Yngvar respects Tarek enough to obey him, but that doesn't change his feelings. Tarek remembers being his age. His mother was his world. He couldn't imagine sharing her then. But after he was long weaned, he grew up, and he and his mother parted ways, life got awfully lonely. Tarek never knew happiness again until he found Hannah. Hannah gave him a sense of purpose, and companionship. Their relationship is different than that between mother and child, but it fills the same basic needs. A relationship with a sibling could have done the same, and filled all those lost and lonely years with something a lot less lost and lonely.

"You might not want to be a big brother now, but it won't be all bad." Tarek regards his eldest son as the two mares disappear into the brush. "You're growing up, Yngvar. You're getting stronger, and you're pretty good a sparring. It can be a lot of fun to teach someone else what you know." He smiles a little. "Trust me. I know. I've had a lot of fun teaching you." His grin widens. "And with your mom distracted with a newborn, we can have a little more fun, take our patrols a little farther from home." Tarek roughs up Yngvar's mane with his lips. "I love you bud. I will always love you. Your little brother or sister will not replace you and could never make me love you any less." His expression becomes stern. "You got that?"

There is no doubt in Tarek's mind that he will love his second born, but his heart is a big place, with room for more than just the few that reside in it. Yngvar will always be special to him. Tarek may not have donated the sperm that brought him into being, but he is Tarek's son, his first-born son at that. That means something, and hopefully Yngvar comes to realize that.

As their heart to heart comes to a close, three figures emerge from the brush. Tarek's eyes seek out the third and smallest figure. When his eyes find the beautiful face of his second son, his breath catches in his throat and words cannot find their way past his lips. He touches Yngvar's shoulder for support.