Chapter 360 – Portal for Healing

The Queen had us brought to a study. Books dominate the walls, only broken up by the window behind the Queen.

"Please sit, Alzi," the Queen says. "Thank you for all your work. I've gotten whispers about what you've done since the marriage. Thank you."

"What do you mean?" I ask. The chairs are soft. Soft enough to make me want to curl up on them and fall asleep. But I need to heal at least one woman today, even if it isn't a soldier.

"The Goddesses," the Queen says. "The Goddesses. I know you must have given up much to get their support. Thank you. You're already making a difference in the war. The Goddess of War is letting us see the entire battlefield, helping us find the right places to defend, helping with evacuating our towns, and even suggesting ways to approach the battles themself. Just that alone will save countless lives. Then the fact that our women feel better gathering around the fires, even getting healed a bit. Our water supplies last a bit longer than they should. Our orders are always correctly written out for our leaders to follow them. And our women aren't being taken by death as fast as normal, giving us more chances to heal them. Lots of little things. No, a lot of help. These aren't just small things the Goddesses are supporting us with. Just thank you. This war is still going to be devastating to us, but this is going to be magnitudes better than I had hoped for. And I know you wish to do even more, healing the women directly. I'm not going to get in the way of a healer who rivals my wife, but I have to keep you safe."

It's good that I'm getting more than I asked for from the Goddesses. I just hope Future doesn't do something bad. I don't know if she's mad about our meeting or not. Should I try to appease her? "I'm happy they are helping," I say. "I would like to be a healer."

"Of course," the Queen says. "The question becomes how. How do we keep you safe and let you help the injured? The stupid answer is the Goddess of Space. I say stupid because I'd basically be asking her to be a carriage driver for us. She's too great to do that for us lowly creatures, even for her wife. Instead, we need to figure out how to build a portal to here and offer the Goddess of Space something in return for her help."

Well, I have a great way to ask that question. 'Hey, Space, dear, is there a way you could teleport the injured to me? I need to stay safe, or this is pointless.'

'I can't do it for free, but if you have some sacrifices... They don't need to die, just act as anchors. I could give out a rune to a Champion that would let you all build the other side. My Priestesses have built a portal in my temple already.'

I should just go with Nakuma. She's been helpful, and if I keep Yuki around, I'll basically control her. I can't go too far without Nakuma snapping, but that leaves plenty of room for control. I'm happy to leave Yuki to Nakuma most of the time. They just have to offer themselves to be fluffed sometimes, and we'll be even. Yes, Nakuma is the better choice, even if the Kitsune Queen would be the stronger choice.

'Nakuma?'

'Any Kisune with the right affinity, my love.'

Then Nakuma. I have some slaves that can act as anchors. 'The anchors won't die, right?'

'Correct, they would work for it.'

"I have a solution to that problem," I say. "I'll need to bring Nakuma and some of Azula's wives with me to Space's temple. I'm not sure if we can get it set up today, but soon. It won't be perfect, but it will work. Just for the injured. We can't abuse this transportation."

"This mess was caused by me not adhering to the Goddesses' rules correctly," the Queen says. "Tell us the rules, and we will follow them. There is nothing else for us to do. Is there anything you wish to discuss with me?"

Is she seeing if I'll tell her about Elora? "No. I just got support from the Phoenixes officially now."

"That is more good news. Thank you. I hope we can let you relax from being a diplomat and just spend time with your family. This is all I had. Sorry for making you take a detour, but I wanted to make sure we had a path forward for you to heal safely and to thank you for the work you've done so far. If you wish, you could feel our child. She's getting very active. Also, I'm planning on having Irlo spend some days at your manor, sleeping over for a few days at a time. Would you be open to that? I know it's a stupid question, but I need to ask so you're ready for her to come by."

"I would love that," I say. Should I get dragged into this new kid? She is mine. I think I'll end up folding with Elora, and I'll marry this woman instead. So, I might as well get everything from her.

I get out of the cloud of a chair and move around the desk. The Queen scoots out a tad and lets me put a hand over her belly. The kid kicks out to my hand instantly, and I swear I feel a bit of heat come with the kick. Is the kid using mana before even leaving the womb? Is that possible? How strong are dragonkin normally? How lucky was I with Zarzi?

"She's happy to meet you," the Queen says. "Lotus would love for you to meet your other child. I'll have her come over to your manor soon, so you won't have to travel. We'll have to have a small dinner together soon as well. You can have Irlo in your lap and your unborn children flanking you for a bit. Nothing too formal."

"That would be nice," I say. "I need to get everything set up with Space."

"Of course. I appreciate your dedication. I know we don't deserve it."

"Hmm," is all I let out. I still live in her backyard. There's no need to see if she'll strike me down or hurt my children if I push her too far.

We are guided to the Temple of Space. The palace staff said they were handling getting my wives for me. Hopefully, Nakuma just teleports here with them, but I'm guessing I don't need the wives that much just yet. I need Nakuma to figure out the rune thing first, and then we can set up the anchors or whatever.

"Hello, Alzi," Yuki says. Nakuma is hanging off of her, and both women just barely have a robe covering them. Good enough.

"Hello," I say. "Nakuma, go pray to the Goddess, please."

"Ok," Nakuma says. She drags Yuki with her to some chairs and forces Yuki to sit. Then she hops into her lap, and I wait.

It doesn't take long for the change to occur. Her black fur gets dotted with golden specks. Then she darts a kiss onto Yuki's cheek. And then she starts going a little too far while in my wife's temple.

"Nakuma," I shout. "I need help getting a portal created for the injured. I have some women coming here to act as the anchors, but I need the rune for the other side to open it. Did Space give you the patterns for it?"

"Yes," she says.

"Can you draw them out for us? I want to get this started quickly."

"Fine," Nakuma says. She slinks out of Yuki's lap and goes to the altar so that she has a surface to draw on. Yuki gives me a thankful smile while fixing her robe. It'll be interesting to see what happens when the pair is stuck in bed with my kids. What will Nakuma figure out then to get her fill of Yuki? If Nanoka lets me get all three Kitsune, I can have my bed of pregnant Kitsunes filled with all the tails I want to fluff.

That might be too much, but it feels good to have some dreams that aren't just living a normal life with my lovers.

"Hello, Great Alzi," a Priestess says. "Sorry, we're trying to find the right title for you. We don't have any previous reports for this type of relationship, and our Goddess Space hasn't given us any direction. If you have a title in mind, please let us know. But regardless of that, we have been given instructions about what you plan to do with our new Champion. We'll work to prepare an area for the injured and provide you with a more comfortable room to heal them in. Please let us know if there is anything you need."

"There should be a woman, Petra, that I was working with in the last war," I say. "I would like to continue working with her."

"Very well. We'll prepare a room for her if she needs it. Just ask if there is anything else."

"I should be good for now. I just need help with the anchors, but I'm sure you know about that."

"Yes," the Priestess says. "We just need the directions from our Champion, and we'll have it ready to go shortly."

"Perfect."

...

Nakuma's a ball of energy at the altar, and her tails are a blurred flurry behind her as the only outlet. I almost thought she was about to grow another tail or something. I should ask how they get more tails so I can work on getting them more for me.

But she needs to do this work, and I'm sure my wife will get her to help me correctly. I wish I didn't have to worry about keeping her in line. Do I have to worry? She has been nice to me. I let her have Yuki, and she helps me. We both should be happy with that agreement.

"Do we think this will get done today?" I ask the Priestess. "If not, I can go so you don't have to worry about me while you have work to do."

"Um, we have to get the army to set up everything on their end as well. That will take time. We most likely won't complete it today. I'm sorry, Great Alzi. We'll have this ready for tomorrow. I promise."

"That is good enough. I should've picked a Kitsune before today, so this is on me. Thanks for the quick work."

"Anything for our Goddess and her Lover. Please, enjoy your night," the Priestess says. She gives me a small bow and moves over to Nakuma to help with the preparations.

"Yuki. Stay here, and keep Nakuma focused," I say.

"Ok, Alzi," Yuki says. She clearly wishes for me to save her from Nakuma, but Nakuma can't be anywhere near as bad as my customers were. There's just too much love in those tails of hers. Maybe if they both had more tails, they could work out their differences?

Maybe I can suggest it after I knock them up. Yuki can deal with it until then.