Life's Blooming
Fifth Day of the Second Month 293 AC
"How might your people react to an incarnate spirit of the land speaking to them?" you ask cautiously. The bloom-begotten spirit certainly serves a important purpose training initiates for the scholarum, but if one could ween the Dothraki of the worst of their excesses that would serve even better.
"Depends on what it says, doesn't it?" Rhango asks taking a long drink from his wine-skin. "Never met a man who likes being told he's wrong yet, and there's a lot of ways to argue 'round whatever this spirit looks like..."
"I'm not expecting miracles," you explain. "Do you think it would help?"
"Can the thing take enough of a beating at need?" comes the question you probably
should have expected.
"It will be guarded, but if it comes to it..." As you consider the eldritch resiliency of the diminutive incarnates you realize a man would have quite the task killing one unless he used fire. "It won't die to a stiff wind."
"Good," the old khal nods firmly. "If any fool
does take a swing I'll hand you his head myself. Just needed to be sure what I stand to lose. Can't really conjure up another one of these 'spirits' to replace it if it should come to it." The words more than any seem to embody the man who spoke them, admirable for his wits and practicality, and yet possessed of the same unthinking callousness about anyone outside kin and blood-sworn kith as the rest of his people.
"We have an agreement, then," you reply, taking extra note to tell Vee that she should not be gentle in her visits. "Mortal mages will come to ride with you in time," you offer vaguely to keep from plucking the threads of fate and foresight needlessly.
***
Sixth Day of the Second Month 293 AC
On your return home you are greeted by Lya bearing the familiar weary but satisfied smile of a job well done. The cause is not just for binding Aebys, who now lies coiled about her throat like a necklace of living gold, but another task long in the making. "It's done. Selyse is pregnant... In fact, I think I may have overdone it a bit," she finishes sheepishly.
"How do you overdo..." For a moment you worry that something had gone wrong, but then the answer comes to you. "Twins, is it? Well that's hardly unusual hereabouts."
"Three, not two," Lya admits. "They are both happy about it, but it does mean she will need to be very careful and will require magic when the day comes due."
"I can't imagine not having a healer or even two or three present regardless," you assure her. Lya could be rather hard on herself over perceived imperfections in her work. "I'm sure they will be the best babes ever begotten."
"Better than..." she begins to ask idly before falling silent, blushing furiously.
You would have to be an utter fool not to guess what she almost said:
Better than ours? You find yourself abruptly discomfited, half-fearing that you would stutter if you spoke. Garin and Selyse aside you cannot think of a worst time to be considering children with foes seemingly about every corner, yet can you...?
Your thoughts come to a sudden stop as Lya comes closer and puts a finger to your lips. "I know. Don't worry about it... really
don't."
"Is that an order, Wisdom Lya?" you ask archly.
"Why yes... yes it is," she replies, coming closer still. "In fact I can think of a few other orders to give."
Much,
much later as you quietly lie abed you realize that it is your nameday today. You are seven-and-ten. What an excellent gift to share with one whom you love.
OOC: Now would be a good time for Malarys' level up since the natural end point of this update does not have a vote. If anyone is wondering why Viserys has not had his nameday celebrated since the quest started, its because the notion is tainted by memories of Aerys and the feasts he would call for at the Red Keep. Rhaella wanted to make one this year but Dany explained that Viserys is not comfortable with them.
