"This hardly seems like a place where the Sanguine would establish a relay point," Lucien said as he eyed the tower that soared above the forest surrounding its magnificent height.

"I never said it was a relay point for the Sanguine," Artemus replied. He looked livelier after the four hours of sleep he'd had at the inn. The anti mage had initially planned to take a route through town Sovius where a modest Sanguine office served the towns and villages surrounding it, but he felt encumbered by the prospect of having to perform social politeness and then the work parlay he would be compelled to engage in with whoever was in charge of the office. Considering Artemus' station at the HQ, his resignation notwithstanding, there was no doubt that some fawning and bootlicking was imminent if he took that route.

"Well, what are we waitin' for? Someone go knock on the door."

"That won't be necessary," Artemus replied. He raised his eyes to the top of the tower and whistled loudly, a sharp sound that cut through the bird calls and lively sounds of nature that came from the forest.

"What the hell do you want?" A head poked out of a window and rudely shouted. Then realising who it was, "Oh, it's you, Artemus!"

____

"This isn't a social call is it?" The young man cheerfully asked from the door as he let in the group of travellers.

"I have some urgent messages to be sent," Artemus replied. "Straight to Elysium."

"That will cost a pretty penny, Art."

"Put it on the Sanguine's tab," the anti mage replied.

The young man smiled and regarded the anti mage. "I heard that you're no longer employed with the Sanguine. Are you sure they'll pay me for the services rendered under your name?"

Artemus was annoyed at how fast word travelled.

"Rest assured, I'll clear the tab if HQ fails to pay, which is unlikely to happen."

"I'll trust your word on it then, Art. Now, why don't you introduce to me your charming travelling companions? They don't smell like mage hunters." The young man who looked no older than twenty swept his gaze past each face, appreciating how good looking of a bunch they were, and noting with curiosity the presence of an avian and also a little girl who stuck to Artemus' side like a shadow.

"Is that your daughter?" He asked the anti mage - because Artemus was of the age wherein he would have already sired children if he followed societal expectations- knowing very well that she wasn't.

The child looked nothing like Artemus. She had curly blonde hair and light brown eyes. Her cute button-like nose was lightly dusted with freckles from having plenty of sunshine while her parents worked outdoors. Yes, she was the complete opposite of Artemus who was a study of pale and dark contrasts. She could, of course, be her mother's daughter if Artemus' lover was of such colouring as she was, but there was reasonable doubt in that conjecture. The sky would bleed red when Artemus impregnated a woman. That was exactly the sort of lifetime commitment that the slippery anti mage hated.

Sebastian let out a snort at the expression that crossed the anti mage's face. Artemus was staring at the tower's owner like he was an imbecile. Sebastian couldn't blame him because this had to be the first time that any conversation was held with regards to the topic of Artemus being a father to anyone but his beloved dogs. The anti mage was not the kind that kept the company of non-familial little children if he could avoid them, though Luci had been the exception.

"No," the anti mage carefully replied as he looked at the child clinging to his side. He was suddenly struck by the realisation that Abigail had bonded with him and he couldn't just give her away without hurting her psychologically and emotionally. She had just lost her family to a horrific attack, had endured a traumatic event, and the only person she was familiar with was the anti mage. What was he supposed to do? Surely, Abigail had to have other relatives or even people who knew her parents and could take her in as their own.

"Artemus?" An amused voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "Who is this sweet little child?"

"This cute little angel is named Abigail," Sebastian replied, sensing his partner's discomfort. "It's complicated so don't ask anymore."

"I see."

Magnus had a faint smile on his face. He enjoyed seeing Artemus in a bind, given the man's competency for dispatching problems whenever he encountered any. From the fire mage's long years of observations about the man, he understood that had it not been for Alka's presence in his life, Magnus and Artemus would never have shared a close relationship. The same went for Syryn and Lucien, though the former's treatment of the anti mage's sickness might have served to foster a bond between them had Syryn not lived with Alka.

Aside from his professional obligations, Artemus was completely closed off to people who he wasn't forced to interact with. Now here was Abigail, not a puzzle to be solved, not a crime to be investigated; but a living breathing human with feelings, imposing upon him a responsibility that he could shirk off without any social repercussions. What was the anti mage going to do?

"Well, seeing that Artemus isn't inclined to make introductions, I'll excuse myself from here. It'll take me a few minutes to ready a bird so please make yourselves comfortable."

Lucien folded himself first over a comfortable looking armchair. The others followed his example and took seats that were haphazardly arranged in the room. The redhead looked at the open door that revealed a staircase that winded around the tower.

"What was that about, big brother?" Alka asked Artemus. "Cat got your tongue?"

The anti mage had retreated into his thoughts and thus ignored Alka's probing. Artemus had nothing against Abigail but a lump of dread was forming in the pits of his stomach when he considered the dependency and attachment she was forming. He was overthinking it, he decided. Abigail was clinging to him because she was freshly recovering from trauma wherein he'd acted as her saviour. There was nothing to worry about. Nothing at all.

"Artemus is going through a midlife crisis," Magnus said to the younger brother.

The anti mage believed that such an egregious conclusion by Magnus did not deserve a response. As for the matter of Abigail's future, there wasn't much to say about it. He had saved her life and he would do it again if he had to. And that's where he intended to draw the line. It was decided then that he would search high and low for Abigail's relatives if she had any.