“That’s quite an impressive kick,” Justan said with a nod.
“He’s a Firegobbler,” Lenny said proudly.
“It could be a she,” Bettie said. A mage could have told them the gender of the child, but Bettie didn’t want to know.
“I know what it’s going to be,” Justan teased.
“The hell you do,” Betty growled.
“A little bird told me,” he said. The baby was a boy. He’d asked around and Matron Guernfeldt had finally told him. He’d received a pinched rear for his trouble, but it had been worth it.
“A big-ol’ handsy dag-burned bird’s more likely,” Lenny said with a knowing frown. “Best not say nothin’ though. If’n you spoil the surprise, Bettie’s liable to un-invite you to the weddin’.”
“Did you decide when it’s going to be?” Justan asked. Bettie had finally agreed to marry the dwarf after they’d come back from the battle with Mellinda. Justan wasn’t sure what she’d been holding out for and Lenny wasn’t saying. Fist seemed to think Squirrel had convinced her.
“We’re gonna have it in Wobble after the baby’s born,” Bettie said.
“Yeah, we’re leavin’ here with Tolivar tomorrow to head to Coal’s Keep. Bettie wants to have the baby there,” Lenny said. “Then we’ll head to Wobble’n make sure Chugk’s got the gall-durn place set up right.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Justan said with a smile. “Is that where you’ll stay?”
Lenny sighed and Bettie spoke up for him. “Nope. Lenui here’s gonna be the Wobble representative on the Academy Council.”
“Really?” Justan said. “They roped you into it?”
“Temporarily,” Lenny grumbled. “Till we got everthin’ up’n runnin’. Then someone else can do it.”
Bettie ignored him. “I’m gonna join the academy. Lenui don’t like it but I already spoke to your dad and Harley and Oz. They say they’ll need a new forgemaster once the academy’s rebuilt.”
“The academy ain’t no place fer a dag-gum baby, much less a baby dwarf.” Lenny grumbled, but it was evidently an argument he’d already lost because Bettie didn’t shout back at him.
“She’ll be raised with a hammer in her hands just like a Firegobbler should be,” she declared firmly. “And she won’t be a dwarf. She’ll be half-dwarf.”
“He’ll be more dwarf than anythin’ else, so that makes him a dwarf!” Lenny said.
Justan left them to argue and continued past the square where Willum and Samson stood. Swen the Feather stood on one side of Willum, his long face looking as if it were carved from wood, and Kathy the Plate stood on Willum’s other side with her helmet tucked under one arm, one hand on Willum’s shoulder. Justan had never seen Kathy with her helmet off before. Her blond hair was cut short and she had a pretty face, with a smattering of freckles across her nose.
“Hey, have you seen-.” He began, but he shut his mouth when he saw who was coming up in the procession.
Justan stood solemnly with the rest of them as Zambon’s body came along the center road pushed by his father. Tolivar’s jaw was set, his eyes red-rimmed as he moved his son’s floating tablet. An image of Zambon’s smiling face hung in the air above him along with a list of his deeds and accomplishments that constantly rotated so they could all be read.
Zambon, son of Master Tolivar, graduate of the Dremaldrian Battle Academy. Served honorably as guard in the Dremald Palace and the Mage School. Assisted in the liberation of the prisoners of Vriil Keep. Assisted in the rescue of villagers in the Trafalgan Mountains. Assisted in the rescue of the Battle Academy and refugees of Reneul from Ewzad Vriil’s goblinoid army. Veteran of the Battle of Sampo Road. Commander of Berserker forces in the Battle of Vriil’s Folly.
Justan swallowed back the lump in his throat. Calling it the Battle of Vriil’s Folly had been Willum’s idea. He said Theodore had suggested it. Justan thought it was an appropriate name.
When Tolivar had passed by, Willum turned and gave him a sad smile. “Hello, Sir Edge.”
“Just call me Edge, Willum.” he said. “We’re friends.”
Willum nodded. “Did you hear we’re leaving soon?”
“Bettie said you were going back to Coal’s Keep tomorrow?” Justan said.
“Yeah. The Mage School kept Coal’s body preserved. We’re taking him home. Becca and Benjo don’t know what happened yet. I’m not looking forward to that part.”
“I’m so sorry,” Justan said. “I wish I could go with you, but-.”
“It’s alright, Edge,” Samson said. The centaur gave him a reassuring smile. “We know you have responsibilities here. We would like you to come back and visit, though. Everyone back at the farm would love to see you. Fist and Gwyrtha too, of course. I think Becca and Nala will be disappointed we didn’t lug him back there with us.”
“I will visit,” Justan promised. “Fist would drag me there even if I didn’t want to go. Is that where you’re going to stay, Willum?”
“I’m not sure,” Willum looked down at a sheet of parchment that was clutched in his hand. He handed it to Justan. “This came today.”
Justan opened it up and as he read the flowing writing his eyes widened. “This is from Captain Demetrius.” He read on and looked back to Willum in surprise.
“It’s okay,” Willum said, indicating Swen and Kathy. “They know.”
“To Willum Odd Blade, Son of Nedney Pross and Jolie Vriil, Heir to House Vriil?” Justan frowned. “Who told him?”
“Father did,” Willum said. “The day before you came to break the siege. He wanted Demetrius to know Dann Dowdy’s crimes as well as Ewzad Vriil’s part in my parent’s death. I told him it was okay.”
Justan continued to read. It was very dry and procedural. “He . . . wants you to place your claim to the Vrill lands and fortune?”
“The Pross family says that the Vriil holdings should fall to their care since my father was a Pross,” Willum sighed. “I’m inclined to let them. I’ve never wanted to be a noble. Besides, the Pross family is as good as any of the other noble families when it comes to the way they treat the people living in their lands.”
“You would be better,” Swen said. “The Pross family isn’t cruel, but they still overtax their people. My parents live on Pross land.”
“Yeah, well I wish they’d just erase the whole Vriil name!” Willum said.
“Your mother was a Vriil,” Samson reminded. Willum chewed his lip and the centaur said, “They gave you until spring to decide. You have all fall and winter.”
“You’ll make the right decision,” Kathy said, patting his shoulder. “But we’ll miss you at the academy if you stay away.”
Justan gave the letter back to Willum. “She’s right. I’m sure you’ll make the right decision.”
“Yeah,” Willum said and his brow was furrowed in thought.
“Have any of you seen Jhonate?” Justan asked.
“She was riding by on Gwyrtha a few minutes ago,” Samson said.
“Her? Riding Gwyrtha?” Justan said incredulously. Jhonate would never admit it, but she was afraid to ride her. Gwyrtha begged her all the time and she always said no.
“And she was wearing a dress,” said Kathy with an amused shake of her head. “I’ve never seen her outside of armor or traveling clothes.”
Swen smiled at her. “You’re one to talk.”
Gwyrtha? Is Jhonate with you? Justan asked.
We ride! she said happily.
Can you bring her to me? Justan asked.
Yes! she replied. A few moments later he saw them coming, making a wide circuit around the center square, avoiding the crowds. Jhonate was riding high in the stirrups, leaning forward, her hands gripping Gwyrtha’s mane. There was relief in her eyes when she saw him.
Justan’s breath caught in his throat. She was wearing a long, flowing white dress that didn’t seem to bunch up at the knees even though she was riding. Her hair was done up in a way Justan had not seen before. The braids that framed her face s
till hung long, but the rest of her hair was pulled up in an elaborate bun on the top.
Gwyrtha skidded to a stop at Justan’s feet and Jhonate threw her arms around the rogue horse’s neck, afraid she would be flung off. She grumbled as she swung her leg over, then sighed, grateful that she was back on the ground.
The dress was of a style new to him. White, embroidered with green thread in an intricate pattern, and tied with a wide green ribbon at her waist. She looked him up and down. “What are you wearing? You look ridiculous.”
“You look . . . beautiful,” Justan said, stunned.
“It is a dress the Roo use for formal occasions. Beth helped me with it,” Jhonate said, looking down at the dress. “She is an excellent seamstress. I worked on the embroidery myself.”
Ride, Justan? Gwyrtha said. I can get big. Both of you could ride.
Not now, sweetie, he said numbly, still taking Jhonate in. It was draped on her very well.
“Stop looking at me like that,” Jhonate said, glancing away, her cheeks coloring, but there was a smile on her lips.
“I’m sorry I can’t help it. You know I’ve never seen you in a dress before.”
She rolled her eyes. “Everyone I have spoken to today has said that.”
“I also can’t believe you were riding Gwyrtha,” he remarked.
She looked back at the rogue horse. “I decided that if we are going to spend the rest of our lives together, I should get used to the beast. I asked her to take me to you, but she’s just been running me all over the grounds.”
Gwyrtha! Justan knew she could have found him immediately. She was just taking advantage of the opportunity to carry Jhonate around.
She wanted to ride, the rogue horse said innocently.
Jhonate pulled her staff from the straps on the side of the saddle. Her dress twirled as she turned back to face him and Justan couldn’t handle it anymore. He grabbed Jhonate by the waist and pulled her in close.
“Do we really need to wait a year? Let’s go tomorrow. I’m ready to allow myself to be beaten half to death by your father if that’s what it takes.”
“We have discussed this,” Jhonate replied gently, reaching up to place one hand against his jaw. “I will finish out my contract. It is my duty.”
“You could renegotiate,” Justan teased. He let go of her waist and took her hand in his. “I happen to have connections with the head of the Academy Council. I’m pretty sure we can convince them to let you out of your contract early.”
“I will have no more arguments. You know I want us to be married just as bad as you do.” Her eyes smoldered. “Probably more. But I will not be tempted into backing out of my promises. Just remember I made a promise to you as well. I will marry you. A year of waiting is not going to change that.”
Justan dropped her hands and let out a frustrated laugh. “All this waiting is going to be very hard on me. It will be difficult to be around you all the time, knowing I have to keep my distance.”
“But you will not have to. Beth showed me something,” she said. Jhonate grasped the end of her staff and gave it a slight twist. A small piece broke off in her hand. She concentrated and the gray wood formed a tiny circle. “You gave me a ring. Now I have one for you.”
Justan’s heart thumped as she placed it on his forefinger. He heard her voice in his mind.
I love you, Justan, she sent, her striking green eyes echoing all the emotion he felt coming through the ring.
I love you too, he replied and kissed her. At that moment he was sure it would all be worth it.
Epilogue
“Just watch over her, Rufus, I’ll be back shortly,” John said.
The rogue horse nodded his gorilla-like head and sniffed at the basket. The infant inside gave a tiny sigh and Rufus smiled.
John patted the rogue horse’s flank and headed through the trees towards the farm with the boy child in his arms. The one issue with using rogue horses for transportation is that one always had to keep them hidden. At least they were well behaved. Rufus would stay right by the child and protect it if attacked. Not that attack was a possibility in this place. John would have felt it.
Evening was falling, but he had no difficulty seeing in the dark. John came to the wooden fence at the forest’s edge and leapt spryly over it. There were a few guard dogs. That was new from the last time he’d been here. But one sniff and they knew not to bother him. All creatures knew.
He stepped up to the front door and smiled. He could smell a roasted chicken along with some of that new honstule plant he had tried back at the Mage School. Children were talking animatedly inside. He raised his hand and knocked. He heard a chair creak as someone came to the door.
“I’ll be right back and Jerrold, don’t take your sister’s potato, you know she likes to eat it last.”
“Yes mother.”
Footsteps approached and the door opened. A woman answered the door, pretty and in her forties with her hair tied back in a bun. Her eyes went wide when she recognized him.
“J-John!”
“Good evening, Nala,” he said with a smile. “So good to see you.”
“Why, would you come in?” she asked, opening the door wider. He saw the curious eyes of children peering at him from around the kitchen table.
“Sorry, I’m afraid not. I don’t have much time, you see. I, uh . . . brought something for you.” He held out the boy child.
She took one look at the infant and frowned. “John, that’s a baby.”
“Yes it is,” he said. He placed it in her arms.
“Do you want me to watch it for you or something?” she asked suspiciously.
“I need you to mother it, Nala. This child needs you,” he said, giving her the kindest smile he knew how.
“You’re going to come knock on my door out of the blue when I haven’t seen you in . . . well, since before David died and just give me a baby and say, ‘Be its mother’?” she demanded, but she was already rocking it.
John swallowed. He had hoped this would go smoother. “His father was killed. He needs a strong woman and brothers and sisters . . . I immediately knew you were the mother he needed.”
“You immediate-. Ugh!” She looked down at the infant. He hadn’t even reacted to her outburst. He just blinked his little eyes and yawned. “You think just because you’re the prophet I have to take this child. John! I am already raising these children alone! You can’t just drop off another hungry mouth and he’s . . . what? A week old?”
He raised his hands. “I know it is a lot to ask, but you won’t be alone long.”
The infant grimaced and she raised it to her shoulder and began patting his back. She gave John a scowl. “And what is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, your friends are returning. Samson and Bettie . . . they’ll be back soon and they’re bringing a man with them who will help you take care of your children,” he assured her.
“What?” she shrieked.
The baby was startled and let out a short cry. One of the boys at the table stood. “Mom?”
“Sit down, Steffen!” she barked and the boy sat. She turned her glare on John as she comforted the child. “Now you say you’ve found me a new husband? What the hell, John? You can’t just go around telling me what to do. I don’t even know this man.”
“I’m not saying you have to marry him,” John said calmly. “You have your free will. You could say no when he asks you. I’m just saying that I’ve seen it and he does ask you and . . . you say yes.” She opened her mouth to speak and he cut her off. “And one other tiny thing. You mustn’t tell him that it was I who gave you the child.”
That sparked another roar of outrage and it took another ten minutes of arguing before she finally bid him good night and shut the door. Thankfully she kept the baby inside. As he returned through the woods, he was glad that he hadn’t followed his first instinct and brought her both babies. But as he had rode Rufus across the Wide River he had come to an understanding. It had been well know
n that Queen Elise had been pregnant with twins. He couldn’t leave them both with the same mother. The Dark Prophet could eventually figure it out.
No, this was for the best. Besides, the two children’s futures were linked. They would find each other eventually.
The rogue horse soon loomed into view. “Hello, Rufus. I trust everything went fine while I was gone?”
The rogue horse shuffled his feet and took a deep breath, then said one simple word. “Poop.”
John lifted the basket and sighed. “Ah yes. She has.”
He shook his head. Changing babies. Thousands of years with no children of his own and still he continued to find ways to end up changing babies. The Creator had such a sense of humor.
“Oh little one,” he said as he cleaned up the child. “I am so sorry that I have to separate you from your brother. It is a necessity, you see. Don’t worry though. I’ll get you a good mother to raise you. I’ll . . .” It came to him in a sudden vision as such things often did with the prophet. Yes, that would do nicely.
“I have just the right match for you,” he said to her. He wrapped her back up and placed her in the basket. “I just happen to know of a certain named warrior whose wife can’t have children of her own.”
* * *
The rain had drenched Arcon by the time he saw the cabin. He limped towards it, grateful that he hadn’t been mistaken. He hadn’t been to this place in so long he had almost forgotten how to find it.
The door was boarded up, but he ripped the wood free with air magic and barged inside. He could use those boards for kindling later. The cabin was small, a single room, and the ceiling leaked in one spot, but he was just glad that no goblinoids or men had claimed it.
The last time he’d been inside, was the year before his awakening. His father had taken him hunting and they had stayed in the cabin for a week while they searched for elk. They had only brought down one, but the week had been full of good memories. That didn’t matter now. His father was dead and this place had been abandoned for a long time.
The Bowl of Souls: Book 05 - Mother of the Moonrat Page 49
