In Which Jadin Eliminates the Options

June 2, 1174

Jadin's tread must have been noisier than he'd thought, for when he returned to the sitting room, Roddie immediately stopped taking swipes at Falidor and shot him a pleading look--rather uncharacteristic of the boisterous little brat, really. "Is Viridis feeling better?"

It had been Jadin's turn to check up on their sister, or so he'd insisted after their father had made three trips up to her room in the past hour. Nora was next. Then Xeta. His father needed to rest almost as much as Viridis did.

"A little. She's up reading now." If only for his father's sake, Jadin put on his widest grin and joined him on the couch. "Her fever's gone down. I think she'll be back on her feet soon, and Grandmother agrees."

Hopeful, he sent a sidelong glance his father's way, but all he got in return was a sigh. "I hope you're right."

A shiver pulsed its way through Jadin's body. He'd never seen his father quite like this--not even when Searle had been so depressed, not even when Raia had gotten knocked up. The closest he could recall was just before his mother's death, and that was unsettling. His father had a toxic way of grieving and Jadin didn't want to know what he might do if Viridis died. Hell... he didn't want to know what any of them would do. His sister was just a kid.

Uneasy, he looked to his wife and daughter for some sort of sign. Lyssa's tiny hand rested on Xeta's collarbone and having lain his own stronger and larger hand there before, it was a painful reminder of just how fragile his little girl was. He couldn't blame his father for worrying. He would have been just as much of a wreck had it been Lyssa.

But it wasn't his daughter. It was his sister. He loved her and didn't want to lose her, but he was only her brother; as painful as it would be for him, surely it would be worse for their father? "She'll be all right."

His father took a minute to respond. Those dark eyes flickered about the room--Xeta and Lyssa, Nora and CeeCee, Roddie and Falidor, back to Jadin--then finally fell to his own hands, folded and trembling atop his lap. "At least your grandmother knows what she's doing. Still, this whole year..." He didn't finish. Jadin got the sense that he couldn't.

Nora too seemed to pick up on this. She lifted the baby to her shoulder and put on a face that must have been intended as thoughtful but came out as being more wistful than anything else. At least she was pretty enough to pull it off. "Maybe it's the weather? It's been a cold year."

Jadin's father grunted in agreement. "Maybe I should take her to the sea."

Maybe he should have; too bad it was out of the question. "You're needed here."

Grim, his father closed his eyes. "I know."

Xeta's mouth opened, probably to suggest that Jadin or one of his brothers take Viridis to the sea in their father's stead, but Jadin cut her off with a shake of his head. As next in line for lordship of the shire, he and Xeta were needed here. Searle had his duties as a knight and Lonriad's sense of direction was so poor that Jadin was frankly astounded he could find the village--much less, the coast. No, none of them were options.

But surely there must have been someone...

Knock. It was probably Falidor and Raia, along with the three siblings right after Viridis. There were only so many distractions out there and it had only been a matter of time before they'd found their way back. Jadin exchanged a quick glance with his father, who nodded. "Yes?"

The door opened, but the person who stepped through was not Falidor or Raia or any of Jadin's siblings--and yet, he probably should have seen him coming.

"Uncle... might I have a word with you? In private?"

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