97, Reporting back

Kopa had to go back to work the following day. Ayya, Tenac and Jason spent the day with Ayya’s mother. It was a nice and relaxing day. Ayya couldn’t remember when they had had one of those last. No one tried to kill them, no one set anything on fire, there was no drama. Jason looked happy most of the time. Sometimes he got a sad look in his eyes, but it didn’t worry Ayya. He needed to grieve and they would all let him do it in his own pace. A little before dinner, Kopa returned home, carrying a large box. He greeted everyone and placed the box on the table in the kitchen. 

“Jason, come and have a look,” Kopa said. Jason ran over to him. “This is for you. It’s a welcome home gift from Bettina, Tariana and me,” he told the boy and pushed the box over to him. Jason looked at the box and then looked at Ayya and Tenac. They both smiled and nodded as they walked over to them. 

“Thank you, Kopa,” Jason said.

“Don’t thank me before you have looked inside and see if you like it. Go on, open it,” Kopa told him. Jason was almost bouncing on the spot as he opened the box and then he let out a squeal and started bouncing for real. 

“Tenac, Tenac, look what I got,” he chanted until Tenac stood next to him. 

“That is a grand gift. Be sure to thank them properly,” Tenac said with a smile. As Jason ran up to Kopa and gave him a hug and thanked him and continued on to Bettina, Ayya stepped forward and looked into the crate. The inside was covered in green velvet and in small compartments were small painted figures. It was a set of grey riders. Some of them were standing, some were on horseback. There were those that looked like they were in a middle of fighting with drawn weapons. Ayya smiled. She understood why Jason was as excited as he was. 

“It’s a wonderful gift,” she said and gave her father a kiss on his cheek. He had a happy grin on his face as he suggested Jason, Tenac and he would go into the family-room and inspect the gift so they wouldn’t disturb Ayya and her mother. Ayya looked at her mother and Bettina rolled her eyes and then smiled. 

“Honestly, sometimes I think your father never grew past ten years old,” her mother said as she and Ayya had the kitchen to themselves. 

“The look on their faces, I would say all three of them are the same age,” Ayya agreed. “It was a very thoughtful gift, thank you,” she added.

“No need to mention it. He’s our first grandchild, we will spoil him with both attention, food and things. If you think we should slow down, just add another grandchild so we have to split our spoiling in two,” her mother said and wiggled her eyebrows. Ayya had to laugh. 

“I think one will be enough for now,” she said and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Will you be okay with looking after Jason tomorrow? Tariana has been kind enough to let us settle down, but the council needs us to come in and talk about everything,” she then said. 

“Of course, he is a delight. But I was thinking. How about Jason and I come with you to the sanctum? We can spend the day in your apartment. When you are finished, Tariana and you can show him around while I make dinner and then we can have dinner as a family,” her mother told her. Ayya smiled. It was just like her mother to make sure Tariana would get a chance to spend time with Jason as well. 

“I think that is a wonderful idea,” Ayya said. 

That night, Jason fell asleep holding his favorite painted rider. Ayya smiled and made sure his cover was pulled up as Tenac made sure there was wood in the fireplace. As the evening before, Ayya followed Tenac to the door. 

“I will come by and collect you. Jason is very excited to get to go in a boat,” he told her. Ayya smiled.

“Of course he is. It scared me half to death the first time my dad put me into a boat,” she confessed. He chuckled and kissed her. “I don’t like being away from you,” she told him as they drew apart. 

“It won’t be long. I was thinking we will ride to my family in three days. They are staying about a day’s ride from here,” he told her. 

“That will be an adventure for Jason. He will love it. We will have to spend the night,” Ayya said. Tenac nodded. “You know Jason will go crazy when he gets a look at the herd,” she told him. 

“I am expecting as much,” Tenac agreed. “While we are there, I want us to have a look at two of my horses. I think they both could be a good match for Jason’s first horse.” 

“You are going to start teaching him?” Ayya asked.

“The sooner the better,” he said. She smiled and kissed him. 

“I think that is an amazing idea.”

The following day, they all walked down to the river field, and they stood and watch a couple of boats being rowed across to the sanctum. Ayya had explained to Jason what the sanctum was and why they were going. Her father helped Bettina into a boat and started rowing. 

“You see, it’s safe. But you need to sit still in the boat and listen to what me and Tenac tell you to do,” Ayya told him.

“It will be fine, Ayya,” Jason told her and patted her arm. Tenac chuckled and led Jason to the boats. I guess he really isn’t scared,” Ayya thought and followed them. Tenac had just told Jason he could pick which boat they should take and Jason pointed at one. Ayya got into it and Tenac put Jason into it and he sat next to her. Tenac rowed them across while Jason pointed out things he saw and was fascinated as Ayya pointed out a fish that swam close to the surface. When they arrived at the sanctum, Tariana stood talking with Ayya’s parents on the dock. As soon as Tenac had lifted him out of the boat, Jason ran over to the three of them and told them about the fish. 

“Okay, Jason. You get to go with Bettina and stay in my apartment for the day. We will see you as soon as we are done talking with everyone,” Ayya told him. 

“Okay,” he said, reaching his hand to take Bettina’s. Ayya and Tenac joined Tariana and Kopa as all four of them walked to the council chamber. The council was already gathered and Mikhalie was also there. Hinat and Firlea got there a moment later. Ayya made a short recap of what had happened and how they left things in Dermes. Then the questions began. It was almost as if Ayya was back with the council and the king at the start of the journey. But this time she had Tenac, Hinat and Firlea to help her answer the questions. As the questions finally stopped, the mood got a lot more relaxed, and the people circulated around, stopping by Ayya to congratulate her or ask a question they didn’t want to ask in front of the council. Mikhalie walked up to her and Ayya smiled.

“Hi, Mikhalie. How are things?” Ayya asked. 

“Hi. Fine, thank you. It has been quiet at home. So, passed your test,” Mikhalie answered.

“Yeah, it was pretty close there for a while. I was a nervous wreck when their council voted.”

“And if the rumour is true, you have been brave,” Mikhalie said, glancing at Tenac. Ayya smiled.

“Actually, it was Tenac that were brave. I just followed his lead,” Ayya told her. They looked at each other and laughed. “Have you heard what your test will be?” Ayya then asked. 

“No. But unless I move a mountain or create a new continent, it won’t compare to what you have accomplished,” Mikhalie said with a sigh.

“That’s not true. It’s not how big of a thing you do. It’s how well you execute it,” Ayya told her. 

“Like curing an illness which has plagued our neighbouring country for twenty years?”

“It was only eighteen years,” Ayya joked. Mikhalie looked at her like she was crazy and then they both laughed. Tenac came over to them. 

“I hear congratulations are in order,” Mikhalie told them.

“Thank you,” Tenac said. 

“It’s dangerous to go on missions. You come back engaged and with a son,” Ayya told her. 

“They skipped that during the introduction,” Mikhalie joked and they chuckled. It took another two hours before everyone had got to talk about what they felt they needed to say. Ayya and Tenac had got more well wishes than Ayya could keep track of. She was grateful for them all. 

“Ready to skip this and go and have some family time?” Tariana asked them.

“Yes. Jason has been looking forward to tell you how much he liked his gift,” Tenac told his mother. 

“I think both Tenac and my father have as much fun with it as Jason,” Ayya told her as they walked toward Ayya’s apartment. Tariana laughed.

“It’s an excellent tool for tactical planning,” her father said. 

“I agree,” Tenac added.