Work with Devona on plans for Arin and Fiona, before sating her desires.

The rest of the day goes uneventfully, as the arena and training area is cleaned up after Devona and Cielina had their duel. Dinner is quiet and peaceful, and you retreat to your bedroom afterwards. It isn't long before you hear a knock on the door, and you open it to see Devona walk in, planting a kiss to your lips. You hear the clicking sounds of her low-heeled ankle boots, even though you cannot see them through the fabric of her noblewoman's dress, which fully covers most of her body. Otherwise, her hair is unpinned, letting it flow freely down to the small of her back. You close the door and lock it, while Devona sits down on one of the wooden chairs by the table. She waits for you to join her, and then she begins to speak.

"First of all," Devona tells you, "Cielina will make a full recovery, and I hope she will understand that she has an equal in battle. I find it interesting that you have Dwarven dentists that can fix and help maintain people's teeth."

"My grandfather brought them over during his reign." You reply. "They were there, when I needed my teeth realigned, even though it was quite painful at the time."

"I may have to consult with them, should I become your queen," Devona tells you, "and I do hope my win over the Amazon has improved my position in your eyes. But at any rate, I believe we must now focus on how to address Arin and Fiona's own personal issues?"

"Aye." You respond. "I have scouts and spies keeping an eye on where the Dark Elves are encamped, and getting a best estimate of their numbers. The same goes for those that **** Fiona, as well as pinpointing the location of where she is being held captive."

"Hhmmmm." Devona replies. "On a normal situation, I would just handover Arin to the Dark Elves, and make the Gaelic tribes pony up whatever ransom Fiona's abductors are demanding for her release. It would help maintain peace in Itheria, and you could take a fair share of the ransom to fill your coffers, as well as finish to the fortification of The Goldfields. However, because both Arin and Fiona are two of your alternatives in your choice of a queen, it looks like me and the other Frost Knights will now be at the frontline for dealing with both the Dark Elves, and those that **** Fiona."

"You will be at my side, along with Cielina." You tell her. "Your fellow Frost Knights will assist the royal guards and Arin's fellow Elves on dealing with the Dark Elves, should the need to battle arise. The same will go with a rescue plan for Fiona, where the all-women's regimen will be involved."

"If you ask me, Bryce," Devona replies, "they are still in need of training, and they are not fit for battle yet. Why use them so early?"

"Some of the women were farmers and trade workers from The Goldfields," you tell her, "am I correct?"

"Aye." Devona tells you.

"They can use their old skills to help distract some of the abductors," you tell her, "while our forces get into a position to strike at them, and start an attempt to rescue Fiona."

"A very interesting idea, Bryce." Devona replies. "I'm starting to like it. My fellow Frost Knights can spearhead the attack, with assistance from the Elves."

"And I'm certain you want to continue to prove your worth compared to Cielina." You tell her.

"I most certainly do, Bryce," Devona tells you, as she stands up and walks to the bed, sitting down at the edge of it, "in court, out in the fields, and most of all, on your bed."

She gestures for you to join her, and you do exactly that. Once you sit on the edge of your bed, she moves to sit sideways on your lap, wrapping her arms around your neck. You turn your head to face her own, seeing the brightness within her brown orbs. That's when she leans forward, and kisses your lips hard and deep.

"Bryce?" Devona asks you.

"Aye, Devona?" You reply.

"I overheard Cielina talk with her...fellow sisters...about the daughter you sired with her after the double-invasion of Phebis." Devona tells you. "Have you thought about what you would have her do, if you choose me as your queen, instead of Cielina?"

"Nay, not yet." You tell her. "If I choose you, and you let Cielina return to the islands, then what becomes of Brianna is up to Cielina herself. Should something happen to her, and it forces her younger sister to take the Amazons' crown outright, then we would have to see if she will raise Brianna herself, or if she will give her to me. Devona, if Brianna was to move to Itheria, and you're queen, what would you do?"

"Raise her as a Frost Knight." Devona tells you, calmly and promptly. "As a bastard child, she would have little or no titles here in Itheria, because Cielina would not be your queen. Given her pedigree, I would have her raised and trained to become a Frost Knight, and adapt to the Itherian ways. The only way she could ever become queen, if something happens to us, and any children we make. Otherwise, she would obtain nothing else other than being a part of the Frost Knights."

"I will keep your word in mind." You tell her.

"Thank you, Bryce." She tells you, and plants another kiss to your lips. "When do we deal with the Dark Elves?"

"When night falls on the morrow, as per the Dark Elves' demand." You tell her. "After that, we can focus on rescuing Fiona."

"Then I believe we should enjoy this night now," Devona tells you in a soft voice, "while we still can."

With her last statement, she pulls you with her, as she shifts to lay on the bed, and holds you on top of her. You begin to kiss her passionately, with Devona moaning her approval, as she closes her eyes. Some time passes, before you feel her move her hands down, and starts to loosen your robes. In response, you remove the loose robes, and start to loosen her dress.

"Yes, Bryce!" Devona tells you in a soft voice. "Take control tonight, please!"