Megera, Istria and Aminah made their way through the market. The smell of fried fish had caught Aminah’s attention and she followed her nose to the food stand, a hand on her belly silently telling her child to hold on a little longer.

  Istria laughed and steered Aminah away from the stand owner excited to sell his fish and receive money. “Now Aminah, oily food will not be good for the baby.”

  The glare Aminah gave her best friend was not deadly enough for her to be released. “Enough talks about this baby. My child will grow to be strong so it must become accustomed to delicious food,” she grumbled. For seven moons everyone around pretended she had butterfly wings. Every touch was gentle, all words were cooed, all smiles as their greedy hands patted around her belly had grown insufferable. She had only just begun showing. Her mother had worried that the child would be born too small. For five moons Aminah’s belly did not seem to expand.

  Megera laughed. “This one is lucky to not be married or with child. My best friends promised that they would not marry and abandon me, yet here they stand.” She crossed her arms and pointed at both women’s stomachs. “Physical signs of your broken promises,” she teased, and stuck out her tongue.

  Aminah ignored all but the fried fish paces away, her lips smacked together almost tasting the tender bites on her tongue. Just one bite, only one and she would desire nothing more.

  Istria continued dragging Aminah away. “Megera, I have not left you just yet. Help me find food for this ferocious one and she will not leave you either.”

  Aminah attempted to move her arm out of Istria’s, but many failed attempts left her tired and perturbed. “Why are you not as hungry as I am!”

  Megera giggled and linked arms with her unwilling friend. “You have carried this child much longer than Istria. She has only carried for three moons, her body has only just recently allowed food to settle into her stomach.” She ignored Aminah’s peeved expression and rubbed her belly. “Whereas this little one demands food everywhere you go. It must be a boy.”

  “Stop touching me!” Aminah slapped Megera’s hand away.

  “I agree, girls do not demand so much.” Istria winked as she led Aminah to a fruit stand. “Here.” She picked up some berries. “Eat to your heart’s content.”

  Aminah grimaced. “This is nothing like the fish.”

  “What was that?” Istria asked in a knowing tone.

  “Thank you,” Aminah snided.

  Megera led the two women to sit at one of the small tables. “How about you both tell me what you wish to eat and I will fetch it for you, Khastan will have my head if anything happens.”

  Aminah shook her head. “The physician said exercise is good for the baby.”

  Istria opened her mouth to refute, but Aminah sensed it.

  “I have no intentions on training. I promised Havil,” she said shyly.

  “So that is not a whip at your waist?” She motioned to the rolled up weapon.

  Aminah beamed. “I would be a stranger to the world if I walked without a weapon.”

  Megera scoffed. “Alright, then you two can go for a walk and return here in ten minutes. I will gather fruit and tea.”

  “I do not feel like walking too much, so how about we just walk to the bridge and back.” Istria pointing to the arched bridge above the river. It was on the edge of the marketplace hidden behind trees. Most people stopped using it because a new bridge had recently been made that opened in the marketplace’s center; much easier for merchants.

  Aminah took Istria’s right hand and gave it comforting pats. “Alright we will not walk too far.”

  The two women waved to Megera and made their way to the bridge. Walking past the trees and scattered sunlight that lit their path in a golden glow.

  “How is your marriage?” Istria asked. Rarely had they had a talk with only them. Megera was always with them, and out of respect they refrained from talking about their marriage. Megera had not said it, but underneath her jokes and smiles, both women knew that she desired marriage and love too.

  One hand on her belly, the other lifted her dress so she could step easily. “I am down with these dresses and robes that drag along the ground,” she grumbled. “Marriage with Havil is very warm. I never thought I would fall for a scholar.”

  “I did,” Istria confessed, as she stepped over a small fallen branch. “You are so strong, addicted to fighting like some terrifying fanatic,” Istria teased. “There is no military man who could attract your eyes, because there are few men who could reach a Medes’ skills. You needed someone who would stand tall in their own light. Someone you would not need to compete with.”

  “I am not a fanatic.”

  Istria flashed a false smile. “If you say so.”

  “And you?” Aminah asked. “How does it feel to finally know you are with child?”

  Istria rubbed her small bump. “It is a blessing. We have craved a child for two long Blue Moons. Now I am finally to be blessed with one,” she rubbed her belly, her eyes watered with affection, “it feels almost too good to be true,” she whispered.

  “Aww.” It was Aminah’s turn to coo. “You are so precious. May our children grow to be best friends.”

  “If I have a daughter, may she marry your son and we become sisters!”

  Aminah scoffed. “We do not need our children to wed for us to be family. My Medes, I mean Aljehni, the Aljehni family will always be there for the Majidi’s.”

  Istria wiped at the corner of her eyes.

  “Is my affection bringing you to tears?” Aminah teased. “Your husband will not like that.” She used the sleeve of her yellow robe to wipe at Istria’s eyes.

  “I am not crying,” Istria stubbornly refuted, but her tears continued to roll. “I should not be crying, I am so happy.”

  The women continued up the old wooden bridge. “My mother was right,” Aminah said. “‘The life in your womb releases the emotions society has taught you to hide.’” They reached the middle of the bridge and Aminah spun to rest her back on the wood. “Our child does not know the rules of the living. So when they are happy they smile, when they feel love their tears fall.”

  Istria wiped at her tears and rolled her eyes. “Since when has Aminah been so wise?”

  “I suppose the role of a mother is growing at the same speed as my child.” Aminah grinned.

  Istria lifted herself up to sit on the railing and chuckled at Aminah’s hands that held tightly to her arm. “Scared I will fall?”

  Aminah shook her head. “If anything happens to you Khastan will not forgive me. This bridge is old, better to avoid all sand, then to wonder which one you will sink in.”

  “We have perched atop of this railing since we were young.” Astria tilted her head back to look at the sky through the scattered green leaves. Her eyes were closed as she relished in the wind and warmth of the summer air.

  It took Aminah a few tries, but she too perched beside her.

  “Do you think your child will follow in your footsteps or Havil’s?”

  “I would love for my child to follow in my footsteps, we Medes are proud to fight and serve.” Aminah opened her eyes, her long lashes fluttered from the wind. “However it is much safer to be a scholar.”

  “Yes, how beautiful that you will have a choice. Both Khastan’s and my family walk the path of the military, our children are to grow and do the same.”

  “Let us hope that your children do not inherit Khastan’s archery skills.”

  “Khastan makes up for it in swordfighting,” Istria weakly defended.

  “Is that what he does?”

  The sound of growling caught their attention. To the left of them a large muscular cat stepped into view. Its long body and legs stood tall, about half the height of both women. Its two cloudy grey eyes dared them to move.

  Both women froze. Aminah the first to speak, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes focused. “A leopard.”

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  “A panthera pardus,” Istria confirmed.

  “Do they not hunt at night?” Aminah asked, her hand slowly moved to the whip at her side. “Why is it here?”

  “I should have fought with Khastan about having my sword.”

  Aminah's eyes darted to Istria. “You have no weapons?”

  “I have the two moon blades on my back, but I need an opportunity to get them.”

  “It has not made a move.” Aminah exhaled slowly.

  A noise alerted the panther and it looked back and both women held their breath.

  The bustling sound was followed by a small baby leopard. Aminah’s and Istria’s hearts dropped.

  The mother leopard growled a warning for the cub to move back and returned its attention to the danger. It snarled at the women and took a step closer.

  Maintaining contact Istria slowly slid off of the bridge railing. Aminah struggled, her belly made it hard but both women managed to slide from the railing.

  One hand securely on her belly the other on Istria’s sleeve, Aminah slowly had them back away. “Do not look it in the eye. It is not attacking, we just need to slowly back away,” she whispered methodically.

  Istria tripped on a stick and stumbled backwards. Gritting her teeth she did not make a sound, but the sudden action alerted the cub who moved towards them.

  With a growl the mother leapt before it, teeth barred and claws out. Aminah stepped in front of Istria and pulled her whip out and slammed it against the ground as a warning hit. “Stay back!”

  The cub moved closer and the mother pounced. Aminah and Istria dodged to the left as it smashed into the side of the bridge, the wood caved and the railing fell into the water below.

  Istria jumped up and pulled Aminah. “You need to go!”

  “If we run and it chases after us we will be leading to the marketplace.” Aminah gripped her whip. “All of those people will be in danger.”

  Istria pulled out her blades. “Then we wound it and leave.”

  In the marketplace Megera was sat at the table and played with her rings in the sunlight. Did it really take that long to walk and come back? “Maybe the baby ate up their speed and agility.” She stood and called out to the merchant. “I will retrieve my friends, I am trusting you not to allow anyone to take my food.” She laughed and placed a xolh on the table.

  The merchant laughed and waved his hand. “You can count on me. If you come back too late I will reheat the tea for our Lady Megera.”

  Megera grinned and made her way to the bridge. The closer she got to the bridge the less chatter was heard from the marketplace. Whistling as she walked she kept her pace fast, not wanting the tea to grow cold. A growl sounded and Megera’s whistling ceased, and with no thoughts she ran as fast as she could.

  When she reached the bridge the sight before her halted her breath.

  “Aminah,” she called weakly. The hair on her arms raised and she shivered in fear.

  Aminah held onto her whip and pulled as hard as she could. The handle ripped into the skin of her palm as she attempted to move the leopard away from Istria.

  Istria’s outer robe was torn on the left sleeve, her blood soaked the material. One of her blades was embedded into the leopard’s paw.

  Istria saw Megera first. “Go get help!”

  Megera nodded and ran as fast as she could back to the marketplace. Her brother and Havil were both annoyingly protective; surely they had guards following somewhere.

  As she reached the marketplace she screamed. “Help! Help! Khastan!”

  Sure enough men dressed in common clothing appeared around her. “Second Lady Majidi, where is Lady Majidi?” One of the men dressed in black asked as another released a blue powder high in the sky.

  Four men came from the stalls in scholar’s clothes, but the blade in their hands, and their stances made it obvious they were trained fighters. “Take us to Lady Aljehni.”

  Megera raced back towards the bridge.

  Aminah crashed backwards, the force filled her throat with blood she forcefully swallowed down. “Istria!”

  She struggled to her feet and raced to the other side of the bridge to catch Istria before she fell into the water. The leopard had fallen along with Aminah’s whip, but leopards were strong swimmers, and an injured paw would not deter it.

  Istria fell backwards, her hand outstretched for Aminah’s.

  Aminah rolled her heavy body over and raced forward to catch Istria’s hand with her left, and with her right held tightly to the splintered wood of the post.

  Hanging off the bridge Istria tried to reach her other arm up before she whimpered in pain. Her hand was covered in blood and Aminah dug her nails into her wrist to stop her from sliding.

  “Istria, you have to climb,” she urged, unable to conceal her panic.

  Istria gritted her teeth and forced her injured arm to move. As her hand reached up to grasp the wooden platform there was a roar below. The leopard jumped and bit Istria’s ankle, pulling her down.

  The force of the pull yanked Aminah to the floor of the bridge, the wood dug through her hand as she fell. Her body crashed knocking the wind out of her, her mouth opened to scream without air.

  With a scream Istria’s hand slid out of Aminah’s.

  From the corner of her eye Istria made eye contact with Megera who had arrived with the men.

  One of them immediately pulled out their sword and threw it, hitting the leopard in the head and both bodies fell into the water.

  The men split up, but the ones dressed as scholars rushed to Aminah’s and lifted her from the floor of the bridge. “Lady Aljehni are you alright?”

  Aminah shook her head, her mouth filled with blood that she was too afraid to spit out. Her hand clutched her belly but she was too afraid to look down. Instead she turned her attention towards the water. Time had frozen until one of the men finally broke through the surface of the water and swam to land with Istria’s body in tow.

  Aminah fell towards the bridge, blood escaped her mouth as her tearful eyes stared at Istria’s unmoving body.

  Megara covered her mouth, her tears fell over her palm, behind her she heard the horse.

  Khastan jumped off his horse and sprinted to his wife. “Istria! What happened!” He yelled, and turned his fearful eyes to the guards.

  Megera looked up at Aminah, her chest beating too fast for her to breathe. “There was a leopard, Aminah and Istria-”

  “Aminah?” Khastan finally looked towards the bridge at Aminah’s frozen frame. She made no motion to come down, she just stood at the top of the bridge with broken eyes.

  “Aminah? What happened? Aminah please, just tell me what happened?” Khastan’s voice broke and he pulled Istria closer to her chest. “She is not breathing. Aminah she is not breathing!”

  Aminah felt her legs warm with liquid and forced herself to step back. Not there. It could not be there. She could not handle it, below her Khastan pleaded for her aid, but all she felt was the life slowly leaving her body.

  This was all her fault. She should never have recommended a walk. Now, because she did, her best friend was dead and her-. She clutched the fabric of her robe over her belly. Not here, not in front of Khastan, she refused to make the blow any harder on his heart.

  “Aminah!” Khastan yelled.

  Aminah muffled her sob. Her pain was reaching its climax and guards slowly lifted her and walked away.

  “Aminah! How can you just leave? Do you have nothing to say! Aminah! If you do not say something I will never forgive you.”

  Blood seeped out of her mouth. She could not talk, her dress was dampening. She whispered from the men to move faster. A tightness grew in her heart, she had to get home. She would fall then, she would sob then. She would do whatever she needed, she just needed to get home.

  Havil paced back and forth in his manor. His wife had only gone to the marketplace with Istria and Megera, but those three never returned after sunset. He looked up at the sky painted in purple, red and gold, the sunset was almost over and his wife was not home.

  The gates opened and Aminah was carried in a guard’s arms. The entire walk home she refused to speak. Her body shook, and her bloody hands gripped her robes. She made her way into the manor her eyes locked onto Havil’s.

  “Aminah?” He raced towards her. The guard lowered her feet slowly to the ground.

  Blood stained her chin and her distant eyes were filled with unshed tears. As Havil reached her he could hear her exhale as she sunk into his arms.

  “Aminah!” Havil eyes widened at the puddle of bloody water that slowly formed on the floor.

  “Havil,” she rasped, “my,” her breaths were short and fast, “save m-” she choked and coughed up more blood.

  “Fetch the physician! Aminah, my star please, please.” He held her securely in his arms as he looked around at his servants. “Nazita!”

  “Save-”

  “I know. I will save you. I promise I will save you,” he vowed. His fingers fluttered over the wood splintered in her skin.

  Aminah sobbed. “My baby,” tears fell from her eyes. “Save my baby. Promise me,” she ordered weakly.

  Havil studied the cloudy look in her eyes. “I will save both of you. Do not speak.”

  “Promise me,” she rasped. “Save my baby, please.”

  He massaged her neck gently and turned behind him to look for his sister. “Nazita!” He turned back to Aminah to whisper. “Alright, if it comes to that, I promise I will save the baby,” he vowed.

  Comforted by his vow, Aminah finally closed her eyes.

  Fluttered caresses on her cheek. “Aminah. Aminah you have to wake up.”

  Aminah could hear Havil’s voice. Her eyes were weighed down with the darkness of night. “Aminah for the baby. You have to wake for the baby. You have to push.”

  Pain. Everything hurt, no part of her body was left untouched. “No more,” she pleaded. “I can not, no more.” Even her tears hurt as they rolled down her cheeks.

  “My Star you have to push. You are almost there,” Havil’s voice was hoarse. Was he crying?

  “She is losing too much blood.”

  “She is my daughter You can not pull me from her side!”

  “Lady Medes, please,” Havil cried. “Please help me save her. I can not lose her. I will not lose her.”

  “Nazita, help me save her.” Havil said someone checked her pulse.

  “Pleading to your sister will not help. My daughter is strong, she has to survive this,” Lady Medes said.

  “One more push, Aminah, you are almost there,” Havil coaxed.

  A baby cried.

  “Oh let me hold my grandson. He was an excited one. Came to the world so early. You gave everyone a scare.” Aminah could hear her mother closer. It was a boy? She desperately wanted to open her eyes. Her lashes are too heavy.

  “The danger is not over, he was born too early, you must keep him in a clean warm environment,” Nazita advised,

  “Herom,” Aminah whispered, her body obeying her mind.

  “Aminah!” Havil’s voice was close now, right next to her ear, the heat of his hand caressed her cheek.

  “Herom,” she said again.

  Thanks to the gods Havil understood. “Our son’s name is Herom. Herom Aljehni.”

  Aminah could no longer deny the darkness and everything went silent.