With the morning’s chaos of discording hoots, clacks, and feathers, Ximly finally managed to sit herself down in the dining room. The room was rather small, as it wasn’t the formal dining room, but the room behind the kitchen. It had a small fridge in the corner, and the table she sat at only held four, just enough for the small family of friends. There were two large windows beside the fridge, and a small sink next to it, and a counter that held an old dinkity microwave.
In front of Ximly sat a small bowl of honeycombs, a plate with toast, a spoon for jam, and across from her the same arrangement of food and silverware. The woman now had her hair tied up, with two sections of her bangs framing her face, and she wore a tight black shirt, with one of the long sleeves cut off, and belts down to her wrist on the other arm. With this she also had steel-toed boots, and camouflaged pants, and a pair of goggles hanging from her neck. A messenger bag was on the floor resting against her foot.
Brian walked in, his hair neatly combed over to one side, and a light jacket over his tang top. He too wore camouflaged pants, steel toed boots, and a pair of goggles around his neck. He also sported leather gloves, and a few belts around his bag. “So what’s today going to be like, Mum?” He asked cheerfully.
Ximly looked at the boy with a sigh, “I have to go up to the shop today for some time, and then I’ll be taking Calon out for a run to the market.”
“No poacher stakeouts today?” The boy asked, sounding a bit disappointed.
“No. That’ll be tomorrow…. Today’s an off day Brian, they don’t deal in Tom’s pub on off days.” Ximly replied with a sigh, “And it’s too risky to venture farther out of the small area that we have secured in town.”
Brian gave a nod of understanding. “Alright then, what about the gang here? Can Myther and I go for a little checkup around the Haven?”
Ximly nodded with a smile, “Stay to your authorized zones though, the Professor and her son are still here to rat you out if you don’t.”
“And Tana….” Brian let out a sigh, “Speaking of which, where is she this morning?”
“It’s feeding time, Brian.” Ximly replied with a sigh, “We got off to a late start this morning.”
Brian nodded again as he sat down and poured a bit of milk over his cereal. “And my study plan today?”
“Same as the usual, though I expect you to finish the book on Wyrms by noon and the essay in runes done along with that.” Ximly said with a nod, “By then I should be home for lunch to pick up Calon, and we’ll throw in a bit of field work today.”
The boy’s face lit up as he took a bite of his food, field work meant working with some of the smaller creatures at the Haven, and that meant he’d also get to spend more time with his griffin, Myther… He swallowed, “Alright.”
Ximly let out a sigh, which caused the boy’s expression to fade. “Brian, because of the increase of poachers in the area…. Post is debating on weather or not we need to relocate the Haven, or if we just need more security installed.”
“Which post?” Brian asked slowly, thinking back on how many different post branches the main society had.
“One.”
“But that’s Council, isn’t it?” Brian asked quickly, shocked at Ximly’s reply.
Ximly gave a slow nod, “And they’re holding it as a Joint meeting.”
Brian paled. Being called to Joint Council was never a good thing…. The elder dragons hardly EVER took time out of their lives to meet with humans, and when they did, the need was of the upmost urgency. He gulped, “J-joint Council?”
Ximly nodded again.
“But that means you’ll have to go away for….. for like…”
“Two hours At the maximum.” Ximly replied.
“How? I mean, when did you find this out?”
“A few weeks ago, but the meeting date was just announced last night, and I spent the rest of the night scheduling everything.” Ximly sighed, “As to how….. They’re coming here next Friday.”
Brian choked on his toast and orange juice at hearing his mother finish her sentence, and Ximly had to quickly run to the other side of the table to give the boy a hard thump on the back. “Here?” Brian gasped, “But we can’t hold them here!!! The Council Elders are huge!! HUGE! They’ll be seen here all the way from Barton!”
“The meetings will take place in the country side Brian, and the Council will remain with the Orcs in the northern mines.” Ximly sighed.
“But ogres and dragons don’t mix!” Brian said, “This is going to be a disaster!”
“We’ve already got it worked out….”
“Will they….examine the Haven? And I mean, they know about you, don’t they?” Brian asked, looking up at Ximly with a worried look.
Ximly nodded, “It’ll be fine. That isn’t the concern at this time.”
“But when it is?”
“It’ll still be good.” Ximly said softly, patting Brian on the head. “Now, finish your breakfast and get to your studies before you go flying.”
Brian nodded his head as Ximly turned and left the room. She hadn’t even touched her food, and she picked her bag up in a hurry as she left. A sinking feeling rose in Brian’s stomach, and a long, skinny, small dragon made its way out of his bag, and onto his shoulder. Brian let out a sigh and gently stroked the creature on its head with his finger as he spoke. “This is going to end badly Orien….”
The little dragon grumbled gloomily and then let out a sigh as it draped itself around Brian’s neck like a scarf. It already knew what Brian had told it, it could feel it within its bones…..
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Next:
Jurassic Park? O-OPrevious:
What a Morning....
