While the Officials murmured it up amongst themselves, Gordon directed his attention from the Odd horned lady. He had for a long time wondered who these two ladies where. The one that wore a crown of horns and the one that was almost like she was alive...

He noticed that the God-King and the First Consort seemed to be mentally talking with each other, as they stared into each other's eyes. Gordon was always thankful for his eyesight... He wasn't sure why, but he had always maintained perfect undead vision, and he was using it now to see that the Consort nodding and shaking her head. After another round of nodding, came the notice for attention.

Clank...!

All the Officials, in the stands and on the floor drew the collective gaze to the God-King.

"With business out of the way, I would like to make a few announcements of a more... Personal nature.

I hope that all present knows of my First Consort, Consort Leslie."

The God-King nodded a few times, as the Officials agreed in a low tone. They, of course, knew of the zealous lady of the God-King. In fact, it was still fresh in the minds of many of the female Officials the way the God-King announced her 'his consort.'

"I would also make mention that many here, should know I have a Second Consort. Consort Emily of the Grand Tomb of Neolith. She has been sitting with Us today, but many may not have recognized her. Allow me to introduce her new appearance, as she has come of age." The God-King finished and gestured to his left, to the Lady that bore the crowns of horns.

Many Officials gasped... Many female Officials gasped louder than the others.

[That drooling zombie is... The Princess-Ambassador?!?] Gordon couldn't understand. In fact, many Officials didn't understand. She was a zombie! A zombie of nobility of the Grand Tomb of Neolith...?! The Grand Tomb of Neolith was widely known for its outright disregard for zombies. Saigunrai had even been recently 'invaded' by a motley crew of zombies that were said to be this Consort's dowry!

Most Officials assumed these 'refugee' Zombies of Neolith were nothing more, but the dredges cast away and pawned off to Deagoth.

The Officials thought of something else... She was pretty if it wasn't for the crown of horns. What did that crown mean? Even the First Consort didn't wear a crown of horns, so they didn't understand. Some searched their memories of the customs of Neolith and didn't find anything besides their spider tiaras, and only the crowned princess wore one. As for the Queen, it went without saying she wore the crown of queen, the Spider's crown, that signified her status upon her bone skull...

"Consort Emily, my second consort, sister-consort to Consort Leslie. Please welcome her and treat her as you would befitting her status. In her stay, We have discovered that she is very talented in alchemy and has already contributed greatly to Deagoth. As the ancients used Bone Steel Ashe Mix... With recent discoveries, and her work with the High Alchemist Raleigh, A Bone Steel Ashe Mix substitute has been discovered, that has been deemed Holy Concrete! This Holy Concrete will be the building material of Bellum!" the God-King issued forth!

Only a handful of Officials understood the meaning of Holy Concrete as a replacement for Bone Steel Ashe Mix, and just want this meant for Deagoth! Those few spoke to the ones next to them, who in turn passed it on... The God-King left silent for a few moments, as it seemed he waited for the information to circulate.

"Gordy, you know what Holy Concrete or bone ashes whatever means?" Official Kravenoose leaned over to ask.

"Hmph... Should have paid more attention in school all those years ago... Bone Steel Ashe is the material the Lich King made all of his buildings! Hell, it's even said that the times before the Lich King they used the material. Shit's damn strong! You can still find old ruins built with it. The only reason Neolith isn't a sunken crater is because it's made mostly out of the stuff... Who knows who made it?"

"Oh... So... This new city is going to last forever?"

"...Might as well, as far as we are concerned... But We could sell this Holy Concrete for so much money!" Gordon’s voice shook.

The God-King continued now that most of the talk passed, "My second piece of news concerns the lady of the throne to my right." The God-King pointed to the otherworldly beauty.

"Most of you may know that We were visited by Vampires of the distant Sanguinary Empire. This is Princess Eris, but she should now be known as Third Consort Eris."

Third Consort Eris waved to the Officials like a celebrity, unbefitting of the reserved nature of undead royalty, but so charmed by her looks, most of the undead with a flesh fetish let it pass. Many female Officials spat when they saw these perverted Official salivate.

"My Consorts... Are to be treated as you would treat me. If you have any questions about their orders, you may ask the pope to speak to me directly. I maybe your God-King but I will answer worthy questions.

[How do you like that... Celibate for two thousand years, and then takes three consorts within a year...] Gordon wondered the backwards acting of the God-King... It seemed the rest of the Officials rolled with the changes, but why did Gordon feel he was the only one that felt everything took a one-eighty since his reawakening... Perhaps it was best to die with such thoughts to himself.

"As for my last piece of news..." The God-King stood up for the third time, but this time he was accompanied by the First Consort, Consort Leslie, "My First Consort was kind enough to allow me to love her. We have both decided that on the day of the new City of Bellum's Official opening, will be the day of Our Black Wedding, and the beginning of a new Era and Chapter for the History of Deagoth!"

Moved by the words of the God-King, many female Official's clapped their bony hands together, as they too stood up...

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Many muttered, the words 'that she was kind enough to ALLOW him to love her!'

Seeing the female Official's standing and clapping, many of the denser males followed suit and stood as they clapped.

After the thunderous applause started to wane, the God-King was heard, "Pope Lucius... bring court to an end... The Consorts are tired, as so am I... We retire. Court again in six months, unless pressing matters need to be attended."

*******

Just after entering Deagoth from the Border of Stonedge at the outskirts of a mid-sized town called Sulzheim, did the clacking of hooves beat on a cobblestone road.

"Trip, trap, trip, trap" did the hooded girl sound, as she walked down the center of town. It was not unusual for undead to pass this way, so thought the residents of this border down. Many, however, were spooked by any unknown undead, due to the constant raiding of Stonedge.

It was said that the, now, God-King would be siding his forces... But that was half a year ago... Where were they?

"Trip, trap, trip, trap"

Did the hooded girl continue, until she passed a pub. She looked upward to the sign, though she could vaguely guess what the runic symbols of voidic meant, she could care less as long as they served milk...

As Trip, trap, trip tape turn to blip, blap, blip, blap sounding dull on the bone floor of the pub, the bell rang as the door closed behind the little hooded girl.

Many of the pubs undead looked up from their dice games and conversations over black bubbling mead.

"blip, blap, blip, blap" the Little girl walked to the counter of the pub with what little sense she had...

The tall skeletal Bartender looked over the counter down to the hooded girl to see her face.

"Welcome to the Yellow Face Inn and Pub... Staying for the night, or just a place to rest?" The Bartender, come, innkeeper asked. He found it strange that a nice looking little undead girl was by herself... Her parents must have been of money with just a nice-looking body for their child.

"Milk'aaaah." The Little girl spoke with an odd tone in her voice.

"Milk?" The bartender asked, and once he received her nodding, he reached to the back where the ice coolers were to fetch what they had for milk. These ice coolers were supplied ice by the ice cultivators of the town for Cubiks.

He turned back with a covered tankard, as he spoke, "Little one, I'm not sure if you like Underworld Goat Milk... It's an acquired taste, as I suspect that you would be more into Rich Bat's Milk..."

"I looooove goat's milk. It's the Baaah-est!"

"Oh, alright then, here." The Bartender took out a small glass and filled it, as he passed it to her.

Down in a gulp, as she asked, "More."

"Oh?"

Again, he poured, and again, "More."

"..." The Bartender now curious about how much she could drink, just passed her the tankard, and was surprised when she didn't show any weakness in lifting the tankard to her mouth gulping down the think yellowish-gray milk.

Finally finishing with an "Aaaah," the little girl hefted the Tankard back to the counter.

"Well, then... That's going to be five bits of a Cubik." The Bartender finally priced as he laughed seeing her so satisfied.

"What's a cubeah'kik?"

"Huh?"

"Not sure..." The little girl spoke again.

"You know? Monies? Say where's your mama, little one? I'm sure she'll pay... Don't tell me you wandered off from her..." The bartender wasn't much worried about five bits of a Cubik. After all, she was just a little thing, and she was cute, soooooo Bias.

"My mommy is with my daddy making more mes. My daddy sent me to find his Baaah-estfriend. So, I was thirsty... Ask for milk and directions... I thought I was going the right way... baaah-ta, I don't know."

"Well... Who's your mommy, little one. She could pay for you, and if she tells me where you guys are going, I would be more than happy to help you."

"Really? Baaah-ta... Mommies home. Do you know where the God of this land lives?"

The bartender scratched the back of his head... "Little one... The God of this Land? Like the God-King? He lives in Saigunrai, the capital of this Kingdom. You sure you want to know how to get there... It's not really safe going by yourself and with no money... I not sure..."

"No problem mister... Mommy and daddy showed me how to defend myself." The little girl persisted and seemed confident.

"Well... Follow the road out of town to the south... Keep following it through another town to Sosuhalf, go between the twin peaks and to the harbor of Herecn. There you can ferry to Saigunrai for Cubiks, or take the long way around the inlet and follow the shore to Saigunrai that way... It's a long trip."

"No probaah-lem."

The little girl nodded and turned.

"Wait... Wait... Little one... You should go back home, or at least get your mommy here."

The little girl stopped and turned... "Do you want to know my Mommy's name?

"Ummm... I don't know if I know her, but if it's a good last name, I might know her people."

"Hehe, here." The little girl walked closer to the counter and called to the Bartender to lean down.

He did so...

"Closer to me, so I can whisper it to you."

The Bartender thought it odd, he had good undead hearing, but... okay...?

The sounds of goat bleating, and guttural sounds issued not unlike before, but with an odd up tone in swing... almost like the happy sounds of kids playing in the farm fields.

The little girl giggled, as she turned around and walked out of the pub come inn.

"blip, blap, blip, blap" As she pushed the door open, and walked out... Many of the pub-goers that were interested in the little girl turned back to see the Bartender Sean begin to contort and turn...

Tables turned and crashed spilling mead, dice, and foods all over the floor, as some bailed out of the door, and others crawled out of the windows.

The others trapped on the inside, watched as dark flesh twisted on the bones of the skeletal undead, as he continued.

The glimpses of the Bartender and his otherworldly screams continued, until finally, he got up from behind the counter, as he looked around.

Those still left watched on in amazement...

The Bartender... The keeper of the Inn... Sean... Was alive...! Healthy skin, and rosy cheeks... Unlike anything these undead seen before!

But before they could ask, or question what this was... they soon saw the healthy flesh turn dark, and gray... A deathly color rose, and patches of flesh turned dead and fell to the floor. Pieces and patches of hair fell...

Until finally, Sean got to his mirror and looked, as he knew something was wrong with his looks.

"Hot damn!" Sean cried in joy.

"S-Sean?" One old master of the pub called out that was too unlucky to leave fast enough, witness the scene.

"Yeah, old Bobby! It's a miracle! Must be the God-King's child! When did he get a child?! Or was it best friend?! I don't know but this is great!"

"Sean??? Wut tha hell did it do to ya?"

"Old Bobby, you senile old bastard, you remember I used to be the hot stuff of this town years ago, before my accident at the mines of the Grimnights! This is my flesh! I never wanted to be a skeleton!"

"Wut?" Old Bobby asked in confusion!

"I bet my wife will take me back now! Old Bobby, I'll pay ya two Cubiks to close the place. I'm going to go see Barbara! REAPING IS BACK ON THE MENU BOYS!"

The door opened, as a half-nude Sean, kicked an undead out of his way still blocking the way, as he ran out across the street yelling his wife's name.

"..." Old Bobby got up and dusty himself off... Went to the Counter and took the good bottle of Whiskey Weed from behind the counter and chugged it.

"I'll take this, Eep... For me payment... Eep..." Old Bobby, the large Zombie and old master of the town hiccupped twice before yelling in his old captain's voice, "ALRIGHT YA GITS! BEST GETS THE FUQ OUT THIS PUB OR UP IN THE INN! BUT YA BEST BE FINDING A PLACE TO STAY! OLD BOBBY'S IN CHARGE TONIGHT!"

A ruckus raised when others came to see the commotion and the clergy were informed the following day the bats rose to fly...