“This calls for a celebration,” came a male voice from one of the tables populated by the most ale jugs.

A collective “yeah” boomed through the halls of the tower and people stood up to bring food and drinks.

“If I can have just another moment, please,” said my sister in a voice that sounded less than a shout but more than a steady command. “Since we are all gathered here, men and women of the tower, my brother’s brethren, and since we will not meet together like this again for quite some time, I would like to announce something.”

I was mindful that Seika had been acting strange lately and this impression was further intensified by seeing how Man’s father was treating her but I hadn’t been able to pinpoint what was going on.

“By the Divine!” I heard Krysha say.

I turned around to see her put her hands in front of her mouth, still completely oblivious to what she had realized and I could not.

“I didn’t plan for this to become public knowledge until sometime later,” Seika continued, “but since Man’s father has already figured it out, the least I can do is tell you as well.”

I saw more individuals now at the edge of their seats as they realized what was happening.

“Man and I are going to have a baby,” she finally said, and the fact hit me like a stone on the head.

Of course. She hadn’t been drinking, Man’s father was extremely warm and welcoming to her, and he called her family. At first, I thought this might just have been a power play against my brother but he actually did mean it.

She was going to be a mother. Man was going to be my brother and… my nephew would live in a palace and one day would… become king? That was too much for my brain to fathom in the moment and I simply moved to the mass of people already encircling my sister, waiting for their turn to hug and congratulate. I couldn’t handle this new piece of information, so I put my mind into preparing for the journey which would start tomorrow.

Oh by The Divine, we are leaving tomorrow and my sister is coming with us. It was going to be dangerous.

“Are you just going to sit there and stare at me, brother?” Seika said, as I was apparently already in front of her, too lost in my thoughts to realize it. “You’re going to be such a lousy uncle.”

I smiled at her as I forced myself back to reality and hugged her with all my might, until I realized I perhaps shouldn’t have done that.

“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m not that fragile. I can take a lot of pressure.”

She locked me into a tight hug and brought her lips very close to my left ear.

“Don’t you dare try to convince me not to come with you because of this, Uncle Adel,” she said, and kissed my cheek with a smile.

Over the next few hours, everyone met and talked with Seika. Some, in a rather formal manner, congratulated her with a handshake, and others did so with more emotion, like Krysha who could not stop sobbing and hugging my sister, telling her how happy she was and how she would do anything for her and the baby.

Every time a person was done with the pleasantries, they would move to the back of the tavern and bring out bottles of wine and casks of ale. Pretty soon the doors of the tower opened again and friends of ours who didn’t live here, started to arrive—merchants, musicians, entertainers, humans and elves, orcs and dwarves, all sorts of people.

The night was festive and few held back from celebrating, eating, and drinking. It was actually the first time I saw Krysha get drunk and I soon realized that our departure would ultimately have to be delayed for some hours, if not the whole following day.

Among the dancing and the drinking, I found Man sitting on a table by himself, smiling while watching my sister dance. I took a seat next to him.

“Adel, drink with me,” he said, and handed me a large mug filled with still cool ale.

I grabbed the mug, and took a good sip before placing it on the table next to his. I wanted to talk to him about my sister coming with us, but I thought I should be silent for a while and listen to what he needed to say.

“I do not put my faith in gods or anything of the sort, Adel,” he started, his speech a little slurred from the alcohol. “I know they exist, I just do not pay attention to them and I think they do not pay attention to me either.”

He raised his mug toward my sister who was now smiling at us as she danced. I smiled back at her and raised my mug in her direction too before taking another big sip and turning back to face Man once more.

“But how can I be so foolish to believe that no god had a hand in bringing Seika into my life?” he asked and for the first time, I saw an awkwardness in him. “She is definitely a godsend.”

“I’m glad you guys are happy,” I said, seeing that he was having trouble continuing without too much emotion creeping into his voice. “You’re going to be a great father, Man.”

“And you an even greater uncle,” he replied, quickly as ever.

“Man, about you guys coming with us—” I tried to say, but he immediately cut me off by raising one hand up as he swallowed a big gulp of ale from a fresh mug which was handed to him.

“You of all people should know,” he replied once his mouth was free of ale, “that it is easier to trade air for gold than to try to change Seika’s opinion once she has decided on something.”

“I know, but things are different now,” I protested, “with the baby.”

“Be that as it may, Adel,” he said, a drunk smile on his face, “your sister has not changed. She is hellsbent on finding out what happened to Kai and who killed your parents. I can do nothing to change her mind. I will protect her and the baby with my life if I have to.”

I saw there was no point in arguing with him. He was obviously as concerned for Seika’s safety as I was, but he also knew he had to let her breathe. And so I dropped the subject, clinked my mug against his and turned my eyes to my sister who was now dancing with a still very emotional Krysha. I sipped another giant gulp.

“Yeah, we’re definitely not leaving tomorrow morning,” Man said, and we laughed our way to the bottom of our mugs.