Chapter 54. Drow Matriarch

Zeldi was given a minute to appreciate her dress, though she didn't give Tarakona's side near as much attention. But instead of being jealous Tarakona ended up coming over and kneeling down so she could rest her head against Zeldi's flanks.

[Soon sister Zeldi. Soon you will be the fine mother we know you will be.]

With a sniff Zeldi nodded to Tarakona not trusting her voice. A tissue of silk was provided that she used to wipe her eyes before blowing her nose.

After a few seconds Zeldi straighten herself up and nodded towards Ventress who had snuck in during the reveal. "We're ready to see your mother."

"Then if you would follow me." Ventress indicated to the door and started to walk. We all fell into step behind her with me in the middle of Zeldi and Tarakona.

Once we were outside the changing room the rest of her group fell in to surround us as we made out way down the hallway.

"Expecting trouble?" I asked automatically as I noticed all of their weapons were drawn.

"Yes." Ventress replied to me but I got the impression she was still not use to answering to a male.

"Why?" Zeldi asked in my place seeming to notice as well.

"We weren't exactly subtle in our arrival." Ventress replied this time with more information. "The other high class families will definitely have taken notice and be trying to get any information they can about you. If they do feel like you're a threat to them they will try to remove you at whatever cost."

Charming.

"But don't worry. All the guards are on high alert. No one is allowed to enter the home until you all leave." Ventress added as if it made it all better.

Zeldi moved in closer to me at that while Tarakona went from still admiring her dress to watching the shadows. The thin layer of frost she left behind with each step also got slightly bigger.

It didn't take long for us to reach a massive set of doors that stood open revealing a rather large room with only a square table in the middle. Ventress ushered us all in while her group took up positions along the wall on each side before the massive doors were closed.

"My mother is currently making sure all the food is ready and won't be too long. Please take a seat." Ventress said motioning towards the table.

It was obvious then that I was ment to stand as the side furthest away from us held two chairs that looked like they were ment for royalty, while the side closet to us held a comfortable stool ment for Tarakona so her wings weren't in the way and a long bench with enough cushions you wouldn't notice the wood for Zeldi. There was nothing for me.

At this point Ventress stepped to the side to join her group while Tarakona took stock of the room.

[This room is too small for me to transform in, though if there becomes a need to I will. The scent of the Jumping rainbow is still around but weaker than when we were outside.]

"That's reassuring." Zeldi answered with and stated to make her way onto the bench. I ended up helping her as she was struggling but we eventually got her on.

"Oooh this is soft. I'm definitely going to need some help getting out of it." She said with a giggle.

Tarakona likewise hopped onto the stool without my assistance and began to prod the silverware as if it was a foreign item. Now that I think about it she'd never eaten in this form so it might have been.

Before I could make a comment the doors behind us opened again and six men came in with serving platters. The moment the door opened I put myself at Zeldi's back end but relaxed when they all just placed their items on the table before leaving. Ventress made sure the door was shut as well.

As we all remained looking at the door a Drow wearing the most extravagant dress full of colours and gems stepped out from the wall opposite the door with a gracefulness that seemed at odds with the silence she moved with.

"Honoured guests. It is to my own happiness that we welcome you to my home." As she approached she moved with the fluidity of a ball room dancer. "Please eat. The food has been prepared especially for your tastes."

Behind her walked another Drow only her eyes were solid white. I'd first thought she was blind but she moved her head like she could see. This was reinforced when her sightless gaze found me and she smiled.

"It is an honor to meet you as well Alovama." Zeldi responded with a small dip of her head.

I tried to think back to if her name had ever been mentioned before but drew a blank. How had Zeldi known?

"Ah you must be Zeldi. My daughter has told me so little about you. It's almost like she was trying to keep you a secret." The now named Alovama replied as she sat down.

Ventress and another of her group stepped forward and began cutting up the food. Like before they each tasted everything before placing it on my girls plates. I was still just standing awkwardly behind them but with the added benefit of the blind Drow still staring at me.

"Ventress my dear, join us. It seems only fitting for the daughter of mine that brought Zeldi here to be given a seat."

Ventress opened her mouth to refuse but stopped herself when her mother raised an eyebrow.

"It would be my pleasure." She said instead as a chair appeared with a snap of Alovama's fingers.

Again my eyes found the not so blind Drow looking my way only this time she was holding a hand over her mouth to hide a laugh.

A moment of silence descended over all of us as everyone but Tarakona and myself ate. I wasn't given a plate nore did I ask but Tarakona didn't even want to eat in her Draconess form.

"Now then." Alovama started placing her elbows on the table and leaning forward after enough time had passed. "I won't beat around the mushroom. We need some of your power miss Zeldi. Yeneff here has predicted your arrival and that whoever you would align yourself with will become the strongest Drow family in the Underdark. So what will it take for you to align yourself with my own?"

Yeneff for her part couldn't contain herself and finally burst out laughing.  "Alovama I absolutely adore you but Zeldi was not the one I predicted would be our savior."

We all looked at her strangely and when it looked like she was about to finish she found me standing there in the equivalent of a gimp suit and burst into another round. It was now that I realized she must be the seer Ventress was talking about, but that she'd failed to mention just who was this powerful person.

"Explain." Alovama ordered as Yeneff finally came down.

Yeneff flicked her wrist at me before calming down enough to speak. "Zeldi here is owned by Clovek. They both are. The master that I predicted would change our future is the one you have all designated their breeding servant."

"I mean their not wrong there." I responded joining in finally.

"No. I suppose they are right in that regard." She turned to Zeldi. "You will give birth to a wonderful and more importantly healthy baby girl. Though that will only be your first child." She ended it cryptically with a smile.

Zeldi stunned by everything finally brought herself back at that. "Really? What's colour will she be? Will she still be a Centaur? And how many will I have?"

"Patience." Yeneff said raising her hand to silence my mare. "Telling you everything now would ruin the surprise. Would you really stop at three fouls if I saw that was all you'd have?"

The question was met with a resounding no from Zeldi. How many was she expecting us to have together?

"Alovama dear would you kindly make a seat for our main guest. Then we can really begin talks. Though I admit it is amusing he has gone along with it for this long." Yeneff laughed again as Alovama snapped her fingers again to make a chair appear beside Zeldi.

"When in Rome do as the Romans do." I said as an answer then realized none of them would get it. "It's a saying from where I originally come from. Means when somewhere else do as they do."

"Even if that means being treated like a servant?" Yeneff joked.

"I don't see a downside to being a breeding servant." I returned. "Though I do admit this outfit is very constructive."

"It offers a very good view." Zeldi butted in as she reached over and undid the collar before handing it back to Ventress.

The Drow accepted it with a nod. She was trying to make herself seem as small as possible having realized she had created this blunder.

Instead of teasing her I gave my full attention to the Drow Matriarch. "So then. Explain this alliance to me?"