Caye interrupted him, “Son, in my mind you died long ago. I’ve spent 600 years grieving you. Your father and I remain under constant scrutiny. Bailiwick is powerful. No one in Thynna will stand against him. He has alienated many peoples of the world. Thrice Thynna’s forces have repelled attacks from the nomadic Moonglows. Several times the Old Ones from the Hanging Gardens halted forays of Bailiwick’s armies into the Veldt. But he’s never been stronger. His alliance with the Hinderburgh Giants may swing the balance of power against the Three Sisters. Leave Thynna, my son. I cannot grieve you again. Perhaps you can find purpose with your brother Arthur Seigh at the Laurels. If Magick has a worthwhile future, it’s with the thinkers there. I’ll always remember your time before your journeys with Uncle Mayard. I wish you’d never taken the first step on his path.”
Shouts erupted outside and a loud knock on the door interrupted Caye. Rhiann uttered phrases and disappeared. The door flew open, and High Sheriff Clank burst into the foyer.
Clank screamed, “Where is he? Where is this bloke who claims to be your lost son?”
Caye gulped and said, “We are alone. We have been alone for six centuries.”
Clank’s deputies tore through the house and searched every nook and cranny. The Chief Deputy Klodno reported the house was occupied only by the elderly sorcerers.
Clank snarled, “I’ll get to the bottom of this matter, Caye Klarje. Lord Bailiwick does not tolerate tomfoolery. Someone presented to the outer curtain gate yesterday and claimed to be Rhiann Klarje. Then the impassible gate gets violated! Lord Bailiwick and Castellan Yerko do not believe in coincidence. If I find out you are hiding knowledge of this person, I’ll have you scrubbing the floors of the mercenaries’ latrine.”
benjamintowe 