Eight #2
"Saminkaupunki does not believe that Thom is after you or looking to oppose you.
It is more a case of Thom being quite unhappy that Saminkaupunki 'pulled his leash', as you apparently said, and then when Thom confronted him about it, he received quite the lecture about misjudging people, losing his temper, and not being a team player. "
"So he quit and walked off in a huff?"
"Yes, and no. Saminkaupunki told me that he talked to another goddess, one I suspect you know, and helped 'find' someone Thom could work for, and hopefully learn to be a better champion."
"Aryanna?"
"Yes."
"Huh, I wonder where he got sent?"
"An ally of Sireen needed help."
"Sireen?" I said, surprised. I giggled. Then I snickered.
Then I started to laugh. Tabitha quickly took Bill as I laughed harder, and I actually fell out of the chair, I was laughing so hard, gasping for breath, and clutching my sides.
I don't know how long it took to regain my composure, but even after I stopped having trouble breathing and could sit up on the floor, I was still giggling.
"That," I said, wiping my eyes, "is funny. Wow."
"Is there something wrong with Sireen's allies?" Tia asked, giving me a look.
"Let's just say Thom got the surprise of his life. And I hope he likes music!"
"Sireen is the one who told Vikoria about William," The Ulhness said. "She was very impressed by William's love of music, as well as his concern for his children."
"I even helped her win a war once," I said with a nod. "She's a wonderful goddess, and her people are lucky to have her."
"Sounds like you like her," Tia said.
I nodded. "Yeah, I do."
"Well, let's feed the children, and then I guess we can go have dinner ourselves. I'll have someone show you to my chambers so you can stow your things there, Will. How long are you planning on staying?"
I shrugged. "At least a week. I would like to stop in at the two churches Fel has here, to be sure everything is okay, and they don't need anything, especially since I'm responsible for building one of them.
So if I need to stay a bit longer, I can, but mainly I'm here to see you, though, yes, I also want to spend some time with Tabitha and see our children.
" I smiled then. "They're beautiful, and thank you both for them. "
Tia and Tabitha both smiled, and I left the nursery, where a young priestess quickly intercepted me and showed me to where I was staying.
Stripping down to my fur, I set all my gear and weapons aside, then stretched out on the bed and took a nap.
I had a suspicion that Tia would probably want a little private time before we went to get dinner.
Assuming, of course, she didn't have someone just bring it to us.
I woke up when she joined me in the bed a while later.
"Ah, you read my mind," she teased as I pulled her close and kissed her. "So, you really did come all this way just to see Vera and me?"
"Bill, too," I whispered.
"I'm surprised you took the time. I thought you'd be busy?"
"Believe it or not, you are important to me."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Because you gave me a daughter. Because you were nice to me when I needed someone to be nice. Because Fel wants to be sure he has good relations with The Ulhness. And because you really are a sweet and wonderful woman.
"Besides which, there's a lot of things I need to do now, and I can do them on the way to visit you just as well as I can do them anywhere else."
"Oh? What kinds of things?"
"Helping out Vikoria's people if they need it, and helping out Gomerty's, as well, if their champion isn't around.
I want to try and help, if possible, all of the people of the gods and goddesses who helped Fel and me.
Not necessarily with the big stuff, really, but with the annoying, little stuff they probably don't have time for. "
"Why would you want to do that?"
"Because it only takes a week or three, and I'm done. Because they helped us, and I want it to be clear that I'm always going to remember it. I'm going to be here for a long, long time. I want to do things that will help me with that, and will help Fel, too."
"I've been here for a little more than two hundred years now, Will. I'm honestly looking forward to our daughter taking over one day so I can retire. This job gets old after a while."
I nodded and kissed her. "I'm sure it does."
"Ulhness told me why you were laughing so hard after Tabitha left."
"Ah."
"She also told me that you had been there."
I nodded.
"Twice."
"Did you laugh?" I asked with a chuckle.
"Not after she told me why. I have to admit, Will, I'm impressed."
I shrugged. "What was I supposed to do? It was my child. They needed to be born, and they needed to have their shot at life. I'm just a bit of a sucker for my children, I guess."
"That's why I'm impressed. You actually practiced what you preach. Not a lot of men—or women—do that, it seems."
I laughed. "Well, I figured after all the children I'd fathered, my wives would beat me to death if I didn't go through with it!"
"Sure you did. Now, how about you help me out of this dress, and we'll see about working up an appetite?"
"I think I like that idea!"
We were snuggling in bed some time later, sweaty, mussed, but definitely mellow. I was softly purring.
"There's something I wanted to ask you, Will."
"Hmmm?"
"Would you be okay with more children?"
I shifted into my base human form.
"Not right now!" Tia said, giggling. "I guess that's a yes?"
"Obviously. What brought this on?"
"Don't shift back," she said, giving me a kiss. "As for what? I've always wanted a family; why would I stop at one? I wasn't an only child, either. I know it's not mentioned much, if at all, but it's rare for one of us to only have one child."
I nodded.
"Now, shower and some food? I can hear your stomach quite clearly."
"Food would be nice," I agreed. "So, daughters or sons?"
"Both, hopefully."
Untangling ourselves, we went and cleaned up. I had to admit, I was looking forward to making more children with Tia. And since she'd asked me, I didn't even feel embarrassed about it!
§ §
I blinked and looked around. This definitely wasn't Fel's bar.
It was, in fact, a very nice living room with a comfortable feel.
Just then, I noticed a woman standing there, smiling at me.
To say she was beautiful completely missed the point of her.
She wasn't just beautiful, she was beyond that.
She had a poise, a charisma, a certain charm, and magnetism.
She was the embodiment of an ideal, a very attractive ideal.
"The Ulhness?" I asked, and then bowed, because even if she wasn't a goddess, this was a woman you showed manners to.
She laughed, a charming sound, and then said to me in a voice that was pleasing to hear, "Yes, William. I am The Ulhness. You may call me Ulhn."
"Thank you, Ma'am. Why am I here?"
"You're here because I wanted to talk with you, and Fel graciously allowed it. Now, sit, relax."
I nodded and sat. The chair was, of course, comfortable.
"I wanted to tell you a few things. Fel would do it if I didn't, but as this involves Tia and my people, I felt it would be better if I did.
"Now, yes, Tia wants more children. The next time you show up, I do hope you start in on making them. I also hope you visit often—well, as often as possible, but I would appreciate it if you could try to visit at least once a year."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Ulhn. Yes, Ulhn."
I blushed. "Yes, Ulhn. I do have to ask, though. Why me?"
She laughed, a truly wonderful sound.
"Because you're Fel's. Why else? Oh, there is also the simple truth that you are a very handsome specimen of a man, that you are a good father, that you terrify the very people who might think of harming or hurting your children, and that you will do what you have to to keep your children, and their mothers, safe and visit destruction on those who do harm, no matter who they are. "