“Visitors!” exclaimed Sen. “This’ll give me a chance to break out that new cask of fancy Jagai red your uncle sent me, Jelena.”
Jelena smiled. She knew how much her father-in-law loved playing host to their neighbors. It had been a long cold winter, and company would be a welcome diversion.
The family had gathered, as they did every afternoon, in the large sitting room at the top of Kerala Castle to drink tea and chat. Jena and Mariso sprawled on the mats amidst their doll collection, engrossed in a private adventure. Eikko perched in a window seat, amusing Hatora with a game of peek-a-boo. Jelena shared the room’s only couch with Amara. Sen and Lani sat on stools beside a small table, a game of mikat in progress between them.
“Oh dear, it looks like we’ll have to quit our game, Lani my sweet,” Sen said.
Lani pushed out her lower lip in a mock frown. “Father, you only wish to quit because I’m winning, as usual.”
Sen’s eyebrows shot up. “What?
“Yes, Father. You know you haven’t won against me in ages.”
“You’d think an old soldier like me could beat an untried girl at a military strategy game,” he growled, but Jelena saw the twinkle of humor in his eyes. “I think you’re aiming to take my place some day as Commanding General!”
Lani cocked her head to the side and said, “Perhaps.”
Amara lowered Misune’s letter to her lap. “I think you and Ashi should go down to greet our guests, Husband,” she said.
“Perhaps I’ll come as well. That is, if I can lift my enormous body off this couch!” Jelena had just entered her tenth and final month of pregnancy. The large, active child-a boy-had allowed his mother precious little rest these last few weeks.
“Are you sure, love?” Ashinji asked.
“Oh, yes, I’m sure. It’ll do me good to get out and walk. I’m tired of sitting.” Jelena grimaced as she got her feet beneath her and pushed off. Ashinji stepped forward to assist and, arm in arm, the two of them followed Sen downstairs to the yard. Together, they all made their way down to the main gate of the castle.
The day had turned overcast and blustery, where only yesterday it had been fine and warm-the typical, unstable weather of early spring in Kerala. Jelena shivered, despite her wool tunic and trousers.
Ashinji wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. “You should have put on a coat,” he scolded in a gentle tone.
“I’m fine, Ashi. Don’t fuss,” Jelena shot back, then kissed his wind-chilled cheek.
“Not a good day for traveling, no, no!” Sen muttered, peering at the darkening sky. “Our visitors beat the storm, but only just.” Jelena breathed in the cold air, heavy with the smell of rain, and nodded in agreement.
A brace of castle guards had detained the visitors at the landward end of the bridge. One of the guards spotted Sen and trotted back across the bridge to the gate.
“My lord, it’s two humans, a man and an old woman,” the guard reported. “Says he’s been here before… claims to know the family.” The guard’s voice rang with sarcastic disbelief. He was new to the Kerala guards, having been in service for less than six months.
She pushed past the guardsman to get a better look. “Ai, Goddess, Ashi!” she cried, recognizing the tall, dark-haired figure seated on the driver’s bench of the cart. “It’s Magnes!”
“Let them cross,” Sen ordered. The guard touched his forehead then turned to wave to his fellow on the other side. Magnes snapped the reins and the horse leaned into the harness. As the cart drew closer, Jelena spotted a small figure huddled in the back. Even at a distance and swathed in a heavy cloak, Jelena recognized the woman who had raised her.
“Heartmother,” she whispered. She spun around to look at Ashinji, eyes overflowing with tears. “Ashi! Magnes has brought my mother here from Amsara!”
Ashinji moved to stand beside her. “This is truly a wonderful gift,” he said.
“Magnes Preseren, my young human friend!” Sen called out in Soldaran. “You have returned for long overdue visit!”
Magnes checked the horse and the cart rolled to a stop. “Lord Sen, it is very good to see you,” he replied. He set the hand brake then swung down from the driver’s bench into Jelena’s ecstatic embrace.
“Magnes,” she sobbed.
“Hello, Cousin.” He stroked her curls then kissed her forehead. “Hello Ashi. You’re looking well.”
“As are you, my friend.” Jelena relinquished her hold on her cousin so he and Ashinji could embrace.
“I’ve brought someone to see you, Cousin,” Magnes said.
Jelena could only nod, unable to speak through her tears.
Magnes moved to the cart bed, gently lifted Claudia out then set her on her feet.
“My baby…Is she here?”
“Yes, Heartmother, it’s your baby!” Jelena stepped forward and pushed back the hood to reveal the dear face she had not expected to ever see again. “It’s me, your lamb.”
The muted gray light dulled Claudia’s skin to the color of old parchment. The lack of focus in her rheumy eyes revealed her near blindness. Nevertheless, she looked directly into Jelena’s face and lifted her gnarled hands to caress her foster daughter’s tear-streaked cheeks.
“How are you, child? You look so happy. An’ with a new little’un on the way!” One of her hands dropped to rest on Jelena’s swollen belly. “A boy, ’tis no doubt. An old midwife always knows.”
“I am happy, Heartmother. Happier than I ever imagined possible,” Jelena replied.
“Hello, Claudia. Do you remember me?”
A rapturous smile lit up the old woman’s face, softening the deep lines etched into her skin by a lifetime’s experience. “O’ course I remember you, Ashi,” she exclaimed. “How could I ever ferget? My prayers ’ave been answered a thousan’ times over! My Jelena an’ her man are together again, an’ I’ve been given the chance t’ see them an’ their babies before I die.”
Jelena threw her arms around her foster mother and held her close. Even through the heavy layers of wool, she felt the inevitable toll age and illness had taken on Claudia’s body. Once, her foster mother had been robust and strong. Now, she felt fragile as a bird. Jelena marveled that Claudia had been able to make the journey from Amsara at all.
A spattering of fat raindrops speckled the gravel. The wind gusted harder, lifting the hems of cloaks and whipping stray locks of hair across faces.
“We’d all best get inside before the rain really starts,” Sen urged, starting back through the gate. He added in Soldaran, “Magnes, guards will fetch wagon and horses to stables, you come inside. Ashi will carry mother.”
“Oh, no, sir,” Claudia demurred. “I can walk, m’lord.”
“Come, Heartmother,” Ashinji said in a gentle voice. “Let me carry you. It will be much faster if I do.” As Ashinji swept Claudia into his arms, she giggled, and for a moment, Jelena caught a glimpse of the young woman her foster mother had once been.
They made it to the steps of the castle just as the rain began to pelt down in earnest. Sen escorted them up to the sitting room, where Amara greeted her human guests as graciously as she would visiting elven nobility.
“Grandmother, you shall sit in our best chair,” Amara said, guiding Claudia to Sen’s comfortable seat by the hearth. Eikko circled the room, gathering cloaks and handing them off to a manservant waiting at the door.
When everyone had settled in with fresh cups of tea, Sen began the conversation. “So nice to practice my Soldaran. Is, how you say? Rusty.”
Magnes chuckled. “Your Soldaran is very good, Lord Sen. Don’t worry.”
“So. Tell me, young Magnes, how goes situation in Empire? Is Constantia still wanting invasion of Alasiri?” Sen’s light tone stood at odds with the wariness in his eyes.
Magnes took a few sips of his tea before answering. “I’m just a farmer now, my lord. My wife and I work our
