Sachihiro

I'm mostly playing the dumb barbarian these Southerners expect us to be and I can see that the Magister sitting next to me is frustrated that her subtlety is flying over my head. The woman goes from hinting for me to take her to bed to hinting that there is a lot she could offer me. It's exhausting to sit through it and give confused and confusing responses but at least it keeps her talking, and I'm learning a lot from her 'subtle' hints and innuendo.

I look across the huge table at the man sitting next to Kuyoki still in full heavy armour with a cape and everything and his helm on his lap. He is one of two Awakened Warriors or Lords that are the personal guards of the Princess, Aphrodite. I've rarely seen such openly displayed hatred from any of he Sandie's and I find it refreshing even as I'm distracted by her pretty face.

I think I may have a problem, but at least my admiration of women doesn't prevent me from seeing how dangerous they are; and this Aphrodite is almost as deadly as her two guards. The other guard stands several meters behind her with the helm and face plate on still, those things don't look comfortable.

It is these people's customs to disarm in the presence of Royalty especially when they stand or sit or whatever with 'the authority of the Crown' as this one said she was when she introduced herself. So our openly displayed weapons seem to be making both her guards and the other woman's guards nervous.

The other woman is also very dangerous and ma agrees I realise as she speaks to the woman amicably and with great respect. The woman, Cynthia of House Alvalon is also very pleasing to look at and has an aura of sensuality that is very... arousing I think is the right word but I observe her passively as she is clearly an Awakened of some sort, not a mage though nor primarily a warrior.

I observe everyone and everything within my range even as my eyes are almost always firmly on the woman next to me, the attention further encouraging her to reveal more of her desire to align us with her way of thinking. If I'm hearing her rambling correctly there is a faction within the Sandie Kingdom that feels the place should become some sort of mageocracy. They are interested in the products coming in from Paradisum to their markets and want to tie themselves in friendship with the fae.

At least that's the gist of it as far as I can tell. The two fae in our traveling party, a youngish male named Leaf and a one armed female named Earthy are both being talked to death by one of the Master Mages respectfully. I'm sort of glad my position in the hierarchy is ambiguous enough to these people for me to only warrent a Magister and not a Master. I doubt a Master Magicain would give so much away without any concessions or promises in return.

Wagner is seated besides the woman Aphrodite as she scowls at every second thing he says, I bet she smells good. A fight breaks out outside the range of my awareness and I turn my head to watch with my eyes as the spy named Shadow fights with one of the soft soldiers they call nobles, I grin at the distraction.

There are many Southerners and even dwarves and Highlanders that come to Paradisum and start adopting to our behaviour. Growing up in the Tundra I have never known any different but since becoming a travelled man I have picked up that most cultures and ways seem appealing to an outsider looking in. The way of the sword looked like a very peaceful and pure pursuit to me at some point as I watched the Hito live their fulfilled lives.

This Shadow character is having a similar experience looking at the people of Paradisum. There is a freedom to being a Barbarian that I never even realised other people didn't have. A loosening of social and mental coils that can be found in most people that grow up with the threat of slavery, imprisonment, or poverty hanging over their heads.

There is no such thing as poverty in the tundra. Even now we may build bigger houses and have more valuable weapons but no barbarian would mind sleeping in a hut if needs must. Even the homes of our Village Chiefs used to be small huts the same as everyone else's for the most case. Everyone that holds people's esteem in our culture you already know they have earned it, there are no true social classes. We don't have the debilitating fear of killing these people seem to have either.

Shadow has become captivated by our ways because he has always been rigidly controlled in a class based system, and now he is rebelling. It takes two people to pull him off whoever that was, both tribesmen laughing with amusement at the man's eager spirit. I haven't personality met the man yet but ma says he is an agent of the Ministry of Information of Sandoria, I could probably learn a few tricks from him.

"That's just barbaric behaviour." Someone at the table says, probably on reflex and there is a moment of silent as everyone stops eating.

I observe the woman who spoke slowly turning red with her head bowed down, the tension at the table getting palpable and I can't hold it any longer. I giggle at her words and it seems I've opened the flood gates of laughter as everyone laughs. Even the Princess smiles before she reminds herself that she hates us on principle.

I grin at her as our eyes meet, I can't resist a wink but I just get a frosty stare in response. Touchy that one or we did her a great wrong, probably killed some of her siblings or something. I'm sure some Royals died during the war, I turn to the mage beside me and ask.

"Did any Royals die during the war?"

She blinks at me a moment before nodding vigorously, "yes actually there were some nephews and a nice of the king that died and I believe one of his sons was banished."

OK, I may have underestimated the game being played here but I think this airhead of a mage is getting instructions from elsewhere. I'm not sure how I missed it earlier but that pause and head tilt is a very good tell of mental communication.

"Oh excuse me, I think I will retire early." She says getting up and holding her hand to my face. I know she expects me to kiss it but I hold it daintily and shake it instead.

She nods to some of her acquaintances and walks from the hall. I'm thinking of joining da and my beautiful mates at another table with talking with the soldiers leading this garrison and our escort here. As I'm about to leave the woman I though was walking past decides to sit at the recently vacated seat.

"Might I entertain you for the rest of the evening?" She asks looking directly into my eyes.

This one is also dangerous but I overlooked her because of her obvious deference to the Alvalon woman, a mistake I hope I don't make again. I evaluate her with every single sense I can and get nothing surprising out of my examination.

She is a mundane, a very fit, very well trained mundane. She isn't even close to Awakening as far as I can tell and seems to be about 28 years old. The hands she has placed face down on the table have sword calluses that have been tenderized by alchemy lotions. She has fresh scares on her chest and thight from a bladed weapon, a sword... a rapier.

There is a garrote in the lining of her dress and she is only slightly drunk for someone of her size drinking dwarven ale. I smile at her as she smiles at me pleasantly.

"Of course you can sit with me, but tell me. Have you ever killed a man?" I whisper the question to her and it catches her off guard a moment before she parries the question with a smile.

"That's an odd question, have you ever killed a woman?" She asks and I smile at her leaning back.

We make small talk and this one gives nothing away as we circle each other. I think it's me that's giving my intelligence away as I parry her many questions semi-successfully. Her name is Patra Alvalon the great great granddaughter of Cynthia which sort of confirms my estimate of the lady Cynthia's power. With age comes power, its a given.

The setting changes as the night becomes long and I slip away as most of the decision-makers collect themselves for the main discusion. I think ive had enough intrigue and listening to politics for one night. Especially political intrigue I have absolutely no interest in, I should write a report to the council about a possible play for power by the Sandie mages though.

I watch my children for over an hour as they play with the other children running around a castle fort for the first time in their lives. The older orc children are especially loud and playful. I spend as much time as I can with them because I don't know how long I will be away when the time comes.

I keep poking my head into the room were most of the parents with toddlers as the expectant mothers have been placed. I will obviously be sleeping by the door here if I sleep at all and I know the older children will be safe under Kuyoki's care. I'm surprised to find Cicilia here who smiles at me and I smile back nervously before averting my face.

Gaia brought back a lot of baggage with him from the inner villages. He, his now pregnant mate and his sister Cici have been staying with me at my very full home at Paradisum this past year. The girl has become a big sister to my children and a great help in alleviating the pressure of watching the kids as focused on getting ready for this trip.

Cicilia is only 16 or 17 years old and only 4 or 5 years older than my first child. She is very stubborn, opinionated and loves to play, just like Saya. Which is why I was so shocked when Kuyoki and I asking if I was open to a match between the girl and I, taking her as a fourth mate.

I nearly beat the man there and then but Kuyoki is more patient than I am and listened to his horrible narration of why they no longer have a family, why they are destitute of spirit, and why they came to me a year ago with nothing but the clothes on their backs and a single sack of belongings.

The man cried through his telling and looking at him I could have never guessed at his suffering and the responsibility placed upon him. A burden he says his family has been carrying for generations but won't elaborate on unless we become one family. I committed myself to nothing but since that conversation a month ago I haven't been able to look at the girls face for very long.

Kuyoki and I haven't mentioned any of this to my other mates yet, they have more than enough to deal with as it is. But I think its about time I got ma's advice on what to do about the situation when the girl is old enough of course. If I decide to take her, if she wants me. God's, I'm so confused right now.

I wave at Ingwe and kiss her on the forehead. She smiles back at me and I know everything is still OK. I leave them to it and walk the halls of this cold stone fortress. The stone isn't even enchanted, a powerful enough Master Magicians could topple this place given enough time and mana stones.

I smile as I feel Patra trying to sneak on ahead of me on the balcony. She is quick and agile, and to think she can move like that in that dress? I walk slower to give her time to catch her breath but she doesn't seem to need it. I turn the corner and 'bump' into her coming in from one of the balconies.

"Fancy seeing you here." I say as I catch her in my arms.

"Yes, a happy coincidence since I was just thinking about you." She says untangling from me and fixing her dress.