My two cats take me to my nexr world trilogy plus related stories by D.A. Sanford - HTML preview
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An Amazon with worries
There is a strange thing that has governed the harem since the Watcher was revealed. Only a few of the harem have been pregnant at a time. Right now, only Sorra is and she is getting close to delivering. She is at the irritable time. One too many hovering. That one is her father, Draco.
I have been through this a few times now so I learned that a woman in the pains of birth and the last weeks before are a force that you don’t want to tangle with. Even something as simple as asking how their doing can trigger a feral response that would scare away even the most battle harden warrior.
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Some males are thick skinned. None more than a dragon father when his only child is close to delivering. He has taken up a residence at the manor and is in the room that is reserved for royalty. Not happy with that, Draco wanted the room next door to Sorra.
Even though each of my wives have their own room, they very rarely use them. When a wife is close to delivering, they usually retreat to their room or the others do. This is “me” time for them. I will, if invited, join them for some private pampering.
Draco is constantly barging in to see if she is all right. Sorra has repeatedly told him that she is well taken care of. She has a midwife familiar with dragon newt birthing but as an extra bonus she has an ethereal Watching her.
This interaction has not escaped the attention of the protectors. They have tried to divert his attention, tried to occupy his time elsewhere but finally have posted a barricade, a barrier of impenetrable proportion. They are lined up in front of Sorra’s door, two rows deep. This only slows him down.
He resorts to underhanded tactics.
He shouts up the hallway,
“Who wants some cake?”
The ranks one weakness, the majority breaks rank and gets cake. One thing that he did not consider, or should I say two. Rachael and Mazet. He came back to the door and was confronted with crossed armed angry looks.
“Grandpa Draco, we are so disappointed in your tactics. You may have weakened our defense but you forgot something.”
She points behind him.
There is the army coming back to their positions carrying their cake, with one exception.
There were two of them carrying two plates of cake. They took up their positions and gave the extra plates to Mazet and Rachael. With a smug look they ate cake.
From inside her room you could hear Sorra laugh but then they heard her say
“Let him in but get the midwife in here. I think it is time.”
A well-rehearsed reaction starts. Half start down the hall and the other half go up the hall.
With one voice, the manor hears,
“Alert, Alert, It’s time, it’s time”
This is repeated until everyone is contacted. Funny thing is, they never dropped so much as a crumb of the cake. After alerting, they went to the table. Their job was done.
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The wives now have formed the core of the blockade. I have taken Draco to another area. We sat in the lounge area of the war room. I should say that I sat, Draco paced and paced and paced.
I had flash backs to the old world and could see him constantly looking at a watch. So I ask him,
“Is this how you were when your wife gave birth?”
He said that she gave birth while he was on a mission. That gave me an idea.
“Why don’t you burn off that energy. Go outside and take flight. I would think that it would be nice to go to Beall and get a birthing gift. for your grandchild.”
Without thinking, his mind is not here anyways, he goes out and flies to Beall.
I tell Sorra that he has gone to Beall on a mission to get a birthing present.
“Good, now you need to go. I don’t care if you have seen this before. This part is women’s territory. Dragon tradition.”
They usher me out and close the door. It turns out that they gave the girls of the army the new, after cake, assignment to keep men out and those little girls take it seriously. Mazet looks at me and says,
“I love you daddy but we have our orders.”
I make a playful move towards the door.
“Mommy!” Mazet yells and Beez comes out of the room.
“
Justin! I expect better from you.” She is trying not to even smile.
“I’ve been caught.” And I collapse to the floor.
Now I am being attacked by a giggling Mazet. I grab her into a hug then escape their clutches. Now I feel relaxed.
I remember in the old world, men were not allowed to be in the delivery room. By the time I hit my fifties, men in the delivery room were common place.
I don’t mind. The harem takes on all aspects of the birth, right down to holding the mother-to-be’s hand. Hilda has chosen to help the midwife. As the midwife calls for items, Hilda will get that. Strange thing is that this seasoned warrior. as Sorra is in the final stages of the birth, the sight of the mess of blood and fluids are starting to make her sick. So much so that she must leave and throw up.
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Draco is finally back. He is loaded with things. Did he buy out Beall? With his superior hearing, he hears the cry of the newborn baby. He almost forgets to transform. He is left wondering why he cannot get in. It was a servant that told him that he needed to change his form. He did and ran to the room.
There greeting him was Sorra holding the baby. Justin was sitting on the corner. He had given the baby back to Sorra when he heard the commotion. He wanted Sorra to present her father with the news.
Draco is just standing frozen in place. Sorra says to him,
“Granddaddy come hold you first grandchild.”
He stumbles over and takes the child from her. The mighty dragon king is in tears as he looks at the baby. Sorra lovingly remarks,
“I wish mom could see you.”
“She does.” He whispers.
Then she knocks him into nirvana.
“Daddy, what do you think of Draco?”
I could hear his brain grinding gears as it tries to process what he just heard.
“Draco? It’s a boy? You named him after me?” I just made it in time with the chair as he started to sit.
“You have a grandson and yes we named him after you. We had decided that before he was born. If it was a girl we would have named her Zoe, after mommy.” Sorra was absolutely beaming.
The Watcher then told us that he was destined to do great heroic things, things that will change the world for the better. The name is fitting. She then tells us that Justin’s name will also be carried on to the same greatness but it will be alongside his older brother. They will exceed their namesakes in advancing the peace for all races.
The three of us realize just what was revealed to us. Sons, brothers will go on to greatness together.
While we are digesting that, the watcher goes on to tell us that our protector duo, Rachael and Mazet will go on the be famed righters of injustice. All the children will achieve greatness in their own right. We are told to keep this to ourselves. She will reveal it when it is time. That old line reappeared once again.
Now that she is done, Rae lets everyone filter in. Only one problem, Draco does not want to give the baby up. He does find out that the harem rules but the protectors know just how to 203
handle a dragon. They stand there, all looking angry, hands on their hips and then Rachael scolds him.
“Grandpa Draco. You need to be an example to us. You are not sharing. Baby Draco needs his mommies.”
Then she starts tapping her foot.
We are amazed. The great dragon king defeated by the kitten Rachael. Draco gives up his prize possession. Sorra does remind him that they will need to wait for the big event. The emergence of his wings, after all he is a dragon newt. The wings usually come out in two months.
That is the time of a big celebration. The species anatomy, the wings emerging is the same as an adult. They already have the cover flap. It is just the wings need a few more weeks to wiggle in the pouch and start to strengthen. The mother can tell when the wings are starting to emerge. The baby wants to be on its stomach and the process seems to tickle them so they start to laugh. Sometimes even in their sleep.
Much to our surprise, Draco starts to giggle at three weeks. It is almost psychic, his name sake shows and is witness to the wings emerging. He is on a large high and insists on throwing the party since it is the king’s grandson and heir to the throne.
Hilda has been elated to see the addition to the family and takes turns holding him. We notice that she is a little off. Not the usual Hilda. I ask Christine to have a look at her.
Christine has already been observing her. She sees the same but with a different view. There have been more than a few times that Hilda has been sick lately. She knows but needs to confirm her suspicions. After examining her, she comes out and Hilda announces that she is pregnant.
Missy is actually angry at herself. She cannot understand why she is not pregnant. She knows that Christine is, with Justin’s acceptance of her wishes, is taking a potion to prevent her from conceiving. Martha has not had her mating ceremony so they have not mated. Even the watcher has had children. Hell the servants have had them, not with Justin.
Christine has had her eye on Missy and thinks that in a few more weeks.
After the school girls calm down. Draco, the king, looks at me
“Don’t you ever give it a rest?”
“I try but They even know how to pick the lock on my door. Sometimes, Christine needs to cast a heal on me.”
Overhearing that, Christine tells him,
“You bet I heal him. Especially if it is my turn on the pony.”
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She pats me on the back.
The situation that she thought would never happen to her is a great delight but her thoughts turn to her partner. She feels that she needs to talk with her. So, she goes to find Beez. This time of the day, she is not hard to find. She will be on the field.
‘Can we talk?” she asks.
Beez stops her exercise.
“Sure. What do you need to talk about?”
“In the next few months, I’ll start to show. This is my first child. I have seen you and others go into combat almost full term. I’m scared. I could have, before meeting Justin, never dreamed of having a child. I have never considered myself a coward but”
“You don’t want to lose the baby. Am I right?”
Hilda has a very submissive side. She answers Beez meekly. “Yes”
“All you have to do is explain to Justin your feelings and he will respect them.”
“But what about the high low twin terrors?”
“You need to think about yourself. There are others that can step up.”
That is really what she is worried about. They will find someone to replace her. She’ll become redundant, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted. The watcher comes over, grabs Hilda’s hand and leads her to Justin.
“We need to talk. Hilda is having a crisis of not being of any use because she is expecting.
She feels that she will be replaced on the team permanently and will be a drain on everyone.
The biggest fear is that she will be letting you down.” I look at her. I’m taken aback.
“I love you. You are a vital part of this family. You will never be replaced. I wanted each of the women to retire from the field when they first were found to be pregnant but they did not listen to me. I worry the entire time with each. I worried about Sorra. Even if you chose to not go on quests and retire to motherhood you will still be needed.”
In that instant, Hilda was being group hugged. The army is here. The biggest difference is that the harem is also here
The children always know. I now realize that they must have that power. They always know.
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As I’m thinking that, the Watcher just looks at me and smiles. I’ve found, or always knew that she had something to do with it.
“Mommy Hilda is a little confused. What can we do to make her feel better? She is afraid that if she goes with the team, she may hurt the baby that is inside her.”
“Well then,” Rachael states, “Mommy Hilda, would you please start to train us formally? All we do now is watch and copy. You could teach us proper. We want to get better.”
At that Hilda breaks down. The tall Amazon kneels down to that kitten’s level and tells her that she will be their teacher.
They are all bouncing. Now Rachael turns to me
“Papa Justin, we need to get Sophia her armor and could you ask grandpa Drago if she could have a sash?”
” As far as the armor, it is already made. The sash though, you and Mazet are their leaders. I think that you need to go to your grandpa and ask. You know where he is.”
With that they all go running.
The Watcher now calls for a harem meeting. Being a future wife, Martha is included. They all go but as Martha starts to go, she gives me a kiss. The school girls are back.
“Thank you for Sophia.”
It was just a little later in the day when the army came to me, while I was talking to Draco.
Rachael and Mazet brought Sophia forward. She was standing proud in her new armor. The had already talked to their grandpa. We looked at her and complimented her on how good she looked in that armor. Then Draco talked to her.
“Granddaughter Sophia have you decided what you want to be? A defender or a healer?”
Proudly she says that she wants to be a healer. He then produced a sash and put it on her. It had the dragon with the halo.
“You are now a dragon protector.”
Now the army ran off and we heard as they left. Now they have to show mommy Martha.
`
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The progenitor and Martha’s wedding
It has been a month since his grandson was born. Draco is bursting at the seams. His grandson’s wings have emerged a month early but they are fully developed and he is handsome. Draco is already flapping them like crazy. The amazing thing is, is that for the first time in the modern dragon history, the wings have the beginnings of horn like protrusions on the wing’s mid joint and tip. The only instance of this was the first and supreme dragon Kron.
The first progenitor.
He was just as baffled when the Watcher just smiled and said that all the children were destined to make their mark in world history.
Now he is inspired. Justin is walking by and Draco calls him over.
“I need to go back to my home and arrange the celebration.”
Martha is now here and is listening. Draco continues,
“I need to send a letter to the Matriarch Gabor. She needs to be here also.”
Martha can’t wait for Justin any longer. Men are slow.
“Tell Matriarch Gabor that she will also be needed to certify our mating. I am tired of waiting.
Justin is this okay with you?”
“I was just waiting on you being ready.”
She says with a little exasperation
“Yup, men. Justin, I was waiting on you. I want to be of the harem and claimed by you.”
Little ears.
We suddenly hear.
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“Alert, Alert momma Martha and papa Justin are going to be married.”
We need to teach them about the difference between intelligence gathering and eaves dropping. Wait, it hit me, what’s the difference. We still need to talk but the room is filling with family.
It was a collective, it’s about time. Martha said that it was her that ordered it.
Missy in a not so happy mood tells Martha,
“Why is it always on us.”
Christine takes hold of her and drags her off saying
“You have not been yourself lately. I’m looking you over.”
The group is watching as frantic claws try to purchase a hold on the tile floors.
Getting back to the matter as we still hear her protests.
“I really would like to hold the ceremony here at the manor” Martha informs Draco.
With the age of baby Draco, Sorra agrees. “I want it here also. With the rate he is developing, Draco may reach the involuntary flight stage sooner than expected. It will be easier to control that here. Her father reluctantly agrees. Martha also wants a discreet mating so she would like it here.
That is a disappointment for the king. He could order both celebrations to be at his palace but these are no strangers.
“We can have them both here but I insist that my decorators do the formal settings. Those settings, I will not compromise on.”
With that settled, Draco goes to start the preparations.
After he left, I was tackled by a bouncing felid that was followed by Christine.
Missy screams as loud as she can
“WE’RE PREGNANT!!!!!!”
She smothers me with kisses. To say that we all are in the mood for a large celebration is an understatement. A birth, two pregnancies and a wedding. For Missy though, she can now breathe. She thought that the spay job I had done to her in the old world carried over. As ridiculous as that sounds
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Almost the next day, there is a rather large contingent of the dragon clan swarming over the manor. Very respectful of our space, they also have chosen the great hall for the celebrations.
First and foremost, the room is enclosed. If the baby erupts into uncontrolled flight, he will not get out.
It would be a great honor for everyone if he did. The way he is going, the uncontrolled flapping, retracting and unfurling. He may just take flight before that.
The other reason that the great hall is perfect, it has the rooms off of it for the certification ceremony. They don’t have the changing closets but there is a connecting door to the rooms and each have a large bathroom for changing. It will work. Draco’s crew will make it work.
Out of curiosity, after they have finished the rooms, I look. The bathrooms are near the entrance door and room connecting door. They have a floor to ceiling room divider. They set up the baskets and robes. Once we change, they will put our after clothes and the scabbard for the sword.
I am amazed. I almost would think that I was at Draco’s palace Matriarch Gabor, anxious to see Martha, arrived at the same time that Draco returned. She was excited see baby Draco and was in awe that he is so far ahead of the normal dragon newt. When he started flapping his wings, she looked at them and the immediately took a knee in front of the child.
“He is the one!”
She exclaims. Gabor then looks at Martha.
“You had to have known.”
To which Martha replies
“I knew once I saw him but it was not for me to confirm. That is the matriarch’s duty if it ever happened.”
On that matriarch Gabor stood before all of us and the dragon staff that came to the room.
“The Watcher is asked to come forward and confirm what I am about to declare.”
She comes forward and they talk. Gabor points out aspects of the baby and the Watcher nods in affirmation.
The two turn and face the multitude. Gabor takes on a formal form and tone.
“King Draco, king of the Clan of the Dragon, Justin Martin, chief of the Clan of Martin and Sorra Martin wife of Justin and daughter of the king and Missy Martin. You are all required to step forward.”
Startled, we do.
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“To you King Draco, Justin Martin and Sorra, on specific conformation by the entity known as the Watcher, it is my solemn duty to announce that this baby is the progenitor of the new era of this world. He will ultimately lead this world to a peace that we have never known. A peace that will last until the end of time. He along with his felid brother will co rule the world. In justice and most of all in fairness to all.”
Then the watcher shouts,
ALL HAIL SORRA MARTIN’S BABY DRACO MARTIN AND HIS FUTURE BROTHER.
JUSTIN MARTIN TO BE BORN TO MISSY MARTIN.”
A round of hail is sounded and a loud thud of a pushy, head strong, funny Missy Martin fainting on the floor.
When she is revived, she is escorted, along with Sorra to a side room by the Watcher and matriarch Gabor. Hilda, Beez, Christine and Martha are told that they are also needed.
“The two of you are no longer just women. You’re responsible for the whole wellbeing of the world.” The Watcher states.
Matriarch Gabor tells them
“Neither of you are allowed to go on missions that will jeopardize your lives. Your loss would throw off the outcome of the world.”
The Watcher speaks to Beez
“Beez Martin, your daughter Mazet will grow up to be a righter of justice along with her sister Rachael. They will take up the banner of justice leading their sibling army. The harem, from this day forward will train those children that are now the army. I will tell you that none of the clan children will be harmed in any way during their life time.”
“Hilda Martin” Gabor continues. “The child, Ellenore Martin, that you carry will be a vital aid to the two. They will have the wisdom as will your child but your child will be the grounding rod for the two. She will end up as their Chamberlin. You also will not be allowed to go on missions like Sorra and Missy.”
The Watcher now speaks.
“Christine Martin, after these two give birth, it will be your turn to become pregnant. You will deliver twins. They both will follow in your foot steps as great doctors and advance this world to beyond the level of the world that Justin came from.”
Gabor speaks to Martha
“My beloved predecessor, Sophia will go on to nurture orphans, foundlings like herself. She along with your twins will also change the world. They will put themselves out of business.
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They will finally convince those who cast out their offspring to die, that it is a crime against the world. They will establish a network to match those who do not want or cannot care for all the children they have with those who cannot have them but desperately want them.”
For one last time in this meeting the Watcher addresses all
“After Martha is added, the harem will be at capacity. There will be no one else added. The team will continue but with out you. The five men that you first helped will be the new leaders of teams. Justin will now be the chief leader of all the teams and assign the missions to the proper team. Those teams will be in various places to be closer to the areas. Your husband, like yourselves will no longer go out.”
The watcher continues
“Along with Justin and the harem, Chip and Abigail are now retired from missions. All of you will be the teachers of the future generations of peace keepers. Both Justin and Chip have an extremely important task that they must perform for the comfort of all. I’m tired of these clothes. They need to invent denim. I need my blue jeans and white t shirts and so do you.
We may need a few designs to print on the T shirts to promote our teams. You will drive him to exhaustion when he sees all of you in them.”
With that the meeting was over. The two informed Justin, Chip and Abigail about the mandate that will protect the future. Justin likes the part of the clothes. He is looking at his women and fantasizing. They see him looking and each strike poses then laugh. All he can do in defense is think about the things that he needs to do for the jeans, no, I mean the celebrations. That’s right celebrations.
It’s the emergence celebration first. The entire Clan of the Dragon is here. The word has spread throughout the various dragon clans. Representatives from all of them have been granted attendance. All seem to be carrying requests for a marriage contract.
The celebration starts and Matriarch Gabor addresses them
“We are gathered here, in the tradition of dragons to celebrate the emergence of the wings.
The word has spread through out the dragon world about this child. His wings came out a month early. He shows all the outward signs of the expected one.”
There was a cry from Sorra as Draco escapes from her arms and starts to fly around the room. This is not the erratic flight that normally happens after the wings emerge. This seems to be controlled flight. All are amazed as he swoops and turns. It is almost like an aerobatic display.
There is one thing that throws everyone in shock. They witness something that has not been known or seen ever. Midflight, Draco is changing. He goes from his baby dragon newt form to full baby dragon and as he flies back to his mother, he changes once again. He lands in his mother’s arms as a normal human baby that shows no dragon or dragon newt sign. After a few seconds like that, he reverts to his true dragon newt form and is giggling.
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Looking around the room, all the dragons are kneeling. They have seen something that has never been seen. Draco is a triple changer. That has never happened. Even king Draco, when he changes, still has wings and other aspects of his true form. The baby, in his human form showed absolutely no sign.
Gabor is a loss for words at the spectacle she had just seen. It’s the Watcher that speaks.
“You now have seen proof. You have to bear witness to every corner of your world that the first has arrived. His second has been conceived and is to be born to Missy Martin. Now that it is known, there will be forces in this world that will do anything to prevent it. It is now the duty of the dragon world to prevent that from happening but that must not be through aggression.
Act only on direct threats. These two mothers’ and their children are under the dragon’s protection as with any of the residents in this manor. Remember the lessons learned from the Battle of Everett’s demise.”
They all know what is required. The chief of Beal speaks to the gathering even though he is not scheduled.
“Speaking for the people of Beall, who are under the clan’s protection, our land is your land.
You may, if you want, build whatever structure you feel that you may need to assure the protection of this family.”
The celebration has a joyful but at the same time a somber tone. Everyone came up to see Draco up close. A line was set up. There was no talk of marriage contracts. Those would come later because Justin told the gathering that it would be at his son’s first birthday that they would entertain joining contract.
The king, Justin Sorra with Draco and Missy. As the dragons went by, the males would kiss Missy’s and Sorra’s hands. The females however would place their hand on Missy’s stomach and whisper something. Each time she would feel something physical. Something that felt comforting. Then the females would touch Draco and whisper. Even though he was sleeping, he still would giggle at their touch.
She finally asked Sorra,
“I cannot understand true dragon. What are they saying? I feel something each time.”
“They are blessing the child within you and you feel that it is affecting the whole litter for the good. All of your litter will be strong and healthy. That is the blessing they are giving you.”
Missy is having trouble keeping from bouncing. She wants to climb something, anything, but she has to stay in line. Now she almost weeps as another female dragon blesses her.
It was a long party. No one wanted to leave. They were hoping for Draco to fly again but it looks like that show took a lot out of him and he slept through the line of people that is also tradition. Soon after the line was done, Sorra took him out to feed him and put him to bed.
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The dignitaries from the various dragon clans were put up here in the manor but king Draco offered accommodation to the remainder in his home domain.
The next day was for grandpa Draco’s staff to change over to the mating ceremony. We could unwind somewhat from yesterday but we were tripping over the extra people. Out on the training ground were our usuals but now we had spectators. There were now additions. The onlookers are amazed to see the children broken in small groups and each group are being trained in that instructor’s skills. To the onlookers, they look so young but they don’t know.
All the on lookers knew was that they were there. Those children are the protectors, they needed the training that only comes from years of rigorous practice. They can say that they saw the beginning of the ones to save all races. They saw the triple change. They heard the news about his brother being conceived. They were a part of that history. Like the heroes of the battle of Everetts demise, they would pass down the recounts of what they saw.
There were a few times the whole group ran to their four aunts. They did that when some unsuspecting guest went near them. The army would politely but sternly inform the people that their aunts only trusted family. All of the guests understood and complied. But with all the people, the aunts went to their rooms. Each had balcony a garden that they attended to.
During that day, Sorra was having problems with baby Draco. He would nurse, then he would fly to Missy whenever he saw her. Each landing was not an impact but controlled. He then would hug her stomach. After this happened quite a few times more, Sorra was getting dejected and Missy was in a quandary. They did not know why this was happening.
Martha with years of wisdom was with Gabor. They came over and smiled. Gabor said casually to Draco.
“Already guarding your brother?”
Draco cooed as he hugged Missy’s belly.
Sorra and Missy are just going to have to cope with developments like this but Missy looks at Sorra and then talks to Draco.
“Honey, you need to be with your mother now. You are just going to have to wait for Justin to be born.”
You’d swear that he understood. He returned to Sorra.
Sorra then asks Missy if she would mind giving her a few breaks and watch Draco every now and then. Missy agreed and Draco giggled then went to sleep in Sorra’s arms.
King Draco is getting a little weary of, can you spare a minute. he is getting from the other dragon clans. He has escaped to the lounge in the war room. I needed to check on something and spotted him.
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“You look frustrated. What’s the problem?” I ask him
“I needed to get away from the others. Since this morning, I have had request after request from the other clans to erect dragon towers around this manor. If I gave permission to them.
You would need to go through a tower just to go through your own gate. They have been told that there will be a map drawn up with locations that are numbered. They will have to draw numbers.”
I tell him, “The only tower around the manor is yours. If you don’t mind, I would like to see it on that high point in the back. Being mindful of the flowers near that area.”
“Can you show me?”
We go out past the aunts to the rise and I show him.
He looks and seems pleased.
“Since it will be in view, I do not have any doubt that it will be anything but tasteful. What do you see in your mind?”
Draco ponders, looks around, then says
“It will need to be tall with a large top landing spot but I see stone construction but stuccoed over with fake beams. Painted the same as the manor.”
“But what about flowers?” A concerned young voice asked.
Shelia, daughter of Abigail, the next oldest in the litter, Rachael was the first out. She was showing great concern. Evidently, she thinks that the regular garden will be destroyed.
I let her know that we weren’t going to harm the current gardens. Why do I get that look from all the women? Young and old, the eyes roll up, the face gets an exasperated look and then an exhale of air.
“Not these flowers.” She calls over the army.
“Every one get a short stick” They disperse then come back .
“Grandpa Draco, would you please walk the circle to show us how big.”
We are still wondering but he starts to walk in a very large circle and Shelia tells each when to push in their stick. Soon we have a hundred foot wide circle. Now she tells the army,
“Please get our aunts to come over here.”
They do just that and she asks them a question.
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“They are going to build in this circle. I think that they need flowers to pretty it up.”
She hands the aunts each a stick.
“Would you please show papa Justin and Grandpa Draco where you would like your garden to be.”
Much to our amazement, the four aunts look over the area and each put their stick in the spot they wanted. Aunts Iris, Daisy and Violet put their stick around the front but Aunt Rose looked at the ground and put her stick away from the building in a very sunny spot.
Shelia looked at us. “Please make sure that you mark on your drawing these spots.”
Then the army leads the aunts back.
We stand in amazement. Draco tells me
“I need you to stand there and make sure that the markers won’t get knocked over.”
And he flew off.
In a short while, he returned with another dragon. That one was carrying a large pad. He gave that person the task of sketching what it would look like with the specific instructions that the flower beds had to be located in those spots but had to be of the most royal design.
Later in the day, we were presented with the most fantastic drawing. Almost like a photograph. The harem was amazed. I called Shelia over and asked her to get the aunts.
All of the family members watched as those women, for the first time had large smiles and touched the area that they picked out. Then they went back inside the manor and each sat on their balcony and looked happy as they dreamed.
It was a wonderous day but reality sunk in. Tomorrow is the day.
Just like the day I married Sorra, I had the same people dressing me. The suit was the same but instead of blue, this is red. They corrected me that it was more of a cranberry. I’m a guy, red is red.
Missy announces, “Now entering the hall, Justin Martin, Chief of the Clan of Martin, Hero of the battle of Everetts demise, Harem husband and the groom.”
I enter and everyone claps.
Draco announces, “Now entering the hall, Martha of the Clan of the Dragon, formerly known as Matriarch Martha, and the mate to Justin.”
She enters to the same applause
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Again in the dragon voice, Draco says, “All rise, Announcing the arrival of Matriarch Gabor.
Accompanied by the Watcher”
Everyone bows.
She now stands in front of me.
“Justin ask your question of your mate”
“Martha, I have waited for the harem to be complete. I have found that I love you. You will be the one to complete it. Will you become my mate?”
Matriarch Gabor turns to Martha.
“What is your answer?”
“I will”
“Martha ask your question of your mate”
“Justin, ever since I met you, I knew that you were real, you were special and I needed you in my life. Justin, will you be my mate?”
Matriarch Gabor turns to Justin.
“What is your answer?”
“I will”
“I declare that these two are compatible and can undergo the certification. In accordance to his harem rules, once the mating is consummated, Justin will place the harem mark and claim her. Missy will you be the Clan of Martin’s witness?”
She answers that she will.
Matriarch Gabor tells the gathering that the feast can begin and that in two hours, the ceremony will start.”
Again the portions for us are small but this time I know that I need to just push it around and take only a cursory bite or two. The toasts came and we again had juice. The two hours took a long time.
Matriarch Gabor stood up at the appropriate time and asked Missy to come forward. She explained what was going to happen. Missy explained what will happen with the harem showing their mark and then Martha will show hers.
I enter my changing area and Martha does the same. We both come out with robes on. At the sight of me, Martha blushes and tells me that this is her first time and asks me to be gentle.
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Gabor and Missy take their seats and we start. It was long and very gentle. It was explosive for Martha. We were now one and I claimed her.
The two exited the room as we were changing into our after clothes. The thing that I liked was that, unlike the bowl of water we had at the last wedding, We had showers.
Martha and I came out and Matriarch Gabor announces that she has now certified the mating.
Martha offers me her sword.
Missy has the harem come up and show their marks. She has Martha show hers.
Then Beez says one thing that no one expected. She looks at Missy and says that, since the Watcher is now known, there will be no recounting her rodeo ride. The harem laughs.
Missy get pouty.
The capper of the event was that baby Draco woke and flew to Martha and snuggled. After the ceremony was over we went back into the room and had a very romantic time.
In the morning, the harem school girls stole Martha away and had a meeting. The Watcher tells Martha that she will be taking her for her blessing like she did for all the others. Then Martha and the Watcher disappears in the white light.
When they reappear, Martha is told that she was only gone for a minute or so. Like all of them, she had a hard time believing that it wasn’t days. The Watcher explains to the harem that the blessing that Martha received is nurturing.
She explains that nurturing will allow Martha to help those who have experience hardship, to take care of, feed, and protect someone, especially young children, and help them to develop.
She now has the ability to feel abandoned children and rescue them.
Martha tells everyone that it is a great honor to have that. She says that it means more than the matriarch position ever did.
“I won’t be doing ceremonies, I will be really helping”
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Things must change
The edict has come down, all of the original team have been told that they will no longer be going out on missions. To go out is to jeopardize the children’s future. The dire consequences were hinted but they said that, basically, we are to grow old.
We have called a meeting with our five, their wives and the subs we have right now. The only room big enough is the same hall that the celebrations took place. The nine of my team are sitting at one table, King Draco is also present. The group is seated facing us.
Matriarch Gabor and the Watcher step in front of us and address the group.
Matriarch Gabor speaks first.
“In case that any of you have not heard, Sorra’s baby Draco has been declared the progenitor of a new age. He has shown that by his ability to triple change.”
At that some of the group gasp.
She continues,
“Yes, triple change. In this very hall, the baby had a controlled flight at only a few months.
During that flight, Baby Draco took flight as a dragon newt then mid flight he changed into a full dragon and landed in his mother’s arms changing into a full human, then back into a dragon newt. Sorra is to no longer go out on missions.”
Now the Watcher addresses them.
“Missy Martin is pregnant with Draco’s brother Justin. The pair will usher in a new world of peace. Hilda Martin is pregnant with their Chamberlin. I can go down the line with the important events each child will bring. To the point,”
She sweeps her hand across us.
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“The original team is now retired. They will take on the roll of instructors. The mission will carry on.”
Now I stand.
“I am the Chief of the Clan of Martin. I ask, who among you would like to become members of the clan?”
All hands go up.
I look to my people seated and ask,
“What say you?”
Chip looks down the line. Each nod affirmative.
“As assistant chief of the Clan of Martin, these present are accepted.”
“Welcome to the Clan of Martin” I tell them
King Draco stands
“The Clan of the Dragon also recognizes you as members of the Clan of Martin. You all are now clan brothers to the Clan of the Dragon. You have large shoes to fill but I have known most of you. You are true. Welcome to the clan, brothers.”
I again speak,
“You five that were the first. You five who went from little boys to men in a week’s time. You men will each form a team. We are now building five manors across the occupied countryside. Will you five please come up.”
They do.
Now I have been watching those proud children parade and patrol in their full armor and sash.
I have talked to Draco about this.
The five are now in line. I present them with leather armor in the style that the children ware.
Then Draco presents teach with the sash that has the dragon with the two cross swords.
“Go now into the side rooms and put on your symbol of authority.”
The five go and after each has gotten dressed. They were checked out by Draco and myself.
Draco and I came out, took our positions and called for them.
Five proud men came out and stood before the applauding group.
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The Watcher speaks,
“Each of these men will have the blessing of both Matriarch Gabor and myself.”
The two stand in front of each man and bless them individually. Then I have everyone sit back down.
“I mentioned the building of manors. Those will be your headquarters. You will pick members of your teams from the ones that you feel comfortable with. Wives, this is not a command but a related feeling. Those who you will feel that you are family will be the ones that you should approach.”
Missy adds,
“The Watcher was the one to say if one was compatible for our team. I feel that you need to keep this in mind. When in doubt, ask the Watcher before asking someone that you don’t have that feeling with. A team behaving like a family is the reason we did so well.”
The Watcher says,
“I won’t tell you now but I already know that you will make the right decision on team members but each will have doubts on a few. I will help.”
I take over again,
“The wives of the five, please come forward.”
They do.
“I have in this box, five numbers. Missy has five envelopes. Please reach in and take a number.”
They do.
“Missy, give them the corresponding envelope but don’t open it yet. When you get your envelope, you can sit.”
They do
“The five and their wives will join us in the war room later. Now all the others here have subbed for our team when a wife was out of action or we needed more people. You are the core. You would not be here unless you were trusted by my team. You will be divided amongst the five. Once each knows of the area they now have, It will be posted. Each of the five will decide what talents they want. You will see the location and can accept or decline based on that. The makeup is what the five want.”
Draco again takes the floor.
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“The five groups will need to train and coalesce in a short time. Each team will come to my home for special training in tactics. The success with Justin’s team was the planning He did not rush into anything. Even when my daughter Beez received that dire warning about Everett, he still planned.”
Beez then said,
“Remember when you asked us why we did not raise our hands when we asked if we thought we were strong. We each said that Justin was the keystone for our arch. With out him we were just a pile of stone. Each of you five are now the key stones of your team’s arch.”
I stand
“This has gone on too long. We will go over more during your training. Let’s adjourn. I see that some soft drinks and snacks have been laid out. After you celebrate and talk amongst yourselves, the five couples, meet us in the war room”
Little ears
As the five come out, the army is in full dress, including sash, lining both sides of the hallway.
Sticks in their hands. As the five approach, the first on each side falls into place as leading a procession. When those two approached the next they took the lead. This happened up to Rachael and Mazet who now lead.
They marched up to the war room stopped and knocked. We opened the door and the parade marched in.
Rachael announced
“The five leaders and their wives are here.”
Then she lined up with the others and started to marched out. I stopped them.
“I want all of the troops here”
and closed the door.
“If you have the same dedication that these troops have, you will be unstoppable.”
Now looking at the troops,
“I think grandpa Draco brought some of that cake you like. Dismissed”
A stampede of children in armor and sash go running in full assault on a cake. Everyone gets a laugh after they leave.
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“Like what was said in the meeting, those children have a great destiny awaiting them. They already seem to know things, especially when the aunts need them. Okay on this map is the territory that we will cover, for now. This manor is the hub. Your five manors are being built in a circle around the hub. They each are approximately fifty miles apart. Draco has kindly furnished us with three dragon newts as messengers to fly from the hub with assignments or to any manor near you for aid. Christine has lined up healers that want to be part of this. They will be trained like Christine. I have talked with the Watcher about bringing them up to area high heal skill level. She said that she will need to talk to them first.”
“Now ladies, please open your envelope.”
Luckly each are chanting different locations, no duplicates, with their eyes closed. I notice the Watcher fade out for a second then come back with a smile. They open their envelope and by some strange occurrence, they all are screaming with joy. They all got the area they wanted.
Imagin that. What are the odds.
“You each have a finishing account of a thousand gold and an operating expense of three thousand gold. Strict accounting is required. Quest fees charged, well you know how to do that. One piece of advice, throw someone out if they end the conversation with, we’re sick you know.”
They know exactly what I mean. We laugh.
“Now pack your things and go see your manors. Now is the time to make some adjustments.”
Martha steps forward
“On a serious note. When you visit your area, look at the orphanage. More than likely they will be disreputable. Let us know right away. Draco, would you dispatch some people to the area.
Give these time to get there. Those orphans are mine. Justin and the harem, now that we are retired will take on those tasks.”
I add, “Especially the very young foundlings, they will be brought here. I have it on good authority that there will be an army of rescuers in the near future. Martha, Sophia and others will make up that army.”
With smiles, each couple start their journey. One is outside Sexten so they can also keep in touch with the gnomes. One is outside the town that was taken in by the fake team. One is on my plot of land that used to be sick town. That land was cleared out a long while ago, purified.
One where we intercepted those feral goblins. The last one is my favorite, just outside Cannerten.
All of the couples have gone to their respective areas. Soon there are messages coming back to Martha’s attention. Orphans that need our help. The Watcher, with her ethereal abilities.
goes to check them out. She comes back and gives us the locations that we need to visit in their need order. Worst to best.
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On visiting the first one, even I felt like I wanted to wretch. I tell the Watcher.
“I need you to go to two places. First to this kingdom’s king. Using your authority, demand that he issue a royal decree that we have the ability to arrest people that have abused these children. After you get that by whatever means at your disposal, go to Draco. We need those dragon transports to take these to the manor for healing. While you are convincing the king of this country, convince him that these children are now of the Clan of Martin. If he is having trouble, bring his wife here then take her back to the king.”
She disappears but just as quickly came back with both the king and queen of this realm.
They look at a sight of dead children lying unburied in the yard. Inside there were more dead but thankfully there are more on the brink but food and Christine can heal.
The Watcher leaves the royals there and transports Christine here. After she looks in horror and then looks at the royals with anger. She helps the Watcher pick up each of the most sickly heals them and the Watcher takes them to the manor. This is repeated until the last living orphan is brought to the manor. Last is Christine. She stops in front of the royals.
“You own this! There are three more that we need to get to. I leave the bodies to you.”
Then she disappears with the Watcher.
By now, the noble couple that are in charge of this, were caught, by the harem, trying to flee with their riches haphazardly thrown into their carriage.
Martha looks inside, changes into full dragon form and rips the side of the carriage off. Grasps both nobles and in her dragon voice,
“MURDER, YOU’RE BOTH GUILTY OF MURDER!!”
She looks like she is going to cremate them, but doesn’t. She turns to the king and queen.
Holding out the two nobles she snarls at the royals.
“Get over here and look at how they supported these poor ones with the money you budgeted for their care.”
The king and queen both could not but follow her orders. They see gold and silver in various shapes and sizes. Enough that would have taken good care of the orphans for years.
About this time, Draco and a few of the leaders of other dragon clans fly in to this horror. He instructs those with him to, in their dragon forms, to dig and bury the dead. Once that was done, they all burnt that place to the ground.
Draco is looking at those royals and the nobles. Martha tells him that the nobles are the one that were in charge. He and another dragon leader each grab one of the nobles and disappear into the clouds. Then there were screams and sickening thuds as those two hit the ground after being released from above the clouds.
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Draco now looks at the royals and speaks.
“It is obvious that we have left you humans alone for too long. This world was once ruled by the dragons. We gave you humans autonomy to rule yourselves. This may be the worst but it still is typical.”
He then turns to the dragon leaders.
“They can no longer be allowed to wreak havoc upon this world. The progenitor has returned.
As of now, because they cannot even take care of themselves, each of you go and survey your areas. If you find what we found here, you need to do as I am going to do now.”
He again goes into his full dragon.
“As of right now, this country is now claimed and will be under control of the Clan of the Dragon. If the Watcher would please do, return these peasants to that city they came from.”
He turns to the couple
“As of now, you are just caretakers that will report to me. I will be at the palace in that city tomorrow. You need to gather up the information on all the orphanages in this country.
Remember this, I will be coming with the Dragon archers. If we are met with any resistance by your armies, we will show you just what happened to Everett’s men. Tell your people that dragons have awakened.”
With that, the Watcher takes the couple back to their palace. Then she reappears.
“Those fools tried to shoot me with arrows. It messed them up when the arrows passed through me.”
Ethereal or not, they tried to kill my wife.
“Draco, I insist that I go with you tomorrow. Can I hitch a ride?”
The Watcher stops me.
“You may not go. There is going to be a fight. Draco will win but we cannot risk your being injured.”
That’s final.
“King Draco, I ask you to do a task that I should be doing. They tried to kill Rae, my wife. I must bow to the Watcher’s command.”
“She may be your wife but, like all your wives, they are all my daughters. I will avenge their foolish attempt.”
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The Watcher now does what she needs to do. She and that carriage disappear. A short time later she returns.
“That carriage and the turn of events have been relayed to the area’s team. I have instructed them to make use of it for the betterment of the little ones.”
She turns to the now field where the building stood. She concentrated and flowers started to grow. Iris, daisies, violets and roses bloom.
“I will return here with Martha and the Matriarch Gabor to consecrate this ground as a holy ground. None but orphans may be buried here. It hurts but I now know each and every one that died. Not just the ones that we buried. The earth told me. Once you take over, King Draco, take it to heart and commit it to the dragon history. There will be tens of thousands of names on the stone wall that I will erect here.”
With that, I’m sure that she is back at the manor. Later, I found out that she did not show there for a few days. She spent time in the other plane. I never asked her why.
Dragon rule
The next day, as we expected, Draco was not greeted as a friend when he showed up the next day. He was greeted with arrows bouncing off his thick hide.
“If that is your answer, Archers commence.”
A rain of arrows comes down on the large group of their archers in the courtyard. Draco has had enough. He lets loose a dragon fire and the dead, injured and still whole ground archers vanish. Now mages come out. They seem to have been pushed out.
“If you want to live, I give you a chance. Those that pushed you out to die are covering for a regime that allow thousands of children to die of disease and starvation. We found one such killing field yesterday. If you want to live, leave.”
With that, he blew a hole in the palace wall to let them escape, which they did.
Now in an almost heavy metal concert speaker volume, Draco speaks to the citizens 225
“We have discovered many instances of murder and corruption among those who rule here.
The dragons once ruled all in fairness. We can no longer watch and be silent. This country is now under the rule of the Clan of the Dragon. These people even tried to assassinate the Watcher yesterday. Those who have clean hands have nothing to worry about. I came here to check on the records and the king and queen fired upon us. We captured them trying to leave by the back door. They had a wagon loaded with this countries treasury. I king Draco condemn them to death for the murder of the orphans.”
The crowd gather, see two specks coming through the clouds. They see those specks grow larger and hear screaming. Then, in the very courtyard that they forced those archers to die, there were two smashed and mangled bodies in royal attire lying in pools of their own blood.
“Be advised, those now dead people, allowed slave traders to operate causing misery on a grand scale. That will never be tolerated again. As I speak, the other dragon clans are doing the same thing in their countries. You are now faced with two choices Live in peace under dragon rule or die. We have awakened to the sound of the new progenitor. The awaited one.
The triple changer.”
With that, Draco set down in the court yard and incinerated the two bodies.
The Watcher appeared and told him that it was almost the same in the other countries but the world is back under dragon rule.
“Be very aware, very cautious. Just because you are in charge, doesn’t mean that trouble has gone. As we speak, people are gathering, plots are being formulated. Revenge is in the air that will continue until the co rulers and their Chamberlin finish. The army is being trained. We need to await the births and the rulers and their Chamberlin take over. Until then, be on your guard. Protect that manor. Build those towers. Now that they know that the progenitor is born, there will be plots and attempts to kill the entire manor right down to the staff.”
Her final words for him hits home.
“King Draco, just know that one of your own kind will betray the Clan of Martin. Be on guard. I will be watching.”
And she vanishes.
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My two cats take me to my next world book 3 The Dragon’s rule D.A.Sanford 228
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Readers be advised
Warning: Contains adult content due to graphic descriptions of any or all of the following:
Battles, Language, Sexual
Both the cover and images in this book are not photographs or hand drawn art.
They were created using AI text to graphics programs by the author.
My two cats take me to my next world book 3 The Dragon’s rule © 2024 D. A. Sanford All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author or publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
for permission from the author contact danielsanford@sbcglobal.net Table of content
229
Character sheet
Draco fully human dragon newt fully dragon 230
Justin Jr, Ellenore Sophia Rachael Mazet Wendel
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Recap
Who would have thought that a seventy three year old would get another chance to make a new life but what a surprise when Justin Martin woke in the new world. He was there with his two cats who were now humanoid.
Through his adventures he picked up wives that were loyal to only him. It did not matter, goblin, human, Amazon, dragon newt and yes felid, he loves them all. All were steered to him by the entity called the Watcher.
The entity turned out to be his wife from the old world. She revealed herself but never gave up the role of the Watcher. She still guides and shows the way towards the ultimate goal, peace in the new world.
Even though the original team is now no longer to go out on quests, they still train the future teams. They have used the five men that were the first to go to camp as delinquent boys as the first five team leaders and each have their own territory.
His clan is now under the world’s dragon population protection due to the fact that his wife Sorra has given birth to the new progenitor, baby Draco. Draco, in a controlled flight at less than two months, revealed himself as a triple changer. He went from dragon newt to full dragon and then to full human.
At that time, it was revealed that Missy is pregnant with the brother of Draco. The two, Draco and Justin, along with their sister Ellenore will go on to ultimately bring that peace.
The originals have now a new task. They now, with his last wife, retired matriarch Martha, rescue orphans and the cast out children.
It is through that mission that they are called to a scene of an orphanage that had dead laying on the ground and the other children near death. The nobles were caught trying to escape with a carriage full of their embezzled wealth.
The watcher brought the king and queen to the scene and when she returned them, she was shot at. The Clan of the Dragon’s king Draco went to the capitol and is fired upon. He and his archers capture the corrupt king and queen and executes them.
Across the world the scene is repeated and the dragons announce that they are taking control of the world.
The Watcher left King Draco with one warning.
“King Draco, just know that one of your own kind will betray the Clan of Martin. Be on guard. I will be watching.”
The tumultuous years
The world is now under the dragon rule. Not everything is going well. The areas that were under the protection of the dragons, such as the village of Beall, know it as a peace they never had when they were on their own.
They are the exceptions.
For most other areas, they see no difference in the day to day but in the noble’s domain, things are different.
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Most have had their fortunes turned up side down. There were a few that were found to be using the funds provided to them by the kingdom being used as they were intended. Mostly for the care of the orphans. Some even used their own funds to help. They were commended and endorsed by the dragons.
The remainder, however, were found to be using the funds for their own benefit. After hearing what happened to the first ones found. The trip to above the clouds and then dropped was enough to cause them to take action. Most fled with their wealth.
Those became an underground resistance. Forming their own armies, they try to extort money from the population to support the rebellion. A lot of the human population joins them.
No one alive, with the exception of the elder races, remembers what it was like under the previous dragon rule and why they gave it up.
In the first times, the dragon race was the most intelligent race and ruled. Keeping the peace and guiding the other races towards the day that they all could live together. There came the inevitable time that most races had come to the point that they wanted self rule.
The first were the elven races. They showed a superior intelligence. That later turned into a superiority complex. Being aloof, they tended to be isolationists. They did not want to take the chance that there would be a mixing of blood with other inferior races.. That even led to division in their own species.
Being isolationists, there really was no problem with the peace.
Humans, on the other hand, had the superiority complex also. They to convinced the dragons into letting them self rule. They used the example of the elves. The dragons allowed them to govern themselves.
Over time, unlike the elves, they formed the belief that all other’s were inferior so they needed to be subjugated. Thus slavery began. All other species were fair game. Based on their abilities, their worth was determined and yes, even those aloof elves fell victim to the slavers.
The goblins fared worse. Their value was one of expendable. No resale value. The men and women were worked to death. The only exception was the females that were attractive. They were sold as sex toys. Most were used and abused. If they got pregnant, they weren’t even worth getting abortions or getting fixed. Most were cast out as so much garbage. To die in the forest was their fate.
Little did those humans know, there were some that did not perish. They went on to have those children. Almost all were born as goblins but they did get intelligence boosts from the human parent. Females especially. The male line has taken more time but by the time of Justin, they have proven that the goblin species is evolving from primitive to a productive people.
Humans have retained the racist attitudes. They are guided by their rulers. They are even split among themselves. As example, if some area finds out that a person is from a dragon protected area, such as Beall, they would be driven out.
Today, the dragons have ruled for over a decade. The landscape territory has changed around the manor. Each of our original five outpost manors have dragon towers. The towers were ordered by both the matriarch Gabor and the Watcher.
They are all impressive. Built so several full dragons can land at once, they are manned, so to speak, day and night. Always on alert, all with one mandate, protect the Clan of Martin, All of the towers are designed after the first and only one that is on the manor property itself. The King’s tower.
King Draco, being the father of Justin’s wife Sorra and grandfather of her son Draco, Justin allowed him to have his tower on the manor acreage. That tower is decorated to complement 233
the manor. Flower gardens were planted and are being tended by the four aunts. The design is said to be the inspiration of Abigails first litter’s Shelia.
Shelia, now married, is off duty from the army, due to her being almost ready to deliver her first litter. That is eagerly anticipated by all the army but not as much as the prospective grandparents Chip and Abigail.
Racheal, Mazet and others of the army are at the Clan of the Dragon palace being trained in the dragon ways. On the inspirational end of this is that they all have had larger sizes of their original armor and sash made. Their original armor and sash are framed and hanging in the manor’s great hall.
The three, Draco, Justin and Ellenore are the leaders of the children army and are getting close to the age where they can graduate to the adult army. That is a fifteen year old minimum age. But Draco said that he will not go until Justin and Ellenore are able to go. You can see the bond that the three have.
The two boys are bold and need their sister to ground them. Being an Amazon as her mother Hilda, she is larger than the both and has been known to pick each up off the ground when they get too spirited. It was predicted and now shows, she is the one that grounds the two brothers. With out her they would put themselves in harm’s way.
It was one of those days where the originals were training the new recruits. The group now had more goblins and dragons in it that there was at the beginning. The other species were included but, of late, there were less humans.
Justin felt that was because of the dragon rule. It was just their loss because he has seen that the humans trained, especially at the lake camp come away with a greater respect for each as individuals rather than species.
Again, it started as just one of those days. Suddenly an unwelcomed sound is heard. The King’s tower is issuing the alert signal. There is an intruder or intruders in the area. Most are taken care of in quick fashion but this time some of the airborne are being hurt by modified arrows.
It seems that they are being hit in similar spots where the hide is not as thick. When Christine retrieves the arrows and heals the wounds, she brings the arrows to me. One look and I could tell what it was. I call the king.
“How well known is the dragon physiology?”
“Just general things that we display. Why do you ask?”
I show him the arrow. The tail is large and hollow. The smell of rudimentary powder is evident.
“This looks like it is accelerated by an explosive to give it the extra boost in speed. Christine tells me that all the wounds are in softer areas. They have learned about your anatomy and about propellant. Have you gotten any word on missing dragons or raids on your burial grounds?”
“Burial grounds have wards that will kill anyone other than a dragon if they enter without permission. No one has gone missing.” He hesitates then says “for too long.”
“What do you mean, for too long?”
“There have been a few that have been on routine flights but ended up staying over some place. Weather, fatigue and such.”
Then he can still hear the Watcher’s words.
“King Draco, just know that one of your own kind will betray the Clan of Martin. Be on guard. I will be watching.”
He does not tell me about the Watcher’s warning but tells me that he will be looking into anyone that is too late coming from a mission.
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I can see a worried look on his face but I tell him that I’m confident on his ability to take care of it.
As far as the intruders, my goblins are masters of stealth. The ambushed them and tried to take prisoners but to the last man they killed themselves rather than be captured. Their report and the bodies confirm that they all were human. That meant resistance.
So far, I have been reluctant as to putting spies into the resistance but it may be necessary.
Young Draco has been hanging around us and suggests.
“Why don’t you start trying to pick up the human couriers. They will not be taking the normal routes. If it was me, I would be taking the less traveled routes. They may be longer but safer.”
We both look at him. He is dead serious. He is also right.
He then says,
“I would scout those trails first then see how many are traveling light. Maybe too light for the trail and going fast. Once you find a route, pick up everyone that is like that and bring them to the nearest tower.”
Now my juices are flowing. Then I comment
“They would not risk a trail where there is a tower nearby. I would have a few of the dragons in out of the way hidden places where those trails can be seen. Trusted ones.”
I look at my sons and say.
“Not either of you.”
You would think that they would have grown out of the pouty face but the look went to horror when they started to rise off the ground and a young female voice said
“I know what you both are thinking. Father said no.”
As she started to carry them away, I thank Ellenore.
The king comments,
Matriarch Gabor and the Watcher were right. Your Ellenore is exactly what those boys need.
She is their ground.”
We both chuckle and Draco goes off to have the plan implemented. Much to my amazement, I found out later, he gave the assignment not to his most trusted people but to a few new recruit dragons who carried a volunteer goblin with them. The goblin could sneak closer. He later told me that adding the goblin factor was to keep the dragon in check also.
Leave it to the goblins. They came up with a twist on our original idea. Their people had developed a clear gas that would cause symptoms of fatigue and induce a person to sit and doze off. The person would sleep for around two hours. All of the goblins are literate.
The idea was so simple it escaped our attention. It was insidious in nature. Couriers would be bringing important messages, not books of data. Up dates, plans and such. Most would be short.
The goblins have their own version of short hand. They can copy anything up to ten pages, in less than an hour, in that short hand, then they can convert it back to an accurate reproduction of the original.
This way, that courier would wake up after a short nap and feel better. Nothing missing or disturbed, they would continue on. The route would be still safe. As long as we changed the sleep location, no one would be the wiser.
The dragon and goblin came back from the first run. The goblin went into a room in their village. After an hour of the dragon telling us to please wait, the goblin came up to us and handed us a copy of what the courier was carrying.
We were shocked, to say the least, when they explained what they did.
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“You know what you did?” I tell them “You have made it so that we can get a steady flow of information. Both of you now have the position of training our other locations on this technique. King Draco, do you agree.”
He looks at both and tells them.
“You both are no longer recruits. You are to be commended. I would like you to record exactly what you have done. We need more like the both of you.”
The messages that we intercepted had some new information but it did give us a glimpse into their workings. One disturbing item was the mention of information detailing the routine of the manor. There was a hint that they had previously gotten a map of our layout.
I need to hold a team meeting. We gather in the war room. I have invited my father in law King Draco and Gartok the leader of the goblin village.
“You need to know. The information we just received from the intercepted courier had detailed information on our daily routines. There was also a reference about a map they have for the manor grounds.”
Looking at Gartok, I continue.
“There was no specific details but I will say that it would be a safe bet that they know details of your village also. I ask you, have you seen anyone walking around your village that looked like they were studying it?”
“We have not. I can say that because, since we have become in great demand, we have controls in place to limit people sight seeing.”
Draco looks like he carrying a very heavy load. He reluctantly starts to talk.
“I have been holding something that was told to me a long time ago. It was when my grandson was just a baby.”
He looks at my wife and she nods
“The Watcher told me to be on guard because one of my own will betray the Clan of Martin.
The only way anyone could make a detailed map of the manor grounds and the village, without anyone suspecting them, would be from my tower. The tower would be the ideal point to record your routines. My own pride has gotten me in trouble. I have only allowed Clan of the Dragon members to man the tower.”
He hangs his head as he speaks this,
“I am no longer fit to be king and will abdicate..”
He is stopped by a loud warning. The Watcher has appeared before him and grabbed his chin and forces him to look her in the eyes. For the first time, I see him with a terrified look.
“I told you and no one else to be on guard. You and you alone must solve this. You will not be allowed to take the coward’s way out. Do your job and protect the Clan of Martin!”
She disappears and Rae does not reappear. We are all stunned at this stern warning.
I go to tell him that I will help him but he seems to know what I am going to say.
“I know that you are going to offer help but The Watcher is right. That was a coward’s way.
This is my task and, as you heard, mine alone.”
Now my wife Martha goes up to him, putting her hand on his shoulder, she tells him.
“Yes, the task is yours and yours alone. Does a true leader perform every task himself? No. A true leader will take a failure as his and his alone. A success for the true leader is using what ever source available but give the credit for the success to those who did the leg work.”
Now she gently holds the same chin, looking into the same eyes, she says to him,
“When the Watcher told you that you alone must solve this, what would the dragon community think if Justin pointed the finger at the Clan of the Dragon? The Watcher told you to solve this because anyone else would cause the future peace to crumble. Dragons must find out who and why. Do you now understand why she was so forceful? Now, the Watcher is on top of the 236
tower. Go and tell her what your gut tells you to do. Think of why you sent recruits out instead of your trusted. Ask for her advise on the best course of action.”
Then she hugs him and tells him to go.
After he leaves, it is Gartok that breaks the tension.
“Damn, that was too intense. Now what do we do to protect ourselves?”
“I would like to see your people erect their own tower. Keep it under the height of the King’s tower but I know that your researchers have studied the arrows they used. I know you. You already have a solution and improvements. Arm your tower so you can fire in a three hundred and sixty degree field of view. I suggest that you get some of the other races to help man that tower. That will promote trust.”
Now I address the others
“This point on, no one is unarmed. I mean no one. Even the children’s army. The defenders have been training with the wooden daggers and swords. Equip them with the real thing. We need them in here with the three leaders. We recall Rachael’s army. We are under the dragon protection but we need to ultimately be responsible for our own safety.”
“One final thing, I don’t want anyone of you to be running to the king with observations of dragons. Tell me and I will inform him. The dragons are our clan brothers. Remember that.”
After Gartok leaves, I tell my wives that I know that each one can make their own decisions and I respect that. Then I ask Sorra to fly to Beall and bring the chief up to date. Tell him that they may have trouble directed at them. He can just ring the alarm and we will be there for them.
Now I call for the children’s army to assemble in the hall. I have them all sit but I have the three stand before me. I can tell that they already have an inkling of what is happening.
As I look over the army, I see my children. It does not matter whether born to servant, wife or other clan members, they are all my children. I now address all three of the leaders.
“It has been discovered that the resistance has a map of our grounds and what our routines are. We are under the protection of the dragons but we also need to be able to defend ourselves. You three are the leaders. I have ordered that everyone is to be armed at all times.
That includes your defenders. You three are to take your defenders to the armory and equip everyone with a weapon that suits each individuals. Healers will have a side arm but the main defense will be the responsibility of the defenders. You healers are responsible for the well being of your aunts. First sign of trouble you get them to safety. You have seen mama Christine practicing with weapons. You also have been practicing. Sometimes you need to protect. Defenders, your main task is to protect the healers while they do their job of getting the aunts to safety. You three are now in command of an armed force. You are responsible for their well being. This is the task that you all have been training for.”
Now I step back.
“Draco, Justin, Ellenore assemble your troops and see to it that they are properly armed. See to it that they take this seriously. Dismissed.”
This is the first time that I see the true dynamics of the three. Draco and Justin address their charges.
“Defenders follow me” Draco shouts and they march in step following Draco and Justin.
Now Ellenore addresses her charges,
“Healers, follow me.” And they march away.
To say that I am both proud and sad says it all.
I’m proud of them all for being so dedicated but sad that this day had to come. I remember the first time I saw Rachael as a kitten, get truly angry at the man who said that aunt Rose was 237
his. She stood up and told him to get out or else and you could tell she meant it. But now we, no, I must have them be able to truly defend themselves.
On the King’s tower
The dragons of the king’s tower have been orders to leave and go to the other side of the manor grounds. This order came from the two standing at the top of the tower.
While everyone was still talking, The Watcher went to Matriarch Gabor and brought her back to the tower. There, after the dragons were dismissed, she brought matriarch Gabor up to speed on what she said to the king and why.
They were both standing there when a now humble king came to both, took knee and apologized to the Watcher.
“I’m sorry for my actions. I do realize that it was the coward’s way of ducking what my responsibility is.”
“Rise king and look as us.” matriarch Gabor tells him. “The Watcher took that manner because you did not realize what the reason she did not give that task to Justin. It is exactly the reason that Martha told you. We dragons are a proud race and yes we are stubborn and arrogant. Anyone outside our own accusing us of betrayal would demand retribution.”
The Watcher now speaks.
“I had to use that tone with you. You are not allowed to fall on your sword. Your will eventually relinquish your kingdom to its successors Draco and Justin, both your grandsons. You stepping down at this time will only serve the faction that opposes dragon rule. I will give you a glimpse of that future.”
The three are enveloped in her white light and she takes them to that alternate future. The future where he abdicated.
The vista he was shown told it all. There before him was a totally burned up landscape. Dead laying all around.
Matriarch Gabor tells him,
“This is the future. The whole world is like this. There is nothing living on this world. Not even the smallest life exists. The only things living are a couple of humans that are not from this world. They are picking up all those precious things that you hoarded. Gold, silver and jewels.
They jump here, collect those things and then leave.”
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“This is a world six months after you abdicated. You are that important. That is why I told Justin and his team they could not go on quests. Anyone of you die or quit, this is the result.
Death on a world scale. Do you see why I yelled at you?”
Before he could answer, they were back on the tower.
“Look out at the view, which world do you prefer? Now do you want to abdicate?”
Draco is almost broken at what he was shown.
“I never realized what my part in the whole scheme of things was. If I quit that would be the world in six months?”
“Yes” They both said.
“Forgive me for even thinking of that. May I ask you both, what should be my next step in finding who is responsible for this betrayal.”
“In my old world there was a saying. ‘Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.
Consider yourself their enemy and you will find your answer.”
They both vanish in the Watcher’s smoke, leaving him all alone at the top of the tower. Keep your enemies closer. If I’m the enemy than at least my closest may be my enemy. I need to see who I keep close and who is closer.
The mere recollection of that desolate scene will give him nightmares for the rest of his life and it proves to be his strength.
Finding who is closest
We have Rae back and the matriarch Gabor with us. I’m not worried about her because we were told that Martha was the last one.
The mood has become somber. That is especially driven home by the fact that everyone, including the children’s army is carrying arms. The comforters are now taking turns being with their aunts.
They are smart though. When it is their turn to watch their aunts, they will give their weapon to another but have a weeding fork with them. That fork, used to thrust in the ground and cut weed roots, seems a little longer and sharper than the standard.
The aunts seem also aware of what is going on. Just a little more animated, when the comforters change, it seems that each aunt will pat the comforters back then return to their garden. They however do go back to their balcony gardens more frequently.
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The king is a changed man. He will not speak of what he was shown by the two. Since he met with them, he has been having some high level discussions with both his inner circle and those who go out on the courier spots.
I do not interfere with that. The one thing he is doing is having other races man his tower. He has told his people that we need to be more involved in the defense. His people, for the most part, welcome it but even I can see some unhappy faces. Most of which is pride.
You can’t help but notice that one or two of his inner circle are being kept close. He is relying on them. Again I don’t interfere.
Finally, the day has come, Draco askes if he could have a private meeting with me along with both the Watcher and matriarch Gabor. We four are in the war room lounge. He does ask something strange.
“Would it be possible for the Watcher to take us to one of her white rooms?”
As he asks, we four, still in the seats we are sitting in are now in a void space. I say void space because all there is, is white. No lines telling you what is floor, walls or anything that would give a hit of dimension. This is my first time experiencing this and I hope it is my last.
“Thank you” he says “My reason for this is that I have narrowed my suspicions to one of two of my officers. Either Joax or Tiron of my clan are the ones that betrayed us.”
The Watcher tells him that he is correct but it is not either, it is both. Without another word, the two are now with us in the void but they are both in what appears to be a clear box but with ten vent holes in the box.
Now I see the side of her that must have been the side she showed to those who tried to hit on those young wives.
She had a no nonsense look about her as she talks to them. She walks over to the box.
Pointing to a vent, she says to them. “This is the only way you are getting air in there. I can do this,” she touches the vent and it disappears. Then she touches it again and it reappears.
“Why are you trying to get my family killed?”
Both say they are not. She touches the vent and it disappears. She walks over to the next.
Why are you trying to get my family killed?”
Again, the same answer, so she touched that vent and it disappeared.
As she walks over to the next, they seem to be trying to change into their true form..
“That won’t work here. I own this dimension. We play by my rules. That will cost you”
Another vent vanishes.
“Three down seven to go. How long will the air last with the both of you in there. Let’s change the question. Who were you filtering information to? No answer, okay.”
She goes to touch another, and Joax starts to break.
“This was all Tiron’s idea.”
A wall materializes between Joax and Tiron but the closed three vents are on Joax’s side.
Tiron now speaks but in a proud way.
“Why should we protect a human. The progenitor should have been taken along with his mother and the others eliminated.”
With that, he disappears. In a minute or so and emaciated and haggard Tiron reappears.
“That was the world you wished for. That was the world six months from now. You were there for two weeks your time. How did you like the world you wished for? How was the water, how was the food. Oh that’s right. What water there is, is almost toxic and food, there is none.
Were you happy? You got what you wished for. A world at total peace. You were the only living thing there so it was total dragon rule. I could send you back”
He can’t say a word until she asks
“Did you try to betray your clan brothers?”
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He just nods his head in affirmation.
“My next action, King Draco, is mine and mine alone.”
Joax disappears but never returns.
“He showed that all he wanted was to shed blame on someone else. Joax was the one that convinced Tiron to join him. He is now in the same world that I showed you, King Draco. He will live out eternity there. I have changed him. He no longer needs to drink or eat. He will live there until time itself stops. If he tries to kill himself, he will hurt but he will fully recover. No one there, nothing but ruins and peace. Now this one, has at least told the truth finally. I give him to you.”
With that we are back in the lounge with myself, king Draco and Tiron.
He looks at me and says he would rather slit his own throat than see that side of the Watcher again.
“She takes defending the family seriously”
She pops back in and tells Draco that all her family, that included matriarch Gabor, staff, aunts and the goblin community, before the planet was destroyed, were guided to a planet of goblins by what they called the Jumpers. Nice people. Then she pops out.
Tiron is taken to the dragon palace where he gave up all his information, contacts and what humans he gave the information to. He also knew where some of the key people were. His information helped to almost eliminate the resistance movement. Over time, the remainder were eventually mopped up.
Tiron was released but never was the same. He existed. It was said that he lived alone and could be heard screaming in terror as he slept. He lived for only a few years until he was released by his own death due to a dream trauma that caused him to have a heart attack.
Our world still had far to go to get to the total peace but it would be said that King Draco always would bow to the Watcher whenever she would come near. He also would be heard screaming in the night. When asked why, he would only say that he was shown something that he would never allow to happen.
Sorting it out
The news of the pair’s treason could not be held secret. The total disappearance of Joax and the mental breakdown of Trion was the source of rumors through out the dragon community.
Adding insult to injury was the new arrangement of pairing a dragon with a goblin in the spying on the couriers and the king’s tower being manned by a combination of other species.
Dragons are a prideful lot. Arrogant to a fault. This treachery of the two hurt their pride and exposed their attitudes like a deep cut that has had salt rubbed into it numerous timed. They did not like it.
They were the heroes of the battle of Everetts demise. They were the ones to avenge those neglected orphans. They took control of the world. How dare someone feel that they need to be watched. The only problem was that their own king was the one that ordered this integration. But the king is different.
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No one but the king and the Watcher knew what he had seen. No one but the two knew what a integral part that the originals play. All they know is that their nose is being rubbed in those two’s shit. For now they had to endure this insult. That did not stop them from grumbling.
It finally reached its peak when King Draco overheard two dragons berating a canid for just being smaller than them.
That was enough to get him extremely mad. He takes the two to the Watcher.
“I need you to enlighten these two as to why we need them to pair up with the other species.
Can you take us to an area where Joax cannot see us but we can see him?”
In a blink of an eye, there are four people in that desolate world.
“This is the world the Watcher showed me when I thought of giving up the crown. If I had done that, this is the world six months from that date.”
The Watcher now tells them,
“This world is still here because of your arrogance. No one cooperated and the world wide war broke out. Everyone is gone, the whole world is dead. There is nothing left alive. Even the soil is dead. I will now tell you that you two must now make up for the two traitors. You two are going to be tasked to prevent this from happening but your names will be forgotten in time.
You cannot do this for the glory of being in history. You must do it because it is the right thing to do. If you do not take up this burden, this will happen. I will not let that come about. I will choose two more.”
She points to a lunatic roaming around. They see that Joax has gouged out his own eyes as to not see what he brought about.
“He has gouged out his eyes several times now but they will grow back. He will never return to even a resemblance of sanity. This is his punishment for his betrayal. This will be your burden now. Know this and remember, I will not allow the Clan of Martin to perish. I have told the king exactly what I will do but he is forbidden to tell anyone”
With that, we were back and the Watcher was nowhere to be seen.
“You will not tell anyone what you have just been shown.” Draco tells them. “You will start the movement by going back to that canid and work with him. Showing others that we can change. We must change that future and forcefully shape it into the opposite.”
With a revised attitude, they go and find that canid.
“Back to knock me down again a few more pegs? Don’t bother. I’ll leave you to bask in your self-inflated glow.”
With that he starts to walk away.
“We beg you to hear us out. Would you please stay?”
The canid stops but he is suspicious.
“I’m willing to hear you out but the slightest hint of sarcasm, I leave.”
“First of all, we are sorry for our blatant display of stupid arrogance. Once we considered the bigger picture, it was obvious to us that we were just showing how ignorant we actually are.
Can we start over? Can we change the world together?”
He is stunned. Never would he have ever thought that a dragon would swallow its pride and ask some other species to forgive them.
“I can tell that you mean it. Yes, I would like to work with you.”
With a relieved look on their faces, they offer their hands and shake.
The three start to do everything together. They soon start to include others. That was because they started to act like a club. It was an attraction that they did not even realize would have happened. The three started to trust each other. With the trust, friendship developed.
Friends can have their differences. Friends can have squabbles but true friends will stay.
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The fascinating fact is that once the friendships develop, it seems that differences are exploited but in a good way. A goblin can get into areas that a dragon can’t. Felids can sneak up better than canids but canids can pick up scents better.
King Draco now has groups from other dragon clans rotated to his tower to see what benefits are the results of cooperation. He now starts each new one, that rotates in, with a fantasy story about being the key factor between a peaceful world or a dead planet with only one dragon left behind to forever regret his decision to not change. Each new one would believe that they were the one he was predicting to be the one on that burnt planet.
It was brought home when they would see some of the teams from the Clan of Martin. They worked in perfect harmony. Each member is able to operate by themselves but when they join with a partner, they will become a single entity.
They would have it explained to them that because of their cooperation, regardless of species, the Clan of Martin teams have never lost a single member in combat. Only through marriage or retirement.
Once the dragons see the benefits of team work, they are given the speech that Beez gave five young boys so many years ago.
It is stupid to racially judge. It is humble to sincerely apologize. It is courage to ask someone for help. It is intelligence to say I am lacking teach me.
That always hits home for the dragons. They see that the goblin village is so advanced that they are always in demand to build, repair or any other task. They have advanced their species so much that they are no longer looked upon as inferiors, they are just people.
Most of the dragons on the tower realize that they have just sat back in arrogance and has stagnated as a species.
The whole manor and tower experience changes them. With that change, it is now being reported that everywhere, species are disappearing and people are replacing them. They still are dragons, felids, and other species but now they are equals.
Now each time the king sees the Watcher she just smiles.
Martha’s mission.
Sophia is the apple of her mom’s eyes. That does not diminish her love of her other two children, Justine and Tracy. Sophia was her first child. She was cast out by her father and left to die. The children found her but she captured Martha’s heart. She also put Martha’s foot on what would prove her true destined path.
Seeing the environment she never had with her birth parents, when she joined the children’s army, she was asked by king Draco what she wanted to be. A defender or a healer was the 243
choice she was presented with. It was at that moment when she made a lifetime choice. She took the healer sash.
She has grown up learning justice from her brothers and sisters. But she learned that there are a quite a few races that do not have very much respect for life, other than their own, like her birth father
The manor is constantly receiving reports of the bodies of even infants that are being found.
The orphanage is getting more but unfortunately not all. She is seeing her mother Martha deal happily with a somewhat of a stream of couples that are not capable, for biological reasons, of having children that come to the manor to beg for a child or children.
It is watching the smile on their faces when they hold their adopted child for the first time. For most, it does not even need to be an infant. Any child is a delight.. She also sees the disappointment when the Beall orphanage is empty.
Sophia knows that there are other locations that may have a child the needs that turned away couple.
Before the current disappointed couple is getting ready to leave, she has a brilliant idea.
“Mama, could you have a dragon runner go to the other manors and get a list of the children in their orphanages that are available? Have a list, from each, of the age and other physical descriptions written down then combine them together. That way you could have a book for these people to look at. You could approve them and have them go to that mansion and see that child.”
Martha and the couple are amazed. Something that is logical and right in your face is usually something that you overlook. They all hug Sophia.
“Can you come back in a few days?” Martha asks
They say yes and leave with hope rather than disappointment.
Martha takes her daughter’s hand and they go to the King’s tower. She explains what she wants from the other manors. The dragon in charge thinks it is a wonderful idea, especially since one of the Beall children that were adopted into the Clan of the Dragon is now his daughter.
By the next day, Martha had the individual lists and with the help of her goblin women volunteers, those lists are now in a formal book with two empty spaces for the prospective parents names.
Now each manor has copies of the same book. They update it to show new arrivals that are now well and ready to go home. This is now a weekly routine. The individual lists are condensed and each manor get a single list of both arrivals and adoptions. This is still called the Sophia system.
When Martha’s twin daughters, Justine and Tracy, came of age, it was an option that once the children get to the three to four old range, they can join the children’s army. They don’t have to but it always is, to them a rite of passage, to wear the armor and sash. Justine and Tracy are healers.
Unlike a lot of the children that, when they reach the age of eight change to defender, the two girls stay like their older sister, healers. They see what their mother and sister are doing. They know the story of Sophia and feel that their great fortune of having Sophia as a loving sister should be shared, they eventually lose their interest in the army and join their mother and sister in the cause.
The Watcher and Martha are great friends. Both Rae and the Watcher help. It is not uncommon for the Watcher to pop out when a couple is delighted to find a child but are having feelings of trepidation that the child may be already taken.
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Most of the times she will return with the good news for them. Sometime, it is good news but not what they want to hear, the child is adopted but she will point out a child that she feels that would be a better fit. Watchers intuition.
Again, it is the young girls that see the path that is needed to be taken.
Martha and Rae are looking at a three girl meeting off to the side. When they are done, they let Tracy be the one to voice their idea. The two mothers could see that they put a lot of thought into it by the way all three are fidgeting. Tracy starts.
“We need to figure a way to have those families that have too many children and are thinking of disposing of some to be paired with those couples that want them.”
Then Justine adds,
“We also need something that will stop them from having too many babies.”
Now Martha and Rae are thinking. They know that it cannot be a paid transaction for the birth parents. If it was, then they would produce more to get more money. It would have to be a penalty for disposing of children. There would also be a fee for the adoption. Modest of course but a way of weeding out those who needed free workers rather than children.
Now they saw the Watcher come forward. The children always know. She talks with Martha and both are smiling. The Watcher comes over to each and gives them a gift. The gift of compassion.
The gift of compassion is just that, compassion. The difference is that they now can think together and come up with complete working solutions to a problem where there is a need for compassion for both adults and especially children. Those poor helpless ones.
After the realization sinks in, they talk with each other then ask is mama Christine could come in here. The Watcher goes and in a few moments Christine comes in. She has been given a briefing by Martha on what they have been discussing and that the sisters have been given a Watcher gift.
Now she listens as Sophia explains the idea.
“We need your network’s help. We are trying to stop the discarding of children. We need to keep track of those women that continually are pregnant. They are the most likely to abandon those excess or unproductive children. Your healers see most of the pregnant women. Would it be possible for your network to keep track of the pregnancies in their area?”
Christine sees where this is going.
“Yes, it can be done but for what purpose? If it is for penalizing them, they will stop coming.”
“No, the only penalty would be the discarding of those babies. We would ask that there be education on the need of fruitless couples that want to adopt. Give them an option on giving them away rather than leaving them to die.”
Christine thinks about it as Tracy adds.
“It must be a terrible burden on the woman’s conscience to know that so many of her babies were left, most of the time, to die a horrible death. Our sister was just one that almost died.”
Sophia says,
“If the Watcher did not guide me here, I would not be alive now. Think about it. If you had no say in it, how would you feel knowing that a child that your carried, gave birth to and started to nurture, was taken by your husband and thrown away like so much garbage.”
“He wouldn’t wake up in the morning. He would have his throat slit.”
You could tell that it hit home. She was thinking about her twins, Harold and Marsha.
“I’ll send the word out. My system will track those who are pregnant but not coming to us. We need to educate them on methods of birth control. My two are perfecting a procedure on female animals. They are now removing the ovaries. They say that they now can do it in a day 245
visit for humans. Only small cuts under their sleeping gas, a few stiches and some soreness the next day. The husband may not notice but it is a better alternative.”
With that the system was born. It took a while but most of the woman who were constantly pregnant opted for the operation. There were husbands that got off on making babies that found out about the operation and tried to divorce the wife. Our husband and the king made it a law, throughout the world, that a husband divorcing his wife after she stopped having his children, was granted that divorce but he left the marriage with only the clothes on his back.
The wife got everything and the chief of that village was given the power to arrest a husband trying to take something from the estate.
The practice of disposing of children, over time, became viewed, as it should, a barbaric and heinous crime that was to be reported. Now it is no longer up to the husband. Wives have banded together and will give up the extras. To know that they live, eases their guilt, somewhat.
Those three sisters go on to champion the rights of the downtrodden to have compassion shown. Those sisters put themselves out of business with their system. They now started to turn their compassion toward the elderly.
Christine’s miracles
It happened just as she was told when it was announced that Hilda and Missy were pregnant.
The Watcher told Christine that when they gave birth, she would become pregnant with twins.
Sure enough, she followed the directions of the Watcher and when the two ladies were due, she stopped taking the potion. Almost to the day, they delivered and Christine started to feel the effects of morning sickness.
Without the need for the test, the Watcher came to her and told her that she had the two that would advance medicine beyond their understanding. Then she told her that these children will remember their past life on a different planet than the one that Justin came from. They would not have the personalities that the other world people had, they will just have the advanced medical memories that will, when needed, come to them.
The Watcher has told each that they have been given the gift of innovation. They have.
Christine has been ordered to keep that portion to herself and take it to the grave. Do not even let her children know. They will think it is their ideas. They will use the magic and technology from this world.
Know this, as Beez has shown, there are people out there that will lend their magical talents selflessly to help people.
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The twins have been born the first is Harold Martin and the second is Marsha Martin. Both beautiful. Justin has always looked at each new born as they are the most precious baby that he has seen. As with all the children that are born the Watcher and the Matriarch both bless each. In the early days it was Martha but now it is Gabor.
It was told that all the children would be important to the future but Christine is convinced that her babies are the best. She still values all the children as her own and that does not change.
The other birth mothers show the same, their birth children are special. Outwardly they try not to show that favoritism but when alone with them, they are the center of that mother’s universe. Christine now knows exactly what that look is.
By the time her two reached the age of the late teens. They had perfected many new treatments. Their most acclaimed treatment is the cesarian for breach or mothers in trouble.
Before the mortality rate was close to one hundred percent now that they had taught other healers to do it and the need for sterilization of their instruments, their operating field and themselves to kill the germs the rate is now reverse. Almost everyone survives.
There is other advances by them that have improved the medical field but with all their talent they will never conquer time. Famous or infamous, time was foretold as the killer of the Clan of Martin. Even the Watcher told them that her host’s body would succumb to time but the ethereal would pass to another clan member at the time of her host’s death.
They are starting to take care of the harem wives
Of late, she has found that time has grabbed hold of her. She has deliberately shut down the time element of her skills. Beez especially has asked them not to tell Justin. After she told Harold and Marsha, she told her harem sisters that her body was failing. They could see it.
The two prodigies did not let that stop them from trying to help her. They found a way to ease her joint pains, give her more days of normal energy. There was no way of bringing back her speed and grace.
The summer camp demonstration was canceled by her earlier. This was her first sign. She approached the campers to shred their clothes. With her daggers out and ready, she stopped and dropped the daggers. Her sudden actions caused all the harem to come rushing over at the sight of the army of comforters gathering their mama into their hug.
The harem asked those campers to go back to the lodge area. Then a crying Beez told them, while being stroked by the children, she suddenly knew that if she did not stop, something very bad was going to happen.
That was the last time she received a message from her tomorrow self. That was the day that she shut down the time element and passed the dagger shredding to her daughter Zazu, oldest of the second pregnancy.
Zazu Martin had surpassed her mother in the dagger dance, so it was natural that she was the one. Her skills were amazing. She even has joined with her Amazon sister Hilda, the second daughter of Hilda the first. They both, to the amazement and some trepidation of their mothers, revived the high low twin terrors. If you did not know, you would swear that they were the originals. The five men can attest to that.
Christine, like Beez, is feeling time. Both of her children have heard of the way she finally took care of the sick religion and that she was called their saint. One day, their mother sat with them and told them that the saint was tired and was stepping down, retiring. The watcher had passed the area high heal to Marsha. It’s a female thing according to the Watcher.
Right now only the dragon kin Sorra and Martha are still in their prime due to their long lifespan. They told their sisters that it was natural for them. They would continue to guide what now is the third generation. Great grandchildren.
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The aunts had passed. It must have been some attraction, some draw to them but Beez was now tending the daisy’s, Christine was the iris, Hilda was the violets and Rae the roses. The children’s army was doing what their previous generations had done. They took care and protected their g’ma’s with the same dedication that their parents did. It was not uncommon to have their g’ma’s reach out and grab as many as they could into hugs. Sometimes wandering off with an army trailing them to see something that their g’ma’s wanted to show them. The four walked a little slower and a little bent over, not to accommodate the children but bowing to the effects of their two mortal enemies, time and gravity.
Seeing what was going on Harold and Marsha were angry with themselves. They should be able to figure this out. They started to do almost desperate research. Angry with themselves that they could not come up with anything. It wasn’t until they were taken into a white room and shown what would happen if they broke through the barrier of death.
The Watcher showed them a world where people got old, their bodies wore out to the point that they were in mobile beds that responded to their thoughts. It was a world where the old were existing. Their minds were trapped in a body that no longer worked. You could constantly see the beds speed towards a wall, a cliff and other things that should result in death but the built in controls stopped that.
The last thing that stopped them from trying anything more was the sight of eight beds trying to crash into each other. The desperate look on their faces and the anguish that was on the faces of a human man, a felid woman, a goblin woman, a human woman, a Amazon woman, a dragon newt, a human woman and a dragon woman. They all were looking at the two mouthing, please let us die.
Seeing their parents like that made them realize that there needs to be an end to everything.
An end of time’s choosing. It was then that they turned their elder research in the direction of comfort. They turned to their sisters Sophia, Justine and Tracy for their wisdom. With that, they were able to come up with ways to ease pain. Give a little more energy so they can still do somethings for themselves.
Life is meant to be lived and meant to end.
Decisions that must be made.
There is always someone out there that insists on being the last. True to form there is one last pair of nobles out there that are still trying to impose their rule. They are brothers but each had their own area that they were feudal lords over.
They were among the ones that fled with their wealth and had orphanages that were both slave markets for child labor or other things. The remainder had to forage for what meager eatables they could find. Those were the weak and left to die.
They were so callus that the even left their wives and children to suffer the consequences of the brother’s actions. The families that they left behind did not escape punishment but were 248
shown some leniency by reducing them to ordinary people, given a small plot of land and a bag of seed. Then told to fend for themselves.
The surrounding communities could have been merciless, offering absolutely no help but instead, they showed them what it was like to be good neighbors. The goblins, a group that was a branch of our community, built them homes and helped them get started.
These brothers were able to get an almost hidden tract of land that had a house on it. Of course, they stole it. They used the wealth to hire a small army of thugs that even Everett would not have given a second look. They were not even worth being called seconds.
They are only able of causing a small amount of trouble. They are more of a pain in the ass rather than bringing the revival of human superiority even though most of the world now realize that the different rules was the actual cause of all the problems.
They did hit and run tactics that showed that there was thought on what to hit but never on how.
The one that was almost hilarious was when they tried to set fire to one of the dragon towers.
It looked like the King’s tower, most do. They are the timber and plaster exterior style. The brothers at night snuck up with wood and brush, then set fire to it.
The obvious thing did not occur to them. The tower had to sustain the landing of one or more dragons at one time.
As they watched from a distance, they saw the timber catch fire, burn until they fell away from the stone structure beneath it. They failed to realize that the whole tower was stone. The timber and plaster was a veneer because Justin insisted that the King’s tower looked like the manor’s exterior.
The manor was made in the actual timber and plaster style.
The two became such a nuisance, that Justin decided that this would be a good time for him to send out his three, Draco, Justin Jr. and Ellenore. They would be under the command of the army generals. Their older sisters Rachael and Mazet. He knew that they could do this themselves but it was now time to see what actual situations involve. The three knew the theory, they can think as one but now will be the first time in actual circumstances. They would also learn to rely on others and follow what others think is best.
As I briefed them in the war room, they were constantly aware of the Watcher. We all can tell when Rae is there but we can tell the instant she becomes the Watcher. Right now, the Watcher is here.
“The two brothers have become a thorn, a sliver that is in your bare foot. You can walk but step on that exact spot and you feel it. It is only when you have someone go at it and remove it do you find relief. Draco and Justin, you are going to be under the command of these two generals. Follow them and learn.”
Both are still somewhat of wise guys but none more than junior. I can’t imagine who he inherited it from. At times he can be just like his mother, Missy.
“Why do we have to follow them? They are just our sisters.”
I know that he is just joking but Mazet, the wiser of the two generals stands and gets in his face.
“That is just the reason that you can’t go out without direct supervision. We are here in the war room. The time for levity is elsewhere. We are being given an assignment. You need to be serious. Ellenore, he needs to air walk. Would you please jack him up.”
Ellenore does just that. Like a bad cat, she grabs by the scruff and he dangles.
“Ellenore, can you let him down.” I ask
“Mazet is right. You need to curb those impulses as I had to do with your mother. She was prone to impulses. They can get you or worst others killed. Follow their orders and learn.”
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Draco looks at him and shakes his head.
“Another fine mess you got us in to.”
I open the map and show them the different areas that have been struck. I tell the generals to come up with their plan.
“Bring Ellenore in on it for logistics. I would like her to figure out what is needed to support the army. We will meet in the morning to review the plans.”
Looking at my two sons
“I want you two to go over the horsed conditions. Check all the tack and saddles. Give your report to Ellenore. You five, the war room is yours now. I have retired.”
I leave before they can say anything. It is for them to figure out what I meant. I did mean that it was theirs now. I really am considering retiring altogether. I know that those five are already destined for their rolls but I have another one of my sons in mind. His sister would approve.
In the morning, I find out that they did take me seriously. I heard a knock on my door. It was the leader of the children’s army. She is the daughter of one of the servant. They all still called me father Justin, even though they know and respect their birth parents. All the children did.
“Papa Justin, the generals request your presence in their war room.”
Their war room, Yes I think it is near that time to retire completely.
“When we get there, would you please ask Wendel to join us. I have something to ask him.”
I am escorted by the full army to the war room and officially announced.
“Papa Justin is here at your request.”
Very formal, very comforting. I am seeing the future. I do think it really is time for us to step into their shadows.
“Thank you for asking for me. I have asked them to have Wendel join us this morning. Now what do you need me for?”
I ask that because I now want them to be aware of my formal hand off of this room and all it implies. I see Rachael, Mazet and Ellenore start to tear up and Draco and Junior are choaked up also.
“Father,” Rachael says, “We would like some of your wisdom. Would you please go over our plan with us and give us your guidance.”
Bursting with pride and also trying to keep my composure.
“I would be honored but may I ask if we could wait a few minutes. I have asked them to bring Wendel here. I have something I want to ask him and I would like your approval on it.”
Before they could respond it was announced that Wendel is here.
The look on his face is both confusion and honor.
“I was told that you wanted to talk with me father.”
“Yes I do. Son, I have turned over the war room to these two generals.”
I turn to Rachael, being the lead general.
“I here by request that Wendel be formally discharged from the army.”
I then turn back to him.
“I want you to train under me for a few years and then take over the control of the mansion and the teams. I am getting to the point that I need to step back. Your brothers and sisters have roles that they must fulfill. You, my oldest son, have a very great future before you. I want you to replace me. What do you say?”
He is in shock. So I tell him that if he needs time to think about it but he interrupts me.
“It would be my greatest honor to train under you. I will try my best to fill your shoes.”
“No don’t try to fill my shoes. Make this your position. Learn from me but be prepared to change. If you don’t make it yours, it never will thrive. Make it the best you can do. General, what do you say.”
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Rachael steps forward to face Wendel.
“Do you understand what father is offering to you?’
“Yes”
“Will you make the responsibility yours?”
“Yes”
“You are hereby discharged with honor. Take your position by your teacher and learn.”
What a glorious day this is.
They go over the plans and I only need to suggest a few things. Ellenore has the reports on the horses and their saddles and the equipment needed for the campaign.
“Everything looks like it should be good to go. Now Wendel, go advise your mother on your decision. Have her take you to Beall. You need clothing that reflect your new position. All you have is the armor. That goes into the great hall just below your children’s armor.”
By the time I get to the family area, I am swamped by my wives but most important, they allowed Beez to come up first. She is still my wonderful Beez, but I have been noticing that she is getting a little slower of late. I pick her up and thank her for having put up with me for so long. She smiles and thanks me for promoting Wendel.
“He is bursting with pride. We will take the carriage to Beall to get him outfitted. He has asked Sophia to join us. I think we need to watch them.”
We kiss and I put her into her favorite chair. The others now take their turn but I cannot help but see the Watcher. When it is her turn she tells me that Wendel is the right choice to take over. Then she whispers,
“You now need to spend as much time with your wives as possible. It’s not this year but it is sooner rather than later. The departures will be coming.”
Those words shake me to the core. More than seeing the army off to find those thorns. I may worry but the watcher, when they were born said that they would not be killed, we all would die of old age.
I now spend most of my time with them and showing Wendel the ropes. It has now become a major task for me but more importantly, I have him doing the worst time consuming job of running this place, the paperwork.
He has thrown himself into the roll. The Watcher is giving him advise. She is helping me free up time to be with the other wives. She has hinted about Beez. Hate that but thank her for it.
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The last of the nobles
The army left the manor. We had a modest sendoff. I knew that it was going to be a while before they reenter the manor grounds.
The two generals led the parade. You knew they were the leaders not because they were in front but the way they were dressed. The standard army had normal looking armor. The general’s armor was accented with red and gold paint. It said that we are so skilled that here we are. What everyone knew now was that every one in that army was more than capable of taking over for a fallen leader.
The three followed the generals. The joking in the war room was left there. They look like someone revealed to them that this was a moment in time. Their moment to step forward.
I do not even have the slightest idea on how they would have known something like that. I do warn you, don’t stand too close to me. You don’t know if or when a certain someone will visit a punishment on me for that statement.
After much discussion in their war room, the areas that they wanted to search were divided into sections. Each section would be scouted one by one by their felid and goblin scouts.
Over the course of training, it was found that the goblins were the crafty ones and the felids were the gymnastic ones. The combination of the two rivals the high low twin terror’s reputation. Each pairing had their own synergy. They could, on the fly, almost read each other’s minds.
The army developed, like all armies of old, their own hand language. When I wanted Missy and Abigail to capture that gang spy, I did not say a word. I pointed to the person, grabbed my wrist, then pointed to the floor. That told them silently, Grab that person and bring them here.
Those teams use the same but with their own twist, an accent so to speak. That way if someone was see them signing. They could misinterpret what they see but that never happens. They are too silent.
The teams get in and out with the stealth that only training can bring. They sprint in and out of the area. How could a goblin keep up with a felid you ask, they developed a simple technique used through the ages. It is called piggy back.
When they would reach the general area and settled on a direction they needed to go, the goblin would climb on the felid’s back and hang on. When they reached the area, the goblin would creep in low and the felid would climb various areas.
This combination has led to several marriages. It becomes very personal. Most of the time it is a coworker friendship but in some cases it developed into love. This is neither encouraged or discouraged.
It was one of those teams that found the first clues, a camp for the thugs. It showed signs of repeatedly being used. They were able to ascertain that it was going to be used in the near future.
Now the three are challenged. The generals ask
“What would you do with this information?”
After the three talk to each other, Draco says,
“We would draw back and leave a team on the hill. Hidden from view, they could see when they arrive and how long they stay. In the mean time, we should scout out the other areas. We need to find out if this is a patrolled spot or is it random. Find the group then follow them for a 252
while. Do hand off’s to change the teams. We need to follow them because they will go to the base. It is the brothers we want.”
Rachael and Mazet know that this is exactly what they need to do. They mentally could see the Watcher nod.
Mazet tells them,
“We will leave the ones that found this to watch. They can pick a site of their choosing. We however need to keep on going. We are using father’s information on other gang patterns, especially Everetts gang patterns. The map showed that there is an area that has not been hit with raids. We really need to investigate that area.”
Now Rachael tells them.
“We have been told that the final assault on the brothers will be under your charge. This is the Watcher’s orders. You need to test your metal. We are to capture the brothers if at all possible. They need to be judged but that will be left to your feelings and assessments. Know this your future reputation will be shaped by your decisions on this mission. The army will find them but it will be your operation at that point. Mazet and I will pull back.”
Mazet again speaks but with a warning,
“This is our orders to you, if one of our family falls, you will be pulled and we take over again.
We will not allow you to be foolish and get one of your brothers or sisters injured or killed.
Now let’s go find the brothers and make you the leaders that the Watcher has said you will be.”
With that we leave. With what their sisters told them, they realized just how important this mission is. Yes we are going after a thorn in the foot but not done right, an infection could spread and kill. They knew that the Watcher would not allow that. The shame the three would face would take untold years to repair.
They had many discussions with themselves but more important they consulted others. Use their knowledge.
Just like those five boys that were taken to the camp, the three started this with a flippant child like attitude. Just like the five men that left the first lake camp. That warning struck home. Their sisters could see that they are changing right before their eyes.
That night, in their tent, Rachael and Mazet had a visitor, who told them that they have set those three on the right path. She told them that they will not lose a single person but be vigilant. There may be anger, but logic will rule the day. Her words were
“You need to step in only is Ellenore does not anchor those two.”
After the scouts reported in saying that there was no real pattern to the gangs route, it was the report from the ones assigned to the middle areas, that there is a house there and the two brothers were spotted there.
Those scouts told us that there were slaves there and it was obvious that the majority were females of different species. The two generals could see, well anyone could see, Draco is changing into his full dragon and Justin is starting to hiss.
The generals wanted to step in but remember their warning. They watched.
Ellenore went over to her two brothers and draws them into a bear hug.
“You two need to calm down now. We need to think this through not run amuck. We need a plan to take them alive. They need to stand in front of the king and mother Martha for proper judgement. Anything you would do to them would kill them. They don’t deserve that easy release. Remember what we were told. The Watcher has special places for those kinds.”
Her words and the bear hug causes them to calm down. We come over to them.
“Ellenore is right. Killing them is too easy on them. Remember the tale of Joax and Tiron.
Joax is rumored to be in a place where he is alone and immortal. It is a place that Tiron had 253
nightly terrors and it is rumored that even king Draco has those dreams. It sounds like a place for them to exist. We take them alive. Make them suffer.”
Now rational, they see that death is really too easy on them. Both thank Ellenore for her kindly way of calming them. Then they run and an Amazon chases them. You would think that a felid and dragon could escape but. They really did not go all out. They truly respect Ellenore.
Able to creep up to the house, the three use the classic team tactic. Wait until the lights go out. The guards go first, then the female scouts go in to keep the female slaves quiet.
On their signal the three go in and capture the brothers. Draco confronts them as a human.
“How could you be so stubborn at the same time being so stupid?”
Justin says,
“You will be both brought to king Draco for the courts justice.”
With that a certain someone appears. The watcher does not even look at the stupid brothers.
She walks over to the three and kisses each on the forehead.
“I could not be more proud of you three. You now are ready to take your real positions. I leave you to clean up the gang but these are coming with me. We will wait until all of you get back to show you why it was the right move to keep them alive. Those slaves, there is a contingent of dragons coming to take them to mother Christine’s clinic. I’m proud of all of the army.”
She, along with the brothers disappear.
Everyone is very happy, then Ellenore says something that everyone agrees with.
“We’re here. There are supplies here and the gang always returns here to report. We have people watching the paths. Once spotted, a simple signal, a cat call and we ambush them.
Less effort, greater results.”
It works too well. It seems that everyone was coming back at the same time. It did not take any effort at all.
The Watcher showed up again. This time she brought the dragons and soon the entire gang was gone.
Then the Watcher told all to go home but turned to the three.
“Time to step out of the shadows. Be prepared. You need to think on the way home about your destiny.”
On the way back to the manor, all of them try to figure out just what the watcher meant. We were all surprised when we saw all the dragons in the yard. There was the entire gang and those two noble brothers.
The king welcomes us in a strange way. The three are singled out.
“We need to put you through a final test. We now need to see your wisdom. You will be presented with the case of these two brothers. You have seen their home personally. You are technically compromised. Can you set that aside and judge them based only on what is presented? That is your test.”
They were seated at the front table as judges. They were given all the evidence right down to what they saw at the house. Then they were at the Watcher’s mercy.
The three found themselves on that ridge that others have stood. They saw the burnt up world. They were told of the warning that they all got. If they do not act as fair and just rulers, this is the world of the future.
When they return, they are changed.
The king stands and addresses the three.
“With what you have been presented, what do you say?”
The three somberly spoke, “Guilty”
Now for what they knew was going to be the next question.
“What then is your sentence?”
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They confer with each other for a long time.
The younger Draco announces the sentence.
“They are sentenced to death in the manner that all other nobles that murdered those that they were to protect. Those foundlings, those orphans. The gang members are to be sentenced to ten years of servitude at the foundling shelters. They will be the labor in the fields.”
The Watcher stands.
“They were shown something that could have been their fate. They have chosen a merciful momentary terror death for the two. The gang did more nuisance crimes that did not warrant death. The farm labor is the appropriate sentence. They have shown wisdom.”
The brothers are taken above the clouds and far away from the manor. We did not even hear their screams or see them fall. That was in consideration of the children.
The king tells them to prepare.
The rise of the three
That baby miracle, the triple changer is now twenty two. Almost the age that his father was when he woke up in this new world. His cohort Justin is twenty one as is their sister Ellenore.
You would think, they way they act as a well oiled machine that they were of one mind. In fact, they are. I feel that the Watcher has many abilities that she passes on without telling anyone about them.
When each were children, she would often use the excuse that she did not like to ride. She would stay home and watch the children. Every time, the children would ask if she would be the one that watched them.
“She does wonderful things with us but we always need to remind her that she cannot disappear during hide and seek. We only found her once.”
To me, it would be almost wrong to accuse her of not giving each something special. As I have said before, every child is ours regardless of the birth mother. Blood or servant. They are ours.
Those servants are our family also. They have, for a long time, been active members of the Clan of Martin. There is no one that is slave bound. Some servants have moved on but most stay, knowing that they have a home for life.
The three have now come of age. I see the Watcher disappear more often than usual.
Something is up, so it was not really a surprise when the entire Clan of the Dragon started to come here. Leading them was their King, King Draco.
In a royal voice that I have not heard in years he announces, as the Watcher stands next to him.
“Draco, my grandson, Justin, my grandson and Ellenore, my granddaughter. I require you to stand before me. The remainder of the Clan of Martin. Stand in my presence.
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We all assemble. He addresses the gathering.
“You three are required to come to the dragon palace. You two Justin and Ellenore will be carried by us. Draco, you will be required to fly with me in your full dragon form. You, their parents, are required to come to the palace. The goblin leader Gartok you are also required.
All others can come if you want. We will need you to be there is three days. You will have a dragon escort the entire way.”
With that the dragons, along with the Watcher take off. It still is a thrill to all to see my son transform into a majestic dragon and fly off.
There is a scramble, word has gone out to the other manors asking that the leaders come if they can. We have also sent word to the chief of Beall. inviting him. The word was that we would be moving by noon.
It was decided that the children’s army would come. The last of the aunts had passed peacefully months ago. Finally at peace so this will be the children’s first adventure. Most of the mansion staff choose to stay behind.
I had my suspicions on what was going to happen but it was wonderful to have my wives on a camping trip. We had pulled out the old tent only to find that the mice had gotten to it. There was no time to replace it so it was decided to camp in the open much to the dismay of the wives but this was a quick departure.
When we made it to the palace, it was obvious that something important is happening. We were welcomed by our three. They were very formally dressed. they usher both my wives and myself into a private room. There they sat next to the king and the Watcher.
The Watcher stands and addresses us.
“King Draco has ruled the Clan of the Dragon for almost eight hundred years. He has decided that it is time to step down. He had asked me to confirm this for him. I have assured him that it is time.”
Then she sat down. The king talked to us.
“I’m tired. It has been a tremendous burden these past years since we took over the rule of this world. I am now stepping down. There is going to be a change. There will be a co rule from this point on. The burden will be shared. Both Draco and Justin have agreed that they would be those rulers. It was going to be all three but Ellenore wanted to be in the role of advisor. To use her words, she needed to be behind them just in case that she had to jack them up so they did not chase squirrels. She will be their Chamberlin.”
With that we were told that in two days, the king would step down, retire and appoint those roles as his last act. Now that it has been told to us, I saw something that I never wanted to see. I saw my close friend look very old and very tired.
How long had he held a façade of being strong? All I could do was to go over to him and hug him. I whispered in his ear.
“Just because I’m hugging you, it does not mean I’m in love.”
The effect was exactly what I wanted. He broke into a very hardy laugh.
“That’s the person I know. Draco, you are always welcome to stay with us at the manor if you want.”
“Thank you for the offer but I think I would like to stay in Beall. They have been very welcoming to me each time I have visited.”
The euphoria lasted only for a moment. He looked at me.
“I thank you for being such a good friend. In my eight hundred year rule, only these past years have been the best. With you and the Watcher, I have had a true direction, With my grandsons and daughters I was able to see a time that I could finally let go. I really am so very, very tired. I have been alone for too long. I enjoy my daughters visits but it is no longer 256
her home. Her mother, my wife, has been gone so long that most of the time, I can’t remember what she sounded like.”
The Watcher comes over to him and takes him into the side room. In there she was able to help him.
“What I am going to tell you must stay here.”
They come out of that room. He still seems very tired but the sadness has been lessened. I do know that one thing that you don’t ask is what is said by the Watcher in private. I do not ask.
All the preparations have been made. The hall has been decorated. The one thing is that there are now three thrones. Two up front and one behind them in the gap between them.
The music starts and the Matriarch Gabor is the first followed by the Watcher. They go to the front and then the king enters and stands in front of the two. facing them. Then the three enter.
I can barely contain myself. My wives are crying tears of joy at the sight of the three in very regal attire, looking so serious. They proceed to the front and the king, along with the two, part to let them through to stand in a row facing the gathering.
“I, King Draco, do hereby abdicate the throne of the Clan of the Dragon and as my last act, declare that there will be co-rulers with a Chamberlin. I name both Draco Martin and Justion Martin Jr. as those co-rulers and Ellenore Martin as their Chamberlin.”
With that he turns to them bows and goes out of the hall.
The matriarch Gabor then asks Draco
“Do you Draco Martin accept that co-ruler position and swear to protect the peace of the world?”
He answers “I do.”
“Then sit in the left front throne.”
“Do you Justin Martin Jr. accept that co-ruler position and swear to protect the peace of the world?”
“I do”
“Then sit in the right front throne.”
Now the Watcher addresses Ellenore,
“Do you Ellenore Martin accept the position of Chamberlin. Do you promise to guide them to the true path? And do you promise to anchor them?”
“I do”
“Please take your chair behind them but between them”
Crowns are now presented before the two and placed on them. The coronation is finished.
Both rulers stand and take off those crowns. Draco is first to talk.
“We take off these crowns. These are representations of superiority.”
Justin then says,
“We feel that we are not your superiors, we are your servants.”
Ellenore says,
“We are here to guide. These two are here to serve the best interests of the world. It is our goal not to be Clan of the Dragons, not to be the Clan of Martins but to be the Clan of the world.”
Draco takes over
“To that end, we now say that, in no meaning to disrespect our parents, our last name will be dropped. We will take the name People as our last name because our hope is that we all are thought of as people.”
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I stand and applaud. As I do their mothers stand and do the same. Something we did not know was that they talked with a group.
The doors opened and in marched a small army of all races. It is the combination of both the mansion and the dragon children’s army. Goblins, felids, canids, humans dragons and all the others in the same armor and sashes. They line both sides of the aisle.
Draco now says
“This is our future. These children are not individual species. They are people.”
Now the matriarch Gabor and the Watcher start up the aisle followed by the three. As they start up the aisle, the children form in front of them until they are being led by all of the army.
Each one of those children have a serious look, not the jovial look that they usually have.
They know that this is a turning point for the world. Again, I am so proud of them.
The assembly was told to follow and we went out to the parade ground. We were greeted with an assembly of all the armies. There was the children’s but now there was the regular army.
They were led by their generals, Rachael and Mazet. They both have children in that children’s army.
There was a parade for the new rulers.
By the very need to pass the torch, we old guard are stepping back into the shadows. This is how it should be. It is their time.
I must say that I do feel the same as, now retired Draco, I’m getting tired. My wives are feeling it also. I have begun worrying especially for Beez. She has slowed down. Same for Missy. We need to now start tending those gardens and let the new ones take charge.
I have decided that it is time for me to do the same. I have now appointed our son Wendel as the head of our organization. The leader of all the teams. As a side note, he was the one that first spotted Sophia. There was a friendship that developed into love.
After talking with all of us and agreeing that there was no blood relation, they were married with all of our enthusiastic approval. They since have had children who are now in the children’s army.
It has taken another decade for the last vestiges of the old rule to fall. The old prejudices have faded into old people’s mumblings. Those are dismissed.
With all considered people, true cooperation was established. Now the envy of others has become the helping of others to achieve goals. Above all is the consideration that all the children deserve a chance.
The network established by Martha and her three daughters has become the norm. No questions asked. You cannot take care of the children you have, you can get the network to adopt them out. The penalties for just abandoning them have proved so severe that no one has been charged in years.
There are plenty of people out there that cannot have them, so the want is greater than the need to give them up.
Now all my wives have no need to go out, not that any of us really can. Time is catching up with us.
Time always catches you no matter how fast you think you can run.
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It’s been a long road for Justin. Seventy three years in the old world and now almost eighty in this world. He knows that he will not make it to the eightieth. He thinks that it is enough. He’s tired. This life was full. He is especially proud of all his children. They all achieved greatness and a hailed as the founders of the next era. It is how it should be.
These last years have been tough on him. Even though he did not have to go it alone this time, he had fooled himself all these new world years.
His trusted companion and one time butler, Chip had the accumulation of the wear on his body and time batter him down. He finally took to his bed. His wife Abigail never left his side over their married life. One evening, their daughter came to bring them some soup. She found the couple. Chip was dead in the bed. Holding his hand but now slumped with her head on the bed, was Abigail. It seems that they passed with in minutes of each other. Inseparable in life, inseparable in death.
Justin’s first harem loss was Beez, his wonderful Beez. She was beautiful in his old eyes as she was in those young eyes so long ago. She lived a very long life and one morning we woke up to find that she had passed during the night. As per her wish, she was buried in the goblin cemetery. They have set aside plots for all of my wives and myself. Chip and Abigail are already there. They asked us to honor them because we gave them the chance to become what they are, respected members of this world.
It hurt to see her go in. I found that it was just a precursor.
That impudent, frisky, felid Missy was next. She had become infirmed and was being tended by Christine’s wonders but you still cannot escape age. They were only able to ease her pain.
She passed with all the family with her. She went next to Beez.
Hilda went then Christine. Old age is the indiscriminate killer.
I knew that I was next. I tried to ease the mood by telling the family that I have lived a total of one hundred and forty six years. It was a good life. My children and grand children did not like it but knew I was right.
A few nights before I knew it was time, I asked to be alone with Rae.
“I’m sorry for those years in the old life where I was mad at you for leaving me alone. I’m sorry for leaving you alone this time.”
“It’s okay, I know that you did not mean to be mad. It was the being alone but as you have found out, the loss is still greatly felt. As far as you leaving me. Don’t worry, at my age, I won’t be here too much longer.”
“I really worry about Sorra and Martha. They can live for a thousand years longer.”
She did not say anything.
The thing I did not realize that they had a discussion about just that.
Sorra and Martha are with the Watcher talking about the emanate departure of their beloved husband, Justin. The Watcher says she is going to be the next but there is something wonderful awaiting her, a new life where the others are waiting. That life is the forever life. It is the world of no. No sickness, no death, no hurt. No sad departures Knowing that their lives can span thousands of years, Sorra, in despair says.
“I don’t want to be left for another year let alone for a thousand. Is there any way I can go along with you. I know that I could kill myself but I don’t want the children to remember me that way.”
Martha voices the same sentiments. She also does not want to go on.
“I ask you, the Watcher, not Rae the sister. I know that anything is possible with your powers.
Take us with you to that next world. Please we beg you. Don’t leave us alone.”
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“What we need to do is gather the children together today and have them say their good byes to Justin. Then we will have a meeting with them. Make your case to them. I will take you with me on the next week after he passes. If they understand and I feel that they will, we will wrap up the loose ends. Then after that week we will just go to sleep.”
Later in the day, they surprise me. All my children come to see me. There were quite a few tearful requests for me to say hello to their mothers that already passed. I told them all that it is my time.
“Don’t greave too much. I have led two full lives. But this one was the best. You all are here.
But now it is time to step out of your parent’s shadow. I await my reunion with my first two companions, Chip and Missy. I won’t be alone and so will all of you. You are all family. You will never be alone. You will be sad but there is still our young army for comfort.”
I smile at them because I see that they are here in my bed with me. My wives and those adult children, around my bed, know that I am seeing them as children as I talk to Mazet about the paper and straighten the sash on a few others
The kittens of Abigails, Beez’s firsts and all the others all very young again, they are telling me that it will be okay. Their mommies and their aunts are waiting for me. All I need is to sleep.
They are all curled up around me and I drift off with my babies around me.
After Justin left, the family gathers and Draco says to his mothers.
“We have talked about this amongst ourselves. We have a feeling that you want to go with father. I ask for all of us, not as mother Rae but as the Watcher. Is there a next life?”
The Watcher stands and goes over to Draco and sits next to him. Holding his hands she says,.
“Yes, there is one more life. It is the final one, the forever one. Your father will wake up in that morning and think the he had the wildest dream. Yes there is life after this.”
Now son looks at his mother
“Mom, I cannot say that I will like it but I will hate to see you pining away for untold years.
Watcher would you take my mother with you to that world.”
Sophia now talks to Martha.
“I too will miss you mom but not being a dragon, I don’t have the same long life that you have.
Please don’t worry about us. Watcher, please also take my mom with you.”
“What do you say to the three of us leave in a weeks’ time. All the arrangements will be made so you don’t have any worries. Your mother’s had approached me about this very thing. I told them that if you agreed, I would take them. What do you say?”
With tears all around they tell us that there will be a celebration of the community. It will be a sending off party.
“We would like it to be in the great hall. At a time of your choosing, you would go into the side room and depart. Is that possible Watcher?”
“It will be done.”
After everyone has left, the three of us say our final goodbyes to our husband but then we all changes it to see you soon.
The next morning Justin was buried and we made it known to the goblins that in a week we would be joining him of our own free will. It was a practice amongst the goblins that a wife could follow her husband so they did not question.
We had the party. It was great. There was one surprise guest. The old king Draco. He came over to us. He asked if there was room for one more on the trip. He said he was very tired and did not want to be left behind. The Watcher took his hand as we entered the room and closed the door.
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“Your wife has waited long enough. You will wake up in her house. Come see us after you get reacquainted.”
I wake up and find I am thirty again and stretch as Beez, Hilda, Christine and Missy come in to wake me up. Outside I hear a woman’s voice as a big black dog jumps through the window.
The couple come to the window and she says
“Hero come out of there. Sorry, he likes to greet the new ones. Welcome. Tonight, your other three wives will make their jump here but you will not be able to wake them. Tomorrow morning, they will be waking up, Hero will probably come back. He loves everyone. Ladies make sure he has a good breakfast before you tackle him. You have forever you know.”
The aunts come over to our house mid morning. They told me that they selected that life during their captivity was wiped from their memories but the gratitude they felt towards me needed to be expressed. They hoped it would be a very long time but they wanted to hug each and every one of those children and tell them to their face what it meant to them to be called their aunts. In this life they kept their names.
Aunt Iris, Aunt Daisy, Aunt Violet and Aunt Rose. The warmth they felt will last them until time itself stops.
The next day the full team is reunited. Chip, Abigail, Draco and his wife came over. Sorra, Martha and Rae woke up. With no need for the watcher anymore, the title and all that went with it was passed by mutual agreement on to Sophia the second after the four left their old world.
Hero came as predicted. The woman suggested that we all should go with them and explore our new world.
We all decide to go on that adventure.
Related shorts
This is four stories that were in different other published books of mine. I decided to include them in this compilation .
I begin with the last chapter of the misfit failure. This will be clear when you read i.
Next is how The Watcher and Rea came together
Third id the origin of Beez’s staff
And the last is a flight of fancy with our characters in the final eternal life.
There is a prequel of the Draco line that is titled The reincarnated dragon slayer you might enjoy
261
The last chapter from “the misfit failure is a demigod”
April evolves
Her role has not been easy, fulfilling but tiresome of late. As a demigod, she is not immortal.
The championing of the children is especially hard. All those memories of the ones that were lost. All the battles with those who believed that they had the right to throw away a living being just because of a score. All the anger, sorrow and yes happiness. That happiness has been the single thing that has spurred her on.
There have been more happy times than the sad ones. The thoughts have been entering her mind that it may be the time to pass the torch to her son Stanley while the happy times are here.
There is still more to do. More to save but now she is finding that she is relying on others to do the bull work, but it is comforting that she helped so many.
She had been able to make her peace with Gurtrude, aka the matron, and she ended up a good companion. After her release from servitude, now, renamed Destiny, and her adopted daughter settled down. Trish is now married and Destiny is a grandma. That child is spoiled.
They have never taken her to have her score read. That is now becoming the norm in the outlying communities. More and more employers are more interested in what you can do.
They have found that there are better all around employees in those who were deemed as low life’s due to a number.
That is the one real thing that has satisfied April. Proving that no one is worthless with the exception of those who cling to that old numbers religion.
Stanley is now in position to fulfill his destiny as successor to her.
She was now in her forties and in this world, it was very near old age. It was uncommon to have someone live to sixty.
All these thoughts have been weighing heavily on her. She closes her eyes when suddenly April is back in the white room with the god of fate.
“It has been years since you were awakened. Now here we are. The things that you have done in this short period, has caught the attention of all the gods. They are well pleased. You have improved all the other areas of life on this planet. It will take the remainder of this century but this planet will be in true peace.”
April is glad to hear that but a little sad that she would not be around to see it.
The entity knew what she was thinking.
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“You have trained Stanley and it is now time to turn your title over to him.”
That means my journey is at an end. I can finally rest. Or is it that it will be my final rest?”
“You have asked questions that get both answers Yes and yes, no and no. Yes, your journey as the demigod of fools has ended and yes, your life will end. No, your journey has just begun. You are being elevated to ethereal. No, your existence will never end.
As an ethereal you will be eternal. Your attention is needed on other worlds. You will be free to choose your targets but they will always be the same as you have here. The down trodden and the unfortunates.
I will let you choose how to leave this body but leave it you must. You now have a following that worship you. You have been named the patron saint of the unfortunate. The only thing to remember is what has happened to those who were worshiped before you. Most of their remains were torn apart and sold then worshiped as holy relics. Make your plans so your remains are well hidden.”
“How long do I have?”
“For this planet, no more than six months. You have already been given the power to jump to find a resting place for your body. I am sure you will hide it well. When you are ready, we will be here.”
With that I am returned to my companions.
I first tell Stanley that I am passing the title over to him and when.
“My priority is to pass on the title to you. Over these years you have grown. You will live to see the peace that we have tried to obtain. Now it is for you to find that special one that you will eventually surrender your title to. I had fun learning from you. At the time of my departure, you will be empowered with the demigod rank and all that goes with it.
Having explained how everything will happen I let my companions know what will happen and that I must leave this body but I will not die. I tell them that I must hide my remains even from them.
April goes to Destiny and tells her about what will happen.
“I have been told that I am to become an ethereal and will be leaving this body. I am glad to have known you and again I forgive you of those first years as I hope that you can forgive me for those first years of our travels.”
“Before I leave this world, I wanted to tell you that your future is cemented. You have made your latter life your legacy. I also wanted to remind you that I will be watching you. The years that we traveled together were a great comfort.”
With that she hugs Destiny then vanishes.
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Based on her demigod experience of instant travel that she called jumps, April, having been given the access to ethereal knowledge, creates a special watch that allows the wearer to travel, in an instant, to other planets. It contains a rudimentary self-intelligence. It teaches the wearer how to use it and repair it as soon as it is put on.
She programs instructions into the watch to have her remains taken to another planet. She will then go to an entirely different planet and have a beast attack her. There is a local woman, living in a cabin close by, that will find her fatally injured. She will tell the woman about distant planets and then, after instructions about the watch, she will let go of this body Once at the planet of graves. The instructions are in the watch. She will be posed as a greedy person surrounded by gold. This way no one will suspect or know where she is interred. She will leave no record of the watch. The watch will always stay away from April’s home world. The watch owner will never know of the exact origin of the watch and never be curious about that.
The woman who takes her there will be enticed, by the watches program, to continue to travel. The programing will fine tune to the wearer. After quite a few wearers of the watch April, the ethereal, added a program to start picking the successor to a child that looks like the lost partner. The current wearer will be inspired to leave tales and mementos.
The watch is programed to report back to the ethereal April on conditions of different planets.
This way April can figure out where to go.
It now comes the time for her to make her jump. The demigod powers are transferred, along with the score boost, powers and all that goes with the title, by the god of fate, to Stanley as April uses the watch to jump to that cabin area. She is fatally wounded and, as she had been told by the ethereal, it removed her from the body and made her an ethereal.
The two jump to the graveyard planet and watch as her old body is placed into her glass room and then is readied for its final resting place. They jumped out before the room was taken out to be placed. April never has gone back to see it. The watch has however reported that it has been visited quite a few times by different jumpers.
The watch informs April that it is the watch owner’s children that are the ones attracted to her site. That pleases her and she makes it a point to see that they are blessed.
April is now the god of fools. She does not like the inference. She is ethereal and does not want to have the ones she helps to be jokingly called April’s fools. She told the gods that now she wanted to continue to guide people, especially the ones in the universe who have had a raw deal. She will watch them and guide them. She gives people special gifts, powers so to speak, that will help them help others. Sometimes she will want to inhabit a material body, to share it. To watch. She likes the sound of that, she now is called by her new ethereal name.
The Watcher.
264
Rae and the Watcher
I know he is hurting. I tell him that I was sorry. I really did not want to leave him but I had to. I can see him, I feel for him. He just sits there in that back room. He is so lonely. I want to help him but you see I’m his wife Rae Martin.
Now I am just a spirit, I can’t and won’t leave the man I loved for so long. I watched him hold my hand as that body jerked and then went still. His sister was there and told him that I was gone. I know, because I heard them say that they felt that I had already left that body. I had.
That’s how I watched my own end. I stayed here trying to make my presence known. He liked the easy listening music channel. He played that for the last few days of my corporeal life. I tried to contact him through the titles. All it did was cause him heart ache and tears.
I cried and yelled
“Why can’t I help him? Will someone, anyone please help me!”
The next thing I know, I am in a white world or something. There is no description because there is nothing that will give any indication of where or what this is.
I see a figure forming. It is female and finally comes completely in focus. She then speaks in a soft understanding voice.
“I am the ethereal named the Watcher. I have heard your plea and have decided that your wish coincides with a mission I wish to undertake.”
Rae says that she will do anything to help him get over his loneliness and grief.
The watcher tells her that he will be in more grief because your son will shortly succumb to cancer.
“That will kill him” Rae exclaims.
“There is a method to all this madness, if you will let me explain. His sister is taking him on a trip to the next state. There he will let it slip that he would like a bonded pair of cats. I have picked the exact pair he needs. They will be with him when your son pass’s. They will give him a reason to go on. You will talk to the cats, especially the male. He will be able t see and hear you. The looking up will drive him crazy”
“Your husband will die at the age of seventy three, in his sleep.”
“Do you realize how that sounds? That is not a plan. That is torture. Let me out of here.”
The Watcher does not act like she even hears. She continues.
265
“He reads all those light novels about someone being killed in this world and being placed in a body in a world of swords and magic. I need someone and have determined that your Justin is exactly the one I need. The big problem is that I need someone to inhabit. That is where you come in. I would like you to volunteer for the job. I will reconstruct your physical body. You will be thirty but you will only be able to show ourselves to the two cats.”
“I need to be able to see and talk to Justin. How is that going to happen when I can only talk through the cats?”
“That’s the good part. Those two cats go with him to that new world but as humanoids., The one that he will call Chip, will be a sword and martial arts expert. The other one he will call Missy, will be a seductress. She will be able to go berserk and shred anyone. They will start his core team for the adventures he will go on.”
Seems like they have the better end of this deal. With our connection with Missy, we will direct others into his life. He will have that harem he has read about. He needs that harem to be able to complete what lies ahead. Every time one is added, we, in your body, will explain who you exactly are. You will call yourself the watcher but I will be there in you.”
“He will like that harem. He will forget me and I can rest”
“Even with the five women, he will not forget you. He will miss you until you return to him.”
“Hold the phone! Did I just here you say that I return to him? Let’s go.”
“You never let me finish. This merger is going to be interesting. I continue. He takes on five wives. All very interesting. All would give their lives to protect him. All will make his life, shall we say, interesting, especially at night. It’s a harem after all. The thing is, that with all that distraction, he is still sad, even though he very rarely shows it. He always misses you. He must establish his name and his team’s fame. Not until then will we appear in the flesh.”
Rae actually starts to feel the merge and answers her own question.
“He needs to win a major battle but with the talents of all of them.”
The Watcher now talks through her.
“He will be given one talent that he will know of. That will be the ability to copy any of his group’s best features or”
“All of the talent” Rae finishes. “Aren’t we becoming slightly a little creepy? Split personalities?”
“Yes on the split personalities but we will work it out for his good. Once he wins that big battle, you will tell Missy to tell him that it is time to show him who the Watcher is. That is where the physical body is needed.”
266
“He will order me to show myself and I will be that thirty, he told me I would be. I can tell that you will not be leaving at that time. You speak and tell me what is going to happen.”
“Showing ourselves is the start of fun, sadness, anger and especially love. You see, we will be able to switch in an instant. We will be ethereal all the time but also physical. Someone shoots and arrow at us, it will just pass through. We will age along with Justin. I will guide us through all of this and in the end, well you already know.”
“We will have a few weeks short of fifty years together. Our last act together will be when you take his two remaining wives and his father in law with you to the final eternal life.”
“Time makes no difference to the Watcher side but the human side I need to be able to feel.
You see, I used to have a physical body and was named April. I had a very hard first twenty one years and a long term as a demigod. In all that time.”
Rae tells her that she knows and that on the day we reveal ourselves,
“I will tell the harem that I claim Justin for a solo night. Virgin is not a disease, it’s just lack of the right opportunity. I’ll let you have the first round. Tell him to be romantic but the second round is no holds barred. How did that movie line go.”
“Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
.
267
Beez said "It seems that something is bothering you. If it would help, I'll listen."
"I do not know how you will respond but I know that you are the one I have waited for. You are truly the one I was meant to be with. My perfect owner"
In the beginning I was just a favorite play toy for a unfortunate girl. She was in an orphanage and had a low score. She was a seventy. Anyone under one hundred was considered useless.
Not that the other children were better off but they were better off in comparison to that little girl. They all were starving. The matron was almost pure evil. Some of her fellow orphans has died and were just taken away.
I was hidden under her bed. If the matron had found me, I would be used to beat the girl and then thrown into the matron’s heater. I knew that it was only a matter of time because that girl was close to death. She had given up.
Then something wonderful happened.
The demigod of fools showed up. She was so enraged with what she saw, she took that matron to a place, a hell of her own, and left her there. The matron was left alone on a burned up world for eternity.
The children were all fed some enriched soup, bathed and put into warm beds. For the first time in her life she was comfortable. The demigod’s assistant knew what I was and made sure that I was put in bed with the girl, not under it.
She got better quickly and once again we played. It came time for all the children to go. The demigod found loving homes for all, but the girl wanted to stay with the demigod’s group. She was allowed to do that.
I was discovered by the demigod when the girl offered her one and only possession, me, to the demigod, April, as thanks for saving her.
April was touched. The girl offered everything she had as thanks. That moved her.
“Since you will be with me, I will let you keep that stick but I’m going to do something to it.”
With that, as April held me, I became endowed with great powers. I grew. No longer a stick, I was sturdy, I was a staff. April gave me all seven powers but told me that I had the final say in how much power I would let the user have.
I knew instantly what the little girl needed and could handle.
April taught her how to use me and over time together we aided April in her mission.
268
April had been elevated to the ethereal level and her son took over. The girl, now a woman, continued to help in the cause.
Eventually, that system was abandoned. April’s son retired and passed the role to his successor. The role was once again a single person responsibility. That was good for my owner. She was getting tired and I could feel her life force slipping away.
As her life force was ending, April, now calling herself, the Watcher, came to her one time assistant and took us to another world. My owner was to be reborn after she was allowed to rest but I was told that I would get knowledge from going to that world first.
I did not want to leave my owner after I was told that I would be passed down, stolen and all other means of being passed from owner to owner. The Watcher told me that I had to endure all for the sake of my owner. She told me that I would return to my owner once she was reborn but I would have to wait.
Endure was an understatement. I had as owners, mild mannered fools, power hungry wizards, thieves and charlatans.
Then I was stolen by a powerful mage. He was a covetous bastard. Everything he owned was his and his alone. He even hated to drop the paper he used to wipe his butt into the waste pit, it was his, so he stopped wiping.
He lived in a manor with everything he owned. He was so paranoid of people taking his things that he made traps in his yard. He even cast a spell when he was dying that would automatically bury him but he did something that I found utterly deplorable.
With his last bit of breath, he grabbed me in both hands and cast his last spell. I felt his hands close around me and I knew that he would never let go. I found myself in total darkness. I lost track of time. The only thing I could do is wait.
I knew that I would not perish. I knew the Watcher told me that my girl would come for me. I had her word that we would be reunited. I waited and fell asleep in those bony hands.
“What was that?”
I woke up to a strange feeling. I thought it was just another of that bastard’s traps. Wait, what is this feeling? It’s my owner, my girl. She has arrived.
“Help me”
I shout “help me, I’m here! Please don’t go”
Over and over I plead until I sensed magic removing the dirt. After untold years, I saw light.
The lid was removed. I saw a young woman who I knew was my girl reborn. I was ecstatic as she grabbed me but that old mage’s spell was still powerful.
269
She tugged numerous times but the hands would not release. She finally cut the hands off his body and that spell was broken. I was back with my girl.
The Watcher took the both of us to her room. My girl was now what was called a goblin. I did not care, we were reunited. I sensed the same spirit but she only knew that I was meant for her. I was happy with that.
The Watcher explained what I could do and unlocked my limitations that I had put on the three aspects that were uncommon. Light, dark and time magic. After explaining who the Watcher was, She returned my owner to her partners.
The watcher told me that I was not to reveal to the woman who she was in the past because of the deep hidden trauma of her childhood. I was told that the god of mercy erased that part of her.
I no longer wanted to be passed around. I asked Beez if we could merge so that, when she died, I would also.
I had a good life with Beez. My time magic saved her and her family from a horrible death by fire.
Time came for her to die. I was glad to have been with her and told her that I was thankful for her allowing me to share her life. With that we died.
I woke up. It felt weird. A very old memory came flooding back. It was of swaying in a breeze.
I had leaves. I was no longer a stick, no longer a staff, I was a tree. I could hear the Watcher telling me that this was my reward for all the help I had given to both the little girl and Beez.
Then Beez came out of the house I was next to. She came over to me and with a loving gesture patted my trunk and then walked away with all those that she was with in her other life.
I recognized all those children that were in that horrible place when I was just a stick. All reborn with erased memories. None of them knew but I heard a voice tell me that I was to watch over them for eternity.
I am happy.
270
My final tie in, for now
Walking on a rolling land scape. Here are dirt trails that I could see horse shoe tracks in the dirt. All short green grass. With the occasional line of short brush. Standing on a gentle hill, I could see a small house at the bottom. I stood there and looked around, it was a serene scene and I said that the view is something money can’t buy.
“Sometimes you say the silliest things, in this life there is no money.” Beez says to me.
“Don’t worry” Rae says, “He always was like this before and now for eternity he will be that way.”
Martha tells them “I like him just the way he is. Especially since we are all the same age.”
My harem is back and complete. I couldn’t be happier. All the cares have been washed away.
We have been just exploring our new world. It is funny though. I do not miss that grind, the danger, the fighting. I don’t even want to hunt. I’m at peace.
Now I have eternity to have my harem to finally understand that I just like to wax poetically.
Sorra nudges Hilda, “He still doesn’t realize that he is talking out loud.”
We are walking with our new friends. The two that have Hero. They were the ones calling Hero out of my bedroom when I woke up.
Sherry and Steve. We are now good friends. Funny thing is that Sherry is not upset. It seems that Hero has taken a shine on Christine. Sherry says it is because she was a great healer and she still gives off that vibration.
.“She’ll just have to wait until the newness wears off in a millennium or two.”
We all laugh.
It is funny. On our explorations we have met a lot of people here. All from different worlds and different universes. This world has no real boundaries. Even with all eternity before us, I know that we could not reach the ends of it.
Sherry introduced us to a group from a planet that one of her predecessors established. It seems that there is a device that they used to, as they call it, jump to different worlds.
Calib was the one that gave it to Sherry. They have a father daughter type relation.
Calib, in his old world, was married to Carol first. I like her. She was and still is a mischievous rogue. I think that is why she and Missy are best buds now. Birds of a feather.
271
His second wife Mazzie, she is a looker, but my Beez is better in my eyes. Since they are both of the goblin race, they love each other.
That is why they hang together quite frequently with the other goblins from the planet that Carol set up for rescued slaves. The four aunts live in their community. They have a synergy with them. The four still know that they were slaves but chose to have those memories deleted.
We don’t see much of Draco and Zoe. It seems that every time we approach their home.
There is always a lot of, shall we say, pleasurable, loud screaming coming from there so we just walk on by.
Sorra can’t help herself. Quite frequently she yells “Give mom a break.”
.
Just as many times, she hears her mother yell back “He is breaking me, and I need it. OH this dragon sets me on fire. I missed that!!!”
Now with almost one voice, my harem wants to go home. I don’t know why, but now I don’t seem to get tired and they don’t either.
Authors note
I still intend to write more of the fantasy but I may try to branch off into a, well I just sit at the key board and make outlines. Dreams are fleeting but at least here, I just wanted to drop a few names.
I have a tendency to not name side characters but thought that it might be nice to at least set names to the mains in “A girl and her red notebook.” I will not add them to the original but now they have names.
The feelings I have expressed in all my books and all that I will write, reflect my feelings. This world is so fucked up only because we have that tendency to insult a man pushing a stroller, with children, up a hill for a tired woman. Think of all the fun you will miss.
272
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