A Grim Baby Read online

  “Healer Adams,” Hadar bowed slightly to her.

  “Healer Hadar,” Dr. Adams returned the gesture. “I’m excited to learn from you.”

  “As I am you.”

  “Rebecca, would you mind showing Dr. Adams where she’ll be staying and get her settled? I’m sure she’s tired, and I need to get back to Adora and the girls.”

  “I’d be glad to.”

  “Thank you.” Lisa looked at the other doctor. “I look forward to getting to know you, Dr. Adams.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Amanda couldn’t help but be impressed as she was led through House Luanda, which wasn’t a house at all. It was a castle. She’d thought she’d been prepared after all the information from the educator she’d used.

  It was full of the language and history of both the Tornian and Kaliszian Empires, along with the locations and names of all the planets and Houses. But actually seeing it made it real.

  Castles on Earth were usually dark, damp, and often dirty, even with modern upgrades. Not House Luanda. It was clean, bright, and filled with the most amazing things. She wanted to stop, admire, and inquire, but now wasn’t the time. She’d already made a lousy first impression on the king and queen. She didn’t want to do the same with the doctors she’d be working with.

  She thought she’d long ago conquered her impulse of jumping in and demanding answers. It was necessary during an emergency, but there hadn’t been one in this case. Just her jumping to conclusions after she recognized the woman who’d altered the universe was no longer visibly pregnant.

  Which was the reason she was here.

  It had never occurred to her that she would be too late.

  How arrogant of her. As if the universe revolved around Dr. Amanda Adams and her skills.

  “This is the entrance to the women’s wing,” Rebecca interrupted her thoughts, and she glanced up to find massive doors flanked by two equally impressive guards.

  “The women aren’t allowed to leave?” Amanda had been told that, while the women weren’t being allowed to return to Earth, they weren’t prisoners.

  “Of course, they can.” Rebecca nodded to the guards as she pushed open the doors. “The guards are here to keep males out.”

  Turning, Amanda saw Healer Hadar hadn’t followed them inside. “Not even a healer?”

  “Only if there’s an emergency. It allows everyone to relax completely.”

  The room before Amanda was amazing. It was large, open, and airy, full of comfortable furniture in pleasing colors. A large bank of doors opened into what appeared to be a walled garden letting in the scent of blooming flowers.

  “This is the main common area,” Rebecca told her. “Everyone’s resting chambers are on the second story.” She led her to the wide stairs that curved along one wall. “You have your choice of rooms. Several look over the garden, while the other side gives you a clear view of the training grounds. It’s the most popular side.”

  “Really? I would have thought it would be the gardens.” Rebecca gave her a small knowing smile.

  “You’ll understand once you see the view. Which,” Rebecca looked to the timepiece on her wrist, “should be at its best about now.”

  Rebecca moved to an open door and let Amanda precede her into the room, knowing Amanda would be surprised.

  “My God!” Amanda couldn’t believe the luxurious room she had just walked into. There was a sitting area with several couches, chairs, and a fireplace on one end. On the other end was the largest bed she’d ever seen. She’d heard of one called an Alaskan King. It was supposed to comfortably fit several people over six and a half feet tall, and she hadn’t seen a Tornian under that yet.

  “It takes a little getting used to,” Rebecca said understandingly. “There are steps on the side if you need it. Most of us use them. Through here is the cleansing room.”

  This room was luxurious, too, with a large shower, free-standing tub, and separate water closet. “I was under the impression that the Tornians, at least the males, lived with only the most basic comforts.”

  “They did. Lisa changed that, at least for the males of House Luanda. Empress Kim has done the same within House Torino, as has Abby in House Jamison, and Lady Isis of House Rigel. Other Houses are slowly beginning to follow, but change takes time.”

  “And this is all happening very fast.”

  “It is. Now for the view.” Rebecca walked out of the cleansing room and moved to the wide, nearly floor-to-ceiling windows. Behind her, Amanda gasped.

  Below them was a green field filled with half-naked males fighting. Some hand to hand. Some with swords. Some with long staffs. What they all had in common were bulging, sweating muscles.

  “See what I mean?” Rebecca asked, grinning.

  “Oh yes,” she breathed. “Do they do this every day?”

  “Most days, yes.” A roar cut off the rest of what Rebecca was going to say, and as the women watched, a circle was formed around two warriors. “Well, this is something you don’t see every day.”

  To Amanda’s surprise, she recognized one as the king but not the other. He was blue, and while he was just as muscular as the king, he seemed older.

  “That’s Captain Alger,” Rebecca told her, “he’s the captain of Grim’s Elite Guard. He’s also a close friend and advisor.”

  Amanda held her breath as she watched the two warriors slowly circle one another, each holding a sword poised to either strike or defend. Suddenly they attacked, and the clash of steel meeting steel was heard even through glass. The power behind each strike was undeniable, and she found herself captivated by the beauty of their dance even with all its brutality. They’d attack, then separate, then attack again. Neither gained the advantage for long. Even to the untrained observer like her, it was apparent they were evenly matched and had been sparring together for years. Their swords locked together after another series of swift, complex moves, sweat streaming down their bodies.

  As the spectators cheered their approval, Grim and Alger grinned at each other, then separated and clasped their swordless forearms.

  “Wow,” Amanda whispered.

  “They are something, aren’t they,” Rebecca agreed.

  “I’ve never seen anything like it.” As they continued to watch, Alger walked over, took something from another warrior, and ran it over his side.

  “Looks like one of Grim’s swings got through,” Rebecca commented.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Alger is using a handheld repair unit.”

  “There’s a handheld unit?” She hadn’t been aware of that. It seemed there was a great deal she still didn’t know about these Tornians. She’d have to work on correcting that.

  “Yes, and several are kept on the training fields because, as you just saw, injuries happen.”

  “You don’t treat those injuries?”

  “If they’re severe enough, they come to medical and use either the medical or deep repair unit. But most injuries are treated on the field. At least with the warriors. Now the trainees are a different story.”

  “Surely they don’t let them use actual swords.”

  “It’s how they learn,” Rebecca just shrugged, then muttered. “At least they’re not using Tornian steel in their swords.”

  “What?”

  “What?” Rebecca jerked as she hadn’t realized she’d said the last aloud. “Oh, swords or blades made from Tornian steel leave a residue within an injury, making it more difficult to heal.”

  “This is purposely done?”

  “I don’t believe so. It’s just a side effect from the ore used. It’s a rare ore, but it creates an extremely durable and sharp blade. But it’s costly. Warriors work for years to be able to afford one. That’s why they aren’t allowed during training. Well, that, and because injuries caused by them leave scars.”

  “Scars?”

  “Yes.” Rebecca gave the other doctor a considering look. “You haven’t wondered why King Grim has such severe scarring wh
ile other warriors don’t?” The extent of Grim’s scars running down one side of his face, neck, and torso had been on full display during the match.

  “I did, but didn’t want to be rude and ask.”

  “Compared to basically accusing the queen of lying about her pregnancy?”

  Amanda felt her cheeks flush. “That hadn’t been my intention. I overreacted.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Lisa doesn’t hold a grudge unless you threaten her family. If you do that, you’ll have more than Lisa looking for justice.” With that said, Rebecca returned to the subject of Grim’s scars. “I understand that eight warriors, in an assassination attempt, ambushed Grim. They failed, but Grim was gravely injured, and because they used Tornian blades, he was left with scars.”

  “Did I hear right that because of those scars, no Tornian female would Join with the king?”

  “Yes. Because of the Great Infection, Tornian females have had their choice of males for hundreds of years. Imperfections were not tolerated, no matter a male’s position or what he could offer.”

  “They sound like a bunch of spoiled brats.”

  “Many are, but it was how they were raised. The only choice they were ever given was which male they would Join with. After giving him a baby, they were then expected to choose another male and give him a baby, and so on. Only the Goddess knows how more of them didn’t turn into stark raving maniacs like Risa.

  “She’s the female that tried to kill Empress Kim and her newborn daughter.”

  “Yes.”

  “You were injured during that attack, weren’t you?”

  “I was,” Rebecca told her through tight lips. “The deep repair unit saved my life.”

  Seeing her distress, Amanda put a reassuring hand on her arm. “I’m sorry, Rebecca, I should have realized talking about it would upset you. It’s a problem I have when I discover something interesting. I want to know everything about it and tend to ask inappropriate questions.”

  Rebecca took a deep breath and released it. “Don’t worry about it, Dr. Adams, and your questions weren’t inappropriate. I just prefer not to talk about it.”

  “Totally understandable, and please, call me Amanda. We will be working closely together, and I hope we can become friends.”

  “I’d like that, Amanda, and I’m Rebecca. So will this room do?”

  “This room will more than do.”

  “Great. Then I’ll let Montfort know to have your luggage brought here.” At her questioning look, Rebecca smiled. “Montfort is the Master of House Luanda. It means he runs the household.”

  “I thought the queen did that.”

  “Lisa is involved, but Montfort has been running Luanda for years. He keeps her informed of everything going on, and if she wants any changes, he makes them.”

  “I can’t believe how good she looks just one day after delivering such a large baby.”

  “I’ll show you the unit we used once you get settled.”

  “I can get settled later. What I’d like to do is see your medical facility.”

  Rebecca smiled. “A woman after my own heart. Let’s go.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Hadar waited impatiently outside the female’s wing for Rebecca and Healer Adams to return. He had many questions for the Earth healer about her experiences helping to present offspring. Rebecca had requested she bring instructional information on what Rebecca called a caesarean section. A healer would actually cut open a female and remove the offspring if there was a problem. It was something he’d never heard of, and thanked the Goddess neither the empress nor Queen Lisa had needed it.

  The real question was, how many of their females were lost because of their healer’s ignorance? He hated the thought of even one of them suffering in such a way. It was something he planned on correcting with Dr. Adams’ and Rebecca’s help.

  “Are you planning on pacing here all day?” Warrior Keen asked from his position on one side of the door.

  “I’m just waiting for Healer Rebecca and Healer Adams to return.”

  “Did they say they were?”

  “No.”

  “Then what makes you think they will? The female traveled a great distance. She’ll be exhausted and want to rest.”

  Before Hadar could reply, the door opened, and both healers appeared. “Oh, Hadar, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were waiting for us. I was showing Amanda around the wing.”

  “No apology is necessary, Healer Rebecca. I only remained in case Healer, I mean, Dr. Adams wished to visit our medical facility.”

  “That’s exactly where we were heading.”

  “And whichever term you’re most comfortable with is fine with me, Healer Hadar. You may even use just my first name, Amanda, since we will be colleagues.”

  Amanda was surprised at how shocked the Tornian healer seemed to be and looked to Rebecca for guidance.

  “The use of a female’s first name is reserved for the male she is Joining with,” Rebecca told her.

  “Oh.” Amanda felt her cheeks start to darken. “I wasn’t suggesting….”

  “I never thought you were,” Hadar quickly reassured her.

  “Hadar refers to me as Healer Rebecca. Would you be comfortable with him doing the same with you?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then, Healer Amanda, would you allow me to escort you to our medical facility? I’m sure you have questions. I know I do for you.”

  “I would be honored, Healer Hadar.” Amanda smiled and followed him down the corridor.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Do I even need to ask?” Lisa’s eyes quickly scanned Grim and found no injury, only sweat and dirt, and she relaxed.

  “It was just a sparring match, my Lisa.” He leaned down to where she sat on the couch, nursing Adora, and gently kissed her lips.

  “With?”

  “Alger.”

  “I see. Who won?” Observing two Tornian males fighting with the skill of their king and the captain of his Elite Guard was an event. Alger and Grim didn’t regularly spar, so it was an event no warrior wanted to miss when they did.

  She’d only seen one match herself and found it too stressful, even though she knew they weren’t trying to kill each other. There was always the chance of an injury occurring that the deep repair unit couldn’t heal. Grim had barely survived one attack, and while she knew he needed these matches to make sure that never happened again, she couldn’t watch them.

  “It was a draw, although I drew blood.”

  “Alger was hurt?!” Her jerk dislodged Adora, who whimpered about having her meal interrupted. “Hush now, sweetie. It’s okay. Mommy’s sorry.” Readjusting her, Adora began to greedily drink again.

  “Alger is fine,” Grim told her once Adora was calm again. “I just grazed him.” He frowned at her. “You don’t actually think I would intentionally harm Alger, do you?”

  “Of course not, but accidents happen, and I know it would devastate you if you caused him serious harm.”

  “I know how to control my sword, my Lisa.” Then he suddenly realized what this was really about. “Alger would never harm me.”

  She grimaced and shifted about in her seat. “I know that.”

  “And yet, you worry?”

  “Of course I do. I love you and don’t want to lose you or see you hurt.”

  He arched a brow. “The way I witnessed you being hurt presenting our daughter?”

  “That’s different.”

  “How?”

  “It’s a natural process, Grim. There’s always the chance something could go wrong, and the mother could die. But the chance of that happening is lower here than on Earth.”

  “Because of the deep repair unit?”

  “Yes, and because of Rebecca and now Dr. Adams. I know Rebecca explained what a C-section is to you. So, you were prepared if she needed to perform one on me.”

  Grim could only nod because the thought of Rebecca doing such to his Lisa was something he didn’t want to
think about.

  “On Earth, the procedure leaves a large scar no matter how skilled the healer is, but here I could have used the deep repair unit immediately and been completely healed. It can’t repair a sword through the heart or reattach a severed limb.”

  He couldn’t mask his shock. “You worry about these things?”

  “It’s not completely rational, Grim. I know that you need to spar, and I want you to. I just don’t want to watch it. Not when it’s like that. Do you understand?”

  “I do, yet you wish me to train our offspring to be as skilled as me.”

  “Of course, I do. As I said, it’s not rational. I’m going to worry about the girls, but I also know you will take every precaution. What they learn from you may one day save their lives. Just as your training has saved yours.” She reached up to caress his scarred cheek.

  “You are a complicated female,” he said, turning his head to kiss her palm.

  Her smile was soft. “Not really. I simply don’t want my family hurt even though I know it will happen.”

  At this moment, Grim fully grasped just how devastating it must have been for Wray to lose his son, Van, the way he had. Van and Tora had trained together for several years by then and should have been able to protect themselves.

  No one could have foreseen the transport accident which had taken Van’s life too soon. Tora would have died as well if not for the actions of their guard. Knowing the accident had been arranged by Bertos and Risa made what happened worse. Still, that wouldn’t have eased Grim’s pain if it had happened to one of his daughters.

  “I will do everything in my power to prevent harm to any of us, my Lisa.”

  “We both will, Grim, because that’s what parents do. Now, go cleanse because there’s something else I need to talk to you about before the girls wake up from their naps.

  His heart skipped a beat. “Is something wrong?”

  “No, my love, my vow. It will be easier to talk about it without them.”