including the little accidents of life that had brought them together at this time. Trynor sat near Alessia, his hand out towards her, smoothing her energies, and not for the first time, wishing he could have a stronger effect on the breeze.
“I should spend more time learning how to manipulate the physical world,” he said to Jotin, who was sitting back observing, having made sure that none of his other charges had a greater need of him.
“It’s hard. But you should work on wind. Occasionally I can get a gust to blow a bit harder, or in another direction. Not often helpful, but I did blow out a candle once. My person got away from an attacker as result. One of my high points.”
“It looks so uncomfortable, being in pain, and hot as well.”
“They are more used to it than you think. Lots of little pains all their lives, like a training, you could say. You really should take another body, then you wouldn’t worry about a lot of it and pass less anxiety on to them.”
“I’m not worried, really, Jo. I know it will all go fine, wasn’t I with you at the meeting where it was arranged? Mohmi is waiting to join in. I just feel it would be nice to smooth it for my Alessia, make it easy.”
“Not our job. We just guide them into it and through it. They have to work out how to make it easier, if they can; and they have. Rasifi has some herbs well stewed up that will ease the pain if it gets too much. The physical world provides a lot of the answers to its own problems.”
“Quite the philosopher today, aren’t you? Are you always this calm? Or is it just because it is Alessia going through it and not your Danthys?”
Jotin said nothing, as he let his memory go back over time, in Crete and before, and looked at his reactions to the troubles he and Danthys had gone through. At last he stretched slowly and said, “Yes, I think you’re right. It is easy to be detached when it is someone else’s pain. The same when I was a human, easier to bear another’s misfortunes than your own.”
Alessia groaned and clutched at Rasifi. Her eyes widened and she stared into the older woman’s face, looking for reassurance.
“Come on, now. It’s time to go indoors. It’s cooler now and we can get you comfortable.” She put her hand on Alessia’s belly and stroked, waiting for the contraction to pass, before helping the frightened girl to her feet and into the house.
“I want my mother!” the helpless wail echoed in the narrow street. Danthys looked at Alessia and ran away, disappearing around the corner.
“Danthys, don’t leave me, come back!” Alessia stared down the road.
“He’ll be back soon, I’m sure; he’s hardly running to Tylissos at this hour of the evening.” Rasifi was business-like as she manoeuvred Alessia through the house and settled her on her sleeping mat, making her comfortable with cushions. In a few minutes Danthys panted back in.
“I didn’t bring your mother, but I’ve brought your whole family!” He held out the clay picture Alessia’s mother had made. Alessia smiled and ran her fingers gently over the faces, thinking she could feel her mother’s spirit caught in the clay. She relaxed back on her pillows and allowed Rasifi to persuade her to take a sip of a herbal drink.
Hours passed and the room grew darker. There were sounds in the outer rooms as Mikolos and the boys returned from work and set about preparing food. They came in, one at a time, to see how things were going and to make cheering remarks. Alessia smiled to see them, but she was growing tired and she clutched her family picture to her and muttered to it occasionally.
“She is confusing her own mother with the Mother,” said Rasifi to Danthys. “I think the herbs have befuddled her mind.”
“No matter” said Trynor. “We’re all listening to her intent, which is ours anyway. Why do you all think you have to pray for a safe delivery? We already know you want one. I suppose for the same reason that
“I should spend more time learning how to manipulate the physical world,” he said to Jotin, who was sitting back observing, having made sure that none of his other charges had a greater need of him.
“It’s hard. But you should work on wind. Occasionally I can get a gust to blow a bit harder, or in another direction. Not often helpful, but I did blow out a candle once. My person got away from an attacker as result. One of my high points.”
“It looks so uncomfortable, being in pain, and hot as well.”
“They are more used to it than you think. Lots of little pains all their lives, like a training, you could say. You really should take another body, then you wouldn’t worry about a lot of it and pass less anxiety on to them.”
“I’m not worried, really, Jo. I know it will all go fine, wasn’t I with you at the meeting where it was arranged? Mohmi is waiting to join in. I just feel it would be nice to smooth it for my Alessia, make it easy.”
“Not our job. We just guide them into it and through it. They have to work out how to make it easier, if they can; and they have. Rasifi has some herbs well stewed up that will ease the pain if it gets too much. The physical world provides a lot of the answers to its own problems.”
“Quite the philosopher today, aren’t you? Are you always this calm? Or is it just because it is Alessia going through it and not your Danthys?”
Jotin said nothing, as he let his memory go back over time, in Crete and before, and looked at his reactions to the troubles he and Danthys had gone through. At last he stretched slowly and said, “Yes, I think you’re right. It is easy to be detached when it is someone else’s pain. The same when I was a human, easier to bear another’s misfortunes than your own.”
Alessia groaned and clutched at Rasifi. Her eyes widened and she stared into the older woman’s face, looking for reassurance.
“Come on, now. It’s time to go indoors. It’s cooler now and we can get you comfortable.” She put her hand on Alessia’s belly and stroked, waiting for the contraction to pass, before helping the frightened girl to her feet and into the house.
“I want my mother!” the helpless wail echoed in the narrow street. Danthys looked at Alessia and ran away, disappearing around the corner.
“Danthys, don’t leave me, come back!” Alessia stared down the road.
“He’ll be back soon, I’m sure; he’s hardly running to Tylissos at this hour of the evening.” Rasifi was business-like as she manoeuvred Alessia through the house and settled her on her sleeping mat, making her comfortable with cushions. In a few minutes Danthys panted back in.
“I didn’t bring your mother, but I’ve brought your whole family!” He held out the clay picture Alessia’s mother had made. Alessia smiled and ran her fingers gently over the faces, thinking she could feel her mother’s spirit caught in the clay. She relaxed back on her pillows and allowed Rasifi to persuade her to take a sip of a herbal drink.
Hours passed and the room grew darker. There were sounds in the outer rooms as Mikolos and the boys returned from work and set about preparing food. They came in, one at a time, to see how things were going and to make cheering remarks. Alessia smiled to see them, but she was growing tired and she clutched her family picture to her and muttered to it occasionally.
“She is confusing her own mother with the Mother,” said Rasifi to Danthys. “I think the herbs have befuddled her mind.”
“No matter” said Trynor. “We’re all listening to her intent, which is ours anyway. Why do you all think you have to pray for a safe delivery? We already know you want one. I suppose for the same reason that
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