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Chapter 1 - Chapter 1, Part 1

Year1098ofthePeacekeeperEra: NewLife

Kimaapallon City, West Province

 

Master Merchant Wayland kneed his tired horse into a faster gait. He had to find the midwife. She had not been at any of the other three homes that he tried and he was desperate. His wife was in labor and needed help.

"Elements above, please, help me," he whispered as his mount rounded the bend in the road.

His horse reared and Wayland fought to calm the gelding.

"Easy, boy!"

The horse snorted and sidestepped nervously. Wayland stared, not completely sure of what he was seeing standing in the middle of the road.

"Please, move. I must pass."

He heard the bushes rustle and his hand went to his sword. The cloaked figure had not moved. When nothing emerged from the bushes, he returned his attention to the figure blocking his path. Time was escaping and he needed to be on his way. His wife was depending on him.

"I am sorry, but I must pass," he stated firmly. With a tap of his riding crop, his gelding whinnied and shot forward. As they neared the figure, Wayland pulled on the reins, forcing his horse to the left and around the obstacle in the road.

The gelding started to gallop and Wayland turned to catch one last glimpse of figure. He blinked and felt dread. The figure was gone. He shook off the feeling of doom and focused on reaching his destination.

Three hours later, he finally found the midwife, Belena, by the edge of the Libain Forest. He slid down from the saddle and ignored the wheezing of his mount as he hastened to the midwife's side.

"Milady! Please, Mistress Belena, I have need of you!"

Belena turned and Wayland stopped, his eyes round in astonishment. So the stories were true. The midwife stared back at him with unseeing eyes.

"Ah, Master Merchant Wayland, how nice of you to come visit." She walked toward him, a serene smile on her face.

Wayland was afraid. He couldn't seem to get his body to move or his mouth to work. He watched in horrified fascination as the midwife halted before him.

"Why should I help you, when you refused to stop on the way here and help me?" she demanded.

His thoughts scattered about. He would have done anything to help the midwife if he had come across her sooner. He didn't understand what she was talking about. He had just now found her, not before. He would have remembered if he had.

Belena hissed and suddenly Wayland found himself able to move. He dropped to one knee.

"Please, Milady! If I had met you, I would have done anything you asked. Just like I'll do anything now! My wife needs you. Please, have mercy and aid her!"

She reached out and placed her hand against his cheek. He flinched. Her hand was cold and smelled of rotting things. He didn't move; he didn't dare.

"I will go to your wife, but remember, Master Merchant, my assistance comes with a price that I will one day collect."

"I understand," he hastily agreed.

Belena's unseeing eyes seemed to peer into his inner self and Wayland hated that feeling. He held himself still. He couldn't afford to upset the midwife.

She laughed and the hairs on the back of his neck rose. The sound was evil and he wondered if he'd just made the worst mistake of his life.

"It is done," she shouted as the ground started to rumble.

Wayland jumped to his feet and flung himself aside as a large crack rent the ground. He covered his head as he heard things snapping and breaking. After a few minutes everything grew quiet and he cautiously raised his head. She was gone and so were several trees.

He rose and hurried to his horse. He had to get back to his wife.

 

***

Fuocarde Town, East Province

 

Annmarie stared out the window and fanned herself. "It looks like it's going to be another hot day."

"True, we could use some rain." Her husband, Ortiguez, walked over and touched her swollen belly. "Not long now before our little one makes an appearance."

Anmarie grinned. This would be their first child and she was excited. Ortiguez was sure it would be a boy. She believed otherwise. Some instinct told her the unborn child was a girl. She didn't say anything and only smiled when her husband boasted to his friends about all the things he and his son would do.

She turned from the window and felt a sharp pain race through her lower back. She let out a grunt and grasped the edge of the window sill until the pain passed.

"Anmarie? Are you all right?"

"Ortiguez, I think it is time for you to go get the midwife," she stated calmly, though her heart was beating faster.

His eyes widened and he jumped to his feet, knocking the chair he'd been sitting in backward with a crash.

"Silly man, pick up the chair and go get Melena. I swear, if I didn't tell you what to do, you'd be lost," she laughed but it sounded hysterical to her own ears. More pains were coming and she was afraid.

"Yes! Melena...have to go get!" he babbled and raced for the door.

It took a second for him to remember how to open it and then he was outside and running toward the center of town. From there. He would have to take the road leading from town to reach Melena's house.

Getting to Melena's house seemed to take longer than usual, but finally he caught sight of it as he rounded the bend. Melena was out front cooking something on the fire. Ortiguez stumbled to a stop, his sides heaving as he fought for air.

Melena looked at him with one raised eyebrow. "Can I help you?"

He gasped for air, tried to speak and failed. He cleared his throat hard and managed to say, "Baby...wife...help."

Melena tilted her head to study him. "The baby's coming? Well, why didn't you say so? I tell you. Men, they're such a handful." Melena wiped her hand on her apron and walked to the small fence that separated them.

"I'll go, but you have to stay and watch my food. Don't let it burn and when it's done cooking, put it inside the house. Then, come back to your home to meet your new child."

He gaped at her. "T-t-tend your food? I'm not a cook!"

"You either watch my food or you can go back to your house and deliver the child yourself."

He could feel his temper rising. Was the midwife out of her mind? Why would he stay to cook? Annmarie needed him there, not here watching another woman's hearth.

"Don't think on it too long," Melena drawled, her eyes on his face.

He started to sweat. What should he do? He knew from past experiences that Melena always kept her word and that any who did not, regretted it later.

"Fine, I will stay until it is done. Now, please, my wife," Ortiguez implored.

"Remember to put it inside once it's done," Melena admonished him before going in her house. She gathered the things she needed and waved cheerfully at him as she got on the road and headed toward the blacksmith's house.

If all went well, the babe would be born before nightfall.

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