Dustin
The Stridsfaeddur
Southern Isles

The lack of conflict allowed for time to make things more homely in the Stridsfaeddur settlement, going from a hodge podge assembly of huts used as a springboard for raids, the income of trade from the merchants of the clans civillian populous as well as the raids conducted by Hvitskegg Steinrirsson brought in a fair volume of wealth, homes began to spring up in this new settlement, though the speed of the jungle's growth would envelope the settlement in green, these voracious plants were trimmed incessantly to little gain. The scene was strange, homes in the shapes of upturned ships with dragon figureheads looming over the doorways, a Jarl's hall, also known as a Gildenhallen, stood proudly in the center with shields along its circumfrence, beautiful exotic flowers spread across the surfaces and strange creatures unknown to the foreigners would hoop and holler as they jumped from tree to tree. 

It was a meeting of north and south. Winter chill and tropical heat.

The men and women of the settlement were finished preparing for a holiday that would normally mark the beginning of the summer raids for them, shieldmaidens and raiders sat around a wooden totem of the godess Þjóðunn (Thyothun) singing songs of friendship and blood kin as they anticipate the next day's festivities. 

They sing in their native tongue, "Vin þínum ver þú aldregi fyrri at flaumslitum;
Sorg etr hjarta, ef þú segja né náir
Einhverjum allan hug."

This roughly translates to

"Be never the first, to break with thy friend
The bond that holds you both,
Care eats the heart, if thou canst not speak
To another all thy thought."
Tom
Calypso Kolgrim 

Tonate Proper | The Shrouds


*"You are not Some beast needed to be tamed."*

*Father would disagree my lord.* Though her. The words bringing back memories of the numerous fights she had with her old man, each of them repaid with a small crumb of freedom being granted to her, as she slowly and painfully carved a space for herself where to stretch her wing and *Breath.* 

However, Bastian was still set on seeing things that weren't there, as he pointed out her more relaxed approach to physical touch. She followed his gaze with an unreadable expression. Observing her hands right as she was giving one last stroke to the powerful arm. An amused smirk bloomed on her lips as she glanced up at him, Dark eyes catching the light under long lashes "You call me wild for such a small thing while you had never attempted to stop it." Spoke her charmingly. 

"Actually, I'm pretty sure you initiated such practice, in your own way." Smirked her starting her attack " After all, you were the one who offered me his arm to stroll down this street, or is my memory failing me?" Stated her further, giving his arm another stroke, her eyes turned to the skin as to try to remember "And if I don't recall wrongly, you were the one leaning closer to me to murmur my name right in my ear, on my early days at the Keep?" Pressed her, the amused smile remaining unchanged as she pulled herself closer, soft chest pressing against Bastien's side " And even at our very first encounter, I can remember a particular itch of your hand," Voice velvety smooth, alluding at when Bastian had started playing with her mourning veil. At the time such behavior had incredibly angered her. But now it almost seemed cute. 

" So, by the following logic, " Chirped and gave his arm a little squeeze "You should be the one getting compared to a wild animal my dear Raven. " The nick name strategically slipped frome her lips, just like her hands and eyes slipped away from Bastien body, bringing them far from him as she stepped back "But if it causes you any discomfort, all you have to do is say a word and I'll never lye a single finger on you ever again, my lord. " She raised her eyes again and pressed her hand on her chest " I give you my wild animal's word." Chuckled her.
Terence
Captain Jax Brightwater
Maith Mansion, Tonate Proper

He wanted to remark on the growing possibility of Maith turning his spears to the mainland, but knew better, instead laughing as if it were a joke.

"Just a jest, Your Majesty, even if it is a poor one."  He looked down at their hands and hooked his fingers with hers.  Her remark about the carriages made his stomach turn, but still he chose not to persist, instead nodding at her wish to leave.

"Right away, Your Majesty.  I've been told *Her Imperial Destiny* Is moored in the Hangman's Harbor, ready to depart at your word."  He clicked his teeth and whistled at the pair following them, it was a red herring command, because he too noticed the servant's eyes lingering just too long for his comfort.

The bright side of Jax leaving to aid the carriages, was that they were waiting for the group as they exited the mansion.  Once the doors closed and they were on their way, Jax spoke up again.

"Is everything alright, Your Majesty?"
Steven
```
Queen Anyanka Durkhan 
Astorian Entourage, Tonate Proper```

They headed out without trouble, and even as the carriage shook when the two guards who accompanied them took their place atop it, her hand stayed firmly where Jax's hooked fingers wouldn't loosen. She stepped in, taking her usual seat and finally pulling her hand back to her own personage. The door closed behind Jax, and a moment later the wheels started to turn as they moved. A little bit away, she could hear the call of the second carriage and the sound of it starting down the path as well. 

"Anya." She corrected, though she knew he tended to keep up formalities until they were completely alone. She didn't mind it, in fact she thought it endearing, but right now she wasn't trying to be his Queen. 

Her hand lifted, the weight of his fingers still felt even as she pushed her hair behind her ear, wishing she'd worn it pulled back so the sea air didn't make it feel less-than-it's-usual-slick texture. She did _not_ miss that about Vincentien. 

"I'm telling you this because you need to know, and it's not something I want anyone outside of you and I knowing for the time being." Anya shifted, grey eyes settling on him with a second's hesitation before she just came out and said it. "I'm pregnant."
Terence
Captain Jax Brightwater
Tonate Proper

Jax settled into the carriage as usual, keeping his sword free and easy to draw in case of an ambush.  Once she finished her statement he appeared joyous at first.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"  And then, just as he finished, realization dawned on him.  "Oh... ***Oh!***"

His eyes grew wide, his brain moving at a thousand times the speed as usual.  He knew this was a risk, and even protested multiple times about this particular outcome, and yet here it was.  He didn't know what to say.  For the first time in years, he was afraid.

"H-how far along are you? Do you know?"  Was all he managed to squeak out.
Steven
```
Queen Anyanka Durkhan
Tonate Proper```

It took a moment, but he got there, and she couldn't help the soft exhale of a laugh. "Not really for sure, things got a little hectic there after the council, I noticed when I stopped paying so much attention to this-" Her hand lifted, pressing to her shoulder in indication of the shifter bite. It had been a little bit of a higher priority than noticing her cycle had shifted. 

"Look, Jax, I'm not telling you this to scare you. I've lost a handful of pregnancies, this job doesn't exactly lend itself towards a stress free environment. There are three men on this carriage willing to give their lives for my own because people want me dead." Anyanka paused, scrunching her lips to the side briefly. "Knowing myself, and the way life tends to go for me, this won't come to term. But, I felt you needed to know regardless." 

It was hard, admitting that her body just didn't work the way she wanted it to. She'd wanted another child for years, prayed and begged and tried her damnest. Instead she outlived all her children - Mikhail twice, by her count. It didn't feel like the gods felt she was suite for the job, so she wasn't going to let herself get her hopes up about this. 

She gave another small laugh, trying to break the tension as her brow knit together in concern and she leaned forward, reaching for his hand. "You're white as a sheet, darling."
Terence
Captain Jax Brightwater
Tonate Proper

"There's four, don't forget I'm here."  She laughed and it helped ease him slightly.  He had just spoken to the Chancellor about this very risk only an hour before, and here it was.  He squeezed her hand in response.

"If I had control over my pigment I promise I wouldn't be this way."  He laughed, but he was still turning the wheels in his head.  Multiple possibilities played out before him.  He'd never been a father before.

"Are you going to keep it?"  As soon as he said it, he knew it was a stupid question, she wanted another child more than anything.  Surprisingly, his thoughts drifted to Mikhail.  What would the boy think?  Oh gods, what would the rest of Marin think?  Another bastard in the Durkhan line.

"Are you sure having a bastard is what you want?"  He choked, the next sentence catching in his throat, and never coming forward.  He wanted to ask if they should marry, to prevent the scandal, but would she even marry him?  Wasn't he just a fling?  He didn't know.
Steven
```
Queen Anyanka Durkhan
Tonate Proper```

He corrected her count and she laughed, a genuine one this time that filled the cabin. "I didn't forget, I was temporarily dismissing you of duty to process the shock of your Queen carrying your bastard." Saying it like that really brought it home how valid it woul be if he freaked out. 

Her brow furrowed at his question. Not in anger, but confirmation that it was, in fact, a very stupid question. "Of course. I've wanted another child since Mikhail was young. The question isn't will I keep it, the question is will it survive." She'd be careful, of course. She'd been trying to be, but life had a tendency to come at her hard and fast. 

Her brow rose this time at his next question, and her hand squeezed his briefly. "I have a bastard, Jax. Another isn't going to tarnish the name of 'The Whore Queen of Astoria.'." Still, her head tilted to the side as she looked over him. "And besides, it's not exactly like marrying the local sweetheart. It's two crowns to consider, that's a heavy responsibility to take on on top of this, don't you think?"