I do not own Chaotic nor anything related to it. It belongs to TCDigital.

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The Birthday Revelation

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Over ten solans have passed since that day I saw Hera catch and throw a bolt of lightning. I haven't seen any other displays of power since then, though.

The city Kaizeph continues to conceal its secrets. There has to be maybe a hundred people from each Tribe up there, trying to find a way into Kaizeph's large central building. Several have given up, including the High Muges, who have returned to their duties of serving their Tribes.

Hera and Tiaane are returning from visiting Najarin today. They've been there the past two months, hoping to expand Hera's command of mugic with the aid of an Overworld master.

It's an exciting day coming up for Hera, too. Tomorrow is the first day of her forty-seventh solan.

Hera grins broadly when she sees me waiting at the kozorr stables. "How's my old dad?" she laughs as she wraps me in a hug.

"I'm only ninty-eight," I protest as I squeeze her back. "You don't get to call me old for another two solans."

Hera pulls back and smirks. "Oh really?" She pokes me on the nose. "You do remember that your hair's all gray now, right?"

I poke her back on the nose. "And it's all you and Jupiter's fault. Crazy kids." I look past her towards Tiaane, who's removing the saddles and reins from the kozorr. "Hey there, Tiaane."

Tiaane glances at me. Usually his weathered face is difficult to read, but this time I think I see something. Is that embarrassment?

Tiaane turns his attention back to the kozorr. "Hello, Your Highness," he says. Whatever I saw in his face, he isn't revealing it in his voice.

I raise an eyebrow, and I ask Hera, "What's up with him?"

Hera shrugs. "He's been like that ever since we headed out from here to Lake Ken-i-Po." Then her eyes light up. "Guess what tomorrow is!"

"I know!" I grin.

Hera squeals like she was a little girl again. "I already know where I want to celebrate."

"Shasta's bar?" I ask.

Hera grins and opens her mouth to say something, but then her pleased face turns into one of confusion. "How did you know?"

I roll my eyes. "I've see you getting all giddy at the prospect of being able to drink whatever you want when you became an adult." I point my finger at her nose. "Hera, promise that you'll be a responsible drinker tomorrow."

Hera puts her face forward so my finger pokes her nose. "Don't worry, Dad."

"Good," I grin, "because I'm going to be there, and I don't want you embarrassing me."

Hera's eyes widen. "Dad!"

I put my hands up as if I'm weighing fruit in my hands. "Let's see, young woman finally entering adulthood on this side, and alcohol on the other." I shake my imaginary balance side to side. "Nope, we need a responsible father there to make sure there's no trouble." I put my hands down. "And would I really miss my daughter's forty-seventh birthday party?"

Hera rolls her eyes. "Fine. Is Mom going to be there too?"

"Yes."

Hera groans.

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Hera and many of her friends have gathered in the far corner of the bar, talking and laughing. I'm leaning my back against the counter watching them, while Isis sits beside me facing the counter and enjoying a second glass.

Shasta leans over the counter so his head is next to mine, and he chuckles, "You don't have to worry, Michael. I'm just as capable as you are at making sure she doesn't go overboard."

I sigh. "I know. It just feels like I'm not doing my job as a father if I'm not doing it myself."

"Relax," Shasta says. "Have a drink, let me and Ashley keep an eye on her and enjoy yourself for a change. On the house."

I shake my head as I turn towards Shasta. "You know I can't accept-"

Shasta grabs my shoulders and forces me to sit down. "On the house," he repeats.

Isis laughs. "Just take it, Michael."

I roll my eyes. "Give me a Coalition, then."

Shasta starts to mix my drink together. A few seconds in, someone sits beside me. "Your Highness," mutters a rough voice.

I glance over. Tiaane is sitting beside me. "Hello, Tiaane. You feeling better?"

Tiaane simply grunts. It's a little odd, he's normally more sociable than this.

I shrug and turn back to Shasta. If it's important, he'll tell me.

I'm halfway through my glass when someone grabs my shoulder. "Dad, can we go out for a moment?"

"Sure." I set the glass down. Tiaane watches me as I stand up and follow Hera to the bar's exit.

Hera walks a few steps into the road, keeping her back to me. She's staring at the ground in front of her.

I walk up to her and place a hand on her shoulder. "Hera? Is something wrong?"

"I lied to you yesterday," Hera says quietly.

"About what?" I'm trying to recall everything she said.

"You wanted to know what was going on with Tiaane." Hera rubs her knuckles. "I know what it is, but I didn't tell you."

I give Hera a hug. "If Tiaane is having a personal issue, it's up to him whether other people know about it."

"That's not it." Hera pulls away from me. "A day after we left Al Mipedim for Lake Ken-i-Po, I told Tiaane I liked him."

My heart jolts. "You what?"

Hera turns a little toward me, but she has trouble making eye contact. "...And I kissed him."

I'm absolutely speechless. I don't even know what I'm feeling right now. Hera kissed Tiaane?

Hera continues, "After I did that, Tiaane put distance between us, and he stopped talking to me except about my lessons."

I take a deep breath and fold my arms. "I guess we should have paid a little more attention when you were a little girl saying you were going to marry Tiaane one day."

"Dad!" Now she's making eye contact. "This isn't a joke!"

"I'm just trying not to have a heart attack!" I respond. "Hera, he's been your teacher since you were around ten solans old, he's about three times older than you-"

"I know!" Hera cries out. "I just... I felt something right here whenever I saw him, like my heart wanted to push its way out of my chest to him. I wanted to touch him the way Mom touches you, and..." Hera stares at the ground and trails off.

I try really hard not to start yelling. "Hera, how long have you felt like this?"

Hera starts to rub her knuckles again. "Almost five solans now..."

Holy freaking crap.

As calmly as I can, I ask, "Is... is there anything else you need to say?"

Hera's voice drops to a near whisper. "I've been fantasizing about him..."

That's it, I can't take it anymore. "Hera, we will talk about this later, with your mother." I definitely need her help here.

Hera doesn't argue.

I take Hera back to the bar, encourage her to calm down and hang out responsibly with her friends, then sit back down myself. I push my half-empty glass towards Shasta and ask, "Can you fill this back up? With pure alcohol?"

Shasta stares at me. "It's not going to taste good."

"It's not for the taste," I mumble.

"Prince Osiris?" Tiaane asks quietly. "May I speak with you outside for a moment?"

I throw my hands up and sigh. "Fine. Let's go."

I lead Tiaane outside the bar to the same street I'd just spoken to Hera at, then turn around to face him. "Tiaane," I state, "you don't have to worry. Isis and I will talk to Hera about this. I know Hera kissed you, and I know you didn't make her-"

"Your Highness?" Tiaane interrupts. "May I speak?"

"Yes," I say, forcing myself to calm down. "My apologies."

Tiaane hangs his head. "I have been aware, or at least suspected, that Hera desired me for a while. I didn't bring it up at first because I believed it to be a passing phase, like when she said we would marry so many solans ago."

"Funny how we're all remembering she said that," I note.

Tiaane grits his teeth and avoids my gaze. "After it became clear to me that it was more than a fleeting fancy, I still did not bring it up because..."

Uh oh.

Tiaane presses his lips together, then blows the air out of his lungs. "...It was because I found myself starting to desire her in return..."

That's it, my dream just changed channels from Fantasy Adventure to Soap Opera.

"H-how so?" I ask, not sure I want to know the answer. "How did you know?"

Tiaane still refuses to look at me. "Please let me say this all at once, before I lose my nerve." He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "I found myself enjoying looking at her, that my gaze would drift to her bosom or her rear whenever she wasn't looking at me. My heart would leap to my throat whenever we were required to be close to each other. I have also ha-" Tiaane chokes on his words and takes another deep breath. "I have also had dreams where your daughter and I had... casual..."

"You've been having wet dreams about her," I translate.

Tiaane nods. He looks scared and ashamed. "I swear I have never touched or spoken to Hera inappropriately, but I should have brought this to your attention sooner."

I hope he's telling me the truth, but I'm going to do my own investigating after this. "And this trip to Lake Ken-i-Po?"

"I-I enjoyed it when Hera kissed me," Tiaane admits, his voice shaking, "and that is when I realized I might not be able to trust myself. I set strict boundaries for myself after that, keeping at least ten feet between us at all times, and not speaking unless absolutely necessary."

Once again, I need Isis. If I could, I'd speak to her right now, but I'm going to have to wait until she sobers up first. "Tiaane, I'm glad you decided to talk to me," I say while digging my nails into my palms. "We will speak again about this later. Until then, you will not be in the same room as Hera, and you will not talk to or about her. All her private tutoring sessions with you will be put on hold, possibly canceled. Finally, you are not to leave Al Mipedim until I say otherwise."

Tiaane bows to me. "Very well." He reaches into his purse and holds out a few coins to me. "I haven't paid for my drink yet. Will you give this to Shasta for me?"

"I will do that." I take Tiaane's money and return to the bar.

"What was that about?" Shasta asks.

I drop the coins on the table. "Tiaane won't be able to come back. He gave me these for his drink."

"Very well then," Shasta says. "What happened?"

"That is private," I say a little harsher than I intended.

Shasta puts up his hands. "Sorry. You still want you drink filled back up?"

I shake my head. "I'm going to need a clear head."

Shasta nods, then glances at Isis. She's fallen asleep on the counter. "She only had two drinks..."

I don't respond. I'm watching Hera right now. What am I supposed to do?

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Up next: The Magazine

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