Llarasa and Monderyn each waited for the other to answer first. After a while, Monderyn adjusted his cuff and sighed. "Don't take this the wrong way, but it has not felt for me like these past years since talking to you last were such a long time..."

Shortly into the conversation, Monderyn's statement was more or less disproven. Their memories jogged as various events came to mind. Between the yearly to weekly to daily routines of running the winery with their father, Monderyn and Llarasa had plenty of things to talk about. New friends had been made and old friends moved onto new stages of life. The winery had expanded marginally, with more experience and networks earning them a reputation for quality. Llarasa even mentioned her cat dying of old age a year before their conversation. Monderyn had to call out why she mentioned that instead of all the spare-time canvas painting she had been doing over the years, but Llarasa insisted that was just a hobby.

Perhaps the most impactful period was the time spent putting together eye medicine for Fendros' mother Calia. Over a year-long treatment process, she regained use of her sight enough to travel slowly without assistance. Sadly, she never regained full use of her eyes, though the skills she learned when blind more than made up for her remaining deficiency.

Of course, most overarching events had already been conveyed through letters. The real substance of the conversation set in when everyone had finished at least two drinks. By then, they were relaxed enough to settle into more general conversations about mundane, if often wholesome, aspects of life.

Rhazii even contributed to the conversation, though he mostly kept his distance. A combination of anxiety and the age disparity left him far less to relate to. Fendros and Ahnasha pulled him into the conversation numerous times in the capacity of proud parents, letting slip non-harmful accomplishments he had made. Rhazii kept himself humble at first, though he acted in contrast to the self-assurance he otherwise expressed if his capabilities were even subtly brought into doubt.

Many hours of catching up eventually had to end as dinner was approaching. Llarasa and Monderyn were adults, it was true, but missing the family dinner without notice would bring undue suspicion. They took their leave with gracious farewells, hugs, and promises to speak tomorrow. This time with mother in tow.

[hr]
Narsi walked with a surprised start at Lorag's turning and leaving. Once she caught up with him, she looked back at her mother Harriet. Harriet returned her look, scowling, but she brought her fingertips to her lips and then lifted the hand to wave her off. Narsi's face twisted and she looked away and down. Lorag could hear her breathing unevenly, but she did not sob once. No tears dropped from her lowered face.

By the time Lorag asked Narsi about Harriet's side of the story, she had only just started calming down. She was just as petulant in her tone as before. "She didn't lie if that's what you wanna know," she said. "How do I know you're even smart enough to understand? Not like I can just say she killed the guy and you'd be satisfied."