Shifter's Baby(27)

“I’ll fetch the wise women. Lay down.”

It was as if she didn’t hear anything that Rayzier had said. She stayed in place, gripping at her belly, her wet skirts pressed against her legs. He didn’t have time to demand she do anything, instead Rayzier ran for the door, wrenching it open, and down the stone steps. A hint of golden sunlight pierced the night sky.

The sound of excited voices were echoing all around and as Rayzier made it to the bottom of the stairs a plump faced woman carrying a basket full of golden sunflowers was rounding the corner at the same time.

“Sound the horn!” he shouted at her.

She jumped in surprise but didn’t dawdle once she saw the look on his face. She hurried toward the vast door of the fortress. Rayzier raced around the stone building, where the group of voices became louder and louder.

A large hole pierced the ground and people were milling about the outskirts of it setting up canvas tents and wicker chairs. Rows of tables held food and drink. The celebration that followed this birth would be magnificent.

Rayzier spotted a robed figure in the crowd.

“Mobian!”

The robed figure’s head turned in his direction and then promptly walked over.

“It’s started. It’s time!”

Mobian nodded, “I’ll fetch Vyandun. Come down once you’re sure the infant is viable.”

Rayzier rushed away at these words, panic and excitement spreading through him. Up ahead of him, he saw the unmistakable wise women walking in a straight line up the stairs to Arabella. They were taller than any men or women he had ever seen, and underneath their hoods their skin was unlike any others.

The wise women were unable to transform into full large dragons, and instead had scaly reptilian skin over what was normal human features. They were never able to leave Istian, and therefore were committed to the cause of healing and studying. Although well respected among the dragonkin, they often secluded themselves from everyone and only came out in times of need.

They entered the building and were already set to work calming Arabella who had a look of fright set into her nearly colorless face. Rayzier arrived just in time to hear the wise women hissing soothing instructions and gathering supplies from a nearby cabinet.

The wise women worked fast and soon had her undressed and laying on clean sheets. Every other minute Arabella would groan and readjust on the bed, rocking to relieve the pain that rippled through her.

“It won’t be long now, she is nearly ready to push,” one of the women announced.

Shortly after, the women began instructing her on the process of giving birth. Arabella began to moan and then her moans turned to screams. Rayzier tried not to watch, the sound of her pain worried him. He didn’t know if it was normal for a human woman to make such a noise when they weren’t dying. There was always the possibility that she wouldn’t make it.

Just as Rayzier clamped his eyes shut and grit his teeth while Arabella continued to make the sounds of a tortured person, her screams mingled with a new sound, the soft piteous wail of infant.

He turned quickly and stumbled forward, the wise woman that sat propped in a chair at the base of the bed was holding his child, slick and dirty from being born the baby looked healthy and cried again while squirming in the woman’s hands.

“It’s a male,” the woman announced and the others in the room gushed.

Arabella leaned forward, and was handed a swaddled babe. She looked tired but her eyes were alight with amazement as she looked into the eyes of the child that only blinked up at her. Rayzier bent down to look at the babe and felt his heart swell with pride and love.

“Rayzier,” a wise woman behind him broke in, “it is time.”

The happy couple, so immersed in staring at their newborn grimaced at the words. Arabella looked to Rayzier who carefully settled his hand on the head on the head of the newborn. He had small tears in the corners of his eyes.

“I’ll return,” he told her in nearly a whisper.

Arabella, filled with emotion, pulled his face close to hers and kissed him.

“We’ll be waiting.”





Chapter Five


Vyandun was waiting at the edge of the dark pit where bouts of steam and heat hissed upward. The other dragonkin avoided getting to close to him, because each time one of them neared to say that they would miss him he lashed out and attacked.

He had lived a long life, was set in his ways and the others mostly feared him. Despite that he would be gone soon, the others were mostly pleased that another would be taking his place as leader. Mobian had yet to take his eyes from Vyandun, fearing that the cut throat dragon would try to flee rather than fight.

Behind him, Rayzier had strode forward, naked from the waist up with determination etched into his face.