Double trouble, twice over!

[Kender Bard]

"Yes," Alethia answers, looking a bit suspicious now as she hugs Acqua back. "Talon!" she calls out, having started adopting her husband's bad habit. Talon emerged from the other room, carrying his son piggy back. "Yes dear? Oh! Hello you two." He grinned and winked, having no hands free to wave. Spice waved energetically from his perch.

[Northen Light36]

"Hello Talon," Amaro replies, taking his 'nephew' off Talon and tickling the boy.

"Hi Talon," Acqua adds, reaching up to tickle Spice as well. "Hey Spice, think you can keep Talon and Alethia out of trouble if Amaro and I go on a trip?" she asks the young boy.

[Kender Bard]

"Yeees!" Spice laughs, squirming around from both of them.

Alethia looks surprised. "A trip? To where?"

"Can I come?" Talon asks slyly, only half serious. Alethia gives him a look and he grins sheepishly at her. "My mistake. Can we come?" Alethia can't help but giggle and relax.

[Northen Light36]

"Ilyamen," Amaro replies. "We've been hearing rumors about a mercenary guild there and Acqua and I decided we'd like to see if there's any truth in them." Acqua nods then looks seriously at Talon.

"Talon, you know we'd love you to come, but..." She glances out the window, then back at Talon, "It's nearly winter and it'll be a long, cold trip. Don't you think that would be a bit hard for Reny?" She flicks her eyes towards Spice to include him in the statement, even if she's not going to risk upsetting the child by saying he couldn't handle the trip.

[Kender Bard]

"Yeah," Talon sighs with a disappointed look. "I know. I wasn't entirely serious either. I have my family to take care of."

Alethia squeezes Talon's hand, feeling a little bad. They would have a talk about it later.

"I hope you guys have fun," he adds, smiling at the two softly.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua and Amaro exchange uncomfortable looks, clearly feeling bad as well. "We could wait until Spring..." Amaro mumbles, trying not to sound as reluctent as he feels. "It would be an easier trip then..." Acqua nods, only the faintest hint of disappointment showing.

[Kender Bard]

Talon shakes his head vigorously, and Alethia does as well.

"Don't worry," she assures the two of them. "You guys go on ahead. I'm sure I'll think of something to look forward to."

The tantalizing promise works and Talon perks up at the prospect of a surprise trip for himself. "Yeah, you two go on ahead!"

[Northen Light36]

Acqua smiles, relieved. "Well if you're sure you'll be all right with it," she says, then grins at Talon. "We'll try and find something interesting for your collection," she promises.

"You two won't be missing much, anyway," Amaro adds. "We'll probably just arrive to find out a couple of Ilyamen guards have stuck a couple of chairs in a shed somewhere and are trying to make some extra money." Acqua snickers at that.

"If that's the case, I'll be impressed," she comments dryly. "I've yet to meet an Ilyamen guard with the wits to open a door, let alone carry a chair through it."

[Kender Bard]

Both adults giggled at that.

"Just promise to write when you get there, and tell me what I'm missing out on," Talon demands with a shake of his finger at both of them, though mostly at Amaro.

[Northen Light36]

Amaro chuckles as he puts Spice down. "Fine," he agrees. "Be a good boy for Alethia and Spice and I'll even draw you a picture," he adds teasingly.

~Provided they even arrive in Iylamen,~ Faith comments dryly. ~Since both of them would rather sleep through the cold rather then do anything useful.~

[Kender Bard]

Alethia smiles fondly at Faith as she catches sight of her. "I take it you're going with them?" she asks of the cat, as Spice goes to pet her.

[Northen Light36]

~Of course,~ Faith replies simply. ~Who would keep them out of trouble if I didn't go?~ Trotting over to sit by the fire and warm herself Faith adds, ~Of course, it would be nice if they were sensible and stayed in the den wher it's warm. But what else can I expect? Humans.~

Acqua and Amaro both roll their eyes at that. "Well we could always leave you here and take Skip," Acqua suggests mischieviously. Faith hisses at that suggestion.

[Kender Bard]

Skip pokes his nose out of Spice's room. "Did someone call my name?"

Spice abandons his attempts to pet Faith and runs over to his puppy instead, leaving the adults to themselves again.

"You be careful," Alethia says firmly. "Both of you. And have fun."

[Northen Light36]

"When aren't we careful, sis?" Acqua asks, then laughs at the looks given to her. "Fine, fine, when isn't Amaro careful?"

"We'll be fine," Amaro assures Alethia. "You just try and keep Talon from doing anything too stupid while I'm gone."

[Kender Bard]

"I promise," Alethia laughs, wrapping her arms around Talon.

"And I promise to behave too," Talon chuckles.