A light blizzard raged across the white hills. Thalleous stood at one top with Timber at his side, waiting.
A Sendaris, holding an Ardoni child with white markings, ran up the slopes. His feet sunk deep into the snow as he trudged. Thalleous went to help him.
"At last, you are here!" The Sendaris shouted. He held the child before him and Thalleous took it. "Thank you for answering my call."
"I would never refuse a plea for help from my brother, Kalleous." The warrior said. "Is this what you have called me?" The child was wide awake, its body quivering slightly in its wraps.
"Whose child is it?" Thalleous asked.
"Mine, Thalleous." The other responded.
Thalleous looked up. "And the mother?"
"His mother's identity must remain a secret, for knowing of her clan would endanger us all."
"No!" Thalleous gasped. "It cannot be… The Voltaris?"
Kalleous nodded gravely. "We will return soon with the rest of our children. The clan has decreed that we should be banished, but the children, the children are innocent."
"I can do no such thing!" Thalleous pushed the child back. "I swore to destroy the Voltaris!"
"Thalleous, my brother." Kalleous held him by the arms. "You are the wisest Ardoni I know, but you do not know anything about love."
"There he is! The adulterer!" Scarlett figures rose above the hills, brandishing swords and spears.
"Thalleous, I'll distract them." Kalleous pushed the child into his arms. "Now GO!"
"Whose child is this?" Osivian asked. They were in his house. In another room came an infant's cries.
"My nephew." Thalleous responded. "My brother was entranced by an Ardoni of another clan." Osivian looked at him with wide eyes.
"It cannot be…"
"I'm afraid so, but the child is innocent." Thalleous said. "Will you, take care of him? He is uninitiated."
Osivian looked towards the room where the newborn had settled down. "I will take care of him, but…"
"Thank you, Osivian." Thalleous breathed out deeply, as if a mountain had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Does he have a name?" Osivian asked. "When my wife was with our child, we had prepared two names. One for a girl and one for a boy. The girl would be called Ria and the boy…"
"Senn." Thalleous said. "Let his name be Senn, so he will always have a home to return to."