Pip

Scoti sat in the corner of the large tent by the compound holding the perfect little bundle that had Lil wrapped in the center with her sleeping.  He had already finished his food and held the baby because he wouldn’t be needed in the discussion.  His job in the family was the easy one, decide the best way to kill the enemy and lead his troop in killing them. Pip sat at the foot of the table completing her notes in preparation for the discussion.
           The table held the main part of the meal, bread, cheese, and fish. He figured that was going to be the mainstay of their diet for the summer.  Claira was an incredible cook and he could probably live on the different types of bread she made without it getting old. She was busy making sure everyone had plenty to eat, and Scoti thought of the pile of food she had placed in front of his boys and wondered if even Magnus could have finished it all.

Cam sat in a comfortable chair back from the table and watched the boys fight an invisible enemy around the fort and the fields by it.  At that moment Tyr stood on top of a rock wall and gave a battle cry swinging his axe above his head.  Zack and Eliseus had just jumped off the wall and with their swords out were in a full charge straight ahead.  Tye always cautious was leading Coal around the wall to out flank the enemy while the others kept the enemy’s attention.

           Magnus sat in the other corner still with his robe on, but the hood had been pulled back.  The man’s neck was larger than most men’s thighs.  His head showed more scars than Scoti had ever seen before.  This was the first time other than on the ship that he had noticed that Magnus was not in Niona presence.  He was her Protector any time she left her home island, so she had to be in calling distance.  Iza had fallen asleep in his lap; they had become fast friends on the ship.
           Elijah sat at the head of the table very calmly picking at a little food that was left on his plate.  Hadassah sat at his side. She wanted the women at home to know what occurred during the meeting, so she was writing a letter to the family. She knew they would appreciate knowing what had taken place, and the men didn’t always remember fine details. She planned on sending the letter to the island with Isaac when he sailed home.        
    Isaac finished a buttered roll, “Scoti, take a look at Seth over here, can you imagine a woman much more beautiful than a goblin being willing to marry him?”
           Seth didn’t fit in with the rest of his family, most of the men were handsome enough but Seth’s looks far surpassed his brothers.  He was a tall man, with broad shoulders, and only spoke when the conversation required his perspective.  He felt most comfortable with the ocean air in his lungs and steady rock of the waves lulling the ship on.  His hair was sun-bleached blond and his skin was sun-darkened. Even if found miles from the sea anyone would be able to tell that’s where he belonged.

“From what I have heard if they hadn’t found each other she never would have found a husband.” jested Scoti.

Cap was sound asleep in his chair with a slight snore escaping from him every once in a while letting everyone know he was still there.