so do I, sometimes,” Jotin was watching as Rasifi poured another libation onto the statue’s feet. “Pity I can’t drink that.”
“I have reason to be anti-ceremony,” Trynor shuddered, “it was my two year old blood my tribe were pouring on their statue’s feet. It makes me nervous, I’m always afraid someone will revert to type and grab Alessia.”
“I’m sorry, Trynor, I had forgotten. But this society almost never sacrifices their own people, I think you can relax.”
The two goldsmithing families enjoyed Midwinter thoroughly. They were given front row seats at all the ceremonies and were excited by the rush of the bulls past their faces as the young athletes leaped over the animals’ backs. Alessia was sorry that it was not Hetrion’s bull dancing team, but she learnt some new and different steps for the earth walk by watching intently as the dancers moved through the arena. At the feasting after the ceremonies they were given seats at a long table near the king’s and at last were able to study their cups again as they circulated, one filled with wine and the other with fruit flavoured water. They were not identical, but very nearly, and Alessia and Danthys marvelled together, that they had had such similar ideas without even discussing it. They went to bed happy and lay in the comforting darkness with their hands on each other’s bellies, planning their baby’s future.
When it was time for Elena and her family to return home, Alessia gave her the clay baby to remind the Mother that she hoped for a safe delivery and healthy baby. Elena pointed out that the priestess would ask for an offering of money also.
“Don’t they always,” sighed Trynor, “those priestesses are always taking money, for nothing; we hear you perfectly well without caves or priestesses. But do it, if it makes you happy.”
Chapter 6
Alessia was finding work very hot. Although the workshop was gloomy inside, the midsummer heat was beating through the flat roof and gathering in the room, unable to find a way out. They were all doing work that did not need the furnace, so it had been let go out.. Alessia was making wire, pushing a thin cylinder of gold through a slightly smaller hole in a piece of wood, but it was difficult as her hands were constantly wet and the smooth metal slid through her fingers as though it was oiled. She wiped her hands on her skirt and tried again to get a grip on the slippery gold.
“I wish I had a piece a bit further advanced,” she grumbled to Rasifi, who was beating a little sheet of gold with a tiny hammer. “It would be easier to get a grip if it was thin enough to bend.” Rasifi grunted assent and wiped the sweat off her forehead.
“It’s not really working weather at all, we never get much done in midsummer. But there’s no point in wasting the time totally. Might as well do something.”
This time it was Alessia who grunted, but it was with surprise. She put a hand to her apron, but could feel nothing out of the ordinary, apart from the huge bulge that sat on her lap like a soft boulder. She stroked it gently and as she did, she felt it change from a soft boulder to a hard one and she grunted again. Rasifi looked up.
“Is it starting?”
Alessia nodded, stunned into silence.
“We had better get you home, then. No baby wants to be born in a workshop. Come on, it is better to go while you can still walk.” She explained to Mikolos and the boys what was happening, setting up a flurry of excitement, so they hovered about fussing while, Rasifi went to tell Danthys and his family. Although Alessia now lived with Danthys’ parents, it had been decided that she would go to Rasifi’s home for the birth of her baby. Rasifi had more experience of delivering babies than Danthys’ mother, who had found her own experiences of delivery rather alarming and did not want to be too closely involved where, as she said herself, she was more likely to fret than be helpful. Rasifi on the other hand was a woman whose very presence was calming and other women of the town often called on her to help.
Danthys ran in from the shop next door, his young face pale. He grabbed Alessia’s hand and stared into her face, his lips quivering.
“Oh, Alessia, my love, what have we done? I must