"Ugrata," he said, "what's happened? Are you okay?" He strode up to his wife and placed his hands on her slim shoulders. She looked whole, her jet black skin reflecting glimmers of lamplight. She smiled.
"All is well, my darling," she said. "Too well for the taste of some of your minions," she chuckled.
"Then why have you come? I did not expect you so soon, and you worried me," he said.
"I simply wished to spend a night with you," she said, slipping her slender arms around his waist, laying her head on his wide chest. "Don't worry. I left a decoy of light with an enchantment of seeing. If there is any substantial movement outside Testadel, I will know."
Kash released his tension. He did prefer to have warm bodies in place rather than spells, for spells could be broken or falsely triggered. He could not refuse Ugrata, however, and she knew this. She was worth more to him than a thousand mistresses, perhaps even more than his rule of the Underlands or the notion of conquest.
"Yes, love," she said as he relaxed. "It was a good day, but even you must rest. Think not of it as being a slackard." How well she knew him. "It is an investment in tomorrow's performance, it's efficacy."
She was right, of course. He was mighty, but mortal. Deep sleep, and the love of his wife, would help to ensure he met the next day with alertness, with verve, with wisdom.
"You tell me to rest," he said, reaching around to the small of her back, "yet you quicken my blood with your touch and scent." She smiled coyly. "Come, let us retire a little early, then. We can sneak down to the kitchens for a late snack when the cooks have gone to bed."
She laughed at the childish notion but said, "You will need more than a snack, darling."
"Ha!" he boomed. "Prime me for a feast then, my beauty!"
Kash swept her up into his arms and began to carry her toward their chambers, which were secreted down a number of halls beyond the throne room.
Yes, Ugrata was right. This was the perfect way to end a very good day.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Tale of Flaila
"Is there anything we should be looking for on the way?" Pierce asked Sev as they travelled the old road. "Materials for your enchantment?"
Sev shrugged. "I'll need a good bit of silicon, but that should be easy to come by, no?"
Pierce gave him a blank look.
"If you get me a quiet space, I can synthesize the crystals I need to distill the blue enchantment," Sev said. He put a thick finger to his lips. "Your wizard friend will probably need more than a bottle of dust to do the job, so he'll have to find me a place to store it all."
"You'll have to ask Ess about silicon," said Pierce, "I wouldn't know where on earth to find it. But I won't mind doing the legwork."
The tiny army rode south, making for the edge of Overland. Ess had said there would be road most of the way there. They wouldn't have to travel over open country until after passing through a town called Shiv. From there, it would be a march of a few more days before they reached Chasmverge, the First's grand tower.
Everyone was on edge, and trying not to show it. They might meet anything along the way. Towns that would once have been pleasant way-stops on a journey might now be hives of evil. There could be roving bands of troops or monsters from the Underlands, fanning out from any number of camps or fortresses. There was no way to know what to expect before it was upon them.
Pierce had settled into the rhythm of travel, and was watching the red sun crawl westward, when Ess floated up alongside him.
"Hey Ess," he said casually. It took all his might to stay calm. Even through all those robes, he could feel her nearness, and it quickened his blood.
"Pierce," she greeted. She said nothing more for quite a while, and Pierce began to fidget. A smile crept onto Ess's lips.
"Do I really make you that uncomfortable?" she asked playfully.
"Yes, um, no ma'am. Not uncomfortable, no. It's just... I had a lot of girl cousins, so it's not that I'm not used to girls, or, women..."
Ess laughed.
"But you're... different," Pierce said.
"Am I?" Ess glanced over at him. "How so?"
Pierce knew she was playing with him, but this felt more like a sparring match. Would he say the right thing? Was it possible to do so? He could skirt the matter, or drive in for a direct strike.
"Well I've never seen a gen woman up close, for one," he said.
"Supra-gen, to be precise," she corrected. "Normal gen are grey of skin. Does my race confuse your sense of attraction?"
Pierce felt the hit. He'd skirted, staying out of range, but she'd leapt in for a direct strike. If he disengaged, it could all be over. He went bold.
"No, Ess. You're beautiful. I'm sure you know that."
Her eyes widened in surprise and her smile grew. "Why thank you, Pierce."
"It's true. I've never seen anyone like you."
"Well if the only girls you know are your cousins," said Ess, "I should think not."
Pierce laughed. "That's not what I meant."
"Where are they? Your family?" Ess asked. Pierce's spirit dampened a little, and he forgot about flirting.
"Down in the Underlands, actually," he said.
"Really?" Ess mused. "Defectors to subterra are not common."
"Yeah. Well we lived out in west Konta."
"On the border of Alba, yes?" Ess said, "I know it."
"Apparently, after the wars, our duke went a little mad. Around the time I was born, he started taxing the farmers like crazy. When I'd grown, Dad finally had enough, said he heard things were better for people down below, and the whole clan packed up to leave."
"And you wouldn't go?"
Pierce shook his head. "Never. If I can't
