“Our wedding celebration,” Yelena said.
Valek hid his grin. Yelena’s mother had refused to leave the Keep until plans had been set into motion for the celebration. And after a month of having her mother underfoot, Yelena would have agreed to anything to speed Perl’s departure. Which was why the party was scheduled for when the Keep’s students were gone. Perl’s guest list was so long that they would need to use the student barracks to house them all.
“I thought you were already married,” Olya said. She bounced Liana on her knee. The baby squealed in delight.
“In Ixia,” Valek said. “Sitia has different rules.”
“And they’ll use any excuse to throw a party,” Yelena joked.
Olya frowned at that. Valek suspected it would take his mother the most time to adjust to the Sitian way of life.
“Hot season, eh?” Kalen wiped his brow. “We’ll come, but I can’t guarantee we won’t melt into puddles.”
“We’ve invited a couple Stormdancers who will make sure clouds block the sun and a cool breeze blows,” Valek said. “Their powers are similar to Zethan’s.”
The tension increased with the mention of magic. Oh, boy.
Kalen cleared his throat. “Zethan mentioned you’re working for the Sitian Council. What are you doing for them?” He adopted a casual tone, but the tightness in his shoulders said otherwise.
“I’m helping with security. What they had in place before the Cartel was not very effective.”
“You mean like guarding the Councilors?”
Valek didn’t need to read his father’s thoughts to understand the real question. “More like setting up protocols, ensuring the guards are trustworthy and helping with training.” He glanced at his mother’s pinched face. “Not assassinating anyone.” Unless they threatened the safety of his herd.
“Of course not,” his father said too quickly. “I’m sure all that’s behind you now that you have a beautiful wife and daughter.”
Smooth recovery. Valek approved.
Kalen hopped to his feet. “How about a tour of the tannery? Yelena?”
She hesitated, glancing at Liana.
“Oh, she’ll be fine. Olya’s raised seven babies.”
“All right. A tour would be nice.”
Valek laced his fingers in Yelena’s as they trailed his father. The equipment in the tannery remained the same as he’d remembered. The smells of the vats and the hides stretched over the drying racks brought many of his childhood memories bubbling to the surface of his mind. He and his brothers had devised many creative excuses to avoid working.
Kalen led them back outside. Three mounds of dirt marred the grass behind the tannery. The headstones of Valek’s older brothers marked each one—Vincent, Viliam, and Victor. Yelena’s grip tightened in his. Valek glanced at her in concern, but she shook her head. Later.
“I wanted to let you know we brought them with us,” Kalen said. “We couldn’t stand the thought of leaving them behind.”
“Thank you.” Valek swallowed the wedge of emotion in his throat. “I see you left Mooch behind.”
Kalen laughed. “Yeah. The twins were upset, but I wasn’t digging up that damn dog.”
They returned to the house and spent the rest of the afternoon making awkward conversation. Valek offered to hire a couple of trustworthy people to help his parents.
“The tannery is smaller than the one in Ixia,” his father said. “Zeb and I can handle it.”
Valek exchanged a glance with Zeb, but his brother pressed his lips together, signaling it wasn’t the right time to mention the glass apprenticeship. “They would be able to do more than work. They can advise you on the local customs, ensure you’re not being cheated or taken advantage of and tell you where to purchase certain goods, like a fabric that breathes in this hot weather. Those wool uniforms are far too warm for the Sitian climate.”
“We’ll think about—” his father started.
“That would be nice,” Olya said in a tone that warned her husband not to argue with her.
Wow. He hadn’t expected his mother to agree so easily. Valek kept his expression neutral. “I’ll make inquiries at Owl’s Hill before we return to the Citadel tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” She stood with a sleepy Liana in her arms. “The baby needs a nap, and I need to start dinner.”
“Would you like some company?” Yelena offered.
“Yes.” Olya transferred Liana to Valek’s arms. “You had those same long eyelashes when you were a baby. Everyone thought you were a girl, despite the fact that you wore your brothers’ hand-me-downs.” Then she went into the kitchen.
Yelena flashed him a grin before following his mother.
Do not tell Janco, he thought.