Lucline woke very early the next morning, hearing Tira whimper and cry out from her room. She got up and heard Rasina stir beside her.
"I got it, honey. You get your rest." Lucline kissed her wife, how exciting she could call Rasina that now, on the forehead. Rasina smiled and settled back into sleep.
Lucline padded barefoot down the hall and to Tira's room, which had been her own since she and Rasina took over her parent's old room. Tira was trapped in a nightmare, tears leaking down her cheeks. Lucline wiped the tears away as she sat on the bed next to the child and runs a hand through her hair.
"Wake up, baby. It's just a bad dream."
Tira's blue eyes opened. Lucline was still not used to her having blue eyes. Her siblings had said Tira was identical to how she had looked at that age. I guess that is what happened when a child was made without a second parent.
"I… I was back on the slab." She whimpered. "Only this time, you were able to save me. It was horrible."
"It was just a dream, Tira. You're safe now. The ones that hurt you are gone and won't be bothering you again."
She nodded and hugged Lucline. "Mama, can I start training with Mother tomorrow? I know I'll be required to master most weapons to be a knight."
Lucline smiled and hugged her daughter back. "Oh course, baby. I'm sure she would love to teach you. Besides, being able to defend yourself is important. If you like, I can start your learning in Restoration magic, though you will quickly overtake me in skill."
Tira smiled up at her. "I would like that. Are you going to see a healer in the morning?"
Lucline nodded. She could feel her stomach grumble like it had the other morning. "Speaking of, I should go before I have to run out holding my mouth."
"Can I come too when you go? I want to know if my baby sister is on the way as soon as I can."
Lucline chuckled and kissed Tira's forehead. "Of course, Tira. I'll come get you when it's time."
By the time Lucline made it back to her and Rasina's room, she had to kneel over the bucket and be sick. She felt strong hands rubbing her back.
"Hey, did I wake you?" She asked, her mouth foul and gross. She felt a cup against her hand, and she took it and swished her mouth out and spat it into the bucket before drinking the rest.
"Yes, but it's fine. Hoping the healer has good news for us later."
She smiled and snuggled into Rasina's arms. "So does Tira. She is excited to have a little sister."
Using magical assistance with two female partners would guarantee a female child, though no one understood why. If Rasina had used magic to become male for the purpose of procreation, they would have a chance at a son, but Lucline did not find men attractive. She hoped she would be able to get past that for her beloved but thankfully, Rasina was more than fine with only daughters.
"I had three males cousins growing up like brothers." Rasina had winked as she said. "I would rather have had sister figures personally."
Lucline let her wife lead her back to bed and they snuggled in together to wait for the morning.
Elder-Scrolls*
Before her appointment, Lucline had business to attend to. The running of the various Dufrey estates and businesses took up much of her morning. Lobamog was going through ledgers, looking for all the places her parents had laundered money to fund the Brotherhood. It was looking to be a very long task. Once she was done, she got up and waved to Lobamog.
"Good work today, Lobamog. Why don't you take the afternoon off? I'm sure your paramour would enjoy lunch with you."
He smiled widely. "Much obliged, Lucline. I'll see you tomorrow."
Lucline walked outside and found Rasina correcting Tira's stance, leading her through basic forms with a wooden sword. She stopped and watched her spouse and child interacting. Rasina was firm but patient with Tira as she helped her perfect each stance. After a few minutes, she stepped out into the courtyard.
"is it time for the appointment with the healer, jewel of my desert?" Rasina asked, giving her a wide smile. She stepped in and kissed her wife with a smile on her own lips.
"Yes, my love. Let's go and see if we will have another little Dufrey soon."
Tira clapped her hands eagerly and the three of them walked towards the temple.
Elder-Scrolls*
Mirada smiled as her brides were each feeding from the neck of a young woman. They had gotten lucky, and a decent size group of young women were visiting Camlorn to learn about the Werewolf attack in the second era. Her human pet had arranged for the girls to camp near where the vampires could come down and charm them in the night.
The girls thought they were having a party, and to some degree they were. They were topless and very drunk from the wine her servant had provided to help the situation. Mirada walked through the room, each of her brides infecting a different girl with vampirism. There were girls of every major race in attendance, and Mirada had to prevent herself from adding the races she was missing to her personal Brides. The last girl was slumbering next to her throne, fang marks in various places on her body. Mirada had to bite the Breton girl multiple times to infect her.
"When you are finished enjoying your meals, take the girls to the cells until they complete their transitions. Once they have turned, we send them back to their homes to start spreading the disease to their families. Each of you will go with your turned victim and be their handler. You will personally command your own coven of vampires turned from her fangs. Gather your army's and prepare for war. This is but the first step in my plan."
She picked up the girl, meant for Daggerfall and her own attentions. Then she sent a mental signal to her pet in Camlorn. It was a little early, but she would turn her now. She would get Abee Dufrey as her servant on her own. She needed a Bride in Camlorn and who better than it's Countess.
She let herself smile as her brides picked up their seconds-in-command and took them to the cells. Soon, High Rock would be filled with vampires and then she would be queen of a vampire nation.