Page 42 of Quest of Fools

"No, it wasn't," Isambard said."That's not your style at all."

Rath rested a hand on his arm."Don't get worked up again.The matter is over, and the conclusion as happy as we could hope.Shall we get the children inside?"

Warf nodded, and Rath led the way back into the house, up the stairs to the nursery, where Kalla and Pika immediately started talking faster than they could form the words, inundating him in tales and showing off new toys and books and more.

Sitting on the floor, Warf soaked up the attention, their happiness, that they remembered him when a small part of him had been terrified they would not.Rosi slept peacefully in his arms, oblivious to her sisters' chattering.

Nearby, Tam stood watching, curious and wary, but as the girls slowly ran out of words, their attention drifted to him, and it wasn't long at all before Warf had been dismissed entirely while the three of them became fast friends.

When he stood to leave, however, the girls immediately started crying and rushed over to him, and Warf sat back down and continued to watch them, occasionally participating in their play, until the distant ring of bells announced it was time for dinner.

After much coaxing and soothing, he sent them off with their nurse and was able to go get washed and cleaned himself before finding everyone else downstairs in the main drawing room.

Marian smiled and stretched up to kiss his cheek."I see you were finally permitted to leave."

"Only with much bribing," Warf said.Not that he cared remotely.He never wanted to be parted from his daughters again."Tam seems to be settling right in."

Alliana rolled her eyes, but smiled as she said, "I'm sure he's delighted with all of this.You've both done far too much for me, I will never—"

"No talk of repaying non-existent debts," Isambard cut in, and he approached and handed Warf a glass."We can't wait to hear every last detail of your adventures over dinner."He laughed."Going to be strange that we don't have to take care of the children anymore.It's been a great deal of fun, even when they were quite put out with winter colds."

Rath cast him an amused look."I don't think 'fun' was the word you used at the time."

Isambard grinned."Maybe not, but overall I've enjoyed this greatly.Something to explore when we return from our travels?"

"We'll see," Rath said, even though anybody watching the two of them could see there was definitely children in their future.

Warf sipped his drink, which proved to be spiced wine, something he'd never had before life with Marian but which was fast becoming a favorite.

"How does it feel to be back?"Rath asked.

"Strange," Warf said, "but really life felt strange before I left too.And we returned with friends," he said, lifting his glass slightly to Kaltin and Alliana, both of them dressed in clothes Marian's staff had found for them somehow.They looked more like visiting nobles, a far cry from the misery Warf and Viletti had found them in.

Isambard stared pensively at Kaltin."Aren't you Lady Clarkson's little shadow?"

"Was," Marian and Warf said together, before Marian added, "Abused and overworked, and when he badly injured his leg and broke his arm in a carriage accident she was responsible for, she left him behind knowing damn good and well he'd more than likely die.Warf and Viletti came across him just in time."

"He'smyassistant now," Warf said."Without him, we would have succeeded as well as we did."

Isambard lifted a hand in a show of piece."I wasn't accusing, merely curious, my apologies if I sounded like I was attacking."

"It's fine," Kaltin said with a smile."I'm lucky to be here and not locked up with Clarkson."Sadness flickered across his face."She wasn't always so wretched.A pity this is how my time with her had to end.But I'm happy with my current position, so…" he shrugged one shoulder.

A servant came then to announce dinner, and they all moved to the dining room.Warf's stomach rumbled as he sat."It's good to be home."

Marian, at the head of the table, Warf to his right, smiled warmly and lifted his freshly poured cup of wine."To home."

"To family," Rath added, "whatever shape that family takes."

Warf and the others cheered the toast, and servants then moved to serve the first course.

As they worked slowly through the seven course meal the poor staff had managed to arrange, despite the late notice, Marian, Wrath, and Kaltin, with a few asides from Alliana, told the whole of their adventure.

Rath shook his head when they finally finished as the dessert course was being served."Incredible.Warf, I think you completed the equivalent oftwoTournaments."

"I agree," Isambard said thoughtfully, tapping his chin."I'll have to speak to Mother and Father on the matter."

"You say 'mother and father' so casually," Rath said with a soft laugh, "that it's easy to forget you mean theking and queen."

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