Elise would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous. How could she not be? It was one thing to talk about trying new things, and quite another be invited as a guest to your husbands orgy. Her husband Lanro held her hand as she entered the chamber with him. She knew what to expect, but it was still surprising to see. As they walked to the throne she saw about ten women waiting anxiously at attention before the stone steps. To the side she saw Sharok, the withered creature that was in charge of the affair. Paladin Clare was here as well, standing at attention by the throne. Elise pulsed her grip on Lanro's arm. He pulsed back. She had been teasing him all this time, but it was nerve racking thinking about what was going to happen. She still wasn't quite sure what to prepare herself for.
"Welcome Elise, Daughter of Man, First Wife to Lanro, of the house Lanro." She nodded her head with respect. "I am Sharok, Widow to the World King Drom, Wife to World King Lanro, of the house Lanro." Elise gulped. She was suddenly very aware of how she was dressed. The crowd of orc women stared at her curiously. Elise had decided on something formal. A black skirt and suit over a white dress shirt and stockings. She had something more scandalous underneath, but she was still not certain about what her role would be, and how she would do it. Her husband was in full uniform, as was Claire. She stood tall as she waited for Sharok to continue. She didn't want to look nervous. "As with our husband, I will help to explain your roll as best I can." Elise nodded. She was still getting used to the idea that this woman was family now. "As first wife you enjoy many special privileges in our culture. However, I must explain your place." She clacked her tongue against her teeth in thought before saying, "How many sons have you birthed for your husband?"
Elise's grip tightened on instinct. It was a sensitive subject. She could speak about it in front of Lanro, but it was entirely different in front of a crowd. Her husband spoke for her, "She cannot bear children." he explained.
"Oh." Sharok said with a sigh. She could not tell if is was relief, or disappointment. "In that case, before we continue, I would like to speak with Elise." She looked to Lanro, "Alone."
"Why?" Lanro held her tight. She felt his strength and relaxed.
"Wife to wife." She spoke, "We must agree on terms. I have spoken to every other of your wives so all know their place. There are things that women say to other women without the ears of males."
"Then Claire will be with her." Lanro said. "It's not that I don't trust you Sharok, but Elise is here for the first time-"
"I understand, and this is acceptable." She nodded and bade Elise to join her away from her husband. Elise looked to Claire and saw her go to her other side. She looked up to her husband. He was patient and smiled. Elise slowly let go of her husband, stood upright as if she feared nothing, and walked confidently with a Paladin at her side. In reality, she was terrified to be alone with Sharok. She knew it was cruel to say, but the creature reminded her exactly of what fairy tales warned about. A hag in ragged robes whispering cryptic words.
Once she went to the old lady, Sharok led them away from the room and into another one to speak privately. "We will not be long my World King." She said as she entered a simple area that looked like it was made to house robes and other accessories for visitors. Paladin Claire inspected everything carefully before she allowed Clare to enter. Finally, The door was closed and Sharok began, "Elise." She said the name slowly and carefully. She was worried that the hags words would spell doom to her name, that her voice could carry a curse. "It is an honor to meet you." She gave a short but slow bow, as if it was all the give her back could manage. Elise returned the gesture.
"And it is an honor to meet you as well." She smiled and responded.
Sharok smiled widely, several teeth were missing from her mouth, the others were not quite angled right. "We will get along, I think." Her demeanor was slowly changing to a kindly matron, but Elise was still on guard. "Your husband is a great warrior. And he chose a wonderful bride." She continued. "We brides however, have rules. I know not of the rules of your people so I will explain ours."
"Of course." Elise nodded.
"Firstly, it has been decided that I would be head wife. I manage the palace and it's holdings. None but the World King can give me orders. Is that clear?"
So this was about the pecking order? Elise wasn't going to back down easily. "But what would the World King think think if you offended me?" She asked innocently. "He chose me first after all. That must count for something."
The smile widened to fill half the face of Sharok. It was almost grotesque. The witch laughed, "Indeed, so you understand the position we are in!" She seemed very happy to be dealing with an opponent that understood the game, "However, if he had to chose, please tell me," She asked, "If he had to take the side of you, or the mother of his child, who would he pick?"
Elise wasn't sure. The question was like a slap on the face. She didn't know how to answer. She said, without any evidence, "Me of course. He loves me."
"Ah." Sharok said. It was an acknowledgment of the answer, but it was not agreement. "I am glad you have such faith in him. You are truly a good wife. I will be happy with a sister like you." She continued. "But will you be a good mother? When his wives bear sons, will you love them?"
She was again in uncharted waters. She let her instinct answer, "Yes."
"Even if they do not look like you? Or share your tongue?"
"They are his." She answered. "That is all that matters."
"Good. We are in agreement in that area then." She explained, "You will do nothing to harm the children of your sisters. You will see them as your own, correct?" Elise nodded. "Good." She put her hands together, as if she were making progress, "Now then, what experience do you have of property and finance?"
"Well, I can pay my taxes well enough." She said, "Well, I do pay a CPA to check over everything-"
"What about the whole of nearly three hundred people? More, in the future?" She asked. "Could you keep that all in order? Would you trust yourself to do that work? Would you even enjoy it?"
"Not really no."
"So an expert then? With experience would be the best for that job?"
"I suppose so yes."
"Good. We agree again." She nodded. "On last question. If, by some strange twist of legalities, your marriage with your husband were annulled. Would you still trust him to take care of you? Does he love you this much?"
"Of course! What a strange question." Elise wondered where she was going.
"Then I suggest a small change to today's proceedings." Sharok continued. "By ancient law, as first wife, you have the right to first child. This means that, until you have a child," She paused, "You would be able to kill, or abort, any child born before yours." She let the message linger.
"I wouldn't." Elise shook her head. "That sounds terrible-"
"Indeed. And rarely is it important, as first wives almost always have at least one child. My Granddaughter already shows signs, and she was not even directly fertilized. But the wives will be scared of you. You are not simply of a rival clan, but from a clan that rivals all orcs." She explained. "And they may even try to harm you. They will see it as an act of self defense, and defense of their children."
"I suppose you have a solution?" Elise asked.
"Well, not only is this an issue," Sharok waived her hand in the air in a lofty way. Elise suspected that this conversation had been planned far in advance. "But as first wife you would also have the responsibility of managing your husbands fortune. As you have said, this would be not only stressful, but also not efficient." Elise let her continue. "Finally, since your trust with him is so complete, I have a modest proposal that would suit all our needs quite well."
"And what is that?" Elise asked. "Please get to the point. I don't mean to be rude, but I feel that you are trying to make suspense on purpose."
"Perhaps I am. I apologize." She admitted with another grin, "But in any case, I feel that, under our laws, it may be best to treat you as a new wife, and not a first wife. You were never married under our law, so it is acceptable. I have already spoken with the women today and negotiated a spot for you."
"So," Elise took a deep breath, "You want me to forfeit my title as first wife." She gave a knowing smirk to the older woman, "And I suppose that title would then go to you?"