AO 7 Ch 6

“Sir” One of the house's oldest guards, stepped into Anadonis's study and he looked up from his work. "Sorry, sir, we would normally go looking for the matriarch. However, no one's been able to track her down," he reported. 

Anadonis frowned at that. "Is there any word from her?" 

"They said about an hour ago, she went sprinting out of the estate, saying something about an urgent arrival. Well, Arden is here, she didn't find him first." 

"Well now," Anadonis smiled. They'd been having a conversation just the other day about what to do with his grandson once he returned. Anadonis was confident that even as a brash, foolhardy boy, he would still understand the needs of the house and the kingdom that he would put above his own. And if that wasn't the case, then a stern hand would have to come swiftly from Anadonis himself. 

"Wonderful. If you haven't yet, let them into the rose garden. I will speak to my grandson personally in just a moment." Yes, this would be a good chance to gauge his grandson for himself and begin to seed the necessary thoughts. 

Anadonis straightened his clothes before sweeping out of the office, taking his time and walking down to the carefully cultivated rose garden. His grandson could use some practice in patience.

Besides, the rose garden was wonderful. It was once where he was able to focus his research alongside being a father to his daughter. Now that he had retired as patriarch, once again he had begun working on the roses, and the magic to go with it.

But as he stepped out to see Ard and his compatriots, he noticed that somehow his grandson had managed to come back from war with even more beauties. 

Anadonis groaned internally, but perhaps that could be used. Bianca was certainly fetching herself. And if that's what his grandson was after, then he could certainly utilize it for his own ends easily enough. 

"Ard we’ve been waiting for you." Anadonis opened his arms wide. 

"Grandfather." Sienna responded. It seems she had beaten him out. "Ard and his group are tired from their long journey. Apparently, it's been several weeks since they left Chillwind Pass." 

Anadonis couldn't help but have his eye twitch ever so slightly. There had been questions and rumors as to why the messages from Chillwind had been delayed, and it seems his son had been frolicking his way home. 

Arden didn’t so much as get up as his bevy of beauties pampered him. “Morning Grandfather. Ah right. Zuri, missives?" Ard held out his hands, and his anchor plopped several scrolls into them. "Perfect. Here you go, Gramps. I think handing these off to you probably counts as finishing my mission. One's supposed to go to the royal family," Ard said. "However, I just learned the king apparently died, and it was my fault. And it sounds like old man Trevis killed the first prince, so, I have no idea who this goes to. I'll let you figure that one out." 

Anadonis could feel his friendly smile grow heavy and stiff. "Is this how you present the Aldis House? When you go about your travels, dismissive of authority, and clearly not taking proper care of the tasks assigned to you. And then you come here with harlots that you picked up along the warfront." 

Anadonis didn't sense a thing from the three new figures, and certainly they were beautiful women that would tempt nearly any man, but he expected better of his grandson.

He couldn't miss the way Sienna gasped. And Arden’s anchors tensed. However, they didn't tense towards Ard or the harlots. Instead, they seemed to step back away from Anadonis himself. 

"Oh, please. If you're going to speak so informally to me amongst family, then I must have the same right." Arden scowled back at him, trying to excuse his prior behavior.

"Get rid of them, young man," Anadonis decided it was time to pick a fight with his grandson and ensure he understood the roles and responsibilities within a noble house. 

If Arden was going to sweep the capital and help take the royal title for House Aldis. It was certain that a princess like Bianca would not share her man with these types of women. 

Understandably, his grandson looked incensed, his fist clenched, and his eyes baleful as they stared back at him. This was a lesson that the unruly child would have to learn.

"Oh dear," the blonde slipped out of her chair and put a hand on Ard's shoulder. "It seems I've created a point of tension between me and your grandfather.”

At least the woman had some understanding of the situation. It seemed she was going to leave on her own. Perhaps Anadonis could reward that and solve all of this.

“Ditzy." Arden said, "please allow me to handle this." 

Anadonis scoffed, "A harlot using such a foolish name, so embarrassed of her profession. My grandson certainly has many lessons to learn, and it's a grandfather's responsibility to teach them, even if they are at times a little harsh."

The blonde shot him a look that could kill.

"Ditzy, I mean it. Step back. My grandfather seems to think that he still gets to order me about.”

“I am the elder of your house, though I may no longer be the patriarch. In name, as an elder of the enclave and the Aldis house, my word might as well be law to you, Ard. Though the war is ending, and I assume you will leave the military, being within a noble house is not much different. There is a clear command structure that you must follow." 

His grandson's mood shifted to an obviously fake smile. "Right, and the way positions are chosen is through who's the strongest, right Gramps?" 

Anadonis laughed, "And you're saying you have the strength for such a right?” He’d seen the fight with the King of Avente” However, there had been strange powers at play, enough for him to rationalize that Ard wasn't using his own strength but rather some secondary method to come out ahead over the King of Avente.

After all, he was still a child in Anadonis’ eyes. Perhaps he was old enough to be wed, but when it came to the lifespan of a mage and their power, he still had many years to stand even close to an Elder of the Enclave.

"You go ahead and give it your best shot, Ard," Anadonis said.

Only for his grandson to scowl and with a flick of his hand, send a wall of ice crashing towards him. Not only did he not give it his all, but he even used Anadonis's preferred element. The height of hubris, this child. 

Anadonis held out a hand to block the wall of ice. His own magical strength came directly into impact with his grandson's, causing his eyes to pop open wide as the force behind Arden's magic overwhelmed him instantly. It was like a hurricane sweeping through a port, and he grunted with the sudden, unexpected effort he had to put in to stop himself from simply being toppled over by his grandson's strength. 

"But not bad, I guess. Since I'm a child in your eyes, there's no need for me to hold back, right?" Arden's eyes grew hard as the force behind his magic grew explosively, crushing right through any grip Anadonis had on the magic.

Before long, a wall of ice wrapped around the older mage as he lost completely and utterly to his grandson.

"That should be enough," Arden said, and with a wave, dismissed the ice.

"He’s your grandfather, show some respect Ard?" Arden's wife, Sienna, chided him, 

Anadonis was thankful for the break. Beneath his feet he could already feel that all of the ground belonged to his grandson and a moment of effort would have him sunk up to his neck. It appeared that if his grandson had pushed magically again, he would have caved instantly. 

"What do you need Sienna?" Arden perked up. "Are you not feeling well? Should we go find somewhere cooler for you to relax?" He suddenly turned into a doting husband and swept Sienna quite literally off her feet.

She didn’t look too upset about it, perhaps he wasn’t doing too bad by her even with so many others taking his attention.

"Oh, and Grandpa," Arden said, pausing to stare at Anadonis, "I hope you show myself and anyone else I bring to House Aldis far more respect than you showed here.” Despite his youth, there was an undeniable pressure from his grandson. “I cannot and will not bring people to this house only for them to be spit on. Apologize to Missy, Ditzy, and Bad Kitty." 

What the fuck were those names? Anadonis thought to himself before realizing he had to correct himself before he angered his grandson further.

He's clearly become painfully unruly in the time that he's been away from home. That was something that would have to be corrected later. Attempting to do so now while he was upset was just going to cause more friction. 

Anadonis had to accept that in many ways he was no longer able to tell this child what to do. Instead, he was forced to reckon with the idea he was negotiating with someone who was of relative standing. 

"Of course, I do apologize to you ladies. You are guests of my grandson. It has just been a time since I have last seen him and there are important matters that must be attended to. You must understand that my grandson is quite popular amongst the noble ladies and those like yourself might harm those potential relations." He could always convince them or drive a wedge between them.

Two of the harlots looked at each other before the dark-haired one, who looked vaguely familiar, laughed.

Anadonis felt his eye twitch at that but held in his anger. If they truly cared about his grandson then they would step back when a situation like this was revealed and if they didn't care for him then he would certainly see it and make wiser decisions about who he comported with. 

Before long, Anadonis figured, one of them would reveal their true intentions.

To his shock and surprise, Emlyn of all people began laughing while holding her gut. "Someone save the old man before he manages to piss one of them off,"

Anadonis scowled at the words. They made it seem like the three harlots were of some importance. He looked again, his mage senses roving over them, and sensed absolutely no threat. Perhaps they had duped his son and anchors. 

"Well, this is not exactly how I would have liked to introduce myself to my in-laws," Missy clicked her tongue and stood up. 

Just then, Gwen came flying into the estate, taking in the situation immediately. Her eyes settled on the harlot that had just spoken. "What are you..." Gwen began, before cursing under her breath. "Father, what did you do?" 

His own daughter turned on him, had she been fooled too? "I was trying to correct my grandson's behavior. I merely addressed these fine ladies," he defended himself, unable to keep a hint of judgment out of his tone. "That Arden is well-liked amongst the nobility and is, of course, receiving many suitor requests," he added. 

His daughter looked at him like he was an idiot. "And have you been introduced to these people?" She gestured towards the harlots. 

"Of course, Missy, Ditzy, and Bad Kitty," he said, the last name spoken with no small amount of strangeness. His grandson certainly had some peculiar tastes, but who was he to judge? Many noble young men sampled with a wide palate. 

"Father, I do hope you haven't insulted his guests," Gwen said pointedly. 

"There was a small mistake, but that has been rectified, and we are moving forward on equitable terms." Anadonis said.

Ard huffed and turned away. He would just have to deal with his grandson later. For whatever reason, his daughter was even more concerned. That in itself was setting off alarm bells for Anadonis. 

"Well, I'm glad you've managed that," Gwen said through tight lips. "Perhaps Ard and his lovely guests are tired from their travels and would like to take some time to relax. I know Sienna has missed him greatly," Gwen said pointedly, staring at Anadonis. 

There was something he was missing before her eyes raked back over the three harlots meaningfully. Something indeed.

"I don't believe I've had a chance to meet two of you. I assume you are Hecate's friends?" Gwen smiled politely to the harlots.

Hecate, that name, rang a bell to Anadonis and he realized where he recognized the one from. She had previously been his daughter's mysterious anchor. Ah, now things were clicking. Perhaps she wasn't a harlot and just dressed like one. If she was an anchor, that was at least somewhat acceptable, and it was just a matter of decorum that could be solved.

They were after all three older, more beautiful women that were trying to stay with his grandson.

"Yes, this is Ditzy and Bad Kitty," Missy introduced. "And Ard usually calls me Missy." 

"Ah, yes," Gwen frowned at the names.

Anadonis wanted to puff himself up, his reactions weren't too outlandish if that was his daughter's own reaction. She must also sense that these women were after her son with impure intentions.

"Well, I'm not going to keep delaying it," Ard stood up. "I'm going to go dote on Sienna and make sure that everything is well with her. Emlyn, make sure these three find their rooms and don't get into too much trouble," Ard gestured towards the harlots. 

"Of course, you three with me," Emlyn then turned to Anadonis without any respect in her eyes, but gave him at least a performative dip of her head. "I assume the estate is still rather empty. I can just claim a couple rooms next to Ard's?" 

"Those are for family," Anadonis insisted, only for Gwen to clear her throat.

Gwen cleared her throat. "Please, Emlyn. Our estate is open to those three. Will they be staying separately or with Ard?”

“It's up to them. They sometimes like their own space. So, I’ll get them a room." Emlyn nodded before marching towards the door of the estate, expecting the others to follow. Most of them did.

The maid, her body modified by life mages, stuck to Ard's hip. Who made a stone lounge that scooped up his pregnant wife and carried her away.

"Aurelia, could you just make sure Selena here cooperates and goes to relax? She may not be my wife, but I still have some responsibility for her. I promise we'll swing by your family as soon as we can."

And like that, the garden emptied in front of Anadonis, save for his daughter. Her wheeled chair crushed several leaves as she rolled up to him. "Please, father, tell me you did not insult those three," she said. "The way you were speaking almost sounded like you thought they were..." She hesitated.

"Gold diggers or… worse," Anadonis didn't beat around the bush. "And based on your reaction, it sounds as if they're at least anchors? Though perhaps they will need some swift lessons in decorum if they're going to follow him around. Not to mention, if he has this many anchors, daughter, there is bound to be rumors that will begin to circle."

Gwen rubbed her forehead. "Father, please do not judge them by whatever mood strikes you." she hesitated as if there was something she couldn't tell him. "Just Hecate, I mean Missy," she corrected herself, "is actually rather dangerous. If those two are her friends, then I assume they are similarly capable. I feel great comfort that they're with Ard, and please don't antagonize them."

Anadonis paused at his daughter's assessment. "Fine, if they're so capable, then I suppose I should leave them be."

"Good," Gwen let out a breath of relief. "I just needed to hear that before we caused any issues with those three. You've seen Ard fight against the King of Avente. From what I understand those three are at the same level of combat as Ard."

Anadonis scoffed. "What? Next, you're going to tell me he brought home a batch of gods to wed. What a ridiculous thought." And Anadonis laughed to himself while his daughter looked strangely uncomfortable.

"When you put it like that, perhaps that's the way we should treat our new guests." His daughter gave him a tight-lipped smile.

Anadonis didn't think they could ever deserve that level of treatment. But perhaps if it got his daughter and his grandson thinking along the same lines and working for the sake of the house, then perhaps he could at least pretend to tolerate them for now.