Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“You did beautifully,” Sinad tells me. “I told you all the pain would be worth it.”
“You did. I didn’t believe you at the time,” I say in a tired chuckle. “But I can see now, you were right.”
She smiles as she comes to settle at my side. “Goodness, look at this handsome male of yours.”
I can’t seem to look at anything else. I’m trying to take in every detail of my son. His black hair, his markings, his …”
“Oh.” The word comes out hoarse and low, but Halun hears it.
“What?” he asks.
“He has my mother’s eyes.”
A gray so light and calming that looking into his eyes feels exactly like staring into the ones that were kind and patient as they put me to sleep. As they matched her smile on my first day of school. As they snuck me dessert before my father had even finished cooking dinner.
“They’re beautiful,” Halun states.
I nod. I can’t speak with me swallowing around the tears clogging my throat. A son with my mother’s eyes, a reminder I will never tire of. I wish he had something of Nowas or Jozay’s for Halun, to have that reminder for himself. As soon as the thought comes to me, though, I know an answer.
Halun and I, the closer I got to delivery, were each throwing names around, boy names, girl names, but nothing we both agreed on. I think I’ve found one we’ll both love now, though.
“He has my mother’s eyes,” I say. “I think it’s only right he has your father’s name.”
Halun’s eyes snap from our son to me. The emotions I find swirling there make my heart even more full, when, while looking down at my son, I didn’t think it could become any more whole. When Halun nods, though, agreeing to give our son his father’s name while his lips curve up into a small smile, my heart feels complete in a way I never thought possible.
If anyone could have done that, this impossible feat of making me utterly whole, it would be Halun.
Halun, and the son we’ve made lying on my chest. The heart that beats just for them thrumming beneath him.
*
Any other child, and the Mina, my grandmother, would place the baby into the hole dug into the land. But for the heir, the future ruler of Hallalah, I come forward and place my son into the land. The gathered crowd, its size rivaling how many Hallans and humans filled the hall and gardens for the ball, is so loud that I barely hear my grandmother tell me to cover my son with soil.
I cover all but his face, smiling at how content he looks to be in the land of his planet. His gray eyes watch me, looking like they’re close to shutting at any moment, though.
“Sleep if you want to, my prince,” I tell him. “I will show you all this later.”
As my grandmother moves to take my place, I straighten and step back to take Luna’s hand. She puts her head to my arm, her contentedness matching our son’s. I knew true happiness the day I found her, even if our meeting was utter chaos. I knew utter peace the day my son came into this world. Now, though, I know how it feels to know I have everything I have ever desired, wanted, or needed.
With Bothaki, Selina, Fate in her arms, and Zarah behind me, I can almost not miss the Hallans who aren’t here so much to witness my son being named, his fate being read. Almost. I feel their presence even still, all throughout me. All throughout this day.
My grandmother begins humming a tune I’ve heard all my life. A tune even the humans have become accustomed to with how many births we’ve had recently. How many cristas have been performed for those babies. My grandmother runs her hands along the soil covering my son before swiping her thumb across the upside down crescent on his forehead. Then, her eyes close, and she goes still, and the crowd with her. Everyone gathered goes utterly quiet as we await her words. After a few moments, she only tilts her head to the side.
I can’t say I’ve seen her do that before.
“His name?” she asks.
It’s Luna who answers. “Nowas.”
A cheer erupts then, but still, I can hear Bothaki give an approving sound from just behind me. I turn my head slightly to press a kiss to Luna’s temple, and she leans into it. Like she always does.
“Nowas.” My grandmother smiles, although she had always known our baby’s name. “Of course.”
Then, she goes quiet again, and the crowd, too. I feel like I barely breathe as I wait to hear my son’s fate. She opens her eyes and leans forward to cup Nowas’ cheeks. Nowas’ eyes finally do close then, just as his grandmother’s open.