Jurot poured the wio Adam’s cup, peao doubt, a favourite of the Rot family. The liquid, dark, yet holding a purple hint, like puthral armour stained in blood. Jurot remained silent for a long while, staring at the cups, holding his between his finger and thumb. He stared at the liquid for an age, looking to the past.

  “My first memory was of grandfather,” Jurot admitted. “It was raining that day. I did not uand what had happe the time, but he was full e. He was so… big. Red. Strong. As a boy, I knew grandfather was strong before I khe meaning of the wrandfather had learnt that uncle Farot had died.”

  Adam remained silent as Jurot fell silent again, closing his eyes to recall more of his memories.

  “I remember wheurned. He returned with a baby, so red, but not like his red. At the time, I didn’t realise it was grandfather. He looked so different when I saw him, with his one arm, and…” Jurot fell silent again, not wanting to say the word. “He looked so… small. I only realised when I was older that the mehe same. I have grown older. I am grandfather’s age when he rampaged across Aldnd. Last year, when I woour, and I spoke upon the podium, I felt so big.”

  “You are pretty big.”

  “I feel small.”

  Adam refrained from making the joke. “When… your mother sees you, I’m sure she sees you as small, because you’ll always be her little boy. Same with yrandfather. Damrot? Monarot? My children? Whehey see you, they’ll think you’re big.”

  Jurot inhaled deeply, before letting his worries go with a sigh. “What was your first memory?”

  “Red. Blue. Soft.”

  “…”

  “It was my b. I used to… sleep on the floor with this b. I was really young, maybe two years old, and I remember sleeping on the floor. I had this b. Red. Blue. Soft. I had it for so long, it had a little hole in the er, aually we gave it to charity. I regretted it ter, but I hope whoever received it, and I hope someone received it and we didn’t get scammed, I hope they find the same kind of fort it provided me.”

  ‘A b?’ Jurot thought. Of all the things he knew about Adam, this was something he wouldn’t never have guessed. He would have sworn Adam’s first memory would have been about his family, sidering…

  “Jurot?”

  “Adam?”

  “Are you happy?”

  Jurot fell silent for a long while. “I am angry.”

  “Yeah?” Adam slowly nodded his head. “Me too, but today? I’m happy. Virot looks so cute in her dress, with the clip in her hair, and Damrot, my Damrot, what a handsome little boy. Even though you’re his uncle, he spent all day with you, but I’ll five him because he’s so adorable.”

  “He is my son.”

  “What? You’ll steal my own son from me? Even today? I’ll five you since you’re so handsome, you punk.” Adam smiled wider, before reag out his fist.

  Jurot bumped fists with Adam, before closing his eyes, seeing as Adam ying the fool again. ‘Was he joking about the b?’

  “Jurot,” Adam called, and though the half elf held a smile upon his face, it was tempered. “Thank you.”

  Jurot held the half elf’s gaze, which was filled with the uainty that was the future. “Any time.”

  While Jurot and Adam spent their time to one side, the older Jarot caused a mess, embrag the birthday children so affeately, refusing to give them up, all while they squealed and giggled.

  “They must sleep!” Mulrot warned.

  “If they wish to sleep, they may sleep within my arm!”

  Mulrot reached out to jab her husband with her finger, slipping into his particur oints, the old man surrendering his greatchildren back to their mothers.

  “Jirot, Jarot, you must save me,” the old Iyrman called.

  Jirot gnced between her greatfather and greatmother. “Mummy is callihe girl quickly darted away, with little Jarot following after her, the boy gng over his shoulder, before rushing up to his mother.

  “Do you see?” Jarot asked.

  “I saw,” Mulrot replied.

  “Only my greatchildren run so well!” Jarot puffed out his chest, reag up to rub the soreness from his wife’s hand. “Ten…” The old man frowned. “Ten is too few! They should give me at least a hundred! I am already so old, will they wai-,”

  Mulrot stopped Jarot’s jabbering with her fingers, poking the Iyrman all over, while the other elderly Iyrmen each sipped away at their drinks at one side. Rajin had brought a particur set from his stash, si was his greatnied greatnephew’s birthdays.

  “Rajin,” Malfev called. “Your drinks… they are always great.”

  “There is little better after a killing than a drink,” Rajin replied, his voice quiet as always.

  “As the Family Elder, it is difficult to spend time away from the estate for long. I hope year, I e here again. To drink with you.” Malfev held Rajin’s gaze. “To see my grandnephews py with their children.”

  Rajin sipped the sour wine, wing slightly at the fvour. He reached over to pour Malfev another cup, while the other Iyrmen around gnced between the pair. Rajin then held up his cup, allowing Malfev a moment to raise his own cup. “I hope so too.”

  The pair drank together, and Malfev winced, before letting out a long sigh. Now that Adam had created such a mess, he would have to leave the rest to the likes of Jarot and Rajin. Even now, the thought of stepping dowered his mind, but he closed his eyes.

  “Babo?” Jirot called.

  “I must return to the Fev family estate,” Malfev said, reag down to brush the girl’s hair gently. He rubbed their cheeks tenderly. “You must e to visit.”

  “You stay?”

  “I ot.”

  “Why not?”

  “I am the Family Elder. I must return.”

  “You work so hard,” Jirot said, reag up to hold the old man’s hand within her own. She brushed along the back of it gently. “You must take breaks too.”

  “Must I?”

  “If you do not, I will tell nano.”

  “I will take breaks,” Malfev promised, before dropping down to pull them both into a tender hug, feeling their warmth. He rubbed along their backs gently, and while he could feel the tight hug from Jirot, he could also feel the feather light touch of Jarot’s little hand rub along his arm. One was loud, one was quiet, but both were ever so affeate.

  Malfev also greeted the babies, though they had fallen asleep. He eyed up the pair, who were both so much bigger now. He smiled, feeling the ache within his heart, the ache that was envy, for his sister had such a wonderful pair of grandsons, and such a wonderful group of greatchildren.

  That night, Adam and Vonda cuddled together, Adam holding her hand within his own, feeling her head against his chest. His twins had been stolen away by their greatfather and greatmother, while his triplets snoozed with their grandaunt, and Larot…

  Larot was Larot.

  The you pair were uhe care of Otkan, while the Iyrmen who worked in the night checked upon them now and again.

  “How about we go for a walk tomorrow?” Adam asked, brushing his thumb along his wife’s palm, feeling her breath against his chest.

  “That sounds wonderful, darling.”

  “It’s going to get cold, shall I buy you a coat?”

  “I still have the heavy coat from st year.”

  “Yeah, but…” Adam nuzzled against her cheek. “How I spoil you with my gold when you don’t want for anything.”

  “There is much I want for,” Vonda replied, her voice turning low. “Do you know my heart, or is it just my body you are so familiar with?”

  “You wao stop causing trouble?” Adam replied, his cheeks turning red.

  “How could I dare to make such a grand request?”

  “You wao…” Adam thought for a long moment. “Spend more time with our family?”

  “Yes. You have spent so much time with us retly. I would like more…”

  “I do o work, but I’ll try and spend more time with our family, and with you.”

  “What would you like from me, darling?” Vonda asked, dragging a finger along Adam’s chest, feeling his soft skin against her fiip.

  “What would I like?” Adam replied, before falling silent. ‘What would I like?’ Adam thought to himself, furrowing his brows. “I don’t know. I mean… I have everything I want and more.”

  Vonda had half expected him to joke, but seeing the half elf thinking so deeply, she smiled. She tio rest her head against his chest, feeling the warmth of his body, hearing the thrumming of his heart.

  “I’d like a really powerful magical on,” Adam said. “I might make myself something ter…”

  “Shall I ent you a magical on?” Vonda asked, before hearing how quickly his heart began to beat.

  “I suppose I would like to be spoiled by you…” Adam admitted, his cheeks turning red. Adam had already admitted it to her during a particur intimate moment, but Vonda being able to put the half elf in his pce always stirred his heart.

  Vonda reached up to his neck, rubbing along it gently with her rough hand. “Adam?”

  “Yeah?”

  “…” Vonda climbed on top of him, cradling his head against her bosom, her firailing through his hair, rubbing along his cheek and ear. “I…” Vonda wasn’t sure what to say to the half elf, especially in this moment. “I love you.”

  Adam turned red hot, the half elf smiling, ing his arms around his wife’s waist, cuddling up to her. “I love you too.”

  The pair shared a tender kiss.

  The weight flowed against the half elf, pinning him down, and soothed him to sleep.

  Vonda swallowed her thoughts. It was still too soon to speak about it.

  I write romance pretty well, I swear.