~~~ Chapter Notes ~~~
With the orphans safely secured, Loki's ready to look for trouble in new places. All chapters in this tale are complete and have been submitted. Hopefully, the kind, gracious, smartly-attired, and gorgeous admins will release a new episode every day or so.
~~~ Kira's Quarters ~~~
After breakfast, Kira started working on getting the girls set up with tutors. The adults helped her get study-spaces figured out and work out the rest of the logistics. Meanwhile, I returned to the orphanage, checked to make sure things were still as we'd left them, and then loaded up Dora's vegetable growing boxes.
When I returned, the tutors were getting started on the lessons - which freed Kira and Dora up so that we could get the boxes moved to where they should be. Monika gave us kisses and headed for home. Nella headed off to the kitchens to help Mila and the rest of the cooks.
The gardeners weren't overly ecstatic about having to free up some space for Dora's planter boxes. If Kira hadn't set her fists to her hips and basically ordered it, I think they would have told us to fuck off. In the end, we placed the boxes in some space that was only occasionally used for repotting things - and they finally admitted that they didn't have a good reason to object.
Any objection the group of workers had up to that point, however, evaporated as Dora began moving through her boxes and applying her magic. Hungry looks suffused their faces and they were soon begging her to help tend to their plots as well.
Satisfied that our little house-mother could now fend for herself, the princess and I took our leave. I don't think any of them even noticed as we portaled back to the rooms.
Kira grabbed my hand and practically dragged me off to our bedroom. I protested that we had other things to do but she was most insistent. She locked the door and kissed me hungrily as she stripped the both of us. She pulled me to the big bed and got me on top (and inside) of her.
She grabbed my ass and pulled me in and out as - between kisses - she informed me that she enjoyed sharing me but really needed to have me all to herself now and then. By then, I was aching to fill her and I assured her that I loved having her all to myself as well.
A few orgasms later, we quickly bathed and I asked her about talking to architects, engineers, or someone to see about getting hot showers installed. Once we were dressed, she led me to a few workshops and introduced me to the people who would make things happen.
Our group returned to the royal quarters and I started showing them the test-pieces that I had and began going over what my ideas were - listening to see how we could most easily implement what I had in mind.
While I was thus occupied, Kira went to see how the tutors (and the students) were doing. She returned a few minutes later, squeezed my butt, and gave me a smile. It seemed that things were going well.
The workers and craftsman took the items I had and made arrangements with the princess on getting access to the quarters so that they could complete their work. They hoped to have a working model ready within a few days. In the meantime, they asked me to go back to the potter and the smith to get more pieces made. They also suggested that I have the stonemason report in with the palace's architects. They would find some work for him to do as well.
Kira and I came out to find that Dora had returned. We left the girls in her care and ducked off to the kitchens to grab a quick bite. We told Nella (as we had Dora) that we were heading out to take care of some errands and would be missing lunch.
Nala asked where Alia was and we told her that she was getting lessons. She asked her mother if she could join. Kira said that she didn't see why not. I gave Nella a kiss (and a butt-squeeze) and Kira told me to give Mila equal treatment. When I pulled the cook into a hug, she pressed her lips to my ear and whispered that she could hardly wait to join Kira and me for sex. She covertly squeezed my dick as I kissed her. I began to wonder if overly-active libidos ran in their family.
Nala went with us back to the rooms and joined the last of the lessons. Meanwhile, Kira and I portaled back to the orphanage.
We visited the potter, the smith, and the mason. The mason headed off for the palace immediately - angering his wife - who was just finishing her work on their lunch. Kira laughed at the poor woman and hugged her. The mason's wife insisted that it was our fault that she was eating alone and demanded that we join her. I was glad that she did. She had baked some kind of shepherd's pie. I loved Dora's stews - but this woman was an amazing cook. Both Kira and I praised her endlessly - and ended up waddling away after finally refusing third helpings. The first had been more than enough and the second was twice the quantity of the first. I was completely miserable.
Kira and I walked and walked - trying to work off our indulgence. As we walked, she mentioned that we'd probably need to check the alleys after dusk in order to find most of the vultures that hid in those shadows.
We visited the next well and stood watching the old women and teenagers waiting their turn for the bucket. I told her that - in my old world - we had windmills that powered pumps that pulled the water up. She pulled pen and paper from her storage and I sketched out what I thought would work. She stored it away, saying that she would bring it up with her father.
I saw a face that looked familiar and noticed that the young woman recognized me as well. The teenager who'd been called out for flirting with me came over to chat.
"I'll be of age in two weeks," she said, quickly getting to the point.
Kira laughed and the girl scowled at her.
"I like you," Kira said, looking the girl up and down. "Tell me why I should share my husband with you."
"Husband?" the girl asked, looking from Kira to me.
"A fairly recent development," I told her.
"I know my letters," the girl told my fiancée.
"So do most of the girls your age in the palace," Kira shot back.
"Most girls my age don't live in the palace," the girl retorted.
"Can you fight?"
"Uh... Do you mean with weapons?"
"Yes."
"Before my mother died, Father used to take me hunting. He taught me to use the bow."
Her face fell.
"That was some time ago," she admitted.
"Two weeks?" Kira asked her.
She nodded, her eyes downcast, her confidence ebbing.
"I'm of a mind to take you with us," Kira told her.
The girl's face shot up, hope rekindling.
"During the day, you will be trained to use the bow and will be tested for magic. You will be tutored as I deem appropriate. You will be trained to attend me as a servant. If - after two weeks - I am happy with your progress, you will travel with my husband and I and help us with our work."
"What work, mistress?" the girl asked.
"Does it matter?" Kira asked.
"I was merely curious, my lady," the girl asked, turning her eyes to the ground again.
"What do you know of my husband?" Kira asked her.
"He... He healed Malta's foot. I have... I have heard rumors that he helped the orphans - and that he destroyed those who used to come around to collect coins with whispered threats for those who refused."
"You would tie yourself to one such as he?" Kira asked her. "He frequently gets into deadly fights."
The girl looked up at me and then looked at my future bride.
"He looks well enough," she replied.
Kira laughed and said, "He is capable... and comely, is he not?"
"He is, my lady," the girl whispered, blushing and looking down at her feet.
"Your mother is gone? Let's go talk to your father."
"He... I have not warned him that I was planning to leave," the girl said, looking a little afraid.
"I can be most convincing," Kira told her.
The girl nodded and said, "Yes, my lady. I am beginning to see that."
Kira laughed again.
"Grab her water-jug, husband," Kira told me. "Follow us."
"I... I have not had my turn at the buckets," the girl told Kira.
"Loki has learned to call water," Kira told her. "He can fill it up while I deal with your father."
"Yes, my lady," the girl said, offering a curtsy.
"Lead on, then, my new assistant," Kira ordered.
"This way, mistress," the girl said, heading off.
I grabbed the water-jug, laid it over my shoulder, and followed my future wife.
Several blocks later, we stopped in front of a modest home.
"I'll go and get him," the girl said.
"That's alright," Kira told her. "I'll just knock."
"He..."
"He can answer the damned door himself or I'll have Loki knock it down," Kira told her.
"Y... Yes, mistress."
Kira pounded on the door like she'd been taking lessons from the palace guards. She probably had.
It was more than a couple minutes before the door opened a crack and the haggard man peered out.
Kira had moved the girl to the side. The man could only see Kira and me. He looked at her and then addressed me.
"Help you?" he asked.
"Yes, you can," Kira said. "I'm here to offer you two weeks' pay."
"For what?"
"For your daughter," Kira told him. "She will serve as my assistant and I'll pay you the coins in advance."
"Not interested," he said.
"She tells me that she'll be of age in two weeks," Kira told him.
"Where is she?" he asked. "What have you done with her?"
"She's standing just to the side, waiting for me to finish talking to you so that she can gather her things."
"You can't have her," he said.
"As I told you a moment ago, she has informed me that she will be of age in two weeks' time. Are you telling me that you intend to hold her hostage here?"
"Who'll fix my dinner? Who'll fetch the water?" he asked.
"It is neither my fault nor hers that you can't be bothered to find a new wife to look after you," Kira told him.
"Now you listen...," he said, his voice getting louder.
"Loki, go and get the guards," Kira told me, without taking her eyes off of him.
"What...?" he asked.
"Our negotiations are at an impasse," Kira told him. "We can continue once the mediators have arrived."
I set the water-jug down and turned to head towards the well.
I heard the door opening and turned around, my hand going to the dagger on my right. The man glanced at me and then looked to find his daughter and then focused on Kira.
"You're not giving me much of a choice," he complained.
"I'll pay you for four weeks," Kira said. "Loki will fill your water-jug while the girl collects her things. He will carry the water inside for you. Once the girl has her things and is by my side, I will give you the coins. You will kiss her goodbye, tell her that you love her, and then you will - most likely - never see her again."
The man gave a huff. Kira ignored him.
"Six weeks," he said. "It'll take me that long to find a new wife."
Kira frowned but finally said, "I hate to give in - but I think your bid might be too low - so I'll take it."
She turned to the girl.
"Gather whatever belongs to you," my fiancée told her.
"Little enough...," the girl murmured as she headed for the door.
The man raised his hand. I pulled my blade.
"She doesn't belong to you anymore," I said.
