Birth and Planning for the Future

Venus wasn't sure how much time passed during the course of her giving birth. Minutes? Hours? She couldn't be sure. Karuuk's child was big and getting him out was painful. She heard Te'Ran saying something in the Orc language to the other healers, and she sounded scared. Venus tried to look down where the group was working, but all she saw was blood. Soon she passed out from the pain and blood loss.

When she awoke, Songbird and Rose were between her legs, wiping away the blood and talking in hushed whispers. Te'Ran was still with her, but passed out at the side of her bed. Oddly enough, Venus noted that her body was back to its original size before her pregnancy. When Venus started to shift, the Harem slaves quickly moved though Rose tried to convince her to stay lying down.

"The child," Venus asked in a hoarse voice. Rose assured her that the boy was alright. Karuuk was having him baptized as his rightful heir and performing all the Legion's normal ceremonies for such an event. Songbird walked over holding a blanket and gave it to Venus to cover up.

"Why is my body already back to normal? I had expected weeks, if not months of trying to lose that weight."

"It was Te'Ran. She stayed by your side, accelerating your body's healing until you were back to your normal self. That's why she is passed out."

Venus stroked her lover's hair and gave her a smile. She knew that Te'Ran had wanted her to be lithe and flexible again as quickly as possible, but she hadn't expected the shaman to actually accelerate the process. Venus couldn't deny that she was happy about having her old body back though.

It was the next day before Venus actually got to see her son. Karuuk and Reeva brought him to her after the second day of ceremonies were finished. But something was odd about the boy. He had the bulk of a normal Orc child, but the face was more human than Orc. His cock wasn't quite the corkscrew his father and the other's had, but it was clearly going to be able to match his father when he was older. His skin tone was also more human than Orc as well. But that wasn't what made things so odd. The odd part was his arms. All four of them.

"Meet your son Mistress! I named him Gilgamesh. He will truly bring honor to our people when he grows to adulthood."

"But his arms," Venus said in alarm.

"They are a gift from the Lesser Deity Vilhart. I've prayed every day to him for a miracle with this child, and he has given it to me."

"Is this normal though?"

"Of course not! But he is strong. In the ceremonies, he can already lift more than his weight and that is just with two hands! The Legion is truly blessed now."

"So what is the next step," asked Te'Ran.

"We keep looting and pillaging I suppose."

"I thought you wanted to reign over Fyrona," questioned Venus as she took the child into her arms for the first time. Gilgamesh was hungry and quickly latched onto a nipple for nourishment.

"Yes, but until we grow our ranks more, I don't think we can completely take over."

"Master, you have taken in most every Orc tribe there is. We do need to grow, but birth is the only option unless...."

"Unless what Mistress? Have you a plan?"

"We expand our ranks with others. There are monsters out there that you could use. Minotaurs, Goblins, Centaurs. Who knows what else. Why, I'm betting even some of the human slaves would be willing to join up in exchange for freedom. Then we could take the cities instead of just small towns and settlements."

Karuuk eyed her thoughtfully. Te'Ran and Songbird exchanged glances but said nothing. Reeva backed away, not wishing to be part of this new change in the conversation. She was a sweet little wife, but not one to be part of deep thoughts and planning. Finally, the chieftain spoke.

"An interesting plan. I'll send messengers out in the next couple of days and see if we can recruit anyone. This could be the best idea we have had for quite a while."

Venus gave her Master a sly smile and settled back to finish feeding her son.