Page 30 of Chosen Spirits (The Bartender Mage #4)

Leif watched as I'ari stepped towards them, and the child she held did nothing to diminish the elemental presence she projected.

If the imprisoned eldritch mother had been a storm of unknowable chaos, I'ari seemed more like standing in the ionized area of an imminent lightning strike, or the terrifying sensation of hearing the first howl of a tornado siren.

His tongue felt frozen to the roof of his mouth.

I'ari's eyes settled on him, cold as a glacier, and then softened.

"Leif Becken! I see that you finally accepted my invitation to visit.

I know that my daughter has already welcomed you, but allow me to extend my own greeting, to you and to each of your lovers.

I, I'ari Lanathanon, do welcome the three of you to my home. "

"That is most gracious of you, good lady," Rahul said smoothly. "We are pleased that we could be here to share in today's joys with you."

"Princess, I would argue against the charge of breaking hospitality," Edith said hoarsely, lifting her head. Sweat matted her white hair to her face. She visibly flinched when I'ari turned towards her, but continued. "This land is owned by someone named Olivia Landon—"

"Which is the name that I used when I purchased it three decades ago," I'ari finished for her. "The name is mine, the land is mine, I have lived here myself, and it was a second home for myself and my daughter. "

Leif saw Edith swallow. "Then, I refute the charge of breaking hospitality on account of hospitality never being offered. Trespass, perhaps, but your ladyship was indisposed until now."

"My daughter Talamin speaks for me, and she said, and I quote, 'Just invite yourselves in, why don't you.' By stepping further onto my property, and neither refuting nor correcting her welcome, you tacitly accepted."

"Princess…"

I'ari didn't speak out loud, but there was a surge in the air, and Edith froze, choking on her words.

"For breaking hospitality, raising a hand against other invited guests, raising a hand against my daughter, and raising a hand against myself—"

"Be merciful, mom," Mina said. She laid a hand on I'ari's arm, then lowered a finger down for the child to grab in their tiny hand. "Today is a bright and blessed day, is it not? Perhaps we could avoid turning them into statues or topiary?"

I'ari nodded. "—for those multiple offenses, I bind you."

Joseph, Ren, and Edith were forced to their knees.

Leif felt decidedly uncomfortable. The arbiters had just been doing their job, and had been somewhat reasonable, but what could he do?

Although, it looked like neither Tucker with his empathic sense nor Rahul with his social adroitness seemed bothered, so perhaps I'ari was merely putting on a good show.

Leif hoped so, anyways.

"With the same magic that you used against my guests, I bind your usage hereafter," I'ari declared.

"No magics or spells will heed your call.

In a show of mercy, at my daughter's behest, I leave a loose thread; if you or another are in imminent danger, the binding will lift to allow you to act, but only in that moment.

In a second show of mercy, owing to today's birthing celebration, I also leave you a way to absolve yourself.

I give you each a year and a day to find someone that you have grievously wronged, and to then attempt true amends.

If you succeed, the binding will be undone.

If you fail, then I suggest that you get used to living without magic. Now leave ."

Edith rose to her feet, bowing low to I'ari, then strode briskly to the front of the house. Ren and Joseph accepted their staves back from Mina, then followed after. A moment later, Leif heard the sound of a car starting, and then driving off.

"Seriously, mom?" Mina asked, crossing her arms. "I said to show mercy! They might lose their jobs now."

I'ari turned around, then wagged a finger at her daughter with a tolerant expression.

"No worries, dearest, I saw into their hearts.

Joseph will be unbound by tomorrow, I expect.

That young man has been looking for an excuse to apologize to his ex for years, and this was the push he needed to do it.

Ren will likely be done within the week, though I think Edith will take a month or more.

But that last witch threw arcana at my darling Talamin, so fair's fair. "

"Mom, it's Mina. I've… I've told you this before."

"Yes, yes, I know," I'ari said, turning her head to look down at the baby, making cooing noises. "Oh, but today is a doubly blessed day, is it not? You have a new adopted brother, and your elixir has been made! I can feel it on our kitchen table. Well, no point in waiting."

I'ari lifted a hand into the air, and Leif saw the Sundrop potion speed out of the house and into her waiting grasp. The shining sun overhead caused dancing rainbows to flicker over the ground.

I'ari sniffed, getting teary eyed, then held it out to Mina. "Here you go, dearest, just as I promised years ago. Drink up! "

Mina took the bottle, turning it around in her hands. The silence stretched, and Leif felt Tucker and Rahul come up to stand on either side of him. At last, Mina lifted her gaze, looking at Leif.

"No."

"Dearest?"

"No, mom. I don't want it." Mina shook the bottle. "I don't want this! If I drink this, I'll get my old emotions and personality traits back, and, and I won't be me anymore!"

"It shouldn't work that way," I'ari said sternly. "Possibly there'll be some small changes, maybe—"

Mina shook her head. "Shouldn't, possibly, maybe. I like who I am, and I don't want to risk losing it."

"Talamin, my piata ."

"My name is Mina, mom! Mina ! I'm sorry, mom, but… this just isn't happening."

I'ari didn't answer for a moment, and then she turned to regard Leif, speaking quietly. "I can see that the potion's nature is transient. How long, Leif Becken?"

Leif swallowed. "The potion needs to be drunk within three days, about."

"Then we'll have a talk. Oh, Talamin. We'll talk through the night, and tomorrow, and then you'll see—"

"How many times must I say it! My answer is no , I like the person I am today. I like me !" She held up the bottle, and Leif saw her lips quivering. " This isn't me anymore.This is…"

"Of course it's you! You and she are the same person."

"Lady I'ari," Leif said, interrupting. He stepped over beside Mina, putting a hand on her shoulder, and she leaned into him. "This is your daughter's decision. Can't you support her in that?"

As I'ari stared at him, bouncing the baby, he noticed Rahul and Tucker exchanging alarmed glances, then bracing themselves. Leif stood up straighter, concentrating on being a source of strength for Mina while I'ari rounded on him, the air stilling.

"Leif Becken, I respect your spiritmancer abilities, I appreciate you coming up with a solution that perhaps no one else could have, and I am grateful that my daughter has you as a friend.

But you are still a youth ," she said dismissively.

"You are not a father, you are not a mother, and you do not know the terrifying experience of what it means to nearly lose a child. "

Leif returned I'ari's glare resolutely. "No, Lady I'ari. I do not know what it is to lose a child. But I do know what it is to have parents who don't see you. To have parents who treat you like you don't exist, or try to pretend you're something that you're not.

"I'ari, you don't need me to fix your daughter. She doesn't need fixing. And she's been right here all along, in front of your eyes. But you can't see her, because when you look at her, I think you're only seeing the shadow of the daughter you had, and ignoring who she has become.

"I'ari, it's… it's okay to grieve. It's okay to feel sad for losing a loved one, taken away too soon. But don't lose your other daughter because you're consumed by memories of your first."

"You… dare …"

"He's just telling the truth, mom." Mina said, and he noticed I'ari's face paling.

"When's the last time we've spent a day together, where you haven't tried to force old hobbies and interests on me, or talked about how I used to love this, or used to do that?

Well? Mom, I'm sorry that I'm not who you remember.

I really am! But I still want to know you, as me.

As who I am now. Can't you see that? Please? "

I'ari wasn't holding back tears anymore. "I… Talamin…"

"Mina."

I'ari looked down at Leif, then reached a hand out to her daughter. She stroked her face, then touched the brim of Mina's top hat. At last, with her free hand, she grabbed the potion bottle out of her daughter's hands.

I'ari let out a slow breath. "Mina, then."

Mina reached out and lifted the top off of the potion.

I'ari's lips quivered as she stared at the shimmering bottle, but then with no more hesitation, she upturned the potion, emptying out the culmination of years of devoted, loving effort into the sand.Leif saw the spirit energy flare brightly, and then vanish.

With a wailing cry, I'ari fell to her knees, clutching the baby to her chest with one hand, her other one burying fingers into the wet sand. Mina fell beside her mom, wrapping her arms around her shoulders, rocking her back and forth as her mother sobbed into her.

"C'mon, cub," Rahul said, guiding him away from the shore. "We need to give them a moment."

◆◆◆

An hour later, with dry but red-rimmed eyes, and having laid the child down in the next room with several hearth spirits set to watch over his sleeping form, I'ari played proper hostess, seemingly drawing strength from the role.

She set out a brunch of finger sandwiches, sweetmeats, miniature tarts, and an assortment of drinks.