Sun Mote Copse A Child Has Been Born into the World

As Eshamun arrived, and subsequently stepped forward toward the den-mouth, Ar-Khalba remained rooted to the spot until the invitation was formally offered to him. His heart compelled him to approach, yet his conditioning spoke otherwise. He could hear them speak from inside. There were three. Three healthy, living children. Ar-Khalba couln't help but move with jittery, nervous excitement as he stood in wait.

But all was not well. One, the third, was marked for sacrifice. His heart sank in his chest. Had his sacrificial litter with Eshamun not been enough to please their angry God? Even the thought of the ritual tied Khalba's stomach into knots. Yet, his devotion to the sisters and to Molech was strong enough to look past even the most horrid realities.

He could not hold it any longer. He needed to see them. With a slow, testing step, Khalba began to make his way closer to the whelping den.