Page 17 of My Eternal Light

“Luckily, thanks to our Kincaid, I had already made a batch of oatmeal. I think that should get us started,” Cord said, coming from the kitchen carrying a huge tray of smalls bowls.

“Oh! I know!” Meryn pulled out her phone and dialed. “Yello.”

“Hello Meryn, I was just thinking of you. Magnus is practically dancing around Level One thanks to your efforts.”

“I need a favor.”

“Of course, darling, you have only to ask.”

“We found some really great kiddos that I think I may be related to via Oron, they were being kept in cages in the cold, and they’re really hungry. Like really, really hungry. But, everyone is like, they need soft foods and stuff, so I was thinking, can you try to make a healthy version of Magic Pudding, maybe with protein powder and supplements in it or something?” She ended her ramble slightly out of breath.

At that moment Dane began to whimper, then cry.

“Is that a baby?” Sebastian asked, sounding quiet and serious.

“Five, fifteen-year-olds, five, ten year olds, five, five year olds and five, infants,” Meryn said, rattling off their numbers. She sighed. “They’re all starving.”

“Give me a few days, darling. You tell those babies that I will create something just for them!”

“Thank you, Sebastian!” She tapped her phone.

Cody looked at Meryn. “Was that a squire?”

“Yup. How’d you know?”

Kincaid smiled as Cody just shrugged. He turned his attention back to the eldest boy.

Aeron had made sure all the smaller children had bowls before he took a bite. He looked over to Oron. “You’re our brother?”

Oron hesitated. “If you want to claim me.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I would understand if you didn’t want to.”

Aeron continued to chew, then swallowed. “You were the first of us.” He pointed around the table. “You were the first survivor.”

“He’s ours?” Cana asked.

Aeron nodded. “He is our first big brother.”

Seconds later, Cana and the other five-year-olds swarmed Oron burying him under their giggling bodies.

Bre and Brin were hugging the queen who kept dabbing her eyes.

Cody tugged on his sleeve. “How are we related to her?” he asked, pointing to Meryn.

Kincaid thought about it for a moment. “It gets tricky,” he warned.

Cody just nodded.

“Oron and Darian were raised together.”

“Brothers,” Cody added.

“Yes, brothers. Later Darian mated to Amelia.” He pointed to the happy witch. “Amelia is Meryn’s cousin.”

“Okay, but cousins are basically brothers and sisters, right?” Cody asked.

Kincaid nodded. “In most families.”

“That was easy.”

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