by Jane Stain
Tal laughed. Laughed! Was he so heartless? Had it all just been about getting children by her? She was going to make him sorry!
But he pulled away just a little so she could see into his eyes, and they were soft. Loving. Admiring, even.
"Deirdre, you forget. I’m a smith, not a warrior. I've only ever wanted to be at the forge, and now I will be. I'll be at the forge, and you'll be by my side, and the two of us will be the happiest creatures ever, don't you see?"
But she only sobbed harder.
Didn’t he see? Their problems were obvious, and he was only looking at the bright side. It made her feel alone, and she clung to him, desperately trying to bring him back to her so she could feel close to him once more.
"What about your duty to shadow your brother?"
Tal surprised her with a look of resolution. Hope surged in her heart as he turned and took her hand and marched off toward the broch.
"We'll see about that. Let's go talk to Breth now."
Their news had spread throughout the whole encampment ahead of them somehow, and everyone was congratulating them all over again.
When the twentieth woman hugged her, even Deirdre’s spirits picked up a little. Was it possible? Could she and Tal remain home together during the raids when so many other women had to stay behind without their husbands?
She smiled and nodded it all who congratulated her, returning their hugs with as much good grace as she could muster. The druids had made her see that just as Tal was Breth’s next in line, Deirdre was Jaelle’s next in line. She needed these people to respect her and look up to her, admire her even. And she wouldn't gain their goodwill by sulking at their congratulations, that was for sure.
She and Tal met with Breth and Jaelle in the kitchen outside their own bedroom on the fourth floor of the broch.
Jaelle scrunched up her nose and opened a crock on the kitchen shelf.
“This is where we keep the pregnancy tea. It helps somewhat with the sickness that comes on in the mornings.”
Deirdre laughed nervously.
"Thanks, but it hasn't come to that quite yet."
Jaelle laughed with her for a moment and then looked sincere.
“No, it probably won't for another month or two, but when it does come, trust me, you won't want to take the time to find any of us."
Deirdre hugged her.
"I always wanted an older sister — well, not really always. But I did when I was feeling sorry for myself, which was all too often when I was a child."
The men took seats and the women drew them all tankards of weak ale before sitting down.
Breth took Tal’s forearm in his across the round kitchen table and patted it enthusiastically with his other hand.
"I suppose you’ve come to ask to be off warrior duty along with your wife." He held up his hand to stop Tal from insisting. "That's fine. You've earned it. I've kept you in the raids far longer than needed for you to fill my shoes should anything happen to me before Aiden's old enough to take over."
Tal raised his tankard toward his brother's and then put it down with a shake of his head and got up and gave the man a hug, which Breth rose to return, clapping Tal on the back.
“Congratulations.”
So at least Deirdre had Tal with her, and Jaelle and the druids. She didn't worry about the baby’s coming. She knew she was in good hands so far as the delivery would go.
But she still wanted her mother.
Galdus was still outside the realm where conversation was possible.
What had happened to him? Even when she deliberately thought at him and baited him with her thoughts of his sanity and questioned his necessity in her life anymore, he remained unresponsive.
Deirdre kept trying constantly for a few weeks, but then gradually she gave up on ever communicating with Galdus anymore. She still carried him around on her hip everywhere, but now it was only so that no one else would get their hands on him. She had seen how some of the Gaelic druids coveted him, and who could blame them?
At long last, nine moons had passed by while she carried the child. It was time to bear him.
He woke her up in the middle of the night as she lay by Tal in their room off the kitchen. Not wishing to wake her sweet husband, she slid out from under his arm slowly.
She opened the kitchen door slowly, not wishing to wake the household. After she crept down the cold stone steps that spiraled around the outside of the broch, she quietly opened the inner door, again not wishing to wake anyone inside.
But of course the watchman was there when she opened the outer door.
"So it's your time, and Tal isn’t man enough to go with you?"
Deirdre made a dismissive move with her hand and started her walk down toward the sacred grove, speaking to him only over her shoulder.
"It's different when a druid gives birth. You know that."
But of course she was lying, because Galdus was the druid, not her. And he hadn’t used magic for her since she conceived.
She had a difficult walk down to the sacred grove alone. Every step made her fear that the baby would come with it. Her water broke with one such step, cascading all over the stones below her.
But she wasn't afraid. Boann had told her walking was good for the delivery and that if she was so lucky as to just walk her baby out, then she would be the envy of every woman in the camp.
So Deirdre trudged on.
Boann and Ia were waiting for her when she arrived. After walking her around the grove so many times she thought the baby would never come, they led her to her old bower, saying by the way she was walking, they knew the baby was coming now.
Deirdre lay down on the fresh linens and the druids began to sing. The song took her pain away, and for that she was ever so grateful.
And then they told her to push.
Afterward, that was the last part she remembered.
Chapter 27
Talorac gasped when Boann led him into Dierdre's bower.
This was his son! The little man was sleeping peacefully on his mother's chest with his little back facing Tal. And he was perfect. His mini arms and legs already looked strong, his tiny head full of wisdom.
Tal fell to his knees and squatted beside Deirdre, his mouth falling open.
She took hold of his hand and squeezed it tight.
"I know. Isn't it amazing? We were just a couple, and now we’re a family."
Tal tore his eyes away from their son in order to look lovingly at his wife.
"Yes, that's amazing too, but Deirdre, he's so perfect. He's a man all unto himself. He's not just our baby, he's going to be a part of this clan, maybe a big part."
She pulled him down next to her, and the three of them cuddled together.
Tal gave thanks to all the fortuitous stars that watched over him.
Chapter 28
Deirdre patted her huge pregnant belly and smiled as she watched her two-year son Uen play with Jaelle’s three-year sons Aiden and Angus on the grass near the broch door.
“Jaelle! Did you see that?”
Enjoying a rare afternoon off from instructing the adults in future fighting techniques, her sister-in-law raised a hand and cheered the boys on in their swordplay.
“Get him, Uen! That’s it! You’re a natural!”
The three boys were good friends, even though Uen was a year younger than his two cousins.
It had taken two years of deliberations and false starts, but the clans had accepted the Roman silver. Now there was peace. All the warriors were free to be with their families most of the time, and the migration had started again just this spring. No more Grand Clan. The individual clans had gone back to spending only a season at each broch separately, meeting up only at Beltane, when brides were exchanged across clans.
Deirdre was expecting a girl this time, and the prospect of having a mini version of her to teach everything she knew filled her mind with a joy she couldn't describe.
"Good,” said a voice she hadn’t heard i
n nine months. “We wull leave as soon as she’s born and take her with us."
What?
"Galdus? Galdus, is that you? I honestly thought you had died. Why have you been so quiet all this time? And you’re leaving as soon as she’s born? I'm staying. I've made a life here, and I don't want to leave anymore."
"Regardless, we wull be leaving as soon as she is born, sae enjoy yer time here while it lasts, and prepare tae move on."
Anger surged up inside Deirdre.
Perhaps noticing her anger, the boys got even more physical in their swordplay, running about and hacking at each other.
Now fear gripped her.
"Jaelle, will you watch Uen for me? I need to speak to Tal. It's urgent."
Ever the ready warrior, Jaelle stood and looked around for the threat.
"What is it?"
Thankfully, Tal walked up behind Deirdre right then, and just hearing his footsteps calmed her a bit.
"Yes, what is it?" he asked as he stepped right up behind her.
Deirdre relaxed against his chest as he put his arms around her and held her belly, feeling as usual for the baby’s movements.
"Galdus is finally talking to me again—"
"That's great!" said Tal.
"Good!" said Jaelle.
Deirdre hated the way being pregnant made her so emotional. She shook her head no and fought to talk through the choking sensation that always came before tears overtook her.
"It's not good. He says he’s going to take me away from here as soon as Megan is born, that we’ll take her with us but not you or Uen. He tells me to get used to the idea because it's final."
The tears were streaming down her face now, and she was shaking.
Tal’s strong arms held her up gently against him. Holding her firmly, he spoke softly.
"I know Galdus is an old friend who has saved your life many times, but..."
Jaelle spoke at the same time, only not mincing words.
"Just get rid of him, Deirdre. I know you like using his power, but he's the one using you, don’t you see?"
Deirdre was blubbering now, hating every moment. She despised looking weak.
"You don’t think I’ve tried to just put him down somewhere and leave him? I have! I cannot make myself do it. He won’t let me."
Though still firm, Tal’s embrace felt more tentative now, as if he feared how she would answer what he was about to say.
"Let me try for you, then."
Would that work?
"He can burn you, Tal. Don't touch him with your skin. Use a gauntlet."
Tal started letting her go, but Jaelle shook her head no and took off running, calling over her shoulder.
“I'll get him a gauntlet."
Her blubbering was out of control now, because Galdus had started scolding her, inside her mind.
“I've given you the power to fight as a warrior without worry for your life, and this is how you repay me? I expected more from you. I had thought we could make a real druid out of you, but now I see that you’re too selfish. What is the love of one man and one boy compared to the salvation of the world?"
She ignored most of his taunting, but this last bit was too much.
"The salvation of the world? Tal is right. You are far too self-important, and I let that get to me for far too long. I was taken in by your air of self-importance. No more. Now I want to live my own life and let others live theirs. No more of your high-level meddling. From now on, if I meddle in someone else's life, it'll be as an equal, not as the powerful dictating to the weak. No more abuse of power."
Galdus tripled his evil chuckle, and it reminded her of an evil druid she'd known as a child, raising the hair all over her body into goosebumps.
"Ye still sound enraptured with yerself Deirdre, and ye dinna even ken. Yer cause is lost even afore ye pursue it. My influence ower ye is complete and total, and ye will na be able tae escape. Nay, na even with yer friends tae try and help ye. Beware, that can harm them."
He remained there in the back of her mind, taunting her this way.
She did her best to ignore him and to guard her thoughts from him, but that had never worked very well in the past, and so she despaired of ever freeing herself from her master.
At the same time, she could feel Tal’s heartbeat through her back as he held her close. It was fast, whether out of fear or determination — or both — she didn't know. She didn't dare go into his mind to find out. No, she hadn’t used that trick in months, for it was Galdus’s trick, and though she feared he could use it without her anyway, she didn't want to give him any more access to her friends than he already had.
Her blubbering was growing weaker now, as she tired.
Tal clasped her to himself protectively.
"We will get you rid of him, Deirdre. We will."
He started rocking her from side to side, the way they rocked Uen whenever he was agitated. It felt nice. It did remove a bit her anxiety, though far from all. They stood and rocked that way for quite a while.
Tal waved the children away whenever they came over to ask what the matter was.
"You all know that being with child makes a woman apt to cry. Don't worry about it. Go on with your play."
Deirdre squeezed his hand whenever he reassured one of the children, grateful for his help with them and just for his presence.
When Jaelle came back, it was not with a gauntlet but with two people Deirdre knew by sight but hadn’t spent any time with: Connor, one of the men who used to follow Drest, and Bridget, the wife he had taken from another clan.
Oddly, Galdus kept urging Deirdre to go over and shake Connor and Brigit's hands. She almost did it, so used was she to doing Galdus’s bidding. But that would mean leaving Tal’s arms…
But Jaelle came over and tried to take Tal’s place holding Deirdre.
"I've got her, Tal. Connor and Bridget need to talk to you."
Deirdre knew she was being a baby, but she was beyond able to control that. She struggled desperately to keep Tal with her
"No! No, everyone’s trying to take you away from me! Stay here! Stay with me! No!"
Jaelle stared fiercely into Dierdre's eyes, her expression anxious and urgent. She was trying to tell Deirdre something.
But Deirdre was beyond caring what it was. All she wanted was for Tal to stay with her.
He came back to her and took her once more in his embrace, gently pushing Jaelle aside.
"We’ll do this later, Jaelle." He stroked Deirdre's hair, and it felt wonderful. "Later."
Ever the agitated warrior, Jaelle's fists balled up and she pursed her lips, staring fiercely at Tal. But then she met eyes with Deirdre again, and her whole face softened into a rueful frown. "Of course. Of course we’ll do this later," she said to Connor and Bridget with an apologetic smile and a tilt of her head before coming back over to stand beside Deirdre and holding her hand. "I'm sorry, Deirdre. We have time yet. Tal should be with you right now. Will you forgive me for trying to take charge and fix things in a way that was causing you grief?"
Still wracked with sobs, Deirdre was only just able to squeeze Jaelle’s hand, and Jaelle kept hold of it for the rest of the afternoon while they watched the children play.
Tal stroked Deirdre's hair and whispered reassurances in her ear until finally she stopped crying.
Chapter 29
Breth and Jaelle tried their best to comfort Tal, but his fear ruled him nonetheless. His mind knew they were right. He couldn't know what the plan was to get Galdus away from Deirdre, because everyone who had touched Deirdre while Galdus touched her was susceptible to Galdus’s magic. For certain, they knew Galdus could read their minds, so it really was best if Tal and Breth and Jaelle didn't know what the plan was, let alone Deirdre herself.
Deirdre rolled over and rested her huge pregnant belly on her other side, but she sure wished she could sleep on her back like she usually did. More still, she wished she could sleep in her bower, where the druids could tend to her and ta
ke the pain away. Sure, the various sorts of tea here in the kitchen helped somewhat, but the druids took all the pain away.
This was her third week straight staying up here on the fourth floor of the broch. Tal had smiled sadly at her when he brought in the pot for her to use to relieve herself. Things were restrained between her and her husband, and as usual, she knew she was being stupid, blaming him for something that was the fault of Galdus.
She looked up where the sword hung by a leather strap from a wooden peg driven between the stones of the inner of the two outer broch walls.
The runes etched into his blade gleamed in the moonlight as if they were meant to be viewed this way. He was so beautiful and so useful. She longed to be able to share her thoughts with him…
Tal startled awake next to her, looking around.
"What?” she asked him. “I didn’t hear anything, and I was awake."
He gently put a hand over her mouth to shush her.
She felt resentment swell inside her.
"I'm not a child, Tal. Explain what you’re thinking."
Apparently he didn't agree with her, because he did it again.
Really angry now, she tried to get up so she could storm out of the room.
But of course her belly prevented it. Land’s sake, Tal made her angry. Galdus had never treated her this way. She looked up at the sword again.
Not realizing she was doing so, she shared her thoughts with him deliberately, rather than let him pick them out of her brain as he chose. It was an old habit formed from 12 years of communing with him constantly.
"Why did you have to go and say you were taking me away?"
He glinted in the moonlight. Was it her imagination, or was he doing it deliberately, the way he swung the tiniest bit from side to side and caught the light?
"Why don't you answer me? This is aggravating! Is their plan of keeping you away from the woods working?"
