For some reason it irked Mhar?ka that so many people were calling Sent?rosha a myth. Shev?ra had showed no doubt whatsoever in the letter. Just as she had showed no doubt about being pregnant. And she had been right in this case after all, hadn't she? And Shev?ra was a very responsible person. She would never jeopardise herself or the baby by doing something so dangerous as crossing the Grand Desert unless she was certain that it would not harm them. Perhaps, thought Mhar?ka, perhaps it isn't Shev?ra who is lacking trust, perhaps I should rather trust her, however unbelievable all this may seem.
***
Shev?ra spent several days at Yosh?ga's house, enjoying the beautiful, relaxing surroundings, learning about the life in Sent?rosha. Yosh?ga introduced Shev?ra to a few women who were living in the neighbourhood, and F?nyara continued to stay with them.
As Shev?ra finally held her daughter in her arms, F?nyara smiled fondly and asked, "What are you going to name her?"
"Sh?v?nya," said Shev?ra, gently caressing the baby's face.
F?nyara's smile widened, and she asked, "May I give her my blessing?"
"Of course," said Shev?ra, and let F?nyara take the baby.
F?nyara welcomed Sh?v?nya, and then she spoke her blessing in a language Shev?ra did not understand. When she finished, she kissed Sh?v?nya on the forehead and returned her to her mother. "She is so beautiful," said F?nyara fondly.
Shortly after, F?nyara suddenly got up, and said, "I must go. I am needed."
***
For Mhar?ka the last days had been significantly less pleasant.
She had lost the horses and most of her supplies in the last desert storm, and was now struggling through the hot sand, still south bound in the direction of the centre of the Grand Desert.
As her headdress became loose and she wanted to fasten it, she stumbled and fell. Exhausted, she lay motionless for a while. However, thinking of Shev?ra, she pulled herself together, pushed herself up, groaning, and continued walking.
Spotting a rider in the distance she averted her gaze, thinking she was hallucinating.
But the rider quickly came closer, and when he reached her and stretched out his hand, Mhar?ka was quite surprised as an unmistakably female voice spoke, "Come, I will take you back to your village."
Mhar?ka had been about to take the hand, but after this statement, she quickly withdrew her hand and croaked, "No. Thank you. I need to get to Sent?rosha."
"You do not belong there," said the rider.
"Yes, I do!" protested Mhar?ka. "My partner is there, and she is going to have a baby. Our baby," said Mhar?ka agitatedly, and coughed as her throat was dry, and it hurt when she spoke.
"Here," said the rider, holding out a water skin.
As Mhar?ka took it, the rider stated coldly, "She is not your baby. She is Sh?vashta's and Shev?ra's daughter."
Handing back the water skin, Mhar?ka said angrily, "She is mine too, even if not by blood. Shev?ra is my partner, and I love her. I always wanted a child with her. I just never thought it was possible."
"You abandoned her," stated the rider.
Mhar?ka was about to protest, but instead she admitted, "Yes, I did. And I deeply regret it. Please, if you know where she is, take me to her."
The rider regarded her scrutinisingly, and then she said, "If you leave her again, you will not be able to enter Sent?rosha again, ever."
"I won't leave her again," stated Mhar?ka firmly.
The rider nodded in acknowledgement, and said, "Then come on. I will take you to her."
***
"Mhar?!" exclaimed Shev?ra, surprised.
Mhar?ka rushed to Shev?ra, halting when she saw the baby nestled in Shev?ra's bosom. With a look of wonder on her face, she said, "She is adorable." Looking up into Shev?ra's eyes, Mhar?ka turned sombre and said, "I am sorry I couldn't believe you, and I am sorry for leaving you. Can you forgive me?"
Shev?ra smiled, and spreading out one arm, she said, "Come here."
***
The desert wind was blowing harshly, causing the people of Sent?rosha to stay in their houses and close the shutters. Thus no one witnessed the lone rider leaving the city, and disappearing over the horizon.
***
"Where is F?nyara?" asked Shev?ra.
"She went back to where she belongs," said Yosh?ga.
"I thought she lived here," said Shev?ra.
Yosh?ga shook her head, smiling. "No, dear. F?nyara is not of this realm. She belongs to Sh?vashta. She is Her partner."
###
Thank you for reading this ebook!
You can find my profile at:
Footprints in the Sand
Desert Wind Page 2