That was unusual. Even for Leif. Audric regarded him calmly for a moment, and then rose. Wordlessly, he slipped the napkin out from beneath the sandwich plate and knelt to spread the napkin over the rug.
Leif would have to sit and stew in silence while Audric carefully picked up the pieces of shattered glass. Rising, he left the napkin over the stain and deposited the collected glass in the garbage.
"Sit." The single word was no longer an invitation; it was a command, and he expected Leif to obey him.
Turning his back on the other man, he poured out a cup of tea in silence. Once the teacup was filled, he glanced over his shoulder with a frown. "I told you to sit."
Setting the cup upon a saucer, the former soldier leaned back against his desk and leveled a solemn stare at Leif until the younger man obeyed. Once Leif had finally settled down, Audric extended the cup towards him. "Drink."
If the man insisted on behaving like a child, Audric would treat him like one! But Audric could be just as proud and even more stubborn, if necessary.
"Now," he said, a full minute after Leif had finally relented. He perched on the edge of his desk, looking down at Leif now with an air of seriousness that was usually quite unlike him. "Talk to me, Cai. What's going on?"
