“What a stupid idea,” Kallid said.

Kreet’s eyes grew wide as saucers. She was about to reprimand him and remind him who was sitting right next to him, but the Bishop laughed and had to agree.

“It really was in the long run, but it worked pretty well for years. As problems came to light, the thieves’ guild was repurposed into the Band to keep a sort of order in the place. That wasn’t by any decree, mind you. It just sort of evolved. Still, it would not look good for the church or the Royal house to have it come to light that they - no, we - had intentionally created the slums. We’re working on correcting that mistake now though.”

But Kallid wouldn’t let it go. “Now that we found out about it!”

“Yes. You’ve certainly helped our city in profound ways already, and it will not be forgotten. Is there anything specific you’d like in compensation?”

“You mean to keep us quiet, don’t you?” Kallid said, not looking directly at the Bishop but resentment on his face.

“Kallid!” Kreet said, upset at his disrespect. “Stop! You’re going too far. The Bishop had nothing to do with it. And neither did the King. They’re trying to fix it. That’s enough for me.”

“No, Kreet. He’s right. And yes. I suppose I do mean to keep you quiet, though I prefer to consider it as recompense for what you’ve done as well,” the Bishop said, but stood up from the bed and turned to Kallid directly.

“For us? Just let us try and raise our family in peace. That’s all we want,” Kallid said, and Kreet smiled inwardly at his boldness. He continued, “We haven’t lived here through everything our neighbors have. Help them get back on their feet and we’ll be happy. Wouldn’t you agree, Kreet?”

She turned to the Bishop. “I do, my husband!”

Kallid went on, unexpectedly. “I would propose maybe having a Royal building project of some sort. Tear down the buildings that are crumbling anyway, and erect something that will bring people into the slums. I don’t know what, maybe a market square? Some better housing? And use the locals for most of the labor. That’s what they need - jobs. A sense of purpose.”

The Bishop smiled. “That’s pretty smart thinking, Kreet. I’ll mention it to the King. I think he’ll like that idea. You know, with thinking like that, you might find yourself on a local council.”

Kreet looked at Kallid, who just shrugged. “It’s just an idea.”

“A better one than the sewers, that’s for certain!” the Bishop laughed. “But I’ve taken too much time from you. I’ll see myself out. Take care of your wife and children, Kallid. Blessings on this family. And thank you, sincerely, Kreet. You have brought light into the city. I couldn’t imagine a better Clerical accomplishment. Not all Cleric duties require adventures in dark places.”

“I don’t know, the archives are pretty dark,” Kreet said, and Kallid helped her up so she could bow properly to her BIshop.

The door closed and they heard the Bishop walk down the stairs to the tavern below.

“Well, where did that come from?” Kreet asked as she lay back down, cuddling her eggs.

“Oh, I don’t know. Just something I thought of when we were riding through the city the other day. The sewers were a problem here, sure. But also there’s just no reason for people who don’t live here to come down here. Out there are all these nice spaces, parks, squares. If the Inn is going to be a success, it needs to have a reason for being here I thought. Not just the cheapest rooms in the city.”

“It is smart thinking. There’s more to you than a perfect lover after all, my husband!” Kreet said, and patted the space beside her.

************

The next evening brought an unexpected visitor to the Baby Dragon Inn. Though Kreet was feeling back to normal by then, she was still spending most of her days with the eggs. She found them fascinating and, though Night’s was obviously the most unusual, she soon found herself just as enamored with the other two. Movement from within had become more common, and she loved to balance them between her breasts while feeling their movements with her snout.

She had Kalindra there when Kallid rushed in from the tavern.

“Kreet! You’ll never guess who’s here!”

Stolen novel; please report.

Kreet thought of Eilistraee immediately, but brushed that thought aside. It wouldn’t be like the goddess to show up in the tavern anyway. She would probably just… appear!

“No idea, who?”

“Miss Tribi! She wants to come up and see you, but I thought I’d better make sure it’s okay first.”

Kreet sat up, covering herself. “Oh of course, Kallid! Don’t be silly. Bring her up!”

The stairs always creaked when someone came up them. Kreet and Kallid’s room was the first off the stairs so they always knew when someone was going up or down, but Kreet couldn’t help but notice they creaked a little more as Miss Tribi climbed them.

The assistant archivist had not changed since last she’d met her under the cathedral, but she had obviously gone shopping and was wearing a new, brightly colored dress rather than the austere outfit she’d had on in the archives. Kreet hugged her warmly.

“Oh, I’m sorry to bother you, Kreet,” Miss Tribi apologized, “But I just had to see them! And… well, Mr. Feltix insisted as well. He wants me to document them, but I’d have begged to come anyway. I may never see the like again.”

“Of course, Miss Tribi! Come around here. They’re on my blanket-pile over here,” Kreet said, leading the way.

MIss Tribi’s eyes began to water when she saw them.

“Oh!” was all she could say, and Kreet realized suddenly what this meant to the older kobold, who likely would never see her own eggs. Miss Tribi’s eyes shifted colors to a deep shade of blue, a motherly shade. Kreet suspected her own eyes might look like that when she held her children.

“Here. Don’t be shy. Sit on the bed and I’ll introduce you.”

Miss Tribi’s eyes looked so pleading that suddenly Kreet realized she’d lost any animosity she might have felt towards this woman due to her interest in her husband. She had Miss Tribi lay back against the headboard so she could cuddle them properly.

“Okay, this is Grace. As you can see, she’s going to have my coloration. She’s the most energetic of the bunch. You’ll feel her moving inside, I’m sure,” Kreet said as she gently lifted the egg and set it on top of Miss Tribi.

The tears began to flow down Miss Tribi’s cheeks, and she looked at Kreet with such gratitude that no words were needed. Kreet didn’t comment, she just squeezed Miss Tribi’s hand in understanding.

“...and this is NIght. For obvious reasons. He’s the youngest. Last one out. We’ve no idea how he’s come to be that color, but he’s certainly going to be one stand-out kobold.”

Miss Tribi took the dark blue egg and nestled it beside the other. “Oh! I felt Grace move!”

“Oh sure. They all do now. But Grace was the first. She’s probably going to be the first to hatch. She’s practically jumping around in there now!”

As Kreet handed the last of her eggs to Miss Tribi, she had an idea. The joy on Miss Tribi’s face was as genuine as it could possibly be. She really should have been a mother, Kreet thought.

“Say, can you keep them just a minute?” Kreet said, an inspiration coming to her.

“Of course Kreet! Take as long as you want. They’re just wonderful!”

Kreet took Kallid, who had been watching, outside into the hallway and they spoke in whispers.

“Miss Tribi?” Kreet said as they re-entered the room. “I was thinking…”

Miss Tribi looked up away from the eggs for a moment. “Yes?”

“Now, please don’t get me wrong, but I was thinking… well, we were thinking… You know, running an Inn and tavern is a full time job. And once these little guys hatch, they’re going to be a handful.”

Miss Tribi caught on to where it was going and the grin that began to creep over her features would have impressed a crocodile.

“Miss Tribi, would you consider, maybe, coming over to look after them after they’ve hatched? Just whenever you can. I’m sure Mr. Feltix would love to get more knowledge of kobolds that you could provide.”

“Really Kreet? You mean it?”

“I mean it, Miss Tribi.”

“Fuck Mr. Feltix, I’ll quit if he doesn’t let me! Oh… sorry. I guess that’s not proper language for a babysitter to use.”

Kreet laughed. “Can I assume then that you’ll do it?”

“You certainly can!”

“We’ll, we’d be glad to have you,” Kallid said. “But I’ve got to get back downstairs. Kreet, I’ll trust you two to work things out?”

“Absolutely,” she said, and then whispered, “Thanks Kally!”

He gave Kreet a kiss and left the room, and Kreet began to take the eggs off of Miss Tribi and place them back on the blanket-pile.

“Kreet,” she said as she handed the last one back. “I… I’m sorry for what I was like back in the archives. I mean… about Kallid.”

“Were you being honest?” Kreet said while setting Grace back with her siblings.

“Yes. But… I shouldn’t have said that. Now you’ll be thinking…”

“What? That you’re hot for my husband? Yeah. I’ll be thinking that. But I’d prefer you to be honest with me than to hide something like that.”

Kreet sat beside her on the bed.

“Miss Tribi, I feel like you’re my friend. Probably my best friend, since I don’t really have any besides Kallid and Sigmundurr. I know Kallid though. He would never. Somewhere deep down I’m a little insecure, sure. But I know my husband. And I think I’m beginning to know you better too. As long as you’re honest with me, I’m okay with it.”

“I’ll be honest with you, I promise,” Miss Tribi said. “I’ve never really had a friend before. I don’t really know how to do it.”

Kreet shrugged. “Just be there, I think. Pretty sure that’s all you need to do. And love my kids. Which I can already see you do.”

Miss Tribi looked back at the eggs. Grace wobbled a little.

“I do!” she said.