I've Been to Maelstrom to Visit The Queen

[Northen Light36]

Saph sighed and paused by the gates of the palace to shift the weight of his pack. Getting too old to be doing your job, Flash, he thought ruefully. He'd developed a habit of 'talking' to his brother since Flash's death. And while it stung a little that his brother hadn't chosen to return to life, Saph couldn't blame him. He knew all too well how tired Flash had been of all the noble drama. Flash deserved his rest.

Saph, however, wasn't due to get his own rest for awhile. And there was duty to do. After a brief, friendly chat with the guards on duty - both old friends of his - he was escorted into the palace and to Lya. "Lord Calder to see you, your Highness," the servant escorting Saph announced.

"Even after all this time, I still look for Flash when someone says that," Saph remarked giving Lya a fond smile before bowing. "Maybe even more now then in the past." Despite the warm smile, Spah looked visibly tired and somehow drained, as though something in him had been ripped away with the murder of his brother. He didn't look ill, just... worn down.

[Kender Bard]

"Saph!" Lya exclaimed in surprise. She hurried to the other man and hugged him tightly with a smile. "Forces above, I hadn't been expecting to see you!"

Her smile vanished with a look of concern. "Is everything all right? Laura? Lumi?"

[Northen Light36]

Saph smiled and gently returned the hug. "Everyone's fine, Lya," he assured her. "No need to worry. Laura sends her love and her regret she couldn't come with me to see how you are." He stepped back and asked gently, "How are you, Lya? Some of the rumours reaching Talen'sul had Laura and I a little worried about you and Dami."

[Kender Bard]

Lya's good, if concerned, mood evaporated in an instant. "I don't really want to talk about it, considering you just got here," she said simply, though not unkindly. "Why don't we get you settled in first? I'll have a guest room aired out for you. Will you be staying a while? A week I hope. I've missed having my friends about me."

[Northen Light36]

Saph gave Lya a concerned look, but nodded in agreement. "I can stay for as long as you want me, Lya," he assured her. "Laura's fine with Luminous and she's got the girls to help her if she needs it." He smiled and added lightly, "Honestly, I think she's just glad not to have me underfoot for awhile."

[Kender Bard]

Lya snorted softly at that as she summoned a servant to her from the hall. After giving instruction for Saph's room to be prepared, Lya gestured to a chair. "Please, sit. And as to your comment, I highly doubt that. Laura may be more politically inclined than yourself, but you know she relies on you for other things. How are your daughters?"

[Northen Light36]

Saph smiled as he tucked his pack under the seat so it was out of the way and gratefully sat down. "Teardrop's been a little unsettled since the demons," he murmured. "Not surprising though. That was a... difficult time. Raindrop's sticking to her sister like glue though, as she does, and that helps. Other then that, the girls are all fine."

[Kender Bard]

"I'm glad to hear your twins are well," Lya replied as she sat down opposite of him. "I hope Luna is doing well too, though I suppose with her living with her own family, it can be difficult to keep in touch. I know you said that Luminous is fine, but is she handling her responsibilities well?"

[Northen Light36]

"Very well, actually," Saph replied. "She's very dedicated to her work. I expected she might be somewhat distracted when Mother Cascata's son arrived, but she proved me wrong." He smiled. "She's grown up into a very mature, thoughtful young woman. You can be proud of her, Lya."

[Kender Bard]

Lya's smile was broad. "I am," she assured Saph. "Sometimes I feel she's being pushed into her role too soon, but she always surprises me by rising to the challenge without complaint." Still not wanting to address Damien just yet, she moved on to other concerns before ending their conversation with, "Why don't you get yourself settled in? We'll have dinner and then I'll be willing to talk with you on more... concerning matters afterwards."

[Northen Light36]

Saph nodded and rose, giving Lya a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Whenever you're ready, Lya," he said gently. "I'll be here."

As you'd want, Flash, he thought and for just a moment his smile turned deeply sad. Then he pushed the sorrow away and picked up his bag. "I'll see you at dinner then, Lya." Following a servant to his room, he smiled to find a hot bath already drawn and waiting in the little attached bathing room. A good soak would relax the aches from the journey as well as washing off the travel dirt.

By dinner time, having bathed, taken a brief nap and dressed in clothes that he hadn't been traveling in, Saph felt a lot more comfortable. True, the dull ache inside of him where he'd once been always vaguely aware of his brother felt a little bit sharper and rawer here, in what had been Flash's home for so long, but he'd expected that and would cope.

Putting aside the grief yet again, he turned his focus to helping Lya and made his way down to dinner.

[Kender Bard]

At the dinner table, Saph was greeted with the sight of not only Lya, but a young boy with blonde hair and blue eyes standing near her. At Saph's approach, the boy bowed deeply.

Lya smiled, excited. "Saph, I'd like to introduce you to the newest household member. This is Kaleb Tuft, son of Lord Hesiod Tuft. I've taken him on as my ward."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Calder," Kaleb chirped with a grin.

[Northen Light36]

The faintest hint of a raised eyebrow was the only sign Saph gave of disapproval before he smiled at Kaleb. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Keleb," he murmured, nodding to the young boy. "Please, feel free to call me Saph."

He might be wondering what in Naruta Lya was thinking, but he could never give the cold shoulder to a child.

[Kender Bard]

"As you wish, Saph," Kaleb responded with a bit of amusement. He went to take his seat with Lya following to do the same. "Do you have any children, Lord Calder?"

"He has three daughters, all grown," Lya told Kaleb. "Though if you're interested in Calder-related children, I do believe he has a grandson who is... oh, how old?"

[Northen Light36]

Saph took his seat as well and murmured, "Oh, Nubilous would be about ten by now." He smiled a touch wistfully at the thought of his grandchild and considered writing to Luna to see if she'd welcome a brief visit on his way home. It'd be out of the way, but well worth it to see her and her family. "He's growing up fast, I fear. But that's the nature of children."