Chapter 57: Arturus
The journey to Pergrande could not be completed in one day. They had to pass through the countries of Bosco, Stella, and Iceberg just to reach the border of the massive country. It was a three-day trip, most of which was done on train, though there were times they were forced to get from one station to another via magi-vehicle or carriage.
They got a detailed description of every country they passed through from Jezran, who seemed to quite like showing off the gargantuan store of information he kept in his head. He had the most knowledge about Pergrande itself, of course, since it was his home country. And the way he talked about it was with a tone of awe and nostalgia.
"Many refer to it as the Land of Dreams," he said, at one point, with glimmering brown eyes. "And the diverse inhabitants, of which there are about 32 million, all live there with the desire to chase their dreams, dear me. My family strives to help the average citizen achieve this."
His rambling was fine, the first day. But by the third day, the older man was doing nothing but telling long and overly-detailed accounts about his many adventures in the country. Macbeth had already slept so much, that he wasn't even tired anymore, and had to listen in painful boredom. Syllestra was more restless than ever before, and complained every five minutes about one thing or another—which was to be expected of a seven year-old. Not so much of adult dragon-slayers.
"This is my worst nightmare," Gajeel groaned, with a bucket near his head. "Three days of… ugh… motion."
Erik was no better for wear. He was trembling violently, with his own bucket. "If Kinana were a snake again, I could just fly here…" He groaned in agony.
"Drink water, you two," Dreamer commanded. "You need to stay hydrated."
"It's too bad Mac ain't a dragon slayer," Piper noted, as he played Go-Fish with Syllest. "It'd be nice to see him suffering for three days straight."
Macbeth said nothing, but pointedly looked at him while stretching out to lay on Dreamer's lap. Piper's eyebrow twitched.
Dreamer blushed but did not push him away.
"Lily…" Macbeth sleepily called for the Exceed, who was sitting next to Gajeel's hunched form.
"No," Pantherlily said as he crossed his paws over his chest.
"Get over here," Macbeth demanded.
"I'm not your pillow." His kitty ear flicked in annoyance. "And it is insulting to be treated as such. I am a noble warrior, not some stuffed toy."
Macbeth gave the most dramatic sigh Dreamer had ever heard. She giggled. It still amazed her that a fearsome demon of darkness could be reduced to a whiny child like this.
At long last, when they were officially going stir crazy from being in the same quarters for three days straight, and Erik and Gajeel were contemplating laying down on the train tracks, and Jezran had actually run out of stories… they finally reached their destination.
"Thank you for your services, dear me," Jezran nodded politely at the carriage driver who dropped them off in front of the estate.
"I'm walking back," Gajeel and Erik said simultaneously.
"That would probably take you months," Dreamer rolled her eyes.
"Worth it."
The Excalibur Estate loomed before them. It was practically its own city, with bustling streets and elegant buildings. At its center was a grand castle, golden with silver spires, etched with images of swords and shields. This was where they headed, though not before stopping to change into more appropriate attire for meeting with Arturus Gallavantia Excalibur…
"Do be on your best behavior, dear me," Jezran said with a forced smile, and a glance at the boys in the group. "Unless you would like to be cast into the ditch surrounding the castle."
It was clear that he was not joking.
The room was large, with an arched ceiling and marble pillars. It was large, but also empty of all but a risen throne, upon which sat the head of the Excalibur Family and Jezran's father.
His age was apparent. Pale skin and heavy wrinkles—an oversized nose and ears. Completely white hair that hung to his shoulders. A white mustache and beard. Unlike with Jezran, whose creases suggested a man who had smiled often in life, the lines on this man's face suggested he had spent much of his life scowling. His eyes were a cold gray, set behind round glasses. His dignified pose and the scar that cut across his right cheek suggested that he was not a man to be trifled with.
The throne he sat in, and the general atmosphere of the castle made it appear as though he should be a king, but instead of a crown and royal robe, he wore a perfectly pressed suit and top-hat. The other striking feature was the fact that both of his hands were littered with golden rings on all fingers, along with black ink on his knuckles.
Jezran stepped forward and kneeled before his father. He took one of those jewelry adorned hands and kissed a crested ring he wore. "With all respect, Sir."
Behind him, the rest of the troupe were standing as still as statues. Dreamer, in a sleek, golden dress. Syllestra, in a poofy white dress. And the boys, all in suits and ties.
Gajeel and Erik looked totally at home in the get-up. Especially Gajeel, who was the most relaxed of all of them, hands thrust into his pockets. Macbeth and Piper, on the other hand, looked like they would rather die than be in suits. Piper had been tugging at his tie ever since Jezran put it on him, and Macbeth just looked pissed.
Then there was Syllest, who was hiding behind Dreamer's leg, staring fearfully at the man on the throne.
"My son!" Arturus stood and gave the same mustached smile that Jezran also claimed. He threw his arms around Jezran and patted him hard on the back. "My boy, I have missed you!"
"And I you, dear me." Jezran hugged him back.
Arturus held his arms out wide and looked at the rest of them. "Ah! And dearest Dreamer and Syllestra! Come give your grandfather a hug!"
Dreamer nodded at Syllest to signal it was okay, before approaching tentatively. Arturus embraced her and placed a kiss on each of her cheeks.
"Granddaughter, look at you," he brushed a cream strand behind her ear. "You were but a child when I saw you last! Now you are a woman!"
"It's nice to see you again, Sir." She bowed her head politely.
"Now, now, no need for formalities." He patted her on the head, then looked down at Syllestra, who was staring wide-eyed at him.
"Ah! Sweet Syllestra," he kneeled down and opened his arms again. "How you have grown. Please, give your Grammpy a hug!"
Syllestra looked at Dreamer and Jezran, who both nodded. She cracked a giant grin and jumped into the old man's arms.
"You're my Grammpy?! Are you really my Grammpy, or are you just pretend my Grammpy like Pops is pretend my Grandpa? What's a Grammpy? It sounds like Grumpy. You look kind of grumpy, but you have a nice smile."
"Syllest!" Dreamer hushed her, in horror.
Arturus let out a deep-bellied laugh. "Such a lively young thing! Syllest, would you like a present?"
"A present?!" she jumped up and down. "Yes, please!"
Arturus whistled and the doors opened. A servant walked in with… a pony-sized live unicorn.
Dreamer sweat-dropped.
"WOW! MY OWN PET!" Syllestra ran to the creature and was hoisted onto a harness. "Mom won't let me have pets because 'cats scratch and dogs bite,'" she mimicked Dreamer's voice. "Ha!" She stuck her tongue out at Dreamer. "You never said anything about unicorns!"
The small creature began to slowly trot through the room.
Arturus stood up and finally looked at the rest of the party. His smile became a thin line, as if he didn't quite trust them.
"You must be Piper Michelle Overon," he looked at the bluenette, who blushed fiercely at the use of his middle name. Again.
"Uh…" he cleared his throat. "Yeah. I mean, yes… Sir."
Arturus walked forward to shake his hand. His grip was incredibly firm and deliberate. "If you call yourself one of Dreamer's protectors, then you are welcome in this Family."
Piper clenched his fingers and winced when the old man finally let go.
"And you…" He now stood in front of Macbeth. He did not reach to shake his hand. He did not smile. His gray eyes were set hard on Macbeth's red ones. "You are he."
Macbeth was still, though his pupils retracted slightly in fear. "My name's Macbeth."
"I know who you are." Arturus continued to stare. "You are the man who protected Syllestra on the rooftops in Rose Garden, and who has sworn fealty to Dreamer." He finally smiled and took Macbeth's hand. "Welcome."
Macbeth sighed in relief when he let go.
"Sworn fealty," Piper muttered under his breath. "Psh."
"And who might the rest of you be?"
"I'm Beth's best friend!" Gajeel slapped a hand on Macbeth's back, who winced in annoyance.
"Erik," Erik said simply.
"And I am Pantherlily." The Exceed bowed low. "It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Sir."
"An exceed! Excellent! We've a few of your kind in our ranks."
"I'm sure they are proud to be of service."
Arturus clasped his hands together. "There! We have all been introduced. Now, I hope you will all join us for dinner tonight! Please, do enjoy your stay! Beuford will present you a list of the week's activities as well as escort you to your rooms."
A servant led them away, by holding the reins of Syllestra's unicorn and leading it into the hall.
"You see, Dreamer," Jezran said quietly as they walked, "this stay will be a good one, dear me. My father is in a pleasant mood."
She nodded, though she couldn't shake a strange sense of foreboding in her gut. She couldn't place it, but… She shook her head. It was probably just that she'd been so stressed out lately. She really did need to relax.
"Here are your rooms," Beuford said. "There are only five, as we were not expecting the extra company." He looked accusingly at Gajeel and Erik.
"Piper and I can share a room," Macbeth said, with a wicked smirk.
"Not on your life, bubs! I get my own damn room this week!"
"Then I'll share Dream's room." Red eyes narrowed in her direction.
"The hell you will!"
"You can room with me, buddy," Gajeel clasped Macbeth's shoulder. Macbeth sighed in obvious annoyance.
"Hmph… Only if Pantherlily sleeps in my bed," the dual-haired mage looked at the cat with almost a predatory gleam.
"Not on your life," Lily snapped.
"Come on, Lily, take one for the team!" Gajeel scooped him up and handed him to Macbeth.
"Gajeel!" Lily's eyes showed deep betrayal.
Erik was already walking into his own room.
"Syllest and I will share," Dreamer said.
"Don't forget Arnold!" Syllest squealed.
"Arnold?"
"My unicorn!" She kicked the creature's flanks and led it into the bedroom. Dreamer face-palmed.
"I will be right next door, dear Dreamer," Jezran bowed.
She nodded thankfully and started to follow Syllest into the room, but not before one last glance in Macbeth's direction. As expected, his blood-red eyes were fixed on her. She blushed and waved. "See you at dinner…"
He said nothing, just stared as she walked inside.
Finally, he went into the room with Gajeel and Pantherlily, but before anyone could make themselves comfortable, Erik opened the door connecting their rooms and stepped inside. He leaned against the wall, eyes closed.
"What did you hear?" Macbeth asked, knowing him well enough to predict ahead.
The room was silent for a long moment. Gajeel listened as well, arms folded over his chest, as Erik began to speak.
"It's not a coincidence we're here," the poison-slayer said. "Your master contacted the mob head honcho and negotiated with him to have the festivities moved up."
"The old man made a deal with the Excalibur family?" Gajeel asked, eyes widening slightly.
"Why?" Macbeth asked, seriously.
"To get the girls out of town," her ran a hand through his red hair. "Because Resmond is launching a full-scale attack on Magnolia."
They were silent. They could hear Syllestra giggling through the wall next door, and Dreamer chiding her for something.
"Damn," Gajeel scowled in frustration. "The old man tricked us. There's no way in hell we could get back in time to be a part of the fight."
"Seems like that's the case." Erik shrugged.
"Good."
The two dragon-slayers and an exceed all looked at Macbeth in shock. He was looking at the wall, where the girls' voices continued to sound, like the low murmur of music.
"As long as they're safe."
Erik smirked lightly, giving a low chuckle. "You really have changed, Midnight."
"Love does that to a person," Pantherlily commented. "Or so I have heard."
"Feh," Macbeth looked away from the wall. "I don't love them." He sat with his back against the wall and closed his eyes, listening to their soft voices wade over him.
Gajeel shared a look with Erik and they both smirked.
He wasn't fooling anyone.