<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=208691.msg11593333#msg11593333">Quote from: Autocad on 30-08-2015, 16:52:57</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">So the catgirl gave up on her escape plans to be beside al-Samara in his final moments. Judi on one side, and Menya on the other, gripping his blackened hands - having usurped Faliensk's position as favoured concubine, it was her rightful place to be. Despite his gentle and noble words, tears were trickling freely down her cheeks. It was after he admitted the truth about the catgirls and others who lost their memories that she could hold her words in no longer. "No, we could never hate you, not after the kindness you have shown to us," she promised him, squeezing his hand. "You'll live on in our hearts..." she paused in a final moment of hesitation, then made her decision without regret, smiling despite eyes shining bright with tears. It was tricky to whisper so that only he could hear, what with so many people around, but she tried. "...and through your livinya legacy." She guided his hand to her stomach, to feel the warmth of her flesh... and perhaps, just perhaps, the warmth of new life.<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>He smiled softly, hearing that which nobody else could.  When he passed he looked happy and content.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">As Time Passes By</span></span></span></div><br/>Menya and Hanifa did not leave the Palace, nor the Elemental Plane of Water.  It was painful to adjust to life without her beloved, but it did not feel right to leave, either.  Judi gained control of the Palace until a suitable heir came forth, and as owners of the servants she did not intend on letting any of them leave; there were of course those nobles who sought to buy off al-Samara's concubines, but Judi did not budge.<br/><br/>"To give you all up would be an admission of weakness," she once said.  "I will not sell even a pebble of this Palace to that dreaded Council as long as I draw breath!"<br/><br/><br/><br/>Alfreldi and Zelda stayed, unable to abandoned their friends to an emptier home.  Zelda eventually got her work accepted at the Glass University, thanks to some help from her friends in persuading the faculty to reconsider their denial.  She, Judi, and the rest of the crew were even invited to explain their thesis to a crowd of chroniclers from the city-plane of Axis who were quite impressed!<br/><br/>Alfreldi drank the memory serum several days after al-Samara's passing.  She saw her old life, as a Thuvian traveler and alchemist who was left to die for betraying the secrets of one of the nation's guilds.  In her homeland she had no life to return to, and in a way was thankful that al-Samara took her in.<br/><br/><br/><br/>It was not long before sentiment against Roshul enveloped many of the catgirls.  Although she did her best to keep order and was liberal with punishments, the cat was out of the bag and her grasp on authority was permanently damaged.  After a full-out brawl left the naga with a split lip and broken thumb she left the Palace in disgrace, vowing revenge against its inhabitants, Judi, Menya, Hanifa, Zelda, and Alfreldi in particular.<br/><br/>With their master gone, the concubines found themselves deprived of their traditional role.  Fortunately most were skilled in other ventures to help earn a trade and bring in much-needed money back to Judi's pockets.  Hanifa was a regular sight in the City's martial tournaments, performing many trick shots as she hit the bullseye targets dead-center each and every time.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Once it became clear that Alfreldi's memory came with the help of Bakr, the alchemist tripled his workload at the pressing of the concubines.  Fortunately Alfreldi's returned knowledge made her more than capable of lending a hand, something he appreciated dearly.  When he wasn't concocting extracts, Bakr seemed different around Menya.  Although part of himself felt shame for "stealing" her from his deceased lord, he felt that he needed to be there to comfort her.  Although he was genuine in emotional support, if it led to sex, well as they say, things happen.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Judi was not inclined towards either Menya or Hanifa; she never forgave their failure in saving her husband, but when the pair started expecting this brought about a change in her.  The marid did not say it out loud, but within their wombs she saw a reminder of al-Samara.  When they gave birth to two beautiful daughters she was a surprisingly kindly aunt, lavishing praise on them when she was not disciplining them into becoming "scions of the greatest marid family."  However, the true mothers were a closely-guarded secret, passed off as Judi's own to help cement her inheritance of al-Samara's legacy in its entirety.