Ashes And Spirit (Book 3) (10 page)

With practiced movements, Serena cut the cord then cleaned the babe while cooing softly. Taela repositioned the pillows to help prop Maleena up while Marda helped Serena. The plump woman who ran the Dragon Hold took the babe in experienced arms and wrapped it snuggly in a soft blanket while Serena delivered the afterbirth.

A bevy of attendants rushed in and as Serena helped her bathe away the sweat and blood in a large basin, the hide and its soaked wool pad were rolled up and taken away. Clean sheets and bedding were laid down.

After pulling on a clean shift and undergarments designed to absorb, Maleena was settled back into the bed and Marda laid a tiny bundle in her arms. “You have a daughter, Di’shan.”

The baby was pink and beautiful with a thick mat of black hair on her head. Maleena’s vision swam as tears filled her eyes and love overflowed her heart at the sight of her daughter. The closest thing she could compare the emotions to were what she felt on Nydara’s hatching day.

“She’s beautiful,” Taela said, leaning over to look at the baby. Jocelynn, Belynn, and Sumara crowded close to get a look at the newest little member of their family. Like a group of proud aunts, they cooed over the babe.

Gently, Maleena stroked a tiny hand, her heart melting as it curled around her finger in a tight hold. The baby’s eyes opened, and Maleena found herself staring into light violet eyes. As the babe turned her head and began to root around, Maleena sensed her hunger. Instinctively, she lowered her shift and lifted the baby to her breast.

It wasn’t perfect, but with help from both Serena and Marda, Maleena figured out how to get the babe to latch on. Both assured her that it would come easier with time. Serena returned to the tray and came back with another cup. “This one has herbs that will help your body heal and clean quicker. I will have you drink some everyday for the next few days.”

Marda smiled down at her. “I will go fetch Mckale.”

Mckale paced the inner terrace waiting for word. Tellnox lay nearby, his large silver eyes tracking Mckale’s progress as he walked from one end to the other and back again.

Kirynn elbowed Vaddoc lightly. “Want to lay wagers on the depth of the groove he’s going to wear in the stone?”

“I’m not sure it will be measurable.” Vaddoc chuckled.

Brock glanced at Kirynn. “Why aren’t ye up there with the rest o’ them?”

“Are you kidding? I’m not going near
that
.” She shuddered.

Brock laughed, his brown eyes dancing. His golden, Olen, rumbled in amusement.

Mckale tried to ignore them, his mind focused on what came through the bond. He came to an abrupt halt as the pain spiked, and he sensed a cascade of emotions from his bondmate. Kellinar stood up from where he sat near the wall.

Tellnox reached out to him,
“Nydara tells me your draclet, or rather your babe, is born.”

His breath froze in his chest. His child was born; he was a father.
“And Maleena?”

“She is fine. Serena and the others are taking care of her. Once they have everything settled, one of them will come for you.”
Warmth and love flowed into him from the green.
“Congratulations, my rider. You have a daughter.”

Mckale was startled from his conversation with Tellnox by Kirynn. “What happened? Is the baby born? Is Maleena all right?”

He nodded, still slightly numb from the news. “Yes and yes.”

“Well?” She tapped her foot impatiently. “Did she have a boy or a girl?”

“A girl.” He looked at her. “I have a daughter.”

Kellinar clapped him on the shoulder and smiled. “Congratulations, my friend. Perhaps one day Taela and I will join you in this parenthood thing.”

Vaddoc, Nolan, Brock, Varnen, Marcaius, Nordhas, and Toren gathered around to offer their congratulations as well. Mckale accepted them, feeling as if he were in a waking dream. Oh Fates, he was a father. A sudden knot of worry tightened in his stomach. What if he messed up? What if he didn’t do a good job at it?

Just then Loki appeared in front of him. “I can’t believe you’re a father. Does that make me an uncle of sorts?”

Mckale nodded. “I think it makes all of you uncles. Well except Kirynn,” he looked at the tough-as-nails woman. “I assume you do wish to be an aunt and not an uncle?”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Of course I’m an aunt. Someone has to corrupt her and teach her to be a proper woman.”

“Oh, no!” He groaned and dropped his head into his hands. “There will be no hope for the world.”

Kirynn laughed again and punched him in the shoulder.

“What will you name her?” Loki asked.

Mckale shook his head. “I don’t know. In Calladar it isn’t the man’s place to name a babe. A woman carries it, she goes through the pain and work to bring it into the world, and only she holds the right to name it unless she dies giving birth.” A shadow of sadness crept over him. “If that happens then it is the grandmother’s right to name.”

Marda finally appeared on the terrace, and though it had felt like hours, he knew it wasn’t that long. “Mckale, your bondmate and your daughter await you.”

He rushed into the hold and up the stairs. When he strode into the room his eyes immediately sought Maleena. Her chestnut hair cascaded around her as she sat propped up in the bed. Although weariness shadowed her features, a glow of happiness surrounded her, and in her arms lay a tiny bundle.

He approached slowly, unsure of what to do. Maleena looked up and gave him a radiant smile. “You have a daughter, my love.”

Mckale nodded. “So Tellnox tells me. Have you named her yet?”

Maleena looked down at the tiny face in the soft white blanket. “The name Emmaleen keeps coming to mind. What do you think?”

“I think she will have as beautiful a name as her mother.”

Serena walked over and gave him a hug. “Congratulations.”

He gave her a quick squeeze then let go as she stepped away. Before he realized what she planned, Serena lifted the delicate bundle from Maleena and handed it to him.

“Oh no, I’ve never held a baby before, I don’t know what to do,” he protested even as his arms cradled his daughter’s tiny form securely.

Serena smiled and stepped back. “Nonsense, you’re a natural. Just watch her head; her neck isn’t strong enough to hold it up yet.”

Mckale stared down at the little pink face as a sense of wonder stole over him. “Welcome to the world, little Emmaleen.”

F
onja stumbled along paying no heed to her chapped and bleeding feet or the hot sun bearing down on her. She patted her swollen belly with one hand as she munched a piece of melon in the other. It was delicious and the sweet moisture a welcome relief to her thirst. It was fortunate she’d found so many of them growing in the desert.

How many months had she wandered the empty grasses along the edge of the desert? Where was she going? A thought almost out of reach nagged at her that she needed to find somewhere to do something important. Fonja paused and looked around, trying to remember where she’d been and how she got here.

Darkness lingered on the edge of her thoughts. Her mind shuddered away from it. Memories of eating raw lizards and mice flashed through her mind, and she flinched away from those too. Those days were behind now that she’d found the melons.

Fonja stumbled forward again. She had to get somewhere safe to do something important. A push from inside her stomach made her look down at the small mound that was her abdomen. She stared at it curiously. The something had to with her belly, but what was it?

The sun had nearly reached the horizon when the pains began. Fonja rubbed her stomach in confusion. Maybe the melon wasn’t any good. She examined the fruit in her hand, its sweet flesh looked tasty enough, and it helped her ever-nagging thirst. Maybe she just needed to rest.

She started to sit but paused. Ahead a light flickered. Maybe that was the place she was supposed to find to do the important thing.

Pain bunched the muscles in her stomach at regular intervals now. She had to get to the flickering light so she could do the important thing and make the pain go away. It had to be why the pain had come, to remind her to do the important thing. What was it again? She struggled to remember. Dark memories rose up, and her mind retreated again.

As the light grew closer, she smoothed her hair and dress, not wanting to look a mess when she met whoever occupied the light. Fire, the flickering light was fire. Memories of a man, gentle when he bedded her, flitted across her mind. Then more memories of him hurting her, threatening to kill her, his face twisted with hate.

Her mind dimmed, and she took a bite of melon.

A flurry of activity greeted her arrival at the camp. The people were strange looking. Something about them looked so familiar, but the how and what were too closely linked with the darkness.

The pain doubled her over as it ripped through her and warm liquid ran down her legs. Why was there blood?

Angeni stood as Helki followed a human woman into the camp. Pain held the woman in its grip as blood ran down her legs. One hand wrapped her swollen belly while another held a piece of cactus. More blood smeared the woman’s mouth, torn by the thorns of the cactus. What was left of her ragged dress hung like a sack on her shrunken frame, making her pregnant belly look almost grotesque. Her bare feet were cracked and bleeding.