Enid looked down at her hands. They had been covered in blood not thirty minutes before. She looked to the tanners daughter who had fallen asleep behind her, arms locked around Enid’s waist. Noctus sensing his passenger’s exhaustion was trotting at a steady pace. The whole birthing had taken an hour at most once they had arrived. The tanner’s daughter had performed admirably given the situation. Enid had barely contained the urge to feed. There had been so much blood. It was hard to forget the excitement of the tanner’s daughter when Enid had arrived to pick her up.

“Milady, does this mean you’re going to train me?”

“It means I can’t do a birthing alone, especially if it is a rough one. Get on.”

Enid offered her hand to Rosealyn, and pulled her up onto Noctus. She seemed hesitant of the horse.

“Don’t worry about Noctus. Hang on tight we need to hurry.”

Use the blood Noctus, I will give you more. Let it power your legs, and force you forward.

Enid pressed her knees together and Noctus shot off into the night. Rosealyn wrapped her arms around Enid’s waisted clutched on for dear life. Enid grinned as the road became a blur beneath them. She closed her eyes and wrapped a bubble of slow time about herself and Rosealyn, riding a horse running at the speeds her blood allowed would have been near impossible otherwise. The ride which should have taken an hour and a half took a quarter of an hour. Enid pulled back on the reins as they approached the farm.

Slow Noctus slow. She patted his side.

Enid hopped down off of Noctus and lifted Rosealyn down. She grabbed her pack.

“Rosealyn come. Noctus go graze, we may be some time.”

Noctus neighed stomped his front hooves and trotted towards the grass. Enid pulled her hood back and knocked on the door. A man with dark circles under his eyes and slumped shoulders opened the door.

“I’m Lady Sarah, I was told there was a woman having a difficult labor and no midwife. I’m here to help.”

The man looked confused, and relieved, then suspicious until he saw Rosealyn come up from behind Enid.

“Rosealyn is she truly the Lady? Is she really a healer?”

“Yes Gabriel, she is, she saved my father when he had his arm nearly torn off by a rabid wolf. She can save your Annie, if you let her.”

“Lets not get ahead of ourselves Rosealyn, giving birth is one of the most dangerous things a woman can do. We don’t want to give false hope. I’m sorry Gabriel, I’m just being honest. Where is your wife?”

“She’s in here. Our neighbor’s wife she came but she ain’t no midwife. Her husband went for help, I wasn’t expecting it so soon.”

“We were in the area.”

Enid shot a warning glance to Rosealyn who nodded along with Enid’s words.

“Alright, Rosealyn we’ll need boiling water, and fresh water from the well, see to it. Gabriel, please help her with the tasks.”

Enid closed her eyes and with a deep unnecessary breath entered the room where she could hear the screams of pain from. She was met with a low light of candles. A woman laid on the bed her belly swollen with child. She frowned as soon as she saw her. She could hear her pulse it was moving too fast, she could hear four heart beats, two in her womb, hers, and the neighbor’s wife. One of the twins heartbeat’s was fast, the other was stopping and starting. Likely the baby is in the wrong position the cord being pressed and not able to come out and the second not able to get past and likely the one compressing the cord.

“Hello Annie, I’m Lady Sarah, I’m here to help.”

Annie cried in pain. The neighbor’s wife looked up at Enid.

“Oh, milady thank you for coming, I wasn’t sure you would but Annie she’s not doing well.”

“What’s your name?”

“Marian.”

“Hello Marian, I have asked my assistant and Gabriel for some things could you please go help them? I’ll look at Annie and see what we can do help.”

Enid waited for Marian to leave the room and slipped the tablet out of her bag, she looked held it over Annie’s swollen belly. She had been right, one of the twins was a breach the other was stuck above it and pressing on the cord. Based on what the tablet was telling her the breech baby didn’t have long. She slid the tablet into her pack and moved towards the head of the bed. She began to stroke the woman’s hair gently.

Can’t turn it, would kill them both, need to cut them out. Might kill the mother. If I don’t, the babies will die, and the mother might die. This place is filthy.

“Annie, I’m Lady Sarah, look at me we have to talk, I know you’re in a lot of pain.”

Annie’s hair was twisted and tangled, sweat bead down her cheeks. Enid could see the fear in her eyes. She knew it well, she’d seen in thousands of mortals over the years, usually just before she ended their lives. When their gazes met Enid tugged on Annie’s mind with hers, pulling her out of the fear and the pain.

“Annie, the pain isn’t so bad, you aren’t feeling it anymore, you’re going to focus on my words and you’re going to feel your head clear up, there the pain is gone isn’t it?”

Annie nodded her eyes still focused on Enid’s. She had stopped writhing.

“That’s right Annie, there is no pain, this is a joyous occasion, but it’s also dangerous and I need you to understand what is going on so you can help me decide what to do.”

Annie nodded again. Enid released her hold Annie’s mind. Annie snapped out of the enchantment and looked around herself.

“Is it over? I don’t feel the pain anymore.”

“No, its not, I just gave you something so you wouldn’t feel it for a bit, we need to talk Annie, your babies are in danger. And I needed you to have a clear head.”

“What is the matter? Babies?”

“Yes, its twins, and one is in the wrong position and the other is pressing against him, and his heart is stopping every few seconds. If I don’t get them out they’ll both die, and you may follow. I can cut them out but then you will most likely die. I can guarantee nothing the boy might already be not right of mind, he may never be normal. I’ve seen it before. The girl I can save.”

Enid put her hand on Annie’s shoulder, applying gentle pressure.

“Save my babies.”

“You understand once I put you to sleep you might not wake up, do you want to see your husband before we do? We have to be quick time is short.”

Annie nodded tears dripping from her eyes. Enid walked out of the room. The water was well on the way to boiling over the fire and she was met with three sets of concerned eyes. Silence in a birthing room was rarely good. Enid held up her hands.

“I gave Annie something for the pain. She’s calm for now. Marian please go sit with her, hold her hand.”

Enid waited for Marian to leave the room then walked to Gabriel taking his hand in hers.

“Gabriel, you need to understand, Annie is with twins. At the best of times the mother usually dies, but this is not the best of times, one is turned the wrong way and the other is strangling the life out of him. I can save them, but the boy may never be right and Annie will likely die, or I can try and move the babies so they’ll come out but they will die before I can get them out. Annie might die, but she’s a better chance that way. She wants me to save the twins, and she wants to see you before I start. I suggest you go say your goodbyes before I put her to sleep with a potion because she may not wake up.”

Enid patted his hand gently. She hated the look he gave her. She’d killed so many, yet rarely did she deal with a loved one later on who knew what she had done. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling. Gabriel hurried into the room where his wife lay. Enid looked at Rosealyn.

“Rose, this is going to be bloody. I’m going to need you in there, this is part of being a healer, if you cannot stomach it then I cannot train you. We need to make a mix of water that is hot enough to almost scald us, wash our hands. We need to hurry, or the boy will be better off dead. Draw the water for our hands. The prepare another two for the babes, cooler but still hotter then we need by the time they’re out it’ll be the right temperature.”

Once the water was drawn Enid put her knife blade in the remainder of the boiling water holding it there while Rose mixed the waters as she requested.

“We need to cut in the right place, and once the babies are out, we’re going to need to sew the wound shut. You need to understand in almost every instance I’ve heard or seen this done the mother dies either from the wound festering, or blood loss. We’re going into places in the body that should not be exposed to the air.”

Rosealyn nodded. Enid removed her gloves and began to wash her hands she motioned with her head for Rosealyn to do the same.

“Scrub well, under the nails too, use the brush.”

Enid demonstrated.

“You’re going to see a lot of blood, give me a sixty count then come inside with the bowls and the knife. If you feel sick leave the room and go outside. I’ll not having you throwing up in the room.”

Rosealyn nodded. Enid walked into the room. Her sleeves rolled up. She’d removed her cloak.

“I’m sorry everyone we’re going to need to start, please leave the room, you don’t need to see this.”

Gabriel pulled away and Annie tugged on his hand, Marian’s face was red with tears. Gabriel grabbed Enid’s shoulder, desperation in his eyes.

“You can save her right? I will give you anything, my life if I have too.”

“I will do my best to save all three, but if you’re the type to pray, you best start.”

“You can’t do this without the last rites.”

“If you wait for the priest, they’ll all die. I will hear her last confession and help her ask for forgiveness before I put her to sleep you have my word. Now go, this is going to be bloody and you don’t need to see her like that.”

Enid sat beside Annie putting her hand on her cheek. Meeting her gaze again, she dropped all pretense and showed her true face and emotion. Blood tears dripping down her cheeks.

“Annie, I’m going to put you to sleep now, you may not wake, I’m no priest but I tell you this, I sat with Jesus as he ministered to the sick, performed his miracles. I’m going to try and save your life but I might not be able to, I will perform every miracle I’m capable of to do so, but there is always a cost to such things, you need to understand that. But if you feel weighted by anything it is best you speak it now and ask for forgiveness.”

Annie stared at Enid then pulled her closer whispering into her ear. Enid nodded placing her had back on Annie’s cheek as she pulled away.

“If that is the worst you have done, you have nothing to fear. Sleep now.”

Enid began to hum the lullaby her mother would sing to her when she was new to Rome. She sang the words in Latin. The same song she sang to her children when they wouldn’t sleep. She kept her eyes on Annie’s weaving her blood magic into the song. Annie’s eyelids drooped. Rosealyn stood transfixed at the door. Annie’s head fell to the side. She wouldn’t wake until Enid made her so. Enid pushed away the blood from her eyes and washed her hands again, then nodded to Rosealyn who had tears in her eyes.

“That was beautiful, you sounded like an angel.”

“We don’t have time for that now, we need to get this done or it was all for not. Pull the nightshirt up, then we’ll do what we must.”

Rosealyn nodded and pulled the garment. Enid closed her eyes, then began to feel with her fingers along the woman’s belly. Finding the place she slid the knife through quickly. Rosealyn gasped beside her putting the back of her hand to her mouth. Blood poured out of the wound.

“Its just blood, Rose. You can do this.”

Enid handed the knife to Rosealyn who took it by the hilt. Enid reached into the womb pulling the boy out. He was blue. She held him up.

“Cut the cord Rose. Quickly now.”

Rosealyn slipped the sharp knife through the cord and Enid tied it off. Enid handed the baby to Rosealyn who had put the knife down. Enid continued to speak while reaching in to remove the sister.

“Put him over your shoulder, hit his back harder than you think you need to, talk to him.”

Enid felt around inside the room and then gently removed the girl. She clamped the cord with her fingers and then cut it free and tied it off. By this time the boy had started to cough and sputter and cry.

“Take him to Marion tell her to bath him and hold him to her chest with a blanket over him. Then return and take the girl, quickly now I need to stop Annie’s bleeding.”

Rosealyn hurried off with the boy. Enid held the girl over to her chest. She hit her back a few times and she coughed and started to cry shortly after. Rosealyn returned and took the girl.

“Do the same for her, keep them warm. I’ll be out when I’m done. I’ll need help standing afterwards.”

Enid turned to Annie.

“It is time for the miracles now. I hope I have the strength of my mother.”

Enid began to spunge the wound out with clean fabric infused with her mother’s soap. She then started to stitch up the wound pulling the flesh and muscle together. She glanced up at Annie’s face it was pale, and she could see the perspiration on her forehead. She was so focused on tending to the wound she didn’t see Gabriel standing in the doorway.

Shock, not unexpected.

Enid placed her hands on the wound and willed her blood to transfer the injury to herself she clutched her abdomen and stumbled backwards. The wound sealed together but didn’t heal all together. The shock and pain washed over her. She could feel blood soaking her black tunic. She could feel herself losing consciousness.

Damn it.

Enid woke to Gabriel shaking her.

“Milady, milady, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Enid pushed him away without thinking. And pulled herself up. She wobbled and clutched her abdomen again.

Fuck.

She willed the injury to heal, the flesh mended itself almost instantly. She felt lightheaded and hungry. She looked down at Annie color had returned to her cheeks and her wound was looking much less fresh.

Need blood. Need it now.

She tugged Gabriel towards her and looked in his eyes.

“You will forget what happens from now until I snap my fingers. You’re feeling lightheaded the night was almost too much. Now stand still.”

Enid bit into his throat and drank deeply of his blood. She took the wound onto herself and then willed it to heal. She snapped her fingers then reached out to catch Gabriel when he wobbled on his feet.

“Be careful, you almost fainted there.”

“I’m sorry I don’t know what happened, maybe tonight was just too much. There is so much blood is she alive?”

“She’s fine she’ll sleep for a few more hours. Once the babies are asleep and warm, send Marion and Rosealyn so we can clean up. Then maybe sit down you look pale, I’ll let you know when you can come back in and see her.”

Enid rolled Annie to the side pulling the top layer of hay off and replacing it. Then she lifted Annie and pulled off the soiled nightshirt. She then started to clean the blood off her. Marion and Rosealyn joined her shortly as Enid was washing the blood from her hands.

“Rose see to this nightshirt and find a replacement please, also check on the babes, and Gabriel he was looking a bit pale. Marion come over here I need your help with something else.”

Rosealyn nodded, as did Marion. Enid waited until Rosealyn left the room then held onto Marion’s cheek and looking into her eyes.

“You will forget this happened; you will feel lightheaded you exerted yourself quite a bit tonight. When I snap my fingers you will remember I asked you to watch carefully so you know how to change Annie’s dressings.”

Enid bit into her throat and began to drink deeply. Then covered her tracks as she usually did, then snapped her fingers. Holding onto Marion’s elbow.

“Marion? Are you paying attention, you need to know how to do this. Use warm water you have boiled wash your hands with this soap. Look how I do it.”

Enid demonstrated washing her hands properly.

“Now you do it.”

Marion rubbed her forehead then repeated the process.

“Good, once you wash them only touch the dressing, nothing else, until you’re done changing them.”

Enid pulled a leather bundle from her pack and then removed some clean fabric. She sealed it again holding it up.

“Keep this clean and dry. Only use this on her wound, nothing else. You must change them every day, burn them when you’re done, never reuse them. I’ll send Rose to check every three days. Make sure you follow my instructions to the letter. If you’re able Gabriel is going to need help with the twins if Annie lives, she’ll need some time to recover. I will come in a fortnight and check on things. If the wound looks red, black or there is any discharge or bleeding summon me immediately. If I’m not able to come right away, I will send Rose. I’ll ask a priest to come and provide a blessing.”

“Yes, milady, thank you milady.”

“Now watch how you put the dressing on.”

Enid pulled out a small clean piece of linen and wet it mashing in the soap. And gently rubbed along the sides of the wound, pushing away. She then applied a paste to the wound, put a piece of linen as padding and wrapped another rolled linen around the wound.

“She is to move only when necessary, spoon feed her as required. Let her see the babies when she asks, but don’t let her carry them. She should be okay to feed them. Take this pouch, put three pinches in a bowl, mix with clean warm water and apply to the wound when changing the dressing. I’ll send Rose with more, this should last you a couple of days.”

Rosealyn came back in holding a clean nightshirt.

“Now help me get her dressed. Rose dispose of the dirty water and spoiled hey please.”

Once Annie was dressed Enid leaned down and whispered into her ear.

“You will wake tomorrow afternoon, and feel rested and refreshed, you will forget your last confession to me and what I said.”

Enid stood up and motioned for Rose to follow. She saw the babies sleeping peacefully and Gabriel sprawled out on the floor beside their crib, it was crowded with two.

I’ll send them another and some blankets and clothes.

“Rose when you wake tomorrow, I want you to see if you can find a crib, some blankets and clothes to provide for the twins. When you find them tell them to come to the estate for payment, I’ll ensure they are taken are of. We should get back.”

Enid looked up from her hands snapped back to the present. She would need to feed again before the night was over, but didn’t want to weaken Rosealyn. She patted Noctus.

We did a good thing tonight. Thank you for being so swift.

Noctus neighed and continued to trot at a steady pace. Soon the tanner’s house came into view and she glanced behind her.

“Rose, wake up child. You’re home.”

Rosealyn began to shift as she woke loosening her grip around Enid’s waist but then she grasped more tightly realizing she was astride a massive warhorse.

“I’m sorry Milady, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“It is alright, it has been a long night.”

Enid pulled back on the reins gently and Noctus came to a stop in front of the Tanner’s front walk. He came out to greet them.

“Did all go well?”

“Yes father it did, we delivered twins and it looks like Annie is going to be alright.”

The tanner helped Rosealyn down. Then looked to Enid, who nodded.

“Thank you for bringing her back safe milady.”

“I promise if it is my power I will always do so.”

The tanner nodded looking away and blushing.

“I haven’t had the chance to thank you. For what you did.”

“There is no need good tanner. You are one of my vassals it is my duty to protect you and keep you safe.”

“I wish all nobles were as kind as you. If it pleases you milady when will you be holding court. For the people to have their concerns addressed and disputes settled?”

Fuck.

“I will ensure it is soon, good tanner. I have been quite busy trying to set things right with the lands and the estate.”

“Thank you, milady, people were concerned, Lord Ococar was and odd chap and did it rarely and only at night. He was a cruel lord.”

“I assure you my courts will be during the day and I will be as fair as I’m able. I’ve been a judge for a very long time. I must be off, Rose please ensure you get those things sorted for Gabriel and Annie and come to the keep day after tomorrow to pick up the herbs, I’ll send you with one of the bishop’s men to ride out and check on her then. Good eve to both of you.”

Enid pressed her knees together on Noctus who started to trot away. She patted Noctus.

Let’s find me something more to eat, then I’ll feed you boy.