Master's Delight p.3

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Master's Delight | master's delight | Master's Delight p.3 | Anecdotes, misquotes, and all-around unfortunate quips

A few days later they found themselves climbing a single track path along a sheer cliff face. Wind whipped horse mane into a frenzy, annoying horse and rider alike. Only Father seemed not to notice. The rest of the party had visibly relaxed after the ghoul incident, much to Daemonika's delight. It was important to her that her friends find Father acceptable. He was all she had left of her family. She'd never thought that her dreams could come true and she would be riding alongside the man she had only dreamed about. Funny, though. She hadn't dreamed about mother since she got here. Maybe that meant mother approved of all this. She only said anything when Dae had done something wrong. Daemonika smiled underneath her hood. But where was Father taking them?

Black mane swirled in front of his sightless eyes. Father practically drooled in anticipation of the days to come. He would show Daemonika and her friends everything they needed to know, and afterward he'd give them an opportunity to impress him. If they didn't, well, he'd just take Dae back and throw the rest of them…He let the thought trail off. This was better than he imagined.

The trail abruptly widened into a carved pocket of stone in the cliff face. Two massive doors inset into the precipice promised refuge from the chill wind. Refuge, indeed.

“Welcome to my home.” Father dismounted and strode to the twin doors. They opened at his approach, revealing two black robed individuals conspicuously armed with kynacs. Warmth issued from within, taking the chill from Firesong's now fully furred face. Latunda grunted in amusement as Firesong practically leapt from his mount and joined Daemonika's walk toward the warmth.

Unsaddle, debit, gather bags, unpack. The Drake fell into their arrival routine and set the horses to do as they would.

I'm still nervous about this, thought Latunda. She quietly conferred with Nymaless.

Two minutes later Feynman led the herd down the mountainside. Fine with him to get away from that thing that looked like a horse but smelled of the infernal.

Father watched them trot down the trail. He smiled, not because of the beauty of the sight, but because it meant that Daemonika would not be leaving. Ever.

Inside, the smooth walls bespoke a fine craftsmanship that time had forgotten. Dannan studied the wallworks and decided that it was unlikely that the current occupants had fashioned them. She conveyed this to Latunda. Latunda shrugged.

“You will be shown to your rooms. Sleep tonight, and I will meet you at breakfast to confer with you about your quest.” Father was imperious. He draped an arm across Dae's shoulders and looked down at her.

“You'll forgive me, but my quarters are modest and do not have room for guests.” Apologetic.

“It's okay. I'm used to staying with my friends. It would be weird…” Similarly apologetic.

Latunda watched with growing unease. Family matters. Not that she would know. But at least Dae had found her father. Latunda knew that if she ever found hers she'd kill him. She ducked into the room she shared with Dannan, her soul disquieted.

Father retreated to his room. Smug. Tomorrow is the beginning of a new era. Confident. Daemonika would be brought back into his fold and he would reap the rewards of patience. Vengeful. The rewards would be great. The long black blade at his side hummed in anticipation.

Dae practically skipped to her room.

“He's gonna help us find the Narselkin. I know it.” Smug. “He's gonna help us and we'll be able to destroy that Implementor thing.” Confident. “So Nymaless won't have to lose her other foot.” Vengeful.

“I don't know, Dae…” Ja'rad began.

“And I've spent a lifetime listening to him. He always told me what to do when I needed help and he was always right.”

“In your dreams, Dae, never in real life. Right?

Hesitation.

“Right?” Imperative.

Small. “Yeah.”


	The Pious Drake \| home Master's Delight \| master's delight \| Master's Delight p.3 \| Anecdotes, misquotes, and all-around unfortunate quips Master's Delight p.3 A few days later they found themselves climbing a single track path along a sheer cliff face. Wind whipped horse mane into a frenzy, annoying horse and rider alike. Only Father seemed not to notice. The rest of the party had visibly relaxed after the ghoul incident, much to Daemonika's delight. It was important to her that her friends find Father acceptable. He was all she had left of her family. She'd never thought that her dreams could come true and she would be riding alongside the man she had only dreamed about. Funny, though. She hadn't dreamed about mother since she got here. Maybe that meant mother approved of all this. She only said anything when Dae had done something wrong. Daemonika smiled underneath her hood. But where was Father taking them? Black mane swirled in front of his sightless eyes. Father practically drooled in anticipation of the days to come. He would show Daemonika and her friends everything they needed to know, and afterward he'd give them an opportunity to impress him. If they didn't, well, he'd just take Dae back and throw the rest of them…He let the thought trail off. This was better than he imagined. The trail abruptly widened into a carved pocket of stone in the cliff face. Two massive doors inset into the precipice promised refuge from the chill wind. Refuge, indeed. “Welcome to my home.” Father dismounted and strode to the twin doors. They opened at his approach, revealing two black robed individuals conspicuously armed with kynacs. Warmth issued from within, taking the chill from Firesong's now fully furred face. Latunda grunted in amusement as Firesong practically leapt from his mount and joined Daemonika's walk toward the warmth. Unsaddle, debit, gather bags, unpack. The Drake fell into their arrival routine and set the horses to do as they would. I'm still nervous about this, thought Latunda. She quietly conferred with Nymaless. Two minutes later Feynman led the herd down the mountainside. Fine with him to get away from that thing that looked like a horse but smelled of the infernal. Father watched them trot down the trail. He smiled, not because of the beauty of the sight, but because it meant that Daemonika would not be leaving. Ever. Inside, the smooth walls bespoke a fine craftsmanship that time had forgotten. Dannan studied the wallworks and decided that it was unlikely that the current occupants had fashioned them. She conveyed this to Latunda. Latunda shrugged. “You will be shown to your rooms. Sleep tonight, and I will meet you at breakfast to confer with you about your quest.” Father was imperious. He draped an arm across Dae's shoulders and looked down at her. “You'll forgive me, but my quarters are modest and do not have room for guests.” Apologetic. “It's okay. I'm used to staying with my friends. It would be weird…” Similarly apologetic. Latunda watched with growing unease. Family matters. Not that she would know. But at least Dae had found her father. Latunda knew that if she ever found hers she'd kill him. She ducked into the room she shared with Dannan, her soul disquieted. Father retreated to his room. Smug. Tomorrow is the beginning of a new era. Confident. Daemonika would be brought back into his fold and he would reap the rewards of patience. Vengeful. The rewards would be great. The long black blade at his side hummed in anticipation. Dae practically skipped to her room. “He's gonna help us find the Narselkin. I know it.” Smug. “He's gonna help us and we'll be able to destroy that Implementor thing.” Confident. “So Nymaless won't have to lose her other foot.” Vengeful. “I don't know, Dae…” Ja'rad began. “And I've spent a lifetime listening to him. He always told me what to do when I needed help and he was always right.” “In your dreams, Dae, never in real life. Right? Hesitation. “Right?” Imperative. Small. “Yeah.”