Blood and Water
"Blood is thicker then water" that age old saying kept repeating in Marz's mind as he sat in the main room of his family home, a home he now shared with his wife and new born son, and thought over the misery of the past few days. It was all like a nightmare. Things had been going so well and now this. His eyes wandered to the fire as the scene played over again in his mind….
"Marz I'm pregnant" those three words that had started it all. Words that had made him so happy that he had leaped out of his seat, taken Mara in his arms, lifted her from the ground and spun her three times round before kissing her.
"My wife, my love that is wonderful news. How long?"
"Almost a month now. I didn't go see the doctor till yesterday and when I got back you were asleep so I decided to tell you in the morning" she smiled at him.
"I would have wakened for news such as this. Oh my love" he kissed her again and she returned it lovingly. By the end of that same day it seemed all of Mithas knew the happy news. They attended a party thrown in their honor by Marz's uncle Orin and a few of his closest friends from his old military command. The night was filled with good food, drink, and music. As well as some goon natured teasing on the part of his uncle and friends.
"That was fast work indeed my nephew" said Orin has he clapped a hand upon Marz's shoulder, the wide smile on his face the result of drink.
"Our captain is quite the busy bee since he became a regular citizen" laughed one of his comrades, the lieutenant who's life he had saved. Marz smiled at the both of them and shrugged.
"Can you blame me when my wife is so beautiful?" Mara blushed and Marz placed his arm around her. The rest of the party continued in a similar fashion. Later that night when they were alone again Marz took the opportunity to sit with Mara next to the fire, she seated in his lap.
"I have something I wish to talk to you about my wife. But if you are too tired I could always wait till the morning"
"I'm alright, what is it you wish to talk about?"
"Well it's that there isn't really a demand for a skilled silver smith here in Mithas. I get good business, enough to support you and I. But a child too? Of that I'm not so sure. But if we were to move to the main land to Palanthas, I could make a name for my self, build a business, find clients. I could leave my old life as Captain behind for good and all. We could give our child a good life, free of living up to my reputation. What say you?" Mara looked upon him solemnly.
"Palanthas is a long way from here. What about my brothers? Your uncle?"
"I've already talked to my uncle and he said we should do what was best for our selves. We will tell Kalas and Khurn were we are going so that they can come and see us if they wish. But its not their decision Mara, its yours and mine. I want to be able to care for you and our child with out asking for help from my uncle or your brothers. I want our child to grow up where he or she can chose their own life and not feel that they have to live up to expectations. Do you understand?" Mara nodded.
"Yes" Marz held her close and kissed her.
"If you don't want to go we wont. We will manage here somehow" Mara shook her head.
"No, if you say it will be better for us in Palanthas I trust you. I also want a good life for our child. Were you going I go. But what of this house? Your family home, what will happen to it?"
"My uncle will take care of it"
"Will he sell it?"
"I don't think so, its more likely he'll try to find another member of the family to take it. If not…he will do what he has to do"
"You'll miss it wont you?"
"Yes I think I will" he smiled and kissed her again, "But in the end it's only a house. You and the child are far more important to me now then it will ever be" Mara returned her husbands smile and rested her head upon his chest. It wasn't long before Mara was asleep. Marz chuckled lightly and stood up with her still held fast in his arms. "Lets get you up to bed, my darling wife" he carried her up to their room and laid her gently upon the bed. He kissed her gently before pulling off his boots; cloths and climbing into bed himself. His dreams were filled with images of their new home in Palanthas, by Sargonnas it was beautiful.
At the end of that same week, on a day when the brothers were sure to be home, Marz and Mara took the ferry across to Taladas to pay them a visit.
"Well hello there you two. Here's a surprise. Its been a while hasn't it?" this from Khurn when he answered the door. Mara smiled.
"A little more then two months now"
"That long? Well I can imagine you've been rather busy, right Marz?" Khurn winked, Marz colored slightly, not that anyone would have been able to tell.
"Yes" Marz nodded.
"Well come on in then. Kalas stepped out to do a few errands. He should be back soon" Marz and Mara walked inside and sat down near the small fireplace. Khurn joined them. "You know it's strange not having you around the house anymore Mara. Its amazing that between the two of us Kalas and I haven't managed to burn the place down" Khurn chuckled.
"You two were never that hopeless. By the looks of things you've been getting on alright"
"True enough, but it is quiet though"
"Quiet? With you two here? I don't believe that for a moment" Mara smiled and Khurn laughed.
"What can I say? You know me Mara, I'm a rotten liar" all three shared a laugh. Khurn offered drinks and made up a pot of tea for them all. A while later the sound of wagon wheels announced Kalas's arrival back home. The mahogany Minotaur walked in a few moments later with his arms laden with bags. His head was down and then he turned his back so he did not notice the presents of his sister and brother in law as he said,
"I think I got everything we needed Khurn. I also picked up a few special things for when we have company over. Bit pricey but our funds allowed for it. Did you" at this point he turned and seeing Mara and Marz at last he grinned and walked toward them. "Hello Mara, Marz, when did you get here?"
"Twenty minuets ago I think, right dear?" asked Mara. Marz nodded.
"That's right"
"I'm sorry to have kept you"
"Don't worry about it Kalas"
"Yes you're here now that's what matters" Mara smiled at her brother, Kalas returned it.
"Very well, looks like we will be eating these sooner then expected my brother" while saying this Kalas pulled two plump pheasants out of one of the bags, that were still in need of cleaning and dressing. Khurn nodded as he drank the last of his tea and stood up.
"Looks that way indeed. You get started on them and I'll take care of the vegetables" Kalas nodded wordlessly, walked into the kitchen and set to work preparing the birds. Khurn followed him and started peeling some potatoes. Marz and Mara observed them in silence agreeing wordlessly to wait till after dinner to bring up the matter of their child and their plans for the future.
Dinner took the better part of three hours to prepare, silences broken up by brief bouts of conversation. At the table they spoke mostly of what they had all been up to in the soon to be two months since they had all seen one another. Marz spoke of his business and small matters about the house. Mara told of how she had developed a new hobby in beading and how she had managed to sell a few bracelets in the cities market place. Kalas and Khurn spoke of the League and how they had been getting on by them selves.
Later when the dishes had been seen to and they all sat in the sitting room around the fire with glasses of wine, well all save for Mara who had a glass of milk instead, Marz and Mara silently agreed that now would be the perfect time to tell them. Marz nodded to his wife and she looked to her brothers in turn.
"Kalas, Khurn, Marz and I have something to tell you"
"And what might that be sister?" asked Kalas. Mara looked to Marz who nodded again. She took a breath and smiled at the two of them.
"I'm going to have a baby" the brothers were quiet for a few moments before smiling.
"That is good news Mara"
"Good news? Its wonderful news! Congratulations Mara, you as well Marz. When is the happy day?"
"I'm a month along now so eight months left to go"
"That's wonderful, I think a toast is in order. Wouldn't you say brother?" Kalas nodded and raised his glass.
"To the future and may Kiri Jolith smile upon the day of the child's birth" all raised their glasses to join Kalas's and drank.
"That being said there is something else also" Marz hesitated. Since the wedding things had been greatly improved between himself and Kalas but there was still apart of Kalas that did not trust him no matter how hard he tried. He covered it up for Mara's sake and did a good job of it but there was no mistaking the ice that crept into his eyes whenever they were alone in the same room together. But this was something that had to be said. It was already decided between him self and Mara. There was nothing he could say against it that would matter in the slightest. It was out of curtsey and respect that they were even telling them their plans at all. Marz took a breath.
"Its like this. I'm doing good business now. I can support Mara and my self but with a child added into that I'm not so sure how well we will be able to cope. But if we were to move to Palanthas I could start over, build the business and have more then enough money to take care of the child and our selves. On top of that I would be able to leave my old life behind. I wont be the Captain any more. I'll be Marz the silver smith and nothing else"
"And have you thought about what sort of future that will give the child?" this from Kalas, his tone was rimmed with ice.
"One of choice. Of not having to live up to my reputation. Free to chose what ever he or she wants to do in life. Away from the army and the League"
"Over my dead body"
"Kalas?" said Khurn, Mara echoed him. Marz's eyes became stone.
"Mara and I have already decided upon this. It is our choice Kalas"
"You're not taking my sister anywhere Marz"
"Your sister is my wife Kalas and the child she carries is also mine. Your ability to have any say over our lives ended on our wedding day"
"That's what you think. If you need money we will give it to you. I'm not going to let you split this family apart"
"You're doing a fine enough job of it your self" spat Marz. Kalas shot to his feet, Marz did the same.
"Stop it!" shouted Mara rising to stand between her husband and her brother. "Marz is right Kalas. I don't understand. I thought we had gotten past all this. We want to live our own lives Kalas. Marz and I are doing our best to support our selves. We can't take money from you that you don't have. Don't try to say it wont be a problem for you because you know it will be. No matter where we go we will still be a family"
"Next thing you'll be telling me is you'll raise the child in the light of Sargonnas"
"And if we do what concern is it of yours?"
"Marz stop" Mara turned to face her husband, who sighed and put his arms around her, still glaring at Kalas. Khurn placed a hand upon his brothers' shoulder.
"Kalas what does it matter? They're doing what they think is best for them selves and their child just as our parents did, as you did"
"And I still am Khurn. It would be in their best interest to stay here were we can help them if they need it"
"In our best interest or yours?" this from Mara as she looked over her shoulder at her brother. "I thought you had changed. I guess I was wrong"
"Mara?"
"Marz I think its time we went home" Marz nodded and the two walked toward the door. Khurn followed them and saw them out.
"I'm sorry about him. Things will work out you'll see" Khurn smiled, Mara returned it.
"Thank you Khurn" the two embraced and Khurn offered a hand to Marz.
"Congratulations again"
"Thank you" Marz took Khurns hand and shook it firmly before turning and following Mara to the cart that they had hired. After assisting his wife into the drivers seat next to him Marz took hold of the reigns and the cart trundled gently off down the road toward town.
"Well that could have been worse," said Marz.
"I don't see how"
"It could have come to blows and I would have been forced to cause Kalas a serious injury" Mara chuckled.
"I might have helped you had it come to that" the two shared a laugh. It was ten by the time they got home again. Mara went strait to bed and Marz sat up with a mug of ale thinking on what had happened and determined to drink him self half senseless.
In the months that followed Khurn came by almost weekly while Kalas remained at home, refusing out right to speak to or even to see Marz.
"It's the same problem as before. He loves you and wants to keep you near by. He wont get between you and Marz because he knows that you two love each other and nothing is going to change that, especially now. But he cannot understand your reasoning"
"Do you?" asked Marz, his voice heavy and burdened by all these problems. Khurn nodded.
"Yes I do" he looked to Mara and smiled. "I don't want you to go either but I know that it's your own decision and that you think its best. But what I will ask is that you think it over more. Be sure that its what you want"
On the night of his Childs birth Marz was still thinking on that last sentence. Was this what he wanted? Was this really best for all of them or just for him self? Was he using his wife and child as an excuse to get away and start over? So troubled was he that he could not force him self to sit. Instead he paced in front of the fireplace fully absorbed in his own thoughts. So much so that he did not hear the knock upon the door. Nor did he hear as one of the servants went to answer it. And neither did he hear the voice of his uncle calling to him until he felt a hand upon his shoulder and turned to face him.
"Mind if I ask you what's so damn blasted important that you would not only ignore me but miss the birth of your own child?"
"I wasn't ignoring you uncle, I didn't hear you. And I'm not missing it, I'm here aren't I?"
"Instead of pacing down here you should be up stairs with your wife"
"Were you present for the births of your children uncle?"
"You know I was and I'll clout who ever says different"
"Well I was with her but I was requested to leave the room"
"You could have insisted upon staying"
"I had things to think about and I did not wish to be in the way"
"Will you at least sit down then?"
"Alright" Marz nodded and settled down into his chair. Orin took the seat opposite his nephew and waited to hear of what was troubling him, though he could hazard a guess.
"One of her brothers giving you trouble again?" Marz nodded.
"Kalas thinks I'm trying to steal his sister away from him"
"Well you've already done that"
"But she is still near by. He can see her every so often. If we move to Palanthas there might be years between the days they see each other" Orin shrugged.
"A small sacrifice I would think"
"Not to him it isn't. And he can't understand why I wont take money from him if I'm having financial trouble. Even on the worst of days mother and I never took charity not even from you uncle. We took care of our selves and that is what I want to do. I want to be able to support my family on my own"
"Then do it. To damn hell with what Kalas thinks or wants" Marz shook his head.
"I don't want to hurt Mara anymore then this situation already has. If she doesn't want to go because of the pain this situation is causing her then we wont. We will manage one way or another" before Orin could reply the midwife came down the stairs into the main room of the house, with a cleric close behind her. Marz and Orin both rose to their feet.
"Congratulations Sir Marz you have a strong healthy son" the midwife smiled.
"And my wife?"
"Just fine Sir Marz. She's resting at the moment" this from the cleric.
"May I go see her?"
"Of course"
"Thank you, thank you both" the two female Minotaurs bowed and departed from the house.
"Lead the way nephew" Orin smiled. Marz returned his uncles smile and led the way up the stairs to the room he and Mara shared.
The curtains had been drawn and the windows opened to allow the night air in. Mara lay upon the bed, eyes closed in sleep brought on by exhaustion. Not far from the bed was the cradle where their new baby son also slept. Marz walked toward the cradle slowly, his uncle following. The baby was a dark mahogany, almost black but not quite. He was well formed, strong, and the most beautiful thing Marz had ever seen, aside from his wife.
"That's a fine looking boy you have there nephew. Congratulations" Orin placed a hand upon his nephews shoulder. Marz nodded as he reached a gentle hand out to touch his sons' cheek.
"Thank you"
"Did you decide upon a name?"
"Jarrin"
"After your grandfather?"
"Yes"
"A fine name, he will be more then worthy of it I'm sure" Marz nodded wordlessly. The two men stood silent for a while looking down upon little Jarrin. "I should be on my way now nephew. You had best get some rest"
"Could I interest you in a drink first uncle?" Orin smiled and squeezed Marz's shoulder.
"I thought you would never ask" Marz chuckled quietly and led his uncle back down to the main room of the house to pour them both a mug of ale.
"To the future nephew" Orin raised his mug.
"The future" Marz raised his mug to meet his uncles. Both men drank to the toast. That night Marz fell asleep next to the fire place, thinking it best to let Mara have the bed to her self that night…
That had been two days gone by now. Khurn had been by the day previous with Kalas to see Mara and Jarrin. Kalas had cooled down somewhat since the last time. He was now under the belief that Marz had changed his mind and decided to stay but the truth was he had not changed his mind about nor decided anything.
He no longer thought, he knew he could get better business in Palanthas and give his family a better life. But he had also seen the pain that going through with that decision had and would cause between his wife and her brothers. Perhaps they would be able to get by staying here. It was the thought of having to ask money from Kalas or his uncle that rubbed Marz the wrong way. Everything he had in his life was what he had earned or taken for himself. He had never taken charity in his life and he did not want to start. But what right did he have to split up a family that was just as proud, stubborn, and loving as his own?
"Marz? Are you not coming to bed?" the sound of his wife's voice broke him from his thoughts. He looked up to see her standing at the foot of the stairs. He smiled at her.
"Sorry Mara, I'll be up shortly"
"All right" she turned and started up the stairs.
"Wait" she stopped mid step and looked at Marz.
"Yes?"
"Come here, we need to talk" she came back down to sit on his lap. He smiled, put his arms around her, and kissed her on the cheek. He didn't say anything for a long time just sat and held her close to him. It had only been one or two days but it seemed like an eternity since they had done this. He wanted it to last just a little longer.
"What did you want to talk about love?" asked Mara, looking up at him as she did so.
"Hum? Oh, right well its just that I've been thinking and maybe we could stay here and manage alright. Your brothers want to help us and my uncle could give us a hand from time to time if we really needed it. I could put my pride in its place for you and Jarrin. What say you?" Mara was silent for a while thinking over what her husband had said and what had happened in the past days and months. "Mara?"
"I say we go to Palanthas"
"What? But your brothers, Mara I've seen how the idea of leaving them hurts you, how it hurts them. We don't have to go"
"Yes, we do" Mara sat back so she could look her husband in the eye. "We have to live our own lives Marz. If we stay here we will have to take money from them and your uncle. I don't want that anymore then you do. I want us to be able to stand on our own. I love my brothers very much but we have to do what is best for our selves and for Jarrin. Lets go to Palanthas and start over" Marz smiled at Mara and held her close to him.
"Have I told you recently how much I love you?" Mara chuckled.
"Not recently. But I love you too"
"Lets go to bed" while saying this Marz stood up and, after a brief adjustment, started for the stairs with Mara still held fast in his arms.
Almost three months later Marz and his family arrived in Palanthas. They had left Marz's family home in the care of Orin and said that they would send word to him when they found a house so that he could send them some things.
They took a room at the Bores Head and Marz went to see the Lord of Palanthas to introduce himself and ask about how he might find a suitable home and place to set up his business. The Lord directed him to the landowners' guild as well as the architects' guild. In no more then four days they had found a home for him and his family as well as a place of business.
The house was two stories and a block and a half away from the market place. Four bedrooms, kitchen and dining room, and living room. Mara loved it and Marz was inclined to agree.
The building that was to become his new place of business was located in the market square and had once belonged to a metal smith so there was no need for him to build a forge. A short wall separated the shop out front from the forge in the back. A workbench stood on the other side of the wall near the anvil that sat near the mouth of the forge. All the display cases and a large desk meant for the owner of the shop had been left behind by the former owner. It was all so perfect that Marz could barely believe it.
He paid the down payment on both the house and the shop, confident beyond doubt that he could pay them both off completely in less then a year.
In the weeks to follow Mara and Marz spent the money that they had brought with them from Mithas on furniture for their new house and a new sign for the front of the shop.
"Marz Stonesheild, Silver smith" said Marz aloud to him self once the sign was up. He felt pride swell in his chest, as it never had before. Three months ago all of this had been just a dream, now it was reality. Together he and Mara had built the foundation of what he knew would be a wonderful future. Jarrin would grow into a fine man here. Away from the constant war between the two factions of the Minotaur lands and the crushing weight of his fathers reputation constantly looming over him. Today a new chapter would begin and it would be of their making and no one else's. This in mind Marz walked into his new shop to begin his first day of work, not knowing that he had left one reputation behind to gain another.
