Special Notes: I was nearly done with the story when the gentleman in the above photo showed up and scolded me something terrible. I immediately deleted what I had written, and carefully recorded the story as he told it. Enjoy. *****Audio File***** "Chapter 26 - Nobility - Audio File" [The White Raven, Chapter 26, Nobility] [Eagle Province, Airfield, Planet Darai] “No, Ring, I’m sorry, the Demonians are here and they’re safe, Demonia is no longer a priority at this time, the Darts are being returned to House Raven.” “Moeth, we’re close to a solution, just give us a cargo ship.” “I can’t afford the fuel for a trip to Demonia, and anyway, all the cargo ships are being used. I’m willing to build your greenhouse so you can continue your research, but I need you to change your main focus to the crops we are going to plant.” “Raen, what’s going on, you know this is important?” says Ring, twisting his head back and forth between the two. Raen was just sitting at the table looking over manifest reports. “Damn, they’ve done it again,” interrupts Vel. “She clipped Raen’s feathers.” “Oh for the love of the ancestors,” says Ring. “The last time you did this we killed an innocent Gunslinger and you two ended up in prison.” “That’s uncalled for,” says Raen, looking up. “Moeth, we joined this alliance because Raen was in charge,” says Vel. “You have too much Raven in you, Hawks make better leaders.” “You are a Raven too,” says Moeth. “I’m not discussing this, we have work to do.” “We are going to Demonia,” says Vel. “We’ll find our own way there.” Vel turns and storms away with Ring running to catch up with her. The High Priestess was calmly standing near Raen reading some of the manifest reports. “Well, don’t you have something wise to say,” snaps Moeth. “I’m the spiritual leader, child,” says the High Priestess. “Not the political leader, but I can tell you that you two are out of balance right now. You both have such wondrous gifts to offer, perhaps you should find and acknowledge those gifts.” “You’ve made political decisions before,” argues Moeth. “You are referring to me ordering the attack on the smugglers camp,” says the High Priestess. “That was a spiritual order, the presence of the smugglers was causing the hatchlings to walk a path of immorality.” Moeth throws the clipboard she’s holding down on the table and stomps off the other direction. The High Priestess was right, they were out of balance. She hadn’t realized how much Raen and Vas were taking care of without her knowing. She had come down on Raen hard and at one point in their fight had threatened to put Raen’s collar back on. That had been the snapping point for Raen, he had almost completely shut down and now turned everything over to her - she was overwhelmed. But, Raen and Vas were reckless and glided along with a chaotic and carefree attitude. The House needed to prosper, and that could only happen with careful and deliberate planning. She hadn’t wanted to hire all the Tarlock apprentices that were arriving, it was just another expense in their already stretched budget, and they still didn’t have any income. Raen just shrugged every time she mentioned the budget. He was just so sure that one of the plans would magically work out. Either the movie royalties would arrive, or the cattle would arrive, or the shipyards would start producing, or the new glider wings would sell on the international market. All pipe dreams - she needed something concrete now. They had already blown through half of the one-hundred million loan from the Princedom of Kitsune. The Dart ships would bring in thirty-two million, but that was already spent on the hatchery. The medical cradles were one-hundred twenty thousand a piece, and she needed one hundred of them, and then medical supplies, stone, construction crews. And there were no cheap units available of the sophisticated medical cradles, they were state of the art surgical care units for eggs - and so very expensive. And all that wasn’t even the worst of it. She desperately needed a power plant, and that would cost upwards of three billion. She would need a line of credit to build one, and she couldn’t get that without having an industry to secure the credit. They were currently using two of the cargo ships for electricity, but they were at the upper limit of what the ships could handle. The first payment to the Princedom of Kitsune was due in forty-five days, the entire House could collapse if they missed the payment. Moeth closed her eyes for a moment and rubbed her temples, the Dart ships would be leaving within the hour and they wouldn’t even be able to defend themselves. The Raven pilots arrived in a transport this morning and were preparing the Darts for departure. Moeth walked through the settlement, stopping occasionally to inspect a construction project, but her mind was in too much turmoil to linger. She continued her stroll past the Apple Orchard to the far edge of the settlement and stopped. The White Raven was carrying rocks and laying them out in a pattern on the ground, it kind of looked like she was building a wall - Cala was with her. Moeth glanced around and found Mergan sitting on a rock reading a book, and walked over to her. “What’s going on?” asks Moeth. “The White Raven has been coming here every day and carrying those rocks around, Cala showed up and I’m supervising the visit,” says Mergan. Moeth walks over to the White Raven and Cala. “Good afternoon,” says Moeth. “Doctor Mergan is supervising,” says the White Raven, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I know, you’re fine,” says Moeth. “Where’s Kata?” Cala points at a bush. Kata is sitting under the bush glaring at Cala and the White Raven. “I see,” says Moeth. “So, what are you two building?” “The Eagle no longer needs me,” says the White Raven. “And you are holding my hatchlings hostage, so I have no choice but to stay here.” “We aren’t holding them hostage, we will return them to the Raven Temple if they wish to leave,” says Moeth, already exasperated with the White Raven. “You’re situation is entirely of your own making.” “Raen turned them against me, he did something to them,” says the White Raven. Cala tugs on the White Ravens sleeve and shakes his head. “He didn’t do anything to us, please, we were having fun.” The White Raven looks down at Cala and her expression softens. Moeth can see the love she has for the child, but the White Raven was raised in the Temple tunnels and was never prepared for the social interactions she now has to deal with every day. “Raen did do something to you,” admits Moeth, sighing. “I knew it,” says the White Raven. Cala tips his head to the side at Moeth curiously. “He gave you health and immortality,” says Moeth. The White Raven looks down at Cala and back at Moeth. “What are you talking about?” “The Carinian Ocean God built Raen’s wings,” says Moeth. “When they penetrated his skin he was infected with a nano-virus. Raen can pass the same type of immortality and health the Kitsune have.” “The Kitsune aren’t actually immortal,” says the White Raven. “No, they aren’t,” says Moeth. “But Cala and Kata will enjoy a very long life and health, and the ability to heal from many types of injuries.” Moeth looks down at Cala. “You must be careful though, a severe enough injury or illness can still kill you, like when you were shot.” Moeth knows she shouldn’t feel a sense of victory to set the White Raven back a peg, but she’s been a pain in the backside since the first day, and she does feel a sense of satisfaction at the chagrined looked on the White Raven’s face. “So, what are you building?” asks Moeth again. “We’re building a University,” replies Cala. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have the money to spend on building a University at this time, perhaps in a few years,” says Moeth. Moeth can see now they were marking out the locations of where they wanted the buildings. She understands the White Raven’s need, the White Raven was hatched for a life of study. A University would be something she could understand and submerse herself in, but it would be a frivolous pursuit when so many other things needed built. “I didn’t ask for any money,” says the White Raven, recovering from the shock of Moeth’s revelation about the nano virus. “A deceased White Raven’s estate is held in Trust until the next White Raven is hatched, I have my own money.” “Does your mother approve of you spending money here in Eagle Province?” asks Moeth. “I don’t want to end up in a legal nightmare.” “There is White Raven property in nearly every Province, one of the original buildings at Sparrow Academy was built by a White Raven,” explains the White Raven. “White University of Struthio will be another of my properties. Do you want me to pay you for the land?” “You may have the land,” says Moeth. “But Eagle citizens attend for free.” “No, but I will agree to tuition exemption for Eagles up to age twenty-five, and fifty-percent tuition assistance for ages twenty-six and older. Books, fees, and housing remain the students responsibility.” “Agreed,” says Moeth, rubbing her temples. She had taken a walk to get away from everything for a little while and just ended up in another deal negotiation. Moeth walked on and let them continue their project, maybe Vel was right, she shouldn’t have clipped Raen’s wings so hard. She wasn’t concerned about the ownership of the University, it was doubtful the White Raven maintained much if any control over the properties the White Ravens may have developed over the thousands of years. Moeth heard the engines of the Dart ships and looked up, the Darts were leaving for Raven Province. They no longer had any air defense and were sitting ducks now, she would have to ask Lord Struthio to base some of his fighter Darts at the airfield. Hatchlings were playing in the creek as she headed back towards the airfield. She stopped to watch them, something looked different about the hatchlings. There was a Tarlock apprentice standing near the creek also watching the hatchlings. Many more of the Tarlock apprentices had been arriving, but she had lost track of what sections of House Eagle they were taking employment with. The Tarlock blew a whistle and the hatchlings ran out of the creek and lined up neatly. It looked like each hatchling had a specific spot in the line, and knew exactly where to line up. The Tarlock walked down the line of hatchlings tapping each hatchling on the head - he was taking head-count. Moeth realized what it was that looked different about the hatchlings. They were clean, and their hair cut and groomed. The Tarlocks had taken over the care of the hatchlings. When had that happened? The Tarlock marched the hatchlings off to… where? School? Classes? She wasn’t sure how this had taken place, but it was a pleasant change to see some order brought to the House. Moeth noticed other groups of hatchlings in neat lines also following a Tarlock. Moeth walked along paying close attention to each of the groups, the Tarlocks had completely taken over all the hatchlings. Raen had been right, bringing the Tarlock apprentices to House Eagle made a significant difference. She was startled out of her thoughts when the emergency air-horn sounded from the airfield. Their Darts had only been gone for twenty-minutes and already they were being attacked? Moeth watched, concerned about what to do with the hatchlings, but she needn't have bothered. Each Tarlock swiftly changed directions, gathered any stray hatchlings, and all the groups of hatchlings disappeared into the brush of the desert with their Tarlocks in less than two minutes. Moeth sprinted for the airfield. Raen and Vas were pulling weapons from a cargo ship when she arrived. “What’s happening?” shouted Moeth. “A squadron of fighter Darts coming in over the ocean,” shouts Vas. “Stop,” orders Moeth. “Moeth, we need to defend the House,” says Raen. “Defend with what?” says Moeth. “We have guns,” replies Vas. Raen stops and stares at Moeth, and then tosses his gun back into the cargo ship. “No, Vas. She’s right. We need to survive until Lord Struthio can come rescue us.” “Vas, go get a stick and a white piece of cloth,” says Moeth. Vas obviously wants to fight, but obeys and tosses his gun back in the cargo ship with Raen’s and quickly finds something to make the flag of surrender with. “I’m the House General,” says Vas. “This is my duty to perform.” The fighter Darts roar over the cliffs and land on the airfield. Vas leads the Moeth Alliance to the invaders. “That’s House Falcon,” says Raen. “I wouldn’t have ever imagined they would be the ones to attack us.” Vas holds the white flag in front of him and walks to the lead ship and waits. A young Falcon in the dress of the noble family of House Falcon exits the ship and meets Vas. Vas kneels as the Falcon approaches. “House Eagle surrenders to House Falcon,” says Vas formally. “Will you discuss terms?” The Falcon looks at Vas, then Raen and Moeth, and back to Vas. “This is disturbing,” says the Falcon. “How in the name of the ancestors did you arrive at the conclusion I was invading House Eagle? Please, stand up and hide that flag quickly, House Grackle isn’t far behind us and I certainly don’t want them reporting that House Falcon attacked House Eagle.” Vas hesitates, uncertain what is happening. The Falcon grabs the surrender flag and hands it to another Falcon that walked up and stopped next to him. “Quickly, burn this,” says the Falcon, handing the flag over. “And never a word of this misunderstanding.” “Yes, Prince Falor, right away,” says the second Falcon, taking the flag and kneeling to light it on fire. Moeth steps forward while Vas stands. She knew Lord Falcon had sons, but had never met any of them and didn’t know which one Falor was - maybe third or fourth son. “I am Mother Eagle, we have…” Moeth starts to say, but Prince Falor holds his hand up and interrupts. “Just stop, I don’t care or have the time to deal with whatever chaos you have going on in your House that precipitated such a rash action,” says Prince Falor. “We are very angry with House Eagle but the grievous wrong you have committed is easily fixed without the need for hostilities. I don’t believe any House on Darai would attack your House of orphans.” “House Raven launched a fleet to invade only a few days ago,” says Moeth. “Oh that, yes, I know of that,” says Prince Falor. “It was a bluff, House Raven wouldn’t have dared step foot on Struthio. You gave up your fighter Darts and made yourselves the laughing stock of Darai. You would have known that if you had appointed your Senator to the Commonwealth already. Are you waiting for an invitation?” Moeth was fairly certain she didn’t like this Prince Falor, but kept her expression neutral and moved past the obvious insults. “My Lord, how could we have committed any wrongs against your House?” says Moeth. “We’ve had no dealings with House Falcon.” “Are you aware of the Air Safety Consolidation Act?” asks Prince Falor. “Yes, of course,” says Moeth. “But we don’t have an airport.” “Yet you’ve run several unregistered flights to and from the mainland over open ocean,” says Prince Falor. “That alone violates dozens of air traffic regulations, and you’ve been running flights to at least three Houses. Let’s see… House Cassoway, House Struthio, and the new Demonian Province.” “My Lord, I have no intention of building an airport,” says Moeth. “You better not,” says Prince Falor. “Unless you would like for me to drag you into court. Now, as I said, this is easily fixable. I suspect you have been acting out of ignorance and not criminal culpability. In accordance with the ASC Act, our surveyors will determine the correct amount of land you will turn over to House Falcon. We will build the airport, of which will become the sovereign territory of House Falcon, but of course, you will maintain all concession rights. I imagine you could use the income.” “Hold on,” says Raen. “We don’t need an airport, how many people could ever want to come here?” “Which one of you is in charge?” asks Prince Falor. “I will only speak to one of you.” Moeth has a vision of the months and years to come as if a Vid-screen were playing in her head. This was the moment to make everything right. “Governor Raen is in charge,” says Moeth, taking a step back. Prince Falor turns to Raen and continues without hesitation. “We have been monitoring the situation here,” says Prince Falor. “Did you assume that House Eagle would own… have you named this place yet?” “Haliae City,” replies Raen. “Did you assume you would own Haliae City?” asks Prince Falor. “No House owns the city or province they govern, unless you have declared a monarchy.” “We have not,” says Raen. “I have over two-hundred requests already to open air routes here,” says Prince Valor. “Lord Swan wants to get in here and build his movie theater, Lord Rook has been twisting my ear off to get in here and negotiate for the water utilities, and Lord Aves needs his postal route established - I’m told you have at least a hundred crates of mail clogging up an entire sorting facility. And of course there is a serious back-log of immigrants applying for settlement rights, mainly farmers that want a chance to have their own farms.” “I had no idea,” says Raen. “Ah, I almost forgot the most important,” says Prince Falor. “Lady Ana has been trying to get hold of someone in charge of this mess.” “Lady Ana of The Daraian Central Bank?” asks Raen. “Apparently you accepted a loan from the Kitsune without going through her first,” says Prince Falor. “She’s more angry about that than I am about the airport.” Raen looks down at the ground, thinking, and then in one motion spreads his wings to their full span. Prince Falor holds his ground, but the soldiers with him drop to a knee and draw weapons. “I will not allow House Eagle to have terms dictated by any other House,” roars Raen. “I agree we need an airport, but we will sit down and discuss it in detail before I decide, and you will speak with both the Mother Eagle and myself, or there will be no discussions.” “A moment ago you were ready to surrender,” says Prince Falor, dryly. “A mistake that will never happen again,” says Raen, his temper at the edge of exploding. “Now there’s the Heart of Darai,” says Prince Falor. “I nearly turned around and left, I was starting to think I was dealing with a Raven instead of a Hawk. You will do fine.” Raen’s eyes narrow. “I am an eagle.” “My apology, eagle-hawk, but I hope I’ve impressed upon you all that is about to happen, and will happen, but a House Governor is a poor choice to deal with the Lords of the Major Houses. I told you House Grackle will arrive shortly, they are coming to broadcast the event.” “What event?” asks Raen, his wings still spread in anger as he tried to decide if eagle-hawk was an insult. “You have friends,” replies Prince Falor. “Prince Hawk and Prince Sparrow are also on the way.” Clap runs up, out of breath and whispers in Raen’s ear “Three more squadrons of fighter Darts just appeared on the cargo ships radar,” reports Clap. “You could have told me on the ear-bug com-link,” says Raen. “Our Darts are gone, remember,” says Clap. “Our ear-bugs don’t work anymore.” “I forgot,” says Raen and looks back at Prince Falor. “Why are they coming here?” asks Raen. “It takes three Princes from three non-aligned Houses to raise someone to the Nobility,” replies Prince Falor. “Our fathers have decided your actions to save the Demonians requires a proper reward.” “I can not be Lord Eagle,” says Raen. “Saying that only proves you are of noble blood, a lesser man would have tried to steal the Eagle’s title. No, you and Moeth will be raised to the rank of Princes of House Eagle.”