Jack and his father, Aaron, rode through the gates and made their way toward the manor as the great doors closed behind them. Aaron lifted a hand toward the manor, hoping someone watching from the windows had seen them return. Jack did the same, but with a louder greeting. "Hey!"
Aaron looked to his left and spotted his gardener carefully trimming the bushes in the fading light. "Evening, Mister Piers." He called.
The gardener looked up at Aaron, set aside his pruning shears, and dipped his head with a smile. "Ah! Evening! Count Ryder and the young lord." After greeting them, he returned to trimming the leaves as they rode by.
As they continued riding at an easy pace, a tiny figure darted out of the manor doorway and sped toward them through the air. Its voice rose from a faint cry to a clear shout as it closed the distance. "Uncle Aaron! Jack!"
The miniature figure flung itself at Aaron and Jack, wrapping its arms around their necks and knocking them both from their horses. The startled horses neighed and reared onto their hind legs. Both men groaned before looking down at the child as it raised its face from their breastplates.
"Ehe!" Giggled a young dragonkin girl with short brown hair, dressed in a child's gown. A dragon horn crowned her head, while scales traced the sides of her lower cheeks, arms, and legs. Sharp nails and a pair of wings completed her draconic features. "Welcome home, you guys!"
"Ah...Kalta, it's good to see you." Said Jack.
"Please kindly remove yourself from us..." Aaron added.
Kalta giggled and leapt back, giving Jack and Aaron room to stand. An orange-haired male dragonkin dressed in a linen shirt and brown pants stepped forward to welcome them, then affectionately patted Kalta's head.
"How's Jack's first battle?"
"He did well. He fought an orc chieftain by himself." Aaron said as he rose to his feet and embraced his brother-in-law.
"Uncle Drogo." After Aaron, Jack stepped forward and hugged Drogo.
Kalta hurried to Jack, seized his hand, and tugged him toward the backyard. "Come on, come on! I want to show you some cool moves I came up with! Then we can spar and find out how strong we are!"
"Ah, Kalta, it's getting late now. Couldn't we do it tomorrow?"
"It's true. Not only did he fight an orc chieftain, but he also fought four mercenaries from the Vanguard Guild."
"Really?" Drogo said, his head tilting slightly as he looked at Jack.
"It was never my intention, but they just had to do it."
"HA HA!! Good lad!" Drogo laughed, clapping Jack on the shoulder. "That'll teach those knuckleheads a lesson! Now, let's head back to the manor."
The four of them returned to the manor, where a woman stood waiting at the front door, smiling. Her black hair framed her in gentle waves, and she wore a countess's gown of quiet elegance. Ocean-like patterns of pale blue and white flowed across her skirt, while golden flowers shimmered along the sleeves of her white bodice. With her hands clasped before her, she waited patiently for her lover and child to reach her.
"Mother." Jack said, spreading his arms before the two shared a warm embrace.
"Welcome back, Jack… and you." His mother said softly before walking over to Aaron.
"Mia."
The two fell into each other's arms and shared a tender kiss on the lips.
"You boys had fun?"
"Jack's the one who has all the fun. I just keep an eye on him so he doesn't a boo-boo on his knees or get into trouble."
"A boo-boo? Hmph, what are you, ten?" She teased, laughing it off.
"Nah, just wanted to make you laugh a little." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they stepped into the manor.
As they stepped into the manor, the floor shimmered like sunlight cast upon frozen glass. Above them hung a dazzling chandelier, while a grand staircase cloaked in pale blue carpet swept upward in regal splendor. At its center draped a curtain bearing the family crest—an eagle's head adorned with a Corinthian helmet and crowned by a majestic plume.
To the left of the doorway stood a butler and three maids, their heads bowed in quiet respect to the count and his son.
"Good evening, Count Ryder." Said the butler.
"Evening, Mr. Raymon." Aaron said, placing his sword in the butler's hands. At his side, Jack handed his own blade to one of the maids and removed their gauntlets. "How goes everything?"
"That's what I like to hear."
"Jack! Father!" called a man from the right side of the hallway. A brown-haired man stood there in a white shirt and leather gauntlets, gripping a spear.
"Arlo, it's good to see you, buddy." Jack and Arlo broke into an awesome handshake, then laughed and hugged each other.
"You too." He turned from Jack to his father and greeted him. "Father!"
"Hey there, son." Father and son embraced warmly while Arlo moved the spear clear of them. As they pulled away, Aaron set both hands on his hips and turned his gaze to the spear in Arlo's hands.
"What did you make this time, Arlo?" Aaron asked.
"Ah, this? I'm making Uncle Harshand a spear. Check it out!" Arlo proudly displayed a spear with a large blade set atop an iron shaft. "Black iron, enchanted runes, the whole thing. Bought it from the dwarves."
Aaron took the spear and gave it a close inspection. Without warning, he moved, spinning the weapon around himself and behind his back in a blur of motion before transitioning into a graceful series of spear strikes. He came to a stop with the spear poised behind him and his right hand raised, as a gentle wind stirred through the room.
Jack, Drogo, Kalta, and the assembled maids applauded as Aaron finished his dazzling display with the spear.
"Heh, Harshand would love it, Arlo." Aaron said with a grin as he returned the spear.
"Aaron! No playing with weapons in the house." Mia said as she stood patiently on the staircase.
"Ah, sorry, dearie." He cast a glance at his wife, then turned to Arlo. "Speaking of Harshand and your Aunt Susan… they haven't returned yet?"
"Unfortunately, no. Kalta has been worried about their trip to Nynorsk." Drogo said softly as he gently patted her head.
Jack crouched down in front of Kalta with a gentle smile. "Hey, don't worry about them. They're the hardest people to beat. They'll come back safe and sound, and I'm sure they'll bring you some souvenirs too."
"Really?"
"Yeah, now give me up top." Jack raised his hand with a grin, and Kalta eagerly slapped his palm. A spark of hope returned to her eyes. "There you go."
"You two are getting a bath before dinner, got that?" Mia called as she walked upstairs.
"Yes, ma'am." Aaron quickly went after his wife, and the rest of Jack's family trailed behind them upstairs.