His brother had set the ship down, cloaked, though the cloaking systems were unreliable, the ship had sustained a lot of damage over the weeks they had been running, the air that had blown over them as his brother walked with him down the ramp to the frozen dirt of the road in the middle of seemingly nowhere. To the east stretched a vast frozen forrest…dark and frigid…to the west…more of the same though the trees got greener and there was actually sunlight trying to get through the malicious looking grey clouds, whereas to the East it was just…darkness…cold harsh black and swirling sleet and snow.
"They'll take you, you can join the guild Lorence, they won't care what your magic is, they'll help you and keep you safe…you have to get there…I'm going to lead the MCC enforcers away…but if we go anymore toward Bosco they'll know where to look so…." His brother, always positive, always strong, had looked haggard, exhausted…they had been running for weeks and had been unable to evade the MCC enforcer squads sent to bring Lorence back. So…his brother, Austeel, had packed a backpack full of food and supplies, had put money into his pocket and set them down near a road.
"No matter what…get to White Sea…I'll lead them away, once I shake them and I'm sure they're not following me, I'll meet you there, at White Sea…I'll join too and…and we'll be ok in Bosco." He'd said. Lorence was 12…but Austeel was only 18, broad shouldered like their father, captain of his own ship built for him by their family…a ship he'd turned into a fugitive vessel by helping Lorence, breaking him out of the MCC facility he'd been held in this time and going on the run with him. Everything Austeel had been starting to build with his ship…their family had traditions…they were privateers, each one had an airship, built by the family, designed for them, around their personality.
Had he not been targeted like he was by the MCC, Lorence would have had a ship almost built by now…they each got their ship when they turned 16, joined the family in the sky, built business connections, traveled the world. Austeel had barely begun doing that…and had turned himself into a fugitive by rescuing Lorence, breaking into the "Re-education Camp" where Lorence had been sent, getting him out…and running, determined to keep Lorence out of the hands of the MCC permanently. It made the young boy feel horrible as they had spent weeks on the run, Austeel trying not to show how panicked and terrified he was after his ship was damaged and barely able to fly let alone power up the phase jump engine that could have jumped them through a phase port through an interplanar gate to a safe location near impossible to track. It had been a display of his talent as a pilot, weeks of the young man in the cock-pit with barely time for eating and bathroom runs, short naps while Lorence took the controls but he'd kept them ahead of the fleet of MCC ships sent after them.
"Mom and Dad didn't want to do this…they tried to do everything the legal way…politics…all that bullshit, none of it helped because people are afraid of mages and when they're afraid they're…evil. I know you're scared…I thought we could just run…fly to Bosco…but the MCC isn't stopping and if they know exactly where we are they'll keep hunting you Lore…" Austeel shook his head, trying hard not to look as scared and desperate as he was.
"So…you have to go the rest of the way on foot…if you stick to this road you should be ok…the borders of Stella and Bosco are about 20 miles and it's not too cold here…stay wrapped up though…stay on the road…the…the things here…this is Icerend…the things here….the wards on the roads keep them away so you have to stay on the road ok?" He'd gripped Lorence's arm, pain about overflowing in his eyes, he hated leaving his little brother like this…but the MCC had 9 ships chasing them, each one had entire teams of MCC mage hunters aboard it…his ship, the Starluna, had been damaged during their escape from the MCC camp weeks ago and Austeel hadn't been able to fix it…he needed help, and they'd had to flee south, their family knew, was trying to catch up…to help…but they were too far behind and there was a small fleet of MCC ships chasing them that were between their family and them.
This was beyond dangerous…Icerend as a nation was all but lawless, bandits…dark guilds…all of those things loved Icerend…but he'd gotten them to a spot where the MCC would have to search three countries for Lorence and while Stella probably wouldn't help and Icerend definitely wouldn't…Bosco had helped mages for centuries…and White Sea was famous for doing so. The MCC would have a hell of a time finding Lorence if he could get into Bosco…and it was only 20 miles from where they were to Daevale, the city that rested on all three countries' borders.
He'd shown Lorence the map on the ship, given him a paper one. Every penny he had left, easy to carry food and a precious canteen that replenished itself with fresh clean water. He knew too well his brother wasn't in great health, years of abuse and torture in the hands of the MCC had made his little brother frail and thin instead of tall muscular and strong like Fairstar men usually were…like he himself was because he had summoning magic..like most of their family…and wasn't seen as a threat to public safety.
"You can do this…and I will leave the MCC behind, shake them…and I'll meet you in White Sea City little brother ... .I love you so much…be brave…run fast…" He'd said brokenly as the Starluna's long range scanners flared with alarms about MCC ships starting to close in. They were cloaked…but the ships moved in search patterns, driving them ahead of them…if they got too close they could eventually pinpoint their location…the ship had a heat signature that couldn't be hidden with it damaged like it was, the systems that did that were all part of the damage done, especially when it was sitting still and the MCC didn't seem to mind firing weapons all over in tight grids trying to hit them.
Lorence had done all he could to not look as terrified as he was, he'd hugged his brother tight.
"I'll see you in White Sea soon big brother…" he'd said, proud his voice hadn't shaken. In spite of the warm clothes his brother had put him in, the thick cloak…he could feel the cold already…knew he'd be using his magic to stay alive until he reached the city of Daevale.
"I love you…" he added and Austeel had held him tightly, clearly not wanting to let go…but this was the only way…if he could lead the MCC forces off…he planned to cross Joya, Bellum and Pergrand…add those countries to all the places the MCC would have to search…their family had landing permits in Pergrand, it was a patriarchal nation and the leader of the MCC fleet after them was a woman…Pergrand wouldn't help her, he was hoping he could repair his ship there…fix the issues allowing the MCC to track it and then he'd join Lorence in Bosco. Their family would catch up…would be able to help him…they had to, he wasn't sure how much longer he could evade the MCC fleet in his damaged ship.
One thing was certain though…they could not catch him with Lorence aboard…if they did…that woman, far from their homeland and the nobility and politicians that held her back…she would brutalize his baby brother…and Austeel would die trying to stop her.
Lorence had broken away when the alarms went off, giving his brother one last brave smile and running for the treeline, he'd stick by the road, use its wards to keep the things that called Icerend home away from him…and get to Daevalle. There the plan was to buy a train ticket, and get on the train that ran along the southern shore of the Grass Sea, it ran all the way across the Kingdom of Bosco and had a stop in White Sea City.
He'd get a sleeper cabin…keep to himself all the way there…he had enough food in the pack to keep him fine for the three days by train between Daevale and White Sea City. Bosco was a massive country…but the train traveled at 70 miles an hour once clear of the city and towns.
That had been the plan…
Austeel had left…Lorence had stood holding onto the icy bark of a tree and watched as the Starluna had lifted back into the sky, the ship tipped funny, the cloaking technology sparking letting parts of the ship show strangely here and there, seeing it from outside it was clear it was more damaged than Austeel even knew and his heart pounded in his young chest…prayers spilling with tears. "Gods…please…keep my brother safe, don't let that woman catch him…"
He'd turned then, feet crunching on white fluff that was more ice shards than actual snow, the cold bit in through even the tight well made seams of the fur lined cloak he'd been given, all of the best Austeel had was on him. 2 years was all the time Austeel had had as a captain before now. Nowhere near enough time to build a client list and amass his own resources. He'd spent a chunk of that time hounding the MCC facility where Lorence had been kept too, demanding visits with his brother, demanding to see him, because that woman couldn't do all the things she liked to do if family was on her doorstep and she, by court order had to allow some visits, couldn't refuse every request.
She came to despise Austeel, unable to arrest him, "Holder type" mages weren't considered threats, they were even seen as a positive type of mage, almost harmless depending on the keys and collection of spirits bound to them. Austeel had put everything on the line for Lorence, and as he'd started his run for White Sea he'd sworn to the Gods he wouldn't let his brother's sacrifices and efforts be in vain. He wanted to live, he wanted to be free, his family had sacrificed and he'd suffered since he was a toddler, he deserved to live damn it, he wasn't some heartless demonic beast like the MCC painted mages out to be, he was just a 12 year old boy who wanted to play and go to school and…be with his family, live his life. He had never understood why Donagan Trumpell hated mages so much he'd formed the Magic Control Council, or why he had decided Mages weren't human, and deserved no rights, yes there were dark mages, but there were also plenty of evil humans…he'd met a lot of them while he was held by the MCC.
It was so cold…and the forests were so black and he saw dead things…moving, heard their horrible sounds as he traveled, climbed a tree and tried to sleep when dusk fell but it was useless, even curled up in his brothers cloak with a heating lacrima he shivered so hard he struggled to stay up in the branches and it wasn't safe to come down once night fell….the wards kept the things from the trees near the road but they were close..seemed to know a living thing was near…Icerend was legendary, millenia ago the God Hroth had fought with Apollo and Apollo had imprisoned him into an eternal slumber beneath a great plain surrounded by mountains. Hroth's wrath had been horrible, even in his eternal slumber his hatred had caused the cities and towns to fall, to sink underground and tens of millions of people had died, consumed under ice and rage.
Those people had become the legions of the undead that wandered Icerend both above and below ground, because Icerend had more population beneath the ice than above it where the biting winds that could drop to over 100 degrees below zero, to where taking a deep breath would flash freeze lungs and add a person to the undead population. Most of the living population spent their time fighting off the undead, from the undead humans to the 20 to 60 foots tall ice giants that were hulking freezing eaters of any living thing they could find, to the savage icebears and wolves and slightering serpents that had no eyes. Icerend was a nation of horrors because of the hate and rage of the God buried beneath it.
12 years old, skinny, terrified and horribly alone, Lorence had to cover the 20 miles to Daevalle. It had taken him two days before he had managed to reach it…but Daevale wasn't a nice place…not the part in Icerend anyway…it was completely lawless…and getting into the Boscan district hadn't been simple…especially for a pretty…thin and frail boy who was all alone.
He'd been mugged, beaten unconscious…and that had happened more than once, the first time they just took his backpack and left him in an alley…but the second time they had torn most of his clothes off, he'd been raped and lost the money his brother had given him…the cloak…the warm coat and boots…they had left him bleeding and battered, coming to curled in a ball and gritting his teeth, more upset he'd lost all his brother had sacrificed so much to give him than over the cuts and bruises, the pain between his legs and through his lower back that he already knew too well from his years in the camp…that woman had done worse to him more times than he could count…being raped by those thugs hadn't even been half as bad as what that woman had done to him nearly every day. Still…it had made getting to White Sea worlds harder.
Battered and filthy he'd managed to get into the Boscan district but he had no money…didn't even have shoes on his feet anymore and while the Boscans were kind…they avoided him…he didn't look healthy, smelled terrible and was old enough, tall enough…he didn't inspire a nurturing trust…was obviously not Boscan…so…he'd decided to follow the tracks of the train and do his best…he didn't dare seek out any authorities or help…the MCC could find him if he let people see him, got help…there could even be wanted posters…bounties…bounty hunters…Gods knew he and Austeel had already encountered plenty of those.
It had taken him weeks to get to White Sea City. He'd encountered some good people here and there, had managed to get enough food to stay alive…his magic healed his feet as he tore them up walking and running. He also learned to put people to sleep rather than interact with them…he hated stealing…but he did it here and there…only what he needed to stay alive…he'd stolen shoes from a farm after a few days, a blanket from a horse a couple of days after that.
He avoided people as best he could, if he was seen he could be found…so he tried not to be seen.
Now he was sitting…safe within the walls of White Sea…watching healthy happy children play while eating warm fresh delicious food. Cristoff had healed things in him his own straining magic hadn't been able to…years of abuse and he'd survived because of his magic, it healed him…sometimes so fast fatal injuries were prevented from being fatal…but at a cost. Not just the scars all over him, but his magic was always depleted…working to keep him alive it never had the chance to build..his origin couldn't ever fill. The time with his brother had seen him better than he'd been in years but then the journey to White Sea had reversed all of that progress.
He felt it building again though…because he was rested…someone else's magic had healed him, his magic wasn't having to work so hard.
Hestor moved to gently put a hand on the boy's shoulder, "it's fine, you're safe. I've made sure there are three two hour slots a week available for you for therapy to start….and the boys? They won't keep people away completely. They understand people need space to breathe sometimes."
"I don't want…bodyguards…I…I just want to be normal." Lorence sighed, knowing that was unreasonable…he wasn't normal…not even for a mage child. The MCC had beaten that idea into him thoroughly, he was a Miasma mage, one of a twin magic that meant death,,,everywhere he went, death was sure to follow, suffering, pain…they had told him that every single day.
Hestor looked down at Lorence and murmured, "they won't be. They're younger than you. They'll be friends…and one has a very low social battery….and I'm Semi-praying that Jareth will be able to calm down a bit..just a little bit…" there was a faint strain to his smile, "he's…hyperactive."
Lorence blinked…he'd heard that word before. Directed at his brothers usually…his eldest brother Palance…his mother had said many times he was terribly hyperactive as a child…and Austeel too…because of their specific type of magic.
"My mom used to call a couple of my brothers hyperactive." The boy said he didn't know much about it…just remembered the word.
Hestor smiled "well, you can meet them and get to know them outside of school. They're good boys." he chuckled, "they'll help you adjust to being around people. They always tell me I need to be around others more often as well." he snorted, "...I remind them I'm their father and I do what I want."
Lorence smiled faintly…the words reminded him of more than one of his siblings…and his father. A wave of grief hit him and he chewed his lip to get through it, he missed his family…was worried about his brother…it had been weeks since Austeel had left him on the road to Daevale and he had half expected his brother to beat him to White Sea City…to be waiting when he got here to chastise him for making him worry…
Hestor watched the other "is there anyone we can reach out to? You should have gotten a com, has it been set up?"
"I…don't know any numbers…so there's nobody to reach out to." Lorence said quietly, looking down, his family changed communications IDs often…especially since they had started fighting harder to get him out of MCC hands…and when Austeel had flat broken the law and become a fugitive…well…the ships could always send messages to each other within the family, they were set up with their own way of doing that, but coms…he had no idea what numbers his family had now.
Hestor watched the boy for a moment and murmured "Corvus, can I ask a favor?" there was a small rise of magic, the summoner deciding that this needed to be fixed.
Lorence looked over in surprise, he knew Hestor was a summoner…and he was comfortable around them…it even felt soothing…like…home, when the gate opened and a raven appeared on Hestor's shoulder. The bird ruffled its feathers then smoothed back out.
"Need me to reach someone?" The raven asked, tilting its head and fixing black eyes on Hestor. Lorence pressed his lips together…celestial spirits…most of his family were summoners…his father walked around with Pavo on his shoulder, grumpy as that spirit was and his mother always had a form of Columbia on her shoulder or near her.
Hestor gently moved to rub the chest of the raven, "yes, my dear friend. This boy needs to get in touch with his family…we do need to help him. He's alone currently." he smiled softly at the boy "I'd like to at least get some of them his new com ID, so they can reach out, let them know he's safe. His family is the Fairstar family."
The raven looked at the boy and tilted his head again, raising his wings "I'll go to them…" he agreed and Hestor also heard They are a bloodline of Celestial Summoners, known for being strong fighters for the light. Good people.
Hestor smiled faintly, "Thank you, I will have a trinket ready when you get back."
"I'm feeling very opal these days." The raven commented before he flew from Hestors shoulder and vanished.
They weren't sitting there for long after that when Lorence about jumped out of his skin, chair flying backwards and the boy crashing to the ground…because his com suddenly buzzed and rang.
Hestor blinked slowly and hit the answer button and then on speaker phone before helping the boy up, "it's okay…that's…default. We'll work on making this…quieter for you."
"Lorence?! Baby?!" It was a man's voice, and a man in his forties was on the screen of the com, looking eagerly into it. He was handsome, with the same distinct half black half white hair Lorence had, desperately hopeful sky blue eyes looking at them.
"Dad?" Lorence teared up immediately, scrambling closer to the com. "Dad…I'm safe…I'm safe…where's Austeel?!"
The man sagged, taking a couple of deep breaths "Ok…where are you? Palance and Toby went to help Austeel…he's in Pergrand…Damascas at their airdocks, the Starluna…isn't flyable right now, but your brothers will get her in the air again…where are you? Who is that?" the man's sharp blue eyes were on Hestor, worry and menace in his expression.
Hestor looked blandly at the com, walls semi up when dealing with adults of any sort. He quirked a brow, "the man that sent Corvus. He assured me that you were all…good people. He is at White Sea, in White Sea City. safe, I'm Hestor Kadenza, head of educational planning for all guild mages. We will be working to get Lorence settled.." he let out the sigh of a father that knew trouble was coming as three children were moving over. "...and some introduction to the guild children."
"I am Solomon Fairstar, Lorence is my son. He's been through a lot, hasn't been around…normal people. Please, keep him safe, we're coming to Bosco…we had to fight our way out of our homeland and…I apologize in advance…but we're outlaws now where we come from…we weren't going to sit by while they systematically destroyed our children anymore." The man on the screen said fiercely. A peacock leaning in, eyeing Hestor, narrowing its gaze before the man pushed it back. "Please…keep him safe…we'll repay you, do anything you ask…just…help my son."
Hestor drew a breath, on his best days he wasn't terribly empathetic, that wasn't who he was, but he knew pain when he saw it, and he was a parent himself…he couldn't imagine how he'd feel if one of his sons had been out alone struggling to survive and had gone through all Lorence had by themselves out of his reach. As a parent…he could only pray he'd never find out what Solomon Fairstar was dealing with. However…he had White Sea involved now…and Kaleb, bless the man…had already made it clear to all of his lieutenants including Hestor, that Lorence was a ward of White Sea, and under the guilds protection, they were to help him in every way they could, and given White Sea's reach and resources….that wasn't a small amount of help…so…Hestor was in a position where he could hopefully ease some of the pain and worry he saw in Solomon. He helped Lorence sit back down, tucked a blanket around him, letting Solomon watch that before he addressed the man again, let out a low hum, "let me call some people…how many of you are there? I know a clan that…takes in those without homes."
"A clan…like a Boscan clan? I'm not sure I understand what your intentions are." Solomon frowned in confusion. He knew what Boscan clans were…being part of one was…respected, honored even. It was something he thought you were born into though…but he'd freely admit his knowledge of how Boscan society worked was pretty limited.
Hestor smiled, the family was homeless, and wanted criminals from another country certain to be given well embellished imaginary criminal records to make them look as evil as possible so the MCC could justify their actions. Hestor was from a small village, called Eventide Bay. Famed for their purple clams that produced incredible meat and even more incredible pearls…pearls blessed by the Goddess of love and the bay of Eventide Bay harbored large beds of them. Their people were of the Boscan clan Dolfieni, and Hestor bore the octopus tattoos among his sacred clan tattoos down his right side, born into that clan.
The Dolfieni clan was the only one in Bosco that had accepted outsiders. They were honored among the clans, because for centuries they were a clan that truly sang the wandering nature of the clans of Bosco, half their population lived aboard great sailing vessels and the Dolfieni Armada was legendary, traveling the world for half the year, trading afar outside Bosco like no other clan did, bringing riches and exotic goods from all over the world to the great market in Pelerno, the Capital City of Bosco, to trade with other clans. Dolfieni wasn't a big clan, their village wasn't big, but they had money and power and the respect of the other clans because their way of life wasn't easy. The Clan had originally been exiles from other Grass Sea Clans, wandering until they found the bay and then met…a pirate fleet. There could have been a massive battle, but the Pirates simply accepted the people, helping them build additional homes. It was something so different than the exiles expected. It created a different clan from the rest, one willing to accept those others had 'discarded'.
In their travels the armada had started taking in people…and adding them to the clan, it had become part of the tradition of the Armada part of their population…but when Hestor was still a child, the Armada had been attacked at sea…every single ship had been sunk, half the population of Dolfieni had been lost, it had traumatized Eventide Bay…Hestor had become a shell of who he had been…the loss had been horrible, hundreds of their people gone, all of their ships…Eventide had become half of what it had always been.
If he was hearing this right? The Fairstar family was a family of merchants, each one captained their own internationally licensed trade ship…and not naval…they had a fleet of airships…and airships were incredibly valuable, one small airship was worth hundreds of millions. This family had a fleet…and they had become homeless. Hestor wasn't heartless…but he was opportunistic, and while he knew what he had in mind would hugely help this family…he also knew it could breathe life and joy back into his clan…into his hometown.
Hestor nodded, "yes…there's a clan that was known and is known to take in those without…a place to go." he gave a faint smile.
"Our family has had to confront a fairly powerful organization, Mr. Kedanza. I don't know if anyone would want to touch us right now. You…see my son. We fought for 9 years against what was happening to him and a few weeks ago…well, his brother decided legal and political avenues weren't enough and acted…" Solomon sighed "Something we should have done years ago honestly, but right now…we're being actively hunted."
"Part of the clan fights with Stella on a weekly basis," Hestor looked faintly amused, "do not worry ... .and you'll be Boscan Citizens…which gives you other protections." Hestor assured the man, getting a surprised hopeful look from the older man. The Mother Seer and the Elders of Eventide bay bickered over him weekly, sometimes more often. Eventide bay was at the border of Bosco and Stella…within half a day's foot travel to the Southern City of Anubis, where his mother had grown up..Stella still wanted them, more specifically him, to live there.
"I'm sorry Dad…" Lorence said quietly…realizing his entire family was now in trouble because of him…"I'm so sorry." he said, tears filling his eyes again but this time because of worry and pain over what his family was dealing with now.
"No…don't you dare…I'm the one who's sorry baby, you went through way more than you should have…I should have done this the first time they took you, it was pure vanity that I thought my title and wealth could fight those bastards and we could stay on the legal side of things…what's right is right…we'll be fine. I'm glad you're there and we'll all be on our way to Bosco as soon as we get your brother out of Pergrand." Solomon said firmly though the man looked pained, full of grief and guilt and clearly wanting to be there…wanting to hold his son and reassure him.
"As I've told a good friend, sometimes…you let others in the room say yes, while you pretend you saw nothing," Hestor blinked slowly, "Plausible deniability under oath in a courtroom."
Solomon looked at Hestor seriously "Have you ever dealt with the Magic Control Council?" he asked. Nine Years Solomon had spent toe to toe with the MCC, he had personally confronted their President, Donagen Trumpell, he had stood in court, spent hundreds of millions to fight their assertion that his little boy, Lorence, was a lethally dangerous type of mage who was actively protecting his "twin" a person nobody in their family, nobody in their country had ever seen or met or spoken to, the Black Miasma mage who the MCC knew existed only because Black and White Miasma mages always existed at the same time, there could not be a white miasma mage if there wasn't a black one and vice versa. Lorence's magic, while healing in nature…was the counter to the Black Misma,,,which was…death, actual death magic. The MCC wanted that black miasma mage so badly they had taken on the Fairstar family, that had literally over 2000 years of history in their homeland as a powerful upstanding noble family. Because mages were so misunderstood, and painted as being evil and demonic by the MCC…Donagen Trumpell had continued to win the fights in court and every time Solomon had gotten his little boy back, he'd barely start seeing him get healthy, barely started to see him smile and the bruising and evidence of his abuse would barely be healing before the MCC would find another way to take him again. NINE YEARS he had fought, using every resource, every connection, money, power, everything he had until finally…his son Austeel had just attacked the facility Lorence was held in, and gone on the run with him…and there had been chaos…the whole family had been arrested, they'd had to fight to get out, to get their ships back…and then had made the choice, to get into the sky and defend Austeel and join the race to try and force the MCC in open combat to let their sons go.
The whole family had turned into fugitives then. That was the reach of the MCC, that was the power they held…the fanatics who believed in Donagen Trumpell like he was a God, like what he said was truth no matter what the evidence was to the contrary, people could SEE Lorence covered in bruises, injuries, the medical reports even showing the massive inhumane abuse the little boy was put through right in front of them and they would never look at it, their eyes would turn away and they would start shouting all the talking points Donagen sold the public,that it was all "fake news" that all mages were demonic, that some might be less dangerous but they were all criminals that needed to be punished and they shouldn't get the same rights as other human beings, they should be hurt, they should be abused…somehow, even though it was the truth that mages were as human as everyone else…the followers of Donagen Trumpell believed that it was ok to hurt, abuse, kill and torture mages.
It was…intensely frustrating, and Solomon had watched this get worse and worse through his life…had watched Trumpell, a man born in massive privilege, who had never known the word "no" and had never in his life had to face a real consequence for any action no matter how heinous…he'd watched that man rise in power because people were…blind, stupid…willing to make themself into hypocrites, to go against their own beliefs and morals because Trumpell said so…and Donagen Trumpell was barely coherent half the time yet people took his word like it was some sort of gospel, Solomon had never seen people follow anything so blindly. It had been his family's downfall…and now…all he wanted was to get to his babies, his sons…keep his family safe. They could rebuild their lives somewhere else as long as they were together. He heard what Hestor was offering…but he wasn't sure Hestor understood what he was biting into here.
Hestor frowned, he'd heard of them…they were practically a religious cult…people who feared magic, mages, had organized hundreds of years ago and built the council in the north…wherever there were bigots, people wanting to believe in something that justified their fears and prejudices, their cruel inclinations to hurt others just because…the MCC thrived among those types of people…where they were the MCC seemed to have a foothold. The organization though…was banned in Bosco. The King had passed outright laws against their practices and protections were in place, MCC warrants and Requests for extradition were universally refused in Bosco. That meant the Church of Apollo had closed down within the Kingdom, since it was very tied up in the MCC, but Ra was an older God and nobody seemed to miss the Apollonite church much.
"Heard of yes…dealt with…no." He admitted and Solomon nodded grimly.
"They have resources…a lot of support across many continents…this is a massive world we live on…but they can navigate a lot of it…have influence across a lot of it."
Lorence was chewing his lip again, not touching his food, worried now for his family, more than he already had been. His hands slid over the front of his pants, gripping the fabric as he looked at his father, wanting to see him…to know he was safe…
"Is Momma ok?" He asked and Solomon's eyes went to his son again "Your mother is fine baby boy. The Foundation is on its way to Bosco with your sisters' ships…your brothers and I are handling getting Austeel and the Starluna out of Pergrand but…Austeel was smart…Miss Gnome can't go there…Pergrand won't help her…and she's too arrogant to have male subordinates handle the hunt for her."
"Austeel is safe though…" Lorence wanted reassurance and Solomon smiled at him warmly. "He is, his ship is at the Damascan airdocks, and we've paid all his docking and license fees…I talked to the Marquis of Damascas himself about it and he promised me…Austeel is safe."
Lorence relaxed a little, promises made to a Summoner were magically bound…if you broke them, consequences could be dire, even fatal depending on the level of betrayal…his father getting a promise from the man who ran Damascas…meant Austeel really was safe and would likely stay that way.
Hestor smiled faintly "we will keep Lorence safe…I will reach out to Clan Dolfeini…" he paused, "it sounds like you have a small fleet…which I am sure they will very much accept."
"14 ships, all of them cruisers or bigger…the Foundation is classified as a flying city." Solomon nodded "It's the biggest of our fleet…they're all air and sea capable…our family has traveled the world for business and trade for more than 2000 years."
Hestor let out a low hum, "I know the..Dolfeini Armada was lost about two decades ago, they will welcome a new Armada with open arms."
"Dolfeini…the name rings a bell…pure seafaring trade fleet?" Solomon asked, his eyes going from Hestor to his son a few times, wanting to reassure him…comfort him, but until he was physically there, he didn't want to make many promises.
"They were yes, Dolfeini is a seaside village in Eventide Bay, our main commerce centers around pearls and clams our divers maintain." Hestor replied
"Thank you…for helping my son. I'll think about the clan, we have to get free of what's happening…and get to Bosco, but my wife and daughters are heading that way…I can not fully discuss our plans over an open line like this…but…Lorence…we're coming." Solomon said, looking at his son.
Lorence nodded "Ok Dad…I'm just…going to wait for you…I love you Daddy." The boy said, voice strong and Solomon smiled then "I love you too baby boy, listen to Mr. Kedanza…rest and eat well…we'll be there as soon as we can."
The call ended and Lorence sat back still gripping his pants legs so tight the fabric was straining.
Three boys sat down, two with hair like Hestor, one with black hair, all three with slight animal features in the way of animal ears and tails. One Silver haired boy had rounded feline ears and tail while the other two had almost Jackal like ears and tails, one silver, one black, to match their hair color.
"Dad," One of the silver haired boys smiled warmly, serenely as his jackal-like ears tilted curiously, "you said you were going to nap."
The other silver haired boy chortled, "uh huh.."
"Boys, this is Lorence, he is new to the guild," Hestor said, voice flat, "Lorence, this is Tomo, Jareth and Kuzu..if you'd like they'll be able to show you around. They represent three of the four types of Summoners, supposedly."
Lorence smiled, nodding, letting go of his pants and letting a breath out to force himself to calm down. "Nice to meet you." he said, it was important…very important, that he make a good impression, that these people knew he wasn't evil like the MCC said he was, he wasn't going to hurt anyone, he hadn't hurt people even when they were hurting him…his need to be peaceful ran to his bones at this point…and the people of White Sea were his hope for a future…but he had to make a good impression, he had to somehow earn their trust…so that when the time inevitably came…they wouldn't hand him over to the MCC…wouldn't hand his whole family over…and it weighed on him tremendously now…that his family was fully entrenched in this with him…so it was more important than ever that he didn't mess this up.
Kuzu smiled, the dark haired boy reaching to snag a biscuit from the table. "Nice to meet you Lorence, yeah we can show you around, are you going to be coming to school?"
Jareth grinned as he sat there, "I know the best places to hide and get out of trouble.."
The third boy smiled serenely, "and our other parent is the guildmaster…so we can get information for you."
Lorence's eyes widened and he looked from Hestor to the boys "Master Kaleb…is…your Dad?" Hestor was pretty, beautiful even, somewhat feminine but Lorence was certain he was a man…or…had been certain…but adoption was a thing right? Maybe the boys were adopted…the animal features…he hadn't seen anything like that on Master Kaleb…and while Hestor had a faintly feline look to him he didn't have ears and a tail.
"We call him Papa. It's a long story, Papa didn't know and neither did Dad…but Stella maintains rare magical bloodlines, it's part of the work of the temples, keeping magics alive and Dad had an obligation to have kids so…had to go to Stella for…all this official stuff." Kuza waved a hand,
"I'll have to do it when I come of age because my magic is all rare and hasn't manifested in…centuries, Dad is the holder of a precious keyset. Anyhow, he had to have us and Stella used semen from a bank they keep, didn't even tell Dad who the father was…but, here we are." Kuzu grinned "Uncle Cris…he started looking after us, handling our medical stuff ya know? And he can see DNA, told Dad that Master Kaleb was our Father and..the rest is history. Now we get to live in the Guildmasters Manor on top of the guild…it's got an AWESOME elevator and terraces that are great to play on and this rooftop garden and we get to go to Pelerno and stay at the manor there by the Grass Sea beach, and in Eventide Bay? There we get to be by the Ocean…it's all really cool."
"We will be possibly welcoming Lorence and his family into the clan," Hestor said calmly.
Jareth grinned "you'll like it. It's amazing there." He tilted his head "aren't you warm?"
Lorence blushed and shook his head "No, I'm fine." he said, checking the sleeves to make sure they were all the way down covering his wrists. He even patted the collar…making sure it was still covering all of his neck.
Jareth nodded a bit, "oh, okay. If you want to talk about feelings and stuff? Tomo's great for that. He's the Keeper of the Shadows. He has to deal with that stuff all the time….I'm not that good. I just sit and listen and offer shit advice." he ducked his head as his father cleared his throat and grinned, "..bad advice. Tomo's lots better."
"Jareth trains in swords with Uncle Vander…his language shows it…" Kuzu smiled
Jareth scratched his cheek a bit and grinned, "I try to be good…I really do.."
"I want to learn my way around…I was going to explore after I finished all of my intake stuff." Lorence said, smiling between the three boys, they seemed nice…reminded him of his brothers…
Hestor sipped his coffee, "if you three can behave…you can accompany him."
"We can skip math?" Kuzu's ears pricked up
"Today only," Hestor said, half eyeing his children, "this is a special occasion and you three always want to assist…" he wasn't going to say that sometimes that assistance caused chaos. Sometimes? He'd cackle at it, other times, not so much, but a guided assistance 'mission' might help them.
"So…official guild stuff…we're helping the guild." Kuzu grinned
"Yes, which means you'll get extra allowance," Hestor smiled, he waved towards the teacher and shook his head, letting her know the boys wouldn't be back.
Kuzu grinned "Well I'm all in…I wouldn't mind even missing my afternoon classes too." he said brightly, hopping from his chair.
Tomo smiled as he stood, "right, we can do this. We'll make both of you proud."
"Is this going to show up in the guild database? With us listed as the mages taking the job?" Kuzu asked hopefully, the boys had been wanting official missions, even though they were too young they heard mages talking in the guild hall every day about their missions, enjoyed sitting nearby listening to the stories and all three wanted to feel like they were part of it all, real working mages like the ones they loved to listen to and watch train in the rings.
Hestor picked up his com and tapped a few times, all while mentally screaming at Kaleb. A Disjointed summary of what just happened. "Let me…see if it can be done.."
You want me to put showing Lorence around the guild facilities and helping him find his way around into the official Guild job database…and assign our sons to the job? Kaleb asked to clarify
*...they want to make you proud..so yes.* Hestor said after a moment of just …tapping on his com, he wasn't really doing anything with it, it was mostly for show.
That is so sweet…it should show up on their coms in a couple of moments…tell Khan that NO he will NOT be accepting it and to withdraw right now. Kaleb said and Hestor could see Khan, one of the guild's younger mages smiling at his com…the job appeared and he'd snatched it the instant it had…giving a kid a tour and getting paid was a dream come true…
Hestor slowly glanced towards Khan and narrowed his eyes dangerously as the three boys were caught up talking with Lorence. The look spoke of pain as the three boys' coms pinged.
Khan blanched and looked at his com, removing his name from the job…
Hestor mouthed 'shadow them, but don't take the job'. He tapped his com a few times and sent a wire of funds to the young man…what a local, low stakes job would pay for just walking someone around town.
Khan gave the man a quick nod and sat back, looking bored again.
"I…I'm not really comfortable being touched…and big crowds…kind of bother me, but I'm ok here, I think as long as we're on the guild grounds I'll be ok." Lorence was saying
Jareth grinned as he pointed at himself, "don't worry, I'll make sure we've got space."
"Thanks Jareth, I'm sorry if it's a little weird…I just haven't been around normal people much…" Lorence admitted.
Tomo smiled "no, he does it for Dad as well." his eyes danced as Hestor let out a slightly offended sound, but that was all.
"So where do we go? The only places I know are the hall, the infirmary, and where my apartment is.' Lorence smiled, warming up to the idea of spending time with kids his own age.
Tomo stretched, "that's the school, but that will be the last stop." He turned and started walking, Jareth half moving ahead, "there's the library…"
"I said he could have some of my fabrics," Hestor said calmly.
Tomo's eyes flicked to his father and then he grinned, "right, so..let's go do that..then we can take it to your apartment..because Dad's up now…and he's probably going to go to sleep soon."
"Okay…" Lorence nodded, eager to please and moving to keep up with the boys, Kuzu walked on his other side opposite Tomo, after stopping to quickly peck Hestors cheek "Love you Dad." he said cheerfully before hurrying to stay with the others.
"Be good boys," Hestor smiled softly, "love you all." he told them, watching his children helping the Fairstar boy. His eyes came up, watching as Kaleb came down the stairs and smirking a bit. The man had grown a lot since they were children, well over six feet tall now, he lifted weights, trained daily, his body showed how much he worked to keep himself in prime condition, a healthy body channeled magic better. The magical pathways were laced throughout and if the body was unhealthy, so were the pathways, so mages tended to be healthy, to train a lot.
Kaleb was looking after their children, watching them leading Lorence off and Hestors heart warmed, fluttered a bit, watching long platinum hair sway, fine fabric and leather hugging hard muscle, Hestor was a chest and leg man…he loved nice thick pecs and sculpted muscular legs and Kaleb..delivered, tight pale gray slacks hugging long muscular legs…and every inch of all his eyes traveled over…was his. He and Kaleb had been…working on things…since they had discovered the boys were Kalebs. Hestor had moved into the manor with the boys, enjoying very much having all the space and he certainly didn't mind sharing the master bedroom with Kaleb.
He felt when Kalebs eyes found him as much as he saw it, the pale lavender eyes softening, the way his lips tipped into a crooked smile. Kaleb was his "One" the one person chosen by the first magic…love…for him. Every Summoner had one…and Kaleb was his, he could relax around the man, be himself…as caustic and snappy as Hestor could get…Kaleb was never put off, didn't mind it, openly admitted he liked Hestor's sharp tongue and all the sarcasm and sass that came with it, like most of the Pradesh family, he had the self confidence in place so that simple things like Hestor not having a filter at times…didn't bother him. Their issue had always been…Kaleb, as brilliant as he was, tended to be socially awkward on a personal level, brilliant, an absolute charming genius in social situations, but on a personal one on one level in a real relationship…he could be pretty clueless.
Kaleb changed direction, going right to Hestor and Hestor didn't wait, he stood, a hand sliding up the hard muscled chest and gripping a fistful of soft pale hair to pull Kaleb into a long kiss. He rather liked reminding the guild who Kaleb was with…and…Beck was sitting at the bar.
Beck Fasion was one of Kalebs oldest friends…and…had harbored a crush on Kaleb for years, it had spurred a rivalry between him and Hestor, who were both on Kalebs personal team that had lasted for years. He delighted in seeing Beck tense and narrow his eyes as Hestor pulled Kaleb into a kiss, slid his free hand along Kalebs side to pat his firm ass knowing Beck would see that and probably grind his teeth.
The children of course didn't notice any of it. Their parents kissed and such plenty, they didn't pay attention.
Tomo smiled warmly at Lorence as they walked, "if you feel uncomfortable, let us know. We'll be sure to get you out of the situation."
"It's just…I've only been free for a little while…and getting to White Sea was really hard." Lorence said uncertainly "But thanks…for helping out, I mean even if you're getting paid and all, it was nice of you to offer."
Jareth grinned, "we would have done it without that…but…"
Tomo smiled far too serenely, "this way we have a job history started…and we can buy some extra things, but helping is the correct thing to do, even if we wouldn't have been."
"So all of you live with the Guildmaster? Are…your Dads…married?" Lorence asked, curious about how this worked…Sweorta, the country he was from, didn't allow men to be with men and two men having babies…confused him a lot…he didn't know that was possible…
"They're…negotiating," Jareth rolled his eyes, "it's this really dumb dance they're doing, but…it's not like they don't care about one another. Dad's just…anal and OCD…and needs to have it all laid out…and…"
Tomo smiled softly "they're getting there, they're committed, but they want to make sure everything is stable before…they actually get married. Dad's..a little…"
"Salty? Frightening?" Jareth provided.
Kuzu hummed "Papa loves him, he knows it, they just need to have more sex." he said sagely
Lorence's eyes widened "I guess…" Boscans….he reminded himself he was in Bosco…his brother had said the people were very outgoing and…he didn't know what to make of it…he was 12, he'd not exactly had any positive encounters that were sexual in nature and nobody he knew talked openly about it.
"It would break the tension…but maybe they like the tension and that's why they don't?" Kuzu looked thoughtful as they led Lorence to an elevator
Tomo smiled and shook his head, "it's…that I think Dad wants to do it right…and he may be a little afraid…he's not exactly the most popular person in the guild..and everyone…adores Papa. The only time Dad shows it is when Beck's around…and that's just to aggravate Beck. They do share a bedroom though…and I'm sure they fool around in there, just not enough."
"Your Papa is well known for the work he does…my brother Toby has a poster of your Uncle Cristoff on his ship…" Lorence smiled "But…your Papa is one of the reasons I came here…I can be safe here…because of people like him."
"..a lot of people have posters of Uncle Cris…" Jareth pursed his lips, "even some of our classmates…"
"Little fun..we can trade for fun things at lunch for pictures of Uncle Cris." Kuzu grinned.
Lorence pursed his lips…not sure that sounded ok. The elevator opened into the living room of the Guildmasters manor. The home of the Guildmaster at the Guilds home location was massive, three stories set on top of the main building with terraces like the boys had said that looked perfect to play on, white marble floors with hand knotted rugs, and comfortable furniture.
"They'll completely believe Kuzu is related to him," Tomo looked amused, "but not Jareth and I…there's all sorts of sus when it comes to the three of us…but…it's okay. We're summoners…people should be wary."
Arman looked up from reading some papers, relaxing on the sectional in the living room and smiled.
"Boys, I am very happy to see you, Lorence…you're looking well rested."
"Hey grandpa," Jareth smiled, "Dad said Lorence could have some fabric…and Papa…said he should clean out his fabric room…"
Arman chuckled "Your Papa is probably trying to keep your Dad from making the furniture covers and denying him his white furniture." he patted the Ivory sectional he was sitting on. Kaleb had this….thing…he loved White Sea, was proud of his guild…and most of his things were white…because of that. His son was brilliant, frighteningly intelligent and well educated…but some things he took too literally.
"Jareth could make it all necessary with the help of a cake," Tomo pointed out. All three boys were summoners, but Jareth had more energy than the other two and if they wanted something to become chaotic? Or ruin something? They just had to find the correct item to give him and simply point him in the right direction. It was an odd system the boys had come to adopt. Tomo could plan things that were on the same level as Vander doing his Pranks. Jareth was the one that executed them…and Kuzu…if Tomo and Jareth couldn't look like they were completely sorry? Kuzu could melt their Dad's wrath away with cuddles.
Arman set his papers down and raised a brow "Maybe strawberry? The frosting would need to be red…"
Jareth blinked a bit and started walking, "grape juice, the purple stuff. Ruins white."
Tomo smiled "regardless, Dad said Lorence could take fabric…and so…first stop is that..so we can see which apartment is his and then we're going to take him on a tour of the guild grounds, or the City if he feels up to it."
"You will not be surprised to hear your Papa only has white grape juice in his fridge…but…there is some red wine…" Arman said, shaking his head, amused now. Plotting to ruin his son's furniture with his grandsons wasn't what he'd been planning to do today but it was much more fun than working on a trade proposal from Minstrel.
Jareth grinned as he leaned on the back of the sofa, "Dad likes red wine. It's a very careful sort of thing…Papa sometimes realizes what we're doing…and stops us..so..that's why I don't get a lot of sugar.." he snickered, "not that I've become any less active.."
"True…would you be a darling Jareth and bring me a glass of wine? I think I'd like to take a break from my work here." Arman smiled, giving the boys the opportunity to raid the wine room.
Jareth pushed off and cackled as he bolted. Tomo shook his head, "you're encouraging him…you don't like the white either, do you?"
"It's a bit much…" Arman said mildly, looking around at the white sectional, white overstuffed chairs…white coffee table "He has children…there's far too much white…he can dress up the VIP area where he entertains guests to the guild but in the living parts of the manor?" Arman shook his head and wrinkled his nose a bit.
"You know Dad has his 'cave of darkness', right?" Tomo looked amused as he stood there and then looked at Lorence, "it's not the fabric room, it's his nap room, black walls, little lacrima all around in the constellations…everything dark colors…heavy curtains..it's like stepping into a nice happy darkness."
"Sounds peaceful…" Lorence was smiling as all of this unfolded
"It's a nice room…and given how white…most of the house is…I don't blame your Dad for doing it." Arman chuckled
"You can paint the walls of your apartment," Tomo said, eyes dancing, "whatever color you want. However you want it to look."
Lorence looked surprised "I can? But…it's guild property…"
"I've seen Miss Cida's apartment…it's like this..gray concrete looking color…with oil on the walls," Tomo looked almost scared for a second, almost, "so many pieces and parts…pretty sure it's a glorified storage locker.." he paused and then smiled, brightly, "so yes, you can do pretty much whatever you want with your apartment. It's yours."
"I…wouldn't know what to do…it's ok…I'm just a kid anyway." Lorence shook his head, he couldn't think about furniture or wall colors…
Tomo looked thoughtful, "how about…we talk about what you like? That can give us an idea? Favorite colors? Favorite things?"
Lorence shook his head "I've…never thought about those sorts of things." he admitted. Basic survival had been his focus since he was three, colors…likes and dislikes…aside from sewing little animals out of scraps of fabric…he'd never indulged in luxuries, he knew how fast it could all be taken away.
Arman's eyes were soft. "It's fine Lorence…you'll figure things like that out."
Tomo nodded, "you will. We'll help keep you safe, that's what White Sea does."
Lorence nodded "Cristoff said I need to gain weight…then I can…play, and join some activities."
"Well, you can either eat in the guildhall, or well..we're friends now, so you can join us," Jareth said as he walked out with a bottle of wine.
Arman reached for the bottle, pulling a bottle opener from one of the storage compartments in the sofa. "Thank you my darling."
Jareth grinned, "anything for you, Grandpa."
Arman adjusted the bottle and opened it, setting the cork and opener on the coffee table…missing the coaster but too focused on the bottle to "notice" and deep red wine pooled on the smooth white surface while Arman read the label then poured himself a glass, swirling the rich dark wine in the glass and holding it by his chin taking in a deep breath.
"Oh yes…you know…Encan wines are very robust, the isle where they grow the grapes has a humidity and warmth and the soil they say is very very rich..they grow cherry trees around their vineyards…the hints of flavor are impressive." he said informatively, there was no reason the children shouldn't learn about how to appreciate wine.
"Come here children, let me pour you all glasses and I'll teach you how to get your best appraisal of a wine. You'll be able to help adults select it and when you're ready to drink yourselves you'll know what you're most interested in trying."
He poured each boy a glass of wine and then showed them how to evaluate the color, density and then aroma of it, having Jareth fetch three more bottles of wine and opening them all going over cork presentation, reading labels and even how the bottles were made, what temperatures the wine should be stored at and how bottles were to be stored in certain positions based on where they were from. He completely ignored the white sofa…cream colored rug and white coffee table, focusing on the boys and teaching them and making the lesson fun.
Hestor was exhausted, he'd spent the night getting all of Lorence's files in order and reading through Cristoff's medical exam. Magical healers could delve deep, and Cristoff wasn't just a mage, he and his younger sister Xally, both strong healing mages, had both pursued regular medical degrees, Cristoff had gone fully into internal medicine and surgery focusing on tissue repair and reconstruction, the siblings had been forced to wear magic cancelling cuffs while in their practical studies to prevent them from having any form of advantage over mundane students and it had made them both far above what was already an amazingly high bar among the rare healing mages of the world.
Without those cuffs on? Cristoff could see DNA, was skilled enough to get to that level, he didn't need to cut into someone…could just delve into them with his magic. Lunar magic was more than just light, it encompassed everything a moon could do, from influencing tides, to causing dew to form, to permeating things through that process using humidity, moisture from any source to reach through anything. He could cause extreme temperature fluctuations in an area, from the heat of the sun directly on a surface to the cold of space, could make the absence of light using "darkside" spells to the brilliance of the full moon and could even force people to sleep, to dream or not dream. So Cris could go through a person's body and tell you how they had been for years, where they had been hurt and how they had recovered.
Lorence's medical file told a story of horrors, abuse that would have killed a normal human being a thousand times over but because Lorence was a mage, he had lived through all that was done to him. The boy had been used for experiments, a lot of them, testing armors, weapons, chemicals for war, toxins, things designed to kill…forced to eat and drink poisons, having acid injected right into his blood…and his body…his magic…had healed him.
Young untrained magic…undirected…doing what it had to so Lorence survived but not fully repairing anything, just making sure the boy lived.
Now, Lorence had White Sea though…and Hestor had already sent over and gotten back forms from Lorence's parents, registered the Fairstar family as White Sea contractors until they could get there and physically be inducted into the guild. He'd sent information on the Fairstar fleet to his clan's council of elders, if he could get them into Dolfeini they would become Boscan citizens…and…they would be politically immune to the MCCs reach. Normally he'd have long since gone to his room in the manor to nap but all of that had kept him from it and he was a bit grouchy for that reason.
He'd spent some serious time designing that room, the dark paints, the lacrima crystal, the bed with it's amazing heat regulating sheets and plush soft blankets and pillows, the incense burner, an art station where he could sit in a comfortable chair with a specialized desk angled so he could sit reclined and still draw and work on clothing designs. Pictures of the boys, the softest most sensory gratifying pillows money could buy…a fireplace that had a hood that could be closed over the front of it to dim the light it put off, a music system that was 360 degree surround, even a nice picture of him and Kaleb in a rare moment of peace when they had both been napping in the bay window of his office together. His favorite books filled recessed shelves…it was made for him to walk into it and relax and he was looking forward to getting to it.
A night not sleeping wasn't uncommon for him, it wasn't uncommon for summoners, their magic came from the stars, when the stars dominated the sky their magic hummed in their veins so it was easy to stay up all night and he often did. He just usually would have an early nap, usually around 10 or 11am after he'd gone swimming, checked over the day's business, done some training and made sure the boys were at school, he'd have coffee, eat, and then go take his nap. But this morning…he'd had Lorence almost haunting him. He wasn't a kind man by nature, he was a self recognized asshole if he was honest. He held a keyset that was half light, half dark, and the darkside always claimed the keyholder first…part of the test of the set was enduring the process of building it.
He was snarky, sarcastic, didn't tend to care what people thought and pursued his ambitions with the laser-sharp focus of a Stellan, tempered by the wildness of a Boscan. Because he held the keys he did, Stella had a hold on him, a claim…he was born the High Priest of Anubis, the title was his birthright, but he'd not wanted that, he was consumed in the misery and suffering of building the keyset he'd ALSO been born to assemble, and resented all these "birthright" claims the world seemed to have on him. It had grown a rebellious streak in him he was sure was as Stellan as it was Boscan even though his Stellen cousins accepted their roles without much question while he'd fought his tooth and nail.
He loved the sea, the ocean, studied both through school, his major had to be Stellar…but he had taken and handled a double major, with his other being Oceanic Biology with a Minor in Grass Sea biology. He'd done well through school too, well enough he'd been awarded a fellowship at the Academe Celestine and become a part time professor for them. It was that, and finding out he was the father of Hestor's three sons that had gotten Kaleb to semi-trick Hestor into becoming head of White Sea's education board.
The acceptance document for that position had been buried in a stack of intake papers for new books and study materials Hestor had been asking for for the Celestial tower for over two years…so when Kaleb had handed him the papers and he'd seen what they were he'd zealously signed his way through and proudly handed them to Ariss, the head of White Sea's Library and records and Ariss had blinked at him, smirked faintly and handed one of the documents past Hestor to Kaleb.
"What…is that?" He'd demanded immediately, scowling at the paper that was being handed over.
"You read what you sign…you always do, you're careful." Ariss said lightly, turning, his tails flicking as he went to deliver the crates to the tower.
Kaleb's smile had Hestor squirming in his boots "What…is that." He'd demanded again, voice low and dangerous.
"Just your acceptance…you are now the official director of White Sea's education department." Kaleb smiled "You're amazing with kids, Hes, our sons are proof of that."
Hestor had narrowed his eyes, Kaleb…hell Kaleb's whole family was good at this…the easy friendly kill you with kindness thing, backhanded compliments that sometimes carried responsibilities. He'd tipped his chin up though.
"I expect full authority…TODAY." he'd said and snatched up one of Kaleb's brand new laptop computers he'd just finished building. "I'll use this." he'd said and retreated to the bay window.
Right in the moment as the elevator was reaching the manor he was leaning against the polished wall of it yawning, anticipating how the dark coolness of his private room was going to feel, he'd grab a pot of tea on his way in there, drink some mint tea and curl up on that amazing bed…
The elevator opened to the opulence of the livingroom, the polished white marble floors, the handknotted rugs…all the white furniture with silver and brass accents…and Arman Pradesh on the sofa with his three sons and Lorence Fairstar…wine…everywhere..bottles on the coffee table, two of them tipped over having spilled all over including into the ivory and silver rug beneath that table, wine glasses in every hand being swirled none too gracefully, wine sloshing, the boys serious, Arman talking wisely.
"You swirl it…little faster Tomo…it should spread across the interior surface of the glass, you're doing this to increase the release of the scent and also to bring the glass to the same temperature as the wine to improve the flavor…little too fast Jareth, that's fine…yes Kuzu…very good…no don't tip the glass when you smell it spills…you bring it here by your chin…"
Hestor was…exhausted…and stepped out of the elevator staring, standing there taking it all in…there was red wine all over the white sectional, all over the children, all over Arman even dripping from the man's hair..the rugs were wrecked, the coffee table would be completely stained and the sectional? He doubted there was a single cushion that wasn't well stained by this point…however long they had been at this there were 11 bottles of opened wine on the table…some of them gifts to Kaleb from foreign dignitaries.
"The stuff from Ishvahn smells like the sky." Jareth said
"Like rain." Lorence agreed
"Hi Dad! We're learning how to select a wine!" Kuzu called "Did you know you don't even have to taste them?!"
All eyes turned to Hestor, and when they did more wine flew around and splashed over clothes and furniture…Jareth, sitting on the arm of one of the overstuffed white recliners, lost his grip on his glass and spilled all of it on the chair.
"That's fine, just pour more Jareth my darling…like I showed you, this time remember to hold the wine bottle away from the glass more. The air entering the wine as it's poured helps flavor." Arman instructed and smiled at Hestor.
"I was wondering when you'd come up, you've usually had your nap well before lunch. Don't worry, Thane took the bolts of fabric Lorence selected to his apartment…when we're done the boys will clean up and continue their tour."
Hestor stood there…that sectional had been custom made for Kaleb..a special order in Minstrellan white leather and suede. He'd loved how comfortable it was though he'd hated the color. He and Kaleb, once they had decided him living in the manor with the boys was the best way for them to co-parent while they sorted out their own relationship Hestor had wanted to make changes to the manor, add some color…Kaleb had calmly refused…the furniture was already there…replacing it was a waste.
Hestor had contemplated plans to "assassinate" that furniture many times…and Arman…Kaleb's own father…couldn't have done a better job of it.
"The boys will need lunch and baths, they're supposed to be showing Lorence around the guild." he said, trying to keep from maniacally cackling over the whole situation.
"Oh yes, I was planning to join them, my chef is with me…making lunch." He waved his wine glass toward the kitchen and that was when Hestor caught the rich aroma of garlic…lamb…mint and roasting potatoes through the smell of wine.
"I see…that smells lovely." Hestor managed, hand absently rubbing over his stomach as it growled. Mr. Elan was the Pradesh family chef, he and his wife had served Arman since before Farron was born, they were fiercely loyal to the family…and Mr. Elan was likely one of the best chefs in the whole damn world. Hestor was convinced that one of the reasons all of Arman's sons were massive beasts was because of Mr. Elan's cooking. Having the man there…cooking their meals…was going to be heaven.
"Yes, and I'll have Mr. Elan keep a nice plate waiting for you Hestor…go enjoy a nap, I'll be with the children." Arman smiled and Hestor drew a breath, nodding and walking to the hall, heading for his room smiling slowly more and more…that white furniture was done for…Arman would stay with the children and what therapy for Lorence could be better than a doting grandfather following him around for the day with his beloved grandsons all about the same age as him?
Cackling carried from the hall though a few moments later.