Maia (Beklan Empire 1)

"I'm Maia Serrelinda, doctor," she said, before he could do so. "I've come because I was sent for."

Silently, he laid one hand on hers and, looking into her eyes, shook his head. One of the women was silently weeping. Suddenly, Maia caught her breath in an involuntary spasm of fear and horror. That smell--that terrible smell-- when had it last overcome her, where had she known it before? Next moment she knew. She was back in the darkness and firelight on the banks of the Valderra, kneeling beside Sphelthon, the dying Tonildan boy. For a moment she actually seemed to hear his voice. Then the doctor's hand was gripping her wrist and she was turning with him towards the bed.

Milvushina, very pale, her forehead and chin beaded with sweat, lay covered only with a sweat-damp, crumpled sheet. Her long, black hair was tumbled about her. One bare arm was stretched across the bed. Her breathing was labored and uneven. Her mouth was open, as were her great, dark eyes, yet it seemed as though she saw nothing, for they were staring fixedly upward toward the ceiling. Maia's immediate impression was of a being isolated be-yond reach of anyone round her. She looked partly like an animal caught in a trap and partly like someone com-pelted to expend, upon some immense labor, nothing less than every scrap of energy at her command.

Maia took her hand.

"Milva," she said. "Milva? It's Maia: I'm here."

Slowly, Milvushina seemed to return from a great distance. Her head rolled, her eyes found Maia's and she gave the faintest trace of a smile.

"Maia," she whispered.

"Yes. You must rest, darling," answered Maia. "I won't leave you. It'll be all right, you'll see."

Very slightly, as though even this was an effort, Milvushina shook her head. "I'm dying." ,

"No, you're not, dearest."

Milvushina's hand clenched weakly on Maia's. After a few seconds, having gathered strength to speak again, she murmured, "Don't--don't--I need you--" She broke off, shutting her eyes and biting her lower lip, apparently seized once more with pain.

Maia bent her head to her ear.

"I won't go away."

It seemed doubtful whether Milvushina had heard her. Her hand lost its grip and she began once more her heavy, intermittent panting.

Maia stood back from the bed. "What's happened?" she asked Lokris. "What's gone wrong?"

"It was the news, saiyett," answered Lokris, "and then Lord Elvair-ka-Virrion refusing to see her or speak to her. She went into premature labor this morning, but she's only bled ever since and we can't get the baby born."

"Can't you cut her?" asked Maia, turning to the doctor.

"I have cut her, saiyett. I'm very sorry. Believe me, I've done all I can--all anyone could. These cases are always dangerous. No doctor can ever be sure---"

"You mean she's dying?"

"Saiyett, the loss of blood--"

"There's no hope?"

He shook his head. "The internal bleeding can't be stanched, you see. I've given her a drug for the pain. There's nothing more I can do."

Maia, falling on her knees beside the bed, laid her cheek against Milvushina's shoulder. She did not move as the women drew off the sheet and once more began changing the blood-drenched dressings.

When they had finished the room seemed very silent and dim. Later, Maia became vaguely aware that someone had brought more lamps. Later still, Milvushina stirred, moaned and spoke without opening her eyes.

"Maia?"

"Yes, dear; I'm here."

"Tell Elvair--tell--"

"Yes, Milva?"

"I love him. I--don't--blame--" Suddenly, startlingly, her utterance became clear and lucid. "He's being silly. No blame. I love him, say."

"I'll tell him."

"Promise?"

"Yes, Milva: I promise."

Milvushina's hand pressed hers once more. She seemed to be trying to say something, but no words came.

Someone brought a stool and Maia sat on and on beside the bed, holding Milvushina's hand and watching in the lamplight the slight movements-of her lips and eyelids. They ceased. After a lo

ng time--as though, having resisted to the last, she had finally been compelled, against every spark of her will, to acquiesce--she knew that Milvushina was dead.

She stood up, gazing down at the body. Milvushina looked unbelievably young--about twelve--a child with enormous eyes that stared and stared unblinkingly, as though in accusation. It was the eyes that were staring, not Milvushina. She had gone, leaving this sorry likeness behind.

Maia realized that she was very thirsty. She turned to Lokris. "Bring me some water, Lokris, please."

"You mean, to drink, saiyett?"

When Maia had drunk the water she said, "You say Lord Elvair-ka-Virrion's here in the palace?"

"Yes, saiyett."

"Take me to him, please."

Another woman might perhaps have asked questions or argued, but it had no doubt occurred to Lokris that she could not be blamed for doing as she was told and also that in the circumstances that would be the least troublesome thing to do as far as she herself was concerned. Picking up a lamp, she walked halfway to the door and turned, waiting for Maia to join her.

The doctor touched Maia's arm. "I trust you won't lay blame on me, saiyett. I assure you I did all that was possible."

"No," she replied, shaking her head. "No, you needn't worry."

Making their way down the passage, neither she nor Lokris spoke. Maia had little awareness of their surroundings. Once a middle-aged woman--seemingly some kind of upper servant--coming out of a doorway, stopped short and cried in a low voice, "Oh, Lokris, what's happened?" Lokris caught her eye, shook her head and walked on.

On the landing where Maia had taken down the curtains a lamp was now burning. Lokris picked it up and handed it to Maia.

"I think you may need this, saiyett."

"Shall I? Why?"

But Lokris only nodded, leading her up the staircase to the second story. Maia could hear a murmur of voices behind a door, but this they passed, entering a colonnade like the one in Kembri's house where she had attended the Rains banquet. At its far end they came to another closed door, ornately carved, with recessed panels and a great latch of bronze, the stop cast to resemble a hound and the fall-bar a bone clenched in its jaws. Here Lokris stood to one side, inclining her head.