| "You going to be okay?" Fred 3 asks Fred 1. "You still look a little…well….."
"Yes, I'll be okay," Fred 1 says sadly, and then smiles as he looks
down at the bundle in his arms. Little Justin smiles back at his father,
and drools in delight. "I'm sad that Astra 1 declined even the thought
of joining me….and declined even raising these….delightful infants…..but….."
A tear comes to the sadened D'Honaire as he kisses the little bundle of
joy on the forehead, and hug him tighter to his breast.
The man looks up again and looks into his brothers eyes.
"Though I lost any deep relationship between myself and Astra 1," the
proud father said. "I've adopted my children…..and through that nobody
better call them illegitimate! Else they'll feel my steel!"
"Oh, don't worry about that," Will says in a camaraderie voice as he
comes up and smiles. "I happen to be very happy to say that Astra's homeland
doesn't frown upon children who's parents didn't marry….for whatever reason.
And by you adopting them, they're legitimate…..and not bastards under the
laws and customs of Aquallaria."
"And if Allaria was still alive," Frederigo D'Honaire says sadly, walking
up and looking down at his human brothers (tails swishing as he walks…..as
it always does when the owner doesn't will it to be still). "Similar customs
would apply."
"Son, it's time," Duke Drederick calls, rubbing the chin of his new
face. "The mages made the….adjustments to me to stop any mistakes in identity….and
now……
Fred 1 hurries over and smiles down lovingly at his children as he and
the group heading for Wallants vanishes, transported by the Crystallic.
"Is it me or did I actually see Astra 2 smiling softly as she looked
at her children?" Dragon Synizn asks, walking up to the group after the
magical transporting.
"You did," Astra 3 smiles. "And don't ask anything else about it. But….I
think our little sister is having second thoughts. But what I'm going to
say doesn't go beyond us." The others say agree….and tell Astra that gossiping
isn't their style. So the secrets safe.
-
 Astra and the others begin.....
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