I scowl a moment longer, enjoying my moment. "Leita." I say. And then I break into a smile, the joy of my son starting his own family excites me. I open my arms to her. "Daughter. I love you and welcome you to our family."

            She walks into my arms, and then Ikonyn wraps us both into a hug. "I knew it! I told her you would accept. She was a little nervous, but I told her she would be fine." He says.

              "I'm glad she finally asked." I say, as we break apart. "It was getting harder and harder not to smile every time I saw the two of you together."

             Leita laughs and the two of them begin chatting about various wedding plans. I nod my head in approval and start to walk off. "Come. Let us talk to Faya and share the good news. The idea of a new generation will thrill her."

*********************************************************************************************

             "Your flowers are looking beautiful, today, Mala." I say as Ikonyn, Leita, and I take a seat at Faya's table. Mala. I still find it a bit odd that tradition dictates that we do not address our mother-in-law by their name. On Talfar, women are all on equal footing. Here, we must use the term Mala when speaking to her face. She is only called by her name when she is not present.

             "Thank-you, Vos. It takes a lot of hard work to keep these beauties alive. The smell they release, every morning, is well worth every drop of sweat." She moves toward some purple-colored flowers. "These ones here, they are my favorite. They attract a beautiful tiny bird, that I am told only lives on the moon of Baljuma. I have a breeding pair, somewhere around here. Just acquired those sweet birds, last week. But I get the feeling that you didn't come here to listen to an old Copaie talk about her flowers and birds." She walks to the table and sits down across from me.

              "You are preceptive, as always." I say, reaching out, taking her hand in mine, and kissing it.

                 "The kiss of respect. Oh, dear. Whatever you came to tell me, it must be something big." Faya says.

             I let out a small laugh and look to Ikonyn who gives me an encouraging nod. "Since you took us in, became Mala to me and Avita to Ikonyn I thought it only right to give you the news." I take a deep breath and then say, "Many new babies will bless your arms in the coming years."

                 Faya looks to Ikonyn and to Leita and then the biggest smile crosses her lips. "I am so thrilled! A new family! Lots of babies to love and spoil! I can't wait for the new generation!" She looks back to me before saying, "Now, if only we could convince your mother to marry, again."

              "Mala." I say, annoyed, dragging her name out. I love her but she has been trying to marry me off for the past two or three years.

                  "It's been six years, Vos, dear. It's time to move on. Find a husband. Have more babies. You've only had two. A good Copaie female has no less than..."

                 "Ten babies." I say at the same time as her.

               She laughs and then continues. "Well, it's true. You started young so you have another one hundred and sixty years of childbearing, ahead of you. That's many many more babies. If we get you married off soon, you could have at least one hundred babies. That's more than me, I only had ninety. You know, just the other day I met this nice, single, Copaie male. Good looking, strong, and only one hundred years old. He is still so young. You two would be the perfect match."

              Faya gets on these rants about me remarrying. The only thing I can do is listen, and occasionally object. "Mala. I don't want to remarry, I'm still in love with your son. And as you've already stated, I still have plenty of childbearing years ahead of me."

             "My son is gone, it's hard to say but it's true. You on the other hand are still alive, still have a purpose. And that purpose is for you to have many more children. I need some new babies playing at my knees." She says.

              "I have fallen in love, twice, and both times my heart was broken. I don't think I have it in me to fall in love, again. Besides, there are so many things out there that I want to explore. Now that Ikonyn is grown and going to have his own family, I can do that." I say.

                "Who said anything about love? You find a good male to support you, one whose mother had lots of children, and you marry him. Then, once you leave the age of children, you can go off and have your adventures."

               I sigh. Faya is of the generation that believes the Copaie population needs to expand and that each of us is responsible for helping it to grow. She is really on the marriage bandwagon, today. I'll probably never get out of here until I become agreeable. "Okay, Mala. You win. I will meet this male you have in mind. But I make no promises. If I don't like him then we are done."

              "Promise me you will give him a chance. He is my oldest brother's great grandson. His Avita had a respectable eighty-five children, and his mother is already on child number sixty-two. He owns several restaurants in town. Lots of money." She says.

                "How old is this male you are trying to marry me off to? It isn't the one-hundred-year-old, is it?" I ask.

               "No. No. That was just an example to soften you up a bit. He is not much older than you, only fifty-five."

                 I look over to Ikonyn, wondering why he hasn't voiced his opinion, yet. "Do you think I should remarry, too?"

              "Yes, I do. I've never liked the fact that you are alone. It's not right for a young female to live alone." He says. "Avita is right, you need to have at least sixty more children. If it doesn't work out with her kinsmen, I have a friend whose dad is a widower. He is sixty and looking for a good sturdy wife."

                I study is face a moment, thinking. So, the Copaie way of thinking as influenced you as well. My own son. If only you had been raised on Talfar, your way of thinking would be completely different.

             I hear screaming coming from outside, and we all rush to the kitchen window to try and catch a glimpse of whatever is happening. I see several Copaie, young and old alike, falling down, dead. So, it's begun. Malum's reign of terror.