In Which Roddie Displays His Good Sense

February 18, 1181

To the great delight of Roddie's brother Cuthron, Seoth had at long last admitted that his pretty eldest daughter was of an age to be courted--but not without rules, which was why Roddie had been forced along as a reluctant chaperone when Cuthron had been deemed to fit the stringent requirements. It was to both their great fortune that on the day Cuthron chose to call, Seoth and his son had ridden out to his choice vineyard to replenish his supply of wines. It was a monastery-run stretch, within a day's journey but beyond the eastern border into that stretch of unclaimed land between Naroni and Dovia, so the chances of the innkeeper returning before Eleara had been escorted safely home were slim. As a result, Cuthron could be so bold as to lay a kiss on her hand; had Seoth been there, Roddie would have likely spent the afternoon sandwiched between the pair at all times, not a touch of lips or fingers or even breath permitted.

Eleara beamed with a warm smile as Cuthron lowered her hand. It seemed that Roddie's brother wasn't the only one pleased with Seoth's surrender. "I've been looking forward to this."

"You and me both."

Roddie tried not to fidget. At least they were honest with each other, he guessed, even if it was in that awkward, nervous fashion that seemed the standard for new sweethearts between fourteen and twenty. He didn't understand it, really. If anything about you would be a deal-breaker, wouldn't it be better to show that card and get it done with before either party could get hurt?

"Uh, so... would you like to go for a walk?"

Eleara nodded. "A walk would be nice."

Ever prepared, Eleara's mother stepped out from behind the counter and handed her a coat. "Just try to be home in time for supper, all right? Boys, you're both welcome to eat with us if you like."

"We may take you up on that." Roddie guessed that Cuthron's smile was meant for the mother, but his gaze could not be pried from her daughter. "Thank you, Mistress Altharaine."

"Oh, please. Call me Laureina." She surveyed Roddie's brother with an open-minded but nonetheless scrutinous eye as Eleara put on the coat. Roddie took that as a good sign for Cuthron. She was cautious, as any parent of a fifteen-year-old girl would be, but not unwilling to acknowledge that her daughter was now more or less a woman, and was therefore entitled to at least some degree of independence. "Now, you two have fun. Roddie, would you care for a snack or a drink while we wait?"

"Eh?" Of course he never thought to pass up free food. But... "I thought I was supposed to go with them?"

"If Eleara's father asks, you did," she promised with a wink her daughter's way. Roddie took that as full license to perch his ass on one of the bar stools. "But since he's not here, I think we can give them a bit of privacy. Cuthron, I know you won't try anything objectionable."

Cuthron's face was as red as any wine Seoth might have been purchasing that moment. "Laureina--"

"Take an endorsement for what it is, dear. Eleara's been helping out here long enough to know how to deal with unwanted attention, and I've seen enough of you to know you're a gentleman besides." Huh. Roddie would have to pass that bit of information on to his mother. She'd be relieved to know that being stepbrother to Jadin hadn't ruined Cuthron's public behavior as she'd feared. "Now run along, before you get too used to the heat of this place and the thought of outside becomes unbearable. And Eleara, be a dear and pick up your father's boots and the cobbler's? I've already paid for them."

"Yes, Mother."

Eleara took Cuthron by the hand--something Roddie doubted she'd try in front of Seoth--and led him to the exit. Cuthron left with a quick wave to Roddie, as well as a hurried "Thank you, Mistress Altharaine" as the door shut behind him.

Laureina shook her head as she joined Roddie at the counter. "So much for him calling me by my first name. One of the things you should enjoy about being a child--you're a person, not a title."

"Maybe. It would be nice if my mother let me have wine whenever I want it, though." Laureina laughed. Roddie leaned back and peered toward the door. "You're sure you're all right with Eleara and Cuthron being alone?"

"Of course. Sure, your older brothers may be a handful, but I can vouch for their character. Your sisters are all lovely too. You probably hear more bile about the marriages than you ought to, but none of that matters; the fact is, your parents raised you kids right."

"Tell them that. They sometimes wonder." She laughed again. Roddie decided he liked her; she reminded him somewhat of his mother, at least when he got glimpses of his mother as someone other than his mother. He hoped that meant she and Cuthron would get along if his courtship of Eleara progressed. "I only know Eleara through Cuthron, and Artan because Maddie is my cousin, but going by them, I think you and Master Altharaine raised your kids right too."

"Always good to hear. Perhaps I ought to introduce you to my second daughter, if you're interested."

"For courting?" Roddie shuddered. "No thanks, I'm not really ready for that. But I'm sure she's very nice."

"Not ready, hmm?" He nodded. A laugh in her eyes, Laureina gave him an understanding shrug. "Well, everyone can always use friends."

"That's true. Plus I think that when I am ready for courting, I'd rather court a girl I was friends with first."

"Oh?" She seemed a little surprised, a little curious--not quite unpleasantly so, but enough to inquire. "Wouldn't you be worried about ruining the friendship if it didn't work out?"

"Not really. I mean, it would probably be difficult at first, but I'd like to think a good friendship could survive that."

Laureina didn't look quite convinced, but she smiled all the same. "Well, I hope that works out favorably for you, then. But what if you decide you like a girl you're friends with, but she doesn't feel the same way about you?"

"Move on, I guess." She raised an eyebrow and he wondered why he had to explain this to her. She was a smart, worldly adult lady and this was only good sense. Then again, not many grown-ups seemed to have good sense, and maybe those who did were so used to the others that they just assumed the natural human state to be crazy. "I mean, no one says love has to go both ways, right? And it's pretty nasty to put that kind of pressure on someone. I guess I'd maybe tell her I needed time to get over her, but after that I'd hope I could still be her friend."

"And that's very mature of you." Her head nudged in approval, though some trace of doubt still lurked in her posture. "Though I should warn you that many people aren't content to be nothing more than friends with members of the opposite sex."

"Then those people are idiots." There was no other explanation. Sure, from what little he knew about love, it probably hurt, possibly a lot. But he did know quite a bit about friends--and while avoiding love didn't seem like the dumbest thing a person could do, they'd have to be pretty damn stupid to pass up a chance for a good friend. "If the prettiest, smartest girl in the world wanted me to be her friend, I'd be happy to be just that. She probably has hundreds of admirers anyway, but everyone could use a friend."

"Very true. I hope you never change your mind there--though just between you and me, I wouldn't doubt that you'd make the prettiest, smartest girl in the world very happy if she wanted you as more." Laureina stood and made her away around the counter, ruffling his hair as she passed, just like his mother and sisters did. "Now, I hope you like cinnamon biscuits. I made three batches this morning, and I could use a smart kid like you to figure out which recipe tastes the best."

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