My Baby Now (7)

Both Waterdeep and Alean Micaror had decided to assist Lord Kormwind's journey to the mountain fastness of Whitekeep. The result was the most expeditious retreat that Aldiirn had ever seen. Flying on an airship should have been exciting but... Aldiirn was just ill.

Altitude.

The Marchess and the Aarakokra both helped as much as they could. Taking turns to run a restoration on him. At least it gave him some relief. As for the evenings...

Kosh guided him through meditation.

Sitting comfortably, they took up opposite corners of Kosh's mat.

"Breathe in," he always began. "Focus on the feel of air entering your lungs. Acknowledge the space it takes within your ribs. Breathe out. Slowly as you can. Know the relief that happens as a result of holding that breath. Yes, the air is thin. Yes, it feels wrong, compared to what you're used to. Breathe. Know that there is enough air. Feel your weight pressing on the mat. Feel the mat pressing back. Breathe. Feel your heartbeat as you listen to the wind. Hear the creak of the ship. Know its rhythms. Breathe. Feel the air on your skin. The small drafts of another's breath, of your own breath. The small movements of the world around you. Breathe. Hear the crew going about their business."

Kosh's voice faded out of Aldiirn's awareness. As did the sensation of his weight on the mat. He was aware of the world, and at peace with it.

Which was a big deal for him.

Breathe.

At peace.

Serene.

He opened his eyes, and it was dawn. Kosh already had his hakama on and was going through his morning kata. Aldiirn realised he was floating, and quickly lost the levitation with his alarm. The mat cushioned his fall.

"Good morning," said Kosh. "That went amazingly well. I do like a quick study. Feeling any better?"

Apart from the light bruise in his bottom... yes. Aldiirn nodded. "Yes. That was... amazing. I've never been able to trance like that before." He rose and began his own kata. Feeling more centred. More balanced. He could almost feel the qi flowing.

"If those assholes tried to teach you how to trance, I doubt they bothered with teaching you like a half-elf. Another mark against them now that I don't need it. I taught myself with methods described for Humans raising little ones like you."

He'd never asked about Kosh's habits. "Why?"

"Nightmares. I was plagued with them. Some folk wear their worries on the outside, and ask for help. Others... keep it behind a mask," a brief flash of his menacing false smile. "They hide their hurts, mostly because they don't expect help. And they do whatever they can to put ease to their agonies."

"That's what you do," said Aldiirn.

"You didn't expect help, either. You got to the point where you distrusted it." He finished his exercises and started donning his gi. "I know the look of it, and I think you would too." And there it was. That look. Expecting pain and knowing nobody would soothe it. "Liebe... I hope to get married to the Lady Cordelia."

"I think she will. You make each other happy."

"It doesn't mean I'll stop loving you at all. I will still be-- wait. Was?"

Aldiirn couldn't help smiling. "You're happy with her, and she's just as happy with you. And... she put herself in the path of harm just to rescue me. And she's just as gentle and kind as you are. The two of you are scarier than anyone who hurt me, but... I know neither of you will hurt me. Ever. And she's nice and I like her."

Kosh had Aldiirn up in a hug, lifting him from his place. Covering his cheeks with kisses. "You are the best child I have ever stolen."

He had to giggle. "I'm the only child you've stolen."

"True," Kosh put him down and absently tidied a strand of hair. "I might have to steal other children so I can compare and contrast."

He was silly, and fun when he wasn't in danger. Aldiirn followed him out to the deck of the skyship, but stayed away from the railing. It was a long way down to the patchwork of fields and forests. Kosh had no fears, not only looking out from the prow, but standing on it and dangling off the rigging as if that could somehow get him to his destination further.

He was fine. He could slow his fall with a breath.

Aldiirn had yet to learn and perfect that skill. Further, he was more used to rock over his head than blue sky and clouds.

"There's Trispire Mountain," said Kosh, pointing out the peaks. From this distance, the cities on it looked like some weird variety of spreading lichen. "Gotts. This is the first time I've actually seen it." He hopped back on deck. "When they sent me out, I was locked in a palanquin. I could only see the world through little slits, and my nurse never liked me gawking." He was rambling. Fretting. Trying to distract himself from something he didn't want to face. Something bigger than his worries for Aldiirn.

Aldiirn waited. People liked to fill silence with words.

"Mein vater is not a nice man," Kosh said. "I was six when he sent me to the other side of the world. Gods know how he's going to act around you... but I can guarantee he'll try something because you're someone I want in my life. He'll probably hang my wedding over my head, too. Use and abuse his power... And test me to be sure I'm really who I am."

"How would he do that?"

Kosh explained the family curse. Once upon a time, there was a Warlock who thought he was clever. Ever since, the Whitekeep line had been host to exactly one blue Tiefling -once in a great long while- who then became the Demon Lord of Whitekeep. And since every bastard of the Whitekeeps was also born blue and with horns, there was the Blood Throne. Only the best to rule in the bloodline could light it red. All the bastards could do was light it white.

"So all you have to do is sit on it?" said Aldiirn.

"Ja. And he'll want to keep it secret. Just in case that verdammt chair decides I should be in charge."

Aldiirn said, "Why not make it public?"

Which earned him a kiss to his brow and a generous hug. "Kluges kind. That's earned you a fish for sure."

What?