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I return to watching the fireplace, holding Traisius in my arms as he falls back to sleep. All I can do is be a good father to him and pray to Zukiev for the best possible future to manifest.
18
KYRA
Iawaken gently after an evening nap, renewed with a much needed rejuvenation. Shaking off that post wake grogginess, I sit up in bed and reach for the glass of water resting at my bedside table. After a drink and a loud, long yawn, I get out of bed and take the glass and bowl from my table.
I put on a small pot of water to boil before beginning to tidy up the home. From the floor I pick up clothes, neatly folding them and arranging them into piles belonging to Zy and I. The minotaur himself is asleep in bed, having joined me for some sleep after lunch.
I then move to the pile of dirty dishes, the clanging and banging of which causes Zy to shift underneath the blanket. Sitting up, he rubs his eyes and looks over at me, a warm smile stretching across his tired face.
“Good evening,” I greet. “Do you want some kaffo?”
“At this time? No thanks,” he laughs. “You can leave the cleaning up for me, don’t worry about it.”
“I’d prefer to do it myself. It’s been a week of resting and lying down since I gave birth to Traisius, so it’ll be good for me to walk around.”
“Please Kyra, I insist,” he says desperately.
“As do I, now let me do what I need to do. Besides, I have to get up anyway, tonight I’m heading down to the Broken Horn Tavern.”
“The tavern? I’m not so sure you should be drinking after giving birth.”
“Not for a drink. I’m going to talk to Nova about picking up some work.”
“Tonight? Are you crazy?” he asks, wide eyed.
“Not yet but I will be if I’ve to stay indoors for another night. Being locked up in here for the entirety of my pregnancy was long enough, I need to get back out there in the real world, I’m starting to forget what it’s like.”
Zy swings his legs to the side of the bed and brings his elbows to rest on his knees. A concerned look comes over his face as he rubs the back of his neck.
“I don’t know about this Kyra, are you sure this isn’t too soon? That you might be overestimating your strength?”
“I know you’re worried, Zy, but I can assure you that I’m fine. Look, I’m walking around with no problems.”
“Alright, if you say so then I won't stop you. Promise me that you won’t do any heavy lifting though.”
“Agreed,” I chuckle. “You’ll be okay here with Traisius?”
“I’ll manage. I just hope he stays asleep the rest of the night.”
“Wait, I think we’re out of baby food! Damn, maybe I can grab some on the way back,” I say in frustration.
“No need to worry, I bought some on the way home from work yesterday.”
“You did? Thanks Zy.”
He lays back down on the bed, folding his arms behind his head as he kicks his feet up. In the meantime, I go back to cleaning, internally admiring how vigilant he had been in Traisius’s supplies during my time resting. It feels good to have someone back me up.
Some time later, I’m dressed and ready to leave. I pick Traisius up, twirling him around in the air before planting a kiss on his cheek. Zy comes over and takes him from me. After bidding them farewell, I step out into the clean evening air, taking in as deep of a breath as I can.
It feels good to be back outside.
With a merry spring in my step, I eagerly make my way to the Broken Horn Tavern. I arrive a few minutes later, entering through the door into the same old familiar scenery. Besides a few new tables, all the same decorations hung in place, with lamps aglow dotted all around the room and rugs made from animal fur thrown over the tables.
At the sound of my entry, Nova looks up from the counter, her eyes immediately lighting up upon seeing me. She throws everything down and comes out from behind the bar, enwrapping me in her arms.
“By the gods, I haven’t seen you in so long!” she exclaimed. “Where in Protheka have you been?”
