“He’s such a wonderful, gentle person. Dresalantion is lucky to have him,” Ottilie said, while closing the door behind Barion.
Sammy had now spied them and squealed happily. “Dad, Barion! You’re here!” He got up from his chair to hug Alerion, who closed his powerful arms around the fragile human with the utmost care.
“Sammy, it’s so good to see you.”
“Did you know that Lausanne has existed since before the second century AD and was once a Roman military camp, built on a former Celtic settlement, so it’s probably even older. They called it Lousanna, and later it was known as vikanor Lousonnensium but, by 400, it was civitas Lausanna and in 990 it was mentioned as Losanna. And Brice here says his ancestors came here with the Romans and have been living in the city ever since. He’s going to give me a tour next spring, when it’s warmer and the trees are blossoming.”
Sammy looked very happy about everything he had learned, which was his natural state when he gained new wisdom to add to his vast pool of knowledge. Alerion smiled down on Sammy’s wild curls, while sending Brice a grateful nod, who accepted it with a slight bow. “You couldn’t wish for a better guide. Brice is very knowledgeable about the history of Lausanne and can show you places not even most natives are acquainted with.”
“Oui,” Brice said. “You’re going to love it, bien-aimé of Dresalantion.”
“You should really call me Sammy, Brice.”
“As you wish, Sammy.” Brice bowed again before he pulled out a chair for Alerion.
“It’s such a shame we know so little about the time when it was a Celtic settlement.” Sammy sighed, snuggling into Dre’s side. Both Dre and Alerion, who had taken his seat, were shooting Barion a look. For a moment he resisted, knowing he would condemn himself to a lifetime of slavery to Sammy, but when he saw how devastated his brother-in-law was over knowledge lost to time, he relented. While he sat down on the chair Brice had pulled out for him, he addressed Sammy. “I could show you.”
Sammy stared at him. “Show me what?”
“The Celtic settlement…if you want.”
Sammy’s eyes grew huge. “Really? How?”
“You remember I told you how every member of the royal family has a special talent, mo grah thu?” Dre took Sammy’s hand and started stroking it.
“Yes. You also said nobody can know because it’s a secret of the demon in question, and I respect that.”
“I know, Sammy. We know.” Dre looked at his father and Barion. Ottilie and Brice had left the room, ever the gracious hosts leaving the demons to their private conversation. “And Barion has decided to let you know his talent.”
Sammy’s lips formed an O of utter surprise and delight. He got up from his chair, and before he knew what was happening, Barion felt himself hugged to within an inch of his life. “This is such an honor, Barion! Thank you, thank you, thank you. But I would love you anyway, if you told me or not. You know that, don’t you? You’re my brother.”
Sammy was so genuinely concerned that any resentment Barion might have felt about having been gently urged to reveal his talent dispersed. Sammy deserved all the happiness in the world.
“I know, Sammy. And it’s fine, really. It’s nothing terrible anyway. Almost a little embarrassing, considering my lack of interest in history.”
“What is it? What can you do?” Sammy was now almost vibrating out of his skin.
Barion grinned. “I can show you any event in history you want to see…like a documentary film.”
For a moment, Sammy didn’t say anything and Barion was afraid he may have broken the human. They were a delicate bunch after all. Then Sammy squealed.
“Dre, did you hear that? Oh, you don’t need to hear it. You already knew. I’m almost angry at you for not telling me, but I get the thing with the secret. Now, is there a chance of Barion moving in with us? There’s so much we need to see, and just imagine, Dre, we could take Barion with us so we can watch history take place where it took place? That didn’t come out right, did it?”
“It’s fine, mo grah thu. But, Sammy, I don’t think Barion wants to become our personal history showman. Perhaps we could convince him to come with us once a month? Besides, isn’t it also interesting to imagine how things had been? To weave our tales?”
“You’re right, Dre. Totally right. I just got carried away. That’s an awesome talent, Barion. Not embarrassing at all. On the contrary, I’m tempted to say it’s better than being chaos personified.” Sammy winked at Dre, taking any and all sharpness out of his words. Dre mock gasped.
“I’m horrified, mo grah thu…horrified.”
Alerion was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down his face.
Barion decided to put an end to the discussion. He was getting hungry and Ottilie and Brice wouldn’t come back before they were called. “Yes, I’m willing to show you what went on here in Lausanne before it became a Roman settlement. No, we’re not doing it right now because we’re all hungry, and yes, I could be persuaded to go with you on history trips once a month with the right incentive but no, re-organizing my library is not an incentive.”
Sammy pouted. “I’m working hard on it, you know?”
Now Barion felt like an asshole. “I’m sorry, Sammy. I know you mean well. I just have problems getting accustomed to your way of organizing everything.”
“Oh, that’s no problem. Next time, you can help me, and I can explain to you what I’m doing and why.”
