The talk

Before any conversation could begin, Uncle Kal had servants bring a small table, a pitcher of water, and glasses. Considering how much beer the big man had imbibed, Vel was kind of impressed that he wasn’t even slightly tipsy. He supposed Kal knew exactly when to stop to remain clear-headed.

Everyone waited till they were sure the servants were well out of earshot, the trio sitting in silence with only the crackling of the fire making any sound.

Kalran was first to break that silence. Which was only proper as far as noble conventions went, but Vel doubted his uncle gave a damn about that.

“I realize the two of you have things you wish to speak to me about, but if you do not mind, there’s something I’d like to address first.”

Kal was unusually serious. Perhaps that wasn’t the right word, it wasn’t like he was never serious, but there was a grave undertone that was rarely present. Vel and his mother both nodded for him to go on.

“By now you both know that Fi holds the rank of admiral in the Royal Imperial Navy, but neither of you knows why that office has brought her here.”

It wasn’t a question, but both Lady Rienne and Vel confirmed it even so.

“She’s here with a squadron of three ships, fast and ocean-worthy frigates. I’ve inspected them, and they are well made.”

Three frigates would usually be too small a command for an admiral. In the fleet of Western Aluv such a command would at most be held by a counter admiral, more likely a commodore. Confusingly though, not all the fleets had equal ranking systems, so that might play a part. More likely though, this was a very prestigious command by the standards of the Royal Imperial Navy. After all they’d only recently begun construction of ocean-going ships at all. Three such vessels of a decent size may well be a coveted command among its officers. Fionne’s experience captaining such ships in the Western Aluv navy probably played a part in her being given said position.

“Her mission here is to hunt down a band of pirates.”

Vel was about to say something, but his uncle anticipated it and motioned for him to stay silent

“I know, Velas, I know. That is the kind of thing our own navy would usually handle. This band has been travelling around the coast of the empire, though, which makes things difficult. The fleets of one province cannot simply sail into the waters of another. A squadron flying the flag of the empress herself though can sail where it pleases, denying the pirates that particular tactic.”

That made sense, but Vel got the sense there was more to it. He raised one of his eyebrows and his uncle sighed before continuing.

“You’re right, that’s not the full story.”

The big man ran a hand through his massive mane of red hair, and some rarely seen discomfort was apparent in his demeanor.

“Our own efforts to deal with these pirates have been… Lacking. I honestly haven’t done anything beyond what I absolutely had to. The measures I did take amount to little more than scouting missions.”

That surprised Vel, his uncle was not one for half measures. As a matter of fact, one of the mottos Vel tried to live by came from Kal. If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right. It was something he’d heard from both his uncle and his mother often, but his mother also attributed its origin to her older brother.

“There are reasons why of course, but I would prefer to not get into them right now. I ask you both to trust me and believe me when I say that I had my reasons.”

Vel could tell that Kal took it as given that they would indeed trust him on this, and of course they both did.

“Now though, my hand is being ****. In addition to those three ships of hers, Fi brought an official imperial order, signed and stamped by the empress’ own hand. It says that in addition to harboring and supplying Fi’s ships, I am also ordered to provide three ships of my own of comparable size and crew complement for the mission.”

That was certainly not beyond what the empress could reasonably demand, far from it. And it made some sense. Kal had access to far more ocean worthy warships than the Royal Imperial did, and his crews and captains were likely to be more experienced on the open ocean. They’d also know these waters better, and their knowledge would no doubt come in very handy. There was one obvious question though.

“Will whoever you assign to lead those three ships be placed under Aunt Fionne’s command?”

Kal seemed pleased that Vel had arrived at the question himself, and an ever so slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“Yes, indeed. Whoever I choose will be second in command though, the order assures me.”

That of course meant that even had he wanted to, Kal couldn’t command them himself. It would be beyond improper for him to place himself under Fionne’s command. But he was likely far too busy as exarch anyway. He’d need to assign someone that showed he took this seriously though, perhaps a seasoned officer of reasonable rank. If only Kal had a son, that would have been the perfect choice.

“I’d like you to take command of my ships, Velas.”

That was, quite frankly, a ridiculous suggestion. Vel had no maritime experience whatsoever. He knew the theory, sure, but he’d only ever been aboard docked warships.

Vel couldn’t help but chuckle at the suggestion, but Uncle Kal looked completely serious. Vel turned to his mother, certain she’d find the idea as silly as he did, but she actually looked like she approved. Her expression was thoughtful, but she was slowly nodding. This was crazy.

“I am of course honored, Uncle Kal, but surely you cannot be serious. I have no experience at all commanding warships.”

Lady Rienne cut in before her brother could reply.

“Then this is the perfect opportunity to gain some, Baby. You’ll need it sooner or later, and you’ll have experienced officers under your command.”

If Kalran was surprised by the term of endearment, he showed no sign of it.

“Riri is right, Vel. There will be three experienced captains in charge of the ships, all fully aware of the situation. You won’t need to know the exact workings of a warship, mainly you’ll need sound judgement and the humility to listen to the advice of your officers. I know you possess both of those virtues. I also trust you to keep an eye on Fi, to make sure she doesn’t go overboard. Figuratively of course. And last but not least, you are the closest thing I have to a son. Everyone knows that, and everyone will know what it means when you are given this command.”

Vel leaned back in his chair to think. Once he might have stroked his own beard as he did so, but now he mentally told his mother to do it. Kal did react to the sight of his sister lovingly stroking her son’s beard with the back of her hand, a warm smile on her face as she did so. His eyes widened and his eyebrows shot up, but he said nothing. His sister kept quiet too, both wanting give Vel time to think.

What they said had made sense, he couldn’t deny it. And while the thought of his first voyage on a warship also being his first time commanding, even as a second in command, did intimidate him, he also found the prospect thrilling. It would be an invaluable opportunity to both get to know and prove himself to a fleet he hoped would one day take his side in a war. Lastly, it would give him lots of opportunity to work on Fionne.

That last thought led him to an unpleasant question.

“Your reasoning makes sense, Uncle, but I assume this means I would have to leave my family behind here in Point Conquest.”

Sadly, but not surprisingly, Kal nodded.

“Of course, a warship is hardly a place for people not trained for war. Besides, if you took your mother and all your sisters with you, how would that look to your officers?”

It was Vel’s turn to nod, that made sense, but he was of course **** to part from his harem. Especially Adi, who he’d never been apart from for long. This could very well end up being the longest they’d ever been separated.

Lady Rienne spoke up.

“Amordina would have to go with him, she is Velas’ sworn shield.”

If Uncle Kal had looked surprised earlier, he looked positively shocked now.

“Whu- wha- what? Dina is Vel’s sworn shield? That’s… Highly unusual. One might even say improper. Not that I care about that part but didn’t Dina…”

He kind of trailed off, and Vel knew what he was **** to say.

“Didn’t Dina and I hate each other? We did once, but things have changed.”

Kal nodded slowly.

“I am aware things had improved somewhat, I of kind assumed Luthor’s passing had something to do with it. But this much? From hatred to swearing her life to you? Saltking’s scaly balls, Velas, how did you manage that?”

Vel couldn’t help but chuckle, and his mother took the opportunity to reply.

“Kal, Velas is the chosen.”

The expression of shock vanished in an instant, all of Kal’s features falling back into a serious mask. The face of Lord Exarch Kalran Hothemer regarded them now. He didn’t raise his voice and said only a single word, but it was without a doubt a command.

“Explain.”

Lady Rienne took a deep breath.

“You remember the prophecy as well as I do, Kal. Better, I’d wager.”

A slight smirk broke through the serious mask.

“The prophecy? I thought you’d stopped believing in that, Riri.”

No smile graced Lady Rienne’s serious features.

“That was before my son made his way into my mind without me noticing. All my training proved almost no obstacle; it took ages for me to even become aware of him.”

Kal turned towards Vel, his eyes seeming to evaluate him.

“Is this true, Velas?”

Vel simply nodded.

“And you’re sure you’re the chosen? Not just a mindmage?”

Another nod. His uncle began stroking his chin in thought, much like Vel used to. He also leaned back in his chair, putting one leg on top of the other.

“Reach for my mind, would you?”

Having express permission, Vel reached for his uncle’s mind for the first time ever. He immediately encountered a wall exactly like the kind his father and Fal had sported.

“You have one of the protective charms, there’s a wall around your mind.”

For the first time since they’d broached the subject of the chosen, Vel saw genuine excitement flash in his Kal’s eyes.

“Blast, that’s a good start!”

Kalran reached under the sleeve of his own doublet, there was a sound of something being unclasped. He pulled out a silver bracelet and even though Vel couldn’t see it, he was sure a little stone flower was attached to it. He wasn’t all that surprised that Kal had one. Fal had stressed how rare they were, but his uncle was an exarch and had fought in the war, even commanded fleets. If anyone save the empress ought to have one, it was him.

“Try again.”

Apparently eager to brag about her son’s prowess, Lady Rienne piped up again.

“Those aren’t much protection against Velas, Kal. He’s already broken one.”

Kal’s eyes flashed again.

“Truly? Luthor’s then?”

Vel wasn’t sure if that had been a great idea to reveal, but he knew his mother, and she knew Kal. She wasn’t the type to blurt out something just to brag. He nodded.

“Yes, I managed to overpower it, and it shattered.”

While Vel was significantly more powerful now than he’d ever been, he’d not been able to summon anywhere near the same amount of power he had when he killed Lord Luthor. But it was only a question of time before that kind of power was always available to him, Vel was sure of it.

Kal looked thoughtful again, and perhaps even a little sad.

“Did you kill Luthor?”

A lot of things went through Vel’s mind at once. A man grown he might be, but he still feared disappointing or upsetting his uncle. Of course he did, Kal was his father figure, he was pretty sure that was normal. He also didn’t want to lie to him. Vel knew the two men had become good friends during the war, but he was pretty sure their relationship had deteriorated since then. His uncle definitely had an inkling about what a poor father Luthor had been. And given their close relationship, he was certain his mother would have told her brother at least something about what a shitty husband he’d been too. But was that enough for him to accept Vel killing him? And he certainly had killed him, he’d killed his father stone dead in an instant, with a single command.

That thought strengthened Vel’s resolve. He was The Heir, he had done as he saw fit, as was his right. And it was his right not just as The Heir, but also as the son of a terrible father. No one got to question that decision, not even Kal.

Vel looked his uncle dead in the eyes.

“Yes, I did.”

Kal nodded slowly, and Vel thought he saw sadness and acceptance in his expression.

“I suppose… I suppose Luthor brought this on himself. He had it coming, didn’t he?”

Vel’s mother answered before he could, and there was both steel and heat in her voice.

“Yes. Yes, he did. Velas did right by all of us, and I am forever grateful for it.”

Mother and son, without looking, reached out at the same time and took each other’s hands. They gave each other a reassuring squeeze, but didn’t let go after that, maintaining the connection.

Kal sat in silence for a bit longer, then suddenly shook his head, as if trying to clear it.

“We’ve gotten sidetracked. Reach for my mind again, if you please.”

Apparently, that was it, they were done with the subject of Luthor. Vel was happy to let it lie. He reached out for his uncle’s mind once again.

He found, as expected, a formidable and opaque membrane.

“I am not sure what you expect me to say here, Uncle Kal. Your mind looks well defended, you’ve clearly had training. I cannot see your thoughts or emotions; I’d have to use my powers more actively for that.”

The big man’s expression barely changed, but his continued excitement was apparent in his tenseness.

“Do that, try to see what I am thinking.”

He again had permission, so there was no reason not to. Vel used fracture, putting quite a bit of power behind it.

The effect was immediate, thin hairline cracks spread through his uncle’s membrane and the opaqueness abated. Neither would last of course, but Vel wouldn’t need long.

Excitement dominated Kal’s emotions, coupled with some intense nerves and cautious belief. It was kind of funny, the large and serious Lord Exarch looked so very composed on the outside, but behind the façade he was a giddy child.

Emotions weren’t what he’d been asked to look at though, he’d been tasked to see what his uncle was thinking. And so that was where Vel turned his attention, trying to see a thought through the cracks he had created. It came to him loud and clear; Kal was clearly focusing on it intently.

“Those born of the storm will rise again, and the very earth shall tremble.”

Vel had an inkling what that meant and assumed it was probably from the Vashkai prophecy of the chosen. He decided to simply say it out loud

“Those born of the storm will rise again, and the very earth shall tremble.”

Kal hit the armrest of his chair with his fist as he jumped to his feet, an exultant cry on his lips.

“BY ALL THAT IS FUCKING HOLY!”

Vel pulled away from his mind, the last thing he saw being an abundance of joy and pride.

His uncle grabbed him by the torso and hauled him to his feet, giving him the third crushing hug that day.

“I always hoped I’d live to see another chosen rising, but I never even dreamed it could be one of my own flesh and blood!”

Vel was a tad surprised that had been enough to convince him. Perhaps he realized just how long this kind of power would take a regular mindmage to achieve. Or perhaps he trusted Vel and Lady Rienne’s judgement and just needed to make some effort to confirm it for himself. Either way, Kal was clearly a believer now.

He let Vel go and produced a bottle of aluvian lifewater from somewhere. That was a strong and clear spirit, distilled to the point where it burned like the hells themselves on the way down.

“This calls for a toast! Vel, empty those glasses, water won’t do for this!”

Vel looked to his mother, who looked a tad exasperated as she got up.

“Kal, I can’t drink that.”

Lady Rienne’s older brother just smiled at her.

“Sure you can, Riri. I know you were never fond of lifewater, but Vel is the chosen, this needs to be toasted properly!”

Kal looked back to the now empty glasses, happily uncorking the bottle and pouring a generous measure into the first one.

“Kal, I’m pregnant.”

His head snapped back up, fiery mane flying, and his jaw dropped open.

“What, who? Surely not Lu-“

Lady Rienne shook her gorgeous head.

“No, the child is Velas’”

Vel wasn’t sure how to describe his uncle’s expression after that revelation, but whatever it meant, it was short lived. The bearded face quickly cracked into a wide smile and Kal guffawed with laughter, slapping Vel approvingly on the shoulder as he did so.

“HAH! That’s a good lad, wasted no time taking what is yours! A man after my own heart!”

Lady Rienne smiled and even gave a little chuckle. Vel was relieved, but surprised. He’d not expected that to go over so well.

“I guess you’ll have to toast with water after all then, Riri. A shame, but at least the men can do it properly!”

He shoved an almost full glass of spirits into Vel’s hand and wasted no time clinking his own first against Vel’s then Lady Rienne’s.

“Prrar!”

Vel and his mother hurried to clink their own glasses together as Kal belted out the old Vashkai toast, then followed his lead in quickly draining their glasses. The lifewater was strong indeed, strong enough to bring tears to Vel’s eyes, but he managed to fight off the urge to cough.

As they all put their glasses back down, Kal grinned at Vel again.

“So, who else is with child. Adi? Surely, she’d have been the first to catch a brotherly baby.”

Vel couldn’t help but feel some pride swell in his chest, and he smiled back.

“All of them are.”

Another guffaw, his uncle had to hold his stomach as the shakes of mirth wracked his body this time.

“Blast, I am so proud of you, Lad!”

That felt good, damn good. He’d not been told that kind of thing near often enough. Lady Rienne put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently, warmth blazing in her eyes as she looked at him. She knew him so well.

When Vel turned back to his uncle, he looked thoughtful again.

“So, Dina is pregnant too, then? That might complicate things a little. It would be unfortunate if she were to start showing on the mission. How far along is she?”

Vel’s mother, who was by far the most experienced on this topic, was the one to reply.

“Barely more than a month. And she’s of a sturdy build and has a large chest, which will help her hide it. She should be fine unless the voyage takes two months or more.”

Kal nodded.

“Aye, that’s good. I doubt this will take more than three weeks at most. And I anticipate little actual fighting, catching the pirates will be the main part of the job.”

He smiled at Vel again.

“And no doubt chosen pregnancies are resilient.”

Vel, having thought about it, wasn’t sure he liked the idea of Dina coming along anymore. Of course he’d love to have her company on the journey, but the pregnancy…

“Maybe I shouldn’t bring her after all, as good as you’re making it sound she’s still ca-“

His mother interrupted him.

“Dear, she will want to go, and you can’t deny her this. She’s your sworn shield and you accepted her oath, it is her right to go along and protect you.”

Fuck, she was right, there were no two ways about it. He nodded in acceptance.

The three of them continued to talk a while longer after that. Vel filled Kal in about how he’d discovered his powers, how he’d met Seph, and told him about the prophecy of The Heir and who the Order of Watchers were. Kal for his part explained about the current situation among the Vashkai houses, which ones would definitely support Vel’s claim, which might, which would almost certainly not, and explained the prophecy of the chosen in greater detail than Lady Rienne had been able to. Vel also finally got the opportunity to tell Kal about Rose and Jeane, which earned him another approving slap on the shoulder. He knew he would wake up with some bruises tomorrow.

By the time they all finally headed to bed, the night was dark indeed.