Chapter 15: Sympathy pains.
Almost 6 months after chapter 14
The past six months had been quiet on all fronts for the young Dragon king and his family. Nethalus had been occupied with Pirotess and preparing things for his child. What was surprising to Xapferey was that Pirotess actually had a lovely disposition while she was pregnant and not as volatile as he had been mentally preparing for. Something Nethalus had teased him about mercilessly in private until Xapferey playfully sat on him.
Having a 20-foot tall Dragon sitting on Nethalus was quite conductive to Xapferey's desire for peace and quiet until Nethalus learned his lesson. Needless to say Nethalus freely admitted that he had deserved it.
Deedlit however had a nasty temper when riled, as Xapferey knew… (like when she screamed at Parn or berated him on multiple occasions). Thankfully his scales and size was enough to discourage any hormone caused temper tantrums, and his bond with Deedlit allowed him to calm her without issue. The majority of time Deedlit was radiant at the thought of her approaching child and she took the opportunity to read all she had available on half-Dragon children. The two had spent time discussing names before Xapferey had suggested Malkira; the name felt right to Deedlit and the little one had kicked ironically at the same time the two agreed on Malkira.
"Looks like she approves," Xapferey laughed as he felt the little girl kick.
"Very much so," Deedlit agreed as she laughed gently at the situation. With a name ready for their daughter, the two had prepared a crib for the child although both were nervous about when her Draconic features would start growing, namely her claws, cranial ridge and wings.
*Pagebreak*
Castle keep of Draconia
City of New Vancouver
General Jebra's office
The 4-star general and supreme commander of Draconia's forces was looking over the various troop arrangements. Draconia's army had swelled again over the last six months since the humiliating defeat of Allania, morale was at an all time high. Recruitment and training was rather stretched at the moment considering 5,500 more troops were being added to the sizable armed force of already 17,500 regular troops and 2500 Linebreakers. The forces were to be deployed to forts constructed in the countryside of Draconia, the majority of them would be sent to near the northern and southern borders to secure them. Jebra was in the process of making preparations for the various armies sent around.
The officer corps was secure in size, but further expansion would be ill advised for logistical capabilities of the army and its suppliers.
As for the north, Allania was keeping true to its borders, their military seemed more occupied in the northwestern reaches of their lands dealing with a series of either riots or some sort of barbarian tribe raiding them. In the South, Marmo was too busy consolidating its position in Kanon, and many villages in west Kanon were abandoned by their people in face of Marmo's rule, fleeing northwards to join other refugees in Draconia. However Marmo secured the borders and no further refugees would likely be arriving to Draconia in the near future. Thankfully Beld was too busy with rebellions to deal with the refugees currently. But people knew in the future his attention would once again come back to the north and Lodoss itself again.
Returning to his work, Jebra was overseeing the creation of 22 separate armies of 1000 each. 1000 regulars and the Linebreakers fell directly under his and royal authority.
22 armies, each army's officer corps consisting of a 1-star general, 2 Colonels (1 Lt. Colonel), 3 Majors, 5 Captains, 10 Lieutenants and a full NCO staff.
Jebra signed off on the orders for the formations of the armies and the officer corps commanding them before he turned his attention to other less important matters.
*Pagebreak*
Orbit of Forceria (Planet name for the world of Lodoss)
Lodoss Flyer tactical room
"As you can see milord, there are plenty of moons and asteroids with the required material for project: Defiance. The gas giants in the system give us access to plenty of deuterium, enough for a whole fleet of ships for several million years at wartime demands."
"All right, I'm convinced, can Defiance be done?"
"Secretly?" Xapferey nodded in reply; "with the materials on hand, plus the automated facilities we have on hand, with the Flyer on station for transport of all materials," Malika tapped her pursed lips in thought. "A decade unless you want to cut corners."
"10 years?" Xapferey asked with an annoyed groan.
"The facilities we have on hand were never designed alone for what you have in mind… we could do another Assault-Flyer Class in two if you wished… and before you ask, your daughter will be in her late teens before they are both done."
"How many?"
"60 minimum for Defiance alone, skeleton I would say 20… bare bones, 9 but if we picked up uninvited guests I would not want to think about it."
"True… beam me back now, site to site transport… you have my approval for Defiance and Flyer-II."
"Yes milord, my copy will be on station to keep us appraised of any updates."
"Good, energize," Xapferey reappeared in his home, his departure and return unnoticed by all.
*Pagebreak*
Back on Flyer that same moment
With Xapferey left the flyer, she activated a copy of her self, then sealed the majority of the shuttle with a force field. The badge of a gold Dragon surrounded by an image of magic turned into a skeletal hand clutching a dark orb. A bone helm covered her head and her eyes burned purple. Her black deathlike staff returned to her grasp. Stepping beyond the force field, the woman was replaced with a black bird. The Shadow Phoenix she had become flew through the now open door into space and let gravity pull herself down to the planet.
An hour later, she returned to the shuttle, her mission complete. The hologram's original image of a highly attractive dark haired woman returned.
"I may not be as powerful as the original, but I do it for you regardless," Malika said as she stared down at Draconia from orbit. "Everything is progressing as you have foreseen."
*Pagebreak*
At the moment though, Xapferey was in a high council meeting and he was completely nervous about the ever approaching due date of his daughter's birth. His wife was in their private medical bay onboard the Flyer. Slayn, Nethalus, Pirotess with their sleeping 3-month-old daughter Drisellowynn, Woodchuck and Ghim were in attendance along with Estas, Deedlit's childhood friend and a representative of the Elves.
"The Elf King and queen are very receptive to your proposal Lord Manaweaver, but our people are still very… reluctant to leave the safety of the Forest."
"I understand Estas, but the fact of the matter is, we need our Elf allies. There is too much suspicion surrounding the Elves, and if our people can welcome a former Dark Elf noble, then a town of Elves within our borders is less of an issue than many believe. Besides the leatherworking and several crafts of the Elves are of higher quality than many human works, it would be a great boon to both our economies and trade."
"I will be sure to give my endorsement to your plans."
"I'm hoping this will open many other options between my people and yours Estas."
The Elf nodded, bowed respectfully and departed for the Forest to the west. The next meeting that Xapferey had to deal with was going to be a highly interesting and controversial one considering he was being visited by a delegation of Marmo. The meeting had lasted for several hours; and ended with agreements to maintain their non-aggression pact. Xapferey did however sell them the tri-shot designs for a fair price. Once the Marmo delegation had departed, Xapferey called over the present members of his council, namely Slayn, Woodchuck and Nethalus.
"My friends, is there anything else that needs to be discussed?"
"No my lord."
Well that is good new…HNGNN," a very sudden and powerful pain in his stomach cut him off and Xapferey clutched his desk and hunched over.
"Xapferey!" Slayn and Woodchuck said in shock before they rushed to help him but he waved them off.
"I'm… GRRN… fine," Xapferey got out through clenched teeth as he forced himself up and headed towards his chambers. About 10 minutes later he stumbled with a snarl of pain and was hunched over by the pain in his stomach area that he was forced to sink to the ground as his friends crowded around him. The third time it happened Nethalus started to snicker as he realized what his friend was dealing with.
"This is serious Nethalus," Slayn snapped unable to stop his temper due to worry over his friend.
"You… you don't know what's happening?" Nethalus choked out while Xapferey glared at him before he collapsed into a ball panting in pain.
"Nethalus shut up and don't start with me or so help me… I'll have you walk to… the port of Raiden and back 10 times in a row," Xapferey snarled. "You know exactly what's happening old fiend…Errgh."
"What's going on?" Woodchuck asked completely clueless as to what was happening.
"It's sympathy pains," Nethalus said with a smirk.
"Sympathy pains? You main labor pains?" Slayn asked in complete shock.
"Yes… Deedlit and I share an empathic bond, emotions, feelings *pant* and pain… what my un…*gasp*… repentant fiend is trying to say is that the pain I am feeling is not out of an overt desireerre… to sympathize with my wife, but it is because I am…feeling the pain of labor… in other words gentlemen… I am feeling exactly what my wife is while giving… birth," Xapferey snarled through gritted teeth.
"OOOOHHHHH!" Nethalus shouldered his glaring friend and he helped him to the medical bay on the Lodoss Flyer where everything was happening before he made himself scarce.
With that completed and the annoyance chased away, Xapferey stumbled into the sickbay of the Flyer and staggered to the chair by his wife before the EMH gave Deedlit a painkiller to dull the sensations.
"I'm here my love." Deedlit smiled radiantly at Xapferey before he offered his hand for Deedlit to squeeze.
"Start with nice easy pushes milady, here," the EMH gave Deedlit another dose of painkillers to ease things as Deedlit began squeezing her husband's hand. The Doctor checked the readings on the nearby screen and he nodded "that's it, the baby is orienting itself properly. Now push," Deedlit cried out and the EMH kept encouraging Deedlit.
"That's it… Deedlit, bring our child to the world," Xapferey said, his eyes aglow with love and anticipation. Deedlit smiled before she concentrating on the pressing urges her body was telling her. Inch by inch the EMH guided the baby out and the sickbay was filled with the plaintive cries of an infant. The Hologram doctor then toweled off the newborn before handing her back to her parents to look over and admire.
The newly born Malkira had tiny pointed ears, miniature versions of her mother's; her head was topped by a wisp of blond hair, though her eyes were clue to her unique heritage at the moment; Malkira's eyes were simple gold irises. The child had quieted now, her natural magic has recognized and latched onto her parent's lightly the result being a calming effect on the now curious child. Not long after Malkira let out a little yawn as she fell asleep.
"You're lovely, my little Malkira," Xapferey said with a smile.
"She certainly is," Deedlit agreed as they cuddled with their child.
After Malkira's birth, Draconia spent two weeks in celebration as Flaim and Valis send congratulations to the royal family. Fahn himself had been kind enough to aid the couple by sending old things of his daughter Princess Fianna that she no longer needed.
Citizen and council member of Draconia alike sent in gifts and well wishes for their newest royal. Malkira had been cooed over by all who saw her while being watched over by Malkira's parents and the newly formed royal guards, the Dragon Knights.
Parn himself had been chosen to command the Dragon Knights, as they were they best of the best coming from the army and Linebreakers alike. Xapferey had made sure that their magical oaths were ironclad and no loopholes existed in the oaths. Each member of the Dragon Knights was a volunteer, approached and interviewed by the king and council; and each of them took the oath willingly and with honor.
Vandakass system
Vanda prime orbit
Cilarista first fleet
Xapferey Sharnoras stared at the tactical screen as his armada assaulted the Hell Dragon and Drow world. The last of the defenders anti-orbital batteries were forcibly silenced and the 447th (Linebreakers) division under General Avarielle Volokinn was creating a beachhead for the first army to deploy on the planet.
"First ships will have planetfall in an hour milord, General Volokinn reports the enemy fortress has been seized and ready for occupation and deployment of our forces."
"Excellent news Commander, send my regards to the General. I will be in my quarters, inform me when deployment is complete."
"Aye milord."
With that Xapferey left to his quarters, nodding to his guards before he turned to the "window." "Well Manaweaver, you've begun the first step and now to begin… hmm."
Xapferey watched as Morgana sacrificed her dying half sister Morgause to tear open the veil between the living and dead worlds. He winced, as Morgana's anger would manifest in a permanent nightfall in two days for them. The Dorocha, or the dead spirits of tortured souls would wreak havoc on the living throughout the night; their very touch meant a very cold death… pun not intended.
"Ahh Morgana, your foolishness will be your undoing… well let's change one little thing," Considering how knowledgeable Xapferey Sharnoras was with controlling and dealing with undead, he was able to tweak the path of the exiting Dorocha. Rather than passing by the fallen sorceress, they passed through her.
"Step one done, now for step two." Xapferey forced the Gatekeeper of the Veil to inform Merlin of the tear through a dream, a warning to get everyone they could to Camelot to protect them. The fact of the matter was the Cilarista lord had a long road to walk before he could carry out his full plans. "Step three will be taken care of tomorrow," he said to himself as he went to join his wife.
A/N Poor Xapferey Manaweaver… Malkira will likely be an only child if he has to go through that again :P *Laughs unrepentantly*… Alright I think I am satisfied with this chapter, and hopefully people like it, as for Malkira, you'll get a look at her life sure, good ones, but I'm not going to write out every little thing.
Yes Malika and Malkira names are similar, you'll get no sympathy from me if you mix them up… writing is harder than reading… As to what Malika is up to… you'll have to see in the future.
