Chapter 94 A basket?
Daevir POV
The basket lingered in the waters for a moment. And frankly, I was getting impatient. Evening was settling in, and for what it's worth, it might just be an empty basket wounding it way through the river to the sea.
Perhaps someone had dropped it off, or it was a lost item. Whatever it was, I'm sure the place guards will investigate it.
I turned to leave, marching back into the woods when I heard what seemed to be a baby's coo. It was soft, yet poignant and short. It wasn't far from here. I turned right around to the basket.
Silence resumed.
Was that sound from the basket? Or was I imagining things?
I was confused. But I was curious now. I turned around, returning to the river. The basket was about 5 feet from where I stood. So I looked around for a nearby long stick, grabbed and used it to pull the basket closer and closer.
I expected to hear the baby's coo again, but the sound died down as soon as it came.
Who am I kidding? I probably imagined that sound. I felt discouraged from continuing to continue pulling the basket closer. It was probably a piece of nothing. But I was determined to finish what I started.
So when the basket got close enough, I yanked it onto the mainland and looked it over closely. There was no note in it, no inscription, no message.
The basket was properly woven from fine corn husk, so no water finds its way into it. Its art form was appealing, but what could possibly be inside?
Carefully, I pulled the lid open and stared at the package inside.
It's a baby.
I scoffed. Looks like I wasn't going crazy afterall. The baby's eyes were shut, and his chest heaved up and down, showing he was still alive.
Who would leave a baby floating in the river in this deep forest?
I lifted the little child out of the basket, and just as I did, he stirred awake. Aware of my presence, he began to cry, loud and hard. The sound shook me up. How could such a tiny creature bring forth such a mighty sound?
"Shhshh…" I cooed. He stopped for a moment to look at me as if assessing what I could possibly be. For what it's worth, I could be a bear in the forest, ready to have an evening meal, or a deep water dish, ready to swallow him whole.
"What a gorgeous little thing you are," I said, marvelling at his beauty. His eyes were large and amber, his skin healthy and bright, and from the way he swung his fist in anger as he cried, I could tell he had very healthy bones.
I looked around the forest, concerned someone might be looking for him.
"Hello," I called out, "Is anyone there?"
The sound of my voice seemed to startle him, and he began crying again. I bounced him carefully in my arms, trying to coo him, but he won't stop crying.
Then it struck me. He must have been in that basket for days without food or water. He must be starving. How did he survive it?
"Quiet, little one," I cooed gently, "I'll get you a wet nurse soon enough." He threw his fist angrily, even crying harder like he demanded a wet nurse now.
What a feisty little thing.
As his tiny fist swung around, the wraps on his chest gave way, revealing a crescent moon sign on his chest. The sign sent shudders down my bones.
What could that be?
My hands gently circle it, and suddenly I feel a pulse of vibration through my veins.
"What are you, little one?"
I noticed his cries were getting weaker and weaker. Quickly and without any further thoughts, sprang around into the forest and back to the palace, to find him a wet nurse.
"He sucks like a wide stallion," the wet nurse said. "I hope his mother is strong enough to withstand such a powerful force of a baby."
I watched the baby clutch and gulp at the Wet nurse's tits. She's right, he is quite aggressive with his food. You can't blame him; he must have been in that river for days, hungry and crying himself to sleep.
Zephyr, who stood behind me with his arms crossed at his back, finally spoke after being silent throughout my return from the palace.
His guards had already informed him I was coming with a package, so he didn't seem surprised when he saw me with a baby. Nothing takes Zephyr by surprise.
Well, nothing except Orgah.
"What will you do with the baby now, your majesty?" Zephyr asked.
I looked at the baby, who had fallen asleep with his mouth still fixed to his food. The wet nurse lifted him and tossed him into the air, making him drift awake, smile and return to sleep.
I took him from her, looking at the little monster snore softly.
"He is a good baby,"
"He is not yours, Daevir."
I smiled. Zephyr only uses my name when he is dead serious. It is always my pleasure to amuse him when he gets to that point.
But I wasn't in the mood to mess with Zephyr. I was serious. Dead serious as Zephyr is.
"I will keep the child," I meant that as an order. Something about this child draws me in, and I couldn't picture myself separate from him.
"You said the throne needs an heir or at least a semblance of one."
"Not a child you found in a basket in the river!" Zephyr whinnied.
"He is just perfect," I ran the back of my palm through his soft skin.
"Daevir! Daevir…” Zephyr held my shoulder. "For what we know, this child could be coming from the South. I've asked my guards to do a run-down of the river's currents. It flows up South and West. It could be an enemy child. Look at that blue moon crescent on his chest!"
"Well, he won't grow up to be an enemy's child. He will grow up to be my child." I said with an air of finality, shutting Zephyr up for good.
Zephyr bowed grudgingly. "As you wish, your highness." He said and stepped out of the room.
The baby's eyes stirred awake just as Zephyr left.
"Yes, little one, we finally got rid of that grumpy old man."
He chuckled and threw his fist in the air triumphantly. I laughed and, for the first time, felt the ache and pains in my heart slip away.
Zephyr was right about one thing. This baby is definitely from the South. I know it because I could feel his pup crawling through his skin. He is a werewolf. The very thing I should hate and despise. Yet tell me why the very thing I despise in myself endears me to this little child.
I was holding on to an innocent life, pure and untainted by the world. I know I'll love this child for as long as I live. I do not wish to know where he comes from. All I want is to have him by my side till the day I die.
"What name do I give you, my little monster?"
He cooed and wiggled his legs in anticipation.
I smiled. "Oh, I know. I will call you Ares,"
He giggled and waved happily.
I pulled him close, planting a kiss on his forehead. "Ares Varek of the Eastern Seas."