Sam looked at Caitha, "This child be a child of the Spirits of the Falls.

She will grow in unexpected manners. Ones that we be not used to.

Caitha, I would like it much if you would but agree to deliver this child. I know you are not a midwife, but I also know that you have attended many birthings. If we have but won our battles by then, I will be there also and will assist. You need to get your kit of herbs and ointments prepared. You and Jandra will be moved to the Spirits of the Falls as the battles begin.

Jandra and this child must be safe from all harm."

Caitha looked troubled, "The Spirit Mothers? We are to live with the Spirit Mothers? How be this possible?"

Jandra just laughed, "Such a question, Caitha. I have a child in me that be an impossibility. I have lain with no man and yet I am with child. And, while this child moves and I but feel it, I should not yet know I am with child, as it has not been over my blooding phase as yet. And yet you ask if we can live with the Spirit Mothers. It would seem that all we thought impossible, possible."

Caitha held Jandra's hands in her own, "I will go if you would but like me with you. I want not to see you go alone to such a place."

"It would mean much to me, Caitha. Thank you."

Caitha looked up at Sam, "And I expect two rockers to go with us."

Sam rolled her eyes and saw that Jandra was agreeing, "Whatever you wish, we will see it so."

"Sam, the child has halted its moving about. What are you doing to it?"

Sam smiled and sat down next to Caitha, "I merely speak to her.

Nothing more."

They all watched the dancers and listened to the musicians while they waited for Meera. They saw that some of the dancers were now beginning to take their eve mates and disappear inside Hengist until the morn. Sam offered wine to Caitha and Jandra, but they declined.

"It was a wonderful Festival, Jandra. You did a magnificent effort on this."

"Thank you, Caitha. Briggon did most of it, though. He and Hengist were so excited about their new openings to Woden that they wanted to make a celebration of it. I thought the food was the best ever for a festival."

- 391 -.

"I too thought this. Never prior has it been so fresh and tasty as this turn's." Caitha turned to Jandra, "What will you name this unborn?"

Jandra looked at Sam and Sam nodded, "It be a good question. As we speak to her, we should call her by her name. And I think we should but name this child prior to the Spirit Mothers taking that role."

Jandra simply said, "I will think on this. I am unready for a child, let alone naming one."

Meera returned, and they all sat and watched the dancers leave, two-by-two, into Hengist. The musicians were settling in for a long eve.

"If the alignment of the moon be in alignment with the new season, perhaps it foretells many new births in Woden."

Jandra nodded, "I think you correct in this, Caitha. What we lose in battle, perhaps we become even with new births."

Sam stood, "Let us not be overly concerned about Woden's future.

We know of Buron's strength and we but know of ours. He only thinks he knows our weaknesses, but we showed him only a silly side of Woden. One that was all decorative and ridiculous. He knows not our fighting abilities.

Even his ships know not our mastery. Trust in our Spirit Mothers and the Woman of the Woods. They watch over us and protect us. Now, come.

Let us be off to our dwellings. It is late and we all have but a midmorn advisor meeting."

Jandra looked at Sam, unsmiling, "I hope the trust we place in them is worthy. But I think we place our trust in them blindly."

The four walked back to Woden together. Jandra and Caitha spoke about the festival on their return, and Meera and Sam listened. It had been a wonderful festival and Sam hoped by the next one, the battle with Fornaith and Buron would be completed. Sam and Jandra took their leave of Meera and Caitha once they reached their dwelling.

Sam took Jandra's hand and led her inside. They went into the bedroom and began to change out of their festival garments.

"I can't get out of this gown, Jandra. Can you but help?"

Jandra laughed and helped Sam remove her Highest gown. It was difficult in that it had over twenty buttons on the back, most of which Sam couldn't reach. Sam stepped out of it and threw it over to a nearby chair.

She helped Jandra out of her own gown, then each prepared for bed. As Jandra returned, she saw Sam standing next to the bed, waiting.

"Sam, are you not cold? Where is your bedshirt?"

Sam went to Jandra and embraced her as she had prior, at Festival.

She then kissed her, Sam's need and intent more than clear to Jandra.

Jandra shoved her gently away and looked serious, "Were you not aware that when I became with child and we became companions, I would not want sex anymore?"

- 392 -.

Sam looked at her, astounded, "But"

Jandra just looked at Sam, and then moved as if to go to the bed. Sam continued to stare at Jandra, not knowing what was occurring.

Suddenly, Jandra turned around, removed her bedshirt, and ran back to Sam, laughing. She embraced her and returned the kiss Sam had given her.

Sam smiled, feeling grateful for the moment.

In the morn, after the sun's rise, Jandra awoke and found Sam missing from their bed. She rose and prepared herself for the turn and went into the kitchen.

May was already preparing food for the turn and sweets for the advisors, "Good morn, Second. All seems well in the dwelling. Sam is out on the patio speaking with Ivers about something. Sit and have some fresh mint tea. I just made a large pot and think it especially sweet."

"Good morn, May."

Jandra was yet tired from festival and the eve's pleasures with Sam.

Sam entered the kitchen with her sword that Ivers had completed the work on.

"Oh, Jandra. You rise. Good morn. Is it not a most splendid morn, May?"

May looked at Jandra sideways and winked, "It may be for you Highest, but you wear poor Jandra out. And now I hear you have made her with child. What be these rumors, Highest? This be not possible, although I know more than anyone in Woden that to tell you something be impossible is to but make it possible. Yet, you wear poor Jandra out."

Sam looked at Jandra and went to her side, "You do look tired, as May says. Return to our bed and rest more."

Jandra placed her hand on Sam's face, "I am fine. Give me but a moment to wake up. How is it that you are so wide-awake? I thought you the one to sleep in every morn."

"May woke me. Ivers had come with my sword and asked that I but examine it. So it be May's fault. She but missed seeing me prior turn so woke me early to see more of me this turn."

Sam laughed, but May waved her hand as if dismissing her, "Pay no attention to her, Jandra. She be but full of herself. By the way, Highest, Lillon awaits in the sitting room. And Jandra, Karan is also here. She awaits you on the patio."

Jandra put her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes. Her head ached and her stomach felt as if she were aboard a ship.

- 393 -.

Sam became worried, "Jandra, what is it? What be wrong?"

May turned and saw Jandra, "Highest, go tell Karan to get Caitha and have Caitha bring her herbs and potions. I am but out. And hurry."

Sam left to tell Karan, and May came over to Jandra, "Let us get you back into bed for now. When Caitha comes, we will fix you right up.

Worry not, Second. This will pass soon enough."

Jandra felt overly ill to complain, argue, or even speak. She gratefully laid down and rested. Sam came in to check upon Jandra, but Jandra had returned to sleep. Caitha arrived soon, having run the entire way, and began to prepare her potions. She gave some extra to May so that Jandra could have them when she needed them. Sam paced nervously and didn't know what to do.

Caitha came into the bedroom and began to rub a potion on Jandra's forehead, and another on her stomach. Then she woke Jandra and had her drink another.

"Jandra, it is me, Caitha. Let us sit you up so that you can drink this for me."

Jandra peeked open her eyes at Caitha and nodded, but didn't feel like rising. She did as Caitha asked, though, and drank the potion. While it tasted awful, Jandra began to feel improved almost instantly. Sam looked overly worried.

Caitha got tired of Sam's pacing, "You do much better in battle, Sam.

Just because Jandra feels a little morn illness is no reason for you to become a useless wit."

"What is wrong with her? She was fine prior eve. What can I do to but make her well?"

Jandra smiled at Sam, but Caitha snapped at her, "It is your doing that she but feels this way. How be you this stupid, Sam? She is with child, and this be but usual. Poor Jandra be older, though, so it be more difficult.

And it is overly soon for this. Overly soon! Thank the Spirit Mothers for May. At least she has some sense about her."

Meera walked in and scanned the room, "Be Jandra ill?"

Caitha looked at Jandra and rolled her eyes, "There be another witless one. They are useful in fight but plain dumb in these matters."

Meera looked for help to Sam, but Sam looked helpless and worried, "Will she be fine?"

Jandra raised her arm and hand to Sam, "Come here, and quit worrying so. Caitha has removed the pains and I am but fine. It is normal, these morn pains, when with child. It is as Caitha says. I be overly old for this, but must go through it anyway."

"I am sorry, Jandra. I wish not for you to have to go through this pain. It but drives me crazy and makes me feel useless."

- 394 -.

May came in, "Thank the Mothers for Caitha. Meera, you be as useless as The Highest, here. Has no one any wits about them? Leave poor Jandra be so that she can but recover. Get out!"

Sam and Meera lowered their heads as if they had been punished and left the room. They left hearing Caitha and Jandra laughing, so didn't feel overly bad.

"Is this what we must go through the entire birth?"

Meera shrugged, "Why ask me? I know not about these things. I am only a warrior."

They sat on the patio to wait. Shortly, May came out with a morn meal for both of them.

"Caitha will sit with Jandra for a few moments more and then help prepare her for the turn. I have invited Lillon and Karan to eat your morn meal with you, as Jandra has but asked. Highest, you must take better care of poor Jandra. She be a special one and you have but acted poorly up to prior turn. Shame on you."

"You speak truthfully, May. I will make it so."

In truth, May knew that Sam was treating Jandra well, but just reminded her of her place. May wasn't going to allow Sam to become com-placent with Jandra. She had seen that occur overly often. She saw that Sam was happy for the first moment since Brett's death, and wanted it to remain as such. But she also knew that Sam had forgotten how to treat a companion, and that she no longer remembered how to love someone.

Caitha and Jandra finally arrived for the morn meal. Jandra spoke to Karan mostly, and Lillon kept Sam busy with what she thought should be Sam's plans. The morn meal finished when May informed them that the advisors awaited them. All the advisors were waiting, including the new ones. Sam didn't want a long meeting but needed to provide the new positions.

After everyone was seated and arranged, she began the meeting, "Good morn, all. Thank you for coming. I have a few agendas items this morn that need attending. First, the issue of an assistant for Second.

Karan has agreed to be Jandra's assistant. Lillon will continue as mine. I have decided that instead of replacing our former counterpart to Meera, that we give Meera the title of Second of Defense and let her be in-charge of all our guards and sentries, including Hengist's. Briggon will report and work with Meera concerning Hengist's guards and sentries. As with all Seconds, Meera will report to me. Alain, Ghada and Landric will work together on the trade and accounts, including trade from outside and inside Woden Falls.

"If we but create a third community, we will keep the accounting the same. Janel will become the advisor to the fisheries and work with Liley - 395 -.

and Gerin from Hengist on food production. Gerin, that will be an expansion of your role. Tehna and Moduin will oversee all health issues in Woden Falls. I especially would like the healers to push themselves to learn more. Moduin and Ghett will oversee all building. Ghett, that is but a change in roles for you, but you have always been interested in Woden's future expansion planning. Caitha has agreed to be an advisor and I have selected her for our General Advisor. Our new spiritual leader will be Nolsteney. She and Caitha will oversee this group in all of Woden Falls in the future to prevent what occurred just prior, with ours. Zan, you will continue to oversee our education concerns in all of Woden Falls. Sephim, you have overseen our Sea Affairs, but with Oisin and Janel, that seems well covered. I would like you to be the advisor to ensure that all the crafts become as high quality ones, and to prevent over repetition of a single craft.

Iver, you will yet oversee Outside Relations, although we tend to have little of this at present. It will be but a challenge. You will need to make trips on Oisin's voyages to but meet with our smaller and isolated communities.

Zan, Iver, Ghett, Moduin and Tehna will all need to work closely together when we have new women and men but come into our community, such as two prior eves. The building, health, education, and relations will all need to be considered at the same moment when such people come to Woden.

The Seconds will also oversee these increases within Woden and Hengist."

"Jenna, Ghett and Briggon. What is your report on our animal move?"

Jenna rose, "We have decided to have one central site for all our animals. We have selected a site just south of the path between Woden and Hengist. The builders have already begun to dismantle and move some of the buildings. A new larger and better-ventilated barn is also being built.

The builders began preparing the site this morn. It will take a moon or more."

Completed with her report, Jenna sat down. Sam asked, "Are there any issues I have left out or concerns you may have?"

Karan rose, "Highest, I have submitted plans to the builders to enlarge this dwelling. It be not suitable with your growing family."

Sam just looked at her, blankly, "Oh?"

Jandra rose, "And I agree. Do you have any issues with this?"

Sam blinked, and shook her head. She wasn't going to take any issue with Jandra, especially since this morn.

Sam said, "Whatever you would like, Jandra."