Evening reminiscence

Alex leaned back in his chair, "My compliments to the chef."

Across the table Spike was also in a borderline food comma, "Nel is a good cook for sure. She's much better than her mother."

Vickary snorted as she collected the plates and trays from the evening meal, "So glad to know that my place in your kitchen has been replaced, DEAR."

Spike blew her a kiss, "You were never meant for a life in the kitchen love. You taught Nel well, but she'll never match your ability to man a household."

Nel, or Nellara to anyone not her family, was their eldest child. A good kid, but she was also a carbon copy of the worst traits of both her parents. Her spontaneously erratic yet also stubborn to the point of aggressive personality would keep her from guild leadership positions later, but she was perfect for running the kitchen.

"Maybe she should start an inn with her brother. He can run the business and she can man the kitchen."

Vic laughed, "Boris isn't interested in business, even if he is good at it. He wants to follow in his uncle's footsteps."

Alex sighed, "So he thinks. Hopefully he'll realize that I'm not a role model by the time he reaches adulthood."

"Good luck with that," Spike interjected, "The bards still sing about your part of the Orc wars, 'The Birth of the Lion' is the name of the song. I tried to correct some of the very inaccurate depictions of your deeds, but apparently being present for your doings doesn't make me a viable art critic."

Alex sighed, "We stole a few banners. It was a cheap tactic, we're just lucky it paid off. Orc sense of honor required them to bow to the clan who had their war flags, I'm unsure why the orcs do not use the tactic themselves."

"Honor," Vic answered, "Orcs think it's cowardly to go around the flank of an enemy. Spike and I were street urchins before the war, stealing was all we knew."

Spike set his glass of wine down and licked his lips in satisfaction, "All the same it was Alex who thought up the idea to go after the banners themselves. Making tribes flip sides in the middle of a battle because their banner moved was surprisingly effective."

"Yes, we were." Vic kissed her husband's cheek. "Don't drink too late, I need my White Knight awake in time to escort us for our shopping trip into town.

Spike caught her chin and kissed her fully on the mouth, "Last glass I promise. Be sure to tell Marium not to keep Alex up too late if you want him fresh in the morning."

"Already did, she has to sleep in her room tonight as punishment for being late this morning. Also she's coming with us so she needs her sleep too."

"You sure you want her and Nel going into town with Alex? Will you be able to control them?"

"I'll only need to keep him with me. The girls will follow him anywhere."

Alex face sunk to the table, "Awww hell."

Both Spike and Vic laughed, no hostility, just a pair of devils enjoying the anticipated suffering of a mortal man.