Alody smirked.“Yup.Some of the minerals of the BDC tech were bought with my body.I was kept in cold sleep until the timing was right, and then they thawed me and worked to try to get me pregnant.That didn’t work, so I was kept with the breeders, hoping the hormones would wake me up a little.That is where I met Ithal when his mother passed.They marked him, and I took him, carrying us both out of there, and we set up accounts and went looking for a safe place to live.We landed here, and I began working as a seamstress while Ithal was enrolled at the academy.”
She smiled.“And recently, I have learned that my daughter has cleared our path so that no one will come after us.It’s a very nice and settled thing to learn.”
Eskin looked at Diena.“What did you do?”
“It was just after the pregnancy was confirmed.I was given an urgency to make myself and my family safe, so I did.The minerals of the Lorn Empire are locked in the soil unless I say otherwise.By right of combat, I am the Lorn empress.”
The men around the table were stunned.
She ran her hands along her scalp.“I suppose I should set up a trade delegation or something, but I have been busy.I haven’t decided what to do with the mineral deposits aside from giving a few handfuls to Keska.”
Alody chuckled.“You will figure it out.”
“Yeah.Eventually.Until I do, nothing moves in or out of Lorn.”
Torun lifted his head.“Not even the citizens?”
“Neighbouring countries have welcomed the citizens, but there were not many of them.The hired goons are dead.All of them.”She shrugged.“And the self-styled emperor is dead.Maro wasn’t even a good fighter.How he got possession of the palace was astonishing.”
Eskin blinked.“You fought Maro?”
“No.I killed Maro.As I said, it wasn’t much of a fight.”Diena smiled.“I needed to kill him, so I did.”
Ithal came back in and leaned against his mother.“Mom.Vaken was wondering when we could go back to the playpark.”
Diena smiled.“You had fun?”
“We did.We are going to bring Kessie, too, if we can.”
Alody smiled.“We will have to ask Keska and Sorooth.Oh, and Kessie.”
Diena sighed.“I am going to take a shower and get dressed then drop onto my bed like a toddler.”
Jenaki smiled.“I will lend you a hand.”
She looked at him, the dark eyes and the golden marks on his cheeks shifting.“You are really intent on this.”
“Well, you did invite me in for waffles.”
“Oh.I suppose I did.Totally my fault, but I am running on very little sleep.”She looked up at him and said, “Sorry.”
He nodded.“No problem.You have had a rough twenty-four hours.”
She pushed upright and nodded.“Okay.Shower, change to pyjamas, and then bed.”
Alody smiled.“Do you want us to clean up and head out?”
“I want you and Ithal to move in.We can discuss that when I am more awake and Eskin isn’t memorizing you.”
Torun grinned.“I am going to tell the prefect about this.With the new boom in actives, she’s looking for qualified trainers.”
Diena started walking.“Tell her after my nap.Tell her tomorrow.”
Jenaki came with her, and she realized he was supporting her.She sighed.“You are really doing this.”
“I am really doing this.You are my primary concern and my dearest treasure.”
She glanced at him.“How do you know?”
