A secret task

The next few days passed in a bit of a blur. Vel ate good food, spent time with his family, practiced with Fal and Dina, and made love to his wives. He also did his best to assist in preparations for the mission, but his ability to do so was limited by his inexperience with naval matters.

And suddenly, before Vel knew it, it was the night before departure. They'd be setting sail fairly early in the morning for some ocean-related reason, but Vel didn't turn down his uncle's invitation for an evening drink.

When he arrived though, he could tell something was off. Vel had expected Kal to perhaps be wistful, but also happy or excited. Instead, the usually gregarious man seemed uncomfortable as he ushered Vel into the same room where they’d had their initial talk about Vel being The Heir.

They both sat down and Kal took a swig of his prepared and waiting drink immediately. Vel only carefully sipped at his own, his eyes intently fixed on his miserable looking uncle. Eventually, reluctantly, Kalran spoke.

"I should have had this talk with you much earlier but I... I've been avoiding it. I wish I had more time, I-"

He stopped and ran a hand through messy many of red hair. Vel had rarely seen Kal so clearly distressed.

"Blast, the details can wait. The pirate band, their leader, Catalia... She, I, uh-"

He paused again. Uncle Kal was… Nervous? Yes, definitely. He was barely coherent. Vel knew who he was talking about, of course. He'd been briefed on the details of the mission a few times now. This particular group of pirates were led by a young woman, very young, who went by Catalia the Cold. That was certainly unusual. Pirate bands had been led by both surprisingly young individuals and women before, but neither was common, and Vel didn’t think he’d ever heard of a pirate leader that was both. Catalia was likely extremely capable and cunning. The reports and other intelligence Vel had seen certainly indicated as much.

"Yes, Uncle Kal, what about her?"

Kal ran his big hand across his own face before, for the first time since they sat down, he met Vel’s gaze.

"Don't kill her, and make sure Fionne doesn't either."

That was not what Vel had expected. Wouldn't she face execution anyway? Did Kal want a public execution this badly? Surely not, that wasn't his way. But perhaps that was why he was so uncomfortable. Was he facing pressure from someone to make a public spectacle out of it? Again, no. A far stronger no. No one was going to get away with trying to pressure or **** Lord Exarch Hothemer in his own domain, and if they tried, they'd face fury, not stammering.

"Why?

That simple question made Kal’s face fall even further.

"Please, Son, don't ask that. Not now, I... please, just trust me on this. If you kill her, or if you let Fionne kill her, you will come to regret it."

Vel didn't like this. He didn't like seeing his father figure in this unnerved state. But he would trust him.

"I'll take your word for it, Uncle. And you have my word that I'll do my best to bring her back alive."

Kal let out a long and relieved breath, his features finally forming into a smile again.

"Thank you, Vel. That's all I ask."

Vel had feared he'd be unable to sleep, his mind awhirl with thoughts about the conversation and its implications. But he returned to a room filled with a scantily clad harem. So, he did get far too little sleep, but not because of any stray thoughts. His wives made sure there was only one thing on his mind that night and, by the time they were done, he fell into a deep exhausted sleep.