Family Matters
© 2022 by M. Mitch Marmel

Thumbnail art by  liliebia

Part Fifty-nine



Matt and me were on our second tankards of plain, and Sixth was on his fourth. Westie, not liking the smell of plain, was having another plate of fish. All things considered, that was a good thing; Westie’s far too young to have beer, and a drunken ice-wyrm doesn’t bear thinking about. I had a mental image of an inebriated Windimere, and repressed a shudder.

Sixth froze, his tankard to his lips, and I sensed a great deal of Elf-mind being received and sent. No, I didn’t try to pry, but from the broad grin on his muzzle (and the slightly fearful look in his eyes) I was able to figure out the gist of the messages flying back and forth.

My buck-fawn downed the contents of his tankard in one go and said, “[It is so, father of myself, that I have heard from the mate of myself that the companion of myself has safely delivered.]” Here he set the tankard aside and gave himself the Benedictio; me and the other bucks in the [Sheaf] followed suit, and he stood up. His eyes seemed bright with tears as he said, “[I ask you, father of myself, if you and the brother of myself would accompany me to the Annex-that-is-not-the-Annex, there to look upon the sons of myself.]”

I was already on my hooves. “[Is it so, son of myself, that you said ‘sons?’]”

His familiar crooked grin grew wider. “[It is so.]”

Matt asked, “Good news, I take it?”

“Tessie’s had twins,” I replied, and the bear toasted the news with an upraised mug.

Sixth headed for the door, with his paw being shaken and his back slapped by everyone in the [Sheaf], while those not engaged in congratulating him were performing the Benedictio Interphalangeal. Westie trotted along beside me as we left the public house.

A young ice-wyrm can’t hope to match a roebuck’s speed, so I crouched and had Westie clamber onto my back, and we pooked to the house I’d had built. Westie had never pooked before, and he seemed amazed at the trick, but we waited for Sixth and very carefully wiped our hooves and feet before heading inside.

Una was in the kitchen, preparing a pot of tea. She had apparently conceived a month or so after Tessie had, but being short even for a roe-doe, she looked huge. Of course, I kept my opinions to myself as she nodded to me and walked over to Sixth.

They embraced a bit awkwardly before she took him by the paw. She turned to me and said, “[Do you, father of my mate, wait here yet a moment before you follow us with Westinghouse, for Goodwife Fletcher has assisted in Tessie’s birth, and I would tell her that you are here first, lest the peace of the house be disturbed.]”

I found no argument with that, and she led Sixth out. I had a short conversation with Westie, who nodded and told me that he would be quiet and on his best behavior. I gave him a hug as Una came back for us.

Still, I let Westie go in first. If Mrs. Fletcher was waiting to bop me with a rolling pin, she might get a nasty surprise if she walloped my adopted son by mistake.
I needn’t have bothered. She was seated beside the bed on the other side of where Sixth was kneeling. My buck-fawn was holding one of Tessie’s paws and gently running his fingers through her headfur. My former maid looked exhausted, but radiantly happy.

I nodded respectfully to Mrs. Fletcher, who pursed her lips in a disapproving expression, but nodded back. She was a guest in the house, despite her office as midwife.

Tessie finished whatever she was saying in Elf-mind to Sixth and Una and said to me, “[Will you come, and see with the eyes of yourself the sons of mine and your buck-fawn, Master?]”

“[Truly I would, Tessie, and I should like to know what are the names by which they shall be known,]” I said, edging a little closer to the bed where Sixth knelt. Yes, I was giving Mrs. Fletcher a wide berth, but when I got close enough to see the babies I gave myself the Benedictio.

A pair raccoon kits, twins, were snuggled up against Tessie’s chest. One turned over in his sleep, and my ears went straight out at the sight of the dappling of bright white fawn-spots amid the dark brownish-gray fur of his back. “[This one,]” Tessie said, “[shall be named Ioseaf, and this one Peadar, to honor the names of the buck-fawns of Goodwife Fletcher and her mate, who both fell with honor in battle, that their names shall go on.]” She smiled and looked at Mrs. Fletcher as she said this.

The old doe was in the grip of very strong emotions, but she mastered herself. “[It is so that I am gratified to my heart’s depths, and I shall so inform my mate.]”

Probably while boxing Sergeant Fletcher’s ears. Still, it was a wonderful gesture on Tessie’s part, to honor two of the bucks who fell at Skull Forest.

There was a flicker of Elf-mind, a three-way conversation between Sixth, Una and Tessie, and after letting Westie look at his – nephews, I guess? – I made another bow to Mrs. Fletcher and started to slip out of the room.

“You’re not too far away from your time either, Una,” I said quietly as I moved past her.

My daughter-in-law tossed her riot of red headfur. “I hope you don’t mind grand-fawns, Master.”

I grinned at her. “I daily thank the Lady that I have fawns, Una, and grand-fawns just make me redouble my prayers of gratitude. I’ll leave you all alone and get a cup of tea in the kitchen.” Westie and I then eased out of the room.

We were nearly at the kitchen when I felt a brush of Elf-mind meant for me. It was Anastasia. “Are you there?”

“Yes, my precious mate. Tessie’s had twin sons. She’s named them Ioseaf and Peadar, for the Fletcher’s sons.”

“That’s very sweet of her. Tell them I’ll be coming to see them.”

“I will.”

“In the meantime, come to the Lodge and greet the new arrivals.”

I grinned.

I let Sixth know by Elf-mind that his mother would be coming, let Westie climb onto my back again, and I decided to run rather than pook. The Lodge wasn’t that far away.

Of course, Westie took an inopportune moment to cover my eyes, and I slammed straight into someone at full speed. When I managed to clear my head, I sat up to see that Westie had landed somewhere soft.

Namely, my steward, Dennis Horne’s, chest.

“Sorry, Dennis, but I have to get to the Lodge. Westie, let’s go,” and the little ice-wyrm licked Dennis’ face before resuming his position on my back, coating my steward’s muzzle with ice-wyrm drool.

Dennis sat up, an icicle hanging from his nose, as I began running again.

I slowed to a trot before reaching the door to the Lodge to find Matt and [Little Toy] having a staring contest. Good luck with that; being a fine example of Elfhamian craftsfurship, the minkess is perfectly capable of not blinking for years.

I tapped Matt on the shoulder. “Ye-es?” he drawled, without breaking eye contact with [Little Toy].

“I just found out from Anastasia that Tali and the others had given birth,” I said. “How did you find out?”

“I just did,” the bear said. “I am the seventh son of a seventh son, which has given me the second sight.”

“Really.”

“Which always made me wonder,” said Matt, “if it’s seventh son of a seventh son, why isn’t it called ‘seventh sight?’ But anyway, Tali told me.”

I recalled what we do with Gramerye, they do with their machines. “[Attend, minkess,]” and I explained to [Little Toy] that the bear was Tali’s mate, and he and I would like very much to come inside and greet the newborns, which was a Seelie and Elfly thing to do, please?

Obviously, in Elfhamian it took rather longer.

[Little Toy] swished her tail and gave Matt a deferential nod before stepping back. We all made sure that we wiped our feet before going inside, where I nearly collided with Anastasia. Perfect excuse to share a hug.

My mate kissed me. “Congratulations, Grandfather,” she said.

“Congratulations, Grandmother,” I said with a wide grin. “They’ll be fine boys.”

“I’m sure. Westersloe?” she asked as she stepped outside. She looked at me over her shoulder. “Was Tessie wearing her Regalia?”

“Now that I think about it, no. I imagine giving birth would get in the way. Why?”

My mate sighed. “Missy was asking.”

Oh, Netherhells. “How bad is she?”

“Well, she hasn’t started crying. She’s been nursing her kitten.”

“That reminds me,” and I gave my wife another kiss as she headed for Sixth’s place, while Matt and I headed upstairs to the spare bedroom.

One of the [Doe-moot] gave me the eye, but didn’t belt me upside the head. Matt came into the room and grinned as he said, “Hiya, kiddo.”

The bed was wide enough for all three of the new mothers, with Tali on the left and Ooo-er on the right. Missy was in the middle, the wolfess dozing quietly. “Hi, Matt,” Tali said quietly. “Hi, Master. Sorry for taking up bed space in your house.”

I waved this off. “No trouble at all. I did offer you fire and bread, quite a while ago.”

“That you did. Matt, allow me to introduce Diana Hartoh-Sage,” and the bear and me stepped forward.

Diana was a wolfess, with a chubby belly from her latest meal and dark smoky-gray fur. Her headfur was as black as Tali’s. She gave a soft sound, yawned and stretched.

Missy stirred awake. “Oh, it’s you,” she grumbled.

“Hello to you, wolfess. May I see your daughter?”

That caused Missy to smile fondly. “Rohsii Sage-Hartoh,” she said, cradling her kitten, a pretty girl with darker stripes in her light brown fur and headfur that matched her lupine mother’s.

“I named her after Mama,” Tali said.

“She’ll be thrilled,” Matt said.

Ooo-er grinned and sat up a little, clicking and chirping at the little otter kit in her arms. “In my tongue, his name is Crest-of-a-Rolling-Wave,” the otteress said, “but in Standard he’s Arnie Rivers, Junior.”

“If you like,” I said, “I’ll make sure a letter gets sent on the next wagon back to Eastness, to give him the good news.”

“Thank you, Master.” She nuzzled him. “Maybe we’ll all go up there sometime, so he can visit his father.”

“I am sorry, wolfess,” I said, “that the Regalia hasn’t come back to you yet.”

Missy gave a rueful sigh. “Thank you, but the Lady has given me a great gift.” Little Rohsii stirred and mewed, and Missy said, “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I don’t want a pair of mels ogling me.”

Matt and I decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and withdrew to give the three new mothers some privacy.

And maybe see if there was anything planned for dinner. Priorities, you know.


***


Low:

I sat there and blinked for a few moments.

Dr. Delgado’s fault. He sat there behind his desk, less than two meters from me.

Brave of him.

I finally found my voice.

“WHAT THE ______!?”


***


Matt:

The Master and I toasted the new arrivals with a tot each of the persimmon brandy they make here in Elfhame. Tasty stuff, but only in small amounts.

We had just started tucking into a very tasty vegetable strata when our ears perked at a high-pitched scream.

“MATT!”

Oh dear.

I gently dabbed at my muzzle with a napkin. “If you’ll excuse me, Master, I think my senior wife wants me for something.”

“MATT! GET OUT HERE NOW!”

The Master nodded. “Does she know fire-magics, Matt?”

“Not that I know of, although she has something far worse. Why?”

“I was going to suggest you go with a bucket of water ready to paw.”

“MATT!”

“Well, I’d best go out and see what she wants, before she wakes up the babies or riles up the neighborhood,” and I got up from the table to go see what had my lovely Low-chan in such a lather.




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