It's been a long time since I had a little one in my house, and now I've had the pleasure of watching Zandrianna's daughter, Althessia, twice while she is away tending important business.
And it is a pleasure indeed, for the child is bright and curious. At six, near seven, months, the babe is already pulling herself upright and crawling around my house. I've had to go through and make sure she cannot pull anything down on herself - quite a task with all the small mementos I have. Things that my husband, Gillis, collected for me over the years in his travels to do business abroad.
And things, such as the toy mill, that he made himself and gave to me for my 30th year. I can still recall his look of pride when my expression mirrored my delight in the gift, for the toy truly was a thing of beauty and talent.
"Ma .. ma"
I look down at the precious child, looking back up at me. "No, little one. Na-na. Mama is away right now, but she'll be back for you."
"Ma ... ma"
It is so hard to make one this young understand. I pick her up and tickle her, causing her to giggle in delight, much as I'd seen her do for Zandrianna. The child misses her mother, constantly calling for her.
As I know Zandrianna misses her. When she brought the baby to me, there were tear tracks along her cheeks, her eyes still red and puffy from crying. Yet she remained poised with her daughter in her arms. I wanted to hug them both at that moment, for I knew - we both knew - that what Zandrianna set out to do was dangeous. Yet, it had to be done.
"Bring that child home safely," I said, and Zandrianna nodded back to me as she handed Althessia over.
"I will Rossiath."
I've put the baby down for the night and, with my chores done, I sit on my porch and look out towards the north, the direction that Zandrianna said they would set out.
"Be safe, all of you."
