‘I am tired, at that.’ said Pio, raising her head from her hand. ‘But I am afraid that my children are not as yet!’ She laughed delightedly, and shifted herself in the chair for comfort. Motioning Laurie closer, she placed the girl’s hand on her belly and pressed it down gently. A series of taps thudded against her palm. ‘That one is my daughter.’ She moved Laurie’s hand to the opposite side, where two strong thumps hit it. ‘And that is my son.’
She smiled up at the young woman. ‘They are calling to you. Can you hear them? They have no words yet, but their unvoiced wonderings quest out to see the world already.’
Pio bade Laurie have a seat in the other comfortable chair. She passed her the plate of cake and a small glass of wine. ‘Now tell me,’ she said, taking a slice for herself, ‘what did you wish to see me about?’ She leaned back comfortable in the chair, sipping her wine.
The night breeze sent a warm gust through the window. Fragrant with the scent of flowers in the window box, it curled round the room leaving a faint scented path as it hurried out the window once again.
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Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.
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