Heard echoing down the tall corridors of a darkly lit castle, it's white marbled walls reflecting the light further than is typical. Perhaps because of the highly polished reflective surfaces of the walls and pillars bearing the weight of protection to the family and workers who call this place home. Or perhaps it's magically enhanced; in either case it doesn't require dark vision for a pair of little bare footsteps to tiptoe their way towards the pack of voices gathered in a cozy waiting room. A fire alit, plush furniture, a well manicured rug and more than enough tapestries to keep the crew both warm and entertained with images of glory.
There's enough people to fill a small tavern; they all circle around one individual in particular, dark hair, wearing dark clothes, and an even darker cloak. A mixed group of different races, heights, a motley lot as many have described them. As the laughter dies down, one individual notices the movement before he feels it, wrapping around his ankle and slithering up his leg is a snake that pulls against the pant for friction.
"Simon!, Buddy!" Vax'ildan exclaims, picking up his old friend. "How've you been?"
A human woman with her hair braided up around her head looks around towards the entrance, "come out sissy, It's a'wlright. Come meet your uncle."
A flash of mixed brown and red hair rapidly tiptoes behind the chairs towards her mother, before coming out into view. A human little girl of about 6, peeks her head out from behind her mother's shoulder.
"hello darling" Sitting next to the Vax'ildan is his twin sister Vex'ahlia. Sissy begins to recognize the faces of people she's met before and especially those she's known her whole life including her cousins; Wolfe, Leona & 'Freddy'.
"Well, if she's down here that means the other one is up, Gwendolyn darlin' come out," Percy looks around just in time to see the red horns of his youngest daughter peak out from behind the couch, as tho she's always been there.
"hello" her face pops up with a knowing grin.
"well," Vax'ildan leans back "seems like the whole family is up. But how did you know she was here?"
Pike perks up, "ya, slackin a bit there buddy."
"hhe, ya, yur ears still ringing from bein in da marble?" chuckles Grog.
They all chuckle a bit while Scanlan stomps a hoof and Cassandra replies, "it's because of him" and points to the snake on Vax's arm.
"That's my Simon," As tho on que, the snake flicks it's tongue and slides down towards the tiny girl, crawling up and around her neck and shoulders.
"This is my youngest, Priscilla. She and Gwen often have sleepovers so she's usually here instead of at the house." Cassandra tends to the girl's hair pulling down streaks from her face.
"If he's yours now thenβ¦." The pieces click together. "He kept his promise thenβ¦" A knowing grin creeps up on Vax's face.
"h-How long will you be in town, Uncleβ¦" Priscilla asks.
"thank the raven queen, we even get that"
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The small brown teardrop head of a snake pokes up from the little stream it was drinking from and slides across the water smoothed rock of the inner cave. Dipping it's head onto the open hand and slithering up the arm of it's handler.
"Had enough did you?" smiling as her friend creeps up her shoulders and around her head. Priscilla looks towards her new compatriots huddling around a magically lit campfire tending their wounds. One of them waves an arm up signaling for her attention.
"Lets go say hi, shall we?"
