A baby! Why, that would mean… the baby would be… it would have to be… the newest Heir to the Imperium. The rightful Heir. The Imperial Prince? Or maybe Princess. He would have to notify headquarters straightaway.
Noddak hadn’t expected such a development. He raised his head just far enough to see through the bottom of the window and strained to hear the conversation between the two women.
Seltie had opened her healer’s bag and was laying out a set of instruments on a table near the bed where a Torph woman, presumably Mrs. Brackenpool, was lying, covered by a sheet. Seltie was saying, “You’ve been having contractions for how long, now? Couple of hours?”
“That’s right, Tee. They’re getting stronger, and much closer together. Only a few minutes, now.”
“Well, you probably don’t have long to go. I’d better fix myself a bite to nibble on before the action starts in earnest.” Seltie made herself a sandwich, then came back to sit on the edge of the bed as they talked. “I thought I heard something out in the yard a while back. I looked, but I didn’t see anything. I was afraid it might be that fellow who was snooping around town last evening. He was asking about you by name.”
“He what?” Mrs. Brackenpool bolted upright in the bed, then put her hands on her belly and slumped back down. “Another contraction. Strong one this time.” When the contraction subsided, she said anxiously, “You’d better tell me about the man in town, Tee.”
Tee clamped her hands over her mouth. “I’d better not! I should have kept it to myself until the birthing was over.” She frowned and looked Mrs. Brackenpool in the eye. “Why, Vetta? Were you expecting someone?”
“Always.” Vetta sighed. “My family have been pursued for generations. That’s why my husband and I came to Lone Island—to find a little peace. I never really thought they’d find us all the way out here. Oof! Here comes another one!”
When the contraction had passed, Seltie said kindly, “I’m sorry I brought it up, Vett. Best forget about it for now and concentrate on the baby. If he comes around here, I’ll take care of him, don’t you worry.”
The talk ceased after that, and Noddak made himself comfortable on the wooden boards of the old porch. He must have dozed off for a little, because the next thing he knew, a baby was squalling. He hoisted himself up and looked through the window again.
Seltie was holding a newborn baby up to the light. “Congratulations, Vett! You have a pretty little girl!”
“Is she all right? Healthy, I mean?”
“Absolutely, Vett. All the parts are there. I counted the fingers and toes myself.” She handed the baby to her mother, where she began to nurse greedily.
Noddak carefully extracted a strange black oblong device from a special pocket in his travel cloak. The bottom half contained numerous buttons and dials, which Noddak manipulated with familiar skill. He aimed toward Mrs. Brakenpool and a tiny red dot appeared on the top half of the device. Another brief manipulation of the controls resulted in a second red dot appearing adjacent to the first.
“I don’t believe it! There are two of them! The baby has inherited the Ability from its mother!” Forgetting about the creaky stairs and the flock of geese milling about in the yard, Noddak dashed out to the lawn and searched for a signal on the device, which crackled and whistled with static. “Come in! Come in, HQ. I found the woman. The husband is dead, or so I hear. But get this: the woman had a baby, just now, and the baby got a red light, too. We have a brand-new Heir. Yes, that’s right, a female. Yes, I’m certain. Two lights, that’s correct. I’ll have to get back to you—
I must have a word with the woman immediately. Over and out.” He returned to the porch and listened again at the window.