"Do you remember my name and can you also speak it?" Zinya lifted the baby girl, who giggled with joy. "You are a big girl now, Ely. Almost a lady."
Elysia looked at Valeron in triumph, only to notice that her brother was too happy for being praised by their grandmother and mother to be envious. There was no fun in a one-sided sibling rivalry, making Elysia grumble.
"Mama!" Raldarak called Zinya while extending his little arms to be embraced.
"I'm not your mom, little imp, but I'll hold you for as long as you want." Zinya choked, and her eyes veiled every time she heard the baby word despite her best attempts to act normal.
"Ba." Elysia mumbled in annoyance.
Names were unique to each person, hard to remember, and even harder to pronounce. She couldn't understand why her little brother always received a bigger reaction than she did, even though he used the same word for every woman he met.
"Mama!" Raldarak hugged Zinya and then threw himself on his sister.
