All the Skeksis were gathering in the dining hall for their dinner, but none of them dared to sit down until their leader appeared. He and Sil were the last ones to join them.
"Be seated." So said. "And get an extra seat for our young guest of honor."
Another chair was pulled up from the back by Chamberlain since it was his child. He was happy to do this. He had never thought he would have ever lived to see his child again. He pulled it up on his own right side. La would sit on the other side of Ryuu. This way, both parents could sit next to him.
Ekt and Ok sat on the other side of La. All the other Skeksis were still suspicious of this young one until further notice.
Ryuu eyed all the ones on the other side of the Emperor warily. He wasn't about to pull anything. He also noticed that some female Podlings played some music. It made it a livelier atmosphere. He knew Podlings were quite the music lovers.
"Podlings! Food, now!" the Gourmand ordered.
The male Podlings who were serving the Skeksis' table knew rather well about the kind of food their lords liked by now. But today, there was a new one in the dining hall and they were curious about him.
As the Chamberlain's meal was delivered to him, he heard the Podlings talking in their native tongue. He ignored it though. But Ryuu could understand them perfectly.
Ryuu was still wary, but he couldn't resist replying to the servants. The Podlings were surprised that a Skeksis was talking to them in their own language. They had been discussing what the young one might want to eat and were guessing. Ryuu told them that he wanted some plants or vegetables, but would like to try some meat, like his parents that he sat in between.
The other Skeksis were shocked when Ryuu started talking in a strange language, and the Podlings seemed to respond in a positive way. He hadn't had to hit them or anything. They rushed off in an excited manner. They even looked happy to serve him.
"What were you doing?" the Ritual Master asked.
Ryuu looked over at him. "I was talking to them." he replied.
Sil and La were both also looking at their child in amazement. "We talk to Podlings all the time too. Ordering them to do tasks for us." Sil said. "But not like that."
"Do they understand you?" Ryuu asked.
"If they get the orders wrong, they are punished." the Slave Master blurted out.
"I was raised by Gelflings, and naturally talked and got by with some Podlings too. So I know how to talk to them. That's why they were so eager to serve me. I told them what I wanted, in a friendly way." Ryuu explained.
"And what did you ask them to bring?" La asked.
"I want to see what they have first." Ryuu said.
Moments later, the Podlings brought some vegetables and some meat out on a big plate for Ryuu. The animal the meat came from was already dead. Ryuu thanked the animal for serving his nutrition in Podling too. He also thanked the Podlings for their service. They replied in thanks as well.
The older Skeksis would have to get used to this. None of them had ever thought to learn the Podling language. Some had tried and failed to do so. It had just been too complicated for them to learn it. Soon they decided it was pointless, and just commanded Podlings the same as Gelflings over the hundreds of trines, regardless of them understanding the Gelfling language they used with them or not. But at least Gelflings and them had a language both kinds could speak and understand.
The food that Ryuu had gotten in return looked good. He dived into the vegetables first. It was what he was used to eating.
Sil and La couldn't help but watch their child eat his first meal here. They were just curious to what he liked. He didn't touch his meat yet, but at least he had gotten some.
Ryuu decided to pace himself between the meal, to split up the portions. He would eat some of the veggies, and then he sought to try the meat. He knew he had sharp teeth, and he watched some of the others eating their food. Even his parents. He must have a taste for meat somewhere in him.
He took a piece of meat off the carcass he had been given. He hesitantly took a bite. When it hit his tongue, it was like rockets went off in his head. It was a delicious taste. Then he began to eat it faster. Where had this food been all his life? But then, he thought about it and slowed down. He minded the table manners that he had been taught.
The other Skeksis weren't being so mindful though. They crossed something they didn't like, they spit it out or threw it across the room. They didn't care where the pieces landed. They just weren't going to put pieces they didn't like in their stomachs.
As Ryuu observed more, he saw that these guys had very bad table manners, but he wasn't going to remark on it. Somehow, throwing food that he didn't like seemed kind of fun. He would wait and see for when he came across something he didn't like first. But he figured, to play it smart, he might have to act a little like the other Skeksis too.
Dinner wasn't too bad, but the elders were still curious to what this young one even really knew what and how to do.
The Scientist was at the dinner too, and was ever so curious, more so. He would have loved examining him when he was a baby. But now, he would take him in for a medical exam soon. He did have exam rooms away from his main lab. He would use one of those. Maybe tomorrow after the Gelfling examinations that the Emperor had ordered to be brought forth.
Tek knew that the Gelflings had been cursing at him and any other Skeksis who came near the cages. Not that it bothered them at all. It probably wouldn't turn out too well, but Ryuu was insistent on seeing the Gelflings, and SkekSo had agreed to it.
Some of the Skeksis fell into a strange state of drowsiness that looked like a food coma after they were done eating. They were just tired, and slept right on the table where their faces landed.
The male Podlings came and got the food off the table after they were done eating. They would take things back to the kitchen and dispose of them and clean the dining hall up for the next time.
After dinner, it wouldn't be long for the Skeksis' real bedtime. Some got up and left the table to go do whatever needed to be done before going to sleep.
Sil and La showed Ryuu to his new bed chamber to help him get it ready. It already had a bed in it. It just needed some blankets and such setting up on it.
After the bed was made, they all sat down to talk some more. The parents wanted to know more about their child, and what he knew how to do.
"We now know you can speak Podling… So what else do you know how to do?" La asked.
"I can talk with animals. I also do have a knack for drawing good pictures." Ryuu replied.
La could see that he must have inherited that from her. She was so proud of him. "Do you? You can show me soon."
"Sure. Uh, I do have a suggestion." Ryuu said.
"Yes?" Sil asked.
"Maybe if it's not too much inconvenience, maybe I should reverse the roles of calling you Mom and Dad? Because I'm used to dads being male and moms being females." Ryuu stated.
Sil and La glanced at one another. "We Skeksis are both male and female." La said. "We just all like to identify as him or her. I feel and act more female, so I call myself female. Sometimes I ask myself why SkekEkt doesn't too, since he acts much like a female more than male... Oh, also SkekSa the Mariner, who's away a lot at sea, identifies as female too."
"Okay... But yeah, I think you are more like my mom, and he's more like my dad. Is that okay if I just reverse the parent titles?" Ryuu asked.
"I suppose alright with me! Just keep calling me a parent." Sil said.
"Yes, Dad." Ryuu replied.
La was happy to accept the title of Mom. It seemed more appropriate, even though she hadn't carried or given birth to him.
"Okay, I have another question. Is there anything private that I need to know about Skeksis anatomy functions?" he asked. "I just don't know much about myself in that way. There would be no way my Gelfling family would know everything there is know about being a Skeksis. All they did tell me was where babies came from. The basics, since I'm old enough to know."
Sil and La were flabbergasted. It wasn't exactly an easy or comfortable topic for them, and they didn't want to discuss it. At least, not yet.
"You first Skeksis child. We not know much about how child develops. And we missed trines of growing up for you. Sorry. Can't tell much." Sil declared in a hurried way.
"Even though you should stay away from the Scientist's lab, he might be able to otherwise give the better answers to such science questions." La stated. "He might want to take you for an exam soon."
"What sort of exam?"
"Just medical type. Check the state of your health and body condition. When we saw you earlier, you were more on the skinny side." La said.
"You need eat more meat. Get more flesh on you. Too skinny." Sil said.
Ryuu looked at the weight of his parents and really didn't want to be that big. Or was it normal? "Will I get to be about as tall as you?" he asked.
"Probably. You still growing. Right now, you as half as tall as Scroll Keeper." Sil said.
"We won't know until a few trines later." La said.
"We talk enough for tonight. Time for sleep, SkekRyuu. We wake up real early in morning." Sil stated.
"You aren't going to stay with me?" Ryuu asked nervously.
"You not baby. Can take care of self. We Skeksis sleep in own chambers. If baby, surely would be different." Sil replied.
"This is only my first night here. I can't help it if it seems that way." Ryuu said.
"Oh, Sil. We can't leave him alone on his first night here. Do you think we would be punished for just accompanying him? The Emperor told us to see after him, didn't he? If someone says anything, we can just say we thought it was the best to do." La insisted. She didn't want to leave him anyway.
Sil's 'motherly' side was showing, but he was just not sure what to do with those emotions yet. "Okay, but just tonight." he agreed.
The three of them settled into the bed. Ryuu slept between his parents. La held him the most, but Sil's hands were over him too. Ryuu could smell their scents, and there was something familiar about the Chamberlain's. He hadn't known him long, even as a newborn, but there was some memory stored away about Sil's scent.
It sent some sort of hormone through both Sil and Ryuu. It was the bonding hormone. They were definitely related. It made Ryuu cuddle into his parents' arms all the more.
The other Skeksis all went to their own chambers too. But some couldn't help be curious about where the young one was sleeping. When they were found, the family was sleeping together in what used to be SkekLach's room.
Everyone was still fully robed, but they had huddled under the blankets. The parents weren't going to let their child see them unrobed just yet.
For the others, it figured that they would sleep with their child, even though he wasn't a baby by any means. At least not by size. Seeing how they treated him, he was going to always be their baby, no matter how old he got.
They slept peacefully that night, and for the first time as a family reunited.
…..
In the morning, La and Sil got up for the morning Crystal ritual. It was something that Ryuu didn't need to see. They let him sleep in more. They left him alone. Both thought that it was going to be far more comfortable to sleep with less robes on the next time they went to bed.
After the Crystal ceremony, the Emperor summoned the others. They gathered before him.
"Where is SkekRyuu?" So asked.
"Sleeping when we left, Emperor." Sil replied.
"Good. We see him say goodbye to his Gelflings today. SkekTek and SkekNa, go to the dungeon and get them all. Make sure to bring them before us in chains. SkekSil and SkekLa, go get SkekRyuu up." So ordered.
"Yes, my Emperor." La replied.
"Yes, Sire." Sil added.
The two parents left the chamber.
Tek and Na were next to leave. "I can't wait to see how this unfolds." the Slave Master declared.
"Me too." Scientist agreed.
…..
The Chamberlain and Illustrator arrived back in their offspring's room. He was still sleeping. His room was on the western side so the sunlight didn't exactly get into his room in the morning. But it would later in the evening.
La began to nudge Ryuu awake. He moaned. "Ryuu, time to wake up."
Sil stepped in, "You see Gelfling family today. Wake up." he said.
Ryuu stirred. His eyes opened. "Mom? Dad?" he asked.
"We're here." La greeted with a broad smile.
"I meant my other parents... I heard I get to see them?" Ryuu spoke tiredly.
La's smile dropped notoriously. That was a little disappointing. Her son still seemed to like his Gelfling parents more than them. She tried to smile again, but now, it was an awkward smile.
"Yes. Must get up if want to see them." Sil advised.
Ryuu snapped awake at that. "Alright." he smiled. He tossed the blankets aside and crawled out of bed. He found he wasn't having any bad dreams about changing his clothes or anything.
The two adults led the young one to the throne room, where all the others but Tek and Na were.
"So, where are the Gelflings?" Ryuu asked.
"Patience. You will see them." the Emperor replied.
"How dare you demand to know about Gelflings when you haven't even properly acknowledged your Emperor!" the Garthim Master snapped.
"My apologies. Good morning, your Highness." Ryuu bowed in respect.
"That's more like it. Now, child. They will be along any moment now." So stated.
It was several moments later that the noise of dragging chains and slow footsteps could be heard coming. The Skeksis all looked at the entrance to the Emperor's left, coming from the Scientist's lab. There were quite a few Gelflings in chains as they entered.
The adults weren't surprised at how they had to be brought in here, but young Ryuu was just appalled. They were prisoners! And among them, were his family that had raised him from a baby for the last fourteen trines.
"Mom! Dad! Mati! Julli! Kinama!" Ryuu cried out.
"Ryuu!" They all called out in reply and tried to run forward, but SkekNa kept them in check by pulling their chain hard to keep them from getting far.
"You aren't going anywhere, Gelflings!" Na snapped.
The Gelflings had shackles on their wrists, ankles, and necks. They had to obey their lords. They were forced to fall back into the other Gelflings around them.
The Scientist then went up to Ryuu. "So, go over to the ones that you call your family." he said.
Ryuu looked at his parents with wide eyes. They nodded. He then went over to the line of Gelfling prisoners.
"You called him your son, but look at him now! He looks just like the adults." Another Gelfling that Ryuu didn't know spoke up to Chet.
"Shut up!" Chet responded. "Ryuu, what have they done to you?"
"Nothing, Dad. I've been constantly asking about you. It wasn't until now that they let me see you." Ryuu explained.
"You look different..." Mati said.
"I was just given new clothes is all. They want me to learn what it's like to be a Skeksis, since I am one." Ryuu said. He looked at Chet and Mivoda. "How come you never told me what I was, really?" he asked.
"We had a feeling you might be one of them, but weren't for sure, since no one had ever laid eyes on a baby Skeksis before." Chet explained.
"So what you tell him he was for so many trines?" Sil demanded.
"We told him he was a lizard. Just didn't know what kind." Mivoda stated.
"A lizard?!" jaded La, offended by the sole idea.
"My child deserve to know truth!" Sil snapped.
"Your child?" Chet was flabbergasted. "Where were you when he was lost in the wilderness and he was crying for attention?!" he demanded angrily. "We gave him a life and took care of him for the last fourteen trines."
"I didn't abandon! Lost him! Stolen from me, taken by some other Gelfling! That is all. Not able to find him." Sil snapped. "He's mine!"
"Mine too!" La came forward as well.
"And no one ever will see another baby Skeksis!" the Garthim Master spoke up.
"SkekRyuu, it's time to say goodbye to your Gelfling parents, forever." the Emperor declared.
"Figures you'd turn on us when you find your real parents!" Kinama retorted angrily.
"I'm not turning on you! I just… it was time I did find out what I really am! Who I really am. I'll always be grateful for everything you taught me! Mom, Dad, thank you... I wish we could still be friends." Ryuu said, confused and emotional.
"Gelflings have all turned on Skeksis, Ryuu! They not friends anymore." Sil tried to guide his young one. He came up to him and began to lead him away. This had gone on long enough.
"Maybe it was for a good reason!" Mati yelled angrily.
"Take them away!" the Emperor ordered.
"No!" Ryuu cried out, but his begging was ignored.
The Slave Master gladly dragged his prisoners away.
"Wait, Emperor! I wasn't done saying goodbye!" Ryuu said.
"You are never to have any contact with them again. That is my final order on the matter." So decreed.
Ryuu had seen his family was alive, but he didn't know what was going to be done with them later on. He could only hope that they were still alive after this. Maybe they were serving down in the lower corridors?
All the Gelflings would actually have their essences drained from them later, and their bodies destroyed. The Scientist would make sure Ryuu never saw that. He would be too young to understand what was going on and why.
Ryuu hated how his goodbye had been so rudely interrupted. But then, this was how Skeksis were a lot of times, to avoid the most intense pressures or so.
"What's going to happen to them?" Ryuu demanded.
The adults looked at each other. What could they tell him?
"They will serve Skeksis in special way. But not for SkekRyuu to see." Sil quickly thought of something to tell his child.
"Yes. What the Chamberlain said is true, SkekRyuu." the Emperor agreed. "It is something very special to be bestowed upon them. They were just reluctant to get started."
"I just hope they will be alright..." Ryuu said.
"They be fine." Sil said.
The adults knew they would have to put on an act, they had to hide the truth from the young one right now. Hopefully he wouldn't find out what really would happen anytime soon.
"Okay..." said Ryuu, hesitantly. Then he suddenly remembered another thing. "I was just wondering, my Emperor. When do I get my title name?" he asked.
"When you have found something that suits you." SkekSo stated.
"Everything we are called outside of our real names, our Skek names, are just titles. Our Skek names are our real names." Zok explained simply.
"Have your numbers always been this small?" Ryuu asked.
"We lost three some trines ago in a big battle. And two at the beginning of our time as Skeksis." the Scroll Keeper stated. He made sure not to mention of what caused the three to lose their lives.
Now that he thought back on it, Chamberlain wondered if he had been pregnant during the fight? He just hadn't known anything of it at the time. He didn't even have a clue how long he was pregnant for. But what else had caused him to be so sick and sometimes feel his emotions going wild on him in the past? And that illness had been before the big battle at the Stonewood village.
"SkekLa, why don't you take SkekRyuu to your study for today to show him what you do. Let his Skeksis education begin." the Emperor ordered.
"Yes, sire! Come along, SkekRyuu." she encouraged.
"Okay, Mom." Ryuu said.
They waited until they were gone before the Emperor began to bring up something else. "The child does have a point. Just as we seek immortality, we must bring up our numbers." he began.
"What are you saying, Emperor?" Sil asked.
"If we are to stand a chance at a real future, we must also have some more courtiers to build our empire as well. From what I see with your child, SkekSil, it could be possible for us to all produce our own progeny. It is possible, right, Scientist?" the Emperor asked.
Tek was a little shocked to hear his leader even consider something like this. He had heard from him for so long that he didn't want any added Skeksis, because of the competition for the throne. But it was possible for him to change his mind. Tek thought on the matter. It was possible, since they all had internal male and female reproductive organs. Also, why else would they even have breasts?
"I think it may be possible, Emperor. But, given our age, we may not be able to now. Chamberlain's baby might have been just a one-time thing that happened. I'm afraid that something like this might not happen again." Tek explained.
The others didn't know what the Emperor was thinking. They thought the whole idea was just absurd.
"SkekSil." So stated.
"Yes, sire?" Sil replied.
"It must be you. Since you were able to conceive, I order that you have another child. We will see if we still have the ability to make more courtiers." the Emperor decreed.
Sil's eyes widened. He was just shocked. He didn't know if he could go through that again. Being sick, the painful labor. All the discomforts of pregnancy again. The restrictions of essence and wine. His body already had enough discomforts as it was. But he knew better than to refuse.
"I see if I can, Emperor, but that was fourteen trine ago. Not know if can now. And SkekLa need to know, too." he said.
"Of course. You will tell her." So said. "This is an experiment to be carried out first, to see if it is possible."
"We don't know how much time it will be to raise any babies before the Great Conjunction." Tek stated.
"We will do what we can." So said.
Later, while out of So's earshot, SkekUng and SkekZok, along with others, thought it stupid that their leader would even consider this idea when they had all heard it for nearly a thousand trine. There would never be any children, and now, he was suddenly changing his mind? But if there was one thing for sure, they would all laugh at SkekSil's expense if he got pregnant again.
The Skeksis did have a sense of decency when it came to private matters. Sil wouldn't just do a mating in front of the others. He was hesitant to even do that again, especially out of orders instead of his own will, but he knew he had to get results unless he wanted the Emperor to become impatient and order him to show him he was making tries. Still, there was no telling if it would work again.
Chamberlain went to the Illustrator's office and saw that Ryuu was doing some art for La to see what kind of art he could do. "That is very good, Ryuu!" she said. Then she heard her mate's whimper, and turned around to greet him with a nod. "Look, Sil! Ryuu can draw really detailed pictures, like me." she smiled.
Sil smiled back. He liked his mate's art. He was now seeing how good his child's art was as well. One of his talents. He had yet to learn of his child's other talents and teach him real Skeksis talents, along with all the ones the Gelflings and Podlings had taught him. His language barrier skills could help them a lot with the left over Podlings that still served them.
"Is good, Ryuu, yes! Very good! But now, must speak with SkekLa..." Sil said. "Private."
La was surprised, but said, "Sure. Keep drawing, Ryuu, and I'll approve it when I get back!"
"Sure, Mom." Ryuu said.
La went with Sil to a more secluded part of her chamber. They made sure that Ryuu didn't follow them. "So, what is so secretive this time, Sil?" La asked.
"After you and Ryuu leave, Emperor orders some new Skeksis need to be created. He ordered that we make another. We can't go against his order, SkekLa. But not sure if can go through it again. Don't know if can have another..." Sil explained.
La was taken aback. Now having a baby was an order? "He doesn't expect us to do it in front of everyone, right?... That is something so personal...something shared only between lovers..."
"Course not. He just wants results soon from us. He said we experiment again." Sil replied. "I guess to begin tonight after put Ryuu to bed."
"So... we have his permission to mate?" she asked.
"Yes. More than permission, he orders to do it. We just do what we do natural..." Sil replied. He nuzzled her lovingly.
"That is… actually so good..." replied La. "But, there's no telling of a pregnancy resulting." she said.
"Agree. Might take few times, but no problem, no harm in do it to see if happens. We know it be very pleasant." Sil said. "Need to get results, but still worry if it does happen again. Of all went through before."
"Maybe I should carry this time?" La said hesitantly "But I don't know if my body would be good for it. It's just something I had never really thought of before."
"Think Emperor wants me to carry once again..." Sil said. "Hope not for being sick if happens."
"Maybe it won't." La said.
"Hope so." Sil nodded.
They went back to see their son's artwork and it was pretty spectacular, for one of his age. It was clear he had practiced a lot. La just hoped her offspring didn't have to pay a price for his art by having his dominant hand's drawing finger broken like hers had been once. She had to wear a metal brace on it just to keep it straight and functional.
She reminded herself that her injury had been a punishment, and her son wouldn't get hurt as long as he didn't do anything unproper or offensive against the others or the Emperor. She would make sure that Ryuu knew what to do. She would teach him all he needed to know to be safe, and the Chamberlain surely would do the same too.
SkekRyuu's picture was hung up on the wall after he was done with it, to show it off. His parents were proud of him.
Yes, there's going to be more baby Skeksis soon.