Chapter 197: Breaking off with the Empire (1)
"How about you come to my lands. I will grant you a title. A keep. A workshop a hundred times the size of this longhouse. You and your... people... will have the full protection of House Falco. You will want for nothing."
Lila, who had been happily munching on a piece of chocolate, froze. She slammed her hand down on the table.
"He’s not going anywhere!" she declared, glaring at Lord Falco. "Elowen is his home! We are his people!"
Lord Falco just chuckled, unfazed by her outburst. "Okay.. Okay... young lady, I was just making a suggestion. You can come too.."
Riku just smiled. "I appreciate the offer, Lord Falco. Truly. But Lila is right."
He looked around the room, at the faces of his friends, at the warm, fire-lit hall. "This is my home. I am not leaving."
The sincerity in his voice was absolute.
Lord Falco sighed, a look of genuine disappointment on his face. "A pity. But I understand." He raised his mug of ale. "To new friends, then."
"Here."
Later that night, in the new guest lodge they had been given, Falco and Marci sat in silence.