45

Lady and Lord

Weirhamatt cordially seated them in the plush chairs near the fireplace. He motioned to the massive stained glass window and began explaining, "Lebreima is full of stories, full of wonders. I am sure you have heard tales of Feodeim, Hawk, Raven and the legendary powers of the lifestones, the Tireima.” He nodded towards Grandfather Breima. “But has your bopei ever introduced you to the other great magic of Lebreima?"

"We've been learning more and more about the Kareima, Fareima and Astreima recently," Nick replied, discreetly.

Weirhamatt scowled playfully at their grandfather, "So, your grandchildren know nothing of seimei? Such a shame. No wonder they have not come to Lebreima sooner."

"What is ‘say-may’”? Lottica asked.

“Wait a moment.” Weirhamatt said, bowing slightly. He left the room, quickly returning with a rolling cart covered by a large silver lid. With a flourish belying his many years, Weirhamatt removed the gleaming lid to reveal four steaming cups. A heavenly sweet aroma wafted from the cart. Next to the delicate cups was a broad platter set with dark, rich morsels.

Nick sat up straighter in his seat as he eyed the delicacies. Weirhamatt smiled at Nick’s reaction and explained, "Seimei is the most magical of sweets. It is Lebreiman chocolate. And Lebreiman chocolate is the richest in the world. Please help yourself before your bopei takes it all. He had a great sweet tooth as a young man."

He deftly handed Lottica and Nick their cups of hot seimei. Then, he handed around the platter of intricately shaped morsels. Nick popped one of the treats resembling a mini-pretzel into his mouth. As far as school in Lebreima went, Nick felt this was the best lesson so far. The chocolate was smooth, not overly sweet, its rich savor lingering in his mouth. Deep in his dessert-loving heart, he knew he couldn't be trusted alone with a plate full of these treats.

Lottica did not have the sweet tooth her brother did, but she found seimei’s evenness and lightness refreshing, enjoying every bite of the smooth chocolate. After a few minutes of quiet, contented nibbling and sipping, Lottica ventured to ask, "Mr. Weirhamatt, sir, what does the drawing mean?" She pointed to the bookstand with the illuminated manuscript.

"Please. No formalities. Everyone calls me Weirhamatt. May I call you Lottica and Nick?" He waited for their nods and then set down his hot seimei and brought his fingertips together. The gesture reminded Lottica of the figure of le Breima in the stained glass window just behind her. "Understand, Lottica and Nick, that the stories of Lebreima's beginnings are shrouded in much mystery and folklore. Yet, these fantastic beginnings have actual relics. Most visibly, the Kareima and Fareima gemstones.”

Lottica and Nick both nodded again. They’d had up close and personal experience with those unpredictable gems.

Weirhamatt continued in flawless English, "Yet, the Astreima is a power that Lebreimans only know from the story of its theft by Raven. It is unclear what the three stones, the Tireima, together would mean. Some ancients texts speak of doom, others speak of paradise.

"The manuscript I set out for you to see this morning is the earliest complete text of the tales of Breima. The drawings of the three gemstones are clear. The fourth drawing has always inspired speculation. Is the bird beneath the figures Hawk or Raven? Who do the figures of the boy and girl represent? Why are there empty spaces in their chests? It is all very curious."

Curious? Lottica felt Weirhamatt’s comment was a bit understated. Magical gemstones. Zombie parents. Power-crazed, caped men. These things were more than just curious. “So, no one really knows what this means. Even here in Lebreima,” she gestured dramatically to the two-story tall shelves of aging volumes on the wall, “with all your books."

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Weirhamatt chuckled. "Yes, I am Lebreiman, but these are not my books. They are yours."

"What do you mean?" Nick interrupted, his mind at once switched over from the tantalizing seimei.

"This room. These books. They belong to le Breima. This is the legacy of your family. This is why your bopei has brought you here." Weirhamatt paused to let that sink in.

"Is it true, Bopei?" Lottica asked.

"Is true. I ask Weirhamatt show you. He is caretaker. He is teacher of Breima, and…" Grandfather Breima hung is head in mock self derision, "…his English much gooder."

They all laughed. Though, the tone became once more serious as Weirhamatt further explained, "This is one reason Beilla wishes to be le Breima. He covets these books, especially the volume I have specially shown you."

"How do you know he wants all these books?" Nick asked.

Weirhamatt hesitated and looked to Grandfather Breima before answering. "He was my student long ago. And not so long ago, he was my assistant here in the library archives."

"But, if he was your assistant, wouldn't he already know what's in here?"

"A good point, Nick. Most of Beilla’s time as my assistant was spent in the library wing where I met you. This room is reserved for only the most special of occasions and only by permission of le Breima." He nodded towards their grandfather.

Nick had to keep reminding himself that his grandparents and undead parents were akin to royalty in this land. "But isn't our father, le Breima?" Nick asked.

"He would be if he were alive. I was so grieved to learn of your father and mother's deaths. All Lebreima was heartbroken." Weirhamatt bowed his head in deference.

Nick and Lottica both took the opportunity to make eye contact with their grandfather who quickly brought his forefinger to his pursed lips. They understood from this gesture that not even Weirhamatt had been told of their parents' miraculous return.

Lifting his head, Weirhamatt continued, "It is of course quite disconcerting to learn as I did from your bopei that Beilla may have been behind their deaths. It is clear that Beilla wishes to claim the title of le Breima."

"But isn't Bopei still le Breima?" Lottica asked, confused.

"He is and will always be to me, Lottica, but your bopei officially ceded the title to your father. He did this in an effort to convince Deilune to return here and take on the responsibilities of the title.

“Unfortunately, that did not persuade Deilune. Your bopei then took the Kareima to America with him. He confided this to me. It would have been a terrible scandal had it been found out. The secret was almost perfectly kept, except that Beilla discovered the Kareima missing. He did this by breaking into this very chamber last spring.

"That is when Beilla launched his campaign against your family and ultimately followed your grandparents to America, taking the Fareima with him. He is now considered an outcast by the people of Kreistia. Though, he is still something of a hero in the north where he was born and raised. However, even that support will evaporate when all Lebreima learns, as your bopei has recently told me, that Beilla was responsible for your parents' deaths."

"Do you really think Beilla will come back here and try to become le Breima?" Nick asked.

Weirhamatt paused and then said very softly, almost apologetically, "He is already back."

Lottica gripped the arms of her chair tightly. "How do you know?"

"He has been here."

"What! When?" Lottica asked in dismay.

"Early this morning."

"Today!" Lottica gasped. "Beilla was here?"

"Yes, he came and filed a claim as le Breima. He believes he can get the support of our parliament to achieve his goal, even though he is not a direct descendant of Breima. He is arguing that unless a direct descendant of Breima comes forth to claim the title it should be his."

"Can he really do this?" Nick asked.

Weirhamatt smiled like a chess master checkmating an opponent in three moves. "I told him that he might have been able to make that claim yesterday, but that it was no longer valid."

Nick shifted somewhat uncomfortably at the emphasis Weirhamatt placed on the word yesterday and what it implied. "What did Beilla say?"

"He, of course, wanted to know how I could be so impudent as to dismiss his claim out of hand." Weirhamatt answered with relish. "I simply told him that I would be meeting with the heirs of Breima later this morning."

Nick’s eyes raced to his grandfather for some kind of guidance. "What does he mean, Bopei? Does he mean us?"

Grandfather Breima nodded.

Weirhamatt solemnly dipped his head to Lottica and then Nick. "Welcome home, Lady and Lord Breima."