“How had I not thought of that?” I whispered. We’d seen the healer, and I’d just assumed everything would be like with Michael. We’d gone to the local hospital to deliver.
Elias’s eyes widened. He looked terrified of my reaction. “I just assumed you knew. It’ll have to be a home birth. We have midwives, and the healer will come back. If you’d like, we can have a witch present as well. We won’t take any chances.” He reached around and rubbed my back soothingly.
“My deliveries with the boys were uncomplicated, it should be fine. I just hadn’t considered it.” How had I not thought ahead?
“You had them in a hospital? What about ultrasounds and stuff?”
“I had no reason not to. Michael never pressured me to have a homebirth or anything.”
He was silent for a few moments, contemplating my words. “That could’ve gone very badly if they’d thought there was reason to do genetic testing.”
“They did. At least, they wanted to. We refused it. Michael said he didn’t want to know the future, and what would be would be. It seemed important to him, so I allowed it.”
“I wish I knew what he was thinking. By our laws, he should’ve made sure you didn’t see a conventional doctor.”
I shrugged and searched my memories, but Michael had just acted like any father to be. Another thought popped in my mind, and I let out a cross between a moan and a cry. “That means no epidural, doesn’t it?”
Elias chuckled. “You’ll do great. You’re the strongest woman I know.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I still want to stay close to home.”
He winked. “Leave it to me.”
I left it to him. I had no desire to do anything but spend time with my kids and rest. Everyone else could handle things for a while.
***
The classroom was chilly on the top floor of the manor. Seven children, well, six children and a teenager, sat in comfy chairs behind school desks. They worked on various lessons, from colors for Talem, Danyelus and Tammy’s adopted three-year-old Sárkány son, to the—now revised—history of the Supay for Stephen, Anthony’s thirty-four-year-old pubescent son. By Supay standards, he still had another twenty-six years before he reached his maturity and could be considered an adult.
My eyes drifted repeatedly to the blonde highlights in both David and Daniel’s hair. David’s hair had darkened a little over the winter since he wasn’t spending much time outside and was more of a light brown than a dark blonde. Daniel’s strawberry blonde mop was unchanged, much like my own. I might grab a few extra highlights if I spent an excessive amount of time outdoors, but nothing like Michael’s did, and now David’s.
My boys worked on Supay history as well. Daniel, only seven, had vocabulary words relating to the old god Supay, the Inca, and Bolivia. David seemed to be writing an essay but straightened when Axoular walked into the room.
Tammy sat in the front corner, scribbling away in a notebook while her adopted Sárkány daughter, Rose, snoozed away on her back. I couldn’t help but imagine her with Daniel on her back when he’d been brought to the manor, while I was back at home mourning the loss of my children and husband.
I shook off my torpor. It wasn’t her fault, and she’d done everything in her power to give my boys a happy childhood.
Axoular winked at me, nestled into a rocking chair in the reading corner in the back of the classroom. It had become a favorite spot for me to rest so I could be near my boys without disrupting their studies.
“Come on, double D. It’s time for your Sárkány lessons.” David and Daniel jumped up excitedly, thrilled to learn about their previously unknown dragon lineage. “Kohbi, you too.” Axoular would take them down to an empty field usually used to graze the horses, and teach them to control and master their Sárkány powers. Daniel was still too young for any of his powers to manifest, but Axoular said Sárkány children began their educations as soon as they could behave themselves. I’d join them after I had the baby.
Talem jumped up. “When can I come, Axo?” Frustration was plain on his face.
“When you’re six, little man. You stay up here with your mama for now.” Axoular nodded to Tammy, who gave him a warm smile. He’d really grabbed the hearts and friendships of everyone in the house.
Talem sat back down with a huff. Jaime, Anthony’s daughter, patted him on the back. “At least you’ll get to go eventually. I’ll always be stuck in this classroom.”
“Oh, pooh,” said Tammy. “Nothing wrong with learning about your history, Jaime. We’re different creatures, living under the same roof. We have to learn to embrace our heritage and celebrate each other’s differences.”
Jaime pursed her lips but nodded. She’d be respectful, even if she didn’t like it.
I stood and patted Talem on the head on my way out the door. “I’ll see you later, Tammy,” I murmured to her as she began writing math problems on the chalkboard.
“Bye, Riley,” she called.
Smiling, I began the trek to the main floor of the manor. Halfway down, on the second floor, I was waylaid by a grinning Anthony. “Wait ‘til you see where we’re going, Coya!” He laughed as he picked me up and carried me down the stairs. “You’re going to love it.”
I swung my feet and grinned up at him. His dark hair had gotten longer, brushing his shoulders. I twirled my finger in a strand of it. “Dollywood?”
