NTR Quest - Odyssey

“I would be honored to act as your retainer.” You bent down into a shallow bow. As you rose, Djir looked delighted. He pulled you to his side and began walking with you.

“The honor is mine. Believe me.”

“What does a retainer do?”

“You assist me in my daily life. You've seen what Amun does?” He asked. You nodded, staring up at him as he explained things.
“Well I'm going to keep you close to me and a retainer isn't a slave or a servant so it's not as if you're washing clothes. What you do is far more important.” He motioned towards himself.
“Having strong, competent retainers is a good way to show prestige without having to use force in a political setting. Then, hehe, when it's time to use force you act before anyone else.”

“Wait, am I going to have to fight people?”

“I'll try to make sure you don't, but Garm society is-”

He stopped as the front double doors were pushed open by two large Gnolls in plate armor. Their swords were sheathed, but they had their claws on them persistently.
“Make way!” One shouted in a booming tone. You looked up at Djir; he was uncomfortable.

“Oh god...”

“Do you need me to do anything?” You whispered to him.

“Not yet.”

The two Gnolls stood on either side of the open door. You had seen a Gnoll woman in the crowd once or twice. The appearance was similar to that of Male Gnolls. Fur covering most of their bodies with spots of color, short pointed ears and bestial faces with elongated snouts and sharp teeth. The difference was in the posture. Women seemed to hunch less to a subtle degree and therefore the woman walking through the door felt slightly taller than Djir. Her shape was feminine, with a heavy chest and wide hips . The woman walked confidently into the hall and centered her sharp eyes on you specifically.
“So this is the creature.” She said humorlessly. She turned whipped her head quickly to glare at Djir.
“I hope you disciplined it harshly for that stunt.”

You saw Djir wink at you. “Oh, yes Mother. I was very 'stern' with him when we got back.”

She extended her hand quickly and slapped Djir across the snout. “Disgusting.” She sneered, bearing sharp white teeth.
“What would your father think.”

“Hah. He'd be out of his head.”

“As you must be!” She brought her hand down a few more times over his head harshly. Djir seemed to sigh and drop down to one knee instinctively. The woman towered over both of you. She withdrew her hand and turned her head once again to stare at you. Djir seemed tense, as if he was waiting for her to try anything against you.
“Looking at you makes me s-” You felt a strange sense of vertigo before the woman finished speaking. Your time and place and awareness shifted very suddenly, twisting in space until finally your eyes rested on the woman in a different setting. You were comfortably seated with one long leg over the others. Heels and a flowing red dress. Red hair cascaded down the front of you.
“-ick!” She finished the same sentence in the new space, as if it had all been said before. You blinked and touched your face curiously. Feminine. No apple in your neck. It was confusing.
“Do you have any idea what you are DOING by indulging his inane wants?”

You spoke without meaning to, as if it was just a scene playing out in your head. “They are not simply 'wants' Lhara. The boy has unique desires. Those run deep.”

“But they can be change.” She tilted her chin up.

“But why? Who does it hurt? If anything... You are the one-”

“Watch your tone, witch!”

You sighed heavily and leveled a harsh gaze at her. “Just because I treat you kindly in MY home does not mean I have to. We can be friends or enemies. You can live comfortably or not at all.”

Lhara gasped. “Y-you! You're threatening me!? What would my husband think.”

You smirked slyly. “Oh, why don't you go ask OUR husband, dear.” You waved the Gnoll woman off. Lhara stormed out of the room and slammed the chamber door. You slumped down as soon as she left and groaned. Staring at the balcony you offered caring.
“I'm sorry...”

Djir emerged, smaller but clearly grown. His head was lowered. “Nothing for you to be sorry about.” You stood up and walked to him. He flinched as you reached up and clutched his large head in your hands. He relaxed as you pulled him down into a warm hug.
“None of this is your fault. I'm sorry such a woman is-”

“Coda?”

“Yes?” You perked.

“Would it be alright if I called you m-” The World shifted again. You stood in front of Lhara, staring at Djir in surprise. You could move and speak but you were not sure what to say. It was like one of the 'Echo's that had been described but it felt so real.
“-other!” Djir shouted up at her.
“You're being ridiculous. Fin is my retainer.”

“Your 'tastes' have not changed.” She sneered.
“A 'human?' I thought the last one had gone away for a long time. Don't tell me more are showing up.”

He smirked. “Quite a few more. You may need to get used to them.”

“Don't be insane.” Lhara rolled her eyes.
“Perhaps its time you finally found a partner. A real partner. I have many girls lined up to meet you. I will no longer tolerate you turning them away.”

“Mother...” Djir seethed.

“Oh please... What you are doing with these things? It's 'play.' You can't love them. They're no better than pets. You can not love them or any other male companion. Fool. I came to terms with the fact that you are a degenerate.” She reached down and caressed his cheek in a way that was almost loving. If only she did not open her mouth.
“My dear... Only useless son. That thing of yours works. Force it into a woman if you have to and create an heir. Show her to the people so that they know we are still the same family that they came to trust. That is all.” She shook her head and offered one last glare at you before turning to walk right back through the door in which she came. The soldiers shut the door behind her and left with her.

As she was gone you could see that Djir was breathing heavily. You found yourself repeating the same motions as in the dream. You slid in front of him and clutched his big head in your hands.
“H-hey. It's okay.” With that he took in a forlorn breath and hugged you tightly to him.

“I miss her so much...” Djir said without thinking. He wondered as he said it what he even meant.

“Who? Not your mother.”

“No! Not her... I don't know.” He said sadly.
“I am a degenerate.” He admitted, steadying his breathing.

“What does that make me, then?” You grinned at Djir, triggering a heartfelt laugh from him.

He stood up with you still in his arms. “I'm sorry you had to see that.” He offered, staring down at you lovingly.

“It- It's fine. For the record-” You thought about it for a moment.
“I think my mother would like you if-”

He nodded his heavy head a few times. “It'd be hard if I was on bad terms with her daughter and at war with her people. I would like to meet her sometime.” He seemed to be thinking quite deeply after he spoke. He released you and waved his paw flippantly.
“Retainer and all that... I don't need you to be anything other than what you are.” He shook his head.
“This is just an excuse to keep you close to me.”

“I figured. But, I still want to help you out.”

His expression brightened. “Thank you.”

After that you began integrating yourself into Djir's day to day life. You carried your sword at his side wherever you went, except inside of the Senate building where weapons were not permitted. There you merely stood behind him with Amun beside you. He had a large seat that was segmented from the rest. There was another large seat that sat on the other side with similar implications and powers and in it sat Pomdi. You found it incredible that despite knowing fully their intent to destroy one another, they still needed to maintain procedure. The way Djir put it, they were hamstrung to make a move until they had full support. Anything less would become a civil war, rather than a coup. But, that meant it was the same on his end.

A week in was when it was finally brought up that Aniyufar had retaken both cities and was poised to continue. Surprisingly, the point of dispute was Djir's armies that were marching back, and not the major province that was lost.
“If our Dictator has kind intentions-” Pomdi spoke to the Senate.
“His forces will not cross the Thermidus River in the south. They should defend the south from further incursions. This loss is a failing of his, therefore all costs incurred by camping south of the river should be incurred by Djir.” Surprisingly the vote passed. Djir did not seem surprised.

The two of you left the Senate. Amun had been present most of the time but had become a walking corpse more or less. He said nothing and did whatever was asked of him obediently, regardless of whether you or Djir ordered it. Having a servant was interesting, but not precisely what you were after. Still, it was all you could do to try and pull him back in small steps. You were sure to show him kindness whenever you could and attempted to guide him towards talking back to you like he used to. It was slow. Amun joined you both as you and Djir left the building.

“What were you up to?” You asked.

He kept his head lowered. “I was listening to whispers on the other side of the hall.” Amun explained.

“Anything interesting?” You had a habit of asking, since Djir had mostly shunned Amun despite his attempts to remain useful.

He nodded. “Those that had assets in Aniyufar are annoyed. Others are worried that Djir's armies will disregard the decision and cross the river.”

“So that's why the vote went the way it did...”

“Even the moderates on Djir's side don't want a conflict. They want things to continue under the status quo.” He whispered.

“That makes sense. Thank you, Amun.” As you thanked him, he blushed subtly.
“Listen... I'm sorry that you had to be disciplined like that because of me.”

“It was because of me. I thought I was someone important.” He looked up at you.
“The only one he cares about at all is you.”

“I care about you.”

Amun gulped. “S-sorry?”

“As a friend.” You clarified.
“You're so talented. I just hate seeing you upset and downtrodden.”

“Thank you, Fin.” Amun offered genuinely with wide, misty eyes.

“Of course.” You smiled.