Chapter 16: Family Drama (Patreon)

Both Dakota’s parents were at the school when Dakota, Faye and far too many adults stepped through the arch. Fikru and her father had chosen to go straight home, but every other adult had trailed after them.

“Felix!” his mother called the second she spotted him. She was normally reserved and that made her Dakota’s favorite parent, but now she caught him in a tight hug that made his ribs ache.

“My boy,” his father said, “I am all in favor of adventures, but you cannot go off by yourself. That is far too dangerous.”

“Yes,” his mother added as she finally let go. “You should never put yourself in danger. By Merlin, what is that?” She took a quick step back and tried to pull Dakota away from Sir Knight.

“These are the people you call your pack?” Sir Knight sounded unimpressed.

“This is Sir Knight. My dog.”

“Your guardian, young goat,” Sir Knight corrected him huffily.

“You know we cannot have a prosaic dog.” His father sounded angry, and Dakota ducked his head, but he was not going to give up his dog.

“He’s mine.”

“No.”

“Mr. Dromos,” the man with the long beard interrupted, “the animal might not be prosaic. According to the children, he is spell resistant. He held the attacker off long enough for the children to run away.”

Both Dakota’s parents’ mouths fell open.

“Dogs are prosaic,” his mother whispered, but she didn’t sound sure, so that was progress.

“We can test it easily.” His father turned his focus stone ring so it was inside his fist.

Dakota threw himself in front of Sir Knight. “You’re not going to cast a spell at my dog.”

His father frowned. “It’s only a cleaning spell. If it works, we’ll know he’s prosaic because he will no longer stink. And then we can work to find him a good home in the prosaic world.” He studied Sir Knight. “Your aunt and uncle don’t seem to be taking good care of him.”

“Move aside, little goat,” Sir Knight said. “I can easily block the distance bite, even if it is more of a distance licking that I would normally allow.”

Dakota crossed his arms. “If he is spell resistant, then he is a magical dog and I can keep him.”

His father looked toward his mother, who sighed and shrugged. Dakota took that as a victory and stepped to the side. His father twitched his hand, and Dakota felt the magic swell. When the surge subsided, Sir Knight was as dirty and as unimpressed as ever.

“A magical dog,” his mother whispered. Dakota didn’t tell her that his whole breed was magical because that would have involved discussing five thousand years of breeding that Dakota couldn’t explain without admitting that he could talk to dogs.

“You can keep the animal,” his father said, “but we are going to discuss you leaving without permission and not answering your mirror. There are rules, young man. Maybe your aunt and uncle let you—”

“Chester,” his mother said sharply.

He took a deep breath and turned to the other adults. “Thank you for helping Dakota. We don’t know what we would have done if someone had taken him.”

Given that they had given him away to someone else for a decade, Dakota assumed they would have adjusted just fine, but his mother put a hand on his shoulder and gripped him tightly.

“It seems that magic was not entirely disapproving. The dog is a minor issue compared to the challenge gift your young one found while hiding in the animal’s lair,” Faye’s mother offered.

Both his parents looked at him, and Dakota’s hand went into his pocket. “I don’t know why it’s that big a deal,” he said softly. He didn’t want to take it out. The longer he had the rock, the more he wanted to keep it to himself. However, both parents had sharp, calculating expressions that made it clear he wasn’t going to be allowed that privacy, so he pulled the rock out.

His mother gasped.

“It poked me in the butt while we were in the basement,” Dakota said.

“Oh. Well then…” His father looked around as if he had forgotten how to speak.

“Magic chooses her path and we can either follow or fight,” Faye’s mother said in a tone that made it clear that the words were well-worn and familiar. Most of the adults who had come through the arch with them nodded. A young man in a shirt with dozens of snakes that slowly slithered across his chest softly added, “Yeah.”

His mother stepped toward the arch, pulling Dakota with her. “Thank you again. We are in your debt, but we should go home now. I’m sure Dakota’s brother is worried about him.”

Dakota doubted that, but he tucked his rock back into his pocket.

“I am staying with you,” Sir Knight said as he pressed closely to Dakota’s other side. “Your new pack can’t be trusted with you any more than your last, although your shoes look to be without holes.” Sir Knight studied Dakota’s feet.

“You are quite welcome. Travel safely,” Faye’s mother said. The adults exchanged a few last words that Dakota didn’t listen to before they all walked through the arch and landed outside near the house.

When Dakota looked confused, his father said, “We can’t go through the business arch. People are not used to dogs, much less a dog that large. We can walk from here.”

“Are we safe?” Dakota asked. He’d never worried about that before, but now he looked at every shadow and gap between the houses and wondered if someone was going to jump out.

“We’re fine. Your mother and I can protect you,” his father said.

Sir Knight huffed. “I am more protection than they are, but I am here with you, so you are safe now.” That did make Dakota feel better. They walked down the tree-lined street to the blue house with magical trim.

His parents watched Sir Knight carefully as Sir Knight approached the steps and then stopped to sniff the curling dragons. However, he quickly lost interest and moved to the door, waiting until Chester unlocked the door.

“This is different,” Sir Knight said as he walked in, tail high as he stalked the edge of the garden area, his nose twitching as he explored.

“Is he safe in here?” Dakota’s mother asked.

“If he’s magical, he won’t get stuck in any enchantments.”

“Is my garden safe?” she asked when Sir Knight went on his belly to crawl under a bush. Crawling was not his best talent, so his butt and tail stuck up like a flag through the foliage.

“Let’s go inside,” his father said. Sir Knight stood and a sharp crack sounded. When Sir Knight walked toward them, a forked branch from the bush clung to his back, the split end of the broken branch hanging near the ground. His mother sighed.

“What is that thing?” Ambrose demanded in horror. He stood at the door to the main living room pointing at Sir Knight.

“Rude,” Sir Knight huffed.

“Let’s all go inside.” Dakota’s father hurried forward and ushered Ambrose into the house. Dakota followed with Sir Knight at his side, and his mother closed the door once they were all inside.

“A dog? Seriously? How embarrassing is it to have a prosaic animal in the house? And it stinks.”

“Dakota will wash him,” Chester said. “However, we have more important issues to discuss. Everyone take a seat.

Ambrose threw himself into the chair closest to the door. “I told you that you were going to get in trouble.”

“Ambrose!” their mother snapped as she sat on the couch and pulled Dakota closer. Rather than argue, he sat next to her. Because of the coffee table in front and his mother to his side, there wasn’t any room for Sir Knight. He huffed and sat by the hallway door.

“What? It’s true. I know to not wander around the prosaic world without adults to protect me,” Ambrose defended himself.

“That’s where he grew up. He doesn’t understand the danger the Nietzscheians pose.” Chester chose a chair near Ambrose.

Dakota frowned at his father. “I thought you said they weren’t a serious danger.”

His mother glared at Chester for a moment before holding out a hand for Dakota’s. “I’m sure he simply didn’t want to worry you. However, the Nietzscheans are very angry at our family and they would hurt us if they could. Your father and I can protect ourselves so it is you children who are most at risk.”

“You mean they want to kill me?” Sir Knight bolted to his feet and shoved between Dakota and his mother to rest a chin on Dakota’s knee.

“They will not while I am here.” He kept his voice low and soothing, but Dakota could still tell he was furious.

His mother held both her hands up and away from Sir Knight while looking at him with mild horror. Dakota wondered if that was fear or if she wanted to avoid the dirt. “Chester,” she said.

“Right. Um… Come,” he said loudly. Sir Knight angled his ears down and away from Dakota’s father. In dog speak, that was an insult. “Come, boy. Come here. Come over here.” Each time he called louder. Each time Sir Knight’s ears went back farther until they were as close to being laid back as Sir Knight could get with floppy ears.

Dakota nudged him. “Go on boy. Go lay down.”

Sir Knight huffed. “Your pack is annoying.”

Dakota smiled, and after a second, Sir Knight moved to the other side of the room and threw himself down before glaring at all of them. Ambrose studied him, his eyes narrowing as he watched the dog.

“Right.” His mother cleared her throat. “No one would kill a child,” she said firmly enough that Dakota knew she believed that. “However, in the magical world, inheritance goes by either who is older or who is more magical.”

Ambrose got a smug expression on his face, which made it clear he expected to inherit.

“Since you are older, there is a chance you will inherit,” his mother continued. Ambrose twitched, but his smug expression remained. So clearly he didn’t expect that to happen.

“What does that have to do with Nietzscheans attacking us?”

“They likely wanted to take you, to raise you with the values Nietzsche espoused and convince you to fight for their twisted beliefs once you were grown. Money is power, and our family has a lot of money. Furthermore, many people believe that magic has graced certain family lines to have more capacity for leadership. I am a council member, as was my father, my grandmother, my great-grandmother, my great, great-grandfather and my great, great, great-grandmother who helped plant the heart tree and start our community. Whichever of you boys earns the majority inheritance will likely be encouraged to take a role on the council. The Nietzscheans would like to control that person.”

“It won’t happen,” his father said firmly. “I’m going to hire a guard to escort him.”

“I doubt the school wants a guard posted to the grounds,” his mother said.

“They don’t have a choice after our son was nearly taken. They should have prevented it.” Chester’s face was growing redder by the second.

“Dakota should have come home when told,” his mother said coldly. She looked at Dakota. “You are grounded for two weeks. You can’t go anywhere other than school, and you must come home immediately when class ends. Clear?”

Dakota nodded. He wasn’t sure how that was supposed to be punishment when that’s what he did normally. Now that he had Sir Knight, he didn’t need to go anywhere and his only human friends were Faye and Fikru, who he saw at school. And Alvin. But he was more of an in-class friend. They didn’t even eat together.

His father sat beside him on the couch and ruffled his hair. “I get it. Kids want adventures, and that’s normal. But being in this family means you’re in some danger, so you have to curb that natural tendency to run wild.”

“Okay,” Dakota whispered. “But no guard.”

His father sighed. “We can talk about it later.”

“It would be embarrassing, like I needed to be babysat or something.”

“You do,” Ambrose said in a nasty tone.

“Ambrose!” their mother snapped. “One more word and you will go to your room without dinner.”Ambrose ducked his head to avoid their mother’s angry gaze. “I raised you better than that. Show manners.”

“Now we need to discuss the Laozi stone,” his father said.

“What?” Ambrose jumped up from his chair. “We have a Laozi stone?”

“Dakota does,” their mother said. “He found it in the dog’s lair, so we can assume this is his challenge gift.”

“What?” Ambrose demanded even louder. “All I got was a rainbow serpent, and he gets a Laozi stone? A Laozi stone? Seriously?”

“At the time, you were desperate for a rainbow serpent and you thought that was the best challenge gift in the world. You certainly told everyone it was.”

“Because I was five. And it’s already dead, so how is it fair that he gets a Laozi stone?”

Their father moved over to Ambrose and slung an arm over his shoulders. “Tell you what, Sport, you and I can go shopping this weekend while your brother is on house arrest. How does that sound?”

“Will you buy me a Laozi stone?” Ambrose demanded.

Their parents exchanged looks before Chester answered. “We can see if anyone has one for sale, but even if they do, you could buy a mage house for less than you would spend on a Laozi stone.”

“Then take his away. We could sell it and then each of us could get an amazing present.” Ambrose crossed his arms and glared at their parents. Dakota just wished he could sink into the couch and disappear.

“That is unacceptable, young man. A magical gift belongs to the person magic gifts it to. If Dakota chooses to sell it, that is his choice and the money will belong to him and him alone.”

Dakota blinked. The stone was worth more than a house? If he kept it until he was an adult and then sold it, he would have a head start on life, even if Ambrose got the inheritance, and he probably would. Dakota barely had enough magic to qualify as a mage. That could work.

“This isn’t fair!” Ambrose screamed. “I hate this family and I hate my stupid brother! You should have left him where he was!” Ambrose ran out of the room, and the two adult exchanged concerned looks.

“I’ll talk to him,” Chester said.

Dakota’s mother nodded. Dakota waited until he was gone before he asked his mother, “Is there someplace we can lock the stone up until I’m older and I can sell it?” he asked.

That surprised her. “Sweetheart, you could use that stone to learn everything you missed by not growing up here. We could get you books on the mage world, mage creatures, mage government. The stone would probably cover all that since it’s one topic. This is an opportunity, and a gift from magic. It’s worth more than money.”

So she wasn’t going to let him sell it. “Can I think about it and decide later?” he asked. Maybe if they set the stone aside, his parents would forget about it.

She gave him a small smile. “Of course.”

“Can we lock it up for now? Somewhere safe?”

“It is safe, sweetheart. When magic gives you a gift, that gift will follow you everywhere. Ambrose spent four years with a serpent draped over his shoulders, even when he wanted to leave it behind. That’s the nature of magic, Dakota. Your stone is safe with you.”

She looked over toward Sir Knight. “Now since your dog is resistant to magic, you’re going to need to wash him. You can use your own shampoo, but please use the outside hose. I have no idea what that much dirt and hair would do to pipes, but since your father and I are not proficient with building spells, I would rather not find out.”

Dakota looked over. Sir Knight was actually pretty dirty. “I need brushes and combs and food. Lots of food,” Dakota said.

“What sort of food do dogs eat?” She hesitated over the word dog as if she couldn’t believe she was asking the question.

“Oatmeal with meat,” Sir Knight said quickly. “That’s my favorite, although rice with meat works too.”

“Oatmeal with meat. Can we get that?”

His mother sighed. “I’ll get something together. You get the dog outside. And do not leave the house.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Dakota quickly agreed. Now that he had Sir Knight, he didn’t need to.