2.18 Men' Rights: Reunion

"It's been a while," Sir Lucian said.

"Hmm..."

"Do you think, maybe, we should go and check on them?"

"No need."

"They might be in danger."

"He will bring them back safely."

"Right..."

Lucian looked at the middle-aged high-elven woman standing next to him. She appeared to be in her late thirties or early forties, but Lucian knew that she was nearly fifty years old. Her intricately carved armor in the style of the royal guards of Sylvanor, suitably modified, threatened to outshine even Sir Lucian's golden Queen's Guard armor. Despite its beauty and lightness, the knight knew from experience it was just as unassailable as his own, and even surpassed his in some aspects. And its bearer, Valeria Shadowsong—former Captain of the Guard for Princess Liriel Everbloom of Sylvanor, now in charge of protecting Lady Liriel Magnus of Meridian—was every bit as formidable as her armor.

Lucian generally liked Valeria. As a sparring partner, she was one of the best, outshining even most of the Queen's Guard. But try as he might, Lucian could barely ever get a word out of her. He looked at the other guards around the carriage emblazoned with the Magnus coat of arms. The seven high-elven ones, adorned with armor similar to Valeria's, were standing as still as statues. The human and half-elven ones, wearing the standard steel plate armor of the Magnus estate guards, were looking around and chatting with each other. The others, guarding the smaller carriage stationed next to the one from the Magnus estate, were also doing the same.

"So, how has your training been going?" Sir Lucian tried again.

"Good."

"I see... Mine has been going pretty well too."

"Good."

A few minutes of awkward silence followed.

"How is the pay?" Sir Lucian asked.

"Very good."

"Better than as a royal guard of Sylvanor?"

"Yes."

"I see. Wait... really?!"

"Yes."

"Oh!"

Lucian remained quiet for a while. His face looked a bit dull.

"My wife and I, we are trying for a baby," he suddenly said.

"I... I hope you succeed, Lucian," Valeria replied after a few seconds of hesitation.

"Speaking of partners, how are you and Captain Leo doing?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know..." Lucian said awkwardly.

"No, I don't."

"Aren't you guys going out?"

"No." Valeria looked a bit agitated. "Why? What did he tell you?"

"Umm... Sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"Lucian, you can't keep quiet now! What did he say? Did he say that he was going to ask me out? When was this?"

"Umm..."

Lucian was saved from answering all those awkward questions by a bright flash of light and the sudden appearance of the Great Mage Kyros Magnus, along with the rest of the Meridian Men's Rights Group and Mr. Shakleston. Sir Lucian almost ran to the newcomers, while Valeria fixed him with a withering glare.

"Lucian, Valeria, what are you guys doing here?" Kyros asked the pair after making sure that everyone had arrived safely. "Who is in the carriage? Is it...?"

Valeria nodded.

Kyros winced. "We are all in trouble, guys," he told his companions.

The Meridian Men's Rights Group looked a bit worried.

"What about you, Lucian?"

"Her Majesty wanted me to report to her once you guys were back," Sir Lucian said. "Who is that with you, Kyros?"

"Oh, this? This is Mr. Shakleston, my old TA from the academy." The Great Mage gently pushed his prisoner towards the knight. "He was hiding in the sewers, creating mutated rats and animated water."

"He was living down there?"

"Yeah. I think he has been down there for quite some time. His lab was behind the barrier that you sent us to dig."

Sir Lucian smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Kyros," he said. "It was Her Majesty's idea."

"I know. I'll have my revenge on Sera pretty soon." The Great Mage gave the knight an evil grin. "Tell her to be ready."

The Queen's Guard chuckled. "I will," he replied. "So, what are we doing with your ex-TA?"

"You better take him to containment. He is a bit unhinged. He attacked us down there."

"Are you guys okay?"

"Thokk and Thomas are a bit wounded. They will be visiting a physician before going home. The rest of us are fine."

Sir Lucian nodded. "Is Mr. Shakleston safe to travel?"

"Yes. I have locked his magic for a few hours. He isn't a threat right now. And Lucian, please tell whoever is in charge of Mr. Shakleston to get him some help, okay? He is really unwell, mentally, I mean."

"I will, Kyros."

"And contact the Chancellor. He'll want to know about this."

Sir Lucian nodded again and led a dazed looking Mr. Shakleston away from the group.

Once the knight had left, Kyros turned to the bodyguard. "How much does she know, Valeria?"

"Everything, my lord."

"You mean..."

Valeria simply stared at Kyros, confirming all of his suspicions.

Before Kyros could say anything else, the carriage door opened.

Two young women stepped out of the carriage. One was barely past her teens, and the other was a few years older. They were followed by an orc girl who was about the same age as the younger woman. The three of them then helped a middle-aged dwarven lady and a dwarf girl in her late teens down from the carriage. All five women then briskly walked towards the members of the Meridian Men's Rights Group, who watched them with a mixture of relief and slight apprehension. As the women came closer, they stopped briefly and curtsied or bowed before the Great Mage as appropriate for their age and station in life. But after that, they completely forgot about the most powerful and most handsome (according to himself and his wife) man in the world as their attention was fully occupied by those who were most dear to them.

Bertie ran to his sister Bonnie, who, after making sure that he was all right, dusted the dirt off his shirt and picked him up.

Thomas was looking sheepishly at his wife, and Esmeralda stuck close to her father. The first thing Mildred, Esmeralda's mother, did on reaching the pair was to check on them both. When she saw her husband's wounds, she gave him a punch on the chest and broke down crying on his shoulders. Thomas wrapped his arms around his wife and consoled her while gently stroking her back. Esmeralda joined in on the family hug.

Naru ran the last couple of steps. Thokk was grinning like an idiot when she stood before him, but the girl was greatly alarmed upon noticing the wound on his arm. "What did you do, you stupid orc?" she scolded him while checking him for other injuries.

"Naru!" Thokk looked a little taken aback, but he still puffed up his chest and answered, "I win glory, Naru. I win great glory, enough to please Bulguk. If you want, ask Great Mage. He confirm."

"I don't care about your stupid glory or my stupid grandfather. Why did you put yourself in danger, Thokk?"

"To... to marry you, Naru."

"Did I ever ask you to do something so stupid and so dangerous for me? I don't want to marry some dumb warrior. I want to marry Thokk, the guy who sells turtles. Look at how big that wound is. What if something had happened? What if... what if something worse...? Did you ever think about any of that? Did you ever think about how painful it is for me to see you like this?"

"I... Sorry. I not think. I think Bulguk..."

"Stop talking about my grandfather. Who cares about his blessing? If he doesn't approve, I'll just elope with you."

The orc's eyes immediately lit up. "Really?"

"Yes! Really! Now promise me that you'll never put your life in danger."

"I promise," Thokk quickly said.

Naru gave him a gentle hug while making sure not to disturb his wounded arm. "Look at how big that wound is! What do I do with you, Thokk?"

Thokk hugged his beloved back and smiled.

While the others were experiencing sweet and tearful reunions with their family, Master Stonebottom had to face an entirely different kind of love.

"Look at that, Cici," Master Stonebottom's wife was saying to her daughter. "Your father, the respectable Master Stonebottom, has finally decided to grace us with his presence after playing in the dirt for hours and causing us all severe anxiety." She gave him a once-over from head to toe. "Are you hurt anywhere?" she asked curtly.

"No."

"Then what are those marks on your arms?"

"Just some giant rat bites, that's all. Nothing major."

"Nothing major!" Mrs. Stonebottom looked apoplectic. "Fred... you... ugh... We are going to a physician to get that looked at before we go home."

"I said it's not a big deal, woman. You know how many rats I been bitten by when I was a wee lad?"

"This is not a discussion, Fred. We are going, and that's that."

The teenage dwarf girl giggled. But when her eyes met those of the dark elf standing next to her father, her cheeks turned beet red and she shyly hid behind her mother.

Master Stonebottom mumbled something.

"What's that you old dwarf? What are you grumbling about?"

"I was talking about how other people get a warm welcome from their wives, but I have to put up with your nagging."

"Really? After what you just did, you have the nerve to ask why I am not welcoming you with hugs and kisses? Some of these noble families already look down on us. What would they say if they learned about you gallivanting in the city sewers in your free time?"

"Tell them I was hanging out with the Great Mage. That'll shut them up."

"Don't bring Lord Magnus into this. You are a middle-aged dwarf with a grown up daughter and you are still acting like a teenager. How is she going to get married if her father brings nothing but disgrace to our family?"

"Mom, I am not marrying anyone right now," Master Stonebottom's daughter squeaked, and cast one more sidelong glance at Valdek.

Mrs. Stonebottom looked at her daughter and followed the teenager's gaze. In her eagerness to chastise her husband, she had completely forgotten about the young dark elf standing next to him. Now that she did see him, her expression immediately changed from anger against her husband to the most delightful smile.

"Master Stonebottom, this must be the brilliant Young Master Moonshade you were telling me and Cici about," she said. "Would you care to introduce us to this wonderful young man?"

"Well, you already guessed it. It's Valdek."

"Properly, Fred." Mrs. Stonebottom glared at her husband. "Properly."

"Uhh... well, this is Valdek Moonshade. Youngest son of Lord Moonshade from Noxumbra. There you go."

"And..."

"What else, woman? I introduced him, didn't I?"

"Where are your manners, you old dwarf? Introduce us to Young Master Moonshade."

Master Stonebottom grumbled something under his breath before saying, "Valdek, this is my wife, Helga, and this is my daughter, Cici—"

"Cecilia," Mrs. Stonebottom corrected her husband.

Valdek wasn't entirely sure of what was happening. Coming out of the sewers had made him feel a bit better, and the cute dwarf girl occasionally smiling at him had vastly improved the state of his mind. Since he was now far removed from the dangers of the sewers and since everyone was safe, he was gradually coming back to his old self. This meant that his manners, which had briefly slipped during the encounter in the sewers, were reasserting themselves. He deeply bowed before Helga.

"I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Stonebottom," Valdek said. "I am very grateful to you and Master Stonebottom for giving me an opportunity to work here."

"So polite, so refined." Mrs. Stonebottom was all smiles. "You don't have to thank us, Young Master Moonshade. It is our duty to take care of you after all the help your family once provided us. By the way, have you met my daughter Cecilia?"

Valdek turned to the daughter. "My apologies, Ms. Cecilia. I did not mean to ignore you. It's wonderful to meet you as well."

Cecilia gave him a shy smile and once again hid behind her mother.

Mrs. Stonebottom chuckled. "Cici is a bit shy—"

"Except when she is going after singers," Master Stonebottom helpfully added.

"FREDDIE!"

"What?"

Mrs. Stonebottom urgently shook her head.

"What are you trying to say, woman?"

Helga sighed and completely gave up on trying to convey her sentiments to her husband. Instead, she focused on the presently far more important Young Master Moonshade. She gave the dark elf a big grin. "By the way, Valdek, do you mind if I call you Valdek?"

"Not at all, madam."

"Oh, how delightful. So, Valdek, we are having a party at our mansion in about... a week?"

"We are?" This was news to Master Stonebottom.

"Yes, Fred, we are," Mrs. Stonebottom curtly said. "So, Valdek, I would like to extend you an official invitation to this party on behalf of our family."

Valdek looked at his boss, who simply shrugged and said, "It's a good chance to taste that goulash I told you about, my boy. It's very good."

"Umm... thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Stonebottom. I am very grateful for it, and I will definitely attend the event."

While the various families were thus reuniting in joy, and Kyros was awkwardly watching them, the carriage door on the other side opened. The ladies all heard the sound and immediately shushed their respective partners to await the newcomer.