My cowriter is back. Have a romp.
As Jasen crossed the threshold of their home, he could smell food cooking and loud voices from the kitchen. Leda, catching sight of their newest arrival, hurried to the young man and wrapped him in her arms in a death grip, “Don’t leave me with these people!”
“Mom,” Saul’s voice chased her from the kitchen, “It’s not that bad, just come here.”
Leda looked up into Jasen’s eyes, mock horror all over her features, “Don’t listen to them, let’s just go.” She grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward the door.
Hakim emerged in the entryway, laying a hand on her arm to still her, “Mom, come on, it’s okay.”
“For the Gods’ sake,” Raine could be heard muttering as Hakim slowly pulled Leda, and thereby Jasen, into the kitchen.
Wing beats and screams of chickens emerged from inside, along with Aile’s voice, “Dammit Saul, just hold it still!”
“Come on,” Hakim said soothingly, “It’s okay.”
Jasen was shaking from holding back laughter as they passed through the curtain to a kitchen filled with cacophony, and covered with feathers and splatters of blood.
“Get the knife,” Aile was pinning one of the birds down with her body, on the counter, while Saul rifled through the implements on the counters, looking for what he needed.
Raine was playing methodical catch and chase, banging a bird’s head on the table, and Alicia, in the middle of it all, was calmly tending a pot and handing a knife over her shoulder to her brother without looking up.
Leda pulled against Hakim’s arm, “No, tesoro, I don’t need to be part of this, I don’t want to be part of this.”
Jasen grinned, placing his hands on her shoulders and wrapping her in a hug. “It’s okay, Mom. I’ll just get you some wine. Where’s Augustus?”
Leda turned and offered him a very put out expression, “Augustus isn’t here. He decided not to help with dinner today. He’s at the Forum.”
Jasen, sniggering, grabbed a jug and a tumbler and poured her cup. He pressed it into her hands and went over to kiss Alicia at the stove before returning to her mother. “We’ll handle dinner,” he patted her on the shoulder, “Why don’t you go rest.”
Over his shoulder from where he had now slaughtered his bird, Saul called, “She’s gonna have to learn sometime! We won’t be here forever!”
Leda shuddered and left the room.
Aile jumped down off the counter, brushed off her hands, and gave Jasen a bright smile, “Amico!” She wrapped him in a hug, “It’s good to see you again!”
Jaisen smiled and hugged her back, “And you as well. Now. Tell me. Who’s idea was it to bring the chickens inside the house?”
All hands, sporting various kitchen instruments, pointed to Saul.
Saul threw up his hands in exasperation, “What? I’m telling you, she’s got to learn!”
Raine thunked another head on the tabletop, “Just maybe not quite like this?” She gave him a pointed look. He looked back at her sweetly, “Lorraina…” He began to sing.
“Oh no, I am not cleaning this up for you, I don’t care how sweetly you ask.”
Alicia, by the pot, was sniggering.
“Lorraina…”
“No.”
“Lorraina, my love, my water magick is broken today, otherwise I would! I swear!”
Jasen laughed outright.
Hakim shook his head at his brother, “Your water magick is broken every day.”
Saul slumped, “I know, I’m such a useless member of this family,” he bemoaned.
Aile smiled and shut him up with a very serious looking, very long kiss.
Jasen looked to Hakim and Raine, shrugging off their antics, “I’ll clean the counters if one of you gets the walls.” ‘One of you’ meant Raine, and she knew it. Her control was better than theirs.
Hakim sighed, “I’ll keep working on the birds.” He looked at the couple who were probably due for air, “Saul, you get the floor. Aile, you’re with me.”
Somehow, without a mother to terrorize, dinner was made quickly and smoothly.
Jasen even made a tray of meats and grapes to coax Leda out of her room.
Augustus returned from the forum and she set about beating him with her fan, “Don’t you ever leave me with them to cook dinner again.”
Augustus smoothed his wife’s feelings with a soft tone, “I thought Alicia was just going to show you some things.” He looked at his children over her shoulders, “I honestly didn’t think anything could go wrong with that.”
Hakim, now enjoying a cup of wine, grinned, “Saul decided to help.”
Augustus’ face drained.
Hakim grinned wider, “And the girls were over.”
Any amusement had left their father, looking between him and Alicia, “And who okayed this?”
“They are not my keepers!” Saul complained, slicing the bread they’d just pulled out of the oven.
Augustus walked over to grab a piece, dipping it in olive oil and salt, his blue eyes wide and mocking, “Of course not my son.” He grabbed a grape, “Where is everybody? They didn’t stay for dinner?”
Alicia shrugged, joining her father in snacking, “Jasen took the girls to get more wine.”
Hakim rolled his eyes, “And ‘reconsider their decisions.’”
Augustus laughed, “Well I suppose that leaves me to set the table for all of you.”
“Don’t ever leave me again,” Leda muttered, still bitter. He gave her a kiss and started pulling out plates. He mussed up Saul’s hair on his way past, “Let your sister and I handle the cooking, okay buddy?”
Saul grumbled into his cup. Leda glared at him, “What was that?”
He offered her his best contrite smile and kissed her cheek, “Sorry Mom.”
She glared at him, “My fire had better not go cold tonight.”
He smiled and rolled his eyes, “Mom, your fire has been precisely orchestrated to run itself since I was nine.”
She pointed at her eyes and then at him. He smirked.
“Aand you have running water in your upstairs bathroom,” Alicia reminded her.
Hakim smiled, “And if he ever does it again, I’ll beat his head in.”
Augustus smirked, “Be kind to your brother. He has it hard here.”
Raine returned to the Nadith home, Aile and Jasen in tow, each handing off their jug of wine to one of the family, “We decided not to break up with you. Again.”
Augustus sighed in relief, “Thank goodness. Imagine us trying to find anyone else to put up with these three.”
Alicia stuck her tongue out at her father.
“Saul, lights, if you would?”
The lighting in their home brightened, went out, and then grew back to small warm flames, colors playing in and out.
Aile, sliding comfortably into a seat, offered, “The black out curtains on the street side were a good idea.”
Leda snorted, “We needed them. People were complaining.”
