Johna Comes Back Home

Betan was very proud of his child. He deserved to be. "He's going to be a great knight. He can read and write much better than me!" he said as he slapped his son on the back. I said "He's going to go far. I can't wait for my kids to get of age. Now that they have a role model to look up to, there's no way they can fail." Betan had a bit of a wry smile on his face. "We-well said." he said nervously. I looked at him. "I think Betan would be a good influence on them. Do you disagree?" I asked. He shook his head. "No! My son is amazing. I just wonder if..." he trailed off before taking a deep drink from his tankard of ale. "Wonder... what?" I pressed. "Well, you have a girl and those half breeds, right?" he started. I nodded my head. "Yes. The children that I love could be described that way. It does annoy me though." I said. Betan scoffed. "You know I don't mean any offense. It is what it is. You had a tough choice and you did what you could for your legacy. Every good knight needs a legacy." he said with a big wave of his hand. "Okay?" "You don't think they'll be knights, right?" he asked me.

Calling him out was not the play here. I already knew he was a racist. Normally I would not be friends with someone like this. He was the only human male that wanted to be friends with me. I was an open thief for one. I was not popular for having a nymph mistress and 3 bastard children openly. I was not someone that conformed to the standards of masculinity here either. I cooked and supported my wife with her art career. It was seen as feminine. If it was not for the fact I had 6 children, they probably would have thought that I was gay. Training my daughter for knighthood was the last straw. Betan had all the same qualms. He just could set those aside to spar with me and the centaurs. Beating him every so often proved to him that I was a man worthy of some respect. He won most of the time. Being kind to him and actually taking him seriously did not hurt our relationship. It was him that taught me how to use a net and trident in combat. I had no clue why I would go to battle with those weapons, but he had heard of it from me and wanted to test it out. "You want to spar with my sons?"

It was a no-brainer for me to champion Johna's cause when she returned. I gave her a week to recover from the trip. She had graduated and had become a witch. Her specialty was Evocation. The focus of study on magic that creates powerful elemental effects such as bitter cold, searing flame, rolling thunder, crackling lightning, and burning acid was pretty cool. Some evokers find employment in military forces, serving as artillery to blast enemy armies from afar. Others use their spectacular power to protect the weak, while some seek their own gain as bandits, adventurers, or aspiring tyrants. I was a phantom thief in my old world. It would be rich if I said that I hated bandits or thought they were lowly. That being said, I was going to push my children to be better than me. I went right to Anthony with my daughter. "I want an audience with your father during court." I told him. "You know that it is not needed for you to make petitions with the commoners. You have his ear already." he said with a very tired look. He led us up to his father in their sitting room. He was having his morning tea.

Going to him with Johna, I placed her right in front of me. "My lord, I am with some great news for you today. My daughter has returned from the mage academy!" I said. I had a great idea. His lips just quirked up a bit. I knew he was in a good mood. It was his major tell. "Yes, Collin. I see her. I've heard you talk all about her this week." he mocked. That was fine with me. "I'm a very proud father. Johna is my heir and my joy. Pursuant to that, I believe it would be a great thing for us if we had a learned and practiced mage at court. Johna could take on the role for us." He simply leaned forward with a smile on his face. "You think so, huh?" "Think of it, Count Swifthunt. Having a court mage would be pretty nice and prestigious. Having said court mage be of House Rhombus would be good for your favorite advisor too. I think that it's the perfect coincidence." He said "Fine. Johna Rhombus, come here and kiss my ring. You will serve me with duty and skill from now on." Johna did as she was bidden. That was a nice thing. It was what I wanted. I bowed to him and Anthony, and we left them all.

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