Chapter
7 – Durward and Vermögens
Thursday rolled around nice and bright; Kaspian’s
alarm went off at 5:30 so that he could get up and fix a nice breakfast for his
‘Uncle’. He was really hoping to avoid more arguments with them. He figured
that Ralph and Peggy would be easy enough to handle so long as they feared him
using magic on them and or the loss of their income.
He was setting breakfast on the table when he felt
the shudder of the house as his uncle and cousin came downstairs: heaven forbid
they actually miss a meal. He put out the platters and was just taking his seat
when he heard the mail slot rattle.
Ralph shook out his newspaper as he stated
pompously, “Boy get the post.”
Kaspian looks at his Uncle for a moment before
carefully stating his position, “I don’t mind helping with the cooking as I
like to cook. I don’t mind helping with the gardening as I like doing that as
well. Keeping my room clean and helping to clean the kitchen and bathroom again
not a problem. I am not your servant and I will not continue doing everything
in this house as if I was. Dewey is capable of keeping his own room clean and
since you don’t permit me in there I guess it will be up to him or one of you
to keep the sitting room clean as well. I will not do upkeep on something I am
not permitted to use. I will not take your abuse any more. I will not be
referred to in a derogatory manner and will not answer to anything other than Kaspian,
Kaspian Rutherford, or Rutherford. My post does not arrive by Mundanei means
therefore I will not be errand boy and run to collect it. If you don’t want to
get it yourself then I suggest that you have Dewey get it for you.”
As Ralph starts turning purple in his anger Dewey
starts cleaning the breakfast platter onto his own plate. Kaspian knowing that
if he doesn’t maintain his stand now they will continue walking all over him,
raps Dewey on the hand with the spatula while stating clearly, “That platter of
food is for everyone! If you insist on eating enough for 5 people then you will
start cooking for yourself!”
Shrieking in anger Dewey lurches to his feet nearly
knocking the table over while Ralph draws his fist back as if to hit Kaspian and
yells, “BOY you will remember your place! You will do as we tell you. You are
not the boss in this house. Let Dewey have as much as he wants for breakfast;
he needs his energy for kick-boxing practice. Now you will go get the post!”
Peggy remembering Kaspian’s warning from a few days
previous intervenes quickly.
Intermittent tremors running through her body, skin pale she orders, “Dewey
put half that food back, you are still on the diet from your school. You are
allowed two eggs, two pieces of bacon and a slice of toast with a ½ of
grapefruit and that is what you will eat. They said if you do not lose at least
a stone over the summer then you won’t be allowed to participate in sports next
term; that and your weight is extremely unhealthy. You will be dropped from the
team and you will also lose your scholarship. Ralph you will cease your torment
of Kaspian! Need I remind you that you did not get that promotion or the raise
yet and until you do WE need that money?!”
Her voice getting shriller by the second she
screeches, “Dewey go get the post NOW!” She shudders with images of Dwarves and
the other blue creatures with dagger like teeth torturing and eating their
still living, breathing, screaming bodies.
Face turning an even deeper shade of purple Ralph
grates out, “Now Pet, we can’t let that monster walk all over us. He is here by
our sufferance and he must live by our rules; that’s what the Van Pelty guy
said. Give him strict supervision and discipline and that’s what I am doing!”
She rabidly turns on him, “If one of Dewey’s
teachers had told you that would you treat him as you have Kaspian? Would you
have?? Answer me Ralph! No you wouldn’t have you would have told him where to
get off and how fast he could do it. You know what we’ve done to him is and
always has been WRONG. Yes he is strange but we’ve abused him. I let it happen,
I admit it. I let it happen because I’ve always hated magic. It was strange and
made my cousin even more different from me than she already was. She was always
different you know. Pretty and well liked by everyone; even when she lost her
temper everyone loved her. I… I admit it; I was jealous of her and let that
lead to unwarranted hatred and abuse of her child. I will not continue it now.
I will not be eaten by Kobolds or used as slave labor by Dwarves and I will no
longer use and abuse my little cousin! If you and Dewey can’t understand that
then perhaps it’s you who needs supervision and discipline.”
She takes a deep breath and looks over at Kaspian who
was staring at her as if she was an alien from Pluto and speaking Klingon, “Kaspian
I truly am sorry for my behavior. I hope that the changes I am trying to make
help you understand that it was nothing you’ve done that caused it. We …. We
just didn’t try to recognize you or your needs.”
Dewey comes slowly and carefully into the kitchen
with the post in hand and quickly hands his mother the post then slips around
the table making sure he in no way bumped Kaspian before devouring his, to him,
meager breakfast.
It was a very silent 10 minutes later Peggy squeals
in delight, “Ralph, look we’ve won a 3-day all expenses paid trip to Disney
Land! Can you get Friday off? The flight leaves at 11am. I think this is just
what we need too. You, Dewey and I can take this little family trip and get our
heads on straight. Come to an understanding of this situation and closer as a
family; While Kaspian gets caught up on things for the summer here.”
Ralph his
color coming back down into the red range looks over at Kaspian and states
carefully, “Boy… uh Kaspian, we will be going on this family trip, you will be
staying here in our home: do not burn it down and do not break anything. We
will make changes and you will too to accommodate these new feelings of your
aunts. Kaspian for today all I want you to do is clean up the two door statues
that the delivery man destroyed with his van. May as well throw out the third
one too as the set is ruined and mow the grass. Dewey will vacuum the entire
downstairs for his mother.”
Kaspian realizing that Ralph was really concerned
about Peggy’s outburst, well he was too but wasn’t going to let on, answered
politely and with respect, “Ok Uncle Ralph and if it’s ok with you I’ll start
on the weeding today too. The weather is supposed to be a little cooler today
and tomorrow than over the weekend.”
“That will be fine.”
Dewey finally processes what his father had said
and stutters out in indignation, “Vacuum the downstairs… but that’s the freaks
job. Why can’t he do it?! Mummy I don’t do housework that’s Kaspian’s job; he’s
the servant. Dad you’ve always said he was good for nothing but chores and the
work you can get out of him. Make him do it!”
Upon hearing his own words thrown back in his face Ralph
realizes what he may have created and hopes that a little firmness will help to
rectify the situation. He states unequivocally, “If you wish to have that new
game system with all those games then you will do the little chores you are
assigned Dewey without whining; be a man about it. That’s my boy and remember
we’ll be having that wonderful trip over the weekend with no chores or
worries.”
It was hours after Ralph had left for work when Peggy
found Kaspian cleaning up the destroyed statuary. She was just about to call
him in to talk to him when she noticed him staring in confusion and worry at
the broken pieces of marble and plaster. Finally she decided, “Kaspian is there
a problem?”
Not knowing how to ask it without mentioning magic Kaspian
decided to ask a few questions, “I’m not sure Aunt Peggy. When did you get
these statues?”
She thinks for a moment, “We got them not long
after we brought Dewey home from the hospital. They were a representation of
our family; Why?”
“Well you know that stuff you don’t like talking
about?” he asks looking up at her. When she nods he continues, “It’s all over
these things Aunt, and it’s not the good kind either. It’s not like the wards;
I can feel them they feel almost like a blanket or a nice comfy jacket. The
stuff on these makes my skin crawl. I… I think I need to contact someone about
this Aunt Peggy, someone that I trust; is that Ok with you?”
She takes a deep breath thinking about what he said
and trying not to blame him. She couldn’t figure out why everything always was
his fault but something was making her always blame him and while it was
convenient it wasn’t right. She decided, “Kaspian write your friend! Dewey has
gone to Padrach’s house for the day and Ralph will be gone till late so do it
now so there are no problems. I will be going out as well and won’t be back
till dinner.”
Kaspian nods as he’s heading inside. He goes up to
his room pulls out parchment and his favorite ball point pen:
Fangs,
Something
weird is going on here. I need to see you today, as soon as possible and I have
Aunt Peggy’s permission so please do hurry. Will explain when you arrive. Keep
this between just US!”
As always
your Cub,
Kaspian
Helida hops over to the desk waiting for him to
attach his message to the cylinder on her leg. She’s a very unusual messenger
bird being a snowy white raven and not one of standard messenger pigeons. He
whispers urgently to her as he rolls it and drops it into the little cylinder
he’d created for carrying messages, “Girl take this too Fangs Ok and don’t let
anyone else see it. Try and give it to him while he’s alone if possible.”
She chirps softly and nuzzles his ear before
launching herself out the window.
__<>__<>__<>__<>__
Damia Kinkaide and her escort port-keyed into Vermögens;
Looking around she spied their escort into the more secure part of the facility
and her managers office. “Mr. Mythrlclaw?”
She inquires softly.
The aged Dwarf steps forward a solemn look on his
face, “Your Grace, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you! Welcome to Vermögens
London, if you would come this way…” He finished by gesturing down the long
corridor which was lined with regally dressed and well armed Dwarves standing
at attention.
Damia asks hesitantly, “Are you sure you have the
right Damia Black?”
Mythrlclaw replies as they traverse the corridor,
“Yes Your Grace I am sure that I’ve got the correct Damia Cassiopeia Rutherford-McCrey-Windemere-Leopaldi-Kinkaide
After opening the office door that had written on
it:
Og’ Talmraz Mythrlclaw
The Ancient House of Myrridyn,
The Exalted and Ancient House of Windemere
The Noble and Ancient House of Kinkaide,
The Righteous and Ancient House of Rutherford (with Nar’
sinhg Steelclaw)
“Your Grace please have a seat; Lord McCrey you as
well please,” Mythrlclaw said as he gestured to two comfortable chairs near his
desk. He looks over at Steelclaw and states, “Steelclaw please bring
refreshments as this is a rather involved process.”
He looks over at Devid and asks, “Do you wish to
include her trust in today’s endeavors?”
Devid thinks then states clearly, “She was to
receive her trust on her 16th birthday, so tell her of it first.”
“Very well.” He shuffles through several files and
starts, “These are the actual words of your father Devid McCrey when he created
this trust for you 16 years ago.” He sets out a large moonstone and cast start
at it:
A ghostly image of a much younger but hardly
changed looks her over with pride and smiles sadly as he starts speaking:
“I have been
accused of many things the least of which is greed, therefore I am setting this
aside for you my beautiful daughter in such a way that once the papers are
signed it can never be taken away only added to. I will never be accused of not
doing right by my children. You will inherit this upon your 16th birthday; and I can add
additional items until I pass but can never take from it.
To my precious daughter I leave
167,000,000 avatiir and a title held by my family for over 40 generations but
that has sat unclaimed because none have had a daughter to claim it. I leave
you the title of Duchess of New Haven
and the responsibilities that go with it. The villa and property in New Haven
is of course yours as well. I leave you
my interests in the following businesses to assure that even if you spend or lose
the money you will have a generous steady income.
Magical Wireless Network – 45%
Daily Ledger – 40%
Mages World Ledger – 67% (think Wall
Street Journal of Wizarding World)
Magical Macy’s - 56%
Magical Nordrstroms – 47%
Greenblats Pharmaceutical and
Apothecaries - 79%
“Father, what does this mean?” Damia asks confused.
“It means that I love you and that I made sure you
were taken care of in case something happened to me.”
Mythrlclaw switches folders and asks, “Shall I
continue?”
She solemnly nods the affirmative and swallows
convulsively.
Mythrlclaw looks at information from another slim
folder, “This is the Rutherford trust. It was left to you in much the same way
that the McCrey was with the exception that Keldrick Rutherford’s death was
recorded 31 October 1981. With the recording of his death the trust was set to
instantly become yours. The Rutherford Trust is as follows:
To my darling
daughter Damia, I leave the finances, title and responsibilities of Lady of Rhodes,
and the finances, title and responsibility of Lady~Mage Of Rockefeller: you are
the first to have these titles in almost 1000 years to have this honor as they
must go to a daughter born to the line, not adopted or married into, you must
be born. You also receive:
36,000,000 avatiir, as well as all of the
ladies jewelry, clothing, trunks, and accessories left from the many past
generations of Rutherford women to include any of the armor and weapons they
may have used. I also leave you the Villa in Monaco,
the Chalet in Graubundn (Swiss Alps) and the Enchanted Manor in the Black
Forest Germany and wilds Scotland (it
exists in both places). You also receive all the stocks that I have in the
following businesses:
·
Rhodes Wand Wood -
62% owner ship
·
Magical Cores and
More Bestiary and Herbalists - 79% ownership
·
Evard’s Owl
Emporium – 70% ownership
·
Kinkaide
Instruments Music - 37% ownership
·
Bentley Luggage,
Bags and Trunks – 57% ownership
·
Crown Books – 82%
ownership
The gem vault is to
be divided equally between my two children as are the sickle and Knut vaults.
There is also a
vacation home in Greece
that is to be shared between the two of you equally.
In shock and surprise Damia asks, “Mr. Mythrlclaw I
inherited that when I was a… a… baby?”
Very serious Mythrlclaw replies, “Yes or you would
have if we could have gotten mail to you. We sent out letters asking for your
presence at any Vermögens branch every day for 3 years; they all returned
unopened without fail. So we put your inheritances in a Vermögens trust until
such time as you could make a personal appearance to handle matters. The very
first letter to get through to you was the one you hold in your hand just 2
days ago. You should also know that the Headmaster at Ars Magika, one Reginald
Van Pelt has been trying to get control of your accounts for the last 14 years.
We’ve kept control and details away from him, but it hasn’t been easy.”
With an almost wolfish intensity and feral
expression he adds, “Of course Mr. Van Pelt helped us along by blocking the
reading of the Rutherford and Diark wills right after their deaths. He also
stopped the reading of your father Dragorian Windemere’s will too. His misuse of authority and position
was noted then as well as many other times he’s made the same assertions to try
to gain access to those same accounts. He may be High Vizier of the
MAGI-Parliament but that in no way gives him any authority within Vermögens or
over things left in our care.”
“Why would Mr. Van Pelt want my property?” She asks
confused.
Devid McCrey inserts, “It’s not the property he’s
after, he’s after the money and prestige and political power that comes with
being your ‘guardian’. He did the same with young Kaspian. He forced magical
guardianship of him through the Magi-Congress, sent Kaspian to live with Mundanei
relatives that absolutely abhor magic. We recently discovered that they’ve
abused him and Van Pelt has always known about it. You are a very important
person in the magical world just like Kaspian although for different reasons.
He’s famous for surviving a curse that no one has ever survived. He also holds
several important titles passed to him from Keldrick Rutherford. You hold
several titles left to you by all of us and you are famous for being kidnapped
and missing for 14 years. The prestige he would get from being in control of
all those positions and ye gads the money alone, well it’s unimaginable. I’d
bet this is the reason he’s constantly trying to get anti-Dwarven legislation
through the Congress because of their interference in their plans; of course he
disguises it as societal improvements.”
She sighs heavily sad that her brother was abused
by someone he should have been able to trust. Looking very sad she tells Mythrlclaw,
“Please continue.”
“Mr. Dragorian Windemere died the same night at the
Rutherford’s; as I previously stated Van Pelt blocked it from being read here
but a copy was also activated upon his death on Drakonali. Grand Duke
Dragorian’s will is as follows:
My sweet darling daughter if you are hearing this then
I am gone. I do so wish things could be different but if wishes were avatiir
I’d be the richest man in the world. See I’ve an ability I’ve not told anyone
about; I am a seer. I don’t do those flakey trances and strange voices; I get
flashes and have learned to put them in a pensive when viewed they tell the
future. So far they’ve never been wrong. I’ve recently seen my end and it’s not
far away. So I’ve set my affairs in order; that included creating a plan of
action: I named my brother in all but blood temporary ruler while your people waited for you to grow up. You will
become Grand Duchess the moment I die, there is no undoing this. Keegen Kukirani is my right hand and the man I left to take over as
Regent till you grow up. I have created a plan in which my strongest adviser will act as regent for you until your 35th birthday. If you know him; wonderful… if you have yet to meet
him do not worry as he has only your best interest at heart. I have made sure
of his loyalty thru spell, potion and binding ritual. He is your god-father among other things, hee will be as an older
brother to you, forever family even though you share no blood. Know this baby
mine – you will be a wonderful leader when the time comes but do not worry as you have a life to live before its ontop of you. Have faith in yourself as I do in you.
You’ve ruled my heart since the moment you were conceived; your people will
easily follow.
My sweet darling daughter I leave you the rank, title,
and responsibility of, as well as the throne, of Drakonali. Hereafter you will
be known as Your Serene Highness the Grand Duchess of Drakonali. I am so sorry
my little hatchling that I am not there to show you the ropes, or to help you
through the transition as is proper.
PERSONAL VAULTS:
·
Avatiir vaults =
147,000,000 avatiir
·
Rukab Vaults =
17,000,000
·
Penit vault =
3,000,000
·
Gems and jewelry
vault – 12,000,000 avatiir value
·
Clothing,
accessories, Armor and weapons, ancestral wands, and staves, magic artifacts
and books
You should note sweet one that there are other vaults
as well that belong to our Kingdom which are yours as well. They are in your
hands as well but these listed here are for your own personal enjoyment. Spend
wisely or spend frivolously it’s your choice. All your needs will be provided
through the kingdom.
Personal Homes furnished and livable:
·
Apartment/flat in London
·
Small Villa in/near
Paris
·
Small Manor in/near
Rome
·
Mansion in Virginia, USA
·
Castle Drakonali
found on the Isle of Draknor
Details on these
properties and numerous businesses are listed separately in this file.
Mythrlclaw looks at Damia while saying, “Your Grace
I have one more will to read to you today; it is for Aslan Leopaldi.” He
reached out putting a large star sapphire on the table and activated it with a
spell:
A youngish dark haired green eyed man appeared; he eyed those present,
nods at Devid and then smiles softly at Damia before starting,
“My sweet daughter
it’s been forever since you were taken from us. We’ve never stopped looking for
you our lives are so empty without you here. I had hoped to live to see you
again but I see that it didn’t happen. My dearest darling Damia, I leave you
everything that is mine. The 4 houses:
Wilderness Retreat in Colorado USA, Sunsets Door in Corsica, Hunter Haven in
London, Safe Haven in Portugal --- They
have all been heavily warded to allow only those of the blood in; your family
ring is the key; 27,000,000 Avatiir, 345,654 rukab, and 256,789 penit as well as all of the family gems and
jewelry.
We have two
businesses that we own out right that have supported us through good times and
bad – they are:
Magical Bestiary Preserve – we
preserve the animals mundane or magical and use their key parts (feathers,
shells, fur, claws, etc) for their many uses (wand cores, potions ingredients,
etc.) we also work on breeding and preserving to make sure they don’t go
extinct.
STarZ HomeSec and Warding – think ADT
with lots of heavy magic, Wards, magic alarms, etc.
Mythrlclaw states, “We’ve arranged for another to
do the Heir’s Blood ritual here on Monday morning and would like to arrange for
you to take it at the same time. We would like to precede the ritual with the
reading of Sirius Kinkaid’s will. We were waiting for your appearance to
resolve that situation. Will you be physically able to undergo such an arduous
ritual? We know from previous trials that it is quite taxing and physically
challenging.”
Damia raises her head at her implied weakness and
states firmly, “I will be healed by then Sir. It will be no problem. I am quite
use to challenges and physical damage so it is of no consequence.”
She places the family rings on her fingers,
collects the large bundle of papers which Devid puts into a magical briefcase
and they take their leave; stopping only for a quick look into the main vaults
for each family. She gathered a few items that caught her fancy and they transported
back to Slyth Torr where Kiran Ryder waited impatiently for them.
