Audric Valois† - Lucinda Malfoy† (Lucius Malfoy's eldest sister)

1) Son: Augustin Valois - Charlotte Anjou

a. Acelin

b. Appoline

c. Cyril

2) Son: Alric Valois - Mary-Theresa Trastamara d' Aragona

a. Arthur

b. Ariadne

c. Juan Carlos

d. Axel

3) Son: Ambroise Valois - Sylvia Slytherin

a. Alphonse

b. Anemone

4) Daughter: Ariella Valois - Don Rodrigo Ivrea de Castilla y León

a. Amara

b. Celestine

c. Alonzo

5) Daughter: Alexa Valois - Don Hernandez de Braganza

a. Alexander

b. Arabella

c. Antonio

6) Daughter: Adriana Valois - Grand Duke Pyotr Ivanovic

a. Alexi

b. Vanya

c. Vladimir


"Ah, good morning boys. You received my missive?" Augustin Valois noted as he signed a series of papers that an exotic veela servant had proffered to him. Augustin and his sons were sat at a private table in the gardens along with his brothers Ambroise and Alric. Also sat at the breakfast feast of delicate fruits and flawless pastries were Alric's wife and two of their children as well as Ambroise's son Alphonse Valois-Slytherin.

Alphonse was the only child at the table with black hair. As I watched his cold eyes scan me I remembered it was this thin faced boy's mother Sylvia who had been the chief actress behind the attack on Azkaban. "You need to sign these as well my lord. To be sent to the ministry at once." The Veela noted softly, pointing out the parts the Frenchman had missed.

"Oh so I see. Merci Yvette. What would I do without you?" Augustin replied, caressing the perfect skin on the creatures cheek. She blushed and cast her eyes down to the floor. "Mistress Charlotte and Appoline would doubtless disapprove of me allowing you out and about during the carnival, but I think we can make an exception while they are shopping. No?"

Ambroise pointed to the servant and whispered into his nephew Acelin's ear. They both snickered cruelly and Alphonse laughed when his cousin leaned over to repeat the joke. The veela's ears quivered and an uncomfortable nervousness appeared on her face. As soon as the papers had been signed she retreated from the table as fast as she could, eliciting more laughter from the men at the table.

I was about to bow in greeting when Scorpius stopped me with a very firm hand. "You're a Prince now Albus. You do not bow, even to your hosts." He explained, striding up to the table and pulling two seats out for us casually.

"Cousins." He added with a nod to Augustin and Cyril. He had not waited to be invited to sit. "If you really want to get technical about it, I think some of us should be bowing to you." He added as he retrieved a croissant, a pair of scrambled eggs and fruit appearing on his plate.

"You know, I think I will have some earl grey tea."

"I'll have the same but if you could add a tablespoon of Morpho nectar honey to his." I corrected to the elf taking Scor's order. Scor ruffled my hair playfully as thanks.

"Right away highness, your grace." The elf hurried away after issuing a quick curtsy.

To my surprise, Cyril rose and did a soft bow in my direction as well. Again I marveled at his face and how eerily like Scorpius he looked. It was mind boggling to me to see a near clone of my blond twit. They were cousins I supposed absently.

The boys father smiled his approval at the gesture which annoyed Acelin and Alphonse who had failed to move an inch. Arthur and Anemone rose to bow and curtsy next and Alphonse elbowed Acelin as he rose to do the same. The eldest son of the french royal remained steadfastly seated and merely whispered something softly to his father. I couldn't quite make out the words but doubtless it was something petty or demeaning.

It did not surprise me when none of the adults had made any similar move to welcome me with like courtesy.

"Thank you for inviting me to breakfast Majesty. However there's hardly a need for such formality with me. I am your guest after all." I offered politely. I had not bowed but I could elevate his title out of respect. He smiled even wider at my choice of greeting. 'Majesty is for kings' i could hear Scor commenting snidely in his head as a small smile crept along the corner of his mouth.

"You were summoned I believe. Not invited." Aceline spat distastefully, raising his glass to sip on the bubbling orange liquid within. "A small distincion i know but one worth remembering." Scor froze like a statue then, putting the fork that had been halfway to his mouth back onto his plate. He wiped around his lips with his napkin and rose from his seat steadily. Calm and measured in his movements as always.

"Well then, since neither Al nor I are capable of being summoned, we had better be off. Come on Al." He beckoned, nodding his head towards the garden path.

I sighed and rose, my loyalty would always be to Scor. I didn't see why he was being so prickly with his royal cousins so early in the morning but I knew there was some hidden reason. Finer points of status and nobility were his specialty after all. I smiled to myself, resolved to watch and learn. I was glad there were areas he still outclassed me in.

"Your grace. Your highness. Sit, please. No offense was intended. My son was merely joking." Augustin corrected, motioning an open hand towards our seats. "Acelin, you have important functions to address regarding the final day of the carnival. See to them please." The order caught the noisome urchin off guard. He was horrified that he might be so easily dismissed in front of his Malfoy and Valois cousins.

"I do not though. All of my duties have been long finished—" Every Valois at the table shifted their heads to look at the malignant boy as if he had just spat on the table. They were mortified that anyone would dare argue with the patriarch. Nobody contradicted Augustin. Not even his eldest son. Not ever.

"—Oh you're right father. How silly of me to forget." The boy corrected himself as he rose. His guards stepped forward and the boy leaned in to kiss his father on the cheeks before departing.

"Now… boys… will you please regain your seats?" Augustin asked politely.

We sat in unison just as the elves came over with our pots of tea.

"I wonder how much we should negotiate for." Scor chuckled as he blew the steam from his cup. I nearly gasped at how far my blond was trying to push this encounter.

"You're a duke my cousin, not a vagrant merchant. Surely you are joking, as my son had been?" Augustin asked carefully.

"I don't yet know what exactly you want from us, but if you dismissed your son in front of all of us for it, you must want it very badly."

"I do, but I also wanted a nice breakfast with two fascinating boys. One of whom is grandson to my uncle." Augustin admitted, motioning for more servants to approach. Two Veela boys stepped forward with pearl encrusted chests cradled in their arms. An elf propped open what looked like suitcase stands so that the ornate boxes could be deposited next to the table at waist height.

"Do either of you know what these contain?"

"Not in the slightest, nephew of my grandfather." Scorpius looked up from his tea and the two shared a knowing smile. It was a genuine smile. 'They're playing a game!' I realized. Its some old kind of chess. Social chess?

Augustin clapped and the Veela unlocked the elaborate containers and left the lids open. Alric rose to retrieve a beautiful silk sash, coiled in a ropelike spool. He brought the object to his brother who received it with reverence. Half the length of the shimmering fabric was a black silver and the other half was golden white.

"Ribane" the frenchman exclaimed, his eyes moving like a train along the length of the beautiful artifact. "The magical stole of the goddess Ashera herself. Treasures of Los and Sval. We use these during the closing ceremony of the carnival. Countless centuries have we reenacted Ashera's aria. Usually this duty falls to members of the seven families or other high ranking nobles who have undergone stringent synchronization tests."

"Now that Al has discovered his Rhoyne heritage, you believe there is nobody better suited to perform it at your celebration than he." Scor finished, deducing the motivations of our host.

"Originally the Muramasa siblings were slated to perform tonight since as twins they share a high degree of synchronization. Equally they have royal blood in their veins."

"They won't be put out to be replaced like this?" Scor inquired skeptically.

"They are happy to yield their… responsibility… to you two. It is an honor beyond compare."

"Hardly if you want us to spend the entire day learning the words and steps to the performance? Less than twenty four hours seems scant an adequate amount of time to prepare." Scor stated evenly. "What if we fail and embarrass ourselves? Its not worth the risk of humiliation to our houses. Al's first social responsibility as the prince of house Rhoyne could end in utter ignominy."

It would be tough… but if we started right now we could manage it. Why was Scor being so difficult? More chess clearly…

"Fifty thousand galleons. If you agree." Ambroise offered grinning, speaking in place of his brother. It was seemingly too vulgar for Augustin himself to discuss money.

"Seventy five… Each… seems only fair." Scorpius countered casually. "Would you pass me the clotted cream Al?" He asked, smiling at me in thanks when he received it.

"Done. On the condition Al takes a transmodification potion to fulfill the role."

The boys laughed and Anemone giggled. I stared confused at the adults as only Cyril had managed to contain himself.

"You go too far now! You seek to insult the Prince of the seventh font?" Scor growled, becoming angry.

"Sortez d'ici imbeciles! (get out you idiots!) I'll not have you mar this remarkable occasion with your stupidity. You too brothers! if you have not taught your children control yet I suggest you do so soon enough!" Augustin barked, his eyes lit furiously in naked wrath. It was the first time i'd ever seen him angry. That same sickly fury that I saw in Acelin when he dueled, hung now in his fathers expression. Everyone but Cyril rose and bowed before departing with their retinue of guards in tow.

"I apologize. I meant no disrespect. I swear. It is my great and solemn wish to perform this ritual properly. In the manner fit to honor the goddess Ashera."

Augustin produced a small potion vial and handed it to me. Cyril's expression became confused and I made a mental note to ask him why the sight of the potion had surprised him so.

"Aging potions the other day and now sex change potions? So I'm to spend the next twenty four hours as a girl?" Al inquired skeptically.

"The ritual must be performed by a prince and princess. Those are the terms. I assure you nobody will speak ill of this. My aim is to impress. I would not allow you to be ridiculed or else ridicule would doubtless fall on me as well. You'll also take aging potions so that you'll be legally seventeen."

My twit paused and eyed the second box. The frenchman caught the blond's motion and this time he was the one to smile.

"Oh that? A gift for our newest prince. And a pair of gifts for the both of you as well."

"What gifts?" I spat suspiciously.

"A lesson for our young royals." Augustin began as a white gloved Veela attendant withdrew the most exquisite sword I'd ever seen from the box. "Names you see boys… are critically important. The gemstone I had my swordsmiths incorporate into the cross guard of your new unicorn blade once went by Sol. It sometimes is referred to as Ashera's Dawn for the golden light it radiates. It was an heirloom of the Rhoynar family and has in all seriousness been passed down through the millennia since the age of Dawn."

Al and I stared dumbstruck as the French patriarch ran his greedy eyes over the object he now held in his hands.

"I am assured that Exalted is flawlessly balanced and sharpened to perfection. The unicorn horn alloy blade was reinforced with a matrix of the most expert hardening spells. Her edge will never dull."Augstin added as he drew the white sword from its sheath. An incredible ringing sound twanged at the sound of the sword being pulled from its scabbard. I could see gold inlay decorate the white blade in beautiful patterning.

"Eighteen karat solid gold adorns the hilt and pommel as well as the cross guard. Seven of the highest grade pink diamonds are set to encircle Sol, symbolizing the color of the seventh font and its Prince to whom Exalted will forever belong. The pink jewels have been enchanted with a french variation of your english spell, feather, to reduce and balance the weight of Exalted's cosmetic alterations. This sword was worked on nonstop the entire night to be ready for you this morning. My finest craftsman were summoned for the endeavor and slaved without rest."

Finally our handsome host resheathed the blade and handed its gilded length over to Al. Several large pink diamonds had also been inlaid into the gold and platinum design work of the scabbard it seemed. I looked over to my twit who was at a loss for words.

"Majesty… this is… remarkable. Thank you. Truly." Albus gushed as he examined his first royal gift as the head of the Rhöyne family. Even I had to admit it was a tribute fit for a king. Ashera's Dawn was sometimes referred to as the pupil of Ra. Sunstone was in the same family as nyghtfyre crystals and the other legendary jewels from the age of Dawn. Except Sol was said to have belonged directly to the goddess Ashera up until the moment she split herself into two.

"You honor him, Cousin." I stated flatly.

"It is you both who continuously honor me. A more memorable Carnival of the Moon has never been documented. If you two agree to perform Ashera's aria my success will be complete. The Valois's triumph will be the talk of Europe and beyond."

"Al can hardly refuse you now can he. I however am his closest protector. He is new to the ways of the court and I would still think it hardly appropriate for a Prince to open himself up to ridicule."

Al could not stop gaping at his sword long enough to register my objection. Augustin however flashed a fraction of impatience my way before he caught himself with a sigh. He motioned for the attendant to withdraw three more slender objects from the sword's box. This did get my attention.

"The unicorn horn which you delivered us was so large that we had material enough for a dagger and matching wands. I took it upon myself to commission these twins since the greatest wandmaker in the world happened to be a guest for the carnival. I had Olivander work on Coeur and Âme himself."

"Coeur and Âme?" I parroted inquisitively. Heart and Soul. These french and their proclivity for flowery names. The attendant handed me one of the wands and even I had to marvel at the alabaster white instrument in my hand. Gold inlay and blue sapphires adorned my wand in honor of my Avalon heritage. The dagger which was equally exquisite was a match for my wand."

"Does the dagger have a name too? And which of the wands have you gifted me?" I queried without issuing thanks.

Al received the wand in his hands and continued to gush over the gifts. He looked my way finally and swatted me. "Say thank you Scor. At least!" My brunet urged.

"Ame for you and Coeur for Albus. The dagger we almost didn't name since we thought it… less grand a weapon. However I insisted on Paladin." Cyril noted, speaking up for the first time since his siblings had been dismissed.

"The twin wands were made with a bold choice of core. The core of each was made with two ingredients instead of one. Both bear a shard of tusk from the Tork you slew as well as a strand of Cheshire hair from your mythical pets. Olivander thought there might be conflict in the wands if they were made from the unicorn who was hunted and the boar that tried to kill it… However the symbolism of the hunt and its outcome spoke some mystery to him. He has noted that these wands are without a doubt his finest creations."

APOV

Before Scor had any more chances to object I popped the cap of the potion vial off and drank it in one fell swoop. "Well i'm not passing up seventy five thousand galleons Scor. Although to be honest I would have done it merely because Augustin gave us these amazing gifts. Thank you Majesty. You have honored me beyond words."

"Wonderful! Splendid news Albus of house Rhöyne. Methuselah would you arrange for the gold to be transferred at once?"

An ancient elf hobbled forward with a piece of paper which Augustin signed and passed back to him. The golden eyes of the house elf locked with mine and for a moment a deep fear trembled within me. I'd never seen an elf so old before. Nor with eyes that color. They reminded me of the huge gem Sol that glistened in my new sword. Something is wrong at the french court. These servants and courtiers and relics… its all very odd.

Cyril rose suddenly and came to help me from my seat. "You'll each be taught your individual performances and rehearse with the muramasa counterpart who would have been playing your respective partners. I think you will learn faster that way."

"I guess I'll see you later Scor?" I asked sheepishly as Cyril pulled me off towards the palace. Attendants came to relieve me of my new gifts as the eerie Scorpius clone continued to drag me away.

"Fingers crossed you'll look just as pretty as a girl!" Scor shot back at me.

'Just as?' I parroted as my thoughts began to bubble.


"Not so fast Cyril." I complained in annoyance as the blond paced me hurriedly from the gardens towards the east side of the palace. He grabbed the empty vial from my hand and brought it to his face to scrutinize it. "What is it Cyr?" I asked curiously, examining the strange glowing jewel fitted on his necklace.

"Its strange is all. My physicians have given me vitamin boosting potions every morning since as early as I can remember. Each vial is different from each other so we can tell them apart but I receive the same grouping of vials each day. Its just weird because I recognized this one immediately as the one meant for my anti poisoning draught. Its odd because I thought we were smart enough to only ever designate one potion to one type of vial."

"Hardly odd to reuse vials Cyr. You're a palace household not a pharmaceutical company. So what's the deal with the ceremony? Do you know why your father insists on having the two of us act as the vessels?" I asked, feeling a bubbling sensation in my skin. My vision got foggy as the effects of the potion worked on me. "Enough to shower Scor and I with kingly gifts?"

"Lets get you to my sisters room quickly so we can find a dress for you to change into, something you'll be able to dance in properly." He interrupted. He was grinning as he observed the changes that were obviously taking effect. It was not lost on me that he'd completely dodged my question.

I barely had time to register the vial slip into his pocket before a wave of dizziness overcame me.