In Which Honora Has a Stroke of Genius

December 3, 1155

"So this tiny little thing really did have twins," mused Honora as she stared at young Evera and Byrn Ciramel lying on the wool rug. "And such large twins, at that--why, they're not yet a month old and just as big as young Raia here!"

"Oh, they were fairly small when they were born," Alina assured her. "They grew rather quickly, though. Regardless, I didn't envy Thetis on the day they came into the world."

With her own baby due in less than a month's time, Honora was in no state to leave her own house; needless to say, she had been pleasantly surprised when her company had arrived. She had seen neither Alina nor Thetis since Raia's birth, and she quite liked the idea of having babies in the house every once in a while, seeing as there would soon be one living in it.

"You must have been terribly frightened, dear," soothed Honora, taking note of the girl's withdrawn expression; her eyes were not unlike many of those in Honora's war-torn homeland, those who had witnessed unspeakable brutalities and remained forever haunted by them. Giving birth, of course, was nothing in comparison to such things, but to a fourteen-year-old girl, the terror of the process must have been magnified tenfold.

"Oh, not to give birth to them," Thetis mumbled in reply. "I just dread taking them back to Norwan. Lord Severin has someone checking up on him--apparently he's growing suspicious and might go to the king to get me back."

"Oh."

Alina sent a reassuring smile Thetis's way. "You can stay with us as long as you like, Thetis. Even if Norwan goes to the king and demands your return, you could leave the babies with Severin and I if you feel the need."

Unchanged, Thetis shook her head. "Thank you, Lady Alina, but I'm not sure if that could work. Lord Severin made the same offer, but he said that Norwan might demand that I can't visit you any longer, and I don't like the thought of not being able to see Evera and Byrn. Besides, Norwan expects me to return with at least one baby."

"True," sighed Alina. "I was talking with Severin, and we agreed that if either baby should return to Norwan, it should be Byrn--Norwan might be as brutish to a little girl as he is to Thetis, but he isn't likely to lay a hand on his heir."

Honora nodded. "So arrangements for Evera need to be made, then."

"If Thetis agrees to that, yes."

She sank back in her chair and placed one hand on her pregnant belly. There were a few villages sprouting in Naroni now, and chances are there would be a willing nurse nearby wherever they chose to put Evera. However, as for actually taking care of Evera, most young mothers were busy enough with their own babies. What they needed was someone who had no other children, or maybe older children. An older couple, perhaps, or a couple struggling to conceive, or...

Suddenly, the face of a woman she had met briefly when she and Adonis had accompanied Severin and Alina to see the baron several months earlier came to mind.

"Alina, I know just the woman to care for her."

Before Alina could reply, Adonis strolled in from outside. He had been tending the animals all morning; Honora really wished he'd hire a farmhand. "I thought I recognized those horses tethered outside. Good morning, Lady Alina, Mistress Thetis."

"Good morning, Adonis," Alina greeted him; Thetis merely smiled half-heartedly.

Honora did not even look at him; she would not look at him until he looked at her.

Ever since they had started sleeping together, their relationship had changed drastically. Before, they had been strangers, but it had been a comfortable sort of bond, with no particularly strong feelings from either party. But then, something must have happened; suddenly, they became awkward.

They were still strangers. They still barely knew each other at all--but he loved her. He loved her, and had no idea what she thought of him, this she knew.

It didn't help that she loved him too. It wasn't fair to him, really; Adonis was more than worthy of the love of women worth a thousand Honoras. Because she loved him, she knew that he would never know her now--she would never wound the man she loved with the horrors of her past.

"Hello, Honora."

"Hello, Adonis," she answered in barely more than a whisper.

They exchanged a tentative smile, then Adonis spoke once more as he settled himself on the couch. "Would you ladies mind if I took a nap on this couch? It's more comfortable than the bed. I promise I'll fall asleep instantly and not overhear a word of your mysterious female conversations."

Alina laughed. "Feel free; it's your house, after all."

"Thank you, milady," he acknowledged her.

Adonis was true to his word; not a minute went by between the time he had received Alina's permission and the time he began to snore.

"Anyway, Mistress Indruion," Thetis addressed Honora, "who were you talking about?"

"Do tell, Honora," urged Alina. "The sooner we find someone suitable, the better, so don't waste any time telling us who she is."

"Well, Thetis may already know her, or at least know of her," Honora began. "She and her husband came with King Roderick and his party from Dovia, like Thetis did. Her name is Electra, and she lives in Tetranshire. She has no children because her husband is quite ill--it's doubtful that he'll last another year."

"So she'd be more than happy to have a little baby to care for," surmised Alina, "and Evera could keep her company when her husband passes. Thetis, what do you think?"

Thetis closed her eyes. "I remember her, I think. She and her husband kept to themselves, mostly, since he was so ill. The woman with the long blond hair, right?"

Honora nodded. "Yes, with the long blond hair. She seemed to be a very kind woman, and quite lonely."

She heard a yawn from the couch behind her, then some faint rustling sounds; Honora was suddenly very aware of her husband's presence. "Of course, with Electra's husband gone, your baby wouldn't have a father-figure present," she added grimly, "but I suppose he'll be gone before she can become too attached to him."

The girl took a minute to consider. Then--

"I'll do it!" Thetis exclaimed leaping to her feet and throwing her arms around Honora. "Oh, Mistress Indruion, you're a genius! Thank you so much!"

Honora shook her head. "Oh, please don't flatter me, Thetis; I daresay Alina or Severin would have thought of Electra if I hadn't."

"Oh, not likely!" Alina protested as she took her turn to embrace her hostess. "Apart from our own kinsmen, neither I nor Severin know anyone who came with Roderick; we never would have even heard her name if not for you, Honora."

"Well, you're welcome," muttered Honora gently. "Just glad I could help."

Alina smiled. "I'll send a message to this Electra woman as soon as I get home--come to think about it, it might not be a bad idea to head home now, so Thetis and I can tell Severin the good news. Thank you so much, Honora, both for having us and for your suggestion."

"Oh, no trouble at all, Alina," she assured the lady.

With some difficulty, Alina and Thetis gathered up their three combined babies, then headed out the door with a brief "Good day" to Honora and Adonis. Honora watched through the window as they rode off, then gestured to the empty side of the couch.

"Do you mind?" she asked her husband.

"Not at all," he answered quickly, avoiding eye contact with her.

"So," he began as soon as she had settled, "what was all the fuss about just now?"

He turned his head to face her. He was eight or nine years older than she was, and had a certain maturity about him that she found both attractive and intimidating at the same time. A man her age would have pressed at the first sight of her hesitation, but Adonis merely waited patiently for her reply.

"Oh. Well, to make a long story short, it's almost inevitable that Thetis and her son will have to return to Norwan's house, but she was hoping that her daughter could live elsewhere; I don't think her husband knows she had twins."

Adonis nodded. "So you solved her problem for her?"

"Well, possibly," admitted Honora. "I know of a couple of Tetranshire who might take little Evera in. The man is dying, and the woman will need someone to comfort her when he's gone; they have no children of their own."

She shivered; she did not want to think about what she would do if her own husband died, even if she barely knew him at all.

"Are you cold?" he asked her.

Honora merely stared at the opposite wall. "Maybe a little."

"Come here."

Tentatively, she edged toward him, not noticing that he was drawing nearer to her as well. A sudden sense of comfort came over her as he slung his arm over her shoulders and held her close; for the first time in a long time, she was safe.

"I still can't believe we'll have one of our own soon," he whispered gently, a note of reverence in his voice.

"Just remember our deal," she told him. "If it's a girl, you're hiring a farmhand. I don't care how much it costs--you work too much."

He grinned. She took this as a sign to continue. "And if it's a boy... you're still hiring a farmhand. He won't be able to help you much until he's ten or so."

"Honora?" he addressed her; she wondered why he was changing the subject.

She smiled. "Yes, Adonis?"

As his face drew nearer, she realized that he hadn't really wanted to say anything at all.

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