Malcolm
This is like returning to the past—once again, I begin her heir lessons in a library. I placed the few books I brought onto a reading table, then went over to the shelves to check out what reading material my daughter had seen fit to place in her library. "100 recipes your mate will love? How to be a proper mate? Best head-giving techniques? What by all the Creators is she doing with these books!?"
Before my conscious mind caught up to my subconscious, I murmured,"Ka'reth (Fire)," and burned every book I deemed unfit for my youngest's library—even if I suspected she'd disagree. The only books left were books we had given her over the years we thought would interest her, but based on the dust outline on the shelves, she never read them.
Emberling arched a brow, arms full, as she stepped into the room."Not sure what those books did to offend you, but I hope you intend on giving me your card so I can go buy more books to fill my shelves. They were already sparsely filled to begin with." She set her items down, then went to open the windows so the scent of flames could dissipate.
She looked lovely in her etiquette attire. Hopefully, wearing it will help her get into the right mindset. When she turned around, I was brought out of my thoughts. Looking at the mess I made of her shelves, I restored the wooden shelves with "Ilya'reen (Restore)" before motioning for her to have a seat at the table. I ended up having to physically guide her to break her out of her stare with the once damaged furniture.
Once she was settled and her pen ready, I opened my mouth to begin. "You look very nice, Korran. Business casual looks good on you." Emberling grinned, teasing me about the bet between her other parents while tapping her pen against her mouth. I grinned too, smoothing a hand over the black slacks and deep red vest I'd paired with a crisp white shirt. I was barefoot, but I tend to be when I'm home.
"Yes, you would think after all these years those two would learn that I am able to dress myself just fine. I just choose to give them something to fuss about to help manage their … boredom. You don't remember, but while your Azrail is clearly chaos personified, your Nimra is his best friend for a reason. She just hides her chaos very well." My grin shifted to an affectionate smile, thinking of my two mates.
"They have a good influence on you. You seem more comfortable in your skin since you have an outlet in them." She responded softly, eyes reflecting something thoughtful beyond her years. The surprise of her mature observations continue to take me by surprise every time. The more confident she becomes, the more this intuitive side of her comes out.
It's not quite memory speaking, yet it feels like she is talking from experience. Experience she couldn't have without knowing who I was when I first arrived in Solhara. Very few have knowledge of those years. As philosophers have written, the changes of death are strange and limitless. Anything is possible under the right or wrong circumstances.
"Yes, fate and the Creators have rewarded me well with two mates who are everything I could have prayed for. I will be collecting the bet winnings from them later this evening." I allowed myself one more indulgent smile before I shifted my thoughts to what my youngest needed to know as an heir of the Ajei Enclave.
"To begin this first lesson of the many we will have together," I paced in front of the table languidly. "I want to preface by saying there is a lot to familiarize yourself with over the coming months.
I assume you have looked over some of the documents in the file folder I sent you, and you should know that is just the surface of our enclave. Over the next year or so, you will learn everything you need to know to be caught up with your brothers." A fragrant, warm breeze floated in through the windows, reminding us that there is still day to be productive, and night is still a ways off.
"In these first few lessons, I will cover the immediately pertinent topics you need to know first so you will be decently well-armed to step into the battlefield this capital can be for a lady of the Ajei Enclave." I stood at the far end of the table, posture easy but presence heavy in this moment. I must impress the importance of these matters upon her so she is prepared for the hyenas who will try to break her again.
"We'll cover the enclave hierarchy, our affiliated families, business ventures, and your duties as my fourth heir. I do not expect you to know and understand everything immediately. But I do expect you to learn and ask for help as you learn how this region is shaped and ruled." The library was quiet when I paused to let the moment breathe. In that moment, Nyx opened the file folder, pulled out information packets for the topics I mentioned, then with a nod, her pen was poised and ready.
I incline my head in approval while resting a hand on the back of a chair. My fingers tap once before I go on. "Before we get into the matters of the present, you should first understand our past. Our enclave was not created to merely amass power, nor to gain me a seat as an ornament in the council. When we founded this enclave here in Solhara, we made ourselves vital to it.
There was massive misuse of power and authority here when I first arrived. I had left my home to escape such a situation. I was not about to live in another place with the same problem. Over time and gaining allies in the form of your Nimra and Cornelius, we accumulated enough power to bring order out of chaos."
I paused to let her write her notes. I did not reminisce about the war I accidentally started when I would not submit to the authority of those in power. I did, however, reminisce about the day we became that power with the families who rose to become the clans and enclaves that rule this region with us, the Dillards, Reigns, and Xi.
On that day, afterwe killed the previous regent, we were debating who would become regent. My faction felt we already had enough blood on our hands, while others didn't mind adding to the body count. I heard Mazi say something in their musical voice to Nyota and Davina, then I blinked.
When my thoughts cleared, Mazi was thanking us for voting them to be regent. At some point, it was agreed we would create what became the Council of Sun and Shadow, who would be essentially the day-to-day rulers of the region. Mazi, as regent, would only get directly involved for tie-breaking votes, emergency regional sessions, or if she simply felt like it. Which hasn't been often, so this arrangement has suited those in power over the years just fine.
Despite her still writing, I picked up where I left off. "We, the Ajei, protect the balance. Our ventures affect hundreds of lives, directly and indirectly. To some, our name is a shield. To others, it is a warning. Everything you will learn is not for pride, but to protect those we rule."
For this next part, I pulled out a floating screen and remote from my storage space. Turning on the screen, a detailed organizational chart of our enclave appeared. "To be that balance, we have grown into the form you see before you. This is the structure of the Enclave and its affiliates. Our core family sits at the center, with Cornelius's branch, also known as a Kin-branch, just one step below us. We are the Tharym of our enclave. Below us are the Ajei Auxiliary members who are tied to us by oath and blood."
"The auxiliary members are made up of 3 lines or ranks as some people call them.1st line and next in authority are Rakesh, Mrs. June and the Guard Commander. Below them are the Ajei guard and paramilitary." Emberling's eyes gain enlightenment when I mentioned our paramilitary. She must have been curious about the warriors she encountered earlier. She doesn't appear apprehensive about us having personal armed forces. I may have her train with them occasionally. Familiarity breeds trust—and they may one day fight alongside or under her command.
"The last line for us are the affiliated families. We have five crest families who are loyal to us because they are old allies, families granted shelter under our name, or those who owe us debt."
The next slide displayed the crest families and the web of obligations we share. "Their obligations to us are not only political. Each family contributes materially or personally. Some of those ways are in smithing, agriculture, trade, arcane services. These are the hands and feet of our enclave." Nyx's eyes examined the information before her and I could see her acknowledging the sheer weight of so much interwoven obligation. "So everything is interconnected."
"Yes," I replied with approval in my tone. "We are the center. Everything connects to us—and we, in turn, to them. Our Enclave motto is Etched in Blood and Essence. We take pride in being the best at what we do. We are loved and feared in good measure."
The next screen was a series of logos with concise summaries outlining each venture. "Now these are our public enclave ventures. The one you are most familiar with is Sanctum Ajei, our healing clinics. They are considered neutral ground, so branches of them have been welcomed globally.
Other ventures are Kaethryn Institute of Mastery: our training academy, Draelyn: weapons and armor divisions; should anyone inquire about Ashirae, direct them to me. Ashirae is our special weapons division and is not accessible to the public. There is also Corevein Technologies: essence-tech innovations, Havral: infrastructure projects, and Ajei Alchemir: pharmaceuticals.
All these ventures fall under Ajeivara Holdings, our parent company's umbrella. Your Nimra is the CEO, and Lux is the president. We each have oversight over one of these ventures." For a moment, the habit of gentling the truth for her tried to rise, but I pushed it away, knowing she is not the sensitive child I knew anymore.
"Since you have not completed your lessons and training, you have not been given oversight or a role in any of these ventures. After your training is completed, should you become interested in any of these ventures or wish to start a personal one like Lux did with his clubs and retreats, we will support you in doing so." The contemplative expression she gave me was heart-warming. She has personal ambitions now. Unlike before when her only ambitions involved the Dillards. I truly hope she will keep this momentum of growth. I don't think my heart could take losing her to them again.
If teaching her strictly keeps her grounded in who she is, I will teach until my last breath.