fandomania | The Adventure continues... (Reply)

Please click and view our eggs and hatchlings. I do the same for you. Thanks.

Our eggs:

Our hatchlings:

Afterwards, I found that I couldn’t just sit and relax, especially since Fiorenzia had said I was improving. I needed to keep busy, so that I wouldn’t think any more about my sister. I felt that I was spiraling down into sadness and I didn’t want to do that anymore. So I started back doing the household management duties. Since they were mostly meetings, decision-making and supervision, Piatrus allowed me to continue as long as I let others do all the actual physical work. He also gave similar limitations to Suthi, since she was now seven months along. Our meetings were pushed back to mid-morning instead of earlier, as they had been, since Piatrus was now regularly part of the morning training sessions. This was fine with me, because then I could spend more time with my older children before they went to school.

Several weeks later, while we were discussing the remodeling of the north wing and the logistics of where Piatrus and Su Wei would sleep during this time, a messenger came telling Piatrus that the Merry Nell had just docked at Garmay and that Captain Bayard would be arriving at the compound within an hour. Bayard had asked that the family be assembled in the great hall when he arrived.

Piatrus looked quizzical and said, “I wonder what is happening? Bayard is supposed to be in the Archipelagos right now, loading rice and spices that are bound for Bellermine. Why is he here?”

But Piatrus and Suthi went to gather the family, while I got the servants to set up enough chairs in the great hall.

Donal came in while I was supervising the set up. “Do you know what is going on?”

“No, not really.” I told him what I knew, such as it was.

Within the hour, everyone was waiting anxiously and speculating out loud what they thought might be happening. Piatrus’ temper started getting the better of him and he barked at everyone to quit talking until we heard Bayard’s news.

It didn’t take long to hear the clatter of a galloping horse approach the compound and get admitted. We heard the sounds of boots running and within seconds Bayard burst into the hall. He was clearly out of breath and quite upset.

Piatrus waited for Bayard to compose himself and gave him the floor.

“As you know, Sir, we were sailing south to the Archipelagos with a load of lumber and then to sail north to Bellermine with rice and spices. On the way there, we ran into a huge, huge storm, which we avoided by sailing east, allowing it to pass by us. It was an enormous hurricane and it slammed hard into the Archipelagos. By the time we arrived in the main port of Equiseta, the hurricane had gone through, leaving death and destruction in its wake. I immediately sent out the crew to help whatever survivors that they could find, while I and my first mate went to the family compound there. We found almost total destruction. All the houses, all the offices, all the warehouses in the compound were completely flattened. Stevar, his wife Wini, and three of their children have disappeared. Their two youngest children and their nanny survived when she lashed the children and herself to a palm tree, although they do have injuries. We have found lots and lots of bodies, but we haven’t found any more of your family yet.”

Piatrus cried out in anguish and grief. His face was ashen and contorted in pain. For a man who tried to keep his emotions under control, this was unusual for him and hard to watch. There were many sounds of sobbing and sorrow as the family mourned the loss of Stevar and his family. But the worst of all was watching and hearing Piatrus grieve the loss of one of his sons. I quickly went to the liquor cabinet and got a bottle of alcohol that Piatrus liked, along with a glass. I hurried back to him and poured some for him to drink. He drank a lot before he was able to gain control of himself. In the meanwhile, I had Donal go to Captain Quinton and have him send a messenger to bring back Uncle Haral.

When Piatrus seemed in control of himself, he allowed Bayard to finish his news.

“We stayed for as long as we were needed. The few government officials who survived were trying to rally their people, organize concerted rescue efforts and set up safe areas for the survivors to stay at It is the rainy season there, and I gave them the entire load of lumber we had, so that they could erect shelters for the hurt and the homeless. I have brought back the children and the nanny. Because of their injuries, I thought it best to keep then on the ship until help for them can be arranged.”

“I will send Fiorenzia and Orlando to your ship to see what needs doing and to help them.” I replied and quickly sent off a telepathic message to my friends, informing them what had happened. They agreed to go to the ship and see what medical help the children needed.

Bayard then said, “That is what I know right now. I am at your command. What would you like me to do now?”

Piatrus rubbed his eyes for a minute, in an effort to control his tears. He still looked quite ashen-faced and very, very somber. He looked at Ferrell and said, “I am not thinking well right now. How many ships do we have in port here?”

Ferrell had to concentrate and put himself back together before he could answer. “I think we have three. And another two in Valdžia that we could divert easily. The rest of the fleet is too far away to be of use right now. I think we can divert them later when they arrive back here.”

Piatrus nodded and took another drink. He turned to Bayard and said, “Go to Captain Quinton and get the guards and any of your crew to go the emergency caves and take every iota of emergency supplies that have been stockpiled there to load into the ships. Send messages to our ships in Valdžia to warehouse whatever cargo they have and purchase as much and as many emergency supplies as they can. They have my permission to use company funds to pay for this. When everything is fully loaded, I will be going back with you to supervise any relief efforts and to continue the search for my son and his family.”

Ferrell tried to protest, but Piatrus wouldn’t listen. Eoin then volunteered to go in Piatrus’ place, stating, “He is my brother. And I have few responsibilities.”

Piatrus thought about this for a few minutes and allowed Eoin to come with him. When Ferrell tried to volunteer, stating, “Stevar is my brother too!”, Piatrus turned him down flat.

“I need you here, Ferrell, to keep everything going. Besides you have a baby due soon and you shouldn’t be away from Suthi right now.”

Haral arrived and I met him at the door, apprising him of all that was happening. He quickly went to his brother’s side and embraced him, saying. “You will get through this, man! Keep strong! Have faith!”

”I know I will. But a father should never have to outlive his children. It was hard enough when Helene died. And now Stevar and his wife and his beautiful babies…”

“I know, brother, I know. As soon as I get back to the Temple, I am ordering every priest, monk and nun in Alfaria to say prayers to the ghods to guide them all to Empyrean.”

Piatrus appeared comforted by Haral’s words. Haral started to take Piatrus to his room, to get him to lie down, when he stopped momentarily and spoke to Bayard. “Will there be room in your ships for around a hundred or so monks and nuns, who have medical training?”

Bayard thought about it and said, “Yes, but their quarters will be tight. There won’t be any privacy for them.”

Haral smiled. “They are used to that. When will they need to be ready?”

“If everything goes well and we get a lot of cooperation, in three days. Will you be also coming with us?”

“No.” Haral replied. “There are things going on in court that I need to keep an eye on. So no, I won’t.”

Haral continued to walk Piatrus to his bedroom. Considering all the alcohol he had consumed, I was amazed that Piatrus was still conscious and capable of walking.

Haral came back alone about half an hour later, telling me that Piatrus was now sound asleep and he didn’t want anyone to disturb him until he woke up on his own. Haral then left for the Temple to prepare his people for their journey to the Archipelagos. Bayard and Eoin left to start the transfer of the emergency supplies to the ships. Ferrell went to check out the inventories of the family’s warehouses to see if any further items could be added to the shipments.

Fiorenzia and Orlando arrived some time later with the children and with Pipa, their nanny. The extent of the children’s wounds were cuts, scrapes, bruises and rope burns. Pipa, on the other hand, had splinters driven into her eyes by the strong winds. Fiorenzia and Orlando tried very hard to save her eyes, but they were too damaged and too infected by the time Fiorenzia saw her. The white dragon was able to fix her eyeballs, but was unable to restore their vision. Pipa would be blind for the rest of her life. I made sure that Pipa was aware that the family wouldn’t abandon her; that because of her quick thinking and great sacrifice, she would be cared for for life. I had the maids prepare the now abandoned nursery in the north wing and the bedroom next door. The children clung to Suthi, their aunt, and when the rooms were ready, everyone was moved in.

Just before I went to bed that night, I went to check up on Stevar’s children and Pipa. When it was clear that they all were sound asleep, I started back for my rooms. However, when I passed Piatrus’ suite I heard loud, angry voices arguing. It sounded like Piatrus and Su Wei. They were speaking in what I could only guess was Shiangkauese. Before I knew it, the door to his suite opened and Piatrus threw Su Wei out into the hall. I don’t think that they saw me. Su Wei was barely clothed and very disheveled, but Piatrus seemed fully clothed, albeit somewhat rumpled. Su Wei fell on the floor at his feet, grabbing his clothes and in a pleading voice said, “Ogamitaosu omae! Netsuai omae!” [I beg you! I love you passionately!]

Piatrus yelled back, “Dassuru! Hottoku ware!” [Get out! Leave me alone!]

Su Wei begged again, “Ogamitaosu omae! Netsuai omae!”

Piatrus screamed, “Saru kobisuru betsujin!” [Go f**k someone else!]

Su Wei then said, “Watashi hyottosuruto haramu …” [I may be pregnant …]

Piatrus hit her across her face with the back of his hand. His look was contemptuous, “Usotsuke!” [Liar!]

He then slammed the door in her face.

Su Wei put her hand over the red mark on her face and smiled. She then turned and saw me standing there. She gathered her robe about her and rose to her feet. “I am sorry. We just had a lover’s quarrel. These things happen…”

She must have seen the skepticism on my face. She giggled. “He was sleeping and looking so handsome, I just couldn’t resist. He woke up to find me on top of him, using him inside me. He hates it when I am on top…” She giggled again and went to her room.

I looked at Piatrus’ closed door for a moment and decided that Su Wei didn’t deserve to know what had happened earlier.