145. Late..*

With dinner well taken care off, mother barely let Miranda help..we left for Petra's house who were very pregnant and being miserable.

She was huge..and annoyed. It was adorable.

" How is Moritz handling it? " - I asked while caressing her stomach.

She was munching on mazzepan. The only one aside Zephyr who actually like them. " He's useless most of the time. Vistellia helps. "

She shot a grateful smile towards granny bringing in some tea.

" Man don't know how to deal with such...a change when a women is pregnant. " - gave over the tray to Demelza and sat down next Petra bed. " We become more angrier, hungrier, moody and after all that..t-the end is not enjoyable. "

She would've went into further detail but didn't want to frighten her daughter in law. She looked nervous all the same.

Pregnancy was a scary thing.

Women often died from complications and it was also one the most painful experiences in life.

Granny was a pro..the best possible help since no women died under her hands.

At least since I was aware of this horrendous thing called the miracle of life.

" I remember mine.." - Demelza was in that position a little over three years ago. " ..as un enjoyable as it was, when it's over you'll have someone who will love and need you for the rest of their lifes. Everything that had happened before turned meaningless. "

Her experience was the most effective balm to calm our expectant mother. " Thank you Dem. I can't wait..for all sorts of reasons. "

Her shyness was mostly a thing of the past and made a few suggestive looks.

" ..How long? "

She answered between sipping her tea. " Four months.."

Ouff..

" Well, I remember that too.."

Demelza's painful expression was mirrored by not only Petra but, granny as well.

Well..it's the miracle of life.

" Any estimate when they be back? "

Granny asked something, I couldn't answer.

" It's a guessing game..tonight?..tomorrow morning?..maybe later.. "

" What do you mean? "

I talked last night with the Borea Martells and they had some valid points.

" They might be inevitably delayed..Carlos family has close ties to the Papacy. They support them financially. They also value blessed of Ehlite as much as Insatel. " - I parroted back what's been told me yesterday. " ..they might need to attend at least one celebration thrown in their honor. Could be an extra day or two. "

" Why you didn't tell your mother? She's been working really..

" I know granny..but it might not happen. What, I'm supposed to do? If we don't prepare and they arrive tonight? It's better to remain positive. "

I shared some looks with Demelza and my sister.

They agreed with me and granny nodded with understanding as well.

" It can't be helped. He stands out too much. According to you mother, Carlos don't have the best relationship with his family. Neither is Ciren. They refused to believe him and accepted that their younger son is dead."

I hope they are not unfriendly..

" Is divorce the same as in Insatel? Or some strange customs involved? "

Eli asked a good question but granny had limited knowledge as well. " As far as I know ..it's about mostly papers. Maybe they need permission from the church.. "

We didn't have that here in Emet. Paying for the Faith's acknowledgment meant little far removed from their churches and priests.

According to them Ehlite watched us all. So why pay for his attention?

" It's getting late..we need some food, look into the children and then go train. "

I reminded them we had busy schedules.

" Oh..I wish to join that. Another thing denied me. "

We did our best to to cheer her up.

" Once the baby is out you'd have plenty of time and help, with ..him? And then training can start."

Granny had a cheeky smile while massaging Petra back and asked Eli and Demelza.

" How is two of you doing? Any improvement? "

Eli wasn't amused. " Since ..yesterday? "

Granny hid behind the pregnant girl.

" Alright..let's go. We hardly have time for this. "

We left the cosy little house and went to get some food from a tired chef and her little helpers.

——

It was night..and they were nowhere to found.

Turned out mother anticipated it as well and made just enough food that with a little extra help from the Welk family, Lizzy, Norman and their son were able to finish most of it.

" Well..they must be delayed..it's late. "

For the first time since they left we all eaten together, if they happen to arrive no one wanted to miss them.

The last few days either Alexander or Lucian,or the Emil brothers were there, someone was always missing.

Alexander shook his head looking at the light snow and complete darkness outside. " Well tomorrow then..hopefully. "

He didn't seem concerned none of us were.

Those two could've dealt with an army.

" You know inside the Civitaas Dei the main force comprises of holy archers. The best of them called the arrows of Ehlite. "

Saam give us three mainly, some tid bits of information. " They dip their arrows in a substance that's called Devil's fire. Once lit, it cannot be extinguished. "

That sounded a horrible way to die. Not enough to be shot through but also burned with magic fire?

Dharma sounded a cruel place to die.

Cintia as she always did demonstrated what she remembered as illusions.

Towers made of large stone blocks surrounded a giant settlement of various buildings and large castles with more towers surrounding it ..a giant church building of Ehlite topped with the double moon circles on the top of it right in the middle of the city.

" They don't use walls..for some stupid reason and rely on these towers able to hold dozens of marksman priests. That's what they call themselves that but they're soliders all the same."

She pointed at the beautiful tiny image of the capital of Dharma.

We can never get used to her incredible power.

" That right there is the Apostles palace.." - her fingers went through the biggest castle standing on a clifftop. It looked old and full of mysteries. " ..that is where the Pope and his family resides. "

The kids as always tried to touch the almost solid looking building while, I enjoyed the glow in her irises..made her look beautiful and scary at the same time.

It went back to blue much like Zephyr and lost it's white hew much like Nifas fingertips did when she was finished using her ability.

" Anyway..are you sure? "

She looked right at me drawing everyone's gaze with it.

" About what? "

She looked at me and then, my hair..then repeated it again and again..

" I get it..yes, I'm sure. "

I looked right at the main reason.. my daughter with her blue hair she grown to love..really fast.

There is no going back..

One more night being alone..probably going to sleep with her..maybe he won't walk straight out the door if put up a united front.