Fanfic Time: My Baby Now (8)

Kosh had his pack on his back and his son in his arms as the skyship manoeuvred to dock with the west tower of the castle. "You hold tight to me and I'll hold tight to you. And we'll get a fish together." He turned to his crew, his brother, and his fiancee, all waiting on the deck. "I really can't wait for all this horseshit. See you inside the old heap." And then he stepped off the railing.

Spitebane, bless him, screamed and ran for the railing. He had bootless howls of outrage when he realised that Kosh was slowing his fall.

Lady Cordelia, gods protect her, simply called out, "Don't find any trouble before it's lost!"

He saluted, "I will certainly try."

It wasn't hard to find a vendor willing to let a father and son watch their fish pastries being made. Aldiirn got one filled with pumpkin paste and assorted vegetables. Kosh got the more traditional sweet goat stew. Both embellished with sugar syrup in the press to make them shiny.

"Every good child of Whitekeep deserves a fish," Kosh lectured, "Let this be the first of many for you, eh?"

Both he and Aldiirn got a bit sticky on the way to the main entrance of the castle. Where people of all colours and creeds could take a tour of the Grand Court Room, and see the Blood Throne. The tour cost two coppers each, and the lecture of the guide was mildly educational.

He used Aldiirn's sticky face as an excuse to duck down below the guide's line of sight as she explained the fretwork in the galleries. Allegedly to clean Aldiirn's face.

"You have your flute ready to calm everyone down. Including yourself. Seeing the light of a true Earl? It scared the piss out of me the first time. Just remember. It's only light. It won't hurt you. Ready?"

He waited for Aldiirn's nod.

Double speed. Dash past the guards at the dias before they could react. Ignore the guide yelling, "Sir? You can't touch that!" And then land ass-first in the chair.

People screamed.

He opened his eyes.

Blood red light. Terrifying to all those unprepared.

The guards were all Whitekeep born. They knew what it meant when a Tiefling lit the Blood Throne. They were hails and huzzahs, and Aldiirn playing as prompted. Even though the boy was also terrified.

That was enough. He stood and announced himself. Still a Viscount, no matter what the chair said. It was up to his father the Earl to cede power, though he doubted the old man would.

Not easily, anyway.

He had just enough time to scoop Aldiirn into his arms before Earl Valiant, his entourage, and a cordon of Castle Guards barrelled into the room.

Kosh grinned for him. "Hallo, Papa. Time for the dirty laundry to be aired, nein?"

"You dare attempt to usurp me?"

"Of course not," he singsonged. "Just light the throne brighter and deeper and I'll be happy to take my rightful place as your heir."

He did not. Very telling. Especially in front of witnesses. This was going to be publically messy, and a lot of fun to watch. Probably from a safe distance.