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The day had been, in short, horrible. Zerk had woken early for his lessons. Too early to enjoy breakfast with his family in fact. His tutor wanted him to watch the lighting of Narbondel. There was supposed to be a lesson involved but the sleepy eyed youth had cared more for the fact he was missing his soft bed then for the eye searing flames that wreathed the base of the giant stone structure. After which he had been escorted back to the House and since he was awake...lessons began.

Zerk felt like he had not absorbed even a quarter of the information that had been taught to him, and most of it had been review. He was tired and cranky. He convinced his tutor to allow him to take a nap close to mid morning. Perhaps falling asleep and spilling the ink pot all over the parchment had helped? He was gratified that he was not scolded though, and he had crashed into a deep slumber the moment he laid down on the tutors sedan. The scent of food awoke him. He had slept through lunch unfortunatly and his nanny had imposed himself on his tutor. Zerk awoke in his own room with a small side table laid out with some sweetened glazed mushrooms and soft white bread. He ate of course, and sulked at not being awake for lunch at least. Most of the day was past by now.

Following his late lunch came one of the lessons he enjoyed most. Combat training! Lessons and sparring with the Weapon's Master is something he found thrilling. The afternoon flew by and Zerk was mostly content for it. It was over all too soon unfortunatly. With a hour left before dinner Zerk was shuffled off to bathe and re-dress. Sometimes bath time was enjoyable though, and today was that sort. His psionic teacher joined him in his bathing chambers, chooseing now to help him practice focusing his mental abilities. In the calmness and relaxing atmosphere of the bath Zerk and his teacher had learned that he made more progress. Zerk enjoyed his psionic lessons. Not because his teacher was a psionic. Oh no. his teacher was nothing of the sort. His teacher was a male that followed a monk like practice, and he had shown the most progress in aiding Zerk come in touch with the hidden powers of his mind. So they sat and did visualization practice in most sessions. Sometimes they played Sava. Other times it was some weird sort of physical exersize that had him moving slowly and holding poses for counts of time. Today was a visualization practice. They were imagining the image of a spider, his teacher's low voice talked him through the imagery. He talked about the hard chitine shell's plates and the individual hairs upon it's legs. After the spider's image was complete his teacher talked him through making the spider move. Imagining how each of those eight legs would move and flex and how they would cling to the wall as it walked along.

It was a fun practice. It was also a long practice. By the time they finished three hours had passed. The magically heated bath had rendered his little body wrinkled and his stomach made it's unhappiness known by gurgling loudly when he crawled out to be towled down by a servant. It wasn't entirely unheard of for Zerk to miss a few meals with his family a week. But very rarely did he go a entier day without seeing any of his family members. There was a good reason for this of course.

By the time bedtime rolled around the well behaved prince was transformed into a unholy terror. Cranky with seemingly no reason, he refused for the most part to co-operate with his nanny. He did not want to recite any lessons. He did not want to review his training. He did not want to change into his night cloths or go to bed. He did not want his hair brushed. Zerk didn't quite have a reason for any of his refusals. Most often his excuse was a simple 'Because I said so' and he would carry on until his nanny either forcefully pinned him down in bed or some family memeber inervened. On this particular day no intervention would be forthwithcoming. La'Zarius was working late at the tower. The Matron had a pretty young male trapped in her private chambers, and Jeryna has already turned in for the night.

The nanny attempted to use force to put Zerk to bed. He recieved for his troubles a bitten arm and a kicked knee joint. Not for the first time the pair tussled upon the bed until Zerk managed to squirm free of his nannys grip. Like a shot from a crossbow he was across the room and out the door of his room. A merry chase ensued, the nanny yelling for Zerk to return to his bed, and Zerk belting out a few choice words he had heard from the guards in the training room. Zerk was chased about the level where the family rooms were located, then down to the ground floor. His nanny was given quite a fright when Zerk ran himself right out through a servants enterance in the kitchen and outside. Once out though, Zerk cut a quick path round the buidling to the guards entrance. He was back inside in just minutes and up the stairs to the family floor again. By the time his nanny had discovered he had not hidden in the courtyard Zerk was safely tucked in his brother La'Zarius' room.

Of course his nanny knew he would not leave the House grounds, no matter how badly he was acting out. So there was no need to alarm the Household when the nanny eventually backtracked the boy to the eldest sons rooms. Though...there was absolutly no way the nanny or the guards would chase Zerk into those chambers. Not in the least!

Alone, winded, and satisfied by he escape, Zerk wasted no time exploring his brothers closet and dressers. He was vaugely familar with the contents, but what he sought was something very specific. A work robe... Zerk shucked his own cloths to the floor and donned the white garmet. It swam on him. The body pooling about his feet on the floor and the sleeves completely swallowing his arms up. Still, he smiled brightly and shuffled his way to a bookshelf. There Zerk reached up and touched the spines of the books, feeling out their titles in the lightless room. He searched them until he found a book that seemed interesting enough. The Lore of Menzoberazzan! The history of their great city. There had to be some great stories about raids and battles within it! Zerk tugged the book from it's place, and carefully crossed to his brothers bed. He set the book down on the top cover then crawled up himself to the middle. Now all he needed to do was wait for La'Zarius to return him.

Zerk assumed he would be home before a candlemark passed. Yet before even that amount of time had passed his eyelids were already too heavy to keep open. He struggled though, the lids drooping only to be forced back open, often times a little lopsidedly. before too long though, Zerk's childs frame had sprawled itself in the center of the bed, one hand curled over the book and the other fisted above his head as he lightly snored.

Awaiting La'Zarius outside his room was a single lone drow. The Nanny had seen no reason to keep in his attendance the servants that had joined him in the hectic chase of young Zerkxiez. Still, he would have felt a bit more secure in the presence of others around him. When La'Zarius entered the hall where his room was and approched, the slightly older males head snapped upwards at quick attention despite the late hour.
Svir had the longest record of service in caring for Zerk. He found little comfort in his period of service though. Simply the knowledge that he was merely one in a long line of nannies and governess' was enough to keep him from becoming too complacent in his position. Or was that too careless? No, if that were the case he would not be standing here waiting for La'Zarius to come and speak with him. Svir folded his hands behind his back, and bowed his head respectfully to the Elder boy of the house. A faint shine of nervouse sweat dampened his coal skin along it's white hairline.

"Forgive me Lord La'Zarius." He began while bowing. Lifting his gaze a bit he did his best not to allow his wits to completely leave him as he spoke. "My charge was being difficult this evening when it was bed time. I'm afraid his lessons with the Weapons Master is proving very effective, at least when it concerns close unarmed combat." Thus speaking, he reached a hand up to rub at the bitten part of his arm before he continued on. "Zerkxeiz has hidden himself away inside your personal chambers Lord. And...well..." His red eyes flickered towards the door. "I did not believe further pursuit of the wayward boy would have been...wise."

It was purely by effort of will alone that the slightly shorter male did not retreat a step when La'Zarius closed the distance between them. Svir did, however, lean backwards a bit. His red eyes still reflecting his unease. Nothing that was said to him eased it in the least. Just because La'Zarius had said this was a mere trifel did not mean he could not decide to punish him reguardless.

"Yes Lord." He replied, and thanked the Goddess there was no weak waver in his voice. "I understand why the boy misbehaved. His schedual today was too full and he did not have any interaction with any of his family members. As this has happened on a few occassions before I was not surprised when the boy became difficult at the end of the day. I had prepared to deal with him as effectively as I could, but as I said.." His voice trailed off and Svir shifted his stance from one foot to another.

"The boy was a bit more viscious when it came time for bed and I was unaware of the new move he had learned from the Weapons master. I...I am not a warrior Lord." Not that he could expect his excuse to carry much weight if La'Zarius was in too foul a temper. Svir felt his stomach twisting inside as he forced himself to continue.

"Zerkxiez fled the room and the two servents I had posted outside the door failed to grab him. So we had to chase him through the halls a bit. I had not anticipated the young Lord to leave through the servants enterance in the kitchen, so when I entered I stopped to check his usual hiding places. It was one of the scullery maids that pointed out the boy had not hidden but instead had left out the back door. I discovered from sentry's outside that he had run through the courtyard and re-entered the House through the guards enterance. I knew where he was heading and made haste here...but...well..." Svir lifted a hand and gestured to the door.

"He had alreadygotten inside. I was able to hear movement and a giggle so I was positive he was inside. Though i still sent the servants to scour the House while I stayed in wait here...just in case you had a new...ahm...object...I was unaware of..."

Svir's eyes were blinded for a moment by white spots as he found himself swiftly pinned to the wall behind him. The grip on his throat was frightening, but the voice speaking to him was terrifying. He lifted his hands up, and dug his fingers into the wall rather then leaving them limp and risking offending La'Zarius by grasping at his wrist. Svir's lips parted in a tremble. He did NOT want to die! Not because of some high born brat!

By some favor of the Goddess though, La'Zarius released his grip. With a gasp, Svir bowed his head. His legs felt terribly weak at this point. It was a embaressment and a shame. The thoughts that had run through his head just moments ago.

"Yes Lord." He replied weakly. He was not looking forwards to delivering all the foul news. Particularly to the teachers. Ending the lieves of the servants was hardly consequential. As it was their fault this entier mess occured. His head continued to bow, though it paused while La'Zarius needed to think of a reward for the sentry and scullery maid who had performed quick wittedly and usefully.

"Lord." He repeated again. His head lifted now so he could watch as La'Zarius entered his personal chambers. Well..there seemed to be a glimpse of the boy on the bed, so..with the dismissal given, Svir had no problem getting his shakey leg's to stiffen so he could run his way down the hall.

Such peaceful dreamings, that of the young. Blameless and guiltless, though not entierly without fear at times. Zerk slept such peace tonight. Unworried about the fates of servants or even himself. He was in the safest place to be. Aside from his own mothers bed chambers of course. Zerk did not stirr from his slumber all through the time it took La'Zarius to cleanse himself. He had, after all, had a very busy day with his lessons, and his final run through the House to escape sleeping in his own room for the night.

The bed dipped under the slight weight of the additional body, and Zerk did shift a bit. Though nothing more. Not right away. Those slender and graceful fingers brushed at the unruly hair of youth and brushed it away from the black as darkness skin. Only after the fourth gentle gliding of the fingertips did Zerk's eyes crack open. The sharp contrasting cyan peeked out between those lids. The way a flames light might pierce through a crack in a wall. With a shift of his head, Zerk uncurled his fisted hands and rolled the sleepy eye towards the looming figure near to him.

"Father." He mumbled softly, his lips hald pressed to the bed still caused his words to have a muffled sound. "Read me a story?"

He was still quite sleepy. Even though he was awake enough to understand the words of his surrogate father. Ah. Yes, he certainly knew that La'Zarius was his brother. The story had been explained to him once he became old enough to truely understand it. But it did not change how he viewed them. In his eyes his brother was indeed his father. A man he looked up to with adoration and respect. His sister was indeed his mother. he loved her and cherished the affection she placed upon him.

Zerk was, for lack of a better term, a good boy. He really was, in the manner of drow being good. So when it was that La'Zarius spoke of how late it was, he did not argue the matter. Zerk really rarely argued with La'Zarius anyways. he knew his father knew best, even in his sleep fogged state. He shifted upon the bed, mindlessly dragging the book with him as he would settle himself under the covers of the bed. He had already closed his eyes by the time La'Zarius had settled himself down near to him.

No words needed to be spoken at this point really. It was obvious it was time for them to sleep. Though, as La'Zarius would rid the bed of the books offending presence, Zerk would nestle himself down close to La'Zarius's body. His eyelids heavily closed, he murmured into the blankets that were covering all but the top of his head. "Missed you father. G'night."