[Potironette]

Kellan chuckled, "Alright, I won't press for details too much. Thanks for the vacation, Uncle Marius."
"What's changed since I was last there?" He asked.

[Kitarun]

"Not much, besides some of the decor... A few of our servants have changed since you were there last... We've let a few go, gotten a few more..." He said, trying to think back on everything that had changed since Kellan was younger. "We had to build a new stable. There was a bad storm a few years ago in the winter that knocked down the old one- thankfully none of the horses were injured."

[Potironette]

"None of the horses?" Kellan smiled. "I'm glad to hear that. If a storm had killed off any horses at home, the stable master would never let me hear the end of it!"

A thought suddenly occurred to Kellan, and his face turned suddenly withdrawn. He asked in a low voice, in semblance of something secret, "What do you think of magic?"

[Kitarun]

Marius looked surprised st the sudden change of topic. "Magic?" He asked, sounding slightly nervous for some reason. "Aren't you boys a bit old to still believe in that?"

Jei watched his uncle, suspicious. "Not overly, uncle... We read about it in our history books... Obviously, if its in our texts, it must be real... Right?" He asked, trying to coax any bit of information out of him.

[Potironette]

A corner of Kellan's lips lifted up slightly, unconsciously. Based on the way his uncle was sounding, it definitely did seem real.

"I do." He said. It was partly a lie, but he pressed on. "I think you do too."

[Kitarun]

Marius frowned, and looked around the carriage, even though they were alone, before dropping his voice. "You boys would do well to keep your little obsession with magic to yourselves, especially when you get back home. I've got some books in my private study that you can look at, but you can't tell anyone. It'd likely get us all killed." He said, admitting his belief without truly admitting anything.

[Potironette]

Kellan clapped his hands suddenly. "Great one, Uncle Marius! I didn't think you were so well-versed in Latin." He looked pointedly at the driver. Servants told tales.

"We'd love to see your books some time."

Books on magic and Uncle Marius. Who knew? Well, Uncle Marius was an eccentric one in any case. Kellan grinned light-heartedly.

[Kitarun]

Jei was a little surprised that his uncle would be the key to discovering if their family had magic, either past or present. Maybe he'd have information on their father's family, too? After all, it was the McKarthy line that they were having trouble finding anything about.

"Not a problem boys. I'll show you the library tomorrow, so you can work on your studies there. You shouldn't be disturbed by any of the servants, except for dinner time." Marius replied, grinningg slightly.

[Potironette]

((Earlier I mentioned a train because I thought they might go on a train station, that doesn't seem like it's happening :P. Should trains even exist during this time :o?))

They chatted about inconsequential things as the carriage pulled along. It was late into the evening by the time the horses stopped trotting.

"I suppose we've arrived?" Kellan asked Uncle Marius. The curtains had been drawn due to the bothersome sunlight which had begun to annoy all their eyes. The last time he had gone to Uncle Marius' mansion was by train. Perhaps that year their horses were not ready to make the trip. In any case, he had no clue if they had arrived at the mansion or not.

[Kitarun]

((During this time period, they could, but it'd be the oldschool ones, back when they first came out if we're going to have them.))

Marius pulled the currains back a touch, peering out into the twilight gloom. "Appears so... I apologize for the long ride, boys... I know you were probably looking forward to taking the train, however your mum decided it safer to go by carriage... And you know how she can be, yes? Once she's got an idea into her head, nothing can change it."

Jei nodded, knowing it to be true, what their uncle said about their mother. "Perhaps we can go by train when we're going home in a few months..." He said, figuring his mother was unlikely to have planned that far in advance.

[Potironette]

((That makes sense ^^. Those trains are super dangerous though :o ))

Kellan laughed, "That sounds like her. Though I'll admit the carriage is a lot safer, if slower. Our poor carriage driver might not make it through the night! Would you let him stay here until morning, Uncle Marius?"

Kellan got up from his seat and opened a door of the carriage. He stepped off onto the still-green grass of his uncle's property, his manner of propriety nearly forgotten as he stretched like the spring chicken that regular youths his age were meant to be. He smiled happily at Jei, then his Uncle, still waiting for the response that he realized he had rudely cut off.

[Kitarun]

Marius chuckled softly, nodding his head. "But of course... If not for his sake, then for that of the horses... You will stay, won't you?" Marius asked as he exited the carriage himself, behind Jei, the boy having jumped from the doorway to the freshly cut grass.

"I'd accept your invitation, Lord." The driver replied, bowing slightly even as he began unloading their luggage.

[Potironette]

Kellan picked up his suitcase before the servant got to it, preferring to carry things by himself. "Isn't that great? Mr. Driver? You get to stay here as free as a stable master for a day? What is your name anyway?"

He turned toward Jei and rubbed his younger brother's head while smiling cheerfully, having heard his brother jump off the carriage. He had contemplated jumping off himself, but thought himself too old for that sort of thing. "This is our home for the next few months, I suppose."

[Kitarun]

The carriagedriver looked at Kellan, surprised. "Samuel, young master." He replied. Very few people ever asked their servants names.

Jei whined, giving his brother a light swat when he messed up his hair. Fixing it quickly, he nodded. "Seems wierd, being away from Mother, and the girls..." He said, looking around them. It had been far too long since he'd been to visit their uncle. Kellan and Serra had been here about five years ago, when the fire occurred. Jei had been ill, and Theroen was starting training to take over their fathers role as Lord, so they hadn't been able to go. They hadn't been able to visit since then.

[Potironette]

"Well Samuel, I think you'll have a good time here." Kellan said in an obviously good mood. "Shame you won't be able to stay longer."

Kellan grinned as Jei swatted his hand away as he always did. "It is a little strange," he conceded, "Though I rather like strange."

He turned to Uncle Marius, "Are we getting a house tour?" He asked, almost cheekily. "Samuel certainly doesn't know his way to, well, wherever he's staying, and we don't know either."

[Kitarun]

Marius chuckled, and motioned for the three to follow him. "I suppose I can show you around." He said, leading the way inside. He showed them all around the inside of the house, sleeping quarters being last. They'd just left Samuel at his room, and Marius led Jei and Kellan towards the family wing. "Now... Would you boys prefer your own, separate rooms, or your old suite?"

Jei spoke up immediately. "Our old suite is fine, Uncle." He said. It would be easier, if he had one of his nightmares. That way, it was just a short walk through their shared sitting room to Kellan's room, instead of running around an unfamiliar house in search of his brother, or spending the night alone.