Cryptic - Book Excerpt - Syshir Siblings #11

"You know, mother's prophecies weren't always cryptic," Euan said reasonably, filling up the near-empty pot in the centre of the table, and sitting back down to allow Faeran to finish preparing the tea. In an instant, his triplet's fire magic had brought the pot to a boil, and Vodan watched his brother dump tea leaves without measuring inside.
Cade sighed. "Once they come to pass they're not cryptic. But you can never say for sure."
Beside Cade, Kora rolled her eyes. "Come on, you didn't actually think it was going to be a raven that was the answer to yours?"
Although Cade scowled at his wife, Vodan could see that there was no real heat in his brother's eyes. It was a teasingly affectionate thing, so easy between them. Although it had been a few years since Kora had joined the family, Vodan was still astonished by just how simple they made it seem. The rest of his sibling's romances hadn't quite been so. Vodan knew he could never be so... free with someone. He wasn't an easy person to be around.
At his side, Vodan's other triplet, Euan nudged him with an elbow, giving him a curious look. Vodan just shrugged in silent answer to the silent question. Faeran and Euan would hear out his words, and then quickly tell him he was foolish. They meant well, truly, and believed the words they would say to him. Something about the right person at the right time or whatever drivel they pulled up. But Vodan didn't need or want placating.
"This one doesn't seem cryptic," Zaben rumbled. Seated next to Zaben, Saremka was so tiny she almost looked like a child beside the hulking blacksmith. Saremka was the most recent addition to the family, after Zaben and she had fallen for one another despite the difficulties of their particular courtship. "It sounds dangerous," his brother finished.
The door to the kitchen opened, and although none of the sounds of the hustle and bustle were allowed through Quinlon's sound barrier (a comfort they had lived with for many years), Vodan's eyes were immediately drawn to the opening.
Cade continued to speak, most of his other siblings not having noticed the new arrival, but Vodan frowned as Mae bounced her way towards the table, the apron belted around her waist messy, a tray of tea cups and a teapot balancing in her hands.
The maid pursed her lips when she moved to replace the teapot with her new one, realising that it wasn't necessary any longer. Only now noticing the maid, Euan leaned toward her to rest a hand on her arm, and she ducked her head so that he could speak quietly in her ear and not disturb the continuing conversation about their mother's prophecy.
Underneath the table, Vodan's fingers dug into his legs to stop him from leaning in to join Euan and Mae's whispering.
She giggled, rolling her eyes at his brother, before meeting Vodan's gaze above Euan's head.
He looked away first.
Murmuring a final word to Euan, Mae left the replacement teapot on the table with the first, and waved at Nynia and Unara as she hurried out. His sisters grinned back at her, and Vodan couldn't stop himself from watching her leave.