Chimera Awakened

Chapter Two

The next two days were filled with my normal routine and I had resigned myself to the run in with Broderick. It was what it was and stressing about it wouldn't change anything. My memories of the future General of Arghan included hearing about his escapades with women, frequent tavern fights and a general spoiled rich kid attitude.

He was never mean though, I had to admit. I remember the time a bully of mine, a wiry blonde boy, showed up to school with a black eye and split lip the day after he publicly threw eggs at me on my way home. I saw Broderick leaning against a wall, a pleased smile on his boyishly handsome face, as the bully came up to me and apologized. I never found the nerve to ask Broderick if he had been the reason for it.

"Evelyn!" one of the stable hands called out to me as I was walking past the western stable, the one housing the pregnant mares.

"What is it?" I asked, stomach tightening at the worry etched on his face.

"It's Lucinda. She's sick or somethin'."

I ran into the stable, toward Lucinda's stall and found the sorrel mare lying down. Her labor signs were increasing, though she was weeks early, and I'd ordered her to be checked on every hour. She did indeed look ill and I winced as her pain and fear slammed into me.

"She's foaling now. Go get the vet." My tone was clipped and the young man sprinted off to fetch the vet who lived 2 miles away.

"Hi, Lucinda," I crooned soothingly as I opened the stall door and dropped down beside her.

The sun was setting and the oil lamps in the stable did little to illuminate the stall.

"Hand me that lamp please, "I said to a stable hand that had popped her head over the stall door.

After she handed it to me I shined the light as best I could and noted the mare was well on her way to foaling. It was early but the foal would likely pull through.

Turning my attention from the mare, I focused on the foal growing inside. The feeling of contented pleasure overwhelmed me and brought tears to my eyes. It was brimming with love for what it knew to be its mother. This was an instance where I knew my gift was actually a gift. To be able to know how an animal not yet born was feeling was truly magical.

My smile faded when I sensed the same feeling of contentment but slightly different. My brows drew together when I realized it was coming from a different source. I closed my eyes and focused on the two sources of emotion and my heart skipped as dread washed over me when realization hit. Twins. Lucinda was having twins. I berated myself for not figuring it out sooner, for not thinking to use my gift when signs of her impending labor showed three weeks early.

Male voices carried into the stable and I turned my head to see Jack, the vet, a tall, lean man with dark brown hair, standing next to Broderick. I bit back an oath as I rose from my position by Lucinda's head.

I stepped aside as Jack made his way into the stall, a rectangular black case in his large calloused hand. Broderick stayed on the other side of the stall door and I spared him a glance before filling Jack in on my discovery.

He spoke during his examination and gave orders to stable hands to gather blankets and boil water. They scurried off and I watched helplessly as he continued his examination.

"Hello again," Broderick said companionably.

His cool tone irked me and I stiffened further. I could see him from the corner of my eye, watching me intently but I was determined not to look at him.

"Hello, Broderick," I replied curtly.

A grin flashed on his face and I clenched my jaw.

"You figured it out," he teased. "I'll admit, I was a little hurt that I was so forgettable."