Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

ZURA

The feeling of a small elbow hitting my cheek wakes me up abruptly. Turning my head, I can't help but smile when I see Rosad sound asleep between us. Somehow , she has managed to take up the majority of the bed as it seems like OrO and I both are sleeping on the edge since her legs and arms are sprawled out in all directions. OrO must feel me move as he turns his massive frame towards me. His bright yellow eyes glance up at me before we both look down at the little one between us. I have to listen closely when he whispers to me.

" The door opening earlier awoke me and I was preparing to get up. I saw her small form appear in the doorway, tiptoeing this way. I acted as though I was asleep to see what she would do. She stood there for a moment looking down at us, then crawled up the bottom of the bed. Within a few heartbeats, she was asleep. If you can call all this squirming sleep."

I trace her little face with my fingers. " She told me you were her friend."

" Rosad is a sweet youngling, her father is unworthy of her. He abuses her mother and, in return, they both neglect this youngling. Rosad is not the only young one living in such homes. It saddens me that they don't have the warm hugs of a caring parent.

" Most of the younglings gather together often at the barracks. I was on guard duty one darkness when I heard a few of the young males speaking to each other. This is when I first realized things were amiss in some of their dwellings. I was coming around the corner, and the males cowered from me until they saw who it was. Both of them were sporting multiple bruises on their faces and arms.

" It took some coaxing, but once I got the names of their fathers, well, let's just say they did not escape training unscathed. Although I lacked the power and resources to relocate all of them from their homes, I provided assistance to the best of my ability. Even to the point of teaching the older ones how to defend themselves. No youngling deserves to be treated this way."

OrO's anger can be plainly seen on his face. " I found Rosad when I went looking for you at the barracks. I thought she was hunting for her mother, but when I questioned her about it … that's not the story she gave me." OrO didn't say anything just waited for me to continue on. " Rosad said that a voice told her to run to the barracks … that her new mommy would be there." OrO's eyes get big when he comprehends my words.

" I won't send her away, OrO . I took her as my own that very moment and as far as I am concerned, she will be my heir, no matter how many I bear of my own flesh. The Lord of Light sent her to me and I will cherish that gift the same as I do our Kismet bond."

" Zura , you know I care not for the foolish rules of our world. If this is your decision, then it's decided as far as I am concerned. Rosad is a pleasant child, and even in the darkest times of my life, she could make me smile. She reminded me much of you when we were younglings. However , I feel there will be many others without parents to raise them … now that so many have perished."

" Everything has happened so quickly I had not thought of that. The fortress is huge and the majority of the Priestess were safe within its walls. I will have the other younglings brought here, they will be provided and cared for by the ones who vowed to help our people."

" You mean my friends can come stay in the big dwelling with me?"

OrO and I were so caught up in our conversation that we didn't notice Rosad was awake and listening to every word. I brush a random curl away from her face. " Yes , little one. They will all be welcomed here with us."

" OrO , why are you in bed with the princess?"

" She is my mate, little one. The Lord of Light has blessed us with eternal love."

" Is that why your heart isn't sad anymore?"

" Yes , youngling. I believe that's the reason." He rubs the end of her long red braid between his fingers before tugging on it playfully. " You hogged the entire bed last darkness."

Rosad giggles as she looks up at him. " OrO , … since Zura is my new mommy, does that make you my new daddy?"

" Only if it pleases you, but know, I will love and protect you either way."

She's on her knees before I can blink. Her tiny arms wrapped around his massive neck and I have to fight back the tears that come to my eyes when he pulls her close. Tucking his head into her small neck as he rocks her back and forth. A knock on the door has all of us turning. Priestess Murga sticks her head in and you can see the instant relief on her face.

" Oh , thank the heavens. When I woke and she was gone, I panicked."

" Priestess Murga , Rosad has been here most of the darkness. I should have sent word to you. I apologize."

" She had been asking for you all darkness. I should have known she would sneak out. I would have done the same at her age. Do you want me to take her with me?"

I see Rosad tighten her arm around OrO's neck. " No , but if first meal has been prepared, would it be too much trouble to have someone bring us up a few plates?"

" Not at all, Queen Zura . I'll return shortly."

I jerk when she says that. Rosad and OrO both laugh at my reaction. " Not sure I cared for the sound of that … Queen Zura ."

" Well , my dear … you are the Queen , and with that power, you can have your subjects address you in any manner you choose."

" Don't look so smug over there, even if you are getting all the hugs, King OrO ."

When he snarls, Rosad giggles and then lets go of him to jump on the bed between us. " Does this make me a Princess ?"

" Yes , it does." I grab her around the waist, tickling her. " And the first thing I want you to do with your new power and fame after we eat is to see if your friends are staying in the lower hall. If any of them are missing, you are to let us know immediately so we can send someone out to look for them, but you are not to leave the fortress until we know Mount Caldera has calmed. Priestess Murga will be with you and I want you to stay with her until you return here later."

" Am I going to have my own room, or stay here with you?"

" What do you prefer?" I look up at OrO who has just been laying here, watching us.

" I would like my own room, but I don't want to be far away."

" Until things calm down, you can stay here with us, or with Priestess Murga . Then we will have a room prepared for you right across the hall. You can even decorate it any way you want."

" Can my friends come there and play? Maybe even stay sometimes?"

" I don't see why not. However , before we can get to all that fun stuff, we are going to have to rebuild our world so other younglings have a nice dwelling to play in."

" So , if we work real hard, we can play when we're done."

" Correct , my little princess."

" Then get up, we have been in bed half the rising and there are things to do."

" Go grab me a new dressing gown out of the drawer and we'll get up."

Rosad rushes over to the drawers, opening one, then another until she finds what I ask for. With a gown in hand, she comes rushing back. Handing it to me she whispers in my ear, " I love you, Mommy ."

" Love you too, baby."