Gnoll Girlfriend: Emmeline (complete)

    When I had taken the throne and become Empress of Culuweth, I thought I had taken the throne during the longest possible peace that the Gnolls had ever seen. For generations the Gnolls were seen as evil, vile, and contemptible creatures. Our previous runnings as slavers and murderers has followed us even until now, when we have done no such thing. My father outlawed the slave trade as soon as he was crowned emperor. He gave harsh punishment to those convicted of such crimes, hoping it would teach all Gnolls a hard lesson.

    After the war, my father worked tirelessly to build Culuweth back up. He made a strong and beautiful place and had created alliances with some of the most important and powerful people in all the empire. He was close to Demir, ruler of all the Unified Nations. He had even forged a powerful and strong friendship with King Habbar of the Golems. My father gave Habbar a mine on Culuweth to develop, and because of that we discovered that there was a rich deposit of coal in Culuweth. This helped further research for weapons and defense for all the Unified Nations as well as provide energy and heat to Culuweth and beyond. We rebuilt what Bethsabe had broken down.

    Even still, the old reputation of the Gnolls is being used against us. This new threat to the Unified Nations, Lord Sanguis and his acolytes, has risen up and has taken in the Gnolls who left when my father took the throne. The pirates and slavers, as well as those who disagreed with my father’s alliance with the Unified Nations, had all banded together and joined under Sanguis Rex’s banner. 

    All this time they had been hiding under our noses. They had been on Culuweth, they had never left. They had gone to the Berkset mountains where they hid and kept Sanguis Rex safe. It was in our ignorance that they were able to thrive and build the vile, reprehensible army they’ve become. 

Then came the Massacre at Bastat. It was nothing but a grotesque show of power and influence. Sanguis Rex attacked innocent people, destroying them and wiping them from the face of the earth, using Gnolls to do it. Once again, the face of the Gnolls was a snarling and sneering smirk. All anyone could see of Gnolls was a cruel joke. I didn’t mind if the world saw me in that light, but I would not have my people thrust into the dark again because of Sanguis and his dark machinations. 

“You have been up all night,” Ishmael comes to my side. I have been hunched over my desk all night going over books, maps, and making notes in my journals. “You have barely slept in weeks.”

“How can I sleep?” I close one journal so he cannot see the things I have written. My Ishmael is my rock and my home, I know that no matter where I am or what I am going through I can rely on him. But I do not want him to know the darkness which clouds my heart, not until I am ready to bare it. 

My Ishmael has suffered so much recently. His father passed away some time ago and his mother is doing as well as she can but she still grieves. And now, because of Sanguis Rex and his men, Ishmael's uncle and best friend, Lord Esdras, is comatose. Ishmael has taken in Charlee, who was once Sanguis Rex’s lover and the mother of his child. He has been tending to her and helping her, while also doing what he can for his uncle. I do not wish to burden him any more than I have to. Having me as a wife must be stressful enough.

“Come back to bed, love,” Ishmael kisses the back of my neck. “Enjoy the morning with me.” He wraps his strong arms around me and I turn to putty.

“Izzy,” I groan as his hands roam my body. “How dare you use your strengths against me!” I tilt my head back, meeting his kiss and further dissolving in his hands. 

He chuckles and bites my shoulder, making me whine with desire. Ever since we were young we have been each other’s companions. As teens we sealed our fates and made love with abandon. Even now that we’re married, that passion has never faded. If anything, I feel that marriage has only made my darling husband all the more libidinous. 

Ishmael leads me over to the bed where he makes me lay down. “I miss you,” he whispers. “I know you’re dealing with these new threats and I can see how worried you are.” He tugs loose the laces to my nightgown and lets it fall open. “But allow me to make you forget them for even an hour.”

I smirk down at him. “You have never lasted an hour.”

Ishmael nuzzles to my neck and bites me again. “Neither have you.” His paw rubs down my center and massages my mound. He smirks and dips down so his head is between my thighs. I can feel his breath and then his tongue.

I whimper as the heat grows. It has been a long time since we enjoyed each other. Since the attack on Bastat we have both been kept busy with our duties to the Unified Nations. Ishmael traveled and brought back Charlee and Esdras while my father and I dealt with matters of state as well as taking counsel with King Habbar. 

King Habbar had arrived recently to oversee the coal mines. He was gathering supplies to take back home and prepare his people. More than anyone, Habbar was willing to sacrifice all for this new peace. 

Ishmael’s ears twitch and he raises his head from my thighs. “Someone is coming.”

“What?” I growl in frustration and brace myself up on my elbows. Ishmael’s ears could pick up the faintest of sounds, always could. I glance to the door and hear a knock.

“Come back later?” I grunt. “I’m still sleeping!”

I go to lay back down but there is a knocking at the door again. I snarl in frustration, all I want is to enjoy my wifely duties before returning to the real world again.

“I’ll see what it is.” Ishmael stands up from the bed, his pants so obviously tented he grabs a robe to cover himself before answering the door. I hear him whispering to someone and he turns to look back at me. I leave the bed and adjust my dressing down before I slip into a robe as well.

“Just come in,” I sigh and sit down at the table. “The moment is ruined.”

Ishmael steps aside as Thanyx steps into the room. “I am greatly sorry to have bothered you so early, Your Highness,” he bows before me. “But it’s an emergency.”

My glare softens and I tilt my head. “What’s going on?” I rise up from the table. “It’s not another attack is it?”

“Gravelmeuse has fallen to Sanguis Rex,” Thanyx whispers. 

I take in a shaky breath. “That’s so close to Habbar’s kingdom,” I whisper. 

“Reports have come in that his army there is all Gnolls.” Thanyx’s expression is as stricken and pulled as I feel. “They’ve started forcing their way into Obresh.”

“Obresh?” I stare with alarm. “But…” I shake my head. “That’s protected by many troops! The Rakshasa, the Golems, even some Fae protects the ports-” I fall back into my seat as I cover my mouth.

“Habbar gave me the news,” Thanyx steps forward. “He wants to speak with you as soon as possible.”

I close my eyes and squeeze tight. “What does he want to do? I mean...he must be terrified right now having such enemies so close to his home.”

“Emmy,” Ishmael puts his hands on my shoulders and grips them tight. “I don’t think this is about his kingdom.” He takes my journal and hands it to me. “You know what you have to do.”

I take the journal in my hands and scoff. “You knew?”

“I’m worried just as you are.” He kisses me as I stand up. “Go talk to Habbar, I’ll always be here.”

I kiss him again and wrap my arms around him, holding on to something solid before the world turned to ash and smoke around me. I get dressed and go with Thanyx down the hall.

“Your wife is from Obresh, correct?” I ask him.

“Yes,” he says with a nod. “Her family operates a store there.”

“You’re more familiar with the area than I am. I am going to have to rely heavily on you if we’re going to do anything about this.” I shake my head as my brow knits together. “I’m sorry to take you away from your new family so soon.”

“I am doing this for my family,” Thanyx says with a level of pride that even I wish I had. “I am happy to do it.”

“How are the twins? Your wife?” I then feel awful I haven’t been able to see them much. Actually, the idea of being pregnant and having kids scares me, so I usually avoid newborns. 

“Thriving,” Thanyx chuckles. “The twins are chubby and gnawing on everything and my wife says she’s bored. She’s not happy unless she’s having to do three things at once.”

“You should have tried for triplets,” I tease.

We then enter the meeting hall where Habbar is standing next to the fire. He’s looking down at the dying flames before he turns to us. 

“Habbar.” I stride towards him. “What’s going on? What have you heard?”

Habbar sighs. “My son has sent me in reports of what is happening,” he shakes his head. “Sanguis Rex strong-armed his way into Gravelmeuse and he has also taken Sothen.”

“I had dreaded that,” I set my journal down. “Sothen was an easy target, now that Demir is gone. I knew it would fall but…” I strain to understand it. “But Gravelmeuse? Of all places? Aisling was so loyal to the Unified Nations. Why would she ever give in?”

Habbar looks at me, his eyes are always a touch serious, but now they look grave. “Sanguis Rex used his men to bully her. He took her child hostage and threatened to kill Jasper. He also threatened to Massacre Gravelmeuse the same way he did Bastat.”

I feel sick to my stomach so I have to sit down. “The Gnolls.”

“I am sorry,” Habbar sighs. “His army is great with them. His right-hand man is Edragon.”

I furrow my brow and look back up at him. “Edragon,” I grumble under my breath. “It’s because of him that I am certain Sanguis Rex is able to keep the gnoll troops that he has now.” I grimace and try to keep my anger at bay. “Wulsi is like a martyr to them. Who better to follow than his own flesh and blood?”

“That seems to be the case,” Habbar growls. “After renouncing their loyalties to Culuweth who else could they turn to? The other nations who were aligning with the new Culuweth? Or turn to the son of the man who tried to lead an uprising?”

“He knows what he’s doing,” Thanyx replies. “In my opinion, he’s using the Gnolls and their lingering reputation to create fear. And whatever his reason for attacking Bastat, it is also adding to the fear he has. If he can attack such a place as precious and sacred as Bastat, he will attack and destroy any kingdom.”

“We can’t allow him to do that!” I lurch to my feet. “We have to do something. We have to stop them. What if he tries to go for the Golems? The Goblins? He basically has them surrounded as it is. And if he takes Obresh-” I hesitate and look between the two men. 

“I want to save the reputation of my people,” I reply with as strong a voice as I can muster. “We must protect Obresh.”

“How do you plan on doing that?” Thanyx asks. “If we go into the port itself he’ll know.”

“We’ll go in along the Emeraud Coast,” I answer quickly. “We’ll go through the Lum Ulgan forest and try to take Obresh from the outside. If we protect the gates, we can keep Sanguis’ forces from pouring in and allow our allies protecting Obresh to deal with his men inside the city.”

Habbar growls low. “I am uncertain of these plans, lady Emmeline.”

I glance up to him in surprise. I thought more than anyone, Habbar would want to follow my lead. 

“I have seen him in action,” Habbar growls. “Twice I have seen his might and ferocity.” He shakes his head slowly then stares down at me. “Obresh is a place full of innocents from every nation. This includes royals, dignitaries, and people important to ensuring the Unified Nations stay strong. Not to mention all the military power there.” He looks unsure for a moment as we stare at one another. 

“I fear attacking Sanguis Rex’s men while they’re occupying Obresh, I fear the consequences if we should fail.”

I frown up at him. “We will not fail! Do not even consider such an idea.”

“I always consider it,” Habbar snarls as he lowers down to get in my face. “I saw Berkset. I saw Bastat!” He jabs his finger to my chest. “I saw those poor people ripped apart and I could do nothing to save them! I killed Gnolls, Emmeline. I killed your people.” He displays both his hands before me. “Their blood is on my hands. The people of Bastat’s blood is on my hands. I am not sure I can carry any more blood and remain a Golem.”

I put my hands into Habbar’s. “I need you. I need your strength,” I whisper. “If he can find a way to weaken the Rakshasa, he will find a way to weaken the Golems as well. You may not have the blood he needs to control you, but he will find a way to use you.”

“How can you be so sure he is not using you right now?” Thanyx says from behind.

I turn and glance at him and his stoic expression. 

“He knows how hard your father worked to change the face of Gnolls for the better. He knows how people’s minds work better than you’ll know yourself. I will follow every order you give me, Your Highness, but I agree with Habbar. It is too risky to attack right now.”

I open my journal and go over the plans I have written down. “Lum Uglan is rich with the Orcs who protect Obresh.” I keep my voice low and tense. 

“You cannot expect them to fight your battles with you,” Habbar scoffs.

“I don’t!” I snap. “But should push come to shove-” I stop myself. “I believe this will work. If we keep his forces from reinforcing their comrades, it will allow our allies within to clear the city. If we can just make the Gnolls under Sanguis see,” I whisper. 

“They have not been loyal to Culuweth,” Thanyx replies. “I met with Edragon and his men, they are all young men who have grown up not knowing Culuweth and the Gnolls of today. They will not listen.”

“But they are Gnolls! We share blood and lineage!” I pound my fist to my chest. “If we defend Obresh and take all Gnolls loyal to Sanguis alive, perhaps we can steal them from his grasp. We can change things.”

“You are noble, Lady Emmeline, but this is not a time to be considering appearance,” Habbar says. “I would have agreed with you before, but after what I saw in Bastat, I fear we must be cautious.”

“Cautious?” I roar. “I will not be hesitant when my friends, my people, are being threatened! We owe it to the people of Bastat, to the people of Gravelmeuse!” I step close to Habbar and raise my chin. “We must put our feet down now and plant them firmly.” I stomp my foot so hard on the ground my knee aches. “We will show Sanguis Rex that we are not afraid of him and we never will be! We will show him the true strength of the Gnolls, the honor of the Golems. We will firmly stand in his way and tell him as proudly as we can that we are not ones to be pushed over! We will do this, we protect the Golems, we protect the Goblins. If we are lucky we will even protect Charbagne and save Sothen! We will keep Obresh a free port for all Nations to traverse and use without fear.”

Habbar sighs and closes his eyes. “Your words are pure, Lady Emmeline.”

“Sanguis Rex is an infestation,” I continue. “He is a virus that will infect everything until it has become as rotted and vile as he is. I will not let that happen to these Nations. I have seen my father and far too many friends and family work to keep this peace alive. Demir died for it. I fear Dhaval will die too if we do not try to help him.”

“Would you rather die then?” Thanyx asks.

“I would,” I clench my jaw. “Culuweth has Ishmael should I fall.”

“Wait.” Thanyx stares in disbelief at me. “Are you going to lead the troops to Obresh yourself, Your Highness?”

“My father had me trained to fight when I was little. I can handle a sword better than anyone and I am fully trained with the firearms we make. I can use any of them without hesitation.” I glare up at Thanyx. “Culuweth and all Gnolls are my responsibility. My blood is their blood, and if I must spill it to save all Gnolls I will not stumble.”

Thanyx furrows his brow but he remains silent.

Habbar is silent for a moment but he comes forward and puts his hand on my shoulder. “I will gather my forces from the coal mine.” He then gives me a nod. “Once you are ready, we will leave for Obresh.”

I nod back to him. “Thank you my friend. I promise, I will not let you down.”

I worked with Thanyx on preparing our troops for the upcoming battle while Habbar went and prepared his Golems at the coal mines.

Before we were to leave, I decided to pay a visit to Charlee. If anyone knew the inner workings of Sanguis Rex it was her. Since she arrived with Esdras, she has barely left his side. The two had bonded, and from what I could understand they perhaps even loved each other. Although, unlike divulging information about Sanguis Rex and his men, she wasn’t letting anything between them slip.

“I’m not sure what else I can tell you that I have not said already,” Charlee shakes her head. 

“But I will do my best to answer your questions.”

“This is about his Gnolls,” I murmur. “Specifically Edragon.”

Charlee sighs. “I feel horrible for him.”

I furrow my brow. “Why would you feel bad for him?”

“He’s a victim too,” Charlee looks at me with bright eyes. “He was raised by Sanguis, he was molded. Imagine how you would have turned out had you been manipulated by your parents all your life.”

“That’s not-” I shake my head. “That’s not what I came here to find out.”

“I know.” Charlee turns back towards Esdras. “But if Edragon is there perhaps you could use it to your advantage. He would certainly send him there if he was planning on creating plants in Obresh. Since Reginald has been given Sothen and Veleryn, Edragon would have to be the one leading those missions.”

I sit back and think for a moment. “So Edragon would be in Obresh?”

“Most likely.” Charlee nods then looks at me. “Just be careful Emmeline. We can’t afford to lose you.”

I smile softly at her. “I promise. This mission is worthwhile for us.”

Her smile fades and she looks back to Esdras. “I hope so. Because with Sanguis, you never know what he could be planning. What you think he could be thinking is far from what he actually has in mind. When you zig, he zags. When you build a fire, he summons a storm. Don’t think about what you would do, think what you would never do.”

The journey to the Emeraud Coast is much quicker than traveling to Obresh since it is a straight line from our port to there. But we now have to traverse through Emeraud and then through the Lum Uglan forest.

“Your Highness,” Thanyx scolds me, “I think it would be much better for you to stay in the middle of the procession, or even at the end for your own safety.”

I scowl back at him. Ever since he returned to Culuweth I have been trying my best to have him address me in a personal way. But his years of training make it nearly impossible for him to simply call me by name. “I am taking the front because that is what good leaders do. I take the front so as to lead and protect. I can do no such thing from the middle or god forbid the back.”

“But Your Highness-” Thanyx tries to continue.

“The back is for the healers and supplies so they can be protected. The middle is for the injured and sick so they can make the pace. The front is for the soldiers who can fight. You, Habbar, and I take the lead to protect everyone.” I had been taught this by Lord Demir. When I was little he used to tell me these sorts of things with his son Orrick. Demir wasn’t a perfect man, but he was a man with good intentions and I am bitter at his passing.

“We do not know who else has joined Sanguis’ ranks,” Thanyx says to me. “We are only prepared for the things we know.”

“Isn’t that just like everybody?” I turn back to him. “Calm down Thanyx, the way you act you see death at every corner.”

“We are dealing with Sanguis Rex,” Habbar snarls under his breath. “Of course death is around every corner. You are a fool if you think anything differently, lady Emmeline.”

“Yes I remember. Blood corpses walking as if alive.” I grumble under my breath. Habbar’s account of the attack in Berkset had given me nightmares long after it was spoken. I saw the Bloodborne rising from the ash, some baring faces of people I knew, or even of people I had passed by. They screamed and begged me for things I could not give. Above them Sanguis held onto them with strings like puppets. It was at the end of my dreams I realized too late I had these same strings attached to my body as well. I would wake up struggling and tangled in blankets with Ishmael fighting to wake me.

“Your Highness.” Thanyx pulls his horse before mine and guards me.

I look ahead in the road where I see three Minotaurs standing. They’re all large, almost the size of Habbar and his Golems.

“What of it?” I scoff. “Just Minotaurs, they’ll let us pass through.”

“Take it all in, Your Highness,” Thanyx whisper urgently. “Look at them. They’re obviously placed there for a reason. They’re guarding.”

“Guarding?” I chuckle. “What are they guarding?”

I hear screaming and panic from behind us. I try to turn to look but the Minotaurs ahead of us come charging our way. Habbar jumps out front, blocking them but they break through and I’m thrown from my horse. I fall to the ground, scrambling and tripping as the horses come falling down on top of me. Thanyx scoops me out of harm's way and drags me aside as more Minotaurs come charging through. They strike down our troops like a broom through dust bunnies.

“Where are they coming from?” I scream. We were prepared for Gnolls and their swords, not Minotaurs and their wild attacks.

Habbar’s Golems are holding their ground, able to keep one or two Minotaurs held back at a time. But the Minotaurs are strong and their horns could pierce through the Golem’s rock armor, slicing through the barrier that keeps their fire and lava inside.

Blood and lava pour to the ground. Trees are starting to catch on fire from the Golems’ injuries and smoke starts blinding my field of vision. Thanyx keeps me close to him despite my fighting him. I know I stand no chance against the Minotaurs, our troops can’t take them and the Golem are barely holding them back. For the moment all I can do is watch this attack.

I then hear screaming and ululating coming from the trees. Drow warriors appear, swinging down from the trees and attacking those not being tossed by the Minotaurs. Two land near Thanyx and me as I pull my sword from its scabbard.

The Drow woman in front of me laughs. “What a pretty little sword for a pretty little girl.” Her voice is dark velvet and taunting. She is easily well over six feet tall and her arms are thicker than my thighs. She hunches down before me and takes out a dagger from her boot. “Let me play fair.”

I come forward swinging, she blocks my sword with her dagger and strikes me with her bare fist, knocking me down onto the ground. 

“I enjoy fighting pretty girls,” the drow continues to taunt. “They often fight dirty. You going to fight me dirty?”

I pick myself up off the ground, but my ear is ringing from where she hit me. I brandish my sword again and charge. She slings a whip from her back and the tendrils wrap around my blade. She yanks, pulling my sword from my hands.

“No!” I yell.

I try to run but she grabs me. She rips away my helmet and presses her forearm against my throat. She keeps me held while the other Drow warrior holds Thanyx restrained. They turn us to face Habbar who is being approached by Reginald.

Last I remember, Reginald was missing an arm, but now he has two. Well, one is not flesh. It looks like rough ruby with veins running through it. He has a dangerous look in his eyes as well. They’re starting to glow yellow and the irises have become slits.

“Long time, King Habbar,” Reginald laughs. “Are you still enjoying my baby sister?”

Habbar snarls and stiffens his stance. “Very much so. She is a good soul. Unlike you.”

Reginald spits on the ground. “The day you married my sister is the day I decided I would be the one to kill you.”

“You think killing me will change your sister’s heart?” Habbar cracks his neck and his lava starts to burn white. “It will only make her heart much colder to you.”

“I don’t care for that anymore. Family means nothing in the long run. They don’t protect you. They don’t look out for you. They just abandon you when they think you’re weak. Well now,” he laughs. “I’m leaving my sister to rot the way she did me.” Reginald raises his new arm and the veins inside begin to glow. “I just want you dead.”

Habbar charges forward and I think for sure Reginald is going to get trampled. Instead Habbar goes flying through the air, crashing through trees and landing on Minotaurs and his troops alike.

“No!” I scream and the drow woman chokes me more. I gag and cough as Reginald walks over to me.

“If it isn’t the little Empress Emmeline!” He announces loudly. “What the fuck are you doing here?” He grins in my face as I struggle for breath. “You’re a long way from home, little lady,” he chuckles. “Very, very far.” He glances to the drow. “Give her some air. We’re trying to torture here, not kill.”

I gasp for breath as the drow’s grip is released and I choke for a moment before catching a good breath. “What are you doing here?” I spit at him.

Reginald grins at me. “Just doing my job. And you still haven’t answered my question.” He grabs me from the drow and holds me up by my throat. “You’re dressed in armor. Are you playing pretend?” He shakes me and I claw at his ruby arm. My nails break and chip away against the hard stone.

“Trying to stop….you!” I snarl.

“Your Highness!” Thanyx screams but the drow restraining him chokes him harder.

Reginald laughs. “For someone trying to stop me you aren’t very well prepared. Were you expecting the same old little Gnolls as before?” He grins wickedly in my face. “Didn’t you know we have allies now? The Minotaurs of Nordholm, the Drow from the Ebonglen.” His fist tightens around my throat and I continue to claw at his wrist.

“Just to name a couple.” Reginald then tosses me down onto the ground and the Drow woman picks me up by the nape of my neck.

Reginald turns to face Habbar as he comes barreling back towards him. This time both men go crashing through the trees. Habbar rolls with Reginald, having grabbed hold of him. Reginald bashes his ruby arm down on Habbar’s head and I see cracks forming. 

“I can fight you now!” Reginald screams at Habbar. He brings his fist down again and again. More cracks are forming and they’re glowing with a radiant heat. “I can wring the life from you!” He crashes his fist down again and Habbar grabs it, trying to force it backward.

I notice the dagger in the Drow woman’s boot. I take it and stab her in the leg. She screams and I manage to run away. I grab the sword of a nearby fallen soldier and I go charging at Reginald. I scream and drive the sword into his shoulder with the ruby arm.

Reginald swings back at me, hitting me in the face and knocking me backward. The pain is excruciating. I feel a tooth rattle loose around in my mouth. I hit the ground and for a moment I cannot breathe. I struggle, clawing at the ground as I try to find a gulp of air. 

I am relieved though to see Habbar rise. He lifts his fists into the air and he swings, bashing Reginald down and tossing him into the woods. The moment is instantly taken away as the Drow swarm Habbar in that moment, knocking him the ground and keeping him pinned. 

“I told you, pretty girls fight dirty.” I look up as the Drow warrior’s foot crashes down on my head and I am knocked unconscious.

I wake up in a bed, comfortable and my head and neck bandaged. My throat feels raw and my head feels like it is caving in. My armor has been removed and there is a chain attaching my leg to the bedpost. 

As I rise I smell something sweet nearby. My vision isn’t great, thanks to the pain and the many hits I took to my head. I growl as even a sliver of light hits my eyes. Across the room I see a small table with a candle on it. 

Beyond the candlelight I see a figure sitting in the darkness.

“Feeling any better, Your Highness?” They are calling me that, but that is not Thanyx’s voice. 

“Who is there?” My voice is hoarse and cracks.

There is the sound of tea being poured. “Just someone who wishes to talk.”

I place both hands on either side of my head. “What makes you think I can talk.”

“No, no no,” he scolds. “I am the one who will be talking. You, Your Highness, will sit and listen to me.”

Every time I blink there is a rushing thudding sound in my ears. “You’re Sanguis Rex, aren’t you?”

“Edragon was right, you are a very smart girl. Although-” he hisses and clicks his tongue. “Not smart enough to see what hit you! It was certainly brave of you to think you could save Obresh, very admirable really. I respect a woman who likes to get her hands dirty.”

“How did you know?” I growl.

Sanguis Rex chuckles and he sips from a cup. “I have my own people in Culuweth. You’re such a trusting girl, just like your father. He put all his faith in others rather than himself.”

“You have moles in Culuweth?” I try to stand but I sway and wobble as I walk towards the table. “Who? What have you done in Culuweth?”

“You said so yourself it was your own ignorance that allowed Berkset to become what it was.” Sanguis sets down the teacup in his hand. “You’re an extremely smart girl. But like your father you’re stupid where it counts.”

“Who?” I snarl through gnashed teeth.

Sanguis smirks from the other side of the table. “My, my, you are a pretty one. No wonder Ishmael likes you the way he does.” He shakes his head. “Your nanny adores you too. I’m surprised you’ve kept her on for so long. I thought for sure I’d have to replace her once you started your moon blood. But you so loved her didn’t you?”

“My nanny?” I sit down in a chair at the table, feeling weak and nauseous and cold.

“Wonderful isn’t she?” Sanguis picks up the kettle and pours another cup. “It’s lemon ginseng. It’ll do wonders for your throat. Add some honey,” he says as he pushes the cup to me.

I slap the cup straight into the wall.

“Understandable,” Sanguis sighs.

The pain in my head is now behind my eyes. It’s like stabbing needles over and over there. I try to keep myself up but the nausea sweeps over me and I vomit onto the ground.

“I told Reginald to be gentle with you,” he sighs. “But then again, you did stab him. So if anything, this is your doing.”

I gasp and choke. The vomit makes my already frayed and bruised throat feel so much worse. It feels burned and scorched. I notice I vomited on the chain holding me.

“What are you going to do to me?” I rasp.

Sanguis sighs and leans back in his seat. “A few of you royals won’t listen to reason,” he replies. “So I’ve decided to hold a little meeting with all of you. I was lucky that you and Habbar were in the same place. I was a little worried about fetching him, if I was honest.”

“What about Thanyx?” I grunt.

“I sent him home, of course. I had to have someone deliver my message.” He smirks at me. “He’s alive, don’t worry.” He sighs and sips his tea. “Well, once word got out about Obresh, they would have known anyways.”

“You took it,” I growl.

“Easiest thing in the world!” Sanguis laughs. “No one saw it coming thanks to you. They all came rushing to your aid only to be choked out.”

I then hear a baby fussing and crying. Sanguis stands up and goes over to a crib in the shadows. He lifts up a wrapped bundle and coos to it. “Now, now my love, those big tears are lovely but you don’t need to shed them.” He holds the baby dearly and bounces her in his arms. He coos gently and sings to her, almost making himself seem normal.

“Is that-” I whisper. “Is that Therea?”

“Oh that’s right,” Sanguis chuckles. “You got to spend some time with her and Charlee didn’t you?” He walks over to me, laying Therea in the crook of his arm. She has gotten bigger and chubbier. Her arms are fat and covered with rolls, he black scales have gotten bigger as well and cover more of her. She looks beautiful and happy, to my utter shock.

Therea grins and reaches out towards me giggling.

“She remembers you!” Sanguis passes her to my arms. “I trust you won’t harm a hair on her head.” He goes back to the crib and picks up another baby, little Amon whom he stole from Maeve and Chi in Bastat. “It is so hard having two of them at once.” He comes back to the table and sits down.

“Well, hopefully you’ll only have one.” He kisses the top of Amon’s fluffy head and smiles brightly at him.

“Have one?” I scowl.

“Yes,” he tilts his head. “That’s why the Drow didn’t hit you in the belly after all.” He clicks his tongue and rolls his eyes. “They do so love stabbing someone in the gut. It’s become a hassle for me really. They just stab away at the gut and leave the person there to die slowly. I prefer a quick death myself.”

I am without words in that moment. As Sanguis Rex drabbles on about guts and stab wounds my mouth hangs open gaping wide. 

“I’m not pregnant,” I laugh.

“Yes you are,” Sanguis smirks. “The Drow said so. They can tell these things like that.” He snaps his fingers then gasps as Amon starts to laugh. “You like that? You like it when Daddy snaps?”

“No!” I laugh louder. “There’s no way. It’s not possible!”

“Pregnant with the new heir.” Sanguis bounces Amon. “So you best get used to it.” He motions to Therea. “Support her head you moron!”

I lift Therea up and let her snuggle to my chest. I feel as if the air has been knocked from my lungs again, but it is so much worse. The nausea is sweeping over me again and hot, painful tears sting my eyes. I cry on Therea and her blanket, weeping horribly. 

“Now, now,” Sanguis comes over and take the baby from me. “Is it really all that bad?”

I lay my hands over my stomach.

“You have something that really matters now.” Sanguis pets the top of my head. “You have your family to think of.”

“You did this!” I roar at him.

The babies start crying and screaming and Sanguis steps away from me. “Keep your voice down if you know what is good for you!” He snarls at me. He bounces the bundles in his arms. “Make them scream again and you won’t have a husband to go home to.”

“No! Please!” I cup my hands over my mouth.

“That’s a good lass now.” He hands back one of the babies to me. I look down at Amon and the fluffy fur on the top of his head.

“You have so much to think about now, don’t you?” Sanguis’ voice is low and gentle. “Your child should mean more to you than anything. But then again, for so long you’ve seen the Gnolls that way. I know why you wanted to save Obresh. You wanted to show the world that the Gnolls aren’t horrible bloodthirsty killers. I knew that.” He tilts his head to the side.

“I knew what I was doing all this time. I just wish you did.” He goes back to sit down. “That is why I like Dhaval so much. He’s like me. He’s prepared, he knows his moves and when to play them.” Sanguis sighs and kisses Therea lovingly all over her face. “Same for that Ice Queen. But she’s more stubborn than smart.”

“You’re taking me to the Polar aren’t you?” I whisper.

“I think you’ll like it there.” Sanguis pours another cup of tea and pushes it towards me. “After all, your friends with Mila aren’t you?”

“I think she’s mean.” I look at the teacup on the table.

“Well, when we all have our talk I beg of all of you to play nice.” He takes a spoon from the honey and pours it into my tea. “Your nanny told me you used to eat honey more than anything.”

I blink tears from my eyes and they splash down onto Amon. 

“It’s good for the baby, the tea and the honey.” Sanguis says. “I don’t hurt children, so you have nothing to worry about.”

I take the teacup and sip.