Lowfel didn't have to think long.
"Well, I think I'll just take you up on that. I'm sure my sister would love to come as well. Home cooking is always better than Inn food, but don't let it out that I said that," the carpenter finished with a wink.
Lachlan laughed and clapped Lowfel on the shoulder. "I may just hold that over your head sometime. Lets get going, shall we?"
Lowfel smiled and led the way back into the house.
~~~
Lachlan waved as he took his load toward his own home. Lowfel waved back as the younger man called out, "Don't be too long, I'm sure supper is already brewing."
~~~
The lights in the White Horse Inn were bright and welcoming. It looked to be another good night, but Lowfel was just trying to find his sister. He didn't know which Inn she had gone to stay since she was supposed to go to the house tomorrow and tell him. He had already stopped at one that was luckily not too far away. Thinking that she wouldn't have traveled too far to get a room for her and the baby, Lowfel was hoping that she was staying at this Inn, otherwise he'd have to run all over Edoras.
Right as he was about to walk through the doors Shrae stepped through them herself with Reen in her arms.
"Lowfel!" she exclaimed. "I thought I was going to see you tomorrow."
He smiled and patted the wide-eyed Reen. "We got invited to dinner. Where were you going?"
"We, what? Oh, we were going for our evening walk. What do you mean we were invited to dinner? With whom?" Shrae moved to the side to let another person through the door and started to follow her brother as he walked down the street.
"The son of an Alemaster who I know helped me move some of your things so I can build easier and then invited us to eat with his family," Lowfel spoke easily as they walked.
"I hope his parents don't mind," Shrae was thinking of the extra food and places needed.
Lowfel chuckled. "Don't worry so, his mother a very generous woman and wouldn't be happy if we turned down her excellent cooking. It's a beautiful night out, no?"
A cool breeze sprang up and blew out Shrae's skirt from her feet. Reen twisted about in her arms, but just to see everything, not to escape.
"It's very different from the little village. Isn't this the way to your shop?" she looked around trying to get her bearings in the new city.
"It is one of the ways. The Alemaster isn't too far from the carpenter, see?"
Shrae nodded and the two siblings lasped into silence, simply enjoying the coolness of the night.
At length Lowfel broke the stillness. "Do you miss your old home?"
"Well of course I do, but I don't long to go back," Shrae responded immediately. "I don't want Reen to have to grow up with that kind of history. Besides, the only reason I didn't go with you in the first place was because Jesel couldn't bare to have me leave. Then Trein died and she followed... Th..the city will be good for both Reen and I."
Lowfel put his arm around her and squeezed her far shoulder. "I am glad you decided to come."
They smiled at each other and soon they were approaching a house that had a rather large barn-like building to one side. A young man in his early twenties was coming out to greet him with a younger girl sitting on his foot as he walked shrilling with laughter at the ride.
"It's not very dignified I know, but she insisted on coming along. You must be Lowfel's sister," he put out a hand to shake, "I'm Lachlan."
He was very handsome with his shaggy blond hair and fine tan. Shrae shook his hand with firmness while holding Reen with one arm. "My name is Shrae, and this is Reen."
"Lowfel," Lachlan admonished. "You didn't tell me there would be a charming baby coming. You know this means you three will have to stay extra long while Mother steals Reen for coddling. Ah, me, but he is cute," the young alemaster bent down and smiled at Reen who promptly stuck his head into Shrae's chest.
"He's just a little shy," Shrae said in explanation over Lowfel's and Lachlan's laughter.
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