He could feel tears streaming down his face, but he didn’t care. All that he cared about was holding A’bbni in his arms, so tight that he never wanted to let go. A’bbni’s arms wrapped around him, his face burying itself in Shi’chen’s shoulder as he started to shudder with sobs, clinging to his twin.
“I thought I’d lost you forever, i-sha,” Shi’chen whispered into his twin’s ear, tangling his fingers into the long curls at A’bbni’s neck.
“And I, you,” A’bbni said, his voice muffled by Shi’chen’s shoulder.
Shi’chen pressed his forehead to A’bbni’s, the way they had when they were children, the way they had in the cart ride to the docks that separated them. “I swear to you that I will never leave you again.”
A’bbni gazed back at Shi’chen, and Shi’chen could see himself reflected in A’bbni’s teary eyes, better than any mirror. “Please forgive me for not fighting harder to stay with you.”
“You have nothing for me to forgive you for,” Shi’chen replied firmly. “I would rather die than put you in harm’s way again.”
Kella cleared his throat softly, and the twins’ faces turned toward where he and Lai stood awkwardly off to the side. It was obvious that neither of them had thoroughly understood the breathy mix of Hanen-sha and Hanen-vir exchanged between the two.
A’bbni flushed, giving Kella an apologetic bow of his head as he quickly swiped a few errant tears from his cheeks. “My apologies, Lord Kella, for our rudeness,” he said in Hanen-sha. “This is my brother, Captain Shi’chen Er-Ha’sen.”
Shi’chen bent his knee in the bow between equals. “Lord Kella. My eternal gratitude to you and your family for taking care of my brother.”
Kella smiled and nodded in return, touching a hand to his chest. “It was our honor, Captain.”
Shi’chen gave A’bbni’s hand a tug to pull him forward. “I-sha, I want you to meet Lai Ablewood,” he said in Hanen-shii, giving the blond half-elf a bright smile. “This is my baby brother, A’bbni.”
He waited for the jab that A’bbni usually gave him when he called him his “baby brother,” but it didn’t come. Shi’chen turned to his twin and found A’bbni staring at Lai with wide eyes, taking in Lai’s short ears, his lanky frame, his golden blond hair, his elegantly handsome features. He had known from the start that A’bbni would find Lai exquisite, and not only for the novelty of his ears or the languages he spoke. A’bbni’s goblin partners, both male and female, had always been more delicate than most goblins, with more pointed, fine elven features. He could already see his brother’s infatuation with the half-elf shining in his ember eyes.
“Your brother told me all about you,” Lai said in Cserethian, giving A’bbni a dazzling smile. “I’m pleased to finally meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine,” A’bbni said in return in Cserethian. “Did you serve on the ship with Shi’chen?”
Lai nodded. “I did. He is quite the competent sailor, once he got used to it.”
“I’m so glad to hear that,” A’bbni said. “Thank you for bringing him safely back to me.”
“I can’t really take credit for that,” Lai said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “He would not let anything get in his way.”
“I know you are talking about me,” Shi’chen cut in in Hanen-shii, only understanding the basics of what his brother and Lai were saying to each other. Though he had known that it would happen, now that it suddenly had, he wasn’t sure how he felt about it. It was ridiculous to be jealous that his brother had eyes for more than him right now, now that they were safely together again, but he still wished that A’bbni was just a little less enchanted with Lai on sight.
A’bbni laughed and squeezed his brother’s hand. “Of course we are, i-sha, because I’m so glad you’re safe!”
Shi’chen wrapped his arm around A’bbni’s shoulders to pull him closer, relaxing a bit more when A’bbni curled against his side. Kella gave them a small smile. “I am relieved as well, Captain. I have been in contact with several of our partners here in Csereth, and plans are being formulated to meet with you both.”
“We are most grateful,” Shi’chen replied.
“Is there some place you and your friend are staying?” Kella asked.
Shi’chen shook his head, glancing over at Lai, who seemed to be following the conversation in Hanen-sha relatively well. “No, we stayed at an inn across town last night but have not settled anywhere today.”
Kella nodded. “Would you rather stay nearby or with your brother?”
“With my brother,” Shi’chen replied emphatically almost before Kella had finished the words.
“Shi’chen!” A’bbni scolded under his breath.
Shi’chen flushed, bowing his head in apology to the dark-haired elf. “My apologies, Lord Kella. I would prefer to stay with my brother to ensure we are not separated again, if that is not an imposition upon you.”
Kella’s smile was kind. “I understand. I will be happy to have you here as my guest as well, Captain, and your friend if he would like.” He inclined his head at Lai. “But if you are to stay with me, I would ask that you please stay within this house, to ensure your identities are known to as few individuals as possible.”
Shi’chen nodded. “Of course. We will accept any stipulations you may place upon us.”
Kella turned to Lai and spoke in Cserethian, of which Shi’chen caught very little but was sure his brother understood perfectly, and Lai replied with something that sounded positive. Kella motioned for them to follow him, and A’bbni followed him, holding tightly to Shi’chen’s hand. Lai trailed after them, which Shi’chen was grateful for. He had never asked Lai what he would do or where he would go after he had found his brother; he had just assumed that Lai would stay with him, and the thought of Lai suddenly leaving made his heart hurt just a little bit. He caught A’bbni giving Lai a shy smile out of the corner of his eye and forced back the jealous feeling that surged in him. He had never been jealous of A’bbni’s other romantic interests, and he knew Lai better than any of the other partners A’bbni had had. He gave his brother’s hand a squeeze and was relieved that A’bbni gave him one in return.
