butchiesmom

Summary of first part...Brinn passed away after giving birth. During the birthing process, she and Mara, her midwife fought over a mattress, (of all things) and other nonsense things. Keirn has gone into the cottage, where Brinn's body lies to say goodbye to her... I'm including a link to the first part of chapter 2...Eilia Chapter 2


The sleeping babe in her arms woke and started squalling while Keirn was giving his farewell to Femm Brinn. Mara thought, How much longer will he be? The femm is gone and good riddance to her! Mae has been long gone. How long does it take to say farewell to a body? She looked down at the infant, momentarily quiet, the infant looked up at her and screwed up her face for another bout. This babe is hungry, she needs her mother. He will have need of a place to live and a wetnurse for her. I know a few femms still nursing their babes. I can talk to them to see if they’re willing to take this babe to their breast. I’m sure their fees won’t be too high for him to pay.

She looked up at the cottage, hoping she would see Keirn opening the door. She continued her silent dialogue, He’ll have to burn this place. She looked down at the infant, “This is your first lesson in tradition, small femm,” she said, “No building remains where a young crossing has taken place.”

Mara gently bounced the infant in her arms, hoping it would quiet. She glanced at the cottage again, saw the door still closed and sighed. She looked at the kindling around the building and said as if to herself, “How did he know about Femm Brinn’s crossing before I told him? Why did he use the word preordained?” She spoke to the infant in her arms, “That is strange, is it not, little one?”

She felt a bit more indulgent now that the femm who insulted her was gone. “You need a name, little one, and I need to go home. We need to find a place for you two to live. As a matter of fact, I know a place which is empty now. It’s not as nice as Keirn is accustomed to but it’s better than nothing.”

Mara looked up as the door opened. She watched as Keirn emerged from the cottage, toting a carryall and a well-worn sack in one hand, garb for the babe in the other hand. So little garb for an infant! Mara thought, I’m sure I can find someone who will be willing to make more for the child for a small fee. She knew what came next and waited.

Mara stood holding the squalling infant, as she watched Keirn place a burning torch to the cottage where he and Brinn once lived. He had to burn down the cottage with Brinn in it. There would be no burial for her. Mara wasn’t sure why only a young crossing required this but the law of her forebears was not to be questioned. She walked over to where Keirn was at. How Keirn had known to place kindling around the building before he’d been informed of the femm’s crossing she didn’t know, but she intended to ask.

“Keirn.” She waited. When he didn’t respond and moved to another spot, she moved with him. “Keirn!” He straightened and turned from yet anther spot. “What do you want, Midwife Mara? Why are you bringing the femm this close to a death fire?”

“I have a question.”

“It will have to wait until I’m finished. Get away from here with the femm!”

Mara moved back to where she was before, fuming at the insult. “He dares to speak to me as a commoner!” she said to the infant. “I will have an answer before I leave for home!”

She watched as Keirn moved around the cottage, touching the torch to the kindling. She waited as he moved to where she couldn’t see him, then watched as he reached the open door and went inside. She knew what he would be doing there and has a momentary feeling of compassion for him. This part of the ceremony was the worst.

Keirn stood by the bed and the body of his daughter. He placed the torch on the mattress she had fought to birth her daughter on. “Farewell, sweet Brinn!” he intoned. “May your crossing be peaceful, your life in the hereafter all I would wish for you.”

He thought of the struggle she endured in her last hours. It didn’t matter whether her wish to birth the babe on the mattress had been viewed as a selfish choice by Midwife Mara. What mattered was his daughter left this world in the middle of what he perceived as a pointless struggle. Over a mattress, for King’s sake! Keirn thought, There are more pressing issues here, such as, what do I do with the babe? I can’t take her with me. Midwife Mara is my only choice. Yet I don’t trust her. If I don’t’ trust her, how can I trust her to take care of Brinn’s daughter?

He had been trying to decide what to do as he circled the cottage setting it on fire. Now was the time for decision. What to do. There was no other choice for him. Mara would be the choice yet he must be sure of Brinn’s daughter’s safety. There was a long unused law of midwifery, but still known to the Plateau people. He would use that to force Mara to care for Brinn’s femm. He left the cottage and his daughter behind as he strode across the clearing toward Mara and the infant.

“What was so important you would bring an infant near a death house?” he asked Mara as he drew near to her and the babe.

How dare he speak to me that way! I wasn’t going to ask him, but I will now! She thought. She replied, “You didn’t find out until I told you that Femm Brinn has crossed into the life hereafter, yet you were already preparing to burn the cottage before that. How did you know to prepare a fire for a death house?”

The hunger cries of the child were heard above the crackling of the fire and the crash of the roof timbers as they weakened and then collapsed under the voracious appetite of the flames. They turned their backs on the cottage as the building collapsed.

“There is a knowledge, Midwife Mara,” the emphasis on her title was not lost on Mara, “Only some are privy to. You are not one of the privileged few.” Having put her in her place, Keirn continued.

He held out his arms, “The femm, please,” Keirn requested. Mara’s eagerness to be shed of the infant was evident by how quickly she placed her into his waiting arms. Keirn raised his eyebrows, “Carefully!”

He looked down at the infant then up at Mara. “I talked to Mae.” He waited for Mara to respond. His wait wasn’t long.

“Yes?”

“She spoke to me of Brinn’s last hours and of her passage. Did you not say Brinn’s passage was peaceful? Why did you not speak truthful?

Mara had dismissed Mae when Keirn had chased her out of the cottage so she had left for home right away. She had made no indication of talking to Keirn. She thought back to the moment she titled Mae.

“Your time of apprenticing is finished. You have apprenticed well and are now ready to take your place as midwife. As such, I title you, Midwife Mae and expect you to immediately return to your home to take your place as such.”

No, there was no indication from her as to her speaking to Keirn. “I…” she stammered, “I don’t know what Mae said but it was untrue. Brinn’s passage was peaceful as I spoke before.”

“No one speaks untruths in front of one who has crossed over. You know that. Mae spoke truth. Why won’t you speak truth now?”

“I…” she stammered again. “I…It wasn’t my fault! If she had listened to my advice…”

Keirn stopped her. “Enough! No more untruths! I tire of your speech. Now you will listen to what I have to say.”

Mara’s mouth snapped shut. The straight line of her mouth, the hardness of her eyes were unmistakable. She opened her mouth to speak again but was stopped by Keirn.

“Not another word! You are the reason why Brinn’s life ended in disharmony. You must pay for your abuse.”

Mara flinched and took a step back as if struck. She turned, as if to leave but was stopped by Keirn’s voice before she could take a step.

“Nay.” Keirn spoke, “I will not harm you, though it is my right as Brinn’s father.”

Mara turned and faced Keirn. “Her father?”

“Yes, her father. You didn’t just send my daughter into the life hereafter in disharmony, but you brought my granddaughter into that atmosphere. You will pay for this.”

Again, Mara flinched. “How?”

“You will raise her daughter in the atmosphere you denied her mother.”

“But…but…”

Keirn stopped her. “There’s a little known law of midwifery you must not have know of. I don’t’ remember the exact wording but what I do remember is a midwife who allows a birthing mother to cross into the life hereafter in anger will raise the child birthed to that mother in the peace it was denied.”

“But Sir! Taking in another to feed. I already have two children and a husband to care for.”

Keirn interrupted again. “I don’t’ care! You will care for this young femm. Do not raise her with the pain you caused my daughter! Remember this! The pain you cause her will be the pain you receive should I find out, be warned, I will know!”

Keirn saw the anger in her and hoped his warning to her would be enough. He had no choice. Even now, he could feel a Seeker’s probe and knew he must leave soon.

“Mara…” he intoned.

She interrupted him, “Midwife Mara!”

“Mara.” he continued, noting her reaction to his insult, “Midwife to the femm Brinn. Midwife to the young femm she birthed. In anger, Femm Brinn crossed to the life hereafter. In anger, her femm was birthed.” He took a breath then continued. “In peace you will raise her femm. No anger will you bring upon this young femm. In peace will you raise Brinn’s femm. Consequences will be bestowed upon you should you choose to raise a hand or your voice to her. Tears shed by this femm because of you will be multiplied should I find out.”

He held the infant up to the star filled sky. The moon full, its rays gently trying to reach the body of the child but the light from the flames outshone it.

“This femm must have a name. Since her father is not here and won’t be around to name her, I must do it. Listen stars! Hear this moon! Heed what I now say! This femm shall hereafter be known as Eilia. All shall speak her name one day. Heed my words false king. Her name is Eilia. One day you will speak her name in fear. Heed my words!

Keirn cradled Eilia in his arms. “Beware, Femm Mara.” Mara’s posture straightened. “You’ve exposed your dark side to me and my daughter. We will both be gone but I will know if you show that side to Eilia.

He handed Eilia to Mara then gathered his things. He handed the babe’s garb to Mara. “Beware,” he repeated. You do not want me to find you have mistreated my granddaughter.” He picked up a limb from the ground in front of him. “It will be the worst mistake you ever make.” The tip of the limb burst into flame as if to punctuate his words. The surprise on her face was enough for him to be sure she understood his warning.

Picking up the carryall and the travel-worn pouch, he repeated, “Beware!” Holding the torch he’d just made, he walked away.

Mara gathered the babe closer in her arms and headed in the opposite direction, Keirn’s words still ringing in her ears, pride smarting from his insults.

butchiesmom

Since Chapter 2 has grown so long, it had to be divided into two parts, lol. I've included a link to the first part because it will help you to understand what's going on in the second part, lol.

hugs,
Gail