Chapter 5: Chapter 3: The setup of the board

"The Hupomenó kingdom is one of the oldest nations around, it has existed for over 70,000 years, surpassed and dwarfed only by the Dynasty of Wu" - Nations of the current era by Ahmed Al-Hafeez of the Ikram Caliphate

 

It was the next morning, so early that the morning dew and mists were still there when Ase woke up. She had slept extremely well that night, so good in fact that she can’t remember the last time she had such a good night. It was probably hundreds of years ago when Aros was still alive when she last had such a good rest. She yawned, stretched, and took a look around the bed. 

“I guess they also slept extremely well” she murmured to herself as she looked at Astrid, Gunhilf, Hui-Ying, Adina, and Thyra as they all slept around Erik in the middle. 

It had been an emotional night for them, not only did they laugh and cry at the memories of Aros, but they also talked and dreamed about the future. A future where they could watch Erik grow up, play, and just be a child. It also gave them a new purpose in life, where before they just lived to protect the memory of Aros and his dream, but now they found another reason. A reason to live for, to pass their lives and dreams onto. 

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They had decided to host a party right there and then. The remainder of the day after the battle was spent sending soldiers to the surrounding cities, towns, and villages for alcohol, meat, bards, and whatever else they desired. For today they would party and the Gunnulf family would pay for everything. 

As the party started to unfold with bards singing their lungs out and people dancing around the different campfires, the Gunnulf family was having their own little family celebration in the headquarters tent. Thyra and Astrid as usual were drinking Svend under the table as Gunhilf was attacking the hindleg of a Thorkal and cheering them on. Ever the proper lady, Adina was sitting up straight and hardly touched the alcohol as she seemed to be lost in conversation with Hui-Ying. Most likely talking about the latest rumors of high society in the kingdoms and empires around the world. Ever the curious foxes, those two. 

“You know you can join them right? I can take care of Erik and Estrid by myself, they’re behaving quite well and drinking it all up.” Bodil smiled as she cast a look from the two babies to Ase who was quietly looking at Erik drinking while occasionally looking at the rest of their family. 

“No, I am fine being here. Just give me this moment of peace, please.” Ase replied as she started to stroke Erik’s filled-up cheeks who let loose a sound of displeasure. 

“Haha, you’re a real greedy one, aren’t you?” Ase asked as she continued stroking his cheek, much to the displeasure of Erik. 

“I think he was quite hungry, he must’ve been without food for a long time.” Bodil surmised as Erik continued to greedily suckle up some more milk. 

The party continued for another couple of hours before the soldiers started to retreat to their own tents. The ones who were single started to mingle and retreat to their shared tents with other single soldiers, especially the female soldiers who seemed quite eager tonight. Promising a night full of fun for not only their partners but also the other couplings that shared the tent for the night. 

It didn’t take long for the sounds of moans and grunts to be heard all over the camp and not long before a couple more grunts and moans were heard, as some of the men who didn’t manage to score were taken pity upon by either the other woman who didn’t score or the ones who decided one rod wasn’t enough for the night. 

“Well, they’re really going at it tonight, ain’t they?” Astrid laughed as she claimed victory over Svend, Gunhilf, and Thyra in their drinking game. Svend was knocked out on the table and Gunhilf and Thyra were throwing up outside the tent into the bushes. 

“Astrid, why do you have to bully my husband so much? I still need him for tonight, you know?” Bodil complained as she put Erik and Estrid down into their respective cradles and moved to the food pile that was on the center table. She was hungry, especially after feeding a greedy little boy. 

“I am sure you have your ways to wake him up, Bodil. If need be, I can wake him up right now with a good kick if you want?” Astrid taunted and moved to stand next to Svend, intending to do what she said if Bodil gave the word.

“Please don’t, his leg hurt for the entire week when you did that. We even had to call in a healer to make sure everything was alright. You really have to stop drinking Astrid, you’re one fighting drunk if I’ve ever seen one, and believe me I have seen a lot of them.” Bodil answered as she grabbed the entire food pile and sat down at the center table to scarf it all down. 

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“Yada yada, I heard you loud and clear! Tonight is the last night I drink!” Astrid replied and held her arms up in the air, intending to gather the attention of the people who passed out. 

“Don’t even bother Bodil. You know how Astrid is when she drinks. Hui-Ying and I have had this conversation with her more than a thousand times by now. Anyway, Hui-Ying and I are moving everyone to the bed, do you need any help with Svend?” Adina inquired as she started to grab Gunhilf arms while Hui-Ying moved to grab the arms of Thyra. 

“It’ll be fine, I will have Astrid help after I finish this plate of food. What about you Ase, are you staying up the night?” Bodil answered Adina as she finished off the last part of her food and looked towards the still sober Ase. She had noticed that Ase had been quiet this entire night and zoned off in her own little world after the first round of breastfeeding Erik and Estrid. 

“I am going to sleep as well. I had a lot to think about this evening. Astrid, help Bodil with Svend and Estrid and come to sleep as well. We got a lot to talk about tomorrow morning. And we have a foreign royal family member also to discuss, one who seemed to decide that it was perfectly normal to party with the ones who defeated his army. I swear that guy is an idiot. I think I even saw him enter his tent with three of our female soldiers when I was getting some fresh air two hours ago.” Ase sighed as she stood up and picked up Erik’s cradle. 

“Uhm Ase, why didn’t you stop him? You know things will become dire if he ends up impregnating one of them right? While he might not look and act the way royal family members do, he still has their blood. If one, or god forbid all of them give birth to genuine Ophanim, we might have an all-out war with the Cerviel Holy land on our table, especially if one of them turns out to be a lord child, a war we can ill-afford at this moment.” Adina asked as she stopped dragging Gunhilf to bed when she heard Ferrando ended up bringing three women to his tent. 

“Well then, that is one way sober up,” Astrid announced as she dropped Svend’s body to the ground without a single care. “Ase, this is not like you. What is happening to you right now? You missing this possibility is something that should never happen to you.” Astrid inquired further as she started to move closer to Ase. 

“I don’t think it is that big of an issue. If all three of them are pregnant, we will know about it in three months. Angels, especially Ophanim’s are born faster than almost any other race. From what I know it is around 2-3 months. If they do end up giving birth, we can work with either the Hupomenó kingdom or even the Dynasty of Wu. They won’t risk war with us if we are allied with either of them, in fact if all three of them are pregnant, that would be for the best. We can trade a one-sided military alliance with each of them for one of the Ophanim.” Ase explained while she continued to move to their quarters. 

“I’ll send a message to my family back in the Dynasty of Wu. I think the first wife of the Heavenly Emperor’s son recently gave birth, or she should be close to giving birth. If it ends up being a Lord child, we can end up getting even more than a one-sided military alliance. An Ophanim is after all extremely powerful, even without taking a step on a path.” Hui-Ying explained as she continued dragging Thyra to bed as Ase passed her. 

“I don’t like this, I got a bad feeling about this. Can’t we just kill all four of them? He is useless for the royal family anyway, they won’t bother us if we pay them a reparation sum.” Adina asked as she started to rub her forehead, she really hated when things don’t go according to plan, and this was one of the worst things to go sideways. 

“Go to sleep, Adina, drag Gunhilf to our bed and just relax. If you can’t, just wake up Thyra and I am sure she will wear you out. I got other things to worry about than this” Ase’s voice started to become authoritative again with a hint of anger to it.

“Alright, I’ll shut up about it. I really hope you’re right about this Ase.” Adina gave in and decided to drop the issue. Better to not stir the nest too much when everyone is starting to get into a good mood again after all these years. 

And in the tent west of the Gunnulf family, a chorus of three women and one man ended in a splendid high. A satisfied look on all four of them after a couple of hours of vigorous exercise.

At the same time that Ase, Svend, Bodil, and the rest of the Gunnulf family went to bed and as the chorus ended in the western tent, behind a tree, someone was writing a hasty letter.

 

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