Summoner 17, page 11
Narissa offered me a brilliant smile and a small hug. We hadn’t had a chance to interact much with each other aside from the wedding, but Nia’s mother made me feel extremely comfortable.
Finally, Nia’s brother Nayveth greeted me as a brother would, and he grinned as he gave me a hug and slap on the back.
“How’s it going, Gryff?” the ashen-haired water elementalist asked, and his bright blue eyes were full of mirth.
Nayveth had been an integral part of my bachelor party, and the night had truly brought us together as friends.
“Going great, we’re glad you could make it.” I grinned back at Nayveth.
Nehra and Geheim arrived next with their son Nako in tow. Layla had answered the doorbell when it rang, and she squealed at the sight of baby Nako in Nehra’s arms.
“Hi, baby!” she greeted the infant, and Nako’s bewildered face lit up at the sight of the petite summoner.
“Should we just drop the baby off and leave?” Geheim Maddox asked with a hearty chuckle. “We could really use a night off.”
Gawain’s cousin had the same fine golden features and bright emerald eyes as the fire mage, but on Geheim, they were kind rather than haughty.
“Hi, Nehra,” I greeted my sister-in-law, and Nehra pulled me in for an embrace.
“Hey, Gryff, are you taking good care of my sister?” she inquired with a laugh.
“Of course, he is,” Nia spoke up, and she grinned at me and then back at her sister.
Nehra was nearly identical in appearance to Nia and shared the same brilliant blue eyes and ashen hair of the Kenefick siblings. The only discernible differences lied in her slightly deeper blue irises, more defined cheekbones, and taller physique, but other than that, the sisters could have passed for twins.
“You two are practically glowing,” Nehra complimented us. “Marriage suits you.”
“Thank you, Nehra.” I smiled as heat rose to my cheeks, and I wrapped my arms around Nia’s shoulders.
“Now that everyone’s hugged, can we go eat?” Layla brought up as she started to bounce on her toes.
We laughed at the brunette summoner’s excitement, and then we all headed toward the formal dining room to take our seats.
While we’d been upstairs getting ready, Nia had outfitted the room with dozens of candles and vases of fresh ivory roses framed by exquisite greenery. The food had already been arranged at the table, too, and the room was filled with a dozen delicious scents.
We all took our seats at the table. Gallahar sat at the head of the table, with Narissa and Nayveth on either side of him. Nia sat beside Nayveth, and I beside her. Erin, Cyra, and Layla sat across on the other side of the table beside Nehra and Geheim, and Nako was perched in a structured infant seat beside his parents and Freya.
Nia and the other women had crafted a meal worthy of royalty, and we all hungrily feasted on garlic and herb crusted chicken, a green-leafed salad, roasted rosemary carrots, mashed sweet potatoes, and thick crusted bread with fresh butter.
“Nia, this is absolutely delicious,” Narissa complimented as she dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
“Thank you, Mother,” Nia said in a humble tone, and a smile rose up on her face.
“Truly, my daughter, this is delicious,” Gallahar agreed.
“It wasn’t all my doing,” Nia pointed out. “Freya was an excellent assistant and showed me how to properly spice everything.”
“It was no trouble at all,” Freya spoke up, and her stoic expression vanished as she grinned at the compliment. “My mother taught me, and now I teach Nia.”
Everyone ate happily, even little Nako, who managed to get sweet potato all the way up into his hair, and the girls had nothing but praise for the child.
“He’s just so cute,” Layla gushed, and she watched Nako with her chin resting in her delicate hands.
“Absolutely darling,” Cyra agreed with a dreamy sigh.
Geheim shot me a teasing glance from across the table.
“You’re definitely in for some trouble,” he laughed as he watched the girls fawn over his infant son. “I thought they had it bad at the wedding, but Nako has definitely taken them hostage.”
“Maker, I’d have one right now if I could,” Cyra mused.
“And what about you and Nia?” Narissa asked me with an elegant raise of her eyebrows. “When will you two begin starting a family?”
Nia flushed red, and I grabbed her hand under the table.
“We would love to start a family,” I spoke for us, “but right now, we want to focus on our studies.”
While that wasn’t entirely true, the answer seemed to satisfy Nia’s mother enough to move on from the subject of Nia having babies.
“And how are you faring, Freya of Hawk Clan?” Gallahar asked Freya with a twinkle in his eyes. The Grand Mage was fascinated with my hawk wife, and Freya seemed to share similar sentiments about Nia’s father.
“I am well,” Freya said, and her stoic expression brightened. “And my fledgling is growing stronger by the day.”
“I have to say, the way you stood up to the aunts at the wedding was inspiring.” Gallahar smirked. “No one has ever had the courage to go toe-to-toe with Decima Kenefick, especially in public.”
Freya considered Gallahar’s words, and then shrugged. “I defend myself. The woman is rude, and I do not like rumors and insults.”
“Well, you certainly caused a commotion,” Gallahar laughed. “But in the best way possible.”
“It was pretty funny to see Aunt Decima’s face turn purple,” Nayveth snickered. “The old bat needed to be knocked down a notch.”
We recounted some stories from the wedding, and once everyone had finished eating dinner, Nia and Cyra disappeared into the kitchen to retrieve dessert.
Meanwhile, Freya cooed over Nako, and the infant appeared to be transfixed by the warrior princess’ attention. He laughed an adorable giggle as Freya tickled his tummy, and Layla observed the two with a wide grin on her cute face.
A few minutes later, Nia and Cyra returned with an enormous platter that housed an equally large cake atop it, and they carefully placed it in the center of the table.
“Maker, I’m ready to destroy that cake,” Layla practically drooled as she eyed the dessert from her seat.
It was a beautifully crafted honey cake laden with strawberries and blackberries, with a rich vanilla glaze that streamed over the top.
“Keep it in your pants, Bethel,” Cyra snickered, much to the amusement of everyone at the table.
Nia served everyone a slice, and we all happily consumed the delicious dessert. Then Cyra, Erin, and Layla talked amongst themselves as the Keneficks and Maddoxes started a conversation with Nia and me.
“So, are you and Nia taking a honeymoon?” Nehra asked us as she tried to feed a squirming Nako in her lap.
“Once we’re on winter break.” I nodded. “We want to wait until the semester is through.”
“A wise plan,” Gallahar agreed.
“Actually, Father, we were thinking of going to Adorna,” Nia brought up, and the Grand Mage’s face lit up at the idea.
“Adorna is a lovely village,” he praised. “I’ve never had an unpleasant stay. It would be a fine place for a honeymoon. I’ll write down some places for you to visit while you’re there.”
“If it has your approval, it must be great.” I smiled.
“Speaking of travel,” Nia sighed “I’m sad you all have to leave. It’s been so nice to see everyone.”
“I’m sorry we have to leave so soon,” Gallahar apologized. “But I have urgent business to get back to in Hartmire, and your mother and Nayveth have some renovations to oversee back in Saluna.”
“I understand, Father.” Nia smiled.
“Once the weather improves, you’ll have to come and visit Nayveth and I up north,” Narissa said.
“How much longer will you be up there?” Nia wondered with a slight tilt of her head. Narissa had fled with Nayveth to an oceanside property after the attack on Hartmire Enclave, and the two had remained there ever since.
“It’s hard to say right now,” Narissa admitted as her brow crinkled. “But I would like to return to Hartmire as soon as possible.”
“We’ll be sure to visit before you leave,” I promised. “I would love another chance to see the ocean.”
With our bellies full of delicious food, everyone retired to the living room to continue chatting. Freya, Layla, Erin, and Cyra doted over Nako while Nia chatted with her mother and siblings, and I lingered in the doorway and watched everyone socialize with a big smile on my face.
It was nice to see my unconventional family spend quality time together.
Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I turned around to see Gallahar behind me.
“Gryff, may I speak with you in private for a moment?” he asked in a serious tone.
“Of course.” I nodded, and the two of us retreated down the hall and into the sitting room. I closed the twin doors behind us and took a seat in a leather armchair across from Gallahar, and a lump rose in my throat as I waited for my father-in-law to speak.
“Don’t look so afraid, son,” Gallahar laughed. “You aren’t in trouble.”
“That’s a relief.” I let go of the breath I was holding and relaxed in my seat. “I mean, I didn’t think I’d done anything wrong, but there’s always a voice in my head that suggests otherwise.”
“Oh, no, Gryff, you haven’t done anything wrong, in fact, quite the opposite,” the Grand Mage began. “I’ve been thinking long and hard about the future of Mistral, and the changes that need to be made in order to further our development. The members of the Council agree that in order to keep us from slipping back into the old ways, we need to work toward fortifying our numbers. Your efforts with the Archons in the Southern Continents have not gone unnoticed, nor have your impressive battle tactics. The Council could use more progressive thinkers such as yourself.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said with a modest nod.
“I should be thanking you,” Gallahar stated firmly. “If it weren’t for your leadership and strategy, the Archons would be wreaking havoc on us all. And while the threat of more Archons appearing is imminent, I firmly believe that with you on our side, we are more equipped than ever to handle whatever threats fall into our laps next.”
The Grand Mage took a deep breath and went on before I could respond.
“All of this is to say, I have a proposition for you, Gryff of Njordenfalls.” Gallahar said, and he sat forward in his seat. “Once you graduate from the Academy, I would like to bring you on as my right-hand man. I could use someone like you at my side, someone I can trust completely, someone who has Mistral’s best interests in mind. So, what do you say, Gryff? Will you be my advisor?”
Chapter Six
“Advisor?” I asked, and my voice cracked slightly as I repeated the word aloud. Surely, I hadn’t heard the Grand Mage correctly?
“Yes,” Gallahar confirmed with a curt nod, and my heart rate elevated.
“But… w-what about my required years of service?” I stammered. Once a mage graduated from the Academy, they were required to serve for four years in the military, and despite my extracurricular experience, I’d assumed I would be no different from anyone else.
“A position with the Grand Mage of Mistral more than fulfills that requirement,” Gallahar chuckled, and my father-in law leaned back into his chair and crossed his legs in a fluid motion.
My mouth hung open, and I struggled to find the words to say. This was entirely unexpected, so I wasn’t sure how to respond.
“I’m truly honored by your proposal, sir,” I finally answered. “I appreciate how much faith you have in my ability, though I’m not sure I’m deserving of it.”
“Why do I sense you’re about to turn me down?” Gallahar asked with a raise of his eyebrows.
“Two years is a long time from now,” I pointed out. “Are you sure I’m the right man for the job?”
“Gryff, I understand this would be a great undertaking, and I’m aware this proposal is a tad premature,” the Grand Mage admitted. “But please, consider it anyways. I have the utmost faith in you, and I know you’ll make an excellent advisor. And who knows, maybe one day you might prove yourself capable of an even higher position.”
My stomach practically flew up into my throat. Did Gallahar Kenefick just allude to me one day becoming Grand Mage?
Before my ego could inflate any further, I nodded modestly at my father-in-law.
“I’ll think about it,” I promised. “Thank you, sir.”
Then I extended my hand out, and Gallahar shook it firmly as we stood up from our chairs.
“Now, then, let’s go ahead and rejoin the others.” Gallahar smiled. “I want to spend as much time with my family as possible before we leave tomorrow.”
We stepped back into the living room, and my heart warmed as I took in the wholesome scene. Nehra and Geheim were seated beside each other on the couch, and they lovingly watched Nako play on the floor with Dio. The infant seemed to get a kick out of the miniature saber-toothed cat, and I could hear Dio’s purrs from all the way across the room as he rubbed his forehead against the baby. Cyra, Layla, and Erin sat on the ground with Nako, and they giggled to each other as they supervised the play time.
Meanwhile, Nia, Nayveth, and Narissa were engaged in conversation, and from where I stood, it sounded like they were reminiscing about past family memories.
“Remember that time Nehra pushed Nayveth into the creek by Grandmother’s house?” Nia asked, and her blue eyes sparkled as she laughed with her family.
“That was almost as funny as the time Nia pretended to be Nehra so she wouldn’t get into trouble,” Nayveth retorted.
The Keneficks laughed again, and I was thrilled to see Nia look so happy.
The only person missing from the room was Freya. The hawk princess was nowhere to be found amongst our guests, and I glanced down the hall to look for her.
“Freya went upstairs a bit ago,” Cyra called out to me as if she’d read my thoughts. “She was feeling pretty tired, so she went to go lie down for awhile.”
“Is she alright?” I asked, and now I was worried something had happened while I’d been gone.
“She’s totally fine,” Cyra assured me, and her chocolate eyes were soft as she tried to put my mind at ease. “Don’t worry. She was just worn out from everything and needed to get some rest.”
“Thank the Maker,” I sighed, and I joined the women on the floor.
Nako and Dio played for a little while longer, but soon Nako’s eyelids began to droop down.
“That’s our cue,” Nehra laughed lightly, and she scooped up her son into her arms effortlessly. “As much as I wish we could stay longer, we should probably get back to the inn. We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow, and someone still hasn’t packed yet.”
Nehra’s brilliant blue eyes shot over to Geheim, and her golden-haired husband’s cheeks flushed guiltily. We all laughed quietly so we wouldn’t disturb Nako’s sleep, and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
Is this what it felt like to have a big, happy family? If so, I could get used to this.
“We should probably take our leave as well,” Gallahar agreed, and he, Narissa, and Nayveth all got up from their seats. “Thank you, everyone, for such a lovely evening. It was a pleasure to get to see you all again before we left Varle.”
“The pleasure was all ours, Sir Dad,” I replied with a laugh.
My father-in-law grinned at me, and then he wrapped me up into an enormous bear-hug.
“Think about my offer,” he whispered, just loud enough for my ears only, and then he pulled away like nothing had even happened.
Narissa gave me a short but pleasant hug as well. “Take good care of my daughter, Gryff.”
“Of course,” I promised, and my mother-in-law’s clear green eyes were bright with tears as she turned toward her daughter.
Then Nia stepped in and embraced her mother, and the two held each other for a while until finally they broke apart with a tear-filled laugh of embarrassment. Narissa brushed an ashen strand of hair away from Nia’s face and tucked it behind her ear before kissing her daughter on the forehead.
“I love you, my girl,” Narissa said. “I’m so incredibly proud of the young woman you’ve become.”
“Thank you, Mother,” Nia sniffled. “I hope you have safe travels. We’ll visit as soon as the weather allows.”
Nia said one last goodbye to her parents, and then to Nehra and Geheim. She took a little bit longer to say goodbye to Nayveth, but after a hug between the siblings, the Keneficks departed.
Nia lingered by the door for a while, and she looked noticeably sadder than I’d ever seen her. So, I stood behind my wife and rubbed her shoulders, and the multi-elementalist took a deep breath before she turned away from the windows.
“We’ll see them again soon,” I promised, and Nia offered me a soft smile.
“I know,” she admitted. “Goodbyes are just always so difficult.”
Her words reminded me of a time when that wasn’t always the case. Back before the Archons had awakened and Sleet sent us on our missions to locate the ciphers, the Keneficks had held Nia to a near impossible standard, and the elementalist struggled under the weight of their expectations.
But her academic performance, impressive actions out in the field, and the events of Hartmire seemed to shift the dynamics of the family. The Keneficks seemed like they’d finally realized what was truly important: Nia’s happiness, and I was thrilled Nia’s family had finally come around.
Suddenly, we heard the sound of someone clearing their throat behind us, and we looked over to see Layla leaning against the doorway, flanked by Cyra and Erin.
“Now that everyone is gone…” Layla drawled. “How about we lighten the mood and revisit our talk of sexy times?”
“Oh?” Nia asked with a raise of her eyebrows. The ashen-haired elementalist hadn’t been present for our prior conversation in the sitting room, and now she looked confused but intrigued.
“We’ll get you up to speed on our way up to Arwyn’s loft.” Layla grinned, and then the petite summoner took Nia’s hand and pulled her toward the stairs. The other women followed their lead, and I chuckled to myself as I watched them giddily run upstairs.
