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Cerrilia let her go, and turned her attention back to the class at hand. she did her job and did it well. offering advice, ways to change slight imperfections that they didn't catch. just because she never got to instruct Lyssie in this manner...mostly because she tended to do exactly what she just did...didn't mean she neglected her class.

She And Zykariel still shared a bed from time to time, usually after one of his parties, if she was able to attend the race. mostly she attended to keep an eye on her champion, with full knowledge on both parties that if Zykariel lost that position, she'd be after the one that usurped him. business, after all. though she did enjoy the vigor of the much younger elf in the bedroom as well.

She walked with him, glad to be on the ground rather than the horse and gave a nod to the few people who said anything to her at all. Most people acknowledged Malikhai. "That just means we'll get home earlier than most." Because the others would get wilder and drunker earlier. "Or we'll have more time to ourselves to just talk."

"And be mauled by beautiful women that can't have a spot in his bed? Not tonight. I've got other things to do." Quirking an eyebrow at his friend. "Are you going to the party?"

"You both are." Yup, he'd just popped up right behind them. "Hey little brother." Reaching out and chucking his shoulder gently. "What could possibly be more important than stroking my poor deflated ego?"

Kelligrin shrugged off his brother's arm and shook his head. "Your ego is no more deflated than mine. You threw that race and Dhairiss and I both know it."

Zahara pulled out her key, shoving it into the lock and stepped into the house with a sigh. Today had been longer than most and she was really feeling the emotional upheaval dealing with students all day could cause. Fridays were always harder to keep their attention but today had been worse than ever before. She had no idea what had them all wound up but they had driven her nuts from the time they walked into her class until they finally left. And her disciplinary kids...she didn't even want to think about the crap she'd gotten from them.

That intrigued her just as he knew it would and she glanced over with a quirk of her eyebrow. "Really? What sort of adventure did you have in mind? Something to do with trees, I expect." Malikhai liked to climb them for some reason. Some reason she hadn't fully figured out yet.

"You're lucky."

"I didn't throw the race, I had an off night. Happens to all racers." Jostling his younger sibling and then shaking his head at the two of them. "The personal invitation is always extended to family and you're family, Dhairiss. Even if you do like my sister." His attention was sought from elsewhere and he grabbed both elves in a manly squeeze. "I'll see you there then. If you don't come, I'll hunt you down." And thus, he was off once more to live off the high of being a loser for once.

"Well...I guess that's our cue. Come on, Dhair. We don't have to stay all night but I'll never hear the end of it if we don't at least show up."

She dropped her bags easily enough, tangling her fingers in her son's hair for a moment before she dropped to her knees and rested her palms against his cheeks. Kissing his nose, she nodded. "I have all your homework and your teachers said they hope you feel better. We'll see about the soup. Does your tummy still hurt?" Standing once more, she ran a hand through her hair, smoothing it slightly and gave a half chuckle. "Mostly just long. Are you hungry?"

"Nearly always. You're just like your mother and brother about those things." Shaking her head. She didn't want to tell him that she was afraid to paint these days since she'd been caught not that long ago and it hadn't gone well. "I haven't really had much time." And her paint set was deeply hidden beneath the loose board in her closet.

Starting off, Kelligrin shot his friend a look that said 'really'. "Your dad is always going to kill you for something. Going too far off the land, not showing up on time, drinking..." His parents wouldn't be thrilled if he came home all drunk either. Mom would kill him. Dad...would probably be more mellow about it. "We can have fun without alcohol."

"That's good news, baby." Letting him stay latched to her legs, she stroked his hair and turned her attention to her husband. "I know, silly question. No, the class was let out early today after getting their assignments." Heading for the kitchen to start dinner. "I just assumed she'd come home..." And had been too frazzled to note the bonds telling her she wasn't.

Faate came walking in shortly after, waving to the parents and giving her brother a hug. "I gave him some soup earlier so he probably isn't hungry. I'll be eating with you guys, though. Zykariel lost his race and as near as I can tell he, Kelligrin and Dhairiss are going to the party someone's throwing him."



Dinner didn't take long to prepare, eat, or clean up. Lyssie still hadn't come home by the end of it and Zahara was getting annoyed. Sure, it was Friday night but really. She and Sevilin were sitting on their bed in their room, their son acting like a pseudo furnace between them. Kithaan had passed out shortly after crawling in bed with them and she was gently rubbing his back. "You think we should put him in his own bed?"

He was having his normal amount of fun, some girl giggling and pushing his hair out of his eyes while he let his normal charm and vivaciousness permeate. He and Dhairiss worked well together and they had a bit of a group between them. Not that they were planning on doing anything with that group. Mom didn't like it when he brought girls home and Dad was upset when he brought anyone home. "...And that's how I kicked Dhairiss' butt."

There was entirely too many people around for her sense of wellbeing. She liked parties as well as anyone else but really. There was a threshold of noise and hers had been breached ten minutes ago. Not to mention the females in the room seriously seemed on the prowl. More than one had approached Malikhai in a completely sexual manner, completely ignoring her in the process. Not that she cared. But it was kind of annoying that they moved right on to the younger set in the room if Malikhai didn't share their interest. Right now he seemed deep in conversation with one of the females and she just smiled and nodded every once in a while, pretending like she was listening.

She'd already donned the illusion she was supposed to use and slowly walked into the party. The question of how good it was would fall to Zykariel. Making a face at her blue skin, she did her best to strut like she often saw her teacher doing so, gliding over to Zykariel and lightly running a finger down his chest. "Heard you blew it. Sorry to hear that."

He was quickly getting drunk and his inebriated state would be the only reason he didn't recognize his sister's illusion right away. His muddled mind sensed something wrong but Cerillia was already wavering in front of him so it seemed silly to question her about it. Instead he wrapped an arm around her waist and chuckled. "You're just sorry about the money you'd lose if I did it again."

"Probably. He's usually out for the night when he goes down like that and it's after dinner anyway. Besides, with how he likes to sprawl there's going to be no room for us in our own bed." A look to his wife before a light smile. "I still need to take my reports to Malik. You want to come with me? Kit will be fine here in reverie and Faate is in." Soothing any worries she may have beforehand.

He wasn't as popular as his friend in the sex appeal department, Dhairiss still had a bit of an awkward teenage thing going on, but despite that many a girl was hands on with him. Whether it was his goofy nature that made them comfortable with him, or just that they liked him, or they just wanted to touch a D'vinn. He didn't mind, his social nature loved it. "You only kicked my butt that time, because I got distracted. Otherwise, I would have you hanging in a tree by the back of your pants and leaving you for the draithix."

Female attention was something he had finally grown into from that social awkward stage as a teenager. Granted women still confused the hell out of him, Kaelin especially, but he wasn't frightened nor intimidated by them anymore and he wasn't as hopeless as he had been, though Zykariel still found joy in teasing him. He was spending his time though, politely waving off a woman who wanted to be all over him, watching Kaelin and his brother and making sure he wouldn't be carrying Zykariel home. "I call it respect. Just because I don't face the champion in Tournament doesn't mean I've lost the whole thing. I get top honors, just not a title." Thusly turning his attention to Kaelin who was at his side, habitually plopping an arm around her shoulders. "Party wearing you down?" Though he did sideglance Zykariel and...who was that? Tier'dal if anything. Was his father sending someone to keep tabs on his little brother?

Piper opened one blue gold flecked eye to look at him with a light smile as he for all intensive purposes played with her hair. He was probably just happy it had finally grown out again after one of their tiffs had her following through with the 'I'll chop it off' threat. Indeed a giggle to nothing and skin still flushed and warm to the touch, most noteably across her cheekbones. "There's nothing I can do to keep you from worrying, can I?" It was easy to read in his eyes and on their bond, as it was something that seemed constantly in the back of his mind.

A timely knock on their door and a few seconds waited before Keely, still quite in her prime though with her own family now as well, came in carrying a letter. None of their behavior had ever bothered her, and as head of practically all the staff in the place that was in her area she knew how far to push her bounds. Years upon years had made her quite close to the ruling couple and they never seemed to mind her either. "Malik, Piper I normally wouldn't bother you over mail, but this came from Andal and I figured you'd want it right away." Handing it over to them before giving a little wave, knowing not to overstay her welcome when they were being fluffy.

The letter of course from Fianna as well as the one folded inside that from Lateef that was for Zahara. Fianna's had a bit more general story to it, while Lateef was surface things that needed underdark equivalents so they'd be easier to access and Zahara already knew most of what was okay for Piper to have. However, there was the very short sentence at the very bottom on Fianna's letter, apologizing for how quiet things had been lately from Andal as a whole, especially from them. Due to Ahkallyn's death.

"Mm, loveable yes. I suppose it is." Sitting up as Keely dropped by with things from Andal, reading as well as Malik did."Why do I have to be the special one? I don't like being the special one." But a blink at the ping of anger that snapped against bond ties. Though hearing why...she felt nothing of her own in response. She wasn't angry, she wasn't upset...it was like telling her that it was raining. "No one speaks of elven deaths too soon after they've happened. I remember when Caprice's parents passed." However, she could see how Malik would be more upset than her over such things. Family death after all, no matter how confrontational that elf may be. "The initial shock has to wear off. I'm sure we would have been told. She's telling us now." Shaking her head with a sigh, resting her head against his shoulder. "Father is probably a mess."

"And yet, you're worrying because I am indeed the special one." Though she supposed this was going to come down to a colletive effort of potion solving skills. Fun, more potions. "To be invited and not attend would be adding insult to injury. I can't imagine it was some big affair either. Andalian funerals never are." Looking over to the letter, letting her eyes skim the words again. It didn't say much on the elf's death either. Mother would probably tell them more when things had settled some. "Maybe they threatened him with his life to not tell?" Shrugging lightly before turning her attention back to him. "Should I feel bad that I'm not particularly sad?" Punctuated of course with her biting her bottom lip to keep in an inappropriate giggle. A really inappropriate one, given letter news.

"Then I don't feel like a horrible elf." It wasn't that Ahkallyn had never liked her, he had just been quite critical of her. Then again, he was critical with everyone. "And yes, I know love." Patting his arm gently. "Inviting them here always does serve as a vacation for them, and it always helps to get away sometimes." And frankly, she wasn't keen on visiting that plane either. Though she giggle she gave then was both intentional and involuntary. "Always looking for a chance to play with that necromancy. But it is endearing in a way." Nuzzling lightly at his shoulder before sitting back on her hands, tilting her head as she examined him with her eyes a moment. "You know, some of the scratches are kind of deep." Prompting her to inspect the nails on one hand.