In Which Florian Sees Old Eyes on a New Face

February 16, 1159

Florian couldn't be sure whether he preferred Halford poking at the fire or Goodwife Noth--it seemed that either way, he was confronted by the sight of a rather undesirable ass. He kind of wished that Halford would go into the bedroom and help with the delivery so that Honora could tend the fire instead.

But then again, that would involve Halford ogling parts of Thetis he'd rather not have any other man see, so maybe it was better this way.

Out of the corner of his eye, he cast a quick glance toward Adonis and the baron, who were seated at the kitchen table. They didn't seem to be speaking much, save for the occasional inaudible murmur, but Florian caught several anxious glances between the two of them--it was obvious what they were thinking, and really, he couldn't deny that it was on his own mind as well.

Really... how could it not have been?

"She'll be fine, Florian," Lord Severin tried to assure him from the other couch. "I was there when she had the twins. They were both fairly large babies, and she was this tiny fourteen-year-old girl, and she managed far better than many grown women would have."

However, Florian wasn't convinced--and he really wasn't all that sure that Severin was either.

"I want to believe you," he muttered in reply at last, hardly daring to make eye contact.

Severin nodded. "I know."

The moments ticked on, the occasional moan of pain or soothing feminine voice passing through the bedroom wall. They might have annoyed the others, but Florian, for one, was grateful for the sounds--if Thetis could scream, then she was still alive.

"Florian," Halford addressed him gruffly, "I know what you're thinking."

Florian sighed. "Halford..."

"No. Look, I've known Arydath her whole life," the bigger man began. "Under her watch, the chance of something going wrong is one in a million--and as painful as it is, we both know there's already been a 'one'. I know it's hard after what happened last time, but... trust my wife. And trust yours too."

"You know, he's right," agreed Severin. "Have a little faith in your wife. Deep down, that girl's a fighter if I've ever seen one."

He opened his mouth to reply, but all of a sudden, he was silenced by the most beautiful sound in the world.

It was a baby. A crying, squealing, colicky--and very much alive--baby.

And then... a sigh. A mother's sigh. A living mother's sigh.

"Did you hear that?" he demanded, leaping to his feet. "They're alive!"

Halford chuckled. "I told you."

"Go to them," Severin urged him. "No sense staying back here with us, is there? You know you'd rather be with them."

It was true--not like it was much of a choice, really.

Nodding, Florian quietly brushed through the gap between the couch and the wall and turned into the small corridor that led to the bedroom door. So far, everything sounded good... but how long would it last? Anything could happen, couldn't it?

The door swung open to reveal Goodwife Noth, a tiny baby in her arms. "Well, Master Tumekrin," his housekeeper scolded, catching him off-guard somewhat, "I'm very disappointed in you."

Florian raised an eyebrow. "Sorry?"

"You said you didn't touch the girl," she reminded him. "You said it was her first husband's."

He shrugged. "It probably is."

"Unless her first husband also had your eyes, I don't think so."

Sure enough--he'd never seen Norwan, but he knew those eyes. They were one of the few things he remembered about his father--his papa's eyes. Setran's eyes. His eyes.

And here again they were, familiar eyes on an unfamiliar face, a patchwork of Thetis's and his own that had been stitched together in a shockingly pleasing arrangement.

"Er, what... kind is it?" he asked as Goodwife Noth placed the baby in his arms; she was a lot lighter than Setran or Evera had been. He didn't know whether or not that was a good thing.

"It's a girl," she answered. "Your daughter. The mistress wants you to name her."

"Well... she's my mother's first granddaughter, I suppose," he mused aloud, "so I should probably name her Alyssin, for her."

Goodwife Noth closed her eyes and smiled. "Alyssin. That's a pretty name."

"For a pretty girl," Florian agreed as he held the baby close, surprised by just how warm she was. "How's Thetis?"

"She's well, but very tired. She was falling asleep when I left--don't expect her to wake before midday tomorrow."

"Midday tomorrow," he sighed. "Great. Just great; that's two consecutive chaste wedding nights for me. Two! The next time I get married, there'd better be sex--and it better be mind-blowingly good."

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Florian Gives Thetis a Memory

May 18, 1157

Florian could not have the best of both worlds, he realized now. He was trying to watch his children as they played while still remaining in this comfortable position, but unfortunately, this perfect angle was effectively obscured by the droopy backside of his elderly housekeeper. Never before had he hired anyone, and now he knew that experience was not a thing to look for in a potential employee; the only real job requirement was a perfect ass.

But what was he doing hiring servants, anyway? He'd never been worth a single copper coin in his life. He was the humble second son of a farmer, who was also a son of a farmer, all the way back to Adam. Add the fact that he was both an exile and a thief, and he was probably the least qualified employer in all of Naroni.

And yet here he was, a man with a housekeeper, while many pairs of good, law-abiding family types like Halford and Arydath Diarn or Adonis and Honora Indruion had none.

Figuring she'd probably make some comment about how he was thoroughly enraptured by her hindquarters, Florian pulled himself up and shook his head as his son gnawed on the doll's shoe. He didn't remember much about being seven months old, but surely he hadn't been as silly as Setran was now; he must have gotten it from his mother.

Oh, how Electra would have been so proud of her little boy, so big and strong and handsome, even if he had a strange appetite for paint chips and rough chestnut wood. Now that he knew he was going to live for some time longer, Florian found himself constantly thinking about what sorts of stories he would tell Setran about Electra when he was older.

He would tell him that she had always wanted him, for many years before he was even born. He would tell him that she had been sweet and kind, the most generous, self-sacrificing woman he had ever known. And then, when he asked of her death, he would tell him that she had lived a tragic life, but, thanks to Setran, had left the world in the most incredible happiness she had ever known.

"The fire should hold out for a few more minutes, Master Tumekrin," Goodwife Noth assured him as she withdrew the poker from the flames.

Florian sniffed. "I still can't believe we have the need for fires in May."

"Indeed," his housekeeper agreed. "Now, when your lady friend arrives, would you like me to leave the two of you be?"

Frustrated, he bit his lip; how many times had he explained this to her? "Look, Goodwife, I'm only going to tell you this once more, so listen up. She's not my lady friend, as you say; she's a kid. If I wanted sex, I'd head to the village at night and pick up a prostitute, all right?"

She sighed, as she often did. "Well, you seem to be putting an awful lot of effort into a visit with just a kid."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, for one, you're actually dressed."

"Well, if I wanted to have sex with her, I wouldn't be," he insisted with a laugh. "Why would I walk around half-naked in front of a woman I don't want to have sex with?"

"You walk around half-naked in front of me, Master Tumekrin," argued Goodwife Noth.

Florian's eyes narrowed--why hadn't he seen that one coming? "Don't flatter yourself; you could be my grandmother."

"Yes, but you seem to take advantage of the fact that I am not."

Really, he should have hired the girl with the nice ass.

"Isn't it ridiculous that we still need fires at this time of year?" mused a familiar voice from the doorway, causing Florian's heart rate to surge; Thetis had arrived.

Evera looked up at her and smiled, revealing her budding teeth. "Mama!"

"Hello, Evera," she greeted her daughter, returning the grin. "Are you having fun playing with your brother?"

The little girl pointed at her playmate. "Setran."

Chuckling slightly, Florian stood and made his way toward his guest, wrapping his arms around her hesitantly. "I hope it wasn't too difficult to get past Norwan."

"Oh, no," she assured him. "He had so much to drink last night he'll sleep all day."

"Maybe one of these nights, he'll have so much to drink that he just keels over on the tavern floor," ventured Florian hopefully. "Anyway, sit down, because I'm feeling lazy, and Goodwife Noth will scold me if I sit while you stand."

Goodwife Noth shook her head as the two of them made their way to the couch. "What use does my scolding ever do?"

"I know mine does absolutely nothing," laughed Thetis, "so take no offense, Goodwife Noth."

"Indeed, Mistress Thetis," the housekeeper agreed as she turned away from the fire. "Now, I'll be in the kitchen if anyone needs me. Shall I take the children? Perhaps they would like some cake."

"Cake!" exclaimed Evera happily.

"You already had your cake, you silly girl," Florian scolded gently. "That won't be necessary, Goodwife."

Goodwife Noth cast one last glance at Florian and Thetis, then hurried off--but not before sending a wink their way.

"Well, look at you!" cooed Thetis as they heard the kitchen door shut. "Nice new house, a housekeeper... even a fancy tunic!"

"The tunic's for you," he admitted. "Obviously I wouldn't wear something like this in the field, and on days I don't leave the house... well, why bother getting dressed?"

Thetis giggled prettily; he had a sudden urge to let down her hair, so that it would match her laughter more suitably.

"Saves you laundry, at any rate--although, I guess a gentleman has to dress himself well, doesn't he?"

"Gentleman?" Florian repeated, one eyebrow raised. "Don't be stupid. You need money to be a gentleman, and I sure as hell have none of that. Honestly, I have no idea how I'm going to pay for all of this--the farmland over here makes my old field seem like the damn promised land."

"Papa!" Evera addressed him, both suddenly and sharply. "Cake?"

Florian shook his head; there was no way he had been like this as a kid. "You seem to find your doll a perfectly fine meal--both of you! Don't you be ruining your teeth before they're even fully in."

It was no use; neither Evera nor Setran removed the dolls from their little mouths.

"They've grown up, haven't they?" Thetis sighed as she watched the two of them play.

"Well, they've grown," deduced Florian in partial affirmation, "but I'm not so sure about the up."

Shaking her head, she closed her eyes; was she fighting back tears? "They have, Florian... she has. And I've missed it all."

He could not stand for this. He would not have her crying--not today. "Come here a minute, Thetis."

Not giving her a chance to reply, he gently placed his arm around her and pulled her toward him, her head resting on his arm. "We're going to get through this, Thetis. And by we, obviously I mean you."

"What's to get through, though?" she voiced breathlessly. "I was married at thirteen, and had the twins at fourteen. I've already done everything a woman's supposed to do with her life, and in the least romantic way possible. Would you believe that he never even kissed me? Not even on our wedding day; no one's ever kissed me."

"Thetis..." exhaled Florian, uncomfortable seeing her so melancholy. "Thetis, look at me."

She turned slowly, her life-colored eyes locking with his own. "Yes?"

"If you've never even been kissed, then you haven't already accomplished everything," he assured her. "You've got your whole life ahead of you, Thetis, and that bastard Norwan isn't always going to be a part of it."

"But what if I die before he does?" she demanded of him.

"You won't," he promised.

"How can you be so sure?"

How could he shut her up? Why was she talking like this, today of all days? He was unused to this; shouldn't she be the one to cheer him up?

"I mean, if he doesn't die while I'm still young," she continued in her newfound mournful tone, "then maybe I'll never even get my kiss."

Florian tried to smile, but he seemed to have forgotten how. "He doesn't have to die for you to get your kiss."

A single tear was welling in one eye, but she managed to bat it back with her lashes. "But how could that happen?"

Oh for the love of God! He couldn't take it anymore; it was time to bring out the cavalry.

She didn't kiss like a girl who had never been kissed before; in fact, she didn't even kiss like a girl he had never kissed before. It was as if she had an innate knowledge of every nook and cranny of his mouth, by pure instinct sliding her tongue to exactly the places he preferred it to go. He didn't care that his kids were present--in fact, he almost wished Goodwife Noth would come back from the kitchen. This was no ordinary show.

This was art.

"There," he panted as they parted, slowly lowering her down onto the couch. "Norwan didn't have to die for that, did he? And if he did... well, all the better."

"Florian..." giggled Thetis, smiling uncontrollably for some reason or another. "You're daring!"

Grinning contagiously himself, he shook his head. "I had to give you a present, didn't I? That was it--a memory. And the best part was, it didn't cost me a single coin. Happy birthday, Thetis."

NEXT CHAPTER: