Before dawn

Writers: Emma, Paula
Date Posted: 14th October 2005

Characters: Aivorn, Miranek
Description: Aivorn and Miranek meet at the kitchen very early in the morning and the master beastcrafter asks the master midwife's opinion about births.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 8, day 5 of Turn 3

Aivorn firmly closed the stable's door behind him and locked it. He looked at the pre-dawn sky and stretched. He felt he needed a cup of klah and something to eat. He had been up whole night, helping a mare in birth. He considered going home, but his daughter would be sleeping, and Heludia, their drudge, wouldn't had arrived yet to make the breakfast. That left the hold's kitchen. There should always be somebody, even at this hours. Whistling, since successful births always made him happy, he walked to the kitchen. He stopped his whistling before entering. No use spoiling his reputation.

"Morning. Can I have a cup of klah and something to bite?" he asked the kitchen staff, busy making breakfast preparations.

"Of course Master Aivorn. Just in a moment" one of them answered him.

Aivorn spotted another of the hold's master crafters and went to join him.
"Morning, master Miranek. You're up early or late in getting bed."

"A birthing during the night, the Journeyman had to come get me. The little one wanted to make his appearance slightly sooner than expected." Miranek gave a yawn.

"Seem like they all wanted to get born this night" Aivorn remarked.

"I think so, this little boy will do just fine though." As he spoke, the kitchen worker brought him a mug of hot klah. "I need this, didn't want to wake up my family going to make some at home."

"Same here. Thank you, lass" Aivorn replied and received his mug and plate with freshly baked, still steaming hot breakfast rolls.
They sipped their klah in silence for a moment, then Aivorn suddenly asked:
"Can I ask your opinion as a midwife? I know runners aren't your specialty, but I think same rules apply no matter how many legs the mother has."

"I can try to help," asked Miranek, curiously.

"I have this runner-mare, who always has difficulties with her births. It takes time and the foal gets well, kind of stuck, too big for her. She is small sized, you see, and gracefully built. Fast as wind too. I'm been wondering if her foaling difficulties are due her size and built?" Aivorn explained.

"Is she delicate in any way?" asked Miranek. His professional curiosity was aroused.

"She's sleek, you know, steam-lined" Aivorn tried to draw the shape of the runner to air with his klah-mug. He only managed to spill it on his hand.
"Shardit" he muttered.

"You okay?" asked Miranek.

"Fine," the beastcrafter answered with a sheepish grin.

"Sleep deprivation does that to us all," Miranek grinned back. Switching subject, he said, "If a lady were that delicate, I'd perhaps reccommend a surgical delivery, but as a last resort you understand. Such a procedure is dangerous."

"She's my best breeding mares. I don't want to cut her open" Aivorn said incredulously. Then he shrugged. "Well, I got the foal out without knives and they both fine if exhausted."

"As are all new mothers."

"Yeah," Aivorn agreed. He was quiet for a moment, sipping his klah, eating breakfast rolls and thinking his own thoughts.

"Too bad you weren't here seventeen turns ago. You might have been able to save her," he suddenly blurted out with a sad tone.

"Her? Forgive me if I'm prying?"

"My wife. She died seventeen turns ago. Birth complications" Aivorn explained rather curtly. He was himself surprised how sore the subject was, even after all this time.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Aivorn just grunted. He still missed her. Troyshara had been able to teach the weyrbred journeyman what true love was.

Miranek took a drink from his klah, sometimes there were no appropriate words.

Aivorn had finished his breakfast and handed the empty plate and mug to a passing drudge.
"Well, thanks from the company, Miranek. I'm going to take a little nap," he said. He could still get candlemark or two of sleep before the day really started.

"Then maybe I'll see you again soon," replied the Healer.

Last updated on the October 15th 2005

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Before dawn