Altus Gnarus' Castle Somewhere in Northern Europe

Exterior view


Archways


Courtyard


Each member has his own set of rooms, decorated to his own specifications...

A central dining area is where everyone can either come to eat or collect their meal and return to eat in their rooms.

There is a modern kitchen fully stocked... and a gym complete with modern equipment. There is a storage area full of all kinds of equipment for research...

[Courtyard; Winter of 2042; Fixed Future]

Footprints in the snow started from one of the many archways and made a path to a tree amidst the courtyard. But it wasn't just any tree: it was the favorite tree of centurian Takeshi Mizushima. Or at least his favorite tree within this section of the courtyard. Personally, he preferred to sit at the base of a black pine or willow. But this one tree had been singled out by the wizard upon being accepted into the Altus Gnarus.

With the wave of a wand, a bench had been cleared of snow and dried. Another muttered spell conjured a table of magical flame. With Takeshi was a long beaten-up leather case, which he placed on the table.

In silence, the hermit-wizard removed from the case a guqin - a seven-stringed zither - and, after a brief tuning, began to play the first tune that came to mind.

The portkey had been specially designed to slip through the heavy wards guarding the castle. Only those who had signed the last article with blood could enter. Thankfully for those who had signed it; most of the others had not been present when the Russian leader had died. The three of them appeared in a small unused room with a locking door.

Reaching out, Deangelo grabbed Sevie, ignoring the boy's screams.
"SILENCE!" he was hardly the most patient of men, especially with children. The squirming child bit his hand and he released him, cradling his injured palm against his chest.
"Cru-" he only just stopped himself from hexing the child. Crucio would probably have killed him... and he needed both to be alive.
Sevie grabbed onto Beagan, sobbing against him.
"Keep him quiet." Deangelo ground out, glaring at Beagan.

Going to the door, he shut it behind him and locked it. Hissing at his hurt hand, he sought out his Japanese friend.
"Takeshi..." he murmured, sorry he had to interrupt the music. "I have them..."

Beagan almost felt his blood boil and freeze at the almost casting of the pain curse at Sevie. Glaring feircily at the man he kneeled down beside Sevie and held him against him. The man obviously wanted them alive or her would killed them by now.

"It is okay, I won't let him hurt you" he muttered patting the childs back and letting him cry in his shoulder he doubted he could make him stop crying, it was a scary situation.

He noted the guy had a buddy it seemed, "Great... another cuk..." he muttered and looked around the room looking for anything that may help for protecting since they were in the room alone.

Takeshi tilted his head to acknowledge the presence of his friend and fellow Centurian, stopping mid-strum only when the purpose for Deangelo’s approach reached his ears. As if with an exceeding amount of care the wizard silenced the strings. “Good,” he stated with a nod and rose from the bench, leaving conjured table and instrument behind for the time being.

Walking with Deangelo, Takeshi noted how one of the other man’s hands was being favored over the other. “Have a little trouble with them, Gian-san?” he inquired, his ethnic accent subtle. There was only a small amount of amusement in thinking that two youngsters would give the wizard a hard time. Whatever had happened, Takeshi made a mental note to try and keep his hands well out of danger’s reach.

“We should keep them in an unexpected place in the castle, just in case,” the wizard remarked pensively. If any other the others disapproved with what they were doing, it would be most unfortunate indeed. It would’ve been even worse if his comrade had brought females into the castle grounds, for such a thing was forbidden. Though, it certainly would’ve made things interesting in keeping their captives secret. Yet in Takeshi’s mindset, if one were to be motivated into paying back a debt, taking sons was the way to go. He certainly would’ve done nearly anything to get his own son back in the event he were ever kidnapped...

Takeshi waited for Gian to unlock the door, generally respecting the locks of other Altus Gnarus members unless not being so mindful of privacy happened to suit him.

Sevie sniffed back his tears after a few moments of careless sobbing.
"W-what do he want, Beagan?" he asked, his teary eyes looking up at the older boy. It was a well known fact that older people knew everything, and he assumed as smart as Beagan was that the whole thing had been figured out by now.

--
"Perhaps..." Deangelo was not in the mood to launch into the tale, especially since it involved his injury and lack of care. He would not be so careless again. A full body bind would do far better than before.
"Indeed, it would not do to have them discovered." Besides the two of them, Uchenna Sy, Chase “Seven Bears” Espenson and August Hanog had been present to sign the blood document... Thankfully Horatio McKevin had not showed up; or Gian would have been forced to ask for the use of Takeshi's residence, since his had been taken by the Ministry.

With a flick of his wand, the door swung open and he chuckled briefly, noting the little shriek "Sevie" gave when seeing him and Takeshi.
"I'll prepare the howler..." he muttered.

Beagan sighed, truthfully he was just as scared as Sevie as he didn't have a clue what the guy wanted or even who he was. All he know was that they were being held in this room and it wasn't for their best interests either.

But he had to be strong for Sevie, he was just a kid, he needed someone... and at the moment the someone was him.

He bit his lip, worried by Sevie's question, he had no idea what the man wanted..

"I am not sure what he wants Sev, I wish I did. but I think we will find out sometime I think" he said quietly.

When the door burst opened he once again moved in a protective mannor infront of Sevie.

He blinked and glared at the mention of Howler, likley wanted to send some type of ransom note maybe? or something like that. He kept an eye on the new guy at the door, even more cautious...

Takeshi stood in the doorway almost resembling a human version of the dragon tattooed upon his head. He was between average and tall height, though the aura about him made it seem as though he considered himself taller than what the wizard really was. Just before Deangelo opened the door Takeshi made certain to have his wand poised, ready for nearly anything. Not knowing from what stock these two boys came from, Takeshi – a son from a line of wizard/samurai – wasn’t about to leave himself vulnerable to any form of attack. However, he hoped his compatriot had the good sense to disarm the boys... not that the pair of them couldn’t manage two youths even with their advanced age.

He nodded to his partner before setting the boys with a rather malevolent-looking grin, though it turned into a kind of scowl seconds later. Stepping into the room Takeshi magicked the door shut with a swift upward jerk of his right hand, wand aloft in his left. Another sudden movement caused torches to spring to life, lighting up the room. “Where do you suggest we put them, ototo?” he asked, sticking to the Japanese word for ‘younger brother’ rather than Deangelo’s name. After all, Takeshi had a good twenty-five years on the other centurian.

Dark eyes focused on the small form behind the older boy. The child’s face looked familiar to Takeshi, though he couldn’t place it. Even the elder had a vague familiarity about him that the centurian couldn’t place. He conjured cushions directly behind the two boys, and one for himself. “Sit,” he told the pair roughly before kneeling on the cushion closest to him, his eagle eye wavering not even for an instant.

Sevie looked absolutely petrified of Takeshi, from the dragon tattoo on his head to the sinister look on his face to his wand. Wrapping his small arms around Beagan's waist, he buried his face in the older boy's robes.
"I want my mama..." he began to sob, his voice partially muffled by the fabric. As the light came with the sparking torches, Sevie, if it was possible began to sob louder.

"The ante-chamber to the galley would doubtless work well..." Deangelo muttered, having conjured the howler's main elements and now working at putting them together. Deftly, he soon held out the device. It worked similarly to the muggle tape-recorder, only with magic, not to mention it was slightly more elegant. He grinned almost happily. "No echo..." it was also the last place anyone would suspect to look... and the most protected.

With so many hungry hermits living together, the group had been forced to ward the kitchen and storage area quite well. Especially from the constantly growling belly of one August Hanog...

Holding the howler out in front of him, he looked into Beagan's eyes.
"Say something to Grandpapa..." he mocked. His few steps closer to Beagan had been carefully seen by Sevie and the boy panicked, beginning to scream bloody murder. Gian sighed... thankful it would all be over soon.

Beagan locked his blue eyes on the old Japanese man that had a stealy aura about him. Merely looked at him one knew he was dangerous. Oh he wished Sevie was allowed to go...

At the Japanese man's word for them to sit, Beagan gave a growl and guided Sev to the cushion with him. Trying to be as comforting a he could.. but he was not even close to level of safety one found in a mothers arms..

He once again glared at the man infront of him, his eyes quite plainly saying "Go to hell" but he did as he was told anyway...

"Uh.. Grandpapa? Its Beagan.. I am to tell you Both me and Sevie are un harmed for now.. yes I know Sevie is crying, but he is scared... not hurt. I won't let him be hurt I promise" he said absently patting the younger boys shoulder as he sobbed.

He listened to the message the man puting after his, his words made his blood boil..

"No doubt you fear now for the lives of your two little brats... Horatio McKevin... you always were a self-righteous bastard. You took everything from me... Now I am going to take something from you. And sweet little Kiara Riddle... or should I say McConn... I can see how the red head fell under your spell, my dear, you are rather bewitching. But make no mistake, I cannot forgive, even you, for the pain I endured after you imprisoned me."

so the guy was after revenge....

Beagan sighed as Sevie cried bloody murder.. and looked at the other men..

"Can't you just let him go? He is just a little kid... you will still have your revenge with just me here..." he said trying to reason with them to let Sevie go back to his parents.

Takeshi halfheartedly rolled his eyes at Sevie’s sob for his mother, and from the responses from Beagan decided that true to form the older would be the greater threat between them. Neither growls nor smoldering glares would deter him from keeping them under surveillance. “Your mother is a long way from here,” the Japanese wizard muttered, deliberately unhelpful.

He nodded at Deangelo’s suggestion, keeping quiet while the Howler was being worked on. The antechamber was agreeably the best place. It would be well guarded, and somewhat out of the way. Wizard-hermits seeking a meal would likely head to the galley directly rather than take the longer route through the side-chamber. A slight smirk twisted his lips at his comrade’s mention of no echo, knowing that feature would likely come in handy.

While the older boy spoke the piece he wished at Gian’s prompt, Takeshi silently summoned a glass of hot green tea from the kitchens and indulged in a few sips. Dark eyes never strayed from the pair, watching them closely for even the slightest hint of activity that could be seen as a threat. Willing his ears to block out the younger lad’s screams and sobs, the wizard focused instead upon the intelligible words being spoken.

A grin bearing only a few teeth tugged on the centurian’s lips. “A noble sentiment, such a promise... But the question is: are you so certain you can keep it?” he asked, quirking one eyebrow as though he had serious doubts. Glancing with a measure of contempt to the crying child and then back to the older he added, “If you do not silence him... I will.”

Just then, however, he heard the message Gian had composed to deliver to the family of the two boys:

"No doubt you fear now for the lives of your two little brats... Horatio McKevin... you always were a self-righteous bastard. You took everything from me... Now I am going to take something from you. And sweet little Kiara Riddle... or should I say McConn... I can see how the red head fell under your spell, my dear, you are rather bewitching. But make no mistake, I cannot forgive, even you, for the pain I endured after you imprisoned me."

Beagan was about ten seconds away from getting a shower of green tea before Takeshi swallowed the hot liquid instead, keeping his face neutral. So this was a coup on Horatio McKevin and Kiara McConn? He hadn’t known yet now he could clearly see the resemblance between his old friend and colleague with the younger boy. How the older fit in, he had yet to discern. Perhaps he was related to this Kiara McConn, whom he’d only met once if that.

His honor would not let him abandon Deangelo but on the other hand he had nothing against Horatio. It was an odd situation to be in. Yet, the hermit turned professor was generally quite cooperative... Regardless, Takeshi decided that the first moment he could get off duty from watching the youths he’d make certain he had a means of escape just in case. The wizard’s agreement to this scheme did not necessarily mean he had to share the fate of a backfired plan... then again the scheme also did not mention going up against Horatio McKevin. For all he’d known, this had just been a random wizard to whom a debt was owed to Gian. And, if Takeshi’s own history regarding debts said anything it would be that he took debts very seriously. Until there was reason not to, Takeshi was sticking with Deangelo.

"Can't you just let him go? He is just a little kid... you will still have your revenge with just me here..."

“Silence!” Takeshi snapped in Japanese. Then, in a more civil tone, he elaborated, “No one leaves: the both of you have value in this game of chess. Good chance for boys to become a men.” A swallow of hot green tea punctuated his rather insensitive statement. Yet, by the wizard/samurai’s reckoning, it was the only natural wording to use. By Sevie’s age Takeshi had become the most skilled swordfighter and magical duelist of his age group. It wasn’t saying much compared to the everyone older than him in the village, but he had grown up quite fast. Perhaps even too fast...

The very thought that his mama was a long way away increased his tears and he once again buried his face in Beagan's robes. The men were so mean and nasty; he had never been treated like this before. At school his classmates all were nice and happy. His teacher was always smiling and cheerful. His brothers and sisters were all nice except Ava and she ignored him. His mama and papa always called his their little bunny and kissed him and hugged him. Discomfort was not getting what he wanted quickly enough... pain was tripping and having his mama comfort him in her arms.

As soon as the howler was completed, Deangelo sealed it with his personal seal and duplicated it, attaching each copy to an owl's leg. The birds few through the wards, their specially bred bodies slipping through the blood barriers.

Sevie did take Takeshi's order to be silent to heart; his blue eyes were as big as plates, red and tear-filled. However the continued thought stung against his sting unlike but reminding of the gentle tap of his mama's spoon against his hand. No one leaves? His little heart began to race. No, he didn't want this; he wanted his mama and his papa... and Kiara and Rossa... Ara and his teacher... he even wanted Ava. Anyone but the dragon-man and the other one...

Protesting through his tears and sobbing, Sevie thumped his head against Beagan.
"I wanna go home." he hiccuped.

"WILL YOU MAKE THAT INFANT SILENT!" Gian shouted, pointing his wand at Beagan. A spell could have muffled the child, but he did not want any magical spell to interfere with his future plans. Children... he hated children. With their innocent faces and dirty hands and sticky fingers. The constant whining, constant crying... constant questions. In a more steady voice, he continued, following Takeshi's ever wonderful example. "Or I will."

He wondered, briefly, if Takeshi was still with him, know that the cat was out of the bag. He hadn't exactly...okay he hadn't told his friend that Horatio McKevin was the main target... but he hoped, as he fingered his wand and then slid it away, that the wizard was still on board.

Beagan glared at the two men hold him and Sevie captive, it was the only thing a could do really as he held Sevie.

How could he make Sevie be quiet? for merlins sake he was beyond terrified... and to be honest with him self so was he... but it would do neither of the any good for him to let fear get the best of him... he tried to think of what his father and mother or any of his older brothers and sisters would do in his position...

"I know Sev... So do I.." he said to the younger boy quietly..

At the pointed wand at him Beagan couldn't help stiffen and jerk out of the way of the wand taking Sevie with him..

"It is not so easy to do that with you making comments and making him more upset then he already is.." Beagan snapped, it made no sense to him they would kidnap a child and not be prepared for tears.. it was becomng to much for the teen having a histarical child crying in his arms and two mad men.. wishing to use them against there parents... Beagan's normal cool temperment was wearing thin....

But nonetheless he gently rubbed Sevies back similar to the way his mother and father comforted him when he had been scared as a child..

"Sev, I know you are scared.. and I don't blame you... but please try to calm down okay? As soon as our parents find out what has happened I am sure.. they will figure something out.." he said trying to be comforting..

And truthfully he did have faith in his parents and grandparents.. they were wise and powerful... he was betting on more so then the two wizards infornt of him.

He once again held Sevie letting him rest his head in his shoulder... cry silently..

How he wished his mother... or his sister Rossa were here... but yet he was relieved they weren't at the same time...

He sighed he hated feeling so helpless and at the mercy of another.

Dark eyes watched the three others in the room. He remembered vaguely assisting the centurians to breed a variety of owl that could slip through their wards and barriers. Only occasionally did he write to his son and his son’s descendants (he’d practically forgotten his daughter and her possible descendents entirely), but the research that had gone into the project was his main reason for getting involved. Takeshi liked knowing things not many others were privy to.

His scowl stayed in place when Sevie quieted, looking directly into the child’s eyes for a fraction of a second. Such upset was not reacted upon when he was a child, thus it was his natural reaction to ignore it as well. Nothing came of weeping; perhaps the child would learn that during his stay with them. Either way, it truly mattered not to Takeshi. The Japanese wizard snickered quietly at the threat made by his friend, but other than that remained silent.

Beagan’s glare hardly affected him, though it did tell the wizard to be on guard for unexpected hostility from the boy. If his courage was as fierce as his gaze, they might have their work cut out for them even without the boys having their wands. Fear would be needed to keep them in check... When the older boy jumped out of the way of his compatriot’s wand, Takeshi trained his wand on Beagan as well just in case. “Not so fast,” the Japanese wizard half muttered, half snarled.

"It is not so easy to do that with you making comments and making him more upset then he already is.."

Takeshi quirked a single eyebrow at the teenager, smirking at the returned comment. “And who was it that said our demands would be easy to accomplish? Perhaps if you both do as told, you might eventually leave here in one piece...” he said. Unhelpful, yes. Meaningless? No. Seeing the boy more or less had his hands full in soothing the child, Takeshi lowered his wand but only slightly.

The Japanese wizard listened intently to the conversation between the captives, and couldn’t help but scoff. For one thing, Horatio hadn’t been at the signing. The only way he could get in was... Takeshi really couldn’t think of a way for the other centurian to get in with all the wards and protective spellwork on the castle. As far as women entering the castle... Takeshi found this equally ludicrous: no woman has set foot in the castle since the founding of the Altus Gnarus! However, he was curious on one thing... “Are you both the sons of Horatio McKevin?” he asked curtly, not having kept track of Horatio’s activities since he’d gone to Hogwarts some years prior to inform Horatio personally of the Altus Gnarus reunion.

In wait for an answer, Takeshi glanced to Gian briefly. The wizard made no move to leave despite the fact he now knew whom his comrade was going up against. He hoped that if the other wizard had his doubts that Takeshi’s lack of motivation to leave the immediate vicinity said something. If anything, in fact, the only move he made was to take yet another sip of tea. There was no indication on his face that he intended to back out now.

For one thing, going back on his offer of assistance now would be a breach in Takeshi’s sense of honor...