CW:

Dream things, talks of slappin' a bitch. Talk of fertility being nulified.

“So…” I grin at the vast array of them all gathered about. “What do you think?”

Their Dream rushes with disparate replies and ideas and worries. Still harmonic but… not all the time. And more and more seeming to tilt away from needing to match tunes to feel safe.

“Okay. Yeah yeah yeah.” It’s easy to nod at all these chimed melodies wrapped in twinkling gorgeous sounds of thinking. “We can adjust, dream together like… multiple times a week to share things. And… honestly, with you adding this at the start I think we can make sure nothing goes too bad?”

They quiet a bit, humming in what I can only describe as… things that feel like a mix between a readiness to pounce on prey in a playful manner, but also like when a fish is nibbling at something and is about to discover that this little nub is actually a bigger things toe or finger.

…Kinda?

Fuck. I can’t help but giggle at them all, then more so when multitudes of them ask what’s making me do that and what it means and then reflect it all back and just…

They are so amazing. All of them. Even now. Only half of half awake and still scared and worried and trying to discover who they want to be and what’s okay.

But Redrogal will adore them at least as much as I do, and their ideas. These little schemes they’ve been pushing into motion before even their Dreams, thoughts, and much less words could shape themselves to my understanding.

Cultivating the future within themselves to blossom out into our Waking World.

But… For this to really work I need Amwella. Lots of it. Luckily not all at once and when we’re traveling I can probably find all sorts to share beds and lovemaking with.

Need to teach the Zeridii how to safely dream with those they love, and that love them in return, while also fiddling with the World Song. Trying to understand everything I can about it.

And so with my eternity of final hugs and goodbyes and sigh of awe for this big wonderful collective… I’m tilting backways.

Out of the Dreams and into the arms of…

No.

The little spirit is the one curling itself about the larger.

Gently gathering up every part and holding Her so close. The little spirit doesn't even need to ask what’s wrong, or if She needs anything other than this. Because as much as such pain radiates from the larger spirit. It’s… a release. Like holding in sickness you need to just let out and not worry over whose toes you might get messy.

The larger begins to apologize, but the smaller quiets that quickly. Assuring with her everything that this is all needed and perfect and… and fills her with such hope and love. Seeing Her comfortably snuggled close to our second lover despite the pain within.

And so, the memories of the Dream with the Zeridii are then exchanged for this night of shared sorrows.

“Love?” Tasii murmurs from behind us.

We nuzzle deeper into her embrace. Murmur softly. “Thank you, for… for tonight. For catching part of us when the other needed to be away.”

Soft hands trace patterns across our back and through our hair and arms. Weaving wordless patterns of love only part of us accepts fully, but both can’t help but yearn for.

“Course.” Our second lover whispers. “Thank you for trusting us, both of you.”

Movement, then we hear the sound of our first lover bounce back up onto the bed. Pause, then add her hands to the gentle touches. “Is our little spirit back?”

“Mhm.” We intone, still lost in these really wonderful and relaxing affections but happy to give anything to encourage them to continue. “Just woke up.”

“How did it go?” Tasii asks.

“Better than good.” We sigh. “The Zeridii really likes all of Redrogal’s ideas. Wants to add to that. Fill in some… final pieces we couldn’t. Make sure they're safe and… well… more free to travel. Less reliant on duenna to be safe.”

“Oh? How’s that?” Yrelia asks, settling into the huggle pile fully. Ready to listen to all the little spirit could share.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

So we tell them, and our lovers are nothing but enthralled and excited by the idea…

** ** **

“Please don’t.” I whisper gently to my first lover as we sit together at the big table.

She lets out a chuckle tinted with….

Is that a growl? Fuck. I know she’s still really really mad but… We need her steady today!

“Yrelia…” I press, taking up her hand.

A pause… then her eyes slowly glide back to regard me as the echoing of sounds titter from down the hallway.

“It won’t help them, or me… or even you.”

She lets out a huff, but nods. “That’s incredibly debatable.”

“Yrelia.” I squeeze again, letting worry slip past my still gathering Hetaera mask.

“Fine. Fine…I won’t slap her.” She trails off. “Just… ugh. Sorry. Let myself think about it all just now. How much I hate her for what she’s put you through.”

“I know, love.” I reply with a sigh as I see her calm a bit. “But… we need her to cooperate. Both here and later. It means so much that you’re so protective but… right now I just need my first lover to be at my side. Scary and such but… mostly supportive? Ready to add words that I might struggle to find?”

Our lovers hated that when we told them Emarial’s request, but… it was only after I woke back up from my merging that we got into the weeds of everything.

And… eventually we all agreed. But with demands to the stupid cunt.

She will oversee this meeting, do everything in her power to ensure Veletross agrees and releases the monsters into the care of Redrogal and his Azure Compact. Then… she’ll leave the Academy. Meet us in a little village on the Arudian border for us to see about sharing a few Dreams.

Emarial agreed without argument in her replies, and we sent our messenger to Veletross.

The big Sun Spoken walks into the room with Zigdara and Tasiii close behind. Wrapped in a decent bundle of clothing, even after they took her coat, and… well yeah.

Of course she has the stupid sword with her.

At least it seems wrapped tight and not within easy reach. Just… strapped to her back.

“Ina…” She greets carefully.

I don’t bother rising. Don’t care to show her any kind of formal respect. So I gesture to her chair while replying. “Take a seat, Emarial.”

Her place isn’t even at the table. It’s a big soft thing Kque insisted we move here for her when we agreed that she would be to the side.

A witness, nothing more, just like she asked.

If the placement bothers her, she doesn’t show it. Just nods and moves to plot down and settle in.

“So, Emarial.” I say into the stiff quiet as Tasii moves to stand at my back and Zigdara remains in the doorway. “Is there anything I should know before we start?”

She shakes her head carefully. “Nothing that I’ve not already said.”

“Good. I’d rather not have any more surprises popping up.” I nod and tip tap the table. “Well… at least not for me. Can I trust you to be on your best behavior today?”

And then I get to enjoy her confusion as our first guest enters the room. Smiling politely as they move to take a seat at the opposite side of the table to Emarial. “Ah, you must be this other Sun Spoken I’ve heard a bit about. Emarial, yes? I am Redrogal, a Walker of the Paths and current Speaker for the Azure Compact.”

“I… yes.” The big Sun Spoken nods to us both, leaning forward. Eyes filling with understanding before they turn to fix me a look that’s trying to be hard and serious but comes across as just… tired and worried. “This… Is this your plan? To toss them among others like them and hope they just blend in? That no one will find them?”

“It kinda was, and partially for those reasons.” I lean back and don’t even bother using my Hetaera mask to hide how much I enjoy her stupid confusion. “But the duenna we’d assign would kinda give everything away. So we adjusted plans.”

“The gaggle within the Azure Compact are also all terrible gossips.” Redrogal adds with their own smirk. “Everyone would know quickly enough who this new group is, so we realized… Why not simply let them endure and grow and learn from it all?”

Emarial shakes her head. “And… Ina this… They’ll be in so much danger. Anyone could track their movements and snatch them away. Seeking to use them in all the ways you’re trying to stop but without nearly as much protection as before.”

Gut tightens a bit, but I remind myself of the promises and plans.

“Stupid people who try will not just fail, but find no reward even if they succeed.” I supply. “But if the worst should happen, and they do somehow get snatched away, the Zeridii will be able to follow them. Probably even free them before I can track the idiot.”

Emarial goes still. Expression twisting from that worry in amazed wonder. “You… what?”

“I told you, the Zeridii adores people like themselves. Especially this group.” I say more gently than I’d like. “The plans have changed. We, honestly, don’t trust the duenna of Arudia to keep them safe. So, we’re not going to risk it.”

“Then…” The big stupid Sun Spoken begins to reply.

“The Azure Compact has many properties about and outside Arudia ready to house them, and many Walkers prepared to take them under safe wings if they eventually fancy the Paths.” Redrogal supplies with a serious look. “And with their fertility nullified made bluntly public… well, there really won’t be a point to harass or otherwise abuse them.”

Emarial winces, looks between us. “You… Ina. How… but…” At my raised eyebrow she stops, lets out a sigh and seems to sag and regather her broken words. “You’ve already done it, haven’t you? Taken away all but the two unchanged male’s fertility?”

I nod and lower my voice to a whisper. “Not me personally, but the Zeridii has smothered the gifts it didn’t understand would be used to hurt them, yes. Their forms are theirs but… not that. They can’t be used to make children anymore.”

Not a lie. But… I don’t mean to tell her, or anyone the little extra detail.

That the Zeridii will happily give them back this gift if asked in the Dreams it wants to share with them. And will not do so for anything but their uncoerced desires.

Emarial sighs heavily but… seems to calm. “Okay. When will Matron Veletross arrive?”

“Another hour or so, if she wants to be perfectly on schedule.” I reply, tilt my head curiously. “I… expected you to shout at me when I told you that.”

She shrugs and leans back to relax in her chair. “It’s done, and no one can stop this now.”

Only about half of half good… but I’ll take it. And maybe even…

“You said you don’t think Veletross means to… to be spiteful and stupid here. Do you still believe that?” I press.

“Yes.” Is her easy reply. “She was old when I met her Ina. Careful and focused on long-term goals. Never jeopardized that. ”

“And… if she tries something stupid? Or spiteful? Or just something that could threaten their safety?”

Without even pausing she replies, “I’ll try and help you convince her to do otherwise.”

Tasii squeezes my shoulder and steps back. A gentle signal that she thinks Emarial means what she’s said.

“Good.” I say and can’t help but relax back into my chair.

“I’m going to start bringing out the food and drinks.” Tasii informs while moving toward the kitchen. “Shout if you need me.”