Altaïr didn't dare laugh as his son barreled into him, but a wide grin would do nothing to shatter Darim's hard-won dignity. He hugged his son back tightly, privately marveling at how much higher the top of the boy's head was on his chest.
On the way to Constantinople and once they were there, it had been easy to keep himself from yearning for his family. He missed them, of course—deeply, and when he couldn't fall asleep easily at night, they were always in his thoughts. But the work they had traveled so far to do occupied much of his time, and he'd had to focus in order to establish the Assassins' presence in the city—and when that hadn't happened, to bring them home safely.
But on the way back, there had been little to distract him. He'd wondered what they were doing, how the boys were growing, what he'd missed. Now, at last, there was no more wondering.
"And I missed you, Darim," he said, stroking his hair lightly. And then he did laugh when Sef tried his hardest to encircle both his father and his big brother in his arms. "And you, Sef," he said, and hugged them both.
no subject
On the way to Constantinople and once they were there, it had been easy to keep himself from yearning for his family. He missed them, of course—deeply, and when he couldn't fall asleep easily at night, they were always in his thoughts. But the work they had traveled so far to do occupied much of his time, and he'd had to focus in order to establish the Assassins' presence in the city—and when that hadn't happened, to bring them home safely.
But on the way back, there had been little to distract him. He'd wondered what they were doing, how the boys were growing, what he'd missed. Now, at last, there was no more wondering.
"And I missed you, Darim," he said, stroking his hair lightly. And then he did laugh when Sef tried his hardest to encircle both his father and his big brother in his arms. "And you, Sef," he said, and hugged them both.