Izen didn't intend to come home that night. It was typical for him. He owed his wives nothing and would not inconvenience himself for them. They were cared for and had roofs over their heads. They could be content with that. For many women of Coheed, husbands not coming home at night was a blessing.

He wasn't home. He happened to be walking past it. Izen was hard at work making sure things went smoothly while his brothers were gone, and then tending to his usual duties when they were back. He was in charge of training Kaalim's warriors, and he took his charge very seriously.

It was while he was passing that he smelled the dried meat. Now, every woman dried meat, and that was true, but Miriel did it differently. Was it the spices? The rub? Or perhaps just her that he smelled. Regardless, what was intended to be a walk by turned into a quick pop in. After all, when one of the greatest cooks in Coheed made your food you didn't just not drop in for a bite.

"I'm hungry." Izen declared as he stepped into his property.

Indeed, she didn't know what she was doing, and she didn't do whatever she was attempting to correctly. Izen didn't want to talk to her. He didn't need her company or conversation. He had brothers, both in blood and in arms, and it was with them that he would speak.

"The boy," he asked as he drew nearer, ignoring her request, "is he sleeping?" He should like to see his son, but didn't want to disturb him. Izen well knew that sleeping was just as important as eating when a boy was growing. His eyes dropped to her stomach, looking for any indication of the child to come.

"Will it be a girl or a boy?" Of course she didn't know for sure, but many women had intuition.