The Voyager and the Rogue

Chapter 23

Ngl, this is my favorite chapter so far!

As Eyarr and I became more comfortable inside his family's house, despite knowing the history, the peace was soon broken.

Eyarr had made us breakfast. The fire was warm compared to the cool haze outside. It was a lovely morning otherwise. We ate in silence, but then we heard Cliffire freaking out outside. He began snarling and roaring, and then Riptide joined in.

Eyarr and I glanced at each other in confusion.

"What on earth?" He said, placing his bowl of food down and making his way to the front door. I followed him to go see what was bothering the dragons.

Eyarr opened the door to a group of displeased faces.

"Well, well," the oldest man of the group sneered, "I knew you would come crawling back." The older man had a mostly shaven head, except for a thick section of hair on the top that was tied into a long braid. His beard was also long and also braided. His light hazel-green eyes were cold and judgemental. And even though he had a long beard, I could tell there was a permanent frown.

Based on his tone, I knew that was far from a happy response, and the expression on Eyarr's face told me everything.

His family had returned, and they were not happy.

Eyarr huffed, crossing his arms.

"Don't get the idea that it was for you."

"What other reason would it be?"

"For myself, for once." The older man rolled his eyes, scoffing.

"You believe this, Revna? After everything we gave him. Yet he still turns it away." The woman, Revna... Eyarr's mother. A woman with tanned skin, honey-colored hair, and brown eyes that were the furthest thing from warm. Freckles patterned her cheeks; I could see where Eyarr got it from.

"Still unappreciative."

"There's not much to appreciate." Eyarr retorted. My gaze shifted to the other woman in Eyarr's family. She was older than Eyarr and me. And if I had to guess, she was around my older twin cousins' age. Her honey-blond hair was also tied up, with loose tendrils framing her face.

"For someone who's survived out in the wilderness for so long... you look... somewhat decent." She remarked with a raised judgemental brow and crossed arms. It was hard to interpret her comment as a compliment. And Eyarr definitely didn't accept it as such.

"Feeling the love, Gislaug." And then the two youngest of the family, the twin boys, who said nothing.

"Mikkel. Rikvald." Eyarr greeted, and I noticed his tone wasn't as cold as it was towards his parents and sister, which was interesting.

Though I knew their names, I could not tell for the life of me who was who, though one of the two looked remarkably like Eyarr, which was a bit spooky. They were identical, though their hairstyles were their main differentiator, not that it mattered in this situation.

"So, are you gonna let us in?" Gislaug questioned. Eyarr poorly fought back a snort.

"You think I'm just gonna let you in?"

"Out of the way, boy. It is my house. I built it was my bare hands." His father hissed.

"Easy, Skarde. There are two dragons watching. I wouldn't threaten their riders." My eyes widened slightly; hearing Eyarr address his father by his first name in that tone, the respect between father and son was irreparable.

"I'm still your father." Another eye roll.

"If I really cared about familial bonds, I wouldn't have left, do you know that?"