It was a torrential downpour that greeted Aleci when he stepped out the door. But the rain didn't stop visitors. At the entrace to the courtyard he could see Maera helping Praefect Cimul out of his wet cloak.

"Praefect?" Aleci blinked, rushing over, mindful to keep to under the atrium. "Were you not headed to Imruk?"

The man was not wearing his Praefect uniform, which was quite odd. Upon seeing him, Maera held out several wrapped packages. Aleci frowned, and looked them over. Then he sighed deeply because that big bold script could only be Aulius congratulating him on his marriage. The others he knew quite well to be his mother and his father.

"Your father didn't want me to go," Praefect Galer said with a shrugged, nodding his thanks to Maera who offered him a towel. "I would be on my way back but I realized I was tasked with delivering letters." It was said with a smile, "Not just any letters."

"Right," Aleci said, returning the gesture with a polite smile of his own. "Please, I can show you to the guest rooms—"

"No need," said Praefect Cimul, and here he patted Aleci's back. "Why would I keep you from your wife?"

"It is very kind of you, Praefect," he nodded his head at Maera. "I will let you know if Finne wants his food in our rooms."

"Ours?" Praefect Cimul raised an eyebrow, then ask quick as the question came to him, it was replaced by the courtly Alyssian politeness. "Please don't let me keep you then."

Aleci took that excuse to return to his room— the room he shared with Finne. It was dark when he entered, the curtains were still pulled. The basin was placed by the door and he scrunched up his nose at the smell. The blankets were pulled over Finne's head when he glanced at the bed, and he tip-toed his way to the nursery opening the door and closing it with a click. This room was dusty, just as he expected, and he swallowed a sneeze. There was an empty cradle in the corner, and a locked chest next to it. He sighed deeply at the cobwebbed room and the memories that threatened to come rushing back. But this wasn't a time to dwell on his mother's tears.

There were two cushions next to the window alcove and he gave it several hard thumps before sitting down on it. What did Aulius had to say to him now?

It wasn't just letter there was something in it as well. He unwrapped it, fumbling with whatever was inside. Even as the necklace fell into his hand he recognized the carved panther. There was a soft ringing in his ears and the letters fell to the ground as he beheld Ilos's last possession. His throat choked convulsively, he could hear the screaming and the— oh the smell of people burning.

"Aleci?"

The panther was burning in his hands, its tiny emerald eyes glaring accusingly.

'It is your fault.'

"Aleci?"

'It is your fault. Your fault.'

"Aleci?"

There was a warm hand on his shoulder and he shook himself out of the daze to see Finne's concerned face.

"The letter?" Finne gestured towards the fallen pages. "A... something bad?"

"No, no," Aleci shook his head, clenching his fist upon the jet so hard it dug into his flesh. "It's nothing. My friends sent letters is all." He forced himself to smile, "Are you feeling better?"

As an answer Finne bent down and handed Aleci the letters. He stopped at Aulius's, frowning, "Your friend?"

It was not in Aulius's normal writing, that was certain, and the paper was too perfumed to be Aulius's. Aleci sighed deeply, took the paper from Finne and began reading the invitation first congratulated him on his marriage —in Aulius's handwriting— and then switched to his wife's, extending a polite invitation to the festival. Aulius hosted Lophi's festival in Losium but it was usually Fonta who was tasked with sending invitations. He rubbed his temple with his free hand. She had written that there was a special guest, and he ought to be amendable. That could only mean Aulius had cajoled Kaeso into visiting Losium, and Kaeso... Kaeso was the last person Aleci wanted to see. He put the letter to the side and picked up his father's letter, better to get the worst of it over and done.

Even without reading he knew the contents. Galer loved telling round about things through letters. His title ought to be Galer Suspectus Tusirios, for all the times he confused sthe pies reading his letters. This time he had written a missive about a spat between the Gods, and Aleci struggled to keep himself from rolling his eyes. His father's God Mytea had been challenged by the Trickster Lophi to remove a traveler's cloak. Lophi went about it by being what he was, a prankster, blowing and tugging at the man's cloaks in every shape and form possible, a child, a dog, even the wind. But that only made the traveler clutch it closer to his chest. It was Mytea that won the little game that night by lighting a bonfire next to the man.

What even was he supposed to take away from this? Was it even related to Finne? Be kind and he would tell Aleci everything? Then he scowled harder, because it made some sense, a confrontation no matter how playful or angry would not lead to Finne divulging his secrets. He discarded the letter on the ground with a huff before taking up his mother's own letter. Then he let out an aggrieved sigh because it was worst, she suggested that he take Finne to the sea, because the sea was good for the stomach. A likely story! Aleci could dearly recall throwing up his entire stomach and more when he was taken sailing.

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"Nothing," Aleci shook his head, picking up the letters. Finne made to leave but Aleci stopped him, "Wait, Praefect Cimul is visiting. Do you want to eat with him? You can speak with him you know—"

"No!" Finne jumped to his feet, eyes wide. "No!"

"What?" Aleci blinked, startled at the reaction.

But whatever startled look on Finne's eyes were gone, replaced by concern as he reached towards Aleci's clenched fist. "Are you alright?"

The panther left several indents on his palm when he opened it, but one of them dug hard enough to bleed, just a little. "Is it nothing," Aleci lied, placing the carving into his pocket. He needed a drink, a long one, preferably one that would send him off to a stupor, "Do you want to eat with Praefect Cimul or no?"

Finne gave Aleci's pocket a curious look, then bent down and pick up the letters. His lips were in a very thin line and he nodded firmly, "Yes."

Aleci was all to happy to leave and start drinking but Finne took his time adjusting the stola. "You don't need to wear it," Aleci interrupted when Finne reached for the veil. "Cimul visited us uninvited, why should you put on act for his behalf?" When Finne reached for the fabric again Aleci shook his head, "No, Finne, „no, you eat."

They stared at each other, Finne clenching his jaw so hard Aleci could see the muscles of his neck before he broke their eye contact.

"Fine," Finne hissed, turning his back to Aleci and moving towards the door, "Fine."

"I am not ordering you," Aleci said, stepping between him and the door. "I am telling you, Cimul is a guest, a „guest". Were you not sick earlier? Why make it difficult for yourself to eat?"

"He comes with others!"

"No!" Aleci shook his head, internally cursing his stupidity. "He came alone, just... „only one" to bring me the letters and it's raining, Finne, I can't just send him back riding in such weather." His words were disjointed and rushed, and he reached towards Finne's shoulder to give it a reassuring squeeze.

The gesture was not returned, but Finne visibly relaxed. Well, it could have gone worst. The villa did not have a dining room, it was one of those luxuries Galer didn't care for. Instead he lead Finne to a sun room where his mother used to grow roses. There were several comfortable chairs all facing a table, and upon seeing them Praefect Cimul stood up and gestured for Aleci and Fine to take a seat.

"See?" Aleci whispered to Finne.

"No," Finne murmured back, but he reached out and took Aleci's hand.

«How are you?» It was as genuine a voice as he'd ever heard on Praefect Cimul so Aleci sat back, trying hard not to tap his foot in impatience.

Finne could talk to the man, and Cimul can tell him all kinds of things. Aleci wanted a drink and if Maera wouldn't bring it, he would personally go down to the cellar and pour the gold directly into his throat.

«Very well, thank you. „Praefect."»

«I am sorry I was accompanied by... interesting individuals.»

«One can't help it.»

«It is unfortunate that Maera was not there. I am sure she would have words to say.»

«She does.»

They were making kind of polite small talk one had to perform, before Maera came in, to Aleci's huge relief, with wine and food. Olus accompanied her, carrying a tray as well. The only reason he offered to help was clear by the tray's contents. Fried cheese, Aleci thought, amused, and reached for the wine to immediately wash away the thoughts.

'You mean the guilt.'

He had ignored that nagging voice for so long, he didn't care to think about it. It usually went away after three cups of wine.

"Good evening, Praefect Cimul," said Olus, struggling with his r. He took a seat closest to Finne.

The older man glanced towards Maera, "I didn't know you had another grandchild."

"He is in my care for the moment," said Maera.

The shortness of her answer must have spoken volumes. Praefect Cimul's eyes softened, and when he next addressed Olus it was with fatherly tones, "And how are you finding Dominus Aleci's house?"

Olus to his credit was waiting on Aleci and then Praefect Cimul to begin eating. He broke his gaze from the plate of fried cheese to say, with all the abruptness that Aleci knew he possessed, "I like the cats here."

Maera had began serving the food. Aside from the fried cheese there was a lettuce with eggs, along with an oat porridge and a roasted chicken on a bed of vegetables. Impressive, considering Praefect Cimul didn't give her time to prepare. Unfortunately she had, once again, watered down Aleci's wine. Olus was at the edge of his seat and grinned widely when Maera conceded and gave him the pick of the cheese. Aleci shook his head, amused, and took a long drink of wine.

"I see," said Praefect Cimul and he turned to talk to Finne, «Do you like the cats here, Finne? I never realized there were this many.»

«It is—» Finne began.

It happened so instantaneously. Olus jumped to his feet, his eyes wide and his finger pointing accusingly.

„You're not supposed to speak that!"

"Sit down boy!" Praefect Cimul snapped, even as he gave Maera a puzzled look.

„You're not supposed to speak that!" Olus's face was flushed and he glared at Finne who flinched.

Aleci glanced at his cup, sighed deeply and placed it down on the table before stepping between the two of them. "Speak what?" he said flatly, and narrowed the distance between himself and Olus. "What are you saying?" In return he was given possibly the angriest look Olus could manage. Too bad for Olus, the only person who could summon fear from Aleci was his mother. "You don't speak to Finne that way. Do you understand?"

„No!" Olus scoffed, which earned him an angry gasp from Maera and silence from Finne.

"You come with me. Now," said Maera, and she took Olus's hand to drag him out. Olus made to squirm away but she gave the boy a glare that all mothers were capable of.

"Hm," said Praefect Cimul when the two of them left. "What did he say?"

"I don't know," Aleci lied.

«He said I shouldn't speak High Imrukian,» said Finne.

«Oh? Is that what you called it? I thought it was just the noble tongue.»

«No,» Finne said flatly and began pushing the food around in his plate again.

Aleci took another long drink of wine. He should aim for at least five, he thought, his free hand reaching for the carved panther in his pocket. The room faded in and out, even as he knew it wasn't because of the alcohol. For all he was good at mathematics, numbers couldn't save Ilos. No, he thought, and filled up his third cup, numbers condemned him.