“But the babe can’t be both! The Earth Skyll must tend the garden; the King must rule. I’ll tell Ranald and he’ll declare his son as King, only as King. Then, Elymas will be secure in his position and we’ll have no threat—or be one.”

            “He’ll walk the kingly path dragging a heavy foot,” Maura’s face was flushed with color. “The position of the Earth Skyll isn’t lightly refused. It’s a gift from Jah.”

            “Then I give it back,” Laveth spat. “When I carried him in my womb, I asked for nothing from Jah. I asked for nothing now, save to be left alone. This gift is too much to bear.”

 “Which one of us, having been touched by the hand of Jah, can bear it?” Nan Maura’s voice was a lash. “Which of us doesn’t cry out for relief? I desired a child of my own but it was denied me. My husband died young and I became a seeress instead. Seeress don’t bear fruit. Then, the path branched and I was led to the unwashed, tow-headed niece of Lord Stenton, left motherless and running between the hounds and the stables. Your childhood was the happiest time of my life. I heard no voices, felt no stirrings, saw no visions in the night. Then the Warrior King spied you in the forest and brought you here as his wife. Since coming to Castle Ursaulis, I’ve seen the death of every earth child for the past three hundred years in my dreams. Some were smothered, others strangled, one was given to wolves. Elymas was behind it, and he will do the same to your son. It makes no difference if Ruse is the King’s get.” Nan Maura went back to her sewing and sat down in the chair. “There. I’ve said enough and I’ll say no more. I’ll go back to Glynnis Fen alone; I’m tired of seeing the hate in your eyes.”

            The Queen looked out the window. It was well into the afternoon and a strange wind was rising. Laveth checked the sobs that threatened to break her, and straightened her spine. Nan Maura was right. Her enemy was merciless, and she must be merciless as well. She must banish her son. Afterwards, grief would overtake her, but she could push past sorrow for now.

            A silence stretched between them and Nan Maura shrugged. “Who knows? I see only one way but perhaps there are others. Perhaps it could be as you said. Take him to the King, and expose him before the councilors. See what they think.”

            “Ranald is weakened by the Earth Skyll’s drink. I can’t be sure what he’ll say or do.”

            “Then you have no choice,” said Nan Maura, adding softly, “Or only one.”

            “My life will never be the same.”

            “No,” agreed the nurse.

            “Someday, my son will come back to reclaim his throne, and I won’t recognize him.” 

            “He’ll have the limp,” said Nan Maura, bluntly. “You’ll know him by that.”