Adaline wasn't a morning person by any stretch of the word.

Most mornings it took at least a shower or a large cup of Derka tree sap to wake her up but this morning she awoke to Miriam’s breathless moans as Altair’s thrusts shook the bed.

Adaline rolled over to see her two lovers watching her. Their eyes glowed in the dim light, one Purple the other Red, both burned with lust.

Suddenly Adaline was wide awake.

She quickly rinsed her mouth with some water by the bedside before crawling over to her spouses. Adaline noticed both her lovers were heavily muscled but where Altair was hard and chiselled, Miriam had curves made of solid muscle under pliable flesh.

Miriam’s arms snaked around Adaline’s necks and pulled her in to explore her mouth with a passionate kiss. A low moan escaped Miriam’s mouth as Altair made her climax again.

After a blank moment of euphoria Miriam found herself face to face with her short wife as Adaline lay on top Miriam while Altair took her from behind.

Miriam met Altair’s eyes over Adaline’s shoulder and the 2 came to a silent decision. Altair gently bit Adaline’s ear while Miriam did the same to Adaline’s shoulder, the extra simulation pushed Adaline over the edge into an orgasm. Altair paused deep in Adaline as her vaginal walls tighten around his girth.

Miriam seized Adaline’s lips as the slapping noises of Altair trusting into Adaline once again filled the room. Miriam found the younger woman irresistibly beautiful, her large breasts and soft body were just too erotic.

Miriam fondled Adaline’s breasts, squeezed her ass, pinched her nipples, caressed her back, and massaged her everywhere. It didn't take long for Adaline to climax again.

During their lovemaking Altair constantly whispered to both his ladies all the things he loved about them. At one point Adaline held Miriam’s leg over her shoulder while they rubbed their sex together, Altair was drinking water and catching his breath for another round when he tilted his head as if he noticed something.

"Sorry ladies, we're going to have to cut this session short." He hopped back into the bed and pinned both women face down with a hand on the back of each. Altair activated his shroud and he formed 4 phalluses which he inserted into his wives. Miriam and Adaline felt their insides stretch as if Altair was in both their vaginas and their anus at the same time. It wasn’t unpleasant but it did feel weird and that was before Altair rapidly began vibrating the space.

Miriam tried to push herself up but could only thrash about since Tuck held her down with little effort as she called out to his name in pleasure. Adaline on the other hand, raised her hips and screamed into the pillow while gripping the sheets tightly. Both women became lost in bliss.

With his work done, Tuck hopped out of bed and cleaned himself off using his Maw. He then got dressed in a light short sleeve shirt and short pants. Tuck turned off the silence pyramid before leaving the room. With her enhanced hearing Miriam heard him speaking to someone.

"Good morning kids… Who, Miriam and Adaline? Those two are resting. Let me make you breakfast, you can help. I'm making Pancakes… WHAT? You don't know what Pancakes are …"

The voices faded as Altair and the children went to the kitchen. Inside the bedroom Miriam rolled onto her back.

"What a beast." Miriam whispered.

"More." Adaline groaned. Miriam laughed and pulled Adaline into a hug.

"Let's just grab a shower instead." Weak kneed, both women wobbled to the bathroom for girl talk and a wash.

The Bashtuck ladies joined Altair and the children late for a breakfast of Pancakes. Who knew butter, egg, baking powder, flour, sugar and milk could make such a delicacy?

After breakfast, Miriam dragged the boys to bathe while Adaline led the girls to the other shower, leaving Tuck to clean the breakfast wares.

Today was the day of the council meeting, thanks to Tuck and Adaline the itinerary of the meeting changed, instead of it being a meeting about starting an expedition, it was now a meeting to determine the future of Warren. Must they evacuate or could they stop the Firecrow.

The advanced information may save many lives.

***

Myriam made arrangements so Jalissa would stay aboard the Flying Dagger with her cousins under her Aunt Tisa’s care, while the rest of Bashtuck Clan were headed back to The Warren for the council meeting. Tuck and Adaline were going to testify in front of the Council but Miriam had two different reasons for returning, first she wanted to see if she could do anything for her friends and neighbours now that her family was safely away from The Warren and second she wanted to investigate The Red Dragons maybe even find the Weasel.

Tuck had thrown on some fine clothes and was ready to go but both Miriam and Adaline insisted on the Clan having a unified look, especially for such an official meeting.

Both Altair and Miriam had dark brown leather armors so Adaline used her magic to darken them to black. She already had black magic robes from the shopping trip she went on with Miriam. They all wore matching environmental necklaces, shield belts and boots. The ladies insisted the boots were the most comfortable footwear ever. Altair already knew he would have a lot of Enchanting to do on footwear when the Council meeting was over.

All together each of them was stacked with Enchantments making them a walking tank. Their all-black ensemble was finished off with teal coloured Boat Cloaks with orange gold trim. These cloaks were emblazoned with a black Ouroboros on the back.

The Bashtuck Clan meant to leave an impression.

Tuck held his women and Wyrmed to The Warren.

***

The public seats of the auditorium where the Council met were already filled.

Rumours had begun to spread about problems with The Warren's cooling system, so people came to find out the truth.

The Mage's Assembly had called the meeting so it was their duty to act as the host so NoviceMages escorted VIP guests to their seats.

When The Bashtuck Clan arrived Adaline did not hide her overwhelming Aura, once the Mage’s Association noticed an ArchMage was amongst them they were on their best behaviour, even going so far as to send an AdeptMage to direct the Bashtuck’s to their area.

It wasn't long before the 18 council members arrived. There were 3 members from each major faction in The Warren, The Society of Crafts, The Merchant Association, The Mage’s Assembly, The Clans and the citizens.

After the usual preamble GreatMage Hizanko sood before the others of the council and informed everyone that The Warren faced a Cataclysm, the uproar went up immediately.

Hizanko waited for the crowd to quiet before beginning her presentation.

Despite all the facts The Mage's Assembly laid out people were people, after Altair's and Adaline's testimonials many 'what if' scenarios and complete denial of the facts were put forward by various groups.

The Militia believed they could defeat this beast, although all evidence pointed to it surfacing from under The Warren which would mean that by the time there would be a fight everyone in The Warren would already be dead.

The Clans put out appeals to the people about protecting family and home, while downplaying the size of the Firecrow, many people in the crowd nodded like happy sheep being led to the slaughter.

It was only the Merchant Association and Mage Assembly that advocated evacuation from The Warren, but it was the appeals from Militia and the Clans that swayed public opinion.

Tuck could never understand the need to drag others into your line of thinking.

With the council divided, the meeting ended with no consensus. The Clans and the Militia insisted on further investigations.

Tuck watched chaos roll across the Council room. Whatever the result, he was done. He had extended his aid to The Warren but anything more would have to be a business deal.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Altair got up and the ladies followed his lead but before they could leave The Bashtuck Clan was approached by several Council members. By now word had gotten around that Adaline of the Halcyon Sect had left her position to join the Bashtuck Clan. To everyone's surprise Adaline had shown up here as a full-fledged ArchMage.

That meant that The Bashtuck Clan had an ArchMage legacy! This was a Clan that was at least as powerful as a small Sect. So now it was prudent to build friendly ties with this group.

The first group to reach the Bashtucks were the local Clans led by Ms Danub.

"Greetings Headman Bashtuck, had I known your lineage when we first met I would not have been so reluctant to take up your offer." She said with a winning smile. Tuck nodded sagely, clout was a currency all on its own.

"Does that mean we can't do business now?” Tuck smiled, he knew Miriam had already robbed the Clans, so there was only benefit for him to seem open minded. “Of course, since the cat is out of the bag my price goes up to one fifth." Tuck bargained. Headwoman Danub's face turned sour.

"I am sad to admit it, but we've been burgled. The Weasel, Mr Wester found our largest vault and made off with everything in it. So the opportunity is lost." It was Tuck's turn to look sour, Tuck acted shocked and angry at his potential loss of business. Ms Danub continued.

"It is fortunate for us that our legal holdings dwarf our hidden ones but we can move those with our own manpower." Headwoman Danub concluded. As Ms Danub finished speaking, Director Opcide joined the conversation.

"Since your business deal with Altair fell through you can most likely get your Spatial-Ring by tonight to help speed things along." Opcide's statement made a couple of Clan heads upset.

"If we had that already we wouldn’t have been robbed!" Headman Loreth shouted.

"Business is business, Headman Loreth." Tuck countered.

"Enchanting Danub's Signet-ring was bad for my business deal so I refused to do it. I am a Sacred Enchanter for the Merchant Association, Director Opcide could not do anything about it." Tuck admitted using some misdirection. The local clansmen were slack jawed in shock.

"A Sacred Enchanter? Is that not an Elder position in the Association?" Loreth asked.

"Actually Altair is a bit special, he holds the position of Guest Ancestor in the Merchant Association." Opcide Informed them. "I had no choice but to obey." She smiled sweetly.

All Headman Loreth could do was fume while Headwoman Danub sighed.

"The ring would be helpful going forward. Please have it delivered as soon as it is ready." Danub said to Opcide before giving a departing bow before she and the other Warren Clans left. As one of the groups advocating to remain they had a lot of organising to do.

"Thank you for the alibi, Altair. Those Clansmen are going to get a lot of people killed." Said Opcide. Tuck agreed with her, the thing to do was cut losses and run.

“Since when do you call me Altair?”

“Can I not, are we not already friends?” Opcide blatantly asked. Tuck gave her a distrustful side eye which encouraged her to be honest.

“Fine, I’ll come clean. You are a newly ordained Ancestor.” Opcide began.

“Guest Ancestor.” Tuck corrected.

“Altair I have been part of the Merchant Association for almost 40 seasons and the highest rank I’m allowed to know of is Ancestor, in less than a month you have climbed what I thought of as an unscalable mountain. So yes, I want to hitch my cart to your wagon train, but I will be of great aid. As a Guest Ancestor you need an Administrative staff; I have successfully managed the business of the Merchant Association in a City State for 20 seasons, I happen to be a very skilled Scribe and Mage, plus you already trust me to pen your relationship contracts.”

“Not to mention with The Warren gone your Director position is about to disappear.” Tuck pointed out.

“There is that too.” Opcide admitted. Tuck wasn’t going to torture her. He had plan to ask her advice about building a staff, so having her do it for him would be perfect.

“Once things are wrapped up here, the job of Staff Admin is yours.” Opcide bowed to Altair.

“Thank you Guest Ancestor.” She said. The other members of the Merchant Association milling around gave polite applause which attracted the attention of the upper echelon of The Mage Assembly.

They had been working the room trying to push their point of view with varying degrees of success. GreatMage Hizanko led her group directly into the midst of the Merchant Association’s impromptu gathering. She stood before Adaline and sensed her aura, after a few seconds Hizanko began tearing up. She embraced Adaline as she sensed the power of an ArchMage radiating from her former apprentice. Hizanko was overjoyed that the child had not been misled.

“Congratulations on your Contrat.” Hizanko forced the words out through sobs, by this time Adaline was an emotional mess as well.

To Tuck’s surprise, Hizanko released Adaline and glomped onto him.

“Take care of her. I don’t care how powerful you are, if you break her heart, I’ll break your face!” Hizanko wept into Tuck’s chest. Their exchange brought a round of chuckles. While the GreatMages paid their respects to ArchMage Adaline, Hizanko tried to compose herself.

“It is unfortunate that there is no time to celebrate. The Sects are sending Bagmen to pack up our Warren Base. A skeleton crew will remain nearby on an Airship Magic Treasure to monitor the situation.” GreatMage Rodert said.

“Let’s have lunch in a few days, GreatMage Hizanko, there is something I I'd like to talk to you about.” Tuck offered. Hizanko nodded, she was obviously curious about what he wanted to discuss but Tuck would give no clue here.

As the Mages left, the Merchant Association delegation permanently attached itself to the Bashtuck Clan. Now that Opcide was one of Altair's people she wholeheartedly dedicated herself to helping him.

Opcide tapped Altair's shoulder and pointed out The leaders of the Militia that were approaching.

Major Iskandar, known amongst the troops as Momma, made the introductions.

“Greetings Headman Bashtuck. Let me introduce General Pike.” General Pike was a massive man, 6 foot 5 inches of solid muscle with a neat, disconnected undercut hairstyle and a Garibaldi beard, all his hair was stark white and his eyes were stormy grey. Tuck couldn't tell if his hair colour was an indication of his age or just another in the myriad of colours he had already seen, thus far older folks' hair were just duller.

"Well met Headman Bashtuck." Pike said as he and Tuck shook hands. Pike's attention was drawn to Miriam who was staring holes into a younger man standing behind him.

Commander Lixor.

"Congratulations Miriam, not only did you become a Champion, you have also joined a powerful Clan.” Pike said. Miriam gritted her teeth but remained cordial to her former leader.

“Thank you.” was her only response. Sadly Lixor wasn’t smart enough to leave well enough alone.

“There is no need to be bitter, girl.” Lixor said. “At the time you were too valuable in the field, we didn't need Champions behind a desk." Lixor’s statement made Pike wince. Miriam’s eyes flared.

"Then you should include that in your Marketing campaigns. I put in the time and effort, I was even given accolades for going above and beyond my duties. Yet I was passed over for promotion to Captain 3 times because I wanted a desk job.

By YOU Lixor. A Champion. Who has a DESK job!” Miriam rebuked him, her voice carried causing second hand embarrassment to both General Pike and Major Iskandar. Iskandar stepped forward to sooth raised hackles with her Momma persona.

"You are right girl, The Militia broke our word to you, which is a shame on us but fate put you where you needed to be to have the last laugh." Momma indicated Tuck to Miriam which calmed her anger.

Tuck snorted. He knew Iskandar's words were a bunch of gobble-the-goop. He was here because of a FUBAR by 4 Goddesses. He was sure the gods didn’t care about Shaards, they had told him so.

"I was wondering what the Bashtuck Clan’s position was on this incident?" Pike changed the subject.

"We are definitely leaving." Tuck stated definitively, there was no hesitation nor weighing of pros and cons.

"The Warren is done for General, it's time to save lives." Tuck said before excusing himself. He and his ladies departed the council chamber accompanied by Director Opcide and her retinue. Adaline cast a spell and the din around them faded.

"Is the Merchant Association going to evacuate?" Tuck asked Opcide.

"Of course, there is no profit in being trampled. I know you are a Guest Ancestor now but there is a hefty price paid to Bagmen willing to participate in Emergency moves. Are you willing to help me out?" Opcide asked.

"Sure, but there is also a business opportunity here. I made some suggestions to Ancestor Lumis on how to improve our Transit-Gates so they can be larger and cover the Massive distance between City States.

If we can build one just outside The Warren and another in one of the Cities we control..."

"I see." Opcide said. “The best city would probably be Floating Crown.” She recommended.

"We can set up 5 tiers. Super Wealthy, Well Off, Middle Class, Poor and Destitute. Your tier will determine the treatment you receive.” she suggested.

“We’re going to need better names than that.” Tuck pointed out.

“We can work those out later.

For the Super Wealthy; once they arrive at Floating Crown we can arrange a private ship to deliver them to their destination.

For the Well Off and Middle Class we put them on one of our regular Airships to a City State outside Floating Crown.

The Poor and the Destitute we take as slaves to the Association and sell them off wherever we can." She finished. Tuck felt like his stomach dropped out.

Tuck wasn't above using the contracts to control people. The ones Opcide had shown him were similar to business contracts from his past life, people sold themselves through greed but still retained a lot of rights.

In a situation like this where people were trapped through no fault of their own. Leaving them no options was a true evil.

"Director Opcide, we will offer Indentureship Contracts. Set a wage rate where we seize ⅓ of their salary so they can labour and pay off their debt in 8-10 seasons." Tuck stated. Opcide gave Tuck a curious glance.

"You dislike slavery, Guest Ancestor Altair." It wasn’t a question, but one was implied.

"I don't believe debt is a good enough reason to take away a sentient creature’s future permanently." Tuck responded.

"Fine." Opcide said, dropping the subject.

"We may have another option for those last two tiers, we will need to contact Director Kenon of Gorram city. They are about to go through a massive expansion and will need citizens." Tuck told Opcide. She nodded and added that to her notes.

They had a plan, now all they need is time.