“Well, then,” he said. “According to the laws and customs of your people, for which I have the deepest respect, we have been married for a number of years. The child is perfectly legitimate.”

Kitai narrowed her eyes, and a smile haunted her lips. “We are not wed. That was not a proper mating trial.”

“Why not?” Tavi asked.

“Because it was not intended as such!” Kitai said.

Tavi waved a hand airily. “Intentions count for far less than the consequences of the actions born from them. You are my wife.”

“I think not,” Kitai said.

“I know,” Tavi said solemnly. “But in this, you are less wise than an Aleran male. Still, one must tolerate occasional fits of irrational passion from one’s wife. So in your judgment, what needs to happen to make this a proper mating?”

“A proper challenge!” she replied. “You cannot dare think that...” Her voice trailed off, and she said, “Oh.”

Tavi arched an eyebrow at her this time and waited.

“You...” She looked down. “You truly think the child is... that this is all right?”

“Why shouldn’t it be?” he replied quietly. He dropped the playful, bantering tone. “Kitai, what does it matter what excuse we use to accept the child? So long as the child is welcomed and loved? Isn’t that the important thing?”

“Yes,” she said simply. She closed her eyes, and said, “Thank you, Aleran.”

“There’s nothing to thank me for,” he said. Then he touched her chin and lifted her eyes to his. “If our child is to be born, Kitai,” he said, in little more than a whisper, “I’ve got to do everything in my power to protect it. I’ve got to. I can’t do anything else. It is who I am. Do you understand?”

“I understand that you mean to leave me behind,” she said softly. “To go into this war alone.”

“I must,” he said. “Kitai, it would kill me if I lost you. But now, it would kill someone else, too.”

She shook her head slowly, never blinking. “I will not stay behind, Aleran.”

“Why not?”

She was quiet for a moment, thinking. Then she said, “Do you remember when I said that the vord could do nothing to us?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Do you know why I said it?”

“No,” he said.