Ephemeral and Fleeting

by Patricia Reding

  “Doesn’t water work?” Lucy asked.

  “Well . . . yes . . . But it takes more than usual.”

  “Interesting.”

  “Thank you, Eben,” Eden said. “Please keep us informed.”

  “Certainly.”

  “Next is . . . Piers Hamilton.”

  Mara glanced his way. She noted that the man, despite his advanced years, still exuded power.

  “Well,” he said, then cleared his throat, “I must admit that things of an economic nature are not at their best these days in Oosa. The many children that have come over the border have presented some difficulties. Where possible, we’ve worked to find families for them. My particular concern, however, is with respect to the numerous young men who’ve made their way here. For the most part, they lack job skills, as a consequence of which, it seems a number of them have turned to lives of crime.”

  “Not to mention that it seems some were trained for such purposes,” Lucy added.

  “Any recommendations there?” Eden asked.

  “Aside from disallowing any more to enter?” Piers asked.

  Lucy sat up straighter. “Actually, where possible, we’re already doing just that.”

  “Nothing more at this time then,” he said.

  “Thank you.” Reigna glanced down at her papers. “Skylar Hadwin.” She looked his way and smiled. “Your report, Professor?”

  “Ahhh . . .” He looked at his notes, then back up. “We’ve a team in place to collect all works of prophecy we can lay our hands on,” he said. Then turning to Lucy, he added, “Had we been able to decipher more text earlier, we might have avoided having so many of you taken prisoner.”

  “Agreed.” She nodded at him.

  Reigna scribbled some notes. “Thank you, Professor.”

  She turned to Heather Larkspur. “Have you a report with regards to any legal maters?”

  “Nothing at this time.”

  “Very well. Thank you.”

  She turned to Lucy. “As the expert with regards to how Oosian society is governed, you’re up next,” she said.

  “Well, actually,” Lucy said, “with the changes we’re making here today—disclosing the identities of the Council members—I can’t rightly speak on the status of much of anything. I do, however, recommend that we encourage all local communities to identify those whom they’d like to have represent them before this Council. I suggest an official title for the person chosen in each area. Perhaps ‘mayor,’ would be appropriate.”

  “Will you be sending notices out to that effect?”

  “Yes.”

  Once again, Reigna made some notes. Then she turned to the row just behind her. “Dax, as commander of our fighting forces, have you a report?”

  He leaned in. “Yes. Well, actually, with Petrus—err, Pestifere—now aware of many of the plans we’d been forming, we’ll need to start all over again.”

  A collective groan made its way through the crowd.

  “Right. Now . . . when Aliza and I left for Chiran, those troops who remained in the City of Light, continued training. At this time we plan to assign the majority of the companies to various strategic points along the border.” He turned to Aliza. “Have you anything to add?”

  “Only that the healers will be divided up so as to accompany the troops to their various stations,” she said.

  As Eden turned to whisper something to her sister, Mara suddenly gasped, then doubled over. “Ohhh!” she cried. Then her fear-filled eyes flashed Dixon’s direction.

  “Move!” he cried. “Everyone! Out of the way!”

  As the twins pulled aside, he put his hand behind Mara’s neck, then slowly laid her back.

  “What is it?” he asked. “What’s happening?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, grabbing at his vest and pulling him closer. “Something’s wrong . . . Something is very, very wrong.”

  Velia and Basha approached and knelt next to her. Velia rubbed her arm. Then, with the familiarity that only a dear friend may extend without first asking permission, she placed her hand on Mara’s middle. She reached for her magic that would allow her to take on her pain.

  Seconds later, her eyes went wide. She looked up and stared at her friend. Her breath caught in her throat.

  “Mara,” she said, “tell me again what happened with Mariella.”

  “It’s just like I told you— I— I lost her,” she said, her eyes spilling great tears.

  Slowly, Velia’s head turned right, then left, as she muttered, “Mara, you didn’t lose the baby.”

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Mara pushed her hand away. “I most certainly did! I saw her—and so did Dixon! Carlie saw her, too—and Broden. He brought her body back with him.” A cry escaped her. “For goodness sake, Velia, we just buried her!” She stared at her friend. “How could you be so cruel?”

  “No, Mara, I mean, you didn’t lose the baby. You lost a baby!” Hesitatingly, she felt Mara’s abdomen once again. “I can feel your unborn, Mara,” she said, holding her gaze. “I can feel what it’s feeling—warm, safe, and secure. You are still pregnant.”

  Eyes went wide and mouths opened large, as the other attendees all watched on.

  “What?” Dixon asked.

  “She lost a baby, Dixon,” Velia said, holding his gaze, “but she’s still pregnant.”

  “Is that even possible?” Reigna asked Lucy.

  Lucy looked about. “Percival?” she asked.

  “It’s possible,” he said, “although in truth, it is quite, quite rare.”

  “Oh!” Mara gasped. “There it is again! What’s happening?”

  Velia sucked in a breath, then chuckled. “Oh, Mara, your body is just preparing for the day this little one makes his—or her—debut! It’s still some time off, but nature is taking its course.” She squeezed her shoulder. “There is nothing wrong with you, I promise.”

  “Here, Dixon,” she said, taking his hand. She placed it on Mara’s middle, then watched for his reaction. “There! Did you feel that?”

  “Yes!”

  “That’s the baby, Dixon. And that explains everything! Mara, listen,” she said looking deeply into her friend’s eyes, “you can’t travel with more than one person unless you travel with the twins, and then you can only travel with the two of them. When you came here, you were carrying three people—the two you usually can carry together without trouble—but also, your baby!”

  “Oh, great Ehyeh!” Reigna cried.

  “Come here, Reigna,” Velia said, motioning for her, “Feel this.” She put her hand on Mara’s middle. “You too, Eden. Come on!” When Eden neared, she took her hand.

  All were mesmerized as they felt the unborn child move.

  “Oh, my— Oh!” Mara covered her mouth, as a sob escaped her. “Oh, Velia, thank you!” she cried.

  “Don’t thank me!” She pulled back and held her hand up. “Thank Dixon!” Laughing, she leaned in and kissed her friend’s cheek. “I’m so sorry for your loss—and so happy for what you’ve kept. You are going to make an amazing mother.”

  “Mara,” Lucy interrupted, now standing nearby, “have you any idea how far along you were when you lost Mariella?”

  Mara shared that she’d estimated she was somewhere between her twenty-second and twenty-fifth weeks at the time.

  “Well, think now. When Zarek’s men captured the three of you. What do you remember of that?”

  “I remember . . .” Mara thought back. “I remember the moment we landed, near Aliza’s former camp, I felt very tired, out of sorts. I felt slow. It was strange because traveling doesn’t usually have that effect on me—except for that time when I joined Dixon and the twins in the City of Light and slept for almost three days afterward.”

  “Do you think your being pregnant at the time could have played a part in what transpired there?”

  Everyone turned Lucy’s way. Several lowered their brows. A few pursed their lips.

  “Oh, I’m not suggesting any fault
!” she exclaimed. “It’s just that you,” she looked back at Mara, “were pregnant then, too, yet you didn’t pass out from the traveling . . .”

  Mara closed her eyes in thought, then looked back at Lucy. “Actually . . . I did. They knocked me out when they attacked me. Then . . . Well, I believed all this time that they’d drugged me after that, but . . . maybe they didn’t. Or maybe it would’ve made no difference if they had.”

  “It’s true,” Eden said. “She was out for three days.”

  “So,” Velia said, “you traveled only five times since you became pregnant. The first time, you met the twins in the City of Light and, as you said, you were very weak for three days after your arrival. Consider that you were carrying two people then—your twins. Later, when you went with Reigna and Eden to the border, you passed out for a few days. That time, you were carrying four people—your twins, and Reigna and Eden. Next, you brought Carlie to the palace and again, passed out for three days. That time, you were carrying two people—your one child, and Carlie.”

  She paused, in thought, rubbing her forehead. Then, after looking about for a moment, she turned back. “Yes, and when you traveled back for the twins—you carried just your one remaining unborn child. So it makes sense that nothing happened that time. But this last time, when you brought the twins from across the border to this camp while also carrying your remaining child, you were out for seven full days. Perhaps the differences each time had to do with how much more developed your baby was—or babies were—and on how many people you carried with each trip.”

  “Huh,” Mara said. “It’s all so amazing.” She paused, contemplating it all. Then she added, “Now that I think on it, it seems my dreams were about this, as well.” She proceeded to tell them all about her dreams of being chased while carrying twins.

  “All along I thought those dreams were about you girls,” she said, nodding at Reigna and Eden. “But in each, I lost, or it seemed I was about to lose—one of the two babes I carried. And so, it seems, I have.” Then she went quiet.

  “Well,” Lucy said, “you know you have my sincerest condolences on your loss. Now I’d like to offer you my heartiest congratulations on this child. I am truly delighted for you!”

  Mara watched her closely. She nodded, bit her lip, and then motioned for her to come nearer.

  When Lucy bent over her, she whispered just loud enough for her, and those immediately around her, to hear. “And I’m sorry for your loss, Lucy.”

  Those nearest looked from her to Lucy, but no one spoke.

  Then, after a long pause, Dixon finally asked, “What loss?”

  “Never mind.” She shook her head. “Lucy knows what I’m talking about.”

  Lucy’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you,” she said, patting Mara’s arm, “but you know? You were right all along. And—I’m fine. Really.”

  Turning Dixon’s way, Mara smiled. “Can you believe it? About the baby, I mean?”

  Grinning, he shook his head. “Hardly.”

  “Well . . . congratulations . . . Daddy,” she whispered.

  Keep watch for Volume Four of The Oathtaker Series.

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  Adamina, Rowena’s sixth-born daughter, Reigna and Eden’s sister, mentioned in passing

  Adele, former maid to Rowena and then Lilith, joined Mara when the twins were infants, now head of the compound kitchens

  Aden, son of Jerrett and Velia, eight years old

  Adli, former Chiranian, convert to Ehyeh’s ways, forges documents for those seeking to infiltrate Chiran

  Aliza (Kensey), Oathtaker, second-in-command of the Oathtaker troops, can take on the persona of another, her former charge was Kimber Calder, her blade is Gloriam

  Akka, one of the three lords of Sinespe, the underworld, along with Daeva and Sij

  Arvid, Percival’s second charge, deceased

  Asmeret, Rowena’s second-born daughter, Reigna and Eden’s sister, mentioned in passing

  Bane, the dog—err, wolf—Jerrett adopts that is connected to him by attendant magic

  Barbara Jo, helps Adele in the kitchens and with cleaning at the palace

  Basha (Constant), Therese’s Oathtaker, her blade is Honora

  Bernard, long time doorman at the palace of the Select in Shimeron

  Birdie, one of the four teens the Oathtakers meet on their way to the palace, seeks to become a succedunt bride

  Blink, a flit

  Broden, cousin to Reigna and Eden, son of Lilith and Zarek

  Caden, son of Nina and Jules

  Calandra, youngest daughter of Nina and Jules

  Cark, former head of Camp Cark in Chiran, former husband to Chaya, deceased

  Carlie, oldest child, and daughter, of Nina and Jules, nicknamed “Mouse”

  Carlow, Jerrett and Velia’s youngest son, about one year old

  Caveman, one of Zarek’s men

  Celestine, a barmaid at The Clandest Inn, an Oathtaker, cousin to Dixon Townsend, married to Ezra

  Chaya, a Chiranian refugee, former wife of Cark

  Clarimonde, Oathtaker to Vida

  Clementine, a child slave in Chiran

  Creovita, also known as Ehyeh, and the Good One, the creator of all

  Daeva, chief lord of Sinespe, the underworld, assisted by Akka and Sij

  Dalton, Oathtaker to Declan

  Dax, Galen Dax, Oathtaker, leader of the Oathtaker troops in the City of Light, immune to magic, his blade is Immunis

  Declan, charge of Dalton

  Dianna, second eldest sister to Rowena and Lilith, mentioned in passing, deceased

  Diella, Rowena’s third-born daughter, sister to Reigna and Eden, mentioned in passing

  Dixon (Townsend), former Oathtaker to Rowena Vala (Reigna and Eden’s mother), married to Mara, his blade is Verity

  Drew, son of Jerrett and Velia, five years old

  Eben Taft, a Council member, a scientist

  Echo, one of the four teens the Oathtakers meet on their way to the palace, seeks to become a succedunt bride

  Eden, ‘she who is but is not,’ of prophetic fame, born of Rowena’s seventh pregnancy but is not her seventh-born child, Reigna’s twin, Mara’s charge

  Edmond, Dixon’s former friend who betrayed Mara, Dixon, and the twins, providing their whereabouts to Lilith when the twins were infants, mentioned in passing

  Ehyeh, also known as the Good One, and Creovita, the creator of all

  Ella, unknown party that Felicity cries for

  Ellian, the charge of Farrell, a compound resident

  Ephemeral, (Effie), queen of the flits

  Erin, a Chiranian refugee, sister to Nina

  Ethereal, (Ethel), a flit

  Evanescent, (Evan), a flit

  Eve, eldest sister to Rowena and Lilith, deceased, mentioned in passing

  Ezra, Oathtaker, innkeeper at The Clandest Inn, a spymaster, husband of Celestine, a healer

  Fabiana, Oathtaker, archer, arms-trainer

  Farida, a slave woman in Chiran that Zarek gave to Broden

  Farrell, Oathtaker to Ellian, resides at the compound

  Felicity, Select, Trumble’s charge, has visions of events as they occur

  Fidel, one of the oldtimers who were among the first to recognize Reigna and Eden as fulfillment of prophecy, specializes in prophecy

  Filip, Percival’s first charge, deceased

  Fleeting, (Fleet), king of the flits

  Fugacious, (Fuggy), a flit

  Galen Dax, Dax, leader of the Oathtaker troops in the City of Light, immune to magic, his blade is Immunis

  Georgiana, Oathtaker, healer, stays at the compound in the event of Carlie’s return

  Ghazala, Farida’s sister, one of Broden’s slave women in Chiran

  Gonen, Zarek’s secretary

  Good One, also known as Ehyeh, and Creovita, creator of all

  Grant, husband of Rowena, father of Reigna and Eden, not born of the Select, deceased

  Harper Larkspur, Council me
mber, a legal expert

  Hatchet, one of Zarek’s men

  Hazarik, Chiranians of particular descendant, whose ranks include the succedunt who are also known as “the descendants”

  Idaleen, Oathtaker, makes arrests under the Council’s authority

  Jabari Creed, Jerrett’s chosen name while in Chiran

  Janine, Rowena and Lilith’s sister, a fourth-born of the Select, resides in Chiran, a follower of Daeva

  Jedrek, son of Jerrett and Velia, three years old

  Jerrett, (Jabari Creed), Oathtaker, husband to Velia, father to four boys, his blade is Fortitudo

  Joed, Select, sides with Percival

  Jules, head of compound security, married to Nina, father to Carlie, Caden and Calandra

  Kayson, an Oathtaker, a healer

  Kiera, an Oathtaker, a healer

  Kimber (Calder), a cousin of Rowena’s, Aliza’s former charge, deceased

  Leala, one of the oldtimers who were among the first to recognize Reigna and Eden as fulfillment of prophecy, specializes in history

  Liam, Oathtaker, goes with Rafal into Chiran to spy