Castle Heart, Zerial's Chambers

I awoke to a gentle knock on my door and turned over just in time to see Dad poke his head in.

"Zer," He said, his voice gentle in that comforting way that he had been using since I was a toddler. He came to sit at my side and I made room for him on my bed.

"Why does it have to get so complicated?" I asked bitterly.

Dad chucked but said nothing, letting me ruminate in peace while offering his calming presence. Dad had always done right by me, and if he thought it was good for me to embrace this change, then it undoubtedly was. Let's be honest, there is very little harm that comes from being recognized as the official son of a duke, and I was just being churlish. But I felt like I had reason to be angry. My parents could have come for me, could have written in secret, could have done anything to let me know and to have contact in my life. And now, on the cusp of my adulthood, they suddenly ride in and expect to be showered with filial grace?

"Youre working yourself up again Zer," Gerald said calmly at my side after he felt me tense up again.

I paused in the middle of my childish rant and sighed, realizing he was right. "I guess it does me no good to ruminate huh?" I asked softly. Dad just patted me on the back gently.

"Come on, we have a feast to attend. You may not like them now but you will. I raised you exactly as they would have raised you, and I am damn near like them enough that you won't be able to help yourself. You may as well save yourself the misery and accept that now. You want to love them Zer, you just also want to be angry."

I sat there gobsmacked as Dad laid my feelings bare. Damn the old man and his insightful ways, always a bane of my existence. Especially when I was younger and he would sniff out the mischief I was trying to get into before I even had the chance to do it. But he was right, I suppose.

"You're right. I don't forgive them, but I do have a feeling that I can grow to love them. It certainly doesn't hurt me to try," I eventually said and got up from my bed.

"Yeah, and you can milk them for all the years they left you with this crusty old man," Gerald said, echoing my thoughts near perfectly.

"Damn you old man, you've foiled me again!" I threw my hands up theatrically and we both started to chuckle before Dad led me out of my chambers.

Great Hall, Castle Heart

Dad and I entered the great hall and the same man who was paid to bellow in court bellowed out our official titles. I don't know what Dad was paying him, but I resolved to tell him to double it after my ears started to ring.

"NOW PRESENTING LORD HART, KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE DUCAL ARMIES, OFFICIAL CHAPTER HEAD OF THE CHIVALRIC ORDER OF THE HEART, LORD OF AGILE DOMAIN, KNIGHT BANNERET OF COUNTY MURDET, COMPANION OF THE ROAD," Gerald entered to general applause and approached the Duke and Duchess. I waited for a few moments and centered myself before stepping in.

"NOW PRESENTING HEIR APPARENT ZERIAL HEXENGUARD, SQUIRE OF THE CHIVALRIC ORDER OF THE HEART," and I stepped in to thunderous applause from friends, strangers, and family. I saw several of my friends seated not far from the head table, a position of honor afforded them by their friendship with me. They seemed a little intimidated by the sheer number of nobility in the room, but they cheered loud enough to offset several groups of people and it warmed my heart.

Acting impulsively, I went directly to their table - a breach of protocol in this instance. They looked at me with wonder and a little trepidation, glancing between me and the royal couple waiting patiently for their son to greet them.

"Come," was all I said to them as I grabbed Jordan's hand and led them up to the dais holding my parent's throne. "Honored Father, Revered Mother," I began in my silkiest court voice. Somewhere someone had apparently found me a vocal fold that wasn't my own, as my voice carried easily in the hall. "If Adoptive Father Gerald is chiefly responsible for my upbringing, then I would like to introduce you to the other people who have had a major impact on my life. These two Squires are Sebastian and Temeral, my best friends," I said introducing the two blushing squires who bowed low.

I waited for a moment and to my relief, my parents did not disappoint. First was my... father.

"Sebastian and Tameral, you have my most heartfelt thanks for supporting Zerial through his trials. Though he did not know it, could not know it, our love for him has ever been at the forefront of our mind. The love and support you have had for our son warrant's reward. We will speak after the campaign against Aurelia, and see what lands might be suitable," Jarrod turned to his wife.

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"My husband speaks truly. Should you ever need aid in the future, you have but to name it. For my part, I will promise you that I will assist in finding you both the best possible matches for your future brides," Minerva spoke with a calm dignity and her melodic voice seemed to ensnare the two teenagers, who fumbled over each other to bow with scarlet faces. Everyone turned their eyes back to me as I had another friend to introduce.

"This is Scholar Jordan, my closest confidant through out the years. Were it not for her path as the next Archmage of Hexenguard, I would ask for her hand in marriage. Alas, that is not to be and so I must be content with her most excellent friendship," Jordan went bright red at the statement and beamed at me while my parents both looked mildly amused and something more passed between their knowing gaze at the same time.

"Scholar Jordan, your loyalty to our son is noted," Jarrod said with amusement writ across his face, "There is not much we can offer the future Archmage of Hexenguard, but you have our thanks and should you need anything, you have but to name it," he finished with a glance at Tika, who looked extremely pleased standing next to his daughter.

"Jordan," Minerva's voice was soft as she looked at Jordan with a kind gaze and something more complicated behind it. "I also have nothing that I can offer a future master of eternity," both Tika and his daughter Theresa went stiff at the description, casting curious gazes at Minerva while she continued, "But I will ensure that your wardrobe and jewelry are the envy of all the duchies for the meaning you have given to my son."

"Thank you your grace," Jordan managed to stammer out without sounding like a choked chicken.

My heart warmed immensely with the treatment my parents were showing my friends with. With a grin I sent my friends back to their table and embraced both of my parents warmly. "Thank you," I whispered in their ear as I embraced them, and they both favored me with bright gazes and easy grins. I guess I knew where that lopsided smile came from. We all took our place on our respective thrones and Jarrod called the court to order.

"We have been reunited with out Heir, and our duchy is whole," he started with a thoughtful tone. "On the eve of our war with Aurelia, we have been made stronger than ever before. Our lands are flush with the bounty of nature, our people secure with commerce and business flourishing. This is a war of aggression against Aurelia, but it is not unearned when one considers their past aggression against Hexenguard and Pervalia. Our casus belli is just and so we will go forth and conquer that most disreputable land. We will bring justice, commerce, and the rule of law to those lawless bandits. The Queen of Aurelia will rue the day she decided that Pervalia was easy to steal from." the entire audience hall was enraptured, and it was clear that Jarrod was a skilled orator.

"Our Knight Commander, Lord Gerard, has done a skillful job in the staging point for our war with Aurelia. With this foreboding fortress as our secure foundation, we have a mighty foundation with which to launch our war. Look to the future my faithful vassals. Plunder, Land, and Glory await those who have but the fortitude to grasp it. But forget not the ultimate duty you all hold to our duchy, the mightiest duchy in the Kingdom. Seek your glory, find your profit and find your future! But keep always in mind that it is our strength together that has brought us to this level,and it is our brotherhood as Hexenguardian's that will see us to the greatest glory."

Jarrod finished his speech and the great hall shook with the fervor of the cheers. I noted that Jarrod is a beloved duke the duchy over, seen as fair and just. It helped that he often championed the cause of the low and middle nobility, earning their adoration. He made each and every lord in the room feel as if they were his personal champion. It helped that Jarrod himself felt the fervor of his words and in this moment allowed himself to be caught up in the excitement. Even Minerva's eyes gleamed from her seat on the throne, and I felt a stirring in my breast at his masterful presentation.

Minerva stood from her throne as Jarrod took his. She looked at the assembled nobility and they looked back, waiting with held breath.

"I cannot hope to top the fervor of my Lord Husband," She began with her beautiful voice carrying across the hall despite it's quiet nature, "But know that you carry the future of the duchy - no. You here carry the future of all Pervalia on your valiant shoulders. I do not fear for the war, because I know that with the mighty Hexenguard at the helm, we have no course set for us but victory," and her words were greeted with an even louder cheer. Minerva was well regarded as a ruler, even if many of those in the room discounted her because of her sex and attributed her stewardship to Jarrod, they still thought fondly of a wife who so openly supported her husband. I thought that they did her a disservice. But then again, I grew up with Jordan, a lady who easily outsmarted me on my finest day and she on her worst.

"In the coming days we will meet, we will laugh, we will feast, and we will be merry. This is not to make light of the seriousness of our cause, or to belittle the sacrifices we are surely going to make in our future. We will celebrate our duchy and ourselves and each other because it will give us the strength to return to these days when our future looks dark. After the cries of war, the screams of the wounded, and the smoke of the battlefield have cleared we will take stalk. And we will remember all that we have done in the name of Hexenguard will be rewarded," with that Minerva sat down to another hearty cheer.

"In the coming days," Jarrod began, not bothering to raise himself from his throne, "We will celebrate each other. We will celebrate my Son's majority, and we will prepare for war..."

"But tonight," Minerva took up where Jarrod paused, "tonight we will feast! I'm hungry! Bring out the damn food!" and the hall erupted with laughter as the servants took their queue to begin the state dinner. Much of the nobility gathered tonight would be very impressed by the spread tonight. It was a strategy designed to impress upon them the sheer majesty and power of the ducal household that they could afford such largess at a moments notice and while traveling. They would never get to see the effort that went into ensuring the dinner went properly...