Chapter 27
“Can’t believe you two,” Sora’s mother fussed as she sat at the small table. “Leaving me out like that. I fully intended to examine King Alric myself, you know. I just hadn’t gotten to it, yet.”
“You were slow,” her husband teased, then dodged her as she reached over to smack him.
Sora rolled his eyes. They were meeting in his sitting room, ostensibly to discuss how many healers the Burkhard Clan needed, who would be a good choice to send here, and for how long.
It was supposed to be a serious conversation, but, of course, his father couldn’t resist getting a dig in, and his mother, predictably, was irritated that she hadn’t been invited to join the party.
“We’ll need to leave someone here who has excellent surgical skills,” Ryu informed his wife. “It will take multiple surgeries to correct the damage.”
“I expected as much, what with his condition sitting like this for five hundred years.” Her expression became pinched, a little ashamed.
“I wish our founders had thought it through and at least notified the other clans about where they were going. Checked to see if they were alright before leaving.”
Both men grunted in agreement. Sora’s parents hadn’t been alive during the great migration, of course.
They were far too young for that. Sora tried not to judge anyone who’d had to make hard decisions in the heat of the moment.
He had only an intellectual understanding of the pressures and heartbreak they’d faced at that time.
It must have been beyond difficult to figure out the best course of action.
Still, when he looked at King Alric and his own sweet Ravi, it was hard to not find fault with the way things had been handled.
“At least we can make up for it now.” His father settled his small travel laptop on the table and opened the lid, booting it up. “Right. Who all should come?”
Sora had already thought about this. “Before you start listing off people, one of the Burkhards here is very keen on learning more medicine. Tori. Have you met him?”
His father shrugged, but his mother nodded.
“Oh, yes, he’s very kind. And keen on herbology. I bumped into him at the greenhouse, and we had this wonderful discussion about everything he’s growing.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “You say he wants to learn more of the medical trade?”
“Yes, he told me so himself. He’s apparently very interested, but has had no real way to study, aside from reading books. He’s been innovative with potions since his arrival here.”
Sora was torn about offering to teach Tori himself.
His foray into teaching had gone well, so far, and the idea of teaching someone did excite him.
Especially if it was an eager student, and he had a feeling Tori fell into that category.
But he didn’t consider himself experienced enough to do a good job.
“That’s excellent news. Really, we can’t lend people to this clan indefinitely. We need to get their healing skills up, even if it’s by one person.”
Sora almost instinctively objected to this. It wouldn’t be just one person. Including himself, it would be two.
He almost said this aloud. Then realized what had just raced through his mind and paused, mouth chewing on words he couldn’t quite form.
Why had he automatically put himself at Burkhard Castle?
It was true that he’d been thinking long and hard on this, about what would be best. To stay here with Ravi or bring Ravi back to his own clan.
There were pros and cons for either decision.
He and Ravi had been up most of the night discussing it, trying to figure out the best course of action.
Sora felt guilty for even suggesting Ravi leave, which had hampered the discussion some.
Ravi was so incredibly invested in and important to this clan. Ravi was also very hesitant about the idea of leaving his clan behind while they were still in danger.
Sora’s father seemed to sense his conflict, his heavy eyebrows lifting. “What? You’ve got a funny look on your face.”
Sora decided to voice his thoughts. He’d always been able to speak candidly with his parents, and it might be better to put the thought out there, instead of letting it ping-pong around in his head.
“Why do you assume that you’ll need to train someone here?”
His parents shared a baffled look, as if they didn’t understand the question.
“Well, they need a healer, don’t they?” His mother looked at him as if he’d lost a few marbles.
“Why do you assume I won’t be that healer?” Sora clarified.
“Ah, that’s what you meant.” His father opened his mouth, shot his wife another indecipherable look, then obviously reconsidered what he had been about to say. “Are you thinking you’ll stay here?”
“I don’t know yet,” Sora answered frankly. “Ravi and I have talked about this, but we haven’t made a decision.”
His mother leaned forward, hands braced on the table. “You’re absolutely certain Ravi is your mate, then? You said you thought he was, earlier. But you’re sure now?”
“Absolutely positive.” Sora had no doubt about that. His feelings were so intense that even he, a very cerebral thinker, sometimes felt overwhelmed by them.
She clapped her hands together, delighted. “I’m so glad, sweetheart. I must say, he was well worth the wait. Ravi’s such a happy person. And I love how the two of you interact. You bring out the best in each other, I think.”
Sora was happy to hear her say that and relieved both his parents seemed to think that Ravi was perfect for him. It saved that argument, at least. And it was always better when the parents approved of a spouse. It might also help with the impinging argument Sora could feel hovering on the horizon.
“I agree that he was well worth the wait. I want to properly express all of this to him, and soon.”
“Do that,” she urged, almost chortling now. “Finally, a mate for my son!”
“It’s a cause for celebration,” his father agreed. He looked more relieved than anything. “And, of course, when the two of you decide to have a child, you know we’ll be happy to help support the incubator.”
“I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself.” Sora rolled his eyes. Of course, that was the first priority for these two. Grandchildren. “Although, I’ll remember that for the future.”
Some soft, squishy part of his brain very much wanted to think about holding his and Ravi’s child in his arms.
His mother, at least, remembered what had started them off on this tangent. “Wait, do you intend to stay here with him?”
Sora responded patiently. “This clan, more than ours, needs healers. Needs mages. They also need him, and he needs his family.”
“That sounds like you’ve already made the decision to stay,” his father interjected. “Why aren’t you considering coming home?”
“I haven’t made a firm decision yet.” Which was true. Sora was still trying to weigh it in his mind, decide on the best option.
His mother’s glee was swinging back the other direction into concern. “But you can’t just think about Ravi’s needs. About this clan’s needs.”
“My mate’s needs have a higher priority than my own.
And do you really think that trying to take away a king’s retainer right on the verge of a war with the Jaeggi is a good idea?
Do you have any idea how heavily King Alric relies on Ravi?
” Sora hadn’t, until he’d seen his little wind dragon in action.
His father shook his head in confusion. “He has four other retainers.”
“Yes, one of who stays buried in books most of the time. I don’t think you two have paid proper attention, but Ravi’s role among the retainers is very specific.
When King Alric needs to be jostled out of work-mode, or if he needs to be in a different location without much time to get there, it’s Ravi who is sent in.
Ravi’s the one who can charm, cajole, and hurry King Alric along without the king taking offense.
You saw him in action when dealing with Kings Chalo and Roca, as well as their mates and bodyguards.
He keeps everyone moving, happy, and safe.
It’s Ravi’s speed that ensures the rest are safe, as literally nothing else can outrun him.
There’s also the fact that he clearly loves his job, loves his clan with all of his heart. ”
His mother didn’t disagree with any of this, although her brow was furrowed into a deep frown. “But what about you? What about what you need? Don’t you want to stay with your family? You can’t just think about Ravi.”
“Of course, I’d miss home if I left.” Sora didn’t think he’d be particularly homesick, though. He’d not felt homesick at all his entire stay here, and that said something all by itself.
That satisfied her. “Then you should come home with Ravi. It’ll be better for him anyway to be around the wind dragons.”
Sora was not so quick to dismiss the subject. “But, Kaa-san, it’s about more than being around family. There’s no challenge at home. There’s no chance for me to really use my skills. Honestly, day to day, I’m a little bored at home. There’s not much to do.”
Her jaw dropped. “Bored?!”
His father, however, understood his son’s point and grunted in agreement. “Everyone’s accustomed to going to the older generation. Us. Very few go to you for help. I usually have to shuffle people in your direction.”
Inclining his head to his father, Sora said, “Yes, that’s it exactly. I don’t feel needed at home. I’m not vital. It’s very much the same old thing there every day. There’s no reason to innovate. Nothing to challenge my mind. But here, I would be needed.
“If you’d seen the look on King Alric and Consort Cameron’s faces when I told them that I could help him, that I could reverse some of the damage done—it was like hope had finally risen again on this clan.
They thanked me over and over. They were so ecstatic about my being here.
It was that moment when I realized what a dearth of knowledge they have here. ”
“But we’ll send in help. It doesn’t have to be you,” his mother protested, growing irate.
“And I’m sure they’ll happily accept that help from everyone who comes.
But how long can those people be here?” Sora waved a hand toward his father’s laptop, still open but untouched during this discussion.
“We just asked the question. How many? How long can they stay? This isn’t indefinite.
And the Burkhards need a dedicated healer. ”
“And it doesn’t have to be you!” Her voice rose in frustration. “Sora, are you really going to stay here? I want you home, not on a warfront. You and Ravi aren’t even properly bonded yet, and how are you supposed to have children in this clan? They don’t have enough mages to support it.”
“You just said you’d help support an incubator when Ravi and I are ready,” Sora pointed out with ruthless logic. “Are you saying that’s conditional on us being home?”
His father dismissed this with a wave of both hands. “No, no, your mother didn’t mean that.”
“I might,” she fumed. “Because trying to have a child out here, on a warfront, isn’t smart.”
The realization spread through him in a tight, tingling, unpleasant way.
But he was no less sure. Sora hadn’t really thought of it in those terms, but this was a warfront.
A dangerous place, and Ravi was a key element to protecting not only the king, but his family.
Taking him away from here was not the answer.
Not when Burkhard was in such dire straits.
“If I try to take Ravi from here, with his family still in danger, all it will do is break his heart. I know he loves me. I love him just as fiercely. I will not ask him to return with me. I will not demand that of him.”
His mother’s jaw dropped. “Sora!”
Resolve and relief with a dash of excitement sang through his veins.
Talking this out with his parents had made it very clear what the better choice was.
He’d still speak properly with Ravi about this, and if his wind dragon wanted to go back to join Sora’s clan, then Sora would respect that.
But he didn’t give that possibility very high odds. He knew Ravi better than that.
His father didn’t seem much happier about this.
“But what about you, Sora? It’s all well and good to want to prioritize Ravi, but a healthy relationship requires that both partners’ needs are met. You can’t let him take priority when it comes to a decision this big.”
Sora was shaking his head before his father could trot all of that out.
“I’m needed here. Respected and valued here.
Of course, my family loves me, I’m in no doubt of that.
But I’m not needed. I can’t describe this right.
But I feel a strong satisfaction in this clan.
I adore the people here and how they love and respect each other.
I love the unquestioning support they give to one another. ”
He lifted his hands, opening and closing them as if trying to grasp at the right words that would make them finally understand.
“I’m like a puzzle piece that has finally been slotted into the right place.
Look at you two. Why are you frowning like you object to this?
I’ve spent the past forty-one years traveling around the world, restless and on edge, not at all settled in the clan.
Once I hit twenty-two, I never spent more than six months at home in one stretch.
It’s obvious that I was seeking the right place. ”
“No, you were seeking your mate,” his mother corrected immediately, lips pinched together. “And you found him. And now you can come home.”
“I did find him,” Sora agreed calmly. Then, he edged his chair back, ready to duck. “But, Kaa-san, I think I am home.”
As expected, she picked up the nearest object—a pen, in this case—and chucked it at his head.
Sora ducked handily to the side, his reflexes honed over the years. He’d rather expected that response, as his mother’s desires were firm and her temper short. He peeked back over the top of the table, judging her anger level. Her skin was a dark red, edging toward purple.
Hmm. Apparently livid.
Ryu hastily intervened before his wife could murder their only child.
“Sora, why don’t you properly talk to Ravi about this before you make any decisions? Yuki, it could well be that Ravi might decide to come with us, instead. He’s got family in the clan, after all.”
Yuki’s ire died a mite. But she still sounded like she was chewing on steel cables as she ground out, “Yes, go talk to Ravi, my son. Make it very clear where your family stands. And that we want him with us.”
It was a good compromise. “I’ll do that.”
But Sora wasn’t giving that option very high odds.
Did he say that? Of course not. He had better survival skills than that.