"Got it."
I lunge at her, swinging my staff at her head with as much force and speed as I can muster. She blocks it, following through with a move of her own. We move across the mats, trading blows, both gaining ground and losing it. Kiara's moves are jerky and stiff but I try to counter them with moves of my own meant to make hers look better. After what I hope is enough time to give Nicnivin the show she was hoping for, I give Kiara an opening that I hope is obvious. She takes it, and my staff flies across the room, landing only feet from Nicnivin.
Kiara steps back, quickly composing her surprised expression with one of confidence. "Are you pleased, Mother?"
Nicnivin doesn't smile but she doesn't frown. Something in her posture gives off an air of approval and Kiara beams with happiness.
"You move surprisingly well for someone carrying twins, Ever."
"Thanks. I think."
"I was useless when I was expecting Kiara. My feet were so swollen..." She trails off, looking around like she forgot that she was in the Goblin Kingdom. "Never mind that. I came with a present for you, Ever."
I look to Kiara, watching as her face falls. I know the feeling of disappointment well. My own mother forgot me around the holidays for years. I'd make it up to her somehow.
"Oh, I can't accept presents, Queen Nicnivin. I don't have anything to give you back."
She holds out her hand, a small dark blue present resting in her palm. "Nonsense. I'm sure you will find a way to return the favor."
I pause. Do I want to owe her any more favors than I already do? I look to Dare, who watches the exchange closely. If I refuse her gift, I'll look like an asshole, but if I take it, that's one more IOU from me in her pocket.
I step forward, a forced smile on my lips. "Thank you for thinking of me."
I open the box to find a pair of hair sticks. I’m not really the put things in my hair type, but I smile as wide as I can. “They’re gorgeous. Thank you.”
She tips her head before turning back to her daughter. "I expect you won't be home for the Yule celebration. I shall have your presents delivered shortly."
"Okay," Kiara whispers.
"Until next time, I wish you all a very happy Yule." With a puff of black smoke and one inky feather drifting in the wind after her departure, Queen Nicnivin is gone.
"Your mother is so interesting." I drawl the words sarcastically toward Kiara.
She snickers. "You have no idea."
Shortly after Queen Nicnivin's departure, we wrapped up our training session and I headed into the library with this giant book of names Arela had given me.
I'm snuggled up in my favorite spot. A giant leather love seat in front of a fireplace near a window overlooking the rolling hills that make up the Goblin Kingdom. Dare had left to do something. What, I have no idea, because he wouldn't tell me, so Kirin and Axel are hanging out with me, watching me like a hawk, and laughing at all the bad name suggestions I make.
"How about Adole and Annerva?"
Kirin smacks his palm to his forehead. "How about not?"
My lips twitch. "Those are perfectly good names for twins!"
"Only if you want them to get the shit kicked out of them on a daily basis," Axel chimes in, looking up from polishing yet another one of his blades. Honestly, I think he's got more weapons than I do. And that's not an easy feat.
"Fine, I'll keep looking," I huff and continue playing with the names in my head, growing frustrated as none of them seem to click into place. A scuffle sounds and all three of us perk up, our attention focused on whomever is coming toward us.
Arela bounces into sight, her robin’s-egg-blue hair flowing behind her like there's a wind blowing just for her. "Hey, guys!"
We all deflate like popped balloons when we realize it's not a threat. "Hi!" I pat the seat beside me. "Come sit. I need your help with something."
Her magenta and teal-colored eyes light up and she practically leaps toward me. "Whatever you need, I'm your girl."
I ruffle her hair and smile. "I need you two to disappear."
"But Dare said—"
"I know what he said, but I need you two to move away so I can plan a surprise." I flick my hands at them. "Shoo, shoo."
They grumble about it but they move, staying within sight but far enough away that Arela and I can whisper without being heard.
"Okay, I want to plan something epic for Yule." Arela nods excitedly. "Do you think the gargoyles are strong enough to carry presents in and drop them off?"
She bounces in place in her seat. "Yes! Oh, my gods, that would be so cool!"
"Do you think you can train them in time? What would we need to do?"
"Well, you'd have to get clothing from everyone and give one piece of clothing to each gargoyle. They'll sniff them out and drop them at my command, I think." She taps a finger on her lips. "I'd have to test it out. I can use Brodie as a test subject."
"I can get clothes. If you can get some too, that would be good. You might need to get them from Eryn. She's watching me like a hawk anytime I'm near her, so she'd probably be able to tell that I was up to something."
"I can do that!" She squeals. "I'm so excited!"
"I am too. I think this is going to be a great Yule." I rub a hand over my belly. It's probably going to be the best Yule I've had to date. In MECA we'd done a present swap, each person only getting one thing. But now, I've gone completely over the top for my crew and Dare's family. I just couldn't seem to help myself. We went to an outdoor market and I went on a shopping spree. Most of it is useful but a few things are sentimental.
Arela's expression changes from excited to serious and I reach for her hand. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong. Everything is so perfect. I'm just scared I'm going to do something to mess it up." She grips my hand hard in hers. "I've never had a family like this before."
"Well, no matter what you do, we'll always be there to catch you when you fall and pick you up and dust you off." I wrap my arm around her shoulders. "That's what family does. It's not something you turn off and on."
Arela sniffles and my heart breaks a little bit for her. She's been through so much for someone so young and yet she still is the most cheerful person I know. "Thank you, Ever. For stopping that day at the fountain. I don't know where I'd be if you hadn't."
"I don't know where I'd be either. You've taught me so much, Arela. My life is better with you in it." It's the truth. She's taught me more about what it is to be selfless than anyone else I know. I couldn't imagine my life without her in it now. It would be less bright though.
"You're going to make me cry." Arela rubs at her eyes, pulling back and smiling softly at me.