"This is bullshit." The growl came as a fist hit the smooth metal of the control console and several officers looked away, shifting uncomfortably nearby. The command deck of the Savage Dawn was spacious, some 60 crew members manned it, a mixture of men and women all in the dark brown, yellow and gold that made up the uniform of the Magic Control Council forces.
The symbol of the God Apollo was on every back and button and the words "To preserve all humanity" was written in elegant script above the main forward viewscreen. The woman leaning on the command console grit her teeth, long brown hair falling over her shoulder, dark brown eyes narrowed as she shifted her feet and hissed at the message on the screen before her.
"Pergrand does not recognize females in authority. Withdraw, or promote a man to lead you and have him contact us once all females are stripped naked and in chains ready for harvesting."
Cristine Gnome was a General within the Magic Control Council, the head of its hunt forces. Gnomes were a reality, a race on Ensla and Cristine was half gnome half human. They were considered a human race since most didn't use magic, like humanity their birth rate of magic users was around 5%. She had risen through the ranks quickly, shrewd, pretty and ruthless; the MCC suited her, she was like a fish in water among their forces and within their belief system.
Humanity wasn't meant to use magic, magic was the main tool of demonic races, devils, warlocks and witches. Surely it was a fine tool, but allowing magic users to walk about free was stupid, you couldn't trust a mage, they were too strong, had too many advantages that weren't natural. The argument had been before world leaders for thousands of years and still almost half the world accepted mages and some, fortunately a small number, of kingdoms even actively refused MCC cooperation.
Like Pergrand. The Patriarchal Kingdom was massive, high tech, and had the largest slave trade on the planet, rivalled only by Xillian with Joya coming in a distant third. Pergrand's current King was a man named Raimarc Karadin…a green mage, so it shouldn't surprise her he was not helpful and so by extension neither was his country. The church of Apollo though was the prevalent religion in Pergrand, because Apollo promoted male superiority…he was the patron of the MCC because he also promoted human superiority and believed mankind should not have magic as a tool.
She had found the ship…the one that had broken into HER re-education camp under her command and had freed Lorence Fairstar…
Lorence Fairstar…a white miasma mage…Miasma magic was a twin power magic…one of the most powerful types of magic in existence. The mages who held twin power magic varieties were always born…hugely strong, with larger than normal magic capacity origins. White and Black…were legendary. White Miasma was purification, invigoration, soothing and healing, and curative. Yes, it could reverse deadly illness, life threatening diseases and injuries…but it could also put people to sleep, relax them to the point they couldn't move, and lull their minds into a vegetative state…things they had seen Lorence do to those handling him. Moreover…because a white miasma mage was one half of a twin power magic…there was a black miasma mage somewhere in the world…and that mage…would hold the power Black Miasma held, plague, disease, miserable suffering and death…true dark death magic. Every mage born from a twin power magic could sense their opposite…which meant Lorence…was like a hunting dog if he wanted to find the Black Miasma mage that was out there somewhere in the world.
Underneath all of that? There was also the fact that Lorence's magic…when he suffered enough, made his body literally weep off a pearlescent mist, collected, that could be distilled into an elixir that reversed all signs of aging, removed wrinkles, cleared age spots, smoothed out skin, made hair a deep rich youthful color and even got rid of brittle bones, and aching joints. Cristine called it the Elixir of Youth…and it had cemented a very high status for her within the MCC, so she got things she asked for. Lorence was also…a beautiful child, with his dove gray eyes and exotic black and white hair, he had a lilting soft voice and smooth silky pale skin…his body healed so fast she could do things to him that would kill a grown men 100X over and he'd come through it, recover within hours, he was her precious possession…she'd planned to keep him under her thumb for the rest of his life…and his fucking brother, his damned family…had taken him again. She could justify the chase, to hunt the Black Miasma mage…
They knew this…during moments while the MCC had had Lorence…they had torn out confessions from Lorence that he did in fact know there was a Black Miasma mage somewhere, he could feel that person. So…the MCC had started working to get Lorence to help them find that threat. If they could capture a Black Miasma mage…they could show the world how deadly mages were…prove magic was evil…use that to drive their beliefs into the hearts of every man woman and child across the world until all mages were in camps…held and contained, used to produce things, sent to fight things…became the tools for mankind they were meant to be, instead of the independent threats they were right now.
That was what Cristine did…she framed the minority as evil, as the enemy, gave people reasons to hate them, to fear them, so that they could be rounded up and used to advance the power and influence of the Director…Donagen Trumpell, Apollonite Church which was the main Evangelical Church of the world, none other was greedier or more obsessed with wealth and power, more determined to justify their priests needing to own mansions and airships and luxury items while people starved, and then of course, the upper nobility of this world. It was…perfect. She was proud of her role, of her achievements. Lorence was going to make her incredibly wealthy and powerful, so much more so than she already was and there was no end to the amount of wealth and power she needed…there could never be enough, she'd keep every scrap of it too, hold it all close, never let the smallest bit trickle from her fingers lest it be picked up by some poor lower ranked piece of shit.
People like these damned Pergrandians, who couldn't get over their mistrust of women long enough to see she represented the very church they worshipped. Sure Apollo promoted men above women…she didn't care about that because he also promoted pure humans over mages. That was the important thing, if her gender got enslaved in the process what did she care? She wouldn't be among the women chained to beds used as baby machines until they died.
"These assholes should be licking our fucking boots." she growled "Not denying us access to their shitty ports."
She glared around…but nobody met her eyes, her crew knew her too well. They avoided her eyes, diligently working at their tasks, they wouldn't dare look at her, doing so could incite her wrath.
It had taken them weeks to find the ship…and they didn't know where Lorence was…other than he was aboard that ship…or had been, it had landed many times while they had hunted it…they had managed, at a few of those places where it had landed…to ascertain it had gathered things, taken on fresh water…traded with people in towns for food and such…but nobody had seen Lorence, they had only seen his older brother…Austeel.
Austeel was an 18 year old pain in her ass, a Celestial Summoner, specifically a weaponsmaster variety of that magic, meaning, he made contracts with mythical, legendary, magical weapons and armor instead of traditional humanoid or animal spirits. Because he used weapons…his magic was seen as not only acceptable, but desirable since he was, because of his magic, naturally talented in using any weapon he made a contract with. It made him an ideal warrior, soldier…and even Magic Negative societies like Sweorta where the Magic Control Council was based, favored mages that could be as useful as a weaponsmaster summoner.
She'd tried to entice his family, he and his older brother Palance were both Weaponsmasters, but the family had this tradition of building customized ships for every child…designed around the child's personality and the envisioned future the mother of the family…Amelia Fairstar would predict for each of her children. For this reason, the Fairstar children grew up understanding where they wanted to be…Captains of the ship built for them, masters of their own futures and destinies…the family even had a motto on its family crest that said "One sky, One Family"
Stupidest fucking bullshit she'd ever heard of…she hated Solomon Fairstar…the Marquis…she smirked…FORMER Marquis of Fairstar, a Maquisate that had once thrived and contributed in a big way to Sweorta's commerce, since the family traveled the world trading goods. Now…because the family had all joined Austeel in harboring Lorence and keeping him out of MCC hands for more than a month now…the family had been stripped of their lands, what wealth the crown of Sweorta could take…and she had the authority to commandeer their ships and enslave them.
She had plans…she was going to recover Lorence…beautiful, soft eyed sweet voiced Lorence…Gods the boy was like honey, his magic would seep from him when handled right and she needed it, needed it like a drug, he would cloud the air smelling of lilies and every breath brought vigor, strength, pain was gone..wrinkles and imperfections in the skin…gone…hair became silky and glossy…you felt so strong and good, she could torture that boy for days and barely get tired, emerge ready to fuck the hell out of her body guards and looking better than when she had walked in fully rested. She had found many uses for the elixirs she could get from him, all that needed to happen was the boy had to suffer enough his magic reacted…it was easy, perfect. She needed him back.
She'd discovered it accidentally…like all great discoveries seemed to happen, they had been working on distilling the miasma Lorence produced to create thin pens that soldiers could have in the field to heal them while they fought if they were injured, the bonus that Lorence's miasma also invigorated someone more than an energy drink made this a project that had gotten immense support and funding from wealthy benefactors of the MCC, greedy to profit and benefit from it.
She grit her teeth as if going through withdrawals, she would get him back, she had to have him again and the sooner the better…even starved and thin he had an appealing body, was tall for 12 years of age, all testament to the potency of his magic and genetics, the Fairstar family going back thousands of years as a summoner bloodline. Cristine had taken him, he was HERS, her personal project and she had spent the last 9 years profiting from him more than she'd managed from anything else she'd done in her life.
She'd started torturing the boy when he was still a toddler, she liked making innocent things suffer, it was a thrill. When he'd grown old enough that he had started to look less like a starving child and more like a young man…her methods had changed…because her appetites had changed. The leader of the MCC was Donagen Trumpell and he strongly encouraged the use of young mages…encouraged making their bodies into playthings. The man liked his girlfriends to be around 13 to 15 years old, he said plainly.
"It's not like they're 5 or 8 and being with a grown man won't mess them up like it would when they're children…teenagers are different." and the reasoning made sense to Cristine, a teenaged boy was practically a man, getting them young meant you could train them up into what you wanted, make sure they were well adjusted to your tastes…and Lorence had become a mage she wanted to adjust…she wanted to control. By the time he reached his teens she'd already have him well conditioned, or that had been her plan. She'd seen his father, his older brothers, they were gorgeous, tall and handsome with great bodies…even Ambrose, who was on the thin side, elegant and pretty like Lorence was, he gave her an idea of how Lorence would look when he grew up and she wanted that.
So, she had branded herself into that boy, tortured him, conditioned him, her name was burned into his skin in every way she could find to do so, the insides of his thighs, where the skin was sensitive and the nerves worked strong…she'd taken glowing hot metal rods and burned her name there. He was HERS, she was in her 40s, and because of what she'd gotten out of Lorence could pass for someone in their early 20s, she wasn't letting that go…not ever. She was going to get him back…and Pergrand was standing in her damn way.
She rocked back on her heels, standing on a step stool, she was half gnome, so stood 4 feet tall in her heels, there were stools all over her ship because she hadn't wanted it customized for her height. She was proud of her size.
"Contact Pergrand again…tell them we'll offer them 30 male mage children if they comply and allow the Savage Dawn to capture the Starluna." She barked. She could spare less rare mages, she had them…not with her but it wouldn't be hard to deliver them…
"Yes, General Gnome." Her communications officer responded and sent the message…but it came back like all the others. Pergrand didn't need more male slaves, they had plenty, and they weren't going to work with females..period. Nearby stood one of her personal guards
Cristine paced, stepping off the stool and scowling at the monitors, they were just outside Pergrands airspace…less than a mile away a dark Pergrandian military ship hovered, its guns trained on them…on the scanners there were at least 10 more not far behind it. She didn't have the clearance…nor the desire…to storm Pergrand's top city of commerce and reclaim her prize…she was pissed beyond all reason he'd slipped from her fingers like he had…
"I'm going to enslave Austeel Fairstar…chain him to a bed and reduce him to a simpering toy…" she snarled under her breath.
-----------------------
The city of Damascas was the center of Pergrand's economy, all merchant fleets worked through it, all slave trades, all commerce passed through the city before it was either traded out, or distributed across the vast Kingdom.
The Marquis of Pergrand was Gregorian Damascas, a slender elegant man with soft brown hair and handsome features. He had grown up learning to run his city, and was damn good at it, better than his father or grandfather had been and one of the reasons he was the success he was…was he understood the laws of his nation well…and knew how to stay inside of them without actually completely sacrificing his humanity.
The Fairstar family had a small fleet of ships, traveled the world buying and selling goods, were a family of mages and…attractive. Solomon Fairstar was a success by Pergrandian standards, a man who had fathered 9 sons and 2 daughters…that rate of producing sons was absolutely amazing. And the sons…were stunning.
He stretched, rolling over on his bed and watching Palance Fairstar getting dressed. Over 6 feet of masculine beauty willing to do anything to assure his brother was protected and they could repair a ship. Gregorian hadn't made it difficult, go to dinner with him to discuss what all they needed to repair the ship…landing in bed with the man hadn't been a requirement, but he sure liked the perk. It made telling the MCC General where she could stick her requests that much easier when he had Palance Fairstar on his knees between his legs, those nice lips wrapped around his dick making him absolutely purr while he'd issued orders to aim border canons at the MCC ships.
Pergrand didn't give a shit about the MCC, sure they were Apollonite, the Pope wanted them to acknowledge the MCC and allow some operations within Pergrand…it made sense on paper, the MCC could purchase slaves that came through Damascas, mages they could use for their research, possibly even tap into the absolute genius work being done by Pergrand's top scientist, the Earl of Mortim. But…the MCC wouldn't guarantee females wouldn't be working on cases, wouldn't be coming and going, wouldn't benefit from the work…the last was over the top in Gregorians opinion but their King, Raimarc Karadin wasn't really known for his political savvy.
The Karadin line had grown more and more hateful toward women with every generation…or at least the Kings from that line seemed to. It was odd, because Raimarc's brothers were actually pretty moderate in their views and positions, but Raimarc was extreme. Gregorian closed his eyes, smiling as a warm hand ran through his tousled hair. He was a Dragonkyn mage, a fact he hid carefully, he worked in Damascas…the city of slaves, Gladiators were intensely sought after, and because of their durability and natural strength and fighting ability…Dragonkyn mages were like walking gold. He was powerful, and born nobility, but Raimarc had and could on a whim strip him of his title and lands and turn him into a toy…he had done it before. So…Gregorian hid what he was, had his fangs filed down every 4 weeks, wore caps over them and played like he was a simple shadow mage instead of a very deadly Dark Matter Dragonkyn. Palance would have made a delightful mate for him…it was sad the dragon soul within him hadn't so much as twitched toward the exotic looking man.
"I need to get to the docks, get started on those repairs." Palance said, sitting on the edge of the bed delightfully naked, tanned skin showing places Gregorian had left a few marks, it had been a very good night, his tilted head made the thick white hair on the right side of his head fall forward over his shoulder and Gregorian smiled up at him somewhat lazily…reaching a hand out to toy with the glossy ends of that silky white hair.
"I've already ordered the parts you needed delivered to the dock where your brother's ship is…the MCC ships are sitting over Icerend…I sent their coordinates to your father, you won't have trouble evading them if you phase jump to Bosco." Gregorian said, a hand sliding along Palance's thigh making the man smile.
"A wonderful dinner…great sex…you've made this whole experience so much better Greg." Palance smirked at him and Gregorian grinned.
"Any time…please do visit again." he said, stretching his body on the bed and patting Palance's ass as the man stood again, smiling at him over his shoulder as he left.
Palance quickened his stride once he was clear of Gregorian's front door. The tall man ran his fingers through his hair, letting it fall in waves to his shoulders as he left the building and walked into the crisp air. Damascas was always brisk even in summer and in early spring they still had some snow here and there. He caught plenty of looks, his hair usually did, half black half white, a genetic product of his bloodline, all children of the Fairstar line had black and white hair, carried by the males of the line his sons and daughters in the future would all have it, though his daughters children wouldn't…not that the hair color mattered.
He took some pride in it, it was very distinct but not something he was concerned about in his future grandchildren…if he ever married a woman…if he and his family survived all of this MCC bullshit. His bright blue eyes narrowed in anger…it infuriated him…his little brother being targeted, tormented, denied a happy childhood among a family that would have provided that in abundance to him like it had for Palance…he had nothing but happy memories growing up…until the MCC started gaining ground…kidnapped his baby brother.
Now he wanted to get his hands around the throat of Cristine Gnome…get Donagen Trumpell in front of the guns of his ship…the Regulus was named after one of the stars in Leo…a key Palance held, he held the contracts of Leo and Aries from the zodiacs, the rest of his contracts were weapons…his magic was heavy weapons summoning though he'd managed to contract two humanoid spirits, the rest of his contracts were weapons…canons, a couple of mass destruction pieces he'd love to shove up that generals ass and watch work.
A burly blonde was suddenly walking alongside him and he glanced at him.
"I didn't summon you Leo." He said and the man shrugged, thick blonde hair moving in the crisp breeze as he smirked at a few passing men.
"You haven't in a while…been busy I know…so I thought I'd come to help with the repairs." Leo replied.
Palance smiled faintly "Since when do you know airship repairs for a custom blockade runner?"
"I'm learning…been spending time with Argo…who is built into that ship…they're so proud of that by the way…they like bragging." Leo said and Palance snorted.
"You can help…but I'd prefer having you investigate the MCC, have you found any way in?" Palance asked and Leo smirked faintly.
"Possibly, it seems the MCC does have a summoner in their ranks, they aren't on General Gnomes ship though, they're stationed in Sweorta."
"Good enough, talk to Aries, and see about getting in there." Palance said. Leo nodded, eyes skimming over the busy street they walked in the busy city, small and large airships flying by in varied directions above. Damascas was always busy, 24 hours a day the city bustled with activity. A man walking its streets was easy to lose, though Palance, with his distinct hair always stood out, he wasn't dressed conservatively either, well made soft leather pants, a deep blue satin shirt under a leather vest, hammered gold set with precious gems around his neck, 9 earrings along his right ear 6 on the left and a diamond set in his right brow, rings on most of his fingers.
He looked like the privateer he was. He hadn't intended to sleep with Gregorian, the man's invitation to dinner had been instantly accepted, he needed to eat and the meeting made sense, discussing the parts and personnel he needed to fix his brothers ship and how the Fairstar Merchants Syndicate would pay for everything, some trade agreements, he had some precious metals in his cargo hold, some furs. Gregorian was happy to accept them, dinner though had been better than pleasant, Gregorian was intelligent, shrewd, and damn attractive, Palance had made the choice then over dinner, he'd cement a good dealing with the Marquis of Damascas and hadn't needed to work hard to seduce the man into a really fun night.
Truth was Palance would sleep with a hundred more city officials if he needed to, winning the favor of people in power in places like this was worth it. He was young, handsome, and knew how to make someone happy…hell…he'd sleep with Cristine Gnome if it would help Lorence…the fact it wouldn't do anything but give him the chance to kill her really wasn't less motivation either. His family was honorable…"privater" was the official word for them…Pirates was more accurate. Lorence and Austeel were the youngest of the brothers, Palance was the eldest, but really, any of them would do anything they needed to, to assure their family members were free…safe, happy.
He had his fathers looks and build, big, heavily muscled, the men of Pergrand seemed to like that plenty and that had worked well for him every time he'd been there. One more part…a modulator they needed for the phase drive…he'd need to go to Romell to get it but while he was doing that, he'd made certain Austeel and the Starluna would be well protected. He lifted his com, sending messages to his brothers, letting them know there should be parts being delivered any moment and to get started without him, he was heading to Romell to get the modulator.
"Taking the train?" Leo asked as they walked.
"It's the fastest way to get to Romell…I can't wait for their airdocks to have a free dock for the Regulus." Palance replied to his spirit mildly. The Regulas was a full sized battle cruiser, 16 bays, hosted 70 strike ships and had a crew of more than 150. All fiercely loyal to the Fairstar syndicate. Only his parents had larger ships than his, it needed a large dock and Romell didn't have the capacity Damascas did, so, he'd take the bullet train to Romell, arrange for a car and go get that part.
The bullet trains of Pergrand criss crossed the country on elevated rail systems. Damascas was over 700 miles from the capital city of Romell but the train traveled at the speed of sound, so it wasn't a terribly long ride and it was plenty comfortable.
Once there he hired a car and headed to the airship yards, Romell was the Capital city of Pergrand, massive, opulent, where the Palace was, where the largest of the Gladiator arena's, Skysreach was located. He had to take some care here…if he caught the wrong eyes he could have trouble. Rape wasn't illegal in Pergrand, if you were weak enough, careless enough to get yourself into a position where other men could rape you…Raimarc Karadin believed you deserved it. Good looking men had to watch themselves, especially men who stood out as much as he tended to. So he selected a car with black tinted windows, paid extra for a driver that also did security and body guard work. Pergrand was dangerous but they were set up so businessmen could come and do business, they just had to plan right, keep their own safety in mind. So, Palance was being careful, he wasn't happy when the man at the shipyard near the docks told him the modulator wasn't ready.
"How long?" he asked
The man blushed, staring at Palance, tall men with unique striking looks didn't walk into a parts yard often, he was a young man, didn't have a boyfriend, and a big handsome thing like this already had a few mechanics stopping their work to stare into the reception area.
"I'm sorry…the ship it's in is being disassembled right now, I have the order, sent by the Marquis of Damascas for you and we will clean it and assure it's in perfect condition but it just won't be ready until tomorrow, around 10am." The man said and smiled a little shyly "I…could recommend a nice place for you to spend your evening."
Palance felt his refusal well in his throat but that wouldn't hurry the process of him getting this crucial part for his brother's ship. The Phase drive was essential, they had to get it working so he could jump to Bosco rather than having to fly all the way there…and give the damn MCC a chance to chase him and shoot him the fuck up like it did before.
"Oh? You go there yourself? I don't want some dull place, it'll make the time drag." He smiled instead of letting his frustration show and the man smiled, getting excited.
"Every chance I get! It's called the Dollhouse, best dancers in Romell, they have shows every three hours around the clock there, singers, dancers, all sorts of talented performers and the owner has clean pleasure slaves that are just amazing…they don't water down their booze and the food is pretty damn good, if you're lucky they might even have a room for the night…but they tend to stay booked, sometimes months out." The man said enthusiastically, pulling out a card for the place and handing it to him.
Palance accepted the card, nodding and giving the man a real smile. "I'll be here tomorrow at 10am." He said
"The modulator will be ready by then!" The man assured him and Palance flicked the card under the man's chin before putting it into his pocket.
"Better be…I'm really friendly with people who help me…not so much with those who disappoint me." Palance said and turned, heading out of the shop back to his car.
"You know where the Dollhouse is?" He asked the driver as he settled into the back seat.
"Yes sir, the best club in Romell, belongs to the King's brother." The driver smiled.
Palance hummed meeting the drivers eyes in the rear view mirror. "Take me there." he said and the driver smiled "Yes sir! You extended this car through tomorrow…does that mean you're staying?" The man asked as he pulled into traffic.
"It does…if the Dollhouse has a room I'll likely stay there." Palance said and the man grinned eagerly, this had just turned into the best job he'd had in a month if he got to babysit a car for the night at the Dollhouse.
"I hope they do, it's a really nice place sir." He said, praying they did…not for his client but for himself…he'd get paid for spending a night at the Dollhouse, what a great stroke of luck!
Palance dialed the number on the card and checked about a room, gratified that they did in fact have an opening. "You're in luck Mr. Fairstar, we've got a cancellation, I can book you a royal level room for the night." the man said on the line.
"Royal…what's that mean?" Palance asked
"Full service, sir, drinks, food, admission to the shows and the company of a pleasure slave of your choosing." The person on the phone said.
"I see, that'll work, I'll transmit my information here then?" Palance responded
"Yes sir, I can take that for you and someone will have your key when you come into the driveway. Have your driver bring you to the front."
"They have a room, so take me to the front." Palance said to the driver and saw the man beam over that.
"Yes sir!"
Handling getting payment transmitted Palance settled in for the ride, watching the city of Romell go by the cars tinted windows. There were many reasons he was handling all of this…Pergrand valued men above all else, and noble blood, even disavowed by their home nation, carried weight. The first born son of a Marquis had standing in Pergrand no matter where he was from. His family had amassed massive amounts of wealth through the generations, and Sweorta may have seized their assets in Sweorta, but they had only ever kept about a 5th of their total wealth there anyway, they were a worldwide trade syndicate, the MCC wasn't going to ruin them even by taking their homeland and ancestral lands away from them.
The Dollhouse held a rare piece of real estate, right in the heart of Romell only blocks away from Skysreach Stadium, it was clear very quickly it was owned by a royal by the quality of the fencing, the amount of land right in the heart of the capital it held…the driveway rolled from the street a ways into a large circular drive around a massive fountain before a huge manor several stories high. Understated, high quality beauty seemed to be the owners preferred aesthetic. It wasn't garish, it wasn't glitzy, the place had…class.
Uniformed men greeted the car and one opened the back door, offering Palance a hand to climb out.
"Mr. Fairstar." He was greeted and Palance smiled, wondering mildly if Gregorian had anything to do with this stroke of "luck" he followed the man toward the front doors where the doormen were arguing with a well dressed pair of men.
"Look…I'm the Baron Quincey…you really need to let me in…" the older one was saying.
"No sir, we do not…excuse me." The doorman said and smiled past Quincy at Palance, the two men turning to look and their expressions changing from mild irritation to open appreciation.
"Mr. Fairstar, please come in." The doorman opened the door for Palance while one of the large uniformed guards prevented the men arguing with the doorman from following Palance inside.
There was a man with dark hair at the bar looking smugly at the door, sipping from a glass of scotch. He raised his glass a bit and then smirked as he turned to the bartender, going over the current stock. He had dark hair and dark eyes, wearing an immaculate dark suit, but the golden Anubian cufflinks and tie clasp stood out. Ivan Karadin was the second Prince of Pergrand, unknown to most, a blood mage, but known to almost everyone a businessman that would deny someone entrance into the club for whatever reasons he wanted.
Mostly he banned people for slights, for abusing the workers, even treating one of the servers badly got someone banned. The man valued every person at the Dollhouse and made it a place where it didn't matter who you were, what connections you had: If he didn't want you there, you were not there. If Raimarc was the crown? Sergei was the sword of the people, Ivan the business center and Uram was..the 'heart'. Each had their own roles to play when they were not in their own little spheres.
"Welcome, Mister Fairstair," Ivan stood after Palance got into the club a bit, "To the Dollhouse." he bowed slightly, "I am Ivan, the Proprietor of this establishment. If you have any special tastes, please do let me know."
Palance returned the bow and smiled "It's a pleasure your highness, Luck was on my side tonight, I was warned getting a room here even for just one night wasn't ever easy."
Ivan smiled faintly, "sometimes we find that some reservations were set up under false names. You simply got lucky, it seems." it had nothing to do with Gregorian calling. At all. Officially. Unofficially? Gregorian was Sergei's friend and Ivan would pull a string or two here or there for the man.
"This is beautiful…I've traveled the world and seen few places with such understated elegance." Palance said, the compliment was sincere, the place was beautifully decorated, furniture was high quality but not tacky or pretentious. Alot of places that catered to high end clientele tended to also go overboard way into tasteless tacky with gold plated shit all over the place or worse, solid gold decorations.
"I cannot take any credit for it," Ivan smiled, "The Grand Duke Rayven actually did the design..I simply asked for a few symbols."
"Duke Rayven has good taste. I'm a scotch drinker…I honestly like men and women about equally for companionship…and I really enjoy good music." Palance supplied, happy to go with whatever Ivan recommended or offered, he was here because he needed to pass the night and if he sat idle he'd go crazy with his impatient desire to murder a certain General.
"It depends on the type of companionship you want," Ivan let out a hum, "we have a few that are only for talking, singing and general companionship, male and female." he looked towards the bar, "...the Ellison Scotch."
The bartender nodded, turning to the top shelf and pulling down a crystal bottle while Palance was watching people. "I just had a very nice night in Damascas, I'd be perfectly fine with good conversation, music…maybe some cards?"
"I have my songbirds," Ivan looked thoughtful, "...I'll have to remind them to not count cards. One of them is far too good with math."
Palance chuckled "I don't mind loosing…just not every single hand."
"That's why a reminder must be given," Ivan smiled and shook his head, "accountant by day, singer and card player by night."
"Sounds delightful…I like a challenge." Palance admitted
"Your booking has you in one of the upper rooms," Ivan smiled, motioning as he held the drink out with the other, "they'll be able to get you more to drink when you ask for it, and one is very good at getting entertainment boards out of the kitchens special made."
"Thank you, sounds like a night well spent already." Palance observed, sipping the scotch and humming in appreciation "Smooth as silk…" he said looking at the glass.
"It'll get a bit of a burn in a moment," Ivan looked amused, "the family was once known for their forgemasters…and Hapheastus is a bit of a…heated god."
Palance chuckled, shaking his head "I feel it…clever crafting."
Ivan motioned "this way, I'll have your key brought up, if you desire to leave the room that is yours."
"Unlikely…I'm not here for sightseeing." Palance admitted, if he'd had his way he'd already be on the train heading back to Damascas by now, but at least the evening wasn't going to be spent getting angry about that.
Ivan pulled out a key as they moved to a door and he opened it for the other man, "well, it will still be brought up, protocol." Once the door closed behind them, he opened another and moved down the hallway to an elevator. It was all the same, soft lighting, dark elegance. He pushed the button on the elevator.
When the two got to the top floor, there was a lot more bustle than the other hallways; people sitting around, both male and female, young and older. There were waves and nods to the two as Ivan walked along, "girls..?"
Two younger girls looked over, blinking slowly and then standing, walking over and looking curious. One had silvery hair and the other had lavender hair, but both had beautiful steel blue eyes.
Palance bowed a bit "Ladies." he greeted
"These are my songbirds," Ivan smiled as he hugged each one, "Iris and Jasmine…be careful…Iris is a cardshark…who will behave when you play cards."
The two girls stared and one puffed her cheeks out, "alright, Uncle Ivan…"
Palance chuckled "Hopefully I can keep up." he said cheerfully, now looking forward to the evening, playing cards with a pair of sharp young girls sounded like fun, reminded him of doing the same with his own sisters…except probably without the fights…
Jasmine smiled, "she's working in forensic accounting, you're in for a whirl."
"He'll be in suite ten, please make sure he gets the door key?" Ivan asked as he looked between them, "Ellison Scotch…snacks and a meal?"
Jasmine grinned and grabbed an oversized hoodie, throwing it on and she looked like a young boy before she was bounding down the hall, singing randomly.
Ivan smiled and shook his head, "...they are my song birds…"
Iris looked amused, "we turn into birds, literally."
"Truly? That's remarkable, I know a few shapeshifters…but not many." Palance smiled
"They turn into phoenix," Ivan amended, "due to the Bellan blood in them."
"Bellan…amazing. I haven't been to Bellum since last year, love the fire chicken." Palance grinned. He was relaxing, feeling better, he'd been tense and angry since he'd found out Austeel had broken into the MCC camp and broken their little brother out…something he felt guilty about not doing himself.
"There we go," Ivan smiled, "tension is leaving."
"Uncle Ivan does his best to make sure people on this floor feel at ease," Iris grinned as she walked, "so…what's your poison? What sort of cards? I know seventy different card games that can be played with a normal deck of cards."
"I'm a privateer…I like poker." Palance said with a smile "Maybe we can play for pretzels or something?" He offered "I have some northern candy…"
Iris looked thoughtful, "Do we have…?"
Ivan smiled faintly "I'll have some of the candies sent up. All local." he opened a door and nodded, "here you go, full suite, bath, bed, sitting area, balcony and a hot tub. Phone in the sitting area actually works, secure, encrypted."
"Robes and towels provided," Iris smiled as she pulled a large case out.
"Fantastic, will you join us?" Palance asked Ivan, more people in a poker game meant more fun in his experience.
"Oh, Gods no," Ivan looked amused, "she'll fleece me and laugh about it as she does books tomorrow." Iris just nodded a few times, grinning like a card shark…or a public accountant.
Palance laughed then "Alright, fair enough. Like I said, I just want to enjoy company tonight."
Iris smiled, "well…if you want…we can play out in the common area? That's got a lot of people and they'll all be fine with simply playing cards?" there was no pause in her change of direction. Part of being part of the Dollhouse was knowing when things needed to change and knowing how to adapt.
"I might actually like that more, and your employer can keep an eye on you and keep you from counting cards." Palance grinned
"Uncle," Iris chuckled, "three quarters of fees from my companion services go into an education fund."
"And you accept tips too right?" Palance asked, planning to leave a nice sum given where it was going.
Iris nodded, "Yes, on principle, I split all extra tips on who was around during the companionship time…as they deserve it as well. They assisted." she paused, "Uncle Ivan makes sure that even the women have fund accounts, so that if anything happens and they're smuggled out, they'll have funds." her eyes danced "and…since many have slave contracts, it's all escrow accounts…which are non-taxable."
"Brilliant…three private airships will be…phaze jumping directly to Bosco by the end of tomorrow…if you all have anyone who…needs to leave." Palance said, voice low this time.
Ivan looked at Iris and arched a brow.
Iris stood there for a moment, blinking as they walked, "there have been a few that have been…asked for a bit too much. They're garnering too much attention in a bad way."
Ivan nodded slightly, "then get the escrows transferred in the morning and their things packed in the morning."
Iris nodded once "will do. I know a few good banks to transfer out to."
Palance nodded "The car I have has dark windows…and I have a private cabin on the bullet train already booked…" He pursed his lips "I've been in a bad mood and…wanted to avoid people."
Ivan snorted in humor as they moved to the seating area, the people there blinking and then slowly gathering as Iris started to set up the table with a green felt mat for playing cards, "we all have those days at times. It is natural."
Palance took a seat, letting the girls set everything up and immersing himself in the game, accepting songs as high value bets and losing most of the candy he had in his requip storage.
The common area was alive with just companionship, even some guests came to join and it was obvious while both Iris and Jasmine were considered 'songbirds', Jasmine loved to sing. Even for a young woman, she had a somehow sultry voice that the Pergrandian accent just added to.
Palance was a shrewd card player, he'd had to be in his family, playing for "Ship slavery" could have him working under one of his siblings for months.
Midway through the evening Ivan had one of his door guards hurry to him.
"Sir, royal knights of the Black Guard are at the door, they are here to escort our guest, Mr. Fairstar, to the King."
Ivan arched a brow as he sat there, "the king is well aware that he cannot demand to take one of my clients." he stood "however, seeing as he desires to speak to someone tonight, I shall see what he wants."
"Very well sir, shall I let Pragi know? He's checking cars right now."
Ivan moved to get himself a cloak, "Yes, advise him that we'll be going to field the king's questions." he glanced towards those assembled, "Take good care of our guest. All his needs that he asks to be assisted with." he moved towards the elevator.
"Sir." came the firm response. Ivan didn't have people working for him that wavered, he took care of his people, only kept those that were loyal, willing to defy his brother if need be, something that could get them killed but given his position, and how much like running through a minefield barefoot Pergrandian politics were, that level of loyalty was a must. So his people even barred Knights of the Kings Black Guard from entering if they weren't on the guest list.
Pragi was waiting at the car when Ivan came out, the tall blonde sweeping the area, his eyes dangerous on the Knights. Pragi was a fallen Archangel Mage…a relic of the Holy Wars over 2000 years ago. Ivan's great grandfather had captured him while investigating a call for help
from an outlying town in the north of Pergrand that had reported they had found a demon.
Pragi wasn't a demon, though his aura was black and terrifying, his presence would cause shivers to run through people. A product of him falling from grace. His magic still worked, and he had literally thousands of years of experience fighting and surviving to his credit, but he'd been cut off from Kingdom Plane, some sin had caused that, and Ivan still didn't know what it was but when he was still a teenager, his father Gustan, the former King of Pergrand had taken him and his brothers to Pergrands military laboratories and shown them…Pragi.
They'd had him there for decades, the scientists experimenting on him, trying to isolate the source of his agelessness and healing capacity, his imperviousness to heat and light magics all for military application of course. Then, Gustan had "acquired" a certain young mage, a beautiful child with caramel colored skin and dark hair, deep amethyst eyes and black wings. Black wings that had resisted an attack that had vaporized every other human being in the building he'd been in when the attack had happened.
Pragi's wings weren't black, they had black feathers here and there, but they were an ashen faded wheat sort of color, like his hair. The man had been well secured to a medical procedure chair, his wings nailed to the floor and partially sawed off, the parts of the wings in research trays on a table. Experiments on him had always been a big thing, and when the child recovered had proved to be a lethally effective gladiator, Gustan had stepped up those experiments seeking a way to control the younger prettier one.
When King Gustan had died, Raimarc had taken the throne and stepped those experiments up even more, Pragi was dismembered, cut apart, blasted with cannons, set on fire, dropped in acid, everything they could think of to try and understand how the wings and magic worked. He'd told the scientists enough that he was fallen…his lack of grace made him different from the intact archangel mage they had in the coliseum, but he was ignored, and he'd gone insane after decades of torture.
Gustan had taken his sons to see the man…explained that they were about to destroy him, they knew how to now, how to kill him permanently so he couldn't regenerate. Ivan had quietly taken a step toward the broken man in that chair. Sitting there, strapped in so he couldn't move, breathing hard because the scientists had been preparing him for his imminent death and those preparations had not been painless. Faded eye half crazed with pain and unknown amounts of suffering had snapped to Ivan, who had stepped closer than even the scientists were willing to get, they used machines to do their work with Pragi, who had killed more than a few of them over the years.
"I'll take him..may I have him Father?" Ivan…had never asked for anything, was the quiet thoughtful one of Gustan's sons…and it had surprised him, that request.
His eyes had warned Ivan the price might be steep but Ivan had just returned his look and he'd nodded, and just like that, in a moment that seemed like an utter whim, while his brothers had stared in surprise, Ivan had held a hand out to the scientist. "Give me the command stick for his collar…and the key to unlock the restraints." he'd said, his voice quiet but the command set in stone.
The scientist had looked alarmed.
"My Prince…he is…insane, and very very deadly, he's killed several people through the years he's been here, when he's been tossed in with berserkers…as often as not he…kills them all." the man had said, becoming pale, Berserkers were humanoid constructs created by the laboratories, most at least 8 feet tall, they were the foundation of Pergrands military might, the nation had hundreds of thousands of them, each one made out of what had once been a human being, usually convicted criminals. They were brutal, merciless, powerful, felt no pain, knew no fear and were impervious to most base elements. That Pragi could kill even one was impressive, that he'd killed many? Terrifying.
"Give me what I asked for." Ivan said coldly and the scientist had handed over the command stick for Pragi's slave collar and the keys. Gustan had held his ground, but he'd pushed Sergei and Raimarc behind him as Ivan had released the restraints and deactivated the collar, even pulling the stakes out of the floor to release the dirty faded wings.
Pragi had fixed him with tortured eyes, rising from the chair, pulling his bloody wings up, the wings folded in, vanished, then appeared again, fully intact and curving toward Ivan, the one holding the command stick. Gustan had looked sharply at the Knights with them, all of them lifting their weapons.
Ivan had stepped up to Pragi…knowing this was dangerous, knowing he was taking a risk, and had slid his hand along the man's cheek, a move that had Pragi's faded eyes widening, pupils dilating.
"I'll protect you." He'd whispered and his magic had moved, finding the man's blood hot and fast surging through his body…. he didn't know much about using his magic this way, but he knew enough he was able to ease some of the pain Pragi was in and the King had watched the man who had been killing people since his grandfather's time, sink to his knees before his son Ivan.
"My Master…" Pragi had breathed…and from that moment forward, Pragi had been a fixture at Ivan's side. At first he towered over Ivan, who was still very young when they met, and Gustan hadn't known exactly how to manage the man, he flatly refused to leave Ivans immediate vicinity, with a dogged determination, and he was a completely effective and lethal bodyguard. His unwillingness to be separated from Ivan had even seen him going with the boy back to the Academy after break was over, standing at the back of Ivan's classrooms, following him silently through the halls, his dark eyes missing nothing and while Ivan had never suffered bullying at school, Pragi occasionally apeared ahead of Ivan….and more than once, Ivan's friends, especially the skinny and unpopular son of the Earl of Mortim who was why Ivan was getting top marks in his science and math classes, would be in trouble with other students and a large fist would come from behind them…sending bullies sailing through walls..a couple of teachers too…but Ivan was the son of the King…the Academy handled it.
The big Fallen was absolutely, with no reservations, ruthless about protecting Ivan, it didn't matter who it was, or what obstacles were in the way, Gustan had even tried to restrict Pragi…keep him from coming into places where Ivan had to be if he was in the mood to threaten or intimidate his son…but wards and walls, pain and injury didn't even slow Pragi down when he came to Ivan's side to defend him. He was…Ivans loyal dog, according to King Gustan, and after a few years, nobody bothered trying to keep Pragi out, he went to school with Ivan, went everywhere Ivan went. A silent, deadly protector that couldn't be stopped.
As the years had passed, somewhere along the way, Ivan's feelings toward the fallen had shifted a bit, from a simple appreciation of the fallen's power and loyalty, to…deeper more confusing feelings. Pragi was like any Archangel mage, in the image of the heavenly host, and therefore, in spite of his scars, handsome in his own way, and his care with Ivan, his attentiveness, he knew everything Ivan liked within the first month, everything he preferred, how he wanted things…and Pragi made sure Ivan got what he wanted. He listened, never judged, never said no to anything Ivan wanted no matter how unexpected or out of the ordinary.
At school that had meant Tea and Coffee made certain ways, specific foods, as Ivan had grown up, it had translated into making sure he ate, that nobody walked away after showing disrespect without regretting their actions, even stepping forward to shield Ivan from some of his younger brothers tantrums, Raimarc had always been an issue…and when Sergei had turned down the throne…Pragi had been at Ivan's side as the King had started pushing him, preparing him for the "Rites" that Sergei had refused to go through…and Pragi had been there when Ivan had turned those rites down as well…had defended Ivan as he'd gone through a few days of being disoriented, confused, unable to remember exactly why he'd turned them down but certain he'd made the right choice.
Ivan had stood more than a few times, facing down people who wanted to try to overwhelm him, intimidate him…and smirked faintly as a fist flew over his shoulder from behind him to lay someone out who was trying to get in his space. Pragi never defied him, never denied him anything, always, always completed anything Ivan asked him to do, and the longer they were together, the more lucid and intelligent Pragi had become.
By the time Ivan had gotten into his 20s, Pragi had become more than just his bodyguard, something Ivan didn't share, didn't admit to…only his brothers knew. Ivan had explored with Pragi…the big fallen would never deny him, had wanted more than anything to see Ivan happy, and Ivans happiness had become entwined with Pragi's. Ivan's first partner in bed had been Pragi…he'd learned about pleasures, kissing…touching…all safely with his devoted Pragi, who would never harm him, openly adored him. Now…most people understood…the big fallen Archangel was precious to Ivan, and while Pragi was still Ivan's primary guardian, Ivan had become Pragi's protector as well…nobody was allowed to slight the big man, a few people died shortly after giving Pragi problems…and not by Pragi's hand either.
So the Black Guard Knights knew…not to disrespect either of them even though…they were defying the Kings order. Messing with one…was risking the wrath of both…
"My Prince ... .his majesty…asked us to bring Mr, Fairstar to the palace…not you." The lead Knight said looking extremely uncomfortable.
Ivan quirked a brow, "As I have told his majesty over and over, my clients do not leave until they check out. I will discuss things with him in my client's stead."
The Knights had shifted on their feet, glancing at each other, all of them flinched when Pragi shifted on his feet, just bringing his hands in front of him to clasp before him and titling his head.
"Yes…my prince." The lead knight finally gave in and the men rushed to get to their cars to escort Ivan to the palace.
The Palace of Pergrand sat in the heart of Romell, only a little over a mile from the Coliseum dominating a hill that elevated it and gave it wonderful views of the city. At the base of that hill sat the senate building and the gates into the palace ground that they drove through, up the hill and to the reception area where an ornate decorated path led into the grand foyer of the Palace.
The Knights led Ivan through the palace and to the throne room, where Raimarc was waiting, sitting and looking impressive on the throne, beautiful young male slaves on either side of the throne, kneeling, the chains attached to their collars leading to velvet hand holds that sat in Raimarcs lap. It was a visual Raimarc liked to set up and one he'd used many times since he had become King. Putting his prettiest slaves around him to show off his wealth and status, what he had to offer if whoever came before him pleased him.
He looked up as they entered and scowled. "I didn't call for you Ivan." he said, impatience coloring his tone dark.
Ivan stood there, watching his brother and shaking his head, "we have been over this. My clients are not to be remanded on a whim. What did you need?"
Raimarc sighed, scowling between Ivan and Pragi, he was wary of the Fallen after many years of watching him…not care at all about who he stepped up to in Ivan's defense. He regretted not being the one who stepped forward that day…he'd been semi-eager about watching how the scientists were going to destroy the man, certain it would be a spectacle worthy of his time and attention, but Ivan had stepped in…denied him the entertainment and also ended up with what had proven to be a very loyal and very effective bodyguard that was not hard on the eyes once he'd been cleaned up. He knew Ivan slept with the man…and he was jealous that he'd had such a fine thing to grow up playing with.
"There is a hunting fleet from the Magic Control Council hovering just outside our border…they're demanding we let them fly into Damascas and comandeer a merchant ship that's docked there, they say the captain…a young man named Austeel Fairstar, is a fugitive, wanted by the MCC for killing several of their officers while breaking his younger brother out of some…prison or camp or whatever the fuck they called it…" Raimarc waved a hand dismissing the details.
"They want Austeel and his little brother…the man at your club, Palance Fairstar is their older brother, negotiated with Gregorian for parts because the merchant ship was damaged during the jail break. The family…is notable. The Fairstar Trade Syndicate is registered in Damascas, and has been for over 300 years…their father…is a Marquis by birth, they're nobility and Palance is the first born son of the Marquis..unmarried." Raimarcs smile turned venomous.
"I'm not letting that Cristine Gnome woman tell me what to do…she can fucking burn, and as long as requests keep coming from a female command…the MCC can fuck off, but…we have major leverage here, and the Fairstar family would be astounding to form ties with…Solomon Fairstar has 11 children and 9 of them are sons…9…they sire males at a high rate and I'm told…that's genetic." Raimarc glanced away, anger and frustration flashing across his face.
It was an unspoken fact that he'd been trying to sire a son for several years now, a son would solidify his place on the throne and guarantee the throne remained HIS legacy…but…several years back, shortly after taking the throne, the High Priest of Venus had come to the palace to protest how he was treating the Treasure.
In Pergrand, men ruled supreme, having relations of any type with a female was seen as…dirty. Women were for one thing and one thing alone, reproduction. Hundred of years ago the laws had been voted upon and set by the people, for nobility to pass on their titles and resources, they had to have an heir that was naturally born, because the Gods only blessed those born as the makers intended…so…pod carried children created in the reproduction centers of Pergrand…could not inherit noble titles, period. Not even the King could over-ride that law, it had been put before the people for vote time and time again and always, by huge margins, the people voted to keep reproduction natural if a noble title was involved.
There were a lot of reasons for that, pod created children could be enhanced in the pod, genetic issues eliminated, health and longevity enhanced, even markers for creativity and intellect could be increased so a pod born child was stronger, healthier, more gifted than one that was natural born, of course such enhancements were massively expensive to implement..normal people couldn't afford such things, and the common folk didn't want the nobility enhancing themselves into God-like beings…so..only natural born children could inherit, that meant nobility had to use a living breathing woman to carry their children, and roll the dice…because a woman's womb didn't guarantee the baby would be male like a pod created baby.
Female children weren't a complete loss, Nobility didn't see them as a success, but…a daughter could be married off to a foreign power for influence and alliances beneficial to the family. But still, that was seen as failure. Only sons mattered. Men were to be with men, they had sex with other men, married other men, that was the way of Pergrand. Having to put your seed into a woman to have heirs was…dirty. A filthy unfortunate requirement of the species. BUT, there were men born, incredibly rare…hermaphrodites…men that had female reproductive systems as well as a penis and testicles. In Pergrand…they were considered sacred gifts from the God of love, Eros, the son of Venus.
The Venusian temple was popular in Pergrand, they officiated over weddings, offered marriage counceling, matchmaking, hosted pleasure parties for Valentines day and it was the second largest religion in Pergrand. Men who could carry a baby…were sacred through Venus…they were called "Treasures" and had laws protecting them. They could not be enslaved, could not be forced into marriage and it was illegal to force or coerce them into carrying a baby. Raping one was considered a sin, sacrilage, punishable by death.
Raimarc…had been given guardianship of a Treasure…the boy had been brought to the palace as an infant and given to King Gustan as a gift to raise in the royal family. After Gustan had died…Raimarc…had decided having a child with the treasure would make him popular with the people, an heir born by a treasure…he'd be famous. But the Treasure hadn't wanted him, had refused his requests and invitations…and Raimarc was far from patient.
He'd raped the Treasure, gotten the youth pregnant before he'd even reached the age of consent…Ivan and Sergei had needed to step in…to prevent the whole kingdom from flying into chaos over their King raping a Treasure. The Treasure had been sent to the Grand Duke of Icefall, who was a hero among the people, would have the child there far from Raimarcs reach…and the High Priest of the Venusian order had come…because of course they knew what had happened…and the priest confronted Raimarc, demanded justice…and Raimarc…had had him publicly beheaded for high treason.
That night…Raimarc had been visited by no less than the Goddess Venus herself…enraged he'd killed her priest…she had cursed him…made him incapable of fathering a male, told him no child of his seed would ever be born male.
When the child of the Treasure was born…the Grand Duke reported, it was a girl. Raimarc was enraged, he'd risked everything to force that child to happen, having it born a girl was a massive disappointment, so much he'd ordered the child slain. He'd tried with various females too…all female babies.
Their younger brother, Uram, his first child was a girl, Delilah, pretty, with pink hair and bright blue eyes she had been a friendly and creative child. Raimarc had felt better when she was born, because at least his younger brother had a female child too…but then Tylan was born…a strong, dark haired boy. And to Raimarc's baby brother…a son, an heir…and the child thrived…two years later Uram had another baby…and it was a boy too! Raimarc had flown into a rage at the unfairness, having sired 7 girls by this point and he'd ordered Delilah…harvested.
Harvesting was when a woman was taken to a reproduction center, her ovaries were removed so the eggs could be used, and then the woman was given to the Berserker creation program, because Berserkers needed to kill things, were developed to rape and murder where they were sent…and a steady supply of females to them got them well blooded. Women, once harvested, were given to the berserkers to use until they died from the abuse. Nobody cared, women weren't people in the eyes of Pergrand.
It was the big issue Pergrand had with the Magic Control Council…Donagen Trumpell loved females, made a big deal about having sex with them, had 14 and 15 year old wives and bragged often about how he loved women and women loved him. Beyond him loving girls…Trumpell married more than one…and…married children. Even in Pergrand…nobody was allowed to even make a sexual type of advance toward someone under the age of 16, which was their age of "majority"
"From what I gathered…" Ivan said calmly, "The woman is set on bringing in as many Fairstar men as possible and making them her slaves." his nose curled "which is distasteful." It was a lie, as far as Ivan was aware. He was just trying to find the meanest shit he could to make his brother not give in and keep his client without any need to be talked to.
"I have no intention of letting some rabid bitch into Damascas, I told Gregorian to deny all of her requests unless all the women they had were stripped naked and surrendered to be sold as slaves and a man took command." Raimarc smirked, feeling that demand would shut the woman up well and tell her firmly where she ranked in the eyes of Pergrand.
"While you know I normally do not fight on that matter either way…she is attempting to go after my client," Ivan shook his head, "and..doing what we founded our laws against because of the Empress of the Otho Empire….let her burn."
"I want to use this though, to get a marriage arranged, I want that family allied with Pergrand." Raimarc grinned
"We can put in a request to the patriarch that we would like to discuss a marriage contract," Ivan said, "but understand services are being paid for through the Marquis of Damascas."
"Gregorian is paying you? Interesting…my men say Palance Fairstar did spend the night in Gregorians home last night…I wonder…maybe we could demand a marriage there…arrange it for Gregorian, wedding our Marquis to the first born son of the Fairstars would be…nice…I'd prefer to marry him to you, Sergei or Uram though." Raimarc said with a sly faint smile. He would love to maneuver things so that the Fairstars were tied to Pergrand, such a family had far reaching influence, wealth…and their ships were each masterpieces of engineering genius that he wanted…he had no issue at all pushing one of his brothers into a marriage, to bring that wealth and power, the ships…into his hands.
"That is not what I said," Ivan chastised, "the Fairstars are paying Gregorian, who is dispersing funds for parts and services, they will have an invoice when things are settled and paid for." he shook his head, "I will…disuss with the Fairstars and Gregorian what you would like. We will see what can be worked out, if only deeper tied trading."
Raimarc narrowed his eyes "A marriage alliance gives us more leverage…partial ownership of ships…that fleet…have you seen the ships they flew in? Even the damaged one is exceptional in dessign…we could use them."
"For that, the Patriarch of the family would need to be spoken to and that would mean that someone would need to set a meeting," Ivan pointed out. "I will discuss this with them, Raimarc, but I am unable to give you any promises. Forcing a heavy hand in such a large, trading family will get the opposite of anything beneficial."
"I'm not sure we'll have this much leverage over them again… it would be easy to threaten them…tell them that if they don't agree we'll allow the MCC in…" Raimarc said frowning "You don't see the opportunity here Ivan? It's a rare one."
Ivan's eyes narrowed, "little brother, are you threatening one of my clients." It wasn't a question, it was a warning thinly veiled as one. "I see a business opportunity, yes. I see that there may be a use for a marriage agreement, but such things can be…delicate for people of other countries. Like the pussy ass bitches from Tian Xia."
Raimarc scoffed "Bullshit…marriage is just a legal and political tool, a way to gain power and influence…I wasn't keen at first about being betrothed to the Prince of Seven but now…" he smirked "Well, now I like the whole idea."
"Yes, I'm aware how Pergrand is set up," Ivan reminded, "You forget, I did go through the same lessons as you did. However, when I decided to go into business and not the crown, international politics and views were something I needed to learn. And I did. As much as I find some countries to be utterly inane in how they treat marriage…it is their way…and some countries are far more strict."
"I don't care…I want those ships…Atticus could do a lot with them, and the crown doesn't even have any battleships, just the cruiser for special events and it's nothing but a showpiece…I hate that the fleets are owned by the damned Dukes…the crown needs some military might.." Raimarc said firmly "So I can keep the fucking Dukes in line…Hesha is getting cheeky, won't return Damien to my care." Raimarc said bitterly. Damien was the "Treasure" and Raimarc wanted him back…wasn't convinced he couldn't make a male child happen with Damien, he wanted another chance at that and no, he didn't care if Damien didn't want to do it, the only problem was, Duke Hesha very much cared and was standing in his way.
"The people and Senate have voted that there is no standing military for the Crown twice in two years," Ivan shook his head, "we cannot go against the will of the votes." he took a breath as he stood there, "I will speak with Hesha to see the reason behind the delay in Damien's return to the capitol."
"I want a Fairstar, Ivan…married into our family…the only reason you're standing here right now is because you defied me…and the only reason I'm fine with that is I am a loving brother and a patient King. I feel the leverage we have…would make it easy, but…I'm willing to trust you, that you can make it happen without that leverage being used." Raimarc said
Ivan's voice was calm "The reason I am here is because you attempted to summon one of my clients. This would have happened no matter the client you attempted to summon. We have been over this. Clients are under my protection while they are in the Dollhouse." his voice was firm, "I will discuss what is possible with the family, what happens happens, Raimarc. I cannot do more than they are willing to give during negotiations and threats will make them…stop trading with us, given what I know of the family."
Raimarc scowled "I despise defiance...that family has a three hundred year history of good dealings with Pergrand…Solomon Fairstar has sired 9 out of 11 children as sons…that's better than 80% and that pre-potency is something we could USE in our family line according to my reproduction specialists. If Palance was willing to get into bed with Gregorian, the odds are they're willing to do more than that to assure their ship gets fixed and the MCC doesn't get their hands on them…" Raimarc trailed off, if Ivan was going to stand between him and Palance, there were other things he could do to get his way…
"Fine, do what you will, keep the man in your club." He waved a hand, suddenly dismissive and quiet.
"Raimarc, tread carefully, you are dealing not just with people, but with an organization in the Fairstar family," Ivan said in light warning, "they have pissed off the MCC by what this is looking to be…which means…given that it is based in their home country, if this is handled delicately we may get more than just a small agreement."
Raimarc leaned forward, eyes sharpening then.
"You think there's more here that the whole family is in trouble…if that's true? They NEED the power and protection of someone in power…we already don't deal with the MCC, that's probably why the first ship came here…they knew we don't extradite or comply with the MCC…"
Ivan smiled faintly, "they need alliances, yes…but pushing them in a way that is strong arming will not work with merchants, Raimarc. Let your older brother see what can be done, what give and take we can get. If My instincts are correct? We may be at least able to have one of the family living in Pergrand after a long negotiation."
Raimarc nodded, pursing his lips and waving to one of his attendants "Find out what sort of trouble the Fairstar family might be in back in their homeland…Sweorta I think it was…report back to me as soon as possible." He looked at Ivan "I'll let you know what I find out…so you can use it."
Ivan bowed his head, "thank you, Raimarc, do not trouble yourself further, I will work to get one of the Fairstar men stationed and hopefully married to a noble of Pergrand."
Raimarc smiled then, and it was genuine. "I'll trust you with this Ivan…understanding…Pergrand needs those ships, or at the very least, access to how they were built."
"I will do as I was taught to do," Ivan bowed a bit, "I will return to the Dollhouse, if I am gone too long, he may become distressed." he turned, features unreadable. This put a bit of a wrench in his next few days. He needed to get to some place to speak privately…which meant home because he certainly would have zero privacy in the car.
Pragi turned with him, always watching his back and Raimarc watched them leave without further comment, not bothering to demand any formalities because Ivan rarely delivered them unless they had more than just knights and aides watching. Sergei didn't either…only their youngest brother acquiesced there and would fan Raimarc's ego with formalities regardless…something he liked about Uram even though he'd love nothing more than to murder his youngest brother, adopt his sons and claim them as his own.
Pragi held the car door, and they rode back to the Dollhouse in silence, the Knights leaving without insisting on getting inside this time.
Ivan transformed once the door opened, smiling and looking like nothing was wrong. He nodded to the patrons as they walked, moving right towards the door to the back and the elevators. When they were in the elevator, he hissed, "That ballless bitch…"
"Your brother doesn't miss many opportunities." Pragi observed mildly
"He's chasing this the wrong damn way, like always," Ivan hissed and took a few deep breaths, "I'll have to speak with our guest…advise him what is going on…carefully."
"Pergrand may only have 300 years with the Fairsstar family, but they have been a strong bloodline among mages for far longer my Master…it was from their blood that the God Ra made my father." Pragi told him quietly
Ivan pursed his lips, "then working towards a beneficial agreement…is what I will hope for..he'll want a marriage, but…I'm unsure I will be able to secure that, given the length of the bloodline."
Pragi nodded "Karadin…has not existed anywhere near as long…they are one of the older lines, like Takida and Xing from Stella…that sort of age."
Ivan nodded, stepping out of the elevator, "let me…see what we can do to keep his majesty calm."
Pragi fell silent, walking behind and to the side of Ivan and when they reached the game room where Palance was still seated, smiling, playing cards he took his usual spot by the door.
Ivan smiled faintly, "it looks like Iris is winning." he snorted in humor "could…I have a word in private?"
"You're saving me from losing more candy…Iris is often winning." Palance chuckled, folding his hand and bowing to the people at the table before turning to follow Ivan with a relaxed smile. He'd been enjoying himself, the girls were talented, smart and like he'd been warned…card sharks. Right up his alley really.
Ivan moved to his office and opened the door, the Dollhouse was safe and this was a bit of a private conversation. Once they were inside and the door closed, he sat in a chair in front of his fireplace, "...his majesty is taking a keen…interest in your family thanks to the MCC demanding we allow them in to get to your brother and your family in Damascas." he steepeled his fingers, "as…you are working with the Marquis of Damascas, he is very very interested…in more than just a trade agreement."
Palance drew a breath as he sat across from Ivan, his eyes turning thoughtful but not alarmed. "It's why I was rushing through getting the ship repaired…why more than just myself and my crew are here…I'm good at repairs and know the ship well…but my younger brother Toby…he and his crew could rebuild it from the ground up in a week….I wanted speed…if not for a part difficult to find because of the nature of my little brothers engine configuration…we'd have already repaired that ship and been in Bosco Yesterday." he admitted
"I will be honest, I know my brother," Ivan said, "he will attempt to use this shielding, telling the MCC to go away, as leverage. I could but…that never ends well in business or relationships. Your family is well respected in trading…if the MCC is after you this much? That means, logically…your homeland immunities have been stripped." He leveled a look at Palance, "...a political marriage in Pergrand would give a foothold in Pergrand." he tilted his head, "not that I am requiring it. My brother is pushing, but…I know that is not logical."
Palance pursed his lips, his family was all about the freedom of the skies, living however their bold and strong choices allowed them to, it was another of many reasons Bosco was where they were all headed, however…Ivan wasn't wrong, a marriage alliance with a noble house in Pergrand would bring the very real might and respect Pergrand held in spite of their society and laws not being very popular around the world. It would have to be him, Toby, Ambrose or Gideon their other brothers were either too young to push something like that into their laps or just didn't favor having men in their beds. If the King of Pergrand was considering allowing the MCC in to get them? He couldn't risk that…his father had entrusted him with Austeel's safety and with getting them out of Pergrand and come Hell or high water…he'd make it happen. He looked at Ivan gravely.
"My baby brother, Lorence…is what's called a White Miasma mage…it's one of the twin power magics…they always exist in pairs, in the case of the Miasma twins…a white one, that has healing, purification and invigoration and restorative abilities, and a black one…that weilds death in all it's forms, plague, illness, disease, horror fear and suffering. As you probably know, the Magic Control Council seeks the elimination of magic held by humanity…they see it as evil and an afront to the Gods..they target magics that are especially dangerous because it's easy for them to get support over going after those types of mages. They…experiment on them, torture them, use them to create useful tools and products the people enjoy, they enslave them…" He stopped and drew a breath, frowning, running a hand through his vivid hair.
"As one half of a twin power magic…Lorence can feel his counter, knows the black miasma mage is male, alive, well…and…if he gets onto the same continent? He'll know where that mage is. The MCC is hunting the Black Miasma mage…sees him as a serious threat to all humanity…they have huge backing, tremendous resources, enough that they kidnapped my little brother when he was three and even though our father is a Marquis and we are a well established, respected and wealthy family…the fight over Lorence has been horrible, my parents tried to stay within legal avenues, we got Lorence back twice…both times…he came home sickly, covered in…horrible injuries, scars over scars from beatings and torture…the MCC took him again, and the second time we got him back he was only 9 and we found evidence they…had cut off and restored his arms and legs…the things he…" Palance's voice broke and he stopped, drawing a breath to calm himself down…
"We only had him for 4 months before they broke into our home, killed three of the family guards and kidnapped him again…"
He shook his head "We should have attacked them then…several of us wanted to…but about two months ago…we had our last court case to recover Lorence refused…and my younger brother Austeel took things into his own hands…he attacked the camp where they were holding Lorence, broke in, recovered Lorence, blasted the camp to hell releasing all the mages held there and killing almost a hundred MCC officers…and fled. The MCC general…Cristine Gnome, was in charge of Lorence, he was her "Pet Project" and she was given the fleet sitting outside Pergrand right now to recapture Lorence and also given permission to enslave Austeel…his ship was damaged during the attack and escape…but..he got Lorence out…and put down here. We, myself and my brother Toby, are here to repair his ship and get him to Bosco."
Ivan moved to get a drink, "well…I do not want to..push the marriage. The king would and does want to, but…I am a businessman and know that such things shouldn't be an ultimatum."
"We would accept a marriage…I would…if it will help my family? I'd put a damned slave collar on and brand my own hip." Palance said bluntly "If the King will protect us? I'll marry whoever he wants."
Ivan made a face, "do not say that." He put a drink down next to the other man as he sat with his own, "he'll have you strapped to a bed and never leave." he looked thoughtful, "my brothers and I are in…complicated situations, but…let me advise my brother that there is a willingness but you want all…choice in which noble…that will buy us time."
Palance nodded "If that's how best to play this hand? So be it, but there's nothing I won't sacrifice for my family. The Regulus…is my own ship…it's imprinted to me…will only fly for me…but it will become part of whatever I bring to a marriage."
Ivan moved to get a folder of photographs and set it in front of the other man before sending a message to his brother stating 'marriage contract negotiations. Make no moves'. "These are…all of the nobles that I would count…viable to have at least a political marriage to. In some ways? You could also put a term on the marriage as well, it is permitted here."
Palance smiled faintly "I see…and the length of the marriage would effect the amount of shared assets…based on what was accumulated during that time?"
Ivan nodded, "a pre-marriage contract can also be signed, to establish what will be shared assets. Marriages in Pergrand tend to be very transactional on the nobility level."
Palance nodded, looking at the pictures and smiling "Some of these men…I really wouldn't mind at all." he admitted "I'll be honest, other than his reputation? Your brother Raimarc isn't hard on the eyes, none of you Karadins are."
"He's a spoiled little shit," Ivan said as he sipped his drink, "he was supposed to marry some stupid girl at one point. Literally stupid. Dumb as a box of rocks, and that's being nice, from Xillian. Could have kept her as a fine surrogate…but he's almost as dumb as a box of rocks."
Palance pursed his lips, not sure he should comment on that, Raimarc wasn't exactly doing well with his control over Seven, even though Queen Kressa desperately needed Pergrand's support and had betrothed her only son to Raimarc for that help.
Ivan sipped his drink "what is said here, stays here, Mister Fairstar…the amount of bullshit people say about Raimarc here is enough that if I wanted to have most of the nobility wiped out? I could, but…it's nice to know people share my views on his stupid."
"I was just…thinking about the issues with Seven…even though he's engaged to their prince…and Seven needs Pergrand as much as it does…." Palance shook his head. Why Raimarc hadn't just marched into Seven and taken it? Nobody could understand.
Ivan sipped his drink, "...the prince hates him? Yes, well…he believes might makes right, not…being smart. Don't let what you see fool you…those shifters? I've seen a two month old one rip apart a legion of men. It was an entire show for the nobility at a holiday a few years back…it even took out a berserker before it was shut down with a command collar."
Palance blinked "So…rumors of the Sevenese shifters being…enhanced…aren't just rumors."
"Correct," Ivan shook his head, "this little blue tiger thing. I think it got sent to Xillian as a gift…for Raimarc fucking that situation up..not that the woman knows it. She was bragging how she could get…a dozen from one female a year. minimum."
"An impressive birth rate…" Palance commented and let a breath out "Anyone…if it's political and I could set a term? Maybe a year? Two if needs be…then anyone is fine."
Ivan nodded, "VonVoss is a good candidate. Good man. Runs the colosseum circuit. Which would make ships a very good addition." he smiled faintly, "won't push for anything that you don't want. Always brings up very positive forward things in the Senate…and if you find it works better than you imagined? The time can be extended."
Palance smiled, looking hopeful now "Yes…a really good idea, please…let the King know…I'll accept a marriage arrangement with Count VonVoss."
Ivan picked up his phone, setting up a meeting request for the next day in Damascas, "let me have you two meet, we'll have paperwork drawn up." his lips curled into a devious grin as he sent the message to his brother…looking like he was ready to throw his head back and cackle, but refrained.
Raimarc, sighed, grumbling under his breath as he sat back…his eyes going to where his Anubian slave was supposed to be bitterly as he read the message. He could take his frustrations out on that one without worrying about losing him. He'd TOLD Ivan he wanted one of them to marry the Fairstar…but…if this was the best Ivan could do? VonVoss was a high standing man, well liked by the people and very wealthy and influential since he essentially owned the Gladiator circuit. He'd make sure VonVoss knew he owed them for making this arranged marriage happen.
Aboard the Savage Dawn. hovering outside Pergrand's border, General Gnome snarled as the new message appeared on her screen.
"Palance Fairstar is now the betrothed of Pergrandian Nobility, any aggressive act toward him or his family will be met with extreme retribution."
"That fucking WHORE!" She snarled, kicking the chair out from under one of her crewmen, the man scrambling to get out of her way and she raged.
"Fucking mages, fucking mage family…making an alliance in Pergrand…Piece of shit! I'll see them all in chains…have all of them in the camp…I'll peel his skin from his body with a butter knife while I fuck his little brother in front of him!" she screamed. Getting the family stripped of their lands, title and protections in Sweorta had been no small thing, it had taken a great deal because of how well respected the family was…that they had forged an alliance with a country that aggressively rejected the MCC and their policies undid all the MCC had achieved toward subjugating the family and her keeping Lorence permanently as her own possession.
She hated them…hated them and how they stood between her and her goals. She would make them pay…mages were scum, they weren't even human in her eyes, she'd eradicate them all…keeping only the ones she liked…pretty ones…like Lorence…who she could get her Elixir from…