“It is what we both want,” she said. “I care of nothing else.”
“I know,” he said. He went to her.
T hat night, both brothers slept with fire. One was bright and roaring, a controllable inferno that surrounded and engulfed. One was cold, a blue flame, burning without heat, turning to ash without the warmth of consumption. Blanketed by stars and separated by a great distance, both found peace in the fire.
Of the two, only one created life.
17
Q urrah nestled in the old chair, a fire roaring at his side. In his lap was the book of Pelarak. Three times he had read it, analyzing every word. He was halfway through his fourth read, and still he marveled at the knowledge the cleric of Karak possessed. Outside, a heavy rain fell. Tessanna looked up from the bed, her small head poking out from a multi-blanket cocoon.
“Shouldn’t you go?” she asked.
The half-orc flipped a page, pretending not to hear.
“You’ve been quiet,” she continued. “Impatient. Terrible in bed, even.”
He flipped another page.
“I will visit their child in time.”
She shrunk her head further into the blankets.
“Will you start taking people again?” she asked. “Try making them like me?”
Qurrah chuckled. He had decided over the winter that he preferred the child-like mentality of Tessanna best. The sarcastic, cynical form was next. Her angry side, her fearful side, and her apathetic side, well…
He planned to get rid of those.
“Yes. We have let enough time pass to safely take another. I have not forgotten my promise. In time, your mind will be healed.”
“What about until then?”
He glanced over. “Until then, we will make do with what we have.”
They did not speak the rest of the day. Silence was not a thing either feared, nor did it imply anger or frustration. They could each dwell within the confines of their minds. Silence. It was a blessed thing.
H er shrieking wail was horrible to hear. Harruq couldn’t imagine the pain causing it. Inside their room, Delysia attended to Aurelia, doing things he preferred to stay in the dark about. He crossed his arms, uncrossed them, paced back and forth, and muttered incoherently. Childbirth. Such a stressful thing.
“What are you doing out here?” Tarlak asked as he came up the stairs.
“Kicked me out,” Harruq said.
“Making too much of a fuss, eh? Well, brawny men with more muscles than brains usually don’t mix too well with such delicate matters. I’ll see how things are going.”
“Don’t go in there,” the half-orc said. Tarlak waved him off, opened the door, and slipped inside. Harruq counted to three on his fingers, timing it perfectly.
“GET OUT OF HERE, NOW!”
The door flung open, and out fled the wizard as if seven fire-breathing dragons chased him for supper. He slammed the door shut, straightened his hat, and then fixed his robes.
“Kicked me out,” Tarlak said. Harruq rolled his eyes.
“Don’t worry ol’ buddy,” the wizard said, clapping him on the shoulder. “I’m sure Del has everything under control. Your child will be fine.”
Another cry came from inside, sharp and focused. Both shuddered.
“Something tells me we got the easy part,” Harruq said.
“Amen to that.”
Another cry came, soft and shrill. Both stood alert at the sound. No woman made that sound. It was the cry of a babe.
“Aurry!” Harruq shouted, yanking open the door. His heart froze, and all things of the world fell away to a single image. On a bed, her hair frazzled and her face soaked with sweat, was the most beautiful woman Harruq had ever seen. In her arms, wrapped with towels, was a newborn child. His mind fought to grasp what he witnessed. His wife was holding his child. His child.
“I’m a father,” he said breathlessly.
“It’s a healthy girl,” Delysia said, towels in her hands covered with blood, fluid, and sweat. “What shall you name her?”
Harruq slid beside his wife, his eyes mesmerized by the scrunched red face, swollen shut eyes, and tiny mouth of his crying child.
“As we agreed. It’s a girl, so you get to name her, Aurry.”
“Aullienna,” Aurelia said.
“Aullienna,” Harruq repeated. “Gonna take some time before I can say that right.”
“You’ll have plenty of time to learn it,” Tarlak said, smiling beside the door. “Think of how many times you’ll be shouting it. ‘Aullienna, stay away from my things. Aullienna, put down my sword. Aullienna, stop beating up Brug.’”
Chubby hands reached from behind the door, and then the wizard was gone. A few seconds later, Brug ducked his head inside.
“Good to hear you’re alright, Aurelia,” he said. He winked at the little babe. “Hope it’s a long time before you try beating up little old me, Aullienna.”
Aurelia smiled, too tired to laugh.
“I need to nurse her,” she told her husband. Harruq nodded, realized what that meant, and then nodded again.
“Everybody out,” he said. “Private time.”
As they were leaving, Haern slipped inside. He wore no hood or cloak, only a simple pair of pants and a shirt.
“I come to pay my respects to the child,” Haern said.
“Respects paid. My baby’s hungry, so time to go.”
“Hush, Harruq,” Aurelia said, her voice distant and drowsy. She stroked a hand across Aullienna’s soft forehead. “We are grateful, Haern.”
The assassin opened his hand and held it out. Flat across his palm was a long green ribbon with gold writing.
“Tie it to her crib, for now,” Haern explained. “And when she is older, may it adorn her hair.”
“Pretty,” Harruq said, not understanding the true importance. Aurelia, however, read the writing and smiled.
“It is a noble gift, and a thoughtful one. We thank you.”
“What’s it say?” the half-orc asked after Haern bowed and left.
“ May Ashhur’s eyes forever watch over this child, even as we of the Eschaton do the same. Such a token is given by men who pledge armies to ensure the safety of a child.” The elf smiled at her daughter. “I’ll take Haern over an army any day.”
“Can’t argue with you there.”
D own on the first floor, Harruq found Tarlak pacing.
“Did my brother…?” Harruq asked.
“No sign,” the wizard said. “I’m sure he is very happy for you.”
“I’m sure he is too,” he said, none too convincingly. He grinned at Tarlak. “You realize I’m a dad now? A dad! I’m a father!”
“Aye, that you are,” the wizard said. “Scary as the abyss, isn’t it?”
“Scarier,” Harruq said. “Far, far scarier.”
They moved Aurelia and Aullienna into the Tun’s room later that night. Harruq carried the little babe in his
