had both experiencedbirthing but Lassens circumstanceshis age and previous brushwith miscarryingrequired a skilled physicians assistance. Thus,it was a great relief that scarcely an hour had passed since Lassenfelt the first warning spasms when Rohyr strode into the room, Eirenright behind him.Rohyrhad not made too much of a fuss. Indeed, he had acquitted himselfquite well, displaying little of the cliched behavior of a firsttime parent. Well, save for the moment when Lassen could not stophimself from crying out due to the stabbing pain blossoming in thevicinity of his lower abdomen. Rohyr began to panic then and only astern reprimand from Eiren calmed him down.Eirenhad dampened the discomfort with a mind touch but he could not whollybenumb Lassen to it for the birthing parent had to remain awake andaware in order to safely push the child to the mouth of the seam.Otherwise, the attending physician would be forced to take the infantdirectly from the womb and that could introduce infection, causeinadvertent internal damage and generally lead to complications, someof them potentially fatal.Theworst of it had been when his abdominal muscles had pushed the childdown and out through the seam. Lassen was reduced to sobbing out hisdistress. But fortified by Rohyrs firm grip on his hand and Daelsmurmured assurances, he weathered the ordeal. And then hed heardthe first piping cry of life, sweetly thrilling to his ears.Afterward, the sharp pain had given way to a faint ache as Eirengently brought the edges of the wound together to encourage it tobegin healing.Oncehe bound Lassens abdomen with gauzy cotton bandages, thediscomfort became quite bearable. But Lassen would be bedridden forat least a week, Eiren toldhim.Even the least strenuous of movements would slow his recovery so, forthe duration of that period, he was to remain in bed and attemptnothing more ambulatory than visits to the chamber pot.Throughthe haze of exhaustion, he saw Rohyr holding their son, securelyensconced in his natal shell. The shell looked like half the cookedwhite of an egg and was almost double the circumference of Rohyrscupped hands. No longer smeared with blood and birthing fluid, it wasdark beige, its opaque surface streaked with the faintest traces ofwhat looked like bluish veins.Rohyrlowered the precious bundle to him. Lassen gaped when he saw the tinyinfant cradled in its cushiony center, the faintly pulsing pale rosebirth cord trailing across his belly to disappear into the folds ofthe shell surface. He had never seen a newborn fresh from the womb.It was the custom to keep days-old babies indoors and away fromnon-family members until the shell came off.Despitehis miniscule size, the child was completely formed. And judging fromthe strength of his flailing arms and legs, healthy as well. Thenatal shell would protect him and provide nourishment until he wasable to suckle. Whereupon the desiccated shell and cord wouldnaturally detach. Lassen noted the silken hair on his sons head,as richly dark as Rohyrs sable locks. The babes eyelidsfluttered slightly and he caught a glimpse of rimmed bluish-greyirises. Merciful Veres... If there was still any doubt as to who hadsired this child, there was the proof to dispel it.Howlong? he asked, feeling