Terra's POV
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When Mom asked me to go and get some stuff for Jack I left in a hurry towards the kitchen. I knew my parents didn't want me to hear the conversation with Jack.
When I reached the kitchen I opened the door quickly and came face to chest with one of the Maids. "Oh hello, Miss Terra. Is there a problem?"
I stepped back and spoke, "There is no problem but Jackson has woken up I am here to get him some food and water."
She looked at me with surprise and bent over to my eye level. "Ok, I understand. If you give me a minute I will gather some things for him and we can bring them up together. Ok?"
I nodded and said, "Thank you."
the maid started to make some sandwiches, grabbed an apple a pitcher of water and a glass, placed them on a tray and we started to walk back to my room where Jack was.
On our way, we saw a man hiding around a corner looking down the hall to my room.
He looked to be around 60 years old. He had slicked back salt and pepper hair, wore a black suit and walked with a cane but didn't seem to need it.
When he noticed us I saw a look of surprise that quickly turned to... disdain. He stood up straight, nodded to us and walked away.
He looked familiar but I can't remember who he is. I knew he wasn't an intruder but didn't know why he was there.
"Who was that?" I asked the maid.
When I saw her face she had a look of worry but she quickly hid it. "a member of a branch family Miss Terra. It's nothing you should concern yourself with." she said with a smile.
I knew she was lying about that last part.
We continued and reached my room. When we got there I heard Jack wailing in sorrow, it broke my heart hearing that. He is my younger cousin should be there to help him.
I opened the door and ran over to Jack hugged him and tried to console him but nothing worked.
When I looked at my parents they looked down and I saw that Mom was crying too and Dad was holding back tears. I could feel tears in my eyes as I had overheard that the thorn branch was destroyed when my parents got the message.
We all sat there for a few minutes, even and, we all calmed down, jack was quiet but still crying.
Mom came over to me placed a hand on my shoulder and said "Let's leave Jack alone for now. He needs some time to himself."
I nodded let go of Jack and let him lie down.
when we left the room I saw that the maid that came with me was still waiting in the hall holding the tray for Jack. "oh I'm sorry." I said sheepishly
"It's alright Miss Terra. That isn't easy for anyone when loved ones pass on. If it's alright may I bring this in for him."
Dad nodded holding Mom's hand and said "Leave it in the room, and please do not disturb Jack."
The maid nodded and opened the door but before she entered she took a step back and closed it, turned around and said to Mom "Apologize madam but I nearly forgot to mention that your uncle is here."
Mom looked at her with confusion but nodded to the maid "Ok. Do you know where he is?"
"No sorry Madam. It was when I and Miss Terra were walking here when we saw him... 'standing' around the corner of the hall down there. Miss Terra saw him and can explain more if you need." She said and pointed down the hall then at me.
"Ok please continue and please let the other servants know that he is here and that if Jack leaves this room, either I or Erik should be notified at once and under no circumstances should Michael be allowed to speak with Jackson," Mom told the maid in a stern voice.
The maid nodded and entered the room.
We walked away from my room. While walking Dad asked me where we saw the man, apparently my uncle, and I showed them where he was and told them how he acted.
when they heard my explanation we headed to the dining room
When we reached there Mom and Dad both looked around checking if anyone was in there. Then when they didn't see anyone, sat down on chairs and gestured for me to sit down as well.
When I was seated Mom spoke up first. "Terra sweety. I know this is a lot for you right now but you must listen to us. Jack is not in a good place right now so can we rely on you to make sure he is ok?"
I nodded but curiosity got the better of me "I will but what will happen to him now and who is this Michael?"
They both looked at me and then at each other with smiles on their faces.
"Always the caring one," Dad Said
Mom nodded and said turning to me. "First Jack will most likely move in here as has no other family and sending him to an orphanage would be one of the worst things I could ever do to Alex's son," I could hear a pang of sadness in her voice.
"He is young so we will take over schooling him and I will bring in someone who can help Jack... talk about what happened," Dad said.
"We will raise him like are doing with you. I know he has the same views on nobility as Alex doe... as Alex did but it is the best option." Mom said, almost chocking on her words
"we will head to Thornbranch in a few days and prepare things for the village. If Jack wants to come we won't stop him but can you keep an eye on him for us Terra?"
"Sure," I said
Mom sighed and looked down with annoyance on her face and Dad looked uncomfortable. Then Mom spoke. "Now as for Michael well... Michael is my father's younger brother and my uncle, your great uncle. He is the head of one of the branch families.
Unfortunately, he holds great resentment towards us as it was my father who became the head of the house instead of him. Then Father made me, an idiotic woman and her 'tree-hugger' husband, to put it in Michael's words, take over after he passed away." Mom said with anger and annoyance in her voice.
Dad then spoke up "Michael is angry we took over the house and hates our entire side of the family, and that includes Alex, Draven and Jack. He has come over only 3 times in the past 20 years. We don't know why he is here now but considering he was trying to hide while watching your room means that he likely knows where Jack is, and knowing him he may try and manipulate Jack and use him to hurt us."
"Does he hate us that much?" I asked astonished at how my uncle might act.
"Sadly yes and nothing we do will change that." Mom said
we all sat there for a minute thinking when a question popped into my head "If he hates us so much could he have been related to the Orcs attacking Thornbranch?"
Both of them looked at me with shock in their eyes but thought about it.
After another minute Mom spoke up. "No, he hates us but not as much as Orcs. He thinks they all are just brutes that either don't deserve or can't understand talking to intelligent people."
"Well then by that standard he should have no problem talking to them directly." Dad joked
Mom chuckled hearing that joke and continued "Besides, he is the kind of person who truly believes that if you want something done right you have to do it yourself."
"Ok," I responded pushing the thought out of my mind.
We continued to talk about what would happen with Jack staying here and our plans for when we left for the thorn branch when someone barged into the dining room.
"Alex, Miranda whichever one of you is still alive get these people off me," Michael shouted when he entered the room with several maids standing behind him. They must have been trying to keep him away.
"Michael you haven't been here in over 7 years. Most of them don't know who you are or how you got in, so excuse them for trying to keep us safe until they can confirm who you are!" Mom said in a stern voice while Dad quickly walked me out not wanting me to hear the conversation.
We waited a little but away giving them space and avoiding getting caught in the crossfire. While waiting we could hear yelling and someone kept banging on something.
After around an hour Michael left the room following a maid and we went back in to check on Mom.
When we entered we saw Mom sitting on a chair leaning over onto the table in exhaustion.
"Is everything ok? What was all the noise?" I asked
"It is Terra, he is just infuriating to deal with. he has demanded a place to stay for the next few days."
"His wife caught him cheating with a maid and kicked him out."
"He said he would leave in a few days but knowing him the timing and story is too suspicious. Sadly I can't kick him out as that would look bad and he could expose secrets we don't want others to know."
She sighed "For now we will just have to endure, I have posted guards outside his room to escort him everywhere he goes. Hopefully, he won't cause trouble."