Morty woke up in his bed exhausted and hungry. getting up he blundered too the kitchen hoping that there might be some food. only to find his Mother, his sister, three babies and a flashback full blood and screaming. looking away from the lady shyly he almost went back to bed. with a rush of memories, he pointed at her and practically shouted "What is she doing here?"
The three women almost jumped out of their seats from the sudden noise.
With a stern tone Marianna answered "Meg is going to be staying here, and will become your new mother or at least one of your new mothers when we get some marital offers."
Confused Morty looked at Ivy. Ivy responded with a shrug then mouthed at him "Mom is to nice for our own good. We are stuck with her from now on… at least I got three adorable baby brothers out of the deal".
Morty sighed in defeat as his mother motioned for him to sit down in his father's old chair and made him a sandwich out of leftovers.
"Um, what do I call her?"
All three females answered at the same time. "sub-second mother to be." "Lady Beekeeper." "Usurping devil crone."
All eyes went to Ivy who covered her mouth and asked in a whisper "did I say that out loud"
Marianna answered back "yes, now apologise to her."
Ivy looked at Meg and said "I am sorry that you are and usurping devil crone."
"IVY!"
Ivy and Marianna discussion quickly devolved into harsh whispered argument. a rarity between the two that Morty ignored as he devoured his sandwich.
Finishing the sandwich Morty came to a decision and looking at Meg said "your name is Meg right?" Meg noded "and you are the mother of my son's so I should just call you Meg."
The room fell silent.
"Whats this about your son's?" his Mother asked.
"I helped give birth to the boys, so I am their Father right? I mean the ladies that were helping yesterday said that I made a good father."
"...I don't think that is how it works younger big brother."
"Then how does it work?"
When Ivy shrugged Morty looked towards his Mother who blushed then quick responded "We will all Just call her Meg ok? And um Morty."
"Yes, Mother"
"Please just call the boys your brothers."
"Ok, so is Meg going to come with us to grandpa's farm?"
"No, she will be taking care of the boys and looking for a real crone for the Wolf spider coven, and preparing lessons to help you with reading writing and arithmetic, and also to teach Ivy what she knows about spells."
"I don't understand why we can't just join a different coven. It would be far easier than rebuilding the Wolf spider coven."
Marianna scowled at Meg when she answered "Because this is Elizabeth's legacy, Ivy's responsibility, your repentance, and because I said so which means your answer should be?"
Lowering her eyes Meg answered "as you command Mistress."
Marianna giggled then whispered secretly towards Ivy "I have always wanted to do that."
Ivy smiled and gave her mom a big thumbs up.
***
so things changed as they are want to do.
Ivy and Morty still practiced martial techniques early in the morning. After breakfast an exhausted Meg would join them and offer guidance for their elemental technics.
at first Meg tried to dissuade Morty from being part of the training but, when she found the Cluster of spiders making a nest above her bed she backed off to find that the cluster had returned to Ivy's room.
when Morty showed up with Ivy for the lessons in spellcraft, Meg didn't even bother pointing out that he was a boy, not a part of their coven and hence should not be allowed there. Though on occasion she would tell Ivy that a lesson was a girl only lesson.
Ivy listened to the explanation hesitantly agreeing to tell Morty not to come. A decision she was happy she made when she was taught about hormones, body odor, and other embarrassing girl stuff she needed to know about because her classmates would be going through it. after all it would still be around 21 years before she hit puberty.
Then later in the night Meg would teach Morty his abc's and 123's. Meg was relieved when Ivy showed up to help. Because given her history with Morty, she was always uncomfortable being alone with him. when she asked Ivy about it.
Ivy's Response was "I don't trust you to be alone with my younger bigger brother."
***
Meg had gotten lucky two weeks after moving in and found out about an old herbalist named Ms.Clover living on the outskirts of town.
Ms.Clover was willing to leave her coven for theirs if they would also accept her biological granddaughter into the coven.
Meg and Ivy readily agreed especially when Ms.Clovers old coven not only did not fight them on the transaction but also gave them enough old but serviceable spell books for a full coven of thirteen.
After Ms.Clover and her granddaughter Angelic had taken their covenant. Ms.Clover's former covens Crone explained to Ivy what a relief it was that the now slightly seniel Ms.clover wouldn't be claiming to be their Crone anymore, and how one of the witches daughters had recently gained appropriate cultivation for their coven and could now join since they had been at their maximum coven size of 39.
Ms.Clovers former Coven also said that they would miss Ms.Clover and since everything was settled so amicably they still felt comfortable doing business with her and staying friends. which was fantastic considering how often coven disputes left everyone bitter rivals.
Ms.Clover dispite being a little bit senile and having droped from gold realm 3 to gold realm 1 in recent years. was a wonderful addition to the coven. she would occasionally show up to give spellcraft lessons and check up on them, and was always willing to share information with the whole family, on who was who, herbal remedies, plants, beasts, spells, and rituals. though it was often best to double check the information she gave.
Angelica was a tall blond haired, gangly 13 year old with a copper realm 2 cultivation in life and water. while not ideal for the coven it would work
Angelica instantly became friends with Ivy, and Morty seeing them as a little brother and sister. She thought it was weird that their Lady was gradually becoming more and more subservient to their maiden. when she realized she was doing the same thing. she asked Morty about it he replied "it's a Drow thing. While Mother Elizebeth would demand it, causing most people to instantly obey. With Ivy, it is more like they want to do what she asks because she is usually right and she is adorable. though don't let Ivy's looks deceive you she can be even more viscous than Mother Elizabeth ever was... At least when she wants to be." After that Angelica just went with it.
***
Morty couldn't quite figure out where his new found passion for healing came from. Where as he used to avoid the chores at Grandpa house that dealt with animal husbandry. Now he followed his mother around helping her out and asking questions. Since most of the other children avoided those chores Morty had plenty of opportunities to learn and despite a couple of fowl attacks, ending with him running away screaming "Why won't you blasted birds just leave me alone." He enjoyed learning from his mother.
After helping his mother oversee the birth of a litter of hellhound puppies, two calfs, three lambs, a pegasus foul, and being aloud to play with a newborn dragon. Most of Morties trama of helping birth his three brothers was gone. Unfortunately his experiences with the gryphen, and hippogriff reinforced his hate of birds and really anything with feathers and a beak.
***
One day Ms.Clover came by just after sunset. She looked a bit lost and confused to Morty talking about how she was here for the lesson. His Mother looked concern but invited her in and got her a cup of herbal tea to soothe her aches.
Marianna asked Morty to stay with her whispering to him "Sometimes when people are old and... lonely they make excuses to visit with friends. Would you mind visiting with her, while Ivy, Meg and I set up the class room so she can teach?"
Morty agreed readily after all Ms. Clover was always nice when she taught them spellcraft. Although, she for some unknown reason thought his name was Barthalomew. He gave up correcting her the third time she called him Bartholomew.
So as the girls went to make it look like the room was prepared for a lesson Morty told Ms.Clover about how the calf that Mother had bought with merate points had been sic the last couple of days and how he was worried about it.
Ms.Clover asked several questions about the calfs, symptoms, diet, social interactions with the other cows.
After some time thinking Ms.Clover told Morty "Get a large tobacco leaf pulp it up with a mortar and pestle, add a smidge bit of water once you are done take the past and slather it onto the bump that's swelling up. Then get as many cloves of garlic as you can and hang it up around her and have your sisters spiders make a one way web around it in three days I will come back at this time and give you another lesson. So I expect a detailed report."
"Yes, Grandma Clover."
Then Ms.clover stood up and said "it's about time for me to leave."
Seeing that it was dark Morty helped her up and started walking her to the door and said. "Grandma Clover it's really dark and late outside. I would be really worried about you if you were to walk home alone at this time and Mother wont let me walk you home, are you sure you wouldn't rather sleep in my room and go home in the morning?"
Ms.Clover was relived, sore, sleepy, and stubborn. So she hemmed and hawed hating the idea of having someone else take care of her "No, no Barthalomew you have to wake up early in the morning and do your training, followed by a hard day of taking care of your calf and little brothers. What kind of granmother would I be to disrupt your sleep?"
Crinkling up his face in a wofoe expression and whining a little Morty asked "But, how could I sleep not knowing if some monster snuck up on you in the dark and ate you? I mean I know you are really strong, but didn't you tell us in class that you should never go anywhere without backup because you never know what kind of monster will show up when you are alone? and with the streets so quite... besides that Mother says that I once fell asleep draped over a rock like a towel if I can sleep on that surly I can sleep tonight on the floor wrapped up in blankets"
"Very well young man you win I will sleep in your bed, after all I would never dare to be a bad example for you."
As he helped Ms.Clover into bed. Morty was proud of himself thinking a man should make sacrifices to protect those he cares about whether they are related by blood or not.
When Meg found out that Morty had given up his bed for the old crone she was furious saying "Morty you are such a disrespectful boy. Don't you know that you have insulted a gold ranked cultivator, and that we will have to feed her meaning there will be less food for us? I hope you enjoy sleeping on the cold wood floor and, if it were up to me you would have your bum beaten. hmmmmph."
Mariana scowled at Meg and said in sorrowful voice "She is right Morty. Ms.Clover could take offence at your request and we will have a lean meal tomorrow because of it. so why did you do it?"
Morty looked his Mother strait in the eyes with tears forming and said "Because it was the right thing to do. Don't worry Mother I will take on the burden I will sleep on the floor and I will go without food so everyone else may eat. and I will do so every time that Ms clover comes over."
"What do you mean every time?"
"Ms.Clover said she would come over every three nights to teach."
Marianna gave her son a concerned look and said "Very well, I will not be the type of mother to nay say when my children do what they believe to be right."
As Morty tried to get comfortable on the floor he heard his mother berating Meg. telling Meg "It is your job to let me speak first, then support what I have to say not to offer violence on our children without hearing their side first."
Morty's eyes dried and he went to sleep knowing that his mother had his back.
in the morning a panicked Angelica showed. "Have you seen my Grandma? when I arrived at her cottage this morning she wasn't there."
"Yes, she came by late last night saying she was here to teach a lesson than fell asleep in Mortys bed. She said she will be doing this every three nights… would you like to Join us for breakfast?"
"No thanks I eat before I go to Grandma's. do you mind if I join Ivy and morty for training?"
With a sigh of relief Marianna said "of course not, they should be out back in the training yard."
As it turns out Ms.Clover stopped eating breakfast 15 years ago saying "It always gives me indigestion."
From then on she came by every third night and taught Morty about herbal remedies."
Considering that Morty had received 6 contribution points for his family by catching a young swarm of vampire bats that had been feeding on their calf. Morty felt that sleeping on the floor every three days was worth it.
***
once every 5 days Grandma Yaga would show up with a suitor. The house would be cleaned, a fancy meal would be set, the kids would be washed and in their finest clothes.
Then the next day Grandmother Yaga would drop by for tea and explained what the suitors reason for refusing would be. usually it was just the fact that they were overwhelmed by such a big family.
Twice they were rejected because the men thought that Ivy would overshadow their own children. once it was because the sutors current wife felt intimidated by Marianna's and Meg's beauty. Once the suitor offered to accept if Ivy was also made his wife. Grandma Yaga was so infuriated by that offer that the suitor was exiled from the town. With kill on sight orders if he ever dared to return.
it wasn't until 8 days before school was to start they found a proper sutor.
Frederick van Hydros a silver realm 3 water cultivator. Van as he liked to be called was considered a cultivation genius after all he was silver ream 3 when he graduated unlike most who were silver realm 1. So with the self confidence that he could handle two older women and the assurance that they had enough manpower to handle the kids. He read through the basics of the marriage contract and signed.
As they were finishing up Grandma Yaga with a proud smile on her face shared with them the latest news. "Did you all hear about the shadow cloak assassin's defeat?"
Instantly having the rooms attention she continued. "It seems that a Shadow cloak had made it into the City. Terrible things. The monster likes to attach itself to lone travelers just after dark then when the person gets home and asks themselves where did this fine cloak came from and if there are no cultivators above gold 2 in the house it attacks killing everyone inside the building then once the smell starts to attract attention it slips out the door."
With a sense of terror the entire family looked at her as she continued. "Apparently it had been operating on the outskirts of town in the Blazing Plants Covens territory."
A gasp escaped everyone's throats as the name of the coven was unveiled.
Van "My grangran lives in their territory and use to be a member of their coven."
Ivy and Marianna "Thats where Ms.Clover lives."
Meg covered her mouth and stared in awe at Morty.
Morty said as he entered the room "sorry what did I miss? Shadrach was fussing."
Von "Wait you know my grangran, Ms.Clover?"
Ivy "of course she is the Crone in our coven."
"Your coven?!? the Wolf spiders?"
"Yup that's the one."
"That can't be my grangran has talked about the coven. She talks incessantly about how good it is to see Bartholomew again and how he is very protective of the coven."
"You mean she called someone Bartholomew before me?" asked Morty
"You! I mean one of her favorite grandson's was named Bartholomew. He died on his first campaign and she has been bemoaning his death ever since."
Marianna turned to Grandma Yaga and asked "What happened to the shadow cloak?"
"Oh, it latched itself onto a recent covenant of the Blazing Plants as she was running late to one of the rituals. Luckily their crone a platinum rank 2, Ms.Bartley noticed the dreadful thing and took care of it before it could hurt any of their coven. Then she reminded her entire coven that while demascuse's defences are strong no one should ever go anywhere after dark without backup."
Given the New information Van quickly signed the rest of the papers and excused himself to make better preparations for housing then he originally had.
****
First thing in the morning Van was at his grangrans cottage.
"Grangran, Ms.Yaga introduced me to two fine women last night after getting to know them. I decided to make them my wives."
"oh! that is not a very good idea that Ms.Yaga is a schemer you never know what kind of trouble she will get you into. Humph. I suppose you already signed the contract didn't you?"
"Yes, I did Grangran. though I think you will approve."
"Humph and why is that!"
"well it is my understanding that my second wife to be is the lady in your new coven, and the Maiden is going to be my new daughter. Then their are the three boys that will be your grandsons and."
"Bartholowmew they have been caring for Bartholowmew… hmmm, well Van for such a huge family you will need extra space so call the family and all of you go through that dusty old mansion back there and clean it out. It's about time it was used for something other than storage. oh and do some repairs I am sure the house leaks like a sive. I expect the wedding will be soon and this way you will live close enough to help your ailing old Grangran."
"Of course Grangran, as our families matriarch asks, how could I do anything else?"
sipping her tea Ms.Clover thought "It's good to be on the receiving end of Ms.Yaga's plans for once. though i doupt my greatgrangranson will see it that way for long."
***
Two days later the entire Clover family arrived to help clean out and repair the old Family mansion.
Some of the family was curious about how Van of all people had managed to get the old coot to hand over the house. The rest were furious that someone else had managed to lay claim to the mansion and all the treasures within. Many schemed to pocket as much loot as possible while they cleaned. These plans fell apart as Grandma Clover insisted on over seeing the cleaning. As such no one dared risk the ire of their clan Matriarch even if she was a senile old coot.
When the first treasure was brought to Granma Clover the room grew still as everyone watched her to see what she would do.
Granma Clover pointed at Van's new son and said "Barthalowmew, get a pad of paper so we can catalog all of this SHHHIItuufff, cough cough." It was at that point that everyone knew how Van had managed to get one over them, and murder started to seed their harts.
Morty quickly found a pad of paper and did his best to write down what his new Grandma asked him too.
After a minute or two of everyone getting back to their halfhearted work Morty asked a question that drew everyone's ear. "So Grandma Clover who gets the thirteen fire beads cultivation manuel?"
Grandma Clover gave Morty ain't it obvious I am giving them all to you, look. Then asked "What do you mean child?"
"Well we are trying to make room in this big house to live in right?" Grandma Clover noded. "So we have to get rid of it, and it has to stay in the family, Right?" another nod. "So arn't we giving it to the family member that it is most appropriate for and having them give it to whomever needs it next?"
Scowling at Bartholowmew she said "Well if it wasn't for you interrupting my thoughts I would have already told you that the 13 fire bead cultivation scroll should go to Deven it will go good with his pure fire cultivation style."
With a sheepish grin Morty said "Sorry Grandma Clover. Deven where are you so I can have you sign for the scroll?"
With a jump to his step Deven ran up and quickly signed for the scroll.
Realizing that many of the treasures would be shared with the family member who could proffer the most from them. The rest of the family spirites were bolstered as they put renewed effort into cleaning and sorting the treasures in the house.
The seeds of murder in their hearts that had been planted twords that boy were blown out to sea to hopefully never return. With exception to Van's heart where a seed of murder took firm root in his hart.
After all, with all of the treasures in this house he would have been a very rich man, and could have ruled over his family like a king instead all he got was a pathetic house and the chore of taking care of his coot of a Grandmother. Never mind that he would have had no idea what most of the items were for or that as soon as his Grandmother died the rest of his family would have stripped him of all the power he had gained.
No, all the gains were all of his hard work and it was that dastardly child's, fault that he lost all of that wealth and power.
Meanwhile Morty was ignorant of all the family plotting having made the suggestion for no other reason because it seemed like the right thing to do.
That and writing is hard for an almost 7 year old who's handwriting looked more like hen scratches than actual writing.
Seeing her error Grandma Clover soon had Marianna and Meg take over as scribes as more and more treasures found their way out of hiding.
Though in order to make her new grandkids curious she told them that an old house like this may have hidden treasures that she had forgotten about and they should look around whenever they think something is a smidgebit off.
The house was cleaned out and repairs were made just in time for the first day of school.