Singing and music started. People threw flower petals. Bride and groom were hoisted up and carried into the otter clan building where another great feast awaited. They were placed at the head table, and all their food was brought to them. Ishku ate and drank without ever needing to speak a word. Then she asked, "What were those things? The toad, the woman—the things?" She was at a loss for words. Being an otter most her life didn't prepare her for the experience.
Piv's eyes turned crescent from mirth. "Those are the spirits. There is water, earth, air, and fire. They guide us. Once we were guided by eighteen of the wisest: the Ashtadash. Now you only hear of your friend's brother's grandma seeing them."
"What does that mean?" She squinted, trying to discern the weird phrase.
"It means it probably didn't happen. It was likely too much drink or smoke. Maybe eating a bad frog or drinking of the wrong water." He shrugged. "They left us long ago, but the spirits here lead us as needed. By now, it's the janaav who lead anyway, with man following our instinct, strength, and courage."
The rest of the day was one long celebration. Then, at night, Piv and Ishku bedded for the second time.
Years of trying revealed that either Piv's seed was not strong enough to take root, or Ishku's womb was barren.
One night, as they were about to bed, Piv stopped and sat up. "This is fruitless. We need a water spirit. Maybe she can tell us what is wrong. Perhaps my seed is weak and, spirits could give the needed strength. Or your womb is dry, and spirits could wet it to be receptive."
Ishku's heart broke, and she looked away in shame. She helped birth children all day, but she couldn’t conceive her own.
The following morning they went to a water spirit, Cadm, and Piv said, "Spirit Cadm, we can’t have children. Please, let us know if it is her womb or my seed. Give us a solution so we can have kids. If it’s dharma, give us a way to repent."
Cadm did not appear as a person, but instead was a bowl of water with a fish in it. The fish said, "Have the woman place her finger in the bowl, but do not panic. This will scare you, but it will not harm."
Ishku put her hand in the bowl, and water wrapped around her arm and climbed up. It traced down her torso and past her pounding heart. Finally it settled on her stomach, weaving around and soaking into her skin. Ishku gave a shriek at the cold entering her.
"I see," the fish said. "Now, young man, put your hand in the bowl." The water went up his arm and disappeared, but the surprise in his eyes and sudden cough told Ishku where the water went. The water receded and again the fish said, "I see."
There was a lengthy pause, where Piv and Ishku stood side by side waving back and forth in reticence.
"The woman otter is barren. The seed will never find fertile ground. It may be physical, it may be her dharma." The fish then swam a circle, as if it said nothing and was simply a fish.
Ishku dropped to her knees and wept. The news strangled her.
Piv embraced her. He asked, "Is there anything we can do?"
Cadm said, "I can try to heal her womb. Leave her here a week, and when she is returned, she will produce children for you."
For the next week, the water spirit changed into many forms and poked and prodded at Ishku. Numerous teas of varying disgusting textures and flavors were provided. Every time she was tempted to stop drinking, she remembered Piv and saw their children together. Then, on the seventh day, Cadm said, "You are complete. Your womb will take his seed, and you will have children. My request is that the first child is mine for five years, and then I will return him. They will continue visiting me until they are twelve and their body changes. After that, they may visit, or they may not. Because I healed you, the water element will be in their blood, and I need to teach someone what I know. Are these terms acceptable?"
The deception angered Ishku, but the healing was done. "Of course," she said, swallowing back the words she wanted to spew, the curses she wanted to lob at the trickster. At least it wasn't a life of servitude. She also knew it meant her first child would be powerful and revered. Janaav elementalists were exceedingly rare.
"I wish you the best. Go and follow your dharma. The Ashtadash will bless you plentifully now that I've touched your womb. Just make sure you give birth as a woman. Give birth as an otter, and the child will be broken."
Ishku went back to Piv, and she felt a glow emanating from her stomach. "Piv, my love," she said, "I am ready to give you children." They were with each other for many nights, and soon a man who knew the secrets of water confirmed she had a child in her belly. Piv threw a feast for seven days.
"I never thought I'd have a child," Ishku said while laying in Piv's arms. "We will be greatly blessed."
"The child will have a bright future as my apprentice. He will start while young."
Ishku frowned. "Love, I have something to tell you. Cadm claimed our first born. She will teach the child until five, then periodically until twelve. She only told me after she healed me."
Piv shuddered, arms tense until they crushed Ishku. At her pained mewls, he released her and sat up. "I will revoke the promise. We dealt with her in good faith, and only after you're healed she tells
