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eBook Category: Fantasy
eBook Description: Were the children Bera had delivered changelings?--"One night!" She pitched her voice to carry over the clamor. "Leave them to the Old Ones for one night, and if nothing uncanny claims them, or kills them, we will know they are blessed by the gods!"

eBook Publisher: Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust, Published: Sword & Sorceress 14, 1997
Fictionwise Release Date: December 2007

12 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [193 KB], eReader (PDB) [24 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [19 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [18 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [69 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [89 KB], hiebook (KML) [75 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [56 KB], iSilo (PDB) [16 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [20 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [53 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [30 KB]
Words: 5950
Reading time: 17-23 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

Some of the folk were beginning to mutter darkly that it was not natural for a human woman to bear in litters, like a beast. When twins were born, it was rare for both to survive. If the Irish girl could not feed them both, it would be best to choose the strongest and expose the other on the mound. Until they were named they were not fully human, and to let one die would be no crime. It was not done often, but in time of famine or great poverty, or if the child was deformed, folk accepted the necessity. Only Borglind said nothing, but continued to send the new mother bowls of broth and stew, until Bera began to wonder if she had mistaken the woman's earlier hostility.

Bera did what she could to quell the whispers, but the constant crying got on her nerves as well, and when she caught herself thinking that perhaps it would be better of one of the babies did die, she began to be afraid.

"Are you upset because it was you who delivered the children?" asked Groa. "I have helped bring many to birth, and some lived and some did not. It does not reflect on you."

"But these are both healthy babes! There is no reason that both should not survive. Yet if even I, who want them to live, find their crying hard to bear, am I not right to wonder if one of the folk of the steading, perhaps hoping to gain favor with the mistress, might do them some harm?"