Rosalind rolled her eyes.
“At any rate, it’s her turn for a bath,” Amari said firmly.Dalan was cooing in his towel.
“Come along,” Rosalind reached out but Lara pressed herself against Yfin, tucking her face into his neck.
Amari chuckled.“Yfin, take her in.”
“Yes, A’mum.Sorry, Shield-sister,” Yfin said to Lara, turning toward the gatehouse.
“Shield-sister?”Rosalind scolded as she followed the boy.“You can’t call her that…”
Roth snorted and started picking up the dropped weapons and kicking the stone circle back into place.
Orval suspected he was giving them a bit of privacy.
It hit him then, it would have been his fault, he would have failed to keep the heir safe, to hold her tight, keep away any harm.His fault and—
“Orval,” Amari’s voice was soft and warm, her breath on his ear.“It’s all right.Lara was in no real danger.”She huffed a laugh.“Babies don’t stay babies, Hearth Father.They crawl and walk and cry and smile and laugh and that’s a good thing.”
“Or skip crawling.”Orval sighed.
“Or skip crawling.Amari said.“They will grow,” her voice was soft, warm, and reassuring.“And we will grow with them.”
Orval reached then putting his hand on her rounded belly.“Speaking of growing,” he said.“All well, Hearth Mother?”
“All well,” Amari laughed, putting her head on his shoulder, her curls tickling his nose.
“Have we been formally adopted?”Orval asked as his thoughts finally caught up with what he’d heard Yfin say.
Amari nodded, lifting her head.“Yfin asked permission this morning,” she said.“Asked if he could call me that.He said he already had a Ma and Da.”She hugged Dalan close, and he squirmed and giggled.“I think Roth is to be Uncle and Rosalind, Aunt.”
“What about me?”Orval asked in mock outrage.
Amari gave him an impish grin.“O’papa.”
Orval wrapped his arm around her back, bringing her in closer.“Creating his own
family.”
“We all create our own families,” Amari said, letting her lips brush his cheek.
Piercing screams resounded from the gatehouse.
“I’d best go rescue Rosalind,” Amari laughed.She rose with her usual grace.Orval watched her leave, the gentle sway of her hips and Dalan peering over her shoulder.
“You’d best get warming up,” Roth gruffly broke into his admiration.“Your lesson comes next.
Orval nodded, standing, removing his scarf, and placing it on top of his book.He took a few tentative steps, making sure his leg would hold him.
Roth rolled his shoulders and they started stretching together, Roth to cool down a bit, Orval to warm up.Orval followed Roth’s movements as best he could, although not with the Weaponsmaster’s grace.
Another rattle of stones caught his attention.“They’re still there?”He asked quietly.
Roth gave him a wry smile as he squatted.“Our young watchers?I don’t think they are too worried that you have an army hidden somewhere, but they still post a watch.”
“Young, you think?”
“Aye, else they’d be better at it.”Roth chuckled.
