A Crown Of Blades(ARTK, Book 3)

Chapter 45-46

  Manor 10th,3330 A.G

  Krea held tightly to her husband for support, each step more and more difficult. Before she'd become with child, she thought so many of the symptoms to be myths. Her mother hadn't talked about her own pregnancies, as it were still considered taboo by many women- so she had to speak with Jade in the beginning.

  She'd told her what to expect, and still Krea found it difficult to believe. Morning illness? Swelling ankles? Constant nausea for nine months were possibility? Liking food you'd never liked before- or never even tried?

  She couldn't say the cravings had upset her. Just a few months in she'd craved fermented shark so badly she had a few servants travel to the shore to try and obtain a shark, then sobbed for three full hours when they came back with nothing. The day after that the craving had already passed- and the next two were things more possible to obtain.

  Ice trout and chocolate cake. She must have eaten all the chocolate in Kaeles those few weeks-

  "Are you alright?" Andrew asked, genuine concern all over him. "You seem... in pain."

  Krea stopped walking and turned to face her sweet, sweet husband. "It is not a terrible pain. Just...  a mild version of what can apparently happen when one's ankles turn into- well, that."

  She gestured downwards with her free hand, and Andrew would have picked her up to carry the rest of the way- if they weren't already here.

  Jade Chen has been granted use of her old apprentice's sickroom for the duration of her stay, and she'd certainly made herself at home. Among all of her old apprentice's herbs and tools and things were her own, placed like they belonged there because up until a few years ago- they had and this room had belonged to her.

  "Ah- I was expecting you." Jade said. "Will you go ahead and lay down for me?"

 
  Krea did as told, and her husband sat to the side- out of the way enough that Jade could move around. They had to tell her off in the beginning; as Jade had been used to serving Krea's mother during her pregnancies( and the few residents and servants of house Simonett), and she'd grown so used to men not wanting anything to do with the checkups that she tried to bar Andrew from the room- but now they all got along again.

  Krea never undertood exactly what she were doing, but when Jade felt around her stomach she kept nodding and looking to the sky as if she were making a mental note.

  The last prod were quite painful, but as she didn't know to say anything- she remained quiet.

  "Well one thing's for sure-" Jade stood, and Krea sat up. "You are certainly too pregnant to travel now. You will have this babe at House Simonett."

  "Many women travel in their pregnancies." Krea frowned. "I would not be the first or last."

  "And you would also not be the first or last to give birth in a ditch somewhere because you refused to listen to the advice of an experienced witch and midwife." Jade crossed her arms. "Your mother's pregnancies were very difficult on her. Multiple times I... thought I might have to cut her babes out and kill her in the process. I can only hope that is not the case with you."

  "But surely if I have it on the side of the road with you by my side I will be fine." Krea sat up and continued arguing. "Women give birth under worse conditions all the time and I... I want to have this babe in my home. I want it... to be born in the place it will grow up."

  Though she said nothing, Jade gave a small smile. It were just like Krea to argue for the sake of arguing. She were nearly as stubborn as her mother- but if it were important she would listen to reason.