Tani served dinner at seven-thirty. The dining table in the kitchen was rectangular and could accommodate eight seats. On a usual night, they used six chairs but tonight the table felt packed with an additional chair. Amu sat at the head of the table, to his immediate right was Tom, then Cale, and Eren.
Tani sat to Amu’s immediate left, Deniz next to him, and then Hera.
Tani passed his uncle the platter with the kebabs and shifted to help Hera serve Deniz. He placed three meatballs for Deniz and watched Hera add the fresh tomato sauce, and a scoop of vegetable stew to Deniz’s plate.
“Aunt Eren, are you really like Babu and Uncle Cale?” Deniz asked, stabbing a meatball with her fork. Her bright eyes were intent on Eren across the table.
Tani arranged the napkin tucked into the neckline of her pink dress. Running his hand over soft thick braids with colorful tips. He sat back in his chair and looked at Eren, waiting.
“Who is Babu?” Eren asked Cale in a not-so-quiet whisper.
Eren stared at Deniz with wide eyes.
“Me,” Tani said, answering for Cale. He smiled at Deniz’s enthusiasm when she bit into her meatball. “Answer Deniz’s question, please.”
Eren nodded.
“I’m most like your Babu,” Erin said. “I don’t think your Uncle Cale—”
“Uncle Cale is awesome. He pushes me really high on the swing in the garden,” Deniz said with a wide smile. “I don’t get scared when he’s with me. I go really high.”
“You two have vowed to give me a heart attack,” Hera said, with a shudder. “Uncle Cale, stop making my daughter a daredevil.”
Cale chuckled and Eren gave him a wary glance.
“How can a mortal child dare to call you uncle?” Eren asked Cale, the shock in her voice clear. “What’s wrong with these mortals?”
“Deniz is not afraid of me,” Cale said to Eren.
“It’s very odd,” Eren said, shaking her head. “Lord Tani, how is it your ward and her daughter do not understand what Cale is?”
“We understand who Cale is just fine,” Hera said, narrowing her gaze at Eren. “He’s been good to us, to Babu. Why would we be afraid of him?”
“Your voice indicates I have somehow offended you,” Eren said.
“It’s not fun being talked about while I’m sitting right here,” Hera said. “I can answer any questions you have about Deniz and me.”
Eren looked to Tani, her gaze requesting help.
Tani shrugged and picked up his glass of wine. He took a lazy sip and nodded at Hera.
Eren turned to Cale, who concentrated on the food on his plate. Eren took in a deep breath and faced Hera.
“I apologize for being rude,” Eren said. “This is your home and I’m a guest.”
“You’re forgiven,” Hera said, reaching for the bowl with the lettuce salad. She served a healthy portion and focused on eating.
Tom chuckled next to Cale, and Hera winked at him.
“This house is very informal,” Eren said.
“We’re family. It should be informal,” Amu said, speaking for the first time. “What brings you to the mortal realm, Eren?”
“The Septum asked me to fortify the land Lord Tani cleansed today.”
“Stop calling me a Lord. I don’t live in the citadel,” Tani said.
“How can I address Lord Sunu’s son by his name?” Eren asked.
“I stopped being his son the moment you lot put these cuffs on me,” Tani said, showing her his right wrist. “Uncle Amu is my father.”
Eren gaped.
“Don’t look so shocked, Eren,” Tani said. “The Septum should have expected it the moment I wore these cuffs. If you didn’t, you’re all a bunch of idiots.”
“Tani,” Amu said, drawing Tani’s gaze. “Eren is a guest at our table. Don’t be impolite.”
Tani held Amu’s gaze for a moment, wanting to rebel against Amu’s censure. Amu’s gaze was kind when he looked at him, so he could only sigh and then turn to Eren.
“Please call me Tani,” he said, keeping his tone cordial.
Eren sighed.
“Lord Amu,” Eren said. “Your dining table is quite the experience.”
Amu chuckled and continued eating his food.
“Babu already cleaned the kara ot,” Tom said. “Why do you need to check the vineyard?”
“To understand the origin of the black weed,” Eren said. “I wanted to follow the path the black weed used to get to the vineyard.”
“So, did you find out?” Hera asked.
“No,” Eren said, glancing at Tani. “Lo—Tani’s work was thorough. He burned away the black weed and restored the soil. The vineyard will flourish for years; the soil is richer than it was. The olive grove is already looking very vibrant.”
“It would,” Cale said with a little chuckle. He winked when Tani looked at him. “The Arturo Vineyard is very important to someone.”
“Oh,” Eren said waiting for an explanation but getting none from Cale. “The mystery of who brought the black weed still needs to be solved. Such a large infestation in the mortal realm is cause for concern. I’m here to request a favor from Lord Amu.”
“Eren,” Amu said. “We are at the dinner table, having a family dinner. Any favors you want to ask me can wait until later. Please try the kebabs. Tani made them tonight. The meat is very well done.”
Tani nodded and scooped meatballs from the bowl before him. He added some onto his plate and met Deniz’s curious gaze.
“Babu, are you taking my meatballs?” Deniz asked.
“Don’t you want to share with me?” Tani asked, stabbing one with his fork, he brought it to his mouth and took a bite. “Mm, delicious. What about you?”
Deniz took the last bite of the meatball on her fork, and she nodded as she chewed.
“Mm, delicious,” she declared making Tani chuckle. “Babu, you make the best meatballs. I’ll share them only with you. I want to eat meatballs every day. Will you make them?”
“Of course,” Tani said.
“Does Mama get a vote on this plan?” Hera asked.
“No,” Tani and Deniz both said, making everyone laugh at the table.
Hera sighed and took a lettuce leaf, wrapped it around a meatball, and held it out to Deniz. Tani did the same with his meatball and made a show of eating the lettuce wrap. Deniz took hers with less enthusiasm but she ate the lettuce.
“Did the vineyard pay its dues?” Amu asked Tom. “After all, their soil is now restored.”
“I got a payment from Nora Arturo this afternoon,” Tom said. “Dante has also put in a request. He asks for permission to bring a class to tour the fortress.”
“We haven’t had such a request in a while,” Amu said, amused. “Should we let him?”
Tani frowned into his wine glass.
“When did he ask you for the tour?” Tani asked Tom.
“Late this afternoon,” Tom said. “He wanted to get your phone number, but I would not give it. So, he made a request to visit the Elderwood Conservancy fortress. He says there is a class at the Koc University he would like to bring for a tour.”
Tani bit back a smile and sipped his wine.
Did Nora reveal her secrets to Dante?
Tani wondered if the secrets had to do with Kinon. He had promised himself not to think of Dante until tomorrow. He sighed. It was impossible not to think about him.
“Should we allow him the tour?” Tom asked.
“Yes. I think it’s time I see what Dante is like this cycle,” Amu said. “I like talking about the fortress. Molding young minds can be quite entertaining.”
“Uncle Amu,” Tani chided.
“I promise to be gentle with them,” Amu said.
Tani met Tom’s gaze and grinned when Tom shuddered. Tom would have to accompany Uncle Amu. In case, Uncle Amu decides to show off his nine tails to the mortals. The last time he tried it, the government insisted on an audit of their research labs.
“I still have a matter to discuss,” Eren said, drawing Tani’s attention. Her expression was enough to tell him whatever request she wanted from Amu was not easy.
Deniz yawned and Tani returned his attention to her. She had eaten her meatballs and half the vegetables on her plate. She was now rubbing her eyes with her fists. Sleep was calling her.
Tani took his napkin and placed it on the table.
“Deniz, how about I read you a story tonight?” Tani asked, turning to the little girl Hera loved with all her heart.
Deniz turned light brown eyes on him and he smiled at the tomato sauce on the corner of her lips. Tani reached for his napkin and wiped the brown sauce from her golden brown skin. She nodded in approval and sent her thick braids dancing around her head. The colorful ribbons on the tips of the braids made him smile. He had helped tie them on.
Tani touched a red rubber band and wondered if he would get a chance to tie Deniz’s hair in the future. Would Deniz still like making thick braids and tying them with colorful rubber bands when she grew older?
In a strange twist of fate, he owed Dante for helping find this family. He would never have met Deniz if he weren’t tied to Dante, Tani thought.
Tani remembered the feel of Dante’s palms on his face, and he let go of Deniz’s hair. Dante’s smile filled his thoughts. The way he had looked as he wiped away the tears on Tani’s cheeks. Tani wished he had been courageous enough to kiss Dante at that moment, but it felt too soon. They might have met a long time ago, but today was their first time this cycle. Tani sighed and wiped a hand down his face.
“Are we going to finish reading The Lightning Thief?” Deniz asked, pulling him out of the melancholia settling over him.
“We’ll try,” Tani said, and then he glanced at Hera. She wrinkled her nose at him and he adjusted his promise. “We can get through one chapter. Mama wants you asleep soonest.”
“Two chapters,” Deniz negotiated.
“One and a quarter,” Hera said in answer, helping Deniz get off her chair. “Take your plate to the sink, baby.”
“Okay,” Deniz said, taking her plate and her fork. “One and a third.”
Tani grinned and got up too.
“One and a half,” Hera said. “That’s my final offer, kiddo.”
“Two chapters,” Deniz said and raced off to the kitchen sink.
Tani laughed.
“She wins for being audacious.”
“You’re training a terror,” Hera said, shaking her head.
Tani started to reach for his plate.
“Leave it,” Hera said. “You cooked. We’ll clean up. You get Deniz to bed.”
Tani nodded and held out his hand to Deniz when she returned to his side.
“Tell everyone goodnight,” Tani said.
“Goodnight everyone,” Deniz said.
“Goodnight, Deniz,” Cale, Amu, and Tom chorused.
“A very goodnight, Young Deniz,” Eren said last, amusement clear in her voice.
“I’ll stop by your room to check on you,” Hera said.
“Okay, Mama,” Deniz said and led Tani out of the kitchen.
Tani followed Deniz keeping to her pace. She was excited about continuing with Percy Jackson’s adventures.
Tani wanted to avoid dealing with Eren. The members of the Septum always had an agenda with their requests. He wanted to delay knowing why Eren was in his house as long as possible. If Amu could deal with it first, then all the better.
“Bathroom first?” Tani asked when they got upstairs.
“Brush our teeth,” Deniz agreed, showing him her pearly whites. “I don’t want to have cavities.”
“Good girl,” Tani said, opening the door to the suite Hera and Deniz used.
Deniz ran to the bathroom.
Tani closed the door when he heard Eren start talking downstairs.
****
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