Conversation returned as they ate.
Tavian described a merchant who had tried selling Zarven the same painting twice. Neris insisted the second frame made it a different purchase, and Simon asked whether the merchant had charged extra for it.
Zarven laughed.
"He did. Quite confidently."
"Did you buy it?"
"My husband spent half an hour bargaining over the price," Maelis said.
"So you did buy it?"
Zarven cleared his throat.
"It was an excellent frame."
Occasionally, Maelis looked between them, seemingly surprised by how easily their guest had joined the conversation.
Simon was a little surprised himself.
He ate, listened, and found himself smiling without thinking about it. Nobody asked about his age again or pressed him to explain his strength. For a while, they were simply a family sharing food and teasing one another.
Their troubles hadn't disappeared, but sitting here felt peaceful.
He could get used to this.
