"My dear," began Celine as she traced a finger along Blanc's abs, "Can I ask you something?"
"I told you, feel free to speak your mind," replied Blanc, as he continued playing with her hair.
"Do you wish for a second or a third wife?" She asked. A strange question, perhaps, especially given the circumstances in which they found themselves. Two people, naked, next to each other.
The evening had just arrived, and the sleep both Celine and Blanc had been in earlier was brought to an end by the noise of preparation outside.
The Council has finished their talks, and it seems preparations were underway to defend the estate and Duldera.
It seemed to Blanc as the logical solution. He would have thought the same.
It would have been dumb for them to fight in an open field against millions when they could fight smarter, using one of the only advantages they had.
As for Blanc and Celine's current lack of clothes, well, after waking and exchanging a few quiet words, they found themselves bored.
Not able to do anything useful besides sit in the other's company. And with Celine's help, they did what young, bored people do with their partners during such times.
But such… such… huh?
"What did you ask me?" Blanc asked, confused.
"I asked if you wish for a second or third wife. Did I stutter?" Celine repeated, offended by the repetition.
"Until a few days ago, I had barely thought about romance overall, my love. What is this all about?" Blanc explained.
"Well, your father has two wives, my father has three. I know Noble Bloods who have seven even. So, I was just wondering what my dear future husband had for me in terms of sisters." Celine said.
"You said that last part so cute, that it almost fooled me you were not angry by the thought of having 'sisters'," Blanc laughed, but stopped shortly as pain reminded him of his condition.
"I just wanted an answer from you, not to explain my thoughts on the matter. So, we will continue this conversation at another time," Celine sighed, getting up from the bed.
"I feel I have angered you somehow," Blanc muttered, trying to get himself up as well.
"On the contrary, the answer was more satisfactory than I thought it would be," she replied, while getting herself dressed, "I've undressed you, let me dress you back up as well. You can barely put any strength in your right arm."
"Thank you," Blanc nodded, accepting her aid, "to be completely truthful with you, I have not thought, nor did I hold such interests as to have multiple wives before. There were and are more important things to worry about."
"Depends on who you ask," Celine said while helping Blanc with his clothes, "but for most, my father included, Blood is sacred. And having as many children is seen as the basis of it all. The survival of one's Blood."
"It's the same lesson we've been taught. My Blood shares the same values after all. As well as the reasons. All of us do. But such worries are for us to have when we have our survival assured. It does not matter how many wives I wish I had if by tomorrow we are all dead," Blanc explained.
"Pessimistic and fair," Celine nodded, "But we will not die, my love. Our time has not come yet."
"I do hope you are right…" Blanc muttered, finished getting dressed, before looking out the window to see what was happening.
The Council meeting was a productive one. Albeit one filled with doubt as soon as the Patriarchs of the three Bloods heard of the information Miyanna provided Elion with.
In preparation, Lord An and Lord Alvenin agreed to send their armies to Duldera, accompanied by the ranged companies of the Wardens.
The location was easily defensible and well-suited to their style of combat, offering them a strategic advantage.
Meanwhile, Lord Tarba and his forces, along with the remaining army of Blood Denegis, chose to defend the estate and engage the enemy directly from the front lines, a decision aligned with their strengths in battle.
Many other matters were discussed as the day wore on. Assault points, reserve placements, and strategies for sustaining the fight over several days with minimal losses, until reinforcements from Blood Maroux and Seraph could arrive.
And as the preparations concluded, well into the night, the main event was felt. The Iron Line was near.
One would wonder how everybody in Duldera and the mansion knew that to be the case. But the tremor that was felt with each step the Iron Line took was like an earthquake. One that foretold death and doom.
Elion stood still atop the walls, his eyes tracing the horizon's quaking blur. He had seen wars, fought in dozens. But never before had he felt the earth itself warn him. He fought with the men approaching. Not against them. So he never knew the feeling they had brought until now.
Even minutes away, before the first soldiers could be seen, the tremor caused enough panic in the heart of the people of Duldera that chaos was on the brink of ensuing. Yet the Noble Bloods ensured that peace was kept inside the city as the final hours of their life as they knew came closer and closer, in the form of an endless sea of soldiers and flames.
Siege weapons rolled between their ranks, pulled by giant rhinos. A common beast used during sieges for their defensive and offensive capabilities.
There was no point in counting them as they approached. For miles, the Plains of Duldera were filled to the brim with life. They were steel-clad and hungry for war.
With each step, they let out guttural, random sounds, filling the unfortunate ears of those listening with an amalgamation of sound so horrific that it made many of the weak souls inside of Duldera pass out or start crying out of the helplessness it brought them.
Children were hurried indoors, their mothers whispering prayers while trying to appear strong. On the rooftops and towers, guards gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes scanning the horizon as if sheer will could stop the oncoming tide.
War had arrived at their doorstep. And all they could do now was hope they were ready to receive it.