Dawn (23 page)

Llewellyn

The mob was suddenly less of a mob and more a group of nervous men and boys. They backed clear of the foot of the bridge as the three approached.

Llewellyn shook his head as he looked over the mob, “I hate to admit it, but I actually know some of you kids. Do yourself a favor and run on home and I’ll forget I saw you here.”

About three of the younger ones needed no second offer and immediately bolted.

“
So it’s really you,” sneered Eric. “You barely had the guts to kill Tarl all those years ago. Do you think you have it in you now?”

Llewellyn grimaced, “Unfortunately, yes.” He glanced over at Dawn, “Several hundred met the hereafter when I had to go get Dawn. If you at least had the decency to be there when Helen was killed, I would have gladly taken you out, too. Did you know that blast also killed Tarl’s sister Beatrice? Not a good way to honor your late best friend.”

“
Shut up!” screamed Eric. “You are just stalling for time!”

Llewellyn laughed, “Of
course
I’m stalling for time. The odds that you will peacefully surrender right now are dreadfully low. Those odds go up when Owen and his men arrive.”

“
So you admit you couldn’t take us right now!” boasted Eric.

“
Highly doubtful I could subdue the lot of you without killing half. Half or all, if pushed, I’ll do what needs to be done.”

Eric laughed, “Wild boasts! You have no idea what you are in for.”

“
Are you referring to the two people on the side with crossbows, or the one to your left with the pulse rifle? The three grenades on your belt won’t do much save for injure your own. Five of your men cannot control Live Steel, one is lame, three are so drunk they are a menace to themselves, and, oh… look at that… two more just ran away. It is quite a sorry lot honestly.”

“
Stop with the mouth! We finish this now! You, me. One on one.”

“
Sounds fun!” With a quick motion, a blue burst ran from Llewellyn’s hand and struck a man behind Eric. A minor explosion and sparks erupted as the pulse rifle he was carrying ripped itself apart in its owners hand. “Sorry, just making sure you didn’t cheat.”

“
Let me take him Father,” offered Dawn coldly.

“
You expect me to fight a little girl?” scoffed Eric.

“
Well, it is as close to a fair fight as you’re going to get. Besides, she’s not all that little.” Llewellyn turned to look at Dawn, “Tell me, why do you want to fight him? No matter what you do, your old family will still be dead. No matter what you do, the hurt will still be there. This will do nothing for ghosts of the past.”

Dawn bit her lip, “You’re right. Revenge serves no one.”

Llewellyn kissed the top of her head, “That’s my girl!”

“
Okay, Dad, just make sure he can never hurt anyone ever again,” offered Dawn as she rejoined Gavin. “And you remember that no matter what happens, you will never get back Beatrice or the time you two lost.”

“
I know. It took a long time for me to learn that one.”

Gavin and Dawn locked arms as they casually walked away.

“
Hey, Dad! Don’t have too much fun; Owen needs something to do. And oh, yeah, be home for dinner. Gavin and Lynn are staying over,” she called over her shoulder.

“
Yes, ma’am. I’ll do my best. Aren’t kids wonderful?” Llewellyn’s voice suddenly shifted tone as he addressed Eric, “Okay, now where were we?”

Dawn sat at the front door and watched the fireflies in the distance. A gentle breeze was a welcome reminder that the hot and frantic day had finally come to an end. Astrid was back with her parents and Llewellyn had made it home without a scratch. He hadn’t talked about the day’s events at dinner and it had been so nice having both Lynn and Gavin over. But some things still distracted her.

“
Would you like to talk?” asked Llewellyn behind her.

Dawn smiled. She hadn’t heard him approach, but she was getting used to that. She turned and smiled, “I’d love to. That is if you want.”

“
What I do or do not want is immaterial. It is what you deserve to know,” he replied stoically.

“
Tell me about Beatrice. She always seemed a little sad, and now I think I understand why.”

Llewellyn smiled as he sat down beside Dawn and stared at the glow of the bugs in the distance. He didn’t talk for quite a while and Dawn just let him be. Finally he said, “We were more than a couple. We were married in secret because her parents didn’t like me. In that same month, I ended up having to kill her brother and then everything went horribly wrong. She had a nervous breakdown and her parents had our marriage annulled. When the smoke all cleared, my sister took her in to get her away from her own family, and I went off world.” He paused again and sat lost in thought for several minutes. “When you were born, Helen and your father took you in without question. I found out about your birth, and your wings for that matter, while on leave from a campaign with the Shukurae. I was happy for Beatrice, as she appeared happy in her new family. It wasn’t until you were about five that I found out the fine point of it all: yes, I am your biological father. But it seemed we were never meant to be together. Beatrice could never be around me without having a breakdown, and Helen and the rest of your family were taking good care of you. I was unmarried and living day to day. It is amazing how hard you can live your life when you think you’ve already lost it all.”

“
But then you met Ivy,” prodded Dawn.

Llewellyn laughed, “Yes, indeed. Even before my brother’s death, the Shukurae had been politely trying to get me out of service and settle down. I had done so much for them and they had never done anything in return. I didn’t see that as give and take, I was just happy to be helping someone. Anyone! So, we were taking a break by doing a simple guard detail right where Ivy was working on cultural research. I wasn’t aware that they set the two of us up, but we were both grateful. She took to me and the rest is history. She knew from day one about you, but she understood, and before long little Heather came along and we added Maria to the family.” Llewellyn stopped again and just stared out into space.

Dawn hugged Llewellyn. “And when everything went wrong again, you left the safety and calm of your new family and came to rescue me. You know, I don’t think I ever actually thanked you.”

Llewellyn returned the hug. “I would have done that even if you were ‘just’ my niece.”

“
I know, but I’m thankful nonetheless.” Dawn paused as her mind raced. “Can you survive a few more questions?”

Llewellyn laughed, “After that, just about anything is easy! Go for it, little one.”

“
After I was kidnapped, how did you find me? If it had been easy, I would have expected the local police to have been there first.”

“
Addressing the second part first: the local police wanted help. There were actually almost a thousand of the militia of the old viceroy there. It was more of a military assault than a traditional police rescue. And we were good at that. Too good…” Llewellyn paused and stared out into space. “How did I find you? I don’t know, but I know where all my children are. At first I thought I was sensing Beatrice, but when I met you the first time, I could tell it was you, not her. Parental instincts? I’m not sure. It is just a part of what makes me a High Silver, I guess. I have so much running through my head at any given time that it makes me a bit of a nervous wreck trying to sort it all out. At times I feel like I’m going to lose a fight for control of my mind, but having you children around me helps a lot. You guys are the lighthouses that keep me safe heading back to shore.”

Dawn nodded as she tried to soak up what he had said. “Okay, now an easy one: do you think I’m getting too attached too early to Gavin? I know you are fond of him, but we are both kind of young.”

“
That is the easy one? Questions like that are known to cause ulcers in parents!” Llewellyn smiled and hugged Dawn, “While I am fond of Gavin and do take his training seriously, it is all up to you. You are young, yes, and there are other people out there. The one piece of advice that comes to mind is when someone really reaches you to your very core, hold on to them. Whatever it takes, hold on tight. The worst thing you can do is let go. People may say this or that about you and yours, but follow your heart and hold on tight. You and Gavin make for a wonderful couple. You add in Lynn and you have rounded out a loving family core. But don’t let anything I say influence you; listen to the voice inside.”

Dawn smiled and looked at her toes, “I’ve noticed he has asked around in circles trying to find out what size bells Lynn and I wear. We are young, but I can be patient.”

Llewellyn hugged Dawn and held on tight, “Oh, they grow up so fast.”

Lynn sprawled on the couch beside Dawn with a jet black infant on top of her. She carefully cradled the child as she held it close to her fur. “Check out Lilac. She and Violet look just like you,” giggled Lynn.

“
And the other two looked just like Dad… that makes four of them, or did someone have triplets when I wasn’t looking?” joked Dawn as she stroked the fur on the head of a snow leopard colored infant she had on her lap.

“
Nope, just twins times two,” Lynn laughed.

“
Now I know why Dad had them build the house so big! Time to just go up to the third floor and hide.”

“
Or go outside and play in the snow,” joked Lynn. “Oh, come on, they are just so darn cute.”

“
You’ve been here a week and you still keep saying that. Either you are a saint or you have some exotic mental illness.”

Lynn laughed, “Oh, I’m not saying they aren’t a handful. Both twins within two days of each other! Pandemonium at its finest.”

“
I’m just glad you and Gwen came to help. Maria is awesome, but wow! Pandemonium is an understatement.”

“
Did I understand that Gwen is moving in?” asked Lynn.

Dawn nodded, “Actually, she already has. Right when she turned seventeen. She makes for a heck of a nanny, and she’s fun on musical instruments. Ivy adores her, as do the twins, and Maria is just tickled pink when she is around. Throw all that together with the way she hangs on Father, I’m guessing that when she turns eighteen, she’ll be my Fourth Mother.”

“
Good for her. She does really seem to like it here.” Lynn thought for a second, “Fourth Mother or Second Second?”

That caught Dawn off-guard. She had never considered that: Second Seconds were rare except for very large families. “That is a good question. She is a heck of a nanny but also fantastic performer on the stage.” That was going to be quite a question!

Maria called from the kitchen, “Dawn, Lynn! Gavin is here!”

“
Ask him to meet us in here,” called Lynn.

“
Hey! I thought you were still full of bouncy energy!” joked Dawn.

Lynn laughed, “You have me confused with Maria. I just said the tykes were cute. I never said I wasn’t dead tired!”

Gavin smiled as he strode into the room. The fur between his ears still had a dusting of snow. “Got something for you two!” He produced a slender box and set it on the couch between them.

Curious, the girls opened it. Inside they found four sets of filigreed silver bells. Two sets were loose while the
other
two sets were mounted on silver rings rather than on simple satin ribbons like the ones from Gwen and the twins.

“
For us?” Dawn asked.

“
Yes, for both of you,” replied Gavin with a smile.

“
Be careful Lynn,” joked Dawn. “These are on
rings
not ribbons!”

“
Oh, they
are
on rings. How did you get them sized?” Lynn peered closely at them, “Oh my word! My mother made these! Do you have any idea how much they cost?”

Gavin shrugged, “Didn’t think the price mattered. Do you like them?”

The two girls stood, carefully cradling the pair of infants, and kissed Gavin on the cheek.

“
They are gorgeous! Now we have matching sets for the dance next month,” replied Dawn.

“
Hey, Dawn. Did you notice? There are four sets here. We need to find two more girls to join the party!” observed Lynn.

“
Oh bite your tongue!” retorted Gavin wide-eyed and with more than a little fear in his voice.

Dawn laughed, “It was worth a try.”

There are four major races in this family of stories: Human, Taik, Shukurae and Gelkin.

Human:
It is assumed the reader is well familiar with the human race. Their home world is located in the
Orion-Cygnus
minor arm of the Milky Way and has subsequently spread far and wide, often managing to colonize worlds others had left as “too harsh.” The rapid expansion of human planets and colonies has helped accelerate the decline of the Gelkin Empire. Humans are universally revered for their creativity and tenacity alike. The human realms are politically fractured and home to thousands of languages and cultures.