Storm was currently watching over his daughter and his niece 'Rust' while Aurora and Lumera left to take care of some business of their own in the city.
Now that matters had been resolved around his son's friend's death, and with his daughter now hatched and no longer requiring elemental supplements.
He was eager to get back to business taking on the Order. He scheduled a meeting with his advisors for later this afternoon so that he could see how things had progressed and to determine where he was most needed.
Although he enjoyed some of his time off from fighting, he was eager to get back into it. Storm wasn't the kind of dragon that liked sitting around while others fought in his stead.
The front door to his home opened and Aurora walked in with several baskets of groceries alongside Pyros's mate Lumera.
As both female's partners were often busy taking care of business, or were gone for extended periods of time on missions. They quickly bonded and often spent time together while their children played together.
The other partially transformed non human beings had long since moved to Sanctuary after being freed.
The Grans did everything they could for them, but unfortunately not all could be helped. Like Pyros, some of them had augments that was too dangerous to be removed.
Many of them needed therapy after what they had endured, they gathered around Pyros, who they saw as someone who had endured the same pain as them, and who had overcome it.
He met with them often and had become something of a representative of what people in the city had come to call 'The Augmented'.
The females dropped the baskets on the ground and both hatchlings eagerly ran over and began poking their noses inside trying to see if anything caught their interest.
Storm walked over and pulled both hatchlings out of the baskets, who wailed and kicked in his arms.
He placed them further away on the ground again and they immediately ran over to rummage through the baskets again.
Both mothers laughed at their antics.
"Just leave them! I doubt they'll find any- Hey!!!" Shouted Lumera.
Rust and Gale pulled out a large sausage each and ran off with their prizes before anyone could stop them.
Storm laughed in response.
Aurora sighed.
"Must you return to your duties so soon? I've enjoyed our time together and am reluctant to part again?" Asked Aurora.
"I have an idea! Why don't you and Aurora go together on a mission? Me and Pyros can look after Gale while you are gone?" Asked Lumera.
Storm looked expectantly at Aurora.
"... I'm.... not sure if it's appropriate that we both leave Gale by herself?..."
"Come on!! You see how well she and Rust gets along!! I'm sure she won't even notice you two are gone!" Exclaimed Lumera.
"..."
"... It would be nice to go out again... to go on adventures together like we did before...?" Stated Aurora hesitantly.
"Then it's settled!! Go pack away the groceries and get ready to join Storm at the meeting!!" Stated Lumera.
Storm eagerly helped his mate pack everything away before they both went to the council room.
Everyone else was already waiting for them by the time they arrived.
"Apologies for being late everyone!! We had a last minute change of plans!" Exclaimed Aurora.
"Planning a second honeymoon?" Asked Grombrim in amusement.
"Nothing that enjoyable. But a good trip will do us both good." Stated Storm.
"Well... you're in luck then!! I've heard back from Leyocan. " said Celestial.
This particular news Storm was very glad to hear. He'd heard very little from his friend since he left.
"How is he?" Asked Storm.
"...Vague... as always... he hasn't shared any news about what he's been up to until now...
He did however reveal two things.
Firstly he said he managed to find a lead on Torin's brother for you. Secondly he found out something about The Order.
How much do you know about Carlos Ruthhall?" Asked Celestial.
"The Ruthhalls?! I believe I've dealt with them before?" Stated Pyros.
"I'd be suprised if you didn't. Probably anyone that has dealt with humans probably have. "
"Isn't he some big time business man or diplomat?" Asked Storm.
"The Ruthhalls are one of the most prominent noble families in all the kingdoms. One of the richest ones with several members of the family in powerful positions all around the kingdoms.
Even kings listen to their council and more than a few owe favors to the Ruthhalls. It's not an exaggeration when I say the family pulls the strings behind many governments. " Explained Celestial.
"So? It's just another family of 'blue bloods' ? There are dozens of them among humans?" Asked Grombrim.
"Well, Carlos has recently become enamored by The Order and has been singing their praises. He's been using his family's influence to drum up support for the Order.
Leyocan found out he's hosting some kind of ball for high borns to celebrate the Order's achievements and to get more support for them.
He's managed to secure two invites to the event. Just don't ask how he managed to get them." Explained Celestial.
Knowing Leyocan, Storm suspected their original owners were probably dead in a ditch or warehouse at this moment.
"Several prominent members of the Order will be there, including possibly the Slayer himself. " stated Celestial.
"So we hit them during their celebrations like how they hit us? I like this plan!" Stated Storm while grinning.
"As enjoyable as that might be, I have a different plan in mind. This will be a good way to gather information on the Order's members.
Possibly leading to other targets for us to hit?" Suggested Celestial.
Storm pouted.
"I like my plan better!" Grumbled Storm.
"I wouldn't be too worried about it even if he did escape, from what I heard, Carlos is something of a black sheep among the family.
The family elders are not very happy with him for throwing in the family's lot with The Order, they believe it would make them a target. if you hit the celebration it will confirm their beliefs.
kill several of those prominent families,
Then the survivors will come down hard on the Ruthhalls, they in turn will come down hard on The Order for failing to take proper security measures.
Carlos will be pushed aside and made an convenient lamb to lead to the slaughter. Trust me! When nobles smell blood, they're like sharks! Killing him might even be the merciful thing to do.
"You can still do that once you have the information, but do 'try' and restrain yourself at first? The information we gather would be invaluable!" Stated Celestial.