Here She Rules: The Chronicles of Erla: Book 1 (53 page)

No, they told her she was incapable of having children, and that was sophisticated medicine.
 

Doubt assailed her as she took in the shape of her belly. It wasn’t formed of soft folds of fat; it was firm. Her eyes flew to Kara’s. “Oh my God, Kara—” Panic was evident in her eyes.

“Calm down, Cass. A baby would be wonderful. We could train her ourselves to be the greatest warrior in Erla . . . second only to her mother of course,” Kara said with a grin.

“Kara, how can I tell for sure? Do you even have pregnancy tests in this world?”

“Let me send for the physician. She will be able to tell you immediately.” Kara motioned to Kai, and he ran forward to bow at her feet. “Kai, go fetch the Queen’s physician.”
 

At Kara’s words, the slaves’ collective attention shot to their Mistress. They had not heard the women’s talk about pregnancy, so they assumed Cassie didn’t feel well, and they rushed to her side to offer their services.

“You all can relax. I just have a question,” Cassie said, motioning to them to return to their cushions. She didn’t want to say anything to them until she was sure. Several minutes later, Kai returned with the physician in tow.
 

Cassie rose to greet her.

“Are you unwell, My Lady?” the woman asked. Cassie could almost feel her men’s eyes on her, and she knew they listened intently. So, she took the woman’s arm and led her to her bed chamber. Kara and the slaves all sat impatiently waiting and watching the shadows on the wall outside of Cassie’s bedroom. Minutes dragged by, and they all shifted anxiously.

“Oh, my God!” Cassie shouted, and they all jumped to their feet as Cassie came tearing out of the room and kicked a throw pillow across the floor.
 

“Shit! I
am
pregnant! And, according to her,” she pointed an accusatory finger at the physician who was chuckling softy, “it is most likely Nall’s! That son of a bitch!”
 

She stomped around the room kicking cushions and pillows, ranting, and cussing for all she was worth. After the initial shock wore off, Kara started to laugh delightedly while her slaves came to her, beaming their happiness for her.

“Cassie, calm down,” Kara laughed. “It might be Nall’s or it might belong to one of your slaves. We won’t know until it comes. Besides, it will be
yours
, and that is all I care about!” She grinned at Cassie’s mutinous expression.
 

Cassie stomped over to the couch and flopped down, crossing her arms over her breasts and fuming like a petulant child.
 

“I am sending for Nera; she will be so excited!” Cassie nodded mutely.
 

Mika came and knelt in front of her and took her hands. Cassie looked into his sweet golden eyes.

“Mistress, please do not be unhappy. We are all very excited to know we shall have a child of your flesh in the house. We all wish to know the joy of raising your daughter and watching her grow into the kind of woman her mother is. I cannot wait to hold her in my arms.” He smiled into her eyes, and Cassie melted and leaned forward to embrace him.
 

Soon, she was surrounded by the rest of her men as they kissed and hugged her, sharing their happiness. The physician, forgotten, harrumphed and bid Cassie a good day, telling her that she would need to come see her once a month till she neared the end of her pregnancy.
 

Cassie nodded and thanked the woman. The door didn’t have time to close behind her before Nera swept into the room with a question on her face, since she had just been informed that her physician had been called to Cassie’s apartments. Kara jumped up and ran to her as Cassie’s men bowed respectfully.

“Nera, Cassie is pregnant! The physician says we will have a baby in a few months’ time!” Kara was exultant.
 

Nera’s mouth dropped open as she looked at her friend.

“Is this true? Cassandra, do you expect a child?” Cassie pouted slightly and nodded.
 

Nera laughed and clapped her hands in joy. She then ran to her friend, hugging her ferociously.
 

“I am so happy! An heiress for my Commander! I hope she gives you as much trouble as Danai gives me!” Nera laughed and clapped her hands with glee. “Oh, Cassie! A baby! How exciting! She will be so beautiful—just like her mother!” She leaned forward and kissed Cassie on the cheek, and Cassie finally smiled.

“Danai doesn’t give me any trouble; I think you exaggerate.” Finally, Cassie laughed. “I suppose I must accept this as I can’t change it.”

“You will have to cease training so hard; I will not risk the child,” Nera said, switching into experienced mother mode.

“Nera, I will not give up training. I have read in the past that any activity you are doing when you become pregnant is safe to continue until you are too big to move gracefully, and that is what I intend to do. Besides, being in good shape eases the delivery.” Nera sighed and looked at Kara.

“Very well, but you will only spar with Kara, and she will safeguard you during training,” Nera said firmly, and Cassie knew she needed to concede at least this much to satisfy her Queen.

“Yes, My Lady.” Cassie rolled her eyes and then yelped when Nera gave her arm a pinch.

“There are ways to punish you that will not harm our babe,” Nera teased.
 

Cassie’s men brought in refreshments and served the women as they lay back on the sofas.

“Oh, it’s
our
baby, is it? How come I am the one who gets to get fat?” Cassie grumbled with a smile.

“You will regain your figure, and even if you didn’t, I think your slaves would still desire you.” Nera flashed an appreciative look at the well-built men surrounding them.
 

The men quickly agreed and flushed under the Queen’s intense scrutiny, making Cassie laugh.

“You know we will do all we can to help you, Cass. We love you,” Kara said. Cassie looked at her and smiled.

“I love you guys, too.”

“Well, this is getting way too emotional for me,” Nera joked, and the women laughed. They spent the afternoon chatting idly and receiving expert massages from Cassie’s slaves.

Months passed, and all too soon, Cassie became too large to train anymore.
 

Her warriors were excited and looked forward to the upcoming birth of their Lady’s child. They sent gifts of clothing, diapers, wooden toys, and silver rattles.
 

Nera had a master craftswoman fashion an ornately engraved cradle, and Cassie cried at its beauty when it came. She was much more emotional now, and her men were especially attentive to her emotions and needs. She knew she would have six male nannies to help her care for the baby and that she would never want for a single thing, and this gave her great comfort.
 

She dressed one morning in her silken harem pants and top, which she had tailored for her altered figure. The soft yellow color made her feel happy and relaxed until she looked down at her enormous mountain of a belly.
 
But then she just shrugged.

The baby was very active—especially when its mother wanted to sleep—but she was generally happy to feel its movements. Even now, when it was not so gentle and mostly aimed at her bladder, she was content to feel its presence.
 

Danai had been a constant companion to her of late; the little girl was fascinated with the coming baby, and she often told Cassie to hurry it up so she could play with it. The child had been good company, and she was half in love with Garen. She always wanted to brush his long hair and told him that when she was older, Cassie would give him to her. Garen and Cassie both always smiled at these claims.
 

During the past few days, a fear had settled into her stomach, and she couldn’t shake it. With determination, she sat at her table and composed two letters. When she finished, she sent Aidan to ask the Queen if she would honor her with a visit.
 

Within moments, Nera appeared and hugged Cassie before they settled down on the sofa.

“What is troubling you?” Nera asked without preamble as her eyes swept over Cassie’s enormous belly, which appeared markedly lower today.

“I have written letters to King Nyles and to Nall.” Nera’s brows rose. “My child will be of Serlenn royal blood, and I feel it is only right that they know of its existence. Nyles will have a grandchild, and I am sure that will please him. Also, it has occurred to me that this child may be a boy, and if my baby is male, then I would not see him become a slave. Forgive me, Nera. You know I love my life here and would not change a thing, but I would want my son to have the chance to grow up free—and as a Prince of Serlenn.”

“I understand, Cassie, and I approve. If you bear a son, then he will be an heir of Serlenn and must be brought up as such and that would not be possible here. Nyles will welcome the child with open arms and will surely acknowledge him. I believe Nall will also be thrilled to have a son. If it is a daughter, she will of course stay here. I know you would not wish her to grow up in servitude in Serlenn as a second-class citizen, who would be victim to a man’s whims.” Cassie nodded in complete agreement.

“I feel sure this child is Nall’s. I have had time to think about it, and my menstrual cycle ceased before I left the outpost. I think it will be hard to let go of a son, but I would want him to be in Serlenn where he can have what he is entitled by birth to have. I plan to be active in his life, and I will spend time there as often as I can.” Nera nodded her assent.

“I am somewhat eager now to see what this son of yours will grow to become, although I still hold out hopes that it will be a girl within that enormous belly,” Nera teased.
 

Cassie pouted and then laughed.

“I
am
huge; I just hope it all goes away!” she said, grinning at Nera.

“It will. Have no fear. No other part of you has gotten any bigger. I believe if I get pregnant again, I will take your advice and exercise.” Cassie had ceased training weeks ago, but she continued to walk with her slaves daily.
 

She sent Garen with the letters to find a messenger and rush the letters to Nyles in Serlenn. Nera had read them and approved. She therefore knew that she would soon have royal visitors, so she rose and bid Cassie goodbye, so that she could
go and make the arrangements.
 

When Nera had gone, she put her puffy feet up on the sofa and sighed, relaxing back into the softness as she studied her swollen feet. She looked up as Mika approached, and she smiled at him when he sat and began to gently rub her feet and ankles.

“Thank you, Mika.” He smiled into her eyes. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Mistress.” He beamed in pleasure at her words, and it still thrilled her that they prized her love and affection so highly.

“Mika, I expect we will be receiving King Nyles and Prince Nall within days. I expect each of you to behave very well and to show no signs of disrespect to either man. Do you understand?” she spoke firmly.
 

Mika nodded, but looked down.
 

“I know how you feel, but you must not show it.” He nodded again.

“Mistress, if your child is a boy, you need not send him away. We can raise and care for him here,” Mika said earnestly.

“Mika, this child will be an heir of Serlenn. He cannot be raised as a slave. His genetic makeup would be programmed differently from yours. He will be like his father—never satisfied in the role of a submissive male.” Mika nodded sadly. “It will be all right, Mika; it’s going to be a girl anyway.” She smiled at him, and he returned her smile warmly.

“Yes, indeed, Mistress. She will be a beautiful girl like her mother for us to spoil.” His smile widened into a grin.
 

Cassie laughed, and then her smile turned into a frown as her belly tightened. “Mistress, are you all right?” Mika’s voice was laced with concern as he set down her foot and came to kneel beside her.
 

The others saw her face and rushed to join him at her side.

“Yes, I am sure it’s fine. I probably ate too much last night.” She wasn’t very convincing, and they decided they would watch her closely. She was very near her time, and her belly had dropped even lower since yesterday.
 

Cassie yawned widely and struggled to rise before giving up and allowing them to haul her off of the sofa.
 

“I am going to take a nap; it seems I am tired all of the time now. Mika, will you lay with me?” she asked.

“Of course, Mistress.” He slipped his arms under her legs and back and hoisted her into his arms, carrying her to the bed.

“Mika, be careful; you will hurt yourself. I am so fat now!” She buried her face in his neck.

“You are not fat, Mistress. It is just the baby that stretches you out so, and you hardly weigh that much more.” He pulled back and kissed her cheek softly before lowering her gently onto the bed. “You grow more beautiful every day. My heart beats so fast just looking at you.” Sincerity shone in his golden eyes, and she smiled at him, feeling a sudden desire for him.