“Ah yes, I see your father’s resemblance in your face young man, however your sister has her mother’s face if my memory of those ancient days survive, god may quietly embrace her. I am Harbor Coordinator Levath and I have been given the opportunity to greet you and welcome you to Riverhouse. Please do feel welcome as your arrival has been greatly anticipated.”

  “You know our parents?” Tia said confused but impressed by how well-spoken this gentleman was. He was pleasant in a dry sort of manner as opposed to those who give off a slick or greasy feel to their politeness as if it was just a front. It wasn’t that way at all with the Harbor Coordinator, he was genuinely a polite person.

  “Of course, you have been marketing your wares here for nearly four decades now, you were not aware?” he inquired as if this was common knowledge.

  “Well, I knew that our uncle came over here a lot and he always brought a lot of materials with him, but I didn’t know he set up shop,” Tic said confused.

  “I didn’t even know that Uncle Rowen had a home here until we were on the way over, he never did back home, he just stayed with us,” Tia added.

  “Yeah, in fact he always acted like he was on vacation when he was there. He did know a lot about the product though and he was our supplier for the pine sap we need,” Tic said thoughtfully, the Harbor Coordinator smiled attentively as he watched revelations forming upon their faces.

  “Yeah; come to think of it, I always wondered why there was so much paper work between Dad and Rowen,” Tia said.

  “Well I have seen all of the paper work as well as the leather he bought from Flecky’s tannery next door.”

  “I know, Collin Flecky was my friend and we talked about doing business together for all of our lives. They would build up reserves just to sell when he was around. He also had pelts shipped to Flecky’s for tanning, though I have never seen the lokai hides there,” Tic said as he slowly put things together.

  “Ah, that is because the lokai has to be cured with dwarven magic,” Levath said with a knowing nod. “I have been informed that Enson will be here shortly to guide you to your estate. The others have already arrived. There is also the small matter of the fee. We have a rather extensive system of payment here in Riverhouse of which you can see is very difficult and costly to maintain for the benefit of all who require such distinguished amenities.”

  “How much?” they both said and the Harbor Coordinator suddenly appeared greasy, very greasy.

  “A one-day token is a half silver if you are paying in precious metals, we do not accept paper money of any kind nor do we accept writs or written grants of any kind. We do accept some forms of barter, but they are typically a foodstuff or of an alcoholic variety. If you happen to have beer or meade, I can get an even trade for coin value, however the harder stuff is quite plentiful over here resulting in a twenty-five percent increase.”

  “We have coin, how much for a month or two?” Tia asked.”

  “Relax Levath,” a new voice interrupted. He was a young man, they assumed as he very much had a human face. He was shorter and thicker, similar to a dwarf but not like any other type of being they had seen, he could almost be human except for the odd facial hair that seemed a bit out of place as well as his stockiness. “Pa took care of it already with your assistant just this morning.”

  “Ah, Enson has arrived,” the portly man said and patted a hand on the young man’s shoulder.”

  “Well met, Harbor Master.”

  “Not master, Enson, I am master to no man and prefer it that way so please, Harbor Coordinator…if you will. So yes, this is Enson and he will take you to h…your father. The coordination office is there front and center if your ever need us for whatever means,” he said and with a nod turned away and walked back along the dock.

  “As you would have it, sir,” Enson said jauntily before turning back to face them. “Well, there is no need for me to ask which one of you is Tia, it must be the pretty one. No offense meant, Tic, but you must admit she is a might prettier than you.” Enson was on a roll and if the two of them had known him better they would have realized it for what it was. He appeared confident, even cocky, but in truth Enson was nothing but a jumble of nerves and when he gets nervous…he usually ends up offending someone.

  “She is my sister, young man, please refrain from lewd comments,” Tic said not really knowing where this young man was taking the situation.

  Enson laughed nervously for just a second before saying, “You know what they say, a sister to you is a cousin to me, isn’t that right, cuz,” he said awkwardly as if he was stating some sort of inside joke, he even reached out and gently grabbed her shoulder for an awkward two count. Tic was enraged and was about to send this creep away and they would find another guide when Tia stepped in.

  “Excuse me, Enson, let me speak to my brother for just a second,” she said and stepped into Tic forcing him back a couple of steps.

  “Something is going on here, Tic, we can’t afford to get angry. So far, we have found out that our own…family has whole mess of secret dealings over here and probably lives that we know nothing about. We have to be smart about this and don’t turn anyone off until we know what is going on.”

  “I don’t know, T, there is something creepy about him.”

  “He’s just a nervous kid, Tic, give him a break okay.”

  “Alright,” Tic said trying to loosen up a bit. “Hi, Enson, well met…what’s your last name?” Tic asked as if that was going to get their relationship off on a new track.

  “Why…Rowe, of course.” he said and Tia spun around so that both Tic and her were facing the stranger. “You mean…you didn’t know?” He paused and looked toward the floor for a second. When he looked back at them, they could tell that something had struck him very deeply. “I thought—”

  “You thought what?” Tia asked and scrutinized his face closer.

  “Nothin’; let’s shove off and we’ll let the old people fill us in on what’s going on.”

  “I agree,” Tic said.

  “Yeah, there is a crack of a lot of explaining to do. One question though,” Tia asked.

  “Shoot, I mean, yeah…of course, ask.”

  “Are you our cousin?” Tia asked and Tic stopped what he was doing to listen to Enson’s reply.

  “Yes, I’ve waited my whole life to meet you and now…it doesn’t matter, I guess.” His tone so sad that it broke through the ice Tic had instantly developed for the kid.

  “It matters to me,” Tia said and stepped forward and hugged the young man. She released and Tic slid in, wrapping him up tightly as he had done with his friends or brothers so many times in the past. He stepped back and was suprised to see how moist Enson’s eyes were.

  “This is great; I have never had a cousin before. So, tell me, Enson, what in hell kind of game are our fathers playing on us?” Tic said.

  “I don’t know; I don’t like him having the upper hand on me. I mean he has my whole life… I think it might be time to change the rules on them don’t you think?” Tia said cutting any response from Enson off.

  “Tia, you had better not cause any more trouble.” Tic warned.

  “Me cause trouble? Are you kidding me, brother? They have been playing us like puppets for too long and we are about to take our dignity back. That is if our newly found cousin will help us, hmmm?” She looked at Enson who was slowly starting to grin. Here were suddenly two people that he very well could be around for the rest of his life and he greatly wanted to see how they played. Tia’s eyes were on fire with mischief, it was almost frightening… he couldn’t have said no if he wanted to.

  “I’m in.”

  * * *

  They approached the docks and Tia ran toward the rail screaming.

  “Help! Stop them, they’re going to kill each other!” loud cursing and thumps could be heard behind her. A loud crack sounded out behind her as a wood staff struck the wall at high velocity. She tried not to smile as her father and uncle almost fell while trying to climb into the skiff before it even reached the dock. They ignored Tia and ran around the cabin where they could see Enson swinging the staff again and again into a crumpled body on the deck. Bright red liquid was sprayed on the deck and the bodies as Tic’s bloodied hands covered his head from another blow.

  Rowen rushed over to grab Enson as Tad kneeled down next to what looked like his son. He rolled the limp figure over and cried as he saw the puffed out swollen cheeks and the closed eye’s He put his hand on his neck to feel for a pulse.

  “Oh, Tic, my son.”

  Tic opened his eye and Tad pulled back. There was no pain in his eyes. There was, however, accusation and rage. Suddenly Tic released the red dye that he was holding in his cheeks, spitting it right into his father’s face.

  What exactly are you sorry for, father?” Tia asked accusingly.

  “It wouldn’t be for lying and manipulating us would it?” Tic added, both allowing their rage to overwhelm their fear of the man. Tad wasn’t a violent man, but he was a believer in strong discipline and getting red dye spit into his face was going to be a new test for their relationship.

  Rowen started to laugh at his brother’s predicament when a jar of that same red dye was poured over his head. He turned and faced Enson who stood there angrily.

  “What did you do that for?”

  “You never even told your own family that you had a son,” Enson said and pushed his father backwards, almost sending him off the edge of the boat before picking up some of Tic and Tia’s bags and heading toward the docks.

  “Come on, I’ll show you your rooms, we can deal with them after they wash the mud off their faces. Maybe they should take a good long look in the mirror for a bit of reflection too,” Enson said to his cousins. Tic pushed his dad off of him, got to his feet following the other two off the skiff leaving it for someone else to tie off.

  Tic noticed a very short but very pretty woman watching the scene with a very angry cast to her features.

  Their apartments were nice, both of which faced the river with Enson’s own being suspiciously between them. Tia smirked to herself. Enson was excited to have family, something he never had before. It was an egregious crime that they knew nothing of his existence. She went over and put her arm around his shoulder. Even though she had never met him before there was a familiar feeling about him, she knew that he was family.

  “Don’t worry, Enson, we’ll get this all straightened out and teach them a lesson in the process. You won’t have to be a victim to their BS ever again.”

  “Ah, I’ll be alright, what’s done is done. I didn’t hurt you did I, Tic? I know a couple of those blows came awfully close to you.”

  “Close to me? You bloody hit me three times, don’t worry about it, I can take a punch for the most part. I’m not a complete bookworm.”

  “Da says you’re to be in charge of the money, even over him. Is that true, are ya really that good with numbers?”

  “I have no idea what the plan is here, Enson, but yes…I do have a knack for utilizing resources. Proof of that is the fact that you’re family…now that we know you’re here, we’re not going to let you go, and we will work you to the bone.”

  “It’s the plight of being a Rowe.” Tia sighed.

  “Thanks, cuz, I appreciate it. It’s been kind of lonely here for this kid for quite some time,” Enson replied.

  “I think that we can fix that, later.” Tia said and slipped into her own apartment.

  “Dinner in two hours, feel free to take care of whatever you need to until then,” Enson said and headed back down the hall toward the main part of the home.

  22

  Unlucky

  Dinner was a private affair just between family. Tic and Tia got to meet Lily, Uncle Rowen’s wife of almost twenty years which they previously knew nothing of and it infuriated her as much as it had Enson.

  “Your family is lovely, Uncle Rowen, so tell me something. Why had we never heard of them before today?” Tia asked wanting to turn the screws now that everybody was trying to relax. She knew that there would be no relaxation until the air was cleared.

  “I think this can wait until another time, Tia, later when we are in a more confidential setting.”

  “I disagree, Uncle,” Tic jumped in knowing how well Tia worked when her adversary was off their guard. “I mean it is just family here, all of those who need to know are here so there shouldn’t be any more secrets between family, if you know what I mean.”

  “We are family, are we not?” Tia dug. “You do want us to coexist and like each other, or is that something that is not on your agenda?”

  The room hung silently as Rowen made up his mind to finally speak.

  “Well, it has nothing to do with who you are, nor does it have anything to do with who Enson is, I love my son and couldn’t be prouder. It has to do with where you live. Lemure and other cities on the eastern side of the Swirl don’t believe that elves and dwarfs or sprints even exist, let alone that we might have attractions toward each other.”

  “We knew about dwarfs, we even make boots for them.”

  “Yeah, but you only just found out about them, so if I would have come to your home and told you that I had married a dwarven woman and had a son, what would have happened?”

  Tic, Tia, and Enson shrugged.

  “Lily’s a dwarf? That means Enson is…” Tic stuttered.

  “Half dwarf, it’s not as rare as you think, at least over here,” Rowen said and Tic watched the look on Enson’s face. First it was shock that they didn’t know he was a dwarf and then that they had only seen a couple dwarves in their entire life and now they were talking like excuses had to be made for who and what he was.

  “Who cares?” Tic said above everyone else, which was way beyond his character but he liked Enson, and he didn’t want him to feel any different than they were.

  “I also don’t care what Enson or Lily are other than the fact that they are family, they are our family and I feel cheated not having known anything about them. You and my father may have felt that you were doing the right thing, but you weren’t. The only people it was fair to is yourselves, which seems to be a trait that runs in the family,” Tia said as Enson and Tic both looked at their fathers.

  “Now it is your turn, Papa,” Tia said sweetly which by no means settled the nerves of anyone at the table and Tic saw Lily smirk just a little. One would think that Enson would be oblivious to Tia’s attitude, but then Tic remembered Lily, Enson’s mother who also had met and known Rowen’s wife, who died delivering Tic. His mind reeled with all that was going on. She was obviously no push over and had laid into Rowen as soon as they were out of earshot, or so they thought.

  “Alright, sit and I will fill you in, I won’t even chap your backside for spitting dye in my face,” Tad said with a smile, now. There was about an hour right after that neither of his kids would have wanted to be in the room. Tic, was the player in this, but the plan was all Tia’s and everybody knew it.

  “Well, I need to inform you that our holdings on this side of the pond are extensive and growing rapidly. So rapidly that we have to take some extreme steps to protect them. However, we only have Rowen and his family over here to represent our interests. Back in Lemure, I have so many workers and our output is at maximum. In fact, forty percent of our manufacturing is for orders stretching from here to Miklalene and there is still a lot more ground to cover.” He paused to see if anyone had any questions. He could tell by their postures that they all knew where this was going, but didn’t want to get sidetracked so they stayed silent.

  “So, basically, we needed you to come over here and run it. Not any of the others, they’re better suited to the tasks they are already responsible for but you two…you two are two of my most talented and you would be wasted back in Lemure. Here you can work with Enson… I know, I know; I haven’t mentioned him before and you have heard the reason for that. But I know him pretty well, and I don’t think that you could ask for a better man for a cousin.” He was sincere and gave Enson a look that pleaded for forgiveness for having not mentioned him to his own children.

  In some minds this would mean much more than it did to Enson. Enson was a half breed and everyone knew it. Very few people were comfortable with that and as a result, Enson had become very comfortable being alone here in Riverhouse. Hiding his existence and that of his mother from those in Lemure was simply another aspect of being alone, however, his mother felt differently and Uncle Rowen would be feeling the pains of his transgressions for a very long time to come.

  “Why didn’t you just ask?” Tia pleaded.

  “Because you never do anything that I ask you to do.”

  “That’s not true,” she replied, offended.

  “It is absolutely true, you never have and you can’t deny it. You constantly disregarded my every request, which is why I had to trick you into going. Who would have thought that you would sail north when if ya go twenty miles out you catch the current that will bring you right to Riverhouse in two weeks, give or take,” Tad said disgustedly.

  “Well thanks for telling us?” Tia shouted back.

  “How can you not know that? You’ve lived by the sea your whole life. Everybody talks about it but you; my own children are oblivious to the natural world.” He held up his hand to stop Tia who was obviously going to spit out a defensive rant, but it was too late, her argument had lost its venom.

  “I know it is my fault, I should have spent more time with ya, but work got in the way. Well when you miss the first boat make sure you get the second. Even though you are over six weeks late, you two have learned more about survival and commerce than I could ever have taught you in a classroom. The fact that you survived what you did makes me proud of you, but you have to put more thought behind what you’re doing in the future before you do it.”

  “What if we say no?” Tia prodded.