Cinderfella

Story: Cinderfella 2: A New Life

Chapter: 15 Nice Creid!?

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Mature Readers only due to sexual situations and graphic sexual content

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Prince Erik brings home new allies. Everyone knows the Creid to be savage and Barbaric. Now Prince Erik has to show Seth, his brother King Christian they are really nice people. Warriors, but nice, honorable men.

Nice Creid!?

The new relationship that was forming between the Creids and me was still one I was surprised with. What had my mother told Christian about their table manners wasn't true. Had King Mordor being playing an act? He ate as decently as other men, better than some I've witnessed.

I also noticed that when we dined in the great hall, there were a lot of men there eating as well.

"You do this sort of meal at every meal? All of these men eat here?" I asked seeing all the men talking and having a pleasant time. Servants were busy serving them more chicken and wine.

King Mordor looked out at the men puzzled. "Well, of course. These are the palace guards. They live here in the palace." Then he smiled. "These are the best. We have other warriors, but these men earned a place in the King's Warriors. Thus, they live here."

The castle was more of a barracks than a castle. The men here still had on the black leather armor, but not their helmets. I understood more that they were a warrior driven people. The men here were well fed and seemed very healthy. Thinking about it, those bare foot children didn't look malnourished, just dirty and that seemed to be because of the dirt around. It just was. I also noted they seemed to have a sort of honor warrior code they followed. These were warriors, not just soldiers. I smiled as I watched them act together. They were acted like gentlemen! No loud talking and they also had good manners. I sipped the wine and their wine....well...it wasn't bad, but...

I set my goblet down. "Would any of you be offended if I sent you men a case or two of wine from Royal Valley?"

King Mordor smiled. "I take it you don't care for ours."

I held up my hand. "It's fine, really....but I'd like you to try mine." I grinned. "And of course, I consider mine is better."

King Mordor wasn't offended at all. "I'm sure you would think so, pride in what you do is important. I'll have to taste it to see!" He chuckled.

I chuckled back. "This is good, really...your wine, but I like ours. I'd like you to taste it."

Yannick's eyebrows rose. "That's right. You got Thorne Valley when Arthur died. You run it now?"

"My husband and I do." I began. "Seth loves the vineyard and tends it lovingly. I think he knows every single grape personally. Our two sons love the juice..."

"Sons!? You have children!?" Yannick balked. Apparently that was not told to them. "You and Seth?"

I chuckled. "I see not all information about us gets to Creid. We have two boys. Toby is about to be three and Dennis is seventeen months." I grinned drinking a little more wine. "That's pretty good as neither Seth nor I have any stretch marks to show anyone." I saw his startled look but knew what was next. "And before you ask, neither of us had them. That's usually the first question. A young woman, who was widowed, right after she gave birth to Dennis came and died shortly after the birth. We took them as our sons."

Yannick nodded understanding, "Oh, I see."

I thought about Seth and our sons, and I felt this longing in my heart. "I miss them. This is the longest I've ever been apart from any of them. I miss Seth." I could see Seth's face clearly.

King Mordor nodded understanding. "I'm sure you do. You really love Seth." He said softly as if this concept had escaped him that it was possible.

I nodded. "He's a major part of me."

King Mordor nodded. "We'll be sending help with what's going on. You'll be home soon. What we need to do is organize how we do this. We have Ryan, but he can come with you to work there either in Blethos or A'Dore. From what I understand, King Christian has what's needed in his body. Are you planning to go back to A'Dore from here? You'd have to, wouldn't you?"

I thought of the doorway. Demetrius said only family, but more were going to find out, but I was determined to keep it as minimum as possible. "We have a way of getting what's needed to Royal Valley from Christian. We can work from there." I looked at King Mordor. He needed to know about Len Na. "But there is another threat."

"Oh?" King Mordor asked.

"There is a woman." I began. "I've never met her. My godfather told me about a woman named Len Na. She is such as my godfather, but she's bent on revenge against mankind. She uses people to get things done. She used a man named Jean Claude to get those little creatures into Christian. Unfortunately, Jean Claude died while doing that and we can't question him. He married one of Ella's stepsisters. Len Na will use whoever's necessary to get what she needs. As a result, Seth and our boys are under guard in Royal Valley now."

Yannick frowned, never doubting that what I said was true. I guess the Challenge of Conviction was pretty concrete! I was trusted. "Then we can't send them back with just Ryan!" He said to his father. "They could be attacked if this woman is like his godparent and uses people against him. We'll have to send some men with them. I volunteer."

King Mordor looked surprised at his son and then to me. "My son is right, but..." he turned to Yannick, "but you're the Crowned Prince."

Yannick nodded. "Who's seen battles before and I have scars to prove it. I was chosen by you when Prince Erik issued the Challenge because you know I'm the best. If I don't go, who would you send that's better? To protect Ryan and Prince Erik!"

I was confused here, "This is something I may not need to know."

King Mordor wasn't saying, but Yannick smiled a little tightly. "I'll let you know. Father is concerned about the royal line. You see? I haven't given my heart to anyone. No future queen and no heirs. He's afraid I'll die and leave the throne vacant."

I nodded. "Well, that is the way for kings..." but I wondered. Yannick was nice looking and a kind man, "...you never have given your heart? Ever!? Not to anyone?" I found that impossible to believe.

Yannick grinned sipping his wine and shrugged. "I'm picky."

King Mordor frowned. "Too picky. Each young lady presented; he finds fault."

Yannick scowled as the was an old argument that was well traveled. "I want more than a good fuck."

"Yannick!" King Mordor rolled his eyes embarrassed. "That's so...common...and beneath you!"

"That's what it'd be!" Yannick said adamantly. "Besides, you've given us three other children by your second and third wives. I don't know how many half siblings out there I have you don't even know about. I'm not the last even of royal birth!" He set the goblet down a little too hard where it banged. "You have another son!"

King Mordor frowned as it hurt him to hear it again. "But, Yannick, you are my first born. You are to be king." Then he looked at his son for understanding. "Unless you're in the process of giving your heart already to someone else." King Mordor looked at me sensing there could be a complication.

"What!?" I asked a little unprepared for this. "I never..." Yannick never gave me the first impression he would be interested in me! Or did I miss that he was?

"Prince Erik and I have become friends," Yannick said shaking his head. "I hope we become good friends, but he's married to someone that he loves very much and who loves him. To put him in that position...I'd never do that to him," He looked pleading with his father, "but Father, how many other people have even come to Creid? He came, thinking we were brutes and savage, yet he came unarmed and with only two soldiers with him. He trusted we would do the right thing. How can we do otherwise? If we don't, if I don't go, there may be no kingdom to pass down at all. I have to go."

King Mordor nodded. "Very well." He sighed. "Take five others you trust. You must protect him and Ryan. This little creature problem and protection from this Len Na must be resolved, and soon."

What did I just witness? Yannick was like Seth and me? I couldn't believe we were THAT common, but I did like Yannick. He was a nice man! And he was good looking, I admit that. I had Seth and I loved Seth. Would I be stirring up a hornet's nest? Then again...I looked out over the others in the great hall eating and saw Darrin with Ryan. I knew Darrin was like Seth and me, but it seems that Ryan might be. They were off alone, and Ryan was laughing at something Darrin was saying, but I didn't let the hand coming to rest on Ryan's hand escape my attention. I also didn't miss Ryan did not remove his hand from Darrin. Maybe we were more common than I realized.

Ryan was enjoying the Seer I brought and was marveling at things he'd never seen before. "This is amazing!"

I grinned at his excitement. "It is, isn't it? You should see what's on our skin. Especially our hands!"

Ryan nodded. "I can't imagine. My father kept things very clean. He said my grandfather had complications when not clean." Then he shrugged chuckling. "But he had complications with a lot of things."

Darrin carried something strange over. A wheel? "Where do you want this, Ryan?"

Ryan looked with a smile. "Right over there's fine. Thanks, Darrin."

Darrin nodded, but his gaze was a little longer than necessary. "No problem." He smiled charmingly to Ryan.

I loved the idea of potential love blooming, but we had something to do. "Could you show me how you insert someone else's blood or liquid in a person?" I asked changing the subject as I watched Ryan watch Darrin put the wheel down. Darrin's back was turned, and he did have a nice figure. Why wouldn't Ryan look?

Ryan nodded brought back to our conversation. "Sure." He had brought some things from where he worked over that Darrin was helping to bring in. He picked up an odd sort of little bottle. It had a black....something on the top, but otherwise it was just a clear bottle. "It's just a rubber substance taken from a tree. This sap is kind of stretchy as it settles. It makes a good seal. "I remove the air in bottles and this rubber seals after the air is gone." Then he took another odd little bottle that had a metal...almost like a sewing needle on top. That black sap held the needle on a top of another bottle, only it had something inside. "You put this needle in an arm. Men are easier, they have larger veins. You pull this...." He pulled what was inside, "....pull the blood out and then stick the needle in here." He showed the first bottle. "The blood goes in here. Now, there is a process I do to spin the solids from the liquids." He walked over to the wheel Darrin brought and I notice it had a hand crank. It looked like a wagon wheel, but there were slots in which the bottles he would put the blood in. "I put the bottles in one of these and someone turns this for a while. It takes effort, but the faster you go, the better the blood and solids divide. You stick this back in, take the liquid and you have only the liquid. That is what you want, right?"

"If that's where the warriors to fight the little creatures are, yes." I answered, "but Christian can't lose that much blood. Not enough for the entire world!?"

Ryan shook his head. "Blood liquid is pretty much the same. Others can add to it. I've been toying with growth mediums to add that can be used, but with others adding their blood liquids, it will stretch, and those little warriors should reproduce in the extra liquid also." Then he looked at me cocking his head. "How will we get the blood from King Christian? He's twelve or thirteen hundred miles away! Maybe more!"

I nodded. "We can get it in less than a day."

Ryan's blue eyes widened hearing that. "Impossible. How?"

I chuckled. "You'll see in Royal Valley." I patted him on the shoulder. "Just trust me. It's hard to explain, you have to see it."

Ryan frowned and as scientific as he was the old ways still played a part. "It's magic, isn't it?"

"If science is magic, it is." I nodded.

Ryan nodded still very unsure about how we were going to do all this. "Fine." He said shrugging and then he grinned. "You're married to a man."

I smiled. My marriage to Seth seemed to be a fascination with new people I meet. It was unusual, so I'd deal with it. "I am and very happily married for several years now."

"I heard your two kingdoms took the law off the books where two men can't marry." He said, "And there are some in Creid that...what's the word....they get together and do things, but nothing serious. In fact, it's common that the men do it. Especially among the military. No threat of unwanted pregnancies or complications on the battlefield."

I nodded. "That's the way it is around the world. Why?"

Ryan shrugged. "Why is it so wrong to be a companion for a man? I know that King Mordor has had affairs with several women and a few men."

I was startled to hear that about it being common in the military here and King Mordor? "He has? I knew about other marriages, but men, too?"

Suddenly Ryan was waving me down and shushing me to quiet down my speech, which was hardly loud. "Sure, the whole kingdom knows. We don't talk about it, but we know." He said in a whisper.

"It's not against the law in Blethos or A'Dore now." I knew he was very interested in these ideas, and he was he interested in Darrin. "It's hard until it happens in the family. Just like it was for my brother or Seth's brother. Royal Valley has quite a few couples of the same gender that are married now. Male and female."

Ryan smiled but was clearly surprised. "A few? And women, too?"

"There are," I nodded.

He shook his head. "I think King Mordor, like many in Creid, including the warriors see it as something...fun. Like something not serious. There could be no marriage as it won't produce a child."

I nodded. "Is that the only reason to marry? Seth and I have two children and I love Seth. I'd be miserable without him. I am miserable now! I miss him more than I can tell you."

He nodded. "You have children?" He found that hard to believe.

"Two boys."

"But they aren't yours or Seth's," Ryan said to confirm.

"Their births were not caused by Seth or me, but they are most definitely our sons. There are a lot of precious children without any parents, and we became parents for two such children." I patted his arm. "You'll see, but they most certainly are Seth's and my children."

Soon we had a wagon that we were bringing and Darrin, Quaid, Ryan, Yannick and five others from the Creid warriors were heading out. We couldn't go fast because of the glass we were bringing even though the glass containers were wrapped carefully, which even though they were wrapped, they could easily break. I tried not to spur the horses faster than was safe, but it was hard not to do. I was going home. Back to Seth! Yannick and I got along fine but having heard what King Mordor said and what Yannick said, not to mention what Ryan said, I was trying not to make things complicated for him or for me. I could have been interested in Yannick, but I belonged to Seth.

I smiled as I watched Darrin take a portion of the roasted rabbit and take it to a smiling Ryan and they sat together talking.

It was later that night that Yannick came with a weary sigh and sat down by me. "Okay," He said to me quietly. "When I met you..." he shrugged, "...I saw you as a pampered prince. I admit that. Then I fight you and find you aren't a pampered prince. You won my respect. Then I began to like you. I thought we were getting along very well. What happened? Was it what my father said the other day? Was it something I said? You've been sort of distant since that afternoon."

I sighed. This wasn't fair to Yannick, so I was honest. "Yannick, the truth is, I don't know. You said you haven't given your heart to anyone. Your father did think you could be giving it to me, I don't even know if you would because I don't know you, but he does."

Yannick chuckled. "Yes, he would." He gave a shrugging concession. "Okay!" He stood up and began pacing. "I do like you. A lot!" Then he shrugged. "You bested me!" He shook his head. "No one's been able to do that in ten years, but you did. Then I get to know you and I liked what I found."

"Yannick! I will never...and I repeat never...cheat on my husband!"

"And I'd never dream of putting you in that position," He looked at me sadly. "Does that mean we can't be friends? I can control myself. We just met. I like you!"

"I just want to be clear," I said...then shook my head at the absurdity of what was happening. "I never thought I'd ever face this sort of situation. In A'Dore, I was terrified to admit I was attracted to men at all. Here, it is almost common. I've read about civilizations, warriors where it was done. Even where if a man marries, the woman had to dress as a young man on the wedding night to ease the man into sex with a woman instead of men as he may have gotten used to. Spartans...thousands of years ago did it."

Yannick smiled nodding. "And it's common here among Creid warriors. It's a way of bonding our men together. A man will defend to the death one he loves or even likes. A brotherhood, sort of. Erik, I just want to be friends with you. I entertained the idea of more until I heard about your feelings for Seth, and I would never come between you and Seth."

I looked at Yannick. "You couldn't." Then I smiled at him, "Yannick, you're a good man and if there was no Seth, maybe, but there is, and I love him. I just don't want to hurt you."

Yannick nodded. "You won't. I'm a big boy. There will be no problems. Can we be friends again?" He asked holding his hand to me to shake.

I smiled. "I'd like that."

And we had to camp several nights, but I had been gone over a month before we topped a rise and I saw Royal Valley. I felt a surge in my heart making the ache intensify, I was going to see Seth!

I turned to Yannick. "I'm sorry, but I have to go faster. Darrin and Quaid know the way." Yannick just nodded and waved me to go, and I kicked my horse in the sides and raced off home. As I neared the house, you can see the vineyard and I saw men that were very distant, but I saw one tap the other on the shoulder, he looked, threw down whatever and was running from where he'd been working. So, I turned the horse to cut the distance meeting him half way back as I dismounted even before the horse had stopped. Seth was filthy and I was, too, but neither of us cared. Seth practically tackled me as he grabbed me tight, kissing me so hard it almost hurt as I returned the kiss! Both of us were so grateful to be in each other's arms again we didn't care! He held me so tight, but I didn't care as I held him. He felt so good in my arms. Solid and warm. Suddenly it was like getting a drink after being so thirsty! I started crying! He was shaking as his hands were all over me, up my sides, arms as he kissed me again and again like confirming I was really here again.

"You're home!" He said as he cried. "My God, I missed you so much!"

I nodded again having my vision blur as I cried I was so happy to see him. "I missed you. I love you, Seth."

He nodded. "I know. I love you, too. Never, and I mean never leave me this long again, please? I was miserable!!"

"I was, too," I said kissing him again. "I never want to be without you again."

Seth looked so good to me. Handsome in a rough, dirty, hardworking way! He was doing a physical inventory of me as well. I was running my hands over him. He felt so good to me. He kept kissing me as he would hug and continued to cry with happiness.

"I'm okay, Seth," I said softly. "I'm really back."

Seth nodded and said a prayer of thanksgiving I could see. "I'd love to take you right here." He smiled, "But...we'd have an audience if we did that." Then he looked down at himself and then sniffed me. "And we're both kind of smelly and dirty, so we'll wait until we go inside and bath first." Then he remembered why I'd gone to Creid. "Did you find what we needed when there?"

I nodded as we walked back to the house our arms around each other, and I led the horse. "I did. In fact, we're going to have guests." I knew this would be a little shaky. "I've got some men from Creid staying with us."

Seth stopped and looked a little uncertain as I knew he would be. "Are they as bad as we imagine?"

I smiled, shaking my head. "No, in fact, the ones coming here are very nice."

Seth heard that, but he'd been taught like everyone not to trust them. "Nice," He said doubtful. "That's not a word usually associated with Creid."

I nodded patting Seth on the chest. "I know. It was surprising to me, too. You'll find out when you meet them. There are seven in the group. But they do have what we need to get those things out of Christian's blood so we can start to get people ready for Len Na's attack." I motioned to the house. "We'd better let Grace know and light the fires under the hot water tanks. They will be hot enough when they get here." Then I smiled. "And I have a promise to keep with Christian."

We quickly secured the horse and went inside the manor.

Grace was thrilled to see me, and I wanted to see Toby and Dennis, but I also wanted to clean up.

"We have a few more minutes. I'll light the fires under all the tanks," I looked at Grace. "We're having guests."

She knew where I'd gone, and I could see she was worried. "Are they brutes?"

I shook my head. "Not at all. The ones I've been with these few weeks are really quite nice. It will be fine." Then I thought about what they'd eat. "Can we send someone to one of the restaurants? Maybe Royal Gardens? We'll need to feed about nine when they get here in a few minutes. They have that good beef stew ready to consume at Royal Gardens. Perhaps we can get some?"

Grace nodded. "I'll send one or two of the men in the winery to get some," Then she stopped. "I guess we'll need more daily supplies."

I nodded. "Only for two additional guests. I'll make arrangements at the hotel near us for the others, but they will need food when they are added to the guards for the house as with the others already here." I looked out the window and saw the group coming still escorting the wagon. "It's too late to clean up. They're coming now. We need to greet them and get this started."

The water heaters were lit, and Grace sent two men to Royal Gardens to get what we needed. And of course, I got a few bottles of Royal Valley wine to serve. Seth would not let me do anything alone and followed me up to the attic. I touched the crystal to let sound through. I heard nothing and then hit the crystal to see. Nothing. It was the middle of the afternoon; I didn't expect they'd be there. I went through and wrote a note, dated it and left it where Christian or Ella would find it and then came back through the doorway back to Seth.

Downstairs I went in the boys' room, and they were so happy to see I'd come back. Though when I picked up Toby and kissed his cheek, he wrinkled his nose and signed. You smell funny.

I chuckled nodding. "Nothing a bath won't cure. In the meantime, we have guests coming. We'll go down and greet them."

The wagon arrived escorted by the others. People in Royal Valley were curious as to the black leather armored men that rode through town, but saw Quaid and Darrin with them, but still very curious. They were strangers and they had to be from Creid! Yannick dismounted when they arrived at the manor, coming over to Seth, the boys and me.

"Seth," I said. "This is Yannick. Crown Prince of Creid. The eldest son of King Mordor."

Yannick stuck his hand out to Seth. "It's a privilege to meet the man married to such a fine warrior as Prince Erik," He bowed slightly to Seth. "He began a new future of friendship between Blethos and Creid. I hope with A'Dore as well."

Ryan climbed down from the carriage.

"And this is Ryan. The man with the knowledge of how to extract what's in Christian's blood." I motioned to Ryan and then held Dennis up as Seth picked up Toby. "These are Seth's and my sons. Dennis and Toby."

Yannick smiled at our boys. He was not going to scare them. He held out his hand and even shook Toby's hand and even Dennis' little hand. Toby began signing to Yannick.

"And you need to know. Toby's deaf. He uses signs to communicate," I explained with a chuckle. "He wants to know about your black suit."

This news surprised both Yannick and Ryan, but Yannick smiled at Toby. "But he understands you? How do I talk to him?"

I nodded. "He reads lips."

Yannick motioned to his suit. "Well, this protects me if I run into..." he thought of a nicer word, "...someone that's not so nice." He said smiling as Yannick spoke so Toby could see his lips and then he motioned to the other men that were with him and introduced each one.

Once that was done, I motioned to the house. "This is Seth's and my home. We've got hot water for everybody. You can take a bedroom and get cleaned up. We're having a pretty good meal that will be ready when you're done. We'll talk about what we're doing housing and otherwise when this is done."

Once we got the men started, and I knew that they took communal baths in Creid, and the tubs were big enough for at least two men at a time. Seth and I took our own bath.

I looked at Seth and I knew he had to know what happened between Yannick and me. I had to tell him, "I have a confession to make."

Seth looked at me curious. "Oh?"

"I issued the Challenge of Confidence. Yannick was their champion," I explained.

"What do you mean?"

"In order to win their trust, I issued the Challenge and fought Yannick." I answered looking as Seth's face clouded. "It wasn't to the death," I said in a hurry. "I just had to disarm him, which believe me I worked for that! He was damned good!" I chuckled remembering the fight. "He's never been defeated in a decade!"

Seth grinned, "But you did."

I nodded hating I had to say it, but.... "Their way is win at any cost....and I...sort of....kissed him."

"You what!?" Seth shouted his eyes bulging. "You kissed him!!"

"There were no feelings involved! It wasn't anything but a distraction!" I begged him to understand. "It wasn't like when I kiss you! I needed to cause him to not think, and I disarmed him! It was tactical, not love. It worked and I won!"

Seth was still in shock and said nothing a few minutes, but he never stopped looking at me. It hurt him; I could see it.

When at last I couldn't stand he wouldn't say anything, I begged. "Please say you understand. I had to. He wasn't expecting it and if I hadn't he would have won. I was tired!" I was beginning to cry a little. "Never, and I mean, I never even considered cheating on you, Seth! I love you! Yannick knows that. He's seen you and our boys! I like Yannick, but I love you!"

That's when Seth moved from his side of the tub to me, putting his arms around me. "It was just a shock. I believe you. I understand."

"But I feel like I did cheat on you!" I said sadly. "I've never kissed anyone but you....in my entire life! I feel like I betrayed you."

"But you didn't," Seth said kissing the side of my head and hugging me.

"It wasn't a kiss except the touching of lips, I've kissed Christian on the cheek and head. I've kissed our boys but having to tell you I kissed Yannick...that's what hurts!"

"But you didn't have to tell me," Seth reasoned.

I nodded. "Oh, yes I did. Nothing is ever kept secret from each other, and I couldn't let this go. You are the most important person in my life! I swear my heart belongs to you! Only to you." Now I was crying more. "I knew you might have a problem with it, I would if it was you kissing someone else! I never, never wanted to do it, I would never cheat on you!"

Seth chuckled hugging me tightly. "I believe you, Erik. I trust you. It's okay. Let it go." It was a few minutes later when Seth looked me in the eyes. "I love you. I know you love me, and I have no doubt about that. We're fine." Then he chuckled. "You won! Good thinking! It was a surprise, for me as well! And I wasn't even there!!"

I chuckled wiping my face. "I did it right in front of the king and all the others! Yannick and King Mordor weren't upset at all but laughed. They all did!"

"Well, it's not really a tried battle tactic, but apparently very effective!" Seth chuckled.

I kissed him and I mean I really kissed him in our consuming passionate kiss that was probing and long. "This is all love, Seth. I'd die before I ever even consider anyone else."

Seth nodded. "Welcome home."

We bathed, made love, and bathed again. When we were done we came down to see many of the men had bathed and were at our big table in the kitchen and in the dining room. It was odd to see them without their armor and just in regular clothes.

Yannick looked up with a smile. "That was a long bath!" He grinned to me.

"We were very dirty," I shrugged making Yannick laugh.

"I'll just bet. I'm sure you're glad you're clean now," Yannick chuckled and held up his goblet. "My father should try some of this wine. It's very, very good!"

"He'll get a couple of cases soon." I promised.

Seth nodded smiling. "It helps to know each grape and I do!"

Arrangements were made with Quaid to have the guards from Blethos and Creid patrol the grounds and house. The hotel near us was thrilled to have more guests, but not so thrilled when they heard they were from Creid. I assured the owner these men would be nothing but gentlemen.

"They could scare away other guests!" The owner wailed.

"Only if you tell them where these men are from," I corrected. "They're just men. We need them. There is nothing about them that says they are from Creid, and it wouldn't matter if there were. They are nice people. It's time the rest of Blethos finds that out. We'll start here in Royal Valley. They are just people!"

Ryan set up a work room in our house, with Darrin's willing help. Seers were put out; the glass containers were gotten and we didn't lose a single one when we traveled. The spinner was set up.

As that was going on, Seth and I went to the attic again. This time when I activated the doorway, Christian was standing there waiting. He didn't even wait for us to come through! He launched himself into our home in Royal Valley hugging me tightly.

"Thank God!" Christian said as he hugged. "Thank the merciful God in Heaven!"

Ella came through as well hugging Seth while my brother assured himself I was alive and unharmed.

"I'm good, Christian," I said laughing. "I'm okay. I promise." I rubbed his back as I said that.

Christian looked at me critically, "I was worried sick!"

I nodded. "I know, but I will have to say, a lot of what we are afraid of us just that. Fear. And it's unfounded!"

"Unfounded!?" Christian asked in disbelief. "They're savage!"

I shook my head. "No, they're not. Not really. They are a warrior people certainly. Most of what we feared is in the past! I was explained to by King Mordor why they kept that reputation going."

"But they came to A'Dore! Mother said King Mordor was..."

"He was acting, giving what was expected." I finished. "He's actually a very nice man." I went on to explain how they kept others away to keep from being raided by keeping the pretense going. "I have the Crowned Prince here as one of our guests. They are a very determined and honorable people."

Christian was trying to accept what I'd said. I was to be trusted by Christian and he knew that, but....likeable Creid!?

"I found this Ryan person. He knows a lot about blood...like how to get those...things out of you and we can make more and spread them around to the people."

Christian's eyebrows came together as he wasn't too reassured. "He does? He explained it to you?"

I nodded. "He explained and even showed me how he was going to do it."

Now Christian was a little better, but not much. "Will it hurt?"

I shrugged. "Maybe a little, but I've seen the needle..."

"Needle!?" Christian's reaction was if I said he was to be stabbed! Well, I guess he would be, but just a little one. I would have one, too.

I chuckled. "Well, yes...they have to get into you to get them out somehow and this is the way." Now he was looking more like Edward in his reaction to the word needle. "And that leads me to another thing. Ryan would do well working with Dr. Warren..."

"But you're worried about telling others?" Demetrius' voice came again, and he walked out of the shadows of the attic. No one flinched at his sudden appearances any more. "I cautioned you not to tell anyone other than family."

"But how can we work together if we don't at least tell Ryan how we'll be getting Christian's blood?" I asked. "And Dr. Warren knows so much now about these little creatures...Ryan knows what works, but not how or why...with Dr. Warren, our knowledge will greatly enhance."

Demetrius smiled and held his hands out to stop me. "I cautioned you with reason. If you let everyone know, it could be used for less than benevolent reasons. The doorway was given to you two." He said to Christian and me. "How you use it now is up to you. You wanted to save Christian's life and you did! I would caution you to keep others at a distance on this."

"But honey..." Ella said worried. "...with strangers coming and going, should we have our doorway in our bedroom?"

Christian frowned. "She's right, but...how do we explain Erik's appearance and disappearance? We already have staff here that saw Erik that time when he brought Sam and wondering how he managed it."

"But Erik or Seth coming through isn't the problem." Ella said. "They are family."

I shrugged. "We have ours in this attic. Very few come up here and if they do, it's just a mirror." I shook my head. "I don't suppose there's a more secure room you can place the mirror where I can come and go?"

Christian shook his head. "I can't think of one." Then he motioned for us to stop. "We'll deal with this as needed. I'd like to meet this Ryan." Then he said cautiously. "And the others from Creid."

I grinned. "The one to meet would be Yannick. He's the Crowned Prince, son of King Mordor and very nice man." I looked at Ella. "And he would knock before entering. Trust me." Then I chuckled. "And Ryan...let's just say he has developed an affection for a person here. Darrin. So, I doubt he'd be interested in Ella. Christian maybe, but not Ella." I watched Christian's eyes widen when he heard that.

Seth looked surprised. "Darrin, but is Darrin interested in Ryan?"

"Very." I nodded. "We're not just in Royal Valley."

Then Christian shook his head. "They're barbarians! Savages!" He was having a hard time with this concept. "I trust you, but...."

"So were we once!" I argued. "Both in A'Dore and Blethos. That's why we still had all those Challenges still on the books! When Seth was king, he outlawed those horrible savage laws for challenges. I know there were laws just like them in A'Dore as well. The Creids are not barbarians or savages, but they are very good fighters. We can use the help!"

"Which Erik defeated their champion!" Seth said proudly.

Christian smiled at hearing that. "He did?"

"Defeated their champion that hasn't been defeated in ten years!" Seth said smiling. "With a kiss."

"Seth!" I cried holding my face to hide the embarrassment.

"A kiss?" Christian smiled. Even Ella was laughing at that.

"It was a battle strategy! I had to." I defended.

Demetrius nodded grinning. "I saw."

"You saw!?" I moaned and then thought. "What am I thinking? Of course, you did." I threw my hands up in futility.

"I should tell Jason, the man that taught Erik and me to fight with a sword, to add this to his teaching." Christian chuckled as I hit him in the shoulder, a little harder than just kidding, making Christian laugh even harder.

"Tell anyone I did, and I'll break the mirror the next time you're here and you'll won't be back in A'Dore in two or three WEEKS!" I yelled knowing my face was now beet red. "It worked! I won!"

Demetrius shook his head, "Don't worry. It's hard to break, but he can do it, with effort." He told Christian.

I turned to leave. "That's it, I'm going back to our guests..." but Seth grabbed me from behind and hugged me kissing me on the neck.

"We're just kidding you, Erik." Seth said in my ear. "You've got to admit, it is funny." He said laughing again and now Christian, Ella and Demetrius were laughing, too.

I took a deep breath. "Okay. It's funny." Then I looked at Christian. "So, I'll bring Yannick and Ryan up here tomorrow? We can have lunch there. In your room, of course."

Christian nodded. "I look forward to it, but I still can't shake the idea they're savages."

I nodded. "That's why we need to do it. You'll see they aren't."

How could I do this, but just show Yannick and Ryan? The next evening, after dinner...

"Okay," I began. "Now for something tricky." I said putting my napkin down.

Yannick and Ryan both looked at me surprised, but Ryan nodded. "You're going to tell us how we're getting King Christian's blood."

I nodded. "Not only that. I'm going to show you." I looked at them seriously. "What you'll see, if in the wrong hands could be dangerous. Use what I show you carefully, this will go well. Please, don't tell anyone you don't have to."

Yannick nodded. "Certainly."

I looked at Seth, who was more than a little concerned, but we'd talked about it and there was no other choice. I stood. "If you'll come with me, I'll introduce you to my brother and sister-in-law."

I led them up to the attic and pulled the cover down that covered the mirror. I touched two of the crystals and the image reflected changed to King Christian's and Ella's bedroom in A'Dore. Both Yannick and Ryan were now wide eyed, staring. In the mirror was my brother, waiting as planned. I touched the other two crystals and stepped through.

I waved them toward Christian and me. "Just step through. I'll introduce you to King Christian of A'Dore."

Yannick was the first and was surprised, but Ryan was a little more tentative as he peered through first, then stepped carefully through, followed my Seth.

"How..." Ryan looked at the mirror on the other side and then turned to me. "We're in A'Dore!? We traveled over a thousand miles just like that!?" He held his hands toward the mirror amazed.

Seth chuckled nodding. "You sure did."

Again, the scientist in Ryan was just dumbfounded as he looked at the mirror and crystals. "It's true! All of it! The story about Cinderella and Prince Charming!" He looked at me. "You and Prince Phillip!!" Then he looked at Seth more carefully. "You were scarred the story said, but you're not! I wondered how and even doubted it was true!"

Seth shook his head. "I'm not scarred anymore."

I smiled at Ryan's curiosity. "Gentlemen, this is my brother, King Christian of A'Dore. You know of him as Prince Charming."

"Christian, this in Crowned Prince Yannick of Creid."

Yannick instantly bowed. "Your Majesty. It's a pleasure to meet you, even though the reasons are serious."

Protocol is that no man touched a king, unless the king allows it, you just didn't. Christian was still cautious but extended his hand to Yannick. "I hope this will open doors for both our kingdoms."

"Your brother was very..." Yannick smiled as he chose his words. "...convincing to us. Especially me."

Christian smiled hearing that. "So, he tells me."

I motioned to Ryan. "And this is the man that will be very helpful. His father and grandfather started the work that is going to allow us to take those little warriors from you and give it to others. This is Ryan, also of Creid."

"Erik told me you'll be sticking a needle in me?" Christian asked. "And get them out that way..."

Ryan chuckled. "I've done it hundreds of times, even with children and babies. It just hurts a little bit, Your Majesty."

Christian wasn't assured yet. "Okay." Then he turned to me. "I'm having the mirror moved to the work area with Dr. Warren." He turned to Yannick and Ryan. "I'll introduce you to my guards, they are loyal to me and will be sworn to secrecy and I know I can trust them. That way, you..." he pointed to Yannick. "...and you, Ryan can come and go as needed. We'll have to tell Dr. Warren about this doorway, too." Then he smiled. "Shall we say...ten o'clock? We'll even feed you lunch here in A'Dore. You can meet my wife. She's with our children now."

Yannick bowed again. "I look forward to it."

"As do I." Ryan smiled, "But I'll admit I'm more anxious to see these little warriors you have in you."

Christian frowned but nodded. "More blood. Great. I'll feel like a pin cushion!"

I put my arm around Christian's shoulder, "But a very lovable pin cushion."

Christian growled as he bumped his head against mine. "Thanks." Then he waved to the mirror. "Now go home."

I gave him a sloppy salute and pushed Seth toward the doorway. "You heard him. Let's go."

Back in Royal Valley Ryan still was fascinated by the mirror as we stepped through. As it became a mirror again, he reached out and then stopped.

"Can I touch it?" Ryan asked.

I shrugged. "Why not? And before either of you ask, there are only two. No more. The man that gave them to us doesn't even know how it works. So don't ask, save your breath."

Yannick nodded. "Those were the questions." He chuckled and then shrugged, "But it works."

Ryan turned to us. "I'd better get my things together. It sounds like I'll be working mostly in A'Dore." Then he shook his head still reeling from what he'd done. "A'Dore! I was really in A'Dore!"

I gave him a little shove, "And will be again tomorrow, so go get some rest for now."

Seth grinned. "Yes, it's such a long trip."

The next morning was quick. We got up, ate breakfast, and got things in place for us to go to A'Dore. Ryan needed his Spinner, the Puller/injectors and glass containers.

"But we'll be back tonight, right?" Ryan asked.

I nodded. "We will." Then I grinned suspecting why. "Why?"

For a man with red hair, his face began to pink a little. "Well, I have...a date."

"A date?" Seth smiled. "It wouldn't be with anyone we know, is it?" We all knew.

Ryan gave a shrugging nod. "You do. Darrin wanted to show me some of Royal Valley. He suggested we have dinner at Royal Gardens."

I mocked shock. "Unchaperoned!?"

"They're both adults, Erik." Seth chuckled with me. "Now, let's get to A'Dore."

This time, when I hit the crystals, it wasn't Christian's and Ella's bedroom, but the inside of a little room. Stepping through I opened the door to walk into the brightly lit room Seth and I had started to use when investigating Jean Claude. Things had changed in the room we'd started the work. Now there were high tables and Seers at various places. Here were other glass containers on the tables near the Seers, but the room was empty of people at the moment. Seth and Yannick brought the Spinner, while Ryan and I carried the glass containers Ryan insisted on and his supply of needles and the instruments he used to pull blood.

"Wow." Ryan said looking at all the Seers and liquids about. He looked at me. "You know that blood keeps better in cool areas, right?"

I patted Seth's arm. "My genius husband found that out." I pointed to where the ice box was. "Samples are kept in there."

The door from the corridor opened as Christian was telling Dr. Warren. "...but they know how to..." He looked up and saw us standing there, "and here they are." He smiled at us, but he was looking mostly at Yannick and Ryan. He was still wary of them. "Dr. Warren, you know Erik and Seth."

"How did you get here?" Dr. Warren asked having apparently not been told yet.

Christian touched Dr. Warren on the back. "We'll tell you, but this is Prince Yannick, Crown Prince of Creid."

Dr. Warren was alarmed now as he like everyone else who knew the Creids as barbarians. "Creid!?"

I sighed. "Yes, Doctor. Creid." I walked toward the doctor. "It's just a reputation. It's not necessarily true." I motioned to Ryan. "This is Ryan. He knows a lot about blood and can get those little warriors out of Christian."

"You can?" Dr. Warren asked Ryan. "You're a doctor?"

Ryan smiled. "I was trained by my father, who was trained by his father. We don't have a college in Creid I could go to, but I'm willing to learn about....everything."

We showed Dr. Warren the doorway and explained how we got to and from so quickly. Ryan and Yannick were introduced to the guards in the palace so their presence would be expected. Then we got to work. Dr. Warren and Ryan were like little boys sharing what they knew, and Ryan was as interested in what was seen in the Seer as Dr. Warren was. The fact that Yannick and Ryan were Creid barbarians was soon forgotten.

I was fascinated how the Spinner worked. Ryan got the blood from Christian, who did pretty well being stuck by the needle. There was only so much he could give at one time. First they looked at a little Christian's blood in a Seer and saw those little warriors, they were the only things in his blood that we hadn't seen yet. Then Ryan put the rest in a glass container and placed it in the Spinner.

"Now, we spin," Ryan said turning the handle and the Spinner began doing its job. Ryan turned it a while, relieved by Yannick who could spin it very rapidly. It took a few minutes before Ryan stopped it. He held the glass container up. "See? The blood liquid is here, and all the solids are below." He used another needle to take some of the blood liquid and put it in a Seer. "You should see those warriors in this." He looked quickly, "And there they are!"

Dr. Warren looked in the Seer. "And this blood liquid won't fight with the other blood kinds?"

Ryan shook his head. "The parts that will fight other blood kinds are in the solids." Then he grinned at me. "In fact, you could be the newest source!"

Okay, this was unexpected. "Me?" I thought, why should Christian be the only source? It made sense.

Ryan nodded. "Well, you two do have the same blood kind. Essentially you have the same blood. I can put some of these warriors into you." Then he turned to Seth. "And you have a different blood kind. I'll test to be sure, but I could make you a new source as well. I'll show you, King Christian's blood liquid will be fine in you."

Seth looked as Christian did about being stuck with the needle and then he shrugged. "At least we won't get sick for ten to twenty years."

"And we'll have more sources," Ryan brightened. "I'll even put them in myself and Yannick!"

Yannick was a warrior, but the idea of willingly getting stuck was not received that well. He was okay with what had to be done but wasn't looking forward to it. He was a warrior, but the idea of getting stuck wasn't that well received.

"How long ago did you get these little warriors?" Ryan asked Christian.

"That was..." Christian thought, "about four months ago."

Dr. Warren nodded. "Then we need to get started. The little warriors should have time to reproduce in each of you, making you valuable sources for more."

Christian grinned as he sat me down. "It doesn't hurt much." He said mockingly.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I groused.

"Immensely!" Christian nodded as he laughed.

After we all had the blood liquid inserted, including Dr. Warren who ran tests to be sure about the blood liquid not fighting with Seth's blood, which it didn't. Soon it was late.

"Those warriors will begin to reproduce in each of us," Ryan said. "Then we'll have more blood liquids to pull from." He smiled at Christian, "and save you from being the only one."

"We can even do it in Royal Valley," I suggested to Seth. "All we need is another Spinner and some of those containers and the needles."

Ryan nodded. "And I'll show you how to make the needles, Spinner and how to enter them into a person."

Yannick smiled seeing this was going to work. "We have a plan!"

Seth frowned. "Toby and Dennis? They'll have to have them, too." He looked at Christian, "and Ella, Thomas, Ada, Ana and Edward."

"And Sam, Terry and their children." I added.

"And the rest of humanity," Yannick said not liking the overwhelming task.

Christian nodded. "What we'll have to do, is teach others how to make these things, how to use them so they can teach others, but it can be done."

"If we have time." I said and wanted so badly to speak to Demetrius.

We went back to Royal Valley. We'd worked right through lunch and were hungry. Darrin showed up at the house after he'd gone to the hotel, bathed, and changed.

"You were gone." Darrin said. "No one knew where you'd gone. Is everything alright?"

Ryan smiled at Darrin. "We will be gone a lot in the day." He said, "but I should be back in the evening. You know what we're trying to do."

Darrin nodded. "Prevent this new sickness." Then he raised his hands. "I'll not asking more questions. Are we still on for tonight?" He asked hopefully.

Ryan grinned. "I'm not letting you out of our arrangement. I'm ready." He leaned in kissing Darrin.

I knew about Darrin, but Darrin didn't know if all of us knew. He looked at us questioning.

I nodded. "Yes, we all know." I waved them toward the door. "Go. And don't be surprised, there are more couples like us here, as you've seen. You may not be the only ones at Royal Gardens."

It was right before Seth, and I were going to take our nightly bath when we heard the bell. I didn't stop undressing,

"Demetrius is here," Seth said quietly in a muttered whisper.

"He's seen it all anyway." I said looking at Seth. "He knows not to come when we're being intimate. How would he know that? He sees us!"

I heard Demetrius' chuckle. "He's right, Seth," He shrugged. "That's why we fail to understand modesty like you have and forget when you're..." he waved at me. "...getting undressed, we don't see the difference." Then he grinned. "I've seen everything." Then he shook his head. "Why modesty? Clothes were originally created to protect us from the cold or getting scrapped by thorns. The Children of Eve decided they would tell people who they are instead or hide what they are. We've all got the same things!"

"He's right," Seth looked at Demetrius, thought a moment, shrugged and continued to undress. "Fine, but I'd prefer not knowing we have an audience when making love, okay?"

Demetrius now laughed even heartier. "Don't worry, my boy. You do just fine with that." Then he grinned at me. "You too, Erik." Meaning he'd seen us.

I turned to Demetrius. "Okay. Strip."

Demetrius was not bothered by the idea and started unbuttoning his shirt immediately.

"Erik was kidding!" Seth said a little worried.

I grinned at Seth. "Was I?" I said as Demetrius pulled his pants down and then realized he still had his shoes on. He pulled those off and stood up holding his hands out like see? He was a man. Pure and simple, but he did have a hairy chest and hair where a man had hair. He was a little heavy, but not bad. The Children of Lilith enjoyed eating as well. I shook my head. "I always suspected you were hairy." I almost expected to see a tail or something. Nothing about him said he was different from Seth and me.

Demetrius grinned and scratched his chin. "Well, He made me hairy." He pointed to the sky. "This doesn't cause you to desire sex with me or anything, does it? The sons of Eve are often aroused by what they see."

Seth chuckled. "Well, it's nice to be on even footing." He began to run the steaming water. "And no, I don't want to have sex with you. Do you, Erik?"

I shook my head. "I'm fine."

Demetrius frowned. "So, nothing?"

I chuckled. "First, you were concerned we would be aroused..."

Seth grinned. "...and now you're offended we aren't?"

"You can't have it both ways." I finished watching Demetrius shake his head.

"Okay," Demetrius growled. "You two have been together so long, you're thinking alike."

Then I pointed to the tub. "Do you care to join us? There's enough room."

Demetrius smiled. "Can I?" He said excited. "I love a hot bath!"

Seth chuckled. "What the hell?" He shook his head. "Watch the toes, no probing any places on either of us." He said shaking his finger at Demetrius.

"Perish the thought!" Demetrius said in mock horror.

I looked over at him. "You're right about the Statue of David. So, the man you....loved...had what you have?" He was pretty well endowed.

Demetrius smiled remembering. "And I did love him." Then he looked at us. "We were together twenty years, but he was a son of Eve. I lost him too soon." Then he gave a shrug. "This was before Dara."

I smiled hearing this.

Seth was looking at Demetrius a little shocked. "You weren't lying about having sex with a man?"

Demetrius stood instantly. "I don't lie." Then he shrugged. "It's just sex. It's what humans do. It's what we're designed to do. We bind with other people and sex is how. The person we choose becomes special. At least that's the idea. There are those that don't care about that, and anyone will do, but there is no love."

The water was just about perfect. We slid in and lowered ourselves in the water.

Demetrius threw his head back as he let out a sigh. "There's nothing like a good....hot....soak."

Seth and I were sitting close smiling at Demetrius and his lack of restraint on his expressions.

"Not that it's not good to..." I chuckled. "...see you. Was there are reason you stopped by, or was it to just say hello?"

Demetrius' head shot up. "Right! Len Na!" He said as he remembered. "She may know."

I felt the icy dagger in my heart. "About what we're doing?"

Demetrius shrugged. "Or she will soon. I've seen what you've done so far. That's definitely the right track. Dara and I are...fogging her perception." He grinned again. "We haven't gotten the blocking thing that Lukus had."

"Can't he help?" Seth asked. "He knew to block you from sensing Sam."

"He is!" Demetrius said immediately. "But remember, he knew how to block my perceptions of Sam completely. He's had more time using magic. Len Na has been at it much longer. The most we can do is cloud what she sees. We have a lot of us trying to prevent her from knowing." He frowned. "But as you move forward, more people are going to know...as in Children of Eve. The more of them that know...Len Na will find out. We'll need to be careful she doesn't move her timetable up and strike before you're ready."

"Others are on our side. The Children of Lilith?" Seth asked.

Demetrius nodded. "Most don't care one way or another, but there are many of us that do care and are blocking Len Na's sensing. I'm concentrating on here and A'Dore. So is Dara and Lukus, but as you spread this knowledge out...she'll know."

I nodded. "We'll do all we can to be ready."

Demetrius smiled brightly. "Well! This has been relaxing and fun, but I've gotta run!" He vanished.