Gage Scorched

1. Auflage 2023
ISBN: 979-8-3509-3651-3
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, Band 1, 310 Seiten

Reihe: Scorched

Sixteen-year-old Aidan feels he has matured in a year's time from all he endured last year. He wants nothing to spoil his planned romantic dinner to propose to his girlfriend, when his worst nightmare comes alive. The sorcerer has escaped the dark mirror world and shoves Aidan inside it. How can he save his family and the kingdom from a revengeful sorcerer when he finds it hard to escape his situation?

Autoren/Hrsg.

Gage, Theresa

Leseproben

Chapter Seven:
The Delivery Yvonne glanced around the chambers of Queen Mori. Quilted high- backed chairs centered around the artificial gas fireplace. Above the mantle, white candles stood on the end corners and a small pot of potpourri sizzled in its center. The aroma of patchouli scented the room. The handmaidens, Imani, and Rashida clamored around Queen Mori that sat at her vanity in the corner of the room. Imani pulled the queen’s hair into a bun. She held out her hand and Rashida handed her bobby pins. Yvonne envied Imani’s talent with hair. Often, she braided her own blond hair to keep it out of her face. Rashida kept her wiry hair short, yet she allowed Imani to pull it into corn rolls sometimes. Yvonne was new to the queen’s circle of handmaidens but had engaged in casual conversation with Rashida from time to time. Both Imani and Rashida were from the savanna territory of Volney, whereas Yvonne was from the forest lands of Zavion. Imani’s wide, toothy smile brightened her dark moon-shaped face. Rashida never beamed like Imani. She had been a handmaiden longer than Imani and Yvonne, yet Rashida was a rebel against the rules of Azure. She refused to wear boots per protocol of the kingdom. She’d rather run around barefoot. Instead of the uniform of the handmaidens, Rashida wore a colorful caftan. Yvonne noted the queen clutched her belly and sucked in a breath. “Rashida, notify the midwife. I believe it’s time.” “Notify the king too!” Mori called out as Rashida ran from the room. Yvonne stuffed a pillow behind the queen’s back. She knelt in front of Mori. “Look at me, Your Grace. Practice your breathing exercises.” Yvonne blew out short puffs of air and the queen copied her. She glanced at Imani and the youngest handmaiden, Olivia, who entered the room. “Don’t stand around gawking. Get the queen a glass of water and some towels. Go!” The girls ran to do her bidding. “How do you know what to do?” Queen Mori asked her. “You don’t look older than fifteen.” “Easy. My mother is the midwife. Sometimes I help her with deliveries. Also, I’ve assisted with the animals delivering their babies on my family’s lands,” Yvonne said. “I am glad I listened to Prince Aidan’s suggestion of taking you on as a handmaiden.” Mori patted Yvonne’s hand. Olivia stood behind Yvonne. “What do I do with the towels?” “Wipe the queen’s forehead from perspiration, and then place another towel under her bottom, in case her water breaks,” Yvonne said. Olivia’s curls bounced as she followed Yvonne’s orders. Imani returned with a glass of water. “What do I do with this?” “Offer it to the queen. She must drink to replenish her fluids.” Yvonne twisted her braid. I hope Ma gets here soon. I’ve never delivered a human baby on my own. Imani’s hand trembled as she offered a drink to the queen and slopped some on Mori’s lap. “It’s cold!” Mori cried. She gasped as a contraction hit her. “Breathe, Your Grace,” Yvonne coaxed. “It’s pressing against my ribs. Let me up.” Mori struggled to stand. Imani and Yvonne assisted her. Each took an arm and walked the queen around the room. Olivia tucked a bath towel in the queen’s chair. The girls circled the chambers twice until Mori stopped and grabbed her stomach. The queen gazed at Yvonne and blew short puffs of air out. Flora, Yvonne’s petite mother, and the handmaiden, Rashida raced into the room. Yvonne sighed with relief. Yvonne was glad she had suggested her mother spend the night since it was close to the queen’s delivery date. “How far are her contractions?” Flora asked. “About twenty minutes apart, Ma,” Yvonne said. “Good. Walk her some more.” The midwife turned to Olivia. “Get me a basin of warm water.” Flora peered around the room. She dumped silverware from a drawer of a buffet. She lined the drawer with linens. Flora waved the girls over with the queen. “Sit down, Your Grace. I need to listen to the babies.” She pulled out her stethoscope from her bag and listened to Mori’s belly. “Two distinct heart beats. Everything sounds great.” Flora smiled. “Ma, are you saying the queen is having twins?” Yvonne asked. “Yes.” Yvonne swallowed hard. At least her mother had arrived in time. Mori grimaced. “Whew! Here comes another contraction.” She panted like a dog. Olivia wiped the queen’s face with a towel. “A drink, Your Grace?” Imani offered. “Not now!” Mori squeezed her eyes shut and doubled over. “I need to stand.” Yvonne and Flora assisted the queen again. “Where is Santurin? He should be here,” Mori said. “The king is in the hall, Your Grace,” Rashida said. “He thought you might want privacy in the matter.” “Tell him to get in here,” Mori gritted through her teeth. Rashida rushed into the hall, leaving the door open. “Your Highness! Come quickly.” Santurin hastened inside the queen’s chambers. He kissed his wife’s hand. “What do you seek of me?” “I need your support.” Mori sat down and leaned back in the chair. A contraction ripped through her, and she gripped Santurin’s hand. A large black spider crawled onto her stomach and stared at her. “Where did that monstrosity come from? Don’t let it bite me.” “Breathe, sweetheart.” Santurin plucked the spider off Mori and tossed it to the floor. “They don’t usually bite unless they feel threatened. That spider probably hopped on me when I was in the basement. Don’t worry about it.” “Easy for you to say.” Mori frowned. The midwife examined Mori. “Still some time yet. How about walking some more?” “I don’t know how much more I can take with the pain,” Mori said. “Taking medications slows down the process. But if you want some, I’ll notify Dr. Panphilia,” Flora said. “Babies come when they’re good and ready.” “Ma had seven of us,” Yvonne chimed in. “Seven? How did you tolerate it with your small frame?” the queen asked. She grimaced as another contraction hit her. Yvonne and Santurin paraded Mori around her chambers. When the queen paused, Olivia wiped her forehead with a towel and Imani gave the queen a sip of water. Mori nodded, and they continued their ritual. After the last contraction, Yvonne said to the midwife, “Ma, ten minutes apart now.” “Let her rest a bit,” Flora said. “Yvonne, rub her back. Sometimes a good massage helps.” Mori sat in a chair and leaned over. She purred as Yvonne kneaded her back. After a few minutes passed, the queen said, “Something is happening. I feel wet.” “Your water broke,” Flora said. She examined the queen. “I see the head. Bare down, Your Grace and push.” Mori squeezed Santurin’s hand and pushed. She panted, and then bore down again. The baby slid out of the birth canal and the midwife grasped him. She swatted the bottom of the infant until he cried. Flora cut the cord, washed him, then rubbed a towel over the infant. The midwife wrapped the infant in some linens and showed him to the king. “You have a healthy baby boy.” “A handsome devil. Look, Mori, he has your reddish hair,” Santurin said. He took the infant from Flora and leaned down to Mori. “What shall we call him?” “Kenelm Arin,” Mori said. She touched her son, and he curled his hand around her finger. “A great name, sweetheart. Thank you for delivering him.” Santurin kissed her forehead. He rocked the baby in his arms as he walked around the room. “Get ready to push again, Your Grace,” Flora said. “You may grip my hand. I don’t mind,” Yvonne said. The queen grasped her hand tight, and Yvonne wondered if the queen cut off her blood supply. Yvonne bit her lip rather than complain. Flora knelt in front of the queen. “Okay, push.” Mori bore down and the second infant slid out. Flora cut the cord, then washed her, and wrapped the baby in linens. She placed the baby in the queen’s arms. Mori made cooing sounds to her baby girl. Santurin walked over to his wife. “Two babies? Why didn’t you tell me we were having twins?” “Why spoil my surprise?” Mori said. “Thank you, my sweet. What shall we call our daughter?” Santurin asked. “Raven Joy, because she gives my heart joy and Raven because of her dark hair.” Mori smiled. “Perfect,” Santurin said. “You feed Raven while I show off our son to the servants waiting of our news.” He walked into the hall and held up his son. “We had twins. This is our boy, Kenelm and our daughter, Raven is busy eating.” “Congratulations, Your Highness,” the servants shouted and applauded. Kenelm cried at the noise. “He has a good set of lungs.” Santurin chuckled. He walked back into the queen’s chambers. Olivia picked up the spider from the floor before it got trampled. “Poor thing.” She rubbed its back with her finger. “Sire, can you tell the queen I’ll be right back? I want to show my new pet to Prince Aidan.” “Do you know the whereabouts of my brother?” Santurin asked. “No, Sire. Possibly in his...