Chapter 59: Friendly Introductions


    Kitty, stop pacing around everywhere, you are making the dogs go crazy, Gidget said.


    They shouldnt even be in the living room. They should be leashed in the shed, Kithinained.


    The two ck hounds bounced back and forth between Kithina. Their tongues lolled out in excitement. Theirrge size threatened to tumble Kithina over if she wasnt careful.


    They are just happy to see you. Youve been at that dorm for months and you rarely drop by, Gidget said.


    I love them too, but you know how aggressive they are with strangers and my friends will be here any minute now, Kithina said.


    Ill get Skobby to grab them in a minute, Gidget said.


    He should have leashed them over an hour ago, Kithina grumbled.


    Give your little brother a break, hes been studying very hard for the civics entrance exam.


    You need to do more than just study to get into one of the four academies.


    Like what? Skobby said,ing out from his room. He crossed his arms, Go on oh great mage, please shower us with your hard-earned wisdom, that is if you havent been too busy daydreaming in your sses.


    Kithina raised three fingers, Money, connections with one Named House or another, or most importantly, intelligence. I got into my academy with thetter, Kithina grinned.


    You mean magic, dumbass. Skobby chuckled.


    Oh its on pipsqueak, Kithina cracked her knuckles.


    Stop it, both of you. What are you even doing, Kitty? Your brother is only 14, but youre an adult now. Start acting like one, Gidget scolded.


    Mom, Im only 18, cut me some ck, Kithina said and closed her eyes.


    A pale outline of yellow scales appeared over her skin. Ktihina opened her eyes and smiled, Ill let him hit me first.


    Mom, shes using magic again! Skobby backed away.


    Kithina, what did I say about using magic in the house? Last time you broke my favorite vase, Gidget ced her hands on her hips.


    That was an ident. Kithina sighed, Fine, whatever. The yellow scales faded away.


    Wheres dad anyway? He should be here by now.


    You know he went to pick up some wine for dinner. Hell be back any minute. Stop worrying, the food is cooked, the table is set, and youre already dressed in your best. Just rx, Gidget said.


    Kithina grabbed the hem of her red dress. She bit her lip, How do I look? Be honest.


    Like a red tomato, Skobbyughed.


    Quiet! Go put the dogs in your room, now, Gidget ordered.


    Fiiine, he groaned.


    He grabbed the two hounds leashes and wrestled them into the room. There was something strangely amusing of seeing a 3 and a half-foot dwarf trying to pull two yful mastiffs towards him. When their mom wasnt looking Kithina stuck her tongue out at Skobby as he dragged the dogs away.


    Gidget waited until Skobby was shut in his room. She then turned to Kithina with a smile, You look beautiful honey, Im sure hell love it.


    Kithinas eyes widened, What?


    Oh please, you wouldnt be so worked up if there wasnt some special boy, Gidget said.


    <em>Mom</em>, please, Kithina frowned.


    Gidget raised her hands in mock surrender, I get it, you dont want to talk about him. But, if hesing over the least you could do is give us a heads up, that way your father doesnt end up embarrassing you in front of him, yeah?


    You cant tell dad, hell just get all awkward about it, Kithina grimaced.


    Trust me, I wont. But, I do need to know a little bit if Im to stop your father from bbering during dinner.


    Okay, fine. Just promise me you wont freak out, Kithina grabbed her hand.


    Kitty, Im on your side. You have nothing to worry about.


    <em>Mom</em>.


    Okay, okay, I promise. Now, whats his name?


    Kithina froze. If her mom found out that a son of House Veres, one of the most prominent families in the entire city, would being to their small home shed definitely freak out in an instant. Kithina needed to start a little simpler.


    Ill introduce you to all of them when they arrive. Lets just say hes special, Kithina made a crooked smile.


    What do you mean <em>special</em>? Is he talented? Gidget raised an eyebrow.


    Very much. Hes one of the best students in my ss.


    Wow, impressive. More importantly, how does he treat you?


    When we first met he was a bit standoffish, but he turned out to be a really nice person. You should definitely give him a chance.


    Gidget narrowed her eyes, Kitty, what are you not telling me? Spill it.


    Damn, her mom was too perceptive. She needed a diversion.


    Kithina slumped her shoulders, Remember, dont freak out... Hes a hybrid.


    Gidget ced her hands on her daughters shoulders. Is that all? You shouldnt be worried about something like that. Lovees in all different shapes and sizes. Im sorry you ever felt worried to tell me about something like that. And dont worry too much about the infertility thing, not everyone has children anyway. Not that Im saying to have children. <em>Dont</em> have children. Youre too young for that.


    Got it, thanks mom, Kithina smiled. Crisis averted.


    A knock rang on the door.


    She did a double take, That must be them.


    Well, what are you waiting for? Go and greet your friends, Gidget nudged Kithina forward.


    Right. Ktihina ran.


    She halted as she neared the door. She took a deep breath and smiled as brightly as she could, then opened the door, Good evening, Im d you could make it!


    Hey Kitty, you look nice, Grolm smiled. He held arge cloth bag between his stubby fingers.


    Oh, its just you dad. Ktihinas smile fell t.


    Grolm frowned, Hey, thats not fair. I went all the way to the trade district just to bring you that fancy wine you like. Does your hardworking father not even deserve a wee-home smile?


    What took you so long anyway? Kithina crossed her arms.


    I may have gotten a little carried away, hehe, Grolm grinned.


    You bought Fire Breath, didnt you?


    Just one bottle. I first bought your wine, but then I noticed there was a sale on the Fire Breath and its a limited edition from Frost Rim. You know the dwarves up there make the best spirits. I dont know what it is about that frozen city, but they always somehow manage to have the most delicious alcohol.


    Dad, you cant serve that to my friends, its too strong for them, its even too strong for me.


    Rx, I still brought your wine bottle, your friends can have that. Ill just have a bit of the Fire Breath.


    I dont want you getting drunk while my friends are here, she groaned.


    Dear, just close the door ande here, Gidget waved her husband over.


    Grolm nodded and closed the door. He made sure not to make eye contact with Kithina. Coming dear.


    Your beard is a mess, Gidget said.


    She began to fix the weaves and wooden beads in her husbands dark beard. Kithina grabbed the bag of alcohol and set it on the table, then proceeded to continue her pacing. Grolm looked at his daughter with a warm smile.


    It had only been a few months but she had changed drastically. She was no longer that nervous wide-eyed girl from a year ago. Okay, perhaps she was, but she was confident now too. He still remembered the day that Kithinas magic awoke. She had just visited his office. She wanted to talk to him, but he was too busy with his scribe work. Suddenly, a wind blew into the office and his papers went flying.


    Kithina and Grolm had both been surprised. Grolm was a simple dwarf from amoners background, but he knew magic when he saw it. Normally, itd be difficult to have someone take a mageborn test. It required connections and ample money. He didnt care. He scraped together what little savings he had and spoke with the few meager connections he had made through the years. Finally, after weeks of trying, he managed to get his Kitty into a mageborn test.


    Kithina had been so worried, simr to how she was now. Grolm wasnt, he never doubted his daughter. She passed the test and was set to attend the magic academy the next autumn. To think a year had passed since that test, how much she had grown. Despite being amoner, Grolm had a mage daughter. He was so proud.


    My little mage, Grolm whispered with a smile.


    Our little mage, Gidget whispered back.


    Another knock rang on the door.


    That has to be them! Kithina dashed towards the door.


    There, all better, Gidget said, patting Grolms cheek affectionately. Now, lets go meet our daughters friends.


    Mm, Grolm nodded.


    Good evening, Im d you could make it! Kithina beamed.


    Stryg, Plum, Callum and one of his maids, stood in the doorway.


    Good evening, Kithina, Callum bowed. His maid bowed as well.


    Hey Kithina, thanks for inviting us! Plum waved.


    Hello, Stryg said.


    Kitty, invite them inside, Gidget said.


    O-oh, uh, right, of course, Kithina extended her arm, Right this way. Wee to my home.


    Kithina led them into the living room. Please have a seat, she gestured towards the couch.


    Thank you, Callum said. The group sat down, except for the maid, who stood in the back.


    Well, are you going to introduce us? Grolm asked.


    Yeah, Kithina stood back up and pointed towards her parents. This is my mom and dad. These are my friends from the academy.


    You can do better than that, Grolmined.


    Pleasure to make your acquaintances, this is Grolm, my husband, and you can call me Gidget, she smiled. May I have the honor of knowing your names?


    Gidget nced around the couch. Four guests. Her daughter had said there would be three. Gidget looked at the maid standing in the back, Kithina probably hadnt taken the pretty young woman into ount.


    The maid stood behind the seated handsome man. He had ruby eyes, pale skin, and dark ck hair. He must be a vampire, she guessed. Most vampires were at least middle-ss, this one seemed to be wealthy enough to have his own private maid, impressive to say the least.


    My name is Callum Veres, Im happy to finally meet Kithinas mother. I now know where she gets her beautiful red hair, Callum smiled.


    Hispliment fell on deaf ears. Thest thing Gidget heard was his surname. Her face paled and her smile became rigid.


    D-did you say V-veres? As in House Veres? One of the Great Houses of Hollow Shade? Grolm asked.


    Callum nodded, The very same one.


    Ill be damned, an actual Veres in my home? The boys at the office are never gonna believe this, Grolmughed out loud and pped his knee.


    Kithina pinched the bridge of her nose. So much for slowly easing her parents into Callums background.


    Gidget cleared her throat and tried to regain herposure. Its an honor to have a scion of House Veres in our home. We have a modest home and not much to offer, but I humbly ask that you overlook our fault this one time. Our <em>daughter </em>neglected to inform us of your lineage. We would have done more had we known.


    Please, do not worry about anything of the sort. You have a quaint little home, Callum said. He patted the couch. A thread came loose. Ehehe, yes. Um, its...nice.


    Callum was used to mansions, not an old house in themoner district. He tried his best to hide his difort.


    Gidget gave a sidelong nce of livid anger towards her daughter. Kithina swallowed in fear.


    Thank you so much for your kind words, I will not forget them, Gidget bowed.


    Shed deal with Kithinias idiocyter. For now she needed to be a good hostess. She turned to the pretty bespectacled drow.


    Hello, my name is Plum, but you can call me Plum. I may be a mage, and therefore technically middle-ss, but I was born amoner, like you. So, dont worry about any special formalities, she grinned.


    Its my pleasure to meet you Plum, Gidget smiled.


    Plum? Like the flower? Grolm asked.


    Ah, yes. My mother was trained as a scribe and she loves reading books about botany and anything flower rted. So much so that she named me after a flower, Plum chuckled abashedly.


    What a coincidence, Im a scribe myself. No wonder you and Kitty are friends, Grolm said.


    I think we would have been friends anyway, I love Kithinas or should I say Kittys, personality. She has a fiery temper that is always ready to fight. Plum nced over at Stryg, Reminds me of someone I know.


    And what can I call you? Grolm asked Stryg.


    Stryg was slumped on the couch, simply enjoying itsfiness. It had been a long day of personal training with Loh and all he wanted to do was eat and go home to a bed with an awaiting open-armed Feli. He wouldnt have evene, but Plum dragged him. She insisted that he needed to go since Kithina had been kind enough to invite them all to dinner.


    The sound of barking echoed through the house. Skobbys bedroom door flung open as the two mastiffs bolted outside and straight into the living room. Kithina stood up in rm.


    Get back here! Skobby shouted.


    It was toote, the hounds ran right at a frozen Plum. Stryg lurched forward in between them both. He raised his hands, flexed his ws, and hissed at the dogs. The mastiffs slid on the ground as they tried to backpedal away. They whined and trotted behind Skobby. He grabbed their leashes with haste.


    Thanks, Plum whispered to him.


    Dont mention it, Stryg muttered.


    Dammit, Skobby, someone could have gotten hurt! Kithina yelled.


    Im sorry everyone, I took my eyes off them for one second and they somehow managed to escape, Skobby bowed his head repeatedly.


    Those two rascals are always so hostile towards neers. But, Ive never seen them act so terrified before, Grolm said. He slowly looked over to the culprit.


    Stryg stayed silent.


    Plum spoke up, My best friend isnt much for words. You can call him Stryg.


    Gidget studied the mysterious stranger. He was slightly taller than the average goblin, but that was only where the differences began. His skin was a shade of blue, a teal perhaps. His hair was a pale grey, shining like silver where the light hit. The points of his ears were muted and his faces sharp features were uncanny. Yet, it was his lc eyes that were truly unsettling. They drew in any beholder and froze them with fear and wonder. This was undoubtedly him, the hybrid Kithina spoke of.