ALLURING || D.M.

Chapter 35

Lunch was quiet, some sort of pasta salad with meat, wine and water. Sebastian was expectant, they had lessons every two days, after lunch. "Right" The man rubbed a napkin over his mouth, "Let's go" he commanded, the boy rising from his seat in an instant.

"We'll be back before dinner" He clicked his fingers as one of the elves approached with his cloak. Grethel's brows furrowed, "Back?" she asked. Their lessons were always around the house. "Hm" Her husband mouthed, not giving any sort of explanation, their son was also unsure where he was supposed to go.

Lilianne just picked more farfalle with her fork as a grunt sounded over her head, she looked up innocently, watching her father hold a cloak and an impatient expression. Her brother's shoulders already covered by heavy dark fabric a little too big for his height. "Where are you going?" Grethel asked more pointedly, eyes straight at her husband.

The man was already comparing two cloaks for a better fit for Lilianne as she scrambled to her feet, "We are taking a road trip, as they say" he voiced nonchalantly, his eyes moved down to her flats, "You'll need boots" he told the dumbfounded girl.

She had no better answer, so she just nodded trying not to seem hesitant, glancing at her mother on her way out. When she walked down the stairs, her mother and brother were already standing at the foot, the woman went to hug each as though a tender departure, "Call for Teda if there's trouble" she whispered to them, she'd already instructed the elf to oversee their lesson.

"There we go" Rabastan palmed a pocket near his chest, Rodolphus stood with a stern face near the archway. In less than five steps he was by the doorway, the children following after him, "Do be careful" Grethel couldn't help herself, "The ministry is still watching". Her husband merely looked back, apparently pleased she had not posed an interference.

As soon as the gates closed after them, he apparated them away. Breath tore from their lungs as feet landed not two seconds later on top of a hill. "You'll do exactly as I say" Rabastan commanded, covering his head with the cloak, signalling for them to do the same. Sebastian had to take a minute to control the thumbling in his stomach, he was not used to apparition, but his excitement for an outdoor lesson was stronger.

"That's enough" He said as the boy blinked, "Cloaks on" he ordered, taking the first step down. "This is where we're training?" The girl asked more confidently now, but out of place among the heavy nature. On the crest of a hill, barely anything on sight but trees and hedges, that's why they needed boots. She was glad she changed out of her dress too, otherwise the grown plants would be scratching her legs.

The air was warmer as they began descending carefully, the father directing them silently with the movement of his right hand, though the captain of a troop in a secret mission. Among the green, some red was visible, on crooked roofs with smoke curling above the stone chimneys. Her eyes squinted to analyse it better, finding nothing more than a small dishevelled town.

Rabastan placed a hand forward to stop the hike, standing firmly under the shadow of a tree, surveying for a particular something his children were clueless about. He must have found it for he turned back to them, "This lesson I should not have to repeat" his voice was clipped. "What is that?" Sebastian asked, his father merely signalled for him to come closer, placing a disillusionment charm on him. Lilianne took her wand from her waist, ready to do the same when her father gripped the wood before she could whip it.

"Use this" He gave her another one, larger, a slightly cherrier colour than her own. She looked at them both, what difference did it make? It was better for her to use the wand she'd always used. He must have noticed her question for he turned to speak, "Underage and in school, we don't want anyone knowing we're here".