You're doing a riding supermax three times over?!
*Walks off shaking head.*
Hazelnut, I seriously did think about it. But I've come too far to fail now.
Since the story demanded that Jareth and the others not know who the heir was, so I had to get a little creative.
Wow... Tia you are brave! And wow, love Nuada!
Not brave, Wolfie, just a little unhinged,
. And can you believe that Nuada and Thran are brothers?
Chapter Fifty-Four - For My Will Is As Strong As Yours Jareth was starting to get sneaky. Since Tia wouldn't tell him who the heir was, he set the goblins to spying. But their efforts were in vain as all the trips starting riding immediately and the yard filled with horses who came and went as soon as they became best friends.
"You're going about it the wrong way, Kingy my lad," Gytha told him on Ambrosia Day. "Just follow the racing and see which one of them is entering."
"It's impossible," Erik said, digging into his meal. "Two, maybe. But all three of them can't supermax the riding skill." He chewed thoughtfully for a moment, then his eyes narrowed as he swallowed. "It could put the whole dynasty in jeopardy."
"Minion!" Jareth howled at the top of his voice.
"Dang, GK, I'm right here," Tia said. "I'm looking into thrones but they won't go with the decor."
"Forget the furniture," Jareth hissed. "Your machinations are ruining my dynasty!"
"Don't know what you're talking about," Tia protested.
"I have done everything required of me!" Jareth stormed. "I have lost my hair, had it dyed, put up with Erik and Mag's adolescence countless times, been stuck in a time loop, subjected to Loki and Legolas at the same time, stuffed into a little black box while you replace computer parts, lost Luna, been frozen by Gytha and even dealt with Raina! I refuse to have this dynasty falter because you want to prove something to yourself! The heir, and the heir alone will do the supermax."
"Tea, Jareth?" Gytha asked, handing him a cup.
"Yes, thank you," he said, taking it from her. "I trust I have made myself clear, minion?"
"Crystal." Tia said. "But you still won't know who the heir is."
"Oh, I think I'll be able to discover it." Jareth said, taking a sip of his tea and glancing sidelong at Gytha.
But Tia, after serious consultation with Gwendy, had come up with a plan to forestall him. She gathered the triplets together and bound them with the most secret oaths. And then she laid out her plan.
"I promise you, on the honour of my dynasty, to give the two who aren't the heir what you most desire. Anything. I can do that. And I can beat any offer Jareth makes tenfold. Or," she said, with a twisted little grin, "I can make your lives a living haytch ee double hockey sticks. Got me?"
After some whispered conversations between the boys, the deal was struck. And thus, while the triplets were at school, Horse Camp was developed.
Jareth, after reading that the Masked Avenger had placed in the first race, stormed into the living room.
"You're not fooling anyone!" Jareth raged. "And frankly, you look ridiculous! I thought you'd have a little more dignity, Thran."
"I lost all dignity when I showed up here with this face," the Elvenking retorted. "I'm just grateful I get to keep my hair."
"Nuada? I'd expect this kind of behavior from Loki, but you?"
"Hey!" Loki protested.
"Meh," Nuada responded, flipping the pages of his book. "It's going to take Erik some time to build enough simbots for my purposes."
"You have no power over me!" Tia giggled softly.
