A: Ffs you two are grown adults. Shut the hell up. This is the tenth time I’m tell you two, there will be no warning next time and I will personally make sure both of you stay quiet for the rest of the day
B: Boo we have rights!
A: you better exercise the right to remain silent, or else -- Anon Guest
Some parental threats have no weight. Themes like "I will turn this vehicle around," are empty. Void. Children know that the adult in charge wants to get to the destination and therefore the fight in the back seat continues, though at some reduction of volume.
For the siblings fighting in the carriage on the road to Andersyll, the threat of "be quiet or I'll make you quiet," carried a lot more weight. Their father was a mage of some significant power, and there was no doubt that there was a spell for that. Neirogh the Vexed had a spell for everything. Including making sure that his two sons behaved themselves like civilised beings.
How he managed to sire a natural Rogue and a talented Druid was something even his spells couldn't unriddle. Nevertheless, they had become fine young adventurers... and their capacity for being pains in a parental's buttocks had only grown with them. Blade, the Druid, grinned and said, "I'll commune with nature on the roof for a while."
"Thank you," sighed Neirogh.
Branch, the family's Rogue, took the opportunity to sprawl out on the seat he had shared with his older brother. "I know why you have ties to Andersyll. The question's still 'why do we have to go?' I confess I zoned out the instant you mentioned your old adventuring days."
Neirogh rolled his eyes. "You... All right. The Rogue's Impatience version. I'm hoping to marry at least one of you off because of an old promise."
"WHAT?"
"This is what happens when you zone out and feign paying attention," chided Neirogh. "I thought you agreed to this, because you specifically agreed. The same thing applies to reading contracts and thinking out the full words of any wish."
"The details are the most important thing. Yes. I get it. I just also have a chronic case of permanent boredom. I am now paying attention," said Branch, twiddling with his ring. "Adventuring days to Andersyll to us getting married. Please stick to the key points."
Neirogh took a deep breath and massaged his temples. "...if you weren't my second son... In brief. Leader of Andersyll is old friend from Adventuring days. Taniil -that's her- has had a lot of kids. Nuptual gifts are expensive and alliances could balance that, but to get a bit of an edge - old friends get dibs."
"Ah. So we go, we meet up, we maybe fall in love, and you share old war stories with Taniil and all of us hope a Tarrasque doesn't turn up or something."
"Hm. You must have been listening when I mentioned that all my old friends would be bringing their kids. Big threats to the world as we know it do tend to crop up when we get together. We old folks still know how to kick rumps, so you kids can come play if you want to."
"I recognised a pattern from the last seventy-billion times I zoned out. Contrary to your beliefs, Dad, I am capable of noticing things."
Outside the carriage, Blade started singing along with the birds.
"Honestly," said Neirogh, "I should hope that this trip is disaster enough."
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / magicleaf]
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