Mature: Desert Moon

[Emora Deen]

"You are doing very well!" Atul called, trying to bury his nausea. Drinking all night, no sleep, and then spinning around in the hot sun... Not cool.

"Vlad taught me a few things. The rest of it just seems to come back, like my body remembers. Instinct?"

"Could be," the King agreed, nodded. He lunged at her, and she dodged him. It wasn't as quick as the old Tenele, but it was very good.

They practiced for an hour before the two of them needed to sit down and rest. Atul led her to a quiet side of the garden near a fountain built into the wall. He sat with his back to it, legs outstretched. "Oh, Gods," he huffed.

"Long night?" Tenele asked. "Fighting cocky demons?"

Atul chuckled. "Yes," he replied. "Just the one. It was stupid. Very stupid idea. I'm not entirely sure why I went there. I just..." Atul turned his head to the sky. "When I left you both, when I accepted that I couldn't be happy and be king, I was eaten alive by grief and depression and I was sick. I don't think I'm totally healed. If that isn't the case than I have always been one man, when I thought I was another. I don't know if either of those excuses are good thing."

"What made you go away for the night?" Tenele asked him, running her fingers through the grass at her legs.

Atul winced. "I... Its complicated. Silly. I was being stupid."

"Well, don't go off again," Tenele sighed. "It would make Vlad upset if you came home with a face like that often. He likes your face."

Atul chuckled. "He does..."

"I like your face," Tenele sighed, tossing grass into his lap. "So, don't let someone hit it."

[Soran Nightblade]

An hour later, Vlad was flipping listlessly through the pages of a rare wildlife book. He'd long since read the relevant content on Hesics. Now he was straying into other areas.

He paused as he reached a certain entry. It was for a stone golem. Known for a poisonous bite, but also the ability to nullify other magics. Any magics.

Vlad lurched up from his chair and went to the chief bookkeeper. "Have you heard of these? Are they real? Are they common?" he demanded.

"It's not known for certain. Most would never know they'd encountered one, even if they were real," the man muttered, squinting through his eyeglasses. "Though it is rumored that Queen Shehara keeps one captive in her palace. Most of us believe that's just a legend invented to make her family seem invulnerable to magical attack. They have reason to be defensive, as they've declined quite a bit since Verin's destruction."

"I want to talk to her," Vlad said.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele stopped short, just before they reached the door, when she spotted the man from the other day. The one that claimed she had an affair with him. Tenele looped her arm around Atul's. "Can we take another way?" she asked him softly. "That man scares me."

Atul glanced up to the gentleman leaning near the door. The guy didn't seem to make any attempt to avoid looking at them. "Has he hurt you?"

"No," Tenele replied. "He tried to convince me that I'd had an affair with him. That I was jealous of you and Vlad. I believed him because he knew so much about me. Vlad assured me he was just trying to manipulate me."

"Whatever for?" Atul asked, steering Tenele in another direction.

"I don't know," she replied. "I don't want to know. I am just avoiding him. This is actually the first time I've seen him again. Do you know him?"

"No," Atul replied. "But, I will by the end of the day. Next time something like this happens, come to me. I will make sure no one hurts or manipulates you."

Tenele nodded. "I will do that."

* * *

"I heard you called for me," the Queen of Monorrow sighed heavily. She was dressed in very expensive silks that were embroidered and jewelled with careful detail. The woman wasn't pretty, but she carried an feeling of power about her. "Please make it quick. I haven't got all day. Busy you see. It seems the King has found his bride and I really mustn't waste anymore time in this hot place."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad studied the woman carefully, sizing up her words. He wasn't a fan of politics, but he could be diplomatic when necessary. "You are departing, then? I regret not getting to know you sooner. I have heard many impressive things about you and your kingdom. Also, an interesting rumor," he observed. "Is it true your palace is protected by a being known as a stone golem?"

[Emora Deen]

Shehara smiled pleasantly at his compliment and moved in a little closer. "We do," she sighed. "He protects my families home and Kingdom and has for hundreds of years now. What makes you so curious about him?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"I'd have a great interest in meeting such a creature," Vlad said with a disarming smile. "We have no such things where I am from. And if I am honest...I suspect it may serve to help my wife remember me. She has been cursed by another creature that's unfamiliar to me...a Hesic." He suspected she knew about Tenele already, as many others did, but he told her the story as though she were a confidant.

"Is there any way I could impose upon you to meet this creature?"

[Emora Deen]

The Queen sighed. "We do not often let strangers into our homes to see him, as it could compromise our safety." She admired Vlad for a moment, smiling. "However, if you were to come alone, I could arrange it for you, I'm sure. Would that be a problem? Leaving your wife?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad shook his head. "It is your home, after all. If I am able to cure her, it is worth leaving her a short time." He looked around at her packed bags. "I caught you leaving, didn't I?"

[Emora Deen]

Shehara sighed. "I am afraid you did," she muttered. "But, I could be inclined to stay one more day if you need to prepare for departure. Just one, however. I have wasted far too much time here as it is. Its a long journey home and I am eager to get on the way."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad tilted his head. "Where is your kingdom?"

[Emora Deen]

"North west, the Monorrow Valley. It is considered the oldest Kingdom in all of Heirot. Rumored to have been the home of Verin himself. Of course, there are many legends of how those Gods came to be, as you well know. Your wife is among those evolving legends from what I hear. The Goddess Attara? Tell me, how does a demon make love to a holy woman? Doesn't it burn just a little? I'm sorry... that's personal. Forgive that I asked." The woman smiled, her dark violet eyes twinkled. She shifted her ebony hair over her shoulder.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad cracked up at that suggestion. "My cock doesn't catch fire, if that's what you mean," he smirked. "Though a little burn can be quite pleasant, coming from her."

[Emora Deen]

Shehara smiled. "Do you enjoy a little pain with your pleasure, Lord Dracul? I'm sorry, I am being forward again. I am used to speaking freely in my kingdom to whomever I please. It is very hard to control my tongue."

[Soran Nightblade]

"Then we will get along fine," Vlad sighed with relief. "I will meet you tomorrow...when?"

[Emora Deen]

"I'd prefer to leave at dawn," Shehara replied, motioning for her man to return the bags to her room. "I expect you waiting at the gates. Tell your lovely wife I said hello." The Queen tipped her head politely to him and grabbed her servant by the collar, dragging him out.

* * *

Tenara giggled, rolling with her parents on the floor. "No! Your not rollie-pollies anymore! You are leglesses!"

"Leglesses?"Tenele asked, kneeling. "What's a Legless?"

"Its a thing that does this," Tenara replied. She got down on the floor and pretended to be a snake.

"A snake," Tenele laughed. "Oh, can we be something with legs?"

"Okay," Tenara sighed. "Toads!"

"Toads," Atul laughed. "Oh dear. Okay... toads..." And then Tenele and Atul began to hop around Tenara's bedroom, laughing hysterically at eachother.