Back.

[illgotten]

He walks in as though he's just come up from the cottage, instead of back from the dead. He looks just as always, except that the recent marks of stress have evaporated (two weeks' rest, however unexpected, have done him good) and that he now, like his brothers and his friend, has a sword belted on. "All right," he says crossly to no one in

Comments

[inglewoodblues]

"I pray thou hast that sword of thine aready to slay thine aunt."

[illgotten]

"Oh, believe me, I am this close." He comes over to hug her tightly.

[inglewoodblues]

She hugs back, holding him close. She smells very strongly of the forest, of trees and leafy secrets. One can only assume she's been doing a fair bit of holding the family unit steady without him, and to an extent she's used her little portion of hedgemagic to help with that. "Thou shouldst do it upon thy first sighting," she whispers, "when she is unguarded by surprise that she should be proved wrong."

[illgotten]

Mordred laughs a little. "Bloodthirsty woman."

[inglewoodblues]

"Presently I shall bay for it." She smooths his hair.

[illgotten]

"That will be entertaining."

[inglewoodblues]

"I shall expect to see thee watching and laughing." Smooths it again, and kisses his cheek. "Brother, thou dost undo us so when thou art gone."

[illgotten]

"Sorry about that," wryly. "Next time I'll leave a note."

[inglewoodblues]

"Thou hadst best."