“The King ends the letter by telling us Franco has been back in the village for the last two days and has noticeably improved which backs the rumors that he has leveled again.” The tired looking man in his late fifties said from the head of the small kitchen table as he laid the last part of the long letter on the table.
Here high in their family lands, in their familiar estate, in their largest and strongest place of power sat Ephraim Young, head of the ancient and noble House Young, at the head of a simple table in a simple room. Where the walls were covered in fine paintings and portraits of the many generations of their family as well as freshly drawn in crayon stick people that his grandchild had put all over the walls they could reach.
He sat with Mabel at his left, wife and mother to their seven children. Adam, first born on his right with Jen their youngest daughter and him.
Aaron had not known why he had been invited into this most sacred and intermittent of places, a place few if any servants would enter and only if a direct family member was there. This small set of rooms where the noble House of Young liked to pretend they were normal people, a normal family. He loved them for this but also hated it.
“Jen you were the closest with Franco growing up, do these actions sound like your brother” her father asked in a gentle voice.
Jen was only eighteen and had lived a sheltered life, mostly staying in these apartments and by her mothers side. Every time they had pushed her to grow and experience the world, schools, trips and training she had found her way back to these apartments as fast as she could.
“It does, if, if somewhat freer Father” she finally said.
“How so honey?” Mabel asked.
“Well he didn't want to get married to that girl but he always pushed me like so many because of the family, and duty. He talked about that all the time. Duty this and duty that, all that but he always wanted to go on a grand adventure like the books we would read. You could see it in him when he read them to me”
Mabel squeezed her husband's hand that she held on top of the table. Tears in her eyes. Aaron hated to see her cry but he said nothing.
“Adam your advice”
“The early parts of the story match what our agents have gathered but this last month has been a blank for us, not only with Franco but in Desanigh in general. With the Skye girls there and their security, I thought he was fine but I can see why his Majesty sent us the full report. It's beyond what any of us could imagine. Four levels in what, two, no three months? Three at most. Did you pick up on the hints that our calendar is off by as much as a thousand years! That news alone will be sending the Scholaria into a frenzy for a century and with these Adder stones every noble family will have everything searched, every secret vault must be turned over.”
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Lord Young raised his right hand from the table briefly and his son stopped talking.
“Yes there are more instructions in the letter giving us a week's time before he informs the other High Lords of some of this information. The family will move quickly to secure what we must, but what about Franco? What do you think?”
“I am more than willing to lead a small team to go get him Father but with the Skys there and him going from Legendary encounter to Legendary encounter it will be hard to get him or honestly anyone from the family back until Desanigh runs dry or it kills them”
Mabel sniffled at that “Another thirty six adventures dead and that was with the first level mostly neutralized by the undead generations ago. Just imagine what the second floor will do. It will eat a third of those who go in there and double the power of the rest, our poor boy. Ephraim, we have to make sure he comes home” she said before turning to look at Aaron.
He nodded and into the silence he spoke.
“I can see why I am here and I am honored. Would you have me go alone or to put together a team”.
“You have been invited here since day one. You know that” Mabel said her concern for Franco easing as she focused on him.
“Of course, as has been made clear, but I do not wish to burden you or my mother but I see this as the opportunity it is and will gladly go. Do you wish me there as another guard in the dark or to bring him home.”
“As a guard and our agent for now. Bringing him home alive is the most important Aaron, but as Adam has said, it is clear he will not leave soon. He is living his dream like Jen expressed and it seems God and Desanigh are not done with him. The news of the second floor opening and what it entails will hit the streets of the capital in three days at most. I need you on a ship to Desanigh by then. Armies are on the move and the Adventuring Guild will hire a navy to insure one does not land nearby. Wars will be fought over this. Enough Bronze and Silver rated teams are coming out with Gold rated gear it will change the fate of nations but that is not your worry.” He paused as he took a deep breath in before looking away
“Only Micky will be going with you, a girl of surprising talent and within the age range of you and Franco. I was told you know her?.” The High Lord said.
Aaron stood and nodded before he bowed. He had to get ready and leave soon as he would spend the next three days riding his ass off.
“Stop that and give your grandmother a hug” Mabel said as she stood to hug him.
“My Lady”
“Grandmother here at least Aaron, he was our troubled son and you are our grandson who we are proud of” his grandmother said as she hugged him.
But he was my father, Aaron thought.
His grandfather stood and shook his hand.
“Go and come back to us, and bring your uncle home with you” his grandfather said as Aaron walked out the door of the small and worried filled kitchen of the second most powerful man in all of Abigail.
The End of Book 1.
