A Feathered Reunion

“Mother! Mother are you alright?!” A panicked Idena said as she rushed past Fran and her soldiers to get to her mother.

“My lord, we have secured the mountainside,” Fran informed John as Idena rushed past him to his mother. “The harpies will be making their way back up soon, once Gali and her healers have finished giving them a once over,” reported Fran.

“Excellent. Sadly, the monster that started all this got away,” John told Fran in return.

“How could it survive your attacks?” she asked, flabbergasted.

“It used powerful shadow magic,” retorted John.

“Shadow magic? Hard to learn but powerful when mastered,” replied Fran.

“He certainly mastered it,” sighed John as he took off his helmet. “Set up a perimeter around the nest for now. There might be some orc stragglers that don’t know they lost yet,” John ordered Fran.

“Of course, my liege. Anything else?” she asked.

“Move the transportation crystal closer to the nest. No reason to trek so far now that the place is secured,” he told her.

“Your will will be done,” she said with a salute before she turned to address the troops.

“Your mom alright?” asked John as he moved towards Idena and her mother.

Idena’s View

“Mother! Mother are you alright?!” A panicked Idena said as she rushed past Fran and her soldiers to get to her mother.

“Daughter!” said the exhausted older harpy. She quickly embraced her daughter. “Look at you!” she said with a smile on her face. “You really did become a Neo-Harpy!” Her smile beamed towards her daughter, with a proud look on her face.

“Mother, I was so worried!” Idena said as she was crying. “I thought you...and everyone...the nest…” said the young harpy as her speech devolved into pure crying.

“Shh, shhh,” said the mother harpy as she soothed her crying daughter. “It’s alright, it’s alright. We’re together again, my little wing,” she said as she rubbed her back.

“Mom...mom…” was all Idena could say as she hugged her mother. “I...I brought my egg. To hatch. Your granddaughter…” was all Idena could get out between her heaving.

“Oh?! You laid an egg?!” asked her mother.

“Yes! My king and husband made sure to breed me!” she said happily as the tears started to subside.

“Sounds like you found a true partner, and not merely a mate. That’s rare for one of us,” she said with a smile. “Be happy with your luck, little wing. Cherish him like he cherishes you,” she told her daughter.

“I will mom, I will,” she said as she continued to not let her mother go.

“Your mom alright?” asked John as he approached Idena and her mother.

“I, and my flock, are alright. Thank you, my daughter’s dear husband,” said the older harpy.

“We aren’t married yet,” John told her.

“You have shown to be a partner to her and have laid an egg with her. By our customs and rights, you are her husband. As such, you are the prince consort of the nest,” she informed John.

“I see. You never mentioned that, Idena,” John said to his harpy wife.

“I did not think about it too much, master. I am your slave, not your wife,” she told him.

“His what?” asked her mother.

“She stopped being my slave long ago. She just likes to say she is. That’s part of how the egg was made,” John said with a smile on his face.

“Oh? My sweet little daughter has a kinky side?” asked her mother with a wicked smile.

“What! No! I don’t!” Idena stammered out as her cheeks turned bright red.

“Oh sweetie, enjoy your life. You deserve it,” she said to her daughter with another hug. “Now, as for you,” she said as she turned to John. “I am Ranarch, queen of the Razorwing tribe. Mother of Idena, and your new mother-in-law,” she said proudly.

“Queen Ranarch, I am King John Newman, of Tenebras. Husband to Idena. I hereby declare your kingdom a vassal state to my kingdom. Thus, you shall be under our protection,” decreed John.

“Quite bold of you to decide that we’re your vassals,” Queen Ranarch said to John.

“You think you can stop me?” asked John as he grabbed his weapon.

“There’s no need for that, King John. I know we are no match for you. I’ve seen your strength firsthand. I will accept this agreement because you are my precious daughter’s husband. I see how happy she is, so I know you will treat us as well as you treat her,” Queen Ranarch told John.

“I will. Her happiness is one of my top priorities. And your safety is one of her top priorities. I’ve already made preparations to ensure your safety,” John told her, which was responded with a smile from her. It was then that a pop-up appeared in John’s vision.