In fact, Miss Tribi became much more than an occasional babysitter to Kreet’s children. Within the week she had become a permanent resident in the Baby Dragon Inn. In fact, she technically had become the first paying resident, taking the room across the hall from Kreet and Kallid’s room. Far from being annoyed at the loss of his assistant, Mr. Feltix had insisted upon it, requiring that Miss Tribi make notes of the progress and send them back to him at regular intervals.

This had freed up Kreet to begin helping out around the Inn, as she no longer lived in constant fear of any of her children hatching without attention. The increasing population of the Inn did cause some other issues to come to light, however.

“Kreet, I think we’re going to need to add another shower or something,” Kallid said one morning after returning from the courtyard with a towel wrapped around him.

Kreet nodded. “I know. It doesn’t help that Sigmundurr has no modesty at all!”

“Well, that’s true too. But I just ran into Miss Tribi when I got out.”

“Oh no! Did she see you?”

“She fainted. I think it’s a good bet she saw me.”

“Fainted?!”

“Twice. The second time was when I revived her. What? Don’t look at me like that! It wasn’t intentional, but I couldn’t very well leave her laying on the ground!”

“I guess we really need to get the baths finished next. I’ll have Sigmundurr bring up the tubs today and we’ll work on getting the tubes reran from the rain barrels.”

“We really do need to. After sparring this morning, we’ll get on it. You ready?”

“To spar with you? Sure! Are your bruises healed from yesterday already?”

Kallid laughed. “If nothing else, my body is learning to heal faster!”

It was a lot of work, but by the end of the day they’d gotten both the second and third story bathrooms functional again. It had become something of a ritual that, after the tavern had closed and if it wasn’t raining, they’d all retire to the roof while Marge went to sleep.

“I don’t think she minds,” Kreet was saying. “She gets the run of the place in the early morning. But I’ve spoken to her about staying on. She wants partial ownership back. A quarter, in fact. I think it’s reasonable. Are you okay with that?”

Kallid nodded. “Sure. We honestly couldn’t get along without her. Oh, did I tell you, the Council is breaking ground on the 110th block plaza? They asked me to sit in on the planning committee! I bet the Bishop had something to do with that.”

Kreet shook her head. “I doubt it. Why shouldn’t they ask you to be part of it anyway? It was your idea.”

Kallid laughed as he tossed an egg up and down. “It was, wasn’t it!”

“Kallid!” Miss Tribi exclaimed from where she lay on the ever-expanding blanket pile, “Be careful with Grace!”

“Aw, she likes it.”

Kreet smiled, but then looked to Sigmundurr who was sitting nursing a mug of ale.

“Sig?” she said, quietly. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just thinking.”

“You didn’t use to think so much, you know.”

“Yeah. I know. Kreet, you know I like you and Kallid, but… I don’t belong here. This is all too civilized for me.”

“I know.”

“What do you think she’d do if I just left? It’s not like she couldn’t find me. I wouldn’t be running away from her. She’d know that.”

“I think it would be fine, Sig. You’ve been a great help to me and Kallid. But I think we can get along without you now. We’ve got the watch back, we’ve got a lot of friends now and the Band is gone. I understand.”

As she was talking, she saw Sigmundurr’s eyes widen as he looked at the moon. She smiled before she even turned around. Goddesses don’t lie. They have no reason to. Her eggs were going to hatch, and quite soon. She wasn’t surprised when she turned around and saw Eilistraee walking towards them from the sky.

“Kallid! MIss Tribi!”

The two turned towards her, and she gestured towards the moon.

She heard Miss Tribi’s gasp, but Kallid had seen such displays before. However, there was a difference this time. The naked goddess’ belly was distended in the late stages of pregnancy.

As she neared, she smiled and held her belly with both hands.

“I could look normal, you know,” she said almost defensively. “I don’t have to be showing!”

“You’re even more beautiful,” Sigmunder said, standing as his goddess set foot on the roof and he put his hand over her belly.

“I am, aren’t I?” she smiled. “And who is this?”

Kreet and Kallid stood Miss Tribi up.

“It’s okay, Miss Tribi!” Kreet assured her. “This is Eilistraee.”

“I know who she is!” Miss Tribi insisted. “She’s a…”

“Goddess,” Eilistraee finished. “Good to know I’ve not been forgotten totally in the daylight world!”

“Eilistraee, this is MIss Tribi. She’s our… oh, what would you call yourself Miss Tribi? Our nursery maid?”

“Yes. That’s it. And a documenter for the archives. But really, I’m okay with ‘nursemaid’.”

“I see! Well, it’s good to meet you, Miss Tribi,” Eilistraee said and Miss Tribi bowed awkwardly. “So you’re familiar with me?”

“I work in the archives,” Miss Tribi explained, and Kreet knew that Eilistraee must be doing something to overcome Miss Tribi’s natural fear of the goddess. “I’ve read quite a bit about the various gods. But you’re not really known as a fertility goddess.”

“You’re right about that! But this brute of a man had his way with me and… well, we gods are at the mercy of nature when it comes to procreation. It seems if we do anything more than holding hands with a mortal of the opposite sex, WHAM! Another half-god is born.”

“As best I recall,” Sigmundurr said with a laugh, “you weren’t exactly struggling to get away!”

“Oh, come here you brute,” she smiled, and held her hands out to her lover. Sigmundurr took her in his arms.

“Careful,” Miss Tribi cautioned. “You’ve got a baby there to consider!”

Eilistraee laughed and suddenly the pregnant shape was gone. “Being a goddess does have its perks! Squeeze away my bull!”

The embrace between the two was sincere and it was obvious that the goddess reciprocated the feeling as much as Sigmunder as her legs and arms wrapped around him. As the two began to kiss, however, Kreet looked away. It was, perhaps somewhat more passionate than she felt comfortable with as an observer.

“Oh, now Sig,” Eilistraee said when she freed herself from his embrace. “There’ll be plenty of time for that and more! Are you ready move into our new home? It's no where near as civilized as this place!”

Sigmundurr looked at Kreet. She stepped over to the big man, and realized suddenly that this may well be the last she might see of him. Tears began to work their way out.

Kallid stayed back. She had known Sigmundurr longer than himself. This was a time for the two of them alone.

“Sig,” she said, and he picked her up and hugged her.

“Kreet, we’ve been through a lot haven’t we, little lizard?”

“We really have,” she said, laughing through her tears. “I’m glad they didn’t cut your balls off.”

“No thanks to you! But I’m glad I didn’t cut your head off too.”

“I’ll miss you, Sigmundurr. I’ll miss you a lot.”

“Me too! Say hi to your kids for me. Tell them about me!”

“Well, I’ll tell them some about you. I might leave out other parts.”

Sigmundurr nodded, and squeezed her tightly one more time. “Damn I really will miss you Gator. You take care of yourself!”

“Sig! My boobs!” Kreet squealed, getting him to lighten up the pressure. “Thanks! I will. And when they’re old enough, I’ll tell them all about you!”

Sigmundurr set Kreet down, and she saw a tear in the corner of the big man’s eye that told her all she needed to know. Why this lumbering, muscle-bound behemoth of a man had taken a shine to her, she couldn’t imagine. But, despite his uncontrollable nature at times, she knew he had changed for the better since she’d known him.

In the meantime, Kallid had stepped up, putting out a hand in the human way of greeting between two men. But of course Sigmundurr would have none of that. He took the proffered hand, but used it only to pull the little kobold into his arms. Then he picked up Kallid bodily and gave him the same fierce hug that Kreet had been given.

“Oh, you come here. I’ll miss you too, you know, little scaley runt. I’d tell you to take care of her, but I know you will anyway. I’ve been watching you out back. You’re getting good with that bow. As for the staff… you’d do damage even now - but remember, Kreet had years of practice. Don’t feel bad that you’re not as good as her, okay? Don’t let it get you down. She will probably always be better than you, but that doesn’t mean you’re failing, okay?”

Kallid nodded. “Thanks. I’ll miss you too, Sig.”

The big man set him back down and punched his shoulder lightly.

“As one new father to another, we’re both starting a new adventure I guess, aren’t we?”

“Yeah,” Kallid said. “Do you have any idea how to be a father?”

“Not a clue, little guy. Just try not to fuck up the kids too bad I guess, right?”

“Sound advice,” Eilistraee laughed.

“As for you,” Sigmundurr said, pointing to Miss Tribi, who recoiled at being suddenly singled out.

“You keep good care of Kreet’s kids. I expect they’re going to be a handful.”

Miss Tribi nodded, her eyes wide.

“Well, I guess it’s time to go then,” Sigmundurr said, and he took Eilistraee’s hand.

“Almost,” she smiled. “Kreet? I think you’d better go hold Grace.”

Kreet turned to her eggs. She saw Grace rocking back and forth rhythmically on her blanket. A horn appeared to be poking at the membrane from inside.

Kreet squealed and raced to the blanket pile, setting Grace in her lap.

A small pop sounded, and the egg membrane fell away. Two huge eyes looked at Kreet, surrounded by a head ridiculously large for the body behind it. The eyes began to glow blue and Grace beheld her mother for the first time.