Quills

"Look at this, the nerve! A secret folder. A picture? Is there any way we can discreetly get rid of this?" Allurai said seriously, looking at a picture of the sleeping female. It was offensive conduct to take a woman's picture without her consent. She was more in a short sleeping gown.

"It is a secret that we can see these files. It is disgusting conduct," Dareem said, the frail curl still had healing tissue marks on her body. Her hands were still in what appeared to be regeneration pockets. Her feet had dots of burns.

"We can approach it with a software update when we promote him to Sacred Tree. This way it will not seem suspicious," Reye said as the door chimed. He opened the security feed to see his little Leilanna at the door.

"It's Leilanna, mother!" They could hear their little ray of sunshine behind the door. Allurai pulled her robe around her and tied it shut.

"Come in, my daughter." Allurai said, swiping the large virtual displays around her closed. Her daughter bounded into the room, a teenage ball of energy and embraced her mother. "Careful, little one, we are trying to make you another little sister." Allurai said, as she was tired and recovering from the night before. She hated being touched at a certain point. It seemed like a relentless pursuit. Would Leilanna be hurt if she knew she was hoping for a new heir? Her daughter's exploits had been plateauing to an unreasonable level. There was only so much that could be covered up. It was humiliating.

"You look so beautiful, did one of your brothers give you a new dress?" Allurai said. She looked at the nineteen-year-old girl in front of her. She looked like her twin Liem. That is where the similarities ended and Leilanna became the opposite. Her long thick healthy hair was braided in an ornate, complex loose rope. It was a beautiful light cornsilk color, she was beautiful like her father, Dorien. It was adorned with mauve colored stones, she wore a violet dress and stood as tall as her brothers. She was very healthy. She still had the chubby cheeks of childhood. Her big green eyes were fringed with dark brown eyelashes. It looked like her brothers had done her makeup. No one had the touch like Liem did with makeup. Leilanna's eyes went to the display with the picture on it. Dorien started to fawn over her and offered her some fruit with a doting smile. She shared the beauty of her father. She was a beauty.

"Oh, is that the new female they found in the North Mother? She is very weird looking." Leilanna asked her mother.

"It's not nice to take a woman's picture without asking her, is it?" Allurai added.

"Mmm, it is fine. She would probably be mystified by seeing her own image. Is that what the people of the North look like? Look at that mess of hair, is it bloodied?" Leilanna looked at the picture.

"No. It is that color. It looks different under those harsh lights and brushed out. Your brother has completely changed her looks through maintaining her hair and helping her groom." said Allurai.

"Should we spy on Liem and see him? I have not seen him in years," Leilanna said. Allurai pulled up the security feed to the room. She could monitor her unbound progeny. It was a partial violation since the girl had invoked her privacy rights. However, she was technically Nora Quill's guardian. She was interested in seeing if he was eating well, what he looked like and about the young woman.

"Just this one time," Dorien pleaded. Liem would be livid if he found out. If asked, she could easily explain why she pulled up the feed, but Liem would resent her only more. He was a special child. Bright, private, unafraid of speaking his mind, studious, careful and he was great at attracting the right friends. She had benefited from him and Leilanna just embarrassed her.

"Alright." Leilanna whined.

"Alright, once, keep it a secret." Alllurai conceded. Allurai pulled up a bigger display, put it into viewing mode. Zoomed in gesturing with her fingers and then gestured with her arm, expanding the picture.

"You were right. It looks a lot better now that she has actually been groomed. She must have smelled awful. She is rather small and thin, Mother. Liem will have to instruct the staff on her diet until she gets a spouse, and he returns." Leilanna said to her mother, wanting to ensure the misery of her twin. Allurai smiled at her daughter's concern. Liem was already doing all this. His body language when the food delivery took a long time spoke to his feelings already. He liked her.

"She will be coming back here," Allurai said.

"You are going to teach her personally?" Leilanna said. She started to feel uncomfortable.

"Yes. Look at Liem! He touched her. He has not washed his hands," Dorien said with a smile. His son was adverse to touch. He knew why, he just never could never do anything about it. He saw his daughter's face twisting, he knew that look.

'Is she so desperate to replace me that she will do it with a cave person?' Leilanna thought.

"No. Who knows how dangerous she could be. She could blow us up. I do not want her to come here." Leilanna said.

"How? You are being preposterous. She would bring our clan honor. I am hoping that she will choose Liem as her first spouse. You know your brother's circumstances. She is coming. Regardless," said Allurai, hopefully. She loved her son, not only because he brought her fame by being a fraternal twin. He was capable and intelligent. Not only that, a fraternal male twin helped keep the pregnancy more stable. It was thanks to those circumstances that Leilanna was born healthier. It was her first pregnancy, and it brought the clan wealth and prestige. Liem was the first male born with a second name. A special title was granted to him as the child of fortune. Her mother was responsible for the success of the publicity. She was hoping to have another female child not only because of this, but it would raise Leilanna's fame, wealth, and prestige. Even if Leilanna was not the most capable heir or lost the position. She would attract talented males hoping for an heir to their dying clan. It was unwise for her to take on six at once, she lacked the maturity.

"You have nothing to worry about. It will take some time for her to come. She is not violent. It will be no problem teaching her. I taught you. You have not blown us up, yet." Allurai smiled and patted her daughter on the head fondly. She closed the security feed as she saw her daughter start chewing on her lip nervously. She feared that Leilanna was oddly attached to her brother, or she was jealous. She felt confident in her decision to assign her son to the capital. Leilanna seemed to love her brother, but her brother detested her. He needed his space away from her due to the incident. But five years was too much time and space. It was time for him to come home and, hopefully, he had become more tolerant and mature with his time away and extra courses. She was pleased with the opportunity that came from his studies.

'He touched her himself, he did not act like he had touched fire, and he did not run off to vomit. What if? If the two of them could become attached. He would have three names if he bore a daughter. If Liem was to be the first spouse of the first Northern Matriarch, it would bring a lot of attention to the clan. She would go down in the history books along with him. If he could have a daughter, it would add more prestige to the Allari line. Or another heir and I can finally stop.'. Allurai thought.

He was the best of her sons. His father was the finest among her spouses, perhaps Callor. His sons would have honor and his daughters would bring great favor and wealth to their clan. Liem was an attractive mate in principle, but he would get physically ill if he was touched by a female or shut down and became violent. It was beneficial for her to attract Nora. A notification popped up from Liem which put a smile on her face. It contained an update about the female's evaluation.

"Guess what Leilanna?" Allurai said. "She is close to your age. How nice you'll have another person your age to talk to. Do your best to be welcoming when she comes. You must review your etiquette," Allurai said.

"But Mother, she does not even speak our language. I hate having my interface open during conversations," Leilanna said. Allurai continued to talk to her while she read the report. She was proud of the progress Liem had made, Nora was learning fast. She might be able to speak to her soon.

"Apparently she has already read through half of the language resources in the Interface so far, Liem reports that she is slowly starting to converse in universal language." Allurai said, reading the reports. She had not been this busy in such a long time, and she was really enjoying being able to do something. The monotony was broken and Allurai was thankful to the girl from the North, Nora Quill, for breaking that. Leilanna, however, was wrestling with insecurity for the first time in her life. She would not be the center of attention. Leilanna looked at her mother and found jealousy annoying her. "Mother has been so bored lately, it will be nice to add to our family soon.'' Allurai said, reclining on the settee.

"You're glowing, I bet your Interface will be giving us good news in a week or two I bet!" Leilanna said enthusiastically as she brought up her own interface excitedly. She had found a way to divert her parents' attention to her.

"The purpose of my visit is to spread good news, Mother." Leilanna said affectionately, "I wanted to tell you in person that we conceived. I just found out. You are going to be a Great Matriarch Mother." Leilanna said.

"We shall throw you a conception party once we confirm your viability. Your spouses must be overjoyed, Leilanna!" Allurai said proudly. This girl had proven her fertile legacy. She will be a mother to many fine children.

"Oh mother, you are approaching the natural birth record. Hopefully, number fifteen will come alongside, my first, well hopefully first." Leilanna said hopefully. Her mother commonly ovulated two or more ova and had another set of male twins. Every member of her Harem had a son. But only one had a daughter. Dorien's eyes had misted over. Not only was he a father, but a Patriarch now. He looked at his daughter smiling widely and happily. Leilanna soaked in the attention as more of her Mother's spousal group congratulated her.

"I am so happy, Leilanna, I knew this day would come quickly. It feels like it happened so fast." Dorien said happily as the men all began to hug each other. Parenthood was a joy shared with your spousal group. Dorien knew that he loved all their children, and he was proud of them all in his own way. One can not help to feel proud when your own biological child thrived. But raising a little one was truly a joy. He would do anything to see them happy and succeed. He had recently been happier that his son was nearby now. He would work hard to keep him near in the future. Perhaps being bound to this new woman and having a child would keep him in Callor. One would hope she would see how special he was.