Gideon watched his son run down the well-beaten path. The boy was staying the night at a friend’s house, but first the pair was going ‘adventuring’ through the tall grass. The man chuckled, for the child took after his mother, and would likely make a fine bodyguard or adventurer some day. Or maybe even a soldier, Aaron was not yet old enough to understand the distinction, or why he couldn’t follow in his mother’s career.

Gideon closed the door, returning to his housework. It was their anniversary, the sixth, and he wanted it to be special. He chose this, over shop-work or blacksmithy, or any other trade available to the Torian man, and he enjoyed it. It made him feel useful.

But Toria was on the brink of war with Baron, and he worried. Medea was a soldier, and it wasn’t that country came before family – it was merely that family was his domain. If she was called upon to defend their nation, and the unthinkable happened, he would have to find a means to support himself and his child.

He refused to think of these things. He focussed instead on his display, centering the lighting just so and double-checking his preparations.

Medea was late, and in a foul mood. Her scowl melted in wonder at what he had done, but there was still a lingering grief in her eyes.

And Gideon soon understood why – Toria was at war.