Ok so there was this story back in the day. It was about a thief clan stealing some treasure and the girl getting pregnant. Her companion is in love with her, then they find a group who help them. There's more to it but I can't remember most of it. I think the title was like "family jewels" or something of the like. If someone remembers this or has it can they post a link or the story please

Jewels or Babies?

By Gem

Author’s Note: (RATED R: ADULTS ONLY!!!) This story is entirely fictional and matters pertaining to pregnancy, labor, birth, fantasy creatures, and general fantasy stem from my limited knowledge I realize the height issue between a Halfling and a human but in this particular story I’ve made an average Halfling male to be 4 feet in height and the shortest human female to be roughly 5 feet and 4 inches . Also on the note of cross-breeding both a human and a Halfling, I didn’t really look too much into it. What we have here is a loose fantasy story without the annoyance of concentrating on the accuracy of its content. The two main characters have also known each other for a while. This story is meant to be enjoyed by readers who are fond of pregnancy stories and are not too picky with any discrepancy in my writing. Mature content within, reader’s discretion is advised.

The port city of Aghay was bustling with activity much as it had been for centuries. From a novice’s eye, Aghay was just your regular port except the real core of the city lay shrouded in dark alleys and underground caverns. This “core” was the Erango Athkelu or simply Thieves Guild in common tongue. Adventurers and those who hungered for wealth came from across the world in search of this guild to become one of its many members. Once inside, new members were given a sort of initiation challenge and immediately embarked on set missions to prove their worth. Halflings in particular had a natural knack at this and made up most of the guild’s general population. Humans and half-elves came second followed by their other counterparts. The guild’s leader and master thief, a sly grizzled Halfling named Orrak had recently employed his young nephew Kuser on a mission to plunder an ancient king’s tomb. However Orrak’s mind was not at ease; since he was sterile and had no heir of his own, Kuser was like a son to him. Orrak knew he couldn’t let Kuser go on the mission alone so he called upon one of the guild’s many talented thieves, a beautiful human female named Raysa.

For eleven years Raysa had been in the guild; Orrak remembered the day she first set foot inside. She was but a young waif of thirteen years, shaken and battered from witnessing her family’s brutal murder by trolls and barely escaping with her life intact. As Raysa learnt the ways of thieves the fire within her eyes continued to burn strong for she vowed to eventually become strong and agile enough to avenge them all. By twenty she had fully mastered acrobatics, arrow and blade making her not only a master thief but assassin as well. However deep down inside her, there remained that wounded child and a void where her heart once was. Orrak knew that she needed her other half, that special someone in her life to drown out her raging fire. He thought about his nephew Kuser but shook his head in dismissal. Kuser a reticent imbecile (as Orrak and half of the guild regarded him as) was no where near the level of compatibility for the beautiful independent Raysa.





Not to mention he was also a foot shorter than she was (Note: I chose to make Halflings taller than what they’re regarded to be. This is a loose fantasy anyways) and a little on the stout side. But despite Kuser’s shortcomings he had the sharpest eyes in the entire guild and was an expert marksman, hence making him a valuable asset for any mission. So it was set, after several days of contemplating, Orrak chose Raysa to be Kuser’s companion. The day after arrangements were made both Raysa and Kuser left the guild to venture outside Aghay’s protective walls in search of the whereabouts of the ancient king’s tomb. Both wearing protective elfin light chain mail, rucksacks full of provisions and armed with bow and steel, the two young thieves set out on their journey. Looking over at his companion, Kuser did his best to hide his blushing. To him Raysa was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen; at twenty-four years of age with short red hair and standing 5’6 in height, she was practically a goddess before him. Just then, breaking him out of his reverie, Raysa stopped in her tracks and swore under her breath.

“Where by all the Gods are we going?”

Blinking several times Kuser only shrugged before Raysa trotted behind him. Opening up his full rucksack, Raysa began to rummage through it.

“Where is the map Kuser? Where did your uncle put it?”

Throwing trinkets out from his bag, Raysa didn’t notice Kuser holding up the map before her. With a cough the love stricken Halfling finally caught Raysa’s attention. Smiling triumphantly Raysa took the crinkled parchment without a word of gratitude and quickly read the faded writing.

“Oh good you found it. Now let’s see. Hey lean forward will ya? I want to lay the map on your back.”

Complying without complaint, Kuser bent himself forward and willingly allowed Raysa to put the map on his back as she read it. While bent, Kuser admired the shadow below him and saw Raysa’s silhouette. Speaking almost in a whisper in soft stutters, Kuser questioned his high-strung companion.

“How far…how far exactly is…is this place?”

Raising an eyebrow and peering over the map, Raysa answered back.

“Not too far, it’s in a cave just due east from here. Let’s get a move on!”

Shoving the map back into Kuser’s hands, Raysa quickly adjusted her own rucksack before walking away. A little startled by his companion’s mannerisms, Kuser just blinked and stood there absolutely dumbfounded before Raysa noticed he was no where in sight. Turning around and sighing exasperatedly she called out his name.


“Kuser Ruldrak, get your short Halfling ass over here NOW!”

It wasn’t until midday did the two finally arrived at their destination. Standing on a high hilltop and squinting towards the horizon, Kuser saw the tomb’s entryway; a stairway leading underground in the middle of the grassy plains. Quickly climbing up the hill and kneeling on one leg, Raysa squinted and tried to follow Kuser’s gaze.

“All I can see is grass, what do you see?”

Kuser smiled and stuttered as he spoke.

“I…I see…I see the entryway. Its…it’s straight ahead.”

Standing up and pulling Kuser by the rucksack along with her, Raysa smiled widely.

“Good job short stuff! Let’s get a move on before sundown!”

As the two neared the entryway, they were suddenly ambushed by six lizard men who sprung up from several bushes. Armed with swords and spears they circled the two and spoke amongst themselves in their vile tongue. Quickly taking out her daggers and moving into an attack position, Raysa looked over at Kuser. The Halfling’s hands were trembling as he cocked his crossbow into position which made Raysa chuckle.

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid!”

Smiling nervously at Raysa, Kuser didn’t see the first lizard man approach him until Raysa blurted out a warning.

“Watch your back!”

Spinning around and with hands still trembling, Kuser pulled the crossbow’s trigger and just before the lizard man’s sword met his throat, the arrow had quickly punctured his attacker’s heart. With five more to go and still outnumbered, Raysa decided to make the next move. Like a whirlwind, Raysa gracefully used her acrobatics to distract the lizard men from Kuser, giving her Halfling companion a few seconds to regain some composure. Just as Kuser cocked another arrow into place, two lizard men already laid dead below Raysa’s feet. Looking up at the bumbling Halfling, Raysa frowned.

“What are you waiting for you dolt, fire!”

Another shot was fired, and another lizard man dead, leaving two more to fend off. Glaring at her remaining attackers, Raysa didn’t wait for Kuser to cock another arrow before finishing them all off. With all the lizard men now dead the two breathed a sigh of relief. Just then Raysa punched Kuser’s left arm.


“You idiot, what were you thinking? I thought you did missions like these before?”

Rubbing his sore arm, Kuser stuttered his retort.

“I…I’ve done this before but…but I was just taken…taken back by the ambush.”

Rolling her eyes and wiping the blood from her daggers on the grass below her feet, Raysa sighed.

“You know its funny Kuser Ruldrak! I’ve trained with you back in the guild and never did I once hear you speak. By all the Gods I get anxious just waiting for you to complete a sentence; enough with the stuttering!”

Chuckling nervously, Kuser pointed to the direction of the tomb.

“We…we’re almost there.”

Walking towards the ancient stone doorway, Raysa frowned.

“Hey Kuser, how much do you wanna bet that this door is enchanted?”

Peering up over his map and stopping next to Raysa, Kuser sighed.

“I…I don’t really know.”

Studying the door closely and rubbing her chin, Raysa smirked.

“A decrepit stone doorway stands in our way, interesting. Give me a minute and let me check it out more.”

Meanwhile as Raysa started to check the door, Kuser chuckled.

“The door is…is enchanted. The map says we…we gotta…gotta spill some blood on the handle.”

Throwing her arms in exasperation, Raysa spun around and frowned at Kuser.

“So I was wasting my time looking for traps and all it requires is a bit of red water eh?”

Taking out one of her daggers, Raysa quickly cut her hand and placed it on the handle of the doorway. Immediately the door began to glow but just as quickly disappeared making Raysa fall forward. Running to her, Kuser helped his companion to her feet but not without hearing curses from her lips as Raysa struggled to get cobwebs out from her hair.



As Raysa continued to curse and fuss with dusting off soot and webbing from her clothing, Kuser was already lighting two torches. Handing one to her he pointed towards the darkness inside.

“There should…should be some torches we…we can light inside too.”

Inside the two had to hold their nostrils for the air was as foul and unpleasant as the scenery. Once their eyes had fully adjusted to the darkness and torchlight they started to descend the staircase. As they walked both of them minded each step and used their skills well to avoid any possible booby traps along the way. Walking behind Kuser, Raysa studied her shorter companion. Kuser wasn’t attractive, nor was he unattractive. She had known him in the guild for quite some time now and often laughed at his shyness. It seemed whatever she did he would always be there to approve or give her a hand and Raysa admired that. The only thing that really bothered her was his stuttering and lack of courage but other than that, Kuser wasn’t so bad. Cleanly shaven with blue eyes and midnight short black hair, Kuser was the attractive version of his uncle Orrak who didn’t groom himself well. Orrak was also arrogant and impulsive which often made others either love him or hate him. The guild however respected him though; Orrak knew the trade well and regarded each member as his family regardless of their skill level. Just then as they ended their descent on the stairs, Kuser held up a hand.

“Could…could be traps, I’ll go…go on a head a bit.”

Nodding her head and yawning, Raysa followed Kuser and picked up any other areas that he missed. She had done this sort of thing a million times before and a lot quicker too. Tapping her feet in impatience after a short while of following her Halfling companion, Raysa interrupted Kuser.

“That’s enough. You follow me instead.”

Just then as Raysa was about to move forward, an arrow shot out from one of the walls and punctured her right arm. Cursing loudly, Raysa tore the arrow from her flesh and threw it on the ground. Tearing a piece of his tunic and running up to Raysa, Kuser quickly tended to her wound.

“Are…are you okay? That was a… boo…booby-trap.”

Frowning at the obvious stated, Raysa hissed in pain.

“I’ve been hit with arrows before but this one is different.”

Looking down and picking up the arrow, Kuser held it up and studied it for a moment before showing Raysa.



“I think this…this one is poisoned.”

Kneeling on the floor with both knees, Raysa grimaced through the pain as she felt the arrow’s poisons slowly creep through her veins. Quickly taking out a bottle from his rucksack, Kuser handed it to his wounded companion.

“An antidote, take…take it.”

Without a word of gratitude and still grimacing through the pain, Raysa quickly uncorked the bottle and downed the antidote in one swig. As she allowed Kuser to help her to her feet and move forwards, Raysa began to feel the antidote slowly cleanse the poison from her body. Extremely worried for his companion’s well-being, Kuser’s eyes darted from each corner of the room.

“Follow close…close behind me. I won’t let…let that happen to you…you again.”

Without thinking Raysa slowly moved her hand forward and gently held one of Kuser’s hands, causing the Halfling to blush as red as a beet; and as she looked down, Raysa noticed a piece of Kuser’s tunic tied around her arm and she smiled to herself. A little while later the two suddenly came to a dead end. The walls in this part of the tomb were filled with worn out paintings of the daily routines of the ancient king. Hieroglyphic-like writing was also chiseled into the old walls making the pair pause for a moment to reflect. Impatience growing again Raysa yawned.

“This is boring, where are the jewels? The map, Kuser what does it say?”

Taking out the map and reading it, Kuser chuckled.

“We…we blow up that wall.”

Pointing directly in front of him, Kuser smiled at Raysa who only frowned harder. Once again Raysa began to curse but enabled herself to be not totally occupied with her distaste of the situation. Instead she helped Kuser plant small bombs in front of the wall. Looking up at her Halfling companion, Raysa frowned again.

“What if there is a cave-in?”

Kuser shrugged.

“Doubt it.”






Sighing deeply and despite her apprehensions, Raysa lit the bombs and the two quickly ran to a safe clearing. Immediately after the bombs went off the wall that blocked their destination crumbled but so did their way of escaping. The two were trapped between two rooms, the one they had stood in and the one where the treasure laid. Not caring about their current situation, Raysa’s mind was already fully occupied on the treasure room ahead of her. Golden statues of the ancient king lay in one corner of the room as well as jeweled weapons but what caught Raysa’s eyes were the several open chests full of gold. Eyes sparkling with delight Raysa moved forward and cooed at the sight of such majestic wealth.

“There is so much here!”

However just as Raysa’s feet touched the first slab inside the treasure room, the ground beneath her feet immediately opened up, sending both her and Kuser who was right behind her plummeting downwards. It was booby-trapped for certain, one that fooled even an expert thief like Raysa and she knew it all too well. As the two of them slid down a tube-like shaft, Raysa yelled out to her companion.

“Don’t utter a word, not one single word, I KNOW!”

Not long afterwards they fell from the shaft but not to their doom. Below them was another room that looked older than the ones above it. Rubbing the back of his head with one hand and brushing off some soot with the other, Kuser blinked.

“My…my torch is out. Got a light?”

Cursing under her breath, Raysa whose eyes were still not adjusted to the darkness moved her hands around her as she sat on the cold stone floor.

“Where’s my damn rucksack? I can’t see a blasted thing!”

Just then the whole room lit up leaving the two blinking furiously to the sudden light. Across the room stood an old bearded man with glowing blue eyes and a long hooded robe that covered most of his body. He eyed the two and smiled with an almost toothless mouth.

“Robbers, adventurers, I care not who you are! You who have disercrated this holy tomb have now entered a room that you will not leave.”

Taking out her daggers, Raysa glared at the old man.

“Who are you?”




Studying the pair the old man chuckled.

“Oh I see there is indeed a bond between the two of you. A bond that not even death and despair can break.”

Quickly looking at Kuser and then back at the old man, Raysa raised an eyebrow.

“A bond, are you daft old man?! He’s just my companion!”

The old man shook his head and chuckled once again.

“I can see both of your hearts. They burn brightly with the love and yearning for one another. And I have an offer to make you.”

Without another word Raysa threw one of her throwing daggers at the old man but somehow the blade was deflected and just before it hit its target, it fell down on the floor with a loud clang. Blue eyes glowing brighter the man’s attention was now fully on Raysa; and as he spoke to her, his voice echoed.

“You a young waif whose parents were brutally murdered by trolls! Yes I can see the disbelief on your faces! I know who you both are and have watched you for most of your lives! No weapon can hurt me; it’s useless to throw another. Now hear my offer or be forever trapped in this prison of despair!”

Raysa swallowed hard and nodded her head slowly as the old man continued.

“You must make a choice in whether you will remain down here with the treasures of a king or leave with a far better treasure.”

Looking at Kuser and then back at the old man, Raysa shrugged.

“What could be a better treasure than a king’s?”

The old man laughed loudly and as he did so some debris from the ceiling fell down.

“Foolish mortal, a treasure such as that is life itself! If you choose to leave this place you must drink a potion that I will give you. Drink it and make love to your companion and you will bear young. But you must promise to withdraw your ways of thievery or a doom shall fall upon you!”

Kuser chuckled nervously.





“Make…make love with Raysa?! Certainly I…I cannot do that, I…I mean…”

Sighing loudly, Raysa interrupted.

“Give it a rest! Old man, why must I do this? Why must I bear young in order to escape this place?”

The old man smiled.

“Jewels or babies, the choice is yours. Choose wisely my dear or be forever trapped here in this wretched tomb!”

Groaning loudly in defeat, Raysa looked over at Kuser for an answer but immediately frowned when she saw him blush. Looking around the room she sighed deeply.

“This place isn’t so bad; I could learn to like it. Hey Kuser, what do you think?”

Smiling sheepishly, Kuser stuttered.

“We…we can blow this place up and…and dig ourselves out!”

The old man chuckled.

“These walls are enchanted; no mortal tool can relieve you from this place! Make your choice!”

Standing up Raysa placed both hands on her hips and glared at the old man.

“So what you’re saying is that I gotta agree to get knocked up with a Halfling’s child and quit the guild in order for us to get out of here?!”

The old man smirked.

“You both have to quit but yes that is quite right. Have you made your decision?”

Nodding her head slowly and sneering, Raysa answered back.

“What about you then? How would you get out?”

Blue eyes still glowing brightly and floating towards Raysa, the old man eyed her coolly.

“If you don’t make your choice sometime this century I will be forced to let you two stay here forever!”



Just then Kuser interrupted.

“I…I agree. I mean with….with the choice of leave…leaving this place.”

Spinning around quickly and facing Kuser, Raysa was absolutely horrified.

“WHAT? I will sooner die than make love to you!”

With a quick snap of his fingers, the old man summoned a bottle and handed it to Raysa.

“The choice has been made! Good luck to you both!”

Even more horrified than before, Raysa stammered.

“But I…I didn’t make a choice!”

Slowly disappearing into a corner of the room the old man chuckled as he spoke for the last time.

“Only one of you had to make a decision, I didn’t say both of you had to agree upon it.”

And that was that, Raysa was alone in her own inner turmoil as she stared blankly at the potion in her hand. Peering over her shoulder Kuser studied the bottle curiously.

“Nice…nice shade of purple don’t you…you think?”

Quivering slightly and holding back tears, Raysa frowned hard.

“I don’t want to do this! I can’t, no I will NOT subject myself to this; you stupid Halfling!”

Tears flowing down her cheeks, Raysa totally defeated lowered herself to the floor where she wept silently with the potion bottle still in one hand. Lowering himself next to her, Kuser tried to comfort her but was roughly pushed back. Slowly looking up, Raysa saw the look on Kuser’s face. He was tired, they were both tired and they both wanted out of this place as much as the other. But did she love him? Wiping a few tears from her eyes Raysa tried her best to smile.

“Is that true what the old man said? Do you really like me?”

Blushing as red as a beet, Kuser started to tremble as they stared at one another for a moment longer. Thinking hard Kuser couldn’t think of anything better to say than,




“I love…love you.”

Suddenly as soon as the words met her ears, Raysa was on him. Lips on lips the two companions kissed. For the first time in all her life Raysa started to feel alive and that half of her heart fill up. She loved him; she always had but kept denying it until now. Pulling away gently, Raysa looked down at the potion in her hand and sighed.

“Should I drink it?”

Kuser shrugged and smiled.

“Go…go ahead.”

Quickly uncorking the bottle and closing her eyes tightly, Raysa swallowed the purple liquid in one swig. She started to feel a bit woozy but warm all at once and kept her eyes closed until the feeling subsided. Rolling the empty bottle away from them Raysa studied Kuser and chuckled.

“I wonder what that potion was for. I guess we have no choice now but go all the way eh?”

Kuser blushed and nodded his head without a word. From there it took a good while before the two mustered enough courage to strip off their clothing, each as bashful as the other. Shielding her breasts with both arms and hunched over on the floor in embarrassment, Raysa chuckled nervously.

“This is ridiculous.”

Embracing the trembling Raysa in his short strong arms, Kuser tried to change the subject.

“Do…do you love me too?”

Looking deep in Kuser’s eyes Raysa couldn’t deny her feelings anymore.

“Yes, I do.”

They kissed again, their burning desire for one another drowning out all care and worry from their minds. Gently, ever so tenderly Kuser began to fondle Raysa’s breasts. Her taunt blood engorged nipples stood up proudly and she gasped softly when Kuser’s lips wrapped around one bud. Sucking gently Kuser continued to arouse his human companion, as the old man watched silently, invisible in between the stony walls. The arousal was too great for Raysa to bear and with the potion starting to work its magic she began to straddle her Halfling companion.


As his hard member punctured her hymen, Raysa gasped and closed her eyes but allowed Kuser to enter. Slowly they began to make love, Kuser’s calloused hands running tenderly along Raysa’s soft waist. Deep down Raysa knew this was inevitable; it would eventually come to this. She had known her Halfling companion for quite some time now, still this wasn’t the most ideal setting for the moment. But would she become pregnant? Sitting up and wrapping his arms around his beautiful human companion tightly, Kuser did his best to please her. In and out and soon at a faster pace he took her, loved her until that moment. He had held onto it for a long time and he couldn’t hold it any longer; Kuser closed his eyes tightly and ejaculated deep inside Raysa’s womb. As she felt his seed enter her Raysa quivered and held Kuser close to her breasts. Crying out his name she orgasm as well until they held each other tightly, panting loudly. Regaining her composure and gently lowering her Halfling companion on the cold stony floor beneath them so that he was now fully on his back, Raysa began to kiss along his neck, sending shivers throughout his body. Occasionally she would stop to nibble on the ends of his ears making him gasp from the sensation. After a short while of pleasing him this way, Raysa kissed him but this time moved her tongue inside his mouth. A little startled by this, Kuser hesitated for a moment before touching his tongue with hers. As they kissed Raysa ran a hand gently through Kuser’s hair. He looked so cute below her, almost like a baby and she loved him even more for it. Slowly retracting her lips Raysa smiled.

“I love you, you stupid Halfling, I really do!”

For an hour the two made love steadily inside that stony room until they fell asleep in each other’s arms. Some time later Raysa slowly woke up and yawned loudly. Looking around her eyes went wide and she gleamed.

“We’re out, we’re out of there! The old man was telling the truth!”

Yawning loudly, Kuser’s eyes opened wide as well when he noticed that they were lying on the grassy plains just outside the tomb. Blinking several times in his usual fashion, Kuser looked down and smiled.

“We…we have our clothes back…back on too!”

Chuckling, Raysa suddenly realized that she was having a hard time getting up. Looking down she noticed something quite different. Her abdomen was sticking out slightly, much like a woman who was five months pregnant and the elfin mail started to feel rather snug on that area too. Pressing both of her hands on either side of her flanks, Raysa examined the slight bulge.

“What’s this? Hey Kuser, do I look different to you?”





Kneeling down in front of Raysa, Kuser squinted as he examined the little bulge.

“Lift up your…your tunic.”

Frowning slightly Raysa nodded and lifted up her tunic just above her naval. Cupping the little bulge with both of his hands, Kuser felt around it; something was definitely different. Just then he felt something and quickly retracted his hands in fright. Looking at Kuser with a horrified expression, Raysa stammered.

“Did…did you feel that too?!”

Mouth dry and eyes as big as Raysa’s, Kuser nodded but was utterly speechless. Running her hands along her belly, Raysa waited for that strange feeling to return and it did. Frowning she looked down and saw several little bumps rise and fall on the sides of her abdomen.

“It feels like something is moving! Oh by the Gods, could I be pregnant?!”

Shaking his head in disbelief, Kuser stammered.

“That’s…that’s absurd! How…how can you be pregnant so…so quickly?”

There was a short pause as the two locked eyes in horrified expressions; Raysa was the first to speak.

“It’s the potion! The potion the old man gave me must’ve accelerated the pregnancy! Now we’re really in a pickle, we gotta quit the guild after all!”

Just then without warning a sudden wave of nausea had hit Raysa like a tidal wave and she quickly cupped her mouth. Running to a nearby bush she vomited until her stomach was completely empty. Still hunched over in front of the bush and trembling slightly, Raysa remained there until she felt Kuser’s hand on her back. Frowning, she quickly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and spun around to face her companion. Studying Raysa’s expression Kuser knew she was in distress and did his best to make light of the situation.

“May…maybe you ate some…something bad?”

Rolling her eyes, Raysa laughed sarcastically.

“Oh sure and how do you explain the bulge? How are we gonna tell your uncle huh? We can’t go back to the guild empty-handed!”




Biting his lip, Kuser was deep in thought but finally came up with his own solution.

“Then…then we don’t go…go back. Like you…you said, we…we quit!”

Feeling a bit nauseous again, Raysa paused for a moment before complaining.

“But I don’t want to quit the guild! The guild is my life, my career! I have to avenge my family anyways; I’m not strong enough but…”

Looking down Raysa felt some movement within her abdomen and sighed loudly. Could it be all a bad dream? Could she be hallucinating? Walking a few paces from Kuser, Raysa’s back started to ache and she cursed while taking off her rucksack. Rubbing her lower back she groaned.

“I’m tired and I’m hungry. Kuser do you have any gold?”

Immediately Kuser quickly dug into his pockets but only took out a few copper coins.

“Not enough.”

Cursing loudly, Raysa flung her arms in the air.

“Great! Just great! Here we are expert thieves and we’re practically penniless! What do we do now?”

Squinting and scanning the horizon, Kuser noticed it was getting dark and not too many people traveled at night. He was also particularly worried of another possible ambush; this was lizard men territory after all. Still despite his companion’s rants and the all too real possibility that the guild will track them both down to be punished, Kuser kept his eyes on his surroundings in search of something, anything that will give them enough gold to spend a night at a nearby inn. After a while of doing this and nearly giving up, Kuser spotted something some yards away and spun around to inform his pregnant companion.

“There I…I see something.”

Looking where Kuser was pointing, Raysa squinted.

“I can sorta see it. Is that a caravan?”

Chuckling Kuser nodded his head.

“Yep, shall we…we get going?”



Hesitating for a moment Raysa nodded her head slowly and did her best to keep up the pace as she followed Kuser towards the caravan. Raysa’s stamina had definitely decreased how much she did not know. All she felt was the constant aching in her lower back, the kicking inside her belly and a sudden ravenous appetite. As they neared the caravan, both Raysa and Kuser noticed that only two gypsies were riding it. They had stopped their caravan not long before the two arrived and were now setting up camp for the night; apparently ignorant at the fact that this was lizard men territory. Still why warn them? Taking out her daggers, Raysa motioned Kuser to circle the caravan from the opposite direction; it was either this or risk starving and Raysa was starving! The first gypsy, a man in his mid thirties was taking out some wood from a chest he had brought out from the back of the caravan. Placing the wood in a clump he began to start a fire as the other gypsy, a woman around the same age who apparently was his wife, sat on a log and nursed their baby. Noticing the baby Raysa hesitated for a moment before working her way towards the back of the caravan. To her relief the gypsies did not see her or Kuser but somehow Raysa started to feel guilty. Why was she feeling this way? This was ridiculous! She was an expert thief, this was nothing new to her and yet…somehow the old man’s words came back to her:

“You must promise to withdraw your ways of thievery or a doom shall fall upon you!”

It was madness all of it and Raysa shook her head to try and dismiss any thoughts of the old man and the tomb. Now both behind the caravan, Kuser stopped and looked at Raysa who was quite pale and not moving. Whispering he touched her arm in concern.

“What…what’s wrong? Are…are you feel…feeling ill?”

Forcing a smile Raysa whispered back.

“No I’m alright, I…”

Just before Raysa could climb aboard the back of the caravan, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head and closed her eyes. As she held her eyes closed she saw the image of the old man and his piercing blue glowing eyes. Other than the intense pain was the fear that suddenly crept over her, causing her to tremble slightly. The old man eyed her coolly and with lips unmoving in an almost telepathic way he spoke to her in her mind.

“A doom shall fall upon you if you dare.”

Then he disappeared and when he did so, so did the pain and the fear, leaving Raysa practically drenched from sweat. Trying to move, Raysa started to feel lightheaded and before she knew it she fainted. When she did, it caused enough noise that the two gypsies heard it and ran towards the back of the caravan. Shocked and bewildered, Kuser didn’t have time to grab his weapons before the gypsies ran up to him.



Glaring at the two thieves the husband took out a knife from inside his boot and pointed it at both Kuser and the fallen Raysa. His accent was thick as he spoke.

“Thieves, how dare you rob us?!”

Eyes wide in horror of what just occurred, all Kuser could do was raise up a hand as the other held the back of Raysa’s head. Just then the baby which the woman was carrying started to cry, causing the husband to lower his knife down slightly. It was enough time for Kuser who quickly took one of Raysa’s daggers and pointed it at the gypsy man. Stuttering in fear he did his best to intimate the two gypsies.

“Stay ba…back!”

Just then the woman who was studying the two thieves intently took a closer inspection at Raysa and quickly tugged the sleeve of her husband’s tunic.

“Don’t do it dear, the girl’s pregnant!”

Blinking his eyes the husband looked over at Raysa and noticed her slightly protruding abdomen from beneath her elfin mail. With the knife still in his hand his eyes quickly darted back to Kuser who glared at him. Straining the husband spoke.

“Is this true? Is the girl with child?”

Looking down for a moment and then back at the husband, Kuser nodded his head.

“Yes she…she is carry…carrying my baby. We…we have no money for…for food or…or a place to…to stay.”

Was Raysa really pregnant from the potion or was he just imagining things? Just like Raysa, Kuser couldn’t wait for this strange dream to end. But would it end? Putting his knife back inside his boot the husband started to relax.

“Very well, you both can spend the night. My wife will tend to the girl, you come with me; we have to cook the meat for supper.”

It was not until a little while later did Raysa finally awaken. Laying down on some kind of animal hide blanket on the grassy plains below her, Raysa felt somewhat disorientated. As she slowly came to she also felt a cool damp cloth on her forehead and saw the stars directly above her. Nearby the fire crackled as Kuser helped the husband roast some meat on a spit. Blinking several times, Raysa struggled to sit up but the weight in her belly and the dull pain in her head made it difficult. The woman who tended Raysa sat nearby and quickly knelt down beside her. Helping Raysa to sit up she smiled at the disorientated thief.

Part 2



“My dear how are you feeling?”

Looking up, Kuser noticed Raysa was finally awake and quickly bounded up to her. Kissing her flushed cheeks and supporting her back with one hand as the other cupped her slightly bulging abdomen, Kuser was relieved to see that his companion was okay. Looking at both Kuser and the woman who kept smiling at her, Raysa questioned.

“What in the world happened?”

Kissing Raysa’s cheeks again, Kuser replied just above a whisper.

“You…you fainted. We…we’re safe here now.”

Staring at Kuser with a wide eyed expression of disbelief, Raysa was about to hit him for allowing the gypsies to tend to them when the husband suddenly interrupted her with a bowl of steaming cooked meat.

“Here you go my dear, you must be starving.”

Moving her eyes from Kuser down to the bowl in her hands, Raysa suddenly felt hungry again and didn’t hesitate to consume the tender meat below her. The woman gypsy chuckled.

“Good, you must eat well if you’re going to have a baby. Young ladies such as you should be extra careful to not over exert themselves.”

Over exert? Who was over exerting? If only the woman knew what Raysa was about; if only Raysa wasn’t in this condition she wouldn’t be here listening to such dribble. After the party had eaten their supper the two gypsies eyed the thieves with questioning eyes. The husband, a human male with a short black beard questioned first.

“So a Halfling and a human, this is the first time I’ve come across a human who is pregnant with a Halfling’s child.”

Frowning, Raysa was about to correct the man for she still believed she was not pregnant but thought better of it when she saw Kuser’s expression. Maybe she was pregnant, but she kept denying it. Smiling at the gypsy, Kuser answered back instead.

“She drank a…a potion, it…it made it possible.”

Nodding his head the husband looked over to his wife.

“Did you hear that dear? And here we had such a difficult time conceiving a child, if I’d have known of this potion sooner, our caravan would be filled with babies!”


All three of them chuckled at the husband’s wit save for Raysa who crossed her arms as she sulked. Looking at Raysa, the wife smiled.

“My dear, have you thought of a name yet for your child?”

Just before Raysa could answer she felt several small quick kicks and looked down. Raising her tunic just above the naval she poked the flesh there and felt the firm hardness. Shaking her head she sighed.

“No names yet I’m afraid.”

The husband chuckled.

“Oh pardon our rudeness, I forgot to introduce ourselves. I am Toshtai Zhoomunt and this is my wife Ryathtia. We’re on our way to Aghay from the southern city of Onturas.”

Raysa blinked.

“Onturas, but that is so far! Surely you realize that this is lizard men territory?”

Why did she warn them? What was going on here? Raysa didn’t feel like herself and she cursed herself for it. Still after seeing her condition the gypsies did aid her and feed both her and Kuser. Perhaps this was the curse of the old man? To be knocked up and be nice, that was a joke! Nodding his head, Toshtai smiled.

“Thank you but we’re both aware of it. We just had to take that risk, our shop was suffering financially back home so we decided to try our hand in Aghay.”

Raysa smirked, they were obviously oblivious at the fact that Aghay was the home base of the Erango Athkelu (thieves’ guild) but she kept quiet. Breaking her thought, Kuser interrupted.

“What kind of…of shop will…will you have?”

Toshtai chuckled.

“Oh they’re trinkets mostly, magical ones at that from both Onturas and beyond. My family has been in this business for generations, and I’ve inherited a fair bit of the goods to sell.”

Just then Raysa interrupted.

“Do these magical trinkets as you call them get rid of curses?”



Looking over at Raysa, Kuser couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Studying the two, Ryathtia broke in.

“My dear do you believe you’re under a curse? I am a fortune teller, I can see if you are or not if you allow me to.”

Pausing for a moment then looking over at Kuser, Raysa raised an eyebrow.

“Why not, it’s worth a shot right?”

Nodding his head slowly, Kuser complied. Not long afterwards Raysa found herself sitting beside Kuser in front of Ryathtia by the fire. Closing her eyes and holding one of Raysa’s hands, palm up, the gypsy woman concentrated. Immediately she felt the old man’s presence and saw the glowing blue eyes in her mind. With her eyes still closed and trembling slightly, Ryathtia spoke to the two anxious thieves.

“I feel a presence of a man…an old man.”

Upon hearing those words both Raysa and Kuser looked at one another as the gypsy continued.

“He is neither good nor evil but he has been around you both for many years. I feel that he has offered you something, but it comes with a price.”

Growing more anxious by the second, Raysa interrupted.

“What else, can we reverse it?”

Opening up one eye the gypsy frowned slightly.

“Please, let me finish.”

Closing her eyes again Ryathtia continued on.

“He has given you something, a bottle to drink from. But the price you must pay is a change, a big change in your life. The two of you have been bonded ever since you first met some time ago but you both took wrong paths; did wrong things and now its time to mend your ways.”

How was she going to mend her ways? Raysa frowned when she heard what the gypsy was saying; why was she being punished after the pain she had gone through as a young child? Still despite her feelings, Raysa continued to listen as the Ryathtia neared the end of the reading.



“You will bear three young, they grow strongly within your womb but they grow at a rapid rate. The two of you must make the change quickly it seems but stay clear of Aghay, at least for now.”

Slowly as if the seconds were hours, Ryathtia opened her eyes and released her hold on Raysa’s hand. Lips dry and an expression of total disbelief, Raysa questioned the gypsy.

“So it’s not a curse then? I am really pregnant?”

Ryathtia raised an eyebrow.

“I thought you knew you were pregnant my dear?”

Biting her lip, Raysa sunk back as Kuser shifted anxiously in his seat. So it was true, it was no mistake! The two of them had conceived a baby, not just one but three back there in that tomb! But why, why by all the Gods did the old man choose them? Weren’t there other thieves in this world that could have been better suited for this sudden change in their lifestyle? Kuser was absolutely dumbfounded, he was going to be a father and quicker than he thought! Hands sweaty, Kuser stuttered.

“So…so all will be…be okay once she…she has the babies?”

Smiling, Ryathtia nodded her head.

“Giving birth and starting a family is the most wondrous experience anyone can possibly wish for. I wouldn’t consider this a curse by any means but more of a fruitful blessing. However I am a little apprehensive about the rapidness of the pregnancy.”

Raysa frowned.

“It’s the damned potion the old man made me drink! We made love and when I woke up I was like this! I am so fat I can barely fit into my clothes! Oh I feel so ugly!”

Cupping her eyes with both of her hands, Raysa wept as Kuser embraced her tightly. Chuckling Ryathtia leaned forward and gently patted Raysa on the arm.

“Don’t cry my dear, you’re practically glowing! I felt like that too when I was carrying my child, its nothing unusual but certainly nothing to be ashamed about.”

Wiping her wet eyes and looking up at the gypsy, Raysa spoke.

“So why can’t we go back to Aghay?”




The question obviously taking Ryathtia by surprised, she paused before answering.

“Aghay? I don’t know all the details except I get this feeling that you should avoid the city for now. Where will you both go?”

The city of Aghay was all that both Raysa and Kuser really knew. Sure they had gone out on missions elsewhere but most of their activities were centered in Aghay where they stole from the rich and the ships that came into port. Just then they heard a noise nearby behind several bushes. Quickly taking out her daggers, Raysa gave Kuser a look to get his weapons and guard the camp; somehow she had this instinctive urge to protect not just herself and her companion but the gypsies as well. Could it be because the gypsies had a baby or the fact that she wanted to return the kind favor? Regardless of the reason, Raysa shrugged it off. Just then several lizard men jumped out of the bushes, and Toshtai cursed loudly for he knew he should have put out the fire a lot sooner. With Ryathtia backed away into the caravan with her baby, Toshtai took out a short sword hidden nearby and his knife before joining up with Raysa and Kuser. Looking down at Raysa’s abdomen, Toshtai grew concerned.

“Can you still fight in your condition?”

Running a hand along her belly Raysa nodded her head.

“Yes, but I feel heavier.”

This time in battle Kuser was a lot more confident, in both his mind and heart he just had to protect Raysa; the urge to protect her was stronger than when they were just companions and when he just admired her from a distance. She was his and she carried his children in her womb, the urge to protect came on instinctively that without even thinking, Kuser had shot one lizard men to death and was extremely quick to ready another arrow. Moving slower than she was accustomed to, Raysa found it a little difficult to perform her acrobatics. Normally she would have downed two opponents before Kuser had the chance to fire a shot, but this time she only managed to kill one before holding the base of her little protruding belly in fear of causing some injury to her babies. Stepping beside Kuser in front of Raysa, Toshtai smiled confidently at the pair.

“You two fight well, where did you learn such skills?”

Kuser chuckled before he shot another arrow.

“Aghay we…we’re members of…”

Just before Kuser could finish, Raysa interrupted.

“Lets just say we trained there, end of story. Hey watch out short stuff!”


As Kuser was about to ready another arrow he did not see a lizard man approach him with a spear but fortunately for him, Raysa saw and threw her dagger into the lizard man’s throat. Running over and pulling out her dagger, she then drove the blade down hard into its chest. As the three fought on, Ryathtia did her best to calm her baby’s persistent crying. Lifting up her shirt just over one bare breast she tried to nurse the babe but she had little milk to give. Both Toshtai and her had traveled far and ate meager quantities of food to conserve it on the long trip; leaving both of them hungry. It also didn’t help since Ryathtia was underweight and had given birth on the road just two weeks prior. Hearing the baby’s crying the last three lizard men with starving, malicious eyes began to move towards the caravan. Holding the base of her belly with one hand and a dagger in the other, Raysa did her best to keep up with the attackers but had to stop for she was out of breath. In the meantime as Kuser cocked another arrow into place, Toshtai had managed to slice through one lizard man and was on pursuit of the other two. Sinking down on both knees and panting hard, Raysa felt absolutely exhausted and she was sweating profusely. Rubbing all along the little pouch of an abdomen she began to feel the kicks within and knew that eventually they will become a lot stronger as her belly’s bulge becomes more prominent. Still she feared motherhood. Would it hurt? Will she die from the birth itself? Raysa had heard true horror stories of women dying in childbirth; especially those of them carrying half-orcs in their bellies; but what of a Halflings? Engrossed in her reverie, Raysa didn’t notice both Toshtai and Kuser finishing off the last two lizard men until she felt Kuser’s gentle hands embrace her. Looking up she saw the concern look in his eyes and kissed him.

“I’m okay, just tired is all. Are they all dead?”

Kuser nodded.

“Yes they…they’re all dead.”

Walking slowly from out of the caravan with a wailing babe in her arms, Ryathtia spoke to her husband anxiously in a whisper.

“Darling I have no more milk to give; our baby will die if I don’t feed her.”

Looking down at his wailing daughter, Toshtai sighed as he whispered back.

“I will do all I can once we reach Aghay but I see no animal in sight that will nourish her.”

Peering up over Kuser, Raysa noticed the two gypsies hunched over their baby anxiously. Catching Raysa’s glance, Ryathtia tugged on her husband’s arm and motioned him towards the two thieves. Hesitating, Toshtai began to walk towards them and knelt down in front of them. Chuckling nervously he questioned.



“My wife has no more milk to give to our baby and…seeing as you are with child my dear we were…this is very hard to say. We were wondering if you could spare some milk for our baby.”

There was a short pause as Raysa, still on the ground stared at Toshtai utterly speechless. Could she produce any milk? Despite her own hesitations and the uncomfortable situation, Raysa nodded her head. The baby’s crying was growing louder by the second and none of them wanted to track any more lizard men to the caravan. Walking up to Ryathtia, Raysa nervously took the baby into her arms.

“I don’t know if I have any breast milk to give.”

Ryathtia smiled sadly and nodded.

“I know my dear and we’re so sorry for asking you to do this but we had no choice; our oxen are both male. But with the rapid duration of your pregnancy that I sensed, I don’t doubt that milk will come quicker to you. Come into the caravan with me while we tend to her.”

As Raysa followed Ryathtia into the caravan, both Kuser and Toshtai took out the fire and guarded them from outside. Still very much nervous and hesitant, Raysa remained still for a moment as she blushed before lifting her tunic and mail just over one bare breast. Looking down she noticed that her breasts had gotten bigger too and when she touched it, it brought shivers down her spine; they were sensitive. With Ryathtia’s help, Raysa was able to hold the baby into a comfortable position before bringing its tiny lip’s to her tender nipple. The sensation was odd and Raysa immediately stiffened up before relaxing not long afterwards as she gazed down at the baby in her arms. As the baby suckled and cried out of frustration, Raysa knew instantly that she was not producing any milk yet until she felt the familiar warm woozy feeling from when she drank the potion. Then as the feeling left her, her breasts started to tingle and the baby started to suckle harder; it was drinking milk, her milk! Looking up at Ryathtia who had tears in her eyes, Raysa chuckled nervously.

“Your baby is drinking from my breast, I am producing milk!”

Nodding her head, Ryathtia smiled excitedly.

“It’s a miracle from the Gods; I can’t express to you how grateful I am for this! You saved my child’s life, bless you, and bless you and your babies to come my dear! Toshtai, come here quickly!”






Immediately upon hearing Ryathtia’s voice, both Toshtai and Kuser approached the back of the caravan and peered in and when they saw Raysa nursing the baby their smiles grew wide. Kuser was the first to climb into the caravan, followed by Toshtai who along with Ryathtia watched the miracle of the Gods. Wiping some tears from her eyes, Ryathtia couldn’t contain her emotions as she spoke excitedly to her husband.

“She saved our daughter’s life! We didn’t know when we’ll get enough milk to sustain her!”

Holding his wife close, Toshtai held back his own tears.

“This potion that you drank, it’s truly a miracle for both of us. Thank you. Oh dear me, we haven’t even heard your names!”

Kuser chuckled.

“I…I’m Kuser and this is…is Raysa.”

Smiling at the two gypsies, Raysa questioned.

“What is your baby’s name?”

Chuckling loudly through tears, Ryathtia answered back.

“We named her Aria; the very name of the sea Goddess herself.”

Repeating the name in her mind, Raysa gently touched Aria’s soft tiny cheeks as she spoke.

“She is so beautiful. But I don’t know if I am completely ready to become a mother; I’m afraid.”

Kissing Raysa on the cheek tenderly, Kuser tried to make her feel better.

“Don’t be…be afraid Raysa, I…I’m sure you…you’ll be a…a great mother.”

Toshtai nodded.

“And we’ll be here with you, right dear?”

Touching Raysa’s arm reassuringly, Ryathtia smiled.

“Yes we certainly well, and I’ll be there to help you through the birth. It’s the least we can do after you’ve saved us from those lizard men and Aria from death.”


Blushing as red as a beet, Raysa was utterly speechless as she smiled back at the two gypsies. Deep in her heart she started to feel guilty for what both Kuser and she had tried to do earlier. The gypsies knew by now that they were thieves, but they were probably ones themselves. But what did it matter? At least she didn’t have to worry about Kuser being the only one to defend them both, especially when her pregnancy advanced. A short while later after Aria had gotten her fill on Raysa’s potion induced milk, the gypsies had fallen fast asleep leaving both Raysa and Kuser still awake. Sitting on the grassy plains just outside the caravan with an animal hide blanket over them, the two thieves were intimately kissing one another. From beneath the covers, Raysa lifted up her shirt and felt her growing bulge. With Kuser’s hands touching hers and the tightening little mound beneath them, Raysa started to feel the need to seduce her companion. Panting loudly she held the Halfling close to her, pushing her sensitive breasts and the pouch that held their children as close as she could up to him. Animalistic urges and hormones driving her, the aches and pains and her own fatigue were completely drowned out. While nibbling on the ends of Kuser’s ears, Raysa whispered through pants to him.

“I love you so much short stuff. I thought you were going to die earlier.”

Rubbing one of Raysa’s breasts with one hand and the other supporting her arching back, Kuser whispered back.

“You…you saved me twice. But…but I did…didn’t want you to…to get hurt, the…the mother of…of my children.”

Lips locked the two thieves madly made passionate love under the stars until they were both fast asleep for the second time in each other’s arms. It wasn’t until the afternoon did the two thieves finally awakened. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes and yawning loudly, Raysa blinked several times as she tried to focus around her. Toshtai was already setting up some logs to cook breakfast as Ryathtia rocked Aria to sleep in her arms. Trying to sit up Raysa found that it was harder this time than the last and she frowned as she tried to wake Kuser up. Walking up to Raysa, Toshtai offered a hand.

“Need some help getting up?”

Nodding her head sleepily, Raysa took Toshtai’s hand and as soon as the covers were off her she instantly saw the shocked look on his face. Looking down Raysa nearly fainted from what she saw. Her belly had increased in size overnight and was now a lot more noticeable with a protruding naval. The tunic and elfin mail she wore were no longer covering her abdomen for it now looked as though she was a bit bigger than a woman in her sixth month. The babies she was carrying although slightly smaller than those conceived by both human parents, still weighed heavily inside and Raysa’s belly was still relatively large as she carried half-human triplets in her womb. Holding Toshtai’s hand with one hand and the other running all over this new sight on her, Raysa was absolutely dumbfounded. Her breasts had increased in size too and were beginning to become heavy with milk.

Kneeling down in front of Raysa and rubbing a side of her belly, Toshtai broke her still silence.

“My, the potion works in more ways than just making milk come quickly. Look at you; you’re really starting to show!”

Bashful by feeling another man’s hands touch her so tenderly; Raysa sank back until she felt Kuser support her from the back. Kuser’s arms just barely managed to wrap around the entire expanse of Raysa’s belly as he embraced her firmly. He felt so proud feeling the harder kicks and stirring he was feeling from beneath his companion’s tightening orb. Seeing the young couple in such a tender setting, Toshtai chuckled.

“It won’t be long now until we see the little ones eh? Let us eat for I have something important to discuss with you both.”

As the four adults ate a hearty meal of the best meat that Toshtai could find, Raysa as embarrassed as she was in her new condition was trying to shield her belly with one arm. Smiling at the new mother-to-be, Ryathtia spoke.

“No need to be shy my dear, be proud, you’re going to be a mother. But I can see you need some new clothes to accommodate your growing belly. In one of the trunks I have two dresses that I wore when I was carrying Aria but I was smaller at your stage; we will probably need to buy another one for when you reach full-term.”

Wiping his mouth with a back of his hand, Toshtai continued the conversation.

“We can do that in Aghay but I believe my wife told you that you should stay clear from there at least for now. I want to ask you both if you know anything about that and why it is so?”

Both looking at the other nervously, there was a short pause before Kuser answered.

“We…we’re both thieves. We…we were go…going to rob a…a tomb when we…we made a mistake.”

Frowning at that remembrance of what had happened, Raysa filled in the rest.

“That’s where we met the old man who gave me the potion. He gave us a choice and if we didn’t choose the potion we would have been stuck down in that horrible place forever.”

Nodding their heads the two gypsies digested what was heard as they knew that being thieves was definitely not something easy to admit. Clearing his throat, Toshtai spoke.



“My wife and I admire your honesty, thank you for telling us of how you came about this fate. But we worry about you both for we need to go to Aghay to sell our goods.”

Sighing deeply, Raysa was buried in thought. The recent discovery of her rapid pregnancy and the meeting with the gypsies had distracted her of her major task. She knew that even though Orrak saw each member as family, there was still a punishment to be had for coming back empty-handed (especially without any word), little alone telling someone(s) that they were thieves. However would Orrak act out a punishment if he sees that she was carrying his nephew’s babies? Looking at the two gypsies with a very worried expression, Raysa spoke to them anxiously.

“We can’t go back to Aghay or we’ll be punished. And besides, we don’t want to get you two involved especially when the Erango Athkelu come looking for us!”

Kuser nodded his head.

“My…my uncle is…is the head of…of the guild. I…I don’t know if…if he’ll spare us…us once he knows she…she is carrying my…my children.”

Thinking for a moment then looking at his wife before returning his gaze back at the two thieves, Toshtai spoke slowly.

“This is a complicated matter. And we would like to help you as best as we could. However I cannot loan you my caravan for it is filled with the goods that I need to sell.”

Just then Ryathtia’s eyes lit up and she spoke excitedly.

“Darling, I think I saw an inn about a half day’s journey due directly south from Aghay. The two can spend a night there until we come for them.”

There was a short pause as Kuser and Raysa looked at one another, both in deep thought before returning their attention to the two gypsies. Feeling the strong kicks from within her belly and the aches in her lower back, Raysa shifted uncomfortably as she sat on the log. Looking down Toshtai saw the ripples across Raysa’s belly and felt his member tighten up by the sight of it. In Onturas it was not unusual for a man, especially a gypsy man there to have more than one wife or a lover, and Raysa to him was very beautiful; much like his wife. But upon seeing the thief’s very pregnant form, Toshtai’s lips went dry as his heart pounded in yearning. He knew Ryathtia wouldn’t mind, she was born in Onturas like him and was accustomed to centuries of tradition there. Still in this part of the world, he wasn’t so sure if it would be allowed. Noticing Toshtai’s intent gaze on her and her belly, Raysa blushed again and rubbed the base of her abdomen with one hand. She remembered the gypsy’s touch; it was as gentle and enticing as Kuser’s. But that was ridiculous, this whole situation was absolutely ridiculous and went against everything what she was accustomed to and knew.


Looking over at Kuser now who sat so proudly as a father-to-be, Raysa didn’t want to stray away from him; she was carrying his babies after all not Toshtai’s! But still the gypsy was handsome; and his hair was as black as midnight much like Kuser’s. Just then Raysa had the sudden urgency to urinate and she struggled to stand up from the log. Losing her balance she staggered and accidentally fell into Toshtai’s strong arms as he caught her. The seconds felt like hours as he held her in his arms, allowing her to regain her balance and for him to feel her pregnant form. She was so full of life! How many children could she carry, what was the maximum of her capacity? Would she be willing to bear strong sons for him in time? All these thoughts ran through Toshtai’s mind that moment and he felt his member throbbing painfully from beneath his wool trousers. Immediately going to Raysa’s other side, Kuser looked at her curiously.

“What…what’s wrong?”

Clenching her teeth, Raysa tried to smile.

“Call of nature.”

Chuckling, Ryathtia came to Raysa.

“I’ll help her to a place to do that. You boys please excuse us.”

Once the two had left, Toshtai was left slightly frustrated but he smiled when he noticed the Halfling staring at him. Shaking his head to dismiss the thoughts of Raysa, Toshtai decided to have a conversation with Kuser.

“I notice you’re quite skilled with that crossbow of yours. I was wondering if you and your companion wouldn’t mind traveling with us once we’ve done with Aghay.”

Wiping some soot from his trousers, Kuser nodded.

“I…I wouldn’t mind it but…but what if the…the guild comes after you…you?”

Toshtai chuckled.

“We took a risk getting here; I don’t see a problem in taking another. Besides in the short time we’ve known you and Raysa, my wife and I feel comfortable being with you. And we truly would like to help you, if you permit.”

Hesitating for a moment, Kuser finally replied.

“I…I guess it won’t be a…a problem if…if Raysa is okay with…with it.”




Just then Raysa and Ryathtia arrived and sat down on the logs. With Kuser helping to support her sit down on one side and Toshtai on the other, Raysa was as red as a beet. She had never been treated so well in all her life, maybe being pregnant wasn’t as bad as she had thought. As the four got all comfortable and waited for Toshtai to cook breakfast, little Aria started to cry, immediately thereafter Raysa had her to her breast. A short while later as the two thieves helped Toshtai and Ryathtia pack up to go to Aghay, Toshtai stopped Raysa. Speaking above a whisper he took her to one side of the caravan and spoke to her.

“I’ve decided to take you both halfway to the inn but then we must head back to Aghay. Normally we will be in a city for a week at the least but seeing that your pregnancy is advancing quicker than I thought, we’ll only be gone for a day. Will you be alright?”

Looking down Toshtai rubbed a side of Raysa’s belly so tenderly that it brought shivers down her spine. He really cared for her, all three of them did and she was taken back by the kindness. Resting her aching back against the caravan and feeling Toshtai’s hand caress her abdomen lovingly made Raysa’s heart race. Somehow she was beginning to really enjoy being pregnant but the rapidness of the duration annoyed her. Above a whisper through soft pants she replied.

“Do you have something that will slow my growth down?”

Startled by the question and the breaking of his reverie, Toshtai blinked several times before answering.

“I might but we must make our moves quickly before the day is done.”

Then before walking back to the two and without thinking, Toshtai kissed Raysa. Like his touch his lips were as equally soft and Raysa felt like wrapping her arms around him; there was something about him that drew her to him. Still the feeling of being unfaithful to Kuser and the guilt accompanied it overpowered her and she quickly retracted her lips. Stock still all Raysa could do was to stare at Toshtai with an expression of pure shock as he walked around to the other side of the caravan. As Toshtai fed the two oxen that drove the caravan, inside Ryathtia gave the thieves a bag of gold, the maternity dresses for Raysa and a small bottle with light blue liquid. Staring at the bottle, Raysa was hesitating before accepting it but Ryathtia assured her of its safety.

“Toshtai said you wanted something that might slow down your pregnancy and this potion will do the trick. It’ll probably give you an extra couple of days before you reach the next stage.”

Still studying the liquid, Raysa sighed before uncorking it and swallowing its contents. Frowning slightly she handed Ryathtia the empty bottle just as the caravan was starting to move.


“I think I’ve had my fill on strange potions to last me a lifetime but thanks.”

Patting a side of Raysa’s bare abdomen, Ryathtia chuckled.

“I guess you’re not ready to see the little ones quite yet, that’s okay. We’ll sell what we can in Aghay and as promised come back for you.”

Returning Ryathtia’s smile, Raysa just nodded. As the caravan traveled to the half-way point to the inn, Raysa took this time to get dressed in one of the maternity dresses she was given. Normally she wouldn’t touch a dress if her life depended upon it but since she had no choice in the matter, she had to make due with some sacrifices. And like her fashion sense, old habits die hard and that habit would be stealing. Kuser was having an awkward time too as he took occasional hungry glances at the chests full of merchandise. Seeing Raysa’s eyes motion to one of the chests, Kuser took this chance without Ryathtia looking to grab something from the slightly open lid. He had noticed this particular chest to be filled with medallions and he longed to touch them. As he tried to reach for one a sudden pain in his head stopped him but it was also accompanied with nausea. In his mind the old man’s warning came to him, making him tremble slightly; it wasn’t just Raysa who was feeling ill. Trying not to show his pain to Ryathtia, Kuser quickly retracted his hand from the chest. Why couldn’t he touch the goods? Was it because the old man watched their every move, felt their every intent? Both Kuser and Raysa were starting to get annoyed with the restraints put on them and wondered if once the babies were born they could return to their usual lifestyle. As the caravan rode on, Raysa grew more impatient by the minute. She was not only a thief but a trained assassin as well and somehow along with the aches, fatigue and hunger that came with her pregnancy, the fire within from before remained the same and she craved blood. Enemies, another caravan, just anything for her to drive her daggers home! It was a hobby to her and a sick one at that, one that fueled her desire to avenge her parents. What Raysa really needed was to kill off some trolls but there weren’t any in sight. By sundown Toshtai had stopped the caravan at the half-way point and helped the three down. Touching Raysa’s arm gently he pointed directly southward ahead of him.

“Keep traveling along that road; once the landscape becomes rockier you will know that the inn is near. Ryathtia and I should reach Aghay by mid to late morning tomorrow, from there we will take about a day to sell our goods and then come to you. In two days or so you should expect us.”

With loving embraces the gypsies and thieves parted with each other towards their destination. Before they started to walk, Kuser decided to ease some of Raysa’s discomforts by taking out some things from her rucksack. It was somewhat uncomfortable riding in the back of the caravan, definitely not something Raysa was used to but at least it beat walking; especially when the weather was starting to heat up. However by night the climate was somewhat cooler, still it didn’t dismiss the fact that dangers were easier to come by.


As they walked on the trail, Raysa started to feel a wave of nausea but kept quiet about it. The constant kicking within her was starting to become annoying and stirred up whatever she had eaten previously. With an arm wrapped around Raysa’s waist and the other gently rubbing her active belly, Kuser did his best to ease whatever she was feeling. Just like Raysa, Kuser felt that this was all happening too quickly, much too quickly that the Halfling was totally overwhelmed. He could only imagine what his companion must have been going through. In just two days he had witnessed Raysa change from a high-strung killer thief to a somewhat disheveled and exhausted pregnant girlfriend. A bit of guilt ran through Kuser too, if only he was a better thief, more advanced than he was already his uncle wouldn’t have made Raysa come on this journey with him. But they would have never gone all the way even though they had known each other for a while in the guild; their fears and the demanding tasks that were given to them kept them much too busy to flirt with one another…until now. After the sun had set an hour and a half later beneath the horizon, both Raysa’s lower back and feet were aching uncomfortably and she labored as she walked. Moaning slightly from being over encumbered, Raysa stopped walking and went down on both knees. Taking off her rucksack she tried to catch her breath as beads of sweat began to pour from her brow. The dress she wore was also causing her discomfort and clung to her cool damp skin. Kneeling down beside Raysa and taking off his own rucksack, Kuser looked around. The scenery was definitely a lot rockier than before, they must be coming closer to the inn and he grew excited by that. Needless to say he was also afraid of their overall well-being.

In this particular area of the Great Plains were tall rocky hills on either side of the path. Unlike the northern region of the continent where hills became mountains and the pathways were much more jagged and rugged, this side although considerably safer had its own share of dangers. Either made by hands or the land itself, several small cave entrances etched the hillsides. Some were probably abandoned but the others were most likely occupied. Kuser heard tales of some of the thieves from his uncle’s guild holding camp within these hills but of course they were always in a constant battle against the lizard men. Could these caves be occupied by thieves or lizard men? Kuser did not know and he didn’t want to find out! They had to reach the inn soon for it was the only relatively safe place in that particular area. Gently stroking Raysa’s aching back, Kuser tried to encourage his exhausted companion.

“Come on, we…we don’t have much far…far to go.”

Hesitating for a moment Raysa managed to get her rucksack back on and waited for another moment before rising to her feet. How was she going to feel at full-term when already she was feeling this bad? Nausea and fatigue mixed into one clump, Raysa had a difficult time keeping her mind on track as she staggered down the trail to the inn. A little while later just as Raysa thought her legs would give way the two finally approached the inn. It was a quaint place, big enough for four rooms and a place where travelers could eat and drink their fill. As the two entered the inn their nostrils were met with delicious smells of freshly baked bread and ale.


A few patrons sat down on some wooden tables, half-elves who paid them no mind and were already drunk by the look of it. The innkeeper a heavy-set middle-aged human male sat sleepily with his arms crossed behind the bar table. Allowing Kuser to deal with the rooms, Raysa took this opportunity to rest her weary body on a nearby chair. Sitting down she let out a loud sigh which brought some gazes to her from the half-elves who sat not far away. One half-elf, an unkempt drunken youth who appeared to be the drunkest got up from his seat and sat beside Raysa. Looking down he noticed Raysa’s pregnant condition and chuckled.

“Well what do we have here; a knocked up lass in these parts?”

His cohorts laughed. Frowning, Raysa did her best to ignore the half-elf when she suddenly felt his hands touch the inside of one of her thighs. Taking out a dagger quicker than anyone could blink, Raysa had the blade directly below the half-elf’s chin. Glaring hard she spoke aggressively.

“I am tired, my entire body aches and if you ever so much as touch me like that or anywhere again, I’ll grind my blade right through your head!”

Totally stunned the half-elf remained stalk still for a moment before turning around and sitting down; immediately thereafter Kuser returned to the table.

“The inn…innkeeper wants to speak to…to you.”

Sighing exasperatedly, it took a fair bit of strength for Raysa to leave her comfortable seat before walking slowly over to the inn keeper who waited for her patiently. Chuckling he pointed at the dumbfounded drunken half-elves before speaking.

“Nice work what you did there, they shouldn’t be doing that to ladies anyhow. Anyways your companion informed me that you’ll be expecting a caravan to pick you up in two days?”

Raysa nodded sleepily.

“Yes. How much is one room?”

The inn keeper chuckled again.

“Patience my good lady I am coming to that. I can see you’re both very tired and we have a room available but the price for two nights is fifty gold pieces for each of you. I trust you have enough considering the amount of counterfeit coins being distributed from those damn thieves in Aghay!”




Counterfeit coins, it was a new practice that Orrak was making his guild perform, one that neither Raysa nor Kuser fancied. Not wanting to waste any more time, Kuser took out the bag of gold that was given to them by the gypsies from his rucksack. Sitting up on one of the stools, Kuser then placed the bag firmly on top of the wooden bar table and opened its contents. Quickly he took out a hundred gold pieces from the bag and laid it out directly in front of the inn keeper. Studying the two weary thieves intently and then on the coins below him, the innkeeper took one coin and bit into it. It was solid. Putting the coin down the innkeeper smiled.

“Well it’s definitely solid and I doubt its counterfeit but you can’t be too sure at times.”

Gathering up the coins and putting them all into a small wooden box below the bar table, the innkeeper then took out a brass key from his pocket and placed it inside Kuser’s now empty coin bag.

“Here is the key to your room; take the stairs and turn left. Have a good night.”

Yawning loudly, Raysa was the first to take the key and as she started to walk towards the stairs the innkeeper eyed her intently. The increasing weight of Raysa’s belly made her sway her hips more. As she ascended the stairs she panted while holding the base of her abdomen with one hand and the other on the banister. Finally after several steep steps, the two thieves reached the top and headed to their rooms. While inside, Raysa was relieved when she saw one big double bed in the center of the room. Quickly taking off her rucksack and shoes, she then trotted to the bed and climbed on top of it. Pushing all her weight into the comfy sheets below her, Raysa closed her eyes and sighed contently. It felt so nice to be in a bed, she hadn’t slept in one in ages! Chuckling as he took off his own rucksack and shoes, Kuser went over and climbed up directly beside Raysa. Turning on one side to face her Halfling companion, Raysa smiled sleepily before she kissed him on the cheek.

“Thanks for being there for me.”

A little startled by Raysa’s sudden show of gratitude, Kuser hesitated for a moment before answering.

“You…you’re welcome.”

Moving in closer and an arm wrapped snugly around her companion, Raysa felt her eyelids grow heavier and soon the two were fast asleep. From there the next two days at the inn seemed like an eternity for the thieves; but it was still a rest they both very much needed. Eating freshly cooked food prepared in the inn’s kitchen and bathing together inside a large tub in the bathhouse, both Kuser and Raysa soon grew bored after the pampering they received and were craving adventure; any adventure as long as they were kept occupied.


On the morning of the third day, Raysa sat in front of a wooden table with Kuser sitting directly across from her. With half-closed eyes she took out a dagger and balanced the blade on one finger. Looking over at her companion as the blade kept balance she questioned him.

“How many arrows you got left?”

Kuser smiled.

“Enough. Why?”

Quickly turning the blade and flinging it directly below her on the table, Raysa shrugged.

“I was just wondering because I’m itching to throw things.”

Taking the dagger out from the wood beneath it, Raysa balanced it again when the innkeeper walked by and sat with the two.

“Well unless you want to stay another day I suggest you pay up now. I haven’t seen a caravan pass through here yet, are you sure your friends said today was the day they were going to meet you?”

Feeling the empty coin bag tied to his waist, Kuser knew they couldn’t stay in the inn any longer and he nervously answered the innkeeper.

“We…we got no more gold. I…I guess we…we better head out…out then.”

Placing her dagger back from where she hid it so well, Raysa frowned at her Halfling companion before looking at the innkeeper with a blank expression. The innkeeper thought for a moment, he didn’t want the two to leave totally empty-handed and he pitied Raysa, especially being pregnant and all. Getting up from his seat the innkeeper quickly went to the kitchen and when he came back, he returned with a small bag of gold, a loaf of bread and some cheese. Placing what he had in his arms down on the table in front of the two thieves, the innkeeper spoke plainly.

“I’m going to give you two fifty gold pieces to buy food and drink elsewhere. There is food for you here to eat as well.”

Raising an eyebrow, Raysa questioned the man.

“Why are you doing this?”

The innkeeper chuckled while pointing at Raysa’s belly.



“I always worry for women who share your delicate condition. Please no thanks are necessary but I wish you two a safe journey and hopefully the Gods willing you will find your caravan.”

The three shook hands. Stepping out from the inn the temperature had increased in the last few days that the two thieves had to shield their eyes from the angry glare of the afternoon sun. Raysa was grateful however for the gypsy potion she had drank before Toshtai and Ryathtia left had still an effect on her. But where were Toshtai and Ryathtia? With Kuser squinting and scanning the horizon, Raysa sat down on the soft grass and rested her curved back on her rucksack. After a while of fruitless scanning, Kuser gave up. It was much too hot for both of them and they had to take a drink from their water sacks. Looking at the hills and the caves within them seemed welcoming to Raysa, that she made a suggestion, while wiping her sweaty brow with the back of her hand.

“Let’s take some shade in that cliff over to your right over there.”

Looking over to where Raysa was pointing, Kuser nodded and helped his companion to her feet before walking with her to one of the caves. Inside the air was considerably cooler but overall the cave was dank and dingy. Frowning in remembrance of her time in the tomb, Raysa paused for a moment at the entranceway.

“What if we meet another crazy old man?”

Kuser chuckled as he fished in his rucksack for a torch to light. After a quick search and lighting a short torch he had found, Kuser motioned Raysa to follow close behind him. As the crept into the cave the ground beneath was fairly muddy and with each step it sounded like sloshing. They also heard some unfamiliar sounds along the way; mostly they assumed were harmless insects or rodents. But when they reached a fair bit of ways into the cave they stopped. Looking around with the torch in his hands, Kuser questioned.

“I…I heard some…something.”

Acknowledging that she had heard something too with a head nod, Raysa waited for another sound. Just then it occurred and sounded like hissing, similar to a lizard’s and a whip in the distance. Eyes focusing better on the darkness ahead of them, Kuser noticed faintly that the path they were walking eventually opened up into a fork in the road. Hearing the sounds coming from the left side, Kuser quickly led Raysa that way. Somehow as the two crept closer to the source(s) of the strange sounds they started to feel anxious. Looking down Raysa noticed a clump of fresh skeletal remains in one corner of the path. Motioning Kuser to shine the torch on the remains the two had a better look at what was there. Immediately Raysa gasped; a few of the uncrushed skulls in the clump looked to be those of half-elves. There were even bits and pieces of what looked to be a tunic, similar to the drunken half-elf that Raysa threatened with her dagger just a few days earlier.


With adrenaline starting to pump in her veins and the babies kicking up a storm within her, Raysa staggered back and nearly fell on top of Kuser but stopped when she felt his gentle hand on her arm. Quickly turning around, Raysa anxiously spoke.

“That’s them, the half-elves back in the inn! Remember?”

Growing pale Kuser just nodded as the two continued to move on the path. What could have done this to them? Was it a whole unit of lizard men or something worse? Taking out a dagger, Raysa continued to follow Kuser until he stopped her short not far off. The path they were on eventually opened up into one room and the sounds they had followed were definitely louder here. But there was something else. A familiar voice of a man groaning in pain was also mixed with the sounds of hissing and a whip being cracked. Dousing the torch in his hand, Kuser took a closer look. It was Toshtai, handcuffed to the muddy walls with both arms up; his bare chest was being whipped from a lizard man. Along with that his hair was matted and damp from mud, blood and sweat that helped to accentuate his already disheveled and wounded appearance. Apparently Toshtai was here for a while. Turning around, Kuser brought Raysa closer to see and had to cover her mouth as she was about to gasp loudly from the sight. But where was Ryathtia and Aria? Something was definitely wrong here and both Kuser and Raysa felt it. Taking a closer look of the room it appeared to be some kind of torture room; this might be one of the many places the lizard men called home for the room also had a door leading to another chamber. Fortunately there was only one lizard man, the sight encouraging Kuser to take out his crossbow and cock a single arrow. With his superb marksmanship skills, Kuser shot the arrow and aimed bull’s-eye, right square in the lizard man’s jugular vein; killing it instantly. After the death of their only opponent in the room the two thieves quickly bounded up to Toshtai; and before long they had him released from his cuffs. Sinking down on the ground on both knees slowly, Toshtai was awaiting additional punishment for one eye was already badly injured and swollen shut. Kneeling down in front of the gypsy, the two thieves did their best to get his attention; Raysa was the first to speak.

“Toshtai, it’s us! What happened to you? Where is Ryathtia and Aria?”

Slowly, painfully, Toshtai raised his head upon hearing a familiar voice and coughed. With his throat as equally parched as his lips, it wasn’t easy for him to speak and Kuser had to give him a drink from his water sack before hearing him. Looking at the two thieves with his one uninjured eye, Toshtai held back tears as he spoke angrily.

“We were ambushed, some miles away from leaving Aghay. They…those lizard men, such vile creatures! They raped Ryathtia before my eyes and killed both her and my daughter! Then they took me here to be tortured for I had fresh gold and would not surrender that either!”





With tears flowing down his hot cheeks, Toshtai lowered his head again and trembled as he wept silently. Immediately Raysa went to him and held the weeping gypsy close to her breasts. Tears were flowing down both her and Kuser’s cheeks and they continued to weep there for a good while before Toshtai finally lifted up his head again. Through tears he spoke above a whisper.

“My good friends kill me now so that I will be united with my wife and daughter. I cannot live like this; it rips my heart for I could not protect them!”

Gently brushing off some strands of hair from Toshtai’s forehead, Raysa studied him for a moment. And slowly without thinking she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the lips. If it was in a different setting or another time Kuser would have minded but he didn’t say anything. As Raysa kissed Toshtai she felt the gypsy wrap his arms around her and return the kiss; it was the least she could do to comfort him. Just like how Toshtai and Ryathtia cared so much for her, Raysa’s heart was crying out for the loss of a new friend. She felt Toshtai’s grief and it also reminded her of when her parents had died at the hands of vile creatures. All for plunder and yet she had done it all herself; assassinated, stole from and even killed those she felt responsible for the acts of murdering innocent civilians, still they weren’t the true villains. Retracting her lips slowly, Raysa studied Toshtai and held him closer. Feeling her belly pushed up so close to him, Toshtai started to ease up a bit and one of his hands instinctively went down to feel the growing mound. Gently he rubbed her abdomen, all along it and pausing at the base of it; the strong kicks from within could be felt and he smiled weakly back at her.

“Your babies are still as healthy as ever.”

Moving her hand on top of Toshtai’s, Raysa kissed him again before replying.

“We better get out of this place. Do you remember how many lizard men are left and where they put your caravan?”

There was a short pause as Toshtai tried to remember.

“Yes I remember there were twelve that ambushed us and probably more behind that door. Listen, when Ryathtia and I left Aghay we bought several bottles of healing potion that should be inside the caravan along with everything else. I will go with you and…”

Raysa shook her head.

“No, you’re badly wounded as it is. You better stay here until we fetch it for you.”

Looking over at Toshtai, Kuser questioned.

“Is…is your gold in…inside the caravan?”


Toshtai nodded.

“When they brought me here I didn’t see them take it out so it should still be all there. How are you going to get it? You both will be heavily outnumbered.”

Standing up, Raysa smiled at her gypsy friend while patting a side of her belly with one hand and twirling a dagger with the other.

“Don’t you worry we’ve done this sort of thing before. Kuser will hit them with arrows as I sneak about and cut their throats! Mind you it might take us a bit longer considering I’m carrying little ones. Right short stuff?”

Blushing Kuser nodded and soon the two thieves were working on what they knew best. As they slowly opened the door and creped out, Kuser was the first to notice that they were inside a rectangular room of two levels; them being on the higher level. It wasn’t a very stable upper floor and no banisters aided to protect them from falling down. Below them both Kuser and Raysa quickly observed that the caravan sat in the centre but only one ox remained; the other most likely eaten. There were also twelve lizard men, the same amount that ambushed the gypsies as well as an additional eight that occupied the lower room. A few of the lizard men were hungrily devouring some human remains while the others tossed coins in the air and tried on jewelry from the chests of previous thefts. Whether or not the lizard men mimicked the Erango Athkelu in their thieving and ambushing, the two didn’t care. Their objective was clear: first they had to clear out as many lizard men as they could, grab a healing potion from the caravan and return to Toshtai whereby they will make their next move; to escape with the caravan and what was inside. Needless to say both Raysa and Kuser had their eyes set on the riches below them; old habits dying hard. Shaking their heads in an effort to focus on their tasks at hand, Raysa was the first to motion Kuser with a hand gesture to move towards the opposite direction. Knowing full well that they were indeed heavily outnumbered and her being magically six months induced pregnant, Raysa had to make even more cautious maneuvers.

Quickly bending down and reaching inside both of her knee-high boots from beneath her dress, Raysa brought out eight small throwing knives; four being in each hand. From there she as stealthily as she could, began to pick off several lizard men from her higher vantage point. Luck was on both of the thieves! Most of the lizard men were also too drunk from ale to notice their brothers’ fall, making the task to pick them off easier. However nearing the end of her eighth kill, Raysa’s lower back was starting to ache and she had to pause. Kneeling down on both knees and waiting for the aching to subside, Raysa didn’t notice a lizard man hovering directly behind her with a sword raised. Just before it sliced her in half, Toshtai managed to creep up behind the creature and break its neck with his bare hands. Hearing the brief commotion, Raysa quickly spun around and had a dagger ready but lowered it immediately when she noticed Toshtai standing before her with a smirk on his face.


Gently helping Raysa to her feet, Toshtai backed her away from the dead lizard man and embraced her tightly. Looking deep into her eyes, Toshtai whispered.

“I couldn’t have the two of you hog all the fun. Are you alright?”

Smiling, Raysa chuckled softly.

“Well I was doing fine until my back started aching. I’m already feeling tired and…”

Just then they heard a crash. From the far side, directly opposite from them, Kuser had accidentally stepped on weak ground, causing the floor beneath him to break through. Falling down onto the lower floor with debris, and dirt following, Kuser had stirred up the attention of the remaining lizard men. Seven lizard men remained, each snarling at the disorientated Halfling with weapons armed and ready. Panicking from the sight, Raysa nearly fell over the ledge before Toshtai caught her arm and pulled her back in time. From there he then quickly picked up the sword from the dead lizard man below him and nodded to Raysa.

“I’ll go and rescue him, cover me.”

Despite his one uninjured eye and being badly wounded as he was, Toshtai took no heed of the pain he was feeling. Instead with sword tightly gripped in one hand he jumped down to the floor beneath him. Tumbling and groaning in pain from the fall, Toshtai managed to straighten himself up to face a few of the lizard men who approached him. Overhead Raysa took out several more throwing knives from her boot and was prepared to cover both Toshtai and Kuser as they fought on. Blinking a couple of times through his pain, Toshtai staggered forward and shouted at his attackers.

“Come on you devils, come to me! I am your captive remember? Fight me, not him!”

In a blind rage, Toshtai was soon on his attackers. Despite receiving additional wounds and the turmoil around him, Toshtai ran the blade that he held true; slicing through nerves, muscle and scales he slaughtered the remaining lizard men before Kuser could cock a single arrow into place. And before long all seven lizard men laid dead, all killed by Toshtai’s hand alone; Raysa didn’t have the chance to throw a single knife. Panting loudly and adrenaline still pumping hard, Toshtai remained in a blind rage. Hovering over a few of the dead lizard men below him, he jabbed his blade in and out, over and over as he cursed in his native tongue. Tears flowing down his hot cheeks he did this for a couple of minutes before falling down on his buttocks; sobbing uncontrollable in his hands. Peering from the upper floor, Raysa felt her babies stir within her and she began to gently rub her tender mound. Raysa couldn’t imagine what was going through Toshtai’s mind but somehow she felt responsible; she felt responsible for not just the gypsies but for Kuser too. It was her damn greed that made them fall into that room, to meet the old man and become what she was now; heavy with child and unable to do what she was used to.

Looking up Kuser saw Raysa kneeling down and he quickly took off his rucksack. Searching through his sack, Kuser managed to find some rope before running towards Raysa.

“Raysa take…take the rope and…and climb down.”

Catching the rope in her hands, Raysa found a nearby pillar and tied the rope around it tightly before testing it and climbing down to the lower floor cautiously. After climbing down, Raysa immediately embraced Kuser lovingly before making her way to Toshtai who still sat sobbing. When she touched his back he winced and lowered his arms quickly from his face. Gasping he swallowed hard.

“Oh, it’s just you! I…I don’t know what came over me.”

Without a word Raysa embraced Toshtai and kissed his forehead. This was all a nightmare! As Raysa remained with Toshtai, Kuser was already searching through the caravan; everything was still there. Searching through a few chests that were closest to him, Kuser finally came across the one carrying the healing potion; a strange red liquid that he had drank before in his past. Taking one bottle, Kuser quickly scurried over to Toshtai and uncorked it before handing it to his wounded comrade.

“Here…here is the… the healing potion.”

Smiling weakly, Toshtai took the bottle in a trembling hand and swallowed it all in one swig. The taste was bitter but made him feel instantly warm inside. Immediately his wounds began to heal and his swollen injured eye became uninjured and whole again. Toshtai also felt his strength return to him and he looked at the two thieves with a baffled expression.

“I feel better!”

The three chuckled as they helped him to his feet and waited for him to speak again; when Toshtai did he smiled.

“We better get out of here but before we do I have some clothes that we can all change into in the back of my caravan.”

As the three companions changed their clothes, they were totally oblivious to sounds of battle and chaos from the next room. On the lower floor just in the next room from them a battle between a unit of the Erango Athkelu and a unit of lizard men raged on. After dressing himself in a new tunic and trousers, Kuser was the first to pick up on the noise.

“I…I hear something!”



Just then both Raysa and Toshtai heard it too and they all looked at one another before Raysa broke the tense silence.

“Quickly, lets gather up all that we can and get out of here!”

Placing a firm hand on one of Raysa’s shoulders, Toshtai stopped her and shook his head.

“My caravan can’t hold much more and besides, we only have one ox to pull such a heavy weight!”

Raysa frowned.

“There are jewels here that are worth a fortune and I…”

Feeling a strong kick inside her belly and some even louder noise in the next room, Raysa paused and bit her lip as she remembered that they were given some gold from the innkeeper and were not totally empty-handed. Rubbing her abdomen she sighed.

“Fine, let’s go!”

As Toshtai helped Raysa into the caravan, Kuser was already hovering over some jewels inside some chests nearby. The lizard men had some good taste and by the looks of it, most of these jewels were not imitation. Perhaps he would take a few? Kneeling down in front of an open chest, Kuser started salivating as his hungry fingers twiddled in awe and anticipation over the jewels before him. Just a couple, he would only take a couple to satisfy that burning desire he had. In his mind he promised to buy Raysa the best clothing that he could muster with these jewels. And just as he was about to reach one, Kuser suddenly felt an excruciating pain in his head; it was worse than the last time followed by an even stronger wave of nausea. Cupping his mouth and almost on the brink of vomiting, Kuser slowly backed away from the treasure and cursed mentally. Looking over his shoulder, Toshtai noticed Kuser hunched over and ran up to him.

“Kuser are you alright? Are you ill?”

A few moments after the pain and nausea had subsided; Kuser slowly rose to his feet.

“The…the old man again. We…we can’t steal any…anything.”

Toshtai nodded his head and quickly scooped up a few of the best jewels he could find.

“I’ll take them for you, just a few though. Let’s go.”

Part 3




With Kuser inside the caravan with Raysa, Toshtai was the one up front and driving his frightened ox forward. There was only one way out and that was through the next room where the battle continued to rage. After tying the chests as far back from the caravan’s entrance as possible with the rest of the rope they had, both Kuser and Raysa armed with their long-ranged weapons readied themselves as Toshtai urged his ox to pull at full speed. With the ox laboring as it pulled the heavy vehicle at top speed into the next room, the two thieves were already shooting arrows and knives from the back of the caravan to whoever got in their way. It was absolute chaos as thieves and lizard men battled for supremacy for the treasures in the last room and the three were caught in the middle of it. A few of the lizard men who noticed the caravan ran up and tried to come aboard. With the bumpiness of the ride and what had happened up to this point, Raysa was starting to feel sick to her stomach. Clutching her belly with one hand and the other a throwing knife she nearly fell out of the caravan twice. Just as things were starting to become even more chaotic, Toshtai had finally managed to drive the caravan out of the battle (and the lizard men from them) onto a winding dark path through the cave. Slowing his ox down a bit, Toshtai hollowed back at his companions.

“Is everyone alright?”

The two thieves shouted back making Toshtai breathe a bit. From there it felt like ages before the caravan finally made it to the exit of the cave. It was already dark by the time they came out; and with the ox nearly spent of all its energy, Toshtai drove the animal on a few yards from the cave before stopping the caravan and climbing down. Peering inside he noticed the two thieves, weapons still out they looked both frightened and exhausted. Toshtai noticed something else as well; it was the size of Raysa’s belly. With Ryathtia’s potion worn off, Raysa’s pregnancy had increased to the next stage. Although carrying triplets, she looked to be of a woman in her seventh month of pregnancy of carrying twins. Her belly was definitely a lot bigger but also a lot rounder in size and shape; it poked out considerably from underneath the dress she was wearing, apparently the gypsies must have bought her a smaller size than they had anticipated. Not only that Raysa’s back had also arched a bit more, causing her to look and feel even more tired and heavy than before. Following the gypsy’s gaze down, Raysa suddenly became aware of what he was staring at. She looked and felt huge, the increasing weight of Kuser’s children causing her to shift uncomfortably inside the caravan. Looking over, Kuser’s eyes went wide and he immediately went over and knelt down beside Raysa to rub her enormous belly. Smiling at the two thieves, Toshtai climbed aboard the caravan and sat beside them. Gently he rubbed the other side of Raysa’s abdomen as Kuser did the other. Raising his head he chuckled at the parents-to-be.

“The babies have gotten bigger; it looks like we only have a couple more days before she reaches full-term. And with Aghay being the city we can’t go to, it looks like she’ll give birth to them on the road.”

Raysa frowned.


“Give birth on the road? Are you daft, how can I give birth on the road little alone to triplets without a midwife or a healer?”

Just then Raysa felt several strong Braxton hicks that made her wince. The babies had definitely gotten a lot stronger and it was starting to hurt! Embracing Raysa, Toshtai smiled at her lovingly.

“I delivered Aria myself on the road when Ryathtia went into labor. Don’t worry, before we left Aghay we bought what we could for the birth. And anyways it’s late; we should all get some sleep. I’ll sleep outside, good night to you both.”

As Kuser and Toshtai prepared themselves for bed, Raysa suddenly felt a pang of guilt. She felt absolutely terrible for what had happened to Toshtai; and the feeling of whatever she wanted to do or say not being enough to reverse what had happened. Bending over and kissing Kuser who was just about to go to sleep, Raysa whispered in his ear.

“Kuser, I need to speak to you.”

Slowly opening his eyes and yawning, Kuser sat up and blinked. Holding both of the Halflings hands, Raysa paused and thought for a moment. She wanted to be with Toshtai right now, to comfort him the best she could but she also couldn’t leave Kuser. Looking at Kuser, Raysa chuckled nervously as she spoke in a whisper.

“Hey short stuff; we’re out from that cave huh?”

Kuser smiled but didn’t say anything as Raysa continued.

“Kuser I…I don’t know how to break this to you but I feel terrible. I feel terrible for what I’ve done not just to you but to Toshtai and his…”

Feeling the tears starting to come, Raysa turned her head down and shivered slightly when she felt Kuser’s gently fingers below her chin. They both kissed. Retracting his lips, Kuser nodded.

“Go…go to him. I…I won’t mind.”

With wide eyes of disbelief, Raysa hesitated.

“What? Are you serious? But Kuser I…”

Kuser smiled.





“He…he lost a wife and…and a baby and…and he’s a good…good friend. You…you love him right?”

There was a brief silence as the two remained still. Looking down Raysa sighed and rubbed her belly.

“But Kuser I’m carrying your babies, I can’t lay with another man! But I…”

Shaking his head, Kuser kissed her again.

“Raysa you…you have changed. Do…do you not see…see it?”

Another pause as tears started to stream down Raysa’s cheeks. Trembling she embraced her Halfling companion and continued to whisper but this time she held him tightly.

“Kuser this is all happening so fast, I’m scared, I don’t know what to do! I feel terrible! It’s my fault!”

Wrapping his arms around his weeping companion, Kuser whispered back.

“It’s not your…your fault Raysa. If…if it did…didn’t happen, I…I wouldn’t be…be a father and…and we wouldn’t have…have never gone on this…this adventure.”

Pulling back gently, Raysa nodded and wiped some tears with the back of her hands. Smiling weakly she allowed Kuser to help her down from the caravan where she waddled towards Toshtai as Kuser went back into the caravan to sleep. Toshtai was already fast asleep on some animal hide blankets when Raysa finally knelt down beside him. His hair was wet; apparently he had doused his head with some water before lying down to sleep. Sniffling softly and leaning forwards, Raysa kissed him ever so lovingly on the cheek. With eyes quickly opening, Toshtai stirred and sat up.

“Raysa, why aren’t you asleep with Kuser? You’ve been crying, is something the matter?”

Without a word Raysa kissed him on the lips as passionately as she could muster. Startled by that, Toshtai pulled back a few inches and blinked.

“Would he mind?”

There was silence as the two eyed each other speechlessly with their hearts pounding hard from beneath their chests. Finally Raysa spoke, just above a whisper.

“Toshtai, your wife and child, I feel as though I’m responsible for it all.”



A little puzzled and his head clouded from fatigue, Toshtai blinked several times as he digested the words. Finally his senses finally came to and he nodded.

“I hear you dear but it wasn’t your fault, we were on the way to Aghay anyways and the ambush I know for certain was not of either of your doing. Is that why you’re crying?”

Wiping a few more tears from her eyes, Raysa looked away.

“Yes and something else.”

Looking back at Toshtai quickly, Raysa kissed him again and this time felt his arms wrap around her. She loved him; she couldn’t deny it any more. As much as she loved Kuser, she loved him as well. Kissing Raysa, Toshtai became lost in the moment. Will she take him and Kuser as her lovers and birth children for them both? Still despite the loss of his beloved wife and child and the lust he had for Raysa, deep down Toshtai knew Raysa loved him and wanted to fill in that void in his heart. It was not her fault but circumstances led to this and there was nothing either of them could do but to move on. True they grieved for Ryathtia and Aria’s passing, and they will continue to mourn for them for years to come but tonight was different. Tonight they would forget about everything that troubled them, just so they could be together. Panting, Raysa suddenly felt Toshtai’s tongue enter her mouth and a hand rub on one inner thigh; the sensation causing her to shiver. Her gypsy lover was obviously skilled, much more skilled in the art of love making than her Halfling companion. Gently lowering Raysa down on the blankets below them, Toshtai felt his member become rock hard and it began to throb painfully from beneath his trousers. Not taking her eyes from him, Raysa slowly took off the dress and boots that she wore, revealing to him her wondrous heavily pregnant form. Looking down Toshtai’s mouth went dry and he hungered to touch her, to feel every curve of her luscious body. Taking off his clothing he knelt in front of her and began to rub his hands all over her tender belly. He felt Kuser’s children leap playfully beneath Raysa’s tight flesh and he leaned forward to whisper in the thief’s ear.

“Would you carry my children as well?”

Wrapping her arms around Toshtai’s neck and kissing him, Raysa nodded.

“For you I will.”

Under the stars for the remainder of the night the two made love as passionately as they could; Toshtai helping Raysa into more comfortable positions as her babies stirred constantly. By late morning as the three started to travel westward from Aghay, the skies clouded up and it began to pour. The entire day was nothing but rain, causing Toshtai to wear a long hooded cloak as he drove the caravan onwards. Not much was said amongst them except for loving kisses, embraces and idle chit-chat. Raysa was starting to feel even more tired and the rain didn’t help much despite it being in summer; she spent most of the day fast asleep inside the caravan.

As dawn approached the next day and the rain still poured, the ox became ill and Toshtai had to tend to it. Giving the beast some medicine he prayed to the Gods to offer them a smooth travel to wherever they would go. Once they reached the nearest town, city or village, they would sell the few jewels that they had and buy two more oxen for their travels. However unbeknownst to the three Orrak had sent out several of his men in search of them; he needed to hear from Kuser and Raysa’s lips what had happened. With a belly now the size of a woman in her eighth month with twins, Raysa had a difficult time sleeping even though she was tired all the time. The constant multiples kicks and the indigestion were also adding to Raysa’s problems. She barely went out of the caravan and spent her time brooding when she was awake. With both an incredibly aching back and belly, Raysa’s temper was quite short as well and both Toshtai and Kuser tried their best to give her as much space as possible. By the late afternoon as the rain finally ceased up, Toshtai had declared the ox dead. Apparently the beast had over-exerted itself to death leaving the three to cook it up and eat its remains. Over the fire as the sun began to set, Raysa sat uncomfortably on a log and gingerly chewed on some oxen meat. The babies within her continued to kick and bounce and she cursed under her breath when she felt a sharp kick. Not able to finish all her food, Raysa handed her plate to Kuser and sighed.

“I’m not feeling so hot, you finish for me.”

Studying his very pregnant companion with a concerned expression, Kuser spoke.

“Are…are you sure you…you don’t need anything?”

Frowning at Kuser, Raysa raised her voice. “Do I need anything? I’ll tell you what I need! I need a bath, a comfortable bed to sleep on, some oxen to drive us out of here and these babies out of me! Is that enough for you?!”

Struggling to get up, Raysa felt some more kicks and rubbed her belly. Walking over, Toshtai helped Raysa to her feet but saw her scowl. Panting loudly as she stood up, Raysa frowned hard at the two.

“I can handle myself!”

Later that evening as it became dark, Raysa remained inside the caravan fast asleep as Toshtai and Kuser lounged about on some logs. Taking out the lizard man’s sword that he had used in the cave and his own knife, Toshtai began to sharpen both blades on a wet slab as he spoke to the Halfling thief.

“I was thinking after the babies are born we could start a business trading valuable rare commodities and other items from place to place. What do you think Kuser?”

Blinking several times, Kuser sighed.



“I…I don’t know if…if Raysa will approve. And…and besides, the old…old man…”

Exasperated, Toshtai dropped the blade he was working on with a loud sigh. Shaking his head slowly he spoke in an agitated tone.

“The old man who you so called cursed you both, isn’t that just for pity stealing? We could start a business, it won’t be stealing but trading; the art of the gypsies in my homeland! I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal? Perhaps he won’t have a hold on you both once the babies are born! Sigh, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for raising my voice to you my good friend. I just can’t stand this tension between us, this silence before the storm. Does it not bother you?”

Kuser thought for a moment, he understood how both Raysa and Toshtai were both suffering with their problems and yet he allowed her to go to him that night. What was Toshtai trying to do? Clenching his fists he looked down and took in a deep breath before releasing it and his fists. Slowly looking up, Kuser shrugged.

“I…I feel it…yes. I…I also feel that I…I am trapped in the…the middle.”

Nodding his head, Toshtai picked up the blade he was working on and began sharpening it again as he replied.

“Yes I know. It’s not fair for either one of us. But I’ll have you know, in Onturas where I come from, it’s not unusual for a man to love another woman once he has been married to another. Your companion, Raysa, she has not married you has she?”

Kuser shook his head.

“No she…she isn’t married to…to me. And I…I know that you…you both love each other.”

Moving his blade off the slab and chuckling softly, Toshtai studied the Halfling for a moment before speaking.

“You’re so passive about it; I know you can’t stand it. If you want to hit me now for taking your mate away from you, you can do it. I won’t care. In fact I deserve a lot worse.”

Frowning hard Kuser was at his wits end and for the first time he actually raised his voice in anger.

“Enough! I…I had enough of…of this!”




Hearing the commotion, Raysa quickly woke up and struggled as she pulled herself towards the caravan door from her covers. Opening the door she noticed Kuser, with his fists clenched frowning hard at Toshtai. Trembling slightly, Kuser continued.

“Both of…of you, you think of…of the worst, I…I’m sick of it! I…I really don’t care…care if she love…loves you or not! I…I know that I love her…her more than my…my own life! If…if you two cannot come to…to terms with…with your problems, I…I’m leave…leaving!”

Just then as Kuser was about to storm away he noticed Raysa staring at him with a wide eyed expression of disbelief; he had actually asserted himself for the first time. Taking in a deep breath, Kuser felt his anger melt away as he saw Raysa’s enormous pregnant belly and the fact that she would soon be giving birth to his children, not Toshtai’s. Helping his companion off the caravan, Kuser sighed and looked down.

“I…I’m sorry you…you had to hear that. I…I didn’t mean it…”

Embracing him lovingly, Raysa shook her head.

“No, I’m proud of you short stuff. But it’s true, I love Toshtai and I also love you; I love the two of you equally.”

Suddenly just before Toshtai could walk up and embrace Raysa, an arrow from out of nowhere whizzed by and just missed Kuser’s shoulder. Spinning around, Toshtai quickly ran to the slab he was using to pick up his sword and knife.

“Kuser, get her inside!”

Frowning, Raysa shook her head.

“No, I’m going to help you!”

Running over to Raysa, Toshtai raised his voice.

“Get inside the caravan now where it’s safe! I won’t have you fighting in your condition!”

Cursing loudly, Raysa knew she was in no shape so she finally allowed Kuser to help her up into the caravan. While inside she reached inside her boots and took out a few throwing knives, ‘just-in-case’. Outside more arrows were flying and both Toshtai and Kuser were able to finally see where it was coming from. About five men from the darkness of the plains emerged just to the right of the party. Three of them held crossbows and with Kuser’s superb eyesight he immediately recognized them as members of the Erango Athkelu. Taking out his own crossbow and cocking an arrow, Kuser spoke to Toshtai hastily.

“They…they’re thieves like us. I…I was afraid of this.”

Ducking quickly from another arrow, Toshtai readied himself as he replied.

“Your uncle sent them?”

Kuser nodded as he shot an arrow, wounding one of the thieves in the leg. And before long the five thieves despite one already wounded with Kuser’s arrow had them surrounded. Sword and knife in both hands in a tight grip, Toshtai glared at the rugged hooded men that approached them.

“Who are you? We bring you no harm, what do you want of us?”

Taking out a short sword from a sheath that hung on the left side of his belt, the first thief, a tall half-elf with piercing black eyes came forth. Pulling down the hood with a freehand he spoke aggressively.

“We come for your two companions, a Halfling and a red haired human. And I see that only one that we’re searching for is in sight. Where is the girl?”

Toshtai glared.

“Why do you need her? Leave us alone!”

Not taking his eyes of the gypsy or Kuser, the half-elf motioned two of his men to search the caravan. Inside Raysa readied her weapons and just as the two men approached her from the darkness, she quickly flung a few of the knives at them, hitting them in the chest. Wounded the two men staggered back and Raysa followed them by jumping out of the caravan and almost nearly badly injuring herself in the process. Taking out her two daggers and standing before the two men who were desperately pulling out the blades from their flesh, Raysa was about to slit their throats but halted as she winced in pain. Lowering herself down on both knees she groaned softly, the jump had obviously taken the wind out of her. Looking over, Kuser was the first to come to Raysa’s side but Toshtai remained where he was. With his weapons still raised and eyes on the three thieves before him he then slowly backed away towards his companions. The half-elf leader who had seen everything was in total disbelief and in shock when he noticed the size of Raysa’s belly. Could she be the one they were looking for? Was she the red haired waif that Orrak took in and trained to be one of the Erango Athkelu? Surely not this woman who was clearly greatly pregnant with child! Pointing to her the half-elf called out.

“You there gypsy, is she the Halfling’s companion who goes by the name of Raysa?”




Toshtai slowly nodded his head.

“She is and she is carrying his children within her belly. Do you not see how tender her condition is? I must go to her!”

Raising up a hand the half-elf shook his head.

“Wait, we will all go together.”

The five thieves with the half-elf’s order had brought the three companions to sit in a circle on the ground with them just in front of the caravan after quickly tending to the three wounded men. With her lower back aching badly, Toshtai had to sit behind Raysa and did his best to help support her weight as the half-elf spoke to them.

“Could one of you please tell me what in the name of the Gods is going on here? My eyes must be playing tricks on me for I’ve had the understanding that Raysa was not pregnant when she left Aghay.”

Sighing loudly, Raysa slowly replied.

“It’s a long story, and embarrassing at that. Kuser and I did reach the tomb that day and we saw the riches but because of my stupidity I didn’t notice that the room was trapped.”

Just before Raysa continued she winced again as she felt several strong kicks from beneath her skin. Peering over her shoulder from behind her, Toshtai grew concerned as he rubbed a side of her belly.

“Did you hurt yourself when you jumped out? Are you alright?”

Shaking her head, Raysa sighed again.

“No I’m alright now, they’re just really active. Listen, half-elf, what is your name anyways?”

With his eyes transfixed on Raysa’s greatly swollen abdomen, the half-elf remained still before blinking several times and answering.

“I am Lledar Yoeld, the leader of this party who has tracked you down until now. Please continue your story.”







As Raysa told Lledar and his men what had occurred up to this point she noticed the different expressions each of them had on their faces. Magic was not a new concept to them but magic causing rapid pregnancy, especially between a human and a Halfling was something they all had not heard of and yet the truth was right there in front of them. After Raysa had finished Lledar was speechless for a short while before he ran a hand through his hair as he spoke.

“This is certainly not something we were expecting. If we had known of her condition sooner we wouldn’t have opened fire on the lot of you. And I see you have no oxen to pull your weight.”

Toshtai nodded.

“Yes we left the cave with just one but it died not long ago. We are immobile for now, especially when the babies will be here any day now.”

Looking at Raysa, Lledar’s mouth went dry.

“You do realize that we have to bring you two back to Aghay right?”

Slowly nodding her head and rubbing the entire expanse of her belly lovingly, Raysa answered.

“I am aware of that but how can we move all our stuff with no oxen to pull it?”

There was a pause as the five thieves looked at one another and then back at the three. Shrugging his shoulders, Lledar chuckled.

“I guess my men and I will help you pull it. We were informed to bring the two of you back to Aghay in one piece but seeing that you’re in no condition to travel at this point, we’ll have to wait until you have your babies.”

Just before Lledar stood up, Toshtai questioned.

“Wait, so you weren’t trying to kill us earlier?”

Chuckling again, Lledar answered.

“We didn’t know what to expect. But now that my men and I are fully aware of the situation, we will protect you until we’ve reached Aghay; my apologies to the three of you.”





A little while later after Lledar had ordered his men to set up camp, he motioned Kuser to sit beside him on a log. Leaning forwards and studying the Halfling with folded hands, Lledar spoke just above a whisper.

“Your uncle will be pleased to hear that you will become a father. I knew about you two for quite some time and your successful missions. That girl, Raysa, we all never would have thought you would both end up this way. And now look at you, a thief who cannot be a thief any more just because of some old man’s curse.”

Kuser raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

Not taking his eyes of the Halfling, Lledar continued.

“I guess it can’t be all bad but what will you do? The two of you judging by what has happened to you cannot continue the ways of the Erango Athkelu, especially with little ones on the way.”

There was a pause before Kuser answered.

“My…my friend the gypsy, he…he wants us to…to start trading.”

Chuckling, Lledar shook his head.

“Trading, stealing, it’s all the same to me. But still I admire the lot of you, especially you Kuser Ruldrak! I heard the girl’s a high-strung one! Anyways I’m going to turn in. Goodnight and good luck dealing with your uncle.”

Meanwhile inside the caravan, Toshtai laid behind Raysa on some blankets. Rubbing her belly lovingly he whispered in her ear.

“Are you feeling okay? Were you frightened?”

Leaning back and allowing to be cuddled, Raysa answered back in a whisper.

“I was a little frightened yes. I wonder what Lledar and Kuser are talking about. What are you thinking?”

Wrapping his arms around Raysa, Toshtai thought for a moment. Regardless of Lledar’s apology and his acceptable reaction to her condition and what had happened to them all, Toshtai didn’t fully trust him or his men. To Toshtai, Raysa and Kuser and their unborn children were his family now and in loving memory of his late wife and baby, he would protect them with his life. Kissing Raysa’s cheek softly, Toshtai answered.


“I am a little worried about you and Kuser. We have no choice really, and no oxen to move us. I wasn’t going to think about moving until you had the babies but I guess with Lledar here I don’t need to worry about it too much. I will be here for you and Kuser until I die. I love you Raysa.”

Turning around to face him, Raysa blushed. She couldn’t snuggle up as close as she wanted for her belly got in the way but she embraced him the best she could by wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

“I love you too.”

As they kissed Kuser came inside and coughed to get their attention. Turning around Raysa motioned him to come close and when he did she embraced him.

“Hey short stuff, what did Lledar say to you?”

Returning the embrace and quickly pecking Raysa on the lips, Kuser answered.

“Not much, he…he just wishes me good…good luck with my uncle.”

Raysa chuckled.

“Old Orrak will be truly baffled to see our babies now won’t he?”

Kissing Kuser on the lips, Raysa continued.

“And anyways, I’m tired. Let’s turn in.”

By morning Raysa slowly awoke to the sound of the five thieves chatting just outside the caravan. The smell of roasting meat and vegetable soup met her nostrils and she immediately felt hungry. However it was rather difficult to move and her dress clung uncomfortably on her damp skin; the caravan was stuffy inside. Looking down Raysa quickly noticed that her belly had indeed increased in size and looked to be of a woman nine months pregnant with twins. Her belly was also not as rounded out as it once was or as high; instead it was oblong in shape and lower, making her breathe easier. Next to her both Kuser and Toshtai remained asleep but somehow in the night as her belly increased in size and shape they moved a bit away. Slowly moving over to Kuser, Raysa kissed him on the cheek and whispered.

“Hey short stuff, wake up.”

Part 4



Blinking the sleep from his eyes and stirring, Kuser rolled over to one side and immediately his eyes went wide when he noticed the change of Raysa’s belly. Smiling widely Raysa brought one of his hands forward and laid it directly on top of her naval.

“I’ve grown last night see?”

Leaning forwards Kuser laid an ear on Raysa’s abdomen and felt a side with one hand. He heard gurgling from within and even felt a couple of strong kicks. Looking up he returned the wide smile.

“I…I can feel them kick…kicking!”

Giggling and embracing Kuser, Raysa did not notice Toshtai awakening. From behind he began to kiss her neck while rubbing his hands on either side of her belly.

“You’ve definitely grown and it won’t be much longer now. Shall we eat?”

As the two came out of the caravan, the five thieves looked up with wide eyed expression as soon as they saw Raysa. Trotting up, Lledar took one of Raysa’s hands and led her to nearby log where he immediately brought her a hearty bowl of meat and soup. However despite the half-elf’s kind acts Toshtai remained rigid and suspicious but said nothing. He kept a close eye on his caravan at all times and even during conversations Toshtai always had his eyes moving. As everyone ate, Lledar noticed the gypsy’s tense body language and questioned him.

“Is something the matter?”

Looking up from his food, Toshtai shrugged.

“No nothing is the matter why?”

Pointing to Toshtai’s bowl, Lledar answered.

“You barely touched your food.”

Chuckling Toshtai shrugged again before biting into a large piece of meat. Lledar continued.

“Tell me; from what I heard from Raysa’s story, your name is Toshtai wasn’t it?”

Nodding his head, Toshtai swallowed his food before answering.

“Yes I am Toshtai Zhoomunt of Onturas. My late wife and baby and I met Raysa and her companion on the road.”


Looking over at Raysa who sat busy eating then back at Toshtai, Lledar rubbed his chin and nodded.

“I see. I’ve never been to Onturas but I hear that they do a lot of trading there.”

There was a short pause as Toshtai studied the half-elf. He didn’t like him; he was starting to get on his nerves already. Damn his ox! Why did that stupid beast have to die and leave them like this? Still with Raysa at full-term and the babies almost here, Toshtai had to mind what he was saying. Sighing deeply he lowered his bowl and looked over at Raysa then back at Lledar who smiled at him. It took a lot of Toshtai’s strength to keep him from cringing, he never did like elves and Lledar was no exception. Tall and skinny in stature with slant elfin eyes; Lledar appeared to have inherited more of his elfin ancestry than his human’s. And it was the color of those eyes that made Toshtai’s skin crawl. Midnight black piercing eyes that appeared to look right into your very soul, good intimidating eyes for a possible profession of law. Still this thief was getting on his nerves but Toshtai had to play his cards right. Forcing a smile, Toshtai nodded.

“Yes we do a lot of trading. Where are you from?”

Immediately Lledar’s smile widened and he leaned forward on his seat.

“I come from the northern elfin kingdom of Embanar. Have you ever been there?”

Toshtai shook his head.

“No I have not. When I was a lad my father had taken me as far as Lurotham but of course that is but a week less of a journey than Embanar so I heard.”

Repeating the name Lurotham under his breath, Lledar’s eyes lit up.

“Oh I’ve been there but that was ages ago. Fine ale and wine there that’s for certain! And many a good festival too! Yes this world is grand. Have you a dream of seeing it all?”

Just then Raysa interrupted.

“I do.”

Looking over, Lledar smiled but studied Raysa intently. “I see. Well hopefully you will someday.”







From there the party remained quiet as they finished off their meals. A little while later, Raysa was feeling a little restless and bored. Walking to one side of the caravan and shading her from the sun she sat down and rested her aching back against the cool wood. When will this be all over? When will her babies finally be born? Raysa began to wonder how women could survive a whole nine months of this torture and yet she had gone through it all in just days except for the birth. Looking down Raysa noticed a few bumps here and there beginning to rise and fall from beneath the skin of her abdomen and it started to ache a bit. Could she have eaten too much? Closing her eyes, Raysa didn’t notice Kuser approach her but felt his gentle touch when he sat down next to her. Touching her belly he looked at her with a concerned expression.

“Are…are you feel…feeling alright?”

Opening her eyes, Raysa nodded.

“Sort of, I’ve been feeling really achy and I can’t seem to relax. How are you doing?”

Rubbing his companion’s belly, Kuser couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious.

“Do…do you think its time?”

Closing her eyes again, Raysa sighed.

“I don’t know short stuff, I guess we just gotta wait and see.”

For most of the day the party just lounged about with a few of Lledar’s men leaving the camp to hunt or gather some firewood from nearby trees; all the while the ache in Raysa’s belly slowly increasing over time. It wasn’t until nightfall did Raysa started to feel the pain. As she ate her dinner with the party by the fire, beads of sweat started to form on her brow and she felt an incredible weight from inside her belly being pushed downwards like an anchor. Lowering her bowl on the ground she shifted in her seat uncomfortably, the log obviously too hard for her. Looking up Toshtai, Kuser and even Lledar noticed her discomforts and eyed her curiously. Not wanting to show any pain, Raysa forced a smile but the three could clearly see that someone was wrong; Toshtai was the first to speak.

“Are you in any pain Raysa?”

Rubbing the base of her belly with both hands earnestly, Raysa shifted in her seat again and grimaced. Immediately Toshtai got up and sat next to her. Feeling all around her belly and then her sweaty forehead he nodded.

“Raysa I think you’re in labor.”



Shaking her head quickly, Raysa frowned.

“No I feel fine, please let me be!”

Turning away from him, Raysa moaned softly as the pain increased a bit more. By this time Lledar’s men were looking up from their meals. Slowly getting up from their seats, both Kuser and Lledar knelt down in front of Raysa who trembled slightly as she bit her lip. Lledar nodded.

“I’ve seen women in her condition before, she’s definitely in labor. Have you any tools?”

Not wanting the half-elf to touch her, Toshtai quickly spoke up.

“Yes I have some in my caravan when I delivered my daughter alone on the road.”

With Toshtai’s arm wrapped around her protectively, Raysa groaned and winced.

“Please don’t touch me, leave me alone.”

As she tried to stand up she felt Kuser’s hands touch her on the leg; clearly he was just as frightened as she was.

“Raysa maybe you…you should lie down?”

Gasping through the increasing pain, Raysa shook her head.

“No, I can’t. Please leave me. What are you doing?”

Helping her from the log, Toshtai had Lledar order his men to leave them. Finally away from prying eyes he then lowered her gently on the soft grass beneath their feet. Frowning at Lledar, Toshtai spoke hastily.

“Boil some water, I’ll take it from here.”

With the half-elf gone and Kuser now next to them, Toshtai began to lift up Raysa’s dress just above her abdomen. Feeling between her legs Toshtai immediately noticed that Raysa’s water had not broken yet and he wondered exactly how much pain she was in. Wincing through her growing contractions, Raysa did her best to keep a straight face but her mouth felt dry. Turning her attention to Kuser who sat beside her tensely, she spoke through pain.

“Short stuff, bring me some water.”




Without a single word Kuser dropped his rucksack from his back and reached a hand inside to quickly bring out a sack full of fresh water. Uncorking it he gently brought it to Raysa’s lips so she could drink from it. As Raysa drank the semi-cool water, it soothed her anxiety a bit and after she had drank her fill she tried to stand up. Holding both of her shoulders firmly, Toshtai studied Raysa closely with a very concerned expression on his face. He had delivered just one baby in all in his life, one baby with Ryathtia’s giving him instructions in what to do as she labored. This time was different, Raysa was expecting three and despite masking her pain with the denial that anything was wrong, Toshtai knew Raysa was frightened. Struggling, Raysa frowned and finally broke free of the gypsy’s hold on her. It took a fair deal of her strength to sit up and even more as she continued to fight off both Kuser and Toshtai’s holds. Moving down on one side she tried to crawl away from them as she felt the endless spasms run across her belly and her children leap within her. Sweat streaming down her brow she dug her fingers deep into the grass below her and used her arms to pull her weight forward. By this time Toshtai couldn’t stand it; kneeling down directly in front of her, he firmly moved Raysa on her back. Holding both of her arms tightly in his hands he kissed her on the lips and sighed deeply.

“Please don’t waste your strength on that. What are you afraid of Raysa? You’re in labor, you can’t deny it.”

Raysa was angry and she scowled at Toshtai who continued to hold her arms in place. Turning her head to one side she winced through a sharp contraction. After a short while Toshtai finally released his hold on Raysa’s arms. Leaning forwards he kissed her on the cheek and immediately felt her arms wrap around his neck. Tears flowing down her flushed cheeks, Raysa whimpered on his shoulder.

“I’m so afraid!”

Embracing her, Toshtai nodded.

“Yes I know dear but you mustn’t do that to yourself. Conserve your energy; you have three babies to birth into the world.”

Just then Lledar returned with a bowl of hot water. Taking the bowl from the half-elf, Toshtai handed it to Kuser.

“Hold this; I’m going to get some blankets and some tools for the birth from the caravan.”

Two hours later Lledar’s men heard Raysa cried out suddenly from a sharp spasm. Looking up they stared at their leader with wide eyes. They had never seen Lledar as anxious as he was. Frowning at his men, Lledar spoke aggressively.



“Get back to sleep all of you! Have you never heard a woman in labor before? Show some respect!”

Of course the half-elf wasn’t the only one who was anxious. As Toshtai tended to Raysa who groaned loudly in pain, Kuser sat right beside them; legs drawn up to his chest he trembled slightly from the sight of his companion’s suffering. Raising Raysa’s dress over her belly, Toshtai felt all around it and then down between her legs. Her waters had not broken yet and the babies were still relatively high up. Looking down to his right Toshtai opened up a small wooden chest he had brought out from his caravan earlier. Inside there was a birthing knife, a cord, a wooden bit for Raysa to clench her teeth on and a small pouch with some crushed magical herbs inside. Reaching into the pouch with one hand and bringing a second bowl with some water in it close to him, Toshtai then added the some of the crushed herbs into the bowl. Immediately the herbs dissolved in the water, prompting Toshtai to bring the bowl to Raysa’s lips. Helping his laboring companion to sit up, Toshtai held the bowl directly in front of her.

“Drink this dear, it will help with the pain and make you a bit drowsy.”

Panting through her agony, Raysa just nodded and took a few sips before coughing. Catching her breath she took a few more sips and then more until she had drank it all. Lowering Raysa down on the grass below her, Toshtai smiled warmly.

“You might want to sleep soon.”

Smiling weakly, Raysa nodded her head as she slowly rubbed the entire expanse of her enormous laboring belly. Her navel was sticking up high and whenever her fingers would brush by it, the sensation brought shivers down her spine. Looking behind him Toshtai noticed Kuser trembling with fright and he motioned the Halfling to sit closer.

“She’ll be alright Kuser; you should be with her too.”

Just before Kuser could sit closer, the three companions heard Lledar curse loudly at his men. Quickly standing up, Toshtai peered over and noticed that both Lledar and his men were being attacked by lizard men. Fear immediately engulfed the gypsy and he spun around.

“We’re under attack!”

As Toshtai joined the thieves in their battle between the lizard men, Kuser was left alone to protect Raysa who frowned hard. Taking out his cross bow and cocking an arrow into place, Kuser kept his eyes moving as he sat close to his laboring companion. Squinting through her pain, Raysa shifted uncomfortably as she tried to reach for her throwing knives from within her boots but her belly was much too big and got in her way.



Groaning through pain she raised one leg up and finally managed to take out a knife before quickly lowering the leg. Frustrated by everything Raysa cursed loudly and flung the knife into the jugular vein of a lizard man; killing it instantly. As the battle raged on, Raysa soon became blinded by anger and pain. Sweat pouring down her brow and fingers clinched around each knife, she kept flinging them until eventually all the lizard men laid dead with only one casualty on their side. One of Lledar’s men had fallen in the battle but the rest were okay. After they had quickly tended to their wounds, Lledar quickly helped his men bury the dead as Toshtai came to Raysa’s aid once more. Cleaning his hands the best he could and then lifting up her dress, Toshtai peered between her legs and frowned.

“Your waters aren’t broken yet and the babies still haven’t moved much; it probably won’t be until late morning or even the early afternoon when you give birth. Are you in much pain dear?”

Raysa forced a weak smile.

“A little bit, I’m just so tired and I can hardly move.”

Nodding his head, Toshtai smiled back.

“You need all your strength if we are to deliver all three of your babies safely into this world. I doubt there will be another attack. For now I think we should put you inside the caravan, at least until morning.”

Despite her dislike for the stuffy caravan, Raysa was much too tired and too sore to argue. With Lledar’s help, and Kuser close by, Toshtai managed to get Raysa safely and comfortably inside the caravan. Quickly gathering up as many pillows and soft blankets as he could with his birthing tools nearby, Toshtai gently laid Raysa down. As Raysa settled in, Lledar studied her closely. He saw her huge distended belly rise and fall, the material of her dress stretched as far as it would go over such an enormous mound. And despite wanting to say something to her, anything even a word of pity, Lledar kept his mouth shut. He knew that Toshtai disliked him, the gypsy’s eyes told him so and here he tried his best to hide his distaste for the half-elf. Somehow Lledar found Toshtai’s hatred amusing but on the other hand a hindrance. The half-elf was absolutely memorized by Raysa’s condition and he wished he had known her earlier, to ask her how she was coping in carrying so many young. Lost in his thoughts, Lledar didn’t see Toshtai glaring at him and his reverie was suddenly broken by the gypsy’s gruff tone.

“Need anything Lledar?”







Blinking several times the half-elf shook his head.

“I, I was just worried about your companion here.”

Somehow Toshtai felt that there was more to what Lledar wanted and he eyed the half-elfin thief curiously. As Raysa’s eyelids grew heavy and she slowly fell asleep, Lledar remained still with his eyes transfixed on her belly. Shaking his head again and chuckling nervously, the half-elf knelt down in front of Toshtai and Kuser and spoke above a whisper.

“This may come to a shock for both of you but there is something about me that no one in the guild knows. It’s so difficult for me to say and I had no need to really tell anyone about it until I saw your companion Raysa so heavy with child. But for me to tell you, you must promise to never utter this to anyone, not even to my men…except Raysa.”

Sighing deeply, Toshtai looked over at Kuser who only smiled and shrugged. Looking back at the half-elf, Toshtai nodded his head exasperatedly.

“You have our word, what is it?”

Studying the two intently Lledar bit his lip and rolled up his tunic over his thin abdomen. A few seconds after the tunic was lifted up his abdomen began to push forward and swell until he looked to be eight months pregnant with a single baby.

“I am with child as well.”

Eyes widening both Toshtai and Kuser were utterly speechless until Lledar continued.

“We elves in Embanar do not breed often and sometimes our women die in childbirth so it’s up to us men to fill in that task. This tunic that I wear not only hides my advancing pregnancy but enables me to fight and perform my duties. In the case of your companion here, I had not heard of a potion doing such a task in advancing one’s pregnancy so quickly. For us Embanar elves, both males and females are capable to bear young.”

Peering at Lledar’s distended belly with great interest, Toshtai was the first to speak.

“I had no idea that the Embanar elves were capable of such feats. But…how exactly…who is the father?”

Looking down and lovingly rubbing his nearly full-term belly, then looking up, Lledar smiled widely.

“I am actually a surrogate for my brother back in Embanar. His wife had gotten ill and died when she was still pregnant but the babe was placed into me to carry and to birth for him.”

With a hand trembling, Kuser leaned forward and was about to touch Lledar’s belly when he felt Toshtai’s hand grip his tightly. The gypsy’s eyes told him to not touch but Lledar who saw everything just chuckled.

“He can touch it if he likes, it’s not diseased.”

Casually taking one of Kuser’s hands, Lledar placed it gently on top of his belly and smiled.

“There now you felt it. Touch it yourself Toshtai and feel for yourself that what I have told you is no lie.”

Eyes still wide and in disbelief, Toshtai shook his head but paused as he thought about it. Kuser on the other hand couldn’t believe it, leaning an ear to Lledar’s abdomen and rubbing the sides, Kuser chuckled.

“It…it feels like Raysa’s…sorta.”

Hesitating for a long moment and coughing nervously, Toshtai gingerly placed a hand on top of Lledar’s belly and felt it for a couple of seconds before quickly retracting his hand. Looking up at the half-elf he questioned.

“It certainly feels real enough but male pregnancy…and you’re only half an elf! How is this even possible, better yet, how can you birth the child without the guild even knowing?”

Feeling a strong kick and tenderly rubbing the spot on his belly, Lledar smiled at the gypsy.

“I had made plans to leave the guild temporarily in the next month and go to Embanar to birth my brother’s child; I will return that’s for certain but it’s only for an urgent family matter that I must leave. And I am also not fully in the guild.”

Immediately Kuser lifted his head up.

“You…you’re not full…fully part of the guild?”

Smiling at the Halfling and then back at the gypsy, Lledar continued as he earnestly rubbed the entire expanse of his fertile belly.

“There are some of us who do work for the guild under-the-table so to speak; escorts and collectors if you will. We do that as temporary work but we still abide by the guild’s rules and steal as any thief would. As for my condition…”



Pausing for a moment, Lledar looked down and saw how big his belly really was. He had worn the magical tunic for such a long time and was so busy that he had not really looked at himself that much. The baby he was carrying had indeed grown and his back was starting to ache badly; making him further sympathize what Raysa must be going through. And inside his greatly swollen abdomen his brother’s child was turning restlessly making him groan slightly from the sensation. Immediately and without thinking Toshtai’s hands went to Lledar’s belly and he felt all around it instinctively. Regardless of his distaste for the half-elf, pregnancy was pregnancy and he felt inclined to help those who were in this tender state. Feeling around the bulge, Toshtai nodded his head.

“I see. Well now that you’ve brought it up I am beginning to worry about how a male half-elf such as yourself can even birth a child.”

Chuckling, Lledar pointed to Raysa who was sleeping peacefully despite her children moving down slowly to be born.

“Like her, there are many things in this world that not many people truly know about. I inherited most of my elfin traits, so much like a seahorse in the ocean I am able to not only carry my children to full-term but birth them naturally as well. Why do you worry so?”

Sighing deeply and shrugging, Toshtai answered plainly.

“I guess I care unconditionally for those who are in such a tender state. New life is new life to me regardless of the circumstance or who the parent may be. Do you plan to travel alone to Embanar?”

There was a short pause as Lledar studied the gypsy. Surprisingly he started to feel aroused by Toshtai’s words and cursed himself for having such unclean thoughts. He was a man and Toshtai was a man, the very thought was unheard of and yet being pregnant, Lledar found himself throughout the months wanting to have intercourse with a woman or a man as much as possible. Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Lledar did his best to not lean forward; ever since he lifted up his tunic releasing the hold of his overall condition, his hormones were now on overdrive and he couldn’t contain himself. Many nights he would restlessly turn in his sleeping sack, wanting so desperately to seduce one of his men. And now as his eyes darted from every inch of Toshtai’s masculine frame, Lledar sunk deeper into what he dreaded most, he wanted him, any man just to fill his burning lust. Breathing rapidly and loudly with his brother’s child leaping playfully inside his distended belly, Lledar without thinking quickly grabbed the back of Toshtai’s head and firmly kissed him on the lips. Immediately he was pushed back roughly by Toshtai’s strong arms. Eyes wide and very much horrified, the gypsy was absolutely speechless. What was going on here?

Part 5


Before Toshtai or even Kuser could reach for their weapons, Lledar raised both of his hands and with tears in his eyes spoke above a whisper.

“Kill me if you have to, I admit I have unclean thoughts. I had no idea that pregnancy could do this to a man, no one told me what was in store. Its just that I…I cannot control these urges. Listen, forget about me, I’ve shown and told you both too much. There is a child to be born, I better leave.”

Studying the half-elf closely, Toshtai replied coolly.

“Killing you will have more than one consequence than just alerting your men. But it still doesn’t excuse you for what you’ve done…if you weren’t so gravid I would have…”

Looking down at Lledar’s belly, Toshtai suddenly remembered Raysa and he quickly spun around to check on her. The babies were still in the same place and she was sleeping soundly; tomorrow would be an eventful day for sure, fortunately he had calmed her labor down for now. And yet this thing with Lledar, he was so confused. Holding his head and sighing exasperatedly, Toshtai continued.

“My late wife told me that some women go through this sometime during their pregnancy, does this apply to you?”

Blushing red and looking away nervously, Lledar nodded his head. Kuser was appalled and shook his head.

“You…you…mean….mean you are constantly…”

Just then Toshtai quickly interrupted Kuser and frowned.

“Yes Kuser he is that way, at least while he’s pregnant. Am I right Lledar?”

Raising his head and looking at the two nervously, Lledar nodded his head slowly and wiped some tears from his eyes.

“I don’t even feel like a man when I am like this. But yet despite all of its shortcomings, I don’t mind carrying young. You know to be perfectly honest, I am glad I was set on this mission to get you. Over the course of my pregnancy I had not spoken to anyone in such detail of my life. I thank you both for listening to me. And I apologize to you Toshtai. I cannot redeem myself for what I just did.”

Lowering his tunic to conceal his pregnant form, Lledar slowly left the caravan to be with his men outside.




The next morning Raysa was the first to awaken in the entire camp from a sharp pain in her belly. Apparently Toshtai’s pain killer had worn off and the babies were anxiously waiting to be born. Not wanting to rouse her companions, Raysa did her best to labor quietly. Closing her eyes tightly as sweat began to form and run down her forehead she rubbed the base of her extremely sore belly eagerly. The babies must have moved a great deal downwards in the night, Raysa was starting to feel a tremendous weight approaching her vagina and she was afraid to close her legs. Lying firmly on her back, Raysa suddenly started to feel a sudden urge to push and she did so by raising both of her legs to her chest as far as they could go while she bore down with all her might. Eventually after a couple of grunts she couldn’t do it anymore and groaned loudly when another spasm had hit her. Just then Toshtai awoke after feeling Raysa’s sudden jolt. Upon seeing his laboring companion about to give birth, Toshtai quickly bolted upright and checked her opening. Her water must have broke overnight and now it was time to birth Kuser’s children into the world! Kissing Raysa’s lips and then quickly getting her fully undressed, Toshtai spoke eagerly as he shook Kuser awake.

“Its time Kuser, wake up!”

Bolting upright himself, Kuser was awestricken as he watched Toshtai help his children into the world. Gently Toshtai began to rub Raysa’s belly, eagerly waiting for the first baby to drop just a bit lower.

“Okay Raysa what I want you to do is push as hard as you possibly can and hold it for a couple of seconds. Can you do that?”

Without a single word, Raysa just nodded as she groaned loudly before taking a deep breath and pushing until she saw stars in her eyes. With each push Toshtai could feel the first baby enter more into the birth canal from rubbing her belly until there was a bulge in Raysa’s uterus. Cupping the bulge that was beginning to show just below the base of his companion’s enormous abdomen, Toshtai’s eyes lit up.

“The first baby is about to be born! Several more pushes and we’re there! Keep going dear!”

Just then Lledar came inside and quickly closed the door behind him. To his surprise Toshtai was too busy to kick the half-elf out so he just remained inside the caravan, watching the miracle before him. Shaking her head, Raysa paused.

“It hurts too much, I can’t do this anymore!”

Kissing one side of Raysa’s belly, Toshtai continued to encourage her.





“Don’t give up; I can feel the head, keep pushing dear!”

For a long moment Raysa didn’t push and Toshtai could feel the first baby begin to squirm in the canal; he immediately became frantic.

“Raysa you must push or the child will die! Now PUSH dammit!”

Screaming as loud as she could, Raysa bore down and pushed with all her might until finally the first baby’s head crowned. As she continued to bear down for what seemed like an eternity the first child, a wailing infant that was smaller than an average human newborn was born. Quickly tending to the infant Toshtai announced it was a boy before handing it to Kuser first who sat deathly quiet next to Raysa.

“Congratulations your first born is a boy!”

With tears in his eyes, Kuser admired his son before showing the wailing child to Raysa who gently touched her son’s face and kissed him on his small rosy cheeks. Kneeling down next to them Lledar admired the baby and touched his little hands but the glorious moment was soon interrupted when Raysa groaned loudly by another strong contraction. Immediately Toshtai was ready.

“Okay the second one is coming! Bite on this bit, I have a feeling this one might be bigger than the last.”

How Toshtai knew he wasn’t certain but judging by the immense size of Raysa’s belly, he couldn’t be far off. As Raysa bit hard on the bit she was given, Toshtai lovingly stroked her aching belly; the pain must be killing her and yet she still had the strength. Again and again she did what he commanded with little hesitation now despite the intense pain. And as Raysa labored on, Lledar began to wonder how he would fare a month or so from now when it was time to birth his child. Without fully realizing it, Lledar had rolled his magical tunic up allowing his pregnant belly to be exposed. Anxiously he began to rub the large mound as he watched the birth with anticipation. Finally Raysa had given birth to the second baby, a larger wailing even louder baby boy. By this time Raysa whose contractions had seized momentarily saw Lledar’s condition and with wide eyes pointed at him. Nodding his head and chuckling, Toshtai kissed her sweaty brow before he answered.

“Long story, we’ll explain letter”

Raysa frowned.

“You gotta be kidding! Oh no, it’s starting again!”




Feeling Raysa’s now much smaller belly, Toshtai chuckled again.

“This last one isn’t wasting any time! Okay darling, you know the drill!”

With each contraction it felt as though all of Raysa’s organs were being torn to pieces. She felt like blacking out many times but by seeing Kuser’s speechless proud face and the two wailing babies in his arms, she just couldn’t give up now! Sweat pouring down her face and her mind filled with so many questions, Raysa bore down to birth her final baby into the world. The minutes seemed like hours as Toshtai tended to his laboring companion, he could see the expression on her face; she wanted to quit so many times but her body just won’t let her. This baby wanted to be born now whether she was ready or not. Gasping for breath and crying through tears of pain, Raysa stopped momentarily to wrap her hands along the base of her much less swollen belly. She could now feel her last child squirm and kick wildly inside her, and she knew she had no choice but to bear down with all her might. Arching her back and summoning all the strength and will she could muster, Raysa bore down hard, the hardest she had during this entire time. Just as it seemed like there was no end to Raysa’s suffering, Toshtai beamed widely as he held both Kuser and Raysa’s last child, a baby girl who was even angrier than her brothers.

The four adults inside the caravan were in absolute awe and relief as they kissed, and touched the three newborns. Despite their somewhat smaller size that average-sized human babies these babies were quite healthy and rosy. The two boys seemed to have inherited most of Kuser’s characteristics but the girl had flaming red hair as her mother Raysa. Kuser however remained utterly speechless and being a new and proud father that he was he never left Raysa or his children’s sides. Smiling at the young family, Lledar questioned them.

“What will you name them?”

Looking up sleepily, Raysa smiled and looked up at Kuser who shrugged and motioned Raysa to fill that question in. Holding her two boys in her arm, Raysa pointed to her first born.

“Short stuff wants me to name them. Well I’ll call him Verran, his brother will be Lyeif and their sister will be Arenda.”

Nodding his head and smiling, Lledar continued.

“All fine names and beautiful children. Now I assume you want to know about my condition. Let me explain…”






As Lledar explained to Raysa what he had told both Toshtai and Kuser the night before, Raysa was in total disbelief but she knew if what had happened to her came true, a pregnant male elf shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Cradling his belly with both hands, Lledar continued to smile warmly.

“Don’t worry about me. I will help to move this caravan to Aghay.”

Looking up at Lledar, Toshtai raised an eyebrow.

“Are you sure? I mean I know about that tunic and all but, you’re due soon aren’t you?”

Chuckling, Lledar answered.

“I fought those lizard men with ease and even tracked you down without any difficulty. And besides, elves are known for longer gestation periods, I could very well carry this child into the tenth month easily.”

Shaking his head in disbelief, Kuser questioned the half-elf.

“You can…can carry your baby…baby for…for ten months?”

Lledar nodded.

“Yes and probably more if I can. Of course the baby will be bigger the longer it stays inside me. But anyways that is neither here nor there; I will summon my men to begin to pull the caravan.”

Just then Toshtai blurted out.

“I’ll come with you to help pull it. Raysa, Kuser, will you two be alright?”

Seeing no problems, both Toshtai and Lledar left the caravan but not before Lledar lowered his magical tunic to conceal his entire pregnancy. Later that day as Kuser and Raysa slept while Toshtai and the thieves pulled the caravan, Raysa had an unusual dream. The old man was in it, with his glowing blue eyes he chuckled as he pointed at her.

“You have done well! Your task is complete and my spell is now lifted.”

Instinctively Raysa immediately started to reach for her throwing daggers but paused as she spoke.

“Why did you do this to me? What have I done to deserve such a thing?”



Crossing his arms the old man answered plainly.

“I did it out of a favor I owed to a long dead relative of yours. Your great ancestor was a very noble warrior who had saved my life on more than one occasion. For his good deeds I made him several offers but he chose just one of the many. I was to aid one of his descendants in putting him or her on the right path. That descendant is you my dear!”

Raysa frowned.

“But why did I have to become pregnant and birth three babies so quickly?”

The old man chuckled.

“Fate was also a part of it. You were meant to bear three young sometime in your life to the Halfling you have grown so close to. However brutal punishment and death by the law’s hands could have been your outcome if you had kept going the route you were going. I changed that outcome by pushing you into the right direction and that was to have children.”

Shaking her head in disbelief, Raysa pressed on.

“So in order for me to avoid punishment and death from the law I had to become pregnant quickly?

The old man chuckled again.

“Precisely and I’ve also come to warn you. You will experience a great challenge in the road ahead, be careful and continue to be close to the family that you now have. My task here is done.”

Just before the old man disappeared for the final time, Raysa yelled.

“What about my parents? Why didn’t you save them?”

There was no reply as the old man faded into nothingness, leaving Raysa crying in her sleep. For the rest of the trip to Aghay, Kuser squeezed out as much milk as he could from Raysa’s breasts into small drinking sacks that they had specially reserved for their babies. The rain outside was pouring steadily and it helped cool down the overall temperature inside the caravan. Cradling Lyeif and Arenda in her arms as Kuser fed Verran a small sack of milk, Raysa smiled at her Halfling companion.

“Well short stuff, we did it, we’re both parents now. How does it feel? You haven’t said much.”



Kuser shrugged.

“I…I am still…still in shock. So…so many things have…have happened. I…I am worried what my…my uncle will say…say though.”

Raysa chuckled.

“You know I must be crazy to be saying this but after having our babies I’ve changed my way in thinking. Maybe this whole thieving thing isn’t our thing, I mean what if we did actually slip one day, get caught, been severely punished and then put to death? What then?”

Lifted up an eyebrow, Kuser questioned his human companion.

“What…what do you…you mean?”

Just then Raysa’s smile faded and she quickly relayed the dream she had to him. After she had finished, Kuser nodded his head in understanding as Raysa continued.

“Think about it Kuser. Even though the old man told me he lifted his spell, I believe throughout all of this, including all this pain I felt in having our babies, a part of me has finally changed. I don’t want to be a thief or an assassin anymore, spell or no spell, old man or no old man; I think I’ve come to my decision. We can just quit the guild Kuser, run away and live with Toshtai somewhere far from here and raise our babies…maybe make more babies. What do you say?”

Kuser sighed.

“What…what about avenging your…your parents?”

That question struck Raysa’s heart like a knife. Had she given up on that as well? Had she given up on the very thing that motivated her to get where she was today? But what was she anyways? A thief and an assassin were frowned upon careers and she was trained well in it. Still somehow even before the dream occurred, the moment she saw her first born and then all three of her babies, her heart melted and that last piece of the puzzle was finally filled. What good will vengeance do for her now? She had children, three beautiful children that both she and Kuser made. Slowly Raysa answered.

“I don’t know, maybe I’ll forget that as well.”







Two days later, Toshtai became more concerned about Lledar as they continued to pull the caravan onwards. Despite wearing the magical tunic he had to take more and more breaks as they neared Aghay. One night as Lledar’s men lay sleeping outside the caravan; Toshtai invited the half-elf inside where both Kuser and Raysa remained with their babies. Rolling up Lledar’s tunic to reveal his magically concealed distended abdomen, Toshtai felt all around it. Immediately as soon as his tunic was off his belly, Lledar started to feel all the symptoms of being pregnant again. His posture seemed to weaken from fatigue and his back became painfully arched. Both Raysa and Kuser were awestricken by such a pregnant male elf that they remained speechless. As Toshtai continued to examine the half-elf, Lledar began to feel the restless kick of his brother’s child from within his belly. Toshtai looked up.

“How do you feel? Can you keep pulling?”

Rubbing his sore lower back with one hand and yawning, Lledar just nodded.

“I’ve had many long journeys in the past; I’m surprised I am feeling so tired and sore even when I am wearing the tunic.”

Toshtai chuckled.

“Your body is changing to accommodate a growing child. Shouldn’t you just tell your men that you’re pregnant?”

Immediately Lledar interjected with a frown.

“No! I cannot do that I’ll be a laughing stock for ages to come. I have my pride and what I am doing is strictly a private family matter for my brother. No one else has to know.”

Raysa snorted.

“That’s nonsense and you know it! If you didn’t want anyone to know, why did you tell us?”

There was a pause as Lledar sighed before replying.

“In truth after speaking with you all when I first met you after our little skirmish, I felt that I could trust you. I trust my men but that is another matter. What I am saying is that given the unusual circumstance of your rapid pregnancy I felt that explaining my unusual ability to be pregnant might match up to the whole strangeness of it all.”

Toshtai shook his head.




“Yes we get that but if you’re starting to feel uncomfortable even wearing that tunic, I don’t think you should be pulling the wagon. Make a lie if you can and you can spend some time inside here. It won’t be much longer until we reach Aghay right?”

Nodding his head weakly, Lledar answered back.

“Yes I suppose you’re right. But can you manage the weight of it all?”

Toshtai scoffed.

“We made it this far.”

For the last bit of the trip, both Toshtai and Lledar’s men labored hard as they pulled the caravan closer to their destination. And all the while as he pulled, Toshtai remained deep in his thoughts. He was curious about the half-elf’s condition, male pregnancy was totally unheard of and he started to feel pity instead of anger for the half-elfin thief. Lledar on the other hand cursed himself mentally for getting so carried away with his emotions. What was wrong with him? He was a man and yet these unclean thoughts and urges he had during his elfin pregnancy began to frighten him. Still Lledar was glad he had spoken to someone outside his family circle. Ever since he had become pregnant with his brother’s child and returned to Aghay he had become lonely and even a bit melancholy at times. Male elfin pregnancy was always kept discreet, even in Embanar where it was not uncommon. And it was also a choice for a male elf should he decide to carry the burden of one’s young. Lledar could also become pregnant by natural means too. Every Embanar male elf whether they are pure blooded or not was born with a slit in the area between the testacies and the anus; that would be the place they would give birth from and possibly conceive young should they choose. And deep down despite all his fears and apprehensions, Lledar somehow felt that he wanted to be pregnant again; to give birth to a child that was his and not just for someone else.

Finally they arrived at Aghay and immediately several Erango Athkelu men helped to escort the caravan deep into the city where the guild laid. Immediately both Kuser and Raysa were greeted by familiar faces of fellow thieves and assassins who either gawked at them and their three babies with silent mouths and wide eyes or nodded their heads in acknowledgement of their arrival. Still despite the quiet in the guild there was also this stiff tension in the air, a tension that made them all feel very uncomfortable.

The party was then led to the centre of the guild’s premises, a large throne-like room where but a single wooden chair stood on a small step in front of the farthest wall. Orrak sat on that chair; his face knotted up in a tense frown, he did not notice the three tiny bundles that both Kuser and Raysa had carried into the room until Lyeif started to cry. Immediately Orrak’s eyes widened and he got off from his chair to point to the direction of the sound.




“What is this? Are my ears playing tricks on me or is that a sound of a small infant that I hear?”

Looking down at his wailing son and then back at his uncle nervously, Kuser stammered.

“Yes…yes uncle. This…this is my…my son Lyeif.”

Horrified Orrak’s lips began to tremble as he was at a complete loss of words but soon regained his composure, enough to turn his attention to Lledar who walked towards him and knelt down before addressing the Halfling guild leader.

“Orrak Ruldrak, I have brought both Raysa and your nephew Kuser as requested.”

Rubbing his grizzled chin and blinking several times, Orrak shook his head in disbelief before bellowing.

“I want to know immediately what by all the Gods happened and how my nephew became a father so…so…QUICKLY!”

From there it seemed like ages before Raysa and Kuser with the help from Lledar and Toshtai had finally managed to explain to Orrak everything that had happened up to this point (minus Lledar’s secret pregnancy of course). And as their tale ended, Orrak who now seated in his chair started to laugh hysterically. He couldn’t believe what was being said to him and yet in such a short time his nephew, Kuser the one who he regarded as a reticent imbecile had produced not one but three children with one of his guild’s most talented thieves. Still they had not returned with what they were ordered to get which led Orrak to say what he never thought he would say.

“As I hear this most unbelievable story that I can’t seem to fathom and yet the truth is right there in front of me, I am obliged by the guild’s laws to punish the both of you. Kuser Ruldrak my nephew and Raysa the very child who I allowed into this guild to train and master your skills; the both of you have thoroughly disappointed me and yet haven’t.”

Handing Arenda to Toshtai, Raysa raised an eyebrow and walked forwards. With her hands on either side of her waist she frowned at Orrak.

“What do you mean we disappointed you and yet haven’t?”

Orrak returned the frown and pointed at her children.






“You’ve returned with no gold or treasure, but instead have returned with those three babies in your arms. They’re not just the blood of my nephew’s but mine as well! Instead of throwing the two of you into the gauntlet for your punishment as decreed by the guild’s laws, I have decided to take your children into my custody instead.”

Just then in a blinding rage, Raysa quickly took out one of her daggers and with great speed despite recovering from the birth was about to slit Orrak’s throat when Lledar quickly pulled her back hard and held her firmly in his arms. Squirming like a mad woman with her dagger now out from her hands, Raysa cursed at the very man she once respected in the guild.

“Damn you! You won’t have them! They’re my babies not yours! I will sooner die than give them up to you or anyone! Send me to the gauntlet; I will prove to you that they belong to me and Kuser!”

Thoroughly amused by his near death and Raysa’s show of aggressiveness, Orrak chuckled and sank back in his chair.

“Dear girl you still have that fire burning hot within you I see! Very well if it’s the gauntlet that you want, the gauntlet you shall have! If you live I will return two of your precious cargo but if you lose…well an eye for an eye I suppose.”

Raysa sneered.

“Not two, I want all three of my babies back!”

Nodding his head Kuser frowned.

“Yes I…I agree. Let me do…do the gauntlet as…as well!”

A short while later both Raysa and Kuser despite Toshtai and Lledar’s protests were led down to the guild’s underground chambers to the entranceway of the gauntlet; a series of lethal obstacle courses that they had to overcome to reach the finish line. Above the course were seats where the members of the guild were able to watch the gauntlet below. Toshtai was to be seated there too but could not sit still. He was about to take out his sword when Lledar stopped him and whispered in his ear.

“If you attack now the entire guild will be onto you. All we can do is watch and wait.”







Toshtai knew the half-elf spoke the truth and yet he could not bear to see what was about to unfold. Back down at the entranceway to the gauntlet, Raysa who was now wearing the same clothes she had on when she was in the tomb was rearing to get going. She had a new fire burning in her now, a fire to protect her family at all cost but she was exhausted. Studying his companion, Kuser touched her arm.

“Raysa are…are you sure about...about this?”

Looking down at her Halfling companion, Raysa nodded.

“Let’s go short stuff!”

For the first while into the gauntlet both Raysa and Kuser managed to dodge arrows, and avoid floor traps with ease but when it came down to crossing the Pit of Agony, Raysa hesitated. The pit was entirely filled with acid and thin wooden pillars that stuck out from below were the only ways to get across. Normally something like this rarely intimidated Raysa but somehow she was feeling unstable. Weak and not as agile as she wanted to be, it took a few seconds before Raysa summoned enough strength to lunge forward onto the first wooden pillar. As she did so Toshtai, Kuser and even Lledar held their breaths. Looking beside him at the half-elf, Toshtai pointed to where Raysa stood trying to gain her balance.

“She’ll fall! She’s still weak from the birth, we must do something!”

Lledar said nothing, instead his eyes were focused on Kuser who seemed to be encouraging Raysa from behind; the Halfling was more worried about his companion’s safety than his own. Looking down momentarily, Raysa took the next lunge and just about lost her footing when she felt Kuser’s hands on her waist, he had followed close behind her. A short while later as they neared the last pillar of the pit, Raysa was starting to feel lightheaded and couldn’t quite gauge the distance from the pillar to the ledge in front of her. Behind her Kuser was watching closely and to his relief Raysa had successfully jumped across with the Halfling following behind her. The next part of the gauntlet appeared to be the most intimating for them. Large razor sharp saws and blades pumped in and out on all sides of the room in a fast pace; something that Raysa’s superb acrobatic skills could easily deal with. And in certain areas of this room laid switches for one of them to pull so that the other could follow. Wiping beads of sweat from her brow and taking in a deep breath, Raysa readied herself before taking the lunge. Running as fast as she could, Raysa managed to dodge both blade and saw until she reached the first switch. Waving to Kuser first she quickly pulled it and then waved again for him to come. The Halfling didn’t waste a second and came bounding up to her.

Part 6


Feeling lightheaded again and this time nauseous, Raysa found herself wanting to quit but she kept going and nearly got her head cut off by a blade in the process. Worried about his companion, Kuser didn’t wait for Raysa to pull the next switch and instead did his best to keep up with her

“Raysa, watch…watch out!”

With her strength ebbing Raysa was about to blackout when Kuser who was just behind her pushed her out of harm’s way but was the one now in danger. Immediately Toshtai, Lledar and even Orrak stood up in their seats. In a quick second the blade that was about to slice through Raysa had severed the Halfling in two. Horrified Toshtai took out his sword and began to run down towards the exit of the gauntlet to where Raysa laid unconscious. From there the entire area was filled with chaos as Toshtai struggled to cut through the crowd of angry and stunned spectators. And following close behind the gypsy came Lledar who did his best to hide his tears. It took the pair a good while before they finally made it to the exit of the gauntlet. Immediately upon reaching the scene Toshtai unsheathed his sword and quickly scooped up Raysa in his strong arms. With tears flowing down his cheeks he uttered a prayer in his native tongue and with the half-elf right beside him made their way to where Orrak stood by his seat; absolutely horrified.

Several hours later in a dim lit room, Raysa still lay unconscious with a damp cloth on her fevered brow with Toshtai sitting by her side on a stool. The gypsy had never left her side but continued to weep silently. How could he let this happen? First it was his wife and child that had lost their lives and now Kuser. With both of his hands bunched up in a tight fist, Toshtai shook slightly from his grief but stopped abruptly when he felt a firm hand on one of his shoulders. Turning his face to where he had been touched he noticed Lledar standing before him. The half-elf had been weeping a lot and his eyes looked dry and swollen. Forcing a smile Lledar nodded his head before pulling up a stool and sitting down beside Toshtai. Swallowing hard he did his best to keep from crying again before speaking to the gypsy just above a whisper.

“You better get some sleep, its way past sundown now.”

Shaking his head slowly, Toshtai sniffed before answering.

“No I can’t leave her. I deserve death for allowing this to happen. How can I be so powerless?”

Lledar sighed.

“Don’t do this to yourself. It was beyond your power. We did all that we could.”





Rising up a fist, Toshtai was about to slug the half-elf but thought better of it and quickly lowered his arm before taking in a deep breath. Looking down at Raysa and then back at Lledar, Toshtai spoke slowly.

“Did we do all that we could? That damn Halfling has her children and Kuser is dead. I can kill all of those bastards!”

With sad eyes, Lledar nodded his head.

“I agree, I feel the same way but listen to what you’re saying. And besides, you were going to strike me were you not?”

Biting his lip Toshtai answered back.

“Well…I guess I was going to.”

Lledar sniffed.

“I’m glad you didn’t, truly. Listen I spoke with Orrak and well…”

Looking down at the floor, Lledar kept his eyes averted from Toshtai as he continued.

“It took me a good while to calm him down, he was absolutely irate so I offered him a bit of company. And well…he knows my secret now. Orrak knows I am pregnant.”

Blinking several times Toshtai questioned.

“How, what did you do? What happened?”

With his eyes still averted, Lledar gingerly answered.

“It doesn’t take a lot of effort to get a grieving Halfling drunk. From there I seduced him but not before he accepted my offer. Raysa will get her second and third born back but the eldest stays in his custody. Apparently Orrak had more feelings for Kuser than he actually admitted.”

Toshtai shook his head.

“What? He’s returning two but keeping one? Is he mad and after all Raysa’s been through?!”






Looking up slowly, Lledar held up a hand as he continued.

“There’s more. I managed to get Orrak to fire both Raysa and me from the guild for good. I suppose it was my delicate condition that made this go easier. We all will leave with your caravan, the goods within and two oxen to pull its weight. Of course when Raysa is well enough we will head to Embanar and start a new life with what we have.”

Running a hand through his hair, Toshtai was in total disbelief. There was a short pause before the gypsy spoke.

“We lost a good friend. Kuser will be dearly missed. However I doubt I’ll be able to bear Raysa’s sorrow once she is awakened to his fate.”

Nodding his head, Lledar quickly replied.

“Kuser will have a respectful funeral here in Aghay. As for Raysa I believe the elfin clerics in Embanar can help remedy her grief. Ancient herbs and spells is what we use...my brother underwent such treatment when he lost his wife.”

Toshtai chuckled.

“Perhaps I’ll need the treatment as well. But what of the babies, surely Raysa cannot tend to them and her grief…”

Looking down at Raysa, Toshtai gently felt her cheeks and sighed.

“She’s feverish.”

Getting up to his feet, Lledar sighed.

“If the grief and fever is what you’re worried about, I suggest we head to Embanar in the morning. I will negotiate something with Orrak. We might need a few men to take us there safely. I have some herbs that might ease her suffering in the meantime. As for you however…get some rest.”

And that was that. Closing the door softly behind him, Lledar took in a deep breath before wiping a few tears from his eyes as he began to walk towards Orrak’s chambers. Taking off his magical tunic and stepping inside the room, the half-elf’s nostrils were met with the stench of heavy alcohol and sweat. Cushions were scattered here and there with Orrak belching loudly and rambling incoherently as he drank a large bottle of ale while lying on the soft fabrics beneath him. Walking forwards with his enormous pregnant belly exposed, Lledar sighed deeply before making his way to the drunken Halfling and sitting down directly beside him. Immediately upon doing so Lledar felt one of Orrak’s hands gently stroke his belly.


“Is that you half-elf? Come to throw me another offer? You know that was the first time I had done a male before…HIC!”

Hiccupping and belching loudly, Orrak took another swig from his bottle before clumsily pulling down his trousers. Forcing a smile, Lledar answered.

“Yes I have another offer to make you and I pray you haven’t drunk all twelve bottles already!”

Laughing and taking drinking up the rest of the ale from his bottle, Orrak smiled widely and swayed as he spoke.

“My nephew, my dear nephew…he will be…be…well the funeral will take place in a couple of days. Hic! It took us a long time to clean…Hic! Clean all the…”

Cringing, Lledar shook his head.

“Please spare me those details. Orrak I want you to supply us some men to escort us to Embanar. We leave at dawn regardless if Raysa has regained consciousness or not. She has a fever and my people can cure her of her grief and whatever else ails her. All we need to do is get to Embanar as quickly as possible.”

Taking off his trouser fully and tossing them to one side of the room, Orrak chuckled.

“Very well half-elf, hic! The sooner you all leave the sooner I can drink me some more ale. Now...pay me a good one would you?”

Cringing again Lledar’s mind was filled with thoughts. He had hesitated for a long time before he had allowed the Halfling guild leader to take him but it was a sacrifice he had to make. Still despite his physical dislike for Orrak, Lledar somehow felt different when he was taken by a man like that. Closing his eyes momentarily to dismiss any unclean thoughts, Lledar allowed himself to be placed on hands and knees before bracing himself for what was to come. Standing up drunkenly to his feet, Orrak groaned loudly before quickly shoving his rock hard member into the half-elf’s slit. Immediately Lledar felt a wave of pleasure engulf him as the Halfling guild leader began to pump in and out eagerly into his occupied womb. Swaying back and forth from the thrusting, Lledar gasped and moaned as he rubbed his belly with one hand; the movement waking up the unborn within. It was but a short while later did Orrak finally reach orgasm but as soon as he had shot his hot wad into the half-elf he quickly cupped his mouth with one hand. Getting off Lledar hastily Orrak just barely missed him when he turned to vomit on the floor next to him. Panting loudly and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Orrak groaned before speaking.




“My head is killing me, please leave. I’ll arrange whatever is necessary in the morning. Just please…leave me.”

The next morning Orrak despite a terrible migraine headache had done what he had promised Lledar and had gotten everything arranged for the three to depart with. Four guild members accompanied the three companions as they left Aghay with two of Raysa and Kuser’s young. Safely inside the caravan it wasn’t until the next day did Raysa finally came to. As she awoke Toshtai was the first to confront her with the dreaded news. Upon hearing what had happened to Kuser, Raysa was just about to black out again when she felt Toshtai kiss her lovingly on the lips. With tears in her eyes she looked up at her gypsy lover and shook her head quickly.

“No, no, no! I don’t believe you! I don’t believe Kuser is dead! He was right behind me…right behind me!”

Holding Raysa close Toshtai did his best to calm his companion but to no avail.

“Raysa you still have a fever! Listen it wasn’t your fault! It was mine! I shouldn’t have let the two of you go into the gauntlet in the first place. You were still weak from giving birth, how could I have been so blind?”

Struggling Raysa tried her best to break free Toshtai held her tighter. Just then both Arenda and Verran started to cry making Raysa look at Toshtai with wide eyes.

“My babies are here?”

Releasing Raysa, Toshtai nodded.

“Orrak only returned Verran and Arenda; he has Lyeif in his custody. Raysa I…”

Moving over to her wailing infants, Raysa gently but quickly scooped them up in her arms and kissed them on their foreheads before turning around to face Toshtai with tears streaming down her cheeks. Looking down Raysa studied her two children.

“They look so much like Kuser.”

Smiling Toshtai moved closer to Raysa and kissed both her and the infants on the forehead before replying.

“They look like Kuser and you. Live for them Raysa…live for them.”






As the days pressed on Raysa’s fever finally ceased by the aid of some herbs Lledar was able to gather along the way. However Raysa became more and more depressed and eventually rarely said a word to anyone. Instead she remained inside the caravan and her waking hours were spent either nursing both Verran and Arenda or weeping. Toshtai on the other hand had placed the death of Kuser onto himself and on top of the death of his late wife and child which he had not fully recovered from. He hated to see Raysa grieve, it pained his heart each minute of the day despite her children being the hope and the icon to live for. And trying to keep his mind off his troubles Toshtai did his best to keep as active as possible. Gathering firewood and hunting with the guild’s escorts, Toshtai pushed his feelings as far back as possible. He didn’t want Raysa to see his sadness even though it was practically etched all over his face. As for Lledar, he pretty much kept to himself and barely spoke to either Raysa or Toshtai. The guild’s escorts, four male human thieves were already aware of the half-elf’s pregnancy and became fond of him despite Lledar’s aloof and melancholy demeanor. Lledar’s mind was filled with his own problems even though a space was reserved in it for the loss of Kuser. Still what he had done to get them this far…what he had done with Orrak was entirely unorthodox for the half-elf. All his life Lledar had thought he was only attracted to the women folk of the land but now something was surely different.

Could he very well be attracted to men or was it a one time thing with Orrak and only a one time thing that sparked something new in him? Or was it just the raging hormones that came with being pregnant that constantly nagged him? It was hot; the weather was much too hot to think about such ridiculous assumptions. But what if it was true? Still Lledar had more important things to worry about than his inner taboo desires. The baby he was carrying for instance. They won’t reach Embanar for a good month and Lledar wasn’t so sure if could carry his brother’s child beyond nine months. Azen was only his half brother after all and a full-blooded elf; he couldn’t carry his own child because he was still in too much grief so the task was placed onto Lledar who accepted it wholeheartedly. Oh how Azen’s child weighed so heavily inside him! Lledar rarely kept his tunic on; his belly became heavier and larger with each passing day. Each night he would often stray a bit far from the camp just to jerk off and to run his hands all along his enormous mound, wishing in his mind how much he wanted this child to be his and a lover to hold him lovingly; Lledar was lonely.

One night just a day from Lurotham (a week or so from Embanar), the four escort guild members that Orrak had assigned to protect the caravan followed Lledar to where he was straying off to. They secretly witnessed the half-elf pleasure himself and stroke his belly that the four became even more interested in him. The first escort an average height muscular man in his late thirties with a short orange colored beard walked up towards Lledar whose back was towards them. Chuckling he spoke loud enough for his men and Lledar to hear.

“Well half-elf. We now know where you go each night!”



Quickly pulling up his trousers and taking out his short sword, Lledar glared.

“What? How long have you’ve watched me?”

The second man, taller than the first and beardless spoke next.

“Why should we answer? And quit waving your blade like that. What good wills come from it in your tender condition?”

Holding his belly protectively with one hand and the other the short sword, Lledar braced himself for the attack when he noticed all four men take out their swords. The first man addressed Lledar again.

“Put the blade away half-elf. We only want to satisfy our needs with a bit of folly with you.”

Rubbing his belly with a free hand, Lledar didn’t take his eyes off the men when he spoke.

“Leave me in peace. I’ll not subject myself to this!”

The second man laughed.

“We’ve seen the likes of you before. You like the taste of men don’t you?”

Biting his lip Lledar was about to agree but suddenly stopped. What in the name of all the Gods was he thinking? And yet his groin was aching as badly as his lower back. Subconsciously Lledar began to stroke the base of his belly earnestly as the four men eyed the bulge in his trousers hungrily. The second man spoke again.

“Why resist your urges lad? Your cock is practically poking out from your trousers! How about a bit of fun and games with us then? We’re lonely and we haven’t touched a woman in ages! Just look at you!”

Blinking several times and breaking out from his reverie, Lledar began to tighten his hold on his blade before answering.

“Come to me and I’ll slaughter you all!”








As the four men approached Lledar he did his best to fend them off but without his magical tunic on to aid him and his condition, the effort was in vain. Greatly swollen with child, Lledar was no match to the four men who managed to strip him of all his clothing and loosen his hold on his blade. They seduced him there that night; endless thrusting and groping it practically drove Lledar mad with mixed emotions. To his disbelief a part of him enjoyed the dominance of it all and relished in the frenzy but the other part was thoroughly appalled and resistant. Confusion, lust, desire, disgust and guilt all mixed in one; Lledar was now a puppet in the four men’s arms. The part of him that hated every minute of it was struggling desperately to reach for his short sword but his blade was kicked far enough away from his reach. And eventually something snapped in him, his need to resist somehow faded away and Lledar was actually taking part in his own seduction; it wasn’t until morning did it all finally end. Exhausted and sore, Lledar struggled to get on his trousers but felt a hand on one of his legs. Looking down he noticed the first man with the beard staring up at him sleepily from the grass where he was laying on. The man handed Lledar back his short sword and some coins before standing up and helping the pregnant half-elf to his feet. Studying Lledar the man smiled.

“I was rather surprised by the sudden turn of events the other night. I thought you were gonna put up a fight the whole time!”

Looking down shamefully and then back up at the man, Lledar frowned hard before tossing the coins on the ground.

“So I am a whore now is it?”

Still smiling the man quickly pulled up his own trousers before gathering up the coins and walking over to Lledar. Taking one of the half-elf’s hands, he gently placed the money in his hands before stepping back a few paces.

“Keep the coins for the baby. I want to talk with you for a minute anyways, follow me.”

Leading Lledar by the shoulders, the man took Lledar a few feet away from his sleeping men and spoke just loud enough for Lledar to hear.

“You know half-elf; you rather impressed me the other night. Fighting desperately and then submitting especially being as pregnant as you are. I’ve heard of you elves before and it doesn’t cease to amaze me how…how….oh what am I trying to say? Damn, here!”

Gripping both of Lledar’s shoulders, the man quickly gave Lledar a kiss on the lips before pulling him back to check if any of his men had risen. Staggering back a bit Lledar was too shocked to speak so the man continued.





“The name’s Boight Woodridge. I just ended my contract with the guild and had nothing better to do than come along.”

Wiping his lips with the back of his hand, Lledar nodded his head.

“I see. So now because I’ve submitted you’re going to be friendly?”

Boight shook his head.

“Actually that’s the reason why I brought you over here. I’ve watched you closely over this entire trip and not one the lads know this but I am actually thoroughly fond of male elves. I…well to put it evenly…I fell in love with you.”

Lledar frowned.

“Why did you rape me then?”

Sighing, Boight continued.

“It was their idea really and I went along just to be close to you. Kill me if you like half-elf, I have nothing to lose except my blacksmith shop back home.”

Raising an eyebrow, Lledar questioned.

“A blacksmith shop where?”

Boight chuckled.

“I have a shop in Lurotham but I took two years off to work for the guild. And by the looks of it, it seems we just might have to stop in Lurotham.”

Pointing at Lledar’s belly, Boight continued.

“You look as though you’re about to pop.”

Looking down Lledar sighed. He did look really big, about the size of a woman in her final month and yet he wasn’t due for another month and a half…or so he assumed. Cradling the base of his belly with both hands, Lledar shrugged.

“I suppose.”






Meanwhile inside the caravan both Raysa and Toshtai slowly awoke to the sound of the babies crying. Rubbing the sleep from her swollen eyes, Raysa gently began to nurse her infants as Toshtai yawned loudly. Looking over he smiled sleepily at his companion who remained as silent as ever.

“Good morning Raysa. We’re almost at Lurotham.”

Not looking up, Raysa answered plainly.

“Good.”

Yawning again and scratching his head, Toshtai started to put on his boots.

“Listen Raysa, we can’t go on not talking like this. I feel that you’re angry at me. Are you?”

Raysa shook her head.

“No. I’m fine.”

Blinking a couple of times, Toshtai continued.

“I see well that’s good. Do you still love me?”

Looking up slowly, Raysa nodded but then lowered her head to mind her infants as she answered back plainly.

“Yes of course I do. Don’t ask me stupid questions.”

Pausing for moment after putting on his last boot, Toshtai began to think. Raysa was still grieving over Kuser’s death; he knew she loved him as much as she had loved the late Halfling but this silence between them was too much to bear. Chuckling Toshtai decided to try a different approach.

“When I went hunting a couple of days ago in the forest I saw a fox that has the shiniest fur you could imagine. It would have made an excellent pelt but I wasn’t fast enough to capture it.”

Looking back up Raysa forced a smile.

“You’re probably right.”





After a while of casually conversing, something they haven’t done in almost an entire month since before Kuser’s death, the two finally stepped out from the caravan to be greeted by a lovely aroma of cooked meat. Smiling Lledar waddled over to Raysa and Toshtai and spoke to them quietly.

“Got something to tell you both but in short we’re going to stop in Lurotham for a bit. Is that okay?”

Toshtai blinked.

“Why? I thought we had enough supplies to reach Embanar?”

Leaning forwards, Lledar quickly whispered what had happened. After he had told them he then discreetly pointed to where Boight sat with his men, already eating breakfast. Peering over the half-elf’s shoulder, Raysa frowned.

“What about Embanar? I thought you were going to…”

Nodding his head quickly, Lledar intervened.

“We’ll only be in Lurotham for a day at the most I assure you. Boight is just concerned about me and well I am just trying to see if he’s the one.”

Running a hand through his hair, Toshtai chuckled.

“Well Lledar I never would have expected you to be like this but whatever floats your boat I suppose.”

Smiling, Lledar continued.

“I rather we don’t talk about it, I like to keep this as discreet as possible really. Can I trust you both as friends?”

Raysa nodded.

“Sure, you’ve been there trying to help us, right Toshtai?”

Sighing Toshtai remembered the time when he despised the half-elf and yet somehow his black eyes didn’t seem so intimidating. Strangely enough without his magical tunic on, Lledar appeared rather feminine to him, almost motherly. Needless to say even though he no longer hated the half-elf, Toshtai didn’t see him in the same light that Boight did.





Toshtai nodded his head.

“Yes, we’re friends. What is it?”

Looking down for a moment and then up, Lledar answered back.

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to know if we were friends. Let’s have some breakfast.”

Even though the mood seemed lighter than it had been for days, there was still a lot of sadness for both Toshtai and Raysa. Still regardless of their grievances, the two did their best to converse for the first time with Boight and their escorts. Lledar on the other hand who didn’t tell his two companions about the seduction but instead of just a casual encounter with Boight ate as heartedly as he could. He had been hungry a lot throughout his pregnancy but lately he had developed a ravenous appetite. Quickly finishing off his plate the half-elf looked at everyone else’s plate hungrily and just before he was going to ask for seconds, Boight offered him a heaping plate of meat. Holding back a wide smile, Lledar continued to eat and eat until he had eaten almost everything that was cooked for breakfast. Peering over at Lledar, Toshtai noticed that his belly had grown since the last time he had check on it a month ago. With just a single elfin baby inside him, Toshtai was beginning to wonder if it was more that Lledar was carrying. By the time the party had reached Lurotham, Boight quickly bought rooms at the nearby inn for them to stay in before centering all his attention on Lledar.

As both Lledar and Boight parted from the group for a while, Boight led Lledar to his blacksmith shop. The shop was connected to a quaint little cottage on the edge of town, a bachelor’s cottage where inside was a bed built big enough for two. Leading the half-elf in and closing the door behind them, Boight kissed Lledar on the lips and felt all along the half-elf’s abdomen. Shivering from the sensation, Lledar returned the kiss and felt his body being carried over to the big bed in the room. Laying the half-elf down on the soft cotton sheets, Boight smiled.

“I built this bed myself for the one who I choose to be with. I want you to be with me.”

Feeling his member tighten up, Lledar smiled and chuckled nervously.

“You built this bed? It’s a very nice bed Boight. What are you doing?”

Gently stroking Lledar’s belly and then down to his groin, Boight spoke above a whisper.

“I want you to have your baby on this bed. I want us to have a family here.”

Kissing the muscular bearded man, Lledar protested slightly.

Part 7


“Boight I am carrying my brother’s child. He wants me to return to Embanar to have it”

Frowning slightly, Boight spoke coolly.

“You’re carrying your brother’s child?”

Lledar quickly shook his head.

“No it’s not like that. His wife died when she was pregnant and the child was then placed into me to carry to term. I would never *chuckle*, I would never do it with my own brother!”

Smiling again Boight nodded his head and began to pull down Lledar’s trousers before stripping himself of his own clothing. The two kissed each other again; arms wrapped around Boight’s neck, Lledar started to feel that this was his true calling. Rubbing the half-elf’s belly with a free hand, Boight spoke through kisses.

“Lledar Yoeld I want you to bear my young.”

Pausing for a moment, Lledar through the sensation he was feeling from having his abdomen caressed.

“So you knew my name back in the guild?”

Nodding his head, Boight gently turned Lledar over to his opposite side before cradling the half-elf from behind.

“Yes I did. But you didn’t answer my question. Will you bear my young?”

With his back pressed closely to Boight’s chest, Lledar suddenly felt the muscular man’s member enter his slit and he gasped loudly before turning his head to kiss him.

“Yes. In this bed we shall conceive them.”

One week later after leaving Lurotham, the party finally made it to Embanar, a grand elfin city unlike the quaint simple setting that was Lurotham. And immediately upon arriving, the three men who escorted them left to go back to Aghay. Boight was the only one who remained and kept close to Lledar’s side. The half-elf’s belly had increased in size even more and his lower back was starting to really ache from the great pressure. Tiring easy with his slender elfin frame, Lledar led the party to his home near the city’s centre core to his half brother Azen’s abode. Toshtai couldn’t get his eyes off the elves in the city, especially Azen who looked similar to Lledar but not entirely. More slender, pointier ears and longer hair with a long robe, Azen looked to be an elfin mage but instead was just a nobleman in the city.


Overjoyed of Lledar’s safe arrival and his guests, Azen promptly led everyone inside where his maids gave them all food and beverages. Raysa’s babies were being taken care of as well so that she could rest a bit as they all filled Azen with the news of what had occurred up to this point. The noble elf acknowledged everything with great interest and touched both Toshtai and Raysa’s hand in comfort. Studying the two he spoke slowly.

“It pains me to hear of your loss. But it is good that you’re all here alive, especially your children. We Embanar elves do not harbor prejudice but we don’t enjoy the doings of the Erango Athkelu. However it’s quite amazing indeed to have such a turn of events, I am talking about you young lady. Whether the old man meant to cause you harm or not, something good came out of it in the long run.”

Holding back tears, Raysa protested.

“How can it be good? Kuser died!”

Touching one of Raysa’s hands, Toshtai interrupted.

“Raysa, don’t.”

Azen shook his head.

“No she has the right to speak her mind. I hear your pain but you must realize life is full of ups and downs, sacrifices and gifts. Look to the future and not to the past, his children are alive and are with you. And you are all welcome in my home. I will arrange the two of you to be taken care of and be treated for your ailments both body and mind. As for you my brother…”

Looking over at Lledar, Azen’s smile widened and he quickly got up from his seat to kneel down in front of him. Placing an ear on Lledar’s expose belly, Azen listened closely and chuckled.

“I can hear the child quite acutely but wait…”

Listening closer, Azen’s eyes widened and he quickly looked up at Lledar.

“I hear another!”

Standing up to his feet, Azen snapped his fingers to summon one of his maids. Turning to her he whispered in her ear then returned to the party and sat down. Studying them all closely he spoke slowly.





“I’ve summoned a cleric to check on my brother’s condition, its nothing to worry about but something indeed rare even for us Embanar elves.”

Looking at his brother nervously, Lledar questioned.

“What? Am I ill?”

Azen shook his head.

“No but I feel that you may be carrying another child. It’s a rarity and it won’t be born for much later time but at least it might account for the size of your belly.”

Rubbing his belly and looking down, Lledar was awestricken by the size of his abdomen. He looked absolutely huge, almost but not quite as big when Raysa was pregnant at full-term. Just then a bright light suddenly appeared in the room and a slender tall elfin woman appeared from it. Dressed in a long white gown she bowed to Azen before kneeling in front of Lledar. With both hands glowing she placed them on top of Lledar’s exposed mound before chanting some words. After a few moments the glowing ceased and she retracted her hand to stand up and address Azen.

“He is carrying two additional babies in his womb. They have begun to form and are growing at a healthy rate.”

Looking over at Boight then at the cleric, Lledar questioned hastily.

“Can you determine who the father is? Is it Boight?”

The cleric chuckled and waited for Azen before she acted. Studying the muscular bearded man and then back at Lledar, Azen thought for a moment. Why was his brother questioning who the father was? Still it didn’t matter; Lledar was already doing him a great favor. Smiling, Azen nodded his head.

“You may see.”

Nodding her head the cleric went over to Boight and with glowing a glowing hand placed it on top of his head and then after a short while went over to Lledar’s belly. There she knelt for a good while, feeling the base of his abdomen until the glowing ceased. Standing back up she nodded her head again.

“It’s confirmed. He is the father.”






Overjoyed Boight quickly got up from his seat and lovingly embraced Lledar who remained silent and dumbfounded. How by all the Gods was this possible? It could have been one of the three other men who seduced him but by some lucky draw, Boight was the one who impregnated him. That night at the dinner table the party was given a hearty feast to eat. Azen who would soon be a father and eventually an uncle gave Lledar the most and the best of the cuisine to eat. Wearing a long robe that didn’t hide his pregnancy, Lledar ate his meal as greedy and hungry as ever. He didn’t care, he was content with what was happening to him, the children he now carried inside him were his family now…Azen and Boight’s family. Meanwhile Raysa and Toshtai were enjoying for the first time in their lives, fine elfin cuisine. Smiling widely, Toshtai complimented the noble elf.

“This is the best food I’ve tasted. I’ve been on the road for such a long time I’ve forgotten what real food tasted like.”

Chugging down some elfin brandy, Raysa nodded.

“I second that along with the booze.”

Azen chuckled.

“Good, good. Enjoy yourselves.”

Two weeks later as both Raysa and Toshtai were being healed by elfin clerics the Embanar church; it seemed like forever until Lledar’s belly finally dropped. Since Boight’s children were still under a month in development, the drop of Azen’s child had no effect. Tired, sore and nervous of the upcoming birth, Lledar just lounged about. However both Azen and even Boight were running around, stacking pillows and keeping the greatly pregnant half-elf well fed and as comfortable as possible. One week later with his belly weighing down heavily like an anchor, Lledar sat on the edge of his bed and groaned loudly. He had started to feel the labor pains early that morning and now it was in the middle of the afternoon. Azen’s child began to turn restlessly in his womb causing him to rub his belly earnestly with both hands. Where was Boight? Alone in his bedchamber Lledar started to groan again as sweat began to form on his brow. Not wanting to disturb his brother in the library, Lledar continued to labor in his room. But he was thirsty. With great effort and many failed attempts, Lledar finally managed to get enough momentum to stand up. Waddling slowly and painfully he went over to a water jug on a table in front of the bed and poured a cup of water before downing the entire contents with a single gulp. When will this child be born?







Back and belly aching painfully, Lledar held the base of his belly with a free hand and the edge of the table with the other as he felt another strong contraction. Panting and groaning loudly he remained like that for a good while before slowly standing back up but just as he did so his water broke. Should he summon the clerics or at least let Azen know? No, this was all too embarrassing for him. And where was Boight? Just then he heard a knock on the door. Trying to regain his composure the best he could and wiping the sweat from his brow, Lledar answered casually.

“Yes who is it?”

Behind the door Azen smiled and answered.

“Can I come in Lledar? It’s me.”

Sighing deeply, Lledar replied through gritted teeth.

“Alright, come in but I am very tired you know.”

Stepping into the room Azen chuckled.

“You slept the entire morning! Open some windows would you brother? How are you feeling?”

Wiping some more sweat from his brow, Lledar answered slowly but tried to look occupied as he cringed when another contraction hit him.

“I’m feeling alright Azen, just tired like I said. What do you need?”

Chuckling happily Azen gently began to rub Lledar’s belly as his brother grabbed a book and started to turn the pages.

“I don’t need anything dear brother except for you to be happy and comfortable. I just came here to tell you that Boight went to see your companions and won’t be back until sundown. Are you sure you’re feeling alright? Your cheeks are flushed.”

Feeling another sharp contraction and Azen’s child kick him hard, Lledar gasped slightly and shook his head.

“Its nothing the baby is just active. It’ll be any day now brother.”

Gently patting Lledar’s belly, Azen nodded.

“Yes and just relax would you? I’ll be in the library.”



As Azen left and closed the door behind him, Lledar sighed in relief but stopped short when he felt another contraction. He was scared, scared of giving birth and yet his brother’s child wanted out! Holding the base of his belly with one hand and leaning his back against the wall, Lledar closed his eyes and moaned loudly. He couldn’t give birth now! Was the child overdue or on time? Didn’t he have a month or so left? Lledar couldn’t remember. Instead he felt the strong kicks and constant stirrings within and yet held back. He wanted Boight to be with him. The short time they knew each other he knew that he was the one for him. Lledar had to keep the child inside, it wasn’t ready yet, he wasn’t ready yet! But for how long, how long could he mask the pain and hold it back? Would he kill the child if he did? With a deep breath Lledar waited but the contractions ceased and he was able to breathe normally again. Should he go to the church to find his companions and Boight? No, he’ll remain here. Gingerly and with great effort Lledar managed to pull his body forwards to his bed where he slowly lifted his heavy belly and went inside the covers. For three hours he just laid there, drifting off for a bit but awakening soon by more contractions. Will it ever end? Will the child just leave him alone?

Rolling over to one side Boight saw the light through the window sill and estimated the time to be around dinner time. Azen must be getting ready for dinner and Boight should be back soon along with Toshtai and Raysa. Just then he heard the door knock for the second time. Cringing through a growing contraction he called out casually.

“Yes who is it?”

Azen replied quickly.

“Are you sure you’re alright brother? You’ve been inside all day! It’s unlike you to be inside this long!”

Lledar frowned.

“You’re not my mother Azen and I’m a grown man!”

Chuckling Azen continued.

“Can I at least check on you?”

Pulling the covers over his head, Lledar groaned softly from another contraction and felt the child leap hard within him. Painfully he answered back.

“No Azen, I’m just tired. Leave me alone would you?”





Azen nodded his head but wasn’t convinced.

“Fine brother, I’ll check on you later. Get some rest.”

Pretending to leave Azen pressed one of his ears on the door and listened closely. His keen hearing was able to pick up Lledar’s moans; he was clearly in labor! Not bothering to knock or make his presence known, Azen quickly barged in and ran up to Lledar who was bunched up in pain in his bed. Lowering the sheets Azen was about to lift Lledar’s robe when the half-elf stopped him.

“Please I’m fine! It was just a kick!”

Azen shook his head.

“Don’t lie to me brother! Let me see your belly! Lift up your robe!”

Frowning Lledar complied and slowly lifted up his robe just over his abdomen. With wide eyes Azen saw the many bumps rising and falling beneath the tight skin orb before him. His child desperately wanted to be born and Lledar was selfishly keeping it inside him. Angered by his brother’s doings, Azen was about to strike him in frustration for endangering the babe but quickly regained his composure. Feeling Lledar’s belly and leaning an ear down, Azen began to scold his brother.

“How long have you been like this?”

Groaning in pain Lledar hesitated before answering.

“Since morning, but its increased.”

Shaking his head in exasperation, Azen continued.

“You’re not only endangering the child’s life but yours! What kind of fool are you to hold the child in? You need to push!”

Panicking Lledar shook his head in protest.

“I…I cannot. I want Boight!”

Sighing, Azen shook his brother by the shoulders.

“If you don’t push now you’ll die and all of this would be in vain! Push Lledar you must! Bring my child into the world!”




Grunting loudly Lledar painfully arched his back and bore down but with minimal effort. He was frightened. Shaking through fear and pain, Lledar shook his head.

“I can’t do this…I don’t know how women do it but I can’t do it.”

Rubbing his brother’s mammoth mound eagerly, Azen did his best to encourage him.

“Forget about them, you’re a proud Embanar elf! Now push down hard!”

Closing his eyes tightly Lledar bore down again and this time with more effort. As he did so he could feel Azen continue to stroke his belly and the baby move down even more. Getting up and moving onto all fours, Lledar labored and began to wail out in pain as he began to rock back and forth. Fear was holding him back now but he was already exhausted from laboring all day. After a while in that position Lledar couldn’t take it any more. Sweat was covering his entire body and he felt like blacking out. Snapping his fingers Azen quickly summoned one of his maids.

“I need a cleric here immediately but boil some water and bring some towels here in the meantime! The baby will be here soon!”

A little while later Boight, Raysa and Toshtai finally arrived but when they did they saw maids running all around with basins full of steaming water and towels. Toshtai blinked.

“What is going on here? You there, what’s happening?”

Motioning to one of the maids, Toshtai eagerly waited for an answer. Panting the maid smiled excitedly.

“Master Lledar is about to give birth!”

Immediately Boight’s eyes widened and he quickly ran to Lledar’s bedchambers where the half-elf remained bearing down with all his might. A cleric stood over him with glowing hands on his belly, doing her best to ease his pain and help guide the child down. Just before Boight was to get Lledar’s attention, Azen stopped him.

“If he sees you now he will stop pushing. Don’t worry we have it under control. Stay in the library for now, he’ll be okay.”

Hesitating but trusting Azen’s words, Boight ran to where his companions were and took them to the library as the half-elf labored on.






Lying fully naked in his bed with towels directly underneath him, Lledar could feel Azen’s baby approach the birth canal. The slit between the half-elf’s testacies and anus was no fully dilated and ready for the baby. Intense pressure was starting to increase in the base of Lledar’s belly causing his member to tighten and harden. Embarrassed by his rising member, Lledar quickly brought the covers up over him. Azen who was well acquainted with Embanar pregnancy was fully aware with what Lledar was going through and instructed the cleric to leave the room. Turning his back on his brother, Azen nodded.

“Do what will ease your discomfort but let me know when you need to push again.”

Nodding his head weakly Lledar began to stroke his rock hard member and closed his eyes. Each new contraction brought him closer to orgasm as the pressure increased in the base of his belly. Finally just as he felt the strong need to bear down, Lledar came hard. Panting loudly he got Azen’s attention.

“It’s coming! I need to push! Oh it hurts so much!”

Turning around to face his brother, Azen quickly lowered the sheets and summoned the cleric again. Peering down he could see his child beginning to crown, the pain etched on Lledar’s face told him this was taxing his brother of a lot of strength. Climbing on top of the bed and sitting next to the laboring half-elf, Azen held on of Lledar’s hands as he watched the birth of his child. In agony Lledar arched his back and wailed out loudly as he bore down hard. Looking up from between the half-elf’s legs the cleric smiled.

“I can see the head, we’re almost there!”

Gasping for breath Lledar stopped pushing to look at his brother in pain.

“Azen if you only knew how this felt!”

Rubbing Lledar’s belly tenderly, Azen smiled widely.

“We’re almost there brother! I can see the head emerging from here!”

Leaning forwards Azen felt his child’s head for the first time from beneath Lledar’s testacies. Groaning in agony and cradling the base of his abdomen with both hands, Lledar bore down again. As his brother pushed on, Azen could feel his first born emerge more and more. Just then with one last grunt and push, Lledar had finally given birth to Azen’s child, a wailing full-blooded elfin boy with features similar to Azen’s. The infant continued to cry loudly as its umbilical cord was snipped and wrapped up before being handed to Azen’s awaiting hands. Exhausted and damp from sweat Lledar smiled weakly at the nephew he had just given birth to. Overjoyed Azen gently handed his son to Lledar and kissed them both on the forehead.



“You did well my brother. But never hold the child back again.”

Nodding his head, Lledar smiled.

“I won’t. What will you call him?”

Touching his wailing son on the cheek gently, Azen answered back casually.

“He is Tarsus; thank you for bringing him into this world.”

From there it took several months before Toshtai and Raysa were stable enough from their grief to carry on with their lives and the babies. And sure enough Lledar’s pregnancy with Boight’s children did advance. Eight months in with twins in his belly, Lledar embraced his companions who with their children were about to leave Embanar.

“You don’t have to leave our city you know.”

Raysa smiled.

“You don’t want us around; you have everything set for you. Just look at you, you’re pregnant again and you have someone special.”

Toshtai nodded.

“We will return someday.”

With Boight’s arms wrapped protectively around his abdomen Lledar blushed before answering.

“Listen, I was talking to Boight and we both agreed on having the babies in Lurotham. You two won’t be heading that way would you?”

Toshtai shook his head.

“No we’re actually going the opposite direction but well…”

Slugging Toshtai’s arm, Raysa broke in.

“Sure we’ll take you to Lurotham.”







Smiling Lledar gently rubbed his belly as he spoke.

“Boight makes the best weapons in Lurotham. If we give you some you’re welcome to keep or trade them. It looks like I’ll be living there for a good long while, especially with little ones on the way and more to come.”

Turning around and passionately kissing Boight on the lips, Lledar immediately felt his member tighten and he blushed before turning his attention back to both Raysa and Toshtai.

“Why don’t the two of you settle in with us? That way you will have a home to live in and besides, Lurotham is expanding so I heard.”

Raysa chuckled.

“We’ll be on the move here and there but sure. Toshtai what do you think?”

Embracing Raysa tightly, Toshtai smiled.

“I was thinking about starting a family with you myself dear.”

Smiling Lledar chuckled.

“So it’s set then? Shall we leave to Lurotham?”

They all nodded and shook hands. Two months later the party was already set in Boight’s cottage which was already being expanded and worked on to accommodate the growing tenants. A spare room with a bed for Toshtai and Raysa was built where they made love on a regular basis. Meanwhile Lledar arrived at his final stage in his pregnancy and unlike the first time didn’t hold back. With the support of his new family and friends he began his labor, two weeks overdue and a belly quite large to boot. Groaning loudly in their bed, Lledar felt the twins move down slowly but as he labored he wasn’t alone. Boight lay close to him from behind, cradling his lover’s belly and feeling his children stir and move. As Raysa tended to her children, Toshtai was eagerly gathering up all the tools he needed for the birth. Apparently the gypsy was much more confident now and the fact of delivering babies from a man did not bother him. Walking over to the bed where both Boight and Lledar laid, Toshtai questioned the pair.

“How is he doing?”

Part 8



Stark naked and dripping with sweat from head to two, Lledar forced a weak smile and cringed as another strong contraction hit him. As he shivered from the pain he could feel Boight’s strong hand gently caress his sore abdomen making his aching body sink into him. Smiling up at the gypsy, Boight answered.

“He’s doing fine. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”

Alone now Boight began to kiss the back of Lledar’s neck. From there the hand that was on the half-elf’s belly lowered to his hard member where Boight started to stroke it. All the while Lledar did his best to relax. They stayed like that for a good long while until the half-elf started to push. Moaning in agony loud enough for Raysa and Toshtai to hear from the other room, Lledar’s face went red as a bed as he bore down hard. Helping his laboring lover up into a sitting position and sitting directly behind him to support the half-elf’s aching back, Boight encouraged Lledar.

“Push hard, you’re doing great!”

As Lledar began to bear down, both Raysa and Toshtai entered the room and went directly to the half-elf’s aid. Feeling all around Lledar’s jiggling abdomen, Toshtai smiled.

“The second time around is said to be better. I can feel the first baby already there. Several more pushes and we’ll be able to see the head.”

An hour later Lledar’s first child was beginning to crown. Smiling at the new parents-to-be, Toshtai took one of Lledar’s hands and pressed it gently to where the head was about to emerge. Encouraged by that Lledar braced himself before he bore down hard, grunting loudly from the effort. Taking a moment to gather some air, Lledar relaxed a little and felt Boight’s hands stroke all along his enormous mound; the sensation causing him to feel some pleasure out of his discomfort. Twenty-five minutes later and thoroughly exhausted, Lledar had finally given birth to his twins. With orange colored hair and black eyed, the babies both girls looked to have inherited more human than elfin traits. As Lledar and Boight held their children in their arms, they kissed one another passionately. From there not only did Lledar and Boight’s life improve but Toshtai and Raysa’s as well. Nine months later Raysa had given birth five of Toshtai’s babies and sixteen years later was visited by an unexpected visitor. Forty years old and seven months pregnant with twins in her belly, Raysa gingerly opened the cottage door and was greeted by a rather short young Halfling-like fellow who looked strangely familiar. Blinking several times, Raysa questioned the youth.

“Who are you?”





The boy chuckled.

“I’m Lyeif Ruldrak from Aghay. Are you Raysa?”

With tears in her eyes and her mouth open in disbelief, Raysa was about to pass out when Toshtai walked by. Studying the youth and then back at Raysa, Toshtai shrugged.

“Who is he?”

Shaking Raysa nodded her head.

“I am Raysa yes. Toshtai, this is Lyeif, my son.”

Immediately both mother and son embraced leaving Toshtai as mystified as ever. Leading Lyeif inside the cottage, Raysa kissed him on the forehead and embraced him again before speaking.

“My darling I thought I would never see you again! All these years! You’re sixteen now aren’t you?”

Lyeif nodded.

“Yes. Uncle Orrak said I am old enough now to meet you but I have to leave to return to the guild in a week.”

With tears in her eyes Raysa knelt down and embraced her son even harder. As she did so Lyeif could feel his mother’s swollen belly and rubbed it gently.

“How many are you expecting mother?”

Looking down at her belly then back up at her son, Raysa kissed him before answering.

“Twins my dear, we have a big family here in Lurotham and we’re well off financially with the trading. Couldn’t you stay and live with us? Must you return to the guild so soon?”

Lyeif nodded his head.

“The guild is my life mother. I will visit from time to time. Where are my brother and sister?”

Toshtai smiled.




“Verran and Arenda have gone out to do some errands. Stay with us for a while won’t you?”

Raysa nodded.

“Yes we have so much to tell you.”

THE END

That's it. Thank you I've been looking for this for the past couple days