In Which Lonriad Has No Chance at Normalcy

September 8, 1181

Lonriad's sister hadn't said a damn word since Isidro had dug up the spare key from beneath a cluster of rocks. Neither had Isidro himself, for that matter, but that was different. Isidro was understandably upset for his own sake, despite the practicality and downright necessity of the ultimate decision. Riona was only upset on Isidro's behalf, though if she was paying any attention, she'd notice that he'd managed more than enough ugly old emotion on his own. She didn't need to feed that unease.

Then again, it wasn't all that long ago when a Riona more concerned with someone else's well-being than her own was a laughable idea, so he'd give her credit there. And maybe he had been a little insensitive. Didn't matter, though. They all knew he'd been right. "Nice and toasty in here, isn't it?"

"Lucky for us there was dry wood already in here," Ashe agreed--at least, Lonriad would count it as an agreement--as he spurred another shower of sparks in the hearth. "Your idea, Is?"

"Hmm?" Isidro pried his gaze from the washed-out, rusty window just long enough to notice the fire. Lonriad wondered if he'd noticed the heat. "No."

Awkward, Ashe turned back to his task, though Lonriad gave him a couple points for getting Isidro to speak at all. Shelter or not, this was looking to be a long night. "Sorry. It just seemed a little too much foresight for your father."

"It is. It was my brother's idea." The ill-fated Fortunato, Lonriad assumed. If ever a father had given a son a less fitting name--and that considering Lonriad's own eldest brother, named for the most pious Dovian lord in recent memory.

It was odd that he missed Jadin. At least it wouldn't be too long now before they were home again.

"What do you think? Another week or so?"

Isidro shook his head as he abandoned the window in favor of the rug. Did that mean he was forgiven? His brother-in-law wasn't looking at him with complete contempt... "If that. Maybe four days if we keep the rests to a minimum. More likely five or six."

In either case, they'd probably leave the house to meet dawn at the door. "Good. God, I think I'd even brave Asalaye's cooking if it meant we were under the same roof."

That did it--finally, a snicker out of Riona. "As if yours is any better."

"It's worse! That's why we have a cook." Not that their cook was much to brag about either. "But who knows? Maybe Nanalie will have us for supper when she hears I'm back. She'll be missing her favorite brother-in-law."

"It would take more than a month for anyone to miss you."

"A month?" Lonriad gasped in mock-amazement, though it might not have been as 'mock' as he'd gauged. He knew it had only been a month, but it felt like they'd been gone quite a while longer. "Here I was, thinking we'd barely be back in time for Sevvie and Yvanette's wedding."

Ashe threw him a glare-full of daggers for his trouble. Ah, normalcy. All he needed was some dry comment from Isidro and any guilt over the stop would be gone. "You might want to watch what you say about my daughter while I'm holding a sharp object."

"I'd be more concerned about whether your kids will recognize you with short hair, even if it doesn't look as stupid as I'd hoped. Riona, you should become a barber."

She laughed--an actual laugh! Thank God. "Well, I could probably practice cutting hair on Izzy, but let me know if you find any willing test subjects for surgery."

Isidro grunted. Lonriad doubted he'd put up a fuss if Riona had any serious ambitions in barbering, but he was less than amused with the banter. Maybe it had been too much to hope for, a total lack of tension. "I'll keep an eye out. But I'm going to bed."

"Now?" Riona's voice was more curious than argumentative, but Lonriad and Ashe both looked away regardless, Ashe to the stairs and Lonriad to his own lap. He might have done more harm than good, cheering Riona up. Perhaps Isidro needed an ally after all. "We can relax a little before. It's not that late."

Ashe cleared his throat. "Uh... Isidro? Riona?"

Neither showed any sign of having heard him. "No, but I'd prefer to leave as early as possible. And I'm sorry to be rude, but I don't want to have to wait for any of you."

"Is? You might want to--"

"And you won't," Riona insisted, cutting Ashe off. "If any of us are still asleep when you get up, you're welcome to wake us."

"Don't think I--hey!" Teeth gritted, Isidro rubbed his arm where Ashe's fist had hit it. It was hardly an appropriate first thought, but Lonriad would have to congratulate him on not defaulting to a slap. "What was that for?"

"Sorry! I just thought you should know--"

"Know what?"

"Isidro?"

Lonriad thought he caught the hairs on his hand spring to attention as a man's tread rung from the lower steps of the stairs. Riona clung to the arm of the couch and Ashe shot Isidro a mixed-message of a look, reading both 'You all right?' and 'Don't say I didn't warn you'. As for Isidro himself, the only movement was a strained, tugging twitch at the side of his mouth.

That was probably enough. "Why are you here?"

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