Welcome To My Homeland|Sensatiamens, Sensatia

[Kender Bard]

"Here we are," Timble announced after they'd been brought into the walls of Sensatiamens by the guards on duty. "Sensatia. How you feeling?" He glanced at Garrick in concern. He'd been careful to not strain the other young man too much.

[Darastrix]

"Tired," Garrick admitted. He still tired easily, though not quite as badly as he had at first. "But safe," he added, looking around at the walls. And he'd thought Ilyamen's walls were impressive. They had nothing on Sensatia.

[Kender Bard]

"You won't find a safer place than Sensatia," Timble agreed with a chuckle. "Even though people don't actively go nosing around in other people's heads, some folks here are very telepathically or emphatically sensitive. They could pick up a stray thought or dark emotions that hint to trouble. And don't even get me started on the seers."

He grinned brightly. Along the way he'd found Garrick an easy man to talk to and had surprised even himself with how much he talked about things. I guess I missed having someone around my age more than I thought. "Did you want to come meet my family now? I promise it won't tire you further; my mother will see to it that you're comfortable and cared for. It's Divria that'll wear you out but I'll keep a leash on her antics."

[Darastrix]

"That would be nice," Garrick agreed with a smile. While they'd traveled, he'd been too focused on just keeping going or just too tired to fall much into his pattern of flustered speech. By the time he'd had the energy for it, he'd gotten enough at ease around Timble that it wasn't a problem. He just hoped he didn't make a fool of himself in front of Timble's family.

[Kender Bard]

Timble grinned and led the way to the Kenway manner. Once a servant let him in, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "I'm HOME!"

Shortly, Luna made her appearance. "You'll wake the baby," she scolded gently but pulled Timble into a hug. Timble grinned and hugged her back. "Goodness, Timble, you manage to look older every time I see you and it hasn't been that long."

Timble ducked his head, grinning. "Mother, this is a friend of mine I picked up in Ilyamen. His name is Garrick. Garrick, this is my mother, Luna."

Luna smiled and curtsied. "A pleasure to meet you; it's good to see Timble making friends. He can be a bit of a grump, if you don't know."

[Darastrix]

Garrick gave an automatic bow in response to Luna's curtsy, surprise plain on his face. This was Timble's mother? She looked so young. He'd thought she might have been another sister that Timble hadn't mentioned.

"I, ah, hadn't noticed," he replied, looking between the two of them. "It's nice to meet you," he added belatedly.

[Kender Bard]

Luna's eyes gleamed with merriment. "You must not have told him the circumstances of our relationship, Timble."

Timble gave her a confused look. She rolled her eyes slightly and sighed but smiled with good humor.

"Timble and Divria were adopted by my husband before I married him," she explained to Garrick. "I know we're not far in age, but I've known them since they were younger and have looked after them as best as I could."

"Yeah, I was an orphan before father came along," Timble admitted. "So Luna's the closest thing to a mother I've ever had."

[Darastrix]

"Oh!" The confusion began to fade from Garrick's face. That cleared that up. "I thought you might be his sister at first," Garrick said to Luna.

[Kender Bard]

"We're close enough in age to be siblings," Luna admitted. "And it's not an unusual reaction."

"She's pretty motherly though," Timble supplied.

Luna smiled and kissed his cheek fondly. "I do my best. And it's been infinitely helpful in preparing me for raising my own born child."

"How is he?" Timble asked, perking up.

"Sleeping like I said," Luna reminded him with a touch of sterness. "And I'll thank you not to wake him. Nubilous has an aversion to sleeping much to my distress."

Timble grimaced. "Yes mother. Um, could you find somewhere for us to sit and rest? We've just been on the road and..."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Luna apologized with a flush. "This way." She led the boys to a sitting room and urged them to take their ease. "I'll come back with refreshments in a moment." She disappeared into another room.

"If Divria was home you'd have been smothered with her attention by now," Timble reasoned. "So I guess she's not here. And father is likely hard at work somewhere. He's adviser to Master Thelon."

[Darastrix]

“Your mother seems very nice,” Garrick murmured, sinking gratefully into a chair. “Mine would have found at least ten things to criticize as soon as I stepped through the door.”

[Kender Bard]

"I wouldn't be able to live with a harpy like that either," Timble grimaced. "No wonder you sent her away. I'd have run far and not come back."

Luna returned shortly with mulled cider and a platter with cheeses and bits of cold meat. Timble grinned and tucked in with zeal.

"Save some for your guest," Luna scolded softly as she sat down in another seat. "So, Garrick, how did you and Timble meet?"

"I saved his ass," Timble announced proudly over a mouthful. At Luna's glare, he decided to busy himself in eating.

"Did he have a contract to assist you?" Luna amended.

[Darastrix]

Garrick shook his head and carefully selected bits of meat that seemed to have the least fat. His stomach was still a bit sensitive. "I don't know how much the people here have heard about matters in Ilyamen, but the guard finally had to take over to keep Haven from being a completely lose cause. I don't know where Milady Arrida is. Some people have managed to stay in work, but only the ones that provide things everyone needs. I'm a bookbinder; nobody's asking for us, and I was too scared to leave the house much besides. The only reason I went out at all was because I just needed to get food that badly."

"I ran into one of the rats on the way, and Timble just happened to be somewhere nearby. He killed the rat and saw me to where I could get something to eat, and then to the temple to spend the night."

[Kender Bard]

"I decided to bring him here to Sensatia where he's more likely to get work," Timble added.

"That was very kind of you, son," Luna remarked with pride. Timble smiled and blushed a little. "Well Garrick, you can stay as a guest in our home until you get your feet under you if you like."

[Darastrix]

"I don't want to be a bother," Garrick protested. Timble's help had been one thing; his life had been in danger, and then Sensatia had just happened to be where Timble's family lived. There was no need for him to impose on them all, especially with what sounded like a new baby in the house. "I can just stay at the temple until I can work."

[Kender Bard]

"If that's what you wish," Luna replied.

"Mother's a giving spirit," Timble chuckled.

"No, it's just the Calder way to invite people into our homes," she shot back with some amusement. "Going as far back as my grandmother. Well young man, I wish you luck. Feel free to visit in the future if you like. You seem very agreeable."

There came the sound of the front door closing, a bit noisily, and a voice rang out, "I'm hoooome!"

"That's Divria!" Timble announced with clear excitement. He raised his own voice. "Divria!"

"Voices," Luna scolded but there came a wail anyway. She gave Timble a look of pure irritation.

"Sorry mother," Timble mumbled. Luna shook her head and got up to go see to her baby as Divria hastened over.

"Timble!" she squealed and threw her arms about her brother as he rose to greet her. The two still looked terribly similar, moreso than the last time they had met as Divria's complexion faded back to its old paleness.

"You look good, sister dear," Timble remarked as he looked her over. "Very pretty."

"Oh, I just got back from the embassy," she murmured, blushing, and then noticed Garrick. Beaming, she she greeted him as well. "Why hello there!"

"This is my friend, Garrick," Timble said. "Garrick, my twin, Divria. Divria please be easy on him, he's had a rough time of it."

"Oh," she cooed sympathetically.