Chapter Three

Sila dubbed the cold wet cloth wiping the sweat from Kesa’s body. Her Chesnut skin sheened in the glow of the candles. Kesa moaned. She rocked back and forth. “You are almost there” Sila coaxed as she gently rubbed her belly. Outside she could hear the feast in full swing.  

Kesa grabbed Sila’s arm. “What if they are summoned?” Her voice was hoarse from struggling against the delirium of pain.  

“They won’t be, nobody but us and Twaza know besides, even if they heard it, they aren’t tethered to it. They won’t be compelled to the prayer drums.”  

Kesa let out a cry in response and gripped Sila’s arm so hard that Sila feared she had the strength to rip it off her body. 

“It’s almost time,” Sila said more for her sake than Kesa’s. Sila began to pry Kesa’s fingers off her arm. She needed to put her in position before calling in the midwife. 

Kesa’s grip tightened. “They are mine. My children. I will destroy those drums, I will burn down the temple, I will kill...” Her voice trailed off into another moan.  

Sila ran out and a moment later she was with the midwife. Sila led the midwife to where Kesa lay. As the midwife checked on Kesa and placed her in position, she nodded to Sila. Sila peered out to signal to Twaza. Twaza blew the horn and the high priests began their chant. After securing the wooden door of the hut, Sila moved to Kesa's side and took her hand.  

“Now” the midwife instructed. Kesa clenched and pushed. Her eyes gleamed like rubies. Sila was sorry she had ever doubted Twaza’s uncanny gift of foresight. She was sorry she doubted the blind midwife who was so old and small she looked like a shriveled fragile prune. She mused at where Twaza could have gotten her from, but then Twaza had always been resourceful. It was why he was so revered.  

The wail of a baby pulled Sila out of her well of thoughts. Sila took the baby after the cord was cut and wrapped her in a sisal cloth. Sila glanced down at Kesa who was drenched in sweat and tears. Her eyes were now the color of the sky on a clear warm day.  

“Push,” The midwife ordered.