“They went with Wulfston, to rescue Lenardo,” Aradia replied.
“So… everyone who might help you is spread all over the world,” Pyrrhus mused. “Divide and conquer.”
Aradia stared at him. “Pyrrhus, surely events in
Madura and Africa could not all be part of one gigantic plan.”
“You are carrying the heir to the Savage Empire,” he replied. “Your husband is gone, your brother is gone, your best friend’s powers are used against you, a Reader/ Adept mysteriously disappears, other Readers and Adepts who have worked with you before are flung to the four winds. Coincidence?”
“When you put it that way…” Aradia admitted.
Pyrrhus smiled kindly. “There are times,” he said, “when paranoia is a survival trait.”
“You are the target, Aradia-or your child,” said Lilith. “We must protect you.”
“Lilith is right,” said Master Clement. “Can you provide me with a room here, Aradia?”
“Of course.”
“Pyrrhus, call Wicket. You two work best as a team-I don’t want you separated anymore. Julia will take her lessons here, with me. Until the child is born, let us offer Aradia the best protection we can.”
That night, Aradia dreamed again of her daughter, the young woman with the beautiful face, until she opened eyes filled with hatred.
This time she said, “Mother, I am taking your powers, just as you stole your own mother’s, for I am ready to be born, rightful ruler of the Savage Empire.
“You cannot fight me. Without your powers, you are nothing. You are going to die, Aradia- diel”
Aradia woke to Devasin’s touch on her forehead, and in moments Lilith was there. It was light in the room- the sun was up.
The two women soothed Aradia. “She said I was going to die,” Aradia sobbed, hating her weakness but unable to control it.
“Hush,” said Lilith. “It was only a dream. You’re not going to die. Your friends are here to protect you.”
Devasin and Lilith helped Aradia get up and dressed, but she was still shaking. “Here,” said Devasin, “just lie back on the lounge now. I’ll open the curtains to the courtyard, so you can enjoy the fresh air while I get your breakfast.”
But before Devasin reached the door, Julia was there with a tray. “I brought your breakfast, Aradia.
Didn’t you Read me telling you?”
“Read-?” Aradia tried, panic stabbing as she opened to Reading and met… nothing! “Julia-let me Read through you, please.”
“Of course.”
There was still nothing. “I can’t Read. She is taking my powers.”
“Who is?” asked Julia.
“My baby!” Aradia answered furiously. “She said she would take away my powers and kill me-just as I did to my mother!”
“Oh, my lady, no!” exclaimed Devasin. “You did no such thing, and you mustn’t think it of your poor little baby.”
Shuddering, Aradia forced herself under control. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I must not let dreams affect me that way.”
“Eat your breakfast,” Lilith said gently. “It won’t be long now-only a few more days.”
But the food had no appeal. Aradia managed only to drink her tea. Then she sat with her feet up, looking out at the courtyard, and tried the test she had been putting off.
A tree branch swayed gently in the spring breeze. It should take only a modest Adept effort to make it swing farther on each stroke. She applied the effort. The branch continued to move exactly as it had before.
Aradia looked toward the candelabra, and willed fire. A child’s trick.
Nothing happened.
Lilith saw where she was looking. “Aradia…”
“It’s gone, Lilith. I’m helpless.”
Lilith took her hand. “It’s temporary. All your energies are going into producing a healthy child. Try to sleep some more. Then maybe you’ll be able to eat.”
“No-just give me some more tea.”
Lilith poured her another mug from the pot Julia had brought, reheating it with Adept power. Yesterday I could have done that for myself, Aradia thought morosely.
Master Clement came a little later, to reassure her that her baby was fine. Of course the baby was fine! It was Aradia who was weakening, dying.
The Master Reader frowned. “Aradia, you mustn’t think that way.”
“Oh, no,” she whispered, hot tears stinging her eyelids. “I cannot even shield my thoughts anymore.”
“Oh, child,” he began, “if you can just think of…” He broke off, eyes unfocused for a moment, and she knew he was Reading something. Then he looked at her, and his ancient face crinkled into a grin.
“Aradia! Lenardo is home!”
“Home?” she cried, grasping his arm to sit up. “Where is he?”
“No, no-he’s not in Zendi. But he and Wulfston have landed safely at Southport, taken on supplies, and started up the coast toward Dragon’s Mouth. They’ll be here within two days!”
“Lenardo-safe! I’ve worried so about you. And Wulfston-oh, little brother, I’ve missed you, too.
Please, Master Clement, send them my message.”
“Already done,” he assured her. “Now, with that good news, surely you can eat something. I will have Julia bring you a fresh tray-if she can stop dancing for joy long enough to carry it.”
Julia sparkled with happiness. “Father will be here soon-and by tomorrow he’ll be in range for Reading!” Then, “Oh-I’m sorry, Aradia.” Somehow, her apology didn’t sound sincere. Perhaps she was just too happy to be sorry for anything.
So was Aradia. She just smiled at Julia, and found that food suddenly tasted delicious.
After she ate, she felt sleepy. In the courtyard, Master Clement, Julia, Decius, Pyrrhus, and Wicket were talking. “Go join them, Lilith,” she said. “I’m falling asleep, and certainly the group of you can protect me from twenty paces away!”
To warm thoughts of Lenardo’s being home for the birth of his daughter, Aradia drifted off to sleep.
And dreamed.
She saw herself, on this very couch. Out in the courtyard, her friends shared stories of Lenardo and Wulfston with Pyrrhus and Wicket. Wicket leaned back after a time, staring over at Pyrrhus, but he didn’t say anything.
The dream turned to the disorienting sensation of looking down at her own distorted body. Did she really look that terrible, lips and eyelids puffed, jaw slack?
She was dead!
In the dead woman’s womb, the child squirmed. It was dying-and its pain communicated to the Readers in the courtyard.
Everyone dashed to Aradia’s room. “She’s dead!” exclaimed Master Clement. “But the child is alive.
Lilith?”
“I’m trying-her heart won’t beat. What are we to do?”
“Save the baby!” said Julia.
“Keep the child alive, Lilith,” said Master Clement. “Pyrrhus, give me your sharpest knife.”
He slit her clothing, then her flesh, lifting the living child from the dead mother. The babe gasped and wailed like a normal child-and then suddenly opened hate-filled eyes and stared at the Master Reader.
“I have won, Clement,” she said in the voice of a woman grown. “Now I have both powers-and as Lenardo’s daughter I will rule at last! How fitting that I rule the Savage Empire!”
Aradia woke, feeling death in her veins. There was poison in her blood! But it came from her womb, where harbored that thing of evil, seeking its revenge.
She might die, but she would take that creature with her.
Fighting for every movement, Aradia rolled off the lounge onto her knees, crawled to the chest which held her clothes, and dragged herself to her feet.
Outside, Aradia could hear the murmur of conversation, but she did not let her attention wander. No Reader must know what she was doing until it was done.
Hanging on the wall over the chest were spears, swords, and knives. Aradia chose a large, sharp blade.
She could barely lift her arms to take it from its scabbard. Finally, though, she fumbled it into position. It must impale the child. If only she could Read how it lay…
In the courtyard, Wicket’s voice rose above the others. “Pyrrhus, what are you using Adept power for?”