BRENIN/ Chapter1/ Part 3

The witch's scream was said to have been what caused Elder Herlg to go blind, even though he had been half blind already.

In the poor slaves hut on a straw pallet on an earthen floor, Ilsabata struggled and screamed to bring forth the only heir to Hrrolf the Bloody, the Feared Birskir King of Scotland, a 10lb. baby boy with a shock of jet hair. The baby didn't cry, he didn't fret, as the mid-wife and her helpers wiped and swaddled the boy. They looked at each other in mute concern and fear as they handed the strangely quiet baby to his mother.

 

Ilsabata looked over the bundle. She had expected to have dislike for or even hate the boy, when she had first found she was with child. But she felt nothing but pride... and love. She felt the love swell in her heart and pledged to do the best she could by him. The boy opened his eyes and the midwife and her helpers gasped. He had the most intensely bright violet eyes; eyes like his mother.

Witch's eyes.

The midwife crossed herself and gathered her tools. She hustled herself and her people out of the fur covered door to alert the Laird of his new son. She sent the blond girl to go inform the Laird's wives of the boy. They would not be pleased that this outsider, this witch, had given Hrrolf is only heir.

"I will call him Brenin." Ilsa smiled at the baby. The smile lit up her face, making her radiant. Gayde paused in cleaning the girl and stared for a moment before she spoke.

"Hrrolf may have a mind to name the boy after him," Gayde warned, though she knew Ilsa would have her way on this. Many thought she held a supernatural power over the Laird. Though she defied him at every turn, Hrrolf had never given this one up to the other men as he had so many other slaves before. He'd even built this hut, when the other slaves lived in the communal lodge house. Gayde reached down and took the boy from his mother. Ilsa looked as if she would be asleep any moment. Gayde looked over the boy.

Healthy and perfect. But Gayde had expected nothing less. She touched the soft face with a wrinkled hand. The baby reached up and gripped her forefinger. He looked at her face intently. Hrrolf would have much to deal with in this one. He would not bow and scrape and be the model son. The boy would be stubborn. He was his mother's son.

Gayde chuckled. She hoped to be there to witness that.

"He will be Brenin, " Ilsa said. She shifted, painfully, and yawned. Wearliy she whispered, "Hrrolf will agree, I know. For the name means, King."

Gayde checked the girl again left her to sleep and regain her energy. The Laird would want to meet his son.