“Ya know what I should do?” I pulled my hair into a ponytail as we walked to my tent.
“What’s that?”
“Just kidnap ‘em all,” I said. “We’ll get all of the food, and drinks, and the fire going in my yard, and then I’ll just lapse to everyone’s house and swoop ‘em back to the party.”
Rion laughed. “Imagine what Emja would do.”
“Nah, she wouldn’t kill me if I dropped her off in front of the children.” I brought a flame to my fingertip and lit the oil lamp on my wooden chest. “She’d feel too guilty.”
“Or—another idea—we just set a date to meet up once a quarter for something that isn’t business.” He stepped into the tent behind me, lowering himself to my cot. “Justforgetto send one to Lux.”
I laughed. “That’s mean.”
“It isn’tmean. It’s true. It’s always awkward, Nix. His presence just makes the air feel thick.”
“Only because everyone makes it awkward.” I squinted over my altar. If his crystal had come through, that was where it would’ve landed. “It isn’t awkward when he comes to my house.”
“‘Til he looks down your wife’s shirt.”
“He can look all he wants.” I grabbed the stack of blankets from the edge of the cot. “If she minded, she’d cover up. But she doesn’t, and I’m the only one who gets to touch, so.”
“A better man the me. I would’ve gouged his eyes out by now.”
Nah.
Maybe it was wrong, but I liked showing her off in front of him. Perhaps it was some primitive, animalistic instinct, but Véa never complained either. Whether we talked about it these days or not, we both still resented him for what he’d done when we were young. In most regards, we’d moved on. I wasn’t as close to my brother as I’d once been, but I loved him, and it was nice to have him in my life.
But I also liked making sure he knew my wife was mine.
“Can you grab that blanket there?” I nodded to the one in the corner. “I know someone’ll ask for it.”
* * *
Come home,Véa said in my thoughts.
Come home? I tucked another piece of wood into the fire, trying to hear Véa’s whispers in my mind over the raucous. Grabbing the chalice Elira asked for from the edge of my bench, I sent to Véa’s mind,Why?What’s going on, mi lim?
It wasn’t a soft whisper, but a deep sob.All of you. Everyone. Come here now.
“What’s wrong?” I asked aloud, nearly dropping the chalice as Elira reached for it.
“I didn’t say any—”
“Vèa.” I tapped my forehead, signaling that she was in my mind. “What is it, do gràs? Are the children alright?”
A long moment of silence.Ours are.
“What does that mean?” I made a gesture to Anise who was playing her violin at a seat that lined the campfire, lifting a finger over my lips. “What’s going on?”
Gradually, everyone present quieted, watching me carefully.
Véa was quiet too. Then I heard her sob.
My wife did not sob. A few tears in response to a heartfelt moment, perhaps, but I could count on one hand how many times I’d heard her sob in the millenniums we’d spent together.
I can’t even say it, Nix. Just come home. Bring everyone.
“Are you sure?” I asked. “A few of us are already lying down, and—”