The Riverwoman's Dragon by Candace Robb

Author:Candace Robb [Robb, Candace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2021-06-28T00:00:00+00:00

EIGHT

Chaos

The fire crackled and snapped, Fergus stoking it as the evening cooled the room. Magda smiled at the sound of the children settling down to food after the long day of distracting their laboring mother with the wonders of the old woodland. As the shadows lengthened and the birds quieted, the family had tucked themselves inside the house, ready for a hot meal and the wait for the birthing. Helen was now lying on her side in the bedchamber, Lettice, calm now, rubbing her back and her ankles. As soon as Helen drank the tisane Magda was mixing they would help her to the birthing stool. The drink would strengthen Helen for the work she must do this night.

Before entering the house Magda had rested by the beck, scooping up chill water in a small wooden bowl, drinking it down, imagining it cleansing her mind of the troubles of the day – illness, life-changing injuries, fear, loneliness, gnawing anger. Closing her eyes, she reached out to Asa, born of her womb, concerned about the jolt she had felt in the midst of setting a broken bone, a sudden sense of her daughter in pain. An attack. Injuries. Fear. With Asa that would quickly turn to anger, and more trouble. Thou art welcome to come to the rock. Magda will see to thine injuries. A tumble of emotions, Asa’s anger turned inward. Unworthy. Cursed. Thou art worthy, daughter. Or she could be, if she could but embrace her artistic gift, if she could see that she might be the healer she yearned to be through her creations. Magda’s heart ached for the blindness of her child.

Helen’s drink prepared, Magda was tidying the shelf on which she had worked when she sensed Tess standing behind her.

‘Will I have a sister?’

Magda bent to lift the child, so light for her age. She smelled the woodland and the aromatic smoke in her hair. ‘Thou hast offered up thy wish for a sister?’ she kept her voice low, as if sharing secrets.

‘I did, and father said it was wrong. I should love my family and not want it different. I do love them all! But a sister—’

‘She would whisper her secrets to thee and thou wouldst promise to keep them safe. Thou couldst be her elder, teach her about the world.’

‘You understand.’

‘Magda does.’ She kissed Tess on the cheek and set her down. ‘Soon thou shalt see whether thy prayers are answered.’ She put a finger to her lips.

A short time later, Helen cried out as the first twin slithered from her. As Magda held up the girl so that all could see, she felt a shiver throughout the sanctuary and a sense of the ground heaving and settling. The others were too caught up in the birth to notice her gasp.

‘A sister!’ Tess cried.

Magda reached out with her mind, finding the source downriver, near her rock. Torches on the riverbank, Einar standing on the rock. Open thine eye, Owen. She imagined Bird-eye glancing up, sensing the trouble.

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