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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3524112" data-attributes="member: 3448">Alistair paused.  “There is another, more delicate, issue that I would like to discuss as well.  As you may know, my grandmother placed a magical block on my fertility, to avoid any illegitimate children that could complicate the next succession.  The block will dissolve of its own accord in four months or so.”“A sensible precaution,” replied Lady Constance.“Is there any way to counteract that?  If I am killed, and the cloning fails, I would like to make sure that my line continued.”  Alistair held up a hand to Dame Brionna to forestall objections.  “I know that any posthumous illegitimate children would be unable to inherit the Archduchy.  We would need a new Archduke immediately, not in many years.  But my line might continue, and might inherit Lyneham.”“It is possible, your grace.  But you may not wish to.  The process is very unpleasant.”“Unpleasant?” asked Dame Brionna, fearing the involvement of infernal powers.  “Unpleasant how?”Lady Constance cleared her throat.  “I could stabilize a portion of his grace’s seed, so that it would retain its potency.  Once the block expired, it could be used to impregnate a woman.  But to do this, we would need to extract some of his grace’s seed, by inserting a catheter and… suffice to say, I do not think that his grace would enjoy the experience very much.  But either I or one of my devils could perform the insertion.”Alistair winced as he thought about it.“No devils!” said Dame Brionna determinedly, terrified by the possibility that this would result in a tiefling heir.Alistair nodded.  “I think it would be best if you handled it.  I know that you at least will not deliberately inflict more pain than is absolutely necessary.  But despite the pain, I want to go through with this.  Dame Brionna, perhaps you could wait outside?  Oh, and summon Father Waters.  I’ll want a cleric immediately afterwards.”“Of course, your grace.”After Dame Brionna left the coven chambers, Alistair looked plaintively at Lady Constance.  “I don’t suppose we could have one of your devils extract the sample in a more pleasant manner?”“I’m afraid not, your grace.  There would be a risk of contamination, and the sample needs to be pure in order for the preservation magics to work.”“Oh, very well then.  But let’s give the priest time to arrive before we begin.  I don’t want a wait.”“I should think not.”“Do you have any children, Lady Constance?” asked Alistair.  After her services, he would be happy to grant her a minor title or similar reward, but at her age there was little point if she had no descendants.“Oh, no, your grace.  At least, I hope not.  There’s a small possibility that from many years ago, but I don’t think so…”  She saw Alistair’s brow furrowing at the idea that she could not be sure and added, “I experimented a little when I was young.”“But… I don’t… What kind of…”“Best not to dwell on it, your grace.”Alistair decided that that was almost certainly true and nodded.  “I think that’s Father Waters outside.  If we could take care of this?”“Yes, your grace.”After an awkward, painful, and remarkably clinical experience, Alistair limped out to Father Waters, who quickly cast a powerful enough healing spell to both undo the incidental damage and to stop the pain.  As Dame Brionna and Alistair returned to his set of rooms, he said, “If I do die, please bring the topic up with Kit at an appropriate time.  I would never order her to, and I don’t want to discuss the idea with her now, but I hope that she might be willing…”“I understand, your grace.  Don’t worry.  I’ll take care of it, if it’s necessary.”Alistair also took the time to write a long letter to Kit.  They had the audience with Baroness Francesca scheduled for later that afternoon, but Alistair and Kit spent almost all of the rest of the time after he had dealt with preparations together.  They did not discuss Mirabelle at all, and indeed, few of their discussions had much meaning.  They were afraid, and in denial, and sometimes in tears, struggling to deal with the possibility.  But mostly, they were together.</blockquote>

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