Neave stood up and embraced first Talia, then Skif, in delight, "Gods! It's good to see you!" he said, "Did that lot see you?"
Skif's eyes were dancing with amusement, "Yes, you should have seen their faces. I was going to call them out, but you beat me to it."
"I hope they won't be surprised when they find themselves replacing the Heralds in the most tedious outposts I can find for them." remarked Talia, whose grin was a little evil.
The woman at Skif's side said in oddly accented Valdemaran, "Thank you for taking up for us, Herald...?" Neave assumed from this that this was the lady Skif had brought back with him, by the way they stood so closely together.
"I'm Neave," he said, extending his hand. There was something vaguely catlike about the woman. And when he looked into her green eyes, he was surprised to see the pupils were slitted like a cat. He studied her face to remember it, to draw later. She extended her own hand and he kissed it formally, "I'm afraid, I don't know your name."
"I'm called Nyara." she said, smiling.
She was amazing when she smiled. She was probably the most beautiful woman Neave had ever seen, but there were lines around her mouth and between her eyebrows that spoke of both fear and grief. Neave noticed that when he let go of her hand, it drifted toward the pommel of her sword. She moved like someone who could take care of herself, yet her manner was a little shy and uncertain. He guessed that her beauty had not brought her life much happiness.
"I beg your pardon, if you heard that, Nyara." he said, "I'm afraid that those children let their mouths run away with them. Don't judge them too harshly, sometimes younglings have no idea how hurtful their stories can be."
Talia sighed and nodded, "I'm afraid you're only too right. We had to pass a whole year group into Whites a year early, to cover the Courts and routine things. They're competent enough at their duties, but a little immature. I think I'll ask Rolan to have a word with their Companions about it." she said apologetically to Skif and his lady.
Skif was beaming at Neave now, "I'm just happy we got to hear you take a strip out of them--and then to have them walk right into us. I thought the look on Talia's face was enough to to petrify them right where they stood."
"They'll probably quit running their mouths, for a while at least." Neave said.
"We were just going up to my rooms. Would you like to join us?" asked Talia.
Neave smiled, "Oh, yes." he said, "Where's Dirk and Jemmy tonight?" referring to Talia's little boy.
"Dirk's gone to take him to see the grandparents," Talia smiled, "Since the war ended, he finally had time to spend with them."
"But not you?" Neave asked.
Talia shrugged, "You know how it is. I'll go next time."
"See you do." Skif mock growled, "Otherwise we might have to tie you to Rolan's saddle to get you to take some leave time."
Talia laughed.
It was nice how they fell back into the rhythms of their friendship. It was good to spend the evening catching up with Skif and Talia, without waiting for a crisis. They spent a pleasant candlemark, sharing a few bottles of wine
"Do you know Skif well?" asked Nyara at one point, when Skif was telling Talia some outrageous story that Neave had lost the thread of. She was curled up next to Skif on Talia's couch. Neave sat on the other side of her.
"He was probably the first friend I ever had." Neave replied, "Well, that was anywhere near my age. I think he was the one who managed to convince me that this was all real." he waved his hand vaguely to indicate the Palace.
"What were you before you were Chosen?" she asked innocently,
He hesitated a breath before replying, "I was born in a brothel in Hardorn. I lived there until I was about fourteen." he said quietly.
"Brothel? I don't think I know the word..." she turned to Skif and asked him something in a series of long liquid syllables. He glanced at Neave and replied in kind.
Neave wasn't sure what had prompted him to tell her that. It was strange that it seemed so natural. Perhaps it was just sitting here with Talia and Skif. Or perhaps he'd had more wine than was strictly prudent and it had loosened his tongue somewhat. He hoped Nyara wouldn't be too bothered by it.
She asked Skif another question and he again replied in that foreign tongue. Neave wasn't sure he could tell where one word stopped and the next began, but it was pretty to listen to.
Nyara turned back to him, "I'm sorry, there's still many words I still don't understand in your tongue. So. Your Companion brought you here?" she didn't look bothered in the least bit, which was encouraging.
"No, actually. I'd been injured and some Heralds had to come rescue me." he'd only ever told this story once before, to Talia. He glanced at Talia curled up in her chair. She smiled at him encouragingly and Skif looked interested. He began with Kira's suicide. Whenever he thought of it, Kira's death was always tangled up with Kyldathar Choosing him.
He finished, explaining how he and Ylsa had stayed at the Guard post until he was fit to travel. Talia, Skif and Nyara were quiet for a moment.
Finally, Skif asked the question Neave knew he would, "So how did..."
"I get in that state?" Neave said. Skif nodded soberly.
Neave sighed, "Ancar. And Ancar's mages."
Skif looked at him quizzically, but Talia said, very quietly, "Neave had the bad luck to be one of Ancar's experiments. Didn't even remember until after Ancar had killed Alessandar. He let Kyril trigger the memory. We would have lost that first battle to the mage demons if he hadn't."
"I wondered how you came by those scars." Skif said.
They were quiet again, until Neave said, "Well, I'm just glad the bastard's dead. And I hope he's rotting in hell. "
The others murmured agreement.
To change the subject, Neave asked, "So what's Elspeth's gentleman like?"
Skif smiled, "Darkwind? He's--hard to explain. You know he's a mage?"
Neave nodded,
"He started out teaching Elspeth magery and they just ended up together all the time." Skif shook his head, "They seem very good for each other."
"She's a lot less prickly than she was before she left. And I think, much happier since she's abdicated." said Talia, "I like Darkwind very much."
Neave smiled, "That's nice. I'm glad she's found someone she can have a proper relationship with. It was always so hard for her, having to be so damned discreet--I didn't mind much, but no one was much interested in gossiping about me."
After a second Neave realized he that he had indeed had more wine than was prudent. Skif swivled around to look at him with eyes wide, "Wait. You and Elspeth?"
Neave felt his face go red, "I--yes. I assumed you knew."
Skif seemed about to say something but Nyara caught his eye and they both started howling with laughter.
Neave looked as Talia, but she just shook her head and shrugged.
After a few moments, Skif and Nyara got some control over their laughter, "I'm a complete and utter fool." Skif said, shaking his head. "So tell me, how long were you and she sharing blankets?"
With a half glance at Talia who shrugged, still puzzled, Neave replied, "Since, well...since she and I were looking after Talia, before you got back with Dirk." Neave had the urge to explain himself, "I mean, only when I was here and when neither of us were seeing anyone else...It was never more than friendly. What's so funny?" he finished rather plaintively as Nyara giggled again. Skif just shook his head.
"I'm a fool. You just brought home to me how much of one." Skif smiled and Nyara took his hand possessively, "And you, of course, always knew?" Skif said to Talia.
Talia blushed a little, "It's awfully hard to avoid knowing, sometimes."
Skif shook his head again, "That will teach me to never, ever make assumptions." He looked at Neave, still amused, "It's just that, when we were off alone, I made some assumptions about Elspeth that caused some-ahh--friction--between us. I thought, at the time, she was overreacting...Now, I'm admiring her restraint in not killing me."
Skif never explained more than that and the conversation moved on to the gryphons and the other wonders. It was good to see Skif laugh like that. Neave thought that Skif was the most relaxed he'd seen him in years. Something had darkened Skif's spirit for a long time, but Nyara had certainly helped him recover it.
Finally, Neave found himself nodding a little, "I think I need to find my bed." He said standing up, "If I don't, I'll fall asleep where I sit."
Talia stood up to give him a hug goodnight, "You Feel a little ragged, my friend." she whispered, "Perhaps we could talk tomorrow?"
He replied in her ear, "I think that would be a good idea."
Nyara surprised him by giving him a tight hug. As did Skif.
Kyldathar had shielded him out some time earlier in the evening, but now she was back. Sleepily she wished him goodnight.
Some of the servants had aired out his room when he checked in and there was a small stack of messages waiting on his desk. When he was at a posting or on circuit, messages could be delivered, but he had been on the road for two weeks, so they came here to wait for him.
With a sigh of relief he threw the bolt on the door. Without bothering to do more than take off his boots he collapsed into his bed and was asleep before his head hit the pillow