Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 106646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
I find my shoes and start lacing them. "It's because you're going to have one."
"Not for at least thirteen months if Harlow and Liz are correct." She pats her incredibly flat abdomen. "I'm not sure if I'd want a three-month pregnancy like Veronica, though. That seems far too fast. Ask me again when I'm in month thirteen, though."
I chuckle at that. Everyone's a little in awe at how quickly Veronica's pregnancy progressed. Ashtar is of a race called “drakoni” with a draconic shape-changing form and fire abilities. Apparently they also have a very quick gestation period, because it seemed like one day Veronica's belly was sticking out like she'd swallowed a football, and the next, she had a baby in her arms. It's an exaggeration of course, but three months does seem lightning fast.
Her baby's huge, too. His name is Katamneas, and he's a big ol' chunk of cuteness to go with the big name. Everyone's been cooing over him for days now, and Ashtar is beside himself with happiness. I've never seen a man so damn giddy to be a father, and it makes me wistful. I wonder what that'd be like, to have a guy who's thrilled to have a kid, a father who actually wants to be part of their baby's life. I can't imagine.
Raven and I head out of U'dron's hut, wrapping up in furs as we head out. The brutal season is deeply upon us, and every breeze seems to feel like it slices into your bones. It's ridiculously cold at night, and several of the girls in the cave have taken to piling together in bed to share warmth. I do on the nights that I don't sneak out to my pottery cave, but even then I can't sleep all that well. I'm too busy thinking about how I can improve things. How I can make my pots sturdier. How I can fire them without them breaking the moment they cool down.
I still haven't told anyone about my pottery ventures. Maybe I never will, if I keep on sucking at them. The only one that knows is A’tam…and lately, Pak. The kid’s been showing up from time to time, usually only when A’tam is gone or off gathering more clay or water for me. He slinks in silently when he thinks I’m not looking and watches me work. Sometimes he steals a bit of dried meat I’ve brought for a meal. We don’t talk—I don’t think he wants to chat—and I just do my best to keep on working.
Once, I tried to tell him that it was okay for him to come and hang out in the cave. That he’s free to use it himself. Pak only stared at me with his little chubby face and then raced out again, so I’m not sure if he got the message. I leave a little nest of furs in his favorite spot, though, and I bring snacks at night. They’re almost always gone by morning. He’s a cute kid, but wild. Sometimes I wonder if he thinks of me as his mom.
Boy, I must really have babies on the brain. Better than pottery, I suppose.
The beach is crowded today, with a few of the Strong Arm men tossing a big leather ball back and forth. Now that we've reached blizzard-like conditions in the mountains, when the weather's bad, the hunters all stay in the shelter of the cove, where we're protected from the worst of the wind and snow. Today's an overcast day, and so people are everywhere. We skirt the group on the beach, heading up the gentle slope toward the cliffs. Veronica's hut is at the edge of the camp, close to where Strong Arm has their tent cluster set up. Tall Horn and Shadow Cat have huts near the cliffs, but Strong Arm built deliberately apart from the others.
When we get to Veronica's hut, Hannah's taking stock of her root supply, making notes on a skin in the antechamber of Veronica's double-hut. Other than the newly built longhouse, it's the biggest hut in the encampment because it also doubles as a clinic of sorts. Hannah has taken charge of the herbal remedies and of assisting Veronica with her healing, and she gives us a warning look as we approach.
"Don't be in there too long," she whispers, glancing toward the door. "She didn't sleep well last night and everyone's been over to visit today. She needs to rest."
"We're just coming to gawk at the baby and then we'll leave her alone," I promise, not put off by Hannah's bossy tone. I've known Hannah for months now and her sour attitude masks the fact that she's deeply protective of those she loves and wants the best for them. Veronica would never chase anyone away from her hut to take a nap, so Hannah's going to take on that role for her. In a way, it's kind of sweet.