"You're packing again? You just got back!" In the doorway to Lyren's rooms stood a pouting blonde sin'dorei girl stuck in a phase verging between child and adolescent. "Are you and Mama still fighting?"
"She always has an assignment for you," the girl grumbled, stepping into the room. Even sulking her little butt off, her mother's lessons stayed with her - her stride was controlled, trained grace and when she sat on the bed it wasn't with the heavy flop he would have done at her age. Of course - the daggers at her waist were definitely not Mama-approved.
"Yes… This one has to do with the upset in Blasted Lands. Since they are calling for members of the Horde with battle experience…" he let it trail off, stifled a grin at the scowl screwing up her face. "Not to your liking?"
"Mama doesn't send you into war zones," she said, the pale green of her eyes looking nearly gray when she narrowed them like that. "She sends you to look for things of magical interest. For relics and power."
"The portal in Blasted Lands has changed. There's a good chance there will be exactly such a thing, or many such things about. Your mother values knowledge. She can't leave Quel'thalas herself to sate her curiosity, so she sends me." He sat down beside her, frowning as there was much less of a height difference now than there had been. She was growing fast.
"But not alone," she responded, voice low. "I don't like that. Now when Uncle Ash and Uncle Lyn aren't with you. She's doing this on purpose. It was bad enough they had to go without you to follow one of Uncle Lyn's leads. At least they have each other."
"I did things equally as dangerous long before they were with me. And with not half the reasons to come back," Lyren reminded her. "Mae'syr - I probably won't even be gone long. And I'll actually remember to wear the necklace for once."
"I'm not allowed to use the communicators unless it's an emergency," she grumbled, leaning into his space.
"Since when has that ever stopped you?" he scoffed, wrapping an arm around small shoulders and tugging her closer until she was tucked in nice and safe to his side.
"It probably did when I was really little," she said, voice thoughtful.
"It didn't. When you were toddling around on chubby little legs already breaking the ward supposed to keep you in." He flashed her a smile. "Only type of magic you ever liked to do."
"I'm good at it," she said, chin up. "Maybe that's why I like it."
"I happen to think it's vice versa - but I'll leave that argument between you and the Lady." He grinned, the expression fading when her lips turned down. "Or has that argument not gone well?"
"It's not that, Uncle. I mean - you know. That never goes well. But you used to say 'my Lady'. Or use her name. You treated each other like actual brother and sister and now… all you do is fight with her. And she's being so mean about it." Mae'syr folded her hands together, fingers gripping each other tightly. "I just… don't understand why it's a problem now. I would think after you… after you were… not living for a bit there she would be more inclined toward Uncle Lyn and Uncle Ash."
"I think that not living part? Is a big reason she is less than appreciative of my relationship, and especially the bond," he said, grimacing. "I don't think she's going to get over it."
The girl was quiet for a moment. Her eyes flicked up, to his, then away. "Are you… going to leave?"
"Probably, eventually," he admitted, voice even. "Your mother is a stubborn woman… and I don't think she really believes my loves for them outweighs my love for her and duty to the House. I won't stop being there for you, even so. I lived in Silvermoon for many years and it made little difference did it?"
"That was different," she said, voice small. "You were always around. And if you leave the House who am I supposed to abdicate the Ladyship to?"
"Oi, you weren't foisting that off to me anyway!" he said, laughing. "I'm only adopted blood."
"I've read the books, adopted blood can inherit if they're all that's left!" she protested. "Can't you. I dunno. Have some kids or something?"
"Do we need to have that talk about 'boys don't have babies, only girls do'? Again?" He raised a mocking eyebrow at her.
She waved a hand dismissively. "Just, like, magic a baby into existence. I don't want to be Heir!"
"Talk to your mother about that. And record that conversation it should be hilarious." He grinned at her, expression smug as he petted her hair. "You'll be a fine Lady. One day. Just different than your Mama."
"Ugh." She shook him off and stood up, hands on her hips as she scowled at him. "I don't see why I can't be like you and just run off fighting things!"
"You know the fighting part is actually incidental to the whole process right?" he asked, shaking his head. His lips twitched as her eyes narrowed on him. "We're supposed to avoid the fighting."
" 'Supposed to'," she said, chin rising. "But you don't. Because running away from an enemy just means you've left them behind to get you later."
"Light, sometimes you are your father's child through and through," he blurted out, voice soft. They both froze for a second, and he added ruefully, "I don't suppose you could leave that until after I get back?"
"Mama never mentions my father," Mae'syr said quietly. "Neither of you do."
"It may be time to change that," he said, slowly. "Though she may just kick me out for doing it. But if I'm leaving anyway…"
"Don't - Don't hint. Promise. Please Uncle?" She looked up at him, eyes big and wide. Hungry, and it twisted him up inside, the secrets they all kept.
"Promise," he said, sighing. "Everything you want to know. Now, can I get a promise from you? Let Lyn and Ash know I'll be back soon?"
"Can't you tell them yourself?" she asked, suspicious.
"Yes," he said, smirk pleased and proud. "But they might need the reminder. And try to make sure none of Ash's experiments explode. That tends to get upsetting."
"But I like it when things explode!" she protested, crossing her arms.
Oh, she was definitely more like her father every day. Even the posture. His lips quirked into a sad smile. "I bet you do. But explosions are my expertise, so they're not allowed to happen when I'm not around."
"Then you had better come back soon," she said, huffing.
He rose from the bed, returning to his careful folding. "It won't be long I'm sure."
"If you were sure of that you would still be wearing your half-gone robe," she said, glaring at him.
He blinked at her, considering her words and finally after a moment's contemplating asking, "What are you talking about?"
"When you're just going to the city or think it won't be a long assignment you go out wearing your… y'know. The robe that has no midriff and is missing half the chest." She waved a hand. "Your skimpy one."
"It is not skimpy. The top of the robe is a vest. It's meant to be like that," he said, hiding a grin. "You'll understand when you're older."
"Light, I hope not," she groaned. "That would be awful."
"Just for that, I'm going to find something even worse to wear when I come back," he scoffed.
"You won't be able to find anything," she predicted, laughing as she stepped back toward the doorway.
"Oh, I promise I will," he said, and pressed a book on top of the clothes, the magic in it rippling across his fingertips. Raising an eyebrow at the slow dance toward the door he added, "You have lessons, don't you?"
"With Netril," she confirmed, looking pleased. "We're practicing how to be quiet on city streets."
"What, you haven't upgraded to pickpocketing yet?" he joked dryly, and then winced when her expression went shifty. "No - don't. Don't even try to say anything. I don't want to know. Get out of here."
"I'll miss you Uncle Lyren!" Mae called out as she bolted down the hall, giggling along the way.
His smile lingered as he finished the preparations for the trip. Despite the arguments, it was good to leave on a positive note. The investigation and any help needed would be quick, he was sure. He would be back before his husbands even had time miss him.
