Tanon wasn’t certain how she managed it, but she didn’t fall. She wasn’t truly sure if her feet touched the ground at all.
He taught her the first basic lesson in balance that day, and the day after that. At night, he took her with a need far more primitive.
Chapter Twenty
Adara gripped herbed sheets late the following afternoon and wailed for all she was worth as her fifth hour of labor came upon her. Hovering beside her, Tanon wiped Adara’s forehead with a damp cloth, reassuring her that all was well. Soon her babe would arrive.
“Aye, ’tis stubborn.” Rebecca stood on the other side of Adara’s bed and rubbed ointment on her belly, her voice as soothing as her fingers. “The first ones usually are.” She grinned at Tanon, and then called out to Cadwyn. “Fifteen.”
Adara squeezed her eyes shut, grit her teeth, and then spewed out a flurry of Welsh words that made Cadwyn and Isolde blush.
“There now,” Tanon soothed in a gentle whisper, gripping Adara’s hand. “It won’t be much longer. You’re already at fifteen pangs. Take courage. The pain is normal.”
“It cannot be!” Adara screeched. “Something’s wrong.”
“Non,” Tanon stroked her cheeks with the backs of her fingers. “Adara, look at me. My mother did this six times and will do so again in a few short months.”
“And each time it pained her,” Rebecca added, moving away to fetch another folded bed sheet.
“I will slice Tomas’ throat if he thinks I will do this five more times.” Adara bore down, squeezing Tanon’s hand until it went numb.
“Aye, she’s ready,” Rebecca said calmly, glancing between Adara’s legs.
Tanon shut her eyes. She hated this part even more than the pangs of labor. A woman had to be strong of body, mind, and spirit to push a babe out of her. Her mother possessed such great strength and still she had cried out in pain when the twins were born.
“Cadwyn.” Rebecca’s tone snapped with control. “Warm the swaddling cloth by the hearth. Isolde, the bath is ready?”
“Aye, everything is prepared.” Isolde looked as resolute as Rebecca. Tanon straightened her shoulders and patted Adara’s shoulder.
“Tanon, take her hands now,” Rebecca commanded. “Pull her up.”
“But she should be lying still.” Cadwyn rushed forward, concern twisting her chubby features.
“Nay, she shouldn’t.” Rebecca positioned herself between Adara’s thighs and pressed her palms on either side of Adara’s belly. “Lady Brynna delivered her children sitting up. Some Turkish women, I am told, deliver squatting. It’s more natural.”
Cadwyn gasped, bringing the swaddling cloth to her chest. Isolde rushed to stand behind Adara, helping her to bear down, while Tanon pulled her forward, urging her to push on Rebecca’s command.
Ten minutes later, Adara’s son was born, gray, greasy, and howling. Rebecca cut the birthing cord and Tanon cleaned the babe’s mouth and nose. She wrapped him in warm linens and handed him over to his mother. Cadwyn wept while Isolde prepared mother and babe for their bath.
“That wasn’t so terrible.” Rebecca cut a glance to Tanon while she changed the bed sheets.
Tanon scoffed at her. “It was horrendous. As it always is.” She cleaned her hands and stepped toward the door. “I’ll fetch Tomas.”
Adara barely lifted her teary, joyful face from her infant.
Stepping outside, Tanon had an instant to inhale a breath of cool, fresh air before Tomas was upon her.
“Well?” He looked about to pass out at her feet.
Tanon smiled and reached out for his hand. “You have a son.”
“And Adara?”
“Is alive and well.”
Tomas clutched her shoulders and hauled her close for a kiss to her cheek, then dashed into the cottage.
Looking up, Tanon’s heart fluttered at the sight of her husband pushing off the wall he’d been leaning against. He walked toward her framed against the afterglow of a smoldering sunset. He wore a close-fitting olive-green tunic oddly fashioned with tiny silver clasps securing the fabric from the front of his neck to his lean hips. Braided stitching of the same color outlined the elegant cut. Long sleeves stretched over his smooth, sleek muscles and tapered at the cuffs, where more clasps were sewn up to his elbows. His legs, which, as always, caused Tanon to skip a breath, were encased in thin hide breeches of light tan. Flat boots, also made of leather laced up his strong calves.