MOONDOCK (20 page)

“Later, I’m afraid she is having the babies.”

“I’ll go get Edwina and Bella.”

Another wave of pain hit her before Wylan reached the room and by the time he settled her into the bed the room filled with elamies. Shemon tried to shoo him out and Wylan stood his ground. “I stay, she is my lifemate and these are my children.”

Shemon only thought about objecting for a moment. “Fine, but stay out of the way.”

Not wanting to fight with Melane’s mother, he moved to stay at Melane’s side and hold her when the time came. Wylan knew the risks of this birthing, silently he prayed to the Gods to spare Melane, they could make other babies.

Positioning himself behind her head, he took hold of her hands, giving her something to brace herself with. When the next contraction hit she held on to him, in between them he used the cloth that Bella gave him and wiped her brow and face to cool her down. “It will be alright, Melane.”

“Dragon?”

“He is gone, the cavern collapsed on top of him, but not before my blade ended his life.”

“What of Majok?”

Wylan used all his control to keep his voice calm. “I didn’t see him anywhere in the cavern, he must have made it out during the fight.”

Another wave of pain gripped her and ended any talk or thoughts of Majok.

Between Edwina and Shemon, Melane could not have found better care. When her water broke, the contractions were coming one after another. Edwina announced that she could see the head. The women told her to bear down when the next one came. Wylan held her and she did as they said. In a breathless rush, Melane could feel the child slip from her body and into the world.

Wylan and Melane watched as Edwina and Shemon worked on the baby, when the boy’s cry filled the room there was a sigh of relief.

Melane’s contractions began again and were worse than before. She couldn’t help but scream over the force. “She will be alright, won’t she, Wylan?”

“Yes Melane, look at her brother, he is strong and she will be too.”

“You make big babies, Wylan!”

He wasn’t sure if she was cursing him for that, or glad. Either way, he kissed her damp brow and smiled at her. “Come on little warrior, let’s get our elamie into the world.”

Their daughter must have been listening; the next big push slid her out and into Shemon’s hands. Smaller than her brother, she still looked good and just as developed. They worked frantically and even Wylan grew concerned by the lack of her cry. Melane looked from the baby to him in worry, all he could do was hold her and wait.

An eternity felt as though it passed before the baby’s first whimpers joined with her brother’s cries.

Melane passed the after birth with less pain than the children, and Edwina declared it was a good birthing.

Cleaned and alert, Shemon placed the girl in Melane’s arms, and Edwina gave Wylan the boy. Everyone left them to let them get acquainted with their children.

New Beginnings

“Bella, please watch Stacish, he’s going after the mog again and I need to go check on little Angia.”

Melane smiled over how Stacish tried to crawl faster and get the mog before Bella could catch him. He was just like his father, determined and headstrong.

As she rounded the corner, she could hear Angia’s little laugh. Melane watched as her little elamie crawled up Rolley’s great bulk to sit upon him and kick him to get up and go. Standing before her daughter, those beautiful dark eyes of hers looked at her mother then she buried her face into Rolley’s fur before turning her head sideways and cooing to Rolley with her cheek up against him. “You’ll be riding before you walk at this rate.”

Before Melane could pick her off of Rolley, she herself was lifted into air and back into Wylan’s arms. “She is just like her mother, already in love with that beast.”

“Now Wylan, you know that he is the best babysitter around.”

His brow rose over one eye as he looked at her and then Rolley and Angia. “True, maybe Rolley’s offspring will be here when she is really ready to ride.”

“They best hurry, she won’t wait for him.”

“Latta is working on it.” Wylan grinned as Melane looked up at him. “Yes, Latta…it fits her.”

She decided not to argue with him, not sure of how the beautiful Latta flower came close to describing his Kaymog. She was pleased that Rolley had taken her as his lifemate. It would be wonderful for her daughter and son to have his offspring as their Kaymogs.

She lost her thoughts to the kiss Wylan gave her, one that spoke to her of promised passion tonight. When her feet finally touched the ground, she wished they were alone and could continue.

“Look at her, Melane.” It took a moment for her to look away from him. She still marveled over her life with Wylan.

She turned to see Angia sound asleep on Rolley’s back, her tiny fingers wrapped in his fur. Wylan reached down and gently picked her up without waking her.

They both went back to find Bella and Stacish. Bella was bouncing him on her knee. Of course when the boy saw his father, no one else counted. Melane took the sleeping Angia, so that he could get his son.

Wylan proceeded to lift Stacish up and settle him on his shoulders. Melane’s heart always skipped a beat when he did that, but Wylan’s large capable hand assured her their son was safe on his high perch.

The children were so different, but alike in so many ways. One thing, still unanswered, is whether either child received her powers. Shemon told them it could be years before they knew for sure. Melane knew that Shemon took an instant liking to Angia sure she would have her mother’s powers and more. She called her the
special Angia
.

Melane’s thoughts carried over the land and its people.

So many changes came to Cibrac since the children were born. The Kibras were almost gone now. That last battle at Cibrac’s walls tilted the scales. Many of the beasts were killed that day, the rest scattered into the depths of the forests. There were still patrols to find them and force them out and away from Cibrac.

Cibrac seemed to be blossoming with all the new couples now. Many of the Selams that took lifemates were staying in Cibrac. Grants of land were being issued by the council to keep the new families inside the district. Wylan gave that suggestion to Shemon and she convened the council, acting on it immediately.

Among the most attractive lifemate couples were Shemon and Boller. He went after Shemon with the force of a rampaging bull, but his strength of mind and body is what Shemon needed in a Selam. Boller decided to stay and build their family life in Cibrac.

Wylan returned to Moondock a few times alone, but the children were old enough now to make the trip. In a few days, they would all leave with Gallen and his family tp stay in Windland for a few days, and then go home to Moondock. Melane wanted to see the ocean again and they could settle into their own family life.

Trade between the three societies also began. The Begonés were fast to make their move and traveled between Cibrac, Windland and Moondock to set up the contacts for the trade routes.

Some people didn’t want the coming changes and they weren’t just Nemows. Wylan faced opposition on his last trip home over the increased lifemates in Moondock. The older Selams, and even the elamies, felt the new couples might destroy their society. Who could say if they were right, but it couldn’t be stopped. Wylan looked to the future and all the good that the changes would help bring about.

Only one event still worried Melane. Majok was never found, nor did he ever show up at his home. They dug out the cavern and found Dragon. If Majok was dead, his body was not to be found. Melane felt sorry for him, even after what he did to her and Wylan. She did hope, wherever he was, that he might finally find happiness.

They did find the two Selams that helped Majok and their punishment was severe for their treatment of Bella and her mother. Hard labor at the cliff caves sounded horrible, but it was the Selam way.

Are you troubled my little warrior?

No my love, I’m just thinking of all the changes.

This is a new land, Melane, with new ideas and people. I doubt we will recognize Cibrac, Moondock or Windland in a few years.

She turned to look up at him. “You are a marvel, my love.”

He kissed her, careful to keep Stacish far enough away from Angia that he couldn’t reach her to wake her. “I love you.”

He could kiss her all day and still want more.

“Hmm, do you think we could get him to take a nap?”

Wylan’s laughter joined her as Stacish grabbed her hair and started pulling it.

If we are lucky, he might sleep through the night!