by R N Skye
“First,” he outlined. Shew and I have meetings with D’Mere and Cyrado in the morning. Roger I need you and Lieutenant Arvada to start making a list of what items are needed and where. Have you or Shew told anyone that you have a portal device?” Both men shook their heads no. “Then don’t, you are the only non-mages that will ever have them. They are too dangerous and if they get lost they are a way for the enemy to infiltrate into Luion. Where is the kid?” Shew hustled down the stairs to the cabins and was soon back.
“He’s asleep on his bunk below,” the old spy announced.
“Shew, I’m going to need you to stay here on the boat with him until you know his mettle. Make sure he knows what not to touch, that he has food and knows how to protect himself. As far as operational intelligence goes until we know more about him keep it compartmentalized. When you get done with D’Mere tomorrow I want you two to do another bank run like you did this morning let’s keep working on that for the next week or so I want to be able to give some of these refugees jobs, with winter coming on jobs and money are going to be in demand. Keep an eye on the kid let me know if he steals or does anything else untoward, but just let me know don’t take him out. If he turns out to be untrustworthy then I will use him as a tool. Roger, if you need anything comm me or Shane and we will get together as needed.”
Ari turned to the Lieutenant. “Thanks for all of the help if we don’t explain everything it is mostly because we don’t realize what you don’t know. Just ask Roger and before you know it you will be up to speed.”
“Yes Sir,” the lieutenant answered smartly.
Turning to Shane he asked, “What have you got going on?”
“In the morning I’ll be back at the lab, I’ve got to get Leo, John, and Lance going on duplicating the navigation and viewer devices the navy is going to need and I need to figure out what Allion is using those wrist bands for and how to combat them. After this morning I have a pretty good idea. Tonight I have a date with Ava and I need a bath and a change of clothes; so do you. I don’t think the two of us have eaten in the last twenty four hours and bathed in the last forty eight. I suggest you get cleaned up before you go start making eyes at your sister-in-law or she’s likely to go back to Infin due to the smell.”
Shew, Roger, and Arvada laughed at the banter. Shew winked are Roger, “I like this kid. He’s the only one I ever met that could zing Stafford, err Ari and not end up looking at the sky wondering what hit him.”
“It’s only because he’s practically family and my niece would be impossible to live with.” Ari retorted.
With a few parting comments the group departed the sloop except for Shew; looking forward to mentoring his new trainee asleep below deck.
~~~~~
A tired Ava stepped into the foyer of her parent’s spacious home through the doorway reserved for portal entrances. Hearing laughter from the hallway that led to the kitchen Ava hung her jacket in the closet next to the portal door and started toward the mirthful sounds. Her heart jumped as she realized that one of the voices was that of her aunt Leslie. With a burst of speed she ran the rest of the way and hurried into the kitchen.
“Aunt Leslie!” she exclaimed as she saw her mother and her aunt standing together near a cupboard putting away dishes. “You’re safe!” she joyfully exclaimed as she threw her arms around her aunt. “How did you manage it? Shane and Ari are out looking for you.”
“It was Ari and Shane that freed me,” answered her aunt as she released from the embrace. “I’m still a little bit fuzzy on how it all happened. Your mother has been filling me in on what has been going on since we last met and things are starting to make sense, but I still have a lot of questions for my rescuers.”
Leslie stood back with her hands on Ava’s shoulders and looked her up and down. “What have you been up to? You look positively radiant. Your mother has been telling me you are a bit beyond magetech yourself; that you are a glyph mage now.” Rolling her eyes dramatically Leslie continued, “I go away for a few weeks and the entire world passes me by. I also hear that you are engaged to be married?” She added giving her a knowing smile. “I want to hear everything.”
“It’s not official yet but Shane and I have discussed it, I’m still waiting for an official proposal. He and Ari have been so busy with the war and with planning the rescue - all discussions of amour have been on hold.”
“Tell me everything when did you know he was the one,” romanticized her aunt.
“There is so much to tell I don’t know where to begin.” With a yawn Ava stretched, “Excusez-moi, it has been a very long day and I need to freshen up,” Ava apologized.
“You go have a nice bath and I’ll fix you something to eat,” Louisa interjected, interrupting her sisters questioning, and gently guided her daughter to the hallway that led to her bedroom. When you are cleaned up and changed into some comfortable clothes you will feel much better, then we will have a nice visit.”
As Louisa reentered the room and there came a brisk knock from behind the pantry door from across the kitchen. “What in the world,” Leslie said as she turned toward the sound.
Louisa waved her to stay at the table. “That will be Shane; he is so creative and unpredictable. He built a portal into the foyer closet but he knows we always seem to be in the kitchen so most of the time he just uses the pantry. The more I get to know him that more I feel like he is already my son. I can’t think of a better match for Ava; she can be so focused and he is so spontaneous, I think they completely balance each other out. “Come in Shane,” Louisa said loudly so that her voice would carry and ignored the pantry door and opened the cooler and began pulling out food and Shane’s favorite juice.
The door opened and a showered and shaved Shane stepped into the room with a bouquet of roses. “Louisa, Sorry to barge in but I missed Ava at her office so I figured she would be here.”
“Nonsense, Shane, you are not barging in,” she said as she greeted him with a hug and a kiss on each cheek. “Ava just got home and is getting cleaned up. Let me take those,” Louisa said as she took the flowers from Shane. “They are beautiful - I have a lovely vase that will be perfect for them. Ava will love them. You are so thoughtful”
“I can’t take all the credit. Mom had them all arranged and suggested I bring them. By–the-way she says to tell you hello and to please bring Leslie over when next you come for tea.
Shane walked to the table and bent and kissed Leslie on each cheek in the Luion. “Leslie you look well considering your condition this morning. How are you feeling?”
“I’m doing much better thank you.”
“You’re most welcome. It was pretty close there for a while. Lucky for us the King hadn’t gotten around to completely putting you under the influence of the Allyant sphere so we were able to contain and remove it without too much trouble; although you were pretty weak for a while. Thanks to Ava’s healing research we were able to get your health back up after the removal of the Allyant lumen.”
Leslie shook her head and looked at Louisa, “I don’t understand a thing he is saying.”
Her sister set a plate of crepes on the table followed by a platter of toppings; both sweet and savory. “I’ve been trying to tell you all day. Shane is the probably the most accomplished mage since the Elios left the world over two thousand years ago. He is still doing research as well as he has been training others. Not the least of them your dear niece and my daughter, Ava. He has also been teaching Ari.
“Speaking of which,” Leslie directed at Shane, “Where is that elusive man formerly known as Stafford?”
“Probably out buying flowers and chocolates in an attempt at impressing some damsel that he rescued this morning. Not to mention he was pretty ripe. We have both been pulling some long days and were in need of a pretty thorough cleaning up. I got done first because he’s getting slow in his old age. I can say that because he isn’t here to clobber me for saying it,” Shane added with a chuckle.
Eyeing the pile of crepe
s and the now two additional platters of toppings Shane looked at Louisa who was continuing to pile food on the table. “Do you mind if I try some of these delicious crepes?”
“Go right ahead Shane that’s why I set them out. You are always hungry when you come over and Ava is always telling me that when you get busy you forget to eat. How you stayed in shape to play sports is beyond me. Please dig in.” She stood by beaming as her future son-in-law began methodically building a master piece crepe; starting with a tomato and onion relish and thinly sliced roast beef and finally adding some cheese before rolling it to a near breaking point. – Only to eat it in mere seconds. Even though she had cooks for most occasions she was a very good chef in her own right and cooked as often as she had the time. It was very satisfying for Louisa to see someone enjoying her cooking.
From down the hall a sound of a door being closed was heard and soon the familiar face of Gerard entered into the comfortable kitchen. Greeting his wife with an affectionate kiss he greeted Leslie warmly with a hug as well. “Welcome home. It’s good to see you safe and sound. It appears our adventurous mages were effective in their quest.” Smiling he pulled up a chair next to Shane. “Hi son; he greeted, “I see you and Ari were successful. - I knew you would do it - Thank you for saving yet another member of our family.”
An unexpected gleeful shriek came through the entry of the kitchen from the hall. “Shane!” Ava happily repeated and she bent over the back of his chair nearly choking him in a hug as her wet freshly shampooed and brushed hair fell around his face.
Disengaging from her choke-hold Shane stood and gave her a tight hug lifting her from the ground and forgetting himself gave her a very emotional kiss which she returned in earnest
“You would think they missed each other,” laughed Gerard as he piled on berry preserves and whipped cream onto a crepe.
Realizing their over affection the betrothed pair disengaged but did not let go of each other’s hands. “I missed you, Cher,” Shane said. You look wonderful. I brought you some flowers.”
Ava looked at the bouquet that her mother had placed nearby, “They’re lovely.” Then knowingly she winked at Leslie and her mother and added,” Tell your mother thank you.”
Gerard laughed heartily, “You can’t get anything past women of Coeur decent, Shane; they see everything.”
“How did your day go,” Shane asked Ava as she scooted a chair close to Shane and sat next to him and began her own creative crepe design.
“Fantastic!” Ava declared enthusiastically. “I had so much fun today using the portal and tracing out the monorail that ran from the plains gorge near Valee Station to Yllyan.” She hurriedly ran through her day; telling what she had found about the monorail all the way up to Leo’s new assistant Kaysee.
“How about you?” she asked.
“Not much, “He dead panned.” Ari and I stopped by to visit the king of Infin; he wasn’t in so we left. We did run in to your aunt Leslie so we figured might as well see if she needed a ride home; pretty boring stuff if you don’t count all the love sick moping of Ari threatening to disassemble Allion bone by bone if Leslie was hurt.”
“You say that only because you thought I wasn’t standing behind you,” interrupted Ari from the open pantry door.
“I knew you were there,” retorted Shane “I can sense your lumen a mile away – not to mention smell the gallon of cologne you’re wearing.”
“You’re one to talk. You seem to have forgotten all of the threats you made when we were going after Ava at that Island she was being held at.”
Louisa got up and went to the cooler for more food. This is turning into an event. She chuckled to herself.
Ari walked over to Leslie and magically produced a deep red rose that smelled like wild raspberries and handed it to Leslie. “How are you feeling?” He asked tenderly.
“I’m a lot better thanks to you,” she answered as she stood to face him. “Thank you for risking your life for me. With a slight sob she lost control of her emotions and wrapped her arms around the tall man and buried her face into his chest. “I’m so sorry for putting you in danger,” she began to cry. “I was so worried about you that I broke protocol and tried to arrange one more visit.” Gaining her composure slightly she angered as she said; “I can’t believe that little weasel Wendell was the one that caught me.”
With a chuckle, hoping to lighten the mood Ari led her back to the table and sat next to her. “You don’t need to worry about Wendell any more. Shane and I took care of that this morning.”
Changing the subject Ari spoke to the others at the table as they watched the emotional exchange between the two familiar yet mysterious family members of Leslie and Ari, “Sorry I was late getting here but I needed to make something for Leslie.” Reaching into his vest pocket he pulled out a gold chain with an intricately glyphed pendant; the setting was a large multi colored fire opal in the center. “I made this for you so that no matter what, you will never ever be touched by filthy Allyant magic again.”
“It’s beautiful,” exclaimed Leslie, Louisa, and Ava all at the same time as they leaned in for a closer examination.
“Once you put it on, touch the stone. From then on it is sealed to you and no matter where you are whether you are wearing the necklace or not it will instantly come to your neck and protect you if ever there is Allyant magic near enough to harm you.” Ari explained.
Ari glanced at the pile of food on the table, “Crepes! How thoughtful of you Louisa I’m starved.”
Holding a crepe in one hand, Shane wrapped his free arm around Ava, “I love this family.”
Chapter IV
The morning was a cold beginning to a new day with the waning autumn. Most of the trees had lost their leaves and the grey sky seemed to close like a lid over the city of Lu Y Onton – threatening an icy drizzle before mid-day. Shew and Nuekirk hurried into a small café closing the door quickly behind them shutting out the icy off-shore breeze. Without speaking they made their way to an empty table away from the door but next to a large window that offered a view into the wide empty but awakening street; the aroma of percolating roasters mixed with the comforting smells of bacon and eggs wafted through the dining room.
“Bonjour, my dears what can I get you for your breakfast this morning,” greeted a pert waitress; close to Nuekirk’s age. With a bright smile as she dropped a set of stained, well used, menus in front of them.
“Roasters for now,” muttered Shew as he picked up the menu.
“The same s'il vous plaît,” replied the younger Nuekirk respectfully as he mirrored his companion by picking up his menu but his eyes followed the attractive girl as she left to retrieve their beverages.
After scanning his menu for a moment Shew set it aside and turned his attention to the street; particularly the wagons coming and going to and from the docks. Seeing a long bedded wagon with a canvas cover rumbling toward the piers he glanced at it and dismissed it seeing that it was empty except for the driver. The waitress returned and placed steaming mugs in front of both he and Nuekirk, pulling out a pad.
“What will it be monsieur’s,” she asked beaming her smile in the direction of the young Nuekirk and winking at Shew as she played with the younger man’s inexperience.
Ignoring her flirting with his student Shew ordered for the two of them and turned back towards the window. Nursing the fresh cup of the aromatic hot beverage he continued scanning the street. A flicker of movement caught the older man’s eye and he carefully placed his mug on the table. “Ok kid, remember what I taught you. The Jehhetian spies are where we thought they would be. Watch everything, remember everything, and as soon as you get the artifact in place get the enfer away as fast as you can. Remember, you’re cold, homeless and insignificant. Now get moving”
Nuekirk looked at the steaming plate of fried potatoes, eggs, ham, and battered toast, gleaming in syrup that the waitress was putting on a tray across the room. “What about breakfast,” the youth said in protest.
> “You’re hungry too,” grumbled the old man. “Now leave your coat and I’ll rendezvous with you back at the sloop.
With a sigh Nuekirk shrugged out of his comfortable woolen peacoat and laid it on the seat and quickly stood. With nod he was soon across the room and had slipped from the café like a breeze behind a conveniently exiting patron; soon lost among the now teeming throng of the morning seaport traffic.
Shew continued to watch street as a slightly out of place group of men gathered at the corner across from the where he sat. He saw his protégé humbly saunter up and hold out his hand in supplication as if asking for something. One of the men held out a coin and then pulled it back. Nuekirk shrugged his shoulders as if answering questions in the negative. Then with a smile and an enthusiastic nod pointed toward the docks and held out his hand to the man he had been speaking to. The man dropped the coin just short of the vagrant looking lad who like a flash was on his knees scurrying for the treasure before it could be lost in the gutter. The men laughed as the teen rose smiling with his prize. The leader was surprised as the youth gave him a traditional Luionese hug and a kiss on each cheek as he thanked him for his generosity. Then as if on cue the icy drizzle that had been threatening all morning began to fall in earnest. The lad looked skyward with a pained expression and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, turned abruptly, and ran off into the crowd as if in search of shelter.
Shew continued his observations as the men all pulled their jackets tight and headed in the direction that the lad had indicated. As he saw the last of the men leave his view the waitress arrived and placed an armful of precariously balanced plates and saucers onto the table top.
“How much to get this to go,” Shew asked as she took in the coat and the missing lad.
