Manning caressed his cheek. “We understand. Try for me, for us, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Good, now go on.” Manning pressed his thumb to Brandt’s lips.
Brandt kissed the digit then stood and gave them both a brief kiss on the mouth. He found Orm across the room, still speaking with his fathers-by-marriage but also joined by his sister-by-marriage, Lian, and her sobroke, General Ivar. After almost fifteen sun cycles under Ivar’s command, Brandt found it difficult to drop the formal title from his thoughts and the “sir” whenever he spoke to him. He was getting better though.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I need to pull Orm away for a tarran.” Brandt, bolstered by his sobrokes confidence in him, beckoned for Orm to follow him. He moved closer to the door and waited. Brandt had spent a portion of almost every day with Orm and Ivar, and even though he now outranked them as Vidar, he often conceded to their more experienced viewpoints. This time, with Manning’s life potentially on the line again with Tore’s reappearance, he wouldn’t kow-tow to either of them.
Ivar followed in Orm’s wake, speaking before Brandt could in a harsh whisper. “I want to know what’s going on. Lian is scared and won’t tell me why.”
Brandt grimaced then gestured to Orm, who expressed his displeasure by flashing his sharp teeth at him. No way would his mates allow such insolence.
“I highly suggest you not do that unless you want a repeat of the first day you saw us together,” Brandt said, the vivid image of Orm plastered to the wall beside the door they stood next to with Kayluth’s hand wrapped around Orm’s throat crossed his mind. Orm clacked his mouth shut as he shot a glance at Kayluth, who was distracted by Reykos, earning Orm a reprieve.
Ivar cackled. “By your expressions, I’ve a feeling a repeat is not desired. I’d love to hear the story, but I doubt either of you will tell me.”
Orm side-eyed Ivar. “Maybe with enough of that honey wine…”
“Deal.” Ivar slapped Orm’s shoulder. “Now, tell us what you know.”
Slumping his shoulders, Orm leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper. “We received ssome information about Tore. He hass allied himsself with thosse who are enemiess of the Drakken.”
“Gods,” Brandt gasped. “Kay didn’t say anything about the Fen—”
Orm’s hand shot out and covered Brandt’s mouth. “Do not sssay it!” he hissed. “I did not tell him that part.”
Brandt brushed Orm’s hand away. “Well, make yourself available for a morning meeting. Your Vidareem will hold council immediately after breaking our fast. Inform whoever the two of you think needs to be there. Understood?”
Orm huffed but nodded. “I understand.”
“Good. Also, contact Seraphina. Manning wants all his family here for his birthday celebration.”
“I will.”
Brandt stared at Orm for another tarran, then tilted his head. “Go on, Orm. I wish a word with Ivar.”
Orm bowed slightly then left, and Brandt turned to Ivar. “Come break fast with us in the morning. Kayluth will tell you what you need to know. My own knowledge is sketchy—all I know is from a child’s picture book and what Manning has told me. I don’t want to say anything that might be incorrect.”
“Lian and I will be here.” Ivar looked around the room. “Should I increase protection for all of you?”
“Let’s discuss it tomorrow. Once we learn more, we’ll make an informed decision instead of grasping at dog tails.”
Ivar grinned. “It’s never a good idea to grab a dog by the tail unless you want to get bit.”
“No, it definitely isn’t.”
Manning
The remainder of the party moved slower than Manning would’ve preferred. He ate, talked, and opened more presents, many of which were games he could play with Reykos and Raisa. The children were excited with each new gift unwrapped. Brandt and Kay sat with Lian and Ivar learning how to play a game with pits and stones. Father Tailyn instructed them on how to play. There was plenty of laughter as Lian and Kay tried to “help” their sobroke.
Meanwhile, Father Ly along with Svandis, Kel, and Mak had their grandchildren corralled in another corner playing a game with colored spots. Reykos and Raisa contorted their little bodies based on a spinner. Every time one of the babes tipped over, they all howled riotously. Manning grinned when another bout of laughter from his mates and children filled the osphena.
Seraphina slipped into the empty space beside him, bumping their arms together. “It’s good to see you smile, my Vidar. Your joy makes us happy.”
“Tak-kou, I am happy. A sun-cycle ago, I never in a million cycles would have expected my life to be this. The gods have favored us.”
“Odin and Dracco, yes. Perhaps even my goddess, too.”
