It begins late.
As everyone knows, births should always happen on a Monday. Mondays are safe, boasting of average children with no overwhelming destiny to grow into. A Monday child can expect to follow in their parents' footsteps, apprentice to a normal trade, and live an uneventful life. Grand, reaching love affairs and dangerous adventures are best left to the children of Saturday. Monday children have no need for it. It's a noble enough life and one that most parents hoped for, given the various alternatives.
Pana's labor pains begin Tuesday evening. It's the third time she's felt the painful contractions in the last week and she doubts this will be the actual time but sends her husband out for the healer anyway. If anything, she might as well get something to settle the pain.
Kyrin doesn't quite run on the snowy streets but he keeps his pace quick and doesn't stop to greet the few souls still braving the outdoors. The cold bites at his face and sinks into his clothing quickly, the way it always had since he'd been a child. It seems to steal the warmth from his bones and he speeds up to save what he can.
Healer Gemin lives near the center of the village. The moment she opens the door, she gives him a long look and then says, "Happening again, is it? Not just a bit of indigestion?"
Kyrin nods quickly and Healer Gemin rolls her eyes but follows him back. She complains the whole way even as Kyrin tries to shield her from the icy air. Last time Pana managed to come herself, but she'd been unable to leave her bed now. They'd both known it was possible they'd have a dim Tuesday child, as Kyrin himself is one, but it still doesn't seem quite real. Kyrin hopes they're wrong and it's another set of false contractions. This isn't a good night to bring a child into the world.
"Get out of your head, boy," Healer Gemin grumbles and Kyrin hurries ahead of her to get the door open. It's not much warmer in the entry hall, not when he'd already moved the heat stones into the bedroom for Pana, but at least they're out of the wind. Healer Gemin strips off her outer coat and shoves it into Kyrin's hands as she heads for the bedroom. He hangs it and hurries after her.
"Thank the Stars," Pana murmurs from the bed, hands cradling the bulge of her belly as if to hold the child within her. Her skin is flushed, breathing quickened, and Kyrin steps around Healer Gemin to adjust her pillows, make her more comfortable. He takes one of her hands in his and Pana turns a grateful smile his way.
"Fine time for it," Healer Gemin mutters. Her hands slide along Pana's belly as her brows furrow. It takes some minutes before she speaks and nervousness coils thick in Kyrin's chest. "It won't be tonight."
Pana sighs out a heavy breath, closing her eyes as she squeezes Kyrin's hand. "Another false alarm."
"Oh, no. No, not false at all." Healer Gemin glances up from Pana's belly, her eyes hard over the edge of her glasses. "The child is coming. Likely tomorrow afternoon."
Kyrin stiffens and Pana gives a pained moan that is only partially physical. A Wednesday child is sure to be trouble, bad tempered and criminal. The worst brigands and war lords had always been Wednesday children.
"Can't we delay it a few days?" Pana begs, another round of clenching muscles and pain bringing tears to her eyes. "Just a few- to Friday?"
Friday children are pious and humble and even if it means giving the child to Temple, that is preferable to bringing a new thief or murderer into the world, or worse a witch- but Healer Gemin doesn't look very sure. She rubs her chin and consults her journal, muttering to herself for several seconds.
"Delaying now might mean a Thursday birth," she says at last and Pana lets out a soft moan of grief. It pulls at everything in Kyrin's heart but there is nothing he can do to help. He knows nothing of healing and his dim, slow mind has never allowed him to learn.
