Aja Part 2

Frego sat down in front of Max at dinner. A woman was sitting beside him with a baby. “May I join you?” Frego waved his hand across his plate.

“Yes, of course.” Max lowered his glance. “Lilly, this is Frego.” He smiled pointing at the baby, “Aja.”

“Aja?” He questioned.

She blushed. “A kind man named Rajaf delivered her. Her name is in honor of him.”

“Does he know?”

“I don’t think so.”

Violet joined them. She handed Frego a book. “Yes!” He exclaimed.

She blushed. “I thought you’d be pleased.”

Frego introduced Violet to Lilly.

Lilly leaned over to Max, “this place is full of life.”

He simply blushed.

Kol sat down beside Frego. He had no food. They had a whispered conversation.

Everyone at the table noticed Aja cooing and trying to giggle. Which ended up being sputtering and blowing bubbles. She kicked her legs and shook her arms happily. Kol was making faces at her. “would you like to hold her?” Lilly asked.

Kol patted Frego on the back, “it’s been a long time since I’ve held a baby.” He moved around to sit beside of Lilly. As he continued making faces, she continued to be a happy baby.

“Do you have children?” Lilly asked.

He pointed at Frego, who did a little wave. “What’s her name?”

“Aja.”

Kol grinned from ear to ear. “Would you mind if I introduced her to someone? I promise we will not go far.”

“Sure.”

Kessa and Rajaf were sitting outside going over maps while they ate.

“My king,” Kessa smiled. “Who do you have there?”

“Aja.” He winked at Rajaf.

Kol put the baby in Rajaf’s arms as a tear rolled down his cheek. “She’s named after me?”

“I’ll get no more work out of him.” Kessa said playfully.

Max and Lilly walked outside. She smiled, “you’re the kind man that brought Aja into the world.”

“I am honored that you named her after me.” Rajaf was still crying.

The man that asked to take Aja and a woman (Lilly knew she has seen this woman before) were off to the side talking. Rajaf nodded his head toward them. “She’s always working. Sometimes I wonder if taking a day off would really be so difficult?”

“I think it would.” Frego spoke as he sat at the table. “They are so much alike it’s scary.”

“Forgive me.” Rajaf spoke to Max and Lilly, “please sit.”

They did.

“How can we make that happen.” Max asked.

“Dad can order her. But who’s going to order dad?”

“Order her?” Lilly asked with a hint of displeasure in her voice.

“She’s a soldier. Just like I am.” Max thought; curling his lip, “well, she’s my commander.”

Frego leaned up in his seat, “that didn’t end well.”

Kessa went one way; Kol walked the other.

The group heard a whistle. After a moment, they heard laughter.

“Wait, dad’s laughing.” Frego smiled. “Real laughter. I don’t think I’ve ever heard dad laugh.”

Lilly sighed, “that’s sad.”

They started walking back to the group, both laughing. Kessa was laughing so hard she started coughing, laugh, then cough. “Well, looks like all is well.” They couldn’t stop laughing.

“Come by and see me later. We need to go over about 10 different things.” He laughed.

Still laughing, she said “only 10. I’m slipping.” She help her hand to her chest, “forgive me. I’m Kessa.” She turned to Kol; he nodded. “This is our king, Kol.”

Lilly was in shock. The king. She looked at Frego and pointed.

“Thank you for letting me hold Aja.” He smiled and left.