Now he taught Yfin how read by scratching letters in the dirt.
Orval closed his eyes and sighed.As much as he missed his home, his chief worry now was Amari, his wife, and their children.The twins, he reminded himself.That story and their marriage contract had kept them alive so far.That, and the locals’ regard for his Aunt Xydell.But with her death, how long would that protection last?
The sound of the fight and the shuffling of feet brought him back, made the words of his book come into focus.TheEpic of Xysonwas a classic, but even Xyson himself would find this puzzle a challenge.
Orval had to admit the truth to himself, he was feeling sorry for himself.Everyone else seemed to be coping well, Roth and Yfin training, Amari and Rosalind bathing Dalan by the fire in the gatehouse, getting drenched, most like.Dalan loved water and splashing as much as Lara hated it.
Orval smiled to himself, glancing down at the blanket, thinking of the fuss she’d raise when it was her turn, the way she’d kick and squeal—
She wasn’t there.
In shock, Orval jerked up, dropping his book, horrified to see Lara walking toward Roth’s back, wobbling on unsteady, pudgy legs, clutching a wooden dagger.In the few moments of his inattention, she had reached the edge of the circle.
Walking?She couldn’t—
“Lara,” he shouted, jumping to his feet, only to have his leg collapse under him, sending him sprawling to the ground.Unable to catch himself, Orval fell hard, his breath knocked from him.
“Hold,” Roth bellowed, the sound echoing as stones rattled and fell in the ruins.He and Yfin both jerked into defensive positions and froze.
Startled by the shouts, Lara plopped down on her nappy-padded butt in surprise, but didn’t cry out.Instead, she looked over her shoulder at Orval, her little face scrunched in an angry glare.
“Orval?”Amari called from the gatehouse.
“Well, look at you, little one.”Roth came out of his stance and smiled.Yfin dropped his sword and scooped Lara up, dagger and all.Roth glanced at Orval.“I didn’t know she could do that.”
Amari and Rosalind peered through the doorway, both sopping wet and concerned.Seeing him on the ground, Amari ran forward, clutching a very wet, very naked Dalan.Rosalind came behind, chasing with a towel.“Orval,” Amari said, “what happened?”
“She walked,” Yfin said proudly.Safe in his arms, Lara had her arms wrapped around the dagger, gumming the hilt, oblivious to the chaos she’d caused.
Orval’s heart was still racing as Roth offered him a hand.
“Walked?”Amari blinked.“But she’s barely started crawling.”Amari was drenched, her tunic plastered to her in very attractive ways.Her dark hair in disarray, her eyes bright but concerned.She hurried toward him, one hand holding Dalan, the other reaching for Orval.
“Amari, I swear I looked away for just a minute,” Orval said as he stood, gingerly testing his leg as Roth steadied him.He felt rattled, shaky inside.He slid back down to the bench.
Amari sat beside him, her damp shoulder against his, smelling of clean baby and her own warmth.His heart calmed as he leaned into her.
“Walking?”Rosalind protested.“But she’s barely got her first tooth.Dalan’s still just pulling himself up!”
Roth chuckled, picking up Yfin’s wooden sword.“She’s going to be a fierce warrior, isn’t she, just like her—” he caught himself and took a breath.
“Like her mother,” Amari said, echoing his grief.She took the towel that Rosalind offered, covering Dalan.Dalan cooed; he was always a happy baby.
“It’s too early,” Rosalind frowned.“She’ll hurt herself, trying too fast.”
Amari shrugged, taking the towel to wrap Dalan up.“Babies walk in their own time.”
She chuckled.“Especially if they want something out of their reach.”
Rosalind shook her head.“We are going to have to keep a closer eye on this one.”She reached for the dagger.
“Nuh,” Lara babbled, her frown fierce.“Nuh nuh nuh.”
Roth laughed.“Careful, Rosalind,” he said.“Or her first word will be ‘no’, and then where will we be?’
Orval tried to keep his horror off his face.They were taking this so lightly, but his Lara, his precious daughter could have been badly hurt, trampled in a raging battle.What were they thinking?
“She needs a smaller dagger,” Yfin said.
