'Hey!'

Bryce looked up and saw Rhun, casually leaning in the door-frame, a goblet of mead dangling from his strong, yet relaxed, grip.

'What shall a lad do for amusement around here?' Rhun called, confidently waiting for everyone to come to him. Rhun smiled briefly in Bryce's direction before he was swamped as Blain, Owen and Cai all ran up to greet him.

Bryce looked at the ground briefly, then back up to watch Rhun as he answered all the questions thrown at him. Such ease, Bryce thought. It had been so damned long since he had last seen Rhun.

Rhun smiled as he faced the constant fire of questions and statements from everyone else in the room. His blue tunic was finely woven, and hung loosely from his form, yet strangely seemed to show it off all the more. Bryce eyed the man's face, the pale skin, dark hair and eyes of his father, King Maelgwn, were all there.

You're not coming to greet me? He heard Rhun's voice in his head. Rhun knew that Bryce couldn't respond in the same way, but the smirk he sent back seemed to get the message across. Rhun grinned and they were both drawn back into the conversation.

'Aye,' Rhun said, grinning still. 'I hope you all appreciate that I had to beg to get here.'

'You begged to come see us?' Bryce asked, laughing. 'I think not. I think you heard that Vortipor finally got up the courage to bring his daughter, and you have come to see her.' He carefully monitored Rhun's reaction. Bryce had just set his trap, like opening a hole in his own defence, and he waited to see if Rhun would stab at it. Either way, Bryce was prepared.

Rhun looked at Bryce and winked.

'And so I say, lead me to her.' Rhun announced, stabbing through the open defence, and then enticing the three younger boys out of the room. He didn't glance back as he left, but he did throw a last little thought.

Do not linger to speak with my mother too long. I have need of your company.

And he was gone. Bryce watched him go and then turned to Tory, time to speak business. Rhun could, and would wait.