Fate - First Reply A road is longer than it seems

[Talus]

Talus smiled. There were so many things in this world that he feared. The Slip of Vel Anir into what it was before, the hunt of Dreadlords that despised him. Those who might see him or Zana harmed. All of them were a terror.

Not Riley thought. Not his sister. "We thought we might go to the Spine."

He told her with a smile.

"I can draw you a map." The former Dreadlord. "So you can get there without trouble."

Talus and Zana had not quite settled on a place just yet, but he was more than sure that they'd point to a place that Riley could reach. It was important that his sister could meet his children. Important that she could remain a part of his life. "I'll even build a room for you."

He said, reaching out and ruffling her hair.

 

[Riley]

She stared up at him. A soft breeze weaving through her brown hair. The same hair that now stuck up at odd angles after he ruffled it. She was relieved he'd be okay with her visiting.

She still had the pendant he'd given her and knew if she broke it, he'd come. Or she'd be brought to them. Something like that. A whole new house? Different from the one he'd already built for himself. The one where she'd met Zana and him and Gray. But she remembered how much he liked to build.

But it was his offer to build her a room that made her suddenly feel choked up.

And usually her emotions, except for her anger, were locked up tight. Hidden behind a mask. That statement made her mask all but crumble. She stepped forward and grabbed her brother in a hug, arms circling around him.

"Thank you," she breathed against him and sniffled just slightly. Her eyes blinked rapidly and she'd step away again, rubbing at them. "Someone must be cooking onions," she huffed.

 

[Talus]

Talus smiled, wrapping his arms around Riley.

The two of them had grown up in the same circumstances, plucked from their parents and thrown into the Academy. He understood how important family, knew those bonds held a weight above everything else. He wanted her to have them.

Wanted Riley to know she had a family. "Of course."

He said quietly.

"Somebody must be." Talus said in agreement, happy that for now he could simply hold his sister. A few people on the street glanced their way, but no one found it too odd. Tearful reunions were all too common in Vel Anir.

As she drew away Talus smiled. "Maybe we should get something to eat."

He offered.