79 Sisters 2 (2/2)

”You just didn't want to be the bad guy.” Jarek munched on the egg even as he complained and Nikolai scratched his cheek, a flush on his face. ”How am I meant to make friends now Khan?”

”MASTER! What do you need friends for, anyway? You have me.” Jarek stuck his tongue out again for Nikolai to see and stalked away in a huff. Nikolai looked at them and shrugged in confusion.

”Jarek is it?” Lidia waved for the boy to return and with a sigh he did. He was always obedient, which was probably how Nikolai managed to persuade him in the first place. ”Don't worry about friends. My children will be more than happy to play with you tomorrow. They're a little tired because of our journey but I'm sure you'll get along.”

Jarek perked up and smiled. ”Thank you Nice Lady.” He threw a smug glance at Nikolai as if to say 'See! this is how you should treat me'. He skipped away to continue his inventory of the gifts, not waiting for Nikolai's comment. Whatever he may say, Jarek was always diligent in following his Master's instructions.

Nikolai smiled at his apprentice's antics and bowed formally towards Lidia. ”Apologies for not introducing myself 'Nice Lady'. Nikolai Morales, at your service.”

”No need to be so polite Count Morales. Lidia Suzdal, a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

”My elder sister.” Elya chimed in.

”I haven't heard much about you from Elya.” He glanced her with accusation in his eyes. ”She's surprisingly tight lipped when it comes to her family members.”

”Just like El. Always so serious and unwilling to talk about her personal life.” Lidia remarked, giving her the exact same look. [If I didn't know better I could have sworn they practiced that expression.] ”Did you know she didn't send me a single letter after she got engaged? Not one? If not for papa mentioning it; off handedly mind you, he's as bad as El sometimes; I wouldn't even know. It's just so terrible, how they ignore you. One time when we were children I found her with her arm broken while sitting in the library. Not even a peep. She just doesn't want to talk about anything. It's so unfair wouldn't you agree?” [I think I was crying at the time, unable to move. How did it become silence?]

”Shocking.” Nikolai murmured in agreement, taken aback by the waterfall of conversation.

”So I came home in a rush to meet you and El. Still, you should have seen her, all cooped up in the library this morning with nothing better to do, leaving her poor fiancée all alone. Always sitting alone. That's El for you.”

”I am not always alone.” Elya interjected. Whenever Lidia met someone new, she would go on and on unless she was stopped. ”And Nikolai was busy. Speaking of which, why are you here? The manor staff can catalogue everything with help from your attendants. There's no need for you to be here to oversee the gifts.”

Nikolai grinned and called Jarek over. ”Go bring Tovotesk.”

”Heart breaker?” Lidia exclaimed in surprise. Elya twitched at the words and poked Nikolai in the shoulder.

”Oh? You understand Soman?” Nikolai grasped Elya's hand and waved his finger in admonishment.

”Lidia works in the Ministry of Finance with her husband.” Elya explained. ”She has a gift for languages, but don't try to dodge the issue. What's heart breaker and why are you here for it?”

”It's a gift I prepared for your father.” Nikolai explained as Jarek arrived with a small metal rod about the length of a sword hilt hovering in front of him. Nikolai gestured at Elya and Jarek waved the rod into her hands. She almost buckled under the weight, the small rod almost as heavy as her entire suit of armour. She grunted and summoned some of her Aura to enhance her strength.

”What in the name of the Fates is it?” She breathed. Lidia stared at the rod, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

”A weapon. Enchanted of course, with a few tricks I've picked up over the years. I would dare to say it's one of a kind.”

”Colour me intrigued. I'm dying to see papa's expression when you gift him this stick.” She smirked and tugged Elya's sleeve. ”Let's go and show him now.” She dashed off and Elya followed, throwing a helpless glance at Nikolai.

Nikolai stood rooted for a moment in shock before calling out. ”Hey! That's my gift.” Stamping his foot in frustration he turned to Jarek. ”Jarek get the alignment staff and follow me. We can't let them present it before it's ready.”

Elya giggled as they raced through the halls, following her sister as she had so many times before. Only now, she had a fiancée and his cheerful apprentice chasing after them.