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The Stone of Truth - Part 14

"Laetia, I can't make it.."

"You can, Milady, you can. Breathe."

"It hurts.. like Hel itself.."

"Bear it, Milady. For your children."

Laetia held her Lady tightly onto the horse. Her bones rattled with every leap and she knew that her Lady couldn't bear it for too long.

"Milady, we're close. Just a little more."

"I can't go.. any more.. Haven!!" Lady Corqurst pressed all of her weight onto Laetia. "The babies really want to come out! Let me down!"

Laetia stopped the horse and almost dropped the Lady all the way down. She lay her at the root of a weeping willow. A gust of wind whipped a silver branch into Laetia's face. She prepared the Lady for labour.

"Silver hair.." moaned Lady Corqurst.

Her Lady was delirious. Laetia silently swore to herself to never have children.

"Silver hair.. No.."

The Lady gripped her hands to her heart and closed her eyes. Her face became white. Laetia forgot about the House courtesy rules and slapped the Lady hard.

"Milady, Milady! Wake up! Milady! You have to give birth!"

The Lady opened her eyes. The hazel was veiled. "Bring.. Zar.. goth.."

"I'll be back soon, Milady. Keep awake. Don't faint!"

Laetia brushed the beautiful wavy hair from Lady Cor's face and leaped on the horse. It neighed in fright.

"Good boy.. good boy."

The horse wasn't accustomed to be ridden by anyone other than his mistress. Laetia hoped he hadn't been trained to throw intruders to their death.

"Come on now, let's go left. That's it.."

She arrived at the small hut and almost fell off. The ground was trampled, there were three horses in the clearing and two men were coming out of the hut, dragging another after them. The two men wore hoods, but the dragged man was..

"Laser!!"

It was no use to run away. She had been spotted.

"Lisha!" shouted the tallest of the two men.

"My.. Milord?"

She approached him. His companion had his face covered, and poor Laser was sound unconscious. So they had met sooner than she expected.

"Came to see your wizard friend, Lisha dear?"

"Y.. yes.."

"And why, pray tell? Did I ask you to?"

"No, Milord.. Milady is in labour.."

"Corqurst? In labour? Where?"

"Not far from here. Near the silver willow tree."

"Oh, I see. She was running to save the little child from the wrath of the monster. How touching."

"I found the Sword."

Laetia started. The new man had come out of the hut. The voice was Mordrig's.

"It was in a niche in the wall, Your Highness."

"Good. Are you sure it is the right Sword?" The voice of "His Highness" was like the rattling of a snake.

"Are you doubting my abilities, Your Highness?"

"I'll take your word for it, Mordrig. Beware if you fail."

Mordrig's lip was trembling slightly.

Laetia glanced at His Highness. He was small, almost her height. How could such a man command such a reaction?

"My Lord.." she dared.

"Say, Lisha," snapped Lord Hialdan.

"Milady is giving birth alone."

"We have the Sword. We can wait no longer. We have to get the Stone."

Laetia shivered. Lord Hialdan bowed his head. "Yes, Your Highness. Lead the way, Lisha."

continue to part 15 >>

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