3.5

Although Remal had taken extra effort in washing up, Brylin lost no time in finding something else to criticize him for. He'd walked right into it, after all. She quickly observed that her younger brother hadn't put on the woolen hat and poncho she'd selected for him. Reaching for them, she saw that he'd also left aside the undershirt. Picking the undershirt up, she attempted to hand it to Remal but he fixed her with what he hoped was his best impassive stare, standing with his arms folded in front of him and his hands tucked in.

"It's getting colder-" Brylin started what Remal assumed would be a lengthy lecture, but he wasn't having it. Not this time, not today.

"I don't care how it feels to you!" he snapped, snatching up the undershirt only to throw it over Brylin's shoulder. "When I'M the one who feels cold, that's when I'll put on more layers!" He re-folded his arms and glared stubbornly, expecting some sort of verbal retaliation.

Brylin, to his great surprise, seemed momentarily at a loss for words. He could tell by the way she picked the undershirt up, however, that she was quickly recovering and would soon put together a response. A tirade, most likely.

Faver had other ideas. Stepping up to Brylin and whispering something in her ear, Faver pulled the undershirt out of her hands and re-folded it as he had already done a short time ago. Setting the undershirt once again with the poncho and hat, Faver re-directed Brylin's attention by asking her about the others. In particular, he asked something about Nathley and the medicinal poultice.

Remal, marveling that it actually worked, stood aside and thought to himself that Faver was probably the only person in the world who could get away with persuading Brylin to do (or not do) something different than what she'd already set her mind to. Remal was momentarily envious of that power, but it quickly faded upon considering that the only times he ever wished for any control over Brylin, was when he wanted her to leave him alone. He really didn't want any influence more substantial than that.

Meanwhile, Brylin was telling Faver that Nathley would be along soon, with Nina and Emri. She also said something about dinner preparations, but Remal didn't pay any attention to that aside from noting that it should be ready at a reasonable time, and that some people were helping with dinner who had just returned from the secondary campsite.

Remal would rather be at that other campsite than here now. No, actually he'd rather be trekking up the rocky rugged mountains' feet, or even wandering the rolling hills in the opposite direction, closer to the inhabited local area, where the grass-covered heights offered a good view of the distant but also now-too-close burg beyond the nearer farms and grazeland. Reportedly, there was decent hunting for wild game in the forest to the North - now, that's where he really would prefer to be right now.

Sitting heavily on a stool in Faver's work tent, hearing Brylin prattle on but not really listening to her, Remal felt bored. Bored and impatient, and anxious to be just sitting there instead of off doing something useful. Almost anything, so long as it kept him a comfortable distance away from his older sister.

Idly, he thought again of his cousin who had gone off looking for her family instead of coming away with the camp. Although a surely-hopeless quest, maybe he should have gone with her instead. But he knew that if given the choice again, he'd still have chosen to travel with the camp, on account of his mother. He considered at least leaving this tent for a while, but he didn't want to go against Faver's orders... and he had work to do here, as long as there was a stranger in the camp.

I guess I have principles after all, Remal thought glumly, but it makes me feel like a dog on a leash. Or confined to a crate. He looked around the tent. It was one of the larger ones in the camp, but it still felt small to him.

Hearing Nina's bright, high-pitched voice, Remal perked up. Soon after, he heard Nathley's voice as well - not as high, but cheery as it usually was. Both voices approached outside and he heard another voice with them, quieter and more subdued. That would be Emri. The first voice was like brass, polished to a shine that reflected everything. The second was like sunlight glittering off of water in a brook tumbling over smooth rocks. The third... was like the surface of a pond in a shaded grotto where hardly a whisper of a breeze crept in to ruffle the water. He had heard Emri speak in far more animated tones, but it seemed that more often than not, she spoke the way she sounded now. Not monotone, but level. Smooth and a little deliberate. It reminded him of her eyes, which appeared capable of much expression at times, but far more often were like that same still pond. Maybe the pond was deep, containing unusually large fish that almost never even barely rippled the pond's surface, but now and then unexpectedly leapt open-mouthed out of the water to snatch at dragonflies and splash the walls of the grotto.

Yes, Remal would even rather be out fishing, though he had little patience for it these days. He still knew how to spot the best fishing places. It was one of the skills he'd probably never forget.

The three girls - with their variety of voices, varying ages, and even more widely varied gestures and mannerisms - had walked into the tent nevertheless as though they'd been friends for years. The topic of discussion apparently was all about what kinds of clothing Nina liked best, what Nathley believed was most fashionable, and what both thought would look good on Emri. She seemed to have opinions on colors, but little else.

Remal rolled his eyes. He usually found Nathley to be likable, but was there any way she could be more of a stereotype of a teenage girl right now? Make a new friend and set to talking about clothes! Well, maybe it would be more of a teen girl stereotype if she were gossiping about youthful crushes, relationship drama, or the like. He sincerely hoped that Nina would avoid getting too much like that when she reached a similar age in several years. He also hoped she wouldn't take after her mother as she grew up, but that was a different matter altogether.

Remal sat with crossed arms and a stony face, looking between Faver and Brylin, and the trio of girls. Hearing both conversations but neither included nor interested in either, he mostly ignored the words and studied the people instead.

Nina had seen him and waved when they walked in, and Nathley was far too engrossed in her conversation to notice, but Emri quite obviously noted both his presence and his observation of them. She kept glancing between her companions and Remal, seeming to be carefully keeping track of him. Occasionally, the bland expression (or lack thereof) she had when listening to Nina and Nathley, altered from what might have been mild interest or polite attentiveness, to a stony look sent back at him. The only difference was in the eyes. Subtle, but he swore it was there. Remal wondered if she ever played card games. Or any games.

Finishing his conversation with Brylin, Faver interrupted the three girls' talk of clothes in order to smother Nina in a brief hug, picking his daughter up off the ground and depositing her back in the same spot, which made her giggle. Then Brylin pulled the girl aside, and Faver quizzed Nathley about her assignment applying the poultice mixture. He offered reasonable praise and encouragement, then added some instructions about the next assignment he was giving her.

Adding to the crowd in the tent, Acker had also returned, deposited the bottle of medicine he'd taken with him onto the work table, and started writing. No doubt he was making notes for Faver about his errand, in that sort of a shorthand notation that Faver used with his apprentices.

Smaller and smaller, the tent seemed to get by the minute. Again, Remal wished to be elsewhere, but did his best to hide his irritation. He pretended he was playing cards, and when Emri fixed him with a stony stare, he maintained the stony-faced look he'd been practicing this whole time.

By the slight alteration in the set of Emri's brows, Remal guessed that it annoyed her. Or, he hoped it did. Amused at the thought, he felt the corner of his mouth twitch, but put in extra effort to do his best to look impassive still. At least until Emri looked away. Then, he allowed himself a moment for looking smug.

Brylin had enlisted Nina's help in setting aside the wash basins and cloths, and arranging the bench and stools for people to sit on while both now passed out some seed-cakes and berries from a basket Brylin had brought in with her. Dinner was expected before much longer, but Brylin insisted they eat something, especially in the case of everyone who had been out walking "up and down the hills" and "in and out of marshes" most of the day.

Nathley accepted the snack that Nina handed to her, then left to do whatever it was that Faver had assigned her to next. Faver gave Emri a dose of the medicinal drops that he'd already administered to himself and Remal, (from the bottle that Acker had returned with) and then had her sit by Acker, insisting the boy take a break off his feet before going back out to check around the patients. Brylin shoved a snack into his hands, then gave some to Emri with an overly-polite air.

Remal noted how bossy Brylin was with everyone. Although it was gratifying to know that he wasn't the only person she bullied, Remal disliked the way that Brylin alternated such bossiness with politeness. Though not outright rude, she was pushy and insistent, while also pouring the politeness on thick for Emri as a designated guest. Honestly, he found it a little disturbing, the way Brylin was extra-bossy with family, then instantly turned around and put on her best manners for a guest. He didn't think she was being fake and only pretending to be polite. Rather, that's just how she was: sincerely both at the same time - or, in the same breath.

Thankful that she wasn't bothering him at the moment and instead his snack was brought to him by Nina, Remal invited his niece to sit by him while she ate her own snack.

In between bites, Nina enthusiastically relayed some news. "Guess what, Uncle Rem? Emri's going to stay with us! I mean, in our tent. Ma invited her."

Remal heard all that with what he hoped outwardly remained a relatively calm expression. Inside, however, he felt like his stomach was pushed up, his heart was shoved down into it, and his ribs were threatening to squeeze both into jelly. Holding his breath a moment and quirking an eyebrow at Brylin, he wondered if she had done it just to vex him. It was one thing to be all polite and hospitable towards a visiting stranger, and he knew Nina was a very outgoing soul (which he wouldn't want to squash by discouraging her since she seemed determined to be friends with this visitor) ...but for Brylin to take that stranger in like family? He knew that Brylin was also rather outgoing, but he also knew full well that she wasn't as innocent and open as her little daughter was. No, Brylin had a careful, calculating side to her and it made Remal wonder what she was up to. Surely some other arrangement could have been made for Emri?

Brylin shot a stern look at her little brother and then explained, apparently for Faver's benefit as much as anyone else's, though Remal now wondered if some of it had been relayed to her husband just a short while ago when Remal hadn't been paying attention to their conversation.

"Not tonight, of course. I expected you all would keep the same arrangements as last night with sleeping here in the work tent, and our family tent has been packed up and moved along with a lot of other people's tents. Nina and I will sleep in Mother's tent. It's smaller, but should be adequate for three since the rest of you will be here. I had Mother's tent moved closer, so we'll be nearby. When the whole camp is all together in once place again, we'll get the family tent back up and there should be ample room for Emri next to where Nina sleeps. It simply won't do for everyone to keep napping here in the work tent at nights. You all need proper sleep."

"Of course, Dear." Faver said, patting Brylin on the arm. Remal was sure that Faver wouldn't want Brylin to keep fussing over the arrangements, but wouldn't seriously try to stop her if she insisted. "I should have thought of it myself. it's a perfectly reasonable idea."

Should have thought of it sooner? Except that Faver has had far more important things to worry about. Remal sniffed.

Nina grinned at Emri, who had remained silent since Nathley left, aside from perhaps an expression of gratitude when Brylin had given her the snack that she seemed to be nibbling slowly.

"There really is plenty of room in our tent." Nina insisted cheerfully to Emri, who nodded politely.

Meanwhile, Brylin started lecturing Faver about "proper sleep," and with that, there were once more two conversations going on, neither of which included Remal. Brylin kept going on about how she understood that for now, it was convenient for a lot of the tents to be packed up, and for people to be staying close by their debilitated relatives and ready to help move them in the morning, with many others sharing tents while they had family away at the other campsite or in the sick tents; but she insisted that as much as possible, once the camp was back together, Faver needed to be encouraging people to all sleep in their own tents instead of only napping by their sick loved ones. Especially if people are getting better, she said, and also because Faver had a duty to be concerned about the health of everyone and encourage them to take proper care of themselves, and he should set an example, and so on... and on.

Tired of Brylin's chatter, Remal paid more attention to Nina and Emri, though he hardly had much more interest in that conversation. Nina seemed to be having a mostly one-sided conversation with Emri, talking about the family tent and how it differed from this one, and prattling on about a lot of the things she did and didn't like about living in a tent, and the ways in which it was different from living in their old house.

Observing them, Remal noted that in addition to Nina clearly being friendly towards Emri, Emri did not appear indifferent to Nina. Just because she didn't seem to have much to add to the conversation didn't mean she wasn't paying attention to it, more than she had seemed to be earlier when Nathley kept talking about clothes. Emri's eyes appeared calm - even friendly - when she looked at the girl and let her talk on and on. Was that the closest Emri ever got to smiling? He squinted, imagining that those would look like smiling eyes, if only the rest of Emri's face would match the expression.

Momentarily forgetting his annoyance with Brylin, Remal began considering possibilities. After all, he realized that that he couldn't reasonably follow Emri everywhere, but Nina could easily be around her most of the time when Remal wasn't. Nor would it be a bad thing to have careful Brylin around to supervise them, if they did share a tent at night. Nina had a disarming way about her that could be useful. Yes, possibilities.

Acker finished his snack before Emri finished hers. When the boy indicated that he would go around and check on the patients now, Emri passed what remained of her snack to Nina and got up to go with him. Faver agreed, acting like he might follow in a moment. He probably expected Remal to, as well.

Brylin set to gathering up the wash cloths into her basket and would likely have Nina help her carry the basins out, but stopped to say something else to Faver.

Seizing on an opportunity, Remal kept Nina to one side for a moment while Emri followed Acker out.

"Would you do me a favor?" he asked her, conspiratorially.

"Sure!" Nina's cheery manner suggested that she did not follow the clandestine undertones of Remal's manner. At all.

"Would you keep an eye on Emri? When I'm not there, I mean. Watch out for her."

To one side of Remal's field of vision, behind Nina, Remal saw Faver throw him an odd, maybe-skeptical-maybe-cautioning sort of look.

Nina giggled. "I know how to be nice to a guest."

At that, Faver looked amused, but with a wry look to hint that he'd understood exactly what Remal meant - but preferred Nina's interpretation.

Remal shot Faver a brief, sneering look instead of verbal sarcasm. Instead of a satisfactory look from Faver, he got a scolding look from Brylin. Faver strategically put a hand on her arm, as though to tell her not to interrupt.

Undaunted, Remal went back to attempting to enlist his niece in helping him with his assignment.

"Nina, we really don't know much about Emri. Look here, if she tells you more about where she came from or how she ended up traveling here, then tell-" Pausing as he glanced at Faver and Brylin both leveling serious gazes at him (each in a personal style of parental concern) he finished with a nod to Nina's parents. "...us."

A look of sudden understanding washed over Nina's childishly innocent face. "Ohhh... oh! You want to know more about her! Sure, I'll help with that!" Nina attempted a wink, but clearly she hadn't practiced the gesture enough yet, instead giving a sort of momentary, squinting look where one eye closed completely and the other hovered close to doing the same. Casually, she added the following: "So, what do you think of her? I think she's nice... do you like her?"

Remal frowned at the slight emphasis on the word "like," no matter how innocently and entirely un-serious Nina said it. Perhaps she was spending too much time lately, with the likes of Nathley. He could see Faver stifling a laugh, and Brylin looked like she was working up to some kind of interruption.

Annoyed, (though more with Brylin than Nina) Remal took the kind of tone he almost never used with Nina, though nearly everyone else was by now used to hearing it from him. Not really scolding, but impatient-sounding and stubborn.

"Like her? How could I like her? I don't even know her! She's a stranger to us all!" Uttering a minor oath (quite an exceptionally tame one, considering his little niece's age and that she'd probably heard worse by now in the camp) he added a muttered caution to Nina along the lines of saying that she shouldn't listen if her mother ever tries to talk about him and matchmaking in the same breath.

As soon as he'd said it, he wished to take it back but didn't know how. He'd immediately forgotten the way he'd said it, and just as immediately realized that he'd taken an irritable tone with Nina, which is the part he regretted most.

Brylin glared daggers at him, while Faver failed to suppress a laugh. Nina looked confused. Remal decided to cut and run.

"Sorry." He said to Nina, with a pat on her shoulder as an attempt to reassure the child that he wasn't annoyed with her. He didn't know what else to say by way of apology, how to say it.

"I'm going to check on Mother." Remal declared abruptly, standing up and stalking out of the tent in what he believed to be an impressively fluid set of rapid motions - though he felt very awkward on the inside.

Remal thought, for a moment, that Nina had started to follow him, but then he heard Faver behind him, murmuring in a soothing tone. Nina's response sounded like it was both aimed away from Remal, and from a stationary position.

"Did I say something wrong?" Nina asked.

"No, Sweetie, he's just cranky because he's tired."