After a morning of sparring and training the two humans, it was time to find my parents. I’d used the jog to think things through and had come to a decision and it was time to let my parents know what I wanted to do. So I got the humans to follow me over to the construction site where I hoped to find Raha and my parents. When we got close enough to the growing pile of lumber I started to look around. Normally I would have tried to smell them out, but with all of the scents of unfamiliar Susi and Vuohians it was unlikely I’d be able to pick out their scent. So I started looking and found not a single familiar face. Looks like it’s time to interrupt someone and ask around. Look, I know I’m a guy and all and asking for directions is the worst, but frankly I’d rather not waste too much time massaging my own ego, so I stopped the first Susi that came close and asked, “Excuse me, have you seen Aatto or Raha?”
The Susi in question a big guy who’d just gotten done carrying most of a tree responded, “I saw em in the camp bout an hour ago… Do you need somethin from em?”
I nodded politely, “Yeah, my dad told me to meet up with him when I had an answer to his last question. I figured out the answer so…”
The Susi responded, “Well, best not keep your Da waiting, I know I was always in for a whooping if I kept mine waiting too long.”
I gave him my thanks for the information and headed into the camp, making sure that the two humans stuck close to me. I didn’t really need to worry too much about them wandering off though. With all of the hostile glares directed their way they stuck to me like white on rice. By the time we made it into camp I could hear the steady stream of Raha’s voice. I couldn’t quite make out his exact words just yet, but the pitch and timbre of his voice were distinctive, higher in pitch than a normal Vuohian male and unending. I followed the voice to its’ source and as I suspected they were all in Raha’s tent.
I entered the tent without knocking, because frankly I was certain my dad had already heard us coming and besides, where in the world do you knock on a tent? So the humans and I entered the pavilion like tent and frankly it was somehow even more spacious on the inside than it looked on the outside. There was a set of four camp chairs spread around a table, I was actually surprised by this initially since I didn’t expect Raha to be that practical, but then my eyes fell on the sofa and the large bed… So much for practicality. My eyes danced around the room, noting the dresser, the rugs on the canvas floor, the full length mirror resting next to the dresser, and I knew that in order to get everything here Raha must have brought a cart just for his personal tent.
My eyes finally settled on the figures of Raha and my parents. Raha was seated on the couch next to my mother he was dressed in bright silks once again, this time a green and gold number which stood in sharp contrast to my mother’s utilitarian leathers. Dad was seated on one of the camp chairs and the three appeared to be deep in conversation, or Raha did at least as he continued to speak without acknowledging our entrance.
I waited near the entrance until Raha looked up at me and said, “And what brings you here Swift?”
I spoke up, more respectful of the wealthy scion of the Onni clan know that I knew exactly what that meant, “Sorry to interrupt you guys, but I came to a decision this morning… I want to take up my birthright. I know it might be difficult and you guys won’t be there to help me, but I want to force the council to acknowledge the fact that your marriage wasn’t a mistake. I want to show those bigoted old men exactly what happens when you get rid of outdated ideas and embrace change. So I hope over the next year that you guys will teach me everything I need to know in order to not only survive the politics of the council, but thrive.”
Dad looked me up and down and said, “Are you sure about this Swift? You don’t have to take up this legacy you can stay out of politics and live your life however you want.”
I nodded, “I know Dad, but frankly I don’t like the way the council treated you guys and I don’t like that people in power would discriminate against my little brother. I want him to have the freedom to do whatever he wants and the only way he gets that freedom is if I am in a position to make people respect his choices. Besides, you were right in that I don’t want to live on this farm for the rest of my life and being an heir to the Jalo is a good way for me to be able to accomplish my goals.”
Mom got up and walked over to me. She gave me a hug and whispered into my ear, “We are proud of you son, and when you eventually take over the Jalo clan as its’ leader make sure you grant us clemency so I can see the smug faces of the councilors that kicked us out.”
I chuckled and whispered back, “Of course Mom, I’ll make sure you see their distraught faces when I make the announcement.”
I ended our hug and gave her a confident grin. Raha stared at the three of us, his mouth hung open and it took a couple of seconds for him to compose himself. He looked over at my dad and said, “You didn’t tell me that you told him your secret. I even gave my men specific instructions not to bring up your past around the boy. It looks like that was pointless now... Oh well, so, you plan on going before the council and staking your claim eh Swift?”
I replied, “Yes sir, I don’t like the way the council treated my parents and I want to show them it was a mistake to disregard my parent’s potential. Plus I have no intention of allowing the men who are leaders of our race regard people like my mother and brother as anything less than equals. The only way I can change people’s minds is if I am in a position of power, so I need to take up my inheritance. Now, knowing my goals and motivations, will you lend me your assistance?”
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Raha briefly paused to consider my request before responding, “What sort of assistance would you require?”
I replied, “Honestly I shouldn’t need much, at least not with what I have currently planned. What I would need from you is introductions and information. Right now I know too little about the council and their current policies, alliances and factions. Insight into that would greatly help my planning and I am sure you have better access to that information than my parents currently do.”
Raha responded, “What makes you think I have an extensive information network? And why would I know anything about the Jalo council?”
I laughed loudly right in Raha’s face and then began counting up with my fingers while saying, “Please Raha, First of all you are the heir to the richest family in the country. Second off you own one of the biggest merchant houses in the country. And finally the Jalo council banished one of your friends, if you didn’t already have an information network in place around the council you would have developed one in the last ten years. You might enjoy your comforts, but you are no fool, if you were, I doubt your family would allow you to retain the position of heir…”
Raha then looked me straight in the eyes, his entire demeanor changed and it was like he was seeing me for the first time. I finally had his complete focus and I needed to make sure I didn’t waste this opportunity. So I spoke up once again, “Raha, I know that my father’s banishment upset you, and I think you would be quiet happy to have the new heir to the Jalo clan owe you a favor or two. I cannot promise that I will succeed in attaining the position of clan head, but I believe I am capable of gaining control if given the opportunity. I am asking for a small investment that could yield huge results. What do you think Raha, will you invest in me?”
Raha continued staring at me as he said, “And what besides the fact that you are my friend’s kind makes you worthy of even a minimal investment of my resources? Your parents may speak highly of you, but that’s the only thing I know about you. Why are you worth any of my time, and why should I risk pissing off the Jalo clan by sponsoring you?”
I answered, “I’m worth your time because I have more mana than any Susi my father has ever met. I am worth your effort because I was trained by the former heir of the Jalo clan in hand to hand combat, I am resourceful, inventive, and I won’t need your money as I will be making my own. That is why I am worthy of your help and as to the risk, I ask you what are you really risking? By taking in my parents you already pissed people off, helping me isn’t going to make those people hate you any more than they already do. Whereas helping me gain a position of power allows you to have a friendly connection with one of the heirs of the most powerful Susi clan. I say the risk is well worth the reward…”
I let him think over my proposition, the silence was heavy but I held my head up high while Raha was lost in his own thoughts. My mother looked like she was about to speak up on my behalf, but I shook my head indicating she should remain silent while Raha thought over my proposition. The young human began shifting his feet, obviously uncomfortable with the tension in the air. I patted him on the head in an attempt to calm him down, but I think the training I gave him earlier made him even more leery of me as he flinched slightly at my touch. I continued to pat his head despite his flinch, and then I returned my attention to Raha.
Raha gave me one last appraising glance before he said, “Alright, I will give you the information you want on the council members, it doesn’t cost me anything and my reputation won’t be put on the line because of it. But you are going to have to prove your claims if you want me to introduce you to anyone. I’ll need you to demonstrate to me your mana capacity, your martial skill and your ability to problem solve. If you can prove your abilities in these three areas before I return to Meadow Rest in a month’s time I will give you all the support you need.”
I smiled, “Excellent, did you have anything in particular in mind or am I going to have to be creative?”
Raha smiled back and said, “Oh I think a martial competition can be arranged between you and the guards, which should allow you to demonstrate your skills. As far as magic goes you will just have to surprise me. As for your problem solving skills, well you now have a problem I suggest you solve it.”
He chuckled at his own joke and my parents looked a little disappointed by his response. I on the other hand was more than happy with the tasks he laid out for me. I smiled and said, “Sure Raha, that sounds reasonable, just let me know when the martial portion of your test is ready and I’ll be happy to participate. I’d also like to talk to you about one other thing before I go, it’s your new home, I was hoping to see the design you had for it…”
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AN- Hey everyone I posted a poll to find out if I should change the name of the series, a couple of reviewers don't like the title and I was wondering if that was the general consensus. If you think I should change the name post your suggestion in the comments below and next chapter release I will have a poll for voting on my favorites. Also I finally hit 50k words and I can accept donations so I need to post a schedule, so here it is, I will have a chapter out once a week, normally on Mondays, though Tuesday is possible as I am terrible with deadlines. Right now I am trying to write a few extra chapters so that I don't need to miss a release date and so that I can offer early releases if someone actually ends up donating any money. Oh, one more thing to be excited about, Swift will be leaving the farm soon and going to the big city, get ready for conflict and bandits galore.