Chapter 13

Brushing her hands together, Emzara watched the tiny dust of the flour fall onto the table. The beauty of the light flakes in sharp contrast to the dark-stained wood mesmerized her. Cleaning the last vestige of kneaded dough from between her fingers, she pondered what to do while the bread rose.

An idea struck her, and she padded out the door and then toward the barn. Picking up her pace, she almost skipped to the massive weathered structure comprised of sections of wooden planks and blocks of cut stone. Purlek’s well-furnished quarters lay in the heart of the building, which not only housed the farmhands but also provided space for them to stay up with birthing or injured animals.

Arriving at the darker interior, she slowed to a walk so as not to alarm any of the animals. Low whispers reached her ears, and she craned her neck toward the sound. She reached the sheeted entrance to Purlek’s room as mingled laughter emanated from within. Emzara listened briefly before slowly backing away with a smile on her face.

“Oof!” She spun quickly and kept her voice at a whisper. “Noah. What are you doing here?”

“Getting crushed apparently.” He rubbed the top of his foot dramatically, resting his other hand on a beam for support.

Emzara took his hand and tiptoed out of earshot of Purlek’s room. “I don’t weigh that much.” She lightly slapped his shoulder.

“I was teasing.” He held her close and breathed in the spicy scent of her hair like he so often did. “What are you doing here?” He raised his eyebrows.

“Well, I was going to check on Purlek, but Evet beat me to it.”

“Is that so?” Noah nodded, but his focus seemed to be elsewhere.

“Noah, Evet and Purlek . . . I think. . . .”

“You think what?”

“I think he’s glad she beat me to it.”

“Hmm.”

“I was only there for a moment, but they were talking about their lives. And there was enough giggling to know they were getting along well. I don’t think they’d want me to intrude right now.”

“Interesting.” A smile raised one half of his mouth. “Well, good for them to be spending time together. You know” — he paused for effect — “I had a similar intent in mind.”

“Oh?” She laced her fingers in his and smiled up at him, feeling as if she was the young girl who had fallen for his dark eyes shortly after they met.

“I’d like to have some time with just you. There’s something you need to see. Do you have time for a walk?”

“Yes, the bread doesn’t need me for a while.”

“Come on, then.” He guided her out the back entrance of the barn and parallel to the river. Emzara put a hand above her eyes to block the sunlight. Behind them, in the malid grove, Elam and Rayneh played in the soft, tall grasses. Based on her movements, it seemed like she was trying to catch a small insect. Each time she pounced, her curly hair tried to keep up with her movements.

“There’s something about seeing a father take care of his little girl,” Emzara said.

“So are you disappointed we’re having a son?”

Even though she knew he was teasing, she shook her head. “I can’t wait to watch you be a father to him.”

For several moments the world stood still as Noah embraced her.

“I may have to say that more often,” she said. “Four hundred and sixty years and you can still leave me breathless with your kisses.”

“I can’t believe you remember the number.”

“Well, I can’t believe you still tease me for forgetting number 392.” She flashed a saucy smile at him, enjoying the opportunity to tease him. “You’ll probably think it’s funny for the next 500 years.” She turned and walked ahead through the orchard.

“Oh, and now you think you know where we’re going?”

His steps quickened behind her and a giggle escaped her lips. “Well, we’ve been walking parallel to the river. Are we changing direction?”

“Definitely.”

She stopped. “Really?”

“Yeah. Our little one will be born soon. That’ll change everything.”

She softened her voice. “I can barely think about anything else.”

“I can’t wait to take him on his first overnight trip.” He locked her arm in his. “We’ll look up at the stars, and I’ll explain how grand their Creator is. Then I’ll tell him stories about all the adventures his mother and I had.”

“Hmm. I can’t wait to tell him about how his father looked a daggertooth in the face and shouted, ‘I’m not going to die today.’ ”

“I said that to Naamah.”

Emzara held up her hands. “I said daggertooth. I just didn’t specify which one.”

Noah smiled and shook his head. “So many great things we’ll get to share with him.”

“And he’s going to be curious. If he’s anything like his father, he’s sure to try some crazy stunts on his own.”

“Are you scared?” Noah asked.

“You’d better believe it. Now if we were having a daughter,” she shrugged, “then probably not.”

“We’re not in this alone, and you’ve had centuries to perfect your skills.” He winked at her.

“Careful. Are you calling me an old woman?”

He gave one of his carefree laughs and she joined with him. Suddenly, he quieted and held his hand up to her mouth. He leaned close to her ear. “We’re here. Look.”

Her eyes widened and she stared. Nearby, a keluk stuck out its long tongue, and she watched in fascination as it helped itself to a mouthful of leaves, chewing slowly and methodically. Its lower jaw moved in opposition to the upper one. She walked closer, grabbing Noah’s hand and pulling him with her.

“Hey, sweet one.” The animal turned and blinked his long lashes at her.

“I think you’ve made a friend.”

“He’s coming this way. Look at the graceful way he moves.” She giggled. “Only his knobby knees counteract his poise.”

“And you don’t think those four furry stubs coming out of his head are strange?”

“Not at all. Those and his gorgeous eyes make him simply adorable.” She refused to take her eyes off the creature.

“And to think you used to say such things about me.”

She briefly pulled her gaze away from the animal as Noah pretended to be hurt to his imaginary audience. “Maybe now you can see why I like them so much. Guess there’s some resemblance.”

Noah gave her a goofy grin in response. She could tell his excitement for showing her the animals nearly matched her own joy at seeing them.

“I can’t believe it’s taken you almost 500 years to make good on your promise to show me one of these.”

“Five hundred! You’re trying your hand at numbers again. Four hundred and sixty is hardly almost 500.” He winked. “But who’s counting?”

She straightened and cleared her throat, but realized the keluk had resumed eating and was no longer alone. Three others had joined him. “And there’s a baby one!”

“What are you waiting for? Go closer.”

Emzara’s heart had longed for this moment, and she needed no further encouragement. She joined the little group and headed straight for the center. One of the shorter ones nuzzled her on the shoulder. She reached up and gently felt the knobs on top of the female’s head. The baby ambled up to her, and she plucked some leaves and held them out to him. As he accepted the food, she looked up and grinned at Noah, wanting to make sure he saw. He beamed while she laughed at the tickling of the little one’s scratchy gray tongue tasting her arm to see if it held any further treats for him.

“Hang on, baby.” She scratched behind his ear with one hand while reaching with her other one to get a second helping of leaves. His huge eyes were even cuter up close. She took in the keluks’ movements, felt the muscles in their necks, and memorized the contours of their bodies so she could draw them in better detail. The animals lumbered slowly around her, sometimes lowering their heads to take her in as well. It seemed as if they were in a dance, with each movement choreographed. Giving in to the sheer joy she felt inside, she raised her hands — palms up — and circled around in their midst.

All too soon they started to move on. She patted the youngest member one last time and tore herself away from the tiny herd. “Noah, that was—” She let her misting eyes do the talking for her.

“Enchanting — watching you with them.”

She intertwined her fingers in his as they headed back. “And well worth the wait. I just wish we weren’t leaving tomorrow morning, or I’d come back here.”

“Maybe we’ll find more where we’re going.”

“I hope so. That was a wonderful surprise. Thank you. I can’t wait to draw them in great detail when we get back. The only problem will be settling on the best pose.”

“You’ll have several days on the boat. You can sketch all of them if you like.”

“Maybe I will.”

He rubbed her midsection. “Shall we call our little one Keluk?”

She giggled. “I don’t think our son should have such a graceful name.”

He shook his head and smiled. “I won’t tell Purlek you think his name is borderline graceful.”

“Oh, that’s awful. Purlek and Keluk is a stretch even for you!” She punched him playfully on the arm before sobering. “So do you think he’s going to go with us?”

“I don’t know. He hasn’t said, and we leave tomorrow.”

“And if he and Evet are bonding, maybe he’ll make the choice to stay here with her.” Her voice carried the sadness she felt at the prospect.

“I think he might stay behind and help Jerah with the farm now that father and grandfather are coming with us.”

“Jerah sure wasn’t happy with you for taking them with us.”

“It was their decision. He could’ve come, too.”

“I know.” She leaned her head on his upper arm and they walked in silence for a time.

As they neared the barn, he slowed. “You go on ahead. I’m going to stop and chat with Purlek.”

“Noah, thank you.” She kissed him on the cheek. “It was wonderful.”