Dream of Me/Believe in Me

toward the hall. Brother Joseph was standing in the open door. He saw and came to Brita, taking her arm.
    “Come, lass, Ulfrich could use more of that infusion.”
    Still staring at Cymbra, Brita looked in danger of crying. “I've never made it alone.”
    “But you're more than able to do so,” Cymbra assured her. She added an encouraging smile. “Go on now. With this awful weather, there will be more in need of care. I'm relying on you.”
    That did the trick. Reluctantly, Brita went with the monk. Cymbra breathed a sigh of relief and joined Mikal. Together they passed through the gates and on down the road to the town.
    Most people were inside. They passed only a very few darting along the rain-slicked stones of the wharves and over the wooden planks laid across the muddy lanes. Several ships rode at anchor, their decks empty and rain swept.
    A heavy mist obscured the rocky islands that sheltered the harbor, making the entrance impassable to even the boldest. Waves slapped against the piers, driven bythe wind coming off the sea. Cymbra tasted salt on her lips. She ducked her head down and concentrated on walking faster.
    The wind gusted powerfully just as they reached the house of the Rus couple. Mikal thrust the door open and stood aside for Cymbra to enter. She took a quick look around, noting that everything was in good order save for the dishes, which still held remnants of breakfast and appeared abandoned on the table in the center of the room. Clearly, Nadia had been well enough to see to her housewifely duties until only a short time before.
    “Through here,” Mikal said anxiously. He parted a curtain leading to a small alcove behind the main room. Most of it was taken up by a large, richly carved bed covered by a mound of blankets and furs. Only Nadia's pale, distraught face was visible beneath them.
    “Oh, my lady, I am so sorry! I mean to come to you but everything happen so quickly and I am—” Her voice caught. She held out a hand, instantly grasped by her husband, who hurried to her side. “I am afraid, my lady.”
    Even as Nadia spoke, Cymbra felt the woman's mingled terror and regret surging so powerfully that she almost gasped. The sudden realization that her usual defenses against the emotions of others were not working made her teeter on the edge of panic. She had to take several quick, deep breaths before she could respond calmly.
    “It's all right, Nadia. I understand.” She set down her box and removed her cloak, all the while grappling inwardly for some means of shielding herself. Slowly, her sense of the other woman's emotions receded.
    When she was sure she was fully in control, Cymbra said, “Mikal, please heat some water.”
    He hesitated, gazing at his wife with deep concern. “Go,” Nadia echoed softly. “The lady is here now. Everything will be fine.”
    He went, though not without a backward glance at hiswife. The deep love and worry in his eyes made Cymbra's throat tighten. But she showed none of that as she smiled again at Nadia. Gently she drew back the covers to expose the mound of the woman's belly covered by a linen robe.
    “Well, now, let's see how the little one is doing.”
    In the next few minutes, Cymbra carefully felt the baby's position and confirmed that the bleeding was slight. During that time, Nadia was swept by two powerful contractions. With each, Cymbra cautioned her not to yield to the temptation to push. When the water was ready, Cymbra washed her hands, then checked more thoroughly before finding what she had hoped.
    “Your labor is strong and swift. This child is indeed eager to be born but you are not quite ready to bring him forth. Trying to do so now tears you and causes bleeding. That's already happened to a small degree but the baby is not in danger from it and you will heal.”
    This time Cymbra was ready. The wave of Nadia's intense relief swept past but not through her. While the Rus woman was yet buoyed by it, Cymbra helped her to stand. Holding on to her, she encouraged Nadia to walk back and forth across the room.
    Mikal returned with yet more water and, after recovering from his surprise at seeing his wife on her feet, took over the task of helping her remain upright. Meanwhile, Cymbra quickly washed her instruments, covered the bed with a clean sheet, and warmed a swaddling blanket.
    She had barely finished when Nadia bent double with the force of an even more powerful contraction. Her husband and Cymbra helped her back into the