Chapter 81: Chapter 81

After three days of staying awake at night with Gavil and attempting to infuse Pauca magic on the eggs as frequently as possible, Khailis had grown extremely fatigued. If she had known that marrying a magical shape-shifting beast and carrying his offspring could be this tiring, she wouldn’t have blown his marriage flute in the first place.

Being around Gavil’s mother and the servants weren’t helpful at all too. They were so worried about the eggs that they wouldn’t pass any opportunity into pressuring them to make love.

“How well are you doing at night, young one? I hope you are not neglecting your fatherly duties. You do know the babies need all the magic they can get, right?” Queen Argylla had asked again on the third morning.

Of course, Khailis had the same reaction as that on the day when she had first heard her question; she turned so red that all she wanted was to disappear away from sight. How can a mother ask about her son’s nightly affairs like that? It was as if she wanted him to give a detailed report of what they had been doing.

Gavil would only smile and reply politely. “All is well, mother. My wife and I are doing well.”

Indeed, she could actually say he was doing really well in energizing those eggs. It seemed like he’s got an unlimited stamina. As for her, all she really wanted was to get a good night’s sleep.

“Alright then. Get some sleep for today. Just ring a bell to the servants when you go hungry, so you won’t get disturbed.”

“Ah.. Ah, excuse me...” Khailis said, raising her hand.

“What is it?” Gavil’s mother asked. She looked at her impatiently. Khailis swallowed the rising lump at her throat and spoke.

“Will it be alright to go out today? I haven’t been anywhere lately. I wanted to look around and see a bit of Teotroly.”

Going around was just the perfect excuse. Khailis needed to get some air away from the pressures of constant lovemaking. She didn’t want to get cooped up inside the bedroom with just Gavil as a companion; she knew pretty well that he’ll insist of doing the deed again instead of sleeping.

The queen’s eyebrows rose. “What about sleep? Aren’t you tired?”

Well aware of the dark circles that had formed under her eyes, Khailis faked a smile. “No, not at all. We won’t be long.”

“Alright, it’s about time you get familiar with the land since this is your new home now. You go ahead and have fun, but don’t tire yourself and be careful...”

Khailis wanted to dance at her new found freedom. Ah, what a joy would it be to get up and go outside!

Gavil frowned. “Are you sure you wanted to go outside today? Can’t we just stay here?”

“We have been staying here for three days. Aren’t you even tired of being with me all the time?”

He hugged her from the back. “Of course not. I love my wife! Why would I get tired of you?”

Normally, she would have appreciated his clingy and sugary-sweet behaviour, but knowing that he was using this tactic to get her to fulfil her marital duties again, she unclasped his hand away from her and urged him to prepare, so they could leave as soon as possible.

Stepping outside of the bright sun lifted Khailis’ spirits up. She had always loved being out in the fields. Being caged all day and night inside the house did not suit her at all.

Gavil knew this. He smiled, seeing how elated she was to be out and about, and he knew the perfect place to take her.

“Let’s go to the Temple of The Gods. There’s a big garden there, and there are many flowers. I’m sure you’ll like it there, my wife!”

Khailis nodded excitedly. He quickly transformed into his Pauca form and urged his wife to ride on his back.

Khailis was wide-eyed when he transformed. After his coming-of-age, she had seen him only once in his magical form, which is a majestic combination of a gigantic panther and the powerful golden wings of a large eagle.

She smiled. She began to stroke his midnight black fur, and she was happy to know it was still as soft and sleek as when Gavil was just a regular-sized feline.

Khailis knew him well when he was just as small as a kitten. By and by, he grew into a larger cat, and then into a medium-sized panther. She could still remember the days when they played together, rolling around in the fields or in the forest back at Sensala. Who knew this beautiful creature would become his husband so soon?

After making sure that Khailis had seated herself firmly enough, Gavil flapped his massive golden wings and rode carefully towards the Temple of The Gods.

As soon as they took off, Khailis’ chest was filled with the great joy of flying. The air ruffled her hair away. She laughed at the freedom and the feeling of becoming one with the wind.

Suddenly, Khailis’ thoughts wandered back to the friends she had left onboard the ship. She wondered what had happened to Langrion and Shia, the mage, and the members of the Red-Headed Knuckles who were with her. Did they also survive like her? Did they make it to shore?

Although he couldn’t see her face from above him, Gavil could sense the almost abrupt change in Khailis’ countenance.

“What are you thinking, my wife?”

Khailis was almost shocked to hear a big cat speak in the Human Tongue. She really found this very, very amusing.

“Gavil, when you rescued me from the sea, did you find anyone else?” Khailis had to strain her throat as she spoke back to him. It was hard to utter words while on air, but it seemed that Gavil heard her just fine for he answered quickly.

“I found so much floating scraps, but I did not find anyone around you.” Gavil thought back. “Why? Were you travelling with someone?”

“I was with Shia and Langrion, but at some point, we got separated.”

“I see. They are alright, don’t worry.”

“How did you know?”

“I spoke with the familiar who took them here.”

“Familiar?” Khailis’ almost tumbled from his back in utter surprise. “What is a familiar? And you said they are here?”

“A familiar is a magical animal guide for those who can wield magic. The prince’s familiar said he carried them here to Teotroly.”

Khalis could not believe it. Shia and Langrion were both safe, and they were here too!

She had a million questions. “Who is this familiar you spoke with? When did you speak with him? Are they alright? Where are they?”

“The familiar was someone you have known for a long time. He was the one who was always with the prince. I didn’t ask him those questions, but you can ask him yourself. I’ll call him up to join us at the temple.”

After saying this, Gavil let out a shrill, cat-like cry in the air. So this was how Paucas call a familiar? Who was this familiar that he mentioned? Khailis couldn’t wait to find out.

Soon, they landed in a great, lush garden with flowers of every kind. Even the palace gardens or the one at the Rubiyah Mansion can’t compare to its size.

Still in his Pauca form, Gavil curled on a shady spot underneath a big tree, and he called her to sit down beside him.

Khailis willingly followed. She leaned her back towards him and stroke his satin-like fur. He started to purr like a cat, which didn’t suit the burly creature that he was now. She wanted to laugh.

Khailis picked a few flowers and began to make a flower crown. Gavil had nothing better to do after serving as his wife’s cushion, so he slept as she busied herself in the garden.

After a few minutes, Khailis heard a sound in the bushes, and a big, golden mowngry leapt up, surprising her so suddenly that she almost jumped.

“C-Chibi!”

Khalis couldn’t be wrong! This massive, saliva-filled and animated creature in front of her was Chibi – Langrion’s (and her) beloved pet!

The mowngry let out an excited cry and readied himself to come and jump into her lap, like he had done so countless of times in the past.

Before the mowngry could pounce on Khalis, however, Gavil had already positioned himself between him and his wife. He held his paws against the playful creature and growled, informing him not to frighten her like that again for she was carrying eggs now.

Confused, the mowngry pranced about and talked with the Pauca prince.

‘Eggs? Is Lady Khalis pregnant? Who’s the bastard father?’ he asked in his animal language.

Gavil’s eyes turned dagger-like. ‘I am. Do you have a problem with that?’

The mowngry whimpered in bewilderment. This Pauca prince was around 200 years old – still very young in Teotrolian age, but far too old in the human age. What’s more, he wedded this rowdy mistress of his, who only seemed to care about sword fighting while she was growing up. How can that happen?

‘Pauca prince, you linked with such a young human? When did it happen?’

‘A week ago. What is it to you?’

Chibi sighed and shook his head in misery. So, Teotrolian beasts can marry humans too?... If Chibi had known this, he would have made a move on Lady Khailis, whom he had always secretly cherished in his heart, before she had even met this Pauca royalty.

Now that she had linked with him, he can only look back in regret. Mowngries were just familiars – magical beast companions. They do not have the power to turn themselves into humans, unlike other higher-order Teotrolian beasts, such as, paucas, werewolves, or dragons. If only he was born into a different Teotrolian breed, he was sure that it would have been his babies that Lady Khailis would be carrying by now instead of this dark-skinned, territorial, and ill-mannered cat.

“Uh, what are you guys talking about? This is Chibi, right?” Khailis said, peeking from behind Gavil.

Upon hearing his beloved mistresses’ recognition, Chibi started to wag his tail. Seeing that the Pauca prince was still looking at him sharply, however, he dropped his stare to the ground and cried in defeat.

“Ugh, don’t frighten Chibi away, Gavil,” Khalis said, stepping away from his husband and opening her arms for Chibi to enter. “Come here, Chibi. Didn’t you miss me?”

Chibi walked excitedly but a little more carefully towards Khalis, who threw her arms around him.

He started to lick her face immensely, but the Pauca prince growled deeply once more.

‘Mowngry, you don’t have the right to kiss her!’

Khailis frowned. Although she couldn’t understand the magical beast language, she could tell that Gavil was bullying Chibi. “Gavil, what’s up with you? Why are you frightening away my pet?”

Gavil growled again and squeezed himself in between the familiar and Khalis. This ‘pet’ clearly has a thing for his wife, and he won’t allow it.

“My wife, he is not a pet. He is the familiar I am speaking of.” Gavil told Khailis.

“Chibi – he’s a familiar?! Does it mean he is a magical creature too?”

“Yes. He brought the prince and Lady Shia here a few days ago. Isn’t that right, mowngry?”

Chibi barked in agreement.

Khailis’ face lit up. He reached out across Gavil to stroke Chibi’s mane, oblivious to his husband’s dagger-like stares.

“Oh, by the gods, that’s the best news I have ever heard! Chibi, where are they? Can you take me to them immediately?”