BRENIN/ Chapter 1/ Part 2

The others thought Ilsabata a witch because of her unusual violet eyes and the fact that she had been brought from the Ancient Welsh lands. The legends say only Witches lived in the Ancient Welsh forest and that they kept their lands hidden from humans. People had been known to travel into the Welsh lands and never return.

Ilsabata had refused to answer any questions about her home, which frightened the villagers.  Even after their king had beaten, raped, and enslaved her, she laughed in his face and even cursed him.  The villagers thought her a crazed sorceress, and gave her wide berth.   Even the other slaves, captured from different lands, were wary of the girl.  Gayde had no patience for such nonsense.  Ilsabata had been lost and afraid and that had been all Gayde needed to know.

Ilsa grunted and it brought Gayde back from her memories. 

The girl had labored for the better part of a day already. The worthless mid-wife and the two young girls she apprenticed were afraid and ineffectual. They feared to touch the girl but were terrified that the baby would die and the King would take out his wrath and pain on them. He had three wives but, no children had survived beyond the first few months of pregnancy. This slave girl could be the only heir that the Laird would get.

Hrrolf, the Bloody, would probably kill the one who brought him the bad news. Gayde had been at the hut door since she found out Ilsabata would give birth and the mid-wife had kept everyone out, ignoring Gayde's threats. Mid-wife Fromld had finally consented to let Gayde into the hut after the girl had already labored for 12 hours. The mid-wife figured that if the witch died she could blame the old woman.

"You should have taken Hrrolf's offer to allow you to have the babe in his home. At least the sheets would be clean." Gayde threw the hovering mid-wife a hard look.

"I will not lie is his home." Ilsa labored to say. "He is a monster."

Besides his two wives and three daughters were there and they all hated her. When Hrrolf was out on raids, they made sure to keep Ilsa busy with all of the most back breaking or demeaning tasks they could find. If they didn't like her efforts, they would punish her in ways that didn't leave bruises for Hrrolf to find. Often mucking the stalls and spreading horse manure for the gardens, were their favorite assignments for Ilsa. And she did it without complaining, but she would be damned before letting those women get their hands on her child. He would die within the hour. His wives were not pleased that she had conceived his child and carried it with no problems.

"That he may well be, girl, but you need proper care, " Gayde muttered. She glanced at the mid-wife. "This worthless git, would let you die here on the floor before touching you. Of course you might die from her filthy hands, too." Gayde motioned to the blond girl beside the mid-wife. "Make yourself of some use and fetch me some water, girl." Gayde turned back to Ilsabata. "I'll have to turn the baby. He's stuck. This will be painful." Gayde rubbed Ilsabata's hair again.

Gayde reached for the water the blond apprentice brought a moment later. Now was the time to turn the baby. Gayde took a deep breath and reached for Ilsa.