Eight



Thade scolded himself for being so stupid. How could he be so cold? Of course he was happy about this! The only woman he ever loved was going to have his child, and he was going to be there for every step of the way.

"What are you thinking about?" Attar asked, sitting down beside his friend. Thade stared out at the blue sky and sighed.

"I asked Ari to marry me," he began. "She said yes."

Attar looked confused. "And that's a bad thing?" he asked.

"She's pregnant," Thade stated, bluntly. He turned to see Attar staring at him with surprise in his eyes.

"I take it you're not happy about this?" Attar said.

"It's not that," Thade moaned. "It's just that I wanted to spend some time with her before and after we got married. I didn't want to have children right away. Of course I'm happy about this. I'm going to be a father!"

"Have you told her you're happy, Thade?" Attar demanded, looking at him with disaproval.

Thade shook his head. "No, I acted like a complete idiot!"

"Well, then go and tell her," Attar said.







Daleya stared out into the street below. She hadn't been outside for days now. She had been too upset. Usis had been dead for three weeks now, but Daleya still cried herself to sleep every night. She missed him so much, and now that he was gone, she didn't know what to do. She had sold her dress and put her ring in a drawer. It seemed like life had stopped. Usis was no longer beside her when she awoke in the morning, no longer made her laugh and no longer held her.

Stiffling a sob, Daleya pulled away from the window, and dressed into a light, breezy dress. She knew she had to get more food, but she had no appetite.

So this is what being alone feels like, she thought.









The door to Sandar's house was open. Ari stepped inside and called out to her father.

Sandar had been in the backyard with some friends, and greeted her in the kitchen.

"How are you darling?" he asked.

"Well, that's what I came to talk to you about, Father," Ari said, sitting down at the table. Sandar sat down beside her.

"What do you want to tell me?" he questioned, patting Ari's hand.

"Thade and I are engaged," Ari told him, excitement was evident in her voice. Her father smiled.

"Congratulations!" he cried, hugging Ari. She pulled away and looked him in the eye.

"I'm also pregnant," she announced, this time pride was in her voice.

Her father laughed. "What wonderful news I've been getting today. At first I thought it was going to be a bad day, since your brother came home last night drunk." Sandar shook his head sadly, but Ari laughed. Her brother, Conner, had just turned eighteen, and he was always hanging out with friends until early in the morning.

"How's Thade?" Sandar asked.

Ari frowned and looked down. Sandar's smiled faded.

"Have you told him?"

"Yes, but he seems to be upset about this," Ari answered, truthfully. Sandar stood up and began to pace.

"Is he going to leave you?" he asked.

Ari gasped. "Of course not, Father!" she exclaimed. "He would never do that!"

"Are you sure?" he asked.

Ari nodded. "He just needs time."

"I've had time," said a voice behind them. The two turned to see Thade standing in the doorway. Ari stood up and went to him. He hugged her, and smiled up at Sandar.

"I'm just as happy about this as you are," he said. "I was a little scared at first, but I can't wait to be a father! I just needed to think, since this is all so sudden."

"I'm glad you're happy," Ari said, resting her head on his shoulder. "We have busy months ahead of us."