"Well, that was needlessly hostile," he said in response to the comment about target practice, pretending to be hurt. He would not have been especially put out even if he thought his brother had been serious, though he would have thought it a dramatic overreaction to such an innocuous comment. He had expected it to be bigger. Trystan had a bigger house than he did; he ought to have had a bigger office. It would have been a small matter to magically enlarge the room, wouldn't it have? But if it was that simple, Trystan probably would have done it by now. Perhaps it would disrupt the integrity of the building and bring the entire Ministry crashing down around his head. Perhaps Trystan simply didn't have enough pride to care. Emrys would have wagered on the former.

He hesitated, considering how to phrase things. Evidently, his hesitation outlasted his brother's patience, but even after Trystan's question he didn't respond immediately. "Need is a strong word. It's just advice. About — well," he hesitated again. "What is the thing you like least about being married, would you say?"