Dark Lord of Kismera: Knights of Kismera (55 page)

WINTER HIT WITH A vengeance the next day and kept people indoors except for necessary chores for days.

Tired of watching Cerise pace by the hearth as she worried of Lexin traveling in the storm, Ki took her to meet her steward. Ki left her with him to learn the business end of Oralia, thinking she would be happy with trade.

Two months passed quickly with Cerise coming up with several ideas to put into work come spring.

Ki continued to swell with child, making her slow and clumsy. As her time grew closer she prepared for the new arrival.

Drace looked at her with pride and love, the proudest of fathers. He couldn’t remember being happier.

Cearan schooled Cerise with the dagger and short sword whenever possible. They were practicing with her sword in the main hall after the midday meal.

“One day we will ride to Ferndale and have one made for you, Cerise. You are becoming a good swordswoman,” he complimented her when they took a break. “When the weather breaks I will try to teach you to throw the dagger.”

Her attention was elsewhere so he came up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. She jumped with the contact but he kept his hand there.

“Do you think he is alright?” she asked quietly, not looking at Cearan. Every day she had gone to the top of one of the towers to watch for Lexin’s return.

“I know not for sure. I choose to believe that he is but I will not lie to you. I hope with all my heart that he is well.”

Cerise sighed . “Me too.”

“You feel much for Lexin, do you not?”

“I don’t know for sure what I feel. I didn’t have a chance to find out.” It was her turn for an honest answer. “I know that I miss him and worry.”

“If you were thinking to mate with him, there are others who would have you,” Cearan said, giving her an odd look.

Cerise gave an unladylike snort. “I suppose you’re one of them?”

Cearan looked affronted at her tone. “I did not think I was so undesirable.” He ran a finger over the scar on his face. “I am ugly, but females do not shy away from my bed.”

“You are not ugly.” Cerise argued, realizing how he had interpreted her comment. “God, your one of the most gorgeous men I’ve ever met.”

Cearan flushed at her words. “I would mate with you if you would have me,” he said bluntly, “But I would not toy with your heart. You are not like the serving wenches who will raise their skirts for any male. I must choose one day a Werre female to bond with now that Ki has chosen Drace. One day I will leave to go to the High Kingdom.”

Cerise could tell that idea saddened him. “You don’t wish to leave here?”

“No,” he answered. He pulled his sword to resume practice, clearly not wishing to discuss it further. “Let us practice a while longer, little one. We must have you ready to give Lexin a fair challenge when he returns.”

“Okay, coach,” she said, drawing her own little sword with a grin. “Bring it on!”

Drace lay curled behind Ki in orgasmic bliss. His arm was around her belly, idly stroking the great mound. He couldn’t believe Ki was still wanting him. Ki looked as if the baby could come at any time.
God bless her hormones,
he thought, still halfway firm in her. All he had to do was touch her to have her crying out with pleasure.

He moved in her a stroke and felt her clench around him. He did it again, touching the front of her with his thumb and she arched back against him. One more thrust and she cried out, shaking.

Just then, Drace slid free of her, and Ki made a sound of protest. “Greedy wench,” he said in her ear. With his thumb, he brought her to climax once more. Finally, she lay spent in his arms.

Drace felt the baby kick under his hand. “We woke someone,” he murmured sleepily.

“He is still much of the day, but as soon as I lay my head, he is off to war,” Ki informed with a yawn. “I am beginning to look forward to birthing this one.”

“You sound so sure it’s a boy,” Drace said. “It could very well be a girl. Would you be unhappy if it were?”

“I only wish for it to be healthy, but it is a boy, my love. I am fairly certain,” she murmured against her other arm under her head.

“Well, on the off hand chance you are wrong, I’ll be happy. I don’t think it will be long now.”

“If you compare me to a horse, Drace, I will do you harm,” she threatened, knowing the baby had dropped and he had seen this sign.

She felt Drace laugh against her back. “Never, hon. I’m not that brave, or stupid.”

The next morning, after breakfast Drace and Cearan went to a close by farm to help repair the tenant’s barn roof. Drace was anxious to get the job done in a hurry but as Lord, he wanted the tenants to know they could come to him for help. The three men made short work on the leaky roof, damaged by the hard winter. Drace and Cearan left richer by a loaf of bread and a stone jar of jam.

Drace and Cearan rode into the courtyard laughing at one of Cearan’s jokes. Ki met them by the stables.

“What a pleasant surprise,” Drace said, snatching a quick kiss hello.

“It is a beautiful day and I thought to walk some,” she told him, plucking hay from his hair. “Why ever are you covered with hay?”

“Drace fell through the roof,” Cearan was kind enough to inform.

“What?”
Ki spoke in surprise. “Are you hurt?”

“Just my pride,” he answered with a grin. “I landed in the haystack.”

“I learned some new curses from his trouble, though I am not sure of some of the meanings,” Cearan added.

“I’ve got splinter in an interesting place. Would you care to see?” Drace teased, although it actually was a rather large splinter in his hip and was stabbing like hell.

“I think not. Cearan can help you,” Ki replied. “I believe I will resume my walk and leave you to it.”

“Guess I’ll just let it fester out if it’s all the same to you,” Drace said, sliding a glance at Cearan. “We’ll be in after we tend the horses, hon. See you in a bit.”

“What exactly is a ‘mother fucker’?” Ki heard Cearan ask Drace as they led the horses into the stable. Drace’s deep laugh echoed back to her as she walked slowly back to the castle.

The evening meal came with Cearan telling Cerise of Drace’s mishap. He kept her giggling over the splinter in Drace’s hindquarter.

Drace blushed and turned away from the pair. He noticed Ki was pushing her food around on her plate then her hand stilled and her face turned red. “Ki?”

At the worried tone of his voice, Cearan and Cerise turned their attention to them.

“It is nothing,” she said, waving them off. “It is just hot in here.”

“You sure, hon?” Drace asked, concerned.

“Yes,” Ki answered and reached for her water.

A while later she sat back in her chair, hands on her belly. A bead of sweat trickled from her hairline down her cheek, and she clenched her teeth.

Drace stood, motioning for Cerise to go for Estelle. “Can you stand, hon?”

“Not just now,” Ki answered, her voice pained. She took his hand, gripping it hard. Finally she took a deep breath. “I wish to go to our chamber now, if you will come with me,” Ki said.

“Of course. Here, let me help you.” He took her elbow and helped her to her feet.

Ki made it to the bottom of the stairs before her next pain hit her. Drace scooped her up and went up the stairs carefully, afraid he would trip. Cearan was close behind, ready to lend a hand if needed.

Drace sat Ki on her feet and then helped her to sit. “Those were close together. How long have you been feeling contractions?”

“Since I woke this morning,” Ki admitted, rubbing her swollen belly absently.

Estelle came into the room then with Cerise in tow. “Out, lads. We need to get my Lady into a shift and make ready.”

“I want to be here for this,” Drace protested as Estelle started to try to physically move him.

“Let me check her and get her comfortable. Why can you not be like most men and just go get drunk until it is over? Lord Cearan, please go sit outside on the stairs with him.”

Cearan looked more than happy to escape, taking Drace by the arm with him.

“You are an insane man,” Cearan told Drace as they sat on the stairs.

“Why do you say that?” Drace asked, running his hands through his hair. He felt his belly tighten as he thought of Ki in their room.

“No sane man wants to be in a birthing chamber.” He shook a finger at Drace. “There will be screaming. I hate to hear a woman scream.”

“Maybe you’re right on the screaming but don’t you want to be there when your child is born?”

“By the gods, no!”

Drace stood, full of nervous energy. “I think when it happens, you’ll change your mind. Where I come from, men are there when their babies are born all the time.”

Cearan’s exclamation of disbelief was cut short when Estelle stuck her head out the door and called to them.

Cearan came in with Drace and saw Ki had been dressed in a clean shift and the bed made ready. She had the black shawl from Spain Drace had given her wrapped around her shoulders and Cerise was braiding the length of Ki’s hair.

Not having a contraction at that moment, Ki smiled in good spirits.

Drace knelt by her chair. “How are you, sweetheart? Ready to do this thing?”

“Do I have a choice?” she asked, comforted with him beside her.

“ ’Fraid not. You know, maybe last night was a bad idea,” he said, blushing.

“Drace, you did not!” Cerise exclaimed, shocked.

Drace ignored Cerise and took Ki’s hand. “Maybe last night helped things along. It surely did not hurt.” Suddenly Ki’s hand tightened on his and she gritted her teeth.

“No, my Lady. Do not fight the pain. Work with it. Breathe deep breaths,” Estelle instructed.

Ki answered with a grunt like an overburdened draft horse.

Cearan was starting to look like something hunted. “Brother, since you insist on this foolishness, I will get drunk for the both of us. I will hold a spot for you by the fire should you change your mind.”

“Thanks, Cearan,” Drace replied.

Cearan stopped in the doorway. “May Tala watch over you, dear sister, and may you bring a fine son or daughter into this world.” He looked at Ki lovingly.

Ki smiled back at him.

He closed the door and disappeared down the stairs.

“Walk with her, my Lord,” Estelle instructed him. “It will help things along.”

Three hours later, he was still walking with Ki. He didn’t even want to know how many laps they had done with Ki stopping every few minutes to work through a contraction. They were stopped for one such ordeal when Ki’s eyes went wide and she said, “Oh!” as her water broke.

Estelle came over, helped her around the mess, and got her changed into a dry shift, with Cerise’s assistance.

“I am sorry for your boots, my Lord,” Ki apologized in a strained
voice.

Drace looked down and saw fluid all over the tops of his favorite boots. “I don’t care, hon,” he said with a laugh.

He saw her become distracted as another pain hit. “Aren’t these really close?” he asked Estelle, worry leaving a cold feeling in the pit of his gut.