I rounded the wall and set out north toward Itus, the country that neighbored Eredwynn. A river flowed out of the northern country and turned southwest, meandering across Eredwynn. I could see it and it appeared to only be a short distance away. I walked to it, wondering if there were fish to be had. Until I redeemed myself and got my magic back, I’d have to catch fish the normal way, and that might be relaxing.
I climbed over rocks to the riverbank, removed my shoes and let my feet dangle in the water. I sat and watched the occasional stick or leaf float by, when suddenly I was surprised by a voice. “So, you finally decided to come to the river! I knew you would; you were drawn to the river at Wizard’s Castle, too.”
I jumped, startled that there was anyone else out here. I looked across the twelve foot wide river and saw a very small man with his bare feet in the water. His clothes were odd looking, as though they were made of moss. “How do you know me, Sir? And how do you know I went to the river at my father’s home?”
He chuckled. “You must have done something to upset someone for them to bind your magic like that. As a half magical creature, I’m sure that has you out of sorts. Has the same been done to your little sister?”
I was confused and almost unable to answer. “Celina’s magic has been bound, also. How do you know so much about me?”
He cocked his head in thought. “I think, since I’m talking to you like this, it’s only fair for me to talk to her, too. Since you can’t, I’ll get her for us. She’s not doing anything that she wouldn’t want an old man to interrupt.” His head twitched slightly and a startled and confused Celina was standing beside me.
She stared at me. “How did you do that? Did they free your magic, and when are they going to give me back mine?”
I pointed to the man across the river, who spoke to her, “You are a very cute young lady. You remind me of your mother at that age. Of course, back then she wasn’t playing with humans, like some girls I know. If you two are really worried about your magic, I could unbind it for you. The mage that bound you is quite powerful, but I have a couple thousand years more practice under my belt.”
Celina had always been better at solving puzzles than I had and suddenly the answer clicked. “Grandfather? Sir, are you our Grandfather?”
He chuckled. “Yes, my dear, I am your Grandfather. I’m sorry I haven’t spoken to you before, but time does get away from me. I am getting close to middle-age, after all.” He stood up and walked across the river without creating so much as a ripple. He hugged us and then asked, “So, do you want me to repair that block? It bothers me, seeing my family hobbled like that.”
Celina and I both shook our heads sadly, and I spoke up, “This is a punishment that our father decided on. I let some men do horrible things and didn’t look into it enough to stop it. I’m sorry that Celina is being punished too, but they must think that she could have stopped it, as well.”
Celina shoved me. “I saw it just as well as you did, but I enjoyed the special treatment I was given. I deserve to be punished as much as you do.”
Grandfather laughed. “Well, there we have it. I don’t like the idea of my grandchildren being without the aid of magic, and I can’t float here until they give yours back. There is a young cutie in the castle that has magic and an unusual restorative ability. When that half-sister of yours is done trying to teach her, would you allow me to give her a hand?”
I smiled. “Raven would be very happy to learn from you, Grandfather. As would Celina and I, when our magic is restored.”
“All right; when she’s free, I’ll have her join us. One thing I’d like to suggest would be that you bring me your girls’ sexy uniforms. I’ll change them for you and then my distance vision won’t go blind, due to that harsh pink!”
“I’ll do that! I don’t blame you a bit for wanting to make that change!”
We sat and talked for over an hour. He told us that if we ever wanted or needed him, we could just put our hands in the water. He’d get the message quickly and come to us. He had nymphs watching over us and our rebellious mother, and they had been for all the years that our mother had been with our father.
Finally, Grandfather smiled and said, “She’s alone.”
Raven stood beside us, frozen, with her eyes darting. “What is going on ‘ere? Y’all don’t ‘ave your magic!”
I laughed. “So much for your speech practice. Did you learn any magic from Lia?”
She nodded, starting to shake off the shock. “She taught me to move things and make a shield ‘round me. She dinna teach me how to yank someone outta the room they’re in, though!”
Celina put her arm around her. “Raven, we’d like you to meet our Grandfather. He is a water sprite called a Naiad, and has very powerful magical abilities. He has offered to teach you magic, if you’re willing to learn.”
Raven turned and curtsied. “Good afternoon, Sir. It is an honor to meet you, and I’d feel privileged to learn magic from such a supernatural individual.”
I winked at Celina. “I guess she learned a little from Miss Proper.” Celina giggled.
Grandfather patted the rock he was sitting on. “Come sit by me, young miss, and we’ll see if this old sprite can remember how this works. But we need to take care of first things first.” He laid his hand on her back and the fabric of her uniform changed from a bright pink to a beautiful, swirling blue and white. It looked just like water foaming through the rapids of the river.
Celina spoke in a hushed tone, “That is beautiful! Would you mind sending me to the room so I can collect the rest of the uniforms? The sooner that the pink is turned into this new color, the better.”
Grandfather nodded and Celina was gone. He took Raven’s hand in his own and her eyes glazed. For ten minutes, they sat there unmoving and then Raven gasped. Her eyes came back into focus and she threw her arms around Grandfather. “Sir, thank you so very much! I had no idea that some of those things could be done with magic.”
He smiled at her. “Just remember what I told you, there are consequences for mistakes. Be kind to people and always be careful. A lot of what you know should be kept to yourself and only shared with my grandchildren.” He blinked and Celina was back, holding an armload of clothing.
She laughed. “Do you know how long it takes to get five girls out of their clothes?”
I chuckled. “I’m not sure, but I’m willing to find out!”
Sis rolled her eyes and gave the clothes to Grandfather, who just touched them and transformed them from glaring to gorgeous.
Grandfather looked at us with an adoring gaze. “Children, it was a pleasure talking with you. Be sure to call me from time to time, because I tend to get caught up in my work.” He hugged all three of us. “The river stands still for no one. Take care of yourselves.” And he was gone.
Celina gathered up the new, improved uniforms and Raven asked, “Are you ready to go back?”
Cel and I nodded, turned toward the castle, and then we were standing outside our bedroom door.
Raven giggled. “It does work, exactly like Grandfather said it would. This magic stuff is going to take some getting used to, but it sure is neat!”
Now it was our turn to be the ones that were shocked. I stared at Raven for a moment. “You learned how do to that from Grandfather just now?”
She nodded. “That was just one of the more basic skills that I’ve acquired. I doubt I’ll be able to educate as rapidly as Grandfather, but I shall teach all I know, as I am able. You received the admonishment; this is only for the three of us.”
Celina and I stared at each other in stunned silence. Finally, Cel managed, “Raven, did Grandfather also change the way you talk? You don’t sound like you anymore!”
She grinned. “Your Grandfather has a brilliant and fascinating mind. He told me that my speech would change along with other things. I promise to prove to Seth that I’m the same ol’ Raven when Tabitha’s finished with him.”
Celina laughed. “Yeah, that’s our Ra
ven all right. She’s thinking below the belly button, as usual. I, for one, am really looking forward to learning what you have to teach us. Let’s get inside and get these beautiful new clothes on the rest of the girls.”
Inside, Celina passed out the uniforms. It took a bit for each girl to be matched to the right set, but when they were done, the next time would be easy. Each of the uniforms were colored the same, but they were each different in some way. There was no way that a tailor could duplicate it.
I sighed. “The sad thing is, when I wear away a hole in the seat of those uniforms, we won’t be able to replace them!”
The girls laughed while Celina and Tabitha rolled their eyes. Raven caught my eye, winked and nodded. I understood that altering the clothing like that was another ‘more basic skill’ that she’d learned. I couldn’t wait to be able to join minds with her and share in my Grandfather’s gift. What he had done with Raven, on our behalf, was part of the reason that he’d had a falling out with Mother years ago. He wouldn’t move her magic along as fast as she wanted and she’d run away to learn from my father.
Two magicless months passed and I had accepted my father’s punishment. I’d thought when Celina and I were first bound that a week, maybe two would be enough for us to be forgiven. I thought of Krose from time to time and, I’ll admit, I missed the special treatment. I was someone more than just a Prince of Eredwynn; I was one of a kind.
Learning to be the Lord of Starford was simple compared to Perlsea or Kethos. Davie and James had to build their industry up from nothing. Now they had thriving towns that were approaching city size. We had hemp for making parchment and rope, grain crops, vegetable crops and cattle. Most of the actual governing of the province was done by Governor Ridley in Ohana. He was getting on in years, but was still in good health. He attributed his good health to the selective sorting of hemp seed for plants that were grown away from the parchment and rope stock.
Word had come via Davie that King Niruth, the dragon, had located twenty Halfling families residing at the southern tip of the continent. The problem was that he’d just relocated thousands of orcs down there. Tabitha and Feyna, with Raven’s help, instantly went into action. My little farm girl turned diplomat went to the Halflings and offered to relocate them to Eredwynn. She offered each family a huge plot of land and everything they needed to get started. Tabitha teased me about agreeing to aid the Halflings in their relocation so I’d have more young Halfling ladies to choose from. She would have been right before Tina and Raven joined the family. With those two, I was a very happy man.
Tabitha called from her water closet, “Seth, could you come in here, please?”
I climbed out of my chair and joined her. She had a fearful look in her eyes and the front of the maternity uniform she wore these days was wet. I turned around and ran across our room, dove over the bed and called, “Raven! It’s time. Get Lia and Chloe and the Halfling midwife that Tabitha has been talking to.”
Raven stuck her head around the corner and nodded. She froze for a moment while she activated her ‘distance vision’ that Father still called ‘remote viewing’. She was gone with a ‘pop’ and I began dragging the cot that we had ready away from the wall. I helped Tabitha to the cot and laid a sheet across her, just as Chloe and Lia showed up. Chloe went to Tabitha and Lia came to me. She guided me gently away and out of the room.
Lia winked. “When James had a baby, I took him to a pub and he ended up with another consort. I’ve been told that this time I’m to keep you in the courtyard with our sister. Where is she, anyway?”
My mind was racing and my sister’s whereabouts weren’t on the top of the list. I thought for a moment. “She mentioned something about wandering the Halflings farms and seeing what was going on. She’s with Warin.”
“All right, I’ll get them. I’d hate to swipe Cel and leave poor Warin lost in Eredwynn! They’re such a cute couple, walking down the road minding their own business and …” Lia giggled and ported them into the courtyard beside us.
I sighed. “One day I have to learn how you do that trick. I’m either here or there. I can’t use ‘distance vision’ and still know what’s going on around me.”
Celina elbowed me gently. “That’s because you’re a male and can only do one thing at a time. Everyone knows it’s true and I’ve explained it before. Women have to do more than one thing, to take up the slack!”
Lia stood beside Cel. “Now I remember why she is my favorite sister. She’s bound to be the smartest.”
I looked at them both with a smirk. “The smart asst, perhaps. Why are we stranded in the courtyard, anyway? The castle is huge; there are places in the wall towers that I’ve yet to explore. Whose idea is the great enclosed outdoor location?”
Raven popped in as if on cue; she gave a grin and nod in Lia’s direction, then ran to me and kissed me. She hugged Celina and stood out of the way, waiting.
Father and Davie appeared, moments behind her. They were both beaming happily and I hoped I knew why.
Father hugged Celina and me. “You two have managed to do very well over the last two months. We’ve watched you closely to see if the group in Krose still held sway over you. We could tell that there were things that you missed, but you moved on. I’m very proud of you both and it’s time that you rejoined the magical part of the family.”
Davie took a knee in front of us. “You know that it was a very painful thing for me when I had to bind you like this. I’m really happy that I finally get to unbind you both. We’ll consider it a present for my little niece or nephew that is coming into the world today. His or her father and aunt can protect them better, now.”
He barely seemed to focus on what he needed to do and suddenly Celina and I felt nauseous. He stood and waved for Raven. She took our hands and the illness left us as our magic recharged. It felt as though a weight that I didn’t know I was carrying was lifted from my shoulders. Cel and I hugged each other and then Father and Davie. Celina hugged Warin and I … shook his hand. We might live in the same building, but we weren’t quite that close yet.
I grinned happily at everyone. “Now, if there’s nothing else you need me for, I want to see what my province looks like the way a wizard should!” I shielded and took to the air, climbing rapidly. I heard laughter receding below me and looked down. Celina was in the process of wrapping Warin in a levitation bubble, but a shielded and very quick Raven was on my heels. At first it startled me to see her, because I wasn’t flying her around. I leveled off at a thousand feet and looked at the chessboard that was my province.
Raven caught me and kissed me zealously. “I just had a thought. Do you have any idea what kinds of games we can play up here? Our clothes in a bubble and… all right, I won’t let myself get worked up right now.”
I laughed. “You have quite the imagination! Don’t ever give that up, and keep thinking. I think that weightless games might be quite entertaining.”
Warin and Celina joined us and were gazing around at the countryside. Raven pulled the two of us together and commented, “As soon as I can get the two of you alone, we can join minds. I know you both want to learn your Grandfather’s gift of magic. He taught me things that I haven’t heard of before, and I’ve spent a lot of time around Wizard’s Castle the last two months. I’ve been very careful only to do things that I see the other wizards do.” She giggled. “I said, ‘the other wizards’! Sorry, I just realized that I’m a wizard, too!”
All at once it hit me. While we were getting our magic back and were distracted, my wife was giving birth to my firstborn biological child. Tamia would always be the oldest and always be mine, but this one was my actual flesh and blood. I dropped like a stone back to the courtyard. Lia was chatting with Father and Davie, but I interrupted. “Lia, can you tell me, has the baby come yet? Is Tabitha ok? Can you tell if they need anything that I could get?”
Father and Davie laughed and surrounded me with hugging arms. Father tousled my hair. “I was the same way when your Aun
t Isabel had James. I sat and let myself be distracted by your Uncle Periset until they sent up sparks.”
Davie nodded and grinned. “I ported down to No Man’s Land and visited with King Niruth. A dragon is a good friend to have when you need a distraction. He’s thousands of years old and has the best stories!”
That gave me an idea, since Lia wouldn’t divulge any details. “Gentlemen, Ladies, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to be alone with Celina for a little while until my nerves calm down. You’re welcome to make yourselves at home and if the baby comes, please send up sparks! We won’t be far, but before we wander off, could someone get a message to that crazy short Naiad who will kill us all if she isn’t here?”
Father laughed nervously. “Davie will set a note on her lap as soon as I write it.” Davie nodded his agreement.
Chapter Twenty
I got a nod from Cel and I ported us to the river. Celina gave a ‘harrumph’. “I should have thought of Grandfather! Who else do we know that knows more than anyone and could distract you? We should have him teach us, too. I have faith in Raven’s ability, but he’s our Grandfather and I’d like the family connection.”
I leaned over, stirred the surface of the river with my fingertips and stood back up. Grandfather ported in beside us before I’d squared my shoulders.
“Well, my favorite half-human grandchildren! Did you miss the old man already?”
Cel and I grinned. “Grandfather, my wife is giving birth to my firstborn. We adopted a little girl, but this is the first time I’ve dealt with the birth of my own baby. I’m just a little overwhelmed with it all and hoped you could distract me. This might be your first half-Halfling great grandchild, too!”
He chuckled. “You don’t know it, but you have a huge family. Your mother was the only one of my children who decided that she wanted to be with a human. All of that was because I thought that she was too young to know the magic that she wanted to learn. For a Naiad, she was just a baby, even though she’d lived almost two human lifetimes. You two aren’t babies, even though I’m sure you’ll both live much longer than humans do. Come sit by me and I’ll show you how a water sprite’s magic works.”
Seth, A Naiad's Son (Generations of Eredwynn Book 3) Page 20
