Things at Whiteford's Castle, ancestral home of the Kimura family, were not to Baron Misuki Kimura's liking at all. Everywhere he looked, he saw servants running around like headless chickens, making this and that preparation for the visitation of the king. Everywhere there was shouting and yelling and movement.

"Blast."

He swept through the entrance hall, and into the great dinning hall where four serving girls sat polishing the silver. As he watched, one dropped an ornate candlestick dating back three generations, and in the empty room it created a loud, hollow clang.

"Be more careful!" barked Misuki, causing the girl to shrink back. Damn it all, my whole house sounds as noisy as a brothel. "Less chatter, more work!" He swept out of the hall again, and started to ascend the staircase to the guest wing. Let's see if they can at least clean the suite for King Elbert correctly.

As he approached, he found a figure that at once filled him with both relief and dread. Misuki loomed over most people, his long, now-white hair and blue eyes enhancing his cruel look. He ruled by intimidation. In contrast was the slight figure of Timmons, who was short and mousey, but could instantly win the respect of others through his own natural personality. It was for this personality that Misuki had hired him to run the household after the death of his wife. Timmons could order the servants around just as much as Misuki, but while they obeyed Misuki out of fear, they obeyed Timmons out of respect.

"Timmons!"

Timmons finished talking to a manservant, before turning to Misuki. "Yes, my Lord?"

"What is with this racket? I can't hope to study remnants of Ancient Emeric texts with all this noise!" He glared at Timmons.

Timmons merely looked placidly back, unintimidated. "We can of course work quieter, but then nothing would be ready for the king's visit." He started to count off on his fingers. "Currently the servants are working in the hall, the guest wings, the kitchens and great hall, and in the outer courtyard. The family's suites and servants quarters are undisturbed at present. For all to be done by the evening, some noise is to be expected."

Misuki was angry. "This isn't noise, it's a riot! How can I be expected to have gotten anymore work done?"

Timmons just blinked. "Then do not work. Supervise the servants so that the task us done to your liking. With the king staying there will be little time for you to study, and surely it would be rude for you to spend the whole of his highness's visit locked away in your study?"

Misuki snorted slightly. "So now you try to tell me my place, Timmons?" He shook his head. "I'll go check those silly girls haven't dropped any more of the silver. And when this is over, you are going to make sure that the servants learn to do their jobs quietly." He swept off.

Timmons shook his head. His daughter returns, and he thinks nothing of it. Ignores it almost totally. He really is a stubborn old man.

Takuya yawned again, and tried not to fall out of Chess's saddle. After two full days of riding, he was tired and saddle-sore. On the plus side, he hadn't had to sleep rough at the roadside, and instead had stayed at an inn the previous night. From what he could see of the carriage, Tomoko was sat doing needlepoint, while both the twins were sat straight, almost ridged, and staring into the distance. Takuya knew from experience that the posture they had both adopted meant that they were nervous. From how their eyes were twitching, Takuya thought that they might be communicating mind to mind, an ability that they had yet to share with Tomoko, or any of their circle of friends. They had held this posture ever since the party had crossed a large, old stone bridge, to continue their path along the Great West Road, and Tomoko had told them that the bridge was a marker used to show where the fief of Whitefords started from.

Takuya yawned again, and looked into the fading light to see if he could spot the castle or the forest, both of which Tomoko had assured him could be seen from almost four miles away.

"Bored, Master Kanbara?"

Takuya looked around, blushing to address Elbert. "Oh, no, not at all. Just kind of tired. And worried." He looked at Kouji again, wishing that he'd relax. "I just think this is pretty hard on them."

Elbert nodded slightly, but smiled. "But they are strong enough to bare this, and they are finally getting the answers they wanted. And you'll keep them safe, warrior." He looked out over the area, spotting the castle up ahead. "I only hope that our stay is uneventful." He looked over at the twins. "And that Baron Kimura is a more gracious man in his old age."

"Sir?" asked Takuya.

Elbert laughed. "Baron Kimura is more interested in his books than his family. When he was young and at court, he had a nasty temper too. The servants used to draw lots to decide who would deal with 'The Noisy Bookworm'. Yelled at them something terrible, usually for disturbing his peace and quiet."

Takuya smiled, and ducked his head. "So you knew him a long time ago?"

"Less of your cheek, little boy," teased the king. "I am not that old. He was an adequate squire, I was told, however once knighted, he preferred to study, rather than defend the realm. After his compulsory service, he left, returning to Whitefords, marrying, and showing up at court as seldom as he could and not be considered impolite. When he had an excuse to send poor Tomoko here, as a girl, he took it, as he no longer had to come here himself." He looked at the carriage. "I do not know what he will make of your friends, Takuya. He has always advocated an extreme reaction to the elves within the Great Forest."

Takuya shrugged. "I hope they're friendly, but we came to serve you, not to let them see family."

"Well we shall see if we can do both, then."

The party arrived with a clatter into the courtyard of the castle, the king at the head of the parade. Misuki moved straight away to greet him, bowing low.

"Your highness, it is a great pleasure for my family to host your visit here."

Elbert acknowledged the bow with a nod of his head, then swung down from the saddle. "I am sure it is a pleasure for you, although the rest of your family is not here. I assume that my instructions about accommodation were clear?"

Misuki nodded, and motioned Timmons forwards. "My personal servant has taken care of things, I hope to your satisfaction."

Timmons clasped his hands in front of himself. "Yourself, four members of the court, and the guard captain have all been given rooms befitting your status. The rest of the men will have rooms in the servants' quarters. I trust that that is sufficient, your highness?"

Elbert nodded. "Much more than sufficient, young man. You do great service to your master." He smiled. "And to you, Baron, I bring what I hope is a joyful reunion, although I must warn you, I shall require your daughter's aid in my work."

Misuki shook his head. "Please reconsider, your Highness. The elves are a barbaric people and will surely treat you as some sort of animal."

"I have confidence in my advisors in this matter." Elbert made a shooing motion. "Come now, Lady Tomoko. Surely it must be disturbing you to keep so silent?"

Tomoko smiled, then stepped forwards and curtsied to Misuki. "It's good to see you again, Father. You're looking well, although a little pale. Do you still spend all your time studying?"

Misuki snorted. "I see your education failed miserably. You should know your place, daughter, and should have married well, instead of remaining a spinster. You would make someone very happy."

"I already did, father," replied Tomoko quietly. "But he is lost to me forever."

Misuki shook his head. "Some peasant boy you took a fancy to when young? That wasn't a worthy choice, and his abandoning you after forcing you to leave your home was wrong. You needed to be re-educated."

"What I needed was Kousei." Tomoko glared at him. "You don't even know what happened to me in that year. Mother asked me, but you never did! I've been forced by my own word to keep silent, but now it's to be broken by those who forced me to make it." She looked down. "I found love, and had it cruelly ripped away by someone every bit as unfeeling as you. All you care about is those dried up parchments."

"Enough, daughter," scolded Misuki. "I'd've thought your tutors would have taught you to curb your tongue."

Tomoko shook her head. "No, father. It's time you knew what happened long ago, and what remains now to be dealt with." She moved to stand with Kouji and Kouichi. "I'd hoped that these children would have a better first impression of their grandfather, but the one you've given seems the most accurate."

Misuki's eyes widened. "Grandfather? These boys? But… You've never had children. I would have heard about a suitor at court I am certain. And if these boys are peasants, trying to take advantage of you just like that lay about did…" Misuki found himself knocked off his feet and thrown to the ground by a force he couldn't see.

Kouji watched him, breathing hard, his hands clenched into fists with white lighting playing over them. "Don't you ever talk about our honoured-father that way, you rashete! Leave our mother alone!"

"Kouji…" Kouichi put a hand on his shoulder gently. "Getting mad at an old fool who should know better isn't the way to be accepted into his family."

Kouji relaxed slightly, letting his magic fade away. "He's no family of mine."

Misuki just watched them, stunned. They're not even human! Evil elvish sorcerers! What have they done to my daughter?

Kouichi approached Misuki carefully, and offered him a hand, watching out for any reaction from the guards of the castle. "I'm sorry. I know Kouji is too. Getting him angry is never wise. He tends to lash out. Just like his human mother, and just like his human grandfather, he has a quick temper." He helped Misuki up, trying to give off an aura of calm and trustworthiness. "We are your blood relations, and we're here with our mother, to serve the king."

Misuki shook his head. "No elves are relatives of mine." He bowed stiffly to Elbert. "Highness. I have affairs I must attend to." He turned on his heel, and stalked out of the courtyard.