Fledgling Demigod

Sorry for the delay, everyone. Doing some major editing and formatting and being sick to boot makes me not feeling like doing shi-, er, anything. A big thank you to those still interested in my stories. While they may never go to print, it means a lot to know that people are interested in them. And now, back to the story!!

~Ghost~

4

"Why did you ask Matilda to join us?" Galen asked. They lay naked under the covers on their side with Miranda in the little spoon position.

"Mmm," she moaned as he gently pinched her nipple. "Hmm?" she asked in a distracted hum.

"When I had you against the wall in the corridor," he explained. "You told Matilda if she wasn't going to join us to prepare a bath. Why did you say that?"

She hummed in appreciation before sighing and pulling his hand away from her breast, entwining his fingers in her own. "Remember when we were in the field and I asked you to marry me so the emperor couldn't take me away?" she asked.

"I remember," he said, and started kissing the back of her neck.

She moaned again then gently chastised him. "I can't concentrate when you're doing that, husband."

"That's the idea," he said, kissing her again, but relented. "Okay. I'll stop. For now."

She hummed again in appreciation and sank further back into him. "Thank you. What was I saying? Oh, yes, and remember when you said marriage was a sacred ritual between a man and woman and I corrected you by say women?"

"Yeah," he said, remembering. "I was going to ask about that but forgot about it in the heat of the moment."

"Well," she said. "Women outnumber men ten to one here. In this part of the world anyway."

"Really?" he asked, surprised. "It's about even back home. So why haven't I seen more women here? Pretty much all I've seen is men in the castle. Besides the female servants, anyway."

"Women aren't allowed to rule," she explained. "We can't serve in the defense of the kingdom. We can't own our own shops or even make purchases that a man normally would."

"That's crazy," he said.

"That's the way of the world," she explained almost nonchalantly.

"Then how do they survive?" he asked.

"By marrying any eligible man that has the means to take care of them," she explained. "Unless they are able to circumvent the law somehow."

"Like?" he asked.

"Take shop owners, for example," she explained. "Some, though rare, are women who employ a man they trust to own the shop on parchment, but secretly run it in behind the scenes. The kingdom knows it's going on but doesn't think it's worth it to spend the resources to enforce the law. So, as long as the shop owner doesn't blatantly show their true identities, the monarchy looks the other way. Likewise, some women are able to disguise themselves, rather convincingly I might at add, as men in order to serve in the city guard."

"Wow," Galen said. "So what does that have to do with asking Matilda to join us in our...um..."

"Fucking?" she finished for him with a playful giggle and wiggled her ass against his cock.

"I was going to say enjoyment of each other's bodies," he said with a chuckle. "But that works, too."

She shrugged. "As I said, women far outnumber men here. It's nothing for men who are in good standing and wealthy enough to have any number of wives."

"Really?" he asked, incredulous.

"Truly," she said. "That's the biggest reason I asked you to marry me and petitioned for your writ of nobility. In the beginning anyway. Since the king approved, I'm pretty much in the same circumstance as the women shop owners. You own the castle on paper but I'm in the background actually running it."

"So I'm back to owning nothing," he said, grinning.

"You are my husband," she said, turning around to rebut his statement, but smacked his shoulder when she saw his playful smile.

Turning back around to nestle against him once more, she continued explaining. "Since we are married, all father's wealth is now yours. You are wealthy enough at this present time to afford to marry at least a dozen women."

He stiffened in surprise. "A dozen!?"

"Possibly more," she said.

"How would I even keep up with them all?" he asked, a little sheepish.

"Presumably, each wife would be in charge of a specific recurring task in the castle," she explained. "That would keep them busy enough to not be idle and in need of your attention all the time. For example, I'm your first wife-"

"Second," he said, interrupting her gently.

"What?" she asked, turning fully to face him, her face scrunched up in confusion.

"Second," he said again. "My first wife is still alive as far as I know. I know she's on another planet but she's still my first wife."

She nodded. "I understand," she said, giving in. "However, I'm considered first wife here, so the duty falls to me to manage the household."

"Okay," he said. "Go on."

"I am in charge of the day to day operations of the castle that don't necessarily require your attention," she explained. "Say you married Matilda. She would be in charge of the hospitality of the house. Another might be in charge of the kitchen."

"So you're saying there's a hierarchy among the wives, with the first wife in charge of them all," he said. "Am I understanding that right?"

"Yes and no," she replied. "While I am first wife and in charge of the duties of the other wives, it's not like I go around ordering them about at my leisure."

"So you're all equal in the structure of the marriage," he said, trying to understand. "But you have the ability to overrule a decision they make in their respective duties?"

"That's simplifying it, but yes," she finally answered after a long pause to think about what he'd said. "I would never do that, of course, without discussing it with the wife in question to understand her reasoning for the decision in the first place and trying to find a resolution that we both could agree on."

"And if you couldn't come to a resolution with her?" he asked.

"That's where you would have final say," she said with a smile.

"Okay, but, what about lovemaking?" he asked.

"What about it?" she countered.

"How would I keep up with a dozen women's libido?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

She reached down and gripped his shaft beneath the covers. He jerked in surprise but his cock responded almost immediately by starting to harden. "I don't think you have a thing to worry about in that department, husband," she said, kissing him softly and pulling back with a devilish smile on her face. "How many times did you harden tonight, not including when we were making love?"

He thought about it for a moment. He nodded. "As many times, if not more."

"Exactly," she said with a triumphant smile. "No, I think even if you had a hundred wives you'd be able to pleasure us all equalling with ease."

"You're confident in my abilities," he said wryly.

It wasn't a question but she answered anyway. "Supremely."

"Back home I was lucky enough to get it up once a day," he said.

She chuckled slightly. "I'm so glad you don't have that problem now."

"What about jealousy?" he asked.

"Mm, well," she said, shrugging. "It happens from time to time. Usually the jealous party is reassured repeatedly that they aren't purposely being ignored. Most commonly by cock," she said, squeezing his shaft again. "Though by the other wives as well. Even if we don't get along well together we will still make peace to ensure the household stays emotionally intact."

"You keep doing that," he said huskily. "And we'll have to go another round."

"Fair enough," she giggled and released him. Although the damage was done, he was determined not to succumb to his desires. She'd already had just about all she could handle.

"So, let me get this straight," he said. "Even if the wives don't like each other, they'll still try to reassure each other when one or the other is feeling left out? There's no bickering among the two women?"

"Oh, there's plenty of bickering," she explained. "But no backstabbing."

There was a soft knock at the door. "My lady? My lord?" Matilda softly called.

"Perfect," Malinda said, her eyes twinkling and Galen narrowed his eyes in suspicion at her. "Come in, Matilda. We're decent enough."

The door creaked open and Matilda's blonde head poked around the side. It looked as if she didn't believe Miranda, but when she verified they weren't openly nude, she stepped just inside with her hand on the door. "I was just about to head to bed, my lady, and was wondering if you needed anything else before I retire."

"Actually, yes," Miranda said. "Will you come closer, please, and close the door?"

Matilda blushed softly but complied. She neared the side of the bed that Galen was on, even though Miranda's side was closer. Galen looked her up and down. She was slightly shorter than Miranda but no less beautiful. She had soft, blue eyes and a petite nose above full lips. She had high cheekbones that narrowed to a dull point at her chin that Galen thought was almost adorable. She had full breasts, slightly smaller than Miranda's, but a more narrow waist and wider hips. Her legs, what little could be seen because of her wide, flowing housemaid uniform, were toned and muscular. Miranda smirked softly at Galen as he eyed the beautiful woman. "Yes, My lady?"

"Tell me, Matilda," Miranda said. "Do you think my husband is handsome?"

Matilda blushed a few shades deeper but nodded. "Yes, my lady."

"And given the chance, would you marry him?" Miranda asked.

Matilda's eyes went wide as her head whipped up and she looked between them. Galen could tell she was conflicted, but not uncomfortably so. "Miranda, I don't think-" Galen started to say but was interrupted by a delicate finger across his lips.

Matilda smiled shyly then answered. "Yes, my lady, I would."

"Wonderful!" Miranda said with a playful smirk. "I'll make the arrangements."

"WHAT!?" Galen and Matilda exclaimed in surprise.

Miranda laughed merrily. "I'm just kidding," she said. "It's not my place to propose for my husband. You know that Matilda." Miranda was looking at the housemaid as if she were the most beautiful girl in the schoolhouse. "Tell Galen how you feel about me," she ordered.

The blushing blonde's face went white in fear. "I-I couldn't, my lady," Matilda stammered.

"What's going on, Miranda?" Galen said, his voice taking on a confused edge.

Miranda sighed. "Tell him, Mattie," she said. "I promise no matter what you say I will not hold contempt against you for it."

"Miranda," Galen started to say but was cut off by Matilda's sudden vehemence.

"I hate her!" the housemaid blurted out.

Galen looked shocked. His eyes went wide and his mouth fell open in surprise. "Why??" he asked, extremely confused. Miranda was so kind and thoughtful to everyone all the time. The fact that anyone could hate this loving woman made his head spin.

"She's mean!" Matilda said. "She plays mean tricks on me. She puts rocks in my bed. She stole the only boy I ever wanted and sent him away. She even put a frog in my milk once! I fell off my chair in fright and broke my tailbone. I couldn't sit properly for weeks and the only punishment she got was she got locked in her room for a day because her father was the ruler of the house!"

Miranda just smirked and looked at Galen as the blonde girl finally ended her diatribe, breathing heavily in anger. "In my defense," she said. "This was all when we were children."

"It still doesn't excuse the behavior," Matilda shot back.

"And I have apologized for it on multiple occasions, have I not?" Miranda asked, a bit haughtily.

"Yes," Matilda said. "But some things an apology can not cure no matter its sincerity."

"And there you have it," Miranda said. "Yes, I put rocks in her bed. Yes, I stole the only boy she was interested in but I didn't send him away. His father got summoned by the emperor to serve in his royal guard so he had to move to the capitol."

"So you say," Matilda said, crossing her arms in contempt.

"And, yes, I put a frog in her milk," Miranda said, sounding defeated. "I picked on her as a child on multiple occasions, but I grow weary of apologizing only to have it thrown back in my face as if I were trying to spoon feed her rotten milk."

"If she apologized so many times," Galen asked. "Why is it so hard for you to forgive her?"

"Because to this day she has never given me a reason why," Matilda said defensively. Miranda blushed but didn't say anything. "She just gets angry like she is now and walks away."

Galen looked at Miranda then back to Matilda. "So, why stay, then, if you hate her so much?"

Matilda's face took on a look of consternation. "Because I fear the emperor's harem more than I hate her," she said barely above a whisper. "I heard he treats his concubines little better than dogs. Lady Miranda, though I hate her so, is the only reason I've not been taken as ever since we came of age I've been assigned as her personal handmaid. So long as I am in her employ, the emperor can't have me."

"Right," Miranda said. "Now that that's out of the way, Matilda, if you were to marry Galen, how would you react to us being sister-wives?"

"I would put my hatred of you in the back of my mind so as to maintain the harmony of the house," she said through gritted teeth. "But that doesn't mean I'd have to like you."

"This is crazy," Galen said.

"I, AM NOT CRAZY!" Matilda yelled, stomped her foot angrily, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

"This is entirely your fault, you know," he said gently, looking at her.

"Way to rub it in," she said, her mouth setting in a thin line across her lips.

"That's not what I mean, my love," he said, stroking her cheek softly. "You need to tell her."

"Tell her what, exactly?" she asked defensively.

"You know," Galen said. "You're attracted to her." Miranda's face drained of all color. Then, just as quickly, it reddened to almost purple in embarrassment. "My guess is you always have been. That's why you picked on her as a kid. You didn't know about those feelings when you were little, only that she was the most beautiful girl you'd ever seen. You might have even been a bit jealous of her beauty. But something about her made you feel good inside and any attention you got from her was worth whatever harm you caused. Am I right?"

She nodded softly. "I really did try apologizing to her repeatedly," she said as she sniffled slightly. "I treated her horribly as a child. Only when I grew older did I realize the scope of my actions. By then it was too late. She'll hate me forever."

"It's never too late," Galen said as he kissed her on her forehead. "You heard her. She never forgave you because you never told her why you treated her the way you did."

"I don't know, Galen," she said. "I'm just so tired of being rejected. I sincerely regret my actions as a child and want so badly to make up for it, but getting rejected again will not be pleasant."

"That's why you requested her as a personal handmaid," he said. "But, was it to keep her safe? Or was it to keep her close?"

She looked up into his smirking face and spluttered a laugh. "You are a brigand," she said, laughing.

"Tell you what," Galen said with an easy smile. "I know you care for her deeply. Her hatred of you never dampened your love for her, apparently, so I'll make you a deal. Tell her how you feel and the reason for your prior treatment of her. Try and mend that rift between you and I'll start courting her if that's what she wants. She can be my third."

"Oh, Galen!" Miranda cried as her eyes lit up. "Do you mean it?"

Galen laughed good-naturedly. "Of course I do," he said with a wide smile then raised his hands in defense. "Not saying I'm going to sleep with her any time soon, but I'll start building a relationship."

"You are a wonderful man!" Miranda cried and without another word, sunk down under the covers and took his still rock-hard cock in her mouth, which was a good thing as it had started to get uncomfortable.

~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~

The following week Galen found himself gaining a bit more footing in the knowledge of Terra. Not only that, he began to understand his role in the castle a bit better. He was in charge of anything that had to do with military, which he was uncertain about as he never had anything to do with the military back home. He didn't let that deter him from his duties, though, and assigned a couple of the higher-ranked officers to be his advisors. One of the officers happened to be female. Though, as Miranda had said, she hid it amazingly well.

~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~

One day, Galen confronted her in secret. He couldn't help himself. "I know your secret, Lucifer," he had whispered with a playful smirk. "Or should I call you Lucinda?"

She stiffened and turned to face him. They were alone in his drawing room outside of the throne room after a recent instruction in defensive tactics. She was massively built for a woman, almost as tall as him, and he could tell that even in her armor her muscles were larger than any woman he'd ever seen, and most men's. And he'd watched many a Miss Olympia event. She wasn't a woman you'd want to tangle with. To ensure her disguise stayed effective, she never took off her helm in public. It was a full-face helm that covered most of her face, leaving only her eyes and nose visible through the hole in the shape of a T in the front. Even then you'd have to squint to see inside it.

"My lord?" she said, hesitating only briefly.

He waved away her concern. "Not to worry," he assured her. "Your secret is safe with me."

"I'm not following, my lord," she said and it was evident through her tone that she knew exactly what he was talking about. He could barely see her eyes slightly through her helm.

"I just wanted to let you know that as soon as I can I'm going to make it so you don't have to hide who you are anymore," he told her. "Won't it be good to be able to show your face in public without worrying about being jailed for breaking the law? And possibly forced into a harem somewhere?"

She hesitated only briefly. "If I were a woman disguised as a man so I could serve my liege as I've always dreamt of doing, then yes," she said. "I would be absolutely elated. I might even be willing to bed the man that made it possible." Her eyes twinkled with mischief and Galen could tell she was smiling.

"Carry on, Lucifer," he said in a normal tone of voice, dismissing her with a smile.

"As you will, my lord," she said and saluted him with her fist to her chest before turning toward the door. As she walked out Galen thought she walked a little straighter. Did she just try swaying her hips in all that armor as she opened the door? Galen couldn't help but chuckle. It was awkward looking, but she had gotten her point across.

No sooner had Lucifer left than Miranda and Matilda walked in immediately after. "Husband," Miranda greeted him with a curtsey and a wide grin.

"My lord," Matilda greeted him with a soft smile and a curtsey.

"Ladies," Galen greeted them with a slight bow of his head. "To what do I owe the pleasure of such beauty bestowed upon me this day," he said in mock-shakespearean speech. They both giggled and blushed with pride at his complement.

Miranda had been true to her word and the very next day, after Matilda's outburst, had confronted her slighted housemaid. Matilda had just apologized profusely to Galen for her demeanor the night before and assured him that it wouldn't happen again. Galen had waved away her apology and assured her that given the situation he didn't blame her for her outbursts. Miranda had taken her aside immediately thereafter. They had spoken in heated whispers before Matilda had stormed off with Miranda close on her heels, the housemaid's fist gripping the Lady's gown as if she might get away. It struck Galen how odd it must seem to the other servants to see nobility led by another servant and he had to smile at the thought.