"They also serve who stand and wait, eh, Dora?" The dark haired young man said to the hovering wvyernet. She was still a buzz around the improbable Bronze Door in that ravine, on the side of Kolvir.
But careful not to touch it, no indeed. Clarissa had proved just how dangerous that could be. And made it mandatory that Hadrian stay here until his friends got some help.
Hadrian was so intent on looking toward the tangled stand of leafless trees where two guards were still tied up, that neither he nor Dora noticed the glow rising behind them. Not from the Door, but from the incoming teleportation spell of a magic user. Hadrian just had enough time to turn around to see who it was before a spell knocked himself, and Dora, out cold. "Hmm...he wasn't under any undue influences after all." the Sorceress of Amber said, looking at the scene.
"Now, without any objections, let's find out just how this thing got here." Fiona said, stepping over to the unconscious Hadrian. She put a hand to his temple and starts concentrating. After a minute or so, she releases her hand, and started to go through her Trumps.
Gerard and his two sons were on the fourth floor, wrestling as a matter of fact. The training room was non existent, still only in the planning stages. But an empty room with some padding is all that is needed. Castor and Pollux squared off against each other, as their Father watched, with words of praise and advice...mainly the latter.
It was such that he got the Trump call.
"You'd better come through here, brother. Bring your sons, too." Fiona added, noting the pair. Castor had just managed a clean pin on his brother.
Once the sons of, and Gerard himself had passed through the Trump connection and were standing there at the Door, Gerard immediately piped up.
"What's happened to Hadrian?" He looked to Fiona, suspiciously.
"I didn't know if he wasn't under the influence, so to speak. Best not to take chances, Gerard. Not with my brother about." she said, coolly.
"So did you find out what's going on with this thing?" Gerard was reluctant to touch it.
Fiona smiled at Gerard and his sons. "Bhangbadea, Hadrian, Krysta and Astin were the ones who found it. And apparently have three prisoners, the lead one is being trooped to the Castle now. They left Hadrian Minding the Store here."
Fiona smirks. "Not the most unintelligent thing they could have done, considering the dangerous potential of these things. But I found something else interesting about him." She pointed at Hadrian. Castor and Pollux had unsuccessfully tried to wake him up. They had stood him up at least. Pollux had Dora cradled under his arm.
"Pollux, Castor...meet your brother." Fiona said after a pregnant Pause. To Castor's good credit, he Didn't drop him. Pollux, on the other hand, was more aghast and nearly dropped Dora. Not to mention Gerard's reaction.
"Fiona...are you SURE?" he said, in a disbelieving tone.
"Positive. He's yours, all right. Look at him, Gerard. Add Toireasa to your twins there, and Hadrian fills the spectrum. Even better, Hadrian's been apparently been gathering evidence to his paternity for a while now. He narrowed it down to you and Caine."
Gerard groaned, inwardly. Portia had a bad enough time with Torri...this would really upset her. Hadrian couldn't be more than 30...
"Benedict should be here in 2 minutes." Fiona added, mysteriously. "So, I'll give you guys a lift to the Infirmary. He'll be out for an hour or so...his bonded friend about the same. No side effects."
And then Gerard, and Pollux, and Castor, and of course Hadrian and Dora found themselves inside the Castle. Fiona stood calmly in the ravine, Benedict's arrival a certain sixty seconds away.
{An hour later}
Hadrian's eyes fluttered open. He realized, immediately, from the smell and the sights, that he was back in the Castle Amber Infirmary.
"Oh no, not again." Hadrian said, aloud. His blue eyes roamed around. Dora had just woken up, seemingly, and was sitting on a table next to the cot. And there, sitting nearby, was Gerard.
"How are you feeling, Hadrian?" Gerard asked, getting up and walking over to bedside. Hadrian managed to get himself propped up on his elbows.
"Um, what happened? Last I remember, I was at the Door in the ravine outside the Castle..."
Gerard spoke in soothing tones. "It's all right. Just a misunderstanding. You did well, truly." Hadrian shook his head, not from disagreement, but to clear his mind. "No lasting effects, Fiona assured me." Gerard added.
Hadrian thought to himself. It was strange...he had a weird compulsion to say what he wanted to discuss with this man for a long while. Even in this odd position.
"Um, Prince Gerard, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about ever since I got to Amber." Hadrian said, turning to look at him. "It may not be the best time.."
Gerard checked Hadrian's forehead. "No, I think you're all right. I'm listening."
And Hadrian told him.
Afterwards, Gerard sighed. "How are you holding up? Feel like you can walk?"
Hadrian tried not to groan. After all, he was trying to make a good impression. "I can try. Where are we walking?"
Gerard smiled. "To see the King of course. We'll do it formally and with all that fanfare tomorrow, but let's get something official now, shall we...Son. Random should be in the Chambers behind the Throne Room by now." Hadrian gingerly stood up, managing to stand without the help of his father. Dora, resting on the desk, listening to the entire thing, unfolded her wings to fly.
{End}