“Nothing, baby,” I whispered, brushing her curls from her forehead before placing a gentle kiss in the same spot. She melted into me, then, wrapping her little arms around my neck in a fierce hug. “I’m happy to see you.”
“I’m happy to see you, too, Mommy! Gamma and I had so much fun, though! Can I show you all the art we made together?” She squealed in excitement when I nodded my head. Itanya had taken to calling the Bondsmith “Gamma” recently, and I didn’t have the heart or desire to correct her.
We were creating our own family, and if she wanted a legendary goddess to be her grandmother, then who was I to tell her no?
Itanya practically bounced around the small room while she showed me all the drawings and paintings she and the Bondsmith had done together over the last few hours. The newest artwork was carefully tacked to the stone walls, and it brightened the drab space. Made it feel more like a home.
I smiled and laughed with my daughter, entranced by the happiness on her face as she spoke about her art.
I wanted her to be able to do whatever she wanted with her life; to be an artist if she wanted, to fall in love if she wanted, without the fear of the Warlord hanging over her head.
She was my new why and had been since the day I held her bloody body against my chest.
“Itanya,” the Bondsmith called softly, “it’s time for me to get to bed. You probably should too, hmm?”
Itanya nodded sagely before scampering the few feet across the room to launch herself into the Bondsmith’s arms. The goddess fell back on the bed with a musical laugh as she peppered kisses against my daughter’s head and hair.
“I love you, Gamma,” Itanya exclaimed before pulling back and planting a sloppy, wet kiss on the Bondsmith’s cheek.
The Bondsmith closed her eyes, squeezing her a little tighter as she whispered, “I love you too.”
“Now, you be good and go straight to bed for your mommy, okay? If you do, we can paint some more tomorrow,” the Bondsmith instructed sternly but lovingly, and my daughter bobbed up and down in excitement.
“Oh, I promise, Gamma! I promise!”
They hugged once more, and Itanya huddled under the covers, waiting for a goodnight kiss from both her “Gamma” and me.
The Bondsmith said her goodbyes quietly, and I sat next to my daughter as she closed the door softly behind her.
Quietly, I hummed a song that I remembered my older sister singing when I was little and tired. I could never remember the words, but I remembered the tune enough to fill in the gaps with my own song. I traced gentle patterns on Itanya’s head as I sang, my voice softly lulling her into sleep. Her breathing evened out and her body slumped as sleep took her, but still, I didn’t stop my ministrations.
I loved her with the force of a thousand suns, with every fiber and atom in my being. There was nothing—nothing—I wouldn’t do for her.
I just wished doing what was right didn’t pull me away from her.
Soon, we won’t have to be away. Soon, when all of this is done, it can just be you and me. And maybe Peytor and Uncle Torin. We’ll live somewhere safe and warm, and you can have anything you want. We just have to get through this first. We’re almost there, love. I can feel it.
I spoke to her in my mind, promising her the world and more, before I bent slightly and kissed her forehead once more. I extinguished the lone Mage Orb in the room before exiting our space, quietly shutting the door behind me.
“If you have to leave, I’ll take care of her. I promise nothing will happen to her.” The Bondsmith’s voice lilted in my ear, and I nearly screamed in surprise.
Peoplenevergot the jump on me; I was always aware of my surroundings; of the threat they posed. But I was distracted and more at ease now that I’d seen my daughter.
Plus, the Bondsmith was a goddess. That had to count for something.
I whirled to face the Bondsmith, my back pressed against the door, with a stunned look of acceptance.
“How did you—” I trailed off but shook my head at her small smile. “Dumb question, you’re a goddess. Of course you know.”
She smiled, then, but it was a sad thing. “It has less to do with being a goddess and more to do with being so old that I know how to read people with an alarming accuracy.”
I had nothing to say to that, so I simply looked at her.
“With your permission, I’d like to put some Rune Wards on her.” I tensed at her suggestion, but the Bondsmith held up her hands in a placating gesture. “Nothing over the top, but just a few to keep her safe, should something ever happen.”
I chewed my lip in thought and reluctantly nodded.
The Bondsmith’s shoulders sank in relief, the lines in her face softening as she reached one hand to squeeze my bicep. “Thankyou,” she whispered. “I love that child as if she were my own grandchild.”
