Book 4: Chapter 38: A Family Meal |
Michael took a breath and walked over to Gabriel.
“I’ll check in with the others to make sure everything is okay. You stay here with your family.”
He nodded, turning to his family. “Let’s get you back to our quarters.”
He walked them quickly, but carefully away. Yuna and the children glanced at Michael with a mix of curiosity and fear that caused a pang in his chest, but this wasn’t the time to explain the situation. Not while there may still be danger on the grounds.
He followed behind them for a time, then broke away and headed down the main hall, going door to door to make sure everything was cleared out. He found no guards, but did encounter a number of servants that he gave quick reassurances before he continued his sweep. Once he was certain the manor was clear he left it to walk out onto the grounds.
He used his Eyes of Love to check on where the others were, and found that they were all on the approach. He waited where he was, scanning until he saw their dark shadows approaching from behind a building. Before Pyotr and Marcus could reach him, Ollie dropped from the sky and landed in front of him. He smelled of smoke and fire, and was breathing heavily.
Michael looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“There was more than one nest. Had to hustle a bit more than I expected. Not many were full grown…”
Michael frowned at that. Sylus had been active for years within Burndan, and openly allowed to nest in the mountain. It was possible that the more specialized forms like his took longer to grow, but Michael guessed that they were probably somewhere else. Either hidden away to cause trouble later or scattered around wreaking mayhem and forging dark deals with nobles and rulers wherever they could. Given what he’d encountered in Stent he guessed it was likely the latter, but stayed on guard for the former.
“I think we’ve cleared everything,” said Marcus. “Managed to keep a general alert from going out too.
“Are the little ones okay?” asked Pyotr.
Michael nodded. “They are, but they had a bad scare. The dowager somehow intuited that we were here and took them hostage with Sylus… They won’t be a problem anymore.”
Pyotr nodded grimly.
“What now?” asked Ollie now that he’d caught his breath.
“Gabriel mentioned that he’d have loyal soldiers on the way here, scheduled to arrive after things were dealt with one way or the other. The servants are mostly loyal to his family, and aren’t much of a threat anyway. All we need to do is hold here for a day, maybe two so that he can make sure everything is taken care of,” said Michael.
“We can do that,” said Marcus letting out a yawn. “I need to catch up on some sleep at some point though. Maybe eat something hot.”
“You’ve been spoiled, brother,” said Pyotr with a smile.
“Spoiled would be asking for a woman, a barrel of wine, and a television that somehow works here. What I’m asking is more like fair pay for a job well done.”
Michael smiled at that.
“I’m going to let Gabriel know the status of things.”
“We’ll do one more sweep of the grounds,” said Pyotr, with nods from the others.
Michael followed the four thick strands that jutted from his own chest toward his family through his Eyes of Love. He was unsurprised that he had those strands. There weren’t yet any from them, but that was not a surprise either. He was just a strange man that said a number of weird things and killed a giant bug. Those weren’t actions that automatically created familial bonds.
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He reached a large grand door and gave it a shave-and-a-haircut knock. He heard movement and Gabriel opened the door, relief on his face when he saw him.
“The grounds are clear and the nests cleared out. We’re going to be on guard tonight.” He paused. “How are they?”
“The kids are asleep, somehow,” said Gabriel with a small smile. “Yuna is awake with me, I’ve been filling her in on everything that’s happened… she keeps reaching up to touch her neck as if she feels her head may still fall from her shoulders.”
Michael frowned with concern. “Get some rest. Stay with them tonight, and let us make sure that everything is safe.”
Gabriel nodded, letting out a breath. “Thanks Dad.”
He nodded and let him close the door.
…
Michael kept watch throughout the night, only taking a two-hour nap when the others insisted near dawn. A terrified servant led him to a room with a running bath, soap, and fresh clothes. He cleaned himself, keeping Ruin close by and put his armor back on after he changed. After that he was led to a large dining hall. He could smell bacon and fresh bread as he walked inside.
Gabriel was seated in the room with Yuna at his side, his daughter in her lap, his son was picking at his food with a frown. With all that had happened the previous day, he hadn’t gotten a good look at them until that moment. Yuna was a stunning woman with high cheekbones and long dark hair. The boy was around eight to ten and lanky with dark hair and natural dark circles around pale green eyes that matched his fathers. The girl was small, maybe four or five, with slightly lighter hair than the rest of the family and hazel eyes.
Michael smiled at the scene, remembering many similar ones he’d gotten to be a part of. Of course, he hadn’t had servants and the dining room they were standing in was larger than any house they’d ever lived in, but the spirit was the same at least.
Gabriel looked up at him. “Good morning.”
Michael turned his smile to him. “Good morning.”
“He’s the man that killed Sylus,” said the young boy to Gabriel’s side.
“That’s right, and he healed your mother, and healed me too.”
“Really?” asked the boy incredulously.
Michael smiled and raised a hand, bringing forward a warm golden glow. There wasn’t much to heal, but he did find a bit tongue in the boy’s mouth and a stubbed toe on one of the servants.
“Interesting,” said the young boy with furrowed brows.
Michael smiled wider, he was just like his father.
Gabriel gestured for the servants to leave and once they did he spoke again.
“Aside from all that,” said Gabriel standing and crossing the room to stand next to Michael, placing an arm around his shoulder. “He’s also… your grandpa.”
The children looked confused, the girl looked to her mother for confirmation and she nodded at her.
“You’re a taker, like father?” asked the young boy.
Michael raised his eyebrows. “He’s quick.”
“He is,” responded Gabriel with a smile.
“I am a taker. I’ve been here for only four or five years. Before that I lived in the same world your father came from, where I raised him until he…came here.” He probably didn’t need to hide the concept of death from two children that had just been in the room when their grandmother was killed, but he did it anyway.
“Shouldn’t you be small then?” asked the young girl.
“I arrived in Stent. There they age up takers so that they can fight. That’s why I’m so big. That and I always make sure to clear my plate when I eat.”
Yuna gestured to an empty seat at the table next to her.
“Please sit, eat.”
Michael nodded with a smile and he and Gabriel sat at the table. A servant brought him a plate of food and he had a bite of bacon before he looked at the young boy across the table wearing a serious expression.
“I’m Michael by the way, what’s your name?”
“Mikhail,” he responded, sounding almost embarrassed.
Michael’s smile widened and he had to suppress tears as he felt his eyes well up and he glanced at Gabriel.
He took a drink and smiled. “A good name, powerful.”
The boy nodded and returned to his food.
Michael turned to his granddaughter. “And what’s your name?” he asked.
She turned around and buried her face in her mother’s chest as if hiding from him.
Michael chuckled. “I know. I’m quite scary.”
“She’s just shy,” said Yuna, smiling at him.
“Her father was the same way when he was her age,” replied Michael.
Yuna chuckled, “That doesn’t surprise me in the least.”
Gabriel shook his head. “You could at least pretend you expected me to have been a social butterfly.”
“Darling, if you didn’t have a kingdom to rule you’d lock yourself in a dark room with stacks of books and only ever let me or the children in.”
“My people think of me as very sociable.”
“True, but that’s because it’s your duty and you think it’s important to be inspiring and kind to them when you can be.”
“My name’s Alyssa,” said the girl with her face still buried in her mother’s chest.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Alyssa,” replied Michael as he forked a piece of egg. Enjoying a family meal for the first time in a lifetime.