Page 8 of Quest of Fools

Against the wall he shared with Marian was an enormous bed, though still slightly too short for his frame.It was made of beautiful, dark-stained wood, the kind he'd hauled off ships any number of times, but had never expected to see past that.Currently there were no bedclothes, but that made sense.

The floor was the same dark gold wood that covered most of the house, completely bare, but with faint impressions in the dust that hinted at rugs that must have covered it once.There was a dresser, a wardrobe, a dressing table that made his chest ache.He'd always wanted to buy Karla a proper vanity, something that was hers and hers alone.

"It's a beautiful room," Warf said."So much space, though.What would I do with it all?"

"Enjoy it," Marian replied with a laugh, hooking a hand through his arm, a gesture he seemed to do with increasing frequency.Warf couldn't deny he enjoyed it, the way Marian didn't seem troubled by his size, seemed entirely comfortable with him already."We can commission a bed suited to you, other furniture too.Through there is a dressing room, and that door is your washroom."

Warf opened his mouth, then closed it, afraid at how stupid he would sound if he said what he was thinking.An entire washroom to himself?He'd spent hisentirelife going to public bath houses.If he'd thought about it at all, he would have assumed there was one or two used by the household.He'd washed up in his room the last couple of days, and had meant to ask about such things that day.

A whole washroom.An entire dressing room.

He shook his head."I wouldn't even know where to begin.I don't know anything about selecting furniture and rugs and… and everything else that must be involved."

Marian gently squeezed his arm."Well, I love to do such things, so assisting you will be my deepest pleasure.I'll make the appointments to begin as soon as possible, and right now, I'll show you my room to give you some idea of what you'll need and might like."

"All right."Warf wasn't certain what else he could have said.No, this is too much for me?He didn't want to sound any dumber than he already did by not knowing how to pick out furniture.

Opening a door Warf hadn't noticed before on the far side of the bed, Marian led him into a room that was so beautiful and elegant it could have belonged to a prince.Warf smiled briefly, thinking of Rath settling into a room just like this.He was probably even more confounded than Warf by the abrupt changes in their lives.

Everything was in the same dark, rich wood as the furniture in Warf's room, but the bed had bright blue curtains and bedclothes, with accents of white and gray.Beneath it was an ornate rug of blue, green, white, and gray, with a similar rug across the room where a sofa and long table sat, the table piled with books, papers, and forgotten teacups.A nearby writing desk was equally overwhelmed, and the bookcase next to it was packed with books of all sizes, from fancy leatherbound to cheap board books and the even cheaper scrap paper ones they sold on the corners in Low City.

The walls were painted in thick blue and gray stripes, with various paintings in ornate wooden gilt frames.Every lamp was covered with beautiful colored glass, the kind Warf had only ever seen in temples.Everything smelled faintly of flowers and green things, like a little patch of spring in the middle of coming winter."Your room is beautiful.I've never seen so many books, let alone in one house.You must like to read."

Marian gave a small laugh."I do, though most of this is work-related, tax laws and that sort of thing.Not nearly as interesting as some of my other books.Drat it, I forgot to return those teacups.Cook is going to have my head for dinner."

"I thought all you wealthy types had staff to do things like that for you."

"They would, gladly, but I try to clean up after myself where able.They're busy enough with actual chores most of the day, I can return my own teacups."

Warf smiled."Gather them up, then, and we'll return them before going back to the tea we've neglected this whole time.Don't want to get in trouble for that too."

"Fates, is that the truth.Hold on a moment."Marian hurried over to the table, scooped the forgotten teacups onto a small try where a lonely teapot sat, and returned to Warf."Shall we?"

Downstairs, they handed the tray off to Cook, who sniffed as she took it, but was smiling as she walked away, then returned to the study and their tea, which had cooled but was still perfectly drinkable.

"So was there ever anything you wanted to do that your life before prevented?"

Warf shook his head."Never time for that, not really.Helped my mom around the house until I was old enough to work, and then I worked.Took care of my father when he got badly injured, and then when he grew sick, until he eventually died from the wounds.Took care of my mother later when she grew weak in the mind until she passed.After that, I was busy just covering my own needs, and then I met Karla… then suddenly we had three daughters, and in the next moment Karla was dead."

"I'm sorry," Marian said, taking one of Warf's hands in both of his."I must seem very soft and spoiled by comparison."

"You seem kind, patient, and understanding.Most would not be terribly pleased to have a hulking giant and three children thrust upon them."

"You're giant, no denying that."Marian smiled, then looked away at the table, letting go of Warf's hands and restlessly tucking a strand of hair behind his head.Slowly meeting his gaze again, he added, "I would never think of you as hulking, though.What a horrible word.I hope no one has said that to you."

"Once or twice."A week, if he was lucky, a day if life at the time was being particularly awful."People tend not to feel comfortable around men my size."

"Then they're fools, because all I feel standing next to you is safe.They should be describing you as handsome, at the very least.Surely your wife would agree with me."

Warf laughed."She did indeed like the way I looked, at least enough to have three children."

"That doesn't sound like a woman who found you hideous, to be certain.Your children are beautiful, so you must have been a lovely couple."

"Depends on who you ask," Warf said with a smile."I was big, but she had the temper and fighting spirit.Only thing she couldn't defeat was the illness that took her."

Marian took his hand again and leaned against his arm."I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up such a sorrowful topic.I wish she was still here with you."

"She'd prefer her children have this future," Warf replied softly, "but thank you.I think the two of you would have gotten along."

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