Mother and Son|Clan Char, Naurorod

[Kender Bard]

Charminei put her hands on her hips, looking at Thavan with curiously. "Yes?"

Thavan stood, feeling a little helpless to his emotions as he blurted, "Mother."

She felt chill all over and weakness assaulted her; much the same as when she thought Alexi was cheating on her. "Wh-what..."

"I'm Thavan," the other man whispered, trembling slightly.

Charminei's heart did a flip, and so did her stomach, as she whispered, "Oh baby."

That got Thavan's anger stirring and he grit his teeth. "I'm not your baby. You left me alone with Ace and Steel!"

"I'm so sorry," she breathed, eyes filling with tears rapidly. "Oh Thavan, you have no idea how sorry I am. Guilt has been my constant companion since I left."

"Then why..."

"Because," she whimpered. "I couldn't take it. Thavan, hear me out. I was nineteen when I left, bogged down with four small children and a husband who was content to keep me shackled at home when all I really wanted was my life again."

"You don't seem to be having a problem with that now," he growled, and Charminei was a little frightened for a moment that he might attack.

"Accident," she mumbled. "But I'm older... Wiser. I can handle it now. I've got a good partner who'll respect my spirit." She took a tenative step forward. "Thavan, please accept my apology."

Thavan shook his head, trying to sort through his feelings. His hands flexed and he put one close to his water symbol.

[Deleted]

A large hand grabbed Thavan's wrist, squeezing tightly in warning. "Try it," Alexi growled, restraining the boy, "and you find out what it's like to be spanked by a claymore's sharp side."

[Kender Bard]

Thavan's eyes flared with hatred and resentment; he knew this treatment all too well!

Thankful, Charminei walked over and took Thavan's other hand in her own, gently, and rubbed it between her own. "If I didn't have more to think about than myself, my child, I would let you do whatever it took to get that pain out of your heart."

That took him by surprise and he dropped all thoughts of hurting her. He did try to jerk his arm free of Alexi, giving the bounty hunter a glare of rebellious youth. "I don't know how long it will be before I forgive you, mother, but I think I can. I... Well, after a while, I want you to see me again or I'll come here or something. I'm going to go live in the Beastlands now."

"What happened to your other siblings?" Charminei asked.

Thavan snorted. "Steel grew up using me as his punching bag. When he got tired of that, he left. I don't know, Force Quest or something. Hachi took to wandering comedy. Nani said she was going to go work with the tailors and get into fashions. I just left to get away as soon as Nani was gone. Didn't want to deal with Ace alone."

Charminei nodded, leaned forward and kissed her son on the forehead. "Thank you. I will visit you, I promise."

"Thanks," he muttered, and grunted to Alexi to let him go.

[Deleted]

As Alexi had claimed, he wasn't a total idiot. He let Thavan go, but very slowly. "So you're one of the kids 'Minei knocked me to the floor over," he said, sizing the younger man up. "Learn to at least be civil to your ma, or you'll have your stepfather to deal with. Eefrit's edges are very, very keen."

[Kender Bard]

Thavan reached out and touched his mother's hands before pulling back his own. He gave Alexi a dirty look, saying, "Don't ever consider yourself any kind of father to me. I don't have a father." Turning his back, he walked off to join the Beasts.

Charminei heaved a sigh. "A lot of anger in him. But he'll be okay. That was a tense moment. Thanks for showing up."

[Deleted]

"Sure." Alexi snorted. "Kid's gotta learn you can't choose your parents, though. If he's coming around often, I guess I really will be his stepfather." He shrugged. "Speaking of, got a free day any time soon? We could save time and a trip by teleporting to Ilyamen."

[Kender Bard]

Charminei snapped her fingers and nodded. "Yeah, we should do that before trouble shows up again. Do you have everything you need to leave right now?"

[Deleted]

"All we need is money, right? And something to write a letter with? I can get that from my saddlebags," Alexi replied, already guiding Charminei towards his hut.

[Kender Bard]

Charminei nodded, giving a little stretch as she walked. "Mind, I won't be able to do this in a couple months. It's too much of a strain on the body. Well, anything farther than a few feet away that is. So try to get everything in one trip."

[Deleted]

"Will do." It did not take long to locate the money and some letter-writing supplies; Alexi didn't write letters often, so he never carried a lot of paper or ink. One page would suffice to tell his master everything, as well.

He scratched out the note hastily and made out the address, blew on the ink to dry it, and tucked the letter into a pocket before he fetched his money. "All right, let's go."

[Kender Bard]

Charminei nodded, taking his hand and teleporting away.