Perian huffed a laugh. “Yeah. I promised they could all come and live with me forever, but we wanted Molun to get well and didn’t want to back anyone into any corners.”
“Very smart.” Cormal had had more than enough of being backed into corners, even if he’d done it himself. “As soon as I get back, if you want, I’ll suggest they come visit.”
“Is Molun well enough to ride?” Perian asked anxiously. “He always says he’s fine when I ask, but I don’t believe him.”
Kinan and Cormal exchanged glances, which of course, made Perian worry more.
“Oh, no, is he—”
“He’s fine,” Kinan and Cormal said at the same time and then laughed.
“He’s so much better,” Cormal continued. Blowing out a breath, he admitted, “I imagine he’d be better still if you’d been able to keep helping him, but he’s been steadily recovering. He needs to use a cane sometimes.”
A spasm of pain crossed Perian’s face. “I still don’t totally know what I’m doing. But I’d—I could still try to make it better.”
“The injury is still improving,” Kinan offered hurriedly, like he didn’t want Perian to feel bad. “I haven’t seen him with the cane nearly as often recently.”
“That’s true,” Cormal agreed. “Maybe Arvus reallyhasstarted to tie him to the bed to keep him from overexerting himself.”
Perian exploded with laughter and managed to say between giggles, “I’m not so sure that would keep him from overexerting himself.”
“What’s Molun doing now?”
They all turned to Brannal, who had reentered the room. He rolled his eyes. “You said overexerted. I assume that was who you were talking about.”
Perian was smiling, but it looked a little forced. “His leg’s still bothering him. Told you he was lying to me. And Arvus was carefully not saying anything, either, that lying liar who lies.” Brannal opened his mouth, like he was going to say something to comfort him, but then Perian suddenly jumped up. “Oh, and you will notbelievewhat those lying liars have kept from us!”
Brannal blinked, clearly trying to keep up with the mood swings. “What?”
“They found their third! And they didn’t tell us! It’s like we’re banished to the edge of the country or something! How could they not say anything?”
Brannal looked truly surprised, but after a slightly too-long pause, he said, “I assume they were too busy?”
And this, of course, made Perian burst into laughter again.
“Yes, all right, that’s entirely likely. But seriously, they’re going to get such a scolding when we see them. Oh, and Cormal promises he’s not going to fire them or kill me, so they can come visit!”
Brannal shot a look at Cormal, who tried to look like they’d not been making death jokes which were maybe only funny for everyoneelsein the room.
Perian swatted at Brannal. “Brannal. Visits. Be happy!”
Brannal pulled Perian close and enfolded him in his arms. “I’m very happy.”
Perian made a contented sound and leaned into him.
They just stood that way for a long moment, wrapped in one another’s arms. Cormal finally had to look away. It was so intimate that it felt like something he wasn’t supposed to see, like they were so used to being able to do whatever they wanted that they’d forgotten they had guests. Or maybe they really didn’t care. Maybe they were happy to share with absolutely everyone just how happy they were. Itwasrather beautiful.
Kinan smiled hopefully at him, and Cormal smiled back. Perian seemed willing to move past Cormal’s egregious behavior, and even if Brannal never forgave him, if Perian wanted civility, Cormal was sure Brannal would provide it.
But Perian also wasn’t going to foist Cormal on Brannal if Brannal wanted him gone.
“Oh,” Perian said, springing back. “Water! I never got you your water.”
“I was pretty resigned to dying of thirst,” Cormal told him.
He really shouldnothave given Brannal that opening, and he couldn’t even blame him when, a moment later, he was drenched from head to toe.
Perian was snickering, and even Kinan looked like he was trying not to laugh. Of course,hehadn’t gotten wet.
