All four sets of eyes sparkled with new hope. The man could have sworn the room became brighter. Even the boy felt the energy. He dropped Mel’s hand and looked to the man.
“What does that mean?” Mel asked.
The man laughed gently, a pleasant sound in his deep, bass voice. “It means, Captain, that the boy is yours to guard, to love, to raise.”
The already full room nearly exploded with the calls of joy from the women. The boy sat up, looking surprised and confused. Zadab leaned toward him, telling him in rapid Arabic that Mel would be his mother. The boy yelled in joy, threw his arms around Mel’s neck, and squeezed so hard, the man was afraid she couldn’t breathe.
“You may take him with you today, although the children and my people would be very upset if they don’t have a chance to say
