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IN LOVE AND WAR

CHAPTER SIX: JOY UNSPEAKABLE

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When she first came to Tortall, Shinkokami had gotten into a habit of rising early to practice naginata pattern dances. When she became pregnant, she and Roald decided that she should take a break from practice.

On some occasions, Shinko still went out to the practice courts, if only for the fresh air. Her mother-in-law was there to make sure that she was actually resting. This morning she was embroidering a griffin onto a book-sleeve for Roald. As she worked, the baby within her moved, seeming to spin as fast as the glaives of her friends.

Her eyes wandered away from the needlepoint to the women who were working out. Their number had once climbed to nine, but now with Yuki and Haname in Yaman, dear Lady Ilane dead, and Shinko child-carrying, only two were left: Queen Thayet and Keladry.

Kel was smooth and confident, blocking each advance Thayet threw at her by sheer instinct, but Shinko could tell that the hardened warrior's mind was elsewhere. After more than an hour, they put aside their practice weapons. Thayet had to change and attend a council meeting, but Kel came and hauled Shinko to her feet. As her belly continued to grow, getting up was beginning to be a struggle. She smoothed the creases from her dress. Kel grinned.

"How far are you now?"

"I'm well into my seventh month," Shinko replied, letting her fingers settle interlocked on her belly. It felt like a natural position for an expecting mother. Shinko waddled down the path, Kel walking slowly beside her.

"You look so happy," Kel observed. She looked like she wanted to ask a question, but then changed her mind at the last minute. "Have you heard from your sister?"

"Baron Cooper sent a message that her ship was delayed, but he has her now, and they'll be here by the end of next week."

"It'll be good to see her again," Kel commented absently. Shinko gazed at her face. She was very good at hiding emotions from Tortallans, but a Yamani could see through her mask. Shinko put a hand on her arm, pausing their progress.

"Kel, it is good that my sister is coming, but your mind is far away from that. What's the matter?" Shinko spoke in her native Yamani, and she watched as Kel bite her lip, then took a deep breath and sighed, replying in the same language.

"Shinko, how did you know you were pregnant?" The princess stared at her friend, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

"I just…knew. It's in a woman's making," she said honestly. She looked at Kel again. The lady knight's face was creased with anxiety. "Are you…"

Kel nodded quickly, as if she didn't want anyone to see. "The day I found out about my parents, I spent the night with Dom. He meant well; he only wanted to comfort me. Anyways, I guess I've known for a couple of days now, but I'm scared to even say…"

"To say that you're pregnant?" Shinko supplied. Kel nodded again. She put her own hands on her belly. Tears came to her eyes, mostly of anxiety, but Shinko noticed that some of the tears came from happiness. Shinko put an arm around her friend.

"What's it like, to have a little person inside of you?" Kel asked, dabbing at her eyes with her sleeve.

"I like it," Shinko said. "There's always someone there to talk to, someone you know you love, and that they love you, if only because you had a part in their making. Kel, you're going to be a good mother."

"What if Dom doesn't want to be a father?" Kel worried.

"Dom loves you, Kel, very much, and I can tell you love him too." Kel took a deep, shaky breath. Shinko took Kel's hand and pressed a flat palm to her own belly so that she could feel the baby's kicks.

Kel looked surprised at the baby's strength. She smiled slowly.

"I'll be okay," she whispered, more to herself than to Shinko. The princess stayed quiet and still, letting her friend have a moment. As she waited for Kel, she felt the muscles in her belly pull together sharply. "What was that?" Kel asked, pulling her hand away.

"I don't know," Shinko breathed. Another pain gripped her, and she took Kel's hand, squeezing until it passed. As soon as it did, she felt a wetness soaking her skirts. Kel looked down and noticed her puddle. She let out an oath that she must have learned from the young men in the Own. Shinko was aware of her friend yelling for help, and that Roald came and lifted her into his arms.

Shinko focused on the next pain. It took a hold of her body, and she blacked out.

When she awoke, the pains were still passing. She was in the Royal Birthing Chamber, where Roald, Jonathan, and all the Conté heirs had been born for more than a hundred years; she had visited the room with Queen Thayet.

But Shinko could not see far past the end of the short bed on which she was propped up. Priests burning incense had created a hazy smoke. She heard chanting. The princess made out the shape of Duke Baird at her feet, and Roald grasped one of her hands.

"Are you alright?" he whispered, noticing her awareness. Shinko looked over at the priests. They were dressed in elaborate costumes. Several prominent noblemen waited beyond them with King Jonathan.

"No," Shinko whispered back. The door opened, and Thayet entered the chamber. Almost instantly she began to cough from the smoke. She looked at the priests, then looked at the noblemen.

"Out, my lords," she ordered. She seemed to glow in Shinko's eyes. "Out."

"Your majesty, we must be near to bless the birth of the kingdom's heir."

"The corridor is near enough. I've gone through this; the princess needs fresh air and quiet. You will be notified when the child arrives." The priest tried once more to contradict her.

Queen Thayet raised her brow and her voice. "Out!" Even King Jonathan scurried from the room. A maid was set to fanning the smoke out of an open window. "Much better," Thayet said, sitting on the edge of the bed. Shinkokami wanted to thank her, but the pains were becoming so intense that she lost her train of thought.

With Thayet's coaching, Baird's healing, and Roald's reassurances, Shinkokami labored throughout the night. As dawn approached, she was near tears with exhaustion and frustration from the pain.

When the first rays of the morning sun were beginning to peek through the window, a cry rang out, filling the birthing chamber and the hallway outside with the noise of a new life's first moments. Shinkokami felt her muscles relax, and the pain lessen. She looked at Duke Baird to see the tiny red body that he held.

Roald stood, taking the baby from the healer. He studied the little face, tears growing in his eyes, the passed the baby silently to his wife. Shinko had been crying with joy from her first glimpse.

Roald climbed beside his wife, kissing her, and then the baby. Shinko looked up and noticed his tears. She smiled, wiping away first hers, and then his. She kissed him, then looked back down at the baby, whispering softly.

"My love, we have a daughter."