First week of May, Hecatrix Manor's pool area, Helena was sitting at the table by the pool wearing a rainbow beach coat and a black bathing suit with gold scorpion accents, she was on top, the weather had been kind with her, the matriarch was drinking whiskey, and suddenly Tristan arrives, wearing white shorts and a tropical-print short-sleeved button-down shirt, accompanying Queen Aria and her husband.
Artorius Talon-Gallard, 62 years old, consort king of Celestia, his eyes were green, his hair blond and medium, his skin tanned; an illustrious and well-preserved figure, he was a colonel in the common army, but retired after the end of the last war. He was wearing similar outfits to Tristan's.
Queen Aria was very beautiful in her two-piece pearlescent bikini with silver accents, she was another one that time was very kind.
– Old friend! It sucks to take the time, but you know how it is, you were once Grand Mistress, you know how crazy this world of ours is. – Aria laughed sitting down. – Tristan could see me a Gin, please, no ice. –
– Of course, queen! – Tristan. he went to get the queen's drink.
– I'll go with him, using the opportunity to get a beer. – Artorius said, he went with the stroikan.
– Anyone who looks at them doesn't even say they are who they are, an Ex-Colonel and an ex-stroikan spy, great friends… And yes Aria, I know how it is, I miss the weekly meetings with you… It was more gossip than everything. – Helena said.
– Of course, you made everything seem so easy that there was time, I still don't understand why you retired, you could be Grand Master even today. – Aria said.
– Ari, things are complicated, I stepped back because I felt that that boy, Astaroth, he had the trick, I've seen him since a neophyte there, he had what it takes, and Hecuba and the boys made my life a comic living hell for retirement, Otrera mainly, after the war, came to that other master mage of Scorpio, but the unfortunate one does me the favor of being killed by Kora'q terrorists. – Helena laughed, remembering the past.
– Remember 79 (1979)? During World War V, we drank until we dropped after the public celebrations after the victory at the Battle of Bygorn in Austrox, Emma and Hecuba were still small, we didn't even remember where we had gone to sleep the night before. – Aria reminded her nostalgic.
– Yes, and what the hell, if I stop to think about it, I went through three great world wars, only in the last century we had four, in the nineteenth century there were two, but towards the end, do you think this peace of ours will last? – Helena asked with a mixture of relaxation and a little regret.
– Honestly, Madame Stroika is working hard to make this not happen, but your daughter and the others are doing their best to keep the peace. - Aria said happily.
– Things have changed since the end of the war, before countries attacked countries, it was easy, now they are isolated groups, companies, terrorist teams, looking at it from this angle makes me wonder if it was all worth it. – Helena said drinking some more.
– Of course it was, my friend, of course it was, if it hadn't been for so much you've done in the past, there might not even have been a chance for Astaroth and the others to shine, my dear Twelve's Deadly Burning Sting. – Aria said putting her hand over Helena's.
– So long no one calls me that. – Helen laughed.
– You saved my life several times, I can only have gratitude, old friend. – Aria smiled stroking her friend's arm.
Tristan and Artorius arrived, the king consort had a large glass mug full of beer, and the stroiko brought a tray with two gins and another shot of whiskey and placed it on the table.
– That's what a son-in-law is, I already knew I was going to ask for another one. – Helena laughed taking the whiskey.
– For the best mother-in-law in the world, right. – Tristan laughed.
– I'm going to jump in this pool because this heat these days is killing. – Said Artorius who enters the pool leaving his glass on the edge.
– I still remember your wedding day, it was a beautiful party. – Helena remembered.
– It's the love of my life I can't deny, he gave me beautiful and wonderful children even if the character of the middle child is questionable... And you Tristan, missing the children? – Aria asked.
– Of course, usually in the afternoon when the boys didn't go to see Adam or Sandy we would hang around, go to the pool or I would help them with their chores, I remember the day they manifested ice magic, I was so happy, but it was difficult to help them without the magic. – Tristan laughed remembering the children when they were small and he helping them.
– We talked about it, I can decree the return of your powers. – Aria said.
– No need, queen, I'm fine without the powers, I like to be my mother-in-law's private bartender, and take care of the house, there's no need for powers, because I'm with my family, and soon I'll have two more members of the Royal Guard to protect me. – Tristan said that he always thought of his children.
– And really wonderful children, Margareth keeps Helena and I informed, the twins went down on a fight in sophomores a few weeks ago to defend a classmate, that's talent. – Aria commented.
– Otrera said something like that when she came to visit us, she seems to be quite busy. – Tristan commented.
– And you don't know your sister-in-law? It's Workhollic. – Helena said.
– Shall we go to the canasta? – Aria said, taking two golden decks from the folds of her beach gown.
– You never leave home without a deck of cards, since I've known you and look how long ago Tristan hadn't even dreamed of being born there in Stroika yet. – Helen laughed.
Artorius came out of the pool to go play, he was very well cared for, better than a very young 20 year old, he sat at the table with his mug and the Queen started shuffling the cards, then Hecuba arrived and went see movement in the pool, she was still wearing a suit and a baggy blouse underneath, she had just come from the courthouse.
– I come home from work and find the queen gambling with my husband and mother, it seems like a normal afternoon for the past thirteen years. – Hecuba laughed, who was already kissing her husband's cheek and sitting down and drinking some of his drink. – In health and illness, in vodka and gin, were our vows. –
– And how was the day, my dear? – Helena asked.
– Man, but that's what I like to do, today it was a case of a barracks that exploited some boys for prostitution, they got 40 years in prison, the judge wanted 20, but I convinced her for A plus B that they deserved 40 – Hecuba said lightly.
– No wonder they call you the Steel Prosecutor, and don't think the godmother forgot about you, your nomination to the Supreme Court is still on, it's just that you know how mages are, they live horribly and refuse to retire, but the next vacancy is yours and by merit. – Aria said proposing a toast.
– Godmother, thank you very much, and it really is in the judicial service that I found myself, the battles are with my sister. – Hecuba said with a smile of gratitude.
– But the talent and strength of a clan of warrior mages runs in your vein, you are very capable and you have already demonstrated it when the nation needed it. – Helena said.
– How good it is to have these moments, only old Herminio was missing, this man is missed. – Said Artorius.
– My late husband, he was such a good man, it's a shame he died when the twins were four... I wish we could be even closer like we used to, but Apollodro doesn't contribute. – Helena laughed dearly.
– It's my silly grandson's fault, he screwed up and now the two of them are getting together, if we could change these things, it was sad, Polo never wanted to go to the palace again. – Aria said.
– Over time they get right, now see if you won't steal from the canasta. – Helena said taking her cards.
– I? Stealing in the canasta? Never. – Aria laughed ironically.
– If I let her lose an entire first-rate streak, this one would outwit everyone in Poker too. – Remembered Artorius.
– The boys grappling at the Academy and us at gambling, but we've already done our part and a lot. – Helen laughed.
– Next month the final exams, right? Artemisia is chipped, I know her, she's going to suffer in the written exams. – Hecuba said he was just watching the game.
– And Polo will probably have some problem in the practical exams, but they will adjust. – Tristan commented.
And so the afternoon continued, while the youngsters were at the Academy and the master mages on missions, the older ones were enjoying their well-deserved rest, and the adults who were not connected with the Royal Guard fulfilling their roles as Hecuba in the judiciary and also those like Tristan who lived through the consequences of his acts of war, but he was certainly better off than many ex-agent of the stroikan empire. All went on with their lives, some reaping the rewards, others following other paths, and some paying for the past.