Editing Story:ROAD TRIP! (Warhammer High)/Part Five (section)

==And Later That Day...==

===On a Lighter Note===


Russ nodded once, relaxing back into his seat again.  “Tell me,” he said genially, his anticipation and bloodlust vanishing in a heartbeat, “of little Freya’s vacation.”

Redwind chuckled at the sudden change of tone.  “Well, Sire…it’s been eventful.  Not always in the good way, either.”

“Oh?” Russ asked.

“Yes.  She loves it here, of course…but her friends have found it all somewhat overwhelming,” Redwind admitted.  “They were attacked by krakenspawn when they went fishing, as well.  It unnerved the Terran, Seager, and the Trader, Carlin, greatly.”

“Those boys have been having a rough few months,” Russ muttered.  “Are they all right?”

“They are now, yes, but they didn’t think they’d have to…let’s say it: hose down the local fauna with an autorifle to survive their first week,” Redwind said.  “They’ve kept to their quarters for the most part since.”

“A shame,” Russ said.  “But…this is Fenris.  I thought I impressed upon Freya the dangers of taking her friends and cousins here before they departed.”

“So did she,” Redwind said unaccusatorily.  “She thought they could handle it.  She was wrong.”

Russ went silent for a moment, thinking.  Both other men sensed it when he made up his mind.  He rose from his throne.  “I think I will speak to them directly.”

Remilia flipped back on her bed and crossed her arms under her head.  “So, Freya,” she started, smirking at her cousin, who was practically wringing her hands at the foot of the bed.  “How you doin’ right now?”

“Flipping out!” Freya said.  She grinned nervously, crossing her arms over her stomach.  All five teens were lounging around Remilia’s room.  Alex was still a bit anxious, since the elder Russ had never professed to be any friend of his.  Then, he probably wouldn’t have let either him or Jake come to the Fang if he found them untrustworthy.  “Are you guys okay?  Dad can be kind of…you know, overwhelming.”

“You almost sound like you’re scared,” Jake said in surprise.

“Do I?  I’m really not.  Just anxious.  We have a lot to talk about.”

“I’m a bit nervous, but only because…well.  It’s your Dad,” Alex said.  “I swear he still doesn’t like me.”

Freya shrugged.  “Oh, hush.  He’ll be fine, I promise.”  She suddenly glanced at the door, mischievous.  “Although…if you want to confuse the hell out of him, I know a thing we could do.”


Russ rode the lifts down to the VIP guest quarters, wondering if he would have the chance to get Freya to tell him exactly what had happened with the krakenspawn.  As he emerged on the right floor, the most curious conversation met his ears.  They were, after all, the second best in the entire Imperium.

“I’m telling you, that’s simply not fair,” Remilia was insisting.

“We could ask Uncle Leman,” Venus said.

“Why would he even care?  And besides, when would he wear them in the first place?” Remilia asked.

“But it’s a question of definition!” Venus insisted.  “And who better to define the word ‘tactical?’”

“Beyond the obvious?” Remilia sniffed.

“Guys, come now.  We’re not going to want to bother Dad with whether or not you can define cargo pants as ‘tactical jhorts,’” Freya said with a sigh.

“Your definition is too narrow!” Venus said as Leman approached the right door.

“You’re too narrow,” Freya muttered.

“Go chase a car,” Venus said in the same tone.

Russ rounded the corner into the room to see all three girls arguing while the boys stared at them in a mixture of surprise and shock.  Russ coughed.  “Please don’t halt the argument for my benefit,” he said drily, knowing full well they had been arguing for just that reason.

Freya snapped her fingers.  “Damn, he never falls for that any more.”  She struggled to her feet.  “He fell for it once, never again.”

“Once, and I’m sure you’ll never let me forget,” Russ sighed, leaning over to accept a gleeful hug from his daughter.  “How have you all been?  A bit roughed up, I hear?”

“I think it’s more the roughing-ups we avoided, Sire,” Jake said, struggling to force his nerves down.  “It is good to see you again though, your Highness, and Fenris is an amazing place,” he added, bowing.

“It is,” Russ said.  He took a step back and leaned against the wall, having removed his power armor for a more practical leather and fabric tunic.  “So.  What else have you done here so far?”

Freya piped up.  “Well, we went on a rock-climbing excursion with Grey Hunter Hasskald of Tra,” she started.  “Before that we went on a trip to the beach of the Everocean, but that got cut short by a skirmish between two tribes nearby…let’s see, we had a hot spring scene,” she said, drawing a chuckle from her father.  “But I also went on a day trip to a large Krennir village, just to see how things work out here.  You know, see the people a little.”

Russ nodded, catching her drift.  They’d discuss it in privacy later.  “And what else?”

“We’ve been spending some time at the range in the lower levels, and we toured the Hammerhold,” Venus put in.  “And the fishing trip, of course.”

“I see.”  Russ nodded again, thinking.  He noted that both of the Terrans were deflating a bit, their nerves easing considerably.  Well, the hiver was.  Carlin, not as much.  He was still wound tight as a spring coil.  He was distantly satisfied.  “Perhaps I can come up with some ideas as to what you can do while you’re here,” he said, coming back to the point.  “How much longer are you here?”

“Nine days,” Freya said.  “Then straight back to Terra.”

“Right.”  Russ crossed his arms over his chest and smiled knowingly.  “I imagine spending so much time here has grown somewhat repetitive,” he said.

Remilia and the other non-Fenrisians shifted awkwardly.  Russ waved it away.  “It’s nothing, I expected as much.  But then, I knew I would be dropping by,” he said with a sly little grin.  “I will be here for the next…let’s say ninety Terran Standard Days.  As much as my time’s going to be taken up by work, I would feel like a terrible host if I didn’t offer you all the chance to see the Fang from its owner’s perspective,” Russ said.  He smiled faintly.  “Or perhaps one of the places I bet you haven’t seen yet outside?”

“Did you have something specific in mind, your Highness?” Jake asked carefully.

“I do indeed, Sieur Seager,” Russ said.  He straightened back up.  “First, however, it’s well after supper, you must all be famished.  Freya, I’d like to speak to you after you’ve eaten, just drop by my own quarters when you have a moment.”  He nodded once.  “I will see you all tomorrow.”

Freya bounced up from the bed and followed him into the hall, pausing him as he walked away.  “Is something wrong, Dad?” she asked.

“Not at all,” Russ said, reaching down to squeeze her shoulder.  He smiled as she shrugged his hand off, pretending to be annoyed.  “Trust me, I just want to hear how things have been going and talk about your college plans.  Really.  We can talk after dinner tonight if you like.”

“I think I would,” Freya said.  She planted her hands on her hips and stared at the deckplates, thinking.  “Yeah.  I would.  If you’re not busy.”

Russ nodded and stepped into the lift.  “Tonight, then.”


===Touché===


As the group took dinner in their rooms, Freya raced through the food, hoping to get away to speak to her father.  She bolted as soon as the food was gone, pausing only long enough to grab Bjorn’s gifts to show her father.

As she arrived at his chambers, however, she found him in the middle of a blazing argument with two officers, and hovered nervously outside the door until they tromped out, muttering to themselves.  As they left, Freya entered, glancing around for her father.  King Russ himself was hunched over the table at the farthest wall, paging through his papers with an air of intense annoyance.  Freya coughed from the door to the room.

Russ spun around, his anger melting into fond attention in an instant.  “Freya, come in,” he said.

“Am I interrupting, Father?” Freya asked in Juvjk.

“No, we’re all done,” Russ said, beckoning her closer.  “Tell me of your adventure.”

“Do you want the short version from the letters, or the longer, more detailed version?” Freya asked.

“I have time for the full one, I think,” Russ said.

Freya walked up beside him, begrudgingly tolerating his ruffling her hair.  “Well…right off the bat, the ship’s officers started clamoring for attention…”

As she recounted the tale, tastefully omitting the details of Remilia’s newfound love, she slid into full storyteller mode, relishing the opportunity to pass it along.  They sat down in two massive chairs before the small gas fireplace in one wall and started it as she continued.  As she reached the end, she faltered a bit when describing her companions’ mounting boredom and their experiences with the krakenspawn.  Russ didn’t interrupt except for small questions and requests for clarification, until at last she wrapped up with the poker game he had interrupted.

“‘Busy’ doesn’t begin to describe it, eh?” Russ said, his eyes glimmering in the firelight.

“Not at all,” Freya said.

Russ smiled.  “Good.  I’m glad.  Tell me more of this spat between Alex and his father, if you would,” he said, pouring himself a glass of something that smelled overwhelmingly strong.

Freya waved off a cup.  “Well, his father’s a prideful and cowardly man, at heart, but smart,” she said, disgusted.  “So when he told Alex in public rather than in private that he was forcing him to choose, he was backing his son into a corner.”

“Revolting,” Russ murmured.  “What did you do?”

“I told him that I would have his Warrant revoked if he had done what Alex was afraid of him doing,” Freya said bluntly.

Russ’ head jerked around.  “You did WHAT?”

“You heard me,” she muttered, but it wasn’t defiance so much as lingering bitterness in her voice.  “Worthless corpsemerchant would deserve it too.”

“That is not the point,” Russ said, a tone of pure ice sliding into his voice like the edge of a knife.  Freya flinched.  “You do not have the authority to revoke a Warrant unless I give it to you.  Which I won’t.  I have made my stance on empty threats clear,” he said darkly.

“Forgive me, father,” Freya sighed, her head drooping in contrition.  “I will try not to let my emotions get in the way.”

“Of course not, Freya,” Russ said, his anger melting away.  How did she bloody do that?  “But the decision was Venus’ to make anyway.”

“I understand she later threatened him with imprisonment if he stayed in Nocturne’s system without approval, or followed us to Fenris,” Freya said quietly.  “I wasn’t there.”

Russ looked back to the flame.  “What did Alex do?”

Freya closed her eyes and felt tears build.  “He…stormed out, flew back to the castle.  He raved, called his father a worthless monster…called himself…” she hesitated as her voice tightened.  “…I won’t say it, that wasn’t even for my ears.”

Russ glanced back at her.  Her sense was one of regret, remorse…even self-doubt.  “He wept, father, felt so abandoned…he was hurting so much.  I asked him what I could do to mend the hurt…offered him everything I could think of…my hearing, my…self.  Nothing.  He just…he is so alone now.  His father drove his mother off before this happened, and now all he has is me.”  She looked up at her father, her eyes glistening with tears.  “He was hurting so much, and so I was too.  Does it feel like that for normal people?”

Russ sighed heavily, remembering the state Gairwyn had been in upon her mother’s diagnosis of brain cancer.  “Some people.  Good people.  There is…nothing wrong with emotion, little pup, nothing at all.  It is simply not useful sometimes.  Basic empathy is…not always something we of the Vlka should feel.  But when someone that close to you is hurt, I think humans feel it as close as we do.  I don’t think they react the same way, every time, though.  Your mother is a passionate and emotional woman, too, and she does not bear our gifts.”

Freya smiled sadly at the thought of her mother.  “Is she not here?”

“She did not wish to be.  Things are…not well on Terra.  You will see.  She is in no danger, of course, but the riots, and her mother’s health…” he trailed off.  “She did not wish to travel.”

“Riots?” Freya asked.

“A smuggling ring in Hive Nondemus took an Arbites courthouse out with it when the local law came knocking,” Russ said.  “But back to the matter at hand.  As much as I don’t like to see you suffer, I want to know how much this incident has affected your own plans,” he said.  “Clearly you have already changed your college for him.”

Freya shook her head.  “What of it?”

“Freya, is this boy worth twisting your career for him?” Russ asked.

His daughter glared up at him, her sadness turning to anger.  “What career, father?  Do tell.  What is my future?  Have we decided?”

Russ lowered his head a bit to meet her angry glare.  “Freya, please.  It’s an honest question.”

“So was mine,” she said darkly.  “I will live eternally, and he won’t.  Why not spend time with him while he’s here?”

Russ nearly bared his fangs in anger before checking himself.  “Do not be so cavalier,” he said instead.

“Why do you not like him, father?  This isn’t the first time you’ve said that,” Freya pointed out coolly.  “That exact word, regarding my reasoned decision to stay with him.  ‘Cavalier.’”

Russ grimaced.  “Freya, you know full well that I chose for my people to remain in the mires of war.  That they might elevate themselves through the brutal meritocracy of conflict, so that those with the mettle of a Space Marine might be seen without extensive trails beforehand.  I do not want…no matter how happy he makes you…for you to find yourself with someone who lacks the strength to serve as my heir, in battle as well as politics.”

Freya fell silent.  Russ stared into the flames for a moment longer before turning to her.  He blinked.  Freya’s face was twisted in revulsion.  “Oh…father…how cruel,” she said, her voice bitter.  “How pointlessly cruel.”

“Cruel?” Russ asked.

“Alex is not a Space Marine candidate!  We’re not even TALKING about marriage, let alone him serving as your heir!” she insisted.  “How…WHY would you judge him by a such a lofty criterion when he’s not even old enough to consider them?”

“Because time flies, Freya,” Russ said shortly.

“And besides, I didn’t ask why you don’t want me to marry him,” Freya said in the same tone.  “I’m asking why you don’t LIKE him.  You treat random friends of mine from school, and Jake and your nieces, better than you treat him.  Hell, you wouldn’t even shake his hand if I didn’t ask you to.”

Russ grunted.  “Fine.  I don’t like him because you two started having sex before you were even done growing, because he frankly seems to lack spine, and because I think he has entitlement issues.”

Freya gaped.  “Well, Dad, I can’t speak to the third, since he’s certainly never acted that way around me, but as for the first: my senses are as sharp as yours, and I’ve had to listen to, and smell, everything you and Mom have done behind closed doors since I was born.”

Russ shuddered.  “Fair enough.”


===Nobody Came Out of That Smelling Like Roses===


“And if he seems spineless around you, ask yourself this: have you ever tried to NOT intimidate him?” she asked sharply.  “I mean, the first thing you did when you met him was bare your teeth.  I had to grab your hands and bring them together before you would shake.”

“He smelled like you, Freya, at fifteen.  His voice hadn’t even broken!  How well was I supposed to take that?” he asked.  “Believe it or not, I love you, and I didn’t want you to give yourself to someone at that age, certainly not before I met him.”

“Look, my history with him aside, he’s seventeen bloody years old and already lost a parent to an act of senseless cruelty, that is, forcing him to choose between family and personal choice,” Freya said in a voice that could have melted glacial ice.  “How is your behaving so poorly around him different?  Because you making me feel that you distrust me and making him feel unwanted isn’t doing anyone favors.”

Russ’ head snapped around to glare daggers at his daughter, but the bite of truth in her words blunted his anger again.  “If you wish to know how I feel he is self-entitled, at least, answer me this.  When he walks into a stranger’s home and puts his feet on the furniture, does he even slow to think of it?  When he costs himself or others money and time in an act of carelessness, does he apologize with words or action?”

“I don’t know, Dad, because I’ve never seen him act so careless,” Freya said.  “You’re really reaching, here.”

“Freya, he acts like you were something he deserved because of his station and power, and treats you as such,” Russ said angrily.

“His station and power cost him his family.”  Freya stood.  “Come with me.”

“What?”

“Come with me.  Let me show you just how wrong you are,” she said.  Her eyes narrowed to green slits in the firelight.  “He has not acted like that…not once that I can remember in over a year.  You are objecting to my relationship with a man who doesn’t exist.”

Russ stayed in his seat, staring at his daughter.  “I’m not blind, Freya.  He has the arrogance of the born privileged in him.  Whether it’s a part of your everyday interactions or something he mostly keeps in check, I don’t know, and it barely matters.  It’s there.”

Freya leaned forward, and now she DID bare her teeth.  “I don’t judge you when your hands come home smelling of the blood of aliens and traitors,” she whispered.  “I trust you and respect you all the same.  Can you not respect and trust me when I choose a partner I feel would rather die than harm me?”

Russ was quiet for a long moment.  At length, Freya turned and walked out, knowing full well her father would follow.  After finishing the glass he had poured, Russ tiredly rose to his feet.  “Horus and Lorgar don’t have to deal with this, oh no, their daughters are dating boys who’ve sworn themselves to abstinence,” he grumbled as he followed his daughter to the lifts.  “Julius Pius and Pietro Gallagher at least don’t think with their dicks.”

Below, Alex was sprawled over Jake’s bed, listening to Jake tell stories about his old job.  “Now, I don’t blame him.  His health was pretty bad.  But seriously, leaving me to go deal with customers we caught shoplifting while he vanished into the back room?” Jake asked.  “Ugh.”

“Did that happen often?” Alex asked.

“Not as often as you’d think, given the local crime rate, but it was still pretty often.  Most of the time, we’d just let it slide, or take a picture of the thief and put it behind the counter with the big red word THIEF over it,” Jake said, scrawling on an invisible picture.  “Worked pretty well, but a few times it got violent.  We got robbed at gunpoint once, though I wasn’t there when that happened.”

“Well…none of that at Kouthry,” Venus said.  She drew her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs.  “I wonder if I should get a job on campus.  Just as an office clerk or something.”

“I’m sure you could, if only to seriously fuck with the heads of visiting people,” Remilia chuckled.  Venus laughed.

“Yeah, that would confuse the hell out of people.  Walk into the bursar’s office and there’s a Primarch behind the desk,” she said.

“Make people wonder just how high the tuition is,” Jake said, “that Lord Vulkan’s daughter has to work in the bursar’s office.”

A knock on the door announced Freya’s return.  “Hey, guys, Dad and I are gonna discuss what we’re going to do tomorrow,” she said, ducking in and sitting on the bedside.

Jake shrugged.  “What did you have in mind?” he asked.

Russ himself entered in his daughter’s wake.  “I would be quite honored to show you all one of the islands we use as a field camp,” he said, pausing in the doorframe.  He hid a smile at the boys’ surprise.  “I can promise no kraken, at least.”

His senses so attuned, he did indeed sense some of the anxiety from Alex that Freya had suggested.  He made a visible effort to appear more relaxed, leaning sideways on the doorframe and crossing his arms, and while Venus’ lad, Jacob, merely sat back down, Carlin instead deliberately crossed over to where Freya was sitting and sat beside her.  Almost like he was afraid Russ would take Freya away or something.  Interesting.

“Well, that’ll be an improvement,” Venus said, oblivious.

“I’d love to go, if we won’t be intruding, your Highness,” Jake said.  He tilted his head towards the planet, far below.  “Personally, I’ve found Fenris’ weather amazing so far.  Actual snow.  I never thought I’d live to see it.”

Russ allowed a small chuckle to pass his lips.  “I suppose to a hiver it would be more memorable than more or less anything else.  I think you’d like the island we’re visiting, though, it’s quite…what’s the phrase?  Picturesque.”

Jake smiled nervously.  “Sounds like fun.  What time should we leave, your Highness?”

“Say 0900.  I have a few administrative concerns to attend to.”  Russ straightened up.  “Am I to understand that you’ve availed yourselves of the firing range in the base of the Fang since you arrived?”

“Several times,” Remilia said.  “Should we not be doing that, Uncle Leman?”

“Far to the contrary, I approve.  Help yourselves,” Russ said with a nod.  “I’ve always hoped you and your cousins would understand the importance of maintenance of martial skill, given your…lineage.  You can visit it any time you wish.”

“Cool, thanks.”  Remilia stood.  “Don’t suppose we could convince you to stick around long enough to join our poker game tonight?” she asked with a coy grin.

Russ laughed.  “I’d love to, but my duty calls me to the consecration ceremony of our new Quicksilver frigate tonight.  Perhaps if you have a few spare hours nearer to the end of your stay, I would take you up on it, but for the time being…”

“Shame.  Oh well.”  Remilia offered her uncle a quick hug before vanishing into her own room to use the bathroom.  The others moved over to the table in the corner of the room as Jake broke out the chip sets.  Russ jerked his head out to the lifts and Freya nodded, rising to follow.

As soon as they were out of earshot of the others, Freya glared at him.  “See?  You make him so nervous that he didn’t say a word.  And he’s been a perfect guest since he arrived, even when he had just arrived.”

“Very well,” Russ conceded.  “I suppose he did, at least, show Bjorn due respect when he met him, from what he tells me.”

“He was outright reverent.  Give him a chance, father.  We won’t disappoint.”

“You never disappoint me, Freya,” Russ said.

“Neither will he.  Trust me.”  She turned back to the room and walked off.

Russ shook his head and tapped the call button for the lift.  As he did, he heard Alex approach him from his apartment, hesitation filling his steps but not slowing them.  Russ glanced back over his shoulder as Alex halted behind him.

“Lord Primarch Russ…may I ask you something?” Alex inquired nervously.

Russ nodded.

The stocky rugby player sighed.  “Look…I know you don’t like me, Freya didn’t need to say it.  And…yeah, I was…kind of a dick when we first met,” Alex admitted.  Russ snorted.  “But we both love Freya very much, and she helped me through losing not one, but BOTH parents.  So even if you think we can’t or shouldn’t be friends…can’t we at least not be enemies?” he asked.

Russ held the door of the lift open, and turned to glare at the boy.  “If you were an enemy of mine, Alex Carlin, believe me, you would be ''acutely'' aware of it.  That said…I suppose you right about one thing.  Freya’s happiness is paramount to me.  And though I don’t think you have her best interests at heart, your willingness to level with me and delay your own future plans for her sake speak greatly in your favor.”

“And I make her happy,” Alex said, stifling his annoyance.

Russ stared down at him before finally nodding.  “You do.  So very well.  If you wish to start over with me, fine.”

“Good.”  Alex nodded, sighing heavily.  “Good.”  He started to stick out his hand, but the door was already closing behind the Primarch.  Alex shrugged and plodded back to the room.

Freya was waiting for him.  “Did it work?” she asked.

“I think so,” Alex said, sitting down at the table as Jake poured them all water.  “I think he would just prefer that you only dated Fenrisians.”

“Probably, but Fenris is one of exactly TWO Space Marine Legionary homeworlds that doesn’t have Imperial standard education and awareness of the greater galaxy, so I would have a pretty damn narrow range of options,” Freya said.  “Besides, he sent me to a Terran school.  How did he think it would end?”  She kissed him on the cheek as Venus passed out the chips.  “Trust me, I won’t hold his lack of foresight against you,” she said slyly.

He smiled, squeezing her thigh under the table.  “Thanks, babe,” he said.


===Time to Go===


The last few days passed quicker, since at last the group had found a guide willing to show them around the Fang who actually wanted them to be there.  Under Russ’ direct supervision, they toured one of the small camps the Wolves used to train for infiltration missions, wherein the trainees had to move from one side of the island to the other without being detected by an Iron Priest overseeing them with several servo-skulls high in the sky.  Later, the group went on a far less interrupted trip to fish on another island.

As their time on Fenris drew to a close, Russ received notice of the liberation of Seadelant.  As he returned to the others, his visage was darkened.  “Freya, I thought you might want to know.  Julius Pius has been rescued from Seadelant,” he reported.

The five teens paused their game to listen.  “Great!  We were getting worried,” Freya said.

“Well, there were complications.  He should be all right, but the fighting got…dirty.”  Russ shook his head.  “You’ll hear it from him, I’m sure.”

After returning from an ornithopter tour of a mammoth herd on the icy fields of Asaheim, the group started packing to go, with reservations for some.  Alex was taking his time, meticulously examining each piece of clothing and each souvenir.  Freya sensed his nerves, and quickly derived the cause.  “Alex, are you worried about something specific?” she asked, with a forcedly casual air.  “I mean, you’re on eggshells here.”

Alex set down the pair of socks he had had folded three times.  “Yeah.”  He sat down and ran his hands through his hair.  “I’m just nervous, though…it’s probably nothing.”

“I want to hear it now anyway,” Freya said.

He smiled up at her, though his expression was tinged with an air of regret.  “It’s what we’re going off to.  You know.  Living together.”

“Does it scare you?” Freya asked.

“No, more the responsibility.  I mean…shit, that sounded dumb,” he muttered.  “All right.  I don’t know if it was just something I didn’t notice, or what…but it’s starting to hit me what a commitment that really is,” he said.  “Living with someone for four years, you know.”

Freya nodded.  “Yes, it is.”

“It doesn’t intimidate you at all?” he asked.

“Yeah…it does, a little, but I’m looking forward to it too, you know?”  She padded over to him and stood in front of him, looking down at him on the bed.  “It’ll be new.  Something to try.”

“Yeah.”  Alex rested his hands at his sides and leaned back to look at her.

She smiled slightly, planting her hands on her hips and looking down at him.  “Alex, baby…don’t let the future scare you.  Yeah, it’s looking like it will be rough for you.  I won’t say it isn’t.  But you have a lot going for you, too.”

Alex managed a little smile of his own.  “Yeah.  You’re right.  I guess I just don’t know what to expect.”

“We’re living together now,” she pointed out.

He shrugged.  “That’s true.”  He rose to his feet and pecked her a kiss.  “All right.  Let’s get back to it,” he said, resuming his packing.

As the group assembled to leave the following day, a few of the Wolves turned out to wish their little sister well.  The other four busied themselves with moving the luggage as Freya all but disappeared in the circle of her kin, ruffling hair and offering up trinkets of farewell.

“I gotta admit,” Remilia said, watching the display, “I do envy her that.”

Freya was fielding a Blood Claw’s playful advance, and settled for a kneeling farewell hug.  With that, she turned to her father, who paused her as she passed.  “Well…I guess I’ll see you when you get home, Dad,” she said.

He knelt as the others Wolves gave them a respectful pace or two away.  “Freya…I won’t be there to see you go off to school, so I want you to know now,” he said softly.  She leaned forward and rested her chin on his shoulder as he slid his arms around her shoulders.  “I love you, little one.  I want you to go and have fun at Cyprine.  All right?”

“I will, Dad, don’t you worry,” she said.  She leaned back and adopted an innocent air.  “Believe me, give me a month and the whole school will be under my thumb,” she said airily.

He raised an eyebrow and sighed the sigh of the long-suffering.  “Sure.”

She leaned forward again and hugged him back.  “Love you too, Dad.  I’ll see you when you get back to Earth.”

Alex hefted the last of his suitcases.  Freya walked up behind him and grabbed one of her own.  “Uh, Alex…I think you might want to talk to Dad before we go,” she said.

He nodded.  “Yeah…yeah, you’re right.”  He set the case down and walked back to where Russ was still standing.

Alex came to a halt at the Wolf King’s side.  “Sire, do you have a moment before I go?” he asked.

Russ looked at the other Wolves.  They silently filed away to the lifts, offering them a moment of privacy.  He glanced down to where Alex was waiting.  “What is it?” he asked.

Alex squared his shoulders.  “Look…I want to thank you, sire.”

Russ cocked his head.  “For what?”

“Well, letting us stay here, for one thing, but also for trusting Freya to make her own decision regarding whether or not to stay with me at Cyprine.”  Alex looked back at where she was lifting the last of their luggage onto the servitor-driven baggage cart.  “I don’t know where I’d be without her.”  He looked back up at Russ, nerves peeking through.  “I’m…really bad at this.  So, let me just say this.  I promise what no matter how this ends, with us and with my family being assholes and all of it, I’ll never give her a reason to leave.  I was happy to be there for her when Morticia was hurt, and she was happy to be there for me when I was disinherited.”

Russ nodded once.  “Good.  I’ll hold you to that.”  He gestured over to the lifter.  “Now…you’re going to be late.  You go and get my girl off to school safe and sound.”

“I’ll do that.”  Alex bowed.  “Thank you for hosting us, Lord Primarch Russ.  It’s been an honor.”

“Certainly.”  Russ watched him rise and rejoin his daughter.  He saw the lad squeeze her hand as he climbed the ramp, and then they vanished out of sight as it rose to seal the hold.