Chapter 37 The NyHar'en

We all look dumbfounded at the cat like people in front of us, no one says a word, as were are simply too, amazed at what stood there. Captain Winford sees our dimma and quickly steps in,”AHEM, My Lord! this is His Majesty Bre'Tirgan of the NyHar'en Tribe, and here we have his daughter, Princess Ki'Diera. This my Lord, Baron Scott Smith”.

Both Bre'Tirgan and Ki'Diera nod their heads in respect, I nod mine back to them, awakened from my stupor.

Wow she is gorgeous, even I am attracted

Too, bad Scott is married now, missed her by that much haha.

Knock it off you two, really now, this is first contact. We have to be on our best behavior.

“AHEM!” Captain Winford interrupts making the sound to let me know to speak.

“My apology your majesty, but we are simply distracted by your peoples beauty for we have never before seen your kind. It is truly an honor and a blessing to meet you, please come have a seat, we are having breakfast, would you care to join us?” I motion for him and his people to sit at the table with us. I give the Doctors a look and they get up to leave.

Bre'Tirgan give his daughter a look and she nods, with that they both step towards the table, when someone comes running into the Cafeteria and yells “I heard there were cat people here, where are they?” The man is taken down immediately by the two cat warriors and with swords to his back.

Stunned everyone's jaw drops, at the suddenness of their actions. It was beyond fast, you could almost not see them move. It was agile and graceful, just like a cat.

“As I said, we have never seen your race before, so some of my people are little,......over excited.” I try to laugh, but it comes out weak.

Bre'Tirgan nods to the two warriors and they heft the man up to his feet, he brushes himself off nervously eyeing the two guards, then looks at me helplessly, it was Foutz. He moves to the rest of the crowd to observe the proceedings.

I walk over to the assembly line where the breakfast is kept and prepare two plates and bring them back to the table and place them before Bre'Tirgan and is daughter. Cindy grabbed two glasses of milk, while Julie brought two cups of coffee.

Bre'Tirgan looks at his daughter silently and she once again nods. He then takes his right hand and grabs some food and eats it cautiously, after trying it, he devours the food heartily. His Daughter, Ki'Diera smiles and follows suit.

I look to the others of his group,” you can help yourselves, there is plenty of food to eat.”, They look to Bre'Tirgan and he nods and they all go and get some food as well.

After four helping, Bre'Tirgan was finally full, his daughter having two helpings herself.

“That was most pleasant.” Bre'Tirgan says on his sixth glass of milk, with a milk mustache on his face smiling happy and sated.

They really enjoyed the milk,. They tried the coffee and spit it out almost immediately. Then gazed at us all, who drank coffee, in wonder.

After the meal was done and the dishes were removed by the maids who were not working with the female victims, we get down to business.

“So what brings you here to our keep?” I ask curiously.

“Lord Scott Smith, we were told by the Oracle, to seek out the NPC races, we assume that is you?” He says with a solemn expression, his daughter is eyeing me with an evaluating look on her face.

“I see, but I must let you know, we are not NPC's, but in fact that you are NPC's to us.” I say to him.

“No we are not NPC's, by the way what are NPC's if I might ask, that term has eluded my people.”. He says, his face is now uncertain and he looks about the room.

“From what we know it means Non-Player Characters, it is a term from our games”. I say to him, watching his expression at my response,” non-player characters can be thought of as the supporting cast or extras of a roleplaying game. Role playing games are where we pretend to be heroes or villains in a fantasy setting of some kind, it is basically all make believe, but sadly this is all too, real.”, I conclude my explanation.

“Did you understand that Ki'Diera?”, He asks looking a his Daughter.

“Yes father, he means we are make believe people, to support their needs” she says simply.

“Well I would not go that far.......”, I begin to say

“Is it not true that the NPC, as you call them, are not real?” Ki'Diera asks

“I would say that is true, they are not real.” I answer

“Then is it also true that they serve you to some capacity, by giving information, quests and support of some kind as you explained?”, She says now with a smile. Her voice is clear and crisp, it is simply lovely.

Her smile is breathtaking I find myself enthralled by her beauty

Scott answer her question already. I feel someone pinch my leg nuder the table, mostl likely Julie.

“Umm sorry, uhh yes, you are correct” I say to her.

“And you also believe that we are the NPC here at this table?” She now has a big grin on her face.

“You are right, to us you are the NPC here.” I say, resigned that she got me.

I sigh “ ok let us back up a step and tell us how you got here, that might shed some light on the matter.”

“Very well, that sounds fair. But first I must tell you a little about our history for you to understand what has happened. Our lands were lush with trees and vegetation, unlike this place we have come to. We were a tribe of many villages, numbering in the tens of thousands, spread over a vast land, the villages set in such a way so that no hunting area overlapped and we did not over hunt the areas.”

“Many generations ago the Were-beast came and began to test our warriors in small skirmishes. Each time we fought them off. As time went by, the skirmishes grew more intense. Then about 2 years ago we lost contact with one of our villages, we sent scouts to check on it. They found the remains of the village, a smoldering ruin.”

“Our scouts tracked the invaders for many days and finally came upon their encampment and what they saw was cause for alarm, for before them was gathered a mighty army, their numbers were countless. Among them they saw many of our brethren, as slaves moving about, building grand structures. There were many from other tribes as well.”

“Upon hearing this, we sent word out to neighboring tribes only to find their villages in ruins as well, all of them. They had all been wiped out. We decided to attack first, as waiting for them would only mean death. Gathering our warriors, we attacked in the dark of night. But we were instantly repelled. They knew we were coming and had prepared. After losing many of our warriors, we retreated back to our southern most village abandoning all others.

“Our non combatant numbers were almost too, many to feed, and the fear of starvation grew, but we managed. Then a week ago they attacked, most of our remaining people were killed or captured in their initial onslaught. We fought back bravely, but their numbers and magics were to great. That is the thing, their magic was of a kind we had never seen before, overwhelming us instantly. We are well versed in magic, but this was a dark kind of magic. It seemed it would encompass a warrior and twist their soul and they would attack their neighbors and comrades indiscriminately.”

“We retreated once more even further south, where we came upon a rock formation that glowed. After inspecting it, we noticed no Were-beast would approach it, believing it a secure potion to fend off the coming Were-best, we gathered what remained of my people inside the rock formation.The Were-beast surrounded us entirely, but never approached, which was both good and bad for us, as we were running out of food fast with no way to hunt or gather, but they were not attacking us either.”

“Our shamans prayed to the gods, as did our people for salvation. Then yesterday the rock formation began to emit a sound and glowed even more brightly. We all received a message before our eyes in thin air welcoming us to a new world. Telling us to venture forth and seek out the NPC's, some may be harmful and some may be peaceful. We looked about and found ourselves in a barren land and sent scouts out in every direction.”

“They found this vast village, but it seemed abandoned and they encountered many never before seen beasts and fought them bravely, several fell to the beast. We gathered our remaining forces and headed to this village, as it was abandoned, it may prove useful to provide shelter and food. We found many strange things here. But foremost was food, plenty of it to last many months for my people.

“When we entered your territory we received many messages like the ones from the Oracle, we saw your notice for the hiring of more guards, the celebration of a wedding and the notice of marriage status changed, then we saw your notice to survivors, that is when we decided to seek you out. The scouts located this location, and we sent them to here to observe. After observing your people working hard upgrading and building, we decided you must be in a similar position as we are, thus we approached you in hopes to join forces to survive and gain strength and to better understand this new world.” Bre'Tirgan finishes his story, and relaxes letting out a long sigh.

We listened to his story, as he told it, their situation is similiar to ours, a fight for suvival and the blue messages. But somehow they were not initiated but sill affected. Were they born initiated? Are they really like us, just different species of beings? What magics do they posses? So many questions to answer, but first we must negotiate a mutual agreement.

“It does seem both our peoples are in similar circumstances and since you told your story, I will tll you ours, thus you will have a better understanding of what is going on here.”, And I tell him everything.,Julie and Cindy both chime in to add anything I may have missed, Rick is observing silently but he has a smile on his face.

“So the Oracle changed your world and devastated it, I believe we can not continue to call them such, as they seem more like destroyers or devastators.” Bre”Tirgan says grimly.

“No I would not call them Oracles”I say to him.

Scott can we keep them they are so cute I just want to hug and pet them.

They have been thru a lot like us, we have to help them!

Shush you two, I am trying to concentrate here, please!

At least let us keep one, please!

They are not pets, they seem to be people just like us

One, only one......please?

Cindy!

“Is something the matter Lord Scott Smith?”, Asks Bre'Tirgan

“Ahh, no, my wives....... are, well excited at your presence and are talking in my head.”, I say to him with a weak apologetic smile

“Ah so these two are your wives, but they talk to you in your head? That is simply amazing.” Says Bre'Tirgan.

“Yes, after we were married we formed a blood bond of the soul. It allows us to communicate with one another with our minds, but we are getting off subject here your Majesty” I say to him.

“You are right Lord Scott Smith. Which with what I know now, makes this even easier. We found among the buildings a strange currency everywhere, we hope to use it to aid in our negotiations. We propose joining our two people, you allow us the safety of your walls and erect a settlement and in return, we will give you the currency we found, 100 of our warriors to act as your guard and my daughters hand in marriage. I shall step down and allow you and my daughter to lead our people into a new era.

“WHAT??”

“Did you hear? horn-dog is getting another girl?”

“That lucky bastard, it is not fair!”

“I want a cat girl too!”

“I wonder what she will sound like when he gives it to her hahaha.”

There were many comments like that and I cringed, it seems manners went out the window at the sight of the cat like people. The folks here were too, overwhelmed by them to think clearly. I am too stunned to say anything as my eyes quickly look at Ki'Diera who simply smiles at me still eventuating me it seemed.

Both Cindy and Julie were in thought and in rapid response to one another, I could not get a word in and simply listened in.

Uhh, did he just say marry his Daughter?

I heard that too, I.........

this is so sudden and I do not know what to think right now.....

Instinctively I want to yell no, but..........

“Are you ok Lord Scott Smith, what is your answer?”,Bre'Tirgan asks of me.

“Give me a moment please, your majesty My wives are talking in my head, my apologies.” i reply to him.

“Yes yes I understand.” Bre'Tirgan says smiling, nodding.

Scott there is no way you can marry her, you already have us...I wll not allow it. But then again, it would help them and us and make us all stronger, aaaarrrrrggg I do not know, this is so hard.

We would get to keep one hehehe that tail and those ears are simply irresistible, and I do not see her as a wife but more as a pet, mmmmm that tail is driving me crazy I want to touch it so bad.

You have a point, with the ears and tail, she does seem more of a pet, doesn't she. But still she is female and Scott would marry her and then at night.....what would that even be like?

I think Scott should do it, mmmm that tail at night looks so comfortable, I could hold it tightly.

Cindy stop that and think clearly here

Girls do I have a say in this at all? You are both speaking so fast I can not get a word in here.

No Scott you do not, we are your wives and we will decided this if you get another wife. Or pet.....

ok seriously, what choice do we really have here. We make an ally, we gain stength by uniting, in return Scott has to marry her. I really do not see the problem here

But adding another wife, Cindy.......really?

I do not want to marry her my loves, I already have you both and that is enough for me.

Oh stop it Tiger I already saw the way you eyed her, If you were single you would be all over that.

Well......yeah true.

See? So lets make the best decision that benefits us all. Adding another wife, or plaything is not going to hurt you. And I really really love her tail! Fufufufuf

Cindy really? Is that all you care about

Actually yes, it makes it easier to accept for me. What about you Julie, can you handle this?

I love Scott with all my heart and sharing him with you was already hard and you know I love you sister., but to add yet another, one we do not even know....I honestly do not know. I can not wrap my head around it.

Maybe there is an alternative, let me try something ok girls?

“Your Majesty I apologize for that, there is really no need for marriage here, we can allow your people access to our walled area and join forces. The rest you proposed sounds good and is acceptable to us.” I say to him

“I am sorry but the marriage part is the only non negotiable item here.” Bre'Tirgan says keeping his smile.

“Why?”, I ask now conflicted

“It is to ensure that my people receive equal treatment, as the blood bond contract will require such, as your queen she will have equal say in all matters of state. This provides my people an equal say in all matters and a future.” Bre'Tirgn replies, his smile still showing.

“Queen? I am no king here your majesty!” Stunned I look at him in confusion.

“I did say I would step down to allow you an my daughter to lead our people into a new era, thus that means you will inherit my title and status and she to be your queen. This is not negotiable for these proceedings Lord Scott Smith, plus you already have two wives, what matter is a third? This is simply a political marriage.” Bre'tigan says casually

“I....but what about love? Does she not have someone she cares for and loves?”, I am now desperate trying to find a way out of this.

“Love? Love comes later, as is the way of political marriages, a few children should do the trick. Right now our peoples future is at stake, there is no room for love in this matter! What is your decision Lord Scott Smith?”, his face becomes serious.

Scott do it...

Yes Scott do it....accept the deal.

Go with the flow go with the flow

Scott? Stop that.

Scott sweetheart, tho this is hard for me in many ways, we have to accept, it is for the good of everybody...we will somehow manage.

Sigh alright, but seriously, I am not happy with this, to be forced to marry someone I do not even know....she is beautiful tho....

Scott? Scott? Both think with menacing tones

Taking a deep breath and looking at everyone at the table seeing their eyes all on me, expecting an answer, Ricks eyes show he is lauging inside, trying to stop from bursting out, “Alright, we accept your terms. We seem to gain all the benefits from this. So there is nothing I can request from you that you have not already offered.”

“Then let it be known, that one week from today, My Daughter, Ki'Diera and Lord Scott Smith shall wed, after which the coronation shall take place and a new King and Queen........, or rather Queens, “ he eyes both Cindy and Julie with a smile,”shall arise.”

Queen? I will become a queen?

Ha A Queen, now that is unexpected....never dreamed my life would turn out like this of all things.

“We shall take our leave and gather our people, and bring them into the walled area, 100 of my...., no, your warriors will report to you for assignment as guards and lastly.“ , he snaps is fingers and one of the servants comes forward, taker a small pouch from her side and lays it on the table.” Here are the promise funds, I hope this will suffice to build a future together..”

He grabs the pouch and turns it over, money begin to flow from it. A lot of money. The pile gets bigger and bigger as it continues to flow from the small pouch. As the seconds fly by, eyes begin to grow bigger with each passing moment. He shakes the bag one more time, as the money stops pouring out.

“I take it by the expressions I see, this is valuable?” Bre'Tirgan says, observing the stares at the money.

“Ah yes, very much so, it would go along ways to improve this place.” I say amazed at the small mountain of money before us.

“Then I am happy we were able to contribute already, then we shall take our leave, I shall leave my daughter and her two personal servants in your care for the next week, giving you some time to get to know one another” He winks at me and begins to walk out followed closely by his two personal guard..

I stare at Ki'Diera, who smiles back at me with a pleasant smile

oh boy!.......