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She wrinkled her nose as the fortress came into view. It was a blocky, walled structure, built more for defence than aesthetics – at least on the outside. The inside was worse in some ways, lavish as a palace in a land struggling to rebuild. Both problems would have to be addressed now that the place was hers.
The great gates of the keep were open, the road lined on either side by the remains of the Wooden Lancers, Thamos’ cavalry. There were barely fifty of them now, the others lost with the count himself in the Battle of Docktown. They were resplendent on their great Angierian mustangs, man and horse equally stone-faced at attention. All were armed and armoured, as if expecting Leesha to command them into battle at any moment.
The courtyard, too, looked mustered as much for a war as a homecoming. To the left, Captain Gamon was mounted with his lieutenants before hundreds of men-at-arms, straight-backed with eyes forward, heavy polearms planted on the ground, points all at precisely the same angle.
Courtyard right, the entire keep’s staff – an army in its own right – lined up no less sharply than the infantry, uniforms clean and pressed.
It will be interesting to see what happens to those perfect ranks if I give birth in the courtyard. The thought was wry, but then the child kicked, and it ceased to amuse.
As Wonda warned, a knot of people stood at the base of the steps to the keep. Lord Arther was at their front, rigid in his dress uniform and spear. Beside him was Tarisa, the count’s childhood nurse who had become lady’s maid to Leesha. Gared was waiting with Rosal, his promised, and Rosal’s mother. With him were Inquisitor Hayes; Gatherers Darsy and Vika; her father, Erny; and … night, even Leesha’s mother, Elona, glaring daggers at Rosal’s back. Leesha prayed the early hour would succour her from that demon, at least, but as usual it went unanswered.
Wonda poked her head in the door. ‘Ready, mistress?’
A fresh contraction ripped through her. She felt hot, sweating even in the cold winter air.
Leesha smiled, showing none of it. Her legs shook as she got to her feet, and she felt the child inch lower. ‘Yes, dear. Swiftly now.’
Gamon dismounted as the carriage arrived. He, Arther, and Gared nearly tripped over one another in the scramble to offer their hands as she stepped down. Leesha ignored them all, clutching Wonda’s arm as she carefully descended the steps. It would not do to fall in front of the entire assembly.
‘Welcome back to the Hollow, Countess Paper,’ Arther said with a courtly bow. ‘It is a great relief to see you well. When we heard of the attack on Angiers, we feared the worst.’
‘Thank you,’ Leesha said as she steadied herself. All around the courtyard, there were bows and curtsies. Leesha kept her back straight, acknowledging it all with a dignified nod that would have done Duchess Araine proud.
Then she began walking. Wonda angled herself to take the lead even as she lent her support. Close behind, two meaty Cutter women followed.
Caught off guard, the men stumbled out of their path, but they recovered swiftly, scurrying after. Gamon was the first to match her pace. ‘My lady, I have prepared a roster of the house guards …’
‘Thank you, Captain Gamon.’ Leesha’s insides were churning. She clenched her thighs, terrified her water might break before she reached the house. ‘Be a dear and give it to Captain Wonda, please.’
Gamon’s eyes widened, and he stopped in his tracks. ‘Captain Wonda?’
‘I hereby appoint Wonda Cutter captain of my house guard,’ Leesha said loudly, continuing to walk. ‘A long-overdue promotion.’
Gamon hurried to catch back up. ‘If my command has been in some way unsatisfactory …’
Leesha smiled, wondering if she might vomit. ‘Not at all. Your service was exemplary, and your valour on behalf of the Hollow is without question. You will retain command of the Wooden Soldiers, but my house security will report to Captain Wonda alone. Order the men to fall out and return to their duties. We’re not expecting an attack.’
Gamon looked like he was trying to swallow a stone, but after months in Angiers not knowing if she was captive or guest, Leesha was tired of seeing Wooden Soldiers everywhere. Wonda had already hand-selected Cutters to take over the house guard, and signalled them to secure the entrance and sweep the manse.
Arther moved quickly to take the empty place as Gamon fell back, stunned. ‘The house staff …’
‘… looks crisp and ready to start the day,’ Leesha cut him off. ‘Let’s not keep them.’ She whisked a hand, dismissing the assemblage.
‘Of course, my lady.’ Arther gave a signal, and the crowd began to disperse. He looked ready to say more, but Leesha’s mother pushed her way in front, Erny trailing after. Elona was six months pregnant, though she hid it well with low-cut gowns that masked her belly and drew eyes elsewhere. The men fell back like she was a coreling.
‘My daughter, Countess of the Hollow!’ Elona spread her arms, face glowing with … was that what pride looked like on her? It was terrifying if so.
‘Mother, Father.’ Leesha allowed each a brief embrace, trying to keep from shaking.
Elona sensed it, but she had the decency to drop her voice. ‘You look terrible. What’s wrong?’
‘I just need to get inside and rest.’ Leesha gave Wonda’s arm a squeeze, and they started moving again. Others might fear to impede Elona, but Wonda was implacable as a falling tree. Elona moved to follow, but pulled up as Erny held her back. She glared at him, but like Wonda Cutter, Leesha’s father was always on her side.
‘Welcome home, Countess.’ Rosal dipped a practiced curtsy, her mother following suit.
‘Emelia,’ Leesha said, careful to use the woman’s proper name. ‘Mrs Lacquer. I’m surprised to find you here at such an early hour.’
Gared swept in, the three of them following Leesha up the steps. ‘Count had the ladies staying here in his keep on account of propriety. We can find another place …’
‘Nonsense.’ Leesha winked at Rosal. ‘We’ve plenty of room. How would it look for an upstanding young woman like yourself to move into the baron’s household before the wedding? A scandal!’
Gared blushed. ‘’Preciate it. Got some papers for you to look at when you have time …’
‘Send them over in the morning.’ Leesha was almost to the steps now.
Inquisitor Hayes appeared next, bowing deeply. His acolyte Child Franq, usually inseparable from his master, was conspicuously absent. ‘Countess. Praise be to the Creator that you are well.’
The next carriage in line pulled up and opened its door. Hayes’ eyes widened as Tender Jona stepped out. Vika gave a cry, breaking from the receiving line to hurry down the steps to her husband.
Hayes looked at her in shock, but even shaking with pain, Leesha’s smile was genuine. ‘You’ll be pleased to know, Inquisitor, that your interim assignment to the Hollow has ended. Jona will resume leading services in Hollow County.’
‘Preposterous,’ the Inquisitor sputtered. ‘I’m not going to just hand my cathedral over …’
Leesha raised an eyebrow. ‘Your cathedral, Inquisitor? The one in my county?’ She was still moving. The doors to the keep were closer, but still so far.
Hayes was forced to sacrifice dignity, lifting his robes to scuttle after her. ‘Only Duke Pether can relieve me …’
Leesha cut him off, producing a letter bearing the royal seal. ‘Your inquisition is over.’
‘The inquisition was about more than one heretic Tender,’ Hayes argued. ‘The question of Arlen Bales …’
‘Is one you and the Council of Tenders can debate all you wish back in Angiers,’ Leesha said. ‘Shepherd Jona will minister to the Hollow’s flock.’
Hayes’ gawp was greater even than Gamon’s. ‘Shepherd?!’
‘His Grace gave up the title when he became duke,’ Leesha said, ‘and there are more people in the Hollow than Angiers in any event. The Pact of the Free Cities gives our Tenders the right to form a new order.’
Unsure how to respond, the Inquisitor took the letter and fell back from Leesha’s determined march. The duke’s decree gave her the power to choose the spiritual leader of Hollow County, but she was testing the limits by promoting Jona to Shepherd. It was a declaration of independence that would not please the ivy throne, but there was little they could do to stop it now that Leesha was ensconced in the Hollow once more.
Darsy moved in quickly at a signal from Leesha, the woman’s bulk effectively dismissing the Inquisitor as she moved between them. ‘Creator be praised, it’s good to see you, mistress.’
‘You have no idea.’ Leesha pulled her into an embrace, dropping her voice. ‘Contractions are coming every two minutes. If I’m not inside soon, I’ll be giving birth on these steps. Wonda’s sent women to secure the royal chambers.’
Darsy nodded, not missing a beat. ‘Want me to go on ahead, or walk you?’
Leesha felt a rush of relief. ‘Walk me, please.’
Darsy took her other arm, she and Wonda guiding Leesha along as the next carriage pulled up and Amanvah, Sikvah, and Kendall made their solemn exit. Darsy watched them curiously.
‘Mistress,’ Darsy said. ‘Where’s Rojer?’
Leesha kept her breath a deep, steady rhythm as she pointed to the coffin a group of Cutters were pulling from the carriage.
Darsy let out a strangled cry and pulled up short. Leesha would have overbalanced and stumbled if not for Wonda.
‘Bottle it, Darsy,’ Wonda growled. ‘Ent got time right now.’ Darsy nodded, recovering herself and getting them back in motion.
Amanvah glided up the steps swiftly, ignoring the glares of Wonda and Darsy. One look in her eyes was all Leesha needed.
She knows.
‘Countess Leesha,’ the dama’ting began.
‘Not now, Amanvah,’ Leesha breathed.
Amanvah ignored her, stepping in close. Wonda reached out to bar her way, but Amanvah put a knuckle into the arm and it fell away long enough for her to pass.
‘I must assist the birth,’ she said without preamble.
‘Core you will,’ Darsy growled.
‘I have cast the dice, mistress,’ Amanvah said quietly. ‘If I am not with you in the coming hours, you will die.’
‘That some kinda threat?’ Wonda’s voice was low and dangerous.
‘Stop it, all of you,’ Leesha said. ‘She comes.’
‘I can do anything …’ Darsy began.
Leesha groaned, feeling the need to bear down. ‘There’s no time.’ She put a foot on the steps. Such a short climb, but it felt like a mountain.
Tarisa was waiting at the top. Leesha managed the climb unassisted, but still the woman needed only a glance to see what was happening.
‘This way,’ she said, turning on her heel and opening the doors, snapping her fingers at a group of maids. They scurried to her as she walked, and like a general, Tarisa sent them running off with instructions.
Leesha knew word would spread quickly now, but there was nothing to be done for it. She kept all her focus on breathing and putting one foot in front of the other.
The moment they left the great hall, Wonda signalled the guards. They closed ranks as the big woman swept Leesha up into her arms like a child, carrying her the rest of the way.
‘Push,’ Darsy said.
It was a pointless request. Leesha could feel the baby moving the moment they had her propped on the edge of the bed. It was coming whether she pushed or not. She was fully dilated, her water broken all over Wonda’s fine wooden armour. It would be over in moments.
But then the child thrashed, and Leesha cried out in pain. Darsy, too, gave a cry, seeing Leesha’s stomach distend as tiny hands and feet thrust into the lining. It felt like a demon inside her, trying to claw its way free. Fresh bruises were forming atop the faded ones all over her abdomen.
‘Can you see it?’ Leesha demanded.
Darsy sucked a breath and moved back in between the makeshift stirrups. ‘No, mistress.’
Corespawn it. She was so close.
‘Help me up,’ she said, gripping Wonda’s hand. ‘It will be easier if I squat.’ She bore down, trying to squeeze the child free.
Again the child struck, hitting her like a horse’s kick. Leesha screamed and stumbled, but Wonda caught her, easing her back to the pillows.
‘It is as I feared,’ Amanvah said. ‘Mistress, I must cut the child free.’
Wonda immediately interposed herself. ‘Not a chance.’
Darsy rose, the large woman towering over tiny Amanvah. ‘Not if you were the last Gatherer in the world.’
‘Leesha vah Erny am’Paper am’Hollow,’ Amanvah said. ‘By Everam and my hope of Heaven, I swear to you, the only chance you have to survive this night is for me to cut you.’
Wonda had her knife in hand now, and Leesha knew how fast the woman could use it.
But then Amanvah did something Leesha could never in a thousand years have imagined. She dropped to her knees, putting her hands on the floor and pressing her forehead between them.
‘By the blood we share, mistress. Please. Ala needs you. Sharak Ka needs you. You must believe me.’
‘Blood you share?’ Darsy asked. ‘What in the Core …?’
‘Do it,’ Leesha growled as the thrashing continued.
‘You can’t mean …’ Darsy began.
‘I can and I do, Darsy Cutter,’ Leesha snapped. ‘She’s better with the knife than you and you know it. Swallow your pride and assist.’
Darsy scowled, but she nodded as Amanvah produced stones from her hora pouch. ‘I will put you both to sleep …’
Leesha shook her head. ‘Calm the child, but I’m staying awake.’
‘There is no time to take herbs for the pain,’ Amanvah said.
‘Then get me something to bite on,’ Leesha said.
Amanvah’s eyes crinkled as she smiled behind her veil. She nodded. ‘Your honour is boundless, daughter of Erny. Pain is only wind. Bend as the palm, and let it blow over you.’
The child’s cries filled the room, the babe wrapped in swaddling and thrust into Wonda’s arms while Amanvah and Darsy finished their work. Darsy was suturing the wound as Amanvah prepared hora magic to speed the healing.
Wonda stood stiff as any new father, terrified she might squeeze the child too hard and crush it. She looked down at the tiny olive-skinned face, and Leesha knew the young woman would die to keep the baby safe.
Leesha’s arms twitched, wanting to reach out, but she needed to remain still until the work was done. For the moment, it was almost enough to know the child was healthy and safe.
Almost.
‘What is it?’ Leesha asked.
Wonda’s head snapped up like an apprentice caught daydreaming. ‘Mistress?’
