In a small shed, a man who looked to be in his mid thirties was busy setting up his farm tools. His dark turned grey hair did contrast with his young looking age.
A young lady, who was his housemaid, was busy cleaning up. The sounds of objects moving and clanging against the wall, as he sang and whistled, completely drowned out the sound of knocking on his front door.
"He's not answering, are you sure he's home?" Kiyan asked.
"I am sure. Where would he go so early in the morning when he's expecting us?" Agnar replied, knocking a bit louder this time.
"For once I show some politeness and not barge in, he keeps me waiting. Open this door you old varmint!"
Walking into his home through the backdoor, he heard the sound of knocking, followed by yelling.
"Old varmint?" The man wondered and hurried to the front door.
*Knock, knock...
"I'm coming!" He answered and walked up to the door. Pulling the door open, he stared at the man in front of him. He had red hair and brown eyes. Not a feature he recognized.
"How may I help you?" He asked.
"You can start by letting us in. I believe you told us to pay a visit." The man spoke and his appearance changed.
"Agnar." The man gasped. A smile appeared on his face.
"I should punish you for keeping me outside this long." Agnar returned his smile.
"Good morning, Sir." Coming out from behind Agnar, Raten and Kiyan greeted the man. They held onto their bags.
"Are they...?" The grey man looked up at Agnar who nodded confirming his hanging question.
"My goodness. Time sure flies. They're all grown up now," Demas said and pulled on their cheeks. Irritated, they slapped his hand off. Their cousin looked at them amused.
"Are we going to keep standing here?" Agnar asked.
"Oh, pardon me. Please come in." He apologized.
"Boys, this is your cousin, Demas." Agnar introduced the man to his sons as they sat.
"They look so much like their mother." Demas smiled at Agnar.
"Really? This is what she looked like ?" Kiyan grabbed Raten's face in his hands, squishing it a bit.
"You see them after eleven years and choose to lie to them," Agnar lay back on the chair.
"They do have her eyes, and I don't see you having white hair," Demas said.
"Tch."
"Let go of my face." Raten slapped Kiyan's hands away.
Demas chuckled at the brothers.
"Playful, I see. Which one of you is Raten?" Agnar asked.
"I am Raten," he answered with a smile. "He's Kiyan. I'm taller than he is." Raten pointed at his brother.
"No, you're not!" Kiyan furrowed his eyebrows.
"I am glad you agreed to come." Demas said to Agnar.
"I figured it was about time we met up again. They also needed to get away from there. I do have a lot of reasons to be here." Agnar said in a serious tone, looking over at his sons who were busy pulling each other's hair.
Demas began wondering if something had happened. To be frank, more than anything, he would be surprised if they had been living peacefully.
"Anyway, you are welcome to my humble abode." Demas beamed with a smile. "You all must be tired from your journey. Why don't you all freshen up first, then we can have a meal together?"
"That would be nice. I, for one, am very tired." Raten yawned. Kiyan shook his head at his brother.
"Well then, let me show you up to your rooms." Demas stood signalling they should move with him. "Marie!" He called for his house help as they all sat.
"Yes, my lord?" She answered. Rushing into the living room was a fair lady with curly blond hair and blue eyes. She had on a purple dress and a scarf over her head.
"Bring the bags of my guests, no, family, up to their rooms. After which you prepare a bath for them" He said and began climbing the stairs.
Marie gave a little bow at his orders
"Leave the bags, we'll take them." Agnar said, picking up the bags.
Marie went ahead to prepare a bath for them.
Climbing up the stairs, Agnar looked over to Demas and said. "I didn't know we had reserved rooms."
"Since the first day I sent you a letter, I kept two rooms ready for whenever you would visit." Demas said. They reached the second floor of his house.
"Here we are." He said, "This room belongs to you, Agnar. For you boys, this room is yours." He pointed at two doors beside each other.
The twins began fighting over the door knob. One wanted to get into the room before the other.
"Enough of that!" Walking over to them, Agnar thumped their heads and opened the door. "Get in." He said and they did.
"I hope you enjoy your stay here." Demas said with a smile.
"I hope you don't mind bickering and squabbling." Agnar gave a smile of his own, as he patted his shoulder.
"I had children as well, Agnar." Demas replied.
"I was actually worried you would show up alone. Thank Heavens you didn't carry out your plan in despair." Demas said.
"It would be a lie if I said it never happened. But not by my hands."
Agnar walked into his room and looked at the decor. The decor was quite fancy. Demas' tastes. It was spacious as well.
But, there were only two things about the room he really liked - the king sized bed, and the study table in the corner that already had different books and journals written by Zack Silverstone about the 'Pre-generation'.
In the boys room, Kiyan lay flat on his back on the bed, while Raten stood looking out the window.
"Come look at this." Raten called out to his brother.
"No, thank you. I would rather lay down. This bed is huge!" Kiyan said, rolling from side to side. "It's very comfortable."
"You are really lazy." Raten sighed.
"You take that back." Kiyan sat up on the bed.
"I will not. You are lazy, and that's the truth."
"Why, you!"
"Hold it right there." Agnar said as he walked in. "Why do you always look for a fight?"
"He started it." Kiyan pointed at his brother. Raten rolled his eyes.
"Here are your clothes." He dropped their bags on the floor. "Put them where they are meant to be. Your baths will be ready soon, I don't want any silly fights or squabbling until then. Understood?"
"Yes father." They said, one after the other.
Agnar then left the room.