The missing guest?

Originally a birthday gift, written before RotT came out. Eddis & Sounis, one-shot, post ACoK.

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"I wish Gen could be here for your birthday tomorrow," said Sophos, falling into step beside his wife as she paced across the empty throne room, waiting for the dinner bell.

"I don't," said Helen shortly. She began to count on her fingers, then stopped and shook her head. "I'd need more fingers than I have, to count the number of times Gen's caused difficulties on my birthdays by stealing things. He's stolen my presents, he's stolen my cards, he's stolen the dinner and the wine and the earrings and the cloak pins and one year he stole my dress robes, though he brought those back just before dinner." She shook her head again. "I think the only thing relating to my birthdays he never actually stole was the guests – no! There was the banquet he locked old Baron Whats-his-name – oh, dear, what was his name?"

Eddis stopped pacing and peered at the ceiling with a searching-the-memory frown. "No, I can't even remember what his name was. He was old and his family had run entirely to daughters so the name's died out now. Anyway, he was due to give the toast, but Gen locked him in the outhouse and pocketed the key. And, of course, the Baron was old and quite small and frail, so he didn't have the strength to kick the door down, and we didn't find him for hours..."

She trailed off, and then broke into a laugh "You're quite right! I wish he was here, too!"