>>5715133>>5715166>>5715171>>5715179>>5715190>>5715228>>5715289“I only had time to deal with one of you while traveling and negotiating,” you explain. “ You seem… Most adept at communication, the most mature and thoughtful, despite being the youngest of your clutch.”
Your strange son seems to accept this praise implicitly, though he hums happily.
“But also,” you add, “you seemed… Distant. Closed off, mysterious, and quiet. I wished to understand you better.”
‘Because I am the smartest and best?’ Nat asks.
You laugh quietly, and pat his head again.
“I will not play favourites, Young One. You are the first of your siblings who I have had time to get to know, but I will spend some quality time with each of your brothers before I start grading you.”
He hisses quietly at that, but nods in acceptance. You take it for his version of a pout, but Natvodosk is a creature of muted passions—his affinity for the Occultist aside—and so you the subtle tantrum pass, and it is tamed before you need to do enforce formal discipline.
What a good boy!
Grateful though you are to have had this time together, you part soon thereafter. Natvodosk watches you leave in silence, conspicuously close to his teacher, who stands alongside the Translator. The Baroness sees you off as well—her husband being busy with some matter of state, possibly discussing the provisions he has promised your people. His lady-wife, however, proffers your own spouse a thick coat fo fine white fur.
“Lagopus,” she says.
Queen Ekaterine gasps, and runs her fingers over the fabric.
“Are you sure?” she asks.
“What isss a lagopuss?” you ask, unfamiliar with the animal but inferring the garment is something to be prized.
“It’s this… Well, somewhere between a bird and a rabbit, but the fur and down-feathers are INCREDIBLY warm and soft!” Ekaterine explains.
You try to picture the thing she is describing. It is... Bizarre, even by the standards of all you have seen.
