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

===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.”