#sanimir

“And if it winds up that talking isn’t what she has in mind for you?”

“I’ll teleport out before anything happens. I have a special ward right now. Not only does it slow a spell’s effect when it’s directed towards me, but it also lets me know a spell is directed towards me before it gets to me. I’ll have time to get out if she tries to silence me.”

“I don’t trust her.”

“I don’t either. I’ll be careful.” He leaned forward and gave his husband a quick, street-appropriate kiss. “Now go get yourself some lunch. I’ll be upset if you don’t eat because of me.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll have cake after we get back home.”

“You have a class.”

“So? I can eat cake in class. I’m the headmaster. I make the rules.”

Terellion smiled slightly, “I’m still coming in after you if you’re not back out here on time.”

Hethurin sighed, “I’ll make sure I’m out by then. Now go eat.”

He waited until Terellion actually started walking towards the corner where there was a restaurant before turning to face the manor again. He walked up to the door and used the knocker. One of his mother’s servants answered the door. Hethurin didn’t recognize him.

“Can I help you?”

“Hello. I’m Hethurin Fairsong. I have come to visit my mother, Verisna.”

The servant looked him up and down before opening the door more to invite him in. “Please wait here.”

Hethurin stood just inside the door and waited. A couple of minutes later he heard a commotion.

“I can’t believe you just left him in the entry? What were you thinking?”

Hethurin twitched an ear at the sound of his mother’s voice. It still wasn’t too late to teleport away. He seriously considered it until his mother entered the corridor leading away from the entryway.

“Sanimir! How long has it been since your last visit?”

It was too late to teleport now. He allowed her a quick embrace. “Too long, I suppose.”

“I sent you to all those expensive schools and you don’t even write.”

Hethurin’s eyes darted to two more people approaching. One of them was the same servant who had answered the door, and the other was a younger elf. The pool boy. He twitched an ear as his mother released her hug on him. “I’m very busy lately. That’s why I thought to make time to visit you during my lunch hour.”

“Well, come sit with us. We already ate, but we were just about to have tea.” She turned and looked at her pool boy. It was easier to think of him as that instead of as her husband. She was more than twice his age. “Bailas, why don’t you assist Syrel. I don’t want him messing things up again.”

The pool boy nodded and went with the other man.

“The tea room is this way.” She put her hand on his back.

He flinched.

“You’re still jumpy. Some things never change. You seem taller. Have you grown?”

“No, Verisna. I haven’t grown.” He refrained from rolling his eyes. His height was always something she commented on and asked if he had grown more. He hadn’t grown since his early twenties. He certainly hoped he wouldn’t start again. He was already tall enough. He let her guide him to her tea room.

She sat in the chair closest to the door to the room. He took the seat across from her. He noticed a third chair and hoped Bailas wouldn’t be joining them.

As soon as he sat, she spoke again, “You know I’m not stupid. There must be a reason you’re here.”

Hethurin had his response prepared. “Well, Terellion and I have the chance to adopt a set of twins.” He wished it was true.

“This is in addition to the two girls you already have? I don’t know why you adopt. They’re not really yours.”

He wanted to argue heavily with that, but he wasn’t here to fight with her. “Two girls and one boy.”

“Where is the boy from?”

“The orphanage.”

She shook her head.

“Anyway, going from three to five is a big step, I think. I just wanted your advice.”

She eyed him suspiciously as Bailas and Syrel brought in the tea. Bailas set a cup in front of each of them then sat down in the third chair. Her gaze turned to the pool boy. “Bailas, perhaps you would like to take your tea with Syrel in the kitchen?”

Bailas frowned. “I was looking forward to getting to know my step-son.”

“Don’t call me that,” Hethurin said flatly. “I have a father already, and he’s older than me. I don’t need a step one.”

Verisna continued giving him a look.

“Fine. Fine. I’ll go. I’ll stay close.”

They both waited until he left the room.

“I’m sorry about him. He’s a little silly sometimes.”

“You mean immature, like a child.”

She frowned at him. “Oh, yes, children. We were discussing your habit of taking in rejected, poor children.”

Hethurin took a deep breath. It wouldn’t do to argue with her.

“You really do want something, don’t you? You don’t show up here unless you have an agenda, and the fact that you’re putting your opinions aside tells me it’s more than simple advice. Tell me what it is. Is the school in trouble? Do you need money? How much do you need?”

He shook his head as she sipped her tea. “The school isn’t in trouble. I don’t need money. I have my own money. I just really want advice on my growing family.”

“Why haven’t you asked your father? Isn’t he living in the Ghostlands now?”

Hethurin almost smiled at her question. She just made it easy for him to slip in his real purpose of the trip. “I have spoken to him, of course. He’s just a little distracted right now.”

“Distracted?”

“He might be seeing someone. I’m probably not supposed to be telling you about it either.”

“Why shouldn’t you tell me?”

“You know how he likes to keep secrets. I didn’t even find out he was seeing his receptionist until I found out he was sending her flowers.”

She shrugged and sipped her tea. “I still don’t buy that you’re here for parenting advice. I know exactly what you think of my parenting.”

He was surprised by the subject change. She didn’t ask who he was seeing. Did that mean she didn’t care?

He sipped his tea, buying a few more seconds for a reply. He couldn’t very well tell her that he changed his mind about her parenting. She wouldn’t believe that any more than his other excuses. He could just agree with her and act like she reminded him that she was not the person to ask. Then he could leave, but that might leave him locked out the next time he actually needed to talk to her, which he hoped would be never, but he couldn’t be sure he’d be that lucky. Coming up with another reason to be here would be for the best.

“This is good tea,” he said, still stalling for time to think. He took another sip. Why was it so hard to think of something to say?

“Of course it is. I don’t get the gross stuff from the market. This comes from a special order and gets delivered here once a week.”

“Oh, that’s fascinating.” There was something he was supposed to be thinking about.

“I suppose.” She eyed him warily. “So? Are you going to tell me?”

“About what?” He felt mildly alarmed that he had no idea what she was talking about.

“About why you’re here.”

Everything went blurry as he struggled to focus on her face. Something was wrong.

“Sanimir? Are you okay?” his mother asked, sounding alarmed.

Something was very, very wrong. The room seemed to spin. He stood and started to cast a teleport spell back to the Ghostlands. He stopped. No. The Ghostlands was wrong. Ter wasn’t there. Ter was… Where was he? He swayed but caught his balance by grabbing the back of the chair with his hand. He had to remember. The bench outside. Easy. He started to cast again, the words felt fumbled in his mouth. He fell to the ground.

“Sanimir!”