Queen Ajit had grown to double her normal size during this, her first pregnancy. It was common to gain a hundred or so pounds, but she was closing in on two. The Island of Uttam was home to many half-breeds and the half-ogre body was, by nature, smaller. However, even faced with the challenge of the extra weight, Queen Ajit carried herself with grace. A secret smile lit her face while her attendants served her every need. She knew that she would bear not just the greatest ruler of the Isle of Uttam, but a pair. Her great, great grandmother's trusted soothsayer had foretold the coming, and she was to be the fruit bearer. She glanced at the majestic portrait on the wall of the throne room and thought of her ancestress, who turned the loose group of hunter-gatherers into a unified colony. Of all their ancient enemies, only the land of Paninrath remained. Their ageless leader, Lord Rakesh, continued to plot and scheme against them; of that she had no doubt. He had prophets of his own, and these children were said to have a destiny he would prefer to prevent. The protective pangs of motherhood multipled with these thoughts. Weeks later, animalistic moans were heard from the royal bed chambers; midwives scurried about the palace gathering fresh cloths and warm water. In the anteroom King Ajit paced feverishly. With each wail from his wife he would stamp his foot and echo a deep groan in sympathy. When the final push came, he paused to hear a healthy cry; there was nothing. Silence filled the room as he looked to his men for answers. There was a slap of a babe's bottom, then another. Two tiny voices cried out in unison. King Ajit raced into the bedroom to find two children nestled on the chest of his queen, a daughter and a son. Beyond the battlefield, a prouder moment he had never experienced. Stroking the newborn's hairy heads, he asked, "And what shall we name them, dearest?" "These two are priceless, quite valuable" Queen Ajit gazed at her bundles with awe, "The girl will be beloved and beautiful... Vhiramol. While the boy will be a fierce and strong protector... Dhiramol." "And so they shall be named, my queen." He beamed at the babies, who were cuddled together as if still in the womb, unaware of any world outside their own. Over the next ten years, the twins were raised in the fashion of their royal predecessors. The best tutors in the land taught them literature, philosophy, and rudimentary mathematics. The princess absorbed these like a sponge, and the prince dutifully learned as much as was required. Vhiramol was further instructed in the responsibilities of rule, the fine art of diplomacy, and the structure of government. Dhiramol learned of weapons, battle tactics, and his duty to protect the future queen During an outing into the outlying forest, nanny Gargi wandered to pick some blooming wildflowers, the favorite of Queen Ajit. Vhiramol and Dhiramol strolled on, enjoying the lovely day. Without warning, a boar burst through the hedge. Dhiramol drew his practice sword and fell instantly into the the poise his tutors had drilled into him. The boar, sensing easier prey, charged directly towards the wide-eyed Vhiramol. A roar of rage filled the forest as the boy leapt at the creature, forgetting all his hard-learned forms in a complete fury. When the dust settled, he stood trembling and the beast lay in a shredded heap. A cry escaped his sister's lips and he followed her stare, falling to his knees as he noticed the gaping wound in his side. Within seconds, Vhiramol was at her brother's side. Not giving the slightest thought to what she was doing, Vhiramol's hands moved with their own purpose, heating up while a faint white shimmer could be seen leaving her palms. Her impulses and natural reaction proved successful: the wound partially closed, the bleeding slowed. Her swift, instinctive actions saved her twin from bleeding to death until he could be transported to the royal shaman. Dhiramol's instructors were so pleased with his successful protection of the princess that they ignored the undisciplined manner in which he had slain the boar. His personal instruction moved on to the finer points of combat, strategy and leadership. Vhiramol's teachers, delighted with the natural aptitude for healing magic she had displayed, immediately alloted part of her study time to the royal shaman. Rumors spread through the palace that the twins had passed a foretold test of merit - rumors that slowly made their way to Lord Rakesh.