Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign - By Phillip Jones Page 0,296

as to kill this family and raise the baby as Athena’s sister’s son ... your nephew ... I would appreciate it. The baby will be born before you arrive. This may come as a shock, but this baby is my child. It’s this boy who will give me the power to get your daughter back, but not until he reaches his first season ... or perhaps two, if I’ve misjudged.”

“Holy garesh, Lasidious! You want me to raise your kid as my damn nephew? How in the hell am I going to convince Athena, or for that matter, her sister and the rest of the family to go along with something so outlandish? That’s heavy garesh to spring on someone out of the blue like that. I mean ... how would I break this kind of news to everyone? I can just see it now. ‘Hey, Susanne, by the way, you’ve got a kid. Oh! What do you mean? You forgot it plopped out of you? How could you forget something like that?’”

George stirred, but he remained sound asleep as he continued. “That’s freaking nuts, Lasidious. Don’t get me wrong, man, I love kids. I’d even like taking care of your kid. But how in the hell can I make a woman believe she delivered a baby ... especially when she’s innocent, and I would wager my last Helmep that she’s a virgin.”

Lasidious smiled and then leaned toward the fire to respond. “Susanne is a virgin, George, but I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”

“Ha! Nice! Just leave it up to me. Wonderful plan, man. Thanks for nothing.”

The Mischievous One grinned as he watched George roll over to pull Athena close. “Athena and I better get a sweet house out of this if I’m going to figure out a way to babysit your kid. We’ll want something sweet ... something that reminds me of home. Better yet, I want everyone in the family to get a home of their own. They better be sick and none of that log cabin crap.”

George smirked. “You’ve been in my head enough to know what I like. I want everyone’s home to be as classy as mine, but don’t make it some cookie-cutter sub-division, Lasidious. Because that’s B.S. Oh, and I want something to keep my drinks cold. And there needs to be plumbing, because if I can turn crap to stone, there has to be a way to give me an indoor toilet. Do we have a deal?”

“I should be able to manage that, George.”

“Right-the-hell-on! Then it’s settled. So ... how do I get everyone to Merchant Island? I’ve never seen the place before, and what about the crystals I buried?”

“I want you to take the crystals with you. I’ll hide the third piece on Luvelles, but I’ll save the revelation of its location for another series of moments. As far as Athena’s family, have Maldwin prepare their minds to perceive the baby as one of their own before you leave the inn. Use the rat’s visions to make them believe that my son is Susanne’s child. I’m sure you know how to make this happen. The Head Master of Luvelles is expecting your arrival. He thinks his good friend, Amar, has referred you to him to be his new Mystic Learner.”

“Why would he think that? Amar is a dead man.”

A sinister grin appeared on Lasidious’ face. “Let’s just say that someone who looked like Amar told the Head Master about you. Brayson was happy to entertain his old student’s suggestion. He’s making preparations based on Amar’s recommendations as we speak. You’ll have your houses, George, and I’ll make sure they’re built to fit your desires.”

“What about coin?” George questioned. “I don’t want to be broke.”

“Amar told the Head Master to give you plenty of it once you arrive. It’s waiting for you at an inn called Kebble’s Kettle. You’re already rich, and you didn’t even know it.”

“So what do you want me to do when I get there?”

“I need you to make a mess like the one you made here on Grayham. Do whatever you must to keep the gods’ attention off my son.”

Lasidious passed his hand across the top of the flames. “I believe the safest place for my boy is under the gods’ noses. It will seem normal for you to call my son your nephew since the Collective knows nothing of Susanne. This will be our greatest deception, and you’ll be the force behind it.”

George rolled to his other side. “You