Auro shook his head. He was smiling, but he still shook his head. He and Aleia had been watching their baby sleep. Aleia was worried about their baby girl's breathing. She was only a week old, after all.

"Who's power do you think she'll have?" Aleia whispered as she let the sleeping baby hold her finger. "I mean, she looks more like you than she does me. And you said abilities are mostly random. Neither of your parents had snow powers. But both of mine could control fire."

"I suppose we will have to wait and find out," Auro replied with a soft chuckle. "I think our daughter will surprise us. We are both, in fact, from dominant bloodlines."

They shared a smile and went on watching their daughter sleep. However, the moment was short-lived when a servant came and announced the arrival of an unexpected guest. Auro and Aleia went to the throne room, leaving the baby with her nurse.

They were surprised, but thrilled, when they saw who their guest was.

"Inan!" Aleia cried as she flung herself at her old friend.

Inanis chuckled and returned the embrace. When they pulled apart, the queen slapped his shoulder.

"Six years!" she scolded, aghast. "It has been six years since you left! Where the heck have you been?"

He sighed, "I expected you would be displeased," he said, shaking his head. "But leaving was necessary at the time. My brother was happy with his position in the guard. Kinasha and Glint, as you know, didn't leave with me. This was a journey I needed to do on my own."

"What sort of journey was this?" asked Auro, amused by his wife's outburst.

"I wish I could disclose the details, but it is still too delicate to speak of." 

Aleia smiled and nodded understandingly. 

"But you no longer have unresolved matters?"

"No more unresolved matters. I hope t, explain it all to you. I may need your help one day."

***

"What's her name?" Glint asked as Aleia placed the baby girl into her arms.

"I was hoping her godparents might be able to help us decide," she replied with a smile. "That is if you and Inanis will accept . . ."

Glint gasped as she glanced at her older brother.

"Are you certain you want my sister to name your child?" Inanis asked with a grimace. "She might call her Twileigh, just for jokes."

"You're daft if you thought I would name this angel after me. Besides, there's a strong fire in this little girl. I think her parents should name her for what they believe she will become."

Auro and Aleia exchanged a knowing smile.

"She's quite striking," Auro said, crossing her arms. "You are already aware of my choice."

Aleia bit her lip before adding, "And it would go nicely with the name I had in mind."

"What name is that?"

"Embra. It was on that list of suggestions from Millie. And it honors my father's name."

Inanis motioned to Glint to hand him the baby. The little princess stared up at him, her gaze was wild and curious.

"What name went with 'striking'?" he asked, glancing at Auro.

"Astra," the king replied, placing his hand on Aleia's shoulder. "After my grandmother."

"You can't give her both those names. Embra is beautiful, but she appears more like an Astra. Look at the lightning in her eyes."

"Astra, the pride of Anerathia," Inanis went on as he placed the princess into the waiting priest's hands. "And if you think I am fit to be a godparent, I hope I live up to your expectations."

Glint squeaked "Yes!" in delight.

***

Peace filled the land during the reign of King Auro and his queen, Aleia. When their daughter was old enough to understand, they told her the story of how Anerathia came to know such peace. They did not know how long the peace would last, but they enjoyed it day by day.

THE END.