Heart of the Goddess: Chapter Two (pt 2)

Birth (pt. 2)

Brille had never seen Old Mother like this. It was a bad omen. He crossed the room and kneeled at the base of a red dais carved from a single block of Kullish bloodstone. On top, a diminutive statue of the Mother Goddess, garbed a in a flowing gown, bore an orb in her outstretched hands. The statue represented that most precious of gifts entrusted to his people, the Elephi, in the Time of Sadness. This was just a representation. Only the priestesses knew where the True Orb was hid, waiting for the day Darkness would rise again. There was no higher symbol, no greater power for him to pray to.

As he prayed his thoughts returned to Tamina. Whatever the problem with Old Mother, it would attend to itself in its own time, but his wife’s struggle was real. She was his only concern—she and the unborn child. They were the greatest treasure a man could hope for.

* * *

Naugri stared with great concern down at the nude form of Tamina. She touched Tamina’s swollen belly with long, withered fingers, noting the stark contrast between her own pale hand and the girl’s dark skin. The baby had not turned. She knew it with a single touch.

But she had known it would be so before ever laying a hand on the girl. The Sight had shown her this moment months ago. Naugri’s sagging jowls drooped even further as a frown settled on her face. The Sight had never before been so specific in its portrayal of events. Vague images and obscure ideas were the hallmark of the Sight, but not this time. This girl, this baby, this room, this night – the vision was unmistakably clear. Why? She shivered as she recalled more of the vision, Old Mother shining as a blood red crescent of light. The implications were grim. Dark times were coming and this child would be at the center of it all.There was one other thing, perhaps the most troubling part of all. In her vision a small Pendarian boy stood in the corner of the room, watching. Yet, here tonight, no boy, Pendarian or otherwise, watched this birth. Who was this lad and why had the Sight shown him here when clearly he was not? And what did his absence signify?

Pushing the matter aside, Naugri scratched one of her withered ears and shifted her focus back to the girl lying on the bed. Tamina was Pendarian, not Elephi, but that made little difference. Naugri had brought many babes into the world, Pendarians included. To be sure, most who sought her skills were Elephi, but by no means all. Once she had even delivered a child to the lizard folk – what an adventure that had been!

The child struggling to enter the world tonight was special though. Tamina's man was a prince; not the first born, nor even the second. Still, she was the daughter of a prince--not line for the throne, but a high position all the same. Even more important, this prince loved his wife and daughter. His was a powerful love. Unusual in Naugri’s estimation of royals.

She reached down and brushed a sweat-soaked ringlet of black hair from Tamina's face. Naugri peered into Tamina's brown eyes. Pendaria was far to the south and the girl’s presence in El Athra, the heart of the Elephi kingdom, provoked many incredulous looks. Most Elephi perceived Pendarians as simple – which, on the whole was true, but not simple-minded as many assumed. And Naugri had to concede that most Pendarians suffered from a shortsighted view of the world, but they could be passionate and doggedly determined once committed to a cause.


Tamina's face contorted as another wave of pain wracked her body. She groaned through clenched teeth, her shoulders lifting off the bed as her muscles knotted again. Naugri held Tamina’s hand until the pain subsided. “That’s a good girl,” Naugri cooed, stroking Tamina’s arm.

When Tamina relaxed Naugri lumbered away from the bed and opened the heavy wooden door. She peeked into the adjoining corridor. Three ladies-in-waiting looked up with concerned eyes.

“Bring the prince," Naugri commanded.

A lady in a blue gown stood, primping the flowing fabric. "Then the child is born?"

Naugri rolled her eyes. "No, but bring him anyway."

"But, if the child is not yet born…"

Time was too short for this aristocratic nonsense. "Quickly, girl. Do as I say.”

The lady nodded, too stricken to reply and ran down the corridor toward the stairs.

Naugri closed the door and paused. It was a serious breech in protocol to pull Brille from the temple now. She scoffed. A ridiculous custom. A man should stand by his woman's side. The high folk had queer notions about such things. Tradition or no, Tamina needed her man's strength for what lay ahead. Hobbling back to the bed with a grimace etched into her face, Naugri muttered under her breath. “Curse my old bones.” She sat down on the edge of the bed with a groan and scooped up Tamina’s hand. "Mmmmm. I have sent for Brille. He will arrive soon."

Tamina smiled a meek little smile. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out.

Naugri stroked Tamina’s hand. "Hush, child. Save your strength." She contemplated what must be done. It was a grim proposition indeed.