Harlan said his goodbyes and returned everyone to their homes.

For Relly he wasn’t allowed to actually pick her up, rather he had to go through a series of military bases who had gate receiving rooms and could verify where he was going and ensure that his gate wasn’t being interfered with on the other side.

Back at his own home now, Harlan had to only get ready for the party.

“Do I look alright?”

“Do we need to go through this every time?”

“I’ll just skip to the part where I think you look beautiful then.”

Harlan gave her a quick kiss.

“I’m more worried that I missed some blood when I was cleaning up, do I smell like blood?”

She took a few quick sniffs before she realized how odd it made her look.

“You smell like soap, something fruity rather than floral.”

“I don’t really like the smell of flowers that much.”

“Alright, then we are ready. You do need to trim Balor though, just from the outline due to my spells I can tell he is uneven and a big mangy.”

“I’ll ask Isha to do that, she trims my hair for me.”

After a little bit of bladework, Balor was presentable, Zella was also ready to go.

For the first time in years, she could put her hair up in a bun.

“Am I allowed to say something inappropriate?”

“Is it a complement?”

“Yes?”

“Go for it then.”

“Under all of that hair, you have a well developed body. Your arms are toned, and instead of covering up your features your hair frames your face well. You are slimmer than I thought you were since you don’t have to wear your hair like a suit of armor. You are a beautiful young woman.”

“Thank you? Adina, is this alright?”

“I know Harlan is just looking at you with the eyes of a friend. Or a researcher, since his phrasing is a little bit odd.”

Balor, despite how he seemed not long ago, carried himself the most like a noble of any of them.

He knew the names of the people who greeted him, and made small mentions of needing to meet them more frequently.

Harlan was a little put off by how easily he seemed to integrate himself into the position of a noble.

But he put away that thought the moment he saw his family.

“Autumn, it’s been too long.”

They embraced one another.

“If you have gate, why aren’t you visiting more often?”

“I’ve been busy trying to save everyone.”

“What project has your attention this time?”

“Easing the effects of Aine’s pact with the False Undead. I managed to suppress the blood frenzy of a Ghoul and a Vampire, I made a Werewolf that doesn’t transform under a full moon. I just need to figure out how to make a Sirin and Gargoyle able to live like normal people.”

“I’ve only heard of them in stories. What is wrong with them?”

“Gargoyles have stone-like skin, broad eyebrows, red eyes, and a pair of wings.

Sirins have bird legs, feathers on their arms, bird eyes, and a partial beak.”

“That must be terrible.”

“Yes, and flesh sculpting them all myself would be an issue in and of itself. I need to make spells that other people can use. I feel like I’m close, I just need a few more weeks.”

“UP, UP.”

Jarrik wanted his uncle to hold him.

“You are growing up so quickly.”

“I’m getting bigger!”

“Yes you are. Maybe one day you’ll be taller than your father.”

“Can I see the lights?”

“Wait until later, Aunt Amber and I are going to put on a big show for everyone. Oh, and before I forget, I made armors for you and Jaramis. Just as a precaution. You can even wear your normal armor over them if you want.”

“Harlan, did you come to a party wearing combat gear?”

“I only really take it off to bathe. Never know when something is going to happen, I can’t ever let my guard down.”

She just looked annoyed.

Zella meanwhile was finding that suddenly she had suitors, or at least men her age who would say quite a lot of things once they saw her face.

“I am already in a relationship.”

“One night doesn’t require that you break anything off. Think of it as a trial run.”

“I am not interested.”

After another minute of talking she rolled her eyes and played a card she would rather not.

“In case you didn’t know, I am also a close friend of Harlan Fomoria.”

“So?”

“So if you continue bothering me, I’m not the one you are going to answer to.”

“HA, yeah, the man of a hundred final warnings. I’m not quite so worried.”

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

“Your father and I have many dealings, unless you intend to answer to him for why his business with me has fallen through, I suggest you treat my dear friend with the respect which she deserves.”

The man jumped back.

“Ah, um, Sir Balor, I had no idea you knew-”

Balor moved closer, his head nearly touching the man’s shoulder.

“Any friend of my brother is a friend of mine, do keep this in mind.”

Zella watched as one by one, the men who had bothered her fled, quietly, politely.

“Wow, that got rid of them quickly.”

“Harlan may handle violence, but I prefer my threats to be more… financial. Men like these only seem to worry when it harms their profits, or in this case, their parents’ profits.”

Balor could barely reign in his scorn towards them.

“Anyway, thank you. I really didn’t want to call Harlan over, I am worried he would’ve…”

“Done something that only seemed logical to Harlan.”

“Exactly.”

“You know, we aren’t so different.”

“Me and you? or you and him?”

“Me and him. Did he ever tell you how I was born?”

“He might’ve mentioned it.”

“We both have that anger in us. The difference is I have conquered it, he has embraced it.

We’ve… not had enough time to speak with one another. Let me introduce myself again, Sir Balor Fomoria, nice to meet you, Lady Zella.”

“Isn’t Lady a legal title? Are you allowed to call me that?”

“It matters little. Would you like me to introduce you to some nice young men?”

“No, I’ve just entered a relationship with Reet.”

“Oh, I thought that was just a cover. Also, with him of all people?”

“I can’t imagine Harlan is going to stay exactly the same in a few years. Reet, well, he changed.”

“He has mellowed out. No, that’s not right. He has become more selective of his targets.”

“I don’t think that is true either. He is still getting tossed around by whoever happens to get in front of him.”

“In that case, I have a feeling that he is going to decide his own fate soon enough. It is a matter of time before he is pushed too far, and his choice of path is the only thing he can control.”

“I guess you two really are alike. Starting ominous monologues at the drop of a hat.”

Balor chuckled.

Ava stuck with Breken, away from the party.

The sparring room had been her sanctuary ever since Harlan was first taken.

“You can’t just stay out of that armor, it is a part of you now, it helps you do so much good.”

She swung Lugh around with reckless abandon as Breken spoke with her.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Harlan is complicated, he has too much power for someone so young, so unstable. This is my fault.”

“Fuck that, Harlan always talks about choices, so this is his fault.”

Breken was tired of their dance, so he deflected Lugh, drawing close enough to force her to the floor.

“I should’ve talked to him, I wanted to mentor him. But once he got into gods, and he knew where I was from… Things have changed, I don’t think I can get through to him now, or even if I should. But, if you want him to change, to be something else, you need to be willing to accept those parts of him that you can’t stand, just enough to be around him. He must know that you are there for him, even if you don’t agree with him, you can’t leave him alone.”

“His work is killing people, making more things to do just that.”

“I never told you why I defected. Or how I got this job here.”

“You realized that Reino was evil, so you-”

“I was border patrol, and I had a real talent for finding gaps in the arrays, things to exploit. I opened the path for raiding parties. One night, I was invited along, to see what I was really allowing- no, what I was making happen.”

Breken lowered his eyes, he didn’t want to be face to face for this.

“When we cleared the house, I was brought into the master bedroom. After being told what his crimes were, the other soldiers were going to execute the man and his wife… then the rest of them… there was a crib in the room. I didn’t stop them, nor did I stop the others. There were three, all girls, 6 months old, 4 years old, 12 years old. If Harlan was there, do you think he would’ve cowered? Or would he have stopped those men? For all of his bad traits, I don’t believe he is evil, he is just driven to never let those who he cannot forgive take root. I’m not endorsing everything he has done. But we all fail, we all make mistakes.

Everyone else has either accepted what he is or they left him. You can’t leave him.”

“That was in the past, you got past that already. You made your mistakes and you got better.”

“Godsdamnit Ava, stop being so fucking pigheaded, in 10 years this will be his past. Are you going to be by his side, or are you going to give up. And I know damn well that you do not give up.”

“Fine.”

“And put that armor back on.”

Harlan wanted a very short meeting with Redwall.

“I want this to be short. I made you a golem armor.”

His eyes shined. Though he wouldn’t admit it, it was something he had been envious of.

“Really now?”

“I also wanted to have a chat about how you acted towards Adina.”

“It is nothing personal, you see-”

Harlan put up his hand.

“I understand, I dislike it, but I understand your reasoning. I wanted to say that there are no hard feelings.”

“Then I hope you don’t mind me asking, why the armor?”

“That armor is to show my gratitude for what you have done for your people.”

“I had hoped you had simply been charmed by my rugged good looks.”

“You are a good man, and I like you, but… I believe many of my problems are simply beyond the pull of a single baron. I am very grateful that you are a friend of the family, and you have done a lot to keep your barony safe, which keeps both of our families safe.”

“I am aware of my limits. And I am glad I’ve not damaged my relationship with you.”

“Since we’ve cleared up any misunderstandings, I believe it is time to return to the party.”

Harlan came out to see his mother speaking with other noble women.

“Do you mind if I hold James?”

“Of course not.”

Harlan held his youngest brother, he still didn’t do much but babble and pull at things.

“Ah, you must be Harlan then, or do you prefer Sir Fomoria.”

“Harlan is just fine. And you are?”

“Lady Siris. My husband is Baron Sty. Your mother seems to be a wonderful woman.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, what was the topic before I ruined the conversation.”

“Oh you’ve done nothing of the sort. We were speaking of our children. Do you intend to have any of your own someday?”

“Yes, I do.”

Harlan ended up with little to actually speak about, but the women tried to keep the conversation going to the point where he wasn’t sure if they didn’t see how awkward he was, or if they just liked hearing themselves talk.

Once he found an out he handed James back to his mother and tracked down Adina.

Though he was uncomfortable with it, she said that she needed to speak with people on her own terms, without him standing by scowling and glaring at every minor comment.

Along the way, Harlan was approached by a group of children, the oldest couldn’t be more than 10.

“Are you Sir Fomoria?”

“Yes, I am.”

The other children poked and prodded from the back, clearly they lacked the courage to ask what they wanted, so they got their older friend to do it for them.

Harlan kneeled down to eye level and spoke in a friendlier tone.

“Did you want to ask me something?”

“Can you really grow scales?”

Harlan put his hands over his face, and then he removed them, he had more lizard like features.

The children had a look of amazement.

“And you can grow fur?”

Harlan did the same trick.

“Wow, can I learn to do that?”

“Maybe when you get older. Can you sense mana yet?”

“No… my mother said that magic is for soldiers.”

“Magic is for everyone. You could grow food, you could paint, craft a stove, do anything if you put your mind to it and put in the time to properly and safely learn how to do it. It can enhance every part of your life, even just using magic and generating mana makes you stronger.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Harlan stopped himself from going on a larger rant about the inequality that stems from magic only being taught freely to peasants in the army.

Not 5 minutes later the boy returned with his mother, from his downtrodden expression, he had been scolded for using Harlan’s arguments against her.

“What have you been saying to my son?”

“That magic is a wonderful gift which everyone should learn freely.”

“It is a dangerous thing meant for killers.”

Harlan pointed her finger like a blade at her, then manifested a butterfly on the top of his finger.

“It is a tool, to be used according to the will of its wielder. Just as I’ve killed over a thousand men, and my work has killed millions, the Greenfield family has made famine a thing of the past, letting the nobility have parties like this without peasants revolting.”

He would’ve winced at his poor wording, but that would make it seem as if he fumbled his words instead of accidentally speaking his mind.

“What a belligerent young man you are.”

“I believe I have been cordial. If you do not wish your child to learn, then it is your issue in the end.

But I am a man who enjoys magic, and I believe that everyone should have the right to choose for themselves to learn or not. They should not be limited by ignorance or resources like food.”

“How dare you imply I am ignorant.”

“Ignorance is to not know, every man, woman, and child is ignorant. I am ignorant, and to claim otherwise is hubris.”

Harlan thought about what he wanted to say, and then what he should say. This was likely to be another noble test, Harlan had rarely fought women, and his weakness for them was known.

“I believe we both came into this conversation from the wrong angle. I do not intend to teach your son anything without your permission. Nor did I intend to insult you. I apologize for my wording of these things.

I simply wished to express my passion for learning, and your son asked to see some of my magic.”

The woman was disarmed by his change in tone, she came in expecting a fight, and now he reminded her of her own children.

“I accept your apology.”

Seeing that there wasn’t going to be a fight, verbal or otherwise, people went back to their conversations.

Harlan decided to continue on his way to Adina, not to actually speak with her, he just wanted to watch for now since she was trying to be seen as a separate person from him.

He made smalltalk that he barely remembered, but he always made it close enough that he could overhear how Adina was doing.

“Ah, so you’re from Reino originally.”

“Yes.”

“And, might I ask why you left?”

“I’m cursed, blind from birth, and they can only treat someone like me as defective, rather than different.”

“Other than the eyes, I would’ve never known. You carry yourself quite well.”

“It is through spells, mostly learned at the academy, that I can see things. Though I cannot tell color, and my ability to sense brightness is rather rudimentary.”

“Then you won’t be able to see the light show tonight?”

“I will view the memories from my fiance. He has very good eyes.”

“How silly of me, you must be the fiance of Sir Fomoria. And this must be the golem armor that I’ve heard of peeking out from the collar on your dress.”

Adina knew already that the man had no desire to speak with her, but rather was trying to find out about her and Harlan. But, she kept up the charade just to see how she handled bullshit..

“Why yes it is.”

The way the man was leering at her neckline, and mistaking his intent was easy for someone who couldn’t read his face, but judge his sightline by the way he tilted his head.

Now was time for Harlan to step in. There was only one reason she would be reaching at that spot behind her back, and it was the set of self-defense torture needles he made for her.

“Adina, how has the party been? I’m sorry for leaving you alone”

“Oh it has been fine, I’ve been speaking with Baron Sty here.”

“How nice, I met your wife earlier. She seems to be a good woman. Now, did I hear you have some interest in my armor?”

“Well, it is a beautiful piece.”

When Harlan got the same leer, it became clear that he really did just want to see the armor.

Harlan indulged him, though he felt a little dirty afterwards.

Outside it was almost midnight, and Amber needed him there to set off a series of warmagic spells.

Redwall, despite not really casting many spells in Harlan’s sight, would handle an outline of the country.

Harlan’s job was to cast 13 spells, each would represent the 13 cities that became the kingdom.

Amber needed to then cast a spell which would look like a growing tree that reached each of the spells Harlan cast like fruits hanging from the branches.

It had actually taken them a few days to get themselves synced up properly, but seeing how proud Redwall was to have two more warmages who could help him put on the display he had planned for quite some time made it worth it.

With the party done, Harlan brought his family back home and then asked Adina to put on something warmer before she came back outside.

“So, what else do you have planned?”

“I know that you wanted to spend my birthday with me, just the two of us, and we didn’t really get to do that.”

“Oh don’t worry about that, I had a lot of fun with everyone else.”

“Then do you know about timezones?”

“If you got east or west far enough, we say the time is different because the sun rises and sets relative to where you are.”

“Exactly. So, why don’t we travel back in time, go west a little ways.”

“We are pretty close to the border, I hope you aren’t thinking of crossing it.”

“They are just lines on a map. And a defensive trench and a 200 foot wall full of armed guards. But no, we don’t need to go that far.”

“Alright then.”

When she felt the ground slightly sink under their weight she grabbed Harlan.

“Where are we, are we safe? I don’t like boats.”

“It’s not a boat. It is a dancefloor on a lake. I made it.”

“Out of what?”

“It is crystal clear ice, inside I’ve lit up several colored lights, and there are fake lightning bugs whose lights are reflecting in the mist. Give me your hand, and let’s dance. I’ll share all of the sights.”

They slowly rocked back and forth, Adina teared up looking at all the effort he must’ve put into this.

“How long did this take?”

“I spent half a day finding a lake past the line where the timezones shift that wasn’t part of someones private lands. Then I decided to just dig my own lake by making golems to do the work for me, that took about 3 days but doesn’t count because I didn’t do it myself. 3 hours to set up this platform so it was perfectly stable. 1 hour to set up the arrays to power the lights and bugs and mist. Then another hour to actually put those spells into effect.”

“Why’d you do all this for me?”

“Because I love you.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I. I don’t put much stock in my birthday, it is just another day, but it gives me an excuse to do something special. Did you… ever celebrate your birthday before?”

“My brothers got birthdays, I got to be told I should be happy to be alive at all.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to kill him?”

Adina chuckled.

“Is there anything that you want me to do, something for you?”

“Not until after we are married.”

She hit him softly for the joke.

“Or, we just keep dancing. This isn’t just fun for you.”