July 23, 1175
"Father!" Raia sprang from the couch and dashed across the rug, landing squarely in her father's arms. Falidor must have been sending her funny looks--she was probably too old to rush for an embrace--but she didn't care. With both Viridis and Riona gone, her father needed all the hugs he could get. "Isn't this funny? We were just about to head over to the castle to see you."Her father laughed--a forced laugh, a shallow laugh, but at least it was something. "Well, I suppose that great minds do think alike on occasion."
"Shall I wake the children?"
Her father shook his head. "Let them sleep. I'll probably still be here when nap time is over." That they would. They were light sleepers--just like everyone else in the family. Of course, Riona had always taken the cake in that regard. "I take it Alina's over her cough?""Yes, thankfully." Raia took a step back from her father and glanced over at her husband, who nodded. There would be plenty of time for leisurely chat later. There was something her father needed to know. "We received a letter this morning."
A fold appeared in her father's brow. He knew what she meant. Riona didn't write to him directly.
"We haven't opened it," Falidor insisted as Raia went to fetch the letter from the mantle. "It's your letter, even if it's my name on the envelope."
Her father didn't say anything; he just stood there, trying to hold himself together as she returned to his side and held out the letter. "Here."Nodding, he took it from her hand and folded it into quarters, slipping it into a pouch on his belt. "I'll read it when I get home." He would. He'd read it the moment he walked through the door. He'd read it again before supper and again before bed. Then, when he woke, he'd read it before breakfast. The letter would be memorized within mere days, Raia was sure of it. For now, however... "So, do you think the children might have woken by now?"
Maybe. She supposed letting him check was the least she could do. "Father?"
The faraway look in his eye vanished with a blink. "Yes?"
NEXT CHAPTER:
3 comments:
Uggh. I have an exam on Saturday and since I work Friday, tomorrow has to be the study day. Blech :(
Exam? In summer? Blah!
Aww, Raia. She's such a sweetie here. (And THANK GOD Riona is writing to her family. Otherwise I might have to reach through that screen and slap her silly.) She's right that Severin needs all the hugs he can get.
And Falidor should know that no father should ever thing his little girl is too big to run to give him a hug. He's got how many daughters now? (Adopted and biological?) ;)
Online courses :S
Riona does write on occasion. Never to Severin directly and never with much detail, but she sends a note every once in a while if she happens across someone heading in that direction.
Heheh... I think that was Raia feeling the age difference there :P But yeah, Falidor knows the importance of a hug.
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