Kalani Gether always hated how stubborn her kind faced grandfather, Celen, could be.

The old monic with grey runes had never listened to her before, but she hoped he would now. This Tide seemed different, and she made the hasty decision to come down to Sylen just in time, hoping she’d get the coot to finally leave the house with her to the Capital, Aelon.

It perplexed her, as her grandfather was a traveling merchant by trade. He had every ability to join a caravan and be out of Sylen while the Tide hit.

He wouldn’t hear a word of it, though, ‘A monic always sees through the darkest nights, Kalani.’

Mule-headed grandpa, she thought, her grandpa had walked off to the backyard after their argument took a more heated turn. Her grandmother, Jalice, had already taken her up on the offer, leaving a few days ago to stay at her dwelling in Aelon.

She had no such luck with Grandpa. He’d always had this habit of staying in the house around the Tides. The house was lovely, with warm colors painting the walls and white cloth furniture decorating the living room she currently sat in. Similar to a rustic, slightly dated look, with the most minor traces of mana or runic building techniques in the foundations.

Would a house be worth your life? Kalani wished her grandfather could see it from her perspective. Judging from the most recent reports, this Tide was more disastrous than the previous ones in living memory.

Already, the border had been overrun, the amount of towns that had yet to be razed to the ground between there and Sylen could be counted on one hand. A particularly bloodlust obsessed Apostle had been anointed by Succoria this round, and the effects of that choice showed.

Last she heard, Kelser was barely hanging on, and that was with the Apostle, Yuriel, going in no rush. The Duchy had listened to the announcement three days ago, and the Tide was nothing if not punctual. She could count on that, at least.

Bothered by the implications, she couldn’t let her grandfather have it his way, not this time. Kalani heard a distinct human male voice while admiring the low sunlight beaming from the glass windows.

“Anybody there? It’s Luke, I’m here to visit Celen.”

Snapping out of her thoughts from the unexpected visitor, Kalani got up from the comfortable, light blue couch. She peered through the door-viewer, her heart seized up in fright for a moment.

Within her view outside the door stood a deathly pale young man with blue eyes that faint power revolved in, black hair, and all sorts of quality equipment. A floating black tome peacefully hovered behind him. Then, the dazzlingly beautiful sleek wand, a centerpiece crystal to its top, a white shaft under it, and a metal guard around said crystal. She first mistook the golden round compass around the young man’s neck as a necklace, then saw the actual neckpiece, a simple silver chain with a fang at its end next to the compass.

Power oozed off several other items he wore, and she couldn’t help but wonder if everything he had was enchanted or had special effects. Kalani was a respected clerk, having never been in a fight in her life. But even her dulled survival senses picked up the palpable aura radiating off this human man.

What’s someone like that doing here? Grandpa was never a hunter. Is he part of the migrants running around the city? Kalani rubbed her temples. That was a stupid idea; those unfortunate people usually wear rags or simple clothes.

While Kalani was run over by indecision, another shock came to her system; the wand spoke out loud. She saw faint light flashes come from the crystal in the weapon.

“Just point me at the door, master! I can blast it open in one shot, no problem. Ice wand will do all the dirty work for you.”

Kalani thought the rumors of weapons or items that could do that were just that—rumors. She covered her mouth and stepped back audibly, alerting the young man to the noise. Having moved, the young monic woman lost sight of the strange human but heard his words in response to the eager wand.

“You don’t go around breaking into people’s homes, Xera. I’ll get in trouble. Damaging Celen’s house like that would be incredibly ungrateful of me. He showed me nothing but friendliness on the road.”

The feminine wand voice shot back, “I know! But maybe it’d let him know we’re here to visit? I liked that monic man too. You nagged that we’ve barely got time to do anything, so why wait?”

“I won’t deny that it’ll be hard to find the time to visit again before the Tide. Would be best I leave a note instead.”

Straining her ears, Kalani started to hear faint scribbling on the other side of the white door. With that effort taking her attention, she failed to notice the back door where her grandfather had gone off to closing shut.

The man in question, Celen, caught her from behind, hands on both her shoulders, giving the poor girl another fright.

“Ah!” She jerked back in reaction.

An old, gravely voice came from behind her, “What’s got you caught up in the Runes, Kalani? It’s just a door, no need to stare at it like it’ll eat you.”

Blushing from embarrassment, Kalani said, “There’s a strange human man at the door, Grandpa. It looks like he’s here for you?”

Releasing his hands from Kalani’s shoulders, Celen stepped up to the door, speaking to his granddaughter in the process, “And you didn’t take the time to greet him? Looks like my son forgot to instill manners.”

“Grandpa, you know how the city is lately. I got harassed over ten times just coming to your house for money, and I don’t like how the crime is half concealed by the guards in every corner. Sylen is basically under martial law.”

Failing to respond to his granddaughter, Celen opened the door after a quick look through the door hole, the white door swung open, and Celen raised his arms out wide in greeting, “There’s the young man I’ve been waiting on. Thought you forgot about me after our little trip, Luke, how have you been?”

Veering over her grandfather, Kalani saw the young man put up the note he was writing. His face molded into a slight smile, “Celen, good to see you. I came to keep good on my promise to visit.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Allowing Luke in, Celen sat on a multiple-seat couch in the nearby living room around a simple wooden table. The old monic man said, “Come on in, take a seat. That pretty lady there is my granddaughter, Kalani. It seems you struck some fear into her, Luke.”

A probing gaze landed on Kalani, and she looked down toward her feet in reaction. The man’s voice reached out to her, “I’m Luke. It's nice to meet you, Kalani. You probably overheard Xera, didn’t you? She harmless, just a little eager for action.”

Looking up, Kalani found the man reaching out for a handshake. She accepted the gesture before running off to seat herself next to her grandfather. Usually, she acted more confident around others, but her grandfather’s visitor was unsettling.

No matter his words, the energy coming off him was dangerous, like a caged beast, ready to pounce at the slightest provocation. How Grandpa could be ambivalent about it all was beyond her. Every so often, bits of mist came out of him. Literally.

Worst of all, he didn’t seem to notice it. And those eyes of his appeared to be viewing her soul, looking at everything—she felt naked.

Luke made himself at home, sitting in a single-seat padded chair on the living room set up. He began the conversation, “How’s it all been, Celen? Staying safe?”

Chuckling lightly, Celen responded, “Nothing this old man can’t handle. My granddaughter is making a damn good case I should leave, just this once. I know if I go, this house could be ransacked by those thugs any day.”

“You’ve stayed behind for previous Tides, Celen?”

Nodding proudly, arms crossed over his chest, Celen affirmed, “Like any monic worth his Runes. Running away when the Tides come never sat right with me.”

Eager to persuade her grandfather, Kalani broke into the conversation, “Grandpa, but this time is different. The Tide is sparing hardly any towns, the three top noble families are locking the Duchess from sending proper support to hold off the invasion at Sylen.”

Huffing out air through his nose, Celen dismissed Kalani, “Those who rule the five major cities inside always interfere when it comes time to lend Sylen aid. The fools, but we’ve pulled through each time, and we’ll do it again. Our city lord is the strongest in generations, and our High Defier is the most experienced with the Tides in the whole Duchy.”

The air in the room changed slightly at that. Kalani could see the tension rising from Luke, the talking wand excitedly shaking, while the tome veered around in a semi-circle around the man.

Asking flatly, Luke said, “What do you mean? Are people actively restricting the sending of Hunters, Defiers, Soldiers, and other resources to Sylen? What do they think will happen if this city falls?”

Tapping a foot against the wooden floor, Celen said, “Been that way each time, its political infightings, mixed with fear and posturing. All those sycophants maneuver to come out on top while sacrificing nothing.” Celen put the flat of his hand against the table roughly, “They’ve all grown fat from repeated success, deaths of those of us in the borderlands and Sylen. Our country’s fate, in some ways, rests in the handles of less than ten people.”

A sheet of ice flashed out around the young man for a second. Kalani clutched around her grandfather in response. Catching himself, Luke thawed it with a snap, “I’ll pay for any damage that may have caused, Celen. I’ve been working on controlling the ice when I get emotional, but it needs work still.”

Emboldened by the admission, Kalani entreated her grandfather, “See, grandpa? You’ve got to come with me. Even you know that the rest of the Duchy is leaving Sylen out to dry. All those hunters are high strung ready to go on a massacre,” she pointed at Luke while staring at her grandfather, “Just look at him!”

The accused man, Luke, scratched his right cheek, “Kalani, was it? I’m surprised, is all. Musai, Iona or Annika never mentioned any of this stuff to me. I had falsely believed the other cities would send what they could for the Tide. Celen, I can leave if I’m making you and your granddaughter uncomfortable.”

“We would like that very much thank-” Kalani began, only for Celen to flick her in the forehead.

He began to speak, “Nothing of the sort, Luke. You’ve grown into a much stronger young man in our short time apart. Don’t think I haven’t heard about you becoming the newest Defier in the Duchy.” The old man leaned back with a knowing smile.

Meanwhile, the reveal sent a shock throughout Kalani’s consciousness, so much so that what she intended to be thoughts were sputtered out loud, “The Ice Defier is him? But he looks like a run-down hunter with extra expensive gear on! What, how? Why?” Finally catching herself, Kalani wrapped a hand over her mouth after a, ‘There’s no way.’

Flicking his granddaughter once more, to which she rubbed her forehead with an ‘ow,’ Celen chided his pride and joy, “You’ve always been dense, my little moon. Judging purely by appearance is a fool’s task.” Looking over to Luke with an apologetic face, Celen appealed on Kalani’s behalf, “She’s like any person lacking perception, unable to see what is in front of her.”

Xera had been busy laughing from the onset of Kalani’s outburst, “Luke, I like this one too. She doesn’t know how to hold back, just like me. Hey you,” Xera tried to veer her wand head to Kalani, “Want to be friends?”

“Thank you but I’d rather stay out of that guy’s way. Don’t you know the rumors?”

“Not at all! Are they bloody or interesting? Any about me?”

Breathing out while laying out his arms against the back piece of the chair, Luke said, “She is one of many, Celen. Why’s your granddaughter here anyway? I thought you said she’d be in the Capital. And you mentioned a wife at some point?”

“Hold that thought,” Celen set off to get coffee and tea, returning quickly with the refreshments, “Help yourself, young man.”

Afterward, in quick order, Celen spoke about where his wife, Janice, had run off to, why his granddaughter was here, and how he planned on staying put.

Soaking it all in, Luke said, “I see,” and switched subjects, “Your granddaughter mentioned people shutting off support to Sylen? As someone about to face the Tide, I should like to know why.”

Sipping on his chosen coffee while leaning into the couch, Celen held a grimace, “That, son, goes into the Duchess’s weakening position. Suffice it to say, the Neith, Valic, and Hion Earl families are attempting to force the widowed Kathrine into marriage, all to access the Ducal Shard. I don’t know the details, but trade enough like I have, and you pick up bits and pieces.”

Slowly nodding, Luke said, “And this somehow leads them to hold back any usual support?”

Kalani adored the gossip, eager to contribute, and added, “The Duchess always tries to send in the Ducal Army and at least half the Defiers in the country. She’s been outmatched this time, and plenty are either fighting behind the lines trying to slow the Tide or wasting away in safety.”

Annoyance reached Luke’s eyes, evident to the two monics sitting across from him, “Politics. So I should expect only what the city has on hand to try and stave off this coming disaster?”

“Why not come with us, Luke? I’m getting Grandpa to leave with me, and he stews in the house too much when not on the road. He’d love to have you.” Kalani offered in the spur of the moment.

“What you’re asking for is treason, little moon—think before you speak.” Celen cut the offer there.

The implications now rushing up to the puzzle in her mind, Kalani drooped, “I forgot, he can’t leave the area. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay behind, Grandpa.”

Appearing to sense that the day would be filled with arguments between family, Luke got up, “It was nice to see you again, Celen. Consider her offer, I can check on your house when I find the time if you’d like. Excuse me.”

Kalani watched as the young man left the house, seeing the burden crush upon his shoulders. She tugged at her grandfather’s clothes after he shut the door, “Is he going to be alright? I can’t imagine what it must be like to fight like that. He’s younger than me. Do you think I upset him, Grandpa?”

Cracking his back, Celen complained about his old age shortly before answering, “Little moon, you were barely on his radar. A shame, I thought about trying to set you up for marriage.”

“Grandpa! We talked about this, I’m perfectly capable of getting a man when I want.”

“Fine, little moon, I’ll stay out of your love life. Maybe it’s time these old bones return with you, and I miss my wife already. As for that young man, you’ve nothing to worry about. You don’t reach where he has if a little pressure is all it takes to break you.”

Despite her grandfather’s reassurances, worry gnawed at Kalani.

I hope he ends up okay.