Chapter Text
"If you could be granted one wish, what would it be?"
Rivayn glanced up at his companion. Alisaie sat across from him, leaning forward on the table with her chin resting in her hands. Clearly, she expected an exciting answer, and he would be remiss not to indulge her.
"Hm, that is a question," he began with an impish smirk. "Perhaps wings so I can give the old bird a rest."
Alphinaud, who had been preoccupied with yet another musty old tome, snorted in disbelief. "Surely you don't expect Alisaie to believe that is your deepest desire."
Rivayn shrugged before picking up his mug. His face turned to disappointment as he noticed it was empty. "Honestly, at this very moment all I wish for is for my cup to be refilled."
"I daresay we should not leave you alone with the children," a soft voice laughed from the bar. F'lhaminn ducked out of sight before reappearing with a bottle, much to Rivayn's delight. He knew that bottle.
"I'm a bad influence, it's true," he agreed as F'lhaminn approached their table. "And yet you choose to grace me with your own secret stash?"
"Worst kept secret in the Rising Stones," Alphinaud muttered, prompting an amused snort from his sister as he turned his attention back to his book.
Alisaie couldn't quite suppress the smile on her face, though she still did her best to appear sullen. "You truly won't tell me?"
"It's not as if I'm keeping some dramatic secret," Rivayn assured her with a laugh. "I just can't think past tomorrow, so gods know what the hells I actually want."
"Drink slowly," F'lhaminn ordered with a smile as she finishing pouring. "If I have to call for Hoary Boulder to pick you up off the floor–"
"Scion's honor," Rivayn assured her, making a crossing motion over his chest. He pulled the mug back slightly as he noticed Alisaie peering at it intently, which seemed to disappoint her more than his failure to answer her question.
"You're supposed to be the fun Scion," she complained with a pout. Rivayn was sure he heard Alphinaud laugh, though the boy's demeanor remained steady. Alisaie had clearly heard it too, and her head snapped toward her brother. "Is something funny, Alphinaud?"
"Ah, just a passage I read," he assured her with an innocent smile. "You see, the scholar posited that–"
Alisaie snorted in disgust, putting a hand up to stop him. "Please spare me your pompous ramblings."
As the twins continued to argue, Rivayn simply took a sip from his mug and smiled.