Page 32

O ne year later

“Bam Bam, slow down!” Julep panted as she sprinted after the toddler. She hiked her skirts and raced around the side of the house. For a one-year-old, Bam Bam could run! She kept losing ground on the corners, and the dew slicked grass didn't help.

Artur walked around the corner and scooped up the baby, who squealed in delight. “Where are you going, little guy? Taking Auntie on a run again?”

“Oh, thank you! I can't believe how fast he runs with those short little legs.” She paused to catch her breath. She had no idea how much exercise having small children was!

“I believe it. His father was a warrior. He's probably got a warrior's big heart.” He tickled the child, making him laugh.

“Do you mean he's determined? Because any little one who can shove a chair up to the door and unlock it is something else.”

He grinned. “I mean his heart is bigger than everybody else's. As in, if you took it out and weighed it, it would probably be twice as large as a normal baby.”

She stared at him, aghast.

“Not that anyone would do that,” he hastened to say. “It's just a well-known fact.”

She frowned, wondering how she was supposed to catch him as he got older. If he could outrun her now, he would be an impossible child later.

“I'm thinking we could apprentice him to General Yal, or see if he could recommend somebody. He's always on the lookout for talented soldiers.”

“You want my child to be a soldier? He's barely potty trained!” she said indignantly.

“If he has talent, he should receive the training. We'll teach him to use his brain as well, just in case.” He winked.

She rolled her eyes. “Since you’ve got him, let's go in and have lunch. The table was being set when he escaped.”

“Did Gog make something he doesn't like?”

“No. He saw Noemi's bear run by.” Noemi's talent for shadow beasts had emerged.

The animals were enormous and made of smoke.

Although no one could touch them but her, the fangs and claws were very real.

“Ever since she gave him a ride on one, he keeps chasing them.” The girl had managed to hold the child with her for a short while, but it had been tiring, since she had to balance him over her legs.

“We’ll get him a battle ram. A child sized one,” he said when Julep gave him the side eye. “He'll love it and it will burn some of his energy.”

“Burning energy is good,” she said as they entered the house. “Noemi! You know you're not allowed to have cave bears at the table! Send him away until we're done eating.” No one wanted a huge beast that drooled smoke hanging over their shoulder while they were trying to eat.

Noemi pouted, but she sent the bear away. The huge beast dissolved into black smoke.

Gallumi swept to the table, her stylish gown swishing around her. She'd ditched the boy clothes and was wearing dresses recently. She was getting her share of male attention, and she was determined to make the most of it.

Julep found her talk of making an alliance to strengthen the family disturbing, but Gal assured her that she wouldn't choose anyone she didn't like.

“After all, he has to be good looking if I'm going to sleep with him,” she said, making Julep blush.

Goblin teenagers were in a league of their own.

“Zac’s not coming,” Artur said. “He has a project he's working on.”

“Is that something he and Tashi are doing?” She knew the boys collaborated, and Zac was often occupied, dealing with his trading business.

“He didn't say, but he'll be back around dinner.”

She raised a brow. Most parents wondered what trouble their teenagers were getting into. She worried that hers was working too hard. Overall, she had it easy.

Gal noticed her frown. “You're not going to start fussing about him having fun again, are you? Because he's going to join me at the Bitter Old Crone's bar buster tonight. It's throwing axe night.”

“Oh! That sounds fun. I'd go, except we're having dinner with the little ones at In'shi's tonight.”

“Sounds fun,” Gal said, completely uninterested.

“Aunt In'shi's teaching me how to control my shadow bear better,” Noemi said. She adored In'shi.

“Good idea,” Gal said. “Since everyone's going to be gone tonight, why don't we practice your reading after lunch? You're doing so well, before you know it, you'll be reading contracts and starting a business!”

Business contracts, trading and war. That was goblins for you, Julep thought, bemused.

Her life was odd, but satisfying. She had her own small business, creating niche herbal products and taking care of the kids. She and Artur had a circle of friends.

Artur's business wasn't something she worried about. Yes, sometimes things happened that were unsettling, but mostly he was like any other businessman, and despite the cave bears, their family was like any other.

They were happy, and she wouldn't have it any other way.