Note that this chapter probably has the same flaws as the one before it, Chapters eleven and beyond have different styles, so you only have to bare with one more monotonous personality plagued chapter (hopefully) I am currently working on chapter fifteen which I hope will have a notably different and richer monologue and dialogue.

Chapter Nine – Leo...I Am Your Father

*** Bastion Cazador ***

It’s been eight long years since I was home in Isyndril, the construction effort on the buffer island had been a nightmare. The navy was simply not equipped to handle the long voyage and long distance over so much open ocean. Worse yet had been the coordination of the colonization effort, there were many eager colonists but not enough secured lands to set them upon. Many people were attacked by wild animals and encountered unknown sicknesses and natural poisons.

The greatest help to move the efforts along had been the introduction of the much larger vessels that had been well designed for ocean going, they were faster and could carry more cargo as well as people. As small villages and towns sprouted around the more valued resources roads had to be made from trade caravans and government leadership and law had to be enforced. An entirely new system had to be designed as the colonized lands were nothing like Boraia, much had to be redone in order for the law system to be marginally well adapted and fair to the colonists.

I spent a great deal of time traveling between the buffer island, the new continent, and Bulbaria for all kinds of reasons and purposes.

Before I knew it near a decade had gone by and I was deeply missing my wife Gianna and wished to see my son whose face I had never seen. Gianna tells me of what wonders our child can produce, of his deep curiosity and broad intelligence. She tells me of the daughter she has adopted, a girl promised to our son by my father’s doing.

Two days ago I had made port in Odea and today near midday I had arrived at the castle I call home in Isyndril. I had sent no word about my return and wished to make it a surprise. Two maids were the first people I met after entering the castle manor, they were confused and surprised to see me, mostly because they were young and probably had never met me before. They told me I would find my wife in the back gardens. I had my procession of guards and guests along with my right hand man, Ulrick, a young knight who was both able with a sword and a pen, wait in the central hall as I went to greet my wife alone.

I discovered her showing a young girl, the adopted child I supposed, the flowers of the garden probably teaching her the different scents they each produce and how to use them to charm her prospects.

Light on my feet, I walked up to my wife and embraced her from behind without a word, she let out a squeal of surprise, he voice music to my ears. My lips traced the nape of her neck as I took in her scent, I wanted to never let go.

“Oh you rascal!” my wife laughed as she came to realize that it was me, then she cried. She turned around in my arms and grabbed tightly to my vest as my arms continued to engulf her in a tight embrace. Her body continued to shudder as she contained her sobbing, I could feel the wetness of her tears penetrate through my clothing.

We stayed like this for a while.

“I missed you so,” I whispered to her.

“And I you,” she said in return after she had calmed down though she did not break away from our embrace.

“Are you back now?” she asked after a moment.

“Yes,” I nodded. “Governors and officials have been sent to take over and handle my responsibilities. I won’t have to leave again for such an extended period of time for the foreseeable future. I’ll have to leave after a week, my next task shouldn’t take more than a week as well then I’ll be back and you’ll have me.”

“Welcome home my lord,” the little girl that had been present since the beginning interrupted now, she bowed gracefully curtsying with both hands on her lovely red dress.

“You must be Eleanor,” I said. The girl nodded to confirm. “I hope you take good care of my son once he’s yours.”

The girl turned as her face grew bright red.

“Speaking of my boy,” I looked around. “Where is he? Is he training out in the fields with the pages?”

“I don’t know,” Gianna frowned. “He’s free spirited and likes to roam, he’s just returned from one of his little adventures so I am sure he’s still around.”

“Little adventures?” I asked curiously.

“He disappears for…a time,” she answered vaguely.

“I’ll go look for him,” Eleanor pitched in deciding to leave the two love birds to their privacy. She headed first for the library and from there she’d make her way to the few places she knew Leo frequents.

*** David McGlothin ***

So far the nation Father says is a friend we must make has not shown any promising notions that it might require diplomacy to elevate above complacency. Their ocean going vessels are small than the empires and their trade goods are only valuable as they are new. Father has decided that I should visit this backwards country so that I may know the world better, so far I am unimpressed.

The lord prince who was our host had left to tend to a private matter leaving us to wait in the great hall, the guards had already left to take to their stations while some of the maids informed us that they would be getting our guest rooms ready.

Just as I was about to make up my mind to wander the castle on my own a fiery redheaded girl entered the great hall. She looked about as if looking for someone before entering and hurrying towards a door on the other side of the hall, coincidentally her journey would bring her close to me. Wondering who this girl was I stepped in her way.

“Hold fair maiden,” I said introducing myself stretching my arms to either side so she would not go around me. “I am prince of Bulbaria, David McGlothin. May I have your name?”

“I apologize but I have a task I need to complete,” she huffed annoyed. The girl was around eight, three years my junior, but even so most girls would become shy around me or at the very least respectful. Even speaking humbly I am rather handsome, I have a strong athletic build, tall for my age, crystal sky blue eyes, and wavy golden hair. It somewhat irked me that my presence had no effect on her.

“What task has you in such a hurry?” I smirked as she tried to sidestep me only to find me continuously blocking her way. “Tell me and I might be able to help.”

“You…” there was a glow in her eyes, she has quite the temper. “Just let me through.”

“All I want is a moment of your time,” I continued to stall her though now it was really just teasing at her anger. Even frustrated she was rather cute, a gem among her peers mother would say. “Surely you can spare a few minutes.”

“Move,” she said with such force that I almost lowered my arms.

She pushed past me but out of reflex I grabbed onto her wrist, big mistake.

Her face was twisted in a scowl of rage, quite the temper, as she brought around her tiny fist in an effort to collide with my face. I almost let her land the blow, but that was before I noticed that she was pumping her fist full of mana. If it didn’t shatter my face it was surely going to hurt. With an agile dodge I caught her hand and spun her around so now I was sort of embracing her from behind as I pinned her arms with my own.

Out of impulsive curiosity I planted a kiss on her defenseless cheek and let her go.

Her face was one of shock and close to tears, she held her hand up to here cheek as she closed her mouth and her shocked expression turned into one of anger and humiliation. Without warning she puffed up her chest as she breathed deeply before releasing elemental fire, a fire so hot and so deadly I reacted in panic, had a kept my wits about me I could have dodge. Instead I brought my arms together and released a spiraling wind blast to knock back her flames, as I was rather talented in magic and better adept my own attack was stronger and overwhelmed hers. Unfortunately the blast was going to cut through her fire spell and knock her back with far too much force, but it was too late to stop it.

The ground quaked horribly followed by an explosion of dust and debris coupled with a deafening roar.

Well…fudge…

I looked back at the other guests, their expressions told me one thing very clearly, I had screwed up bad, real bad. However, just as I was about to start sweating blood the dust suddenly cleared up to reveal a small wall of stone and earth just tall enough to cover the girl. She was currently sitting on her butt with an expression of surprise on her face. The most surprising bit was the boy that now stood behind the girl, his eyes glowed blood red though he appeared calm. With a hand gesture he sunk the earth wall back into its place and the stone tiled floor looked as if it had never been tampered with.

There was a long pause, no one dared move, no one dared speak.