28

Yan was singing as she walked the gardens, the mist settling as dusk became night and all the little solar lights flickered to life like some fairyland. The flowers were mostly sleeping, their heads closed and bowed like they were giving reverence to her and she found the thought amusing, even as Lucky bounded past chasing a cat that seems to be terrified, if not for the fact it paused now and then so the dog can see it again, giving away the fact they were friends playing.

Luc approached and waited, Yan glancing over and then walking over to cant her head, the soft curls of today rolling around her bare shoulders as her tube top hugged her deliciously. Luc was in full dress, furs about his shoulders and his loosely flowing hair swept pack with a braid either side. No shame in it, after all … he looked edible.

"You are not cold sweetling?"

"No, my blood still boils, it will settle with time" she smiled, "What beings you out here to skulk brother?"

"They come" Luc said with a solemn sigh, "My father has declared intent to visit."

"Ah. Big is it?"

"We need a house for him. He will being wives, children, guards….shit." Luc grimaced.

"He will get three large Yurts. One for him and his nest wife, other wives and children in another and the men in another. That is the old ways, he is the one pretending to be all be bloody traditional" Yan snorted. "We will show him that honour!"

"I…you know what? You are right" Luc said as he considered, "He has gone with the ancient king thing for years now yet does not want to live the life he declares is his by blood rite. Yes. They can go here in the back, if he complains I will remind him the king always settled behind the families who shielded him."

"He will not like it but must keep up the game" Yan laughed. "You can quietly dominate him without him being able to snap back."

"And your ….her?"

"Not invited" Yan sniffed, "this is about family, not…. Not memories. It's about the future of this family and she doesn't not have a seat at the table now."

"Cold. No room beside the fire brother?" Luc said sadly and Yan shrugged as she walked away, calling back over her shoulder, "She's a Scot now … used to the cold."

Luc pondered and found sorrow in the knowledge that there would always be a pain there for both his beloved woman and her sweet brother. As much as he missed his own gone mother… he did not know how he would feel about turning away from her if she were still breathing.

Mind you…

If his father had not married that bitch his mother would still be here instead of poisoned and gone. He did hope his father brought that one, of all the wives… that one might finally get close enough for Luc to return the favour.

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So ends this section, the next one is the christening madness.