In Which Severin's Interest Is Sparked

August 7, 1173

"Well, I'll be damned!" A blond, nightgown-clad form launched herself into Severin's arms, the door swinging shut behind her. "My favorite brother-in-law!"

"Out of a group that includes two kings? I'm flattered." He kissed Renata on the cheek, then straightened his neck to look at her. These Sadiel girls, it seemed, just go prettier and prettier with age. How was it that she was all of forty-two? She could have passed for one of her own daughters. "Good to see you again, Renata. It's been far too long."

"That it has." She tossed her head, a blond lock swinging behind her shoulder. "Thank you for sending my sons back in the spring, by the way. I know it meant the world to Arkon to see them all one last time."

"No trouble at all." It was obvious that it had meant the world to Renata herself as well--her children and grandchildren, even those two young to ever remember much of Arkon now. But every person had their time, and the sheer quantity of it mattered little. The only measure of life was something far greater than years. "I'm sorry for your loss."

Renata's teal eyes disappeared behind their lids. It had been nearly three months now and she was likely out of tears, but the somber glaze over her pretty face was a sob in itself. "I appreciate it--but I doubt you came all the way from Naroni to tell me that, especially considering that you sent a letter with the boys."

Severin sighed. Renata was a clever woman, but he'd hoped to be subtle. Perhaps he still could be if he played the right cards. "How are your daughters holding up?"

"My daughters?" Left hand to right elbow, she inclined her head, her pouty lips visible even from the obscure angle. "They're all right, I suppose. The older two have their own families to take care of, at least."

The older two... at least... That left three unaccounted for. The youngest, he knew, was only a toddler--but the other two were Conant's triplets, and since Conant himself would be getting married at the end of the month... "I see. And the others?"

She shrugged. "To be honest, it's a little up in the air right now. Alina's still young, so I'm not too worried about her. Arkon and Searle were discussing the idea of either Lettie or Ramona for Searle's brother Ietrin, and I imagine Abrich will finalize it, but I'm not sure what to do with the remaining one. Ramona might be content in a nunnery, but it figures that she's the one Ietrin seems to prefer; I can't imagine Lettie could ever set foot in an abbey without being branded a heretic."

Well, that was certainly interesting. "Oh?"

"Do you recall our correspondence from last year? You were analyzing the first chapter of Romans and bouncing your ideas off of me?" He nodded. A fond smile like a ray of sunshine through the cloud of her melancholy, Renata took to twirling a strand of her around her finger. "She loves biblical controversies, so I let her read what you wrote. Later that evening, she put forth a theory about David and Jonathan being lovers."

Interesting indeed. "Did she, now?"

"And at the dinner table, no less--while her grandparents were visiting."

"You don't say."

"Oh, but I do."

Lettie... he'd have seen her at the royal wedding two years prior. He hadn't spoken with her--he couldn't have spoken with everyone--but he recalled a spirited redhead with a clever smirk and a scandalous neckline. He hadn't given her much thought since, but now... "How old is she, again?"

"She turned sixteen in June." Renata leaned back and looked him over, a funny sort of spark in her eyes. They were not quite so dark a teal as Tarien's, but the light was the same; he'd never thought he'd be happy to see such a thing. "Don't you have a son around that age?"

It was a question he'd been asked on many occasions, but it was the first time he actually felt like answering. "Searle? Yes, he'll be sixteen in September."

"You don't say."

"Oh, but I do." Perfect. He'd only been gone a week and he already had a lead on a pretty, clever, suitably blasphemous young woman. As far as he could see, there was only one problem now.

But Renata was quick to take care of it. "Would you like to meet her? I'm sure she's still awake, combing over Ruth and Naomi for hints of sapphism."

That did it. He was actually going to pay his tithes this quarter. "Renata, you've read my mind."

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