Book 1: Brutality

Pregnant

21

"The human population would probably be way less than a thousand, if ejaculation were not usually accompanied by an orgasm." — Mokokoma Mokhonoana

~Trigger Warning~

"Self defence, I assume," says Gael. He's amazingly calm for someone holding a basket filled with herbs lethal to his kind. "It's not unreasonable," he says unexpectedly. "A mortal in Faerie needs some form of protection."

"But those—!" Valindra shrinks away from the basket.

I'm sorry, I repeat, and take out the notebook again. I didn't think to ask you. If you tell me not to accept them, I won't.

She hesitates, glancing from me to the basket and then to Lindor, who's now starting to fuss in her arms. "You'll use them for self defence only?" She asks. "And to protect Lindor?" She shifts him to her shoulder as he starts to wail.

I nod seriously and place my right hand over my heart; I promise.

"Fine," she growls out at last. "But next time, Albia, ask me before you go bargaining for anything from Ironside. Understand?"

I nod devoutly.

"And I won't have those in the house!" She raises her voice above Lindor's noise. "Mix up your pouch of poisons if you want, but I want the bulk of those foul things stored outside!" And she disappears back down the shaft, Lindor's howls fading away.

Gael and I stand on the platform, looking at each other. After a moment, I take the basket.

"I'll help you dig a cache for them," Gael says abruptly. "No faerie or fey is going to touch them, but we can't leave them where Lindor can get at them and I don't think you want them getting wet."

I nod and jerk my head at ground level. He nods in understanding and, giving a flowing leap, overtops the platform and starts down the outside of the Tree, claws scrabbling at the bark.

I descend down the shaft. In the cottage, Valindra is nursing Lindor. She gives me an angry look and I wince in renewed guilt as I go outside.

Out beyond the roses, Gael has already sung two pieces of work into trowels. We dig in silence, on the edge of the clearing. The hole is deep and narrow. I have to stop to rest several times, my head swimming. But Gael works tirelessly, as strong as any goblin.

We nestle the packages deep within. Gael takes our trowels and, closing his eyes, sings again: a deep hum from his chest. Green light wreaths around his fingers and the trowels combine into a large and round wooden plaque.

He places it over the open hole. "There," he says. "Now, with the right spells—"

His voice is drowned out by the rising ringing in my ears. Another wave of dizziness is attacking me, but this time it's much worse. I hear Gael's voice raised in alarm as blackness crawls over my vision and all sensation vanishes.

I awake indoors, on the bed. I stare at the ceiling of the bed nook a moment, feeling my heartbeat. What just happened?

"Albia?" The curtain twitches aside and Valindra's face appears off to my right. At least she doesn't seem angry anymore, I think muzzily. "You fainted, Albia."

Fainted? Cautiously, I sit up, half-expecting another attack, but nothing happens. I feel a little lightheaded, but overall, I'm well again.

Valindra hands me a mug of tea. "Here, drink this."

I do. The tea feels good, scalding my throat. But, Valindra's silence and her unwavering gaze is making me nervous.

I hand the mug back. What's wrong? I sign.

Valindra gets up to put the mug on the counter for washing, pulling the bed curtain completely aside. I see Lindor asleep in his cradle. She comes back and sits on the edge of the bed.

"Albia," she says gently, "I think I know your condition. And I think you do too."

No. I shake my head. My hands start to tremble. No, no.

"Yes," she says, relentless. "You're with child, Albia."

"Albia? Albia!" Valindra's voice rings out behind me, but I don't stop. I'm not sure how I ended up running like this — the last thing I remember is sitting up in bed, blank with shock — but nothing's going to stop me now.

I run like the hounds of Arawn are after me, I run and run, through every slashing bush and every lashing branch, stumbling over a stream — to the hissed annoyance of a nixie that lashes her clawed hand at me as I pass — I keep running, as though if I run fast enough, I can escape this new horror.

The ground suddenly gives out beneath me. I fall forward, tumbling down the slope, rolling down over rocks and roots till I stop at the base of a pine tree, where I lie gasping, staring at the light through the needles. I'm so dizzy.

No. No. No!

"Albia!" Valindra has caught up at last, hobbling down the slope. "Idiot! Are you completely mad?" she hisses, hauling me to my feet. "That nixie almost killed you! And you've probably alerted every warg in the forest now!" Off in the distance, a howl rises. "Yes, here they come. Quick now!"

We bolt for the nearest tree-ladder, scrabbling up the slope and climbing madly. Below us, the first pack arrive, growling and snarling at the base of the tree, but we don't linger to watch.

Valindra leads the way along the treeways, hurrying home to Lindor and cursing me, but I barely take in any of her lecture.

No. No. No.

We descend down the shaft into the cottage. Lindor's wailing in his cradle and I feel a dash of guilt. Not only did I lead Valindra into danger, but Lindor was left alone.

I pick him up and he quietens, nuzzling close. I hold him close, taking comfort from his warmth and his baby-scent, even though I can't stop trembling.

With child.

"Idiot!" Valindra stands glaring at me, hands on her hips. "What was that about?"

All I can do is shake my head, helplessly, love Lindor's squirming form.

She sighs resignedly. "Sit down," she says. "You should rest anyway."

I sit down on the bench. The tremors keep running through me, shaking my limbs. I set Lindor down beside me and he fusses, reaching for me. But, I can't hold him any longer — my arms are weak with horror.

No, no. Please no!

~Fun Fact~

A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.

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