Chenzhou kept frowning at her, but Eirian refused to apologize. Unrepentant and still far too amused by everything that had happened. They were waiting for Mingzhe and his siblings to arrive for dinner, and Finn was fidgeting nervously next to Eirian. She'd dragged him along to distract him from everything, but it didn't seem to be helping yet.
He was pulling at a frayed seam on his sleeve when Eirian reached over and smacked his hand. "Leave it alone. You'll worry it open completely."
Finn shoved his hands under his tighs. "I don't know why you need me for this? I could be helping Yuze or Captain Li or Henri."
"They'll live without it for a couple of hours. And Brendan is already asleep." Eirian cut him off, and the boy scowled.
Chenzhou hid a smile behind a cough. "Henri received a report from Emmy and Patrick today."
Finn practically vibrated out of his seat. "They did? Where are they? Are they back? What did it say?" The poor thing didn't stop to breathe until Eirian grabbed his face and physically shut his mouth.
"It took a few days to make it through the mail to Henri, but they're okay. It wasn't long, but they said they've eliminated a couple of families and found one of the thieves from the vault. Emmy also included a note to reassure you they're fine and not to chase after them."
Finn slid into a sulk.
Chenzhou softened. "They're fine, Finn. They'll be back soon."
Finn glanced at him and slowly relaxed. He mumbled. "Yeah."
Eirian sipped her wine. "Who did they eliminate?"
"The Crusoes," which was no surprise. "The Helians," less surprising, but at least Eirian wouldn't have to deal with them again. "And the Valients." She hadn't spoken to them yet, but it was a mark in their favor. That was Vitali's family, so it was reassuring that Emmy and Patrick didn't think they were involved. Maybe she would reach out tomorrow and see what Vitali knew about everything. She was back in the Camelia after helping set up the bases along the border with Song and Snow, along with Wayland, Tanning, and Wen Chunhua.
"Are you guys nervous?" Finn, much more relaxed with the assurance that Emmy and Patrick were okay, turned his attention to the two of them.
Eirian frowned. "Why would we be nervous?"
Finn glanced between them. "Because you're meeting Mingzhe's family? Finally? What if they don't like you?"
Chenzhou and Eirian both looked alarmed at that. "Why wouldn't they like us?"
Finn backtracked, seeming to sense the danger. "No reason. Just…they're his family, and family is protective. You could be the best people on the rock, and they still might not like you just because you're involved with someone they love."
"Are you staying we're not the best people on the rock?" Eirian asked, a glint in her eye.
Panic raced across Finn's face and then faded quickly. He was getting used to Eirian and reading when she was teasing. "Are you? Is anybody?"
Chenzhou shook his head as they stared one another down. Mercifully, a knock on the door rescued him. "Enter."
Mingzhe stepped inside, followed by three people, none of whom they recognized, but two of whom looked strikingly like Mingzhe. Chenzhou, Eirian, and Finn stood to greet them. Bows all around as Mingzhe escorted his siblings and sister-in-law to their seats.
"Chenzhou, Eirian, Finn, this is my young brother, Zhao Zhiyu, his wife Marabelle, and our sister, Yunli."
Zhiyu was the spitting image of Mignzhe, his features slightly fuller, a few years younger. Yunli had the same dark hair and eyes, framed by thick lashes and full lips. They both carried themselves well, backs straight and draped in the colors of their family.
Marabelle, Eirian was started to realize, was not from the Camelia. Or if she was, it was one of the few families without a mixed lineage from Sorrow and Song and Snow. She had straw blond hair in a riot of curls and big, bright blue eyes. Though she wore the robes favored by most in the Camelia, her jewelry was the style of the capital, the large pieces standing out against the delicate robes.
She beamed when she was introduced, in contrast to her husband's and sister-in-law's polite smiles.
~ tbc