As Moira had directed him to, he summoned Ada from Dunbarton. Robert still did not understand the need for her to be in Dunnedin, but no one argued with Moira when she turned that look and that voice on them. His old friend found a place among the old ones of the clan and was accepted quickly.
But the air was filled with a spark of anticipation, as if a scent of danger were in the wind and everyone smelled it. A certain wariness filled the people of Dunnedin and the clan waited for the reassurance of the spring, and the birth of theclan’s heir. And true to form, in what seemed to be an attempt by nature to keep the coming events at bay, a series of violent early spring snowstorms rolled through the mountains and covered the village and keep.
10
The icy blast of air that forced its way through the small opening she’d created took her breath away. ’Twas difficult to believe that spring approached at all when the weather took this turn. Leaning against the door with all the weight she now carried, Anice closed and secured the latch to keep it from blowing open.
“Here now, Anice. Come away from there before ye freeze.”
Startled by Moira’s voice, she turned quickly to face her. Moira sat some distance away, in front of a blazing fire. And with her was the old woman Robert had brought from Dunbarton. Ada, that was her name. Nodding at Moira, Anice walked to where they sat. A chair and stool awaited her there.
“Och, now, lass. Here, ye should be sitting afore the warmth with yer feet raised. We have a place ready for ye.” The old one spoke and her soft tone of voice washed over Anice like a warm and welcome embrace. She’d spoken to her but a few times and the experience was always the same.
“Thank you, Ada.” She smiled as she sank onto the wide-armed chair with its cushions. “This spring storm is colder and wilder than I ever remember seeing in Dunnedin these last few years.” Anice settled into the most comfortable position she could find and allowed the two women, the two healers, to raise her feet onto the bench in front of her.
Moira sat back and picked up some mending from the basket at her feet. Anice reached out to Moira and took what she offered. Sewing and mending was something she could do and her size did not interfere. Actually, her large belly even made a convenient shelf for her to rest her arms on. After a fewminutes of stitching, Anice noticed the two other women exchanging glances.
“I was about to seek ye out, Anice,” Moira started. “I have some news and wanted to share it with ye myself.”
Trying to maintain her calm, Anice waited for this news. It could not be good, for there was an air of nervousness about both Moira and Ada.
“First, I am expecting a babe of my own, sometime near Michaelmas Day.”
“Truly, Moira? You do not even show yet!” Anice glanced at the woman’s small stature and then took Moira’s hand in hers and patted it. “You feel well?”
“Now who is clucking like a hen?” Moira laughed. “I am well and Pol is strutting around as though he accomplished a feat unknown to man!” The women laughed together for a few moments.
“There is more news?” Anice knew, she could feel that there was more to be told.
“I have told ye about my sister, Margaret.”
“She married a Montgomery from the Borders?” Anice asked, while nodding her remembrance. Margaret was a year older than Moira and left Dunnedin shortly after Anice’s arrival there.
“Well, she is carrying once more and is verra near her own time. The pregnancy haes been a difficult one for her and with her losing two bairns afore this, we fear for her and the babe she carries now.”
“Is there anything that can be done?” Anice did not think anything but prayers could help and, being so close to her own delivery, she did not want to think too much on it. But Moira’s words were leading to something.
“I couldna be with her the last two times and I promised her I would be there with her for this birth. Pol and I leave in the morn for her village on the Borders.”
Anice stopped sewing and stared at Moira. The unstoppable terror seeped through her. Tremors crept up her back as though someone had walked on her grave. Anice could not identify what she feared, or put into words her objections; she only knew she could feel the fear taking control of her.Moira was her link to safety and she needed her there.
“But, Moira,” she stammered. “The weather is dangerous now.”
“Aye, Anice, ’tis no’ the best time to be leaving the safety of Dunnedin, but I must.” Moira took her hand and clasped it tightly. “I must.”
“Will ye...?” Her voice gave out even trying to ask. Her throat tightened and her breaths turned to gasps.
“Here, now, lass,” Ada said. The old woman took Anice’s other hand and wrapped it inside her own two. The woman’s warmth battled with fear’s icy hold. “I ken ye fear what lies afore ye in yer own time. I will be here while Moira travels to her sister’s and back again. If ye have need of me, I will be here for ye.”
The heat in Ada’s hands began to travel up her arm and into her body, forcing terror’s grip to loosen. Soon, she could breathe again and the clammy sweat on her brow lessened. Ada’s words and touch soothed her, calmed her, called to the reason within her. Anice hated this. She hated the powerlessness she felt when the terror within pushed its way out and took control of her body and her life. There was something within the old woman that offered her comfort and gave her strength. Mayhap her presence would indeed get her through in Moira’s absence.
Moira released her hand and smiled at her. Anice relaxed as much as she could against the chair, trying to let the rest of the tension flow from her.
“Ada haes some healing talents, Anice. And she kens many of my recipes already. ’Tis why I had Robert bring her from Dunbarton.”
“But Ada arrived weeks ago, Moira. Why have ye said nothing until now?” Looking at Moira, she knew that the seer had already known what was to come. What else did the woman know?
“I have only seen bairns being born, two boys and two girls,” Moira answered without the question being asked.
