Larksong Grotto Forever 21

There was contact; a closeness Hiram had not truly felt since he had been forced from the Maplewood so many months ago. He reveled in it. Surrounded by his family, his newborn sons, all was right and good with the world.

The untested strength of Jhala's faith had never come under question under the Cardinal's rule. Hiram never pried underneath the surface and took Jhala's commitment to the Daystar in a skin-deep sense, never questioning for fear of the answer he would receive. He cared too much for her to reject the Lord -- and in a way, Hiram felt he was protecting his family by never brushing past the surface. Unlike his daughters, who Hiram had not subjected Raas upon, Jhala was different. She was his right hand and among leadership of the faith.

When she spoke of a cleansing, Hiram's unspoken fears were driven away. "Of course," he said, nodding in joyous agreement. "But, I'll need some time to prepare the ritual." The feathers and frogs needed to be gathered. This would be done in time, yet not now. For now, Hiram had two baby boys to marvel at.