butchiesmom

The grief in Keirn’s eyes and a nod of his head toward the open door was all Mae needed to know it was time for her to leave. She gathered her belongings and walked toward the door.

Mae stopped at the doorway, seemed to make a decision and turned toward Keirn. “Keirn?” she said. When he didn’t answer, she dropped her belongings and walked over to Keirn. She touched his shoulder and jumped back when he jumped, startled she hadn’t left yet.

“Keirn,” she repeated. “I can’t leave without speaking what’s in my heart. The King knows how many birthings I’ve apprenticed with Mara. She’s not the kindest person I’ve ever met but she knows what she’s doing. She’s always patient and kind and each birthing has been a beautiful thing to be a part of until today.”

She almost changed her mind when she saw the anger starting in Keirn’s face but it was too late to stop now. She continued, “This birthing was different from the second we entered the cottage and Mara saw the quilt on the bed instead of the floor.”

Keirn interrupted, “I don’t understand. Why would she be upset about a bed?”

“It’s the mattress…”

“The mattress? What about the mattress? I don’t understand. It’s just a place to sleep! It was here when I arrived.”

“You really don’t know? That’s a shuula mattress…”

“So…”

“I’m surprised it was left behind. A woman takes months to make a shuula mattress. It’s a long hard process, extracting the fibers from the plant, weaving the material from those fibers and sewing it together. A mattress, such as this, took a very long time to make. No woman, in her right mind, would soil this mattress with birthing fluids. She’d use the floor as is proper.”

Mae drew a breath. “Brinn and Mara argued about it but Brinn insisted she use the bed. Mara is accustomed to birthing women doing as she bids. Brinn did as she pleased until she was too weak to protest. She and Mara fought throughout the birthing. Her last hours were spent fighting. The babe came out silently. She took her first breath, her mother took her last. Neither made a sound.”

Keirn’s angry red face told her he understood. “So she left this world in anger?”

“Yes, she did. Please forgive me for telling you what must be said.”

“You are forgiven. I thank you for having the compassion to let me know. I will deal with Mara. You may leave now.”

Keirn turned back to the body on the bed. Mae sighed, gathered her belongings and left, closing the door behind her.

He sat on the bed beside Brinn’s still warm body. His eyes traced the lines of her cheekbones, comparing them to those of her mother’s, memorizing each feature for the time when remembering such details would be difficult.

“My daughter, your sacrifice will not be forgotten,” he said, “Guide the child as she grows, listen to the voices, they will know. She must be safe until it is time.”

“Now is the time for us to part,” he said, “I didn’t want to leave you and your mother behind. Your safety was of the utmost importance. I beg your forgiveness, even as you leave for the life hereafter. I can not stay to raise my granddaughter, your child. All would be lost should her life be forfeited. Watch her, guide her, my sweet Brinn.”

Though he’d known this would be the outcome of the birthing, still the pain overwhelmed him. “I regret not being here in your last hours to stop the struggle you endured with Mara. Had I known what she was doing it would’ve ceased immediately. That Siiker will pay for what she has wrought.” Tears welled in his eyes, threatening to spill. He blinked away all but one lone tear which solemnly slid down his cheek.

“Daughter, it was miraculous that you and I have had this chance to get to know each other again. I wanted to stay with you and your mother but it wasn’t safe. The siikers were closing in on me again. They would’ve taken all of us. I couldn’t risk it.”

He could still see her sad green eyes and hear her sweet voice as she explained to him what happened between her and Tomas. How he had promised the dissolution of his marriage and the pain she felt when she discovered, from his wife, no dissolution had been proposed.

Tenderly taking her delicate hand into his large rough ones, he bowed his head toward her. “Your sacrifice will not be forgotten,” he repeated.

“It’s your daughter who will bring about the needed changes for life to continue here. The Craft is strong in her. I can feel her drawing from the source already. I must leave her now to save her life. Even now, I can feel the siikers’ probe. If I stay they will take us both. She’s the hope of Buring Gerk. The one prophesized.”

He’d learned the prophecy as a child, and had been reminded of it every day thereafter by his parents. They were killed by those who, also, knew the prophecy. He’d been in hiding since then. Only one more person. One more person to join him and this child and the prophecy would become fact. He had time to find that other person. Eilia, yes, that’s what he’d call her, had years ahead of her before her part in it would begin, so he had time to search for the last piece of the puzzle.

Keirn moved quickly around the room, grabbing clothing, food and other items he would need on the journey ahead. He allowed sobs to escape as he went through Brinn’s few belongings, looking for that which she had bade him to safeguard. He discovered a note for him, written in Brinn’s handwriting. Sitting on the floor beside that which Brinn had called her own, he read the note. More than once, he looked up at the body on the bed then back to the note. At last, he slowly shook his head, folded the note, placed it his belongings and stood up. As you have written, daughter, so will it be. Keirn glanced around the room once more looking for anything he might’ve forgotten. He turned back toward the door and the child that waited without.


Mara had dismissed Mae when Keirn had chased her out of the cottage so she had left for home right away. She thought back to the moment she titled Mae. “Your apprenticeship is over. You have apprenticed well and are ready to do birthing. As such, I title you, Midwife Mae and expect you to go home and take your place.”

The sleeping babe in her arms woke and started squalling while Keirn was giving his farewell to Brinn. Mara thought, How much longer will he be? The woman 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 and soiled. Mara's mouth formed a moue of distaste. She needs her mother. Keirn will need a place to live and a wetnurse for her. I know a few women 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 female,” 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 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 woman 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. I know a place which is empty now. It’s not as nice as Keirn is used 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! I’m sure I can find someone who would make more 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 woman’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 infant 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 infant!”

Mara moved back to where she was before, fuming at the insult. “He dares to speak to me that way! I’ll 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! 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 babe. 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 replied, “You didn’t find out Brinn has crossed into the life hereafter until I told you, yet you were readying the cottage before that. How did you know?”

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 infant, please,” Mara’s eagerness to be shed of the babe 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?

“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 untruth 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.”

The straight line of her mouth, the hardness of her eyes was 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 known. 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 mouth to feed. I already have a family to care for.”

Keirn interrupted again. “I don’t care! You will care for this young female. 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 find out!”

Keirn saw the anger in her and hoped his warning to her would be enough. He had no choice. The siiker’s probe grew stronger.

“Mara…” he intoned.

She interrupted him, “Midwife Mara!”

“Mara.” he continued, noting her reaction to his insult, “Midwife to Brinn. Midwife to the young female she birthed. In anger, Brinn crossed to the life hereafter. In anger, her infant was birthed.” He took a breath then continued. “In peace you will raise her child. No anger will you bring upon this young female. In peace will you raise Brinn’s babe. Consequences will be bestowed upon you should you choose to raise a hand or your voice to her. Tears shed by this babe 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 infant 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 female 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, Midwife 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, 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’ve made.” 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 carrysakl 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.

stardust

Oh, dear Gail!!
This is such a long beautiful story, plenty of dialogues and vivid imageries. It´s lovely, and the reading just flows, as the story goes...
It was nice the way you described the mattress, and the way it was made.
Bye the way, Happy 4th of July, Gail!!
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!! God bless!!
Cheers,
Starry.