When Edric saw Lucien, his whole face changed.
For one bare instant, he stopped being a man and became pure, unguarded relief.
Then that relief exploded.
"GAHAHAHA! Nephew!" Edric roared, already charging forward with all the subtlety of a collapsing mountain. "I knew you wouldn't stay dead for long!"
Before anyone could intervene, he caught Lucien in a crushing embrace and planted a loud kiss on both of his cheeks.
This time, Lucien let him.
He had already heard from the others what the Silvermine and Copperrock families had done while he was still only an echo, fragile and unfinished in the field of remembrance.
They had come. Again and again. They had spoken his name into the process as if stubborn affection itself might be one more anchor dragging him back.
So even when Edric's beard scratched his face and the kiss landed with all the grace of a tavern brawl, Lucien only wiped his cheek afterward and smiled.
"Uncle Ed," he said, "I'm back."
