"Oh, it has been so long since I've tasted wine, I almost forgot how it tastes," Fendros said with an ever-increasing smile. "Let's go. Janius, Kaleeth, Sabine, did you want to accompany us?"

Sabine smiled and shook her head. "I think I just want to get some sleep."

"It couldn't hurt." Janius shrugged and looked to Kaleeth. "I wouldn't mind a drink, or at least finding the boys, how about you?"

They were out of the room soon after. For all they knew, Lorag and Meesei were indulging in some drink themselves.

[hr]
The well dressed older lady, evidently Aeramina, pulled an endearing smile at Julan's enthusiasm. Remus was not so amused.

With strong, loud strides against the floorboards, Remus clomped up to Julan, standing just out of reach of him and looking down his nose. "Young boy," he said calmly through his deep frown. "My son died seventeen years ago. I do not know where your parents might be, but if they died today and I claimed to you that I was your father seventeen years later, I would expect you to disbelieve me."

Rhazii glanced to the faces around them. Harald and Jatinha were not responding. Aeramina was oblivious of any tension in the air.

"You have exactly one minute to explain yourself before I remove you from my home."

At no point was Remus' voiced raised or demanding. He was speaking evenly and carefully. It was his posture, with his hand on his axe, that made up for it.

Rhazii's ear quirked. He looked at the staircase once more. The face of the blonde Imperial girl he had spotted was there for only a second, widened her eyes, and silently darted out of sight.