Sunday fiction

H ere's the very short story of Joyspring's birth, split in two parts and ending next Sunday. It's freshly out of the oven, so feel free to comment and spot typos or other mistakes!

Luckbringer

Luckbringer stared at her baby girl sleeping, thinking how much her life had changed in a few years. She was Genn, she knew she'd live longer than any Human, and she couldn't believe how fast things had moved since she had come out of childhood.

Her first love had been Human. She was young and naive and was dazzled by Damir's charming manners and fiery passion. The Governor's son had enjoyed her dancing skills so much, he had thoroughly seduced her, which had made her incredibly happy for a couple of years.

Those years had vanished in the blink of an eye. Damir had met the Waiora, got obsessed with one of them, and even picked up a second wife, a Human. Luckbringer had found herself locked in a triangle, tricked into a war against the Waiora and betrayed by her beloved who was finally showing his true nature.

She blamed her youth for that dreadful mistake, but still it took her five years to get over Damir. Sometimes she thought that a part of her had always known that Damir was an evil young man, as she had never carried his seed. He was unable to reproduce, but she was Genn and could have had his babies if she really had wanted them.

Thank Ether, she hadn't. She was probably too young to think about maternity anyway. When Damir had divorced her, she had felt lost. Who would want her again? But mostly, why should she allow anyone to break her heart again?

Then Goldstar had come along, reminding her they were Genn, that she shouldn't attach herself to Humans and should try the Magical Races' love instead. Even if some Genn had been happy in marriages with Humans, their long lives meant they'd eventually end up with their own kind sooner or later – "why wait?" had been Goldstar's winning argument.

Luckbringer was almost thirty by now – mid-life for a Human, still very young for a Genn – and she had accepted Goldstar's deep love. They could be animkunulo, or soul mates, for the rest of their long lives. They could have two batches of children, one now, one later in life – still together.

Former Varian Queen Rainspot (Luckbringer's great-aunt) had had half-blood children with her first husband Fabio Varian, but her youngest children were two pure-blooded twins who has seen the birth of the Varian Empire aged fifteen – at the time of Fabio's grandsons.

Being Genn in a Human-ruled world wasn't easy, but having a Genn mate had helped Luckbringer to blossom. Her healing powers had reached full maturity and now she was a proud mother. Gone were the years of trying to keep up with the Humans' frenetic life. In the very small Genn community of Agharek, she was finally enjoying life at a slower pace, with like-minded people and no competition for her man's love.

Goldstar came into the room and she smiled at him, grateful.

"Is Joyspring asleep?" he asked, walking towards her.

"Yes," she answered. "Isn't she the most perfect being?"

"Of course," he grinned, stopping by her side. "Like her mother."

"Goldstar!" she chided, rising from her stool.

He took her in his arms. "What? Are you still blaming yourself for Damir's misdeeds? Forget them, Luckbringer. Humans have long forgotten them."

"But the Waiora still remember," she sighed, lowering her eyes.

"I don't think they blame you for the invasion of their underwater city," he replied. "Us Magical Races tend to forgive each other's mistakes, especially when youth is involved."

She giggled. "Well, nobody would ever challenge Starblazer for what she did to Arquon!" she said, relieved. She put her arms around his neck. "Thank you, beloved. Thank you for loving me."

The baby seemed to feel both her parents by her side because she opened her emerald-green eyes and gurgled with happiness. Luckbringer picked her up with a grin.

"It's time to go out, Joyspring!" Goldstar announced, caressing the baby's head.