9th October 1102

The autumn air was crisp and damp, clinging to Alexis’ skin in a clammy sheen. The leaves shook in the breeze like wet dogs, sending droplets of water plummeting to the ground beneath. A faint earthy smell rose from the leaf-strewn path as he carelessly squashed their dying bodies beneath his boots.

The sky above him was a heavy grey and he increased his stride hoping fervently that it wouldn’t rain again. The damp would surely spoil the fine velvet of his coat and velvet certainly was not an easy thing to come by on Mhalwae. Actually it was completely impossible. Alexis still dreamed of the day when they would return to the glorious gates of their city, accompanied by a fanfare of trumpets. Eallair, the rightful ruler to the throne would be restored, the country would rejoice and he, Alexis would finally be able to get his hands on a new jacket. It was a bit much for a fine-looking chap like him to manage, this exile business. His jacket was getting positively threadbare!

He trudged towards the small cottage tucked away from view in a thicket of trees. Alexis thought it was a rather sturdy construction and was glad to see Hepsie’s man was taking care of her. The tidy little house was perched on a small hill in the centre of a clearing, the trees circling at a respectful distance, their golden heads nodding in the wind.

With a start he recognised the very spot where the old girl had so rudely refused his attentions when they had first arrived on Mhalwae. Not that he blamed her now that he saw what a decent little thing she was, faithful and whatnot. And if the truth could be known he remembered that stinging slap with a certain amount of fondness.

Beside the cottage was a small pond, an eery upside down reflection of the world that seemed as though one could simply step into it and disappear forever into a cold, dank place drained of colour.

He tapped smartly on the door.

“Come in”, Hepsie called loudly and he flung open the door.

She was briskly strolling back and forth bouncing her squirming son on her shoulder as she went. Thaell was kicking his already sturdy legs, mewling as he pressed his face against his mother’s neck.

“Why hello there Alexis? What’s bringin’ yew here on this miserable day?”, she smiled at him over the baby’s hairless head.

Thaell began to whimper, his tiny hands clenched into fists that were battering uselessly at his mother’s shoulder.

Alexis grinned gallantly, showing rows of gleaming, white teeth, “Do I need an excuse when this little man here has all but robbed the court of your lovely presence. Perhaps I have come all this way though the threat of rain be open my well-dressed shoulder to behold your beautiful face once more”.

Thaell opened his small mouth as wide as he could and let out a reedy wail.

“Oh fer goodness sakes yew silly git”, she quipped with a grin, “Yew know I don’t hold no stock with yer flattery and now yew gone and made this boy here jealous”.

She peered down a her son’s scrunched up face with a sigh, “But yew managed to come at a bad time. Looks like this lad’s not goin’ to let me be doing any talkin’ until I fed the poor little blighter. Yew’ll have to be waitin’ fer a bit if yew don’t be minding”.

“Of course, of course. I wouldn’t want to rob the lad of his meal. I will just sit here and wait if that is alright with you”.

“I’ll not be long”, she disappeared into the next room, shutting the door firmly behind her.

Alexis took at seat at the sturdy wooden table. It was a cosy little room, well-lit with a crackling fire to warm the inside from the autumn chill prowling just outside the door. Hepsie must be very happy here, with her sturdy house, her sturdy husband and her sturdy, little baby.

He could hear her now, murmuring softly to him in the next room. She would be sitting on the edge of the bed, or perhaps in a chair, her son clasped firmly in her arms. She would have untied the laces on the front of her bodice, carefully pulling down the shift to expose one heavy breast. Thaell’s snuffling mouth would have hungrily searched as she gently led him to her nipple. He imagined he could hear the noise of the baby suckling now, milk filling his mouth as he greedily gulped it down.

He imagined that he had been the one to carefully unknot her bodice, pulling down her shift, his mouth kissing a trail down to her rounded breast. She would moan as his lips closed around her nipple, her face flushed as she pulled him to her, her hands twisted in his hair.

He wiped the sweat from his brow with a grimace. Good Lord, what was wrong with him? He had come here to ask for the poor woman’s advice and all he could think about was laying down with her to pass the rest of the stormy afternoon.

The door swung open with a thud and Hepsie limped into the room, her skirt rustling.

“Is it bein’ too hot in here fer yew Alexis?”, she asked, gazing at his flushed face.

“Oh, no no, it’s just fine”, he said hastily as she sat.

“So… what can I be doing fer yew?”, she asked with a radiant smile on her face.

He could see that motherhood suited her well. He was not in the least surprised since she had been a busy little mother hen to so many other children, including his own. He was glad for her that she was so happy.

“Well, you see… it’s just…” he began and then realised he didn’t know quite what he meant to say, just that he was plagued by some vague worry he could not quite grasp and pin down to identify.

He coughed, “I have to tell you something and I hope you will do Morven and I the courtesy of not repeating it as she has told me she wanted to keep it a secret for now. Morven believes she is pregnant again”.

“Well I must be giving yew congratulations then Alexis”, she smiled at him but he saw the concern in her eyes, “has she been feeling well then?”

“Well, you see that’s the thing. I found her the other day, slumped on the floor, breathless, her poor little face as flushed as an embarrassed beetroot. But she told me she was just feeling faint because of the new baby”.

“But yew don’t quite believe her do yew now?”, she asked.

Something inside him snapped and suddenly all the worries he had been hiding with a carefully constructed smile came flooding out, “Well, to be honest no. I don’t believe her. She didn’t look faint to me, she looked like she had been running for her life”.

“I’m frightened that she is getting sick again. The last babies were such a strain on her they almost killed her. And now another one. So soon. And while of course some part of me feels proud of the proof on my virility there is another part of me that right now is shrinking up in fear. I don’t want to lose her Hepsie. I just can’t”.

Hepsie was gazing at him with such a look of understanding and compassion that he continued.

“And the one thing I can’t understand is why she is trying to hide it from me. If she is feeling ill then why won’t she tell me?”

“Perhaps she doesn’t want you to worry”, Hepsie replied sagely.

“But listen Alexis. Yew shouldn’t be worrying yet. Remember that last time she was carrying twins which is enough to make any woman ill. Believe me, I’ve never seen a woman that was havin’ an easy time with twins. And it would be bein’ very strange indeed if it were twins again, though yew are bein’ so virile”, she winked at him cheekily.

“Now, I’ll come by in the next few days askin’ how she’s feeling. An’ I promise I won’t be letting on that I know anythin’ about the baby. Between yew an’ me we’ll keep a close eye on her, maybe Juzzy too. We just got to make sure she doesn’t go strainin’ her body too much. So she’s got to be havin’ lots of rest”.

She glared at him ominously, “Yew hear me Alexis. Lots of rest. That means yew keep that virility of yers tucked away in yer breeches where it belongs”.

He almost gulped in surprise, “Yes sir”, he replied meekly, with a growing grin.

“Don’t yew go worryin’ yerself Alexis. We’ll all take good care of her an’ things will surely go easier this time”.

“Thank you Hepsie”, he sighed, rising to his feet.

She stood to meet him.

“You certainly have eased my mind though I doubt my virility will ever forgive you”, he winked naughtily at her.

She chuckled and wagged her finger, “I’m sure he’ll be forgivin’ yew when in 8 months or so yew have yerself a healthy, fat baby and a happy wife”.

“But Hepsie my love”, he cried, grasping her hand between his and kissing it enthusiastically, “are you sure you can’t be saving him from the lonely cold. Not just for one rainy afternoon”.

His eyes flicked to the bedroom door, he was only half-joking.

Hepsie’s hand clapping him firmly across the top of his head brought him back to his senses.

“Now just yew be gettin’ out into the rainy afternoon and yer poor wife yew dreadful cad”.

He trudged out into the rain listening her laughter echoing behind him as the rain began to pour all over his velvet jacket.

Cade, Hwratar