The Magician's Witch

Covert Plans and Execution

Eilis remained in Ashraf through the end of December, riding out a chunk of the winter season in the milder temperatures of Mazandaran. She could transport herself and Aria via teleportation when she was ready, but she preferred to stay where she was at the moment.

Erik stayed home with Eilis the day after Aria's birth, rarely leaving her side. Eilis could tell that already their daughter had Erik wrapped around her tiny little fingers. He sang to her and talked to her while Eilis leaned against his shoulder, watching their interaction.

Nadir had ordered the servants to keep the disruptions to a minimum as the new parents bonded with their baby. Nadir himself stopped into the room later that afternoon to check on them and to see Aria for the first time. Eilis smiled at him as he held the baby, his hands instinctively cradling her. Erik watched him like a hawk, already embracing protective dad mode.

"She is already a beauty. I fear you will have trouble keeping the boys away when she is older," he told the new parents.

Eilis chuckled as she adjusted herself sitting in bed. "Oh, I don't think they will be a problem; not while Erik is looking out for her. Although, we may have to get creative with our landscaping if we end up having to hide the bodies of the suitors he doesn't like."

Nadir looked up at Eilis, then looked at Erik, unsure if he should laugh, or if Eilis was being serious.

Erik responded lightly. "Or you can turn them into mice and feed them to a cat."

Eilis giggled. "I think we are making the chief of police nervous."

"I am going to go prematurely gray because of the two of you," Nadir accused them.

Eilis and Erik took turns waking to Aria's cries, making sure she was fed, changed, and comfortable. Several times, when Eilis awoke in the middle of the night, she would catch Erik sitting in a chair by the window or sleeping next to her with the infant lying on his chest.

One morning, as Eilis was coming back into the bedroom, she stopped to listen. There was a musical tinkling sound coming from inside the room. She peered into the room; Erik wasn't there. She looked towards the crib. A mobile hung above it, undulating slowly as a chubby little hand played with the reflective stars and moons.

As Eilis listened, she gasped as she detected an actual melody in the deliberate incremental plinking of metal on metal.

"Eilis," Erik called to her as he strode up to her from down the hall, about to ask her something. Eilis whirled on him, immediately putting a finger to her lips. Erik halted, mouthing What?

Eilis pointed to the bedroom. "Listen," she whispered.

Erik frowned but came to stand next to her in the doorway. As he stilled, he heard it too. As they listened, Aria intentionally played a tune with the mobile shapes, creating music in her celestial universe.

"Incroyable," he muttered softly.

Eilis turned to him, beaming. "Well, we certainly don't need a paternity test to determine whose child she is," she murmured back, reaching up to kiss his cheek. "She is early. Infants don't start really playing with toys until at least two months. She is barely a month old now."

Erik regarded her curiously. "Her advancement doesn't frighten you," he asked cautiously.

"Of course not," Eilis assured him, kissing him again. "It's you, Love. You've passed on your brilliant mind."

Erik played his violin some nights as Nadir, Eilis, Aria and sometimes Reza listened. They would all end up spellbound, enraptured by the music he played.