Niko was holding one child under either arm when Tempus and Jihan came upon themin the nursery.
One babe, Alton, had thumb in mouth; the other, Gyskouras, gave a single cry onseeing the interlopers.
Then Gyskouras-god-child, Niko was certain-held out his tiny hands and Jihan,mayhem forgotten, stepped over a decapitated snake oozing ichor, her own armsoutstretched and the red fires of Stormbringer's passion in her eyes.
"Give him here. Stealth," Jihan crooned, calling Niko by his war-name. "Mycomfort's what he seeks."
Niko's gaze flickered questioningly to Tempus, who made a sour face andshrugged, sheathing his sword and squatting down to examine the snake.
Niko gave the child up to Jihan and shifted Alton, who immediately began towail. "Me, too! Me, too! Take Alton, or tears come! Take Alton!"
In moments, Jihan held both children, the dark-haired and the fair, and Niko waskneeling opposite Tempus, the snake between them.
"Greetings, Commander. Life to you."
"And to you. Stepson. And glory." The words were only formula tonight, anafterthought from Tempus, who had out a dagger and with it turned the snake'shead toward him.
"How did you kill this thing. Stealth?" asked the Riddler.
"How? With my sword...." Niko's brows knit. His canny smile came and went andhis hazel eyes grew bleak as he slipped his weapon from its sheath and laid itacross his knee. "With this sword, the one the dream lord gave me. You mean it'snot an ordinary snake?"
"That's what I mean. Not a Beysib snake, anyway. Look here." He turned the snakeand Niko could see tiny hands and feet, as if the snake had been starting toturn into a man when Niko's stroke had killed it.