24 Cressia of the year 13004
Kaelen bursts into the study I have claimed as mine. His grin reaches his eyes. Spirits, they're early. I can't wait to meet everyone. Rather, all the cousins I never got to meet due to the war.
My brother and I begin walking to the courtyard. It's not a long walk. It should only take us four minutes less if we walk fast.
I ask who arrived first. It's best to have topics of conversation prepared ahead of time. Knowing who has arrived will help.
Kaelen chuckles. He tells me how a guard knocked on his door after forgetting which one mine was. The guard delivered a note that everyone was to arrive promptly at noon.
At the doors leading to the courtyard, Kaelen and I stop. I glance over his clothes as he inspects mine. We want to look somewhat presentable. It is our family. And I'm to be the next queen of Vanora. I have to adhere to a certain standard of tidyness.
I wave my hand, and the doors open.
In the courtyard, our family is greeting each other. For many, this is the first time it's been safe enough to travel. Let alone meet the newest family members like young Atlas, named after our grandfather. They even share a birth date. Only separated by one thousand and seventy-six years.
Our family is large. When your grandparents have seven children, and they, in turn, have children, it's to be expected. Together, there are twenty-eight, including Korbin's wife and child. That's excluding second cousins, great aunts and uncles.
Father, Mother and Liron embrace Uncle Hadriel. His wife, Aunt Kyra and our cousins Breccan and Kingsley stand to the side, talking with Uncle Aveyard and Aunt Evadane.
Uncle Aveyard's children, Rowan and Rylan, hold their brother Atlas and sister Amasea while they talk with Sharrn and Neirin. Ambrose and Rhea hold onto Aunt Evadane's skirt and play peek-a-boo.
I've never met Uncle Aveyard's youngest children in person, but they all seem nice. The same can be said for Uncle Hadriel's children. Breccan and Kingsley have not met Arya or Shango, Uncle Ignatius' children.
Kaelen and I, on the other hand, got to meet everyone in person once. Save for Zorian, Korbin's child with Tressa. That was when we were eleven. It was interesting. However, most of our cousins were not a thought in Kaladrielion or were infants.
Josslyn and her husband Zarrak talk with Rylan. Uncle Ignatius has his arms around Father while Aunt Adriel chats with Mother.
Ambrose and Rhea run over to Uncle Aveyard. They leap and hang from his arms. Their father grins as he shows off his strength even though his middle two children can't weigh more than seventy pounds soaking wet.
"EVE! Kael!" Liron yells.
My younger brother runs at me and Kaelen. Liron leaps, and I just manage to catch him before he hits the ground. Spirits, he's my height. I mutter a hello into his shoulder.
Our cousins crowd Kaelen and me. Thankfully, our Uncles and Aunts stand back. Our cousins bombard us with questions. Spirits and souls.
"We will tell you about our journeys at dinner." Kaelen and I tell them.
Behind us, Uncle Aveyard picks up his two eldest children, even though Rowan is sixteen and Rylan is thirteen. All the while, his middle children hold onto their father's arms.
Laughter comes from everyone. Rylan sports a small smile, and Rowan flat-out struggles. "Father!"
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27 Cressia of the year 13004
YOU ARE READING
The Mage Wars
FantasyBook One (Royals of Vanora) 3000 years after the reign of the Spirit King a male from the past emerges. One so cunning and deceptive one won't know what to make of him. Not until it's too late. In the wee hours of the night, he unfurled his plans, e...
