The Stunning Revelation

  While Draven had to admit, it was fun watching the Undersider who had broken into Keela’s room being dragged away in shackles, he could not say that he liked Keela’s methods.  She had run straight to that Artisan who had shown up at the Tower a few weeks ago, and brought him back to help.  Draven was not happy.  Keela was his, and he did not appreciate the competition presented by this Artisan, Mayrn, or whatever he called himself.  He glowered as Mayrn turned to Keela with a fondly proud smile on his face.

“Good work, Lala.  I hadn’t thought of using the ball to get him.  Although,” he added consideringly, “You could have just told him to turn himself in– OW!  What was that for?”  Draven smirked.  Keela had kicked Mayrn in the shins.

“That,” Keela told him calmly, “Was for criticizing my method of capture.  Using hypnosis to make him go to sleep was creepy enough.  And it was also for calling me Lala.  No one’s called me Lala since I was six, and I’m not letting you start it up again.”  The Artisan raised his eyebrows.

“Really?  I don’t recall stopping calling you Lala.”  Keela glared at him.

“Shut it, Mayrn, or, so help me, I’ll tell father about you and Solira, or worse, I’ll tell Manena.”  Draven watched in amazement as the Artisan blanched.

“You wouldn’t!”  Keela smiled sweetly, in the way that Draven knew from personal experience meant trouble for whoever was receiving it.

  “Try me.”  The Artisan backed off, and instead turned to Draven.

“So.  I’m going to guess that you’re Draven.  Am I right?”  Draven glared.

“Yeah, that’s me.”  He told the Artisan coldly.  He glanced at Keela, who was looking out the window, her arms folded across her chest, face stony.  “So what?” The Artisan grinned.

“You spend quite a bit of time with La- Keela.”  Draven really glared at him.  This was going too far.

“Yes, I do.  You have a problem with that?”  He snarled.  The Artisan smiled coldly.

“No, just a warning.”  He looked Draven right in the eye, and held his gaze.  “If you hurt my baby sister, then I will make you hurt- in a very painful and lasting way.  Do you understand?”  Draven’s eyes widened as what Mayrn was saying fell into place.  He nodded slowly.  The Artisan, Keela’s brother smiled in the same way Keela did when she was pleased with something very, very evil that she had done.  “Good.  I’m glad we’ve had this little chat.”  He gave Keela a quick kiss on the forehead, and departed.  Draven sat on Keela’s bed, frozen in shock.  Keela moved to stand in front of him, looking concerned.

“Draven, could you, oh, I don’t know, nod, or say something?”  Keela asked, sounding worried.  Draven’s eyes flickered to hers.

“Your brother’s an Artisan?!?!”  He croaked.  Keela winced.

“One of them, yes.”

“Since when?”  Keela tugged on one of her braids; even in his stupor, Draven recognized it as a sure sign that she was nervous.

  “Since I was nine....”

“Please tell me that’s all the secrets you’ve been keeping.”  He said flatly, taking no comfort when Keela laughed uncomfortably.

“Weeeell... how would you like to meet my father?”  She asked sheepishly.  Draven buried his face in his hands, wondering what revelation Keela was going to force onto him next.

  And the Wind City floated along above the land, on towards what lay ahead.