Warcry

tummy.
    Meara chortled, grabbing his fingers.
    “Her tattoos have worn off.” Lara smiled.
    “The idea,” Anna snorted. “Marking a baby.” She stood. “Eln has the right of it. It’s long past time Meara was in bed, and you need to—”
    “No,” Lara said. She tugged Anna back down to the bench. “There’s one matter that needs dealing with now.” She put her hands on her belly. “Here, with those that are my family.”
    She shifted on the bench. “Keir, come here next to me.”
    Keir handed Meara to Othur and knelt on the floor by Lara’s side.
    Othur clucked at the little girl and rubbed her tummy. She settled into his arms, cooing and patting his face with her hand.
    Lara took Keir’s hand. “We need to face your fears, my brave Warlord. We need to make plans if I should die in childbirth.”

CHAPTER 13
     
    HEATH’S STOMACH CLENCHED AS HE WATCHED everyone in the room go pale.
    Well, everyone except Eln. He was at his table, serenely arranging his supplies.
    Atira caught Heath’s eye and stepped closer, her arm brushing his. Heath wasn’t sure if she was offering support or if she needed it herself, but he was grateful.
    “Keir,” Lara said firmly. “I am healthy, and Eln has delivered many babies. But you and I have talked about what happened to Kayla.”
    Othur raised an eyebrow.
    “Keir and Kayla shared a tent as children,” Lara explained. “They were as close as Heath and I. She died in childbirth and—”
    “The babe did not come, and the theas gave her mercy. The child was dead when it was cut from her body.” Keir looked off into the distance for a long moment. Finally, he looked at Lara’s hand in his, and continued. “The warrior-priests did nothing.” Keir’s voice was cold and unforgiving. “They refused to aid her in any way—”
    “But that is not the case here,” Eln pointed out.
    “We can’t ignore that women die in childbirth, and there is always a chance that something will go wrong,” Lara said.
    Keir’s face was a mask.
    “I am a healer, and I know the risks,” Lara said. “It is the same risk every time you take up your sword.”
    “No,” Keir said. “It’s different.”
    “We all die,” Lara said gently. “None of us are immortal.” She reached out to stroke his face. “You said to me once that you would seek the snows if I died. So I must ask for your promise, beloved. Your oath that if something happened to me, you will live to care for our child, a child of two worlds.”
    Keir bent his head to hers.
    Heath felt Atira’s fingers intertwine with his.
    Lara continued. “I remember full well Isdra’s pain at Epor’s death. I know the Plains tradition that bonded couples follow each other to the snows.” Lara’s voice was soft. “But we have chosen to try to change your people and mine, and this is one of those changes.” She pressed Keir’s hand to her belly, covering it with her own delicate fingers. “You must live, beloved, to raise our child. This babe will need your guidance and strength.”
    Keir lifted his head, his eyes glittering. “I swear it, beloved. I will not seek the snows until our child has reached adulthood.”
    Lara looked at each of them. “He will need all of your help, to care for my babe.”
    “Of course we will help,” Anna scolded. “Not that there is anything to be concerned about. T’ch, you’ll worry yourself into a state, and that’s not good for you or the babe.”
    “And the invalid needs to return to his bed,” Eln said. “His recovery can start in the morning.”
    “Perhaps we should delay a day or two,” Othur said softly. Meara was curled in his arms, asleep. “Use that as an excuse to give you time to think.”
    Keir was pulling Lara to her feet. “No, best not to let things fester,” Lara said. She grimaced as she stood and put a hand to her back. “Best to deal with things before the birthing.”
    “Especially if they are already attacking from the shadows,” Keir said.
    “I’ll call for a council tomorrow afternoon,” Lara said, planting a swift kiss on Othur’s head. “I will name Keir as my designated regent for our child, and require their signatures, witnessed and sworn.”
    “They will push for a Justice,” Othur warned.
    “I will yawn and claim exhaustion.” Lara smiled.
    “That will only work so many times,” Eln said.
    “Call for a High Court dinner,” Anna said, taking Meara up. The baby girl was limp in her arms. “Distract them with precedence,