In Which Riona Has No Objections

August 4, 1175

Whoever had shown Isidro the house had been right about the girl's name. It was Alya; her parents' journals had confirmed it. She would be two years old on the sixth of October, a fact that Riona would remember as that was her father's birthday as well. She been her parents' little miracle, having followed three miscarriages and a stillbirth, and had been named for her maternal grandmother of a similar origin. She'd yet to speak much, but she'd retained every word she'd learned and she walked well. She was a fussy eater, but she usually slept through the night--that much, Riona could see firsthand.

Poor girl. She wasn't much younger than Riona's baby sister and already she was alone in the world. At least they'd found her, managed to get her out of the house. With any luck they could find her a home--someone who would raise her, love her, read the journals and memorize every last detail. Surely it wouldn't be so difficult? Who wouldn't have loved this little angel?

The lock clicked and the door opened. Riona looked up from the crib to see Isidro standing in the doorway, looking a little tired but otherwise unruffled--odd indeed, considering all the shouting. "You all right?"

He pushed back his fatigue and grinned. It didn't quite reach his eyes, but she supposed he got points for trying--that and looking ridiculous. "I'm fine. She's been asleep for a while now?"

Riona nodded. "Since just after you left. What did your father say?"

His dark eyes shot to the the crib as he let out a sigh. From the sounds of it, he'd been holding it in for quite some time. "He said he wasn't about to let a baby tag along. If we want to find a place for her, we'll have to go back on our own."

Well. That figured. Not like she could have expected any help from the likes of Sir Domingo, she supposed. Still... "Oh. So I guess this is goodbye, then."

"Goodbye?" Now it seemed like a real smile. Was he happy to be rid of her, perhaps? That must've been it. "Were you even listening? We are going to find her a home--not just you. Do you think your father can arrange for something if we head back to Naroni?"

We... what? "But what about you? Didn't you want to go on?"

"Not particularly, no." He nudged her on the shoulder and smirked. "I don't know what you've been led to believe about crusades, but I'm finding this one rather dull."

"But your family--"

"My family will hardly notice." His hand fluttered upward and tucked a bit of her hair behind her ear, only to have it fall back into place; rolling his eyes, he repeated the action. "Besides, they at least have each other; we both know you'll get bored with just a baby for company."

"But it's no trouble."

"And likewise."

There was nothing fickle or indecisive in his voice. His mind was made up--and to be honest, she had no objections. She supposed that settled it. They were going back to Naroni. That was it.

"So... now what?"

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