Aalis moved between Suvau and Oska.


    “Jocasa’s motives were made out of desperation, lust and heartbreak,” she admitted, “and even the damning consequences of giving birth to a baby of mixed races has not seemed to have curbed these emotions…but you ought to know, Oska, that she did not have to let this baby live.” Aalis stroked the babe’s face gently. “She could have thrown it from the wall into Maul or stuffed it in a chest and hidden its body in a forgotten room of the fort…instead she reached out to me to smuggle him out of Mavour. That means, despite her questionable motives, she could not harm the life you and she forged within her.”


    Oska folded his arms, looking away. “The only thing she was protecting was her bloodline in him.”


    “What about you, then?” Aalis asked, stepping towards him. “This baby needs you.”


    Oska shook his head. “No.”


    “You selfish, lazy…” Suvau seethed.


    “No!” Oska barked. “No! I won’t have anything to do with it! It only reminds me of my own folly!”


    “What about the knowledge that, despite the folly, you were blessed with a son?”


    “My son!” Oska snorted. “Look at him! He has her eyes!”


    “He is clearly part Maul.” Aalis argued.


    “Then he will never have a place anywhere in this world! Where will he exist? Amongst Mauls who despise him or Terras who subjugate him?” Oska demanded. “Better that Jocasa had let him die than allow him to live alone, isolated forever.”


    The callousness of his statement had them all shocked, their protestations dying in the face of something they couldn’t even conceive of.


    “Oh…well then,” Giordi darted forward, the only person apparently capable of movement, snatching the baby out of Aalis’ arms, “let’s let the wilds decide, shall we?”


    “Giordi!” Aalis shrieked, running for him as he strode to the palisade.


    “Gavoli, what in Maul are you doing!” Judd barked.


    “It’s an old parable from ancient Terra,” Giordi held the baby tightly, “when the birth of a baby threatened to tear the newly formed Astaril apart. He was an illegitimate child and a possible alternate successor to the throne.”


    “You’re talking about the ‘Justice of Maul’, aren’t you?” Verne said, taking hold of Aalis’ arms, drawing her back.


    “That’s the one,” Giordi nodded, “the baby was left unprotected. It was reasoned that if there was enough of Andigre and Grail’s blood in the child, the monsters would leave it be.”


    “That’s outrageous!” Suvau nearly lunged at Giordi but Judd held him back.


    “That is the old law…and I think it’s high time we renewed it.” Giordi waved his hand to a small outcrop nearby, outside the safety of the palisade. “If there is no place in this world for it, then we will let the wilds decide if it should suffer the foolishness of our time or enjoy the peacefulness of death.”


    “I will not let you!” Aalis bolted towards him, trying to rescue the baby, wrestling with Giordi before Verne was able to pull her into his chest, sobbing. “No…it is not fair! You cannot do this!”


    Giordi raised his eyebrows, clutching the bundle in his arms. “If the father does not want it…” Oska’s eyes looked away. “Then the justice of Maul shall decide.” He clambered out of the palisade and took the baby to the outcrop, laying it carefully on the stone.


    “He’s out of his mind!” Suvau barked.


    “You will hold your ground.” Judd warned, pulling out his sword. “You will heed.”


    Suvau bristled and fumed as Giordi returned to the palisade as the last faint blue light blinked out of existence and night settled in fully. There were only a few moments when they could still see the abandoned bundle before it disappeared into the darkness.


    “Oska…” Suvau looked at him who shook his head. “Oska…do something!”


    “I’m not a father!”


    “Yes you are! That’s your son! Damn it, LaMogre…”


    “Hold, Suvau,” Judd reiterated, “hold or I will stop you.”


    The Mauls shifted, divided by their own confusion and dread. The wash of night soaked into the landscape and the howls of the wolves came closer. Aalis sobbed relentlessly, held firm against Verne.


    “Oska,” Suvau said brokenly, anger gone as the minutes cruelly crawled past, “to take your first step of being a father…all you have to do is go out there…and save your son.”


    “Wolf…” Verne said. “I can see eyes. They’re close.”


    “Judd, please…you cannot let this happen!” Aalis fell to her knees.


    “It’ll all be over soon.” Judd’s voice cracked.


    “He will have a place with you,” Suvau whispered, “no matter the rest of the world…he will always know his place if you just…”


    But his words went unspoken as Oska ran to the fire and grasped the end of a flaming branch. He turned and ran to the palisade, scraping himself as he climbed through it, tearing his thin clothing in his haste.


    “Verne, go!” Judd cried and Verne clambered onto the palisade, braced on the thick logs, arrow in his bow, covering Oska’s sprint to the outcrop. In the all consuming darkness, the torch was all that they could see, highlighting the edge of Oska as he reached the bundle and grasped it then ran back to the palisade.


    Suvau shuddered, his shoulders bowing with relief as Oska stood outside the fence line with the baby in his arms. Then Oska looked up and let the wrappings fall open, no child in sight.


    “No…”


    His face was sodden with tears as he held out the empty cloth. “I…what have I done?”


    “Oska,” Giordi called, helping Aalis to rise, her cowed form having hidden the baby in her arms, “your son is safe.”


    Oska climbed over the palisade and darted to Aalis, pausing in front of her, his arms shaking.


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    “But…but…”


    “That antiquated method of ‘justice’,” Giordi used his fingers to emphasise, “can stay as a cautionary tale of what not to do.”


    Oska seemed frozen, frightened though willing. Aalis eased his son into his arms, gently moving his hands to hold him securely. The baby blinked and squirmed, tears of his father dotting his face. He opened his hazel eyes and saw Oska above him and gave a happy gurgle.


    Oska’s laugh was brittle but sincere. “What’s his name?” He rasped.


    “Jocasa had not given him one and I did not think it my place to do so.” Aalis tucked the baby’s hand into the wrapping, out of the cold air. “It is up to you, now. You are his father.”


    Oska swallowed and looked at his son. “Would it be tactless to call him…Ermaus?” He lifted his head and looked at the other Mauls who paused and considered this.


    “I think it would be a nice way to remember him.” Gustin nodded.


    Suvau came up to Oska’s side. “Ermaus,” he said, his deep voice rumbling as only Suvau’s could, “a fine, strong name.”


    “I promise to raise him to be a better man than I.” Oska vowed.


    “The funny thing about becoming a father,” Suvau put his hand on his shoulder, “is that you grow with your child.”


    The Mauls moved back to the circle of light from the campfire and the pot that was bubbling with stew. Judd walked over to Giordi and punched him in the shoulder.


    “You scared me half to death!” He groused. “Leaving the baby out in the wilds?”


    “First of all, ow,” Giordi rubbed his arm, “second, I was never, ever going to do that…which you must have known.”


    “I knew enough to trust you but even then I was wondering if that minotaur knocked all common sense out of me.” Judd sheathed his sword.


    “Well, thank you for the trust…even though it hurts.” Giordi winced and looked at Verne and Aalis. “Bravo to you both for your excellent performances.”


    “You told that parable once or twice in Mavour alone,” Verne folded his arms, “I know how it ended.”


    “I must have missed that. How does it end?” Judd looked at the three of them.


    “The story has two variations,” Aalis admitted, “in one, the baby is killed and the current bloodline of Astaril monarchy, preserved.”


    “And the other?”


    “A grieving widow comes across the baby, takes it into her arms and heart and raises it to be a mighty young man who, one day, becomes a knight.”


    “I prefer that ending.” They headed to the fire. “How did you swap baby for, well, the not baby.”


    “When I tried to take the baby from Giordi, I succeeded.”


    “And she gave me a shawl and I pulled one of the wraps from little Ermaus,” Giordi grinned, “turned my back as if ‘protecting’ the baby I was about to discard to the wild…and put Aalis’ shawl out into the darkness…”


    “You put a hole in it too.” Aalis draped it over her shoulders.


    “I think you did more than that.” Judd paused and watched the Mauls settling in, softly spoken conversations merging and blending across their company and for once, including Oska in them. “I think you gave that baby a place to be.”


    It was a weary convoy that finally reached the northern nomad camp by mid afternoon of the fourth day’s trek. It was a large palisade close to the forest at the southern end of the Hump. Though the climate was not a great deal warmer, the ground was more fertile in the cooler months, there were trees bearing seasonal fruit and there were more animals to hunt and better weather to do so in. It was a hunting party that came across them, dragging their kills behind their mounts and spotted them from atop a rise. Judd was nearly overcome with relief, wanting to collapse knowing that they were not just close to solid sanctuary, but going in the right direction.


    Despite the apparent triumph of freeing the Mauls from Mavour, Judd did not feel entirely secure in its success until they were welcomed into the large, almost grand, northern palisade of the nomad’s winter camping grounds. He had mounted Xenon and rode to the front to greet Chief Elk and Chief Bear, both of whom seemed genuinely pleased to see him. He knew Verne and Giordi would ensure no stragglers would be left behind but he felt the need to explain the presence of so many extra people.


    Suvau was grateful to be tall, looking over the heads of the nomads who crowded around them, searching for familiar faces. When he saw Yolana’s eyes and her broken expression, he dropped what he was carrying, pushed through the crowd and wrapped his arms around her.


    “My love, oh my love.” He cried softly.


    “Suvau…” She said his name, every pore of his body aching with relief that he had returned to her.


    “Father!” Emeri pressed against his side and he scooped an arm around her shoulders and held her tightly. “We were starting to become so worried…”


    “I knew you said not to worry,” Yolana kissed him, “but it has been over two weeks, nearly three…”


    “I know, I know…” Suvau pressed his forehead to hers. “I swear I will tell you all about it…but first, there is someone…” Suvau stepped aside so that Yolana could see her brother walking towards her somewhat sheepishly.


    “Oska?”


    “Yolana.”


    She lunged for him, all reserve gone as she sobbed. “I thought you were dead!”


    “I was sent to Fort Mavour,” Oska nodded at Suvau, “it was your husband’s stubbornness that saved all of us.”


    “I cannot take full credit.” Suvau insisted.


    “Uncle Oska!”


    “Emeri! Look how much you have grown! You’re a young lady now…when did that happen?” Oska ruffled her braids.


    “Uncle Oska…who is that?” Emeri said, going up on tiptoe to look at the baby he carried.


    “This is Ermaus,” Oska explained, “he is your cousin.”


    “You have a son?”


    “I do,” Oska smiled, “and a handsome little lad he is.”


    Yolana cooed at little Ermaus. “There are a thousand stories to be told, I am sure. But we have the time and the safety to hear them now.” She slid her hand into Suvau’s. “Come.”


    Giordi and Verne watched the family reunite from a distance.


    “I suppose you’re feeling pretty pleased with yourself?” Verne asked.


    “Rather substantially, actually.” Giordi grinned. “Come on Verne,” he slapped his back, “smile! We made it!”


    “I am smiling.”


    Giordi snorted then clapped his hands. “Now, I really should see how Revna is.”


    Verne blinked. “Well…of course…she’s your wife.”


    “Don’t be daft,” Giordi rolled his eyes, “that all ended at the whipping post. But I did promise to make sure she and Mali were alright.”


    “Then be off with you.” Verne urged. “Before someone else’s baby needs rescuing.”


    “It is becoming a habit!” Giordi laughed and jogged away. Verne sighed then turned her attention to the Mauls who were gathering together in fear. She knew the feeling. The nomads were robust and seemed to have a resting face akin to a glare. She doubted they had ever seen as many dark skinned souls in one place and never within the safety of their palisade. Verne decided, rather than give in the to the unwelcomed ache of her heart, to distract herself by taking care of the Mauls. It seemed Chief Elk and Chief Bear were waving them towards the meeting hall and Verne hoped that they would be able to properly clothe all the Mauls and feed them until their bellies ached with fullness and not because of the lack.


    She waved to Emeri who was looking over at the incoming crowd with interest. Emeri waved in return then spied Aalis and Caste at the back of the convoy, leading Quell and Zeke. After giving Aalis a hug and a cursory greeting to Caste, Emeri showed them to the stables.


    “And our tent is just here,” she pointed it out, “although I am not sure it is large enough for twenty people, including a baby.”


    “I am hoping the Mauls your father, Judd and Verne were able to rescue will be able to have their own space.” Aalis explained.


    “There are so many of my people.” Emeri admitted. “I never thought to see so many again.”


    “And there are several young men amongst their number.” Aalis teased lightly then snapped her fingers. “Which reminds me…I need to prepare a very strong anaesthetic. One of them has a badly healed broken arm and the only way to fix it…”


    “Ugh…” Emeri shuddered. “That’s all you…”


    “It is good to see you.” Aalis touched her arm then handed the reins of Quell to Caste. “Would you be able to relieve them of their packs?”


    Caste nodded, taking both sets of reins as Aalis hurried away. Emeri kicked the grass tuft at her feet while Caste avoided her gaze.


    “I am glad that you came back safely, Caste.” She said quietly.


    “Not that I ever thought a nomad camp would be thought of as ‘safe’,” Caste muttered, “but compared to what we’ve been through, safe is a term relative to that which we have endured.”


    “No, not just that you’re here…but that you seem unharmed.” Emeri explained. “My people…not even the Mauls of Fort Omra have ever been so brutalised.” Caste swallowed. “Thank you for doing whatever you did to help make it happen.”


    “Emeri…” He said tersely but what was about to follow was left unsaid as Judd jogged over to him.


    “Caste, Elf and Bear are deeply curious about what happened and why there are so many injured Mauls with us. Hello Emeri.” She gave a small wave, recognising that Judd needed Caste’s full attention. “Even with Elk’s limited understanding, I’m struggling to get across what happened. I need my interpreter…if you would be so kind.”


    Caste nodded then looked at the two sets of reins in his hands. Emeri took them from him.


    “I will see to Quell and Zeke. Go. Judd needs you.”


    She watched them hasten away, sighed and took the two horses to the corral where they were happy to have their backs relieved of the weight of many packs.