In Which Jadin Knows His Brother

April 2, 1181

"That was Lonriad's steward." Searle returned to the couch, understandably annoyed if Jadin could guess at the message but no doubt overreacting. He had to give his brother credit for how well he'd managed to bounce back from his post-Sparron vice binge--at least, once Sparron himself had put his foot down--but such a quick reversion to responsible citizen came with an unfortunate newfound irritability. "His kids are sick, so he can't go hunting with us. Asshole."

Jadin sighed and reminded himself once again--one step at a time. That said, he wanted Searle to make the next step. He was tired of having to be the rational one. "Searle, you know you'd do the same if it were your kids. Besides, we can go some other time."

"Yes, but we were all looking forward to today, weren't we?" Pouting, Searle slumped over. He was probably itching to suggest going to the tavern. He got points for not voicing it, Jadin supposed. "It feels like we never do anything any more."

"Well, the two of us can still go."

Searle glowered. "Jadin, what's the one thing Father always told us about going hunting?"

Of course he'd bring that up. Searle had always been the good one, of the boys at least. Jadin was tempted to remind him that they were grown men, but at least Searle didn't live with their father any more; if Searle disregarded any past advice, he wouldn't have to hear about it later. "'Never go hunting unless there are at least three of you. That way, if one of you gets hurt, another can run for help while the third stays to keep an eye on things.' Yes, I remember."

But maybe he could still work with it? They did have friends, after all.

"Say, is Casimiro back from that wedding yet?"

"Not that I've heard." Damn. That ruled out Bernardo too. "What about Izzy?"

"No. I invited him already, but the girls want to go to that new market and Riona doesn't, so guess who's stuck taking them?" Lucky for Jadin that Xeta was willing to go with Lyssa! "What about Abrich or Garrett?"

"Abrich's collecting rents today. I think Garrett's supposed to visit his sister this afternoon, so that rules out Searle too." Not that their cousin of that same name even liked hunting. Still. "Ashe? Lorn? Falidor?"

"Doesn't like going into the forest if he can help it, is a duke with better things to do, and Raia's a better shot." He struggled with a mental inventory of everyone else he knew. Sure enough--nothing. "And I think Raia's busy too."

"Damn." Searle drooped forward, somewhat annoyed but mostly disappointed. So much for hoping to cheer the kid up, give him a much-needed outing. So much for taking him off Lettie's hands for the day, since she already had four wild children to look after. So much for--

"Oh!" Searle snapped back up, tugged by some invisible string of inspiration. Jadin wasn't quite sure he liked that look in his eye. "What about Sparron?"

And that was why. Shit.

"Uh... what about him?"

"Well, he said he wants to be friends and he doesn't get out much. It would be good for him, right?" And ninety-nine times out of a hundred, Jadin would have agreed. But given the events of a few days prior... well, this wasn't one of those ninety-nine times. "We can at least ask him, right?"

"Uh, well..."

"Jadin?" Searle edged a little nearer--sort of hurt, sort of confused, if Jadin knew his brother at all. As if he was ever much else where Sparron was concerned. "Is everything all right? You and Sparron didn't have a fight or anything, did you?"

"No..."

"Then what's wrong with asking him?"

He did know Searle. And, sadly, he knew Searle was not about to be satisfied with the hand-waving of all things Sparron.

"All right, you can't tell Sparron I told you this, but..."

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