In Which Riona Is Home

December 24, 1175

"Riona!"

Jadin's arms were around her before she'd even fully registered his voice. She'd never been particularly close to her eldest brother--not closer than she was to any of her other siblings, at any rate--so it was a bit of a shock to think he might have missed her. Then again, maybe it wasn't such a stretch. She'd missed him too. "Jadin! Why the hell are you still up?"

"The guard woke me, stupid; Father's had a long day, so I told the staff to come to me instead if anything needed attention." He tapped her on the nose and grinned like some half-drunk doofus. He hadn't changed a bit. "Of course, seeing as 'anything' turned out to be you, he'll probably have me cleaning the stables tomorrow."

"And the hard work might do you good," sighed Jadin's wife as she emerged from the corridor. "Riona."

"Xeta."

Xeta's eyes flitted to Riona's stomach, but she didn't comment, opting instead for a polite smile. At least Jadin seemed to have missed that little detail. "Good to see you back."

"Brought home some friends, I see." Jadin gave Riona a quick pat on the arm, then peered over her head at her two silent companions. Alya was probably asleep; it must have been more complicated for Isidro. "You're Sir Domingo's son, right?"

Riona glanced back over her shoulder and took a quick breath. Grim, Isidro nodded. "And you're Lord Severin's."

"Mm-hmm." Satisfied, Jadin's gaze fell to Alya. "And who is--?"

"Riona!"

A dark-haired blur bolted into her, bouncing in place as a pair of skinny arms wrapped themselves around her neck. Was this... her little brother? How was that possible? When she'd left, she'd still been able to hold him; she didn't even want to try to life him now. "Roddie! You've gotten big!"

"And you've gotten fat!" The observation earned him a cuff to the back of the head from Jadin. Apologetic, Roddie rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. "Don't worry. Mama got fat too--fatter than you did."

In spite of Jadin's threatening glare, Riona snickered. Even Isidro had to chuckle. "Nice to meet you, Roddie."

Roddie paid Isidro a quick glance, then turned back to Riona, brown eyes wide as the day they'd opened. "Who's he? How'd he get that neat scar? Can I have one? Also, why did you bring home a baby? Is she yours? Can I teach her how to spit? Please, please, please?"

Behind him, Riona's eldest stepsister rolled her eyes. "Christ, Roddie, I already regret letting you get up. Anyway, welcome back."

"Thanks, Aldara." Riona ruffled Roddie's hair, then met Aldara with a smile. "It's good to be back."

"Oy! Losers! Thanks for not waking the rest of us!"

It was Lonriad, Vera at his side and the other three stepsiblings in tow. Riona had to roll her eyes. "So much for hoping you might have moved out by now."

Vera and Cuthron exchanged a smirk. Jadin laughed into his sleeve as he brushed past Riona to tend the fire. Lonriad glowered. "Nice to see you too."

Idiot. Still... "Get over here."

He did as he was told, Vera at his heels. Riona landed a half-assed punch on his shoulder, then embraced them each in turn. "I missed all you crazy people."

"Wait--you were gone?"

Roddie jumped for a chance to swat Lonriad, but Vera beat him to it. "Quit fooling around! You'll wake Father and Nora."

"No need."

Riona's tongue rolled to the back of her mouth and dropped to her stomach. She'd been so happy to see her siblings again that she'd--somehow--forgotten her dread of the inevitable reunion with her father.

Well, it had just come screaming back to her.

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