Before the Great Invasion, in an unassuming household in the Black Barony, a baby boy could be heard in the middle of the night. The small 2 bedroom house had a dim candlelight permeating the dark blanket of the night shooing away all adversaries. In the room adjacent to the baby's voice, a burly man in his early 30s was quietly awaiting the news. He was 6ft tall with bronze colored skin. His most noticeable feature was his Darwin peaks on both ears that proved his heritage in Katar for all who would doubt it. His hazel eyes showed his impatience and his arms were against the walls, in preparation to push off in case he needed to rush into the other room. His brown trousers complemented by his grey worn out shirt were adorned with dirt from the day's march back home. His muddy boots kept a rhythmic tap as he fidgeted with his short black hair waiting for the news from the midwife. He had been there for the last 3 hours after his journey back from the market. Lord Tommel had sent word that his wife was in labor since the previous day and the baby would come at any minute. He could only thank the maker that he had already covered more than half the journey back home.

His wife was with child for only 7 months and although he tried his best, he never could acquire enough food for mother and baby. Lord Tommel was a generous baronet but there was only so much he could do to support 3 mouths with his meager farmer salary. He was a proud man; he never begged or took any more than he was due even though Lord Tommel insisted. When his wife first started having complications just 2 months ago Lord Tommel invited doctors from the village and the neighboring baronies but they all told Avery the same; she needed better food and shelter. He felt as if he failed as a husband. He remembered better times when they were younger. Without a care in the world, they would sneak out and find each other in the summer's breeze. He remembered how relieved he felt when he finally got her father's blessings to be wedded. He took her from Tale's Barony after their first year together. They planned to travel the entirety of North Seabo but never got further than Black Barony. They had spent their entire dowry living their dream. So where did he go wrong?

The old door creaked as the midwife quietly exited the room. Avery could tell she was exhausted; the sweat dripping down her wrinkled face and her puffy eyes were sure giveaway. "You have a healthy baby boy," she said, trying her best to sound excited despite spending 36 hours without rest. "And my wife?" Avery asked, relieved that the baby survived. "She has lost a lot of blood but I did all I could. It's all up to her now. She's asking for you, I'll leave you to say a few words," she explained solemnly.

Avery was too excited at this point to continue reading the woman's face. As soon as he realized that he could finally see his beloved, he pushed the door open and hurriedly went to her side. He noticed the blood on the bed first, then he saw his smiling wife. She was a pretty freckled face woman in her late 20s. Some of her thick blonde curly hair was stuck to her forehead with sweat. Her green eyes were red probably from the strain of childbirth. Her pointed nose streamlined to her rosy thin lips where her beauty spot was prominent on her left lower chin. God, how he loved her beauty spot. She looked smaller without the baby bump. He made note of it to tease her later. Avery never wanted kids but he knew his wife loved them almost as much as he loved her. Seeing her beautiful smiling face and her teary eyes, he knew their life was going to be everything they always dreamed of.

"Avi, we finally did it," she whispered as he hugged her and kissed her forehead. He then picked the baby up as the infant wiggled in his arms. "Let's call him Khal, like that colonel you admire back in Green Viscounty," she added. "You really should have accepted my father's offer to join his battalion," she teased as she saw his embarrassed face. "A man has to set his own mark on the world, Nicole. I can't stay in your father's shadow forever," he said sternly. His dream had always been the same as every young adult male in Igbal - join the army and bring glory to the country of Katar. But before their wedding 5 years ago, her father had tried to persuade Avery to join him in defending the northern border as a ruse to keep his daughter in Igbal. He never did tell her why he refused, partly because she loved her father too much and more importantly, that would have shattered her dream of seeing all of Seabo. "You could have left after gaining merits and securing a proper rank," she reminded him like she always would. "Shhhh my love, we can talk about that after you get a good rest," Avery said hoping to avoid the scripted conversation that never seemed to end.

Khal grabbed Avery's index finger instinctively as he tried to get more comfortable in the man's arms. Nicole noticed it and immediately tears filled her eyes. "Promise me something Avi, even if it's too painful to do," Avery could feel the tone of the conversation changing but responded anyway, "Sure honey, anything."

"Promise me you will love little Khal just as much as you loved me. I know I've prevented you from following your dreams. I know I was a silly girl all those years ago yet you still facilitated my wishes....even now," tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered how much he loved her. She thought about all the adventures they had together, she had never been so happy in her entire life. The 5 years they were married were more than she could ever hope for. Being the daughter of the Colonel came with many disadvantages yet she never felt lonely because Avery was always there while her dad was defending the border. Yet now she only felt regret. She knew Avery would have been happier if he stayed in Igbal and she knew her father would try everything to keep her there. She always knew more than she let on. Despite all this, she knew it was too late and the past would always remain the past. She just wished it didn't have to end now. Now her journey as she knew it would end. She just wished she had more time to let Avery know how much she was grateful for him.

Avery smiled and nodded enthusiastically saying, "Of course honey, I...." Before he could finish his sentence he noticed his wife smiling while her breathing became irregular. He nervously screamed for the midwife. His wife's face was pale. He didn't know much about childbirth but he couldn't take any chances. She just kept smiling at him almost knowingly as she closed her eyes. No, no, no, this isn't how he imagined it. Avery froze. He didn't know what he felt at that time. He stood at the bedside as the midwife tried her best to stop the bleeding. He didn't know when she took the child out of his hands and placed him in the cot. He couldn't even hear her shout or the baby crying in the cot next to her. He slowly stooped beside his wife and caressed her face as tears streamed down his shirt. When her heaving finally stopped, so did his heart. When her body started getting cold, so did his entire demeanor. His heart died there with her, his reason for living scoffed out of his embrace.

---

Two weeks had passed since Nicole's death and Lord Tommel understandably allowed Avery to bury his wife and take the 2 weeks off. Avery, however, preferred to work through his pain instead of staying at home so he did just that. Things in Black barony continued as normal despite the heavy atmosphere in the baronet's manor. Avery had yet to eat anything worthwhile as he continued to mourn his loss while shoveling the dirt for this year's potatoes. Bill, his assistant farmer, would sneak glances at him from time to time as per Lord Tommel's orders. Just before Avery fell from his poor coping efforts, Bill grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him to the kitchen.

The kitchen was situated in the back of the manor, closer to the agricultural fields. It was a short walk for Avery even with his current delirious state. The cook had just finished serving the Lord his lunch and was just headed back into the kitchen when he noticed the commotion. "Bill, I've told you a million times, do not bring mud into my kitchen!" "Mr. Gary, it's not my fault, Lord Tommel instructed me to look after Avery until he's back to normal," responded Bill. He was a plump farmer that did more eating than farming. Gary didn't waste any more time arguing with Bill after seeing Avery's condition, he rushed to get some stew and bread while Bill rushed to get one of the maids to feed him.

When Avery came to, he realized he was still in the kitchen and a young maid with a look of concern on her face was staring at him. She had a bowl of food and a wooden spoon ready to feed him. "It's ok, I just lost track of the time, I can feed myself," he said while gently taking the food and slowly beginning to eat. "Lord Tommel asked that you visit him in the study room as soon as you are able to," responded the young maid as she dusted her clothes off before she left. Avery knew exactly what the Lord was going to tell him. It was the same thing he said the first night that Nicole died. If he had a choice he would continue in the fields but as a vassal, he had no choice in the matter.

He made his way from the kitchen, adjusting his white shirt and brown trousers as he always did before meeting the Lord. From the kitchen, he walked across the vassal rooms, guest rooms and dining room before he found his way into the study room. Lord Tommel was sitting in his usual seat facing a tower of books. He wore his red silk shirt and his favorite burgundy jacket embellished with the Katarian crest. The crest was a plain heater shield coated with an aqua blue color that faded into a white background. There was a brown stallion and a silver two-handed weapon coupled with twin blades embedded in a grey unadorned warrior helmet. The aqua blue color showed the resilience of the people of Seabo while the brown stallion represented the Talawa freedom. The arsenal of weapons showed the aggressive and battle crazed people of Cormac. The crest was always placed next to the heart to show loyalty, pledge, and honor – the watchwords of Katar. On the top of the crest showed a singular star denoting his rank 1 nobility.

Today, he had his quill and a sheet of paper penning a letter to probably one of his students as he normally did. He was an older man in his 60s but he looked nothing over 50. He was a man of impeccable manners and decorum. Anyone who met him for the first time would notice how graceful he was. He was constantly mistaken for a count or duke no matter where he went.

"Ah, Avery, how are you feeling?" he quickly asked. He always treated his vassals like his family regardless of who they were. "I'm well, thanks to the Lord's grace," Avery said as he bowed to the baronet. Lord Tommel smiled as he continued, "So, when was the last time you went to see Khal? I was told that he's adjusting well to Erik's wet nurse. Truth be told, the boy is the splitting image of Nicole, God rest her soul. I encourage you to see the boy soon less he becomes unruly."

"Yes my lord, it's just that....I still need more time. Losing Ni ... losing her has been too much for me. I couldn't trust myself with the child," Avery admitted a little teary eyed. "Son, if you remember I lost my wife the first year I took in you and your wife. Do you think I didn't miss her every day? Do you know why we carry on after losing those dear to us? We have to live for them as well as the ones we still have. Don't lose yourself to guilt and sadness. She's not gone yet my boy, not while we still live and breathe," responded Lord Tommel as he waited for Avery's response. Avery took 5 minutes before he could even mount a response, "My Lord, thank you for your words of encouragement, I will ponder on them and try my best." Avery started fidgeting before Lord Tommel finally told him, "Speak freely boy." "My Lord, Nicole's father in Igbal...did you get a chance to send news of his daughter? I'm afraid I can't afford the 10-day journey without running myself bankrupt," Avery responded.

"He will be notified shortly, you need not to worry. Be sure to see Khal before you resume your duties. Ask Sergeant Michael for a spar session if you still need to get the edge off," advised Lord Tommel as he continued to pen his letter.

"As you wish my Lord," responded Avery as he slowly prepared to leave. Before he completely turned around he heard Lord Tommel saying, "And take this letter to the messenger coop before you go." Lord Tommel applied the wax seal then stamped the letter with his official stamp before giving it to Avery. Avery was surprised by the efficiency of his Lord as he read that the letter was addressed to Grand Knight Dor.

It took Avery exactly 2 minutes before he was ready to visit his son. The manor was not very large, just about 750 acres and it only consisted of Lord Tommel, his son, daughter-in-law as well as his 2-month-old grandson and his 200 vassals. These included 25 footsoldiers with an official knight in command, maids, cooks, farmers and other personnel needed to run the manor. He gained his title after 30 years successfully tutoring the various nobles in Seabo and was well respected. His title was presented by Duke Braxton himself on the recommendation of King Thomas III during his final year of service. It was a joyous occasion as it was the first time a commoner in Seabo gained the title without any objections. This showed how well he was loved by all that crossed his path. The title gave him the right to have a surname yet he was unable to pass it on to his offsprings.

On his way to the wet nurse, Avery took multiple breaths trying to calm himself down. He knew he was ok as a husband. He knew with Nicole around he could be ok as a father too. But now that she was gone he didn't know if he would try to kill the child as soon as he saw him. Over the past 2 weeks, he had been struggling with the idea that his son killed his wife. He felt disgusted that he could think that way but he could not help it. If she was never pregnant then she would not have died. That's why he refused to visit the child. He didn't want to break his promise to Nicole the first time he saw the child. He didn't know if he could even love Khal as he promised he would. That wasn't something he felt like he had control over. It had taken 2 weeks to come to terms with his son being an innocent bystander in this cruel world. Nicole died, yes, but maybe what she left behind was worth enough for him to at least try. Maybe just one visit, that's what he told himself. If he couldn't stand the child, he would send him to an orphanage.

He could hear the child crying before he even opened the door. His heart was beating like a jackhammer in his chest and his palms started sweating. He knocked once and waited but there was no answer. He knocked again, and a thick woman opened the door with a confused face. "Avery? Sorry I didn't expect you today. Sorry, I didn't get to clean up the room before you came," the woman responded with her red, flustered face. Avery didn't even respond to her. His eyes were fixed on the child crying in the cot 2 meters away. The woman noticing that she was being ignored, hurriedly left the room, leaving father and son alone.

Avery spent 5 minutes just staring at the child until he slowly walked closer and closer. The closer he got the more his heart pained. He felt like he was reliving Nicole's dying moments. He couldn't get her smiling face as she died out of his head, but he knew he had to do this. This is what she wanted him to do. As he reached the cot his hands began to tremble. He could hardly control his breathing and without any warning, he grabbed the child from the cot and hugged him. He began to cry uncontrollably, father and child crying loud so that the entire manor stopped what they were doing as though in respect of the passing Nicole. Lord Tommel signaled Sergeant Michael to sheath his sword as they both gave the father and son time to mourn their loss.