7: 22.1.07
Characters: Sarralyn Salmalín, Rikash Salmalín, Kaya Salmalín, Numair Salmalín, Daine Sarrasri Salmalín
Title: Volatile
Sarralyn is five. She cocks her head at her papa. "Papa, if I were to turn into a seahorse, would you still love me?"
Numair glances up from his book. "Of course, dear."
Rikash is three. "Papa, if I made a hole into the palace, would you still love me?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
Kaya is barely a year old. "Da! Ka-BOOM, glug, glug!"
Sarralyn is now really intrigued. "So Da…Are you telling us you would love us no matter what we did?"
Numair puts his book aside. "Of course, dear. I'm your father! I can't just not love you!"
Rikash nods slowly. "We love you, too." Three children under the age of six all climb on their Papa at once and hug him. Then they go outside, leaving behind a slightly rumpled, but thoroughly pleased Numair.
Sarralyn giggles. "Daddy is sweet."
Kaya gurgles as she toddles along next to Rikash as best as she can. She has bat ears under her curly brown hair.
Rikash grins. "Now we know we can do everything."
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"Numair." Daine says pleasantly. "Did the children say anything…out of the ordinary to you today?"
Numair considers. "Well, Sarra asked if I would love her if she were a seahorse and Rikash asked if I would love him if he were to…do something drastic. I forget what."
"Possibly something along the lines of 'Would you still love me if I blew a hole into the palace wall'?"
Numair looks up from his book. "Yes. Yes, that was it. How do you know?"
"You told them you would?"
"Of course."
Daine slaps him on the upside of the head. "Rookie mistake."
At his bewildered look, she smiles grimly. "Let me put it like this: There will be severe renovations needed over on the east wing, and various species in the menagerie are quite intimidated by giant seahorses."
It is around now that Numair realizes what a volatile combination his children make.
