Banagan looked at the priestess who stood in front of him, her arms crossed and a rather sour look on her face.
“Just that, young man. Sister Korissa is not here.”
“Well then where is she?”
“I am certain that I do not know. And even if I did, I don’t know what business it is of yours.”
“She is my sister,” Banny retorted, anger starting to seep into his voice.
“Then you should understand very well that the duties of a priest are very serious. I doubt she would want you to disturb them.” The priestess looked at the young paladin and sneered slightly.
Banagan started to respond, but stopped. He took a step back and stood up straight. Taking in a deep breath, he left it out slowly and then stared at the priestess for a moment while composing himself.
“Of course. You are correct. I let me emotions get the better of me. I apologize.”
“As rightly you should,” the priestess responded. “I will let your… sister… know that you asked of her. When she has time to address such concerns.”
“Of course. Thank you,” Banagan said, though it was a bit forced. He turned and walked out of the hallway and back into the great hall of the Cathedral. Stepping into the noise and light, he took another moment to get a grip on his annoyance and started considering what he should do next.
“Well, I can’t tell father or Niviene that I lost my sister,” he said quietly. “What would they do?” Banny tapped his foot against the stone floor a couple of times. “One thing’s for certain. He’d find her. He’d be relentless about it. Wouldn’t stop until…”
“Paladin?”
Banny turned to find a young woman wearing priestly robes standing behind him. Caught off guard, he looked at her for a moment before find his voice.
“Yes, sister. I’m sorry you caught me deep in my thoughts.”
“Your sister,” the young woman began. “You’re Korissa’s brother, yes?”
“I am. My name’s Banagan.”
“Your sister isn’t here.”
“I know. That much was made pretty clear,” Banny added with a frown.
“I mean she’s not in Stormwind. She was sent to the isles. With the dragons.”
“The Dragon Isles?”
“Yes, brother.”
It took a few moments for Banagan to reign in his shock. He look for any sign of deception in the young woman’s eyes but found none.
“You are certain?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then. I guess I know what I need to do. Thank you.” Banny bowed to the young priestess and abruptly turned, quickly making his way out of the great hall.
The Larethian home sat silently in the shadow of the nearby forest of Duskwood. Niviene walked into the bedroom to find Braghaman already in bed with his eyes closed. The priestess smiled, moved over to the bed and turned down the covers before sitting on the edge. She started to lean forward to blow out the lamp on her nightstand when she paused. Niv’s smile faded as she looked around the room and slowly sat back up.
“Bragh?”
“Huh?”
“Something’s wrong.”
Bragh’s eyes shot open and he turned his head to look at Niviene, still sitting on the edge. “Did you hear something?”
“No. But something is wrong. Can’t you feel it?”
Braghaman sat up and tilted his head slightly, his eyes looking down. After a moment, the paladin pushed the covers aside and got up. He walked over to the window and pushed the curtains aside so that he could see road.
“You feel it?”
“Yeah, angel. You’re right.” Bragh let the curtain fall back and moved the dresser. He pulled out some clothes and quickly put them on. Sitting back on the bed, Bragh started pulling one of his boots on when he noticed that Niviene was already dressed.
“What do you think it is?”
“Not sure,” Bragh grunted as he pulled his other boot on. “Doubt it’s any good.”
“Dad?” Niviene and Braghaman looked over to the doorway and saw Banagan standing there. “Something’s wrong.”
Niv and Bragh looked at each other for a moment before looking back at Banny.
“You feel it, too, son?”
Banny just nodded. Braghaman opened his mouth to say something, but before he got a word out a scream echoed outside. The priestess and paladin looked at each other again and then started moving. Braghaman stepped past his son and walked down the hallway. Niviene walked over to Banny and put her hand on his arm.
“Go get your sister. Quickly.”
Banagan left and Niv could hear him running up the stairs. Moments later, she heard more footsteps coming down and then Banagan appeared with Korissa in the doorway.
“Good,” Niv began. But before she could say anything else, Braghaman appeared and stood behind the kids. He had already pulled his breastplate on and with one hand he held out a staff to Niviene. She took it and smiled slightly. Then she noticed the mace and massive warhammer he was holding in the other.
“Get your things, son,” Braghaman said calmly. Banny looked at his father, first in confusion and then with surprise. Without saying anything, he turned and sprinted back up the stairs. Bragh glanced over at Niviene and the priestess raised an eyebrow slightly. Bragh nodded slightly.
“Momma, what’s going on?”
“Something’s happening outside,” Niviene explained as she stepped over to the young girl and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Louder footsteps came stomping down the steps and Banagan reappeared pulling a chainmail shirt into place with one hand and holding a wooden mace in the other. He stopped next to the rest of the family and stood up straight, as if waiting for an inspection. Bragh and Niv exchanged glances again. The paladin then held his hand out to his son and motioned for the mace. Banny looked at the wooden weapon in his hand momentarily and then handed it over to his father.
Braghaman took the wooden mace and, without looking at it, tucked it under his arm. He then took the mace he’d been holding and handed it to Banagan. It was larger than what Banny had been carrying, made of a silver metal that glowed slightly. Banagan took hold of the mace and looked it over, marveling that it felt just as light as his wooden one and seemed to vibrate slightly in his hands. Bragh then took the wooden mace and knelt down in front of Korissa and handed it to her. The young girl tentatively took the the mace, looking first at it, then to Bragh, and then finally to Niviene.
Braghaman stood up and put his hand on Banny’s shoulder. “Don’t leave the house. Keep your sister safe.”
“Listen to your brother,” Niviene added, giving Korissa’s shoulder a squeeze. “Help him.”
“Ready?” Bragh asked as he hefted his warhammer onto his shoulder and looked a Niviene.
‘Yes,” Niviene answered softly, but with steel in her voice.
Braghaman gave his son a pat on the shoulder and then started walking down the hallway. Niviene kissed Korissa on the head and let her go, then squeezed Banagan’s arm before following Braghaman.
“Lock the door behind us. Don’t open for anyone except us.”
Braghaman looked up from his project to see his son walking out the back door and over to him. Surrounding the paladin on the ground were tools and wooden boards that he’d started to look over.
“Working on making some flower boxes and raised beds,” Bragh answered his son, leaning back on his heels as he kneeled next to the lumber. “Trying to fix up someplace where we can grow some plants.”
“Why?” Banny asked, plopping down on the ground in front of him.
“Well, I like to grow flowers. And Niv can use them when they start growing, too.”
“Okay,” Banny said, looking around. “Can I help?”
“Sure. Can you hand me that pencil? I need to measure off the sides.”
Banagan leaned over to reach the pencil on the ground and then crawled over to his father, holding it out to him. Bragh nodded and took the implement from his son, then with his measuring tape he began to mark off spots on one of the boards. Setting the tape and pencil aside, the paladin then took up the saw and began to cut the board down to the right size.
“Dad, can I ask a question?”
“Sure, son. What’s up?”
“While you were gone, I heard Kori call you daddy.”
Braghaman stopped cutting the board and turned to look at his son. The paladin didn’t say anything, but waited to see what his son would say next.
“Why did she call you that?”
“I don’t know. Did you ask her?” Bragh asked, but Banny just shook his head. “Maybe she just feels happy here, Banny. You know she never really had a father before, right?” Banny nodded slowly. “Maybe she feels comfortable enough to think of us as her family now.”
“But you’re not her father, right?”
“No son,” Bragh said, watching his son carefully. “Not by blood. Is it a problem that she did?” Bragh asked cautiously.
“No, I guess not,” the five year old eventually answered. “Do I have to call Niviene mommy?”
“No son,” Braghaman said, reaching over and messing up his son’s hair. “You can call her Niviene.”
“Okay,” Banagan replied, then he started picking up nails and pushing them into the ground.
“You okay, with what’s going on with Kori and Niviene? With all of this?” Bragh asked as he watched his son.
“Yep,” Banny answered rather blasé, pulling the nails out of the ground and pushing them back in.
“Okay then. Give me a hand here so we can get these things done.” The five year old picked up his nails and walked on his knees over to sit next to the paladin and the two got to work on finishing the flowerbeds.
