Checking In, Catching Up

He'd heard his daughter's call, and had expected it far before it came. He'd just broken things off with Adette, and had lost her to the vagabonds. He was forlorn and rather distraught, but he could not ignore his daughter's call altogether. He loved her too much to do that. She had plainly summoned the family, and Gerhardt would oblige her with his presence - just perhaps not as quickly as she might have liked. He lingered, each step slow and painful, as he thought about his words and answers to questions they might ask. When he'd arrived, Maverick was walking onto the scene. Gerhardt hung back, wondering briefly what the children might know. There was no reason to offer up added information if they weren't already aware of it. Perhaps a bit of spying was warranted, for everyone's sake.

Greetings, exclamations of needing time together, word of the engagement. It all seemed rather innocent. Perhaps he should join them. No, there was more. Maverick didn't want Valkis there, and he had met a girl, a Valhallan. The King held back a snort. He hoped it was nothing serious. Kamala was worried about disappointing him, and the King again held back a snort. Fat chance the girl could ever manage to make him upset, she was an angel! A snarl bubbled in his throat with the last part, as he shifted to make sure he remained invisible and unable to be smelled. There was no way he wanted to be found spying on his children. So, Valkis sought his head on a pike. The King was surprisingly - not surprised. Kamala seemed just as shocked as the King was, but didn't get much time to say more as Valkis strolled onto the scene. Gerhardt saw a fire light in Maverick's eyes, and strutted forth casually - not letting on that he'd been listening the whole time. "Kamala, Valkis, Maverick." He shot a glance at the Prince, silently ordering him to keep himself in line - but was not sure if the boy would catch it between the daggers he was shooting at his own brother. Oh the humanity!

The King gave not one of them a personal greeting, but instead shifted his gaze to each of them, not lingering long on any particular one. Finally, he settled his eyes upon Kamala. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" Tones held a hollow note, and try as he may he could not hide it. Could he ever explain everything to them?

"Speech"