Chapter 7

You should have your mate gather that for you, Dark One. You shouldn't be out here in the cold. Spirit told her as she followed her dutifully watching, for what reason Kyoko couldn't guess.

Kyoko sighed. "Spirit, why are you following me? You've been watching over me carefully for the past few weeks."

Spirit smirked. I do this because your mate is hunting with Nightfang. It's the least I can do for my son's closest friend and pack mate.

Kyoko giggled. "They have become quite the team haven't they. I thank you for that. You and he have taught us both much." Kyoko told her as she collected the winter herbs and placed them in her basket.

Spirit nodded in agreement. Well, it's the least I can do after your mate healed the wound the hunter inflicted upon my son. He has earned his place well... As will his cubs, I suspect.

Kyoko's brow furrowed as she felt her nausea well up in her throat for the third time that morning.

Spirit nudge her side and brushed her tail against her. You should check into that. Her voice had a teasing, musical tone to it.

Kyoko turned her head sharply and her eyes went wide. "You don't think that..." She paled a little and then blushed.

Spirit smirked. Well, it is the natural order of things and your scent has changed. She laughed.

Kyoko groaned.

Cubs from your bloodline will be quite formidable, don't you think? Her voice tinkled in the cool crisp winter air.

That evening Kuon would return with half of the meat from the deer he and Nightfang had killed and a very nice, large, clean hide for tanning. He shook off the snow, removed his coat, gloves and furs. He stored the hide and the meat in the storage building before entering. As he finally warmed enough and began telling Kyoko about their hunt, he noticed that she had been sitting at the table with a mug of tea, staring at a piece of parchment with two large dark blue, joined vivid blooms with two petals on each of them. He then realized that the smell of peppermint permeated the air. He rushed to her side and turned her. "Kyoko? Are you alright? Tell me what bothers you, My Heart."

She looked up at him. "Kuon? You're home. Did your hunt with Nightfang go well?"

He nodded. "Yes, it did..." He picked up the paper. "but what is this?"

She smiled softly and caressed her small belly. "That would be our sons, Kuon. To be born in Autumn."

"S-Son's... As in two?" He stammered out.

She nodded.

A look of worry fell over him. "W-Will they be safe?"

She smiled brightly and nodded. "Their markings have already been granted. Whomever tries to take them from us will suffer greatly. Of that I can assure you Sweet Kuon." She had made sure to stroke her belly and grant the markings that covered her own body to her children the instant she saw the two distinctly blue blooms form on the page. Her sons would not suffer the fates of the men she had known in her life. They would be born free and live that way. She had done the same for Erika and Sayou's son before he had been born. So far, no one had questioned her authority or decision and the couple was eternally grateful for it. Although, she hadn't seen them since before Kuon came into her home, but it wasn't uncommon for them to go a couple of seasons without coming to see her.

He sighed in relief and hugged her tightly. "Thank you My Love. You will never know how happy you've made me."

As Spring and Summer came, thanks to Kuon's hard work, a garden was planted, a small field of rye was growing nicely and the alterations that Kuon wanted to make on their home were almost complete. Once the new rooms were finished and the final touches on their new roof were completed, Kuon would finish up the two cradles he had been working on every evening, as she wove the fabric for their clothing and sewed. After the cradles were finished, he was determined to make the bed he had promised her. In payment for healing Yuki's horse, Yuki and Kanae procured a couple of bolts of thin silk for the canopy of the bed and curtains for the windows, to keep out nighttime insects.

During the time of her pregnancy, he stayed as close as possible and when he needed to venture out and hunt with Nightfang, Spirit would keep watch. When her visitors would come in need of their talents, he would dote upon her and shock the females with the care that he took of her willingly. A male slave would never do that. They only did what they were ordered to do. He did it without order and anticipated her every need. There is something to be said about love. At least that's what Lory pointed out to Ten on their visit and she couldn't have agreed more.

In the late summer, Kyoko was graced with a visit of Magistrate Yamagutchi, a fierce woman. In Kyoko's opinion was full of herself and felt she was far above her actual station. With veiled threats, she tried to intimidate Kyoko by letting her know that if she had sons, they would be removed at birth.

Kyoko smiled at her. "I assure you Yamagutchi, any attempt to take my sons from me will result in consequences you are not prepared to deal with. Anyone that tries to take anyone marked from my tribe will not appreciate the devastation that will reign down upon them and theirs."

"Are you threatening me?" She sputtered out. No, she was actually making the threat for any slaver that may decide to attend the birth.

Kyoko smirked and pounded the end of her staff on the ground, giving off a small spark. "Oh, it is not a threat. It is a guarantee. Crops will fail. Drought will prevail and animals will flee. Disease will flourish in my wake, until my tribesmen are returned to my arms. That stands for any of them. Am I clear on this?"

Yamagutchi nodded nervously. "O-Of c-course. I would never dream of allowing something like that to happen. I-I was merely warning you of others that may have a difference of opinion. I would never condone the harassment of your tribe, Mistress. I assure you that the word will be spread."

Kyoko nodded, now a little more calmly as Kuon sat quietly in the next room, finishing their bed. Kyoko smiled sweetly to her. "Very good, I'm glad we came to an understanding." She poured the woman a mug of her home brewed ale.

Yamagutchi sighed as she sipped. "Mistress, you are aware that I disagree with how things are also, don't you? It is the reason I have decided to never have children of my own. I couldn't bear watching them being ripped from my arms at birth. I don't have the authority of a High Mistress."

Kyoko sighed in resignation. "Then, why not speak out against it?"

The older woman shook her head. "I do not have the power or, voice to do so. I have nothing at stake in the matter."

"You have traded your rights out of fear! You, of all people have more to rail against than the rest of us. I'm certain there are others like you. I would afford you entry to my tribe, but as the law states... Only magic users and Shaman may be granted that protection. I am truly sorry." Kyoko told her remorsefully.

"Not to worry Mistress. As you say, there are others like me that grow more discontent each day. It's only a matter of time before they speak out and the laws are changed. And on that day, I will trek through the marketplace myself, releasing every slave and striking down those that stand against me for doing so, happily." She smirked. "So Mistress, you and Master Kuon, need not worry about any threat from the three districts that I protect."

Kyoko nodded and sipped her tea. "Have you heard from Erika?"

Yamagutchi laughed. "That one, her mate and her son have been kept very busy this past two seasons. Their talents in healing have kept them all quite occupied."

Kyoko sighed in relief. "Good, I was worried. I haven't heard from her in awhile."

Yamagutchi stood. "I will be sure to let her know you asked after her. I must leave. It will be dark soon and I have a few more visits to make." She told Kyoko as Kyoko escorted her out.

"Thank you for stopping by and I appreciate your concerns." Kyoko told her as the woman mounted her horse.

"I will be sure to spread the word and keep watch for mischief." She waved as she left.

"Is everything okay, Love?" Kuon asked worriedly. He had heard most of the conversation.

She nodded and smiled as he wrapped his arms around her lovingly. "She was just warning me in a roundabout way, to be sure that the boys were marked before they were born, as anyone could take them if they weren't." She caressed his face and kissed him. "There's no worry. I took care of that months ago, remember?" It was necessary, she didn't have the money to prevent something like that. She needed to rely on the fear of punishment that would result from taking a magic user from their community. Those laws were in place to strengthen and increase the quality of the magic users and healers.

He sighed in relief and nuzzled her hair. "I know, but I still worry."

She nodded and hugged him.

He pulled away from her and took her hand. "Come, I have something to show you."

That night, they would sleep comfortably in their new bed, in the room that Kuon had built with his own hands, from the stone floor to the sturdy roof and walls, with the cool, gentle evening breeze flowing in from the new windows he had made from the thin, stretched and dried rawhide in the windowpanes.