Laura Jo Phillips (41 page)

“Guys, do you think you can help with the pain, without actually knocking me out?” she asked.

Trey shook out the fresh nightgown and slipped it over Lariah’s head while Garen considered her request.  Finally he shook his head.  “I just don’t see how
sharali
,” he said.  “I think the Lobos might be able to do that, though I am not sure.  Do you want me to ask them?”

Lariah shook her head.  “No thanks,” she said.  “I know they are trustworthy and all that and I do like them, but honestly, right now I don’t want any males other than you three near me.”

“But what about the pain?” Trey asked.

“It’ll be fine,” Lariah said.  “I don’t need anything, I was just curious is all.”

Garen eyed Lariah doubtfully but had no suggestions other than the one he had given.  If Lariah did not feel comfortable with the Lobos near her in this time, then he would not force it on her.

“Lariah, are you sure this is all that we will need?” Val asked, frowning at the items Suly had told him had been prepared for the birth and which he had carried in and set up on a small table.

Lariah walked over to the table and looked at the items.  There were towels, baby blankets, diapers, several scissors that had been sterilized and wrapped in plastic, suction bulbs, sterile gloves, two large steaming pots of water and a host of other items.  Val had also brought in the three basinets that Lariah herself had prepared for the babies and set them along the wall near the bed.

“I can’t imagine what else we might need,” she said after a moment.  “Why?”

“It just doesn’t seem like enough,” Val said.  “You are having three babies, my heart.  It doesn’t seem that some towels and hot water are going to be enough in terms of necessary supplies.  There should be...more.”

Lariah smiled and leaned over to kiss Val.  “Do not worry,” she said as he wrapped his arms around her gently.  “Women have been having babies a very long time, and we are well prepared.”

A soft knock on the door interrupted them and Trey rushed to answer it.  He opened the door a crack, then turned to Garen.  “Saige has fallen asleep,” he said.

“
Sharali
, I must go and check on Saige,’ he said. 

Lariah nodded.  “Yes of course,” she said.  “Don’t worry, I won’t have these babies just this minute.  Take care of Saige, please.”

Garen kissed her quickly and left the room.  “Val, do you think I could have some ice chips now please?” she asked.

“Certainly, my heart,” Val said.  He kissed her lightly and hurried out after Garen.

“Trey, I think I want to lay down for a bit,” she said.

Trey hid his relief as he picked her up, carried her to the bed and laid her gently on it, propping her up against the pillows they had arranged for her.  He really didn’t think the babies would just fall out of her, but he still felt better with her lying down in one place rather than wandering all over the room.

Lariah smiled her thanks, then settled back and closed her eyes for a few moments before the next contraction began.

“She fell asleep quite suddenly, just like you said,” Faron told Garen as they hurried back to the other side of the house and into the guest room.  Saige was on the bed again, wearing a nightgown now, her hair still damp, the smudge gone from her cheek.  Garen sent a light thread of magic into her and found that she was in a deep sleep, just like Lariah had been at this stage.

“This is the trickiest part of the whole thing,” he told them.  “Without Riata, I do not know how we are going to tell when it is time to do the next injection.”

Faron raised a brow.  “Please explain,” he said.

“Lariah slept like this for about an hour I think.  Maybe a little longer.  Not long after Riata arrived she discovered that the changes taking place in Lariah’s DNA were slowing.  Right after that, Lariah’s heart rate, blood pressure and breathing began to slow, and her body temperature began to drop.  That is when she insisted we perform the second injection.  Without Riata here, I am not sure how we will know when the time is right for that.”

“That’s easy enough,” Faron said.  “One of us will run over to Doc’s clinic and get some of the instruments he uses to measure such things.”

Garen grinned.  “Of course, why did I not think of that?”

“Perhaps because you are running back and forth between your Arima and ours in an effort to keep everyone alive and well?” Ban asked.

“Perhaps,” Garen agreed ruefully. 

Dav cleared his throat.  “Maybe you are over-thinking this a bit,” he said.  Faron raised a brow and Garen frowned. 

“How so?” Faron asked.

“We do have some healing magic,” Dav pointed out.  “We are more than capable of determining if Saige’s heart rate slows or her temperature drops without using an instrument.”

Faron chuckled.  “I think perhaps the stress is getting to us all,” he suggested.

“I suppose it must be,” Garen agreed.

“So, once her vital signs begin to slow, we give her the next injection?” Faron asked.

“Yes,” Garen said.  “Please let me know as soon as you can when that happens, or immediately after it.  Shortly after the second injection her body will begin to change, and that will be the most difficult and painful part of this.”

“We will call for you as soon as we can,” Faron promised.  “How is Lariah doing?”

“Her water broke, which evidently means that the births will occur
before long
.  I have no idea what
before long
means but I want it to be either now, or much later.  I cannot make up my mind.”

“Is there anything we can do?” Faron asked.

Garen clapped Faron on the shoulder.  “I think you have your hands full enough as it is,” he replied.  “Don’t worry, this will all turn out right,” he added as he turned to leave the room and hurry back to Lariah.

As he crossed the living room he paused at the sight of Suly standing by the door, wringing her hands, tears on her cheeks.

“Suly?” he asked.

“How is Lariah doing?” she asked.  “I am so worried about her, and about Saige and poor Riata.  If only I had realized sooner that they were gone!  I am such an old fool....”

Garen stepped close to the woman and hugged her gently.  “Without you Suly, we would not have arrived in time to save Lariah and Saige,” he told her.  “That is a fact.  We have much to thank you for.  Lariah is doing well and you may come in and see her if you like.  Please dry your tears though. They will upset her.” 

“I can see her?” Suly asked. 

Garen smiled.  “Of course you can.  In truth, I would very much appreciate it if you would see her.  I seem to recall that you assisted Doc in a birth or two for a couple of the hands.  Is that right?”

“Yes, I have helped several times,” Suly replied, a hopeful look replacing the misery in her eyes.

“We would be most grateful for your assistance then,” Garen said.  “You know far more about this than we do and it would be better for Lariah if you were to help.” 

Suly smiled, then frowned.  “I will go wash up as quickly as I can,” she said.  “If Lariah needs me, I best get in there.”

Garen nodded and felt a sense of relief knowing that Suly would be able to assist them.  He had not been exaggerating about wanting some experienced help.  As Suly disappeared into the kitchen he turned and hurried back to the bedroom.

When Garen opened the door he heard the sound of Lariah’s rapid panting.  He froze for a moment at the sight of her propped against the headboard, her knees up, gripping Val on one side and Trey on the other.  His brothers looked at him with barely controlled panic.

Lariah looked up and saw Garen standing in the doorway, an expression of mixed relief and fear on her face.  “Its coming now Garen,” she panted.  “I have to push and I’m afraid,” she said breathlessly.  “I don’t think we’re ready yet.”

Saige opened her eyes and found herself standing in a void of what appeared to be gray fog.  There was no moisture against her skin as there would be with real fog, nor was their any temperature to it, neither coolness nor warmth.  She waved a hand through it and it did not drift or move in the slightest.  She frowned, not understanding where she was or why she was there.

“Hello Saige.”

Saige spun around, shocked and pleased to see Riata.  She looked just slightly different, her eyes brighter, her smile more serene.  Instead of her usual outfit of jeans and a sweater, she was wearing a long, pale yellow robe with swirling designs embroidered in gold thread along the front and down the sleeves.  But Saige barely noticed all of that in her happiness to see Riata standing there, alive and well.

“Riata,” she gasped.  “I am so happy to see you.  I thought you were lost to us.”

“Dear Saige,” Riata replied.  “I am no longer of the plane you dwell in,” she said gently.

Saige frowned.  “You mean you really did die?” she asked.

“Yes, Saige, I did,” Riata replied.

“I don’t understand,” she said.  “How is it that I am talking with you and looking at you?  For that matter, where are we?”

“Right now, you’re body is undergoing the transformation process, changing you from human to Jasani.  Your conscious mind is here, with me, because I need to speak with you.”

“Is this real or am I dreaming?” Saige asked.

Riata’s smile widened.  “A little of both I imagine,” she said.

“Did you really pass your gift of Healing to me?” Saige asked.

“I did,” Riata replied.  “However, you must understand that the gift I passed to you will not manifest the same in you as it did in me.”  

“Do you mean I won’t be able to Heal people?”

“I really do not know,” Riata said.  “What you are able to do with the gift remains to be seen.”

“Why are you here then?” Saige asked.  “For that matter, why am I here?”

“You are here because you have been chosen by the Eternal Pack.  You have been deemed strong and true and pure of heart.  I am here because I have been chosen to be your Spirit Guide,” Riata replied.

“Spirit guide?” Saige asked.  “I’ve never heard of that.  What is it?

“A Spirit Guide is one whose task it is to help another through difficult times.  As your Spirit Guide, I will aid you from time to time as I can.  My first task is to share with you the lost prophecy of Semat Katre.”

“Lost prophecy?” Saige asked weakly.

Riata smiled her gentle smile.  “Do not worry Saige.  I will say to you the prophecy and you will remember it later, when you need it.”

“Okay Riata,” Saige replied uncertainly.  Memorization had never been her strongest talent.

Riata smiled again, then began to speak.  By the time she was finished, Saige was worried.

“Wow,” she said weakly.  “Are you sure I am going to remember all of that?”

“I am sure,” Riata said. 

“What does it mean?” Saige asked.  “I didn’t understand a lot of it, but over all, it didn’t sound good.”

“I am afraid I cannot answer that,” Riata said.  “But this much I know; Lariah Dracon is the Soul of the Jasani people.  And you, Saige Lobo, are the Heart.  There is another who is yet to be found who is destined to be the Mind.  She must be found soon, before the others find her first.”

“What others?” Saige said.  “And who is she?”

Riata did not answer her questions directly this time.  Instead her eyes grew distant and her smile faded.  “Troubled times are coming to the Jasani, Saige,” she said.  “There are many paths to the future, and all of them are fraught with danger and heartache.  There is also goodness and light, but if care is not taken in the choices to be made, the long struggle of the Jasani will come to a sad end.”

“What can I do to help?” Saige asked.

Riata smiled again.  “For now, become fully Jasani, and fully loboenca.  I will watch over you and, if I am able to assist you, I will do so.”

“If?” Saige asked.  “But you just said you are to be my Spirit Guide.”

“Even so, there are things I do not know, and others of which I am not allowed to speak,” Riata said.  “I can help you on the coming journey, but I cannot carry you.”

“Will you come to me in dreams?” Saige asked.

“I will come to you in your dreams, or, if you have great need, meditate as you sometimes do and I will try come to you then.”

“I will miss you Riata,” she said softly.  “I only knew you for a short time, but you are truly one of the best beings I have ever had the privilege to know.”

Riata bowed.  “I thank you for your kindness,” she said.  “Now it is time for you to return to your body and complete your transformation.”

Saige nodded her head slowly, her eyes filling with tears as the figure of Riata slowly faded away until she was faced once again with gray fog.  She reached up to wipe her tears and slipped away into true dreams.

Suly entered the room in time to hear Lariah’s panicked words to Garen.  She walked to the side of the bed, her face calm, all traces of her earlier tears gone. 

“Of course you are ready,” she said, her voice relaxed and matter of fact.  “I want you to keep breathing like that, short quick pants, when you feel you must push.  We need to make a couple of small adjustments here,” she said.  She then began directing Val, Trey and Garen to wash their hands and fetch towels, gloves and other supplies as she rearranged Lariah’s pillows and spread a clean sheet beneath her, humming as she worked.