No, just the thought of sleeping with a sea siren makes my gut twist.
I frown. No, there’s no such thing as sky sirens being mated to those sea creatures. That’s proof enough that it’s delusional of me to think that.
But her concern for them, why does she care?
Getting up, I decide to shower before Alfren’s daughters wake up. Those two are pretty loud and ask far too many questions. I put on my pants and shirt, not wanting to risk anyone seeing my tattoos. Stepping out of the bedroom, I shut the door behind myself quietly and turn to see Dorene standing there, holding a basket of clothing. She blushes and quickly mumbles a “good morning” before hurrying outside. I raise an eyebrow as Alfren, who is sitting near the hearth, chuckles.
“Young love! Those were the days, she’s just a wee bit embarrassed.”
So they heard us last night.
I don’t say anything, keeping my face passive. Well, at least they’ll think we’re a couple.
After showering, I return to the room to see Siralaine is still asleep. Well, she clearly was exhausted after just that. Leaving her undisturbed, I leave the room, deciding to let her wake when she’s ready and walk over to the hearth.
“The wife still sleeping?” Alfren asks.
“Yeah,” I reply as I sit down opposite him, and Dorene places tea and scones beside me, again avoiding my gaze.
“Well, you know when they’re pregnant, they get tiredfaster,” Alfren chuckles.
I give him a pointed look. I am not about to discuss sex with him. “You had kids late?” I ask, “Or simply found one another later in life?”
“Do I look old to you, son?” he asks with amusement, not taking offence at the blunt question.
“Well, not really,” I reply. He’s younger than I am. I’m over a hundred, even if I don’t look it.
“We had other children…” He sits back, looking at the fire in the hearth as he takes a puff on his cigar. “Three. Two sons and a daughter, if they were alive today, they would be setting up their own lives now…”
“What happened?” I ask quietly, taking a gulp of my tea. Alfren sighs heavily.
“They were killed for doing the right thing. My sons would have been your age.” He’s silent, his eyes heavy, and I give him time. Is that why they agreed so quickly to help us? Because we unintentionally reminded them of their children?
“The boys went to search for work. We were poor, and the taxes of the kingdom bled us dry. The boys went together; it’s safer to travel in groups. Well… they came across some bandits who had a few women in captivity. My sons were brave, I just wished I had trained them by the sword, but how do we poor folk have time for that?”
He takes another long pause, staring into the burning flames, his eyes haunted and heavy with painful memories.
“Well, they managed to help the girls escape, and killed one of the bandits while the rest scattered. They made it home with only minor injuries. We helped the girls find a safe place at the temple while we thought of a way to get them back home. Wethought that was the end of it, but no. It was far from it.”
He brushes his fingers through his beard, sighing heavily. “They showed up a few nights later, lit the town on fire, searching for my sons. I wasn’t here… I was on a work trip and…” He turns his face away and wipes his eyes.
I’ve never experienced that kind of helplessness, and I don’t think I want to. All my life, all I have known is to be strong and emotionless. To become better, faster and stronger than everyone, that was the only option. But I wasn’t raised in a loving family. The difference began there.
“They found your sons and killed them,” I finished.
“Yes… And they took my daughter, and no one was able to stop them. We found her- We...”
“You don’t need to tell me,” I say softly.
“No, no. It’s fine. We-we found her raped and dead on the side of a road a few days later,” Alfren finishes, his voice low and hoarse.
I look down at my hands, feeling something for the stranger sitting opposite me. He’s a father who truly loves his children.
I’ve killed many, but civilians and children were not part of that.
“And there are no guards to police the area?” I ask, forcing the tea down my throat.
“No. We have requested it many times, but are repeatedly ignored. The bandits still come and try to steal our girls. I fear for the little ones.”
