In Which Severin Has Earned the Right

August 6, 1178

"Father!"

Severin was hardly through the door before a blue-clad blur had bounded into his arms like she was still at the age where she'd expected to be carried everywhere. That said, her enthusiasm was more than a little heartening. "Good to see you too, baby--although, might I remind you that I'm only ten minutes away?"

"I know." Vera stepped back, squirming a little but grinning nonetheless. "But the terrain's a bit rough on foot, and, um... it might be a while before I can ride."

Huh. That was an unexpected bit of good news. Or was it? With the way his children procreated, perhaps the bigger shock was that it hadn't been sooner. What was this one, now--the thirteenth, or something absurd like that? And to think, he wasn't even fifty!

Ah, but here he was, thinking of himself of all people. Maybe he was older than he cared to admit. "Really? Congratulations."

His daughter blushed, the pink of her cheeks a charming contrast with her raven hair and sapphire eyes. Like most of her siblings, Vera had had the misfortune of taking after him more in the face, but there were times when hints of her mother did not go unnoticed. "Well... it's a little soon to say for sure, but we're hopeful. But we can talk more over supper--you'll stay for supper, won't you?"

"With that cook you managed to swipe from Riona? I'd be a fool not to." Plus, it would give them an opportunity to catch up; he hadn't come for a social call, after all. "Is Lucien here, by any chance? Something's come up and I'd rather avoid talking to Remiel if possible."

Her color drained. Severin kicked himself mentally; given Vera's last run-in with that son of a bitch, he shouldn't have mentioned the name. "Nothing serious--just trying to get as much information as I can."

"Right. Yes." And yet, she clung rather tightly as she looped her arm in his and led him toward the sitting room. Yes... definitely shouldn't have mentioned the name. "He's just back here with--ack! No! Bad dog!"

Something yapped from ankle level. Severin looked down to see a little ball of fluff tugging at Vera's skirts. "You got a puppy?"

As if to answer on her behalf, it kept on yipping. Vera sighed. "That's what the kennel master said, but she seems to think she's a lion. Off! Bad Whisper!"

"You should have named her 'Shout'. She would have been quieter." Vera shot him a glare before bending down to pry the dog from her gown. Chuckling to himself, he nodded to his son-in-law before taking a seat on the other couch. "Hello, Lucien."

"Good day, my lord." God damn. Yet another to wean off the my-lording. It hadn't been long since he'd gotten Isidro and Asalaye to do away with that nonsense and even Falidor still relapsed on occasion. With any luck, Lucien would be more cooperative in that regard.

"I do have a name, you know. But no matter." He indulged himself with a quick bounce on the new couch cushions, hoping that Lucien would loosen up. He didn't. No matter--he'd have all of supper. "I was wondering if you might be able to answer some questions for me."

The boy nodded. "Of course."

"I'll warn you that they're about Remiel."

Lucien swallowed, somehow even paler than before. But one look at Vera seemed to restore him somewhat. "That's fine."

"You don't have to answer if you'd rather not."

"No. I'll answer."

Vera gave her canine captive a small squeeze. Whisper barked, her paws flopping about like she thought she was swimming. Severin took a minute to consider the phrasing, but there wasn't much better than the bluntest of terms. "Did Remiel steal a suit of armor from Lorn?"

His son-in-law closed his eyes. "Um..."

"Yes, I know it's kind of a silly question considering everything else that prick has been up to, but it seems there's a sentient arrangement of steel walking around in the forest somewhere." God, it sounded even stranger aloud than it had in his head. "Hardly Remiel's usual work, as the thing is reportedly harmless, but nonetheless I'd prefer to have as many facts as I can gather."

"Right. Uh, well..." Severin leaned forward in his seat as Lucien searched for words. He'd give the kid the time. It hadn't been that long ago that he hadn't spoken at all. "I heard some clanging a couple nights, but I thought he'd just been robbing graves again."

Severin frowned. "Robbing graves?" Not that he was in a position to disapprove, given how he'd earned his allowance growing up in his mother's house. Still, he doubted Remiel had been after organs as medicinal study aids. "He did this often?"

"A few times. Usually just secluded graves, though--said it was for an experiment, but it's not like he ever earned anything." Lucien shuddered and sent him a wary glance--as if Severin could persecute him for years-old crimes from out of his jurisdiction that Lucien hadn't committed. "I just thought... well, he did have access to the duke's crypt..."

"Hmm." Not that Lorn would have kept a suit of armor in the crypt. Still, it was something--evidence of earlier thefts. And who was to say Remiel had gone on a looting spree just before he'd fled? He'd have to suggest that Lorn check the graves of his father and brother. "Well, that... that's an interesting tidbit. Doesn't explain why the suit of armor would be walking around, though."

A little ashamed, Lucien shook his head. Poor kid probably thought he'd failed. "Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. He never really gave me details."

"That's all right." It was, really. He'd known asking Lucien would be something of a long shot anyway. "My priorities might be out of line. It might be better to seek confirmation before inquiring about the how and why."

The puppy yapped again. Vera turned away to put her down, then looked at him. "So you're going to go looking for it."

"Well... not quite." Severin crossed his arms behind his head and eased himself into a stretch. "I've chased my fair share of strange things around those woods and I'm not as young as I used to be. I think I've earned the right to send someone in my stead."

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