“You froze?” He sounded unbelieving. When I nodded he sighed.
“For a second. I froze for a second and that’s all it took for Flynn to bite. One more and they were gone.” I added.
“Oh God,” Gavran shook his head, realizing how quickly it happened.
“There’s more,” I looked him in the eyes. “I’m pregnant, Gavran.”
“What?” He gasped.
I nodded, looking at my feet. “I’ve felt sick for days and I didn’t know what was going on with me until an Akamatta told me. Aletheia explained a few things,”
“I’m going to be an uncle?” Gavran interrupted, a smile spreading across his face.
“Yes, but the reason I’m telling you is because,”
Gavran enveloped me in a big hug. “This is wonderful news!”
I barely hugged him back; I couldn’t view my pregnancy with as much joy as he and
Aletheia did.
“I want Thayde back, Gavran. I don’t think I can do this without him.”
“Morgan, this is the most wonderful thing that can happen to any married couple. You created life! It’s a good thing.”
“I want him back,”
Gavran sighed. “Have you heard anything from Flynn?”
“No! But once I locate him, I’m going to kill him.”
He held me at arm’s length.
“You’re exhausted. I think you should get some sleep right now. You will need lots of it. Aletheia can finish explaining everything that has to do with your pregnancy. Your Mom doesn’t seem like she’s up to doing anything these days.”
“I’m not stopping anything just because I’m pregnant, Gavran.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I need you to keep this a secret,” I stressed. “No one can know. You’ve got to promise me you won’t tell anyone.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s a weakness.”
He laughed and I narrowed my eyes in frustration. “You don’t know anything about pregnant mermaids, do you?”
“No…”
“They are the most ferocious beings there are! You don’t mess with a pregnant mermaid. Especially The Link – I wonder what you’ll be capable of now!”
I leaned against the bed railing and held my head. “I can’t do this without Thayde.”
A knock at the door interrupted Gavran’s response.
“It’s Troen,” the muffled voice called.
I nodded to Gavran to open the door and the old Link shuffled in.
“When were you going to let your family know you’re pregnant?” He immediately asked.
I stared at him, amazed at his abruptness.
Troen leaned on the railing next to me. “This isn’t the time to be timid. How can you possibly think of going to war in your condition?”
“My condition?” I looked to Gavran. “See? This is why I’m not telling anyone else! I have a job to do and I’m not going to stop doing it simply because I’m unfortunate enough to be pregnant!”
“Unfortunate?” Troen voice strained. “Unfortunate? How can you say that? This child will be the most powerful Link there is!”
“Link? What makes you think she’d be The Link?” I was horrified. “I wouldn’t wish this on anyone!”
Gavran and Troen looked at each other briefly before Troen continued.
“The Link’s never had a child. You’re the first and it is a unique and special thing. Just to have a child is a miracle in itself, but this child will be the first of its kind.”
“Her kind,” I interrupted. “It’s a girl.”
“You know this?” Gavran asked.
I nodded. “We were going to call her Leigh.”
“The Healer,” Troen mused, a faraway look on his face. He looked at us after a moment. “Leigh means Healer in Celtic. Didn’t you know that?”
“No, it’s just a name I got from a dream. We both liked it.” I trailed off.
“The Healer is cool – it fits.” Troen stood. “She’ll be a force to be reckoned with. Your dreams are visions of the future. Don’t make the mistake of treating them as if they were nothing.” He pointed to my new tattoo. “Do you know what those are?”
I shook my head.
“It’s angelic script. That’s more than a just a tattoo. It’s a gift. The angels are with you. You will be more powerful than I ever was with their help.”
Gavran moved aside from the door. When Troen reached him, he placed a withered hand on Gavran’s arm.
“Your name means The Raven. You’re the keeper of secrets and the bringer of health and harmony. It’s your destiny to be Morgan’s ambassador. Keep the harmony in the families. You got it, man?”