Tori Transmigrated - Chapter 172: I'm Sorry I'm Late

He couldn’t remember when he started to hate his half-brother. Was it when his mother died? Or was it when he figured out what severely weakened her to the point that she could not recover from her disease?

Axton had been sent to the palace to befriend and accompany Piers, who was an unsociable child, but when he was older, he realized it was to keep him away from his father. Axton’s godmother, the Empress, had tried her best to answer his questions and as he grew older, she told him more when he asked. Coupled with what he saw firsthand and what his mother told him, he knew why his father was ‘sick’.

Cillian Alvere had an addiction to charms that would drain his energy and then give him a high, resulting in violent mood swings when he was denied. In fact, this started well before Montan was born.

And while Montan’s birth mother had a heavy hand in making Cillian sick, ultimately, it was Cillian who insisted on seeing her, even despite the late Duchess’ protests. Cillian was childhood friends with Rebecca Walter. Her grandmother used to babysit Cillian, whose mother died early and was left to his busy merchant father. His busy merchant father saved the life of Duke Elliot Alvere du Nassaun, Axton’s maternal grandfather.

The two men agreed to betroth their children to strengthen their bond. This was, unfortunately, common amongst the Central Corridor’s nobility and aristocracy, though it often was dissolved when the two parties were of age. However, Genevieve Alvere was a very filial and dutiful daughter. Going through with a betrothal was in line with her role and responsibility.

It was both lucky and unlucky for her that Cillian wanted to marry her. She had considered breaking off the engagement while in Lycée, supposedly after having met Lord Oliver von Schwert, but Cillian begged her to marry him, insisting that he loved her. Axton didn’t want to believe it, but despite everything, there was a part of him that knew that, at least at one point, Cillian had a real, healthy love for Genevieve.

Once upon a time, the Duchess and the commoner merchant did love each other. Otherwise, how could they have married so easily?

If Axton had been there, he would’ve tried his best to forbid it, especially when his mother had discovered that Cillian was being cared for while injured in his home village by Rebecca when they were still engaged teenagers. What was worse was that the entire village had seemed to think that Cillian and Rebecca were together.

When Marquess Guevera had spent the last summer in Viclya, Axton had a chance to speak to her and asked about this. Before speaking to Tori’s mother, Axton didn’t think anyone could hate his father more than him, but the Marquess had a look of hatred in her eyes when talking about Cillian that made Axton uncomfortable.

“We tried to convince her. That woman clearly saw that bastard as more than just an ‘innocent childhood friend’, as he claimed, and he would never leave her alone. Her grandmother made him swear to take care of her and he was straddled with the burden of that treacherous whore.” Marquess Guevera had a few more choice words and Axton hadn’t been able to rid himself of the feeling that if Cillian had been present, the Marquess would’ve killed him herself.

The Marquess had told Axton that just before their last year of Lycée, his mother brought up dissolving the engagement, but Cillian refused and broke down in front of her. His mother said that Rebecca Walter made her uncomfortable and she could not marry a man who prioritized another woman over her.

Surprisingly, he agreed and broke contact with Rebecca. The Marquess had not been convinced and she was right not to be. The engagement had been formally announced immediately after they graduated, and not a few days after Genevieve and Cillian were married after Université, Rebecca’s grandmother died.

The ‘childhood friends’ were brought back together. Rebecca’s grandmother, on her deathbed, had begged Cillian to take care of her granddaughter, who had no other family in the world. What else could Cillian do but to agree to the dying old woman who had raised him.

Genevieve had been hurt by this, but understood that he felt he owed the old woman. For a few years, Cillian had kept his distance from Rebecca, though periodically sent people to check on her and make sure she had enough money to live on her own. Genevieve had agreed to this. The Empress had described it as Genevieve thinking of it as her husband dealing with a somewhat estranged relative. For several years, this had worked out well.

The Alveres were happy. Axton was born during this time.

Then Rebecca’s cottage was robbed, and she was injured trying to flee. Cillian had moved her closer to their home village, where he felt she would be safer. He began to visit her more as her mental state was shaken. She had become more needy and was afraid.

Both the Empress and Marquess Guevera had estimated that this was when the charms addiction started. The Empress had recounted that Axton was about two when his father started staying away from home for periods at a time under the guise of his business. Axton, of course, had been too young to know what was going on. All he vaguely remembered was that his father was attentive and loving to both him and his mother.

He had been overcompensating.

And Genevieve had known. When Axton was almost four, his mother had confronted his father about an adulterous affair, of which Cillian had denied, insisting that he was checking on his old friend. They had gotten into row after row, with Cillian storming out of Sun Garden. It was also at this time that Genevieve had begun to get sick.

At first, it was just some weakness and unsteadily, but it would eventually become a terminal illness that would eat away at her body and leave her to perish in bed.

The Empress had said it was around that time she began to try to convince Marquess Guevera to contact Genevieve again, as well. Genevieve needed the support she had claimed.

Then, one raining knight, Rebecca Walter had shown up drenched at Sun Garden with an infant in her arms and told Genevieve that it was Cillian’s and her son. Genevieve’s heart had broken completely, and the Empress believed that was when whatever love and patience Genevieve had for Cillian ended.

Cillian had lost his mind that night. He had known about the baby, but he didn’t want him and his infidelity to be revealed to Genevieve, for fear that he’d lose her. The Empress detested Cillian, but knew he was obsessed with Genevieve. She was a goddess in his mind, and he had insisted that he had been tricked; that he had never wanted to sleep with another woman, but his addiction to charms had made him vulnerable and he strayed.

All of this had fallen on Genevieve’s deaf ears.

Axton could remember being sent to his room that night to get away from the screaming and his father’s rage. It wasn’t until he was an adult that his godmother told him that his father tried to kill Montan in hopes that it would somehow please Genevieve and prove his love and devotion to her. That rainy night, Cillian had grabbed the bundle in Rebecca’s arms and tried to throw the baby down the dozen stone steps of Sun Garden.

It was one of his mother’s knights who had caught him.

Genevieve was a duchess through and through, and no matter how hurt and angry and sad she was, she could not bring herself to watch an infant die. She also could not let her son’s father become a murderer. She had known she was dying, and feared that Montan would be killed by Cillian. Genevieve had saved Montan and brought him to Axton.

She was right to be afraid.

Of course, Axton didn’t consider all of this when he had found out his father betrayed his mother, and with that woman. He didn’t care that his father was sick and addicted to charms to the point that he’d lose his sanity and become violent. He couldn’t bring himself to look at the child that represented the culmination of the breakdown of his own family.

He grew to resent Montan’s existence even when logically, he knew that it wasn’t Montan’s fault. Deep down, he knew Montan was a victim.

Perhaps in a way that was why he didn’t want to look at Montan. He didn’t want to acknowledge that he was also a victim or that he could be suffering more.

After all, Axton had his godmother, Piers, and Marquis von Schwert who loved him like his own son because he loved his mother. Axton had emotional and financial support.

Montan was left to be tortured by a father who tried to kill him and a woman who used him as a tool.

And Axton was guilty.

His guilt, rage, and hatred for their father made him yell and act out before he could consider the situation they were in. Who cares who heard him or saw him?

A red mark appeared on Montan’s cheek as soon as their father’s hand made an impact, but Axton’s own fist left an even worse mark on Cillian’s face in return.

The sting through his knuckles as his arm swung and sent Cillian stumbling back, splattering blood across Axton’s shirt, was ignored as Axton grabbed Cillian’s collar to hold him in place so he could pound his face further.

“Axton!” He vaguely heard Piers’ voice.

“Step away from him and put your hands up where I can see them! Higher!” Tori’s voice was shrill and demanding – no, threatening. He saw a shorter figure that had been obstructed by his father step back and lift their arms up, keeping their withered hands above their make-up caked face.

A strong hand clamped on his shoulder and pulled him away from his father, who was on the ground with blood streaming out of his nostrils. Axton didn’t even feel the hot, wetness of fresh blood on his hands.

“Axton, that’s enough,” Piers said in a firm voice. “Check on your brother.”

Something in his head snapped to focus. Axton turned around and saw Montan against the wooden wall of a snack shop, almost crumpled to the ground as wide, panicked eyes darted around. Both arms were raised, trying to shield his head. On the ground beside him was an overturned paper plate and a toppled funnel cake with splattered cream and fruit.

Standing between him and that woman was Tori with her legs bent and hips facing her. Her right arm was out, blocking the way to Montan while her left arm was up with the blade of her dagger resting against her forearm in a defensive stance.

Axton moved between Montan and their father, then knelt beside the boy. His quick movements made Montan twitch and raise his arms up once more to cover himself.

“Montan, it’s me. It’s me – Axton,” he said, trying to steady his voice. “It’s all right. It’s all right. You’re safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” Montan’s eyes matched his. They flickered past his raised arms and looked at him unsurely. Axton lowered his head and pain filled his face. His voice softened. “It’s me, Montan…It’s me…I won’t hurt you.”

Why did Montan look so afraid?

“Relax, Alvere,” Tori’s firm, but reassuring voice came from behind him. “Your big brother is here now. He’s going to protect you.”

There was recognition in Montan’s gray eyes. His trembling lips seemed to want to speak, but no words came out. His arms lowered just a bit.

“Dobchek, send four knights to the end of the snack shop row on the Promenade.” Piers was talking into his comcry. “To the alley between Funnel Cakes and Frosted Fruit.”

“Tell them to contact Viclya Community Patrol to prepare the prison wagon at Fishmonger Plaza to expel two trespassers from the delta,” Tori said. Her eyes narrowed and she didn’t falter from her position. “It seems that I was too lax in opening my county. I’m sorry about this, Axton…Alvere.”

“Axton….” Cillian lifted his hand to his bloody face and touched the liquid streaming over his lips in a thin line. His eyes flickered up and he looked confused and in a daze. “Axton…why did you hit me? I am your father. I was punishing him for you!”

“Punishing him?” Axton whirled around and barely restrained himself from attacking the middle-aged man. “There is no reason to punish him!”

“This is your investment! You had a hand in building this place…why should that waste who hurt you be allowed here!” Cillian choked out, as if he didn’t understand. “He shouldn’t be allowed here to taint your sight!”

Axton’s eyes crinkled up and he shook his head. He knew his birth father wasn’t right in the head, but it seemed that it was worse than he thought.

“He didn’t hurt me.” Axton’s steady voice surprised himself. It was strange how looking at this man he hated so much suddenly made him feel nothing. “He didn’t do anything.”

“Yes, he did! Because of him, your mother was always upset! She couldn’t take care of her body-”

“You killed her.” Axton cut him off and Tori tensed. He caught her looking back at him as he stared at his father as if he were looking at a stranger. “It wasn’t Montan’s fault. It was yours. You killed my mother.”

He didn’t know what to expect exactly. Perhaps dismissive shouting or a rambling series of excuses as he’d done in the past, but Axton didn’t expect Cillian to lunge at Rebecca.

“It’s your fault! It’s your fault! You kept calling for me! You kept giving me charms and kept me from my family! It’s you who ruined my life! I should’ve killed you before you came to my door!”

Before he could reach the woman, Tori slammed the smooth hilt base of her dagger into his chest, shoving him back against the opposite wall. Piers swept in front of Tori to protect her, and Axton remained standing between his father and Montan.

Cillian bounced against the wall and groaned as a demented cackling filled the narrow alley. Axton looked back at Rebecca Walter. Her eyes were filled with madness and mirth as she looked at Cillian.

“Go ahead and kill me! You always say that you will, but you never do! You never do!” She mocked the fallen man and looked almost gleeful. She stretched her neck forward as she sneered. “You won’t! You can’t! No matter what you say, you love me. You love me!” Axton saw faint dark spots on her neck that were barely covered with pale face powder.

“Death is too good for you!” Cillian lunged at her once more, only to be stopped by Tori half body-slamming him back and into the grips of two imperial knights who had arrived.

“I will repeat. Mr. Cillian Kelly, formerly Duke Cillian Alvere, and Madam Rebecca Walter are permanently banned from the Cosora Delta and any Lions Gate property for disorderly conduct. This is done with the will of the landed noble governing the Cosora Delta, Countess Victoria de Guevera,” Tori said, carefully using terminology her brothers must’ve taught her. “Should they trespass again, they will be fined and then imprisoned or pressed for service.”

“They will also be banned from all properties related to myself and the Alvere Duchy. They are banned from the Lunar Inns.” If Axton could, he would ban them from the duchy, but Cillian and Rebecca were born there and as their native duchy, they could only be banned for a capital crime.

Abusing their son did not count.

“Take him to the prison carriage. We will come later,” Piers said.

The two knights didn’t say anything. They nodded their heads and turned around, dragging Cillian who was telling Axton not to blame him and that his mother would forgive him. They were the ramblings of a madman and Axton shuddered. The other two knights who arrived flanked Rebecca and pulled her out of the alley.

She looked at her son leaning against the wall and smiled. “Don’t worry, Montan! Your father is confused. As soon as you graduate and can provide for us, he will welcome you back. I will talk to him.”

For a moment, Axton was taken aback by how casual she sounded. It was as if she were just assuring her son that she’d get him permission to go out with his friends.

“She’s delusional….” Tori’s voice didn’t have a hint of sarcasm. She sounded almost stunned at the encounter.

“Perhaps she always has been,” Piers said in a low voice. He pulled Axton back and the squeeze on his shoulder was enough to shake him out of his stupor.

Axton looked at him and then turned around. He moved forward once more and reached out his hands, but Montan shrank back, raising his arms once more. Axton quickly restrained himself and grit his teeth. He consciously moved back to give the shaking boy some space.

“Montan….” He didn’t know what to say. What could he tell the boy to calm him? Montan had just seen their father try to kill his mother. From the exchange, it was clear it wasn’t the first time it had happened.

Montan’s breath was uneven as he lowered his eyes shamefully. “I’m sorry….” A chill swept over Axton at his breathy, terrified apology.

“It’s not your fault.” Tori stepped in and adjusted her bracelet. She seemed to pop out a clear purple crystal. She faced Montan and made her voice sound lighter. “Mr. Alvere, can you hold this crystal for me and count to a hundred?”

She held the crystal in front of him and Montan stared at it in silence. Just when Axton didn’t think he was going to answer, Montan’s slender fingers moved over Tori’s hand. He flinched twice before his shaking fingers pinched the purple crystal and curled it into his palm.

“One…two….” Axton almost didn’t hear his voice.

He wasn’t sure if Montan was simply in a daze and didn’t know what to do, so he followed Tori’s orders, or if there was some other reason Montan did as he was told, but as he counted, he seemed to regain some of his composure and calm down.

Tori didn’t say anything and remained standing nearby, watching Montan’s body language carefully. It was as if she were silently counting with him. When he reached a hundred, her soft, coaxing voice that Axton usually heard her use with friends or children, and sometimes even Piers, spoke.

“Take a deep breath…hold…slowly exhale. Once more. Deep breath…hold…release….” Axton found himself doing what she said, as well. Tori repeated herself a few more times, never making any sudden movements and kept a comfortable distance away at two arm’s length. “Good job. You are doing a good job. Nod your head if your cheek hurts.”

Montan’s gray eyes were fixed on Tori, entranced. He nodded once.

“We will get ice to put on your cheek, so it won’t hurt.” Tori seemed to slowly stand up straight and move her arms to draw his attention to Axton. “Axton will take you to the first aid office. Do you want to hold his arm?”

Montan’s eyes flickered over Axton and then he shook his head. Axton couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

“That’s okay,” Tori continued. “Can you follow him closely?”

Montan nodded. He opened his mouth and let out a wheezed ‘thank you’. Tori nodded and stepped back, giving them room to leave.

“Are you and Piers coming?” Axton asked. He tried to keep his voice neutral; not angry, not urgent, but not sad or hurt, either. His question wasn’t directed at Montan, but he didn’t want to startle him.

“We’ll follow in a moment,” Tori told him. Axton nodded and walked out of the alley. There were plenty of people walking around and as he passed, he noticed a small light blue crystal on the ground. He glanced back at Tori and noticed that her bracelet was missing two crystals. One was the amethyst Montan still clutched and the other was the blue crystal that disrupted sound.

“Montan, follow,” Axton offered Montan what smile he could force. His pace slowed and he made a point to try to shield Montan with his body as much as possible. “If you are nervous, take a deep breath. Like Tori said…deep breath…hold…release.”

He thought he sounded a bit stupid compared to when Tori said it, but he repeated it over and over, just loud enough for Montan to hear as they crossed the plaza.

There were two first aid locations on the Promenade to assist with any minor guest injuries. They were on opposite ends of the Promenade: at the very end, which led to a smaller plaza where fishermen and locals who had some home-grown vegetables gathered every other morning to sell and trade called Fishmonger’s Plaza, and at the Lion’s Plaza, right at the entrance where guests were often dropped off the moment they arrived.

Axton purposely led Montan to Lion’s Plaza, as their father and his mistress were dragged in the opposite direction. When they arrived, they were immediately taken to a smaller room and a pack of wrapped ice crystals was brought to them. Montan was given some water and Axton stood in the corner, watching him hold the ice crystals against his cheeks.

His eyes reddened as he looked at Montan. When he was sixteen, was he that small? He was an escort knight to the first prince; he’d always been taller and stronger than other boys his age, even when compared to Piers. But his younger brother was shorter and thinner. He was slumped over and either looked scared or worse, numb.

Axton dropped his head and shut his eyes tight. He was a victim of his father’s actions, but so was Montan. Next to the Duchess, it was likely that Montan suffered the most. He certainly suffered the longest. Senior Kasen’s words lingered in his head: alone with his lunatic, abusive father and a mother so obsessed with the man that she’d turn her son into a tool to keep him.

Axton’s mouth was bitter, and a heavy guilt weighed on him.

“I’m sorry I’m late.” His voice shook as he kept his eyes shut to try to keep his tears in. “I’m sorry…I should’ve taken you with me.”

Although, they both knew that he couldn’t. He was only the older brother and even if he were the rightful heir, he couldn’t simply take Montan away from his parents when Montan was underaged. His father could put on shows of sanity where he was a ‘good father’, and all he and his mistress had to do was pressure Montan into pretending everything was fine in public.

And really, what son of the legal wife would take on the responsibility of his father’s mistress’ son?

Even if there were logical reasons why he couldn’t take Montan away, Axton was angry that he didn’t at least try. Perhaps even the action of trying would show that Montan wasn’t alone. To show him that he was wanted.

“Your Grace.” Montan’s weak voice reached him, and he opened his wet eyes. Montan’s eyes were red, and he looked as if he wanted to cry, but he couldn’t. Somehow, that made his expression even more pitiful. “It’s not your fault.”

Axton bit his lips and shook his head slowly. “It’s not your fault either.” He sniffled and took a deep breath to compose himself. “You are an adult now and need not have anything to do with them again. If you need anything, you must come to me. I am your family now.” I should’ve always been.

Montan lowered his head and seemed to nod. Axton wasn’t sure if he really understood, let alone accepted his comment, but right now, he couldn’t force Montan. As Senior Kasen said, this would be a long and tedious process.

There was a quiet knock at the door and Axton turned his head towards it.

“It’s us,” Tori said from the other side. “Can we open the door?”

“Yeah, come in.” Axton stood up straight and the door opened just a bit. Tori peeked in before opening it the rest of the way. “Thank you for earlier.”

Tori lifted her hand and gave him a dismissive wave. “This is my territory. I will protect my guests. Also, Kasey gave me a job.”

The corner of Axton’s mouth rose a bit. He reached to touch Tori’s head and pat it, only for Piers to move between them and hold out a plate of funnel cake. Axton cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes.

“What’s this?”

“Piers replaced the one that fell. A regular with cream, strawberries, strawberry syrup, and some crushed nuts,” Tori said.

“Take it.” Piers gave him an order and Axton’s face softened. Piers bought it for his brother.

“Thank you.” Axton held it in both hands and slowly took a step closer to Montan with a hopeful smile on his face. “You haven’t had anything to eat yet, have you?”

Montan kept his eyes on him and slowly shook his head. “Sir Dobchek went to line up for fried potato sticks.”

“So, that is why he wasn’t with him,” Piers said from the doorway.

“You sent him to show Montan what to eat, not to act as his guard,” Axton said without looking away from his half-brother. “Montan, eat a little of this and then we’ll go to the restaurant. You can get a more filling meal there.”

He began to cut up the funnel cake with the side of a wooden fork. When a small, bite-sized piece had been separated from the funnel cake, he stabbed it and held it out for Montan to eat.

Montan’s face reddened. “Your Grace…I can eat it on my own.” Just before he lowered his embarrassed face, Axton caught the reassuring, though faint look of joy in his matching gray eyes.

“No, you put the piece here and it’ll hook on to these pieces and….” Tori lifted her hands off and the two water hammocks were joined with a metal ‘s’ shaped hook that went around two small metal pieces hammered into one of the corners of the cedar frame.

“We’re chained together!” llyana looked pleased and clapped her hands. They were waist-deep in a shallow beach area further down from the beach and deck where they raced. There was an outcropping of rocks that broke any harsh waves, making it an ideal spot to float in lazily. Ilyana climbed into the water hammock; it was rather awkward, but once she was in, she leaned back and pulled up the sunshade. Her arms rested on the wood frame as she crossed her legs and let her feet rest on the frame. She leaned back and let out a content sigh. “Tori….”

“Yes?” Tori asked as she held one water hammock steady so that Henrik could climb on after his fifth attempt sent him face first into the salt water.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Ilyana,” she replied with a chuckle.

“We love you, too, Cousin Tori!” Marco and Mateo were near-by and had masterfully climbed onto the water hammocks.

“I love you all, as well,” Tori replied.

In front of her, Henrik finally managed to plop himself into the hammock. Water splashed up and he scowled as he tried to get himself comfortable. Everyone else didn’t seem to have an issue pushing one side down and sort of falling back into the hammock and rolling on, but Henrik had no luck and couldn’t seem to balance himself correctly. The first few times it was funny. Then it was just pitiful.

He looked out towards the rocky break. “Are you sure this won’t take me out to sea?”

“We will stop you before it even takes you to the break,” Tori said with a roll of her eyes. The hammocks had long ropes tethering them to trees on the shore, so they could drift with peace of mind and then use the ropes to pull themselves closer to shore. Henrik had tugged to make sure they were secure multiple times. “And even if your tether breaks, you can hook on to another water hammock-”

“Ewan!” Henrik shouted and Ewan rolled to his side and casually hooked the S-hook on one of the rings on Henrik’s water hammock. “Thank you.”

When he was secured, Tori pushed him further away and waded closer to shore to see who else needed help. Kasen had carried Robert from the wheelchair, into the water, and to his water hammock to place him inside. The cloth could be adjusted for different lengths, so the children’s hammocks didn’t dip too deep. As soon as Robert was in, Marco grabbed on and hooked another S-hook to connect them.

“Who’s next?” Tori asked.

“Me!” Fiona jumped up. She was in a little chick-yellow swim dress and impatiently waiting on the shore. “I want to float with Auntie Tori!”

“Kasey, can you carry her over?” Tori asked as she grabbed on to hers. She had personally carved her own initials into it, and it had a special head cushion she made that none of the others had, but complained about wanting. There were also a few more crystal features she installed that weren’t exactly cost effective and so, only her water hammock had it.

She climbed on and once she was settled, Kasen carried Fiona over. The child was gently placed on Tori’s stomach. Both Fiona and Robert wore cork life vests fitted for them.

Fiona giggled as she nestled herself against her aunt. Kasen lifted the sunshade over them. “Daddy, push us out further!”

Kasen moved to push them, but Tori stopped him. “It’s fine, I’ve got it,” Tori said. She moved her hands over two smooth, protruding pieces of quartz seemingly embedded on the top of the wood frame. They looked like normal embellishments. “Fiona, are you ready?”

The child clearly didn’t know what she was supposed to be ready for, but nodded with enthusiasm. “Ready!”

Tori placed her fingertips on the quartz on either side of her. Rippling water began to come up behind her and suddenly, their little hammock was moving on its own. Fiona gasped and shouts of unfairness filled the air.

“You’re using crystals!” Gideon yelled with an accusing wave of his arm. “Why don’t ours have crystals? That’s not fair, Guevara!”

“It’s my delta. I do what I want,” Tori said as she passed him and Fabian with Fiona giggling with glee on top of her. The speed wasn’t too fast; if someone tried to race them with a canoe or swimming, the small water hammock would be left behind, but to the others who were trying to catch up using their hands to paddle, it was fast enough. Due to the nature of the crystal unable to ground through water, Tori was using her own energy to trigger what were basically crystal battery packs already in the cedar frame.

So far, they could last a couple of hours of non-stop use, then they’d have to be removed to recharge or replaced if one wanted to continue using the water hammock as a tiny boat.

Piers, who had drifted further away from the group and declined to be tethered to anyone, reached out and hooked his S-hook on Tori’s as she began to pass him. She frowned.

“It’s not strong enough to drag two.”

Fiona frowned as well. “Uncle Piers, you’re too heavy.”

“I am stopping you.”

Fiona gasped. “Why? You can’t have this one. This one is Auntie’s!” She sounded both suspicious and defensive.

Piers glanced at the child with a bit of amusement. “What if I give you mine and I ride with your auntie.”

“No! You’re too big! You’re going to squish her!” Fiona twisted her body and flung herself against her aunt, burying her face in Tori’s chest. “Only I can ride with Auntie! Me and Alexander, but he doesn’t like water!”

“Yes, yes,” Tori said as one hand stroked her back reassuringly while the other removed the S-hook. “Uncle Piers is too big-heavy. Heavy.”

Piers chuckled. “What if I give you a real, live chicken?”

“Piers!” Tori shot him a glare. “You are not bartering a chicken for me.”

Fiona nodded with narrowed eyes, also appearing insulted. “Auntie is worth at least….” She held up her hands to show her fingers. “Ten chickens!”

Okay, the value of chickens in Fiona’s mind is very high. Ten chickens aren’t bad. I should be flattered. Tori tried to rationalize it.

“Oh, your auntie is worth ten chickens?” Kasen’s voice rang out. He had swum towards them and casually bobbed in the water next to them. “What about Daddy?”

“Daddy is worth hundreds of chickens!” Fiona threw her arms out and shouted without hesitation. Kasen looked very pleased, and Tori squinted.

Wow…my heart is broken. “I see I’m less valued. I guess you would rather swim with your dad than float around with me….” Tori pretended to wipe a tear from her eye and Fiona gasped. Her eyes widened with panic, and she flung herself against Tori once more.

“I love you, Auntie! More than chickens!” She clung to Tori’s clothes and carefully peeked up. “Please let me stay here.”

Tori snorted a laugh. “Okay, let’s keep going in circles.” She put her hands back on the crystals and the two began to make rounds in the space.

As they circled around to the shallows, Axton had come on to shore to lure Montan. The swelling on his face from his father’s hit had subsided a bit and it wasn’t as obvious anymore. Montan was rather thin compared to his knight brother, but every time he looked at Axton, there was awe.

But not in the obsessed idolizing way that Gideon had when he looked at Piers. Tori pursed her lips. At least, not yet. Montan yearned for familial warmth and Axton would definitely be an amazing brother.

“It’s only a matter of time….” Tori whispered to herself as they circled towards the deeper end where Piers was left alone to drink, unbothered by rowdy teenagers.

After some begging from them, Tori finally let her twin cousins use her water hammock. She set the crystals to repeat and follow the circles she’d done, but if anyone got in their way, they couldn’t stop. Mateo and Marco did not care and even seemed to look forward to a collision.

Kasen picked up Fiona, who partway back on the last round had fallen asleep on Tori. “I’ll take her back to my tent for a nap,” he said as they waded out of the water. “Are her chicken nuggets ready?”

“Wake her up in an hour and they’ll be out on the deck,” Tori told him. Kasen nodded.

They passed Montan and Axton, and Tori could see Montan’s eyes follow Kasen.

“Do you want me to ask him?” Axton asked his brother. Montan looked down and shook his head. “Are you sure?”

“He’s busy,” Montan said. “And he has children.”

Tori pretended to look for another water hammock close to the shore after her brother carried Fiona away. She listened to Montan and Axton with the memory of a red-eyed Montan still in her mind.

She heard Axton let out a heavy sigh. “But if you want a charms master, Senior Kasen will be the best.”