Ch 17: Home Safety

--- A Few Hours Earlier---

As Volundr was arriving at the Explorers Union, Baldeur and Tulio were arriving with the security detail at the Aslanbek residence.

"Mother. I have something to tell you." Baldeur called out as he entered the house.

Levanya had her hands full with one year old twins and hadn't had the time to check up on her oldest son. She thought he just needed some space while his father was away.

Even though she hadn't told her children what was going on she suspected that Baldeur had some understanding of the situation. He was such a bright boy in her eyes.

As she entered the hall leading to the front door she saw a number of unknown people right behind her son, who should have been in his room.

Before Baldeur could even explain, he found himself being pulled to his mother as she flicked her wrist. She held him tightly against her as her other hand formed a few signs.

An arcane barrier formed between the strangers and the mother and son.

"Who are you? What are you doing in my home?" Levanya said.

"My name is Tulio Alvatein. I was sent here to protect your family." He replied.

"Sent by whom?" She said.

"Maybe you should let your son explain." Tulio said.

Levanya loosened her grip on Baldeur, who was unable to talk due to being smothered in her mother's protective embrace.

"I'm sorry mom. After you came back distraught from the Explorers Union, I went to get help for dad." Baldeur said.

He handed over the simple contract he had signed, while lowering his head in shame.

Levanya looked it over several times, unable to fully process what she was reading. They had hidden his talents so that he wouldn't be taken advantage of until he was strong enough.

Now he had just given himself over to a major power in the city.

"Mom, your grip." Baldeur said as his mother's hand squeezed his shoulder.

"Oh, you're worried about my grip. Not the fact that our family is being targeted? Not the fact that any number of people would kidnap or kill you if they found out about your Sources? Not the fact that sneaking out of the house would cause me to worry to no end? What if.. What if.." Levanya couldn't finish her sentence.

"I'm sorry mom. I just…" He was also having trouble finishing what he wanted to say.

Baldeur had underestimated how his mother would react. He forgot that in her eyes he was an eight year old boy that she had given birth to. Not a centuries old soul that happened to be in a child's body.

"All of you stay here." Levanya ordered as she dragged her son upstairs.

When they entered his room she began to chant and make complex hand signs. Powerful wards made of dense Mana formed around the room. Baldeur had a better understanding of his mother when he saw that even if was a lot more powerful, he wouldn't be able to leave this room without her permission.

"Unless I say so, you are not to leave this room. While what you did may help your father, that is no excuse for sneaking out and putting yourself in danger. There are other ways to save him." She said.

Levanya thought of the letter she had sent this morning and was relieved that she wouldn't have to go down that route but also upset, because just sending that letter will cause complications.

When she arrived down stairs, she saw the strangers standing awkwardly in her foyer. Peeking through one of the doorways was her daughter.

"Ilinka stay with your brothers for a moment." Levanya said.

Jaya and Sofia had just left to check on their herb garden or they would be able to watch them.

She looked over these people and could tell they had the same aura of fighters that her husband and his companions had.

"How many enemies are watching this house?" Levanya asked.

"With our quick search, three. Only one belongs to Pantel." Tulio said.

Levanya nodded because that was how many she had sensed.

"I don't want you scaring my children. And this is my house. You will run all security matters past me first." Levayna said.

"Of course." Tulio wasn't offended by her words. He knew that he was scary looking and as long as she wasn't an idiot, he'd be fine with coordinating their protection plan.

After the two of them agreed on placement and shifts for his people, they settled in for the wait. While they did, Levanya made them lunch and allowed Baldeur to join them. She also made him feed his two younger brothers, before sending him back to his room.

It was several hours until Volundr and Echdonn arrived with Vivek.

Once Echdonn entered the house he imposed an aura of the eight sins he had mastered on the residence for protection.

Some of the guards carried Vivek upstairs to his bed. A worried Levanya followed behind.

"I have already sent for the best doctors to look him over." Volundr said.

"Thank you." Levanya wasn't happy that this man held her son's fate in his hands, but she wasn't about to show ingratitude for what he had done for them.

"It was my pleasure." Volundr didn't bring up the contract negotiations that they'd have to enter into over Baldeur. He knew it was a sensitive time for them.

The doctors came and healed what they could. Thankfully Vivek's dantain could be put back together. A Qi doctor was able to place spiritual energy around the breaks.

Unfortunately, he told them it would be a decade before Vivek would be able to cultivate Qi again. Even after that his progress would be slow and he wouldn't be able to reach the sixth realm again.

"Thank you again for everything you've done for our family." Vivek said to Volundr after the doctors left.

"I'm just happy that I could intervene." Volundr said.

"We should discuss your contract with Baldeur while you're here." Levanya didn't want to keep worrying about what her son could be subjected to.

"You've been through a lot in the past few days and we don't need to rush anything." Volundr said.

Echdonn pulled out a parchment and handed it to Volundr.

"But this is what I was leaning towards. Look it over and let Tulio know when you want to discuss any changes. Again, take your time thinking it over." Volundr handed Levanya the contact and left with Echdonn.

The two looked over the contract and were surprised at how fair it was. Volundr had them over a barrel with the help he had rendered but he treated Baldeur as if they were on equal footing.

"Since it hasn't turned out that bad, maybe you don't have to punish him that much." Vivek was trying to intercede on behalf of his son.

Levanya's response was a glare of death.