Iachos seemed happy by whatever it was that Aleci said. The older man was even whistling as he walked away. He’d better not be scheming with Galer, thought Aleci irritably, Aleci being married was one of many tasks on his father’s- no Galer’s list. Galer was the scheming puppeteer, his father was a different man, Aleci liked to separate the two, otherwise he’d never have a polite conversation with the man. Aleci shook his head, enough with thinking about scheming, he was capable of shutting his mouth but not crafting elaborate plots

The physician had advised him to give Finne more food. Cheese and milk, Iachos had said, perhaps we can get them once we’ve crossed the border, but in the meantime, give Finne the better portions of stew. Finne’s circumstances were rather pitiable, thought Aleci, his mother, had her fill of all sorts of delicacies postpartum. No one can speak highly of the dried biscuits and meats they packed in the wagons, which was why Aleci allowed his men to hunt, fish and gather as they wished, so long as they kept up with the legion. The men were only too happy to do so, and some of them were returning from the nearby woods with various birds they've managed to shoot. He was offered a leg of pheasant by one of them and he ate it with relish. It wasn't spiced, but that would do, there was nothing worse than trying to swallow rations. The men that knew him best, that is, Kaeso, Domerc and a few others, grinned among themselves at whatever joke they were telling at his expense. Aleci ignored them, traveling on the road must surely bore them, and what else was there to do but gossip about the people you've met on the road? He excused himself when money was exchanged and noted.

The children’s dirty clothing had been washed and were hanging outside Aleci’s tent when he made his way back. Perhaps Mercus was capable of being fast on his feet after all, thought Aleci. Like the night before Aleci had bought food then left the tent, leaving Finne privacy. It was dark when he made his way back and when he politely called out, Ediann was the one to let him in.

"Pafect," he said, and pointed enthusiastically at the furry interloper inside.

"Is he yours?" said Edon.

Aleci gave Caesarion an unimpressed look, and the cat ignored him, golden eyes fixed on Edon's bowl. Finne was probably behind the screen, thought Aleci, glancing over to where it stood. He still didn't understand Finne's hesitancy, what did he expect Aleci would do, leer? Though now that he thought of the word, perhaps that was exactly what Finne thought he would do.

“It’s not my cat,” said Aleci.

“Why is he in your tent then?” said Edon, he smiled down at the tom, ruffling the cat’s fur with both hands, “Kitty, kitty!”

“Caesarion,” said Aleci, and smiled when Edon made a face.

“What kind of name is that?” Edon exclaimed.

“Little lord,” offered Aleci.

It was the first time he’d seen Edon act remotely child-like. Aleci raised an eyebrow at the cat, “Stop stealing from children, hm?”

Caesarion gave him a smug look and curled his tail around Edon’s legs. The little bastard was an exceptionally talented beggar, thought Aleci, watching as the tom stared unblinkingly at Ediann. The younger boy relented and like Edon, slipped the cat a piece of meat.

“At least make him work for it,” Aleci said reflexively, and when the brothers looked at him said, “Watch.”

The cat was most displeased at being forced to stand up on his hind legs but he did it anyway, to reach the morsel Aleci dangled in front of his ugly face. Ediann giggled. Edon scoffed, though Aleci suspected it was to cover a smile.

“What’s so funny?” said Finne, coming from behind the screen.

Edon grinned crookedly, pointing at the cat, “He has a cat and it’s called little lord.”

“They’re all little lords,” said Finne, and that made Edon laugh. “Thank you for bringing the food.” he said to Aleci, inclining his head.

“Thank you,” said Edon, when Finne looked at him.

Ediann tugged at Aleci’s hand, “Food.Like,” he signed, then placed a hand on his chest.

“You like the food?” Aleci signed, “Yes or no?”

“Yes?” said Ediann, imitating Aleci’s signal for a question.

He started giggling when Aleci raised an eyebrow.

“Are you joking?” Aleci signed, “Are you being funny?”

It was rather hard to convey meaning with both his hands and his face, Aleci knew he was no talented actor. Ediann smiled and laughed at his motions but didn't look confused as he did before. Perhaps he shouldn't jump immediately into sentences, thought Aleci, but Ediann should be speaking in sentences and signing one word sentences would do the boy no favors.

“No,” signed Ediann, all the while nodding and smiling.

“Clever boy,” Aleci said to Finne, patting Ediann’s head.

Finne looked dubiously at Aleci when Aleci confirmed that he'd prefer Finne not brew the tea, and now Aleci could see why. Ethain was fussy, and the wails that Aleci had thought quiet before were now excruciatingly loud. It could just be that everyone had gone to bed for the night, thought Aleci, trying very hard to shut off his ears. He'd even thrown open his trunk to search for anything that would do as earplugs and found none.

“Shut up, shut up!” Edon had his pillow over his head, and was muttering furiously.

Ediann was already asleep next to Edon, blissfully unaware.

“He can’t help it,” said Finne, rocking Ethain in vain. “I’m sorry, Edon, he’ll quiet down in a bit.”

“He doesn’t have colic does he?” said Aleci with dread.

“No?” said Finne, “What is colic?”

“Well if you don’t know then he probably doesn’t have it.” said Aleci. “Crying, all the time, for no reason,” he shrugged, “I would say that’s just how babies are but apparently there is a word for it.”

To their relief Ethain eventually quieted down and Finne laid him in a makeshift crib next to his brothers. He pulled the screen to hide the children from view and made his way to Aleci. Maybe Kaeso’s tent was welcoming after all, thought Aleci, uncomfortably, but made space for Finne to sit down next to him.

“I know you don’t want payment,” said Finne, staring at the ground. “But is there nothing you want from me?” his hands were twisting reflexively on the cot, “You can still have me, if you want, I can make myself pretty-”

“Finne, no,” said Aleci, “It’s… I would not do it. You do not want me and I won’t force you.”

The confused look Finne gave him would have been endearing in any other circumstance.

“I have to give you something,” Finne insisted. “What kind of thing would be a fair exchange?”

“I wouldn’t know,” said Aleci with forceful cheer. “You’re the first traveler I’ve picked up,” he grinned at Finne’s open mouth bafflement, “My father helped many travelers and I’ve never seen him ask for gold or-” he paused, “look, Finne, we are both going to the same place, it’s no more effort for me to take you and your children there.”

“You didn’t have to help Ediann,” said Finne, “Or Ethain. You-”

“A great coincidence!” said Aleci with a shrug, “Think of it this way, you’ve found someone that can help you, at no cost to you or them. Haven’t that happened before-”

“No,” said Finne, looking away from Aleci.

“Oh.”

The silence between them was broken by Finne whose gaze had been everywhere except on Aleci's face. “You have a fiddle?” he said, incredulously, pointing at the item in Aleci's opened trunk, “You can play?”

“No,” Aleci admitted, he knew what the instrument was but his curious attempts at playing it sounded worse than yowling cats. “I thought my friend would appreciate it. He collects oddities.”

“I can play for you,” said Finne, hesitantly, “I could teach you-”

Aleci chuckled, “No, I’m afraid no one can. I’m told I am severely cursed.”

“Really?” said Finne, blinking, “How?”

“I fail at all artistic endeavors. Drawing, music…” Aleci waved a disinterested hand, “I’ve long accepted this. But if you would like to play for me,” he stood up to walk over to the chest. He handed Finne the fiddle and bow. “I think this is a fair exchange.”