"We all have family members who inspire that sort of ... presence." Wee, Merlin can play the tact game too. From the look on his face, there are probably a few members of his mother's relations he either admires or fears. Maybe both.

Then he eyes the tall, heavyset cook who may or may not have been hovering since his less-than-subtle arrival. "'s really good," Corwin's son hastens to add, just in case the guy really needs to hear his opinion on the meal. The one he's tucking away like nobody's business.