In Which Garrett Wonders What It Says

August 14, 1178

"'...so, do I know him? Of course! I had lunch with him!'"

Garrett collapsed into a bought of head-shaking chuckles and Abrich choked out a laugh, but Ashe didn't look quite so amused. "Eww."

"Exactly." Bernardo picked a berry off one of the plates and popped it into his mouth--never mind that Isidro was still in the back, trying to work out a deal with Seoth. "That's what makes it funny."

"If by funny, you mean 'gross and stupid'."

"Of course! 'Gross and stupid' is funny." Another berry left its brothers for whatever horrors lurked beyond Bernardo's teeth. "God, Ashe, you wouldn't know humor if it sprung out of a chamber pot and bit you in the ass."

Ashe cringed. Triumphant, Bernardo smirked. "Case and point." He reached for the apple at the center of the plate, but snatched his hand back as Isidro emerged from the other room. "Welcome back, Is. Did you reach an agreement?"

"Yes. He didn't like the idea of waiting around for reimbursement, but he said we were civil servants on a mission and he wouldn't charge us."

"So... Seoth's just giving us breakfast?" asked Casimiro with a grin as Isidro settled into the empty seat next to him.

His cousin shrugged. "Essentially. My bet is that he tacks the cost onto Florian's tab, but either way, at least we're not paying. So yes, you can all eat now--and 'Nardo, don't think I didn't notice those missing berries."

Bernardo's face snapped forward, eyes pleading with Ashe and Abrich but making little progress. Garrett had to snicker. One of these days, he'd have to introduce these idiots to Nanalie, just for the fun of watching her rip them to shreds. Not that it would earn him many points, though. "Busted."

"Shut up, Garrett."

"Make me."

At the other table, Isidro sunk his fork into one of the fish in front of him. "He probably can't, but you might want to anyway, since I'm about to tell you all which ground you get to cover--and I'm only saying it once, so you'd better hear it the first time. 'Nardo, you and Abrich get the northwest quadrant."

"What, northwest?" Bernardo's groan was such that it was a miracle his jaw remained intact. Garrett was enjoying this way too much and he wondered what that said about him. Probably needed some ripping to shreds himself; he wondered if that said anything about Nanalie, the fact that she hadn't done so yet. "That's the furthest one from here!"

At the far end, Lonriad nudged his brows twice. "Shouldn't have gotten into the berries. Is, where am I going? And who's the lucky idiot who gets to enjoy my company?"

His eyes darted between the rest of them, smirk more infectious with each passing target. It was distracting enough that Garrett didn't think anyone else had noticed Ashe tensing up and muttering to himself. "Not me, not me, not me..."

"That would be Ashe."

Or maybe Isidro had noticed too. "Damn it."

Garrett thought he saw an injured frown flash across Lonriad's face, but it lasted just a second if it was ever there at all. "Sounds like I have a new best buddy. Which quadrant do we get?"

"Southeast. Cas, you and Searle take the northeast; that leaves Garrett and me the southwest." Isidro tore a chunk out of the fish and twirled the fork in front of him as he checked for hair-thin bones. "Any questions?"

Ashe opened his mouth.

"That don't have to do with trading partners?"

And closed it.

Garrett shot the kid an apologetic smile; Bernardo grinned too, but a teasing sort of grin.

"Sorry, Ashe. Who would've thought my little cousin here would grow up to be a hard-ass?"

Bernardo's little cousin's fist hit the table. "'Nardo, just shut up and eat your damn breakfast."

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