Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Author:Marion Zimmer Bradley [Bradley, Marion Zimmer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Usernet, C429, Kat, Extratorrents
ISBN: 9780886775933
Publisher: DAW
Published: 1983-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

The Amazon looked sad; but as she had said, this was why she was a Renunciate and Rohana was not. She had not expected Rohana—certainly not in her present state of turmoil—to understand. She said gently, “Hush, you mustn’t worry about anything now; there will be time enough to talk about all this when you are stronger.”

Rohana was almost relieved at the sense of exhaustion and weariness that swept over her. She reached up her arms and hugged Kindra childishly, grateful for her kindliness and strength.

“You’re so good to me,” she whispered. “The best of friends.”

Kindra thought, I would have spared her that scene with Dom Gabriel. Yet it is what he is and it is what she must face sooner or later.

She kissed Rohana again on the forehead and silently went out of the room.

If we are fortunate, it will not send her into premature labor.

VIII

Rohana woke from a nightmare of going into labor alone, unprepared and in the desert outside the Dry Towns. Waking, she realized with enormous relief that she was not in labor, and the child in her body was quiescent, with only the routine dreaming movements. All the same she knew from experience—after all she had already been through this three times—that such dreams were a warning. Labor was near, though not imminent. She rose sluggishly and dressed in an old unlaced house gown. She was not able to face the thought of breakfasting in the Great Hall, but Alida would be only too pleased to deputize for her. She sent for some fruit and tea; when she had finished, one of her women appeared at the door.

“My lady, the Master asks to see you.”

At least he had not pushed his way in unannounced. Rohana sighed.

“Drunk, I suppose.”

“No, Domna; he looks ill, but sober.”

“Very well, let him come in.” She could not, after all, avoid his presence indefinitely here at Ardais.

But when this child is born, I shall go to Thendara for Council, or to my sister Sabrina, or home to Valeron….

Gabriel looked small, almost shrunken inside his untidy old farmerish clothes. His face held the crimson discoloration of the habitual drunkard, but he seemed wholly sober. His hands were shaking; he tried to conceal them within his sleeves, but although he had carefully shaved himself, his face bore many small telltale cuts.

“My dear,” she said impulsively, “you should have your man shave you when you are not well.”

“Oh, well, you know, my dear, a fellow don’t like to ask—”

“Nonsense; it’s the man’s duty,” she said sharply, and heard the harsh note in her voice. “You shouldn’t need to ask; I’ll have a word with him.”

“No, no, my dear, let it go. I didn’t come for that. I am glad to see you lookin’ so well, now. The little feller in there—he’s quiet still?”

“I don’t think it will be today, and perhaps not tomorrow,” she said, “but it will be soon. We are fortunate— with the fire—”

And that terrible scene yesterday—she forebore to say that aloud, but he heard it anyhow and awkwardly put an arm round her waist.

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