CHAPTER 19 - SOUL SEARCHING

Fegran was a magnificent city, large beautiful stone buildings lined cobbled stone pathways. The buildings themselves were muted but a riot of colours could be found through the fabrics that provided awning shades, curtains and clothes. The majority of the people on the street were beastkin, unlike the majority of Human kingdoms there was barely a slave collar in sight.

Sadly there were a few, he would have a word with the city lord about that.

The city lord’s manor was in the inner wall of the city which sat on the hill the city was built around. Even from the lower city he could see Laureline’s airship floating over the building.

He and Lilah enjoyed a leisurely ride through the city.

Upon reaching the manor Roe informed a guard he had business with the city lord and was escorted inside.

The city lord’s secretary turned up her nose at their travel worn appearance.

She took their names and arrival times and put them in a very plain waiting room. The room had a bench running along the wall and windows that overlooked part of the city. Other than that it was bare. This was obviously the waiting room for low level petitioners.

An hour into the wait Roeg-Hiam dropped his Drow disguise and assumed his Dragon Newt form, his hope was that the secretary would notice whom they were keeping waiting and speed things up but she never checked on them.

It was nearly another 2 hours before the city lord’s secretary called them into the main office. She was shocked and terrified. Immediately trying to fawn over him.

“I was in there for a very long time and you didn’t even offer a refreshment. Don’t pretend to do your job now.” Roeg-Hiam the Midnight said to her.

City lord Wanlia was equally shocked, he was told a messenger was waiting for him. He would have never kept his Sovereign waiting.

“My Lord if I had known…”

“If I were a messenger with important news you may have lost whatever advantage timely action may have brought you. Lead me to my Matriarch while I consider whether you or your secretary should keep your position.”

Roeg-Hiam was in no mood for fools. Wanlia wisely shut up, took the criticism and led the Sovereign to Lady Laureline’s chambers.

Remembering his earlier musings Roeg-Hiam concluded.

‘Sometimes playing Undercover boss helped to fix some problems.’

Laureline and Roeg-Hiam's harem got up and rushed to greet him. Hugs and endearments were exchanged. City lord Wanlia made himself scarce while Lilah stood about uncertain what to do.

Roeg-Hiam introduced her after everyone was settled.

Despite Roeg-Hiam's reassurances Lilah was still surprised by how welcoming Laureline was.

“There are many charitable events I am involved in that I can use help running, Liliah. Your expertise would be very welcome.”

Lilah was swept up by Roe’s harem. He smiled and relaxed, the city lord temporarily forgotten. Where his girls were was home. Constance came over and gave him a drink.

“Will you talk to Tabitha while you are in Fegran?” She asked timidly.

Roe opened his eyes and thought about it.

“I’ll visit her in the morning.”

Constance beamed and ran off to rejoin the ladies leaving Roe to his thoughts.

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***

Tabitha had been training as a Shaman under an Old Lamia named Minerva. Lamia were snake Beast-kin whose lower half was snake and upper half human.

Minerva was an albino serpent, shrunken with age and cute in the way only the elderly and pugs could be. She wore a red robe and a necklace of Elemental Crystals.

Minerva was once a council member of Fegran but had retired. The City Lord had asked her to take in Tabitha and while she had no intention of taking on a pupil in her old age, she was finding teaching again to be such a delight that she had taken in two more students since Tabitha. All three girls were very talented.

When Roe arrived Tabitha was meditating, communing with the nature spirits, while holding an air Elemental Crystal in her hand. Her teacher watched her progress.

Both Sorcery and Shamanism dealt with nature spirits. In Sorcery you use your own energy to reach out and command the spirits of nature to do your bidding. A Shaman communicated and formed contracts with Elemental spirits, which they then housed in Elemental crystals and took with them. Given enough time, the number of spirits a Shaman could call upon could be staggering.

Of course there are pros and cons with everything. Sorcerers were more versatile, commanding whatever spirits that existed in nature around them but it was hard to call water spirits in the desert or fire spirits at sea. Shamans seemed more powerful, carrying their collection of spirits with them but separate them from their crystals and they were powerless.

“Greetings Magi Minerva.” Roe called as he entered the yard.

Minerva turned to him, bearly opening her eye.

"Greetings, you must be the new Sovereign."

Roe paused, surprised to have his disguise seen through so easily.

"The Gods are voyeurs the moment I could not feel their eyes I felt a Dragon Lord had to be close." Minerva clarified.

"I guess you are here to check on the progress of your concubine, Tabitha."

"Tabitha isn't one of my women. She turned me down."

"Humph, no woman turns down a Dragon Lord."

"She didn't know I was a Dragon Lord."

"Well there's your problem, always start with your strong points." Minerva concluded.

Minerva's frankness made Roe laugh.

"Master Roe is that you?" Tabitha stopped her meditation and turned to him.

Now Roe was a little miffed.

"I understand how Magi Minerva saw through my disguise, but you couldn't overhear us and there is no way you are sensitive enough to feel the eyes of the Gods upon you. How did you know it was me?"

Tabitha looked shy as she responded.

"You haven't changed your laugh."

Roe made a face like he had bitten a lime.

'Women pay way too much attention to detail.' He thought to himself.

"Master Roe, may we speak?"

"In a minute Tabitha. So Magi Minerva, how are Tabitha’s studies going?"

"They go well my Lord, as you've seen she has stabilised her wind crystal. The first is always the hardest, her progress will speed up from here."

“Good, thank you for the update Magi Minerva.”

“You are most welcome Sovereign Midnight, now go have your dalliance.”

Roe indicated for Tabitha to lead the way. Instead she gathered his arm and clinged to him.

“I’m glad you came to visit me. I am enjoying the space you’ve allowed me but I am greedy and want more.”

“Ha, how much more can I give you?”

“How about your forgiveness and your affection.”

“You are forgiven and it’s not like I hate you.”

“Good. I need to let you know that I haven’t been pining over you, I have looked at other possible mates over the months and other males haven’t created that attraction.

That is what it has come down to, Master Roe, attraction.”

Roe was wondering how hard she had actually looked, knowing he was interested in her.

“I’ll also confess,” She continued. “That I have had a few dalliances with females that were very pleasurable but lacked something.”

“Sounds like you did a lot of soul searching kitty.”

“A young, handsome Archmage once promised he could fill this void, given the time.”

Tabitha looked up at him longingly. They had stopped in front of a simple bedroom. Obviously her room.

The more he thought about it, now he was no longer hiding in the Godlands he had less and less reason to deny her.

Roe cupped her face and gently rubbed her ears eliciting a pur from Tabitha. As he gazed into her eyes Tabby felt her body heating up.

As their lips met he guided her into the bedroom, closing the door behind them. His hands hoisted her dress and explored her body as she opened his shirt to discover his.

Tabitha frantically stripped, despite her plethora of experience she felt nervous as if it were her first time. She popped the buttons on Roe’s pants in her rush to get his member in her mouth. Roe didn’t tease her about her clumsy anxiety. Instead he gently pushed her back and kissed her down to her sex. Tabitha had no clue how he knew to take charge or why she felt so secure in his power but her first orgasm cleared all her worries away.

They coupled for the rest of the morning and may not have left the room for the rest of the day if Laureline and the rest of his women didn’t come to take them to lunch. Although she came the long way around, Tabitha was estatic to have finally joined Roeg-Hiam’s harem and Laureline was very happy to finally have a 14.

***

While the group were on the town Lilah remained on the Airship in her new room. Once she was sure she was alone she took out her ornate, silver hand mirror.

She kneeled on the floor and put the mirror face down. On the intricate back was a beautiful face, the effigy of the Goddess Asturiel. It had been months since Lilah felt Dragon Lord Roeg-Hiam the Midnight was far enough away for her to take this chance, and after a shuddering breath she began to pray.

“Goddess Asturiel, filled with Wisdom, beauty and grace, please hear my prayer.” Lilah whispered as she was prone over her Goddess’ face.

Asturiel’s silver face opened its eyes.

“MY CHILD, YOU HAVE SUFFERED.” Asturiel said. Lilah sobbed, not in anguish but in the relief of hearing the Goddess’ voice.

“My lady, the worst has not come to pass. Lord Midnight has been a gentle beast and left me unmolested. He has not returned to the Godlands and has been acquainting himself with his territory.”

“IF HE HAS NOT RETURNED TO THE GODLANDS, WHY TAKE THE CHANCE TO PRAY TO ME?”

“I’ve discovered he has a Concubine he does not keep with him. She is studying in Fegran city, her name is Tabitha.”