Dralin (11 page)

When Frath brought her home that morning so
many months ago, both Purla and Albert yelled at him for being
irresponsible. Throughout all of it, he remained silent with his
arms folded. He hadn’t been defiant, instead standing his ground,
feeling fine with what had occurred. Their fury scared Sheela on
one hand, but pleased her on the other because they were concerned
for her well-being, a thing she had never experienced.

Purla and Albert stopped yelling at Frath
after a few minutes, something about his stance and the expression
on his face giving them pause. Then they listened while Frath
explained. “Sheela and I are betrothed. We are deeply in love with
each other and that means a lot in this horrible city. I’m going to
marry her once I’m able to rent a nice enough place for us, which
will be in about two or three years. I know I’m a young fool, but I
don’t care. I’m going to live my life as fiercely as I can and make
the decisions
I
think are right whether they are or
not.”

Purla and Albert exchanged glances.
“Alright, Frath,” Albert finally relented. “You’re a good man, a
bit of a fool in my opinion, but we like you and Sheela both.” He
pointed at Sheela and narrowed his eyes. “I expect you to continue
doing excellent, hard work. Just because I like you doesn’t mean
I’ll tolerate a slacker.”

“Yes, Master Albert,” Sheela agreed quickly
and sincerely.

“I promise to treat Sheela with respect and
keep her safe, Master Albert,” Frath said sincerely. “I have
complete respect for you, Sir. You’re an amazing man and a bright
light in this dark city. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you
giving her a job and letting me visit her.”

In an uncharacteristic display of affection,
Albert gave Frath a brief hug, which included powerful smacks on
each other’s shoulders before stepping back. “You’re a fine young
man, Frath. You’re also headstrong, but it was that very quality
that saved my life, so I can’t fault you for it.” He gestured at
Sheela. “It is I who has benefited by having such a lovely young
woman working for me. Come by whenever you can.”

After the conversation, Purla had taken
Sheela back inside and let her sleep for the rest of that day.
Since that time, Sheela had worked harder than anyone else. In
addition, she always smiled and was polite to everyone, developing
friendships with all the other servants at the inn.

A sharp pain in her side made her gasp and
fall to a knee, snapping the memories away. Sheela concentrated on
breathing as a hot tear rolled down her cheek. When the pain
subsided enough, she stood and resumed making the bed.

Sheela had managed to hide the fact that the
pregnancy wasn’t going well. The pains had begun about the fifth
month and progressively got worse. There was no way she was going
to complain to anyone. Master Albert and Purla were doing her and
Frath a huge favor by letting her continue to live there unmarried
while she was pregnant. It would be a burden on them while she was
caring for a newborn. The other women who worked there had agreed
to chip in with watching the baby though and it looked like
everything would work out alright.

Before they were aware, she had become
pregnant, Frath took her to Distra’s church every week and they
would spend the night together. He also took her to Lady Pallon’s
estate most of the days. Lady Pallon adored the two of them and
they had an open invitation to show up at any time, day or night,
that included a room for them to share. “I want you have a safe
place to be together,” she told them on more than one occasion.

They preferred the church even if it was a
dangerous journey, but when the weather was bad, and then when the
pregnancy had advanced enough that she wouldn’t be able to escape
danger easily, they took Lady Pallon up on her offer, spending that
one night a week at her estate.

Frath took her to other parts of the city
before the pregnancy developed too much to walk around comfortably.
They went to Carnival a few times and he took her to a safer
marketplace than the East Bazaar. He also took her to Wizard’s
Mall, where the most amazing shops of magical items anywhere in the
world existed. It took an entire day just to visit a tenth of the
shops and she insisted they go back other times. They also visited
parks that weren’t as extreme as Wraith Lake Park.

Sheela loved spending time with Frath no
matter where they went. Her favorite places were the church and
Lady Pallon’s estate. Even though Distra’s Church was in the
Forlorn District and really quite a scary place, she felt safe
there. They could also be completely alone in the large upstairs
room and there was a great deal of freedom in that.

The room she was cleaning came back into
focus when her side twinged. Drenched in sweat, she knelt beside
the bed while clutching the sheet she had just tucked in. The sweat
covered her cheeks and ran down her spine, tickling it
uncomfortably. Dralin summers were miserably hot, just as the
winters were miserably cold. Being pregnant made it worse.

Lady Pallon’s estate was magically cool and
Sheela wished she could visit there, but it wasn’t her day off.
Another pain shot through her side and up her back. Sheela cried
out involuntarily before biting it off.

Closing her eyes, she concentrated on how
nice it would be to sit in the cool parlor, or sit among the plants
in the conservatory. Even better were the days she and Frath would
explore the expansive grounds and all their hiding places. He had
taken her into one building that had a secret trapdoor leading down
to secret places under the city.

“Some say there’s been a city in this
location since humans were created by the Gods. Dralin is just the
latest, even though it’s over a thousand years old,” Frath had told
her as they slowly made their way down a dark tunnel with only a
torch to light the way. “What is known for certain is that there’s
at least three ruined cities underneath Dralin with passages that
run deep into the world. The only things that keep everything from
caving in are a lot of stone braces set deep into the ground by
some sort of genius craftsmen and a network of strong runes placed
at key points.”

He didn’t take her very far, just to an
ancient room he had found when younger. It hadn’t been inhabited
for centuries and had the cobwebs to prove it. The most
extraordinary thing was the fact that the furniture was still
intact. “See that etching,” Frath had asked, pointing to a large,
intricate design that took up one wall. “It’s one of the runes that
keep the city stable. They last for thousands of years and don’t
need maintenance. Don’t touch it though. It’ll activate an alarm
that alerts a special arm of wizards under the control of the High
Council. They’ll investigate and we could be arrested,” he warned
her sternly. “That rune has a preservation effect so powerful that
it keeps things in the immediate vicinity from decaying. That’s why
everything in this room is so well preserved.”

Actually, everything in the room looked
ancient and shabby although it had been fine at one time. Still, it
should have completely rotted. There were cushioned chairs, lounges
and couches in the room along with once elegant tables, now
cracking and dust covered. They enjoyed imagining that ancient city
and played at having a cup of tea.

Back in present time, Sheela wiped more
sweat off her forehead and looked at the crumpled sheet. She needed
to smooth it out and finish making the bed, but the pain was
getting worse. She cried out when another spasm wracked her body.
Instead of being brave and strong like before, she let the tears
come. It felt like something was wrong and Sheela was scared.
“Frath,” she called out weakly, wishing he would magically show up
and make her better.

Everything with Frath seemed like an
adventure. Sheela was having the time of her life and couldn’t wait
to get married. She looked at the ring he had given her. The golden
roses and crows were beautiful. It meant so much to her and she
knew it was magical somehow. Her eyes grew heavy and she rested her
forehead against the mattress.

“Sheela!” Oh no, what’s wrong?!” Yvelle, one
of the other servants knelt down in front of her. “You’re
bleeding!” She put her hands on Sheela’s cheeks and lifted her head
up. When Yvelle pulled a hand back, they both looked at the blood
on it. “Purla!” Yvelle yelled desperately toward the doorway.
Sheela realized the blood was coming from her mouth and that she
had been wondering what the taste was over the last few minutes.
Now she knew and it made her queasy.

“What is it, Yvelle? Why are you yelli . . .
Sheela!” Purla rushed into the room in alarm.

Sheela looked up at her with tears flowing
down her cheeks. “It hurts really bad, Purla. I want Frath.”

***

“Frath!” You’re needed right away,” a gruff
voice said from behind. There was a sense of urgency in the tone.
Frath turned to look, brushing aside his wavy black hair. Trib, one
of the guards at the Shining Shield was coming up to him quickly.
He was a thick man with neatly trimmed facial hair and a shaven
head. Frath knew he was also very good with a sword and had even
sparred against him a few times. Trib was followed by Sergeant
Gorman, who wouldn’t have let him into the barracks if it wasn’t
important.

“What is it, Trib? Is Sheela alright?” Frath
asked with concern. The sense that something was wrong filled him
with dread. His gut twisted and adrenaline poured into his
veins.

“I don’t think so. Yvelle and Purla found
her in a room. There was blood coming from her mouth and she passed
out. I’m not gonna lie, Purla’s worried. She wants you there right
away.” Trib’s scarred face was normally grim, but looked even more
like rock than usual.

Frath couldn’t move. The burst of energy in
his muscles didn’t have direction. There was no foe he could face,
only fear to make his hands shake and his legs tremble. Sergeant
Gorman put a strong hand on his shoulder and gripped firmly. “Come
on, private. I’ll go with you and we’ll see what we can do.” He
turned to another man. “Corporal Willmas, you’re in charge here.
I’ll expect no problems.”

“Yes, sergeant.” The corporal, a short but
stout man, banged his fist to chest.

Trib turned and led the way at a brisk pace.
Sergeant Gorman moved his hand to Frath’s back and pushed him
forward. Frath followed Trib in a fog of fear and worry.

They walked quickly through the streets, but
it took them half an hour to reach the inn. Trib led them into a
side door and they clattered quickly down the stairs to the
basement. At the bottom, they were shushed by a crowd of servants
who were straining to see into one of the rooms.

“Frath is here. Make way,” one said,
stepping aside. Frath moved ahead with Sergeant Gorman while Trib
stayed with the servants.

Albert met Frath outside the door to
Sheela’s room, worry etched on his face. “You need to go in there
Frath, but I warn you that she’s not doing well. I’ve brought in a
healer and the midwife. Don’t worry about the expense. I’ll take
care of it.”

A ragged “Thank you,” was all Frath could
get past his lips.

Albert stepped aside and let him through the
door. Then he yelled at the rest of the servants in frustration.
“Why are you all standing here?! Get back to work. There’re
customers to take care of.” They scurried back upstairs as he
shooed them off.

“Oh, Frath, I’m so glad you’re here,” Purla
said, coming over to him. She’d been crying and her face sagged
wearily. “She’s been asking for you.” He nodded and quickly went to
Sheela’s side. The reactions of Purla and Albert were worrying
him.

Sheela’s eyes were open, but glazed. There
was a healer putting a cloth on her forehead and whispering words
of magical healing. The woman had blonde hair and wore a long blue
robe. Grey eyes focused intently on her patient.

A blanket covered Sheela’s legs and they
were in position for delivery. Concern was on the midwife’s face as
well, which bothered Frath that much more. It was a little too soon
for the birth, but not dangerously so from what he understood of a
first pregnancy.

Frath took Sheela’s hand. At the touch, her
eyes cleared a bit and she looked at him. “Frath . . .”

“I’m here now. It’s going to be alright,” he
reassured her in spite of the wrenching feeling in his gut that
told him everything was
not
going to be alright.

“It hurts. It hurts so much.” Sheela’s voice
was laced with pain and her eyes were glazing over again.

He looked at the healer in desperation.
“Can’t you do anything to ease it?”

The woman stopped the chanting, her eyes
grim as she spoke. “I’m easing the pain with everything I have.”
Then she turned her attention back to Sheela and resumed the quiet
chanting. Frath knew with certainty that he was not to interrupt
her again at the cost of Sheela’s comfort.

“Almost here,” the midwife declared. Frath
saw the woman was sweating profusely even though it was cooler in
the basement. Blood spotted her tan apron, and Frath realized the
baby was being delivered at that moment. Then he saw the blood
soaking the front of Sheela’s dress. Panic rose as his heart began
to pound.

“Frath . . .” Sheela said in a quiet voice,
raising her free hand to touch his cheek gently. He looked into her
beautiful eyes, which were clear again. The pain was gone from her
face and she was smiling. “Thank you so much for making me happy. I
love you, Frath.”

Then the light disappeared from her eyes and
her hand fell.

Silence enveloped Frath for an instant that
seemed like an eternity. Then a baby’s wail pierced the silence and
everything happened at once.

“It’s a girl,” the midwife said loudly while
wrapping the infant in a blanket handed to her by an assistant.