10: Mother / Claudia
For centuries the woman had lived without a name, because the only one she remembered had been given to her in slavery. That name she cast aside when she came into the powers of her kingdom. Her first royal act had been to kill the men who had made her cook and wash and open her legs for them, the men who had brought her to this Island.
That name was gone. Afterwards she hadn't needed one, because no one spoke except the birds, the tree frogs, the whispering winds high in the leaves, and those neither had names nor needed them.
The woman in red who lay before her on the birthing pallet had a name, though. Claudia. Her red gown of fine silk showed that she was cared for, maybe even loved. She had named her first son, too: Jacob. He had the spark of life in his body like any infant, but not the spark in his soul. That extra gem glowed in the second one's soul like a jewel in a black velvet bed.
"May I see him?" Claudia said in a low, hoarse voice.
Which child? the nameless woman thought. She didn't look over at the stone lying in convenient arm's reach, there for one purpose alone. Claudia was weak from giving birth and wouldn't fight. It would take nothing to finish her off. But Claudia lay there trusting, helpless. And beautiful, radiantly beautiful.
The child which Claudia hadn't yet named gave a little whimper as the woman pondered. Was this the only way?He whimpered again, almost as if he could read thoughts. As if his unfocused infant eyes could see the stone, and know its purpose.
My life has been hard, the woman thought. Men had died at her hands, or when she dashed their ships against the rocks if they dared approach this Island. What did a few more blood-drops matter?
The second child mewled a third time, and stared at her straight on, as if daring her.
Very well, then. She picked up one infant, then another, and positioned each at Claudia's breasts. As they latched on and suckled hard, Claudia's face shone with gratitude. "What is your name?"
"First, name your child."
"I have to think. He was unexpected." Her face glowed with love as she gazed down at the nursing babies.
Perhaps some day she may look at me like that.
"He's fierce at the breast, more so than his brother," Claudia went on. "Samael. That's his name, Samael." Again that glance of driving emotion. "And you?"
"Judith," the woman said, the word rolling on her tongue like long-untasted honey. "My name is Judith."