Side Story: Fluvis

*** Fluvis ***

"Lottie, how is your Mistress doing?" I ask.

"Why do you always ask me that?" Lottie asks. "You talk to her every day, we sleep with her most nights, and she has a body just next door."

"I need to make sure you're keeping up with her needs," I say. Estrella is pregnant now, along with Lottie. I'm a backup guard or something, so I'm still thin and able to bend over to pick up our kids with ease.

It's a good thing I was able to get most of my old maids to join us. We can make do with the three of us and my maid, but the rest of the house needs help. And I know we'll eventually have enough children to overwhelm us.

Most of my maids have become full-time caregivers for the kids, and they all love the role. The few who prefer different work, of course, have other jobs. There is still a mansion to run.

"She's doing well, as you know," Lottie says. "I was happy that she had a smile when she came back from dealing with Ashryn. She was tired but pleased. Though she did wonder who owned the brothel."

"Well, all of Ashryn's wives are dead, so it would be the crown, most likely," I say. "I believe Ashryn's last wife died in the assassination plan."

"Yes, that is what Elora told me," Lottie says. "Oh, one is about to cry. I'll get her."

I was hoping Lottie would serve Alzi more directly to make up for her stupid idea, but Alzi has too many slaves and servants, so Lottie best serves her by caring for the children unless Alzi calls upon her. It is nice having Lottie around, but I think our family has to do more for all the pain we helped cause. Still, I suppose having kids and loving and helping Alzi raise them is paying her back in the way she wants the most.

I need to invite my sister up here sometime. Her child has visited once, but they should come together. They're strange friends, and I would like them to stay that way.

"You're worrying again," Estrella says. "Alzi is happy, and we can all see that. She runs around with all her bodies, doing the things she wants to do the most for the vast majority of the day. Elora and Elo, and eventually Shimmer, are the ones who take Alzi away from her wives and kids."

"Is it bad to worry a bit about our wife?" I ask.

Estrella gives me a silly chuckle for that. "Worry about the nursery," Estrella says. "We both know Lottie is going to be filled again, and you're surely on the list for another pregnancy soon."

"I think I know the date," I say. "Or the dates that I may start growing in the midsection." I convinced Alzi to take some of the older kids on a little voyage out at sea. The ships from saving her and Elora have finally been repaired, and I think her kids would be great passengers. Maybe I can convince a few about the joys of sailing.

"Good luck," Estrella says. "I think most are going to come back seasick."

"I hope not," I say. "I need someone to follow the family tradition. I guess I can count on my sister to have a child who cares for the sea, but with how many chances I'm going to have, I'll have to think Sea is cursing me if I don't get at least one who loves the Sea."

"It would be funny if her Champion can't convince one of her many children to take up sailing," Lottie says.

"Funny for you," I say.