Life

Cara pulled Adam's blade from his throat when the next birthing pain subsided. It would not do to be unarmed, but she feared the effect holding her Agiel might have on her son. Once she was certain that the pain had passed for the moment, she pushed herself to her feet, making her way back to the bedchamber she habitually shared with Darken. She'd just settled herself onto her back when she heard running footsteps echoing on stone.

She adjusted her grip on the hilt of the knife in her hand, noticing that it was not an ordinary blade, but a wickedly spiraled unicorn horn.

"Mistress!" Haden cried, appearing in the doorway with an Agiel in each hand – her own, and the one Cara had discarded in the outer chamber.

The drying blood slashed across the queen's belly and face made Haden pale considerably as she imagined the punishment she would face from Lord Rahl.

And the disappointment in Jennsen's eyes.

"It's not mine," Cara said, stiffly indicating the blood and leaning back on the pillows. She closed her eyes, tension filling her face for several long moments. "The midwife," she said through clenched teeth. "And Jennsen."

"My lady is locked in her room. There is a fire," Haden replied. "I cannot leave you without guards."

Cara gestured Haden closer, and Haden obeyed, approaching the bedside. Surprisingly quick, the queen grasped the end of Haden's long brown braid and yanked, pulling the younger Mord'Sith down. Haden saw spots as her forehead collided with the hard oak bedside table.

"Kahlan will guard us!" Cara snarled, at her most vicious. "The midwife, and Jennsen. Now!"

She was too proud to ask for Darken to be called.

Haden placed Cara's Agiel within her reach, and then went to do as she was bid.

-l-

"Where's my grandfather?" Jennsen asked as she followed Haden down the hall, occasionally banging into the other woman's back when she stopped to listen or check corners or whatever it was that guards did.

"There is a fire," Haden answered, starting forward once more. "He goes to put it out with magic, and heal those that have been burned."

"The midwife?" Jennsen asked as Haden rapped on Kahlan's door.

Haden shrugged, then repeated, "There is a fire."

Kahlan opened the door in her night dress, a dagger in each hand. Her Rada Han gleamed at her throat.

"Cara's time has come," was all the explanation they gave before Kahlan joined them in the hall.

Jennsen was horrified when they arrived at the door to the rooms her brother and Cara shared. Two pages, barely more than boys, lay in black pools of blood. Haden stepped over them, paying them no mind. Stiffening her spine, Jennsen tried to follow her example.

There was another dead man in the entry way. Jennsen recognized him from the stables. It was Adam, the boy who looked after the Fenrisulfr, his face frozen in a macabre smile.

"I think I might be sick," she heard herself say.

"Mistress Cara is in the bedchamber," Haden gently gripped Jennsen's shoulders, guiding her to a chair.

Kahlan went into the bedchamber.

"Go to my grandfather," Jennsen looked up at Haden, focusing on her eyes. It made it easier to forget the face of the boy she'd known. Easier to forget that he lay dead only a few feet away. "Tell him we need my brother. Then find the midwife."

Haden kissed her, the Mord'Sith's lips soft, in stark contrast to everything else about her. Jennsen drew strength from the press of their lips, reaching up to cradle Haden's face.

"It will be done, my lady," Haden whispered against Jennsen's skin, proud that her lover had grown into command so well.

Then she was gone, long brown braid swinging around her thighs.

"Jennsen," Kahlan stood in the doorway leading to the bedchamber, a slightly panicked look on her face. "I need some help. Have you done this before?"

"Lots of times," Jennsen reassured her, silently adding With goats and sheep.

She carefully did not look at Adam's body. Did not think upon the death surrounding them.

Today was a day for life.