Chapter 46: Crow and Whale

The harbor was dark in the night, with pinpricks of lantern light breaking up the shadowy outlines of ships and docks. It was the same for the land on both sides of the long inlet which Bastillian straddled. The water gleamed with the light of the bright moon and stars alongside the lantern flame, its quiet roar against the shore calming.

The whales had been released as soon as the lighthouse at the inlet's mouth beamed bright above them. Emily wished the sweet things farewell as they left. Too many whalers would be about to make this place safe. The Outsider had fallen asleep, gritting his teeth every now and then. Emily gently brushed his hair back, wondering if waking him up would mean more pain for him, or less. In any case the boat was now docked, and slowly people were disembarking.

"Finally!" Juniper's hushed excitement broke the quiet that even she knew better than to completely shatter. "I have our luggage, all shrank up, no need to thank me. Now, do you need help getting Mr. Gloomy off the boat?"

Emily shook her head. "No thank you, I have him."

She felt better having him in her arms. Besides, it was not as if he was heavy or exceptionally cumbersome. It was her responsibility to take care of him; after all, no one else would do it well.

Now they stood at the end of the dock, the Outsider's head resting against her shoulder, his back still wet with blood. Emily tried not to think about that too much. Nearby stood Eileen and Hope, waiting for Jane and her daughter. Beside her Juniper had her hands in her armpits, and she stared down the long dock.

"So, what happens now? Do we meet up with someone?"

"The Voronins should have someone waiting for us on the shore proper," Emily replied, looking up at the illuminated strip of road climbing into the hills above. Weariness and trepidation filled her. What was waiting for them at the Voronin estate?

She felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Eileen.

"We will be in Bastillian until the 20th. If you need any help, don't hesitate to seek us out, alright?"

"Alright," Emily nodded, touched by her kindness.

"Take care of yourself, Empress," added Hope, leading the silent Willoughbys down the dock.

"And you as well."

Juniper tapped her foot, watching the quartet disappear down the dock. "So are we going to move or what?"

Emily nodded mutely and began the walk down to the shore. Juniper followed her eagerly.

"What are these Voronin like? Spymaster Lurk only told me they were fancy people so I better be on my best manners."

"I have never met them before," Emily replied shortly, uneager for conversation.

"Wait, isn't your job to know of all the fancy families?" sound of the girl's feet on the ground changed from creaking wood to taps on paving stone.

"My job is the rule the Empire," exasperation made its way into Emily's voice. "Not keep tabs on all the rich people that live in the Isles."

They came to a stop under a lamppost, the light making Emily feel exposed. Who was she to look for, and can she trust them? Juniper removed a scrap of paper from her sleeve, flicking it to full size. From what Emily could see, it was the Voronin's invitation. The girl pointed at the family seal, prominently featured at the bottom.

"We just gotta find someone with this seal on them right?" she said confidently. "That shouldn't be too hard. You said they should be around the docks anyway."

"Do not go wandering," Emily immediately warned. "Just wait here, the Voronins expect us, so they will find us."

Juniper gave a long-suffering groan. "C'mon! Don't you want to get to shelter as soon as possible? Also aren't you hungry? I'm starving!"

"We will be found faster if we stay in one spot," Emily chided, trying not to let annoyance leak into her tone. Juniper was right, she did was to get to shelter quickly, but not entirely for her own sake. The Outsider may be light, but her arms were slowly beginning to tire. Not to mention that it was rather cold out. She leaned against the lamppost, staring out at the warehouses and closed shops that lined the wharf. Juniper, somewhat sullen, pulled out a length of cord and began to make knots with it. People strolled past, few glancing at them as they went about their business. The night was young, so such matters could not be too nefarious. Emily sighed again, trying not to shiver. How long would they have to wait?

A movement off by the street caught her eye. Approaching them was two figures- a well-dressed young man and strange lean hound. His walking stick made a clicking noise as it tapped along the paving stones, the tall quiet dog trotting faithfully beside him. A low-crowned fur hat sat at an angle upon his head, the brocade trim gleaming dimly in the dark light. His clothes were clearly Tyvian in design, even the ornate dog collar was an echo of Tyvia. This had to be a Voronin.

"Well met, Empress Emily," the man came to a stop before her and bowed. To her amusement, the dog bowed too. "I am Timur Voronin, and this is my borzoi, Pari."

"Well met indeed," Emily replied dryly. "I assume you are here to see us safely to your family estate?"

Timur nodded, his narrow grey eyes curiously investigating the Outsider. They widened slightly when he looked down. "Empress, did you know the man in your arms is bleeding?"

"I am very well aware of it," Emily replied curtly. "Now, can you take us to our lodgings?"

"Is this girl with you?" he pointed at Juniper, who was mercifully silent and polite.

"She is, yes," she was tired of answering his questions. Just take them to his damn house already!

"Alright," he beckoned them. "Follow me."

The Outsider opened his eyes to a wall of velvet. It was a dark, bloody red with gleams for gold, expensive, clean. And if he was not mistaken, he was bleeding all over it. He took a shallow breath, his chest still aching profusely.

"Truly, you wish to deprive this man of medical attention?"

The Outsider pulled his head away from the wall, trying to give a look at the person to whom the unfamiliar voice belonged. Across from him sat a young man in Tyvian clothes, his coat and hat featuring the motif of red lilies. A strange, deer-like dog lay between them, licking the edge of his bloody coat. It took everything in him not to flinch and curl up away from the creature.

"Sir, we already told you he's fine," it was Juniper, doing her best to layer on the charm. "All he needs is rest."

"Moments before you were just telling me how he was slammed into an iron crate by a giant squid," the man snapped. "Whatever the truth is, he is clearly badly injured. I only have to look at how blood-soaked the Empress' arm is to know that. What's more is that he hasn't stirred since I met you, and is as pale as death."

That statement was immediately contradicted when the dog licked the Outsider's blood-crusted hand. Immediately and instinctually, his whole body flinched, curling up away from the animal, hands sandwiched between his knees and broken chest, pain and long-buried fear suppressed behind clenched teeth and closed eyes.

"Pari! Come here girl!" It sounded like the man called over his dog, but the damage was done. The Outsider could feel himself shaking, embarrassment and self-disgust bubbling at the back of his throat alongside the terror. That frail animal would not hurt him, it could not. But Gods, that knowledge did little to stop the fear.

"Are you alright?" Emily's light touch and gentle words eased the irrational panic, yet he could not bring himself to fully let his guard down. He could not relax.

"This is why Overseers have hounds!"

"Juniper!" Emily hissed, deep and genuine anger in her voice.

"What does that have to do with anything?" the man sounded rather confused and a touch wary.

"Nothing! Nothing at all, it was just me blurting out a random thought!" Juniper reassured with a nervous laugh.

The Outsider placed a hand over his face, trying to calm his nerves. He felt shaky and exposed in spite of the cramped corners. His chest throbbed, reminding him that his bones were not where they should, that his organs were pierced and bruised. He was weak, and dogs ate the weak.

"Are your teeth chattering?"

Juniper's innocent confusion cut through the panic, and it dissipated as he though to explain the familiar reaction to the unfamiliar crowd. Indeed as he opened his eyes and unfurled his body, the two emotions on everyone's faces were concern and confusion.

"Teeth chattering was a thing my people did to warn away tormenters," the Outsider said quietly, his voice feeling hoarse. "Animals seemed to understand it well, it kept away a fair amount of creatures from the injured."

"Your people?" finally, a name came alongside with the face and voice: Timur Voronin. His grey eyes stared at him shrewdly, yet they were not without compassion.

"It does not matter, they are all dead now," pain lanced through his chest, his muscles chastising him for becoming tense when he should be lax. He could not suppress the wince as he shifted, trying to get in a better position. Emily watched him, hands hovering, uncertain with how to help but desperate to do something to ease the pain. Gods he was lucky to have her!

"The Empress and her bodyguard are saying that you are not in need of a doctor," said Timur patiently. "Is that truly the case?"

The Outsider nodded. His head felt light again, and he listed over towards Emily. She eagerly gathered him up, his head on her shoulder and her hand in his hair.

"Are you certain?" Timur pressed. "There is no shame in it."

"Lay me before the shrine behind the library walls, and I shall heal nicely," The Outsider murmured. "And please keep the dog away from me, she seems a kind enough beast but she will not be safe around me."

Doubt covered the young Voronin's face, but he nodded anyway. The strange hound licked her master's face as he slowly pet its cream-colored fur. "We are nearly there, it should not be long now before we arrive at Crow's Roost."

Emily was not sure what she expected of the Voronin estate. She certainly expected a certain sinisterness, and the same strange air that filled the Stilton Manor in the future that was no more. From what she could see outside the carriage window in the dim light is a rather large and ornate version of a typical Tyvian farmhouse, taller than it was wide. A beautiful porch wrapped around one side, looking off into the acres of pasture and garden that surrounded the house. Warm lanterns illuminated the entrance, a large dark wooden door carved with two ravens holding crossed scythes- one part of the family crest. It was before that door that the crunching of gravel ceased and the carriage came to a stop. The Outsider looked far better, now they had arrived at their destination. He was sitting upright, and was no longer as pale as a corpse. Noticing her gaze, he gave her a wan smile.

There was a click as the carriage door was unlatched and opened. Emily, knowing protocol, alighted first. Timur swiftly followed, his hound at his heels. Then the Outsider, his hands buried deep in his pockets, and finally Juniper. The girl stretched, looking delighted to be out of the carriage. They were not still for long, as Timur walked forward, beckoning them to follow. The doors smoothly opened to the warm, fire-lit foyer. A rich rug covered the floor, and a suit of armor guarded a staircase. The flames flickered in expertly crafted lanterns of pale colored glass and delicate metal. At the end of the foyer by the foot of the stairs, there stood an older couple with a crow and a teenage girl. The man sported an impressive black mustache and was greying at the temples, the crow perched on his shoulder. His tall wife was elegantly dressed in a simple style, her dark brown hair also threaded with grey. As for the daughter, she was clothed like a widow in deep mourning, with her pale blonde hair offering a striking contrast to the black of her clothes. Timur came to a stop before his family, sweeping his arm out to introduce them.

"Empress Emily, may I introduce my parents, Stanislav and Roksana Voronin, and my little sister, Yuliya Voronin."

The three of them bowed, none of them taking Emily's hands to kiss them, much to her relief. She always hated with nobles did that. Even the crow bowed its head.

"Welcome to Crow's Roost," greeted Stanislav, his tone perfectly polite and rather gracious. "We thank you for traveling all this way to talk with us."

Emily inclined her head. "We thank you for the hospitality. The journey here has been rougher than expected."

"Indeed?" Roksana's voice had a warm, matronly quality to it. "Please, take some time to refresh yourselves before dinner. Yuliya will show you to your rooms."

The rather sullen-faced girl beckoned them and swiftly turned on her heel and climbed up the stairs. Emily quickly followed her, eager to get the bloodsoaked coat off her body.

The upstairs was very similar in style to the downstairs, with dark wood, thick rugs, and pretty lanterns on the walls. Yuliya came to a stop before a door at the far end of the hall.

"This is your room Empress, as for the other two-"

Emily cleared her throat, doing her best to politely interrupt the girl. "I'm sorry, but only Juniper needs a separate room."

"What?" the confused Juniper piped up. "Empress, I know he's supposed to be your bodyguard and all but you don't need to share a room with him. I'm sure it's safe here."

"That's not the reason we are sharing a room," Emily flatly replied. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the Outsider suppressing a laugh.

Juniper blinked hard, as if trying to remove something from her eyes, and stared at the two of them. Then her eyes widened.

"But I thought he was only professionally interested in you!"

The Outsider burst into laughter, and Emily restrained the urge to hit her forehead against the threshold.

"Just give me our luggage please."

"Oh, right!" she reached into her pants pocket and dropped the two trunks that expanded as they hit the ground. "See ya later I guess?"

Trying her best not to roll her eyes, Emily opened the door and then dragged the two trunks inside, followed by the still laughing Outsider.

"I am guessing you are feeling better," she said, a little amused by his own amusement.

"Oh I am still in terrible pain but I'm feeling much better," he replied with a large smile.

In the toasty well-lit room it was easy to see how much of a mess they were. The whole front of her overcoat and its sleeves were now rust-red. As for the Outsider, it was needless to say that his coat was stained beyond repair, not to mention there was quite the rip along his right side. Through the rip she could easily see his waistcoat was in as rough a shape. He gazed down, and his face fell.

"I guess it will take a lot more than soap and water to fix this."

"Some things do not need to be fixed," Emily replied gently, taking off her coat and draping it atop her trunk. "If you really liked the coat and waistcoat we can have them replicated."

The Outsider nodded, still looking rather put out. "It seems like such a waste to me. They still function; they are just… a little bloodstained."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "A little?"

"Alright, they are very bloodstained," he admitted, pulling a laugh from Emily. "But your coat, that is salvageable, yes?"

"We'll see if the staff can clean it. If not, it is no loss. Now," she ushered him towards the bathroom. "You might want to make yourself less bloody before dinner."

"Afraid they might mistake me for dinner?" he teased.

"If they do I promise to keep them off you, now shoo."

The Outsider barked a laugh before closing the door. Emily hoped that most of the bleeding was done, for his sake and the sake of the poor towels. Releasing a deep sigh she undid her hair and collapsed on the bed. Void she felt exhausted. Still, she could not relax for too long. Her travel outfit was not fully suited for dinner, though it was silly to just put on an entirely new outfit for a single meal. But it was important to make a good first impression.

It felt good to undress, to peel off the layers of travel. She frowned at the angry red lines left behind by her pants. Emily ran a hand over her belly, her frustration rapidly disappearing into fondness. It was just a little bump, one that was easily hidden under thick winter coats and large belts. But soon it would not be so little, and she would soon have to explain to Luis why she couldn't fit in any of her pants. Emily rolled her eyes at the thought. Pants were rather overrated anyway.

But for now they fit, so she had to put them on to be presentable. There was a wash basin tucked in the corner of the room, the full pitcher placed within a blue bowl, towels handing off small rungs on the table below. Emily happily washed her face, her hands and her arms, feeling far less tired by the end. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she had not eaten since midday. She sighed and put on her shirt and jacket, glancing at the still closed bathroom door. Was the Outsider alright?

A knock at the bedroom door pulled her attention away from the Outsider. Curious and a bit wary, Emily opened the door.

"Empress!" it was Roksana and Stanislav, the wife smiling widely and her husband standing stoically behind her. "Can we come in? There is something we wish to discuss with you."

"Alright," Emily stepped aside, rather confused.

Roksana immediately took a seat on one of the two armchairs, and Stanislav stood behind her. "Please, take a seat."

Emily slid into the armchair, hands folded in her lap. "So what is it that you wish to discuss?"

"We could not help but notice that your male companion looks very much like a Voronin," Stanislav began. "It is almost uncanny."

"It got us thinking," continued Roksana, a sly smile adorning her face. "We've had a family joke that our firstborn child was kidnapped by a midwife. When Timur and Yuliya misbehaved we would tell them that the midwife would come back and take them like she took their elder brother. Of course they no longer believe the story to be true…"

"But how fun would it be for us to pretend we were telling the truth the whole time?" finished Stanislav with a large friendly grin.

Emily stared at the two of them, scarcely believing that this was happening. What luck she had!

"If you are searching for my permission, you certainly have it," Emily said, not sure what else to say. "It certainly is auspicious. The very reason I asked to meet with you is that I was hoping if you would be amenable to adopting Owen Pharmakós."

The two exchanged a look, and then looked back at Emily. Stanislav looked very amused, but Roksana less so.

"Empress, you do understand us claiming your companion to be our long lost eldest son is a joke on our actual eldest son," Roksana's eyes flashed. "Why should we continue this claim at Timur's expense?"

"Oh, Owen and I have absolutely no wish to deprive your legitimate children of their rights," Emily assured them. "You see, I wish to marry Owen, but I can only marry a noble."

"And if we take him into our family, we will gain you as well," Stanislav smiled and put a hand on Roksana's shoulder. "So all you are asking for our family name?"

Emily nodded. "Claim him to be a Voronin, and do not back down when people question and doubt. In return, you will always have my ear, and my children will bear the name Voronin."

There was a pause. Stanislav was looking down at his wife, who seemed to be pondering the proposal. She suddenly held up a hand.

"I offer my consent, so long as your children bare the name Voronin and call me grandmother," a small smile appeared on Roksana's face. "Oh, and do not tell your Owen about this whole discussion. I would like to see how he reacts before we fully agree to your deal."

Emily nodded, glancing between the two of them. "Alright, thank you very much for listening to me."

"It is our pleasure!" Roksana chirped, a wide smile appearing once more on her face. Stanislav nodded too, a small smile on his face. "Dinner is in five minutes, Yuliya will bring you down."

The two left as almost as swiftly they came, leaving Emily a little dizzied. She glanced at the bathroom door, wondering if the Outsider heard the whole thing. The only way she would know for sure is if she asked. Besides, he had only five minutes to be presentable for dinner. So she gave the door a knock.

"Outsider-"

The door flow open, startling Emily. The Outsider stood in the threshold, dripping wet, and entirely naked. He had the panicked expression of someone who overslept an important meeting, though Emily did not linger on his face for too long. His chest was bruised, but other than that, the Outsider looked as he normally did. Satisfied that he was no longer grievously injured, she allowed herself to admire his very, very beautiful body; now cursing the fact that dinner was so soon. She was hungry for something else.

"Did I miss dinner?!"

Emily rolled her eyes fondly and planted a kiss on his lips. "No, it is in five minutes."

He breathed a sigh of relief, his dark eyes combing her face. A slow smile appeared, the panic long gone. "I can see that you would rather me remain unclothed."

"As delightful as that would be, you cannot attend dinner like so," Emily hummed, putting a hand on his chest.

"You are not particularly encouraging me," the words came out with a purr, kissing her lips.

Emily eagerly returned the kiss. How tempting it was to simply undo all her work, peel off her clothes and skip dinner entirely. But that simply would not do. Reluctantly, she pulled away from the Outsider. He made a noise of disappointment.

"Unfortunately, I do not think our hosts would appreciate us being late to dinner," she said wryly, taking her hand off his chest.

"A pity," he murmured, his head tilted just so. "Perhaps they would be amenable to us leaving early."

Emily felt a small coy smile appear on her face. "Perhaps."

Official meals always made the Outsider nervous. His manners were still noticeably unpolished, from the handling of the food to making polite conversation. So much of what was served felt strange to him, like he should not be eating something so clean, so valuable. Even sitting in the chair he felt out of place. Perhaps the low golden lighting of the room would hide his mistakes and imperfections.

So he swallowed his nerves and misgivings, taking his seat next to Emily. Across him sat Timur, and at the head was Stanislav. Yuliya sat across from Emily, sneaking glances at him as often as she could. She seemed rather curious of him. At the foot was Roksana, and she rang a bell.

Immediately a silent servant appeared holding a tray of intricate crystal glasses, each filled with dark red liquid. He could see different markings etched into the crystal, a different flower on each one. The servant went around the table, placing a glass in front of each Voronin… and himself. The tray empty, the servant swiftly left them.

In unison, the four Voronins took up their glasses, raising them up. Very lost, the Outsider kept his hands on his knees.

"To the Empress, long may she reign," declared Stanislav.

"Long may she reign," the Outsider joined the rest of the Voronins in the sentiment. After all, he did agree with it.

The four Voronins took a long drag from their strange drinks. Curious and a little wary, the Outsider picked up the glass, and cautiously mimicked them.

"What is it?" Emily whispered quietly, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"Spiced blood," he replied, pleasantly surprised. "It tastes like cow blood."

Emily blinked. "They gave you blood? I did not get any."

"Would you like some of mine?" he offered, holding the glass out. She took it and nearly dropped it in shock.

"It's warm!"

The Outsider chuckled. "Of course it is warm, would you rather be drinking cold congealing blood?"

Emily made a face at him mid-sip and immediately passed the glass back. "How do you drink this?"

He took another long swig, enjoying the nostalgia that the warm metallic taste brought about. The thrill of sneaking into the crowded market and opening a goat's vein, lapping up the blood and then running for his life when the merchants found him flashed through his mind. But there was something else in there, something that coated his tongue.

"You have drunk blood before, Mr. Pharmakós?" Timur remarked in surprise.

"Every winter I lived off of it," that was far too much information; a simple yes would have sufficed. And yet, the words slid out of his mouth, unbidden. His nerves came back, and he tried to swallow them down with more blood. Almost immediately he knew it was the wrong thing to do.

You idiot hissed the Void. It's spiked with truth serum.

The bell rang again, and this time two silent servants emerged, placing small bowls of soup before them.

"So, Owen is it?" Stanislav said, spoon held in hand. "What is it that you do?"

A tense smile came to the Outsider's face, his teeth gritted against his tongue, compelled to spill every last detail about his life. "What do I do? I am a power broker for the Void. That means I watch people, events, how history unfolds and facts twists. I meddle where I see fit, and I protect the Void's integrity."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a spoon slip out of Yuliya's hand, her pale eyes wide with shock. Roksana seemed similarly taken aback. Timur scoffed at him, rolling his eyes.

"Must you give audience to every charlatan in the Empire, father?"

"Charlatans?" Emily asked curiously, affecting innocence. Timur looked at her with astonishment.

"Surely you do not believe in magic Empress?"

"It is not so much a matter of belief as acknowledging reality," she said, unwrapping the black band that covered her left hand. "To deny Delilah's occult abilities is pure foolishness, and to deny my own would be the same as shooting myself in the foot."

A gasp left Yuliya and Roksana as Emily held up her Marked hand, and Stanislav looked upon it with wonder. Timur scoffed.

"I see that you like the rest of my family take comfort in an uncaring god, one who does not exist."

The Outsider laughed. "Oh he exists, but you are right, he does not care."

"Do you know him?" Yuliya leaned forward, her eyes gleaming.

"Yes," he and Emily replied at the same time, drawing a laugh from him.

"And is he as uncaring as my brother says?" Yuliya shot a gloating look at Timur who rolled his eyes.

"Well," Emily glanced at him, as if asking for permission. The Outsider nodded, glad that she was the one doing the talking. "As a god, he is not particularly sympathetic. In order to even gain his attention you have to be the right person at the right place at the right time. Once your moment is past, he then dismisses you."

"I am guessing then you filter out the riff-raff then," Roksana said lightly, her bright eyes latching onto the Outsider's face.

"Yes," he took a hasty mouthful of soup, hoping it would wear away at the serum. "But if the Void bids me to do something then I must drop what I am doing to do it."

Stanislav hummed, and the Outsider could feel the conversation turn. "So, how did you meet the Empress?"

"She caught my eye along the Grand Canal to Karnaca," he replied, fighting the urge to pick up his bowl and just finish the soup as he normally did. "I vastly preferred her to be at the head of the Empire over twisted Delilah, so the least I could do was offer any help I could give."

"How fortunate for you, Empress!" Yuliya declared, a touch of envy in her admiration. Emily smiled slightly and nodded.

"I was indeed fortunate that Owen took notice of me. I am not sure how I would have been able to reclaim my throne without his help or the help of many others."

A chuckle tumbled out of his mouth, tongue slick with the truth. "You had the strength to do it. I would argue that Megan Foster and Solokov were far more pivotal than I. What I provided was simply information and a couple of tools."

"Do not sell yourself short," Emily chided playfully. "It helped, knowing that I had you in my corner."

The serum must have covered any sort of deception, from truth to masked emotions, because he was utterly unable to hide how giddy such words made him. Gods this was embarrassing.

The bell rang again and the bowls were swept away. Much to his chagrin, his was still half full, all because of having to use that damn spoon. He hoped that the bowl wouldn't go to waste.

"Say, your last name is Pharmakós isn't it?"

The Outsider locked eyes with Timur, whose question pulled him out of the soup-driven train of thought. "It is the last name I have given myself. I did not have one before that."

A rather knowing look crossed the young man's face. "Ah, so you're an orphan."

"How fortunate that your guess happens to be correct," the Outsider replied somewhat bitingly. "You are aware that the people on the Ladraos archipelago have only recently taken last names?"

"I knew my guess was a certainty," Timur retorted smugly. "You could not serve the Outsider so intimately and keep your family bonds. Dear Grandmother, may she rest in peace, left us all to serve the Outsider in our homeland, and asked that we not follow."

"It is certainly true that those desiring to serve the Outsider tend to leave behind their family, as well as most of their reason," he replied tartly as plates of steak, parsnips, and half a strange green flower were placed before them. "However in my case, I had no family to abandon before I was pressed into service. As far back as I can remember I was alone."

"Truly?" Roksana spoke up, her tone filled with pity. "Even in the early days of your childhood, you had nobody?"

"Well someone clearly took care of me as an infant or otherwise I would not be here talking to you," the Outsider could not help the sass in his reply. "My earliest memory was trying to rouse an elderly woman who was very much dead. I do not know how old I was at the time, but I think I was perhaps five."

Stanislav and Roksana exchanged a look, their eyes wide as if something had fallen into place. Stanislav turned to face him, his face grave.

"Owen, do you know if that woman was a midwife?"

His tongue felt slippery again and once more words fell out. "Now that you mention it, she probably was. She possessed many things that one would only see in that trade, and she was the sort one would think to be a witch."

Roksana audibly gasped and all the Voronins seemed to freeze. Emily continued to eat, a carefully crafted expression of mild interest upon her face. The Outsider felt that he was missing something, and that irritated him.

"You must be joking." Timur's eyes darted between his parents, disbelief apparent.

Roksana shook her head, covering her mouth as tears welled up in her dark green eyes. A gentle emotion-filled smile crossed Stanislav's face, and he put a hand on the Outsider's shoulder.

"Welcome home, Afanasiy."

Now he was well and truly lost. He glanced over to Emily, desperately seeking answers. Fortunately, she obliged.

"Twenty-five years ago a midwife stole the eldest son of Stanislav and Roksana Voronin from them. And now, he has returned."

Now it all made sense! Gods, he felt foolish. That little family tall tale was his ticket into nobility. And yet…

"I do not know what to say," the words came out low and even in spite of his confusion. "To be part of a family after so long… But, I do not deserve the honors of the eldest son."

"Oh truly?" spat Timur. "Why even come here and claim to be the fictional Afanasiy?"

"Timur!" Stanislav scolded, his face darkened. That increased the Outsider's nerves. Was a fight about to break out? He had to do something.

"I did not come here to steal your place!" the Outsider insisted, trying to convey his sincerity without panic. "Truly, I only dreamed of a tenuous connection to the name Voronin, no more."

"Owen… Afanasiy," Yuliya stuttered. "Why come looking for us after all these years?"

Gods almighty, how to answer this with tact? Perhaps say his curiosity in his past only came recently? That sounded alright. But as he opened his mouth his tongue felt heavy and slippery. Oh gods no.

"Emily and I wish to marry, and she can only marry someone of noble blood."

The table fell silent for a long moment as the Outsider winced at his forced bluntness. When would this void-damned serum wear off?!

"This is a shotgun wedding isn't it?" remarked Timur, somewhat dazed. Out of the corner of his eye, the Outsider saw Emily frown.

"Now what makes you say that?" she asked sharply.

"If I am counting correctly you two have only known each other for six months," Timur continued, confidence growing with each word. "And your previous relationship lasted for four years with not even the slightest whispers of engagement. The only thing that could cause this change in attitude is pregnancy."

Emily was silent for a long moment, flickers of irritation and thoughtfulness fighting across her face. The Outsider kept silent; now was not the time for him to chime in.

"I was a different person then. I knew getting married would tie me down and at that time I didn't want it. Besides, one can be fully committed to someone and choose not to marry them. I still believe that. However, I do see the benefits of marriage and no longer fear it. All it took was finding the right person."

Gods he loved Emily.

"So, are you actually pregnant?" Yuliya asked hesitantly.

Emily paused for a moment, then nodded. Yuliya lit up, utterly delighted.

"THANK YOU! Thank you so much, really!"

"You're… welcome," Emily replied, unsure. She glanced over to the Outsider and he just shrugged. Gods know why she was thanking the two of them.

Roksana affectionately rolled her eyes. "Yuliya is celebrating the fact that you two have relieved her of the duty of carrying on the family name."

"Excuse me, I thought that was my duty?" Timur interjected, mildly offended.

"Son, the day you find a woman you love more than a man is a day where the sun would be blue," Stanislav retorted fondly.

Timur gave the Outsider and Emily a tired look. "Are you sure you want to join this family?"

Emily looked over to him, and the Outsider realized that it was his call. They could back out right now; abandon all that they had gained in this short while. That, the Outsider thought, would be utterly foolish.

"So long as you will have me, I will take the name Voronin and do my best to honor you all."

The four Voronins took their glasses and raised them up. "To Owen Afanasiy Voronin!" declared Stanislav.

"To Owen!"

They took a long drink from their glasses, and Stanislav grinned warmly at him. "Welcome to the family."

Author's Note:

Hello everyone, apologies for being a week late. Grad School has been vicious lately and quite frankly the lack of engagement with the story has given me little motivation to be prompt with my uploads. I am considering taking a hiatus starting after the upload of the next chapter while I write more of the story. I hope that is not too disappointing.
Thank you for reading!