Read The Heirs of Hammerfell for Free Online

interrupted. "Children?"
    "Why, yes," said the leronis. "Surely you know you are bearing twins."
    "N―no, I did not know," said Erminie, stammering. "How can you tell that?"
    "Have you never monitored a pregnant woman before this?"
    "No, never; I have not been taught―sometimes I thought my mind had touched the child, but I could not be certain―"
    Rascard was frowning.
    "Twins?" he said, troubled, "I hope, then, for all our sakes that one of them is a daughter."
    Valentine asked with lifted brow, "Well, Merelda?"
    She shook her head. "I am sorry," she replied, "You have two sons. I thought―I was sure that would please you; it is terribly sad when only the life of a
    single child stands between an ancient line and its extinction."
    But Erminie's eyes were bright. "I am to give my lord not one son but two!" she exclaimed. "Did you hear, my lord?" Then she saw the scowl on his face. "Does it displease you, Rascard?"
    Rascard forced himself to assume a more amiable smile. "I am pleased, of course, my dearest; but twins always create confusion as to which of them is eldest, or best fitted to rule; and it is all too likely that they might become enemies and bitter rivals. My sons must stand together as strong allies against the dangers from our foes of Storn."
    Seeing her distress, he added, "Still, you must not let this spoil your happiness in our children. We shall contrive something, I am sure."
    Lord Valentine said, "I wish you would let your lady come to us, for a time at least; at Arilinn there is a notable college of midwives, so that she could be delivered safely, and we could insure that the twins would receive every care and consideration."
    "I am sorry; but I cannot even consider it," said Rascard. "My sons must be born under their own roof."
    "Then there is no more to be said," replied Lord Valentine, and rose to take his leave.
    Duke Rascard objected that they should remain for entertainment and perhaps a banquet in their honor, but they refused politely and took their leave with many expressions of esteem on either side.
    As they rode away from Hammerfell, Rascard noticed that Erminie looked sorrowful.
    "Surely you did not want to leave me alone, my wife, nor have our sons born among strangers!"
    'No, of course not, she said, ' but―
    "Ah, I knew there must be a but," said the duke. "What could win you away from me, dearest? Have you anything to complain of in my treatment?"
    "No, nothing, you have been the kindest husband one could imagine," Erminie said.
    "Nevertheless it is tempting to me that I might have complete training as a leronis. I am all too conscious that there are possibilities in my laran which I do not even know how to imagine, far less do."
    "You know far more of it than I, or than anyone within the boundaries of all Hammerfell," said Rascard. "Can that not content you?"
    "I am not discontented," said Erminie, "but there is so much else to know―this much I have learned from the starstone itself―and I feel ignorant compared with what I might be. With the leronis Merelda, for instance, she is so learned and wise―"
    "I have no need for a learned wife, and you suit me exactly as you are," Rascard told her, and embraced her tenderly, and she said no more. With her husband, and her coming children, she was content, for the moment at least.
    4
    The violet moon waned, then waxed again; and three days after the new moon Erminie of Hammerfell * was brought to bed and, as the leronis had prophesied, gave birth to twin sons, identical as two peas in a pod. Small wiry babies, red and squalling, each little head covered with thick dark hair.
    "Dark hair," Erminie frowned, "I had hoped that at least one of our sons, my lord, would bear the laran gift of our family."
    "From what I have heard of the laran-gifted," Rascard said, "we―and they―are better without it, my dearest. Laran was not too much known in my line."
    "One or both may still be red-haired, my lady," said the midwife, bending near. "When