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“Eh, don’t be,” said Samuel. “Bothersome as you were, it was still kind of fun, in a strange way. And besides, you really mellowed out after you turned two or so. It got a bit boring then, actually.”

“Boring?”

“Yeah. Potty training you was a breeze. Same with teaching you to dress yourself and tie your shoes. Never made a fuss about your food anymore.”

“Y-you wanted me to be more difficult...?”

“I don’t know about that. Boring can be a good thing.” He started back for the door.

Hector frowned. He had another question, and he had to struggle to get it out. “Dad, uh... why didn’t you and mom have any other kids?”

He turned and tilted his head. “What’s with all the sudden questions?”

“I, ah... just... I don’t know, uh...”

The man took a moment to scratch his cheek. He eyed Hector again. “No big reason. Neither of us loved the idea of having more kids, and your mother really hated being pregnant.”

“But... you both... I mean, just now, with the babies... you both seemed like you were kinda... enjoying yourselves.”

“Not sure what gave you that impression.”

“I... ah...”

“You shouldn’t try to read so much into things, Hector. You’ll drive yourself crazy.”

And his father left.

Hector gave a quiet sigh. He exchanged glances with Garovel, who looked as if he had something to say but remained silent.

Alone again, he watched the kids sleep for a bit before deciding that he should make use of his downtime. He wasn’t about to leave the children unattended, but there was something he had been meaning to practice with his iron.

He sat in the middle of the floor and made an elongated chunk of metal. He gave it a pointed tip, and suddenly it was a dagger, though still very primitive. But that wasn’t his goal.