Dream of Me/Believe in Me

bed. Uncertain what he should do, Mikal made up his mind abruptly when he saw the plea in his wife's eyes. He took up his place at the head of the bed, holding her hands and offering her all the strength and courage he could give as she fought to bring their child into the world.
    A child who was born moments later, sliding from his mother's body with a lusty wail that made Cymbra grin ear to ear. Quickly she did what was needful for the baby wrapped him in the blanket, and handed him to his parents. As they gazed in awe at the miracle they had wrought, she cared for Nadia, who was so caught up in the wonder of her son as to be oblivious to everything else.
    With all as it should be, Cymbra relaxed a little and enjoyed the sight of the child. She joined his parents in exclaiming over his size, his thick head of black hair, and his obviously intelligent expression. When Mikal, bursting with pride, hurried off to make some broth, Cymbra encouraged Nadia as she put her child to her breast for the first time. The new mother jerked in surprise, her eyes flying to Cymbra's before she laughed shakily. “He certainly knows what he wants!”
    “He's a strong, healthy child and will undoubtedly have an appetite to match. You must take care to get proper rest and eat healthy foods. I will prepare a tonic for you to drink now and I will send another daily for the next fortnight.”
    Mikal returned with the broth and Cymbra left the new family alone while she prepared the tonic. As she worked, she paused long enough to pull aside a wooden shutter and glance outside. It was still raining but not as much as before, yet the light was grayer. With a start, she realized that she had been so caught up in the drama of birth as to make time slip by with deceptive fleetness. Far more of it had passed than she had realized.
    She was worried momentarily but then pushed that aside, reasoning there was nothing she could do about it. As it was, she wasn't free to return to the hill fort until she was certain that both baby and mother were doing well.
    Even then, she cautioned Mikal, “Send for me if anything untoward happens whatever the hour.” At his sudden frown, she added hastily, “Not that I'm expectingtrouble. Nadia did extremely well and your son is very healthy.”
    Mikal beamed, both reassured and proud. But when Cymbra put on her cloak he sobered and began reaching for his own. “I will come with you, lady. You must not go alone.”
    “And you must not leave your wife and child. They need you.” When still he hesitated, she said, “Mikal, tell me truly, who do you think would endanger me? Aside from the fact that no one is out in this foul weather, who should I fear?”
    He had no answer for that and admitted as much. “I don't know, my lady, but it is the principle of the thing.”
    “Do you allow your wife to go about the town on her own?”
    The mere thought of trying to restrict Nadia in such a way surprised him. “Of course, but—”
    “Do you trust me less than her?”
    “Certainly not! But, my lady, we both know that is not what this is about. You are guarded, protected, as a sign of respect.”
    She nodded, well understanding that. “Respect for my husband, not for me. Respect for me, or for any woman, would be to allow us to go about our lives unmolested.”
    Mikal spread his hands, not unkindly but in acceptance of what was. “You speak of a different world, my lady.”
    “Perhaps I do. Let us be practical then. Even in this flawed world, no man would risk the jarl's anger.”
    “Anger?” Mikal looked at her as though she had just described a howling wind that froze men's blood in their veins as though it was no more than a summer's breeze. “My lady, I most profoundly hope I am never so foolish as to incite such
anger.
Were I to do so, it is the last thing I would ever do.” He shuddered at the very thought. “Save for dying, of course, and that would be a kindness.”
    Cymbra chose not to dwell on what exactly Mikal imagined her husband capable of doing. She was occupied enough with the sudden realization that the Rus trader had, all unknowingly done exactly what he most feared.
    Brother Joseph, Ulfrich, and Brita had obviously known of her husband's order that Cymbra remain in the fort, but Mikal had not known, nor had Nadia. Cymbra had told them only that Nadia should come to the fort when her labor began because everything needed to care for her was there. Pride, resentment, whatever had kept