Two #2
Stepping through the portal, I could see we were once again in Nue's church, so I hugged her and kissed her first, then I snagged Carol and hugged and kissed her next.
"Why am I second?" Carol asked when I let her go.
"It's Nue's church; it's only polite," I said and winked.
"Now, Carol, Nue, this is Suisan, my oldest daughter with Rachel.
She wants something a bit different in life than being the queen's daughter, especially when the queen's husband is known to be just a bit violent at times," I said with a smile.
"Suisan, this is Carol, Feliogustus' high priestess in the Seven Worlds, and Nue, who is the priestess in charge of this church.
"Oh, and yes, they're both my women."
"Obviously," Suisan said with a sigh. She then smiled at Carol and Nue. "I'm more than willing to start out sweeping floors and cleaning whatever needs cleaning until I figure out how life here works. Oh, and please don't go telling everyone who my father is."
"Why not?" Nue asked, curious.
"Because back home, the idea of who my parents are scared off a lot of guys? I'd like to try living a bit more normal, if such a thing exists."
"In short, she wants to have a social life where everyone isn't trying to use her because of us," I said with a sigh.
"That, too," Suisan agreed.
Nue nodded and then smiled. "I understand. Come, let me get you a place to sleep, and I'll have someone show you where the cleaning supplies are."
"Mom, Dad? See you later, I guess," Suisan said as Nue took her hand and led her off.
"Any comments?" Carol said, looking at Rachel as soon as Suisan was out of hearing range.
"She's been trained in management and understands the politics of how things work. Once she gets settled in, you might want to recruit her to oversee the construction on the temple."
"A cute little thing like her?" Carol asked, giving Rachel a look.
"Yup. If that won't get her laid by men who don't know who her parents are and don't care, then I don't know what will."
Carol's eyes went wide, and she looked just a little surprised.
"Hilanders are a bit more on the 'rude and crude' side of life and sex," I told Carol with a laugh.
"Apparently. I'll take that advice to heart and see about putting her to work over there, after she's settled in. I could definitely use some trained help. Now, how long are you here for?"
"Not very. I need to fly to Syzkilmyr to gate through those priests and priestesses you wanted, as well as some more to bring out to Suffolk."
"Why are you bringing more there?"
"I want to build another church, one close to where they're putting in the palace. Might even see about turning it into a temple someday down the road. I also want to get a couple of missionaries to work, spreading Fel's word there."
Carol nodded. "It would be a good place to put up a temple.
I wish I could help, but everything I've got right now is focused on Juntura.
Feliogustus told me to focus all of my efforts here.
That I'm to leave Lassen to your and Narasamman's daughter, and Amnar to you.
At least until I've got the temple built and a dozen or so churches. "
"How is Noah doing?" I asked, remembering the young man Fel had saved from death years ago.
"Amazing, that's how he's doing. He's already built a church, and while I wouldn't say he's packing them in, he's got a regular congregation, and it's growing.
I'll be sending some of those priestesses I've asked you to bring his way.
He's already looking for another place to go spread the word.
His message is really resonating with the workers on the plantations. "
I smiled. "That makes me happy to hear it. The Kashmir should be in port tonight or tomorrow. I'll be using them to fly to the other temple, so if you want to ship anything there, let me know, and I'll tell Captain Kardez."
"So you won't be here long?"
"Not this time, but the next time, I'll be sure to visit for a while."
Carol smiled. "I'd like that. I'm sure Nue would, too."
"We'll spend tonight here," Rachel said, speaking up. "I know William always loves spending time with his kids, and honestly, I enjoy seeing them, too."
"Well, he does make such nice ones!" Carol said with a grin, making me blush.
"Yes, he does, doesn't he?" Rachel replied with a purr as she leaned into me.
"You know, we should probably bring Darlene or Laria on these trips," Rachel said as we walked back to the room I had here, "so they can have more time with you, as well."
"What about Evean?"
Rachel looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, Evean, too. There are times I think she needs you more than even I do."
I blinked. "Really?"
"I don't think she's ever really been loved by anyone—well, anyone mortal, that is; I'm sure Roden loves her—until you came along."
"Oh, and you were?"
"My parents loved me, back when they were alive. I suspect Evean didn't even have that. You mentioned, long ago, that she grew up in a very bad place during a very hard time."
I nodded. "I suspect her family was nothing more than peasants, and she was born with a number of problems."
"So they figured she'd die and never got attached."
I nodded again. As always, Rachel quickly saw through to the heart of things.
We discussed what our goals should be once we got to Suffolk.
Hopefully, the foundation of the castle was completed by now.
The first part to be built was the main hall, not just for official functions, but so people could come and air their grievances.
I wasn't exactly looking forward to that, but it was one of those things that needed to be done, especially if I wanted it made clear to the people that the time of Estrosh was over.
I realized while we were talking that I'd have to look into what supplies would be needed for a small church now that I'd decided to build one.
I was also beginning to think that Dani's church would be a good candidate to become a temple when I thought about what Fel had told me about being a mystic.
It would help a lot with my visiting—that was obvious.
"How long do you think we have until there's trouble?" I asked her later that night, after we'd gone over everything.
"Trouble here? Trouble at home? Or trouble in Suffolk?"
"All the above."
"What a curious answer," Rachel replied, giving me a look.
"It's a cultural holdover from my youth," I replied, remembering all the multiple-choice tests I'd seen.
"I don't expect anything to happen back home during the rest of my lifetime.
Nara has made it clear that right now, the church is looking to consolidate its position in my kingdom and the surrounding ones.
I have no intention of growing the kingdom, though perhaps our son may send out some expeditions through the mountains to the west and see what lies there.
"However, for now, we're one of the larger countries, and I don't think anyone wants to give you an excuse to make it any larger," Rachel said with a smile.
"As for here on Juntura or Syzkilmyr? You'd have to talk to Carol or Nue to get a better idea, but you and Feliogustus are popular here.
The people don't seem inclined to be warlike, unlike back home, and Feliogustus seems to be in an enviable position where people would rather ignore him than attack him. "
I nodded as I thought about the 'don't poke the tiger in the cage' option Fel had taken here.
"As for Suffolk? Right now, no one wants to anger the Lathams. That will change over time. If we do a good job of building up the kingdom and its people, it will hopefully be decades before anyone even looks that way."
"What about those goblins to the south?"
"One day, something will have to be done about them, but for now, accept them for the hidden advantage they are."
I frowned. "How are they an advantage?"
"They give you an excuse to raise a strong army, see that everyone is trained, and send expeditions southward every few years to cull the goblins—giving your soldiers and leaders needed experience.
It might be best to never wipe them out, to just keep cutting them back.
This way, Suffolk will always be a thorny bush that everyone else decides is best left alone. "
That gave me pause. Rachel was a Hilander, and Hilanders enjoyed fighting. Their life in the mountains was not easy, and at times, quite hard. Their traditions were more military than civilian. So it only made sense that Rachel would seek to instill those same beliefs and traditions in Suffolk.
"I just realized something," I said as I thought about what she'd said.
"Oh?"
"I think I'm going to talk with Baron and Carso about having our junior officers, and possibly our junior NCOs, spend some time with the Mowoks to help with their training."
"I'm not sure I want any of ours to take part in raiding caravans, William."
I smiled. "Me, neither, but there's a lot of other things they could learn from them, including logistics."
"You may have a point. But that will be our son's problem. Just don't try to steamroll him, or I'll haunt you."
"Fair enough."
"Now, let's find Nue and your children and go have dinner."
I smiled and nodded.