XVIII

The castle was even more majestic from the apartment view. So high, and the turrets had so much ornamental detail, like flutes on a pillar. The window shutters were of carved hardwoods from faraway lands, the stained glass a reflective blue—almost like mirrors.

For a moment, Celine thought she might fall ill with the excitement. “And here…” her father was saying, as he continued to give mother and Yoreno a tour. “These windows overlook the bay.”

“So many ships,” mother said.

“Will we go see them, father?”

“Oh, of course. Shipping is a large and profitable endeavor in Aevalin and I suspect we’ll be involved with them soon enough.”

She had lost interest and went off to do her own exploration. Her bedroom was twice the size of the one she had at their estate in Haven. The walls were a smooth pink, her bed was huge! And the intricately-carved posts and the lacy silken curtains.

This place was… expensive.

But father was making so much money now, it didn’t matter anymore. Even the house guards were liveried in new colors.

Celine couldn’t believe her father had decided to reinvent the Brendara image, but she liked what he had decided on. But there was no way he came up with the designs himself—white and blue checkers with an intricate symbol that somewhat resembled a spear head, and yet not. It almost looked like a bird of a kind.

She left her bedroom and the view of the castle and followed the house cat—his name was Sir Wesserian. She didn’t know why he had such a silly name, but she followed the white and orange animal as he evaded her under some beautiful furniture.

She would catch him later.

Instead, she plopped herself in a chair and stared at the view of the city. The mountain was partially obscuring the castle, but they had a wonderful view of the High City where all the richest lords and ladies had manner houses.

With its fountains and statues cascading all the way down the mountainside, chiseled in white marble

They came back into the room, heads turning this way and that as father spoke excitedly about all his favorite places in the city.

“Now there’s another thing,” he said, spreading his big hands. “Besides the shipping, the most lucrative trade inn all of Aevalin, and I’ve been writing to you of this. It’s the—“

“The adventurer’s guilds!” Celine blurted.

Father looked to her, smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. “Well, it seems my daughter has been paying attention to my letters.” He laughed.

“More like obsessing over them,” Yoreno, said with a role of his eyes.

“It is good that you were paying attention, Celine,” father said. “Yoreno, you can learn from her to be more involved with our new place here in Aevalin. These people take the king Branlin’s proclamation of this Age of Readventure very seriously.”

Yoreno frowned. “It’s not like we will become adventurers ourselves.”

His father raised an eyebrow that bespoke something different.

“No,” mother said.

“Now, Cassandra, dear. I’ve been in business since coming to Aevalin for just such a trade—not personally mind you, lovely wife. But to start a company!”

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“A company?” Yoreno asked.

“Yes! To hire adventurers, scout the lost kingdoms and kill monsters and evil sorcerers alike. The king is allowing adventurers to claim their own lands. I will employ many such adventurers in this new age. One day, mark my words, Brendara will be the name of kings and queens!”

“Really, father?” Celine asked.

“Indeed!”

Yoreno and mother seemed skeptical, but at least she was interested in the monetary income some ventures could bring. Father had not failed to mention that in his letters.

“Aevalin,” father continued, “has a rich history of adventurers—more so than any other kingdom. It was here the Age of Darkness began, when the long dead Grand Bastard ripped a hole through a plain to another realm—one of evil and monsters.”

He sounded excited, as if trying to scare them with a bedtime story.

“I told you it was all real,” Yoreno said.

“Of course it’s real,” father said as he patted Yorenno on the back. “Ah, what glorious times we live in. Times of wealth and plenty, of adventure, fortune, and above all”—he smiled broadly—“glory! Which is why I have made great strides to make the most excellent acquaintance of lady Dantera Brennovo!”

“Who?” Yorenno asked.

Father turned, looked at them. “Ah, I may have forgotten to mention this part in my letters. My apologies, but I speak of the descendent of the great lord Arlian Brennovo! He’s a legend in Aevalin—both of the folk and the nobility! He fought a most excellent war against king Balthazar and the Grand Bastard who usurped the rightful throne of his brother Prince Kandrion. It was he who saved the world.”

“What do you mean,” Yorenno asked, his curiosity clearly piqued. “Did the age of dungeons and monsters not happen?”

Celine didn’t quite believe any of this, but the tail was interesting, so she said nothing at all, and waited for father to continue.

“Oh it did, my boy. It most surely did.”

“Then what do you mean he saved the world when the Grand Bastard won?”

“Oh he didn’t win! He was killed, king Balthazar imprisoned in a tower. It was Prince Kandrion—the king, I should say, who ruled for fifty years after that, fighting the evils that poured out of that tear his brother and Klause Schuar tore open. But the war lord Brennovo waged against them with Kandrion at their side, stopped most of their rituals. They never broke fully through. Had they done so”—fathers eyes went wild—“surely none of us would have been born into this world.”

“All fascinating tails, my love,” Cassandra said, “but can we hear them another time. Celine and I should freshen up. We’ve only just arrived. Yorreno, dear, aren’t you tired?”

He shook his head fervently.

“See,” Celine said, feeling immense satisfaction. “You were only pretending to be cavalier about coming here.”

He looked at her, and she stuck her tongue out at him which made him chuckle.

“Well… yes—very well, dear. But one last thing.” Father turned toward Yorenno. “My boy! My son and my heir. I have something most exciting to tell you.”

“Yes father,” Yorenno looked almost afraid.

“The great lady Brennovo, is coming tonight for supper.” At the surprised expressions of them all he added, “As well as many other guests from the kingdom who wish to formally invite us into the city.”

Cassandra smiled. “You have been hard at work,” John.

“Oh, and there’s so much more to tell, dear. Ah I forgot. I keep getting sidetracked. Yorreno!”

“Father?”

“You! You, my son will receive a knight’s training with the lady.” The words came out very self-satisfied.

“WHAT?”

“Yes!”

“Oh, but that’s wonderful,” Cassandra said.

Even Celine was excited. And jealous of her brother. Not jealous that she would not become a knight. No—what a ghastly occupation, but that she had no gift from father.”

“Do you speak true, father?”

“Absolutely! I would not bring you all the way to the illustrious kingdom of Aevalin to jest with you, son. You will receive a knights training from lady Brennovo and in turn our Brendara will assist her guild knowing full well we will be watching, learning how these guilds function, how to set them up start them.”

He laughed loudly. “We have a glorious future ahead of us family. Now off with you all until supper!”

The family parted ways toward separate ends of the house. Celine went to her bedroom to rest and freshen up, but found she could not sleep at all, despite her weariness from the travels.

Her heart was beating fast, her excitement welling up deep inside her.

She looked out the window, to the majesty of the castle. The sun, gold and orange, cast rays into her bedroom and limned everything in those hues. The city was so beautiful.

Celine couldn’t wait to learn more about this lord Arlian Brennovo—to meet his descendent Dantera tonight at dinner, and to learn everything she could about the history of Aevalin and her modern culture.

She felt like a different person.

Life surely would be different here. It was so full of energy and promise. A promise the Brendara family would grasp firmly. She put her hand to her breast, completely unable to contain her excitement.

“Aevalin and The Age of Readventure…”

She smiled.