Blood of Half Gods: Kallen's Tale (3 page)

The back of my mind registers the presence of powerful magic and I rise from my chair.  “Dagda is here.”

“I would suggest that you keep this conversation between the three of us,” Grandmother says pointedly.  Obviously, she means do not discuss it with Dagda.

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea,” Xandra agrees.  I would like to defend my uncle, but I simply cannot. 

Grandmother rises from her chair and walks around the desk.  “I am glad we are in agreement.”  With a teasing glint in her eye, she says, “But feel free to practice any of your other skills on him.  I believe he is overdue for a good soaking in salt water.”

I laugh and kiss her on the cheek.  There is the Grandmother I know and love.  “I will encourage her in that way myself.”

Xandra smiles and shakes her head.  “Aren’t you two supposed to be the voice of reason when it comes to my insane magic?”

Grandmother returns her smile as she walks towards the door.  “Sometimes, insanity can be just as powerful a weapon as sanity.  If used appropriately.  And sparingly.”

Xandra laughs.  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

As we leave Grandmother’s office it dawns on me that playing mediator as I just did will serve as practice for the days to come.  Xandra and Dagda are sure to butt heads repeatedly during the trip.

Chapter 3

When we enter the kitchen, Alita and Kegan are already waiting for us.  I am torn in my feelings towards them accompanying us on this trip.  Yes, they will serve as more buffer between Xandra and Dagda, but that also means less private time for Xandra and myself.  Though considering how explosive things have become for us in the bedroom, perhaps that is overall not such a bad thing.  I cannot believe I just thought that.

Xandra’s parents are also in the kitchen.  Fortunately, the superstitions of the Giants have left them unable to join us.  One less landmine to dance around over the next couple of weeks.  Not that I am opposed to their company.  It is simply that their hostility towards Dagda is even greater than Xandra’s as they have had many more years to let their hatred fester.  As is apparent by the murderous expressions they are sending his way where he is standing next to Tabitha at the stove.

Tabitha smacks Dagda’s hand with a spatula when he tries to steal a piece of bacon.  “You may be King,” she says, “but that will not stop you from losing a hand if you touch this bacon again.”  He laughs, but he knows her ‘do not mess with me’ tone as well as I do.  He will not be stealing any more bacon.

With a weak stab at humor to break through the tension in the room, Xandra rubs her arms and says, “Brr, it’s pretty cold in here.”  I try to laugh but have trouble mustering it.  I am afraid of the repercussions if I did.  No sense in testing any tempers.

“Xandra, you look well this morning,” Dagda says.  “I am looking forward to this opportunity to get to know my daughter better.”  He emphasizes the word daughter.  I have known my uncle to be ignorant in his views, but I have never thought of him as a stupid Fairy.  Until recently.  Why would he be antagonizing her and her parents?

“Not your daughter,” Xandra says, as she sits down and pours a glass of fresh-squeezed mango juice.  There is a clear warning in her voice that I hope my uncle heeds. 

Dagda smiles and is wise enough to drop it.  “Are you ready for our trip?  I would like to leave as soon as possible.”

“Sure we can’t wait until tomorrow?” Xandra asks, as Tabitha puts a steaming plate of pancakes in front of each of us. 

He inclines his head and narrows his eyes in her direction.  “I believe that to be a rhetorical question.  My business in the south is pressing.”

“Fine,” Xandra grumbles around a mouthful of pancakes.

Dagda cannot help needling her it seems.  “I assume speaking with your mouth full is something you only do when around family?”  She ignores him.  .

“Xandra, you don’t have to go,” her mother grinds out again.  For the thousandth time.

“I know,” Xandra says with even more food in her mouth to annoy Dagda.  I shake my head and chuckle while I continue to enjoy my pancakes.  I am staying out of this conversation as I have each time it has been brought up.  It is Xandra’s choice and no one else’s.  Not even her mother’s.

“It is good that she is going.  Unfortunately, unrest among the Giants is a great concern.  Their race is prone to violence, resulting in a threat to their very existence,” Grandmother says.  “The goal of this trip is to bring about a truce between the warring tribes.”

“So, once again, you’re sending Xandra into a dangerous situation?” her father accuses.

“She will be perfectly safe with me,” Dagda assures him.  No one misses the implication in his voice that he is more capable than Mr. Smith at keeping his daughter safe.

“Right, he’s probably bringing me along as protection for
him
,” Xandra mutters between bites.

Dagda’s eyes narrow in her direction again.  “Do you say everything out loud that passes through your mind?”

She shrugs and nods.  “Pretty much.  You should probably get used to it if you plan to be around me.”

“Is she right?” Xandra’s mother asks.  I begin eating faster.  This conversation is about to explode and I do not want to miss out on my fill of pancakes.

Dagda pulls himself away from the counter.  “I have no intention of putting
my daughter
in danger.”  Yes, he is a stupid Fairy.  I chew faster.

Showing considerable and uncharacteristic restraint, Xandra says, “Mom, it’s okay.  He had the trip planned before he even knew we were going to stay in this realm.”

Dagda leans back against the counter again.  “You must remember, Xandra is a princess and she needs to start acting like one.”  Xandra’s response is to snort.  Her mother just glares at him.

“Xandra’s not a princess,” Zach says, bouncing into the kitchen, heading straight for Tabitha.  She lets him steal a piece of bacon without getting whacked with a spatula.  “She’s just plain old Xandra.” 

Xandra laughs and musses his hair, her affection for him clear.  “Thanks, buddy, way to make me feel special.” 

“Xandra will not be assuming any duties in this realm,” her mother says finally.  I believe she needed a moment to tone down her words as not to scare her youngest child.

My last bite of pancake swallowed, I stand up.  Before anyone can say another word, I say, “Uncle, there are a couple of bags that will need to be loaded into the carriage.  Perhaps you can show me the best place for them.”  Clearly there is more on his mind he would like to say, but Dagda nods and walks ahead of me out the back door.  He is getting smarter by the moment.

Outside, I stop and turn to him.  “Why do you press her so?  Her control and restraint are both fleeting.  Patience would be more prudent.”

To my surprise, he chuckles at my reproof.  “As always, dear nephew, your counsel is wise.  How ironic that it is so often you with the level head when I am supposed to be the voice of reason for the realm.”  He looks thoughtful for a moment.  “I believe it is due mostly to the fact that she is so much like me.  It can be difficult to see yourself so clearly in another, even your own child.  Perhaps I continue to hope that she will surprise me and be the better Fairy by not reacting in the same way I would have at her age.”

I know my eyes widen in surprise.  I was not expecting such an honest and soul searching response.  Nor such misguided logic.  “She is trying, Uncle,” is all I can manage to say.

He remains thoughtful.  “Indeed.  As important as that is, it is a pity that she has been forced to mature so quickly.  I was allowed to throw tantrums very late into life.”

Even more honesty.  My turn to chuckle.  “I believe it best to remain mum on that subject.”  I believe it best not to mention that it is he who is responsible for Xandra’s need to mature more quickly than he did.

He raises a brow in my direction and gives a slight shake of the head.  “Your wisdom greatly surpasses your years.  Come, let us see if the carriage is ready.”  He walks off in the direction of the garage.  I know we will find everything in order.  Dagda’s staff know how intolerant the King is of being made to wait.

After a cursory check on the carriage and stowing our bags inside, I head back to the house to say my good byes.  I am surprised to find that Xandra has already made it outside with Kegan and Alita.  “We are ready to depart,” I announce to those left in the kitchen.

“Please keep her safe from that man,” Xandra’s mother says.  There is a slight tremor in her voice that surprises me. 

I give her a wry smile.  “The need for safety is most likely on my uncle’s part, not Xandra’s.”

“Good,” her father mumbles.  He is definitely the source of Xandra’s frequent comments under her breath.

“Remember what we discussed,” Grandmother says walking towards me and I nod.  She gives me a kiss on the cheek.  “Do your best to keep things calm.”

“The boy is not a miracle worker,” Tabitha says gruffly.  “I will be surprised if they make it five minutes before some sort of crisis occurs.  That uncle of yours just does not know when to keep his mouth closed when he is around Xandra.  Stupid, idiotic Fairy.”

I laugh thinking back to my discussion with him just moments ago.  “No, it seems he does not.”

Xandra’s father floats over to me and holds out his deathly cold hand.  I do my best to pretend to shake it without getting frostbitten fingers.  “I know you will do your best,” he says, letting his hand drop back to his side.  “I do not envy you.  You seem to get caught in the middle a lot.”

True, but the rewards are worth it.  I keep that to myself though.  “It is not so bad.”

He laughs.  “You just keep telling yourself that.  Maybe someday it will be true.”

Never one for long goodbyes, Tabitha says gruffly, “Go on now, you get before they send a search party in after you.  I have work to do and the sooner you all go, the sooner I can finish.”

“Alright,” I say, giving her a kiss on the cheek.  “We will see you all soon.” 

When I walk out the back door, I find Xandra and Alita talking.  They must be discussing something unpleasant considering the looks on their faces.  I come up behind Xandra and wrap my arms around her.  She leans back against me, her sexy body pressed against mine, and memories of what we were doing earlier in our room come rushing back.  “What has you two looking so serious?” I ask, trying hard to focus on something other than getting Xandra naked.

“Nothing, Alita just has some crazy ideas about reality,” Xandra replies.   Alita sticks her tongue out at her but then laughs.

I suspect I am better off not knowing what they were discussing.  Leaning down, I kiss Xandra’s cheek.  “We are all set.  Your clothes are inside, waiting to be taken to our rooms.”

Alita blushes a little bit.  “Thank you again for loaning your clothing to me.”  Xandra loaned her non-magical clothes to Alita to save her the embarrassment of having someone else dress her.

Dagda walks around the front of the carriage towards us.  Walking next to him is a tall, stocky Fairy woman whom I have the displeasure of knowing.  What the hell is she doing here?  The last time she and I met, it was not under pleasant circumstances and I can guarantee she and Xandra are not going to get along.  The closer she gets, the angrier I feel.  I set my face in a blank mask, refusing to give the Fairy any indication she gets under my skin.

Coming to a stop in front of us, Dagda says, “Xandra, this is Radella.  She is head of my security team and she will be taking lead on the journey in regards to necessary use of force.”  What the hell is he thinking?  He has just drawn a line in the sand between the two women.  My teeth start to grind of their own accord.  This is definitely not going to go well.

Impressing us all, Xandra ignores the comment that was obviously directed towards her and holds her hand out to Radella.  “Nice to meet you.”

Radella hesitates for a moment, and then takes her hand limply in a clear show of disdain.  “Likewise,” she says with insincerity dripping from her mouth. 

Xandra raises her brows in Dagda’s direction.  He seems to have caught Radella’s lackluster response to meeting Xandra as well.  “Radella, is there a problem?” he asks. Giving Xandra a dirty look before turning to face my uncle, she says, “Of course not.”  She is a terrible liar.