The next morning, after breakfast in the banquet hall, Alyssa, Sakura, and Tashana took Tamolith to the courtyard for her first psychic lesson.
"Fire is yours. Fire is in you. All you have to do is want it, and then let yourself have it," Tashana coached. Tamolith breathed out a stream of white-hot flames.
"A shield is the only thing stopping a Progenitor or his Thralls from killing you and leaving your children orphans. Will it into being, now!" Alyssa barked. A crooked but passable Pyrokinetic Barrier appeared before the empress.
"The wind is your friend. The wind is a limb you never knew you had. Use it, and feel the joy of flight," Sakura said wisely. Tamolith shakily floated into the air.
Zulkayr, watching from the sidelines, gaped. "You're kind of scary, Dad. But in a good way, if that makes sense."
"Never heard that before," John chuckled.
The Lionesses bonded with the kids while the Tamolith went through psychic boot camp. At lunch, she ate voraciously, unused to the psychic drain. Alyssa followed Tamolith to the throne room to hold court while Tondax talked the crew into a massive game of hide-and-seek, using the whole palace. Unsurprisingly, Jehanna won. She just turned invisible and didn't move from her starting position.
By dinner, Alyssa and Tamolith felt ready to bond. They finished the meal and then went to the throne room, staring into each other's glowing eyes for an hour as their minds united as one. Tamolith shuddered as she closed her eyes. "I have seen over a century pass, and yet I am not as wise as you, Alyssa."
"You may be a bit of a narcissistic bitch, but you love your children more fiercely than anything I've experienced. They're lucky to have you," Alyssa said back.
"Where will you go now, John Blake?" Tamolith asked.
"My home in Maliri space. We'll have a quick vacation. Then we'll take out the defenses around Mael'nerak's hyperwarp gate and start moving the fleets from the Larathyran and Grakiran Empires. When the next Progenitor comes, we'll be ready," John said firmly.
"I will lead the Kintark well for you, lead by example for Zulkayr. He will be the greatest emperor in our history," Tamolith said proudly.
"For whatever it's worth, you should apologize to Ruvith and Ondyrth for killing their mother and brothers," John told his Kintark Ward.
"I shall think of what to say, and tell them when the wound is not so fresh. Luckily, Kintark heal very quickly," Tamolith nodded.
They took the Raptor back to the Invictus. *Ready for us, honey?* John asked his Maliri Matriarch.
*We're already waiting in your docking bay,* Edraele chuckled, though there was a hint of impatience to her mind voice.
"Dana, wormhole to Valaden," he ordered.
The second wormhole was slightly less nauseating than the first. Like Ailanthia said, they had to get used to it. The cleaning robots mobbed up the Kintark chef's best efforts from the floor while Jade guided them in towards Genthalas. John admired the massive golden wheel of the shipyard. The whole station was up and running at capacity. "She's a beauty," John sighed.
"Genthalas hasn't run at 100% in millennia, not since the time of Mael'nerak," Tashana breathed.
"Looks like the Soulforge has been busy," Irillith noted, looking at the homeworld defense fleet made entirely of brilliant white Soulforged Ward ships. A dozen Destroyers, 3 Cruisers, and a lone Battleship. Gahl'kalgor's Dreadnought, looking like a lump of coal among snowflakes, hung in space next to the fleet.
They landed in their personal docking bay and went down to Deck 9. John exited the airlock, wearing a copy of his Baen'thelas suit and his crown. He walked up to the Council of Matriarchs, waiting in a line unconsciously arranged in order of House ranking. John kissed Edraele long and hard, then moved to Luna, Ilyana, and Almari. Then he kissed Kali through to Kelenis, also crouching to kiss their bellies. He felt his connection to each widen just a little more at the gesture.
John turned to address the crowd of mixed white-haired and dark-haired Maliri gathered in the docking bay, eagerly hoping to catch a glimpse of their mysterious King. John floated into the air and psychically amplified his voice. "Hello! I am King Baen'thelas! Thank you so much for coming out to welcome me home! I see a lot of familiar faces in the crowd, glowing with the light of expectant motherhood, and a lot of new faces I'm eager to meet and reward with the same privilege! Know that I am deeply grateful for every engineer's efforts in refitting the Maliri fleets! I consider your jobs to be the most crucial in the whole Kingdom!"
Such effusive praise, from an impossibly handsome man to the Maliri, was the highlight of their lives.
"I see no distinction between the 19 Houses in how you are grouped, and that fills me with joy and pride! The days of division within the Kingdom are over! The Houses are now no more than a particular section of the Kingdom you hail from! All of you are united beneath my rule, and I swear on my life to lead you well for many happy years to come! Thank you!"
John got thunderous applause as he floated back to the ground. He walked up to Edraele. "Is Saelihn Immanthe ready?"
"The renovations are all complete, she is ready to become our family home," Edraele beamed with pride.
"Great. Lionesses, this is where I leave you. Consider yourselves off the clock. Take the next couple days and unwind. Don't worry, I'm sure the Maliri will take very good care of you," John grinned.
"I haven't had a vacation in centuries," Valeria moaned.
"Same deal as the Oceanus vacation? I'd go out of my mind if I don't work at least a little!" Dana begged.
"Fine, you and Alyssa can design the new generation of Ashanath ships," John allowed.
"Be ready for rather ample nacelles," Alyssa chuckled.
"I'll try not to laugh when I show them to the High Council," Lirrash rolled her eyes.
The Lionesses went to the Raptor and took it down towards Valaden's southern continent. John watched them leave and turned to his Maliri harem. "Let's go to bed. I'm eager to start properly making up for my long absence."
John had the distinct pleasure of seeing 22 women shiver in arousal entirely his fault.
Edraele led him through Genthalas. The layout was slightly different than he remembered, and his eyes almost popped out of his skull when Edraele telekinetically opened a grand pair of double doors. "I know I asked for a Royal Quarters that would fit all of us, but this seems excessive," he managed to breathe. The common area alone was so large he winced at the distance at having to walk to the bathroom.
"When you said 'all of us', I took it to mean the Council, all current and future Lionesses, and all the other Progenitor Matriarchs you manage to save. If anything, I think I was conservative," Edraele chuckled. Edraele clicked her fingers and a black-haired Maliri walked forward, trying to remain professional but clearly starstruck by being in a Progenitor's presence. "This is Thildre, our personal maid. I picked her very carefully from a competitive pool of candidates. She has her own quarters, a closet by scale but more than enough for her needs."
"Hello, Thildre. Thank you for your service. I'll be sure to get to know you personally when I have the time," John promised.
"It is my honor, Baen'thelas," Thildre bowed.
"Can you fetch me a glass of Natalla berry juice, I'm parched," John asked politely.
Thildre went to one of the doors set in the hexagonal room. They had just entered through one, so that one had to be the kitchen, John reasoned. "What are the others?"
"Our bathroom, our wardrobe, our bedroom, and our office. Thildre's quarters are off the kitchen. Would you like a tour?" Edraele asked.
The Council went to relax in the common area while Edraele took him room by room. The kitchen was a Maliri chef's dream and John had fantasies of teaching his kids to cook in it. The wardrobe was obscene for a room just for storing clothes, but John admitted it had to fit a lot of outfits. The bathroom dwared one found in most gym locker rooms, featuring a number of Terran toilets, individual baths and stalls as well as a giant communal shower and heated pool with its own diving board. The office featured 19 desks, Edraele telling John that the data for all of them could be accessed from his throne in the new Throne Room. The bedroom was huge, and still most of the space was taken up by a massive hexagonal bed with purple sheets.
"Why do I have the feeling this will feel cozy compared to what's down at Saelihn Immanthe?" John asked with a sigh of fond exasperation.
"Because you know me well," Edraele grinned.
"I believe I owe you, Luna, Ilyana, and Almari a power up?" John said suggestively.
Edraele slipped out of her Queen regalia, dropping her Crystal Alyssium tiara carelessly to the ground. It was tougher than diamond, it wouldn't break. Luna, Ilyana, and Almari, naked as the day they were born, undeniably stalked into the room. John made love to each by turn, his eyes drawn to the rest of the Council engaged in a Sapphic orgy around them. He fed the Queen and her bodyguards at the end, giving each about a pint of his cum. John funneled all his available energy into the 4 women. Their eyes glowed and their bodies locked stiff as eldritch energy suffused them, lifting them to a higher form.
"I pity the Progenitor who comes after us thinking we'll be helpless Thralls," Edraele panted when the surge of energy died out.
"I feel like I could take on an army single-handed!" Luna gasped.
"Thank you, Baen'thelas," Ilyana and Almari purred in unison.
John yawned, exhausted by over an hour of physical exertion and emptying his psychic reserves. He rested his head on a pillow that felt like a cloud, his arms filled with the women he'd just taken. The Council gathered to spoon and cuddle in a pile around them. "Good night, honeys," he said loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Good night, Baen'thelas," came the soft replies.
John woke up in his sub-plane and devoted some time to Edraele's throne next to his. He wanted to make it a work of art, something Edraele could see when she visited and know he'd been thinking of her when he made it.
John woke up to a musical alarm, the chronometer on his wrist communicator saying it was 0700. "Edraele," he nudged.
"We're up," Edraele declared, telepathically nudging the other Wards awake.
They took a connecting door to the wardrobe. John picked out a Maliri suit in a fetching shade of purple that appealed to his instinctive Progenitor side. He went to the dining table in the kitchen, which was large enough to seat 50 if you squeezed. John admired the window showing a view of Epsilon Aquarii while he sipped his Natalla berry juice. Thildre laid his plate in front of him first. After Thildre had given each Matriarch their plate, John beckoned her to come over. "Thildre, would you like your own breakfast?"
Thildre eagerly went on her knees and blew John, going into the daze as she reflexively deepthroated. John blew his first load of the day, filling Thildre's belly. He carried her to her quarters and tucked her into bed, adding her to Edraele's network.
"A whole load just for her? You must want to be on her good side," Edraele noted wryly.
"Considering she's the most likely to poison us, I want her happy and loyal," John said primly.
After the meal, the Council went to the office to do their work of running the Kingdom while Edraele took Luna and led John on a tour of the new rooms at Genthalas. John admired his hexagonal Throne Room, sitting back on his exceedingly comfortable throne with an engraving of Kyth'vindathys on the back. "Yeah, that's the stuff." John activated the holographic console built into the chair and skimmed the interface, which seemed idiot-proof for ruling an empire. It included a VI assistant clearly modeled after Nia, reminding John that the hacking deck was still functional and on the Invictus. He'd see about making an AI to run Genthalas and to an extent the Kingdom. Given the trend of 3-letter fairy names, he'd go with Mab.
*Nia and Obi are on it. They'll have the Mass Fabricators make the parts and Alpha through Zeta build the Progenitor server on Genthalas. We can be there when you activate the hacking deck and try to make Mab,* Alyssa informed him, her thoughts sleepy and content.
*Having fun?* John asked.
*Edraele included a masseuse on staff. I feel like a puddle of goo, not even Jade is this good,* Alyssa all but moaned.
Edraele made a brief order on her wrist communicator to Makaela to clear a space in the Genthalas server room and allow Baen'thelas' robots free entry to and from. Then Edraele took John to the Training Room. It looked like a sunlit field with lots of beautiful wildflowers surrounding a Stonehenge-like hexagonal temple dedicated to martial combat. A large viewing gallery was included so passing Maliri could see their King train to fight.
John grabbed a Crystal Alyssium copy of Kyth'vindathys, probably shaped by Edraele herself, from a stand on what could only be called an altar. "It occurs to me, Edraele, that we've never had a psychic duel. And I want to see how good Luna will be at protecting you against a rival Progenitor."
Edraele grinned in a way that reminded him of her personality before the Change, and Luna grabbed her own practice sword. Both raised spinning walls of shields.
John took off his suit jacket, raised his own shields, channeled power into the discount Kyth'vindathys, and figured faint heart never won fair lady. He charged.
Either John had underestimated how much of a power up he'd given Edraele, or she'd been training hard in his absence. And Luna was only slightly less deadly than Valeria, and John meant that as the highest praise. Plus they could coordinate at the speed of thought, and instinctively had a feel for what the other would do regardless. John lost 7 rounds before lunch, only winning 3. He placed Kyth'vindathys back on its stand and went to kiss both his lovers. "You two were glorious. I almost wish a Progenitor attacks Genthalas."
"The fact you won at all, when you're probably the most powerful Progenitor in the galaxy, is proof we need to work harder," Edraele countered, wiping her brow.
"Let's grab a shower, have lunch, then I'm calling a Council meeting," John stated with authority.
They walked back to the Royal Quarters, John's shirtless state almost causing a riot. They grabbed a quick, intimate shower in one of the stalls, got dried and dressed, and enjoyed a lunch the Council had cooked since Thildre was still out of it. John enjoyed the Maliri cuisine, then led everyone to the Council Chamber. They all took their seats.
"First off, I do want to be with each of you before the party. Not to sound like I'm ordering from a menu, but I'll see the Young Matriarchs in 3 sets of 2 today and the Minor Matriarchs in 3 sets of 4 tomorrow before we go down to Saelihn Immanthe. I only regret that I can't take the time to give you all individual attention, but there's no telling when Xar'aziuth will send the next Progenitor. We need to find Kythshara, shut down the psychic field device, and access Mael'nerak's hyperwarp gate yesterday. The Ward fleets from the Larathyran and Grakiran Empires will be invaluable," John told his Maliri harem.
"We'll treasure every second with you, Baen'thelas," Phelora assured him.
"Very well. Now, how's the Kingdom been since I left?" John asked.
"Genthalas is fully operational for the first time in recorded history for the Maliri. The refit of the standard fleet with all the new technologies is proceeding at phenomenal speed. The Soulforge is operating as fast as it can, we have a steady stream of paid volunteers, and we receive regular shipments of Onyxium from the Trankaran Republic. The 4 Trading Posts are seeing a massive influx of trade as each House has made their specialty goods available to the public. In fact, we're overwhelmed. I recommend reactivating the defunct Trading Posts along each border," Edraele spoke up.
"Do we have the personnel to man each Trading Post?" John asked.
"There's hundreds of minor traders who only ever worked within the borders of their House who will leap at the chance to step on the galactic stage. And I've encouraged the Wards sent to the original 4 Trading Posts to seduce their new husbands back to their homeworlds and have a great many extramarital affairs in the form of consensual threesomes," Edraele said with a straight face.
"Well, that's one way to encourage the males to leave the Trading Posts and spark a population boom," John chuckled. "Speaking of the border males, how's Ceraden?"
"I made no secret of his status as King Baen'thelas' personal friend. He has a harem of six Wards, all pregnant, and he's the most successful trader on Geniya. You should give him a call, reconnect in your spare time," Edraele encouraged.
"I may just do that. And did you send the treaty to Tamolith?" John asked.
"Sent while you were leaving her palace. She's already signed. We have created a Galactic Alliance that supersedes the Galactic League. Given Niskera has her own agreement with all the minor empires in or bordering Trankaran space, the only ones not invited to the table are the Brimorians, Drakkar, and Enshunu," his Eternal Queen reported.
"The Brimorians are doomed as an empire, their sun has set. I'm not even sure how the Drakkar rule themselves, I'll ask Ularean since the Ashanath Collective borders their territory. And the Enshunu turn my stomach culturally, but they might be the key to unlocking the secret of the Shroud. When I get back from Kythshara, we'll try to make contact with the Cabal of Patriarchs," John mused. "Any issues anyone wants to bring up?"
"The Planetary Governors for our homeworlds more than once have complained about our move to Genthalas or given hints they're planning rebellions. I recommend a tour of each homeworld as soon as it can be arranged," Tsarra stated.
"I'll see what I can do," John promised. "Anything else?"
No one raised their hands.
"Then this meeting has come to a close. As per tradition, you all get a treat. Ailita?" John called.
Ailita, the latest in the rota of mass feedings, came in and nonchalantly took John into her bottom. She grew 19 tentacocks and fed one into each Matriarch's mouth. When John came, she kept a portion for herself and funneled the rest to all the Council members.
"Thank you, honey. Go back to Saelihn Immanthe," John kissed his albino catgirl. "Kali, Sarinia, come with me."
As the Council dispersed, John led the pair of Young Matriarchs (their pairing ironic since Kali was the youngest and Sarinia the oldest in the elite group) to a hydroponic zone. "So, how have you two been?" John asked, genuinely curious.
"I keep waiting to feel the first kick. I know that doesn't happen until the second trimester but I can't wait," Kali said excitedly.
"We seem to have all been spared the burden of morning sickness. I suspect Progenitor pregnancies are easier on the mothers. The fact our cervixes can dilate on command will probably make the birth relatively painless as well," Sarinia said, holding her lover's hand.
"Probably just the water breaking, we dilate to 10 cm in a snap, and out comes the baby with 1 push," Kali chuckled girlishly.
"Have either of you taken up any hobbies in your free time?" John asked.
"I've begged Edraele to let us import a Terran puppy! I promise to look after everything, feed and water and walk and train him or her and everything!" Kali burst out.
"I'm partial to Newfoundlands, they're great family dogs," John said, remembering the neighbor's dog that he'd spent many happy hours playing with as a boy.
"I know it's archaic, but I've taken up archery. I find it soothing, feeling for the perfect shot," Sarinia admitted.
"I'm happy for you, Sarinia. Whatever brings you joy," John said honestly.
John talked to the couple for 2 hours, then took them right there in the park for an hour. He fed both at the end, making their bellies round out. John kissed both, got redressed, and went for where Edraele alerted him the next couple was waiting.
Tsarra and Leena greeted him with smiles and glasses of water. John drank both to stay hydrated and did the same thing he'd done with the last couple, bonding for 2 hours before an hour of sex. He left both girls convex and satisfied. He straightened out his clothes and went to the dining complex. He had a long, lingering meal with Nyrelle and Valani, and took them back to the Royal Quarters for 'dessert'. When he'd fed both girls, he got comfortable on the bed and the rest of the Council entered and joined them.
The next day, John had a private meal with each quartet, talking with all the Matriarchs before an energetic fivesome that ended with each getting a pint of Progenitor spunk. After feeding the last quartet, John had a quick shower and dressed for a party. He and the Council, including the bodyguards, went to the Invictus' docking bay where the Raptor was waiting. Nia greeted everyone in the cockpit and then flew them down to Saelihn Immanthe.
John walked off the loading ramp and up to the massive gate into the palace, Edraele and Luna on his arms. In the grand entrance hall, his Lionesses were arranged in a semi-circle wearing fine Maliri dresses. The Nymphs were absent. After the doors closed behind the last Matriarch, a flock of colorful birds flew in, warbling a cheery tune. They flew into a door and a minute later the Nymphs walked out in their own dresses.
"Let's go to the party room," John ordered casually, knowing each of these women would willingly do whatever he said. It was a heady tonic, and one he was determined never to take for granted. Edraele guided the party of nearly 50 to the banquet hall, which included a floor-to-ceiling window with views of the gardens. Servants waited around the room carrying trays with goblets of House Holaris wine, and the long table had been set with a variety of Maliri finger food.
John grabbed a glass of wine from a servant with a grin and turned to his combined harems. "Welcome, all of you. There are two groups in this room, those who fight by my side, and those who keep my home safe. When we win the Progenitor War, and we will, we'll all settle down here to raise our large family. You all are sisters, fellow wives and mothers of children to John Blake, Baen'thelas, Kyth'vindathys. You all may come from different backgrounds, your pasts may be checkered, but we share a future together. Tonight is about all of you getting to know each other. Get to mingling," John ordered with humor.
Edraele went straight for Ailanthia and Valeria, who Alyssa had informed John were getting very close. Apparently the two Matriarchs were pairing off. Kelli and Perl were no surprise, Jade had developed enough past her single-minded obsession with John to start getting close to Helene, and Sakura remained a frequent third to Dana and Rachel just as Jehanna had fun with the Maliri twins. The only unpaired besides the new Nymphs were Lirrash and Nia, and John didn't see them ending up together. Obi was an anomaly, but he seemed perfectly happy as an asexual eunuch.
John's wrist communicator began to ring. He saw it was his mother. He took the call. "Hey, Mom. Where are you and Dad at?"
"He's taking me on a tour of the Galactic League. After Terra we hit Myra's World, I always wanted to go there. After that it was New Eden, I felt so fancy buying clothes at a boutique in Avalon! Now I'm thinking we should visit the Ashanath, but I'm not sure how they'll react to Rahn," Jessica chatted with her son.
"Let me know before you go, I'll have Lirrash warn the High Council. They'll be aware he's a non-threat, or he will be for his own sake."
"I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the fact that my son can almost casually speak of killing his father, but Rahn's really come clean about his past now that I'm not just vacantly going along with his every word. He was a monster, John. You can blame it on Xar'aziuth, but he had the choice to resist the dreams like you did. He gave in. For all his power, he can be very weak where it counts," Jessica sighed.
"Don't judge him too hard. The nightmares are not to be taken lightly. In my first life, I barely survived them and I had the help of the guide I accidentally gave Alyssa," John explained.
"Just not sure how I feel that I'm living off the cum of a man who destroyed planets just for getting in his way, I guess," Jessica reflected.
"Mom, can we please not discuss your diet?" John grimaced.
"Sorry, John. Would you like to speak to him?" Jessica always offered, but John didn't often agree.
"Sure, I have something I need to ask him," John said.
The camera moved to show Rahn'hagon. "Hello, son. How may I help you?"
"I propose an exchange. We meet on the Astral Plane. I'll show you to my sub-plane if you'll show me to the Kyth'faren archive and agree not to go there when I'm using it. I'll be bringing my archeologist and she's Maliri and pyrokinetic, she'd try to scorch the flesh off your bones if she saw you and give away the location," John laid out.
"Very well. You know how to reach out to me on the Astral without alerting the Fallen Progenitors?" Rahn'hagon asked, always thinking of his safety first.
"Yes, I do. Shall we say tonight at 2300?" John asked.
"I'll be ready," Rahn'hagon nodded.
"In other news, how are you enjoying the tour? Just carrying all of Mom's bags?" John asked humorously.
"Even with super strength, those bags get heavy! I had no idea women could shop so much!" Rahn'hagon moaned. Jessica protested off screen.
John chatted briefly with his father and ended the call. He focused on the party, and saw that his Lionesses were amusing the Council with displays of psychic powers. Marsendra had a deck of cards and giggled when Calara named each card with her eyes closed. Perl was gathering water out of the air for Sakura to freeze into ice sculptures. Jade was offering rides on dragonback to the Young Matriarchs. Faranise, the smartest of the Council, was locked in what he was sure was a mind-numbingly complex discussion with Rachel, Dana, Nia, and Obi. Emandra and Vestele, the only original Matriarchs besides Edraele, were having a talk with Helene that John sensed was about their guilt at murdering their daughters.
Content that his crew and the Council were having fun, John grabbed some food and figured he owed his friend Ceraden a call. He pulled up his code on his wrist communicator.
"John! Or should I say Baen'thelas? What can I do for Lady Luck's most favored son?!" asked his friend, devoid of armor.
"Been a while, Ceraden. I hear business is booming, and Edraele seems to think my influence had a hand in that," John chuckled.
"I won't lie, this mysterious King who appeared from nowhere to unite the Matriarchs under his banner is a near mythical figure here on Geniya. There are some who doubt you exist, that you're a plot to make the males think it's safe to return. The distrust runs so deep, John. But Edraele renewed my commission indefinitely and put me in touch with contacts in all 18 other Houses! I'm making out like a bandit, and I know she only did it because she knows you're fond of me," Ceraden told him.
"Happy to help. And I hear you got six of my Wards pregnant! Able to keep up with their demands, lustful or otherwise?" John asked bawdily.
Ceraden's face glowed before he frowned. "My angels make me happy like nothing before. But whenever I ask why their hair is white or what their relationship with you is, they say they can't tell me."
John debated how honest to be with his closest male friend after Charles. "Ceraden, you know firsthand that each of your wives was a virgin when you met them, right?"
"Er, yes, but how is that relevant?" Ceraden asked.
"A Maliri has to drink Progenitor semen to become his Ward and for him to work his powers on her. I cured each of your wives of all their injuries, restored their youth, and fixed the birth ratio. You have an equal chance of having a son or daughter with each of them. Know that I never touched them. I came into a container and they each drank a sip," John forced himself to say.
Ceraden's jaw dropped. "But… aren't the whole Council of Matriarchs your Wards?"
"They're a special case. I took them as members of my harem, feeding them directly. While we're on the subject, all but Edraele are pregnant," John revealed.
"You have 18 children on the way? I'm panicking just having 6!" Ceraden gaped.
"Luckily, we'll have all the servants we could ask for to help out. And each member of my Lionesses and the Council will help each other out," John said proudly.
"I see. Well, I wish you all the luck in the galaxy, John. Fatherhood is one of life's greatest joys. I only regret that my 4 daughters have grown estranged," Ceraden said sadly.
John immediately ordered Edraele to track down Ceraden's daughters and arrange a meeting after Kythshara. "I'll see what I can do, Ceraden."
"I'll try not to understand what you mean. You'll understand when your own daughters get sexually active," Ceraden chuckled. "Have a pleasant evening, my friend."
"Good evening, Ceraden." John hung up.