”…When I was a young girl…” Anara started.

”You had a kind mother, a stern yet noble father, and two brothers. One, your protector, the other, your tormentor…” Kes said softly. ”I tried to avoid it, but I… I saw some of your memories. Mostly, they were vague. But I remember that much, at least. Not very much else. Other than that… you liked to dance, and you loved your family more than anything.”

”…yes.” Anara said softly. ”Yes, what you say is true…” She told her. Kes looked up and saw that Anara was crying a little, soundlessly. She got up and wiped the tears from her eyes.

”I’m so sorry, Anara… I…” Kes began, but Anara took her hand from her cheek and closed it in hers.

”Do not be sorry.” Anara told her softly. ”It’s only, it’s been so long since… since I’ve spoken to anyone like this. About them. I tell my children stories of them at times, but… it’s not the same. To have someone else who remembers them too, if only a little. It’s a relief.” She said gently. ”You shouldn’t apologize for that. If anything… I should thank you, zaraya Kes.”

’Zaraya’, Kes understood what that word meant now. It meant… daughter of Kazerel. Kazerel was the Kazon goddess of light. It used to be a literal belief among Anara’s people, that the gods and goddesses blessed some among them and adopted them as sons or daughters. Calling a woman that now though meant more that she was an inspiration, or a savior, or very bold or brave… it could also mean that she was beautiful. ”If I’m a daughter of Kazerel, Anara, so are you… very much so.” Kes told her, caressing her cheek and squeezing her hand.

Anara smiled a little falteringly. ”You are mistaken, but charmingly so.” Anara told her. ”Now… you should rest. You still want to hear my story, don’t you?” Anara asked. Kes swallowed. She wanted to kiss Anara, she realized. She fought the instinct as she had many, many times with her friend Tae before and instead did as she was asked and lay her head again on Anara’s lap and was silent, waiting.

”I named Tresit for my father, and Lanam for my husband’s mother.” She said, and Kes knew now that that was tradition for the mother to name the children, and to name them for distinguished ancestors. ”My father was a well respected warrior… won many battles. The maj thought highly of him and gave him command of one of our smaller outposts. It was there that I had my childhood. I had a good home. My brothers, as you said, they were as night and day. Ralka, the eldest, always wanted to follow in our father’s footsteps, while Tulk, he fell in with a group of boys. A cruel and mean-hearted group of beastlings, all of them.