Grimlok?

"So I do have a question for the two of you, and it is okay if you don't want to answer it, but Grimlok here" you gesture at Grimlok "who or what is Grimlok" you ask. Grimlok looks nervously at Priestess and Priestess lets out a deep sigh.

"Grimlok is our next queen" Priestess replies.

"The men who were after you implied Grimlok was also a ritual...of some sort" you carefully chose your wording in case Grimlok doesn't know.

"Yes...it is...complicated. We are all sons and daughters of our queen. Only a queen is capable of having children. A queen usually only appears at the end of the previous queen's life" she explains. You think on her words for a moment, and a terrible thought crosses your mind.

"Can you explain a little bit more" you ask.

"Grimlok" Priestess says to getting Grimlok's attention "can you go play out in the halls" she asks.

"Awwwwwww...but that will be boring by myself" Grimlok whines.

"How about I go show you some more of the facility. We'll make a game out of it" Dawn suggests. Grimlok grins in response.

"Ok, but I get to decide on what the game is" Grimlok states happily and gets up from her chair after taking several more bites of food.

"Deal. Let's go look at some pretty flowers first" Dawn says as the two of them head out into the hallway. Priestess waits a moment to make sure Grimlok is far enough away.

"So I should explain why we were to the south. Our old queen is near the end of her life. She was becoming...cruel and vindictive. So a group of us escaped with Grimlok to find a new home. One without a vindictive tyrant. Most of us were military led by one man. A General. He seized power once we landed, backed by the natural loyalty of the soldiers. We'd traded one tyrant for another. I came because of Grimlok. As a priestess it was my duty to care for her, and the Queen was not looking to give up her power any time soon. I feared for Grimlok's safety, and agreed to leave my home for a new home. When the General seized power it felt like I'd lost my home again" Priestess explains and pauses lost in thought.

"I'm assuming he is not a...patient man" you ask. Priestess looks at you and you can see the sadness in her eyes.

"If I had known what his plan was..." she trails off for a moment lost in thought "but no, he is not patient. Grimlok is a ritual that would normally happen when the new Queen is older...much older. She would choose a suiter and become pregnant. When she became pregnant she would ascend to the throne, and the old queen would relinquish power. However, Grimlok is capable of bearing children now, and the General...he...he wants...to pervert the ritual and use Grimlok to become King. With her children he would cement his rule for centuries..." she trails off again. You look around at the girls who look back at you. The horror of the situation apparent on their faces.

"Well then. I will make you a promise. As long as we breath, we will not allow Grimlok to suffer such a man" you say looking around at the girls. You can see the determination in their eyes.

"Would it not make sense to just go kill him now" Yvette asks.

"Tempting, we'll explore that option later. For now we will have Dawn watch them closely and warn us of any attempts to take Grimlok back. I would expect something soon, but...we'll see" you smirk at your own small joke. Priestess smirks in response and then frowns.

"We will leave" she states. The girls protest, but you hold up your hand to calm them down.

"We will not **** you to stay, but can you explain why you want to leave" you ask.

"We can not offer you anything in return for sheltering us, and by staying, all we would do is put you in danger" she replies. You can see the sadness in her eyes, which you assume is because she believes no where is safe for her and the child.

"Forgive me for being blunt...but that is stupid. Annabel, why is that logic wrong" you ask.

"For one, we went to your aid knowing that this might be one of the results. Our goal is a free city. Full of freed slaves, or people who need protection from evil men and women. We would be deluded if we believed that those evil men and women would just give up what they view as their property. They will come attack us just because of what we represent. An end to their source of power and money. We will be attacked, it is guaranteed, and we are ready to defend ourselves when those attacks come" Annabel states plainly.

"Yvette, what is another reason" You ask.

"The General is already going to attack us whether you are here or not. He would have no way of knowing you left. As far as he is concerned this is the first place to go to get Grimlok back, and it seems like he'd be the type to attack out of vengeance if nothing else" Yvette states.

"Rene, what's another" you ask Rene.

"This is the safest place for you and Grimlok. Out there is a world full of slavers and people willing to capture and sell people to slavers. Even if you did find a town or settlement willing to take you in, which unfortunately being a Lizard...uh, person, would be near impossible, they could never offer the same protection we can" Rene states.

"All sound reasons. Look, like I said, we will not **** you to stay, and if leaving is what you want to do then maybe we can work out arrangements for you to stay with the Amazons, or at the very least give you supplies and weapons to help you out there. However, I would like to point out that you and Grimlok are exactly the type of people we want here. It took moral fortitude to recognize what the General wanted was wrong, and it took courage and intelligence to enact a plan of escape and carry it out. At great risk to yourself. In fact, you risked your life twice. First when you saved Grimlok from the Queen, and again when you saved her from the General. You say you have nothing to offer, but that is entirely wrong for the simple reason that we need people like you if our vision of a free city is going to work. Please reconsider staying" you tell her. It is hard to tell exactly what she is feeling or thinking in the time it takes Priestess to consider your request. She remain stoic as she processes everything.

"We...will stay" Priestess finally states smiling. The girls begin excitedly bouncing in their seats. You can't help but grin happily as well. It is a small step forward, but it is a step towards your vision, and despite the dangers that are sure to come, you can't help but feel a sense of pride wash over you. Suddenly Grimlok bursts into the room.

"Is Dawn hiding in here" she asks all of you sounding exasperated, but still clearly excited.

"Why would Dawn be hiding" Priestess asks.

"We're playing hide and seek" Grimlok replies as if it was the most obvious thing ever. You all shake your heads no. Grimlok immediately runs back out into the hallway.

"It's no fair if you can just disappear whenever you want" you hear Grimlok yell out right outside the door "Hey...I saw you" you hear her yell again, followed by her footsteps running down the hall. The group chuckles in response.

"See, you're already part of our family" you say still chuckling.

"If we are part of your family...then my name, is Diana, and Grimlok's name, is Juliet" Diana states as a tear rolls down her cheek.

"Welcome home Diana" you reply.