Chapter Six - Princeling
190 Years Ago, Malinor
The tavern was brimming with the raucous sounds of chatter, laughter and the bouncing, jaunty tune of a lute and fiddle.
Madar were clustered around tables, merry with wine and mead as barmaids rushed busily between the bar and patrons, levitating platters of mugs and plates of meat to be placed before the customers.
In the center of this cheerful chaos sat a young, handsome Madar, absorbed in the retelling of a racy escapade involving two beautiful maidens and a jar of honey. He was surrounded by a group of youths, all spell-bound by his tale and laughing uproariously at the scandalous bits.
Sen of Clan Ohra, youngest son of High Counsellor Aine, spoke with the relaxed confidence of a natural raconteur, commanding his audience's attention with ease.
He was young, he was rich and he was devastatingly handsome, if he didn't say so himself.
"And that's why honey prices have skyrocketed in the last week," he finished with a saucy grin. The group broke into laughter and clinked their glasses over the table, clapping him on the back as they drank.
Sen hailed a barmaid and ordered another round of drinks for the table, enjoying the appreciative cheers of his mates.
As the conversation turned to today's council meeting, he felt his attention start to wander. Politics were so dull, he thought glumly. All that pontificating and voting and debating the merits of dragon dung enriched fertilizer.
He'd been dragged to a few council meetings by his parents, hopeful their youngest son would take on a political career and carry on the illustrious legacy of their clan. But Sen found that his talents lay elsewhere, namely between the legs of beautiful men and women. He was only happy to pursue his true calling.
He let the political debate wash over him and he cast his eyes around the tavern, curious to see if there were any new faces for him to discover.
He was surprised to see a Madar man already watching him from the far side of the bar. Their gazes locked and he saw his lips curl into an appreciative smile. Sen felt his interest piqued.
The Madar had long, pale blonde hair and Sen could see even from the distance that his eyes were a striking emerald green. Sen smirked and deliberately looked away, pretending to be fascinated by the conversation taking place at his table.
"And then Mel started talking about how the Council is stifling 'brilliant Madar minds' and that we should open our borders. Father said the whole place went wild," Lora was saying, voice hushed with shock. She was the daughter of a respected Council member and they'd been friends since birth.
He threw an arm around her shoulders and ruffled her carefully braided hair.
"Come now Lora, Mel has been going on about humans and opening our borders for ages," he said with a roll of his eyes. "Why is today any different?"
"Exactly," agreed another Madar whose name he couldn't remember. He'd been emphatically agreeing with everything Sen said all night.
Lora looked annoyed and shoved his arm off her shoulders.
"For Orsa's sake, Sen. You haven't been paying any attention to what's been going on, have you," she snapped, smoothing her braid. He pretended to reach for her hair again and she ducked.
"I don't need to, Lora. Nothing ever really changes around here," he said and a moment later the barmaid bustled over, levitating fresh mugs of mead for the whole table.
"To dragon dung!" he cried, amused by his own ludicrous toast. Lora rolled her eyes and took a sip.
The group drank and chattered the night away, their conversation steered firmly away from matters of any real world importance.
Eventually the barmaid ambled over and ordered them all out. Sen stood, sat back down, then stood up again, swaying on his feet.
He dropped a bag of coins into the barmaid's outstretched hand and smiled lopsidedly.
"A little extra in there for you, sweet Mia," he crooned and the woman smacked him playfully with her rag, shaking her head with a fond smile.
His mates all mumbled tired goodbyes and shuffled out of the bar, leaving him to struggle with his coat. Finally he managed to wrestle it on and headed off on unsteady feet.
As he yanked the front door open, his head suddenly swam and the world tilted. Before he could collapse in an undignified heap, he felt a pair of strong arms grab him around the chest and pull him upright. He looked up into amused emerald green eyes.
"Careful, princeling," the man said, voice unexpectedly deep. Sen straightened and gave him a nod of thanks.
The Madar was regarding him silently, a mysterious smile on his face.
"Are you headed home?" he asked. Sen suddenly wished he was less drunk. He found it hard to focus.
"I suppose," he answered, giving the stranger a glance over. They were about the same height and Sen noticed an unusual pin on the Madar's lapel. It looked like two hands clasped together surrounded by beams of light.
"Fancy a walk?" the man asked. Sen considered his offer and decided a sobering amble around the block would be a good idea before returning home. He shrugged and nodded.
The two men stepped out into the crisp early morning air and Sen breathed in deeply, enjoying the freshness after a night in the smoky tavern.
As they walked, Sen could feel the other Madar's hand grazing his elbow, ready to grab him if he fell over.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Kelle," he answered. "Of Clan Mira." Sen had never heard of them but nodded, feigning recognition. Kelly snorted, seeing through him.
"And you're Sen of Clan Ohra," he said. Sen had opened his mouth to introduce himself but now closed it with a snap.
"I'm also drunk," Sen added, snickering at his own joke. Kelle shook his head with a roll of his eyes, though Sen spied a smile on his face. He grinned, pleased.
They walked to Tael Bridge, a massive stone structure that arched over the river running through Maldes, connecting the inner city with the main sprawl of the capital.
They came to a stop at the highest point of the bridge and looked out at the city just starting to wake. The sky was a pale, dusty pink, dawn only an hour away.
Sen leaned his elbows on the stone balustrade and felt his mind begin to clear. It really was a sobering walk.
"I heard you talking in the tavern," Kelle began suddenly. "About how things will never change. I don't think that's true."
Sen snorted, glancing at the man over his shoulder.
"Malinor will never change, because Malinor doesn't want to change," Sen retorted.
Kelle joined him at the balustrade and smiled that mysterious smile again.
"Do you want it to change?"
Sen furrowed his brow.
If he were honest with himself, he'd never truly thought about the growing divide in public opinion that his family was so involved in. Clan Ohra were fierce traditionalists, advocating for the protection of Malinor culture and industry against outside, especially human, influences. He'd suffered through more impassioned diatribes at the dinner table than he cared to recall.
But Sen had traveled to Earth and seen the curious cultures and technologies of Earthling kind, had marveled at the diversity of supernatural species and human races intermingling in fascinating dynamics that were so far removed from Malinor's unchanging homogeny.
His love for Malinor was uncomplicated and straightforward - it was his home, where he'd grown up in the lap of luxury and privilege surrounded by his loving family.
Still, he couldn't say with the certainty of a political pundit that he believed Malinor needed to change, that to fail do so would harm their realm, and that maintaining their traditions came at the cost of oppressing innovators and free thinkers.
What he did feel, instinctually, was that the world was a bigger and more fascinating place than most Madar could comprehend, and that building connections with the peoples outside of Malinor borders had the potential to enrich their world. It would certainly be more interesting.
"I'm not sure," he said. "I think so, yes."
Kelle was looking at him with a wry quirk on his lips. He looked away, sighing.
"I invented a machine a while back. Took me almost a year. It's an ore extractor that can drill deep into the mines. It's both more powerful and precise than anything the Miner's Guild uses."
Sen leaned back to look at him, impressed.
"That sounds amazing. Congratulations."
Kelle's mouth twisted into a hard grimace and he turned to look at the other Madar in disbelief.
"Do you actually think anyone on the Council would approve such a machine? It was shot down before Mel could even finish pitching. It was deemed too disruptive, and I'd used human engineering principles as the basis for my design."
Sen rubbed the back of neck awkwardly, realizing too late the impact of his words.
"My mother…" he started, clearing his throat uncomfortably. "She can be, ah, rather conservative."
Kelle snorted, shaking his head in wonder at him. He suddenly leaned in, an intense gleam in his eye.
"All Mel is doing is advocating for Madar like me. I created this machine because my father has been breaking his back in the mines for hundreds of years, slaving away in the darkness to support his Clan. Instead of hacking away with a pickaxe until his hands bleed, he could be pushing a button and getting three times the amount of work done." Kelle's voice was strong and full of passion, and Sen found that he'd been listening to him with his mouth agape.
The blond had looked away, his face set in hard lines as he gazed out at the city.
He continued more softly, "If that's what is considered disruptive in this realm, then perhaps we're forgetting the backs we're stepping on to maintain the status quo."
Sen didn't know what to say, so instead he tilted the blond's face with gentle hands and kissed him. After a moment of stillness, Kelle kissed him back fiercely and grabbed the sides of his face.
"You need to pick a side, princeling. Don't underestimate your influence in this world," Kelle growled, pulling away fractionally to look him in the eyes.
Sen was breathing heavily, eyes hooded. He nodded slowly and Kelle claimed his lips again, moaning against his mouth.
They kissed with wild intensity on the bridge, uncaring of the increasing foot traffic and activity around them as Maldes slowly began a new day.
As the sun rose above the capital, the two Madar suddenly Blinked out of sight, falling into a bed somewhere in the city below.
... ... ...
The sun was high in the sky by the time Sen made it back home. He Blinked into the manicured and stately courtyard sprawled in front of a massive, white-stone villa. He'd startled one of the gardeners with his sudden appearance and Sen inclined his head in apology.
He strolled through the winding cobbled paths, past the fountain already burbling merrily with streams of water and through the arched doorway into the foyer.
Servants were hurrying busily through the house, carrying vases of carefully arranged flowers and bundled white table cloths.
He could hear raised voices in the salon and decided now was not the time to greet his family members. His hair was in disarray and his clothing was hopelessly rumpled, and he was aware he smelled of booze and cock.
He was just about to Blink up into his bedroom to sleep off his hangover when he heard his mother's voice call out from the other room. He tensed.
"Sen, is that you? Come here, child."
Shutting his eyes, he released the breath he was holding and reluctantly started for the salon, trying unsuccessfully to smooth his hair on the way.
He was met with five pairs of golden eyes that all turned to take him in when he entered.
His mother was sitting on the loveseat, looking as pristine and beautiful as always. His father stood next to her, a hand on her shoulder. His oldest brother, Ele, flanked his mother's other side, arms crossed over his broad chest and looking disagreeable. His two sisters, Era and Arwe, were sitting in the high-backed armchairs facing their parents and brother.
There was an unmistakable tension in the air, and Sen noticed with some dismay that Arwe's face was streaked with tears.
"Where have you been?" his mother asked, voice deceptively soft. Aine hardly ever raised her voice, but when she was angry or disappointed, her voice took on an almost purring quality that made her children quake.
"Out," he said. "With Lora," he added, thinking this would give him some credibility.
Aine raised an eyebrow and motioned for him to come closer. He did so with dread, feeling like a youngling.
His mother pinched his chin and gave him an appraising once over.
"You smell of drink," she declared, lip delicately lifted in disapproval. "You are a son of Clan Ohra, you must be conscious of how your behavior reflects on this family."
Arwe scoffed, raising golden eyes to the ceiling. The others turned to look at her and Sen saw that his mother was particularly unamused.
"I am not done with you, daughter," Aine said softly, turning her attention away from Sen.
He gratefully slunk away and dropped into an empty armchair, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He wasn't prepared for family drama after his long night of drinking and fucking, and he thought longingly of his bed upstairs. Seeing Arwe's tears, however, he steeled himself for the coming argument. He didn't want to abandon her when she was clearly up against the entire clan.
"All I am saying, Mother…" Arwe started, her voice hoarse. Sen guessed they'd been at it for some time now.
"What I am trying to say is that Madar should have the right to at least present their point of view without it being immediately shot down by the Council. I have a right to such an opinion, regardless of what this Clan's official political stance is. We are not just your representatives, we are your children!"
Era, who up until that point had been looking Sen up and down with unconcealed disapproval, rolled her eyes and pointed a finger at her sister.
"But you are a representative, Arwe, whether you like it or not. Mother and Father have fought for peace in Malinor and have sworn to protect it, by the power of Orsa's light. It is your duty to stand behind them in all matters."
Sen sometimes wondered if his sister ever got tired of the stick lodged so firmly up her ass.
"What exactly are we fighting about?" he wondered. His father shook his head despairingly.
"No one is fighting, Sen. We are having a family discussion," he said gently, always the peacemaker.
Arwe threw up her hands in disbelief.
"If you call bullying me into submission for having slightly different political views, Father, then yes - this is a family discussion."
"Arwe, by Orsa's light, how dare you speak to your Father in such a way," Aine snapped, her golden eyes flashing with furious magic.
Arwe shrank into her seat and rubbed her forehead.
"Forgive me, Father," she said quietly.
Tun of Clan Ohra, father to the four Madar gathered before him, sighed heavily.
"Aine, my love, our daughter speaks from her heart," he said, squeezing his wife's shoulder. "I know she was quite moved by Mae's situation with her new husband. Her outspokenness comes from her compassion and love for her kin."
Sen knew a lifeline thrown when he saw one. His father was a kind man and loved his children with a simple and pure devotion, counterbalancing Aine's more controlling tendencies. Though Sen never for a moment doubted his mother's love for them, he did wonder if she truly saw them as individuals and not extensions of herself.
In that moment, Arwe looked up at Sen and he gave her an imploring look. Take the lifeline, he wanted to say.
"Yes, the vampire. I know you and Mae were quite close, Arwe. I am sure Mae will come to visit Malinor in the future," Aine conceded.
For a moment, Sen thought Arwe would take the out given to her and that they'd move on from this conversation. But he recognized the stubborn set to her jaw and he shut his eyes, bracing himself.
"You know who won't come to visit Malinor? Loreth, Mae's husband."
Aine's expression shuttered again and she let out a frustrated growl.
"You are relentless, daughter! It was the will of the Council to reject Mae's application."
"Yes, but why! What possible harm could come from allowing a magically bonded loved one to visit? What are you so afraid of?"
All three siblings straightened at this outburst, the air suddenly thick with their nervous energy. Even Ele, who'd been silently glowering in the corner, looked at Arwe in shock.
Both mother and daughter stared at each other in challenge, breathing heavily.
"I am protecting this realm, child. Your father and I, and countless other elder Madar, fought to overthrow the tyrant that ruled this land with an iron fist. Now it is our duty to protect it from those who'd wish to destroy our way of life."
Sen suddenly cleared his throat.
"But how are you so sure they would? Destroy our way of life, I mean?" he stuttered.
All clan members turned to stare at him, and he had the sinking feeling that he'd just stepped into something that would require more energy than he currently had to work with
"You too, Sen?" sneered Era, looking at him like he'd just sprouted oozing boils all over his head.
"Enough," boomed Aine, using what Sen secretly dubbed as her High Counsellor voice. She gazed around at her family members, her gaze hard.
"Clearly this family has become divided. Perhaps I am to blame for allowing you to travel to Earth so frequently, if at all. It has poisoned your minds, filled you with delusions about their world. You know nothing of the dangers outside of Malinor and I pray you will never have to live through the horrors of war as your father and I's generation did."
Aine stood gracefully and regarded her children, suddenly looking tired.
"All I ask is that you be discrete, to protect this family. Believe what you will, Arwe, but hear me when I say that Mel is dangerous. He plays at the benevolent progressive, the champion of innovation, but he is wilier than that. Just be careful."
Aine took her husband's hand and together they swept out of the salon.
"I expect you all at dinner," she called over her shoulder right as the door swung shut.
There was a collective exhale from the siblings. Sen groaned and rubbed his face viciously, more exhausted than he could remember being in a long time.
Era was clearly gathering herself to launch into a lecture when Arwe suddenly sat up with a crackle of magic, sticking a finger in her sister's face.
"Enough, Era. You do not get to lecture me. I have said what I said and I stand by it."
"You can have your opinions, Arwe, but it is your approach and your temper that is creating this rift," Ele spoke instead, his voice hard. "I warned you about being brazen, and if you hadn't all but publicly endorsed Mel in yesterday's council, this fiasco would have been avoided,"
"Brother, I did not publicly endorse Mel. I found some of his points valid, and I was nodding thoughtfully to a Council member's impassioned speech. Malinor is still a democracy, last time I checked," she retorted.
Sen raised an eyebrow. Perhaps Arwe had more political skill than she gave herself credit for.
Ele pushed off the wall he'd been leaning against and straightened his lapels.
"I have work to do," he muttered, clearly done with the whole ordeal. He swept out of the salon, his governor's tunic flapping behind him.
Era also stood, folding her hands in front of her primly. She gave them a tight nod and followed their older brother out the room.
Sen and Arwe sat in silence, listening to the servants bustling around deeper in the house.
The young Madar gave a low whistle and grinned at his sister.
"Well, that was something."
Arwe burst into tears.
Sen swore and gathered his older sister in his arms, patting her head. He Blinked them into her bedroom upstairs and sat them down at her window seat.
"Sister. It's alright. Please don't cry," he soothed, rocking her in his arms. She pulled away from him and wrinkled her nose, sniffling.
"Orsa, Sen, you smell terrible," she laughed through her tears. He grinned and fanned his tunic at her, wafting his stink in her face. She squealed and flapped her hands at him.
As her giggles died down, she suddenly looked serious again.
"Thanks for sticking up for me," she said softly, taking his hand.
Sen sighed, thinking of Kelle's miraculous machine and his father in the mines. Of Mae and her vampire husband that no one from their clan, with the exception of Arwe, had ever met.
"It wasn't just for you," he admitted quietly, squeezing her hand.
The two siblings gazed out the window at the Madar walking below, hauling carts and wrangling their children, chatting in front of storefronts and being generally wrapped up in the daily bustle of life.
Sen looked at his sister and noted the stressed furrow of her brows. He'd always been closest with Arwe out of all his siblings, though he was in fact closer in age to Era. She'd comforted him when he was scolded by Ele or his mother as a youth, taught him to play violin and embraced him when he'd admitted that it wasn't only maidens that regularly caught his eye.
He hated seeing her looking so forlorn and at odds with their family. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she gratefully nuzzled into his chest.
"You're meant for bigger things," he whispered into her hair. "One day, by Orsa's light, you're going to change the world, Arwe. The worlds."
As they sat wrapped in each other's embrace, he finally saw her lips lift in a smile.