It was a harrowing flight, especially while holding Buffy and afraid she might drop the cat. Buffy had stopped trembling, though, and she was turning her head to look for trouble.
They sailed over the dock. Home was straight ahead and up the hill, but Serena spotted people behind the fish house near the pier. She swept that way, hoping her mother was with that group. She landed, startling the entire group, many of whom held weapons.
"Is mom here?" Serena asked, gasping a bit.
"Not here," someone said. "Get out of the way, girl. This is no place for you and that silly cat --"
Serena started to say something to Jules, a pretentious young man not much older than her. Then she shook her head.
"I don't have time for this childishness," she said and meant those words. It gave her an odd feeling. She'd grown up on the last day. "Is mom up at the house?"
"Most likely down here somewhere," Mary said. She had an old sword in hand. "We won't let them raid us!"
"The first ship isn't the enemy -- the second ship is, and I am not sure about the third --"
Everyone looked at her as though she had gone mad. She was about to say more, but Mary and Jules shouted and pointed to the dock.
Two ships were almost there.
"Don't let any of them off!" Jules shouted. "Kill them all!"
"Don't kill anyone!" Serena shouted in return. The others were already moving, though, and no one listened to her.
Serena made a sound too much like a mad cat. She ran and took to the air, thinking she would go to the house -- but no. She spun and headed back to Vane's ship.
"Hey," Buffy said and sounded a little more aware.
"I don't know where Mom is," Serena said. She saw people moving but couldn't make out shapes in the rain. "I have to stop them from hurting Vane's crew."
Buffy made a sound of agreement. Serena considered putting her down on a roof but feared the cat might get hurt again, and she was no trouble to carry.
"Mom!" Serena shouted. "Stop them!"
She thought she heard a shout that might have been her mother, but she didn't have time to search for her. Instead, she landed on the dock, almost slipping into the water --but she held her spot and stopped the onrush of trouble.
"Get out of the way!" Jules demanded and even brought up his sword.
Then mom arrived and saved her from many angry villagers who didn't want to listen to a child, as she heard them say. Serena quickly related the situation, and by then, the battle between the three ships had died down to a few shouts and curses.
"I don't know if it is the truth about Vane, but I didn't want to make a big mistake we couldn't repair," Serena explained.
Mom nodded. Then she looked surprised as someone walked up behind Serena. She looked back to find Vane there, and he looked more than battered as he limped past her and gave her mother a bow.
"Lidana," Vane said. "I am glad to see you again."
Serena frowned. Not many people called her mother by name.
"Vantage Cross. I should have known," Mom answered with a bright smile.
Vane -- Vantage? -- bowed to her ... and just kept going. Mom barely caught him before he fell face down on the dock.
"As melodramatic as ever," Mom said and carefully lowered him. "Lucky I have my healing spells with me. Are you two alright? Buffy?"
"I hurt my wing. I can't fly!" She began to shiver again and made one soft mew as she moved.
Mom had already spread glowing magic over Vane's side. She stood and did the same for Buffy, and the cat began to purr before she was done.
"Thank you, mom," Serena said, holding tighter to the cat. "But who is he?"
Mom looked down. "Get up, Vantage. I know you are awake."
He opened one eye. "I had hoped to avoid this part."
She reached and took his hand and helped him up. A little magic sparked between their fingers. She gave Serena an odd smile. "Serena, this is Vantage Cross, cousin to the King ... and your father."
Buffy and Serena stared.
"We married at court and moved away," Vantage said, nervously picking up the story. "But I am a rarity in the royal family -- a mage with more than a little power. For the last fifteen years, there has been trouble the king felt only I could handle. Like this."
"My father," Serena said. Then another thought. "Why did I never ask? A spell?"
Mom nodded. "It was the best way to keep you out of danger, given your blood ties to the king."
Serena sat down on the ground. Buffy fell over.
"Your mother and I see each other at least once a year at the gatherings she attends. I hope for more time together now that you know. When you were younger and showing your first powers, we agreed it was unsafe for you to turn up in my company. It's gotten better now. You will have to come and visit me at court."
"Me. At court." Serena glanced back at the ships. Piracy didn't sound so bad.
"And me, too!" Buffy all but bounced up and down. "I want to go to court!"
"Do you promise to behave?" Vane -- Dad -- asked.
"Of course!" Buffy replied. She even smiled.
All three of them took a step away.
Cats should never smile...
THE END
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