The meeting went well. Once Ishen saw his baby boy, he would've agreed to almost anything.
After he and Sir Lucian exchanged weapons and vests, Belisa asked, "Does this mean that Sir Ishen is now your valet?" That was what Lucian's vest indicated, so I guessed it was a fair question, though Belisa was a little early adding the prefix. I hadn't officially knighted Ishen yet, though that would happen momentarily.
"Sir Lucian is my valet, though until we meet up with Lord Boian, he can also serve as Sir Lucian's second in that position." I addressed Ishen. "Lord Boian will provide you with a suitable vest and saber at his earliest convenience, and those you wear will be returned to Sir Lucian so he can return what he wears to Sir Tildur's parents."
Ishen nodded.
Only moments later, Ishen dropped to his knees, saber in front of him, swearing fealty. I tapped him on both shoulders with my sword and said what Reginar told me to say. I think I got those right.
"Milord," said my new, official cavalier. "I have a request."
"And that is?"
"My sister Tansy, Milord," he continued, not sounding as confident as earlier. "I ask that she be a Maid of Honor."
I glanced at Cornelia, who sighed, nodded, then smiled.
"I may pass her on to Lady Tabitha once we get back to the Dome, but I'd be happy to take Maid Tansy as my Maid of Honor. Come here so we can get acquainted. I believe you already know my other new Maid, Elspeth."
And Master Birdy was Nathan's new squire. All of this should quell any questions of what might or might not have happened during their time of capture. I'd get with Ellie and Sinense to flesh out an official story that would cover any questions.
The kids told me that Orvin had stripped them naked along with the other prisoners. He had looked them over before giving them to Ishen so he could use them to create more human-like babies. Orvin planned that Birdy would mate with Tansy, Ishen with Elspeth, and the mothers and babies would return to Orvin. However, despite some talk by Ishen, none of that happened. Instead, Ishen held them and treated them well, so they'd be suitable negotiating tools for Boian or me.
Once the ceremony had finished, I walked over to the ruins of the old hall. Only a little of the wall still stood. Reginar came up to me. "It's been quite a while since I was here. This area is not very fertile, so it's not surprising it's not inhabited."
"What would it take to rebuild a hall here?"
"Not too much," he replied. "You'd mainly need masons to rebuild the walls. And strike my decree, possibly," he ended with a chuckle.
"You would build me a building here, Lord Protector Kevin?" Ishen sounded in awe.
"I think that could happen. Lord Reginar tells me this was a hall in the past, so why not rebuild here? Speaking of which, I would like to see where you currently live."
"Yes, Milord," he said in his lisping voice. "It is close enough that we can walk there whenever you're ready."
YOU ARE READING
Wherever I Am
Science FictionCollege-age Kevin Covali and his family have lived on his uncle's estate for the last year instead of in the city. When he and his sister Allie are attacked on the road home from school, he finds out that there is more to his family than he ever sus...
