News You Don't Hear Everyday

[Kender Bard]

Thelon teleported into Ilyamen and let go of his three passengers. "I'll be back tomorrow morning," he promised, and abruptly teleported away.

"He always seems in a hurry," Talon reflected, taking Alethia's hand. "Well, let's go try to find that guild."

It didn't take long; there was a large sign outside the building that attracted attention fairly well. Talon grinned and walked in with the girls. Sashi was half asleep at the desk but jumped a little as the trio walked in.

"Welcome," she greeted. "To the Mercenary Company. Can I help you?"

[Darastrix]

((If a man heard that news every day, I imagine he'd kill himself rather quickly.))

"I hope so," Cass replied. "We're looking for Amaro Melissan. He's supposed to be in town to visit your guild here. Have you seen him?"

She looked at Sashi hopefully.

[Kender Bard]

Sashi grinned and nodded. "Aye, he's in back."

"Could you get Acqua too?" Alethia inquired. Talon was busy taking in every detail of the place with an almost hungry look.

Sashi nodded and got up, heading towards the personal rooms. "Hey! Amaro! Acqua! You two have visitors!"

[Northen Light36]

"Visitors?" Amaro asks, suprised.

"Yeah, you know. People who want to see you?" Acqua teases, then pauses mock thoughtfully. "Oh wait, forgot who I was talking to. Of course you wouldn't know." Ducking Amaro's 'playful' punch, Acqua hurries out to see who's there, half expecting Echo or someone from the guild. Amaro isn't far behind his sister and both stop dead when they see Alethia, Talon and Cass. "Alethia!" Acqua practically squeals with delight, flinging herself forward to hug her sister.

"Cass?" Amaro asks, shocked. "What are you doing here?" Realising how that sounds, Amaro adds hastily, "Not that I'm not glad to see you, but it's a long trip." Acqua nods, giving her brother, sister and friend a puzzled look.

"Amaro's right. Why are you all here?"

[Darastrix]

"Well, it's not really that long of a trip when Thelon takes you," Cass said with a grin, walking up to Amaro to hug him. "But we're here because I needed to tell you something, and I didn't want to have to wait until spring."

[Northen Light36]

Amaro flushes just a little at what for him is a fairly public display of affection, but he hugs Cass back, before looking down at her in concern. "What's the matter, Cass? Are you all right?" Acqua's not as worried as Amaro is, but she's clearly concerned.

"Our room's just down the hall if you want to talk in private, Cass," she offers.

[Darastrix]

"Nothing's wrong and I'm perfectly fine," Cass assures them, smiling at Acqua for the offer. "And everyone will know soon enough." She grins at Amaro. "Amaro, you and Acqua are going to be an aunt and a father. I think you can figure out who is which."

[Northen Light36]

For a moment Acqua and Amaro have the exact same reaction - staring at Cass in complete shock. Then Amaro manages to say, "You're joking... No, no, of course you're not." He hugs her again, a shocked, but delighted smile on his face. "Damn Cass, couldn't you have said something sooner? I'd have stayed home if I knew."

"Congratulations you two," Acqua says, giving the pair a smile that's only slightly forced. "Looks like you'll have to stop worrying over that ring and hand it over, Amaro," she adds mischieviously.

[Darastrix]

"Said something when?" Cass asks, amused. "Between trying to start a new guild and everything with mine lately, I've scarcely had time to breathe."

Cass raises a brow slightly at Acqua's comment and looks at Amaro. "Amaro?" she asks in a sing-song. "What's she taaaaaalkin' about?"

[Northen Light36]

Amaro glares at his sister, who smiles innocently. "Acqua, do I even want to know why you were poking around my room?"

"You told me not to, so I was curious," Acqua replies simply. "Now stop dodging Cass' question." Something occurs to her and she gives Talon and Alethia a pointed look, silently saying she wants to talk to them in private. "Come on you two, let's give them some privacy."

[Kender Bard]

"Right," Alethia agrees. Talon is still poking around the room with rapt, amazed interest, idly putting a tin cup in his ever-present belt pouch. Alethia takes his hand gently and leads him out of the room with her.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua follows her siblings out and takes a deep breath. "Sis... Talon... Amaro and I were going to leave on a job in the morning, hunting down a few bandits in the Beastlands. I know Amaro isn't going to want to go now, but his honour won't let him turn the job down. And there's a snowball's chance in Naurorod he'll let me go alone so..." Acqua takes a second to pray Alethia won't kill her for asking this. "Talon, will you come with me so Amaro can go home with Cass?"

It's not hard to see that, even now, Acqua's struggling with some jealousy of Cass, but the fact she's actually making an effort to find away to let them be together - rather then throw the fit she did over Talon and Alethia's marriage - shows just how much she's grown up in the last few years.

---

Amaro takes a deep breath as his siblings leave the room, then lets it out in a sigh. "Cass, this isn't how I planned to ask... For one thing your ring is in a chest under my bed... But still..." Amaro gives Cass a slight, nervous smile and says, "Cassandra Harper, I love you. Would you be willing to give me the honour of having you as my wife?"

[Kender Bard]

Alethia looks at Acqua with a bit of surprise then a smile. She squeezes her little sister's hand encouragingly, proud of her, but even as she does she gives Talon a worried look. Who would care for her and the children?

Talon himself is grappling with that unspoken question, torn between his burning desire for adventure, his friendship with Amaro, and the pressing demands of his family's needs. "I.. Well I need to talk to Amaro first," he sighs. "Until then, I don't know, Acqua. I'd like to, you know."

[Darastrix]

Cass gives Amaro a brilliant smile and wraps her arms around him, pressing her lips firmly to his. After what might seem like a small eternity to anyone not involved, she pulls back and grins. "Of course I would. What took you so long?" she adds with a laugh.

[Northen Light36]

Amaro laughes, his eyes bright with relief and happiness. "Fear that you were going to come to your senses," he replies dryly, then asks seriously, "Cass... Are you sure?"

---

Acqua nods understandingly. "If you can't, Talon, it's okay. I'll deal with Amaro's screamed protests and see if any of the-my friends around here will help out," she suggests, knowing just how far from happy Amaro will be with the thought of Acqua going off with any of the thieves guild.