In Which Nora Finds Them Waiting

July 12, 1164

"Mama's home!" exclaimed Cuthron as he tottered toward Nora and leapt eagerly into her arms.

"Mama's home," she repeated, hoisting her son to her shoulder, "and you should be in bed. What are you doing up?"

The boy's sister waved from the couch, a matter-of-face grin on her face. "Papa said we could wait up for you."

Nora raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting to her husband, who occupied himself with the fire in the hearth. "Oh really? Now why on earth would Papa say something like that?"

Sighing, Jothein gave the fire a few last prods before setting the poker back into place. "Because their Auntie Alsina has no tact, that's why--got them all worked up about everything that's been happening in the forests lately, she did."

That did sound like something her thoughtless sister would do. Nora scowled. "Remind me to smack that girl the next time I see her. You know, I almost wish Aldhein would indulge that silly crush of hers, just so she would have an outlet for her antics who happens to be over the age of five and a half."

"Well, I'll probably be seeing him tomorrow--I'll tell him you're eager to have him for a brother-in-law."

Her unchanged vision was the only indication that her bulging eyes had not popped straight from their sockets. "Hey! I didn't say that!"

Jothein merely chuckled, ignoring her annoyed glare. Shaking her head, Nora turned to their daughter. "Bedtime, sweetheart."

Aldara didn't so much as blink, which struck Nora as unusual; she was normally a rather fidgety child. "Mama... you didn't ride home by yourself, did you?"

What had Alsina said to them? She would have to ask Jothein for the specifics once the children were asleep. "I rode home with Uncle Falidor, of course, so you know I wasn't on my own for very long--you can see his house from ours, remember?"

The five-year-old didn't seem convinced. "You didn't go through any forests?"

Nora shook her head. Then, with a grin, she teased, "Even if we did, you know I'm scarier than anything in the forests."

"Amen to that," Jothein laughed as stepped toward her, "but don't worry, my babies--Mama knows not to go riding alone these days."

Still, Cuthron buried his face in Nora's hair, as though afraid she might suddenly disappear. "Mama."

"Mama's here," she assured him with a smile, "Mama's here, and you're getting to big to hold, you know that? My back's starting to hurt."

Giggling, her son wrapped his arms around her neck, then began to bounce squeamishly. "Down!"

Nora had to laugh. "First you want hugs, now you want space. You're a little young yet for mood swings, son."

"But he's getting older every day," mused Jothein as Nora set him on the ground.

"You really think so, Aristotle?"

He casually flicked a lock of her hair over her shoulder. "You and your sister are two of a kind."

"I should hope not," she protested, shuddering. "Not that I imagine either of us is as docile and ladylike as our dear mother would have hoped."

"I imagine your brothers more than compensate for the two of you in docility."

A fact she could not argue, she mused as Jothein gently ran the side of his hand down her face. "It's true that there is no gentler woman in all the land than Falidor."

"And yet, I hope you did the ungentlemanly thing and made him see you to the door of your house," Jothein mused.

Nora frowned. "I most certainly did not; I'll have you know that I was a perfect gentleman, and personally saw him to his door. I do know my brother, and he needs my protection more than I need his."

Shaking his head, her husband planted a quick kiss upon her forehead. "Darling, please--for my own peace of mind. Let him see you to the door from now on, all right?"

Indignant, she dug the toe of her shoe into the skirt of her dress. "Jothein..."

"Please," he echoed firmly, a seriousness in his eyes that she had only ever seen in the event of a death. "We need you."

NEXT CHAPTER: