Banished Pt. 02

The matron indicated to us now, as she spoke.

"But the strength of the auslander is enduring. Before the sun-cycle, their strength neither wanes nor waxes, as the life-heart grows evermore, with power."

Wait, was she implying that we don't age as they do? Surely that couldn't be right, I thought.

As the matron spoke, she raised her left hand, wrist facing forward, and I shot Cameron a quick look, and she nodded.

Our wrist implant, I thought. Just how much did these people really know about us?

As our translator finished speaking, the matron banged her staff on the floor, as she made a declaration.

"Lucilla Mater requests that the princess stand before the council."

Cameron shot me a questioning look, and I shrugged.

It was the first I'd heard of any princess, but it now made me curious about their system of governance.

A princess and a council.

As I pondered the matter, the doors opened up, and as I turned around, I saw her.

She was a petite thing, with a pretty, round face, much like Francesca's, and dressed in robes which flowed down to the floor, and draped all around her.

Tribal markings had been painted on her face, adding to the spectacle that seemed to surround her entrance, and she wore an intricate headpiece which not only covered her hair, but framed her face.

As she entered the room, my eyes zeroed in on the headpiece, which stuck out, to me.

It was silvery, and clearly made of metal, with etchings of the great trees in which the city had been built, on its sides; and unless I was mistaken, it was the first item made of metal that I'd seen in my time at Palancar.

I eyed Cameron, wondering if she'd noticed it as well, but instead she seemed to be giving me a 'don't you dare ogle the princess' look.

I was still trying to convey my message when to my surprise, and Cameron's, the girl walked right up to me, then extended a hand, and brought it to rest on my cheek.

She stood on tip toe, as she leaned into me, bringing our faces uncomfortably close together, and our noses brushed as she nuzzled, somewhat affectionately against me.

"Götze," she whispered, a desiring look in her eyes, and as she stepped back and took up her own place beside us, I glanced over at Cameron, only to see my own shock mirrored by the open-mouthed look of surprise on her face.

The princess then nodded to Garbung, and at this, he stood up and began to speak.

"The princess is offer her sanctuary to Auslanders, in discussion for power," the girl translated, and murmurs could be heard around the council at this.

The murmurs continued for a bit, before the angry looking Kobalt man stood up, speaking with serious agitation, and as the gasps momentarily intensified, Lucilla herself banged her staff on the floor.

I looked to Gisela for a translation of what was said, but she averted her eyes, swallowing uncomfortably.

Cameron was shooting me a worried look, but the disturbance simmered down as Matron Lucilla brought her staff down onto the floor.

She yelled something at the man who'd spoken, and he seemed to be in genuine shock, immediately bowing deeply, and speaking, apologetically it seemed, to the matron, then to the princess.

Well that's a relief, I thought. If the matron's authority is beyond question, then we're good here as long as we stay on her good side.

A look of anger, however, remained in the Kobalt man's eyes, as his gaze shifted between me and Garbung.

I made a mental note to enquire about the exchange later.

The matron spoke again, and this time, the council chanted in response, in unison.

"The council's discussion is unanimous," Gisela translated, and as I looked over to Cameron, she shrugged.

"Good job?" she mouthed, but her attention quickly turned to the princess, who it appears, was now ready to speak.

"The princess wishes knowledge of the Aulander's name."

"Nathan," I replied, but the princess quickly crossed her arms, turning her nose up as she shook her head in disapproval.

"Götze," she replied, stressing the word, and Gisela quickly translated.

"The princess wishes you be called, Götze."

Wishes, my ass! I thought.

She might as well have just changed my name.

"I consent," I replied.

The princess smiled happily, for a moment, before putting on an air of austerity.

"May I know the princess' name?" I asked.

Gisela relayed the question, and the princess answered, a strange, mystifying look on her face.

"When it is due," Gisela answered.

The princess studied my reaction, before speaking again.

"Before the council, Herr Götze, do you pledge your power unto the princess?"

I looked to Cameron who shot me a look that said 'go with it!'

"I do," I replied, a little apprehensively.

"Do you pledge unto her your loyalty," the girl translated, as the princess circled me, pausing to hear my response.

I gulped.

This was becoming problematic.

After all, this was a contractual agreement to which I had no say in the terms, but what choice did I have but to agree?

"I do."

"Do you pledge onto her, your honor," Gisela translated.

"I do."

The princess smiled, pausing before me this time as she spoke, and Gisela cleared her throat, speaking in a lower tone this time as she translated.

"Do you pledge to the princess, the seed from which Godlings of her own, will grow."

The princess took my hand, and rested it suggestively on her stomach, swaying girlishly as her eyes remain locked onto my own, and I blinked several times, as my powers of comprehension seemed to momentarily fail me.

"I, uh..."

Bring forth godlings...

Fucking hell.

This is what they meant!

This is why my calm acceptance of their proposal was met with those dubious looks.

I glanced quickly at Cameron, who shot me that same warning look.

The princess's brow wrinkled, as she waited, expectantly, and I gulped.

Gisela quickly spoke to her, and I caught enough of her words to understand that she'd told the princess my confusion was due to a fault in her translation, and I shot her a thankful look.

"They're expecting you to accept," Cameron said, in a hushed whisper. "Stick to the plan. Accept now, and work out the details later, right?"

"That was before I found out they wanted me to impregnate their princess!"

"Apologies, Auslander, but the princess' patience is not well known."

There was no choice, really.

I took a deep breath in.

"I do," I replied, trying hard to contain my grimace as Cameron grinned with delight at my discomfort.

The princess' annoyance seemed to evaporate instantly at my enunciation of acceptance, and now, she looked at me, that desiring look in her eyes as she spoke.

"Do you pledge unto the princess, the pleasures of your flesh," Gisela asked.

"I do," I replied again, and this time, the matron stood up, making a declaration as she banged her staff onto the floor.

"The matron declares you and the princess to be of one heart, one flesh, and one soul."

Fucking hell.

I just got married, didn't I?

The council erupted into a series of cheers, but even as the meeting seemed to come to an end, I noted that several council members, most notably the angry man, but along with several others, seemed thoroughly displeased with the development, and they remained seated even as the other council members surrounded us, offering various words in a congratulatory tone.

"Did I just get married to a Kobalt princess?" I muttered to Cameron, and she shrugged, almost unable to contain her sheer delight over the development.

"You took one for the team, and we appreciate your sacrifice greatly" she answered, winking and smiling widely.

We were ushered from the hall, and out of the old, decapitated tree, where a veritable mob awaited us.

As we emerged from the old tree, the princess took my hand in hers, lifting it to a thunderous rain of whistles and applause.

To my relief, I noticed that our translator had managed to remain close by, and I turned to her, trying to speak above the din.

"What happens now?" I asked.

"The princess will escort the gods to her grove. A temporary resting awaits until your own branch upraises."

"That's good, right?" Cameron called, and I bit my lip.

"The sun's getting low," I replied. "We need to get back to the others."

Cameron nodded.

"Maybe you can get a word in when you get to her, uh, grove or whatever."

We walked, quickly, considering the spectacle, and our parade finally ended as we entered a large tree somewhere off to the left and several trees away from the old tree where the council had convened.

As we entered the tree, the princess spoke to Gisela, and she nodded, quickly relaying some commands to the Kobalt standing around us.

They quickly rushed off, and I turned now to Gisela.

"Will Garbung be meeting us here?" I asked, and she nodded.

"He will be here shortly."

As we waited, some Kobalt came rushing in, and I was surprised to find that they seemed to be bringing in pieces of furniture, which they quickly assembled into a modest, but comfortable, seating area.

The princess took a seat beside me, and offered Cameron a spot on a separate, single chair, beside us.

As we sat, the princess seemed to be answered questions from a group of Kobalt who, from their dress and manner of speaking, appeared to be of some kind of elevated status.

We waited for about ten minutes, when Garbung finally came hobbling in, with the Kobalt matron in tow.

Gisela signaled to him, and he quickly came over to me, bowing deeply.

"Meister Götze," he addressed me, before speaking to me in German.

I looked to Gisela for a translation, but her attention seemed to be directed elsewhere.

"My friends," I explained, in German, "when can we bring them here?"

He considered the request, and I noticed the princess was now also studying me.

"Godlings?" she asked, and as Garbung nodded, her eyes flickered first to me, then Cameron, with interest.

"Like this one?" she asked, and I bit my lip, taken aback by her sudden use of English.

Her accent was quite thick, with the 'this' sounding a bit more like 'zis'.

"Uhh," I replied, unsure of how to explain, when Cameron cut in.

"Like me, like him. Both," she replied, gesturing to our bodies, and as the princess considered her response, I noted that her eyes now travelled up and down Cameron's body.

"When?" she asked, and I let out a sigh of relief.

"As soon as possible."

The princess didn't seem to understand, and Gisela quickly translated.

Her response however, was of such surprise, that again, I became suspicious that there was something getting lost in translation.

"Tonight?" she said, and I looked to Cameron, trying to convey my misgivings, but Cameron was oblivious, and she quickly answered in the affirmative, shooting me a look of 'well that went perfectly.'

The princess spoke, now to the matron, and the two spoke in hushed tones for a bit, before the matron made a declaration, clearing all of the other Kobalt out of the area.

She then spoke to us, and Gisela quickly translated.

"The princess says that it is not her place to prevent the introduction of new Godlings, but her presence is demanded in the bringing forth ceremony."

"Uh... sure, that sounds fine," I replied, and Cameron quickly nodded in agreement.

Gisela relayed the replies to the princess, and she clapped her hands together, speaking again, but now, quite excitedly.

"The princess wishes to prepare the Goddess for the ceremony," Gisela relayed, speaking to Cameron, and as Cameron nodded, the princess rose up, giving an excited squeal as she took Cameron's hand.

"What? Now?" Cameron asked, as the girl pulled her up.

She shot me a panicked look.

"I can get the others by myself," I replied, but she didn't seem pleased.

"How do I know you won't run away?" she asked, and I sighed.

"Troubling, as these developments might be... you were right. This place is the best possible place for us to settle down. So, you can relax; I won't run. I'll fetch the others and be back here before you're ready for this ceremony."

Cameron sighed, but nonetheless agreed, and the princess quickly whisked her away, along with Gisela.

There goes my translator, I thought, as Matron Lucilla hobbled away, after them.

I turned now to Garbung, hoping that my rough German wouldn't get me into more trouble.

"How soon can I leave?" I asked, in German, and the man seemed confused.

"Leave?"

"To fetch my friends. The other 'godlings'?"

He furrowed his brow as he considered my request, and as I took in the reaction with some confusion, Gunter came bursting into the room.

Garbung quickly spoke to him, indicating to me, and the boy nodded enthusiastically.

He said something to Garbung, and the man nodded, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"These gods. Are they of kin? Family?" he clarified, and I nodded quickly.

A lie, sure, but maybe this would convey the urgency.

Garbung deliberated for a bit, before finally, offering me an answer.

"We will dispatch a team in the morning to extract the God-kin."

"It's urgent," I replied. "Can't we go now?"

The man spoke to Gunter for a bit, then shook his head.

"The journey will see nightfall. It is too risky, auslander. The forest beyond the grove is perilous at dark. One day you will see strength enough, but it is not now."

This was bad.

Every second Francesca and the others stayed in the guild hall brought them closer to calamity.

The man, sensing my concern, spoke to Gunter again, and this time, the boy bowed, then headed off.

"There are hunters I can dispatch. They will spend the night looking over the God-kin, and Gunter will go with them. In the meantime, auslander, you should eat. Rest. Prepare for the ceremony."

I was about to ask how the ceremony to welcome my friends could still happen when if we couldn't go get them until the next day, but Garbung waved away my concern as he left, apparently to attend to other matters that urgently needed seeing to.

He left me in the care of several capable Kobalt boys, none of whom, it seemed, spoke German, but instead that kind of pidgin tongue that most of them seemed to speak.

I was taken, first, to a room within the princess' 'grove', where food was brought to me.

It was very much like the 'apartment' in which we'd spoken to Garbung.

After I ate, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that even running water was available, as my attendees urged me into taking a shower.

As I undressed, I was initially unsure of what to do with my knife as I was reluctant to leave it out of reach, so I decided to take the shower with the belt strapped on.

Water seemed to come through a system of bamboo like, hollow, wooden stalks, but I had little time to examine the mechanics behind it as my attendees, to my annoyance, pushed me to quickly wash myself, before dressing me in a new set of Kobalt style-garbs.

The robes, evidently cotton, were quite comfortable and easily allowed me to keep my knife concealed, and I was also provided with a pair of wooden sandals which were much easier to slip on, and unlike the leather boots that came with the survival set, really allowed my feet to breathe.

But now that I was changed, fed, and felt somewhat refreshed, I suddenly noticed that there seemed to be some intense conversation taking place between my attendees.

I tried to listen, to see if I could pick up any German, but between their unique accent and the rapidity with which they spoke, I eventually gave up, and instead, opted to lay down on the bed, made available, in my room.

I felt... tired.

It had been a long day, and as I found myself drifting in and out of a light sleep, I hoped that the now pointless 'welcoming ceremony' would not be anything particularly taxing.

Eventually though, it seems, I did drift off, as I stirred awake to the sight of the Kobalt princess, shaking me gently, and casting me that somewhat suggestive look she was so fond of looking at me with.

"Ugh," I groaned, as I sat up with some difficulty, and I found myself, somewhat unexpectedly, alone in my room with the princess, Gisela, and Cameron.

Cameron seemed a little fidgety, and I rubbed the sleepiness from my eyes, as I took in the scene around me.

"Gisela, can you ask her? If I can speak to Nate alone," Cameron asked, and the girl nodded.

As Gisela spoke, the princess looked at Cameron for a moment, and as Cameron shot her a nervous smile, she shrugged, then headed away from the bed with Gisela, towards the seating area just beyond.

"Jeez, I hope this ceremony isn't some big hullabaloo," I began, but Cameron quickly cut me off.

"Nate, we're in trouble," Cameron whispered, her voice low, but desperate.

"Yeah, I know, but hopefully it'll be fine. It's just one more day."

"What do you mean?"

"The others? Bringing them over here," I replied, my curiosity now piqued.

"No, you don't understand," Cameron replied, exasperatedly. "It's about the ceremony."

"Calm down. Explain," I countered, sitting up and paying attention.

"We don't have much time. Matron Lucilla is on her way here. They think we want to make Godlings, Nate. Our godlings."

Ohhhh.

Bring forth godlings, I thought, as realization dawned on me, and I let out a laugh.

"Oh, this is brilliant. That's why they think we want sanctuary here. They think we wanna make babies!"

The princess cast a curious look our way, so I brought my laugh down to a low chuckle.

"This isn't funny Nate."

"It is, a little. What's the big deal anyway? It's a misunderstanding. We can just back out. Just, say you're not in the mood, or on your period or something."

Cameron shook her head, tearfully.

"You don't get it, Nate. Your princess is fucking psyched as hell about this. I've been trying to get out of it all evening but she's not having it at all."

Figures. She didn't look like the type to handle disappointment particularly well.

Besides, as far as they were concerned, this was probably a rare chance for the princess to observe how us Gods copulate in preparation for her own venture in birthing Godlings.

My Godlings...

Sigh.

I didn't mind so much bedding the princess.

That in itself was thrilling.

But mutant Kobalt-babies weren't high on my list of priorities.

Anyway, back to the predicament at hand.

What should we do?

You know, now that I think about it... it kinda serves Cameron right.

I mean, she did laugh at my own situation with the princess earlier.

It'd make for a nice karmic revenge... well, maybe not.

She did seem pretty terrified.

Guess I'll help her out.

"Let's just fake it," I offered, and Cameron studied me worriedly. "I mean, they probably don't even know if the parts match right."

Cameron quickly looked away, and I sighed.

"Out with it," I said, and she bit her fingernails, nervously.

"Before I knew what they were about... they, uh, examined me, Nate" she replied.

I rubbed my temple, a headache starting to set in.

"I just thought it was a 'curiosity' thing!" she replied, her frustration and fear taking over.

"Okay, okay. It's fine... we can still fake it, we just need to be convincing, right?

Cameron nodded, accepting that this was perhaps the best way out.

I glanced over to the other room as the door opened, and some more attendees ushered Matron Lucilla into the room.

"Fuck," Cameron cursed, a brief look of panic in her eyes.

"Okay, think quick! Just... get on your knees, and I'll get behind you, okay? Use our robes, to cover it up. We'll just kind of grind on each other a bit. Just don't rush, make it look natural."