“Please.One of them is calling me.”
“Okay.Go find the talking present.I will bring your robe.”
She bolted out of the room and headed for the present pile.The one she wanted was right where she remembered.She waited until Sern came down in some pyjama bottoms, and he handed her a robe.She slipped the robe on over her shoulders, and she pulled the card out of the envelope.“To the mage of strength.Remember your softness and embrace safety.I know you don’t quilt, so this is for your collection.”
She opened the wrapping carefully, and when she had the box, she popped the tape open and held her breath.She lifted the lid and started crying as she saw blacks and reds and patterns she couldn’t identify but felt so familiar.
Sern was staring in shock.“That’s an imperial seal, but not one I have seen before.”
“It feels so soft but strong at the same time.”She wrapped it around herself and beamed at Sern.“Whoever made this has known about us for some time.Quilts are not fast.”
“I am less and less surprised by the new skills arising in this area, but I am so happy that you are happy.May I take a photo and send it to my mother?”
“Sure.Are you going to go through Den?”
He laughed.“Yes.”
“Why don’t you show it to Teyval?He’s the archive.He should have a record of things.”
Sern smiled.“You are very smart.”
“Thank you.It comes and goes.”She beamed.“Like you.”
He tackled her gently to the floor, and they continued the tradition of having sex in every room in the house.It was certainly an interesting way to break the ice and get her familiar with everything around her.They both had a few days off work and a goal to get through.The presents were just for light distraction.
She was sitting in jeans and a sweatshirt when she heard through the speakerphone, “It’s an imperial seal, but not one of the traditional ones.This one combines our glyph for earth with the old imperial house and a dragon slayer.The central icon is strength and balance.”
She leaned against Sern.“It’s a family quilt.”
Sern smiled and kept his arm around her.“A family quilt.”
Teyval said, “Have you guys seen our baby room?Emhara is amazing.Just putting that out there.”
Eudora smiled.“She’s already offered when the time comes.”
Teyval chuckled.“So, we are going to have a new member of the old imperial line.That is extremely interesting.”
Sern snorted.“Goodbye, Teyval.Thanks for the consult.”
He tapped his phone and looked at her.“So, we have received an omen, and it wouldn’t do to ignore it.”
“You are taking orders from fabric swatches now?”
He pulled her onto his lap.“It seems criminally negligent to ignore all the effort that went into that quilt.”
“Well, if you think it will get me into legal trouble, I will consult my lawyer.”She turned her face to his and kissed him, holding him close as he touched her hair twist, and she caressed the one at the back of his neck.Less than an inch of hair, and she could feel him all day, every day.They had to give him a discreet link.It wouldn’t do to have a unicorn-type twist in the middle of his forehead.She had suggested it, and he had declined.
She would get him to loosen up a little.She had time.They had time.