Authors note: I don't plan to map out every day to day of the children growing up. I will begin to state the passing time at the beginning of the chapter for any prolonged passage of time adding up to or exceeding a year. :p

Sorceress of the trees: I answered your question in pm but just to help out anyone else Devian is pronounced D-vee-in
Run it together to get the right sound. Think like he's a little deviant.

Poodle warriors: yay raising kids. I didn't realize how much I didn't know about kids until now...I actually had to look up on google what to expect from a one year old. I have none of my own currently.

Next guest: yay family adventures.

Chapter 46: Cally

One year later

Cephera had chosen to take her first year off after birth to take care of the babies. According to Loki, motherhood suited her well. He had managed to wait all of two days before he had begun to seek intimacies with her again. It seemed her healing ability worked wonders in making her ready to 'receive' him once more.
What once was a day starting with class and ending in sex was now days starting with sex before he went to train Kat and ending in sex. While he trained Kat, herself and the queen spent the day together watching over the children and Frigga would show Cephera the kinds of things ladies of noble blood in Asgard would do to pass time.
She had one day before her new private instructor would show up. Apparently she was Asgardian herself and trained with Loki years ago when he was also first learning. Her name was Cally and she was spoken of with esteemed respect. She did not surpass Loki in magic but she was the next best thing.
Loki had little to say on the matter. He had only confirmed they were school together but nothing more. Cephera wondered if they had gotten along. "I'm excited." She told Loki laying on the floor looking at her spell book. The children long since put to bed.
"I warn you. She's a tough instructor. She'll take no insubordination. She's also a vindictive wench." Cephera rolled to look at him feeling a little speechless.
"I take it you two didn't get along." He didn't look at her, he put his book down and pulled back the sheets.
"Bed." He said also avoiding her question. Shrugging she climbed in.

***

Cephera woke super early to feed the twins and then bathe. Loki did not attempt his usual attentions, he didn't want her to be late. He himself was bringing her to her new area of training. The morning was full of silence and it made Cephera nervous. Was the woman so bad?
She dressed and followed Loki passed her old courtyard and further down to a pavilion. The area itself was deserted except for a tall beautiful woman with flowing black hair and vibrant blue eyes. She stood straight and tight lipped, her hands at her sides.
"Lady Cally, the Princess Cephera." It wasn't often she heard Loki refer to her with her title. It sounded extremely formal. The woman gave her a tight, almost forced curtsy but said nothing. "You know what you are paid to do." He said looking slightly menacing. He didn't wait for her response, which she didn't seem to have one anyway. He left giving Cephera a kiss on her forehead.
She followed the goddess inside. "When I was asked to come here and train a princess I had not expected it to be prince Loki's wayward mistress." Was Cally's first words. Her voice was eerily toned.
"I'm not his mistress." Cephera corrected politely.
"My apologizes. His whore then." The words shocked Cephera and she could only stare a moment.
"I'm not a whore."
"No? You're not married to the prince, he has not bestowed on you a proposal of betrothal and you have indeed been to bed with him as you have bore him children so pray tell, what are you?"
"No one else sees me as such. Your words are without merit."
"You think no one in Asgard see's you as a whore? I beg to differ. I'm not saying this to be mean but you're no longer in your realm. Here, in Asgard, an unmarried woman who beds a man is a whore. Weather you see it that way or not is irrelevant." Cally was sifting through a spell book not looking at Cephera.
"Loki does not view me as his whore..."
"Yet he has not married you. You're worthy enough to bed but not marry." Cephera felt her cheeks flushing. She wasn't sure how to speak to this woman. She didn't say her words with hatred or contempt. She was actually saying them in a matter of fact manner. Cephera herself didn't want to be insubordinate. In this pavilion she was a student and this strange woman, her teacher.
"I've offended you. My apologizes, sometimes I don't think before I speak." Somehow she didn't sounded very sorry. After a moment of what Cephera felt was awkward silence Cally spoke again. "Well lets gets started then." She snapped the book shut. "Perhaps, as my mouth is forever saying things I should not, I will teach you a most useful spell and I give you full permission to use it on me if I should offend you again."
Cephera arched an eyebrow but said nothing. Cally placed herself against the work table. "Tell me your name."
"Cep..." Cephera's lips continued to move but no sound came out. She had seen this used by the previous instructor when she wanted complete silence. Cephera waited to be released which was quicker then she thought.
"Now the trick to this is your thoughts. To cease someone's voice from being heard one must think and want it fully for it to happen. To work the spell think of the word silence and concentrate that magical energy in that persons direction. Try now."
This was magic Cephera was not the best at. Waving her hand saying a magic word was easy compared to mental magic. Cally began to talk gibberish and try as she might she couldn't make her stop. Cephera felt the magic ebb at her mentally and her nose broke out in a spray of blood. She heard Cally laugh and it wasn't a kind laugh.
"You really are quite weak at this aren't you." She mocked. "I was warned ahead of time but this." She sighed suddenly. "Oh well, I've never trained anyone with special needs before, guess you're like a challenge." Her eyes sparked with amusement. Cephera could only sigh and wipe her nose. "Again!" She demanded loudly waving her hand at Cephera.
She started talking her gibberish again and try as she might she just couldn't get a grip on the mental force needed for the spell. Again and again she demanded Cephera do it. Over and over until finally she passed out.
When she woke she was not being looked over by a doctor like she had been when everyone found out she was dating Loki but rather Cally was clicking her tongue disapprovingly. "You're going to be quite a lot of work. But I'll break you in like a well trained horse." She handed Cephera a glass water. "Drink and do...it...again."
Cephera felt a strange feeling in her stomach. She was enjoying the way Cally didn't treat her like she was delicate. The fact she had Loki's favour made her only lash out harder and it made Cephera feel free. She hated being pampered, being held back by people not willing to show her everything in fear she might keel over. It seemed whatever Cally had against her was only making things the way Cephera had always wanted them.
This she could deal with. Cephera felt the next few days would be interesting in a good way. All she had to do was ignore the snide words that came from this woman's mouth and concentrate on what she was here for. Over her years she had been called plenty of things for simply being human. Sticks and stones, as they say.
Cephera climbed to her feet after finishing off the water and continued to try again.

***

Cephera was sitting on the bed watching her children crawling after one another. Neither had tried walking but they could move on all fours fast enough to catch and tackle Shiaji.
Diana proved to be the dominant of the two. Being bigger she often bullied Devian, stealing his toys. Diana sneezed and disappeared. Cephera groaned. As of late the two had begun to show signs of being able to preform magic, though not intentionally.
Loki had explained that everyone born with the ability to use magics were adept in at least one thing that they would excel in from an early age. For Cephera it was copying magic, for Loki is was ice based spells and for Diana it was teleporting. Devian had an odd one even from Loki's perspective. When he touched certain things he could give them motion. Like his toys.
Cephera began her search around the room for her missing one year old and was doing so when Loki arrived. "Lose something?" He asked and had Diana in his arms.
"That's getting annoying. One day she'll end up never being found." Cephera complained with concern.
"Perhaps we should find a way to track her. I'll look into it." He grinned and put her down. She stood a moment, flopped onto her ass and looked around almost disappointed. "How was your first day of training."
"Exhausting but surprisingly pleasant. She doesn't treat me gently. I like that."
"Am I too gentle then?" He asked and snatched her to him at the waist. She grinned and pushed him back.
"After they go to bed." She scolded. He laughed as slipped his coat off.