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Chapter 161: Lieutenant Commander Cecil

Geoff enjoyed watching Gwen duke it out with Micah through their toys. He never realised how strong she had been getting. Maybe he could have a duel with her once in awhile -- you know, for practice. He'd have to hold back a lot based on how thoroughly Micah began kicking her butt when they stopped taking turns. His dragon could just step on Bear and flatten it. Maybe his pup could help him come up with some rules to play by...

Micah's Goomba Dragoon held out its regenerated spear and those green lights zapped Gwen's critters. Geoff nearly ran toward her when she dropped to her knees, but when she looked up with much darker eyes, he paused. He forgot about her altogether when Faelen suddenly whirled and stared up to some spot in the fog. Geoff slid his right hindpaw back, and took a fighting stance. Then, his nose picked up a foreign scent, and one he didn't like. It was Agent Arrie's.

Agent Arrie, the stern Doberman, stood beside a much shorter individual. Geoff expected it to be another 'Mage In Black,' but this guy was cut from a different cloth. First off, he was a Flying Fox -- with black fur -- and the standard suit wouldn't fit the same way, due to the wings. Second, he wore a very militaristic uniform, though with the same dark glasses. Did the Mages have a military? Anyway, the Bat was fairly short, a few centimetres shorter than Jay or Nathanial, and his wings were kept folded up, mostly, under a cape-like attachment to his coat. Only the stubby fingers and the knob of the main wing-joint poked out from under the black cloth -- Geoff bet Bats wished they had a pair of arms and proper paws along with their wings rather than just wings that had to try to function like arms.

Grandda Luke held his paw up. Three stone walls rose, too: one in front of each pup, and one between the toys -- the kids could still see all of the adults around the edges of the short walls. "Hold on, pups." He glowered at the Mages. "What business do you have here, Agent? You weren't invited." The leafy dome around Micah regressed into three small bushes, though the pup remained sitting, and Gwen stood up straight. All the petals and other active magics faded away entirely. Geoff noticed Gwen's eyes lightened back up into their normal pale pink quartz.

The Bat stepped around Arrie. He didn't even bother to doff his hat when he spoke to the alpha. "We saw that a Spirit was in combat with a member of the Society, on a Mage's property. We don't need an invitation to ensure our citizens are safe."

Geoff felt a sudden warm draft against his back, and he could smell the inside of the Markses' basement on the drier air.

Nathanial spoke out from behind Geoff. He still sounded very pissed. "How proactive. It's nice to see you stepping up when my brother is perfectly safe, unlike all those very many times we could've used your help. And who the hells are you, anyway?" Nathanial slid around Geoff and held his paw out to Granny Neasa. "Ma'am."

Granny Neasa hesitated before taking it, but she rose smoothly. "Thank you."

Arrie bristled and growled over top of the Spirit's thanks, "Don't take that tone, Nathanial. Ella and Hugh can't cover for you, this time."

Geoff felt a faint quiver in the shadows. It wasn't enough to be felt physically in the air, but Nathanial's magic was building up uncontrolled. Granny wobbled slightly; there must be a lot of magic flooding the area. He didn't dare suppress his powers to help cut down on the pressure, so Geoff stood beside her and put a paw on her far shoulder to unobtrusively hold her steady.

Geoff's pup's voice held an obvious threat. "I don't need someone to cover for me when a stranger is trespassing on my property." He addressed said stranger. "Now, state your name and purpose or get the hells out of here. Or, preferably, do both."

Geoff felt this might be pushing it, so he spoke up. "Nathanial--"

Da said the same thing at the same time, so Geoff stopped to let him continue. "--Let me, please."

Grandda Luke protested. "No, no, I was enjoying it. Let him keep talking, or let me take over."

Da sighed. "No." He tipped his head to the stranger. "Sorry, you came at a bad time. Nathanial had some pressing matters to attend to and wants to get back to them. Garret is still occupied by those concerns, and probably won't be available. My name is--"

The mysterious stranger smiled toothily. "Conor McDougal. I know. I know who all -- or almost all -- of you are." He looked around again. "Hmm, the one I don't know must have snuck away." Geoff kept his head still, but tried that sense-y thing Nathanial and Faelen had talked about; he could tell everyone was here, or their shadows were, anyway. Either Liam or Ciaran must be the 'missing' person, and he bet this guy knew 'Healer Smith.' Finally, the guy made some sort of introductory gesture; he touched the brim of his hat -- it looked like a short brimmed military hat, one that was part of a dress uniform -- with his thumb and main finger. Bats only had three usable digits, Geoff noticed. "Lieutenant Commander Cecil of Atlantic Sector Command. Pleased to meet you." His expression said otherwise. "Now, what is going on? First, this fog is centred on the Markses' property, so it's obviously magical."

Nathanial interrupted him. "Use your glasses; there's no magic in the fog. That's a spurious claim."

The muscles in Cecil's face hardened more. "It isn't if I say it isn't, pup. Second, there are too many Spirits here without a licence."

"They're my guests, and I don't need permission to have guests. Fuck off with your--"

Da cut Nathanial off. "Nathanial."

Grandda growled. "Fuck off with your--"

"Da!"

Granny Neasa finished it. "Licences. You can't tell me I'm not allowed to visit my son and grandson."

'Gods, is everyone but Da and me trying to provoke a fight?'

Liam almost purred, "That is true. There is nothing in Society Law pertaining to restrictions on visits, transnational or national. The only issues arise if there is potential to expose the magical nature of the traveller." So much for hoping Liam would side with the peacekeepers.

The Bat waved his wing dismissively. "I'm not going to waste my time talking with a Fur. Go away."

Geoff stiffened up, but Faelen whispered in his ear. "Quiet. I don't think they know we're here. Keep it that way. I've hidden my phone as best I can while leaving the camera lens uncovered, and I'm trying to record this... just in case." Ciaran's shadow seemed to have moved, but Geoff had a hard time picking him out. The assassin was now standing right behind the Lieutenant, probably with a knife or something in paw.

Liam didn't so much as bat an eye. "Ah. I will be be most pleased to repeat that should the Society request my help, again."

"We don't need to ask. We can tell." Ouch, buddy. Wrong thing to say.

Granny Neasa looked very faint when everyone around her flared up and began yelling, everything from protests to rants; even Arrie became a bit unsteady. Oddly, it was Liam that tried to keep control of the situation. "Silence!" And that wasn't directed at Cecil. "He is intentionally attempting to provoke us." The small Rottie stared at the Bat. "For reasons I cannot fathom. Unless...he seeks to make Hugh's life even more difficult. Yet, why?" Faelen shifted at Geoff's shoulder; Faelen saw something that probably confirmed Liam's guess. "It would explain why Arrie is here rather than any other agent, despite Director Hugh issuing an order saying she was to avoid contact with Nathanial or me. A high ranking official such as you would also be required to have some measure of diplomatic training, and you appear to be using that training to find the most inflammatory things to say."

Da nodded. "I'd have to agree with you, Liam."

Grandda Luke turned his back to the agents. "So, what? We just ignore the shitters? Works for me." He flipped the bowman's salute over his shoulder. "Sod off."

Commander Cecil almost looked amused. He'd even waited for Liam, Da, and Grandda Luke to talk. "Alpha McDougal, I'll be delighted to deliver your message to the council."

"Then tell them how you're attempting to provoke a fight in the middle of an already tense diplomatic situation, arsehole. I haven't forgotten, and never will forget, how you, Lieutenant Commander, fucked up at the airport. You are responsible for the safety of all magic folk flying through your airspace, and you let the Knights almost shoot down a plane carrying Spirit chiefs to a national summit. Now, if you want to face me, bring it. The alpha of the Cork Clan doesn't back down from a fight."

Liam's posture changed, like he favoured one of his legs, and he -- or Lowell -- drily remarked, "Aye, lad, the alpha doesn't, not when the clan's honour is being insulted, but the alpha can't be a fool, either. Only act if blood is demanded, until then there are ways of answering insults. Even then, I can guarantee he'd die before he could react."

The Bat appeared ready to cast some spells when he suddenly froze. Ciaran quietly warned, "I wouldn't cast a spell right now, if I were you. That'd be a hostile act, and it could cause some...misunderstandings." Geoff could clearly see Ciaran standing behind the Commander Cecil with one paw on his shoulder. He'd seen enough movies to know Ciaran had a knife or something poking his foe in the back. Dirk's bracers had grown some blades that extended beyond his fists just like they did at the airport.

Micah bounced up and stomped a hindpaw. "Stop!" Everyone froze. Geoff couldn't move even when he tried. The Changeling began walking towards the commander. "Just stop this, okay? Gwen and I were only playing Pokemon, and I challenged her. She wasn't attacking me." Geoff was pretty sure that it was Gwen who challenged Micah, but it didn't really matter. Geoff still wasn't able to so much as sneeze, so maybe Micah's command didn't go over the walls?

Gwen started to plod in the same direction. "Yeah, but I wanted to challenge him, so he wasn't bullying me, either. We were having fun. And why can't we visit my dad or brothers? They were allowed to move here, so why is a visit so wrong? And we came here before with no trouble. A bunch of agents knew about it, too." Brothers? Would it be Nathanial or Faelen that made it plural... or maybe both?

Micah nodded emphatically. "Yeah, yeah! You're just being a meany!" The Changeling glanced back at Geoff, or maybe Granny Neasa, for a second. "Trying to split up families, people who love each other, is just mean. No one is being hurt. It's kinda the opposite; love makes people stronger and less willing to cause trouble if they're left alone. You are the one at fault here."

Da slowly turned his head to left, breaking free of Micah's compulsion. "Micah, please let the Spirits go and take them inside. You're right, this is a misunderstanding, and I'd like to smooth it over with Commander Cecil before anyone escalates the situation any further."

Grandda Luke shuddered, not in any fearful way, but more of a surge of adrenaline. "You make it sound like we're at fault here, Conor. This arsehole started it."

"Da, please. This was just a family visit, and not something to begin feuding over. I'm sure a calm, rational, discussion will resolve the situation. Take Gwen, Mom..." Conor seemed to realise the Mages didn't know Geoff was here, either. "...and Avery inside. Please."

Liam put his paw on Nathanial's shoulder. Geoff hadn't seen him shake off Micah's magic, but then again... Liam; Geoff would've shrugged if he could move. "Nathanial. Please calm down and listen to Conor. I doubt that the commander came here for rational reasons, but do not involve yourself or your family." Faelen twitched behind Geoff. Did he see something or did he just get loose now? If he saw something, did that mean Cecil was here specifically for Nathanial and not the Spirits? Geoff saw some of the tension leave Nathanial. Liam nodded toward Micah, and then Ciaran. "Enough." Geoff felt the stiffness leave him; he could move again.

Grandda Luke growled. "A fight isn't currently in the clan's interests, so I'll leave this to you, Conor." He suppressed his powers. "Let's go."

Geoff took his paw off Granny Neasa's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "They don't know I'm here. I'll keep watch in case Da needs help." Granny Neasa didn't react other than flicking her ear to acknowledge him and followed Grandda alongside Ciaran.

Nathanial hesitated. "I'll be watching." He held a paw out to MIcah. "Come on." Micah bounced over following Nathanial through a portal into the basement. It stayed open long enough for Mom and Gwen to go through, too.

As soon as it closed, the Mages bristled. Commander Cecil spat. "How dare that halfbreed use magic on me! Arres--"

Da raised a paw and called out, "Wait! He used it on us, too, but only to stop a fight. Besides, agents routinely use magic on people without permission." The Bat's eyes were filled with murder, but he said nothing.

Arrie growled, "But agents are here to keep the..." She trailed off realising she'd played right into Da's paws.

"Peace? Yes, just like Micah did. Now, please, what is the issue? As you've heard, Gwen and Micah weren't fighting; they were having a duel through some constructs they made. Neither was in danger. Nathanial did make the fog, but in a way that looks entirely natural. There are two lakes here that haven't frozen, and a lot of marshy ground. No one would think twice about it." Da nodded to Liam, who had stayed put when everyone else left. "As Healer Smith said, there are no laws preventing us from visiting family."

The commander raised his nose and turned his head away. "I have no time to waste with chattel or barbarians. Arrie, let's go." The two Mages teleported away.

Liam held his paw up for silence and glanced about for a few seconds. "They have left. Correct, Nathanial?" A slight pause and then Liam continued. "Save that video, Faelen. We may need to send your recording to Doull. This was an egregious act and one the council may need to be made aware of."

Faelen nodded and suppressed his powers. "It's a large file, so I'll need a data cable. Don't you think I should send it now, though? I don't understand anything behind what that Cecil guy was about. He was obviously looking to make trouble for Agent Hugh, but he's also Hugh's boss. Why would he need to do something like this to attack someone he has power over? When you told Nathanial not to involve himself, Cecil's scent changed a bit, too. I think part of his reason, just part, for their being here involved him or Micah. He couldn't move, so there was no body language to read, and scent really doesn't give too many clues on its own."

Liam sighed. "I cannot imagine everyone is pleased to have Nathanial running around free. Hugh has already expressed many concerns over his lack of control and great -- if unpredictable -- power. If Hugh is protecting Nathanial with the backing of Councilor emeritus Doull, it may be difficult for Cecil to move against him. There is also the matter of a Changeling and the use 'it' would have in crafting potent magical items, artefacts, and spells. Said Changeling is untouchable as long as Nathanial is free. I do not doubt the entire Hidden World is aware of the chaos that would result should Micah disappear. In either case, Hugh may be an obstruction to dealing with Nathanial."

Dirk finally stepped out of the background to speak. "I have trouble understanding how a retired councillor could pose much problem on his own. He must still have many friends on the current council."

Liam nodded. "It sounds as if he is well known on the Canadian and global councils for his knowledge in magical research." Liam sighed. "It appears as if I must not let Hugh stew overlong. I had hoped to sideline him for some time, but now I should assist his return to active duty posthaste."

Geoff wondered out loud, "Why did they give up so easily? Would the wards around the basement be enough to make them pause? From the sounds of it, they're as powerful as money can buy, so it'd make some sense. I guess if they couldn't teleport in, Nathanial would have a chance of sending Micah anywhere he wanted before they could even open the door." Which implied Micah was the target.

Granny Neasa walked out of the fog with Grandda Luke and Ciaran. "That was fast. I didn't think your tongue would work quicker than Luke's fist, Conor." Geoff pushed an unwanted image out of his mind. Gross.

Da grumbled a bit sounding like his father. "They just left after Nathanial did. No explanation or anything."

Grandda Luke copied Da's grumbles. "Bastards. I was enjoying that match, too. I should've punched them as soon as they showed up."

Granny Neasa actually didn't chide Grandda Luke over his threats of violence. "If Micah is in trouble, make sure the Markses know he'd be safe in our clan. He's a Changeling, not a Mage, and there's no way we'd leave such a sweet child in danger."

Grandda Luke openly stared at her. "Really? In the clan lands? You said that?"

She sniffed. "Of course. He's half-Fey and we're on good terms with them. He's also Gwen's friend. The others can fend for themselves." Ah. So Granny wasn't going soft or opening up to Geoff's pup.

A portal opened letting Gwen, Mom, and the Markses through. Nathanial still steamed and Nick kept well away from him with a sulky, resentful expression. Geoff wondered if he'd ever looked so stupid. Faelen met his eyes and nodded. 'Damn it! Did Faelen actually guess what I was thinking again, or was he wrong for once?'

Faelen leant over and whispered, "I did, and you often looked like that. Still do." The last was in a teasing tone.

'Fuck it all!' Geoff whispered back, "Fecking ponce." Faelen chuckled.

Granny Neasa smiled warmly at Gwen. "You did very well, Gwen, without needing the help of a Mage to discover your talents. Why don't you try practicing with some Spirits back home tomorrow?"

Gwen shrugged. "Meh. Micah taught me a lot last duel, more than anyone has ever done before. Today was fun, too. I like it here. It's getting cold, though."

Granny Neasa's smile faltered; she probably didn't like the idea of Gwen moving to Nova Scotia... Geoff wasn't sure if he did, either. He missed his mother, but he also liked the feeling of freedom he had and he wasn't sure it would last if more people from the clan were around.

Micah, however, beamed brightly. "Yeah, yeah! It gets sooo cold, but it snows and you can do all sorts of fun stuff with snow. And now that I has more magic --"

Mom and Nathanial cut in, "'Have' more magic."

Micah snorted as he held laughter in. "Have more magic, I can cast spells to keep warm! I can do lots of magic in winter! Moon magic is so pretty!" He twirled around and sang a few bars of wordless music. The fog sparkled as tiny little snowflakes floated toward Miah and shone with slowly shifting coloured lights. The snowflakes then began chiming ever so quietly and formed a pastel pattern within the dim bank much like the pictures of the aurora borealis Geoff had seen. It was a pity it was daytime and the sun filtering through the mist washed out the colours somewhat. It'd be spectacular at night.

Gwen softly exhaled, "Oooh..." She looked entranced.

Granny Neasa seemed to like the show, too, but she shook her head. "Learning in combat is one thing, but we need to see if the O'Conall got anything worthwhile from flouting our customs."

Liam arched an eyebrow. "Faelen has a name, O'Fihelly, one he was born with and did not need to marry to get."

She sniped back, "Like a certain non-Spirit did a century ago?"

Liam smiled; it was a rather unfriendly looking expression, however. "Indeed, and that non-Spirit did not look down on those bearing less prestigious names. I believe it is one's actions that are of worth; how one treats others, for example."

Da sounded annoyed. "By the goddess Eirine, we just staved off a conflict with the Society and you're fighting each other? Is Strife camped out here somewhere?"

Liam frowned. "Lady Peace is someone safe to invoke, but please avoid saying their names out of habit. No, I am quite certain the goddess of strife is not here, though I cannot state that as a guarantee."

Geoff shook his head. "I agree with Da; it sounds like you're getting along with my grandmother as well as you do with Nathanial's"

Liam turned his best basilisk stare on Geoff. "I would rather kayak around Ireland alone with Neasa than spend a single afternoon with her, thank you kindly."

Granny Neasa blinked a few times in surprise and flicked her ears back flat against her head. "Oh... uh, thanks? Maybe? I don't know who that comment says more about, honestly."

"Neither do I." Liam proceeded to ignore Granny Neasa. "Now, Nathanial, what is this training or demonstration of training you spoke of? I wish to go to our kung fu class, soon, preferably before the Society returns."

Granny Neasa pointedly avoided looking at Liam, in return. "Yes. I know there's no way a Mist Spirit's powers can be useful in the role of a bodyguard, so let's get this training farce over with."

Geoff was getting seriously annoyed with Granny Neasa, and he was about to join in the argument when he suddenly felt all of his energy drain from his body coinciding with a nimbus of light surrounding him. He grunted and nearly collapsed. Nathanial's left paw glowed. He raised his voice to be heard over the sounds of alarm. "Faelen. Geoff has been attacked by the Society. He's too weak to fight back and you need to escort him to the forest safely." The glow around Nathanial's paw moved toward Geoff. "If he gets hit by three of these attacks, Geoff will be teleported away, and you lose. This is the lowest level, so you merely need to hit the lights to stop them. Higher levels will, of course, have more rules and a large variety of attacks including fire, electricity, physical, and so on." He paused. "Oh, and you can't carry him; he has to make his own way to the gate."

Granny Neasa growled at Nathanial. "You're testing Faelen, not Geoff. You have no right to drag him in like this!"

Nathanial shrugged. He looked indifferent, but his eyes blazed; he was still pissed off over everything. "Faelen's job is to protect Geoff, so I'm training his powers and how they relate to his job. This is also training for Geoff. He needs to be able to trust Faelen, and instinctively know how Faelen will react. Lastly, I want to make sure Faelen is motivated. He never approached me to make fog for him to train in, and this is to hammer home my point."

The light flared brighter and zipped at Geoff's head. Geoff squawked as he tried to leap aside, but he merely fell over. 'Gods, isn't Nathanial overdoing it a little?'

Faelen shifted through the fog to appear between Nathanial and Geoff. He straight-punched the light and it turned red then faded out. Faelen opened his fist, and waved his fingers at Nathanial. "Bring it."

Geoff always thought that looked so cheesy in movies, but seeing Faelen standing before him, so strong and confident, changed his mind. It was kind of awe inspiring. The muscular figure, half invisible in the fog, ready to fight to protect him. Geoff felt his ears start to burn. He struggled to get his hindpaws under him, but even simple motions took effort. What the hells did Nathanial do to him?

Faelen glanced back. "I'd say it's to make sure you don't interfere."

Gwen nodded. "Yeah, it's an escort mission. You have to move slowly, you can't defend yourself, and to make things simpler for Faelen, you shouldn't make sudden moves. He also can't help you move quicker." Weren't games that had escort missions a bit... mature for Gwen? Like super violent?

"And how is this training for me?" Oh, right, Nathanial already said. Still, couldn't he have just told me to keep it slow?

Faelen half-turned to hold out a paw for Geoff. As Geoff reached out for it, Nathanial attacked. "Trust him." Faelen had to leap around Geoff to catch the six spheres of light flying toward the prone Wolf from several different directions. "When you don't -- and fall over -- you make it that much more difficult for the both of you. Control yourself, your reactions, and you can control the situation."

Almost everyone present just stopped for a second and stared at Nathanial in disbelief. It was Nick you voiced what they were all thinking, "That's a bit rich coming from you."

Geoff finally managed to get his hindpaws under him. Gods, this might be training for his muscles, too; it already felt more exhausting than a workout or kung fu. He'd be sore in the morning if he couldn't soak in the darkness for a couple hours. It felt like he had a barbell with over one hundred-fifty kilograms on his shoulders as he stood up. Shit, maybe two hundred.

Dirk arched an eyebrow as Geoff struggled upright. "Uh, Nathanial... I think you may have overdone it. I've seen Geoff do squats with one hundred seventy-five kilos more easily than this."

Nathanial nodded. "So have I; that's why I zapped him. Slow. Methodical. Relying on Faelen. No dodging, no sudden moves, and no running away." Come on, when was the last time he freaked out over something and reacted like that?

Da still seemed steamed about Geoff's sudden trip to the Plane of Darkness to look for Nathanial a while back. "Maybe you should add some more weight, then."

Granny Neasa watched Faelen closely. "Hmph, that looks too simple. I thought you had trained him. This is no different than that game he's played with Geoff for the last decade."

Grandda Luke harrumphed. "This is very different than football, but step it up a bit for her, pups. Nick, throw some fire in the mix. Gwen, some rocks. Micah, take over for Nathanial so he can switch to actual light."

Nathanial sighed. "That's jumping too many levels, but for demonstration purposes, we can make an exception. Just keep it slow guys, and Nick, put a Fire Ward spell on Geoff before you start." Nathanial backed up a few paces. "Spread out, too."

Geoff slogged toward the gate; every step felt agonizingly slow and fucking difficult. His hindpaws were heavy and that made it so much harder to keep his balance. It was work to move his tail to help, it was work to use his arms, hells, he had trouble flicking his ears around to try to keep track of what Faelen was doing. Trust him? Geoff had no fucking choice! He couldn't see anything that wasn't right in front of him! He wished he could at least see if Granny Neasa was the slightest bit impressed... the sounds of rocks thudding to the ground, fire sizzling out, and the whoosh of Faelen punching at lights seemed impressive to him.

Then, a fireball shot towards Geoff's face. He couldn't help but wince as it got closer without shrinking -- Faelen was kept busy with something behind him -- and had to chant, 'Trust him,' in his mind to keep still. Just before it hit, Faelen's paw lashed out from the fog and grabbed the large sphere. Geoff instantly smelt burnt fur and flesh. "Faelen!"

Nick immediately began babbling an incoherent apology... apparently the ward on Geoff would've made that feel cooler than a fur drier on low, while it was still dangerous to anyone else.

Granny Neasa sniffed. "Oh, stop your caterwauling. That's his job. Better the O'Conall's death than the Dark Elemental's discomfort."

Geoff immediately saw red. 'Oh, that's it!' The light around him began cracking audibly as a surge of dark energy poured into Geoff from somewhere and spilt out in anti-lightning bolts... or something. He whirled around. "Sod off, Granny!" He strode through the remnants of the shattered ward to her, barely registering Nathanial's smile. "He's my best mate, my brother, and I don't give a flying fuck what you useless tossers have decreed our lives should be! We'll choose our own paths, thank you very much!" He turned toward the house and stomped off. "Nathanial, send the bitch home and let's go."

Granny Neasa hissed at him, "Don't you talk to me like that, Geoff!" Geoff didn't answer or look back.

Mom's voice dripped with acid. "You deserved that, Neasa, and more. Faelen isn't some pawn, he's a very dear family member. I'm surprised Dirk didn't deck you for what you said."

"I'm still debating it, Avery."

"Luke, talk some sense into these people!"

Grandda Luke sounded like he wasn't paying attention, but Geoff knew he'd heard every word. "Oh, what's that, dear? I was thanking our hosts for their hospitality. Have you got your stuff ready? It's time to go." Grandda could be such a dick, but this time it was rather funny. He was still digging that knife in from yesterday when he'd pointed out how she was violating the rules of hospitality.

Gwen sighed. "Granny, that was very mean. You should apologise right away, to Faelen and to Geoff. We grew up with Faelen; how could we not love him? He's always very nice, he pays attention to me -- actually listening to what I say, unlike most people -- and he tries to do what's right. He's a perfect older brother. Can you say you've cared for me as well as he has?"

'What does that say about me?' Geoff wondered. 'I... guess I'm not a good brother. She's... right. Jeez, that doesn't make me feel all that good about myself. It's not like we have anything in common, though. She'd be bored with anything I'm interested in, just the same way I don't like anything she does for fun. But... still...' Geoff's steps faltered.

Micah sounded very cross, too. "From the time you've stepped into our basement you've been criticizing everyone and everything. From Nats, to Faelen, to Luke and more. How can you live while hating the whole world? You gots to find joy wherever you are, and with the littlest things to the biggest. It's all in how you look at it. Faelen isn't an elemental but he's still a really great person. Luke can be a meany, and doesn't treat people around him all that well, but at least he doesn't attack them like you do." Glancing back, Geoff saw Grandda Luke suppress a wince. "What did Faelen do to deserve you? Why hate Nats just because Geoff and him love each other?" Micah stomped his hindpaw. "Geoff saved Nats from a terrible place, and it sounds like Nats has done much the same for Geoff. The way people like you treat Geoff, like some thing and not a person, was crushing him." Micah crossed his arms and turned his back to Granny Neasa. "You need to go and look over your life. Decide if you really want to be such a bad person, and how to best fix it, or you'll end up like some villain in a story book. Villains never get the happy endings."

Gwen nodded emphatically. "That's right." She copied Micah's stance, glancing over a few times to make sure she had it right. Both pups had their arms crossed, backs to Granny, and noses in the air. Even their hackles were raised.

Granny Neasa's eyes were narrowed. "You're too young to understand duty, and the roles people are born into. Geoff's fate was decided when he was born, and so was Faelen's. To treat them differently than that is to do them a disservice and to mock the very Fates. You'll see the truth in time."

Micah's voice was chilly. "I have; it's you that can't see the truth in their natures. We see lots more than Spirits or Mages can." What did Micah mean by that?

Liam sounded perfectly calm. "The Fey understand a great many things not so obvious to others, Neasa, and I have lived as many times longer than you than you to Micah. I have also paid the price of duty far more dearly than you have. I agree with the pups. I care not to lecture at this time, however." He tipped his head to Grandda Luke. "I shall see you again before long. Fare you well." He nodded to Avery and Gwen. "Till next we meet." Last, he bowed to Ciaran. "My pupil."

Ciaran hesitated causing Liam's ears to twitch in confusion. Ciaran grabbed Liam in a hug, taking the Ancient One by surprise. "Da."

It was Liam's turn to hesitate. "My son." The hug was returned strongly. The radiant smile on Nathanial's face made Geoff wonder if something very important just happened.