The Fire and The Storm - The Nexus of Kellaran #2
Chapter 171

Part 24

"We're like the very first elves, who were the most recent race to develop before us. We're strange compared to those around us now, but when there's a few thousand of us nobody will think twice about it.

"On the other hand, all the humanoid races can interbreed now. Over the long term, that's sure to produce some averaging among the races, but it's also sure to produce completely new kinds of people. And if the warlock characteristics are passed on without being diminished by being diluted by other bloodlines, as we think will be the case, then eventually every humanoid born will also be a warlock, regardless of any other racial characteristics they may have."

They moved on to Mark's speech at a military training center in Beijur, Kletiuk, which was attended by Overlord Senchak and most of the elite of Kletiuk's dwarven society, as well as a vast throng of staff and trainees from the base.

His speech was similar to the one he gave in Debivin, yet different enough to show that he was speaking from the heart, without rehearsal or preparation.

As he was half finished, his children got bored of the proceedings and elected to go home to Hilia. Talia suggested that they go instead with her to the Living Palace in First Valley, and they agreed. Alilia elected to continue with Mark on his tour.

"Welcome to the place where my heart is most at home." Talia said with a smile as she, her children, and Karz emerged in the living room of the palace's master suite. "Though we only lived here a few days, the love I share with Mark truly blossomed and became part of us while we were here. And I've known since I could talk that I would have a home on this land when I was grown, though I could never have predicted this place! That's my parents' tree there, where I grew up." she told them as she pointed out a mighty oak that was visible through the windowed double doors to the balcony.

"I love the aura of it." Val said as she took a deep breath. "And the wizard's magic here feels really good too. The elven part of me can sure feel why we fought so hard to hold this land."

"I do get a feeling that this is home, in a way." Fire said as she opened the doors and went out on the balcony, and the rest joined her. They looked around at the beautiful gardens at the front of the palace, the redwood wall around it, the giant trees with elven homes visible above the wall, and the occasional view of the ring of mountain around the valley that was visible through the trees.

"Here." Talia giggled, and passed them her memory of Alilia, Theramin, and her parents casting the mighty spell that had made the wonderful home around them.

"Wow. That's really beautiful, both the making and what they made." Six quietly stated.

"Such an elven thing to do, to grow a home out of a tree." Karz commented. "Yet so beautifully strange that the shape and the design is obviously so typically human." "That's the beauty and the magic of it, to be sure." Talia agreed.

They just stood there for a view minutes, enjoying the view and absorbing the ambience of the place.

Then Val said suddenly said; "I'm getting really tired of working on the education spell. It's going well, but I'm bored of it, and if gets finished sooner then we can get the wizards that've been teaching into the preparations for the next exercise sooner.

"Will you all help me with it? We should be able to have it done by tonight if we all work on it. At least the core part anyway. Then it has to go to the translators, then back to me for final collation and distribution."

"Sure, sister." Fire told her with a grin as she gave her a one armed hug. "You've been working pretty hard on it, and besides, me and Six can probably add a few things to your psionics lessons." The five of them brought chairs out onto the balcony and sat down to work, still enjoying the view as the sun set.

Mark and Alilia appeared in the living room just over an hour and a half later.

Talia literally jumped up into Mark's arms as he and Alilia joined them on the balcony.

"How are you doing, my love?" Mark softly asked as he gently cuddled her, and she hugged him around his neck with desperate affection.

"Quite good, considering." she murmured. "I was able to keep it almost completely out of my mind until you returned. But I sure missed you a lot."

"Quite good indeed." Mark chuckled as Alilia floated up and joined their hug. "It wasn't that long ago when the curse would have tortured you horribly if you were that far away from me. And it was almost two hours."

"We've come a long way since we've been together." Alilia smiled.

"Mmm, we have." Mark agreed as he leaned in for a kiss, and they both gave it to him.

"You know, you have a room right in there." Val giggled.

"Good point." Mark chuckled, and disappeared with his wives.

His children and Karz giggled together about it for a moment, then returned to their work until Povon called Karz home another two hours later. Then the three siblings went to sleep on the couches in the living

room.

They were up and Karz was back six hours later. They had a quick snack of juice and tarts as they got back to work, and worked for three more hours.

Finally they paused, grinned at each other with satisfaction, had a joyous and proud group hug, and launched the completed Trade Common version of 'Valentia's Magic Education - General Journeyman' out into the world as they held the embrace. Then they sent it to the translators.

Val ordered a huge brunch of local Nine Valleys fare from the palace kitchens, which were largely automated and always open since the place was now a hotel, and a very expensive and exclusive one. When the food arrived on a serving cart, they wheeled it over to their parents' door and magically sent the scents of the small feast wafting under the door for a minute.

When they heard their parents stirring they giggled and wheeled the cart out to the balcony.

Mark was out his door, still pulling his shirt on, before the children were finished serving themselves. His wives were right behind him, still casting to repair their appearances, and his, since he hadn't bothered straightening his hair or his clothes or even cleaning himself before he became fixated on eating.

"Good morning and thanks, we're starved!" Mark chuckled as he sat and started eating right from the cart.

"Good morning." the children chorused with cheery grins.

"Good morning." Talia returned as she smiled and fixed a plate for Mark. "How long have you been up?"

"About three hours." Fire answered around a mouthful of steamed greens. "We had a snack when we got up."

"Where did you sleep?" Alilia asked as she sat with her plate. The children hadn't bothered bringing out the table, they just ate with their plates on their laps and left their drinks on the cart within easy reach, so their parents did the same.

"On the couches inside." Six answered. "They were quite comfy. We thought of getting another room here, but they're all occupied, and then we thought of using Grandfather's house over there, but we couldn't ask him since he's in the time-bubble, and we didn't want to disturb you about it. Then we just fell asleep here while we were trying to decide between going back to Hilia or Heartwood."

"As long as you slept." Talia answered. "I'm glad you stayed close. I didn't think about it, but I'm sure I could feel that you were near, and I'd have noticed if you left.

"I'm keying the locks on Father's place to you, except the door on his workshop, in case you ever want to stay there another time. I'm sure he and Mother and Hilsith wouldn't mind, so long as you sleep in my and Dalia's old rooms. It would be polite to stay out of their bedroom and Mother's study, and I don't have the key to father's workshop anyway, but you can have the run of the rest of the place."☐☐☐☐☐☐

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