Chapter 2

Gingerly picking the purple berries from the thorny shrubs, Elize Homara realized that her bark-woven basket was full. The teenaged girl—chestnut hair flowing down her fair-skinned back over a flowery sundress—skipped along the cobblestone path as she hummed a soft tune to herself.

Ocean green eyes scanned her surroundings curiously, a good-natured smile etched across her face. She saw women carrying buckets of water from the Shaye River for their everyday needs, such as boiling food, drinking water, and washing. She saw men working their fields, pasturing the grain almost ready for harvest. Children were playing around in the open fields of tall and short grasses, or being bathed by their mothers in the Shaye. Elize decided to gather some water for her sister and brother-in-law before she headed back, and she altered her path toward the river. She picked up an abandoned bucket and dipped it into the crystalline flow of water. Lifelight, which was what everyone called the star, shone brightly during the midday. She placed the full bucket of water and the rimming basket of berries to either side of her as she dunked her whole head into the cold southerly-flowing river, allowing herself a few swallows.

She heard a snicker from behind her as she lifted her head from under the rush and glanced behind her. One of the village boys shoved her with a foot into the Shaye. The basket of berries tipped as she splashed into the river. She gasped for air as she reached the surface, treading madly where she couldn't touch bottom to keep from being taken by the current. She glared at the boy who had pushed her in. "Hey," she yelled heatedly, swimming to shore. "That wasn't very nice!" Her new sundress was drenched, and the better than an hour work she had done gathering berries was splayed across the shoreline.

The blond-haired troublemaker made a funny face at her and took off toward the tall grasses. She sighed in defeat, not bothering to chase after him, as she swam to shore. She gathered the berries that had fallen out of the basket and placed them back in, this time not humming. Her mood had darkened somewhat.

Dripping from head to toe, she carried the basket of purple berries and the bucket of water back to her home atop a small incline. She opened the wooden door with a foot and stepped in, letting the door close behind her. Elexis must be home, she mused. "Hello," she called, taking a left as she walked into the kitchen. She placed down the basket and bucket on the table before her and listened. Heavy breathing could be barely heard from the other end of her home, and she rolled her eyes. Don't they ever take a break? She asked herself.

Then she heard a pained wail, and she took off down the nearest hall. The door to Elexis' room was ajar, and a candle lit it dimly.

Her sister approached the entry and slowed. The curtains were drawn, and through the candlelight Elize saw Elexis clutching her bed tightly, legs spread. Sebastian, Elexis' husband, was at the foot of the bed, sitting in a chair, holding his arms out between her legs. "Come on, one more, now," he encouraged as Elize knocked on the open door. Another moan of pain came from Elexis as Sebastian turned and spotted her. He motioned Elize over with a soft smile. "Your sister is having her baby, now. Come give her some support."

Elize grimaced, knowing what that newborn would mean. Elexis had been with child for better than nine cycles, and she was due. Still, Elize wished the day did not have to come.

Sebastian was a stocky man, short dark-brown hair trained back above a strong brow line. His soft green eyes held care, but also strength. He wore a soft-leather tunic and black pants. None in the village wore footwear. Elexis, on the other hand, appeared fragile—more so now during her time with child. Chestnut hair matted to her sweaty face as fierce green eyes held her pain securely. The once firm body had grown softer from the better than nine cycles, and her bulging stomach cleaved with stretch marks. She still held that unshakeable beauty, though, which left Sebastian awestruck. Elize always envied her sister slightly for her sensuality, though never voiced it.

She rounded the bed and took her sister's hand in hers. Elexis and Elize shared a long look, and an unspoken conversation took place. The village had very few who were keen on potent medicines. They knew concoctions of herbs and pastes to heal small wounds and cure local illnesses, but birthing was another story. Death was not highly uncommon in women giving birth to their child in such an isolated place as the Isys Grasslands. Elexis was looking okay at this stage, but the worst had not passed yet. In Elexis' case, her possibility of dying was not what worried her. It was the well being of the child she was bringing into the world. Elize knew this, and sympathized with her sister, at the same time taking a silent vow to protect the newborn with her life.

"I need a towel for Elexis," Sebastian's voice chimed urgently, in between encouraging words to help the birthing process along. Elize was secretly relieved to be given something to do, and ran to the kitchen. She retrieved a clean dishtowel and dipped it into the bucket of water. She rung the towel to rid it of the excess water and slipped back into Elexis' room. She was obviously relaxed by the cool moist cloth dabbing at her face, and her eyes softened.

The grip on Elize's hand, however, did not. Elize bit back the pain, as she knew it was ten-fold for Elexis, and she offered encouraging words in harmony with Sebastian's.

The hours dragged by, and the moans continued into the evening. Alkhar was silhouetting the Alabaski Peaks to the west when the baby finally crowned.

"One more. A big one, now." Sebastian held his hands under the head and Elize gripped Elexis' hand in hers, both white at the knuckles. A deep slurping sound sealed the laborious hours and Sebastian held up the little joy in his hands. With a quivering smile, and a tear in his eye, he announced, "It's a boy."

Elize could see her world crumbling before her eyes, and she sighed shakily. "Bless the Creator," she prayed, forcing a smile.

Sebastian drew a short knife from his sash and cut the umbilical cord, handing the newborn to Elexis. A broad smile was worn on Sebastian's face, and he rounded the bed to stand beside Elize. A single tear dropped from her eye, and Sebastian mistook it for happiness. "A true miracle has occurred this day," he announced, clapping Elize on the back and wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

Elize's eyes lowered. "You could call it that," she mumbled.

Filled with mixed feelings, Elexis held her child in her arms. She had brought a life into the world, and that filled her to the brim with unbridled joy. But it was the price this child represented that filled her with sadness. Even if she didn't survive, this child's future would be filled with hiding and uncertainty. He would never be safe. Sebastian left the room without a word, apparently in search of something. She glanced up at Elize, and they shared another look.

"I promise," vowed Elize, answering the unasked question. "With my life." She raised her other hand to clasp Elexis', and she smiled. "But you will live. You, too, shall raise this child, alongside your husband."

A tear trickled down her cheek. "I'm weak, Ellie. The Creator knows my fate. But it is the fate of my son that gives me worry. He must survive."

Elize nodded, and hugged her sister. "He will, Lexi, he will."

Sebastian returned, holding the basket of berries. He offered some to the women, who accepted hungrily. They partook in the snack in relative silence, Elexis appearing weakened by the birthing. But she was also hurting emotionally, thinking of her son's inevitable future.

He must be kept hidden from those who'd think to hurt him.

After a time, Sebastian glanced down at her as she gently rocked the newborn that sucked gingerly from her breast. Elexis glanced up to meet Sebastian's cool green eyes. "What's his name?" he queried.

Hidden.

The word echoed through her mind incessantly, before she finally decided. "Hikari. His name is Hikari Homara."

Hidden…