Intruding Upon Negotiations

A tinge of nervousness clings to Krvavy’s heart, growing greater as she is led through the banquet hall, stepping ever closer towards... wherever the Countess may be in this place. Krvavy still isn’t quite sure how she should feel about that gorgeous, charming, seductive, and slightly deceitful woman. But more than that...

“Hmph! There you are!”

More than her own personal feelings, conflicted as they are, this Drakling is dreading the fact that her first fiancée is finally going to meet Rina.

That beautiful brat struts straight up to the barbarian, nose swiftly scrunching. “Ugh, were you rolling around in the dirt? You are filthy!” Thea’s silvery inner sleeve clings close to her arm, the outer layer swaying like a heavy pendulum as she reached up and presses her palm into some pale, partially visible abs.

A wave of tingling warmth washes over Krvavy, cleaning away what little dirt had come to cover her.

Thea’s touch lingers for a few seconds longer, slowly trailing lower and lower until... “There!” She quickly pulls back, planting her hands firmly onto her hips in an attempt to look stern. But even if it weren’t for the faint flush filling her face, that effort was doomed from the start. Her dress is just too incredibly, distractingly tight.

Sky blue fabric has been wrapped around Thea’s waist as if it were a corset, hugging her hips and squeezing the swell of her modest breasts, both mounds capped by the faint bump of nipples just begging to be nibbled on. Geometric patterns of a deeper blue – a grid of large circles surrounding silver threaded stars – have been stretched out of shape as that slightly too small dress does all it can to emphasize her hourglass figure, clinging even to her soft thighs and pulling in around her knees.

What was meant to be a noble dress, emulating the regal and refined look that this girl’s mother effortlessly displayed last night, has been perverted and corrupted into something undeniably sexy... by nothing other than Thea’s body.

The bratty blonde’s blush burns brighter as her barbaric lover devours her beauty. She adjust her silver rimmed glasses, the metal of that enchanted accessory shifted to better match her outfit. “Your hair could use a bit of brushing...” Her delicate fingers fiddle with her twin braids, absentmindedly shifting those woven pleats closer to her core, covering the barely noticeable outlines of her nipples. Only for gravity to pull those braids back to where they usually rest, between her breasts and her arms. “But we hardly have the time to fix that. The two of you took far too long getting here.”

“There was an... incident... that had to be handled first.” Kostas calmly replies, respectfully keeping his gaze away from not just his perhaps inappropriately dressed sister, but also the two other women by her side. One wearing rather skimpy armour that puts her green-skinned abs and glowing heart-shaped mark on full display, and the other...

Krvavy can’t help but bite her bottom lip as she takes in the adorable sight of her Halfling.

Cute bunny paw feet shuffle side to side as that timid blonde shifts her weight from one leg to the other. Each little movement she makes sees the frilly white hem of her dress swish back and forth just a bit below her trembling knees. She isn’t wearing one of her warmer ‘peasant farmgirl’ outfits nor a nice sundress, but rather... something that looks suspiciously like a nightgown.

One which would have been quite skimpy on the brat that it no doubt belongs to, shoulders left bare with not even a strap stretching across them and the skirt rather short, though not scandalously so. But on a girl whose head hardly reaches her fellow blonde’s breasts... It actually looks quite nice. It fits Adeline fairly well, in fact. If not for just a single detail.

That Halfling’s hips are a bit wider than those of the brat.

While the upper potion of that dress is a little loose and baggy – especially around Adeline’s nearly flat chest, puffy pouches giving the impression that her boobs are a few cups bigger than they truly are – the bottom half... could not be further from that.

Pink fabric, smooth and shiny like satin, struggles to contain that timid girl’s wondrously wide hips, clinging to the curve of her ample ass and highlighting the thickness of her thighs.

Though the backside of that timid blonde can’t currently be seen by anything more than the tall potted plant she is hiding in the shadow of, her dress must be at least a little open bit back there. Otherwise her fur-tipped tail would be peeking out from beneath that frilly skirt, not twitching nervously behind her bottom-heavy body. She and Thea must have cut a slit for that thin thing, sewing a proper border around the new hole so as to not risk it tearing open and exposing that little rabbit’s round rear.

“Ugh, stop ogling my handmaiden.” Thea rolls her soft-blue eyes, stepping halfway in front of that incredibly flushed Halfling. “Just put your jacket on and let us get in there...”

The barbarian blinks in surprise as said jacket is pushed into her hands by none other than her precious puppy. It is a bit of a shame that Khalia is just wearing her armour, but the Were-Beast isn’t exactly one to play dress up...

“Ahem...!”

The Drakling quickly slips into that nice, well-fitted jacket. Which, conveniently, covers up the rather large cut that had been left in the back of her shirt. Her fiancée almost certainly would have made quite the fuss if she saw it. So best save that reveal for later.

Without wasting a second more, Thea spins around and stomps towards the door she had been waiting by, a door guarded by a pair of Svaneti’s better armed soldiers. Who both hurriedly step aside. Though that has less to do with whatever authority this brat may wield and more because of the well-trained Were-Beast sticking close by her side, Khalia’s mere presence unsettling those decently disciplined men.

A short and narrow passageway stands before the barbarian, her betrothed, and her future brother-in-law. It is a bit of a squeeze for the five of them to fit through. And the round room beyond... isn’t much better.

It may be a bit more spacious, even with that bulky and nearly rectangular column in its very center, but the thick walls still loom inwards, covered by closed cupboards that climb up to the vaulted ceiling above. A few deep arrowslit alcoves break apart those sections of storage shelves, letting slightly orange sunlight filter in to mingle with the artificial glow of mana-fed lamps.

Plate and mail rustle as the men standing around the perimeter of this tower room, knights and soldiers alike, turn toward these intruders.

Sky blue eyes lift up from one of many contracts, those piles of papers neatly scattered across the small table set against that sturdy supporting pillar. Dimitrios’ brow furrows, his expression shifting into something resembling a scowl as he looks between his sister and her... lovers. The faintest hint of betrayal plays across his face as he meets Kostas’ apologetic gaze.

A pair of pointy pink ears twitch, moon-like pearls jingling softly. Amethyst eyes glance back over a delicate shoulder, light gleaming off the nebulous gem resting above and between them. Black painted lips, an alluring beauty spot a little below their left corner, slowly curl upwards.

“Pardon me,” the Countess lightly taps the table, her nicely cushioned chair sliding backwards as she rises to her feet. The tastefully silver-trimmed hem of her dark and regal dress swishes just a hairsbreadth above the stone floor.

Thea tenses, her jaw set.

That beautiful blonde may be on the softer and more delicate side when it comes to Krvavy’s girls... She may not be as mighty as Khalia, as lithe and athletic as Beryl, as sturdy as Inanna, or as active as Adeline... She may not wrestle for fun or enjoy the outdoors, she may not work in a forge or in a garden... But she isn’t out of shape. She had her bow to build the muscles in her back. The weight of her crossbow, and the resistance of its lever, have helped to strengthen her arms. The hike up and down from their home has left her legs and thighs in great shape. Not to mention the sheer amount of exercise that this lewd princess so frequently gets~.

All of that to say... This noble girl’s muscles, subtle they may be, go taut like a bowstring drawn all the way back, that incredible tension ready to be released in moments notice. That brat bristles with hostility, her obvious animosity only growing more undeniable as the Countess of Raseyne steps right up to them, to her Dragon, and –

A pair of elegant hands left bare by lacy black sleeves tenderly grasp at their equally soft counterparts.

“You must be Krvavy’s beloved fiancée~! I have heard so many wonderful things about you~!” Warmth oozes from Rina’s every word, her brilliant amethyst eyes gleaming bright as she openly gushes about this noble girl. “Your beauty, your smile, your fiery attitude, your talents~...! Krvavy never tired of extolling your virtues~! Still, it is an honour to finally meet you, to finally put a face and name to the woman of whom I have heard so much praise of, Theadosia~!”

Thea’s kissable lips open and close without a sound, her mind fried from shock.

“Though I suppose that we have met before, no~?” The Countess tilts her head slightly to the side, locks of shining raven-black hair brushing over her shoulder. “It would have been... eight years ago...? I remember you clinging to the skirts of your good mother~. My, how you have grown~!” Those delicate pink fingers squeeze around Thea’s dainty digits. “You – oh?”

A ring of supposed silver and onyx clinks into a far more beautiful one adorned by a sapphire and two diamonds. That girl’s left hand is swiftly raised up, the light of this room catching on a platinum band.

“Krvavy has backed up her words with action, I see~.” A teasing twist tugs at those black painted lips. “Have the two of you yet wed? Should I be calling you her wife~? Or is this merely meant to cement that promise?”

Thea shakes her head, suddenly snapping out of her stunned stupor. “We...!” She pauses for just a split second, violently jerking her hands back and away from the Countess’ embrace. “We are just engaged! F-for now!” The brat’s cheeks burn bright as she steps back and squishes herself right up against the barbarian’s body, forcing a single strong arm to wrap around her shoulders.

Those soft-blue eyes dart up to shoot a quick glare at that Drakling, as if to say ‘how much have you told this woman?!’

Krvavy weakly smiles back at her brat, finding it just a little difficult to meet that accusatory gaze.

“Hmph!” Thea quickly turns her scowl back towards the Countess... only to find that the half Moon Elf woman has moved on from her.

“And you must be Krvavy’s dear little Halfling~.” As delicate as can be, Rina grabs onto just one of Adeline’s trembling hands, thumbs stroking the tuft of dark-blonde hair resting behind the bunny-mouse girl’s knuckles. “I have heard much of you~. And I must say, you are truly as adorable as Krvavy had said, time and time again~.”

Adeline sways slightly, staying upright only thanks to the Drakling’s thick tail wrapping loosely around her waist, her face flushed an intense shade of red.

“Have the letters from your family reached you well? They weren’t too worried, were they?”

“Eeeeip!” The bunny-mouse squeaks, her shoulder grabbed and her bottom-heavy body dragged to the side, saving her from the struggle of answering those questions.

“Leave Adeline...! Stop harassing my handmaiden!” Thea heatedly hisses, protectively pulling that timid blonde into a half-hug.

Rina hardly seems bothered by that hostility, turning towards the last of Krvavy’s girl’s present. Her amethyst eyes linger just a moment on the mark adorning Khalia’s muscled midsection. Quickly, almost faster than Krvavy can catch, her gaze darts between that glowing heart and Thea’s soft belly... as if she could see straight through that brat’s tight dress. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Khalia.”

“Heheh...” That mildly menacing giggle serves as the Were-Beast’s response, visibly unsettling quite a few of Svaneti’s soldiers... and some of Raseyne’s knights as well.

“Hmph!” Thea huffs again, louder and more pointed this time. “Were you not in the middle of an important meeting?”

“There are still details to be ironed out and finalized,” the Countess calmly answers, taking a step back and turning halfway towards the little table covered in papers. “But most of what the Baron and I have discussed has already been agreed upon.”

Dimitrios solemnly nods. “We still need to fully determine the depths of our concessions, but –”

“Concessions?!” Thea loudly interrupts, outrage underlining her every word. “Has Svaneti survived that bastard’s conquest just to give everything over to this succubus?! Do not concede a thing to her!”

A long and heavy sigh emerges from the depths of Dimitrios’ very being, head hanging slightly as fingers nurse his brow. “Svaneti is in no position to deny aid.” He exasperatedly states, as if explaining the simplest of facts to an ignorant child. Which isn’t too far from the truth... “Not on the basis of pride alone.”

“It is not aid if you have to sacrifice everything for it!” Thea returns, her rather fair point slightly undermined by how fervently and forcefully she spat it out.

“My, you must take me for a vulture.”

Thea’s attention snaps towards the Countess, glaring through the gleaming lenses of her glasses. She is not swayed by the disarming smile playing at those black painted lips. She sees that it doesn’t quite reach Rina’s amethyst eyes. “Are you not?! You have swooped in to seize and steal what that bastard of a Duke failed to!”

“Sister...” Warning drips from that single stern word. The acting Baron of Svaneti drops his hands down to the cluttered tabletop, palms pressing flat against its surface, ready to rise to his feet if need be. “Were Countess Alexandrina here to take all that we have... Then do you really think that we would be here, speaking as we are?” He does not wait for an answer, his expression hardening in a way that shuts his bratty sister up. “The Countess has made no attempt to intimidate us. No attempt to leverage Raseyne’s strength over our weakness. She has already made many a sign of goodwill. Her terms, thus far, have been generous. So. Hold. Your. Tongue.”

“Now now, Baron. No need to be so tense.” The Countess’ heels click across the cold stone floor as she steps back towards her seat. “I am not so prideful as to demand recompense for how rude Theadosia here is acting. She has her reasons to be wary of me. You may or may not have heard, but her fiancée’s life was put on the line in service of saving my own in Vratsa. I cannot condemn Theadosia for being cautious and concerned after such an ordeal. Were Krvavy not as resilient, then she may not have been able to return home.”

The brat bristles at that comment, at the downplaying of her Dragon’s second death, a death which is what led to that Drakling returning home. She opens her mouth, visibly fuming with rage, and –

“Maybe it’d be best to go over those terms, to show Thea that there’s no, you know, extortion going on here?” Krvavy quickly speaks up, black-scaled fingers covering her feisty fiancée’s kissable lips. A relatively awkward grin finds its way onto her face, the attention of everyone present and the fact that she is essentially intruding on this meeting leaving her feeling a little nervous. “If we’re lucky, all that talk might even bore her to sleep~.”

Dimitrios sets his jaw, taking a long and deep breath. “I suppose that it would not hurt anything more than our time to do so,” he begrudgingly states. “You are, perhaps, as impartial a witness we could ask for, with your connections to both the Countess and my dear sister, with you being the Saviour of Svaneti and of Raseyne’s Crown.” With just a gesture, and without looking towards Rina for her consent on the matter, a couple of his soldiers quickly bring over a bench from the edge of the room. “So please, take a seat.”

Thea brushes the barbarian’s hand off her mouth, grabbing it and Adeline’s shoulder before dragging those two very differently sized lovers of hers over to that cramped table.

The bunny-mouse girl swoons slightly as she is hefted up and helped into Krvavy’s lap, her bottom-heavy body wiggling as she settles in, fiddling with the hem of her pinkish dress and inadvertently grinding her ass into Krvavy’s barely contained cock.

“Hmph!” Thea haughtily huffs, sacrificing her usual ‘wifely’ spot to instead sit at the Drakling’s right... putting herself between Krvavy and the Countess. She adjusts her glasses and leans forward, scowling at the many papers in front of her. “Now then, what is all this?”

Rina raises a single delicate eyebrow, her gaze momentarily jumping towards Khalia, that hardly clothed Greenskin looming behind and to left of the barbarian.

A certain silvery breastplate, taken from the corpse of one of the Duke’s own knights some time ago, clunks into Krvavy’s upper horn as Khalia cuddles as closely as she can get away with, the bench not wide enough for her to sit on it as well.

The Countess softly shakes her head, jingling the four moon-like pearls that dangle from her Elvish ears. “In broad strokes... Aid will be given to the people of Svaneti, to help them through the winter and to help them rebuild. Not out of pity, but in exchange for favourable trade. Raseyne will purchase goods produced here in Svaneti, such as textiles both raw and worked, at rates that are profitable for the people here... contingent on the fact that others not of Raseyne must pay more.”

Thea crosses her arms... around one of Krvavy’s own, hugging it tight to her soft breasts. “So you get first pick of all Svaneti makes, and a discount on top?”

“If you want to see it that way.” Rina simply shrugs, a lock of her raven-black hair slipping forward, towards the amethyst necklace resting in the entrance to the valley of her cleavage. “This arrangement will see the economies of both our lands grow. Even disregarding trade from any other sources, more silver and gold will enter Svaneti thanks to these agreements. And, in the process, Raseyne will gain a greater competitive edge over our neighbours, helping to recoup the cost of what aid will be given.”

Dimitrios spares his sister the fine points no doubt detailed across these dozens of different sheets. “Moving from the topic of trade to defence...” He grimaces slightly, not having chosen the best subject to speak of. “The losses we suffered during the siege have left us, for the time being, unable to defend and maintain our borderlands. Svaneti itself is all we can keep safe without being spread too thin to be effective.”

A quick glance towards Kostas shows that scholarly nobleman looking a little... uncomfortable. He hasn’t had the chance to inform Dimitrios of the enemy soldiers that attacked and now await execution.

“And thus...” The acting Baron takes a deep breath. “Raseyne has offered us their protection.”

Thea’s brow furrows even further, her harsh gaze locked firmly on the pink-skinned half-Elf sitting within arms reach. “And what will that cost? What deal with this devil have you made?”

Rina meets that brat’s gaze. “Vassalage.” She plainly answers.

Krvavy now narrows her eyes, emerald piercing into amethyst. A tinge of guilt gnaws at her heart. She delivered the means for the Countess to so quickly establish communication with Svaneti after the siege. Sure, Rina could have – and no doubt would have – still done all of this without that help, but... Krvavy still feels as if she handed the keys to Svaneti to Rina. To a woman who used her fractured trust to conquer these lands...

“As stated before...!” Dimitrios quickly speaks up, before Thea can recover from her hostile shock. “Svaneti is in no state to defend itself. We do not know what chaos will come from Volhynia without their Duke around to keep order. Being a ‘mere Barony’, Svaneti was not taken as seriously as we deserved before we had lost so much. None came to our aid in our time of need. None but... Krvavy here...” He states, a little begrudgingly. “Strengthening our ties with Raseyne will prevent this from happening again. It is in the best interest of the people. For their safety and security. If an army the strength of the late Duke’s comes marching upon Svaneti once more, Raseyne will be forced to come to our defence.”

Rina nods, pearl earrings bobbing with her head. “This vassalage will not see much change, in truth. We are not subsuming and claiming Svaneti’s lands as our own to rule. It is more akin to a defensive pact, a promise of protection, with other boons and benefits attached. Namely the aforementioned preferential trade. But free movement through each others’ lands – for merchants, civilians, and military alike – is also one of the key points. And it is not like I am forcing all of this upon Svaneti.”

“No,” Dimitrios agrees, his fingers idly tapping at a certain short stack of papers. “At the beginning of our negotiation, the Countess signed over a prepaid contract for the Silver Spears Mercenary Company. Even if all else falls through, all of these deals failing to be made, we would still have enough men to deter bandits and direct attacks on Svaneti... if not enough to protect the rest of our lands.”

“Mercenaries, really?” Thea scoffs and rolls her eyes. “A truly trustworthy folk, they are. Who is to say that they would not prey on our people, extorting and abusing those who cannot fight back? Who is to say that they would not simply abandon Svaneti were this fiend to turn her back on you?”

“It is poor business practice.” States a man from the edge of this room, his grey armour adorned with silver trim. “Pardon my interruption.” He deferentially ducks his head as everyone’s attention turns to him.

“It is no matter, Vasiliy. Feel free to defend your honour and explain your perspective to Theadosia here.” A faint smile, a genuine one, plays at Rina’s lips.

Krvavy blinks. Hearing that name jogs her memory. She recognizes that man. He all but welcomed her into the party where she first met Rina, introducing Krvavy to many other nobles... most of whom she has forgotten by now.

Vasiliy Veles, head of his own mercenary company, nods. “Reputation is the most valuable currency amongst us sellswords, for who would pay good coin to hire men that will not perform the job they are meant to? Reneging on a contract hurts all future contracts, and thus is not something to do lightly.”

“On top of that...” Once more, the acting Baron speaks. “Many of these mercenaries have brought their families along for their lengthy stay here in Svaneti. It would not be a surprise if they were to develop additional loyalties to our land as a result.”

“Oh, and speaking of family...” The Countess’ smile widens as she seizes the reins of this conversation. “The people here are in a bit of a rough spot, as we all know, and I believe that they could use something to raise the mood.”

His input no longer needed, Vasiliy takes a step back, returning to his place amongst those soldiers of Svaneti that are present.

“The celebrations for the equinox next week, for Hallows Eve and Day, are likely to be... lackluster, if not outright cancelled. So that will not do. Not on its own. And, as Theadosia here has shown, not everyone within Svaneti will appreciate Raseyne’s protection and presence. Their pride may lead to charity being turned down. So Raseyne, so I, cannot simply throw gold at the issue to make it all better. They would need a reason for me to sponsor such celebrations.”

Thea glares through the lenses of her glasses, not particularly happy with how Rina is looking at her specifically. “Ugh, where are you going with all of this?!”

“The people need a reason to celebrate. So I say we give them one. And we already have the best reason on hand.” The Countess gestures towards Thea’s crossed arms, towards the gleaming band sitting snug on that beautiful brat’s ring finger. “A marriage.”

Silence, tense and uncomfortable, fills the room.

Dimitrios doesn’t let it linger, speaking up after hardly a second. “To a degree, this whole trouble could be said to have been started with an attempt at marriage. With my sister’s betrothal to the Duke of Volhynia. Attempting such a thing again may be seen as... a bad omen.”

“Perhaps.” Rina dismissively shrugs, her argument not yet made. “But unlike Dovoryn, the people here have some fondness for Krvavy, going so far as to call her their Saviour. Also unlike before, this would see the girl as a willing wife. This would be a marriage done not out of obligation, but of love. A light well-needed in dark times. And since Krvavy is someone I would like to consider a friend, someone who has saved my life once before – quite recently at that – none could fault me for fully funding her wedding. None could fault me for turning it into a full festival, one of life and love and resilience in the face of hardship.”

The Baron of Svaneti grimaces. “The people... could indeed use such a light. But...” Slowly, Dimitrios shakes his head. “I will not force my sister into another marriage, no matt–”

“I-I-I...!” Thea stammers as she speaks up, trembling fingers clasped tight around Krvavy’s hand. “You... w-would not... be... be forcing me into a... marriage...” She nervously states, eyes directed down towards her lap. She twitches slightly as Adeline reaches over and gently grabs at her wrist. She shoots that timid blonde a soft smile. “I...” Thea takes a deep breath. “I would be more than willing to marry my Krvavy~.”

The Drakling is snapped out of her own shock by that statement. The thought of marriage... Her heart flutters with... excitement? Nervousness? Fear?

The soft-blue eyes of her first fiancée lift up and peer into Krvavy’s emerald pair. The brat bites her bottom lip. She looks so beautiful, so vulnerable...

Krvavy audibly gulps. She hasn’t proposed to all of her girls yet... Inanna – and Khalia, not that the Were-Beast cares about some words, being Krvavy’s ‘Mate’ and all – is still waiting. And marrying Thea might open a bit of floodgate. But...

“So would I.” The Drakling nods, leaning in to nuzzle into the top of that silver-blonde girl’s head, hiding her nervous smile. It can still be heard in her voice. “I’ll happily make you my wife, just as I promised to~...”

“Wonderful~!” Rina claps her hands together, fingertips so close to her painted lips. “But, loathe as I am to spoil the mood... this wedding, and accompanying festival, would not occur immediately. It will have to take place in a couple weeks, at least. Certainly after Hallows Eve. And were I to be present – though I do not have to be, if the bride does not wish me there – then it would have to be before the eve of winter as well. We have celebrations of our own in Raseyne at that time, you see. A belated birthday for myself, on the anniversary of my rise to power. But that still leaves most of next month, Waning Warmth, free for your wedding.”

A long and heavy sigh emerges from the depths of Dimitrios’ very being. “Any details pertaining to that... that wedding can be ironed out later. We should finalize our current deals first.”

“Right you are,” the Countess agrees with a nod. “On that note... I cordially invite you four lovebirds to my residence here in Svaneti, once we are done with this matter at hand. We can discuss all those details over dinner. Assuming I can secure that residence for my own, yes?”

Dimitrios merely taps one of the papers. “Payment for the property still needs to be agreed upon. But yes. Now...”

Words are spoken, but hardly any stick inside the barbarian’s brain. Her mind is focused on one fact and one fact alone.