Fortress of Midnight

Jacob watched as the portal closed behind the High Chief of Clan Darguun. The talk had been long and hard about what assurances they could give each other so that neither party would betray the other. When Jacob had finally gotten where Alog wanted the discussion to be, Jacob had insisted that both Sosa and Cathrine be present. Transparency for both parties was what Jacob required and he would not blindside Sosa with what her uncle had proposed. Cathrine had been more active in the negotiations then Jacob, he had been to busy studying both Sosa and her uncle Alog.

In the end, he ended up engaged to Sosa with the marriage to be in 1 week. Originally it was going to be in three weeks time, but Jacob planned to be at the Fortress of Baereghel during that time. So Jacob gave them a timeline when he was available and they decided sooner rather than later. Jacob would have to inform Talia of the engagement and he had no idea how she would react to that fact. "What do you think Cathrine?" Jacob asked his wife.

"It will solidify our alliance with them and having the High Chiefs niece as your wife will decrease the chance they will betray us. She finds you attractive and enjoys your company." Cathrine said as she stared at where the portal had been.

"What about you, do you like her?" Jacob asked

Cathrine smiled at him, "Physically she is attractive, mentally she will learn to relax around us hopefully. I would suggest you tell her about you being a Vampire sooner rather than later." Jacob nodded in accent while bringing out his communication stone to contact Sosa and arrange a meeting. Stunned silence from both Dolbrug and Sosa was their reaction. Cathrine kept a very careful eye on both, ready to react if either turned violent. Jacob didn't think it would be, but you never knew until after the fact. "I am still me Sosa, nothing has changed. You now just know a little bit more about me." Jacob told her trying to gauge her reaction.

"Yes, sorry but stories of your people are not shown in the best light," Sosa said wearily.

"The people who win wars always get to write the history books, that does not mean it is true though. Do I drink blood, yes but I don't go out there and eat random people." Jacob responded causing Cathrine to roll her eyes.

Dolbrug nodded his head in agreement, "So why tell us now?" Sosa asked while looking at her brother.

"I told you because I do not want you going into this marriage blind to what I am or what threats I face," Jacob said as he studied the siblings. "Does this change anything for you?"

Sosa shook herself out of her funk, "No, of course not. So this is what you have been hiding from me?" Jacob just nodded at her question while Dolbrug studied him in a new light. "You and your people here are not alone though are you?" Sosa said as she studied him.

"No, I am not and my Queen wishes to see you as soon as possible," Jacob responded as he thought of the conversation he had with Talia after the High Chief had left.

The siblings looked at each other, "Will you ensure my sister's safety to and from wherever you will go?" Dolbrug asked causing Jacob to glare at him and Sosa smacked his arm.

"Yes, I swear I will make sure she gets back to you, hale and whole," Jacob said. Dolbrug nodded causing Sosa to roll her eyes and smack him again before standing and looking at him expectantly. "Now? Ok, give me 10 minutes." Jacob said as he stood to leave.

Tomb of Eternal Night

Palace of Night-Throne Room

Queen Talia studied Sosa like she was a bug was the best way to describe it but growing up in a hostile environment prepared Sosa for situations like this. "What makes you think you are worthy of one of my nobles Sosa Darkfang?"

"I can call upon 2500 warriors and mages, I command my own Hold, and I am Heir to Clan Darguun. Once we marry, my forces will fight side-by-side with Jacob Longstrider. We will be family and Clan Darguun never forgets family." Sosa responded.

"Even though your position is precarious, you are considered an outsider somewhat aren't you, among even your own clan. Are you sure you are not just using him to secure your own position among your people?" Talia responded causing Jacob to slightly flinch at the accusation.

"This was High Chief Alog Tor'akon idea, not my idea Queen Talia," Sosa responded as she fidgeted. "He proposed the marriage to cement the alliance between our two people."

"So you do not want to marry him?" Talia responded with a sneer and causing Sosa to blush.

"I never said that Queen Talia, I just said it was not my idea." Sosa glanced at him before continuing, "Jacob is a good man overall I think. I believe I have earned his respect despite our less the smooth introduction. I also think we are starting to trust each other. I would be honored to call him husband."

Talia looked at both Sosa and Jacob before continuing, "You know Jacob is already married and among our people, nobles can marry up to 3 times and that he must have a Full-Blood heir so he can also have 3 consorts. It is both an expectation and demand that he has yet to fulfill."

"I have my eye on 3 possible Consorts for my husband, but that is between us, Queen Talia. As long as he produces a Full-Blood heir eventually, it is between us." Cathrine responded before Jacob could. Talia raised her eyebrow at the Banshee, before smiling and nodding at her statement.

"Agreed Lady Longstrider, his Consorts are more your purview," Talia responded.

"Don't I get a say in anything?" Jacob asked causing all three women to laugh.

Talia smiled at him like he was a child that had said something very entertaining, "No dear boy, you do not. You stand there and look pretty while we talk." Jacob tried to sputter out a response over the women's laughter. Jacob could swear the Heart Guards nearby also laughed at his expense, "This union has my blessing, but you should know that Vampires have a low chance at reproducing. I know your clan will expect offspring but I can give you no assurances about having children." Talia told her as she started coughing. Jacob studied the Queen, she was paler than usual and she had dark bags under her eyes.

"Queen Talia, are you ok? You seem...less than you usually are." Jacob said and more than one of the Heart Guard nodded at his assessment causing the Queen to glare at her silent guardians.

"I am fine Lord Longstrider, just stress caused by a certain noble of my court. Now I assume since your uncle made the proposal he wants the marriage ceremony within the confines of his lands?" Talia asked. Jacob quickly zoned out as the women discussed things he had no interest in or did not care what his opinion was. 30 minutes later they were finally done discussing the finer points of the marriage and wedding before they finally managed to get out of there. "So now you have met my Queen and have seen the ancestral home of my people, are you sure nothing has scared you off?" Jacob asked Sosa as they walked away from the palace.

"I have faced worse from my own people Jacob and no neither your Queen nor the state of this city has scared me away from you." Sosa blushed a little at her own statement. Jacob smiled before pulling her in for a kiss. At first, she tried to push away but then decided to go with it. She returned Jacob's kiss with equal ferfure causing more than one wolf whistle to be thrown their way before she slowly pulled away. "What was that for?"

"Just making sure you will get used to that and I wanted to do that after the Battle of the Narrows but I didn't want to pressure you into then," Jacob said as he glanced at his companions.

"You should have invited her to your bed after the battle, I am sure she would have accepted the invitation," Chalxae commented while June nodded her head with enthusiasm.

"I didn't want to pressure her, remember?" Jacob reminded the Drow-Vampire, causing both her, June, and Cathrine to roll their eyes.

"She comes from a male dominate society, sometimes you got to push a bit. Like you kissing her right now." June told him while Sosa blushed more before nodding.

"Live and learn ladies, so are you ready to go home or dinner?" Jacob asked her.

Sosa smiled at the invitation before shaking her head, "My brother will worry if I am gone too long, but thank you for the invitation." Sosa bit her lip before pulling Jacob in for another kiss that lasted until they both broke away gasping for breath. "One week and then I expect a kiss like that every time I see you Jacob Longstrider," Sosa told him before opening a portal and leaving.

"Ohh, I think you woke up a monster there Jacob," Cathrine said as she smiled after the departed chieftain. Jacob looked at her confused by what she said, "She can't wait to be married now just to get more than a kiss from you." Cathrine's statement made him blush as he opened a portal home. He slapped Catherine's ass as she darted through the portal, her mocking laughter disappearing as she disappeared through the portal.

Fortress of New Dawn

Jax looked at the repaired house, having to repair all the new housing had been a pain in the ass but an essential job that needed to be done. After the Cult of the True's attack, most of the buildings had superficial damage from Fire Balls or Ice Spears. Repairing them all had taken a couple days but it looked to be finally done. Suddenly the alarm bells rang out on the wall causing Jax to curse as he sprinted toward the wall. Non-combatants moved toward the Primitive-Keep while the Legion warriors moved toward the wall.

"Report?" Jax called out as he mounted the steps.

The new Bone Lord never took his eyes off whatever he looked at but the Wood Elf Lieutenant reported quickly, "Gnomes from what I can tell. Large party, but they looked like they took a hammering to get here. The boneheads sent out a volley warning them not to come in closer and they are keeping their distance." Jax looked at the distant party, they had well over 20 from what he could see, but at the current distance, he could not tell exact numbers.

Jax looked back at his War Party, "Ok I am going out there to figure out what they want. Cover us and if they do anything hostile, slaughter the lot of them." The Elf did a half bow and the Bone Lord growled in acknowledgment. Time to figure out what new problem this adventure had gotten him into.