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“Aye, wife, take pity on me and do just that. I do not know if I can survive a long birthing time,” he said, his stomach churning at the thought.
Tavia laughed again. “I will do my best.” She hurried to change the subject seeing how upset her husband appeared with talk of her delivery time. “Have you heard any news about who will become the new Lord MacVannan?”
Bhric smiled. “Aye, I received word this morning and thought to surprise you with it.”
“Then surprise me,” Tavia said eagerly.
“Terence… Glenna and William’s son, now Lord Terence,” Bhric said.
Tavia smiled with delight. “How is it that their son is now lord of Clan MacVannan?”
“Terence made his fortune successfully serving the king and the king granted him lordship of Clan MacVannan as a reward. From what I hear he is a good man and a skilled warrior. It will be good that Clan Strathearn has a strong neighbor and friend.”
“Aye—OH!” Tavia cried out and stopped abruptly. She hoisted the hem of her garments some to see a wet puddle at her feet. “My water released.”
Bhric stood staring at her.
“We need to get to the keep,” she said when he did not move.
Bhric shook his head, scooped her up, and took off running, Fen racing ahead of him barking.
Tavia smiled when she heard cheers fill the air and shouts calling for a celebration, that an heir was about to be born.
“It’s time! It’s time!” Bhric yelled and Fen barked as they rushed into the Great Hall.
Marta turned wide-eyed and looked to Shea. “Get Hertha and Greta!” She rushed to follow Bhric up the stairs. “To my lady’s bedchamber, where all the heirs of Clan MacShane were born,” she ordered.
Marta needn’t tell Bhric that. His grandfather had made it clear to him that Bhric’s son would be born in the room where Bhric had been born, his mother had been born and Lord Donald himself had been born. Bhric was proud that he was able to keep his word to his grandfather and produce the first of several heirs who would see that Clan MacShane remained strong.
“Begone with you now,” Marta ordered Bhric with a wave of her hand after he placed his wife on the bed. “I will see to my granddaughter.”
Marta never failed to refer to Tavia as her granddaughter when in private. It was as if she had to reassure herself but then Tavia did the same as if she too needed reassurance.
“I am glad you are here with me, Amma,” Tavia said.
Bhric saw tears tickle Marta’s eyes. Tavia had asked Bhric the word for grandmother in Norse and called Marta by it whenever they were alone. It always brought tears to the older woman’s eyes.
“I am blessed to be here with you and see my great-grandchild born. Now let’s get you comfortable.” Marta turned. “What are you still doing here? Go!” she ordered and shooed Bhric away.
“I do not want to leave her,” Bhric said, fearful he would lose her.
Tavia stretched her hand out to him, and he hurried to her and took hold of it.
“A kiss for strength,” she said and pressed her lips to his to linger for a moment. Then she whispered, “I love you always.”
“Not as much as I love you,” he whispered back.
“Now go!” Marta demanded, shooing him away again.
“You will keep me abreast of what goes on,” Bhric ordered.
The powerful command in his voice had Marta responding with a bob of her head. “Aye, my lord.”
“Do so as a grandmother who takes pity on her grandson-in-law who will worry himself senseless, Marta,” Bhric said.
Marta smiled. “I will see you are kept informed.”
Hertha rushed in, Ingrid behind her, then Greta entered shortly after her. Shea was the last to enter and waited to the side for instructions.
