Chapter 146: He's a guest

Irin enjoyed the sunny morning. The storm had passed during the night, and the sun was out in full. She was sitting on a big stone she had asked Koth to move into the garden. It was excellent for sitting on. She was embroidering Koth's initials onto some handkerchiefs. She had seen his old ones and decided he needed new ones. It was a relaxing task as she cut and hemmed the fabric, adding his initials along with a small acorn. A little further down the hill, she could see the horses and Noodle zooming around, chasing bugs and small birds. Koth came out, carrying a waterskin which he placed next to her.

"It's hot out; don't forget to drink," he told her as he sat down on the ground next to her.

"Thank you," she said, and drank some water.

"Nenhir should be here any moment," he reminded her. She nodded. "Remember I told you he can be grumpy?"

"I remember," she said.

"I just don't want you to feel offended if he's in a bad mood after the journey here," he added. Irin stopped what she was doing and looked at him.

"Oh no! How am I ever going to get along with someone who is grumpy? What will I do?" she said, and with a dramatic gesture, swept her hand to her forehead, pretending to swoon. She laughed, then kissed his cheek. "I think I will manage."

"I'm not grumpy," he objected. She merely raised an eyebrow. "Maybe a little bit," he admitted. As she laughed, they heard Noodle hiss, and both looked at him. Irin saw a man walking up the steps carved into the hill facing the city. He was leading a big horse. Irin recognised him from the orb and stood up with Koth. She put her things on the stone and took Koth's outstretched hand. They met Nenhir as he reached the final step. He was breathing heavily, and Irin felt for him.

"You need to find a fucking better place to live," was his greeting. Koth huffed.

"If you weren't such miserable company, I would tell you to visit more often to prevent you from getting fat. Now I'll just tell you to move your arse once in a while," Koth countered. Irin laughed, and both men looked at her.

"Sorry, my lady. I didn't remember he kept civil company," Nenhir apologised to her.

"I don't mind. And please, it's just Irin," she said. She saw him glance at Koth. "He doesn't get a say in it," she added.

"She is right," Koth agreed. "It's best to do as she tells you, or she will twist your ear right off your head."

"Koth!" Irin exclaimed. "You liar! Don't you have both of yours still attached?" she asked. Nenhir chuckled.

"I see why you like her," he told Koth.

"She's mine," Koth reminded him. Both Irin and Nenhir rolled their eyes.

"Come on. Let's get you the rest of the way, and I'll feed you," Irin told Nenhir. "Can your horse roam free? We don't have a stable," she asked.

"Yet," Koth added.

"Right. We don't have a stable yet," she agreed. The wizard was still chuckling.

"Fobos won't run away. He's too lazy to do so. It's one of his better qualities," he told Irin. He took the equipment off his horse and let him walk towards Maximus and Glima. He took the saddle and bridle in one hand, and Irin nudged Koth.

"What?" he asked.

"The saddlebags," she told him. Koth looked at them.

"What about them?" he asked.

"He is a guest; help him with them," she encouraged him.

"Why? He can carry them himself."

"He's a guest," she hissed. Koth grumbled and reached for the bags at the same time as Nenhir. Nenhir stopped and looked at Koth.

"Why are you trying to take my saddlebags?" he asked.

"You are a guest," Koth said.

"I'm not a fucking weakling. I can carry my own things," Nenhir grumbled. Koth gave Irin a look.

"Fine, fine. You are all big, bad wizards. I get it," she said. She didn't mind when Koth put his arm around her, and they all walked to the tower.

"This looks different," Nenhir said as they got to the garden.

"Irin has sorted it out," Koth proudly said.

"You haven't been home that long," Nenhir pointed out.

"Alesseja likes pretty gardens; she was more than happy to give me some of her magic," Irin explained. "Koth can show you the guest room," she told him as they got inside.

"It's the one on the left, second floor," Koth told his friend.

"Honestly, I could have done that," she huffed as Nenhir walked off. Koth shrugged.

"Unlike someone, he can find his own way," Koth teased her and tickled her. She giggled, batting him away as best she could.

"Stop it! I have to make sure the food is ready," she hissed between bouts of giggles.

"It smells amazing. I don't think you need to worry," he told her, and kissed her neck.

"Will you set the table?" she asked.

"Of course," he agreed, and when Nenhir came back to the kitchen, the table was set, and Koth was helping Irin to move the big pot to the table.

"I hope you are hungry. Irin has made food for a small army," Koth said.

"Between you and me, that sounds like just enough for lunch," the other wizard said, and all three of them laughed. As they ate, they talked about mundane things: his journey, and an experiment Koth and Nenhir had discussed before. It was a nice and relaxing meal.

"Is that a flying snake?" Nenhir asked as he looked out of the window. Koth and Irin both followed his gaze and smiled as they saw Noodle chasing a swallow.

"That is Noodle. Koth bought him for me," Irin said with pride.

"He looks gentle and a little slow, but he is a smart little creature with a lethal bite," Koth told his friend. Irin wanted to object—she felt he had insulted her baby—but he had praised him as well, so she didn't know whether she should or not.

"I would say. That is a leaf-tailed flying snake; their venom is legendary," Nenhir told them.

"Legendary?" Koth asked.

"Well, at least in circles who know their stuff about flying snakes. He's your pet? He's tamed?" Nenhir asked Irin.

"He is a sweetheart, very protective, but very cuddly," she told him.

"What would I need to pay to get a sample of his venom?" he asked. Irin looked worriedly at Noodle.

"Will it hurt him to collect it?" she asked.

"No, no. I would never hurt something so beautiful. No, we will just have him bite down on a special kind of jar," he told her.

"Oh. Then I want you to tell us what happened to the travellers, and then you can have a sample," she agreed. He looked a little less happy but nodded.

"I would have told you without the venom," he said.

"I would have given you the venom without the story," she told him.

"A fair trade then," he agreed.

"It's bad," Koth remarked.

"It's not good," his friend agreed.