Birth: A Novella Read Online Free PDF

and
cultural exchange. Guards from both sides staff it, veteran
Eclipsian officers who can be counted on to know who’s who, and
young men and women in Terran uniforms learning to tell nobleman
from commoner, trader from tourist, industrial spy from
environmentalist. Terrans are rarely allowed across from their
side, while Eclipsians are free to come and go, but we must check
in when leaving and again when returning. Unlikely as it seems,
it’s theoretically possible for a Katrina to go out and a Terran
imposter to come back in her place.
    When we approached, the Terrans were all set
to wave us through. Just another dowdy little Eclipsian,
pregnant like most of them, despite having a full-grown
daughter.
    What? I wondered, looking around. Who? They thought Katrina was my daughter, I discovered with
shock and wounded pride.
    Amazing she isn’t barefoot , the
female guard was thinking of me with scorn.
    I couldn’t resist. “My husband is very
kind,” I said in Terran. “He lets me wear shoes on the
cobblestones.” Her startled, involuntary glance to my boots and her
shamefaced smile lifted my mood temporarily.
    The Eclipsian in charge was incredulous
until he had registered the design on my cloak and seen my face,
third eyelids protectively lowered and at full silver strength.
“‘Gravina Aranyi!” He bowed, his eyes narrowing in suspicion,
worried at so strange an occurrence, not knowing what to look for,
but sure it was trouble. “Does Margrave Aranyi– Where are your
guards?”
    “At the ‘Graven Military Academy, of
course,” I said. “For Inauguration Day. How come you got stuck on
duty?”
    “Bad luck,” he said, “and strong drink.” He
attempted a fatherly smile. “Margrave Aranyi would have my head,
and I’d hand it to him on a plate, if I let you through on your
own.”
    He was certain I remembered him from
somewhere. It’s the curse of ‘Graven: we’re so few, and easily
recognizable, all the ungifted think we can tell them apart, can
recall a face or a name seen or heard in a brief presentation, even
years in the past. But the crypta helps. Dominic had taught
me the officer’s trick of getting the name from their thoughts,
letting them think we knew it all along. I attempted to escape my
fate. “Honestly, Kojiro, I’m not alone. My maid, Katrina, is with
me.”
    Kojiro looked at her, not yet seventeen,
with the angelic face and perfect little figure of any heroine of
ballad or romance. “Oh yes, ‘Gravina,” he said, rolling his eyes,
“fine protection indeed. No bandit or street thug would dare to
tangle with a dangerous one like her.” He winked at Katrina, pursed
his lips to steal a kiss. “One glance from those big brown eyes and
the toughest brigand would be your slave. I suppose you’re spoken
for.”
    Katrina giggled but shook her head, not
understanding the heavy-handed lowland humor. “No, I’m
married.”
    Kojiro pretended to have been stabbed
through the heart, clutching his chest and staggering. “A child
like you! Have they no shame in the mountains?”
    “Not much,” I said. “Listen, Kojiro. If we
go home now, can we dispense with the guards? You don’t want to
leave the post unmanned.” We were speaking Eclipsian, so it was
safe to add, “You know the Terrans aren’t much use in an emergency.
They don’t even know who I am.”
    “Too true, my lady,” Kojiro said. “That’s
the reason you need the escort.” He turned to the other Eclipsians,
a boy of sixteen on punishment detail, and an old man of seventy
filling in for the day. “Escort ‘Gravina Aranyi to her quarters.
And not just to the entrance of ‘Graven Fortress. To the door of
the Aranyi Suite. Is that clear?”
    ***
    Dominic rejoins me in my bathroom and runs hot water
in the tub, filling the room with steam. He steps in, holding me at
arm’s length when I start to follow. “No, it’s too hot for you. Let
me get clean, then I’ll sponge you down if you like.”
    He washes quickly and