“You could have at least been here on time,” grandmother complained, interrupting my attempt to change the subject.

  “You were early, that is hardly my doing. I also would have liked to have been here to meet you, but as I said I had a number of unexpected meetings. Not ones I particularly enjoyed either.”

  “Your teachers?” she questioned.

  “No, everything at the school is... well busy, but fine. I did quite well on my exams.”

  “Then why the questioning about history Percival my boy?” grandpa asked, putting a hand on grandmother's arm to forestall any further questions.

  “Personal interest, I've been running into a number of things I think are somehow related to the old king,” I explained.

  “Oh, I see. That's not altogether surprising, as his inventions are famously important in society. He made the core after all, and so much else. Personally I think it's all a bit exaggerated, attributing to one ruler everything his lands came up with or something like that, but I do have a few.” Then he laughed. “Though you'll need to be able to read one of the elven dialects to understand them at all.”

  “I don't suppose you could teach me?” I asked hopefully.

  “I could teach you to read pretty quickly, but the language itself is a language Percival, and I'm no expert in that sort of thing.”

  “Certainly your school teaches it though, and it isn't bad for a young man to learn another language. You'd be good to sign up for those,” grandmother pointed out.

  I briefly felt my eyes unfocus and begin to look out as I pondered the idea of adding more to my workload. Small sounds, like voices screaming 'NO!' rang in my ears. Visions of my class schedule from the previous two years appeared before me, every time slot full, a few extra lines added on here or there for even more education.

  “Oh, I'm quite booked already grandmother, though they do.”

  She looked at grandpa, and sighed. “Could we get some privacy dear?”

  “Certainly,” he said, and with a smile he wove a spell around us. That sort of thing wasn't odd, and most families had that spell on tap for when they didn't want servants overhearing what they had to say.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  She patted the couch beside her. “Come here Percival.”

  Hesitatingly I joined her, taking a seat as the haze pulled around us. As I did she looked into my eyes, taking my chin in one hand and giving me a good once over. She looked, really looked, before pulling me close and against her side.

  “Grandmother?” I said, almost confused.

  “You look tired son, so tired; tell me what's wrong.” Her voice had changed, from the harsh demands to something kinder, more gentle, something I rarely heard.

  “What?” I asked, surprised.

  “You must think me so unkind don't you? How harsh I've always been, always demanding, but I've never tried to give you more than I thought you could handle, a push, but never one past what I thought you could take. Just now though, you looked so broken, so tell me, what is happening?” I tried to get over the whiplash as she held me close, petting my head.

  “There's no time for anything,” I answered. “Everything is falling apart and there's no time for anything at all. Months going as fast as I could and it still feels as if I've hardly moved.”

  “What in the world has you so rushed?” she asked.

  So I spoke, I spoke of the goblins, how I feared that soon they would come to the surface soon. I spoke of the former archmage, her death, the battle that had happened that day, the demand that I be properly trained. Even the elves that seemed to be attacking the city for some reason.

  It would appear that they'd been unappraised of all the details, because I could feel the stress radiating off of them both. Most of this was secret of course, but at the moment I wasn't sure I cared, and I trusted both of them. Sure, grandmother was harsh, and grandpa was a bit silly now and then, but both were good people, trustworthy. Neither interrupted with questions as I went on and on, letting loose all that I'd been worried about for what seemed like years now.

  “They shouldn't be leaving this all on your shoulders,” she finally said when I was done.

  “There's nobody else who can do all of it. I'm the one who designed the weapons, who the goblins are so interested in, who the archmage left to be trained. There are others working, surely so, but they're only seeing part of it, we're all only seeing part of it. That can't last though, factions like this won't stay still forever, and if we're not ready when it all comes to a head...”

  “Who knows what would happen, but no, you're too young. Youths should get the chance at youth, not be forced into adulthood like this.”

  I laughed, for I'd been an adult already once, and I understood that well. Still though, this body wasn't there, I was still growing, hormones still raging. Perhaps I needed to be as I was, but I wasn't there yet. Hopefully how I was would be enough, but I couldn't tell for sure.

  “Well, there's only one thing for this,” grandmother finally declared. “You'll be having nothing to do with this nonsense through the season.”

  “Not sure I'll have much a choice grandmother,” I complained.

  “Perhaps, but you're not worrying about this nonsense more than is absolutely necessary. We'll be here, and it sounds like your paternal grandfather has already arranged some guards, we'll have to talk to him about that. You can also be sure I'll be talking to your parents about leaving you alone at this time, dammed irresponsible.”

  That brought a smile to my face, and even caused me to laugh.

  “I did the finances for the house this year, rather fun in the end.”

  “I'll be having a conversation with your mother about that too,” grandmother assured with just a bit of venom in her voice.

  “Tell you what though Percival, I do have something that might help you relax,” grandpa added. “I brought your project.”

  “Does it work!?” I asked, having not had a chance to see the full-sized plane he'd ordered well over a year ago.

  “Haven't had the chance to try it out yet, and I'd never do it without you anyway. Did find a place to set it all up though... Soon as you're ready.”

  “I'm ready now!” I said standing.

  Grandmother pulled me back onto the couch. “The only thing you'd better be ready for right now is dinner Percival. You also can't test some fool flying machine that's likely to fall straight into the ground at night.” She sighed, knowing well how I could be when it came to fun things.

  “She's right my boy, but your excitement is right on.”

  “Rightly so,” I agreed with my grandfather, illiciting a laugh from him and a sigh from grandmother.