Home At Last

Villa De Karkaldwin, The Farmlands, Pryldahn, 1438 ATC

The rising sun cast a pale yellow glow upon the white stone walls walls, an illuminating invitation to rouse from slumber and to partake in the glorious day. Some of the slaves and the guards were out in the field overseeing winter preparations, and the family inside would wake soon for breakfast, and the rising sun already melting the snow a bit.

Legs twitching, allowed himself to be lured into wakefulness by the cock cry of morning. A moment later, he yawned wide, waking up in a pile of hay in the barn besides the slave's quarters, wearing nothing but his baggy red pants and Kari's big straw sunhat and beside him a crate full of eggs he had bought before coming here. Though, the stall was closed he simply took the eggs and left them a generous amount of silver coins from his adventure on the high sea.

His head still pounding from being smacked in the head with the butt of an automatic crossbow, along with all of the alcohol he had drunk over the last two days, caused him to immediately leap to wakefulness. The handsome bearded man sat up, rubbed his restless emerald eyes with his hands, yawned again, blinked until his eyes adjusted to the light, and rose up slowly. The ground was chilly and covered by a thin layer of snow, a reminder that it was early winter. There were thin, glittering veins of frost on the upper window pane as he began to walk around. In the fields, a few slaves moved about harvesting the various crops and preparing them for storage over the winter. And the fields were close to being completely barren.

''Now to get these into the kitchen and start...'' Venser mumbled holding the small crate close to his chest as he began to walk towards the house before stopping, doing a double take and noticing a few sacks of coin where he had woken up. Blinking a few times, he stuck his head back in and looked around.

Where had Megumi gone?

No matter. Maybe she would turn up soon. The handsome man closed the door and let out a sigh, planning on coming back after he went inside the villa.

Venser's bare feet slapped against the smooth stone tiles of his home as he wandered through the atrium of his home, letting out a sigh as his head throbbed and he passed a few topless elven slave girls, who all bowed politely to him before wandering off to their duties. He just nodded to them as he kept the crate close to him.

''I wonder where Megumi went... Also I need yo consider greenhouses...'' He muttered to himself, knowing his family would soon be awake and that he would be the one cooking breakfast.

''Ahem, girls!'' He called to a couple of the topless slave girls. One of them was pale for an elf and had straight black hair that reached her shoulders and dark eyes.

"Yes, Master Venser?"

''What is your name, again?'' Venser asked the pale one.

''Tessa.''

''Tessa, yes. You and your friend... Aisha, there take these to the kitchen and inform the kitchen staff to...'' The handsome bearded man let out a tired sigh and rubbed his head, changing his mind on cooking all those scrambled eggs for his family. It had been a long week and it was time to have his rest now and spend time with his wives and lovers.

''Start cooking the scrambled eggs. Tell em that.''

They nodded in affirmation as they walked towards the kitchen, and Venser walked to the stairs where he heard a pair of tiny legs clamber down the stairs.

''Race you Soarin!''

''I'm always faster! Always!''

The little twins of Venser and Kari stopped at the bottom of the stairs and gasped up at their father who had been gone for a little over a week.

''Hey kids.''

Their father bent down and spread his arms open wide, and Soarin and Lucinda tackled him with a hug. Their father held her tightly as, just so happy to see their dad father again.

''I missed you Daddy!'' Lucinda mumbled into her father’s chest. Soarin nodded and looked up to him.

''Me too! And I won the race! I always win the race!''

“I missed you both too... Are you both good? Are your noses in the center of your faces?” Venser asked hugging them close and chuckling, closing his eyes and sighing, the six year old boy and girl had the biggest grins on their faces when they finally pulled back, giggling.

''Yeah! You found mommy's hat!'' Exclaimed the little girl with her father's long raven hair and her mother's icy blue eyes. While the boy, who had his mother's hair so blonde it looked white and his father's original grass green eyes jumped up to try to grab the wide brimmed sunhat atop Venser's head and he laughed more and stood up just out of reach as Soarin stood on his toes to try to grab it.

"My nose is like, off to the side a bit!" The little boy said.

''Indeed I did. So, where is she? Still asleep?'' He asked looking past them up the stairs to the second level.

"Uh huh! Mommy said she was coming!" The six year old Lucinda said with a quick nod.

Venser bent down and kissed both of the twins on the forehead.

''Run along and play now, we'll all be eating a big breakfast today!"

"How big Daddy? Like, running makes me so hungry!" And then the six year old Soarin began to tun about in circles.

"BIGGG!" Venser exclaimed with wild arm gestures, causing the twins to giggle loudly and run off.

"And make sure your noses stay in the center of your face!"

Upstairs, a happy smile came across the tanned gypsy's lips as she stifled a giggle watching Rowena sneeze herself awake, leaning down to kiss her baby upon the forehead, whispering, “Good morning, my little love.”

The mother raised her tanned hand, giving the mobile a gentle flick. The hand carved figurines of The Pryldahnian Trinity, Vaheros, Kore, and Seyr chased each other in a circular motion. The figurines meant more to the mother than they did to the child, as they were the work of her own hands while she learned more about this land's culture, carved out of love and made for her child.

Rowena stood, wobbling a bit and gave a glance up to the dancing figurines of the Pryldahnian Gods above, smiling and reaching up towards them. Reaching up, and pushing itself up onto the railing, she attempted to grab what ahe considered to be toys. Rowena reached, time after time, and continued to attempt to reach them.

Sanna picked up her baby from the cradle slowly to let Rowena play with the mobile figures, taking a few moments to appreciate the unpainted walls of the nursery. Their life here was truly wonderful, something so unlike her original life in the deserts of Krimeakhet and then traveling the world with her gypsy family. A warm place to sleep with a man and a few other women that loved her and their little girl until their last breath, a beautiful home.

''Let's go get some food in our bellies.'' The golden gypsy said kissing Rowena on the forehead, who giggled and snuggled up in her mother's arms as she held her close and left the nursery. The baby's lower jaw stretched far as she let out a rather large yawn for one year old, she squirmed in her mother's arms, fully awake now.

''Ama. Mama!''

Stepping out into the hallway she noticed Kari, Venser's first lover and mother of Soarin and Lucinda walking towards the stairs. The girl was five foot five, with lank, long blonde hair trimmed and pale skin to match it. And a girlish, angelically beautiful face, icy blue eyes and full lips, and wore a short black night gown very similar to the one Sanna herself was wearing at the moment.

''Good morning Sanna.'' Kari beamed, her face lovely when it was animated. ''Have you seen my sunhat? It must be downstairs because I've looked everywhere up here.'' Standing in front of her she brushed back Rowena's hair and smiled down at the little girl. ''And good morning little Rowena... Have you seen my sunhat, sweetie?"

Rowena babbled happily while Sanna smiled at how well she and her step-mother got along, the golden gypsy leaning in to gently kiss Kari on the lips.

When their lips connected, the blonde woman closed her eyes, pulling her into a tight hug. Kari felt Sanna's tongue brush against her lips, she happily granted the request and met it with her own. Kari let herself get pulled into the kiss, leaning toward her other lover, the kiss deepened and then they broke the lock.

''It's always good to wake up to kisses.'' The blonde woman said with a smile taking Sanna's free hand. ''Let's hope Soarin and Lucinda have found my hat, hm?''

Downstairs, at the dining room table Venser sat there in nothing but his baggy red pants and Kari's wide brimmed sunhat, along with Soarin and Lucinda, as they all played with wooden boats, ramming them into each other and imitating the swishing of arrows flying through the air at each.

Sanna and Kari entered the dining room and stopped for a moment, watching Venser play with the twins at the table before he looked up to them, and smiled. No words needed to be said as he put his wooden toy boat down and approached the two woman, wrapping both arms around them and kissing the blonde woman first. She moaned with happiness and gave her lover several more kisses in return, nibbling at his lower lip before breaking off with a warm smile.

''So that's where my hat went. Thank you sweetie.'' Kari said reaching up and grabbing it off the handsome bearded man's head, and he bent down a little and allowed her.

'''W'ere so happy you're finally home, love...'' Sanna said, almost crying at the sight of her husband, home safe, though she noticed a few bruises and scars on his torso.

''Home with a lot of coin, and I brought a lot of food for the winter.'' The handsome bearded man said as Sanna was quickly silenced by his mouth pressed firmly against her own. Their tongues began to snake together. No lust, no carnality, only two muscles seeking the comforts of one another. Sanna's wifely and motherly anxieties melted away only to be replaced by the warm reassurance of her man, her lover returned, letting her know that all was truly well as her fingers weaved through his messy hair.

''Ewww! Doggies!'' Soarin exclaimed after a few seconds, causing his twin sister and their baby half sister to giggle. Kari smiled and made her way over to the table, hugging the children she made with Venser.

''Sweetie, you should be happy that your parents still kiss.'' Kari said.

Lucinda said nothing and clung to her mother, Soarin rolled his eyes.

''I know mommy...'' Kari smiled and kissed them both on the forehead. Venser tickled Rowena's stomach and the baby giggled and waved her chubby little arms out for him.

"I actually did bring home a dog... She's around here somewhere."

''Papa!''

And her father held out his arms and took the baby girl, hugging her lovingly and rubbing her back.

''Hey love... Papa is here.''

Venser closed his eyes and Rowena giggled with glee, happy that he had come home to take care of her. And as much as he loved the family he had brought together, he still had the duty of making coin and putting food on the table, even while some of his lovers helped out here and there.

Sanna pulled out the chair from the dining room table beside her and lightly patted the seat with her hand, encouraging Venser to sit down beside her. The table was set with the scent of scrambled eggs seeping into room that smelled delicious and made Venser's stomach grumble as he realized all he had eaten in the past day or so was some roasted goat.

Feeling happy to be home, Venser made his way over to the inviting seat beside his tanned lover, ready to sit down for a relaxing family breakfast.

''Daddy was like, going to tell us all about his trip!'' Lucinda exclaimed bouncing in her seat, antsy watching a slave girl pour her a glass of water. "And the doggie!"

''Oh, it was a voyage I won't forget. While it wasn't exactly and odyssey... It was still, the entire thing, an adventure I won't forget.'' Venser said as he was served a glass of water, quickly drinking it down. ''Leave the pitcher here, and bring another. Thank you.''

"So whats this about a dog, sweetie?" The blonde woman asked, blinking a few times.

"A big pink fluffy dog who walks on two legs and is a bit taller than you, Kari."

Kari just stared at him and then laughed. "I would need to see it to believe it sweetie!"

He sighed and began to brush his messy long hair back, looking to his two lovers and his three children, and a few of the empty seats at the table.

''Where's Cierra? And Alex? Asher? Did Sedna take Elanaea somewhere?''

''Cierra was here yesterday, and said she road off with Alex south to break in a new horse she helped Alex buy with her own money. And Alex wanted Asher to experience his first horse ride.'' Kari said pouring another glass of water for her black haired daughter, before thanking one of the topless serving for the plate of scrambled eggs and bread. ''As with Sedna and Elanaea, I don't know sweetie. I'm sorry.''

Venser held his baby daughter with one arm as he picked up a spoon and began to eat, looking down to Rowena.

''Do you want some scrambled eggs? Here comes the boat coming in for docking...!''

He held the spoon out for her and took some in, before sneezing and spitting it out, causing Sanna to giggle and lean against Venser.

''I'll have one of the serving girls to get her some mashed vegetables...'' The golden gypsy said, enjoying the warmth of their closessness.

''Papa. Papa.'' Rowena babbled happily, as gave her a kiss on the cheek and nuzzled her forehead.

''That's right my little love... That's a good baby.'' Venser smiled and looked to his family as they ate breakfast. Clearing his throat they all looked to him.

''If I had my guitar right now... I just got reminded of a little song.''

Venser sipped a glass of water and hummed softly.

''Soarin, Lucinda, Rowena... My little hearts... Perfect little works of art. Under your blankets, above your heads, look forward to the day ahead... Soarin, Lucinda, Rowena... Our perfect little works of art.''

There was a quiet moment of serenity, before the frantic sounds of running footsteps were heard down the hallway.

''Kari! Everyone! Venser!'' Cierra huffed, resting against the wall, holding her bloodied sides as all of the adults stood and rushed over to her. The blonde haired cryomancer's hands glowed blue as she applied pressure to the obvious wounds.

''Cierra! What happened?''

''They took them! They ambushed us, knocked me out and took Alex and Asher right off the road!'''

''Who? What did they look like?'' Venser asked, looking to a few of the servant girls. ''Fetch us some aloe and bandages! Quick!''

''They took us by surprise and overpowered me... Men with white pants and blue jackets.''

Venser blinked a few times and knew exactly who they were.

''Bonneville's Brigade... I am going to need some coffee first. It's going to be a long day."