The Core

The reflection in the mirror was pale and hollow, dark circles beneath her eyes. Leesha longed to reach into her hora pouch, Drawing a bit of magic to give her strength through the ordeal to come, but it was too dangerous. Magic was known to send the child into wild fits. It was the last thing she wanted now.

She glanced at the powder kit, but she’d never had the skill painting her face that she had painting wards. That was her mother’s talent. She made do as best she could, brushing her hair and straightening her dress.

The roads of Cutter’s Hollow’s outer boroughs twisted and turned, following the curving shape of the greatwards she and Arlen Bales designed. The Hollow had over a dozen boroughs now, an ever-expanding net of interconnected greatwards that pushed the demons back farther every night. Leesha knew the shape as intimately as a lover, not needing to glance out the window to know they were passing through Newhaven.

Soon they would enter Cutter’s Hollow, the capital of Hollow County and the centre of the greatwards. Just two years ago, the Hollow had been a town of less than three hundred souls – barely large enough for a dot on the map. Now it was equal to any of the Free Cities.

Another contraction took her. They were getting closer – just six minutes apart now. She was dilating and could feel the child sitting lower. She breathed. There were herbs that could ease her pain, but she dare not take them until she was safely ensconced in her chambers.

Leesha peeked from the curtain, immediately regretting it as a cheer went up in response. She’d hoped to keep her homecoming quiet by arriving before dawn, but there was no quieting an escort of such size. Even at the early hour, folk crowded the streets and watched from windows as the procession wound its way home.

It was strange, thinking of Thamos’ keep as home, but it belonged to her now as Countess of Hollow County. In her absence, Darsy had turned Leesha’s cottage in the Gatherers’ Wood into the headquarters for Gatherers’ Academy, hopefully the first of many establishments of learning in the Hollow. Leesha would rather be there training apprentices, but there was far more she could accomplish if she took up residence in the keep.

She wrinkled her nose as the fortress came into view. It was a blocky, walled structure, built more for defence than aesthetics – at least on the outside. The inside was worse in some ways, lavish as a palace in a land struggling to rebuild. Both problems would have to be addressed now that the place was hers.

The great gates of the keep were open, the road lined on either side by the remains of the Wooden Lancers, Thamos’ cavalry. There were barely fifty of them now, the others lost with the count himself in the Battle of Docktown. They were resplendent on their great Angierian mustangs, man and horse equally stone-faced at attention. All were armed and armoured, as if expecting Leesha to command them into battle at any moment.

The courtyard, too, looked mustered as much for a war as a homecoming. To the left, Captain Gamon was mounted with his lieutenants before hundreds of men-at-arms, straight-backed with eyes forward, heavy polearms planted on the ground, points all at precisely the same angle.

Courtyard right, the entire keep’s staff – an army in its own right – lined up no less sharply than the infantry, uniforms clean and pressed.

It will be interesting to see what happens to those perfect ranks if I give birth in the courtyard. The thought was wry, but then the child kicked, and it ceased to amuse.

As Wonda warned, a knot of people stood at the base of the steps to the keep. Lord Arther was at their front, rigid in his dress uniform and spear. Beside him was Tarisa, the count’s childhood nurse who had become lady’s maid to Leesha. Gared was waiting with Rosal, his promised, and Rosal’s mother. With him were Inquisitor Hayes; Gatherers Darsy and Vika; her father, Erny; and … night, even Leesha’s mother, Elona, glaring daggers at Rosal’s back. Leesha prayed the early hour would succour her from that demon, at least, but as usual it went unanswered.

Wonda poked her head in the door. ‘Ready, mistress?’

A fresh contraction ripped through her. She felt hot, sweating even in the cold winter air.

Leesha smiled, showing none of it. Her legs shook as she got to her feet, and she felt the child inch lower. ‘Yes, dear. Swiftly now.’

Gamon dismounted as the carriage arrived. He, Arther, and Gared nearly tripped over one another in the scramble to offer their hands as she stepped down. Leesha ignored them all, clutching Wonda’s arm as she carefully descended the steps. It would not do to fall in front of the entire assembly.

‘Welcome back to the Hollow, Countess Paper,’ Arther said with a courtly bow. ‘It is a great relief to see you well. When we heard of the attack on Angiers, we feared the worst.’

‘Thank you,’ Leesha said as she steadied herself. All around the courtyard, there were bows and curtsies. Leesha kept her back straight, acknowledging it all with a dignified nod that would have done Duchess Araine proud.

Then she began walking. Wonda angled herself to take the lead even as she lent her support. Close behind, two meaty Cutter women followed.

Caught off guard, the men stumbled out of their path, but they recovered swiftly, scurrying after. Gamon was the first to match her pace. ‘My lady, I have prepared a roster of the house guards …’

‘Thank you, Captain Gamon.’ Leesha’s insides were churning. She clenched her thighs, terrified her water might break before she reached the house. ‘Be a dear and give it to Captain Wonda, please.’

Gamon’s eyes widened, and he stopped in his tracks. ‘Captain Wonda?’

‘I hereby appoint Wonda Cutter captain of my house guard,’ Leesha said loudly, continuing to walk. ‘A long-overdue promotion.’

Gamon hurried to catch back up. ‘If my command has been in some way unsatisfactory …’

Leesha smiled, wondering if she might vomit. ‘Not at all. Your service was exemplary, and your valour on behalf of the Hollow is without question. You will retain command of the Wooden Soldiers, but my house security will report to Captain Wonda alone. Order the men to fall out and return to their duties. We’re not expecting an attack.’

Gamon looked like he was trying to swallow a stone, but after months in Angiers not knowing if she was captive or guest, Leesha was tired of seeing Wooden Soldiers everywhere. Wonda had already hand-selected Cutters to take over the house guard, and signalled them to secure the entrance and sweep the manse.

Arther moved quickly to take the empty place as Gamon fell back, stunned. ‘The house staff …’

‘… looks crisp and ready to start the day,’ Leesha cut him off. ‘Let’s not keep them.’ She whisked a hand, dismissing the assemblage.

‘Of course, my lady.’ Arther gave a signal, and the crowd began to disperse. He looked ready to say more, but Leesha’s mother pushed her way in front, Erny trailing after. Elona was six months pregnant, though she hid it well with low-cut gowns that masked her belly and drew eyes elsewhere. The men fell back like she was a coreling.

‘My daughter, Countess of the Hollow!’ Elona spread her arms, face glowing with … was that what pride looked like on her? It was terrifying if so.

‘Mother, Father.’ Leesha allowed each a brief embrace, trying to keep from shaking.

Elona sensed it, but she had the decency to drop her voice. ‘You look terrible. What’s wrong?’

‘I just need to get inside and rest.’ Leesha gave Wonda’s arm a squeeze, and they started moving again. Others might fear to impede Elona, but Wonda was implacable as a falling tree. Elona moved to follow, but pulled up as Erny held her back. She glared at him, but like Wonda Cutter, Leesha’s father was always on her side.

‘Welcome home, Countess.’ Rosal dipped a practiced curtsy, her mother following suit.

‘Emelia,’ Leesha said, careful to use the woman’s proper name. ‘Mrs Lacquer. I’m surprised to find you here at such an early hour.’

Gared swept in, the three of them following Leesha up the steps. ‘Count had the ladies staying here in his keep on account of propriety. We can find another place …’

‘Nonsense.’ Leesha winked at Rosal. ‘We’ve plenty of room. How would it look for an upstanding young woman like yourself to move into the baron’s household before the wedding? A scandal!’

Gared blushed. ‘’Preciate it. Got some papers for you to look at when you have time …’

‘Send them over in the morning.’ Leesha was almost to the steps now.

Inquisitor Hayes appeared next, bowing deeply. His acolyte Child Franq, usually inseparable from his master, was conspicuously absent. ‘Countess. Praise be to the Creator that you are well.’

The next carriage in line pulled up and opened its door. Hayes’ eyes widened as Tender Jona stepped out. Vika gave a cry, breaking from the receiving line to hurry down the steps to her husband.

Hayes looked at her in shock, but even shaking with pain, Leesha’s smile was genuine. ‘You’ll be pleased to know, Inquisitor, that your interim assignment to the Hollow has ended. Jona will resume leading services in Hollow County.’

‘Preposterous,’ the Inquisitor sputtered. ‘I’m not going to just hand my cathedral over …’

Leesha raised an eyebrow. ‘Your cathedral, Inquisitor? The one in my county?’ She was still moving. The doors to the keep were closer, but still so far.

Hayes was forced to sacrifice dignity, lifting his robes to scuttle after her. ‘Only Duke Pether can relieve me …’

Leesha cut him off, producing a letter bearing the royal seal. ‘Your inquisition is over.’

‘The inquisition was about more than one heretic Tender,’ Hayes argued. ‘The question of Arlen Bales …’

‘Is one you and the Council of Tenders can debate all you wish back in Angiers,’ Leesha said. ‘Shepherd Jona will minister to the Hollow’s flock.’

Hayes’ gawp was greater even than Gamon’s. ‘Shepherd?!’

‘His Grace gave up the title when he became duke,’ Leesha said, ‘and there are more people in the Hollow than Angiers in any event. The Pact of the Free Cities gives our Tenders the right to form a new order.’

Unsure how to respond, the Inquisitor took the letter and fell back from Leesha’s determined march. The duke’s decree gave her the power to choose the spiritual leader of Hollow County, but she was testing the limits by promoting Jona to Shepherd. It was a declaration of independence that would not please the ivy throne, but there was little they could do to stop it now that Leesha was ensconced in the Hollow once more.

Darsy moved in quickly at a signal from Leesha, the woman’s bulk effectively dismissing the Inquisitor as she moved between them. ‘Creator be praised, it’s good to see you, mistress.’

‘You have no idea.’ Leesha pulled her into an embrace, dropping her voice. ‘Contractions are coming every two minutes. If I’m not inside soon, I’ll be giving birth on these steps. Wonda’s sent women to secure the royal chambers.’

Darsy nodded, not missing a beat. ‘Want me to go on ahead, or walk you?’

Leesha felt a rush of relief. ‘Walk me, please.’

Darsy took her other arm, she and Wonda guiding Leesha along as the next carriage pulled up and Amanvah, Sikvah, and Kendall made their solemn exit. Darsy watched them curiously.

‘Mistress,’ Darsy said. ‘Where’s Rojer?’

Leesha kept her breath a deep, steady rhythm as she pointed to the coffin a group of Cutters were pulling from the carriage.

Darsy let out a strangled cry and pulled up short. Leesha would have overbalanced and stumbled if not for Wonda.

‘Bottle it, Darsy,’ Wonda growled. ‘Ent got time right now.’ Darsy nodded, recovering herself and getting them back in motion.

Amanvah glided up the steps swiftly, ignoring the glares of Wonda and Darsy. One look in her eyes was all Leesha needed.

She knows.

‘Countess Leesha,’ the dama’ting began.

‘Not now, Amanvah,’ Leesha breathed.

Amanvah ignored her, stepping in close. Wonda reached out to bar her way, but Amanvah put a knuckle into the arm and it fell away long enough for her to pass.

‘I must assist the birth,’ she said without preamble.

‘Core you will,’ Darsy growled.

‘I have cast the dice, mistress,’ Amanvah said quietly. ‘If I am not with you in the coming hours, you will die.’

‘That some kinda threat?’ Wonda’s voice was low and dangerous.

‘Stop it, all of you,’ Leesha said. ‘She comes.’

‘I can do anything …’ Darsy began.

Leesha groaned, feeling the need to bear down. ‘There’s no time.’ She put a foot on the steps. Such a short climb, but it felt like a mountain.

Tarisa was waiting at the top. Leesha managed the climb unassisted, but still the woman needed only a glance to see what was happening.

‘This way,’ she said, turning on her heel and opening the doors, snapping her fingers at a group of maids. They scurried to her as she walked, and like a general, Tarisa sent them running off with instructions.

Leesha knew word would spread quickly now, but there was nothing to be done for it. She kept all her focus on breathing and putting one foot in front of the other.

The moment they left the great hall, Wonda signalled the guards. They closed ranks as the big woman swept Leesha up into her arms like a child, carrying her the rest of the way.

‘Push,’ Darsy said.

It was a pointless request. Leesha could feel the baby moving the moment they had her propped on the edge of the bed. It was coming whether she pushed or not. She was fully dilated, her water broken all over Wonda’s fine wooden armour. It would be over in moments.

But then the child thrashed, and Leesha cried out in pain. Darsy, too, gave a cry, seeing Leesha’s stomach distend as tiny hands and feet thrust into the lining. It felt like a demon inside her, trying to claw its way free. Fresh bruises were forming atop the faded ones all over her abdomen.

‘Can you see it?’ Leesha demanded.

Darsy sucked a breath and moved back in between the makeshift stirrups. ‘No, mistress.’

Corespawn it. She was so close.

‘Help me up,’ she said, gripping Wonda’s hand. ‘It will be easier if I squat.’ She bore down, trying to squeeze the child free.

Again the child struck, hitting her like a horse’s kick. Leesha screamed and stumbled, but Wonda caught her, easing her back to the pillows.

‘It is as I feared,’ Amanvah said. ‘Mistress, I must cut the child free.’

Wonda immediately interposed herself. ‘Not a chance.’

Darsy rose, the large woman towering over tiny Amanvah. ‘Not if you were the last Gatherer in the world.’

‘Leesha vah Erny am’Paper am’Hollow,’ Amanvah said. ‘By Everam and my hope of Heaven, I swear to you, the only chance you have to survive this night is for me to cut you.’

Wonda had her knife in hand now, and Leesha knew how fast the woman could use it.

But then Amanvah did something Leesha could never in a thousand years have imagined. She dropped to her knees, putting her hands on the floor and pressing her forehead between them.

‘By the blood we share, mistress. Please. Ala needs you. Sharak Ka needs you. You must believe me.’

‘Blood you share?’ Darsy asked. ‘What in the Core …?’

‘Do it,’ Leesha growled as the thrashing continued.

‘You can’t mean …’ Darsy began.

‘I can and I do, Darsy Cutter,’ Leesha snapped. ‘She’s better with the knife than you and you know it. Swallow your pride and assist.’

Darsy scowled, but she nodded as Amanvah produced stones from her hora pouch. ‘I will put you both to sleep …’

Leesha shook her head. ‘Calm the child, but I’m staying awake.’

‘There is no time to take herbs for the pain,’ Amanvah said.

‘Then get me something to bite on,’ Leesha said.

Amanvah’s eyes crinkled as she smiled behind her veil. She nodded. ‘Your honour is boundless, daughter of Erny. Pain is only wind. Bend as the palm, and let it blow over you.’

The child’s cries filled the room, the babe wrapped in swaddling and thrust into Wonda’s arms while Amanvah and Darsy finished their work. Darsy was suturing the wound as Amanvah prepared hora magic to speed the healing.

Wonda stood stiff as any new father, terrified she might squeeze the child too hard and crush it. She looked down at the tiny olive-skinned face, and Leesha knew the young woman would die to keep the baby safe.

Leesha’s arms twitched, wanting to reach out, but she needed to remain still until the work was done. For the moment, it was almost enough to know the child was healthy and safe.

Almost.

‘What is it?’ Leesha asked.

Wonda’s head snapped up like an apprentice caught daydreaming. ‘Mistress?’

‘My child,’ Leesha begged. ‘Is it a boy or a girl?’ So much rode on the question. A male greenland heir to Ahmann Jardir might provoke outright war with Krasia, but a daughter would be no less a target. That the Krasians would come for the child was never in doubt, no matter what Amanvah swore. But when they came – now or over a decade hence – hinged on Wonda’s next words.

Wonda cradled the babe in one arm as she opened the swaddling. ‘It’s a b …’ She frowned, looking closer.

At last she looked up, face twisted. ‘Core if I know, mistress. Ent no Gatherer.’

Leesha stared at her, incredulous. ‘You don’t need to be a Gatherer, Wonda, to know what parts a boy has and what parts a girl.’

‘That’s just it, mistress.’ Wonda looked terrified.

‘Babe’s got both.’

2

Olive

334 AR

For perhaps the first time in her life, words failed Leesha. She stared open-mouthed, mind racing as the child’s screams rang through the room.

A babe born with both sets of parts was not unheard of. There were documented cases in her books of old world science, but it was another thing to find it in a live child.

Her child.

Tarisa peeked over Wonda’s shoulder and gasped, turning away.

Leesha reached out. ‘Let me see.’

Darsy caught her arm, pulling it back to the table. ‘Leesha Paper, you move again ’fore we’re done and I’m strapping you down.’

A shout came from the doorway, and Leesha looked up into a nightmare: one of Wonda’s guards stumbling back to keep out of the path of a very angry Elona Paper.

‘Ay, Bekka!’ Wonda cried. ‘Said no one was to get in!’

‘Sorry, Won!’ Bekka cried. ‘She pinched my pap and shoved by!’

‘I’ll pinch more than that, you try to keep me away from my daughter,’ Elona warned. ‘Why wasn’t I …’

The words caught in her throat as Wonda turned and Elona caught sight of the child in her arms. She ran to it, arms reaching, but Wonda deftly sidestepped. The glare Elona threw her would frighten a coreling, but Wonda bared her teeth right back.

‘It’s all right,’ Leesha said, and Wonda relented, reluctantly letting Elona take the child.

There were tears in her mother’s eyes. ‘Skin like the father, but those eyes are yours.’ Elona pulled back the blanket. ‘Is it a boy or a …’

She froze, illuminated in the wardlight as Amanvah activated her healing magic.

The rush of power was like air to a drowning person. It jolted through Leesha’s torso, repairing the damage and filling her with new strength. When the light died down, she began to rise.

‘Now, don’t go …’ Darsy began.

Leesha ignored her. ‘Wonda, help me to the bed, please.’

Wonda picked her up effortlessly, carrying her to the great feathered bed. Leesha reached out, and Elona slid the baby into her arms. It looked up at her with bright blue eyes, and Leesha fell in love so utterly it shook her.

Wonda Cutter’s not the only one who would die for you, darling. Pity human and demon alike, if they try to come between us.

She kissed the beautiful, perfect face and freed the child from its swaddling, laying it skin-to-skin on her chest, sharing her warmth. The child began to root, and Leesha massaged her breast, readying it as the babe reached the nipple. The little mouth opened wide, and she pulled it in quickly to ensure a tight latch.

How many mothers had she guided through this milestone? How many newborns had she brought to the pap? It was nothing compared with experiencing it firsthand, seeing her perfect child begin to suckle. She gasped at the force of its pull.

‘Everything all right?’ Darsy asked.

Leesha nodded. ‘So strong.’ She felt herself express, and knew she could endure any pain to feed her child. So many times in recent months, she had feared desperately for the child’s life, but now it was here. Alive. Safe. She wept for the joy of it.

Tarisa appeared with a damp cloth, blotting away the tears and sweat. ‘Every mother cries at first latch, my lady.’

Her sobs were a needed relief, but there were too many unanswered questions for Leesha to succumb for long. When her breathing calmed, she let Tarisa clear her eyes one last time and drew back the swaddling.

Wonda hadn’t been wrong. At first glance the child was a healthy boy, with fully formed penis and testicles. It was only when Leesha lifted the scrotum that she could see the perfectly formed vagina beneath.

She breathed, pulling back and beginning a full examination. The baby was large, too large to have passed through her birth canal without damage to her and risk to the child. Amanvah had been right. The surgery saved both their lives.

It was strong, too, and hungry. By all accounts, the baby was perfectly healthy, with no other distinct feature to mark it boy or girl.

She slipped on her warded spectacles, inspecting deeper. The child’s aura was bright – brighter than any Leesha had seen short of Arlen and Renna Bales. It was strong, and … joyful. The child took as much emotional pleasure in nursing as she. Tears welled in Leesha’s eyes again, and she had to brush them away before she could continue her examination.

A glance down confirmed her initial diagnosis. Male and female organs, both healthy and functional.

She gave Wonda a nod. ‘Both.’

‘How in the Core’s that even possible?’ Elona asked.

‘I’ve read about it,’ Leesha said, ‘though I’ve never witnessed it. It means there were two eggs at fertilization, but one absorbed …’ The words choked off as Leesha’s throat tightened.

‘It’s my fault,’ she gasped.

‘How’s that?’ Darsy asked.

‘The magic.’ Leesha felt like the walls of the great chamber were closing in on her. ‘I’ve been using so much. Starting when Inevera and I fought the mind demon that first night after Ahmann and I …’ Her face stretched as the full horror of it dawned on her.

‘I fused them.’

‘Demonshit,’ Elona said. ‘Ent no way to know that. Said yourself you seen it in books.’

‘Ent every day I agree with Elona, mistress,’ Darsy said, ‘but your mum has the right of this. Ent no reason to think magic had anything to do with it.’

‘It did,’ Leesha insisted. ‘I felt it happen.’

‘What if it did?’ Wonda demanded. ‘Should yu’ve let yurself get et by a demon, instead?’