“Kyr Elkay! Kyr Elkay! I have news!”
Litvir knew they probably didn’t need to shout, that knocking on the door of the God of Shadow and Knowledge’s office was enough, but Litvir was excited and desperate to share the news. They bounced up and down excitedly, waiting for Elkay to let them in.
Eventually, the door opened. Elkay had attempted to make Litvir wait, to teach them some patience, but that clearly wasn’t working.
“What is it, Litvir?”
Litvir immediately shoved a piece of paper into Elkay’s hands.
“It is happening!”
“What is happening?”
“Mama and dada are getting married!”
Litvir continued bouncing, up until Elkay put a hand on their thigh. Litvir picked up Elkay’s thoughts that Litvir was being way too overexcited and they did eventually calm down. However, they nudged Elkay’s hand, telling him to open the envelope he had been given. Elkay opened it, then scanned the letter inside.
“Huh. December 1st. That’s pretty fast.”
“It is?”
“Well, for a wedding between two very important people.”
Litvir calmed down completely. “Seems like a long time to me. Mama and dada have wanted to get married before I was made. But dada could not propose to mama properly until they were a General too.”
Elkay looked Litvir up and down, then sighed. “Sorry, kid. I forget sometimes that you’re so… young…”
“Yes but I will be nearly a year old soon!” Litvir started bouncing again. “I will have my first birthday in November before mama and dada’s wedding! Dada said we can go to Glimmerling early and we can have ice cream and pizza and look at the stars and have a little party maybe. Kyr Elkay, do you want to come to the wedding? And maybe my birthday party?”
“I see…” Elkay didn’t answer Litvir’s question. Instead, he had questions of his own. “Litvir, little one, do you know who else Generals Gath and Relkir are inviting?”
“I know some of them! Kyr Rethais and their very nice poten-partner Kyr Lysar are going, dada called to tell them last night! And they are inviting Kyr Ritlir because Kyr Ritlir got them together. Mama said I can bring Miisa along too!” Litvir suddenly fell silent, lost in thought. “I… I actually have some questions I want to ask you. Because I do not really know who else to ask and I certainly cannot ask Miisa those questions. But that is for another time because mama and dada are getting married!”
Elkay looked Litvir up and down. “Why are you so excited about it?”
“Because mama and dada have wanted to get married for along time, they will be very happy and when they do, mama said that they will get a new house together and that, next year, I might have a little sibling! While I never got to be a real baby myself, I will be able to approximate the experience via an actual baby, and in real time, not my stupid sped up time!”
Elkay eyed Litvir some more. “You have been formally adopted?”
“Yes. We did it quietly after mama had the heart problem. Makes me feel happy and more normal. And mama has recovered well too.”
“I see, I see… so, back to my question, who else is being invited?”
Litvir paused, then thought to themselves briefly, before shoving their hand into their familiar satchel and rummaging around. Eventually, Litvir grabbed several more envelopes.
“I have an invitation for Kyr Kohra, and dada said I can give one to Aster too but dada also said that apparently Perpetual Abyss Lanex do not really do weddings and marriages and stuff so Aster might not want to come. Admittedly though dada said they wanted to invite Kyr Kohra because they were also inviting Gladiator Levik.”
“Huh…” Elkay trailed off. “I’m both glad and impressed that Relkir felt they didn’t have to invite Aesop. Although I kinda don’t blame Relkir.”
“Why?”
“Aesop’s old boss Panolionos, the Prime Minister, spent years saying awful things about Relkir.”
“But why? Dada is amazing!”
Elkay shrugged. “Honestly, I have no idea either. Panos is an asshole and he still hates Relkir with a passion, even if he’s made small amends with Rethais.”
“Why is Panos so mean?” Litvir asked. “I do not get it.”
“Some people are just mean.”
“But why? Is it because Panos did not have a nice mama and dada to teach them to be nice to others?”
Elkay eyed Litvir for a bit, then tutted and decided to let the subject drop. “Probably. Either way, it seems Relkir has picked a very nice spot for their wedding. And I would indeed love to go. Will have to find some info on Rethan traditions, and I do want to bring a gift to fix a small… mishap Relkir and I once had. I assume you are going, yes?”
“Dada said I will be their blade bearer!”
“What, like a necklace bearer for a Skyan wedding, but for Rethan partnership daggers?”
“Yes! And I will also get to throw confetti afterwards! Wait… what sort of small mishap?” Litvir suddenly exclaimed. “Dada told me that you only get a gift for the couple if you have done something bad!”
“I know. It’s nothing bad. I just want to smooth things over. I’ve known Relkir for longer than you’d expect, mostly through Rethais, and we haven’t always agreed on political matters. Plus, Skyavok do wedding gifts. I want to bring a gift.”
Litvir thought for a moment, then shrugged. “I guess… Still, I am excited, and I want to go and give Kyr Kohra their… his invite! Do you know where he is or should I ask Nanik?”
“I’m pretty sure Kohra has today off and is in his little villa by the lake.”
“Villa… by the… by the lake…” Litvir repeated those words a few times. Elkay wasn’t sure why, until he remembered that Litvir’s adopted father had been shot at a villa by a lake, and Litvir was probably picking up lingering memories. But Litvir snapped out of it and went back to grinning. “Alright! I will go and see Kyr Kohra now! Can I tell mama and dada that you are coming?”
Elkay nodded. “Of course, little one.”
“Thank you! Bye bye, old mama!”
Litvir grinned, then rushed off, running through the door and then disappearing in a flash of light. Elkay rolled his eyes, smiled a little, then went back to work.