Strong of heart
CH.2 All wars must end
Henri was dwarfed by the huge leather seat in which he sat; his legs didn't even reach the end of the seat, farther and grand-papa where in identical seats eater side of him drinking brandy and in the case of his grand-papa doing a small sketch of the roaring fireplace. His alchemical text book weighed heavily on his knee filled with scraps of paper and basic attempts at transmutation circles.
It was ten in the evening by the time the last two members of the meeting arrived, the first figure easily recognisable by his huge figure and tiny blond curl, the other was dark skinned and though shorter than his big brother was equably muscular under his well pressed military uniform and boasted an impressive number of campaign ribbons and a substantially more impressive moustache. His farther stood to greet his son with a hug and the officer with a shake of the hand as Alex began introductions.
"Sir this is my grand-farther Lord Alexander Hugeus Armstrong, my farther former General Philip Gargantos Armstrong and my younger brother Henri Philip Armstrong. Family may I present Brigadier General Basque Grand"
The Adults began to discuss the recent war and his big brothers involvement in it, Henri found it difficult to follow most of the conversation as with a trio being military trained and a slightly different three where highly trained alchemists a lot of acronyms, alchemic shortcuts, troop manoeuvres that whistled as they soared over his young head. From what he could understand his brother had suffered some kind of emotional problem that had stopped him performing his duty as such now that battle was won he had been given two months leave to emotionally recover. Apparently Brigadier Grand was here to help his recovery and report if he could be returned to service, as his recent promotion allowed him a greater freedom of selection in his assignments he had rode over some younger solders to help a soldier he had personally mentored for several years, so it was decided to put the pair in adjoining rooms next to the manors gym as both would be up and training from early in the morning.
As the fire dwindled and Henri struggled to stay awake his reason for being there became apparent when his grand-papa asked for somthing from Alex, the somber atmosphere in the room became almost cloying at this point as alex reached into his uniforms neck line and withdrew a chain with a small object attached, Lord Armstrong took the chain and snapping it removed the gold attachment. Turning to his grandson he beckoned him from his armchair to stand infront him. From here he could see the steel in those blue eyes and how his frame though well built wasn't what it was in the photos in his farther's study.
"Henri this is for you" His Grand-papa placed a gold ring in his left hand. "It is for your eldest son and his son" The eldest Armstrong motioned to his son who took a thick gold band from his ring finger and passed it too his parent. "This one however is yours until your father should decide otherwise, tell no one this must be a secret until your papa tells you otherwise, no one includes your twin. For all must think your brother is to inherit." He placed the ring on the chain and with a tiny alchemy array on the underside of his ring fused the chain closed.
He placed the chain around his grandson's neck and turned to his son and took a ring from his own hand and placed it on his sons ring finger.
Henri was struck dumb his alchemy text hit the floor with a thump as it fell and spilled its notes.
He was now the first in line for the Lordship of the House of Armstrong.
A.N. What do you think so far?
Eric "RUBBISH"