Planning the Mission
POV: Alexandra
Grandfather took a deep breath before he continued what he had to say, “Some time ago, I brought two children back from the Seely Realm. The Queen had rewarded my hard work with these children.” He was fiddling with the edge of this sheet, likely thinking we would think ill of him for accepting children as a gift from the fae. I gently placed a hand on his hands, “I’m sure you had no choice, Grandfather.” I already knew he didn’t have a choice, it was either bring them back home or know that the girl would have been sent to the harem in the King’s court and the boy would have been sent to the mines or some other hard labor. He sighed, “I didn’t. If you knew what would have happened to those children had I not, you would probably understand.” Ashton chimed in, “What happened to the children then?” Grandfather looked at Ashton, “The Queen requested that I send Panshad with her mother to Mesha. She said it would have been best for her to learn her magic.” I nodded, “I’ve met Panshad, she has been instrumental to my survival against Uncle Talon when he was brainwashed and after me.” He smiled at me relieved, “I’m glad to know that she has helped you. I check in on her via letters every once in a while. I had asked her not to mention that she knew me to you if she should ever encounter you.” I smiled at him, “She kept her promise then. What of the boy?” His face dropped, “For a time, he was here at the manor. He was treated as a guest until he became a teen. He had asked that I send him away to Befent to learn magic. He was a bit like Theodore, in that he was a genius in magic. For a time, he was hired by House Befent to tutor Theodore when he was younger. One day he disappeared from Befent Hall and no one has seen him since. I have been working relentlessly to try to find him. One of the reasons I came back home was to follow up on a few leads. I didn’t want to call attention to this boy being missing. The war still is fresh on many Vellinians’ minds and the hatred for the fae for some was real. These children were only half fae but this made it worse that one of our own would betray Vellum to mate with a fae.”
Ashton grabbed our grandfather’s hand, “Gramps if you give me the information, I will look into this for you. I can engage Derek too if Alexandra can spare him.” I nodded, “I don’t plan on going out during fall break much so it should be okay.” My grandfather shook his head, “What about the fall masquerade ball then? Wouldn’t you need to attend being that you are a Queen candidate?” Ashton nodded, “Not to mention, you have to attend the next assembly the day after tomorrow. I heard they are eliminating all but three candidates.” I shrugged, “Of course those things are mandatory but I have Jess as well.” Ashton shook his head, “Jess can’t protect you during those functions. I will write to Lucien and ask him to send Toby Ligidew. He’s our other buddy who knows about my connection to you.” I gasped, “What?! You weren’t supposed to tell anyone else, Ash!” Ashton chuckled, “I didn’t tell him. This was an order from the General that he be apprised of our situation should he need to step in if Derek is unavailable. Trust me when I say, Toby is ranked third behind Derek and me at the Citadel.” I had heard amongst the women at school that Toby Ligidew was another highly sought-after marriage candidate. That’s all those girls talked about at school as if they had no other aspirations in life than to be the wives of powerful, good-looking men. I hadn’t thought about marriage until I knew about my feelings for Lucien but I had not sought his power. I still wanted to have my studies and have something of a career after school. If I had to apply my scribe training to being Queen then I would work hard at it. Vellum would get my full attention if that was what fate had in store for me.
I nodded at Ashton, “Okay, in the interest of finding this boy for Grandfather, please write to Lucien then. Explain it is for Grandfather and Lucien will surely help out. If you need, I can convince him too.” Ashton smiled at me, “Will do, sis, thank you.” I looked up at our grandfather, “So what is this boy’s name anyhow?” Grandfather sighed sadly, “His name is Tyleesh, he was Panshad’s younger brother.” I smiled at him, “If you don’t mind, I can ask Princess Nystasia to help look into this for us. I have developed a relationship with her and she has some powers that may help out. I had heard from her that she is staying behind in Vellum at Blackwood Manor. I think she may have been curious about what happened to those children.” My grandfather raised an eyebrow, “How would you know that?” I sighed, “When I was put under for my surgery, Nystasia used her Dream Weaver ability to show me a few things about your past. It was decided that that was the best way to break the news that you were ill to me.” He clenched his fists, “So you knew about these children then?” I nodded hesitantly, “Yes, I’m sorry I said nothing to you. I knew the alternative to you not taking them and I think you did the right thing. I think she showed me that so that she could find out what happened to the children. She seems to care a great deal for her people. I bet she would be willing to help out.” My grandfather nodded, “I believe you may be right. I wonder if she could do that ability on Theodore.” I looked at him shocked, “Without his consent?” He vigorously shook his head, “Heavens, no! I had thought that since he knew Tyleesh, he might have some information locked away in his memories that could help us find him. I sent him away from the room because I didn’t want him to know how those children came to be in Vellum. It has been the greatest shame of my life.” I shook my head in disbelief at him, “I bet you that Panshad would say otherwise. You saved her from a life that would be oppressive. Now she gets to practice magic and serve under the Prince of Vellum.” He sighed, “And what of Tyleesh? Hmm? He’s missing. Do you think he would say I rescued him?” I shrugged, “We can’t know any of that until we find him. Even so, he’s lived a freer life here up until his disappearance.” Ashton nodded, “Xan is right. Those kids would have had a life of oppression and servitude. Seely is not as free as we are here so they are living a better life. Likely Tyleesh had been too.” He rose from his seat, “Anyhow, I’m going to go get Teddy and bring him up here to talk about his mentor.”
Ashton left the room and my grandfather asked, “What else did she show you?” I turned to look at him, “She showed me the day grandmother died. You were having a picnic with Daddy, Mordred, Whisperia, Vanessa, Grandmother, and Vanessa’s mother.” He sighed, “It was such a painful day. Your aunt was taken with my wife. We were going to name her Alexandra after my own mother. Did you know that is how you got your name?” I shook my head, “I hadn’t known that.” He smiled at me, “You are so much like her you know. Her sharp wit was something that everyone loved about her. I had hoped to have a daughter just like her. It was not meant to be though. I was blessed with a granddaughter like her though and I am content with that.” I got up and hugged him, “You’re my favorite person in all the realms. You know that, gramps?” He stroked my hair as I laid down in his bed with him. This wasn’t a new practice, I would come to see him some nights when I had nightmares. He would calm me down until I fell asleep and my father would come to carry me to my bed. He sighed, “I think I will miss these moments the most, my little rose. You are my precious girl.” I sighed, “She also showed me when you helped King Thierry bring forth rights for those who were disparaged. She then showed me the scene at the Queen’s court in Seely. Her last scene was after you had died. It hurt so bad to see you there gone and cold. Promise me something?” He stopped stroking my head and looked down at me, “What?” I buried my head into his chest further to where he couldn’t see my face, “Promise me that you will fight as long as you can.” He sighed, “I will but you know that when it is my time to go that I must. You have to prepare yourself for that. Your strength is what your family will look to hold the family together.” I shook my head, “You are the pillar of strength for this family, not me.” He chuckled lightly, “No, Alexandra, you have been the miracle that brought us together. Do you really not see it?” I sat up and looked at him, “What do you mean?” He nodded, “This was my biggest task from the Gods that I am supposed to teach you. Listen, my child, so that you may know the truth about yourself that you fail to see.”
