while pulling free left him craving to enter once more. The two emotions battled, pushing in and out without stopping.
“You’re going to get me pregnant…” she moaned. “I have no doubt…my body is as fertile as The God Emperor’s seed…”
He moaned in response, he’d words stirring his primal urges to breed.
“You’d like that…would you not?” she asked, cupping his face. “To see my belly swell…ahhh…with your child? Your legacy?”
“More…ahh…than you can possibly know…”
Satisfied, she moved her hands to her young breasts, caressing them. “Of course you would…my womb is yours. I’ll gladly bear your children…ahhh…and let them suckle from my breasts…”
Every nerve of Clin’s cock flared at her words, as if she were able to reach into his very being and pull his deepest instincts to the surface.
“I’ll give birth to as many…oooohhhh…as many of your babies as you desire…” she moaned, lightly teasing her nipples. “I’m ready…to become a mother to your children…to fulfill my duty to my bloodline. Finish inside…Clin. Give me my legacy…our legacy…”
As if lured forth, he increased his speed, making steady thrusts within her. Thoughts of his guilt, his shame, the nightmares, it all melted away until only their interlocked loins became his world. Any reservations of becoming a father faded away, no longer wondering if he deserved such happiness. He’d grant her the legacy she sought, whether he was worthy or not. “I…will. There’s no…ahhh…undoing this…”
“Nor would I want it…undone. I need your cum…your seed…” she nearly begged, far more desperate than he had ever heard her. “Shoot it deep inside…as deep as you possibly can…”
His sole purpose fell to breed her, to get her beautiful body pregnant. Finally he’d spread his seed, his balls aching to knock her up. He was far from finished, however, and carefully increased his pace as he made gentle love to her alluring form. His tip pounded lightly against her cervix, though he was mindful to avoid bruising her, if such a thing indeed mattered even slightly to a Vaid.
She allowed her hands to fall away, lying back to bask in the passion of their sex. She felt his hand replace hers upon her chest not a moment later, lightly squeezing her breast as she chuckled in pleasure.
His finger moved to circle her nipple, making light motions to tease her. Once the only intimate place he had been fortunate enough to touch of hers, it now became a mere aspect of their mutual enjoyment.
Their lips once more met, tongues wrestling within each other’s mouths. She began to tremble lightly, utterly aroused as she approached her climax.
She heard the chirps of distant creatures, smelled the foliage around them. No doubt her mother would have approved of her chosen location to breed, as Cendra remembered her father’s retelling of her own conception. Now their daughter joined them in nature, just as Cendra had planned, her legs spread wide with the full intention of becoming pregnant.
Cendra’s breath caught in her throat, before it emerged in the form of a deep moan as she orgasmed, her body shaking beneath him.
He moved to clasp her hands in support of his mate, pressing them into the shroud as he continued through her pleasure. She clenched down hard around him, thighs quivering in intense delight.
Utterly aroused by the visible enjoyment of his lover, Clin pressed his face into the side of her slim neck, causing her to feel his warm breath tingle against her delicate skin. She breathed hard as she recovered, her climax fading as she moaned in passion.
Their raw lovemaking never slowed, his hips rocking against her. His cock felt as though it would melt, consumed by a greater pleasure than he could have imagined.
“C…Clin…” she groaned, once again wrapping her arms around his back to hold onto him as tightly as possible. “I love…ahh…you! Cum inside…I’ve never craved anything more!”
Enduring the tightness of her depths, her urging words nearly forced him over the edge on the spot. “I’m…close…”
“Yes…fill me! Knock me up!” she begged, running her fingers through his hair. She wanted to birth blond babies, golden crowns to top the superior branch of House Vaid.
He felt himself approaching his finish, keenly aware of the consequences. It was time. His fears pushed aside, his past momentarily banished from his thoughts, he was determined to knock her up.
“Breed my royal womb! Oooohhh…Clin…the blood of The God Emperor flows through me…and into our children! I’ll grant you…divine offspring…strong and beautiful…”
Primal grunts escaped his lips with each movement, unable to contain himself any longer. Moment after moment brought him closer, until he could nearly leap over the edge of his limit.
“Get me…pregnant…”
A final thrust was all that was required, his cock seized by shooting sensitivity along the entirety of his shaft as he pushed himself as deeply as possible, spurting his seed into her fertile womb.
She wrapped her legs around his waist tightly, crying out in bliss as she enjoyed the sensation of a man cumming inside of her craveable body. With his warmth pouring into her most intimate depths, she found herself orgasming once more.
They clenched each other’s hands firmly, as if clinging to life. Clin’s mind reeled, overwhelmed by the pleasure of impregnating a Vaid. His cock pulsed inside of her, draining every last ounce of his seed.
She gasped for breath through her climax, finally relaxing when it mercifully faded. A long moan oozed from her pretty lips, no louder than a whisper, yet feeling like a triumphant horn of victory.
Clin kissed her, never feeling more connected to another being in his life than he did her. “Cendra…“
As they both released each other’s hands, they wrapped their arms around their interlocked forms in a mutual embrace, as if never wanting to be separated.
He could hardly believe what had occurred, gifted the very woman he had always craved. Though as a tingle of concern that he’d fail her prodded the back of his awareness, he forced himself to focus upon the moment.
Cendra felt his sperm within her, pooling where it belonged. Though not nearly as much as her father typically produced, it mattered little. Ordinary seed or not, the mere sensation of potent cum inside her desirable body felt more natural than anything she had ever experienced. She’d continue The God Emperor’s bloodline, a thought that caused her vagina to quiver around Clin’s cock.
“I…love you…” he muttered.
In response, Cendra merely smirked to herself, holding no doubt of the outcome.
She would birth his child.
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