Chapter 44 – A short tale so far

“As is a tale, so is a life: Not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.”

Seneca

My funeral was a sad occasion.

Super senses, Echolocation, Eavesdrop, and Mana Sense allowed me to hear it from afar and see it to an extent, hidden as I was, in a backpack carried by Des who stood side by side with Sinis, alone alongside Grandfather’s boat. They were waiting till after the funeral to head to the island with me. No one had really questioned what or who the two boys were in the light of the news of my death and my two servants, slaves, employees or whatever they were, would be accompanying their lord in his escape into exile. Their lack of the language Bussola was a blessing in disguise as they were unable to confirm or deny any story of my demise. There was no need for them to lie unable as they were to understand or answer any of the questions they had been asked. The story of what had happened rested with my maternal and paternal grandfather’s. One a pillar of the community the other, well I was still unsure what precisely it was my more militant grandfather did exactly.

Des and Sinis spoke quietly to one another watching the ceremony unfold. Another language to learn another skill and experience to gain but I had not started yet too wrapped up in the events unfolding on the shoreline.

I had a small coffin, more a wooden box than anything fancy, it was placed on a raft which was about to be pushed to sea. Obviously, it didn’t have my body in it and everyone knew that. The story of my demise was that I had or rather my body had never been found after I dropped off the cliff into the sea. It was not a difficult story to tell as it was for the most part true and it wasn’t hard to understand that a baby would never survive the fall. In fact, it would have been more challenging for the people of the town to know that I had survived. People were cross but it was a wave of diffuse anger spread out among a few the people blamed. Some blamed the attempted murderer or man acting as an assassin, some the merchant, some the nobles, some my grandfather. It all depended on how they viewed the world and how much of the story they were aware of. Either way, it was a shock to the system and the majority were stunned by the sudden disappearance of the latest addition to the island not through accident, illness, or injury but through foul play. Their emotions seemed to switch between sadness that debilitated and a wave of anger that drove them to action. But held by the service, they stood in silence as my family stepped up to the coffin. Before they pushed it out onto the lagoon they had some final words to say.

“To Kai, the song of my heart.” My mother spoke quietly but clearly for all to hear, remembering all the times we had sung or hummed together. She placed a little whistle on the raft next to the box.

“To Kai, the sailor of our little sea.” My father intoned, louder, proud of the progress I had made, yet still clearly sad about my passing. He placed a small sailboat alongside the whistle.

“To Kai, my brother a merchant in the making and a tall tale cut short too quick.” Aleera said. As she placed a little bag of salt and a toy soldier or doll down with them.

I wonder where they got the items from as I had not seen them before, or who they were for 

. . .

Wait a second!

. . .

Are those my birthday presents?

Do we really need to burn my birthday presents?

That’s so not fair!

. . . 

My parents stood there watching as my raft was pushed out onto the lake it was small and hastily cobbled together rather than the fine and probably false Viking funeral my imagination conjured. Still, the small cloth sail was filled by an errant gust of wind which took it out further onto the lagoon. If I had been in the crowd I would have raised an eyebrow suspiciously at my sister, but hidden as I was all I could do was wonder whether my suspicions were correct, rather than watch her face to gain an answer. My Grandfather removed a bow and with a burning arrow lit on fire fired it out onto the little raft. Four arrows later, the box and base packed with kindling were blazing away. The crowd murmured, talking quietly as they watched the memory of my mortal remains quickly burn to the waterline before sinking under the water. It was a poignant way to sell the story, making me wonder what had happened to my first body in my old world. Had I been buried or cremated? I couldn’t remember if I had ever written a will or what I had decided to do on my death. It hadn’t been something I had ever really considered. Also, what happened to you here when you died? Would I start another life in another world? No one else here seemed to have done so. I certainly couldn’t bank on it happening again, so holding onto the new life that I miraculously had again was my goal in life. But it also made me wonder about what people believed here. I found it interesting that people can have similar rituals despite living in different times on different worlds. A question for another time, my parents had not talked to me about religion yet but I’m sure there are some. All cultures have some form of faith, either in god, spirits or simply themselves.

After the raft had sunk below the waterline, we all made our way to the grandfather’s boat. Today it was just Des, Sinis, and I. Mother, Father and Aleera would follow tomorrow. My family after watching the raft sink set about packing up their house before they planned to move out to the island.

The plan was to be on the island for at least 3 years before returning to the town. One year to allow mother to be pregnant again. One year to allow to pretend that a new baby has been born. Finally one more year to allow the imaginary baby that I am going to pretend to be to be old enough that my 4 years of age could be confused with a child that is supposed to only be 2. That all seems rather complicated and indeed it is but it will hopefully give us a window of opportunity free from noble interference to consolidate our position and let me grow up a little.

“Everybody ready?” Grandfather asked after we had climbed aboard. “Good, let’s get going then.”

Without waiting for an answer from two boys who couldn’t reply or me who was hidden away in a bag now in the bottom of the boat he set sail for the island. I grinned to myself. My island.

Do you think anyone had mentioned to him that I was now his landlord?

Probably not.

. . .

I could just imagine the conversation in my head.

“Where’s my rent?” baby me.

“Kai?” confused grandfather.

“You pay me now!” baby scream.

“I’m going to go get my bow and arrow, time to practice your dodging skills.” Sardonic grandfather.

. . .

Somehow, I didn’t think it would go as well as the 2-year-old landlord Pearl I had laughed at all those years ago.

. . .

As we sailed across the inner lagoon of Wester Ponente, I was not bothered by the fact that I had been packed away in a bag. I closed my eyes and napped or daydreamed about what was to come next.

.

.

.

(Next chapter has a flashback to explain character development and attitudes but includes the birth scene of Kai which while not graphic is covered along with some dangers of childbirth included. Forewarned = forearmed. It is also my first attempt at a different POV which readers often seem split upon. But hopefully, you will enjoy and see how it adds to the story and the world)

.

.

.

Chapter 45 Nature, nurture or simply fate

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."

William Shakespeare

Kaius POV

As I watched the tiny raft float out onto the lagoon I couldn’t help but remember the first time I had seen Kai. The day he had come into the world had been a morning much like this one, the day we were pretending he was exiting the world, but my memory of the day started out on the lagoon rather than the shoreline.

. . .

I kicked back, my boots resting on the side of the boot, relaxed as I could be I waited for my haul to arrive or the fish to bite. It probably didn’t help my case that I was within sight of the town, the fish still swim by now and then but as for the big ones they would be further out around the other side of the Ash Island.

I did not really want to go too far today or yesterday. I probably would not want to go too far tomorrow either because it could happen any day now. I had started fishing closer to home this last week the women my wife, mother, and the old crone reckoned the due date was any day now.

But despite fishing closer to home nothing had happened yet. Maybe I should go further out to see if that triggered the birth. A silly thought but something, anything would be better than waiting any further. Aliyah had enjoyed the majority of her pregnancy once she was past the morning sickness up till this last week when she had decided that enough was enough it was time for the baby to be born.

It wasn’t like it affected him as much as her I still needed to catch some fish and make some money while waiting for the baby to arrive. But I was on tenterhooks after what had happened last time. It had not been easy, the first birth. Aliyah, almost too strong for Aleera to break free. The second birth . . . well that was a sorry tale we did not like to talk about at home, a sad tale without a happy ending. It had taken a long time for Aliyah to build up the courage to try again. But eventually, she had and here he sat waiting. If all went well perhaps they would try for another but if not. This could be the last time she tried.

He waited.

. . .

Suddenly I saw it, a fire flare-up on the shoreline. I had arranged for them to light a fire just in case. I mean it could be an attack or disaster but hopefully it wouldn’t be one of those two but a third reason that my wife had finally gone into labour.

. . .

Aliyah was strong. I was sure should be fine. But I couldn’t help but worry would the baby be? What if something went wrong. He quickly dragged the net up not bothering to keep the few feeble fish he had caught and emptied out the catch straight back into the lagoon rather than spend the time sorting them and keeping the best of them on board.

As quick as I could I readied to the sail but there was no wind. Barely a breeze blowing and even that was going in the wrong direction anyway. Another reason why I was fishing so close to home. Quickly I put the oars into their oarlocks then dropping the blades into the water I pulled as hard as I could the boat suddenly shooting back towards the shore, skimming along the top of the water and picking up speed.

I had been sailing for many a year now and had a good rhythm and the callouses as well as the stats for strength and endurance to keep up a blistering pace back to the shoreline. I’d make it in time. I had the skills, deep pull, double skull, lower ballast, direct course. Trusting In the strength of my strokes the lightened boat and the skill to navigate without looking I lost myself in the rhythm of pulling the oars sending my boat skipping over the waves towards home, hoping to get there in time.

I hoped Aleera was okay.

I hoped the baby would be fine.

There was not much I could do there.

There was not much anyone could do, to be honest.

It was all down to Aliyah and her body. The baby, and their body now.

All I could do was be there, a witness to the terror and wonder of childbirth.

. . .

All I could do was be there.

. . .

I had to be there.

. . .

I pushed myself harder and harder until finally, I drove the boat out of the lake up onto the beach by speed and rowing alone. I jumped out and paused only long enough to drag it up a little further out of the water before I set off sprinting for home. I had never seen the need to practice this skill always planning to sail but had been forced to practice it by my father alongside my brothers. It finally came in useful now. My skill level was not particularly very high but every extra second counted. All I could do was get there as quickly as I could.

I dashed up through the town people moved out of the way no one stopped me to ask any questions they knew I was focused on someone else right now and would not be stopping.

I ran breathlessly through the front door. To find the crone and my mother there watching over her as Aliyah ignored me completely concentrating on her breathing.

It was at times like these that I no longer enjoyed living at the edge of the world. We had no healer, medicine man or chirurgeon on our isle or any that I knew of had ever made it out as far as Western Isles. Now if I had heard of them I would have gone and got them to be here and damn the cost.

“Are you okay?” I gasped, “Is the baby okay? Are you having contractions?” She didn’t answer but I reached her side and held her hand flinching as she clenched my hand tight. Gods, she was a strong woman. A physical reminder of just how strong my wife actually was. I could match her in strength but she was far stronger the most woman her age on the island.

Her strength had been one of the things that drew him to her though, that and her voice which was magical. Any melody she sang to me made me feel truly loved.

“I’m here.” I settled for a statement instead of all the questions I felt building up inside.

“I know.” her hands clenched his once more.

. . .

“Do you think you’re close?” I asked as I finally got my breath back under control.

It had been a quick sprint through the town and a frantic scull across the lagoon and my stamina was probably quite low but I did not have time to look as I watched my wife’s face with concern. I couldn’t do anything but I wouldn’t miss a moment either.

I tried to keep a stoic face as I held her hand waiting for her to tell me how I was going. ‘Please be okay,’ I desperately thought to myself. “How’s it going darling?”

“Same as the last time you asked me.” she replied when the contractions had passed her by again. She grimaced in pain as another contraction racked her body once more.

“It will be okay.” he repeatedly reassured talking as much to himself as to her.

. . .

It was to be a long afternoon.

. . .

Three hours later the contractions were still going when they suddenly got harder, sharper and faster coming closer and closer together as the baby got closer and closer to coming out. His hand now bruised from his wife’s grip switched to the other side giving her something else to hold down on as the child once more made a move.

“Push down. Breathe. Hold it and push down harder.” The old crone just needed to be quite. Let his wife do her work. It seemed everybody had heard by now my mother had turned up to look after Aleera and help. Aliyah’s mother had apparently died a long time ago either in childbirth or near enough as grandfather never said and refused to talk about it.

Aleera and Grandma fetched the water, the sheets and towels, all I did was stand there holding her hand. I needed to be able to do something, anything to take my mind off matters. I needed to stop worrying whether everything would be okay but it was impossible to do. She was strong, she be okay.

But what if the baby was not, the contractions seemed so strong. Finally, the contractions drew closer and closer. a head finally breached he wasn’t watching just holding her hand wishing her well, telling her she could do it then everything will be fine and everything will be okay has she bore them another child. The strength of this woman.

Having held in her screams till now, it was with a final shout for the baby that they wer born.

“Their okay?” I asked with tears in my eyes, would they both be okay?

"He is fine." someone answered me but in the moment I could not have told you who.

I was given the small bundle of baby wrapped in a sheet before I presented them to their mother.

“Are they okay? Did they make it?” Aliyah asked as I handed her our child.

“Everything looked fine they’re well.” He calmly reassured her now that it was finally over. Aliyah relaxed into her bed and held the baby close. There were still a few contractions left to push everything out but the hard part was over and they were both alive.

. . .

As the raft burned through and sank below the waterline I realised that the hard part wasn’t over after all. I might not have been able to do more than be there at his birth but there was so much more that I could do for him now that he was here. I needed to teach him every skill that I knew. I had to protect him and to do that I needed to get stronger too.

Filled with determination to protect my family I headed home with wife and daughter to pack up our household to move out to the island so that I could continue doing that.

We would all need to do more, to be more.