Christina bowed at the waist to Lady Carolyn, but as she straightened, Tehr saw the impish smile that often graced the face of his sometimes devilish sister.<strong>"I'm so glad you've finally come Carolyn, I've heard so much about you from Alex." </strong>Then she thre her arms about the fellow noblewoman in a hug.  For her part, Carolyn looked a bit surprised and even mildly uncomfortable at the sudden friendly action, though she did seem to be wearing a genuine smile.<br/><br/>Awkwardly she returned the hug,<strong> "Why.. thank you... m'lady." </strong>Tehr realized that Carolyn was feeling out her role in this situation.  House Wynt was by far the more powerful of the two noble houses.  In terms of land ownership they may have been equal a few months ago, but that was before the queen had granted control of the vast tracts of wilderness north and west of the wynt family estates.  In all other terms, House Wynt was in a superior position to Hesfal.  They had greater wealth now by far, more influence in court, thanks to Tehr's actions, and Tehr himself was the consort of the very queen.  There was no doubt in Tehr's mind that the priestess Carolyn was obviously somewhat nervous about being regarded as subservient, and the sudden hug from Christina had thrown her off somewhat.<br/><br/>Christina, always one to play with her words broke the hug and held Carolyn by the shoulders, searching her eyes which appeared so human at the moment.  Of course she was a changeling like her twin sister Alexandria, and so if she had taken a normal form those eyes would appear flat and grey.  But at the moment Carolyn appeared to be nothing more than a human noblewoman, just as her twin sister Alexandria appeared nothing more than a human nobleman, though somewhat effeminate in form.  Christina's smirk deepened as she said,<strong> "I expect that you and I shall become fast friends, and I hope almost like sisters.  Much in the same way that you and Alex are, if I am not too bold to hope for such a thing?"</strong><br/><br/>Carolyn blushed, and likely everyone in the grand hall suspected what Christina had meant.  Alexandria and Carolyn were twin sisters, and Alex had let it be known to the Wynt family that they were incestuously close.  While Tehr did not know if Rosalyn or Angelique knew this, he highly doubted they didn't.  Those two the servant and elf maid seemed to have a knack for being well informed.  Already Christina and Alex had become very close lovers, and for she to suggest to Carolyn that they become as close as sisters, suggested a relationship of a sexual nature much as Alex and Carolyn had.  Within only moments of meeting the woman, Christina had very slyly propositioned Carolyn for a carnal relationship in a very well obfuscated comment.  Carolyn's relationship would be quite telling.<br/><br/>The priestess cleared her throat, though the blush on her face did not fade as she said,<strong>"I have no doubt that we will become friends m'lady,"</strong><br/><br/>Christina interrupted Carolyn, moving her hands from shoulders to take one hand as her other saught out Alex's free hand, "No m'lady, please, call me Christina."<br/><br/>Carolyn looked down at her hand as Christina twined their fingers together and nodded,<strong>"I have no doubt we will become friends Christina, more than that even in time.  But I beg you to forgive my hesitation, I am not... I do not have..."</strong>She cleared her throat again,<strong> "I am not as good with people as my sist... my brother is.  He seems to be more at ease and I... I have always been the more shy of the two."</strong><br/><br/>Tehr felt the sudden need to 'rescue' Carolyn from his devilish sister's machinations and spoke up,<strong>"Ahem, I know that we have much to discuss.  But if I may claim my right as Lord of the manor, I wish to speak with lady Carolyn alone for a short time.  Maybe the rest of you can adjurn to the living room and we shall join you presently?  I'm sure that Carolyn would appreciate a chance to relax somewhere other than standing in the great hall."</strong><br/><br/>Angelique, nearby moved swiftly away to the kitchen to prepare a light repast as Alex, Christina, and Rosalyn moved to the living room and Tehr led Carolyn to his office.  Entering it behind her he turned and made sure the door was firmly shut and locked before turning around to address Carolyn.  He was actually somewhat shocked to see that she had dropped her human guise and stood in her natural changeling form, looking exactly like Alexandria did when she took her natural form.  But more shocking was that she was already beginning to undress.<strong> "What?"  </strong>Tehr asked with some confusion.<br/><br/>Carolyn's hands moved down the riding leathers unbuttoning as she explained,<strong> "Alexandria told me how she gained your trust when you first met.  I wish to serve you as well Lord Tehr, and while I am nervous, I will do the best..."</strong><br/><br/>Tehr's hand caught hers and stopped her from removing any clothing or undoing any further buttons,<strong>"You do not need to do this Carloyn."</strong><br/><br/>She looked up at him, grey changeling eyes searching his as she bore a puzzled look,<strong> "When you said that you wished to claim your right as lord of the manor, I assumed...with your reputation...with everything Alexandria has written to me..."</strong><br/><br/>Tehr smiled and shook his head,<strong>"If you wish to become one of my lovers, I would celebrate such a thing.  But no, I never force myself upon anyone, and would find it the height of boorishness to use my position to force any encounter before such a time as is natural."</strong><br/><br/>Carolyn smiled slightly and removed her hands from her clothing.  The clothing and begun to be unbuttoned but was still done up enough to maintain all modesty and sit on her body even with some undone buttons<strong>, "That is good to hear m'lord because..."</strong><br/><br/>Tehr interrupted her,<strong> "Please, Carolyn, call me Tehr."</strong><br/><br/>She nodded,<strong>"All right Tehr, I am sorry that I misunderstood." </strong>Tehr nodded and waved his hand as if it were an unnecessary apology,<strong>"The truth is that I've had only one lover ever, my sister Alexandria.  As you know she enjoys taking on a male form, and we..."</strong>She blushed but Tehr nodded, he did understand,<strong> "I am no blushing virgin, and being changelings the two of us have taken on several shapes throughout the few years since we began to sport at such things.  But always it was my sister and I.  I knew that coming here, it would only be a matter of time before I found another lover besides her... I am glad that it does not have to be within minutes of entering the home though."</strong>Tehr laughed but Carolyn kept talking,<strong> "Was.... was your sister serious?"  I know she and Alex have become lovers, but what she suggested... did..."</strong><br/><br/>She trailed off and Tehr picked up the thought,<strong> "I would imagine very much so.  My sister has had several lovers,"</strong><br/><br/>Now it was Carolyn's turn to interrupt,<strong> "Including her brother if I understand the code in Alex's letters to me?"</strong><br/><br/>Tehr nodded,<strong>"Yes, including me.  She has had several lovers, a few half elven servants back at home, her handmaid here at Hewthorne hall, and I suspect a departed fellow noblewoman that she became very close to.  So yes, my sister takes her lovers regardless of their gender, and apparently with no preference for male or female."</strong><br/><br/>Carolyn cocked her head to one side, and her form began to slowly shift back to the human features she had worn earlier.  It was a slow process, and Tehr had seen Alex shift his shape in a matter of a second or two, but this slow shifting seemed much more deliberate.<strong>"Well then,"</strong>she said as color began to return to pale white flesh,<strong>"It is lucky she found my sister, a lover who can be either, and more in fact."</strong><br/><br/>Tehr smiled,<strong>"Yes we have played with Alexandria when she bore the form of a woman, but with an extra bit of delight jutting hard and proud from above her feminine cleft.  Yes, she has been lucky in that regard, for Alexandria is a truly spectacular woman, and that is why I have taken her as my apprentice, and allowed our houses to join forces as deeply as they have.  But let us not keep them waiting too long, please I need to know if there is a reason why you hurried ahead here to Hewthorne Hall.  Is everything ok?"</strong>