#conlaoch

The scratching of pen on parchment drew him from slumber. He knew that sound intimately, although none would know or even expect that fact from him. Near immediately the aching of his wounds crashed down on him, cause him to let out a muffled grunt. The pen scratching stopped and the chair creaked in annoyance as the writer leaned over the bed and in to sight. It was the clan leader. She studied his face, Eibhear was not used to her being so quiet, or serious. His brows drew together, betraying his confusion. She smiled and leaned back, the old wooden chair giving another creak in protest, "There are bets going to see if you lived through those injuries, you know."

Eibhear grunted a scoff, wincing as his wounds retaliated to the motion," better pay me my money." Luciellia reared back with a loud giggle, her normal demeanor returned, "I don't know, your brother might be the the owner of all that gold, he's be pretty adamantly betting you'd live. Kinda sweet," she made a sour face, "in a strange way."

The corner of his lips twitched, a smile- for the twins at least, Luciellia would take it. His eyes finally landed on the parchment in her lap. "Apologies for not reporting on arrival." He spoke with a rigid formality that flared Luciellia's temper. Instead of snapping at the recovering warrior, she decided to give him the most withering glare she knew, "You think I give a fuck about a report when you almost died. On the side, your brother already reported, he's been up for a few days, seems you took the heaviest damage."

"Then the papers...?"

Luciellia's glare fell apart. The grumpy bastard was... dare she say, curious? Genuinely curious. She checked a wry grin behind a throat clear. "Ahem, if you must know. I'm writing you daughter." He tensed up completely, eyes widening. She sneered and waved a hand in dismissal. "Oh please, Eibby, you think I didn't know about the private ‘library’ you keep hidden under your sleeping furs." He was getting progressively angrier, the more she spoke. Good thing he was barely able to move, or she might actually fear him enough to get Icnoyotl. "Relax, I'm not going to tell anyone. It'd ruin your street cred anyway, and I need that." She winked at him, but he remained on edge, staring her down with a look that could kill.

"Seriously. I won't. I don't know why it has to be such a big secret. There are dragons with far darker secrets here. Weirdo." She shook her head and returned to her writing. He watched her in silence, his anger with her near palpable. She might find it hard sitting next to him, if she wan’t used to this. She did so enjoy poking at her clanmates tender underbellies as a hobby.

Conlaoch chose that moment to burst through the door, no worse for wear besides a few new scars and a blood soaked bandage covering half his face. He saw his brother awake and smiled, although "smile" would not be an accurate description. It was more like a villain's triumphant sneer than an smile of joy. "Good then, since you're alive I'll split the profit I just made off you. Those fools really believed that pile of paper cuts was going to kill you."

"And 5 broken ribs, a cracked sternum, a shattered humerus, a leg nearly torn off..." Luciellia glared at Conlaoch from the corner of her eye, mutter off the extensive list of Eibhear's injuries. Both brothers ignored her, or didn't even hear her over Conlaochs victorious barking. "Are you almost done healing? We need to report to Big Bitch and get out. The brats have been bothering me for the story on our fight and I need to get out of here."

"Soon, broth-" "You two aren't going anywhere." Luciellia firmly interrupted them. The both shot a menacing and mildly surprised glares her way. She didn't even flinch, "This encounter should have taught you, you need a Third."

"Fuck that," Conlaoch snapped at her,"We'll be fine ourselves. You have no authority to change our roster."

Not backing down, Luciellia spoke with finality, "In fact I do, as Icnoyotl's superior. You will not be assigned any missions outside the bound of the territory until Eibhear is fully recovered, and a third is introduced to the Berserkers. Am I clear?"