Hudson walked with long strides up the street toward the Silver Lark; with only a small bundle of clothing in his possession and that borrowed from Gaerwyn, the hike from the docks had gone quickly. The crowds and above all the stench of the city were enough to drive away any remaining traces of the small village where he had passed months in healing. His stag's-head brooch was an odd touch against the Yransea styling of his borrowed garb. As he drew parallel to the shop windows, he paused. Black eyes took in the dark showroom, the empty display cases, and an expression mixed of sorrow and anger touched his face; he hadn't wanted to believe Gaerwyn's news of Johnny, but this was evidence beyond doubt. After a moment he continued on to the house, climbing the steps quickly so he could knock with one net-scarred hand on the door.
Even though the sun was suspended well above the horizon with hours to go before it would set, twin candles flickered within a lantern already hung outside the door. Thick layers of wax hardened at the bottom indicated that these were not the first candles, nor would they be the last to hold residence there.
Sianna was upstairs with the twins and Matty, seeing to their bath time and change into fresh clothes after mishaps after their midday feeding. Henderson had entered from the rear, arms full of thin kindling for the fireplace when he heard the knock. Dogs weaving about his ankles, he made his way across the parlor, calling upstairs, "I'll see ta th' door, missus." The door swung open, the older man's body in the gap.
The pair of candles had not gone unnoticed, and Hudson?s mouth twitched upwards briefly to think that one of those candles could be retired ? and then back down with the understanding the second would stay in place. When the door was opened, it took several long moments before Hudson could match the older man?s face to his memory through the turmoil of the past months. Finally he asked, slowly ? vaguely uncertain, since the armful of kindling didn?t match his memory of the man?s role, ?Ye?ll be Henderson, aye? Th? driver for Sianna? Be she here??
The grayed brows furrowed at the query and the accent. "Aye, such is my name. However, ye'll 'ave ta be statin' yer name and yer business b'fore I fetch th' missus awa' from her babes." The armload of wood shifted as he squared his shoulders. He had been afraid that once news got out that Sianna was alone that there would be a steady stream of visitors. There was no way he would allow her to be exposed to gawkers needlessly.
Again Hudson?s mouth twitched up at the corners, with mingled amusement and approval. He shifted the small bundle he carried from his right hand to his left, absently flexing his wrist; it still grew sore when overtaxed. ?My name be Hudson then, Hudson Fraiser, and I?d nae normally call away my sister from her babes, but ?tis been a guid few months, and I?d much like tae greet my niece and nephew tae.? More grey threaded through the dark of his hair, but did nothing to lessen the spark of mischief and merriment that showed in his eyes.
The older man could have been knocked over with a puff of wind at the statement, entirely caught off guard. Nodding furiously, he swung the door open the entire way. "Come in, come in, Master Hudson... an' I'll fetch th' missus right quick." Scurrying to the fireplace and depositing the kindling in the wood bin, he clapped his hand on the younger man's arm. "Sit, man, and make yerself comfortable. It will do her good ta see ya and she'll be down presently."
Branan and Caoimhe sniffed at the salt scent lightly clinging to his clothes as he was left alone in the parlor, Henderson taking the steps two at a time and muffled voices sounding overhead.
Instead of sitting, Hudson crouched carefully and with a crackle of knees to offer his scarred hands to the dogs for their investigation. When the smaller of the two nosed under his palm, he set to ruffling around the dog?s ears. Though he appeared entirely absorbed in the canines, the slight tilt of his head toward the stairs betrayed his focus of attention. The rise and fall of the muffled voices, and especially the rich tones of Sianna?s voice brought out his smile more fully though he couldn?t catch more than a scattered word or two.
The pace of feet on the steps were a rapid glissando as she all but flew down to see it for herself. Having given a quick run of the brush through her hair, she had left the twins to the competent care of the elder couple. For the second time in two years, she was being given back her brother, and the tears were already streaming silently down her cheeks in spite of the grin plastered there. Coming to a screeching halt at the doorway, her eyes scanned for his face at standing height. "Braithir?"
?Mi piuthair.? He stood with the brace of his hands against his thighs, covering the short distance to the doorway with the dogs dancing back and forth between them. ?Guil thu gu faic mi??* Without hesitation he reached to wrap her in a warm embrace, taking comfort in it as much as giving it.
Sianna's arms linked about his shoulders and she buried her face in his neck the way she had done when just a small girl, seeking succor and comfort from her older brother. "Guil mi oir tha thu faide ag gu mi... oir tha thu taisgeal."** Her breathing came in feathery gasps as her pulse began to settle down from its rapid acceleration, sobs and bursts of joy mingled together.
?Aye, found I was and many thanks tae Captain Caisson for that. I?ll nae be leaving again anytime soon, I dinnae think.? At the press of her face into his neck in that familiar gesture, Hudson cupped the back of her head for a moment before ruffling her hair in his habitual response. His own silent laughter shook his shoulders, the release of tension too long held. Eventually he pulled back somewhat, hands still on her shoulders, to look her fully in the face. The gleam of moisture in black eyes didn?t subtract from his smile. ?And I hear ye?ve gifted me wi? a niece and nephew while I were away. Gaerwyn called them Ian and Margaret, but didnae ken if that were th? full o? their names??
Her own blue eyes were bright and clear, the tears having dampened her lashes as they fluttered against her cheeks. "Aye, Ian Douglas and Margaret Janeth, though I call her Meggie. They'll be twa months tomorrow." She glanced over her shoulder towards the stairs. "They'll be down shortly, 'tis sure. But first... " Sianna turned to face him again, inspecting him lightly. ".. tell me that ye are well and whole and none th' worse for yer months awa'."
*You weep to see me?
**I weep because you are no longer lost to me? because you are found.
Even though the sun was suspended well above the horizon with hours to go before it would set, twin candles flickered within a lantern already hung outside the door. Thick layers of wax hardened at the bottom indicated that these were not the first candles, nor would they be the last to hold residence there.
Sianna was upstairs with the twins and Matty, seeing to their bath time and change into fresh clothes after mishaps after their midday feeding. Henderson had entered from the rear, arms full of thin kindling for the fireplace when he heard the knock. Dogs weaving about his ankles, he made his way across the parlor, calling upstairs, "I'll see ta th' door, missus." The door swung open, the older man's body in the gap.
The pair of candles had not gone unnoticed, and Hudson?s mouth twitched upwards briefly to think that one of those candles could be retired ? and then back down with the understanding the second would stay in place. When the door was opened, it took several long moments before Hudson could match the older man?s face to his memory through the turmoil of the past months. Finally he asked, slowly ? vaguely uncertain, since the armful of kindling didn?t match his memory of the man?s role, ?Ye?ll be Henderson, aye? Th? driver for Sianna? Be she here??
The grayed brows furrowed at the query and the accent. "Aye, such is my name. However, ye'll 'ave ta be statin' yer name and yer business b'fore I fetch th' missus awa' from her babes." The armload of wood shifted as he squared his shoulders. He had been afraid that once news got out that Sianna was alone that there would be a steady stream of visitors. There was no way he would allow her to be exposed to gawkers needlessly.
Again Hudson?s mouth twitched up at the corners, with mingled amusement and approval. He shifted the small bundle he carried from his right hand to his left, absently flexing his wrist; it still grew sore when overtaxed. ?My name be Hudson then, Hudson Fraiser, and I?d nae normally call away my sister from her babes, but ?tis been a guid few months, and I?d much like tae greet my niece and nephew tae.? More grey threaded through the dark of his hair, but did nothing to lessen the spark of mischief and merriment that showed in his eyes.
The older man could have been knocked over with a puff of wind at the statement, entirely caught off guard. Nodding furiously, he swung the door open the entire way. "Come in, come in, Master Hudson... an' I'll fetch th' missus right quick." Scurrying to the fireplace and depositing the kindling in the wood bin, he clapped his hand on the younger man's arm. "Sit, man, and make yerself comfortable. It will do her good ta see ya and she'll be down presently."
Branan and Caoimhe sniffed at the salt scent lightly clinging to his clothes as he was left alone in the parlor, Henderson taking the steps two at a time and muffled voices sounding overhead.
Instead of sitting, Hudson crouched carefully and with a crackle of knees to offer his scarred hands to the dogs for their investigation. When the smaller of the two nosed under his palm, he set to ruffling around the dog?s ears. Though he appeared entirely absorbed in the canines, the slight tilt of his head toward the stairs betrayed his focus of attention. The rise and fall of the muffled voices, and especially the rich tones of Sianna?s voice brought out his smile more fully though he couldn?t catch more than a scattered word or two.
The pace of feet on the steps were a rapid glissando as she all but flew down to see it for herself. Having given a quick run of the brush through her hair, she had left the twins to the competent care of the elder couple. For the second time in two years, she was being given back her brother, and the tears were already streaming silently down her cheeks in spite of the grin plastered there. Coming to a screeching halt at the doorway, her eyes scanned for his face at standing height. "Braithir?"
?Mi piuthair.? He stood with the brace of his hands against his thighs, covering the short distance to the doorway with the dogs dancing back and forth between them. ?Guil thu gu faic mi??* Without hesitation he reached to wrap her in a warm embrace, taking comfort in it as much as giving it.
Sianna's arms linked about his shoulders and she buried her face in his neck the way she had done when just a small girl, seeking succor and comfort from her older brother. "Guil mi oir tha thu faide ag gu mi... oir tha thu taisgeal."** Her breathing came in feathery gasps as her pulse began to settle down from its rapid acceleration, sobs and bursts of joy mingled together.
?Aye, found I was and many thanks tae Captain Caisson for that. I?ll nae be leaving again anytime soon, I dinnae think.? At the press of her face into his neck in that familiar gesture, Hudson cupped the back of her head for a moment before ruffling her hair in his habitual response. His own silent laughter shook his shoulders, the release of tension too long held. Eventually he pulled back somewhat, hands still on her shoulders, to look her fully in the face. The gleam of moisture in black eyes didn?t subtract from his smile. ?And I hear ye?ve gifted me wi? a niece and nephew while I were away. Gaerwyn called them Ian and Margaret, but didnae ken if that were th? full o? their names??
Her own blue eyes were bright and clear, the tears having dampened her lashes as they fluttered against her cheeks. "Aye, Ian Douglas and Margaret Janeth, though I call her Meggie. They'll be twa months tomorrow." She glanced over her shoulder towards the stairs. "They'll be down shortly, 'tis sure. But first... " Sianna turned to face him again, inspecting him lightly. ".. tell me that ye are well and whole and none th' worse for yer months awa'."
*You weep to see me?
**I weep because you are no longer lost to me? because you are found.