In the City of Giants - Chapter VII

             Bard had won the fight, but he hated that he used it even though he hated it, and did not even need it, that power, the Fire Element Essence. But Bard did not regret his decision to use it, even if he regretted the consequences, he just could not bear to let anyone that even tried to hurt his children live, regardless of if they would have been more useful left alive for questioning. That was all in the past though, now Bard had to do what was right and make sure everyone got home safely. But first, he had to check on his children and thankfully, they had gathered behind him, all of them except Amare.

            “Everyone alright? No one got hurt?” Bard asked. His five youngest replied with unsteady nods with blank faces. “Amare, how about you?” Xey were on hands and knees, still seemingly stunned by the display of fire Bard had just put on.

            Bard went over to his eldest child and hugged xem.

            “I’m so sorry if I scared you. Daddy’s here, daddy’s here,” This was not the first time Bard had hugged Amare in a moment of stress, not even the first time he had said those exact words to them. But this was the first time Amare hugged back.

*

            Bard helped Buskdor get everyone back to the train station, from the Eianth workers to Avareed cooks. More importantly, he drafted a letter to the royal court and gotten a few Eianth to stay behind and guard the remains of the Capital Robot.

            “Shame, I finally get my big break as a nobody lone archeologist, and this happens. I guess I can’t expect to sell any of the artifacts found?” asked Buskdor as Bard handed him the letter addressed to the Empress.

            “No, but I don’t think there should be anything stopping you from going back after they gather up all the robot bits. Besides I am sure you will get your promised pay. Just please, stick with the Royal Court as your investor for this sort of thing. You can’t risk any giant technology falling into the wrong hands,” said Bard blank faced.

            “And another thing, are you sure the Empire is the right hands?” he asked inflecting his voice in such a way that made Bard doubt his beliefs for a split second.

            “Historically, no. But as long as my friend Paladin is the Emperor Consort, I will trust them,” Bard said with genuine reverence for his friend, the greatest, purist, most paragon of a hero above all.

            “Don’t,” said Buskdor with a scowl. He then boarded the first train out, leaving only Bard and his children as the last people waiting at the train station.

            Bard looked at his children, how they were still rubbing the bruised parts of their body. No one, including Bard could have guessed what dangers were waiting when they all agreed to come on this trip, the five youths before him had all agreed to see this new place completely on their own accord. They each had that same adventurous spirt that trapped Bard in this high stakes life when he was young, so danger would follow them. Bard knew he didn’t have a choice, if this had even a chance of being their lives from then on, it was time to teach Amare, Vitoroy, Tilian, Smallblade, and Shabaka how to fight.