Magistrate Aquarius sat calmly in the satin seat opposite of me while sipping a glass of red wine shared between us once returning to the manor.
Since I didn't wish to be disturbed, I had Kuval and Duval stand guard just outside the door after arranging for a few abled bodies to take the rest of our intrusive guests to a nearby warehouse for the time being.
Ashe chose to remain by Nyxis' side along with Veronica in our upstairs bedroom.
The wine Orion poured tasted of fine grapes aged to perfection but ale was often the better substitute when the mind ponders many things.
The room was deathly silent as the two of us continued to analyze the other for some sort of common ground.
"Tell me," Magistrate Aquarius broke the silence, "how is it that you've come to know my name but I haven't been told yours?"
Taking a sip of wine, "That is something of a need to know basis and a question I care very little for."
"No," I sat back in a more relaxed manner, "I'm more interested in why are you here."
The Magistrate gave a seldom smile before calmly pressing the glass against his lips and gulped the red liquid until it was half empty.
After replacing the glass, He gave calm courtesy before getting to his feet and began walking over to the fireplace where pictures sat neatly amongst odds-n-ends.
I watched him gently pick up the photo capturing Nyxis and Ashe smiling radiantly while holding bouquets of flowers on either side of me in the foreground of the manor.
Both were dressed in white gowns tailored to their peculiar tastes and somewhat matching rings decorated in different jewels compared to the usual attire I often wear.
The photo embodied the true happiness felt between the three of us on such a special day that would never be forgotten.
My eyes narrowed when the Magistrate shook his head in apparent disapproval and placed the photo back where it belonged.
He then picked up the burnt photo of my parents, "Dökkálfar scum."
His whispered words touched my enhanced ears.
"Your family?" he asked while showing the treasured picture.
I nodded, "That is correct."
He muttered under his breath while shaking his head once more after placing the photo face down with no respect to those captured within.
He then walked the length of the far wall observing the things that gave me comfort like the towering bookcases that ran from floor to ceiling filled with literature.
His fingers trailed the worn spines of each book only to stop at one of the leather journals positioned further out than the rest.
He pulled a piece of my father's legacy from its resting place and immediately opened it to the section where a black feather marked the place that I stopped.
Though my opinion of my father differed, it was quite nerve racking watching a complete stranger flutter through each damaged page of his life without the utmost care.
Orion took the journal from the Magistrate's hands just in time and placed it where it belonged, "My Lord doesn't like it when people meddle with his belongings, sir."
He half turned and guided Magistrate Aquarius to his chair, "If you would be so kind."
[(Thank you old friend.)]
The Magistrate was in utter disbelief at the audacity of the creature before him and at first refused to do as encouraged only to give into defeat.
He greedily finished off the rest of his wine and accepted Orion's offer for a refill.
I carefully watched him lean forward with his hands bound underneath his chin and elbows on his knees to just gaze into my eyes trying to find some commonality that could be used.
It was quite hard not to fixate on the similar features passed down to Nyxis who begged for me to spare this man.
In truth, I knew very little about the relationship she once had with the man in front of me except for his betrayal.
"I do believe," I downed some wine, "that you asked my identity."
Puzzled, the man gave a slight nod.
He smiled gleefully, "That is correct."
Giving a smile of my own, "I have gone by many names in my short time on Aquera but many have commonly known me as Jackal."
I sat forward copying his posture, "Can I assume that you and your, shall we say, cohorts already knew my identity before causing trouble in my city?"
The Magistrate's eyes sparkled as a laugh barely escaped his throat.
He grabbed hold of the wine bottle, "You're quite intuitive for a Halfling."
His lips coiled around the top and turned it upward gulping the liquid until lines of crimson trailed the corners of his mouth.
He wiped his lips with the back of his hand, "Your guess couldn't be any more correct."
"You are quite infamous throughout both Isles," he pulled a cigar from inside his coat and lit it after gaining my approval, "though I will be the first to admit that it was quite troublesome to narrow down your exact location."
I smiled, "When one doesn't want to be found, the open road is the first friend one often gains in a sense."
Sighing, I leaned forward and grabbed my glass.
"Skal," I lifted the glass toward him and downed the rest of my wine.
Magistrate Aquarius spoke in a more slurred tone, "We also had to comb through several imposters claiming your name only to discover the truth moments later."
He chuckled feeling the side effects of the ground Hag's Weed, "Even now, there is one claiming they are the infamous Jackal in the capital watching over the Committee leaders."
[(I really need to do something about these imposters one of these days.)]
"Now then," Magistrate Aquarius clapped his hands to bring me from my thoughts, "shall we proceed to negotiate the price for that Ljósálfar woman?"
He pulled a dark green pouch from one of his pockets that jangled with each jolt of motion, "I am prepared to offer fifty thousand gold pieces for her plus I'll throw in another ten thousand for damages."
He placed three pouches at the center of the table, "Do we have a deal?"
I stared at the gold as anger seeped into my words, "How dare you offer gold for my Queen as if she were some sort of piece of fuckable meat!"
Laughter soon filled the room as the Magistrate found something I said absolutely humorous.
He took a moment to calm himself before speaking, "Please forgive my outburst, I just found it humorous thinking about the image."
He gave a small sigh, "She is no Queen my young friend, but as you said 'a piece of fuckable meat'."
The comfortable winter air soon became a lot colder as the crimson fire under the mantle turned to a ghastly pale outlined in flowing black.
The miserable piece of filth sitting in front of me showed pure fear watching its grasping flickers.
His body shook when he turned to gaze upon the writhing hands smacking against the steel honeycombed grates demanding to consume everything.
I noticed the ice forming around his clenched right hand as faint shards melted away from the suffocating atmosphere.
In one motion, he sprung to his feet and flung a blade of ice toward me only to feel cold steel under his chin and his body falling back into the seat.
"Tsk," a trail of blood dotted his throat, "such foolish things will get you killed."
A slight pain erupted from the middle of my head as dazzling crimson lights fluttered down my eyes.
"The Mistress instructed you to keep him alive," a small voice boomed, "ya dumb headed dumbo."
Another small voice boomed, "Rola you shouldn't hit Mr. Dog. You know Mr. Raven will-"
The first voice became a small yell, "Shut it Astren!!"
I rolled my eyes watching the two Hixlin sisters furiously slap the air between them in a poorly played out fight like they often did.
The red speck began to flutter about the room chasing a strand of disappearing blue.
I dismissed the misericorde back into its sheath before sharing a confused glance with the Magistrate who couldn't help but follow the two rambunctious specks.
Their antics had utterly ruined my mood which made the room return to its more comfortable state.
Sighing, I snapped my fingers before turning to find Orion calmly catching the Hixlin sisters by their wings as the Magistrate's screams disappeared into the gateway underneath him.
"Let us go," Rola yelled as she tried running in mid air, "you big oof."
Unlike her sister, Astren accepted the fact they were caught and waited for reprimand.
She gave a small smile, "Good Morning Lord!"
I returned her smile and placed my hand underneath her feet, "Orion let them go. We already know they can't help themselves."
"Father," Orion looked between the two Hixlin, "maybe we should teach them some discipline."
With piqued ears, "What do you suggest?"
Orion gave a grave smile, "Perhaps tonight they go without dessert for starters and help with the cleaning for a week."
"That's not fair," Rola roared trying to strike Orion's fingers.
Astren gave a small sigh, "If that is what you choose."
I smiled and placed my hand underneath her, "It'll do you two some good in the long run."
I felt Astren's small heels fall into my palm when Orion released her wings and waited for her to grab hold of one of fingers before raising her to my shoulder.
I did the same with Rola who plopped on my palm when Orion released her wings.
She scowled at Orion and the two of them soon fluttered out of the room chasing one another.
I made my way over to the large wooden desk next to the window and sat while Orion poured some tea.
Suddenly the room felt like it was in the middle of a massive ground quake that made everything violently shake and fall to the ground with a followed clatter.
Puzzled, "I thought Cortez and Octavius weren't supposed to be back until six months from now."
A knock came from the open door causing Orion to finally notice the pool of tea, "It's not them, father."
I found Korin standing in the doorway with Tusk-Tusk, "Lord, a ship is descending upon the city from the sky. Shall I gather everyone?"
[(An airship like from the stories?)]
I stood at the center of the stone rampart positioned over the gates of Siegfried gazing at the towering ship hovering just ten feet away before landing with a loud echoing thump on the grass below.
Whirling blades spun at an immense speed atop four pillars laced in thin blue lines that disappeared underneath each circlet of blades.
A half sphere ran the full length of a rectangular base that stopped at an angular tip wrapped by another slowly rotating bladed circlet.
What appeared to be a large sail ran the length of the ship from the front to the very back which reminded me of a dorsal fin that allowed land sharks to swim straight.
On the bottom, curved runners held the immense weight of the ship from completely touching the ground.
[It's about the size of three Galleons like the Vaniel fleet had in Vusta. Cortez would be useful right now.)]
Light soon emitted from the side facing us as the middle opened into a sliding doorway revealing a port of some kind.
There were three outlined figures standing at the center awaiting for the sliding ramp leading down to make landfall.
From here, I could just make out the common attire made up of fine yet loose cloth often worn by most noble travelers.
I instantly recognized the faces of the two of the figures as the family friends who willingly placed the protective runes on Mother's tomb.
They each seemed to answer an unheard question asked by the center woman before making their descent.
The trio walked in a slow mundane manner until reaching a halfway point where they stood unmoving.
My eyes couldn't leave the unknown woman as her short bluish brown hair danced in the calm breeze.
Her grayish purple skin swallowed the blazing sun as its light glistened off the metal armor lashed to her right arm from pauldron to gauntlet.
A thin leather scabbard dangled from her left hip while an assortment of small pouches adorned the opposite side.
Her bright crimson eyes ran the length of the ramparts searching the unfamiliar faces until stopping on Veronica and I.
Orion whispered, "How do you want to play this father? Shall I send a small number to greet them?"
"No," I shook my head, "it would be best if I went alone."
I felt Orion's growing anxiety and placed my hand on his shoulder, "I want you and your sister to be on guard for battle if it boils down to it. Understood?"
I leapt over the small stone wall preventing any mishaps to occur and made my way to greet the newcomers after straightening my posture.
My eyes were a ceaseless cycle of movement observing the broadside of the ship for any surprises.
I smiled when the first of many siege weapons slowly filled the squared windows of the upper columns where wooden slats slid open.
A stream of archers soon lined the deck of the ship just above the opened door armed with crossbows and curved bows.
I knew that either the ballistas or cannons would prove more dangerous than any marksman so they were my first priority.
The woman on the right stepped forward, "It's good to see y-"
"Are these," my eyes narrowed on the center woman, "your people?"
My eyes remained on the dumbfounded trio as they seemed to recognize the faces of each elf until unanimously falling upon Magistrate Aquarius who groggily got to his feet.
Anger burned deep in his pale green eyes as the air around him became a fever inducing chill.
It was comical watching the others follow such an ill tempered man only to be scared stiff when noticing the cracking sound coming from behind them.
My smile grew when sparks of purple lightning sprung from the woman's fist as it made contact with the Magistrate's cheek.
His body convulsed on the ground with small arcs of electricity booming to life along stiffened strands of smoldering hair.
[(A user of lightning magic and a strong one as well. I'll have to keep a close eye on her if I accept to go with them.)]
The woman held her fist in front of her as she roared, "So this is where you fools ran off without permission!"
"Commander Nefari," the Dökkálfar woman I fought in the altered void spoke, "we were doing as you ordered."
[(So this is the one who wrote that plea.)]
Nefari turned her gaze to the poor woman, "Whaaaaatttt?!"
"The Magistrate," the woman got to her knees, "came to us saying you've accepted his idea of rescuing his daughter while judging the strength of our adversary."
She turned to look at me, "Not only did we fail but discovered that a truly terrifying individual lived there."
I turned to look at the crosswalk searching for such a person, "Monsters are terrifying in a sense but those who live here only act when provoked."
The woman gave an accepting smile before turning to find her Commander shaking her head behind the mask of her palm.
I relished with delight when the other elves leapt to their knees hoping to be spared the same fate of the still convulsing Magistrate.
That delight was short-lived when the shadows of the Ljósálfar began shifting violently as they each took turns agreeing with the given statement.
Little did they know that none shall lie in my presence for shadows fear being taken away back to the folds of the Endless Void.
I kept this little revelation to myself for it might prove useful in a later circumstance.
Nefari sighed deeply before speaking once more, "Take the Magistrate and go back to the ship while I try to make amends."
I followed the Ljósálfar closely as they each took a limb in hand and proceeded to waddle toward the massive ship.
Each one sent an icy gaze in my direction before being blotted out by the Dökkálfar trailing behind them.
I ignored their empty silent threats for the time being and turned to head back to the manor where a discussion could be held more formally than standing out in a field.
I also really wanted to check on Nyxis before the opportunity had receded in prolonged time of chatter.
Knowing her, she probably would feel that the attack on Siegfried was all her fault.
The sound of a bolt slicing the air next to my tilted ear burned like the hottest of flames before striking the ground a few feet ahead.
Shadows coiled down my arm and congregated in my palm dawning the form of billowy black mist that consumed three trailing bolts aimed for my back.
Wasting no time, my enhanced eyes scoured the ship's side searching for those responsible for the poor attempt only to stop on the center ballistas where two Ljósálfar and Dökkálfar readied the weapons of war.
The mist receded and morphed in my clutched hand until a spear with a jagged edge took shape.
It soared from my fingertips and soon became a small speck against the ship.
I turned as undulating shadows engulfed the siege weapons with a loud scream of crushing metal.
"Follow," I muttered to the surprised faces gazing at the destruction.
My mind ached with a vicious throb of the temples after spending the next hour and a half listening to the pitiful pleas given.
I was instantly bombarded by the role presented to me and the responsibilities such a role often carried into the future order of things.
They said I'd be marked a Saint of Tranquility or whatever if peace was successfully bargained on either side and that my lineage would live full lives.
When that didn't work, they shifted to offering large amounts of gold that would be needed for the success of a growing nation.
Everything resorted itself when I blatantly told them where to shove their pleas and that the status of the Isles were not my concern whatsoever.
Sighing, I made my way to the window and smiled softly at the image of Casteilla clasping a wooden board tacted with parchment assigning jobs to the volunteers gathered.
Thirteen had secretly assigned her and Luca to watch over his daughter while in my care though I think it was a way to allow the lamia to soften her guard.
She had become a reliable person that many came to with concerns that they were too nervous to voice themselves in my presence and often acted as their representative.
Luca also helped with the public opinion by being the voice of those who dwelled in the forest.
With the Elders assistance and my Queens' insight, a tapestry was woven assigning official titles to several of Siegfried's denizens allowing me to have freedom to live.
[(That reminds me that I must look over those papers Isabella brought.)]
A voice spoke from behind me, "I'm guessing the meeting with the dökkálfar didn't go so well."
I smiled when finding Nyxis standing in the doorway, "What makes you say that?"
She made her way over and sat on my lap, "You're brooding awfully. I could feel it up in the room."
Sighing, "It went as best it could in a minor sense."
The meeting with Nefari, Anastasia, and Nikkus went as well as it could possibly go after some of their people destroyed months of labor in seconds.
It seemed that both Anastasia and Nikkus were chosen to help in the discussion based on the history they shared with my mother for many years.
Anastasia was the one who mentioned that each of the six most influential Houses representing either side have similarly chosen a candidate based upon nonexistent loyalty.
Nikkus soon added that the place chosen to hold such an important responsibility was neutral territory where neither side held power.
To be truthful, I would more than likely accept the confines of such an opportunity if either Nikkus or Anastasia asked but it all boiled down to the family who rejected me at birth.
"Jackal," Nyx laid her head on my chest, "I believe that we should accept the invitation."
Puzzled, I watched as Nyxis turned her head to face me.
Pain was hidden behind two dazzling emeralds, "If my father is alive after so long then possibly my sister and brothers are as well. I must know what happened long ago and why he would give in to Vaniel."
She sat up and gazed at the floor, "Earlier when he and the others came into the shop, I instantly knew who he was and collapsed from shock."
I could hear sadness in her voice, "I remember coming too only to feel a warm liquid being poured down my throat and soon the fear that came with an inability to move."
"They," I stopped her by wrapping my arm around her and pulling her to my chest where she wept.
"No one," I stroked her hair, "will ever take you away from me while I still breathe."
I sensed the Little Fox hiding against the doorway out of sight.
"That goes for the both of you," I said loud enough for her to hear.
Nyx followed my gaze toward the empty doorway where Ashe sheepishly stepped out of hiding with her hands behind her.
She gave a heartfelt chuckle upon seeing her counterpart acting in such a way after months of being with us and gestured for her to come forward.
I took a moment to peek at Nyxis' left ear where that Vaniel bastard clipped it before smiling at Ashe who pressed her lips against mine.
Though there was an age gap between us, it was my duty to act the part of a husband at first but I found myself drawn to her like how my feelings toward Nyxis were.
They belonged to me and I to them without hesitation.
"Now then," I muttered after a few seconds of enjoying the peace, "if I do accept to tag along and pretend to be interested in what happens on the Isles then we have to discuss a few things."
Both women looked at the other before nodding with a joint shout, "Okay!"
I waited until both had taken the two chairs in front of the desk before bringing light to my inner concerns.
The first issue that needed to be figured out was the reasoning for the undulating shadows witnessed during the interaction between Nefari and the Magistrate.
A simple solution was that they knew full and well what the sorry sop had intended when gaining the aid of the Dökkálfar.
My gut, however; told me that such a simple solution wasn't the true extent of what was going on behind locked doors.
This feeling was strengthened by how those Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar worked together in an attempt to kill me with the ballista.
Nyxis asked the question I knew was on her mind, "Was my father one of them?"
I shook my head, "No, Nefari knocked him out for insubordination or something of the matter."
"The shifting shadows," Ashe asked with a puzzled look, "how reliable are they Mongrel?"
I smiled, "They are often more right than wrong."
"That being said," I sighed, "it is very wise to wait for more precise information to arise before acting upon mere assumption."
Ashe gave the biggest smile as if a revelation happened, "Is that why you claimed me as yours?"
Returning the smile, "I'm afraid that assumption isn't fully correct."
She began to pout but smiled once more, "You did it without thinking, didn't you?"
A sly grin was enough to please her mind which allowed our talk to continue further on the issue at hand.
"Nyx," I gazed into her emerald eyes, "I truly believe we should decline especially after this little stunt your father tried to pull."
I raised my hand when she tried to interrupt, "However, if you truly are determined to go then I will not hinder you."
Nyx's words were lost when Veronica stormed in calling me, "Brother!!!"
She practically ran the short distance to stand between Nyxis and Ashe, "I think we should accept this opportunity."
Her face became a mask of confusion when I started laughing after a moment, "What's funny?"
"Veronica," Nyxis answered, "your brother just agreed to accept the invitation under my request."
Veronica turned to face me, "That makes things all the more easier especially since finding out what House Nefari belongs too."
My eyes went wide, "You don't mean…"