In Which Nora Removes the Other Ears

April 29, 1177

It was clearly the same illness that had stricken Riona months prior, but whatever it was had affected Severin somewhat differently. He'd been a lot worse at the onset, and that initial phase had lingered longer... but now that it was past, he seemed to be recovering much more quickly than his daughter had.

In fact, Nora suspected that the only thing keeping him from being up and about was the resulting influx of overbearing company.

"You do look a lot better than the letter led us to expect, dear."

"You should have seen him last week."

"Falidor said the same, yes."

"Are we sure the pretty young wife isn't just wearing him out, if you catch my drift?"

Nora groaned. To think, she'd very nearly gone there once. "Your grace, I'm right here!"

Her father-in-law chuckled, earning him a smack on the arm from his wife. Nora half-expected Laveria to say something clever--Lord knew she always did when Lonriad was around--but her whole world seemed to consist of her son. Not that that was any surprise, seeing as that was how it had been since he'd fallen ill. "I thought I told you not to let him touch you."

"You said nothing of the like." Severin shut his eyes, his bare toes twitching in an annoyed wave. However he'd hoped to recover, it obviously hadn't been like this. "Besides, I already told you what happened. It's not as if I went in for a handshake or anything."

"I did tell you to stay away from him. You should have left it to Falidor. Or Nora; he couldn't have done anything to her."

Oy. "Again... right here."

Beside her, Severin sniffed. "So it's the bloodline, then."

"I never said--"

"But it's what you meant," Viridis concluded. "First this Remiel character does this to Riona, and now Severin. And since Lorn's family seems to be safe, it must be something on your side."

Laveria's heavy eyelids dropped, but she said nothing. Instead, it was Lonriad who took the opening. "You never did tell me anything about your family."

"There's nothing to tell."

Severin coughed. Efficient, really--clearing his lungs and calling bullshit with a single sound. But this wasn't going anywhere. Laveria wasn't about to budge. Not around Lonriad and Viridis, at least. Maybe not even around Nora herself. There were some truths meant only for certain ears.

Trying not to squirm beneath her best grimace, Nora peered over at Lonriad and Viridis. Oh the things people did for love. "Say... you two haven't met all of the children yet, have you?"

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