Chapter 52. Drow

We traveled for most of the 'day' before stopping. The only way I knew it was almost night was because of the timer for our return. The mushrooms continued to glow regardless of the time so there was not traditional 'night' down here.

That being said the Drow woman were very skilled. On multiple occasions creatures that had only existed in my DND campaigns tried to jump out at us even with a giant Dragon walking beside the group. But each time they had been dispatched quickly. It had become an interesting game to them as whoever landed the final blow got to feed the corpse to Tarakona. A task they all immediately came to enjoy as my princess let them pat her as she ate.

I was just glad she was still feeding.

Once Ventress had determined we'd made enough ground she ordered them all to set up camp near a cave inside the bigger cave. Unfortunately Tarakona didn't fit and didn't trust them enough to use her other form, so we'd set up a smaller camp outside that had eventually become the main one as they all wanted to be around the 'powerful' Dragon of frost and the 'prime specimen' of a male. Their words not mine. They had also taken off their hoods.

"Congratulations on your pregnancy." Ventress said with genuine enthusiasm as we sat around a heating stone that was cooking some mushroom creature for dinner. It smelt wonderful.

"Yes. After Clovek fell out of the sky and swore to protect me it was only really a matter of time." Zeldi gushed as one of the Drow woman held a hand over her equine abdomen. Apparently she was a healer so we thought it was best she give Zeldi a look over.

"You're lucky there Zeldi. Most of our Matriarchs would pay a hefty price for a male in his condition. Tall enough to tower over the common beggar and with enough muscle to lift a house. Gods below the children he would produce would be unstoppable." Another one of the Drow praised. Mavalk I think was her name.

Turns out the whole group of Drow all knew Zeldi from her time as a caretaker. They had been trading a lot of items for her milk and had put it to good use.

Without needing to rest they had trained and trained until they had become the best fighting unit the family had ever produced, and having kept their secret about how they had done it the Matriarch had promoted them to a position of power they wouldn't have been able to obtain otherwise.

Unfortunately because of their new promotion they had been unable to return to the surface much to restock on Zeldi's milk, hence the still lacking traders on our end. A problem we both knew could easily be solved with this whole alliance they wanted to form. My first condition was that they had to come to us.

"Keep your pussy in your pants Mavalk. He's Zeldi's male remember that." Ventress countered giving her a hard stare.

"I know that." Mavalk grumbled. "Hey Zeldi what will it take for you to give me a go with your breeder. And I want to be pregnant when he's done so no shooting blanks."

Tarakona snorted in amusement. The frost floating away in odd shapes.

"Find me a Livestock for my farm and you have yourself a deal." Zeldi answered.

Ventress slapped her hand to her forehead. "Gods below. Didn't you just get back from the brothel? Why do you want another?"

"Like you don't want to feel him grabbing hold of you with those big muscles. Feel him force you to submit just from raw strength alone. He's practically built for manhandling us around."

There was a crash as one of the other Drow dropped her weapon from where she was practicing. Apparently the stimulation of what was being said was too much.

"Enough Mavalk. While I won't deny your reasoning we are ment to be professional, especially around Zeldi." Ventress commanded. All the Drow that had been listening in embarrassingly looked away and got back to their respective tasks.

"Zeldi is one of the few that knows us from before our promotion. I'm sure she doesn't mind." Mavalk countered.

"Hold your tongue." Ventress hissed.

"It's fine." Zeldi finally said. "It's good to see you guys again after all this time. I've had a very stressful time since you stopped coming back."

"Apologies for interrupting but your child is still in the early stages of development. I can't say for certain if it will stay yet but it is healthy so if you continue with a good diet and regular exercise there should be no problems." The healer Drow said moving away from Zeldi and came to sit around the heating stone.

"That is great news." Zeldi said excitedly.

"Will your child share your gift?" Ventress asked as she began to cut the meat into strips, handing one to Mavalk and the healer first.

The reason for this became clear as Mavalk took a bite before saying it wasn't poisonous while the healer made sure it was safe for Zeldi to consume. The effort they were going through was nice to see but it made sense if they still thought she was this powerful person.

"This is amazing." Zeldi let out when she was finally was given her share. "But to answer your question, no. My child won't share my gift and I'm glad for that fact. She or he will be free to leave the farm and won't ever have to be forced to like I was."

There was a hushed silence as the group all digest what she'd said. They each new part of her story it seemed. Ventress however didn't let it last too long and latched onto the first part of the conversation.

"It's only cave crawler. These creatures grow like weeds in these parts and are the main food source for the jumping rainbow." Ventress replied taking a bite of her own meal.

A plate was given to me but it was obviously smaller that the rest. A fact Zeldi noticed. "Can you give him more? Can't have my breeding servant losing any of his muscles after all."

That seemed to surprise the Drow but they complied without making a fuss.

[What's a jumping rainbow? I can smell something that has lingered here before but I'm struggling to even guess where it's coming from.]

"What's a jumping rainbow?" Zeldi asked Ventress for Tarakona.

"A creature of the blackest abyss said to haunt the very soul of the Underdark. One that takes children from their cribs without remorse...."

Whack.

Ventress slapped Mavalk on the back of the head to silence the tale.

"Do not scare Zeldi." She growled her subordinate. "Apologies. It's a creature we know very little about. We tame spiders down here with the help of Driders and they say it is one of them but of an unknown breed. Either way, it's fast, lethal and venomous. We call it the jumping rainbow because anyone that has survived can only recall a rainbow pattern as it moved."

Seemed like a wonderful creature.

[Fast or not it can be frozen.]

That was actually very reassuring.

"But don't worry. It usually only attacks those trying to enslave livestock. Many merchants have lost their life's even with warnings." Ventress said as if it was no big deal. "Being one yourself means it will leave you alone so don't worry."

Zeldi and I exchanged glances. I hadn't enslaved her but would that matter?

[It will not get close to you Master.]

"Thanks." I whispered. "If anything does happen I'm sure you guys will just bring me back right?"

[Without hesitation.]

A few of the Drow watched me with interest as it looked like I had a one way conversation with Tarakona but they didn't say anything.

"We should reach our Matriarchs hideaway shortly after we wake up. It should give us enough time to get you cleaned up before talks begin." Ventress said once everyone seemed to have had enough to eat. The only ones not eating were the two on guard duty.

Zeldi pinched her top. "I feel like I should have prepared better for this moment."

"Not to worry. We will have the best seamstresses we can afford make you something that will be worthy of your position." Ventress put her worries to rest.

I was definitely not going to complain about another outfit for Zeldi.

"If I may be so bold as to make a request." I spoke up.

Before any of the Drow could respond Zeldi answered. "Of course. What is the request?"

She was enjoying this way too much.

"Tarakona, my lady." I said with a bow. "If talks of any alliances are to take place it would be only fitting that she was present."

"Quite right." Zeldi said with a nod, though she did throw me a quick thank you. "Ventress. Tarakona my tamed Dragon has the ability to turn into a form resembling my breeding servant. Is it possible to extend the offer of new clothing to her as well?"

That caused all of the women to snap towards my Centaur then to Tarakona herself.

"What do you mean? Are you saying she can transform at will? Without a polymorphing potion?" The question came from Ventress but from the way all the other Drow were looking it seemed to be an impressive feat.

"Yes." Zeldi responded puffing her chest out. "I will no be asking her to demonstrate it here but if arrangements are made you may get to see it later."

Suddenly Tarakona became the main event as a few jaws were left hanging open.

"Is it that impressive?" I whispered but may as well have shouted because of how quiet it was.

[I have not spent a lot of time amongst other species so I have no idea. It sounded like a simple thing for my quest reward as it was needed for us to mate.]

"Should you deem it worthy enough to make your tamed Dragon transform it would be our honor to cloth her." Ventress finally replied.

Tarakona brightened as much as she could in her Dragon form. I had to stifle a laugh.

I had a few doubts about the Underdark before but even if I have to play the part of a servant, it was worth it if the girls were having fun. We might also be able to secure some regular traders as well.