Chapter 52: Chapter 51: Reunited
"What do you mean, joining my faction? I’m not stupid enough to think you came to that decision on your own, so why?" Carl asked, concerned about the risk of ulterior motives.
"Simple, you just painted a target on my kinds backs and I’d rather them be out of range when the arrows are loosed. On top of that, I have named Klaire my heir and Levi her’s, so if anything should happen to me I would rather know she is ready and able to accept her inheritance."
"What? I know Klaire’s powerful, but I sense a few full banshees here that are much stronger, why would you name a half-banshee your heir?"
"She really hasn’t told you? She isn’t simply a half-banshee, she is my direct descendant, her grandmother is queen of clan Bashe and she was the heir to the clan anyway. Only a direct descendant can sit on the throne and she is the last until you stop letting foxes and training get in the way.... Honestly if every human was a s frigid as you two, they’d have gone extinct."
"I would really rather not talk about that." Carl grumbled with flushed cheeks.
"That is exactly what I mean. We do have something to tell you both though, so we should be off." Faylorna wasted no time, standing and making the table and chairs disappear, leaving Carl and Omedra to fall as Lillim, Kyubi and Faylorna stood in unison.
"Ow! Dad, I don’t think Mum’s family likes me very much."
"Nonsense dear, I haven’t ripped your soul out, that means I do not dislike you. As Klaire so aptly put when she tried taking my head, you cannot love those you do not know, we will see how it goes as we get to know each other." Faylorna chuckled as she helped Omedra up.
They made their way to the exit quickly...
When they neared the portal, Carl could see figures standing in a stone hall beyond and dashed through.
Whilst they were having their chat, back in Castle Bashe Klaire, Danielle and Maeb were discussing the possibility of the Basha clan joining the faction, unaware that Faylorna had intended for that already.
"I don’t think that would be a good idea. We, or rather Faylorna, just started a war. Lydia hasn’t been in touch to let me know, but she did say they were having a meeting with Bahamut and Tiamat. These sudden recruits could be to increase fighting power." Danielle argued.
"I keep telling you Mum, Carl wouldn’t sign anyone on if there was a chance war would break out and he wouldn’t have turned his back on Faylorna when she only done it in retaliation for killing me." Klaire ranted, as she folded her arms and sulked about it.
"I don’t think Carl would be at home still if coming to see you was an option, if he stayed there, there has to be something beyond your telling him not to keeping him away. Lydia not answering my messages is another red flag."
"Lydia’s a busy woman, we don’t really carry slates with us all the time because we have system chat within the facti-"
"Can you two please stop arguing in my throne room! If you must bicker about the boy, we should go to the threshold of Faylorn, with any luck the boy will run through and bring an end to both the argument and my headache." Maeb finally added after she had reached her limit.
They did as Maeb suggested and returned below ground, but when they were there Klaire sank inward. "Do you think he could be in there right now? It’s been days, surely it has to be over soon. I miss my Squidge and my little fox and my husband..." Klaire mumbled, making the other two shake their heads.
"Girl, be angry or depressed, I’m too old for emotional whiplash."
"I choose sad!" Klaire sobbed as she sunk to her knees.
"The girl hasn’t changed at all in eight years. Danielle seriously, were mood swings your idea of the best trait to pass down? Surely I gave you something better for her to inherit."
"Well sorry I’m such a failure as a mother and a daughter!" Danielled sulked as she sank to her knees as well.
"Carl, I’ve never met you, but please come and save me from my own family." Maeb uttered before turning to look at the gate. "Speak of the devil... Or god I guess if he’s answering prayers. Look alive girls, it seems we have company."
The two stood and then a tall figure stepped out, his orange hair almost perfectly invisible against the orange tinge of the portal. His tall frame packed out with well defined muscles sculpted in a way most people don’t bother to, thanks to the system using other methods to grant physical strength.
Dressed in a nano-fibre shirt, rough hoodie and thick protective trousers and finally a pair of black leather sleeves. The boy dashed towards her, but Klaire was filled with both adoration and anger at the sudden appearance and launched herself at him.
As Carl stepped out of the portal, his eyes locked onto Klaire and he started dashing towards her, but before he had a chance to take a second step, she launched herself at him and sent them both reeling back through the portal.
She had him by the collar and was yelling at him about so many different things no one could even keep track, then Faylorna and Lillim shook their heads and each grabbed one of her arms and dragged her off of him as she kicked and screamed for freedom.
"Is Mum always like this?..."
"Only when I’m an idiot, but I guess I’m too much of one to learn my lesson."
"Or just a masochist that doesn’t want to." Kyubi interjected as she followed Lillim, Faylorna and Klaire through the portal.
Carl got to his feet and stepped through the portal once again. "Squidge can you stop hiding and go say hello to Mum before she kills me. Klaire, meet your new daughter Omedra."
A small starlight projectile pierced his leg suddenly and Omedra yelped. "Don’t worry, ouch, this is normal... Go give her a hug."
"Don’t you dare use her as a shield! You’re an idiot." Klaire yelled as she returned Omedra’s hug. "Sorry Sweetie, need to kill Dad real quick."
The casual threat as Carl started weighing options, made Omedra smile. "Mum can you kill him later so I can have two parents for a while?"
"Fine sweetie, now can you hold Squidge a second while I go say hello to the idiot." She said as she scooped the puddles out Squidge into her arms, then tackled Carl to the ground.
As Klaire kissed him Danielle approached and took a picture to send to Lydia, then she cleared her throat. "The girl asked you not to kill him and last I checked he still needs to breathe dear."
"Go away, I earned this."
"So much for frigid Faylorna." Lillim laughed. "However you need to restrain yourselves, we have important matters to discuss and a good chance you’re going to try and kill us. I’d rather deal with it before it ruins dinner."
Klaire stopped and glared at them, only moving reluctantly. "Fine, not sure what could make us try to kill you three though. Short of trying to separate us, but Faylorna already learned that lesson."
"Well we have no intention of separating you two but your children will be placed into the care of god’s when they’re born." Lillim’s words were so jarring that her and Carl didn’t quite believe what they had heard at first.
"Lillim I know you all well enough you wouldn’t go that far for no reason, I also know you wouldn’t suggest something like that without good reason. It’s not happening obviously, but I appreciate whatever concern you have."
"It is happening dear, they take him or he will." Lillim’s words were blunt brutal and so painfully vague for her they left no room for doubt as to who she was referring to."As I said, we have much to discuss..."
Faylorna led the way back through the stone spiralling staircase, her mere presence relegating Maeb to just another Bashe.
As she stepped into the throne room, she approached and stroked Levi who was sleeping coiled in the middle of the room.
"Time to awaken child, we have guests..."
As Levi’s eyes fluttered open, she yawned as she lazily scanned the room. Upon seeing Carl she sprang into action, coiling around everyone and accidentally howling with excitement.
As everyone groaned with the soul piercing cry, she loosened and lowered her head to whisper. "Sorry, it’s hard to control."
"Don’t worry your mum was much worse when she was a kid." Carl chuckled as he stroked her jaw. "Meet your new sister Omedra, when we’re done we’ll show you all what she really looks like."