Strangers of The Midst

She eased up more and frowned. “A son and he lives,” she murmured in disbelief.

Adrian smiled at the earnest question and turned aside to the small cradle next to him. “Yes and he’s healthy.”

He gently picked up the stirring baby and laid him in her arms and watched in amusement the clear surprise and then love filter across her face.

“Thank you. What of my daughter, was she found,” she asked with anxiety.

He quietly backed away, knowing she would nurse her baby. “Your daughter still sleeps.”

Her head jerked up in surprise and then a slow smile spread across her lips. “He was telling me the truth,” she said in wonder.

“Who,” Adriane asked curious.

Her eyes flickered to his. “The man that saved me,” she looked down at the baby in her arms, and added, “He saved us last night. He promised me that my daughter was safe here.”

“Yes Ma’am,” Adriane said. The baby was stirring against her breasts, he quickly told her, “I …” she was reaching down to the ties on the front of her gown. “Ah, well it was a pleasure to meet you ma’am. I must be going.”

The first tie came undone. He didn’t think she was hearing him. She was smiling down and talking softly to the baby in her arms. The second knot came undone and he hurried to the stairs. He didn’t look back to see what she was doing next. He knew. He stepped out of the room and softy shit the door. He leaned against it and then he   breathed a sigh of relief.

“You were supposed to follow him. Do you realize what can happen if the man is not found alone?”

Shifting their feet, Marcus and Anthony avoided their father’s angry countenance.

“He travels in his other form. We couldn’t keep up,” Marcus insisted.

Macbeth ran a hand through his thick red hair again and sighed loudly. “Be as it may, know that if something should unfavorably happen – which it will, no doubt, it will be on your heads.”  

The two brothers shamefully