Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 2 – Enchanter

Rivkah did not want Azhure to go through that. How long would it take Axis to get here? Would Azhure have to undergo days of agony, days when the life drained from her, as she waited for him to arrive?

Theoretically, either MorningStar or StarDrifter could talk to the child, try to reassure him, but since Azhure had let neither of them talk to Caelum before this, he would not trust them, and would, in all likelihood, be so terrified by the time Azhure let either of the Enchanters near her that it would be too late anyway.

Rivkah bit her lip, watching Azhure pace slowly backwards and forwards in her loose linen nightgown, her hands kneading at the small of her back. She was in discomfort now, and Caelum surely was, but it would be nothing compared to what would come. But the last time Rivkah had mentioned either MorningStar or StarDrifter’s name in front of her Azhure had snapped at Rivkah to keep them out. Suddenly the door burst open and Axis strode in.

“Azhure!” Axis took three huge strides over to Azhure and wrapped her in his arms. Both laughed and cried at the same time and Rivkah gave in to her relief and let some tears slide down her cheeks. She wiped them away with the backs of her hands, standing to embrace Axis herself, patting him on the back and pushing his too-long hair out of his eyes.

Axis leaned back from Azhure, his face creased in some puzzlement. “I heard you were in labour, but —” He looked at Rivkah, as if she could explain why Azhure wasn’t writhing about on a bed working with every breath she had to birth her child.

Both women laughed at his expression. “Labour takes some time, Axis,” Rivkah explained, “and Azhure is still only in the early stages.”

Then her smile died as she took a deep breath and started to explain to her son about Icarii births.

Eleven hours later in the dark hour before dawn, the time for levity had long passed. Azhure lay on the bed in a half-sitting position, leaning against Axis. Her eyes closed, her hair clinging to her forehead, she waited for the next contraction to rack her body. Axis whispered encouragement in her ear, his hand resting on her belly, feeling Caelum’s fear and anxiety. Mother and child were now deeply frightened, and it was all Axis could do to reassure both of them.

He kissed Azhure’s cheek again and whispered to her, then turned his mind to the child.

Caelum, I know you are frightened, but you must not fight your mother. Soon you will be born, and you will have escaped from this pain and this fright.

Afraid. Hurt. It was all Axis could sense from the baby; just the two emotions, fear and pain.

He lifted his eyes and met those of Rivkah. She tried to smile reassuringly at him. “It is going well, Axis, truly. The baby is in a good position and Azhure is bearing up well.”

MorningStar had finally worked her way into the birthing chamber. Azhure no longer had the strength to complain, and Rivkah was glad. She needed the help, and MorningStar was an experienced Icarii midwife.

“Azhure is doing well, Axis, and you are doing well with the baby,” MorningStar agreed.

“He’s frightened,” Axis muttered, remembering how Rivkah had suffered in his birth. Had he felt like Caelum? He must have.

Azhure grunted as another contraction twisted her body, and Axis winced as he heard the baby wail in fear.

Axis stroked Azhure’s belly again. Somehow, Caelum could feel it and the touch of his father’s hand reassured him.

Caelum, you must not fight what is happening. You are being born and your mother struggles for you. Go where she tells you. Trust.

Trust. Caelum’s thoughts picked up that word and kept repeating it. Trust.

“Trust,” Azhure whispered and groped for Axis’ hand, then cried out again as another contraction seized her.

Rivkah rubbed the woman’s leg. “He conies, Azhure. Now is the time to start to push with your pains. Now!”

The baby was silent now, and Axis grabbed both of Azhure’s hands in his own. Surely, he thought frantically, there must be a better way than this! His ring could show him no Songs to relieve Azhure’s suffering and now, as Azhure hung on to his hands as if her life depended on it, Axis remembered the times that men in the Axe-Wielders had appeared haggard-faced at his door, asking for some days off to arrange both the funeral of a wife who died in childbed and the futures of their motherless children.

No, he thought, don’t let Azhure die now, not like this.

“Again,” Rivkah grunted, “push,” and Azhure’s body again twisted next to his.

Axis heard MorningStar say something, but it sounded as if she were a thousand leagues away. All he could see was Azhure’s face below his, her smoky eyes opening wide in pain and astonishment as she felt the baby move within and through her.

“Push!” Rivkah’s voice commanded from somewhere. Axis pulled Azhure as close to his own body as he dared. “Azhure,” he whispered, “stay with me. Stay with me. Do not leave me. What would I do without you? Stay with me.”

Rivkah looked at her son, then glanced down again. “His head comes. Your son is almost born. Two more contractions, three at the most, and you will have your son in your arms.”

“Hear her, Azhure. You have almost finished. Your struggle is almost done.” If possible, Axis held Azhure even tighter.

Azhure struggled once, twice, then gave a great gasp of relief. “Rivkah?” she asked feebly, scrabbling to sit up. Axis slipped an arm about her and lifted her, supporting her against his chest. He peered as anxiously as Azhure did.

A ray of light, the first of the day, glittered across the chamber and struck Azhure’s face. She blinked in its radiance.

Rivkah wiped the baby’s face with a towel, clearing his mouth and nose, then, smiling broadly, hoisted the baby onto Azhure’s belly. Still attached to his mother by his umbilical cord, the baby squirmed weakly, his eyes blinking open, his tiny mouth in a round “O” of astonishment.

“Look what a beautiful son we have made,” Axis whispered. “Thank you, Azhure, for this baby.” He turned and kissed her gently on the forehead, and then on the cheek.

“I enjoyed the making more than the birthing,” Azhure replied, but she smiled and her eyes were soft as she gazed at her son wriggling gently on her body. “He’s so tiny.”

Rivkah bound and cut the cord, then gently pulled MorningStar back from the bed. “Give them these few minutes together, MorningStar,” she whispered. “You will see your great-grandson soon enough.”

Azhure lifted the baby to her breast, and now she laughed delightedly as the baby began to suckle.

“Do you still think she is WolfStar?” whispered Rivkah.

MorningStar was silent for a time, watching Axis and Azhure absorbed in their new son. “She is not what she seems,” she said finally.

Later Axis sat on the bed cradling the baby as Azhure, tired but determined not to slip into sleep yet, watched proudly. He had held Caelum and sung to him as Rivkah and MorningStar washed and attended to Azhure. Now Azhure lay clean and comfortable, although desperately tired, and StarDrifter had finally been allowed in.

“You must stay awake for this,” Rivkah whispered. “It is rare, rare indeed, that three generations of Icarii Enchanters get to welcome a fourth generation into their family.”

StarDrifter was entranced by the baby and, after asking Axis and Azhure for permission, took the baby into his own arms, rocking him gently and singing to him. The baby was still awake, and stared at StarDrifter curiously.

“Icarii babes can focus and see within only a few minutes of birth, Azhure. He will recognise and remember faces from this point on,” said Rivkah.

StarDrifter smiled at the baby, then raised his head and smiled at Azhure. “He is a wonder,” he said softly and turned his eyes back to the baby again. “Who would think that he is half human! His SunSoar blood sings so strongly.”

Axis’ and MorningStar’s eyes met and caught.

“Just like EvenSong’s,” Rivkah said over-brightly. “Don’t you remember, MorningStar, when EvenSong was born? StarDrifter said exactly the same thing then.”

But everyone save Azhure knew exactly what had crossed MorningStar’s mind as StarDrifter spoke. Of course the baby’s SunSoar blood would be strong if Azhure were WolfStar.

StarDrifter spoke into the silence. “A name, Axis. What name will you give him?”

Axis smiled at Azhure. “Azhure has named him.”

Both StarDrifter and his mother looked startled.

“Caelum,” Azhure said. “We will call him Caelum.”

“Impossible!” MorningStar cried. “He needs a Star name! He is an Icarii Enchanter.”

“/ am an Icarii Enchanter and I do not have a Star name,” Axis said. “Azhure wants to call him Caelum, and I think it is a fine name. And suitable, if you think about it. The world is changing, MorningStar, and we cannot linger among the traditions of the past. Welcome Caelum into the House of SunSoar.”