18 A Good Friend

Tyr moaned in anguish, "Why didn't you tell me earlier that she came?" Tyr closed the door behind him and followed his sister. He attempted to straighten his clothes and brushed his fingers through his hair.

"You look fine," Luna hissed. "I didn't know she was in town. She said she's only staying overnight. Promise you won't act up this time." Luna looked into Tyr's eyes, which shone with the same vibrant green as her own.

"I'll try, but she's the one who is always difficult," Tyr brushed off a speck of dust that rested on Luna's sleeve.

Luna opened the door and smiled. "Mother! Tyr was quite ecstatic when I told him you were visiting."

Their mother, Hrod Valois, was seated with her back straight sipping tea from a blue porcelain teacup. She placed it on a saucer and looked at Tyr. "Don't be so dramatic," she snapped with no sign of motherly affection.

Tyr crossed the room and bent down to kiss his mother's cheek. "Pleasure to see you again. I am sincerely sorry to have missed our birthday party this year. Things have been hectic, and I was immensely busy." He hated how formal and unaffectionate his mother was. He found acting this way to be stifling.

"Yes. I heard. That bloodsucker, Fenrir decided to leech off of Jarnvid. I'm elated that I put my foot down and said I would disown you if you married her." Hrod opened her fan and waved it haughtily.

Tyr tossed a hat that lay on a seat across the room. He cleared his throat and sat down, "Yes mother. You know best." He removed a non-existent piece of lint from his sleeve. "What is the reason you came into town? I thought you hated the crowds." Tyr wanted to speed up their meeting and get back to Macha.

"I came to give you the deed to Sir Drake's land. After all, I bought it as a birthday gift for you," his mother gave him a look as if she thought he had gone daft.

Tyr initially wanted to refuse the gift, but his refusal would lead to an argument. He decided to compromise. "Would you be so kind as to let me purchase it from you? I rather like saying that I established this guild without using the family background as a leg up."

His mother frowned. Offended, she said, "Without using the family background? It's not like we are farmers or goat herders. Do you think you would have been so well trained if it wasn't for your family background?"

Tyr took a deep breath. "I would really feel better if you let me purchase it from you." He tried to put one of his nicest smiles on.

"Fine, do as you please. It's getting late. I'll go after inspecting your room. I want to make sure you aren't living in filth like your sister," she pointed around to Luna's chaotic room. Luna had dresses tossed about on the floor and papers stacked up in piles. Hrod snapped her fan shut and got up. She made her way to Tyr's apartment.

Tyr and Luna exchanged looks with their eyes wide. They knew that their mother would see Macha if she went into his room. Tyr rushed to his mother's side.

"I was actually heading out. I have to meet with Krystof and Taylen to discuss some business," Tyr said hurriedly.

"Do you really expect to pull the wool over my eyes with a lie like that?" Hrod crossed the hallway and stood in front of Tyr's door. "Open up. I want to decide whether I need to hire a maid for you too," she waited for Tyr to open the door for her.

Tyr opened the door and peeked in. Macha had washed the dishes and put them away. She was now lying on the floor playing with Aži, rubbing his belly while he purred.

"Move aside," his mother entered the room and saw Macha on the floor playing with the onyx wyvern.

Macha turned around. She spotted Tyr's mother and remembered her picture from the family portrait that hung in Luna's office. Macha stood up and fixed her dress. "Hello. I'm Macha."

Tyr stood in front of Macha as if to shield her from his mother. He knew his mother had a sharp tongue and didn't want her to lash out at Macha.

"Macha is Tyr's secretary," Luna blurted out. She didn't want their mother to find out about Macha's relationship with Tyr. She still assumed that the two were lovers since they lived together and spent so much time around one another. Luna worried that Macha would be branded as a 'bloodsucker' like Fenrir had been.

Their mother lifted an eyebrow. Quietly assessing the small woman in front of her. "Just a secretary?"

Macha smiled and blushed. "I hope I'm not just a secretary. Tyr and Luna have helped me out a lot. They taught me how to speak your language and gave me a job. They are smart, charismatic, and accomplished. You must be proud of them. I..." Macha hesitated, "like to think of them as my good friends."

Tyr realized he was holding his breath and began breathing again. Macha didn't understand the question. He laughed. "All right mother, this is my apartment. As you can see it is tidy and clean. I really must attend my meeting. I will show you out since I am headed that way." Tyr herded his mother and Luna out the door and gave Macha a quick smile as he closed the door.

As the three of them were walking down the stairs Hrod turned to Tyr. She didn't trust Macha because the girl looked strange. Hrod had never seen such a short woman before and thought Macha had 'funny eyes'. "I know she isn't only a good friend. Why do you waste your time on such trash?"

Tyr stopped on the steps. He looked at his mother, anger seeped from his voice, "Macha isn't trash. I find her easy to converse with. Before you say anything else, she asks nothing from me. I admit Fenrir was a bad choice, but don't you meddle with Macha," Tyr warned. "I won't have you badgering my friends too." He then turned around and headed back up the stairs.

****

This time, Luna left to go with Tyr on the journey. They went to collect peacock feathers from the birds that lived on an island in the outer-reaches. The insects and plants that grew in this area gave the bird's feathers powers that sorcerer's coveted. The feathers were sought after as an ingredient for knowledge, prosperity, luck, and beauty potions.

One night, while the party ate dinner, Tyr talked with the scouts about the next day's plans. Krystof saw this as an opportunity to approach Luna. Luna was chatting with Taylen about how the mess hall would have an updated menu when they returned.

Krystof slid down beside Luna and said in a low voice, "Why didn't you tell me Tyr was interested in Macha?" He made a dramatic pout and puppy dog eyes. "I almost got in trouble with him cause I took her out for breakfast two weeks ago."

Taylen overheard what Krystof had said and her mouth dropped open. As far as she knew, Tyr still missed Fenrir. She planned to give him a few years to get over Fenrir, then make a move on him.

"It isn't like I go around gossiping about who my brother sleeps with," Luna defended herself. "You should be able to assess the situation. They live together, work together, and are always around each other. He obviously is in a relationship with her." Luna glanced over at Tyr to check if he overheard their conversation.

Taylen couldn't believe what she heard. She remembered that Tyr didn't move in with Fenrir despite being together for almost 150 years. "What? No. I assumed they were just friends..." she trailed off.

Krystof looked at Taylen with disbelief, "Are you kidding me? I was worried he would challenge me to a duel when I dropped Macha off. He was really pissed."

Luna shook her head and gave Taylen a small hug. "I know you have liked him for years, but he argued with my mother when she came to visit because she disapproved of Macha."

Taylen's face twisted with bitterness. She saw her chance at being with Tyr fading away. Tyr had always seen Taylen as a little sister, but she still had feelings for him. She thought about Macha and wondered if there was a way to get rid of her.