This topic is easy to bring up with Lenore. Alaric escorts her to dinner from his study after she gives him the pouch of dried rose petals, and they settle into their spots at the table with the familiarity of routine guiding them. It feels natural, like she belongs here.
Well, she does belong here, Alaric reminds himself. She's the duchess, and he's glad that Claude replaced Alina with her. He can't imagine dealing with a daughter raised by that man to be a spoiled noblewoman, convinced that she deserves more than anybody else.
"I'd like your opinion on a matter," Alaric says.
Lenore nearly drops the food that's on her fork in her shock. "Me?"
Alaric nods. "Your sister is a mage, isn't she?"
"Um, yes. She is. I don't know what her magic is like, but the letters from home definitely said that she works at the Tower."
She doesn't say it, but Alaric can see that she's wondering why he's asking about her sister.
"Well, there's an issue in Barrowmere that only a mage can fix," Alaric says. "I could request that the Tower send any mage, but I thought that maybe you'd want to invite your sister here to take care of the issue. It gives you a chance to see her again before the birthday banquet, but if you'd rather wait to meet her, then that's fine."
He tries to make sure that Lenore knows she has options and is free to make her own choices. From what he knows about her past under Claude's care, that's not a chance she often had. Combined with her timid, reserved nature, he has a hard time figuring out her true thoughts. Perhaps she'll be able to speak her mind without worrying one day, but Alaric fears that it won't be soon.
That's okay. If Alaric has anything, it's time. As his body refuses to age and keeps him trapped among the living, time continues to flow around him.
"Is it okay if she comes here?"
"I wouldn't make the offer if it wasn't." Alaric folds his hands and leans back in his chair. "Like I said, I need a mage's help to handle an issue, and if you want to turn that into a small reunion at the same time, I have no problem with that."
Lenore stares at her plate while she thinks about his offer. It takes her long enough to answer that Alaric starts wishing he knew what was going on in her head.
"Yes," Lenore says. "I would like to see my sister again."
"I'll send the request to her, in that case."
"Actually, can I write the request?" Lenore asks. "It's okay if you don't want me to because it's about official work. I understand."
Alaric shakes his head. "No, that's fine. I'll give you a note to include that details the issue. I'm sure she'll want to know and be prepared beforehand."
Since Alaric isn't a mage and hasn't found a need to work with them during the past several decades, he has no idea what might be needed to repair a teleportation circle. He's certainly willing to compensate Lenore's sister for any materials she might need, and room and board won't be an issue.
"Is there a specific day you want to ask her to arrive on?" Lenore is almost vibrating with excitement, but Alaric suspects that there's a touch of nervousness mixed in with it.
"No, whenever is convenient for her. She can stay as long as she wants. I'll provide accommodations and anything she might need."
Lenore stands up and leaves her meal half-eaten. "I'll write the letter right away."
As she passes Alaric, she takes one of his hands between both of her own and squeezes it. "Thank you, Alaric, for thinking of me."
She leaves, but the warmth of her touch lingers. Alaric doesn't feel like he's done much for her, and it's not like this arrangement doesn't benefit him either. Still, it's nice to be appreciated.
What Lenore doesn't know is how much he truly thinks about her.
-:-
Lenore nearly spills her ink when she dips her quill in it. There's a lot she wants to say to Vella, but she knows that she should keep the letter focused on its purpose: requesting her help. Yet how can she not feel excited at the idea of seeing her sister again after over a decade apart?
Dear Vella,
We need help from a mage, and Alaric is letting me reach out to ask you to come to Barrowmere instead of sending a request to the Tower.
Lenore has no idea if there's any sort of formality involved when asking a mage for help. But when she thinks about the letters from her family and their kind words, she thinks that Vella won't mind if this request isn't a perfect one.
Of course, you don't have to accept the request if you don't want to. I don't know what your work is like or if you have the time to travel here. I just thought that it would be really nice to see you again before the birthday banquet for the emperor at the end of winter. Alaric says he'll include a note with this letter that details the issue he needs a mage to help solve.
I don't actually know what the issue is. But if you decide to come here, you won't need to worry about where to stay or anything like that. You'll stay at the duke's estate with me, of course.
Lenore purses her lips together as she wonders if that line is too presumptuous. In the end, she decides to keep it in the letter. The manor is big enough that Vella can still have her personal space. Plus, she would be a guest here at the duke's request, so it's reasonable for her to stay in the manor.
Alaric said that it's not urgent, so you can come when it's convenient for you.Simply send a reply letting us know your decision and plan.
I hope to see you soon.
Lenore
There's a lot that she still wants to say, but if Vella decides to come to Barrowmere, she can say it all directly.
As she folds the letter, Lenore fights the nagging voice in the back of her head that grew when she lived with her uncle—the one that says her family abandoned her. It raises the fear that Vella will deny the request out of an unwillingness to see Lenore.
But at the same time, there's a spark of hope that appeared when she received her family's letters telling her that she's worth their time and love.
She just wishes it was easier to believe.