“When I heard the news I was far away on a mission for my master,” my cloth giving the blade a final wipe down, “and afraid I’d be killed if I returned. So I ran to the city of Lower Temple, at the base of the western mountains where the Ogri live. Their mages, the females called the Ogra-magi, control the city, and I knew it would be the one place I’d be safe in.”

“An Ogra-magus uses her mind to probe the thoughts of everyone entering the city,” the old healer says, “and every imperial assassin that has ever tried to pass has been dismembered by the Ogri guards at the city gates. But if you get let in, you have to agree to let one of them test you, if she wishes, and become her mate for the season if you pass.”

“The Ogri guard I spoke with said it was rare, and gave me the name of a good caravan master travelling west into the barbarian lands when I asked about a job.” Lady Sword-son gives me an incredulous look as I place Master back in his sheathe. I shrug. “The Ogri are extremely polite, provided you don’t make them angry. Anyway, before I could even find the inn the caravan master was staying at, an Ogra-magi pulled me off the street and took me partway up the mountain to their temple. I was tested that very night.”

I lock gazes with the Blood-archer. “Imagine your mind is a house with thousands of locked rooms and someone breaks down all the doors, rummages through the contents, and holds them up to the light. I have done things so unspeakable that Lady Sword-son would chop off my head without a second thought if I spoke of them. When the Ogra-magi was finished, I begged her to take my life. Instead, she took me as her lover.”

A smile touches my lips as I remember her face. “It’s true the Ogra-magi are terrifying at first, since they stand seven feet tall with blue-black skin, thick cords of muscle, and eyes as cobalt blue as their hair. The first time she bent to kiss me and I saw the fangs, I thought she was about to rip out my throat.”

Blood-archer laughs and the lady knight elbows him hard in the side, his laughter becoming a strangled sound as I continue. “But I soon learned to love her face. She became like a goddess out of legend, loving me with a ferocious passion despite knowing who I was. She said there wasn’t enough time to give me back the honor I’d never known, so on the day she told me we were having a daughter, she presented me with the ancient katana named Master, and the newly forged short sword named Apprentice.” I pull the short sword out and begin rubbing her black metal blade down with the cloth. “Master holds my honor within him, so when I stray from the Warrior’s Path, his voice draws me back.”

Lady Sword-son asks, “What about Apprentice?”

I cannot help but grin. “Prickly as a Rock Rose with the bravery of a she-bear protecting her cubs. But Apprentice holds my courage, so when I would do the safe thing and not what’s right, she goads me until my feet are back upon the path once more.” My expression grows solemn as my eyes meet those of the Blood-archer. “These are the gifts of the Ogra-magi, along with a daughter I never dare meet, for fear she will bond with me and leave the temple. She will love me as fiercely as her mother does, yet I shall always be a ghost to her.

“In the kingdoms and empires to the west, the barbarians there call me Grey Raven,” my hand pointing at the ravens who settle on the branches above the healer. “Seven ravens follow me, spirits of the Shadow Raptors I killed bringing Daemo over to our side. I have slain enough men to choke a graveyard with their corpses and defiled…” I stop and shake my head. “Younger Brother, I am the monster, not her. Never her. Be grateful you are the person you are. Be grateful you have not sunk so low.”

Blood-archer has already gone to his knees and now places his forehead upon the rough stone. “Ghostdog, I spoke in ignorance. What is the name of your Ogra-magi lady so I may properly craft my apology? ”

“Her true name is a secret from anyone not of her race, but I called her Meg.”

“No, you called her Magpie,” the old healer says, “and later shortened it to Meg”. I stare up at him in shock and he smiles. “She told me you called her that to tease her, since she never speaks unless she has something to say. You said she talked so much she was just like a magpie.” 

He looks down at the archer. “Were Meg here, she would forgive you. Were her daughter, the most powerful Ogra-magi seen in an age, also here, she would forgive you as well.” He looks back at the Ogra-Ki, standing behind him. “Meg’s son on the other hand, who happens to be the daughter’s twin brother, is not so forgiving.” He looks back down at the archer. “But remain on your good behavior with your sister, whom he is fond of, and he might…eventually.”

I am in shock so deep, so profound, that words cannot even scratch the surface. “Grandfather,” I say faintly, “the Ogra-magi never have twins.”

The old healer smiles like a cat with his head in the cream. “They do when the father was born on the last day of the year, when the laws of nature itself are warped. Strange things happen.” No stranger than the Ogra-Ki, who steps next to the cringing archer and holds out his hand to me. I sheathe Apprentice and let him grip mine with rough fingers, allowing him to pull me up as I stare. He has Meg’s face, its strength, the shadow of the special smile she always had for me, but his eyes…

The eyes of the Ogra-magi are always blue as a cloudless sky, while the rest of the Ogri race has eyes black as ink. The eyes of Tinados are grey as mine. He pulls me in for a fierce, but yet gentle hug, while the old mage whispers in my ear. “I took your place and taught him the ways of man, therefore honor says you owe me a great debt. So, you will remain at my side until together, we either drive the Daemo from this land, or spark a war that will destroy mankind.” He pulls away as his voice returns to normal. “But for now… you have a son.”

I have a son. As Tinados lets me go and I pull back, I realize nothing will ever be the same again.