I smiled, "I'm Isarial. I hope you call me a friend in the future."
"We'll see. You keep proving to be useful, I doubt I'll have a problem with that." Dean replied.
With that, we separated, Plight and I to go home for dinner, and Dean to look over those papers and distribute the coins secretly. As soon as we entered the house, Marie was waiting and notified us that it was dinner time. I went to the dining room and Plight went to where he ate. James and Dirthin were already in the diningroom and waiting on me.
"I met Dean and Nafan today." I said, taking a seat.
"Sounds like you've had a productive day, then." James replied.
"Yup. Very. I think I'll stay in tomorrow. Am I allowed to continue training?" I asked.
"Yes, you may. And I have plans." Uncle said, grinning.
"That's scary." I said, then grinned, "I caused some trouble for someone. Well, two people."
"And who might you have caused problems for?" James asked patiently.
"Denoir and Miran." I replied.
"As long as it can't be traced back to you, then it's fine. And of it is, I'll prepare a squad." James said.
"Hmm. I won't be ratted out by the information broker. He's good about that. If it's heard I said something, Denoir would just make petty comments or try and have me kidnapped." I shrugged.
"I'll prepare a squad just in case. I won't deploy them, just in case, but I'll have them deployed." James said.
"Oberly cautious, I'd say. But that's ok." I said. "A surprise guard inspection may occur. I had Plight recommend it after pretending to be a silly kid talking nonsense."
"Talking nonsense about what?" James asked.
"Seeing a guard taking money from Denoir, though I called him a fat man and didn't act like I knew who it was. I acted like Plight had just taught me about bribes since Haril joked about giving him and Simon cookies being a bribe." I told him. "I told the Silver shilling that his brother's deal is going to be busted. Mainly because I informed the thieves guild about the deal and it's location."
"My oh my, you have had a productive day." James said.
"I figure Denoir will kill off the mercenary that's supposed to rob the gold shilling guy. Since they'll fail." I told him. "If I remember correctly he hasn't fixed his extreme impulsiveness yet."
"No, he has definitely not. Sometimes I feel like he is driven by impulse alone." James said.
"Is it bad that the thing I'm most anxious about is the high probability that Snow will be over protective of me?" I asked. "I keep trying to figure out ways to get things I want to do done once she's here."
"Do you believe she will have that much power over you?" James asked.
"If she likes me, yes." I said. "Cause she's a motherly sort. I'm not good with those. She's also really good at catching people being sneaky."
"She sounds like your natural predator in the wild." James said.
"She is a Leonin." I joked.
"This is giving me training ideas." Dirthin said.
"She'd probably help you." I said. "I don't know her very well from this reality."
"There's no reason to ponder pointless possibilities." James said.
"Pointless possibilities?" I asked.
"It is far more efficient to deal in facts." James replied.
"Hmm. I guess." I responded. "I don't even know how I should behave with my Mom."
"That is something no one will have the answer to until it happens." James said.
"Guess so. I got other things to think about. I'd still like to forcefully invite Nafan here for a bit." I said.
"We could have him for an invitation tonight." James said.
"Alright. I'm sure I managed to catch his curiousity." I said. "Is there other languages I should learn?"
"Which languages do you currently know?" James asked.
"Mm. Abyssal, Celestial, Draconic, Dwarvish, Elvish, Giant, Goblin, Halfling, Infernal, Primordial, Quori, Sylvan, and Undercommon. Well, obviously Common, too." I listed them.
"Knowing Gnomish and the Orc languages can help. Not explicitly needed, though." James replied.
"I can learn that, then." I said. "Snow taught me most of those languages while I was in the other reality. I was too busy to learn in this one."
"By the sounds of everything you're trying to do, it doesn't sound like you'll have time to do it in this one." James noted.
"Well, there isn't much I can accomplish easily right now. So I have some time." I told him.
"Then what else will you do to kill some time? Since you already know so many languages, I imagine it won't take long to learn a couple more." James asked.
"Train my body and hone my skills." I said. "And when applicable I'll try to be a good big brother. I didn't have a close relationship with Vincent before."
"Yes, you're other soon to be kidnap victim." James said.
"He's got four years to be born." I replied. "Unless keeping my mom from being the champion changes things."
"Is that something you want to risk?" He asked.
"I think as long as they divorce it'll be fine. I don't know the circumstances of Vincent's birth. Neither does Vincent." I said.
"Then you'll simply have to try and see." James said.
I nodded. We'd finished up dinner now. Dirthin headed out to ensure everything was going to.go fine. James and I went to his office. I started writing out things that will occur in twelve years. Only the things I was actively aware of, anyways. There was a lot to make note of.
After getting to the events of the Capital I got frustrated and stopped writing. So much had happened that year, and all of it frustrated me. I'd also matured greatly by the end of that year. And grown exponentially stronger than when I'd left the Capital that year. It was frustrating going from being capable of killing dragons to being incapable of doing much more than talk and write.
I'd chosen this path, though. So I was going to see it through. I didn't see an alternative, anyways. Trying to squash my frustration I returned to writing. Once I finished writing the events of that year, I brought it to James. I'd included his death, Uncles two deaths, Snow's and my own.
"I will have to keep in mind to stay away from these Death Knights." James commented after looking over the paper.
"That's all I know from those twelve years." I told him.
"Then I will put this information to good use." James said.
I nodded as his office door opened and a few people entered. One reported their task complete as a scared looking Nathan was deposited inside the office, and the people stepped out.
Nathan glanced around the room. He spotted me in the process. "This was not what I was expecting. At least I understand what's happening."
"What's happening?" I parroted him, tilting my head as if confused.
"Did you not bring me here to talk?" Nathan asked, confusion on his face.
I smiled, "I didn't, no. But Dad brought you since I said I wanted to make a friend of you. So we can talk if you want to."
"Wait.. you kidnapped me to befriend me? Do umderstand how little since that makes to me." Nathan replied.
"Well, your father has an imaginary rivalry with my Dad." I said. "So aside from breaking into your room, there isn't any good ways to get to talk to you, and this way no one reports to your father."
"Ah, well, that's true. He does very much dislike Mr. Hearthry for some supposed slight against him." Nathan commented.
"Yeah, it's just because Leonin don't bow to social hierarchies and your father thinks he's better than the king. He doesn't like commoners stepping out of the dirt and grime to become power houses." I shrugged. "But that's not how you are. You see people similarly as I do. Not one is better than the other, especially not due to luck of birth or appearance."
"Well, it's not a very popular opinion apparently. I hope to fix that one day." Nathan said.
"You won't." I said directly, gesturing for him to sit, and taking a seat myself. "Your ideals are unobtainable as you are now. You need someone like me to turn them into achievable ideas."
"I'm sorry, but you're younger than even I am. How can you help me do this?" Nathan asked.
"Unlike the 'Dreamy Eyed Prince Charming of the Denoir family, I can gain the trust of the slums people. I also have the motivation and drive to rid myself and you of anyone who'd stab you in the back. Incidentally, I also have schematics and policies for a city to be built and I know where to build it and who should be approached with the plans." I told him. "Your ideals are attractibe to soft hearted people. But without me, you'll be betrayed."
Nathan looked at James, accusation in his eyes, "What have you done to this boy to where he can think in such a way?"
"I would remind you whose home you sit in when you ask your questions, young man. I have done nothing to him. His mind has developed extremely quickly in a brief amount of time. His determination is also his own and I do believe he will do all these things and more if he truly wishes to help you." James said.
"Nafan, my differences are because of myself, and not my Dad. I have a weird monster in my body, and it has a lot of memories. It's called a Quori." I told him. "It's from the place nightmares come from. Though Dad did teach me to read and write. That's besides the point."
"Alright, alright, so do you have some sort of plan? Because if you're waiting on me.. it'll be a bit." Nathan said.
"I am waiting for you to be old enough to be listened to." I said, smiling. "Children are cute and speak nonsense, but once your old enough we'll use Denoir's lands to enact my plans. Though, I will listen to your input."
"Well then, this was a very interesting way for a first meeting." Nathan said.
"You should keep yourself armed. Even though you're nine. Uncle Dirthin's training me." I grinned, "We should discuss a continued way to meet that won't catch your second big brother's attention. You're very watched at home. And unlike me, you'll be in danger if your father realizes what's going on."
"Well, it would seem kid Appling is a solid plan." Nathan said.
"You're still a nobles son. If you get used to it, someone who means you harm may succeed easily." I pointed out, thinking. "Is your room set up to detect magic usage in it?"
"It's set up to detect harmful magic, yes." Nathan said.
"Hmm. We can test it." I said, hopping up and starting to draw a glyph. "Lucky for you, my wish was to know the glyph of wherever I wished to go."
"You've managed to do a wish? That sounds pretty cool." Nathan said.
"If you have a wish to make, I'll hear it once." I replied. "You can think on it, and if it's something I can fulfill, I might. Otherwise, I'll give you a doll that could."
"Other than changing the entire mentality of my family, I don't have one at the moment." Nathan said.
"I mean I could torture them or drive them mad, but I definitely can't change base personalities." I said, finishing the glyph, and offering it to him. "Think you can memorize that? Out of caution you can't keep that."
"One moment." He said, staring at it intently and tracing it with his fingers. "Yes, I have it memorized."
"It's the simplest one I know. It'll take you to the entrance room of the Hearthry Estate. So be sure to erase it." I told him. "Glyphs take strong will or magic to activate."
"Well, I don't think I have any magic, but I do have strong will." He said.
I reached up and patted his head, "I know you do, Nafan. You're a really good boy."
"I feel conflicted about this current action. I'm happy with the praise, but you're much younger than me." Nathan said.
"Yes. I'm four." I smiled. "You can use the glyph if you're in danger or if you want to talk with me. I'm not very healthy yet so I'll usually be home. Just might be training with Uncle. Be weary of Mason. He's a mole."
"I had my suspicions, but I never... Hah. It's good to know. I can use him now." Nathan said.
"I'd recommend so, an enemy you keep close is sometimes the best pet." I replied.
"I've never had the desire to play this part of the political game. But sometimes it's necessary." Nathan said.
"Hm. Think of it as a business deal instead. Sometimes it's good to chat up competitor's so that you know what the rest of the businessmen are up to." I suggested. "Rather than social standing and defining power and allegiances, it may be easier to see it as even."
"Just a large game of chess, only people die." Nathan said.
"Death is a natural result of life." I said. "Especially for people who aren't Nobility."
"I think you underestimate how much it takes to keep a noble alive." Nathan said.
"Nah. Realistically as long as they are smart and politically strong their lives are nearly guaranteed. They could live happily in their own lands. However, the nobles here clump together where assassination attemps are easy. And then one in particular causes friction with everyone, making himself and his four sons prime targets." I detailed.
"Yes and one son in particular isn't sheltered." Nathan said.
I patted his shoulder gently. "Have you considered renouncing your family name? The Desquin's are childless, and you're a kind child, so they'd likely take you in."
"The Denoir name has been nothing but a detriment to everything I wish to do. But they are also petty." Nathan replied.
"The Desquin's are higher in status." I pointed out. "But you also aren't wrong. I suppose you could bribe your father with information about me. I'm safe regardless."
"With enough of a payday I am sure they'd write me off. Whether it's gold or information, they'd bite." Nathan said glumly.
"I was worth six hundred thirty four gold, so I can empathize with that." I replied.
"If I had known he wasn't going to pay, I would not have let him go so easily." James commented. "It never even crossed my mind that he would have left you as payment."
"I know. But you were thinking of me as family to that man. He did not. He didn't want a child, and if he did, he didn't want a crybaby that got sick all the time and whined for their mom. He also didn't want to deal with me." I shrugged. "Which is fine, because now I can be useful."
"Its not about being useful, you said you wanted family. Family is not always useful, but they are family none the less." James said.
I smiled and said, "Yup, I wanted to be Dad's son." I patted Nathan's arm, wanting to comfort him. "I could obtain a monster to live in your place, you know."
"That may be amusing as long as it's not a rampaging kind. There are some good people in that house." Nathan said.
"You really are a gentle child." I replied. "If I could organize it, where would you want to stay?"
"I'm not sure. I've never had a safe place to go." Nathan said.
I leaned my head back, mulling that over. There were several options. One in particular would make it incredibly easy to have a safe place to converse with him. And then a safer spot clicked in my head. "Well, it wouldn't be difficult to obtain a safe place."
"What did you have in mind?" Nathan asked.
"There's a keep in the mountains nearby flooded with monsters. Easy enough to clear out and fix up. Room enough to turn it into a second East Haven. Or, there's the Mansion near Dueling Rivers, which is the safest place possible for the owner." I told him.
"Hmm, safety or a place to start. I'll need to think on this." Nathan said.
I got down and approached James, "Can I have the city papers, please?"
"Here you are," James said, handing them to me, "They are yours, after all."
"Thank you." I said, turning and approaching Nathan with them. "The Mansion is right next to where I intended to build Hearthstone Town, a city where the disadvantaged can gain an upper hand and foster their talents while kids get schooling." I handed him the policy papers and the city over view drawing. "However, there is no reason that Vasilios' lands can't be developed as well."
"This is alot, I'm not even sure about everything I'm looking at." Nathan said.
"Tell me where you're having difficulties and I can help you." I told him. So, we spent some time going over the policies and I explained them in simpler ways, so a child could understand. He was a smart boy, anyways.
"My head is absolutely swimming. There's so much to think about and it would take so much to do." Nathan said.
"Nah. It's easy. There's a big ol' cat that'll love to help with this. His name is Jaden. He's a tiger Tabaxi. He's got the funds, we've got the vision and policy and Alberich, the Dwarf, has the workers." I told him, smiling brightly. "And I have Plight who can help us be taken seriously, and my family to protect us if someone gets too big for their britches."
"I feel I should rent your Uncle to you." James commented.
"It's ok. I could always.." My words trailed off. "Could I?" I frowned, thinking, "It could be interesting to ask a gold dragon to protect the town. Or an obsidian one."
"You know dragons?! Two of them?!" Nathan said, shocked.
"Sort of. I know of them. Technically, I know where eight dragons are. Five of them are ebil, one is a jerk, another is crazy." I answered.
"Then I don't want to meet a lot of those dragons. A lot of them sound not good." Nathan said.
"Yup. The gold dragon is a patient lady." I said. "The old gold dragon is magically sleeping, and can stay that way."
"So there is only one dragon that would be ok to meet?" Nathan asked. "I want to meet a dragon at one point."
"Doesn't everyone?" I asked. "The only one I could get to do as I want right now is the crazy obsidian one."
"I don't know if that speaks well of you, or how crazy it is." Nathan replied.
"Neither do I." I admitted with a big yawn.
Nathan yawned, "It's getting rather late. If someone could reverse kidnap me, that would be most helpful."
"I can drawn the glyph to send you to your room. If it's dangerous, come straight back. If it's fine, erase it." I said, setting the papers down and heading for the door. I waved Nathan to follow, "Good night, Dad."
"Good night, son." James said, as we left his office.
In the main room of the Hearthry Estate, I drew a glyph to Nathan's bedroom and activated it. He headed through and the glyph winked out. I immediately headed to bed after that. Collapsing into bed, I fell asleep straight away.
When I woke in the morning, I bathed and got ready for breakfast. James had taken to taking a light meal and his coffee in the dining room with me, as had Uncle. It was funny how they changed their mornings due to my request to be a family. But it also hurt my feelings a little.
It drove home how my behavior and unacceptance of them had led to the way they treated me. I had been an obedient child that voiced no complaints. If I'd opened up to them, would it have been like this at all? It did no good dwelling on it.
Uncle informed me that his morning was going to be busy, but after lunch the training would begin, for as long as I could handle it. So, I had to figure out what to do in the meanwhile. I decided to draw, since there wasn't much else for me to do. James was being far to protective to allow me to do any jobs currently.
So, I went to James' office with him. Plight brought a book to read and sit with me. I didn't mind, we both got lonely easily. That's how we were, Dad reading reports, Plight reading, and me drawing a picture of Wren as a dragon, when Archimedes arrived.
"Welcome, Archimedes. To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?" Dad asked.
Archimedes looked at me and said, "What, you didn't tell him? Should I tell him? Cause I'll tell him."
"If it's about Snow, he was made aware. But social visits are always welcome." I replied.
"Ah, well, sorry, not a social visit. Mission accomplished." He said, placing an weird, nearly cursed, looking doll in my hands.
"So, this is what trapped her? With her odd taste, I just know she thought this was cute." I commented, looking at the doll.
"Do be careful, there are several loose strings on that and only one let's her out." Archimedes said.
"Which?" I asked, looking up at him.
He pointed at one at the end of the doll's left hand. "That. Pull that and she's out."
"Oh, thank you, Archimedes." I smiled at him.
"It was part of the deal." He said.
"I haven't found any of your stars yet. I've been looking." I told him.
"Well, if they were easy to find, I would have probably forgotten to find them myself, to be fair." Archimedes said.
I looked at the doll again. James approached as well, looking at the doll. "So this is what contains her?" Dad asked. "Should we go somewhere for this?"
"I don't know. She's probably going to be frazzled regardless of where, because 'when' is eight years later." I told him.
"Hoh, this is true." He sighed. "So I suppose a comfortable environment would be best for her."
"Like what?" I asked.
"Maybe the library at the estate." James suggested.
"Maybe. The Naga guards her confiscated sword and armor at the mansion she worked at." I said, "So only gotta watch her claws and spells."
"The n... wha- we'll get to that in a moment." James said, Flustered. Then he muttered, "Naga, geeze."
So, we all took a trip to the Hearthry Estate's library. Once everyone was settled, the string was pulled and light filled the room, condensing until Snow's form was revealed, standing still. She wore a red and black sleeveless outfit that hugged her body like a second skin. It's stark contrast to her white fur was stunningly beautiful.
Her expression went from curious, to wide eyed with ears flat back as she realized that her blink had taken her somewhere exceptionally different. She attempted to repress her emotions, but this situation had her stressed. She put on a bright smile, though her ears were still back and her tail was fluffed up. "Well, no idea where this is, but hello, gentlemen."
James took a step forward, "As hard to believe as it will be, you are safe. Have a seat, and we will talk."
Her tail lashed back and forth before she squinted her eyes at Dad, slightly. Probably noting his similarities to his birth father. "Not entirely hard to believe. I can just make the worst of you dance."
I snorted and started laughing at her threat, knowing it was a real thing she could do. She'd looked at me and after a moment, while my laughter calmed down, she sat.
"As I am positive you could, I haven't worked on my foot work in years, so I'd rather not." Dad replied to her.
"Less of a dance and more of an awkward seizure, really." She commented. "But if the kid's laughing, it's probably not.a serious situation."
"It is thanks to this child that you have been release from your.. what have we called it? Time prison?" Dad asked.
"Techically not a prison, she was always going to be released. Just not yet." Archimedes pointed out.
"Time warp? Time skip? Time jump?" I suggested.
Snow was listening to us, placantly, her only discomfort being shown in the tension between her ears.
James raised his hand and said, "Alright. Isarial, if you would break it down for her, I feel she wants some answers."
"How much should I say?" I asked.
"Anything to help her come to terms with what she's been through, and where she is." James said.
"How bout tell me the relevant things directly? Where, why, how." Snow suggested.
"I can't tell you Azerime's reasoning. I do know he used the doll to send you to the time when you would be most needed. Which was September of 872. Why? And how were you needed? No clue. That's just what I was told. As to why you're here, in the Hearthry Estate, I wanted to let you out so you could meet my Dad sooner." I told her bluntly. "The Estate is located in the Capital. Alex shouldn't be missing anymore, soon, and Marshall is dead. Alex's old group killed him days after you went missing."
"Alex was missing?" She asked.
"Yup. Went missing during the last fight against the Orc Chieftain." I replied.
"Oh right. There had been a war against them." Snow commented. "Then what's the importance to my meeting your father?"
"Well, I don't know if you'll like each other this time, but in year 872 you two were dating. My dad is James Hearthry, not that any of us have introduced ourselves." I said, then pointed to each person, saying their names, including her.
"What year is it now? I have to assume you've traversed time as well." Snow replied, clearly ignoring what I'd told her about James.
"Sort of. When I returned to this reality, I asked to be returned to the beginning of my time as a Hearthry. It's year 860 currently." I told her.
"So I've lost eight years." Snow said.
"That's one way to look at it. Or, another, you didn't have to sit through eight years." Archimedes pointed out.
Snow looked at him for a moment and said, "Sure." Then looked at me, "I suppose I feel sympathetic towards you. Happy people don't choose to relive their early childhood. I sure as hell wouldn't."
"... I can't argue that." I replied. "But my returning like this can save multiple lives and improve the lives those that I care for."
She blinked and said, "From an older person that would be admirable. From such a little child, it's adorable." She looked at James, "How did you raise this child for him to choose to come back this far?"
"I wish I could say I did. But apparently, I wasn't much of a father. It's something I hope I can do better at." Dad told her.
"As for your suspicions.. You both are from the same clan. Uncle isn't home currently, but he will be soon." I said. "Dad is one of twins born the day you all were abandoned."
"Right. They were abandoned in the Capital." Snow said, remembering the day. "Guess you two got lucky and cared for, then?"
"In a way. But we were also abandoned again, and yet constantly monitored." Dad replied.
Snow shrugged a little and said, "You didn't miss anything by not being a part of the clan, I'd say."
"From what I've heard of it, that is indeed the case. Foolish fighting." James said.
Snow glanced at Plight. Plight gave an awkward smile in return. She looked back at Dad and I. "I'll admit, I'm having a bit of difficulty resuming my usual demeaner."
"Then I must apologize. I don't think we could help you with that. As I understand it, your usual demeanor is a cover." James said.
She arched a brow, then said, "Suppose so, yeah. By my experience people are less likely to bother you, and more likely to be manipulated if you act cute and cuddly."
"That is not a ploy I have ever been able to get myself to use. I had wanted to at a younger age, but if my wit couldn't sway them or my brother couldn't break them, then we just took what we wanted." James said.
"You can't get away with such an act if you're obvious that you're intelligent." Snow chided him. "You have to be the cute little dumb fool towards everyone if you're gonna try."
"Haah, yes. Another impossibility. My mother would have had my hide if I tried such. I quite like my pelt where it is." James told her.
"Uncle doesn't show his intelligence. He's really smart." I pointed out. "He just likes to hit things."
"Yes. But we are not going to tell him we know that." James said.
"Has anyone seen through your act, Snow Den?" I asked.
"Hmm. Yes. Alex did. But even with that, I often still tricked him." Snow said.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah. He's perceptive with people, but also highly empathetic. He falls for it all the time." Snow said. "He occasionally called me on it."
"You're fine that you can't use that tactic on us?" I asked.