Life After Death

Quinn: back home.

                 

{Quinn}

Mikaela was unhappy that we couldn't find Arthur, but at least we knew he was in the country.

"He's twenty," I reminded her. "He's an adult, responsible for his own choices. We'll find him."

"I'm not worried about finding him," she said. "I'm worried about Lancelot. Just look at him."

My wife was right about that. Our son hadn't spoken since we left Satrech. He was sitting in the library now with Corryn watching him.

"Take him to Martel," I suggested. "Just the two of you. You can shape clothing or whatever you people do."

Mikaela wrinkled her nose at me. "You people?" she questioned. "I'll have you know, we are an ancient and formidable people."

"With a penchant for lying, stealing, and general mayhem," I countered. "I can't talk to him; Corryn's only so helpful; please?"

"Only if you talk to Nick," she told me. "He's been avoiding me since this morning, meaning he knows something he's not letting on. And I don't want to find out that he knew where Arthur was the whole time; that will make me angry."

"Will do," I promised.

Mikaela gave me a smile before leaving the entry hall. I did not want to confront the Torninc about concealing information. I was tired. I had travelled across the country and back multiple times in two days. My son was missing.

"Hey Dad, what's with everyone today?"

Dinadan must have been in his room the whole day, I thought with disbelief. He missed all of the commotion. He seemed puzzled, rather than concerned.

"Arthur is gone," I told him. "With the woman who was at dinner yesterday. We don't know where they are."

Dinadan frowned. "Back in Martel, I'd tell you to phone the police, but here, I guess you are the police. How's Lancelot?"

"Right here," Lancelot said tiredly as he came down the stairs. "Dad, will you tell Mom that I don't want to go to Martel today? I've been up all night; I'm exhausted."

Dinadan raised his eyebrows. I would bet that Dinadan would love to return to Martel. It wasn't that we were keeping him here, but that he was trying to catch up in his aging and dampen his neutrality. It bothered him that his younger brothers were technically older than him, but Martel was where he could have a life. I couldn't give him a hug without getting dizzy and I couldn't stand within ten feet of my own son for more than a couple minutes. It wasn't fair, least of all to him.

"I think you should go tomorrow then," I replied. "It will be something new. You have the chance to pick out your own clothes for once, not whatever your brother was wearing."

That seemed to cheer him up. I was piecing together the parts of the twins that were separate. Lancelot was much quieter without Arthur, and I didn't think that it was worry. He looked different as well; Corryn had suggested it. His new face seemed more natural, but I suppose being the second half had a downside; Lancelot never actually spoke his own mind. He was always just one of the twins.

"And I could come," Dinadan added. "If it was okay, of course. I'd understand if you didn't want to worry about nausea all day. But I could also drive around; I know the places to go, things like that. Mom hasn't really been back in ten years. And I hope her driver's license has expired."

"If we go," Lancelot told him. "I don't really want to. Though a wardrobe update would be nice. If my twin is going to vanish on me without a word, then fine. When he comes home, I'm not going to just lie down and let things return to normal."

"That's the spirit," Dinadan smiled. "Anyway, I'm going to convince Ryon that I need strawberry ice cream or I'm going to die of hunger; want to join me?"

"Sure." My sons walked past me and before I could get caught up with any more distractions, I opened the door to the nearest sitting room, and found a comfortable armchair.

"Nick, come here."

The blue boy appeared in front of me, looking very contrite.

"I talked to Corryn this morning," he told me. "As I'm sure you're aware."

"Why didn't you tell us the moment they left?" I questioned. "Or better yet, before they left?"

"Because some things are meant to be," Nick said, but stared down at his bare toes wriggling in the carpet. "Keeping those two apart for another day, month or year isn't going to alter the force of their relationship. I thought I could track them, but Larachime got away from me. For that, I'm sorry."

"What are you talking about, 'meant to be?'" I demanded.

"Have you noticed that your sons don't have normal relationships?" Nick asked me. "How they are all whirlwind, rule defying romances?"

"I suppose."

"Magic is strong in this manor," he explained, though it didn't seem like much of an explanation. "Magic is strong in this family. I know you're too young to know this family's reputation, but Mikaela comes from a long line of troublemakers. This, all of this, is normal for them."

"Then I wish I had been warned ahead of time," I sighed. "Thank you, Nick. Do you have any idea when we can find them again?"

"No, sorry." Nick shaped the rug beneath his feet into a green shag and when I didn't say anything, vanished. Corryn floated through the wall.

"I want to go back to Donlin," he told me. "It's not chaotic there. I know I complained about it being boring before, but I take it all back. Boring isn't so stressful."

"What could possibly be exciting to a ghost?" I asked. "Your life was so interesting, trying to kill my wife, destroying governments, ripping apart families."

"That was over twenty years ago," Corryn complained. "It's hardly my fault your son summoned me. But aren't you glad he did? I taught him control. He would have been eaten by now if I hadn't."

"And only time will tell if that is a good thing," I said, trying not to smile. "Now Corryn, I'm trying to relax and having a ghost pace in front of me isn't relaxing. You can just float to Donlin if you're really done with all the excitement."

"I'm afraid of what Lancelot might do," the ghost admitted. "I know he's too tired for anything now, but someone came up with the twin's pranks. I don't know if it was Arthur or Lancelot, but they are both quite capable. I'm concerned that he'll run off, same as his brother."

"He's twenty, he can make decisions for himself," I pointed out. "And I hope he spends this time learning about himself. I think it would be wonderful to be able to tell those two apart."

"Likewise," Corryn shifted from foot to foot and yawned. "I'm almost tired. I think I'm going to head to bed. It's been too long of a day for my taste."

"Flitting from one end of the country to the other? Hunting down people who have no intention on giving up their location? It's not fun," I told him. "But it's my job. I'm incredibly surprised that Juliet let this go."

"She didn't have much choice," Corryn said. "We couldn't find them. But we don't have any real reason to arrest either of them. They are consenting adults; they can do what they want."

He yawned. "I'm going to bed. Lancelot and Dinadan are downstairs making ice cream, if you want any."

"I'm quite fine, thanks."

But as soon as Corryn faded into the wall, the door opened. It was Mikaela, who looked about as tired as I felt.

"I didn't even do anything," she protested, when I pulled her into my lap. She did, however rest her head on my shoulder. "I shouldn't be tired at all."

"You're worried about Arthur, it's understandable," I pointed out.

"I'm not nearly as worried about him as I am about Lancelot," she replied. "He's in shock now, but when that wears off and his twin is still gone, I don't know what he'll do."

"He'll think of something," I told her. "Don't worry about them."

She laughed, snuggling close to me, despite the small armchair. "Whom should I worry about then?"