The Key to the Warriors (completed)

53Charlie

Swallowing hard, I scraped a hand over my face and helped Zyirah climb out of the bench., fluid dripping from the ends of her skirt. "Okay. You're okay, it's gonna be okay. Um... Leo!?"

He came from the kitchen, eyes concerned as he looked at us. "What's wrong?"

"Zyirah's water just broke."

He cursed and called back to Jerry, who came running out, wiping his hands on a cloth as he slid in next to Leo. "Zyirah's in labor. I need you to go get Zirlic. Try not to alert the men. We don't need gawkers adding stress to the situation." Jerry nodded, and I watched as he forcibly walked to first aid while Leo leaned down next to Zyirah. "Zyi, how we feeling?"

She gasped as she took his offered hand. "It's starting to hurt."

"You're gonna be alright. Charlie, let's start walking toward the sleeping dome, okay?"

I nodded, an egg in my throat as my heart raced faster than I could breathe. I couldn't understand how the man was so calm but forced my gait to match his as we each took one of Zyirah's hands and started walking slow and smooth toward the sleeping dome. Zirlic, Mom, and Zak followed Jerry from first aid as we approached. Zak had fresh bandages on his left arm, but his eyes were wide as he fell into step behind us.

Zirlic walked backwards in front of Zyirah, stooped so he could look into her eyes. "How we doing, Zyi?"

She nodded, then hauled Leo and I to a stop as she gasped, her knees sinking as she groaned. I found myself thankful for the noise of the practice rounds going on behind me, and I glanced back to see that no one was paying any attention to us.

"Okay, come on." Zirlic stepped in around me and scooped Zyirah up beneath the knees, making her groan as he carried her quickly toward the sleeping dome.

Another look back showed that no one was watching, and I was thankful for the lack of questions as I jogged after them. Leo took all the sheets off the bed and began layering piles of towels over the mattress before Zirlic set her down and tucked a pillow beneath her head. Stepping to the side, he began stripping out of the outer layers of his armor, specifically the cold and sharp metal bits, which he set in a pile on the floor by the dresser. Looking up, I noticed Leo peeling out of his kitchen apron, which he tossed onto the round table before moving to the dresser.

A basin of water sat atop it that I hadn't noticed the night before, and I stared as he and Zirlic both scrubbed their hands and arms.

"Charlie, you better go comfort her." Jerry said, suddenly appearing beside me, and I nodded.

Sliding across the room on robotic legs, I eased down to sit beside Zyirah, pulling her head to rest against me while I held her hand. She was breathing deeply, and I watched in horror as her legs started trembling and she squeezed the life out of my fingers as she moaned. Her face twisted in discomfort as my mom came with the stethoscope and started listening to her belly again, then pulled away.

"No sounds of distress from what I can tell."

Zirlic nodded. "Still early, though." He turned to Jerry, who was lingering on the opposite side of the room with Zak. "Jer, we may need a ventilator, can you go get the handheld from first aid?"

With a nod, Jerry scurried away while Zyirah began to calm, breathing slow and deep again as Zirlic approached me.

"Charlie, can you get her out of her skirt and britches?"

He turned away before I could answer, and I eased away from Zyirah to carefully pull her pants down until they were off, then tossed them to the floor. Zak came after with one of the discarded blankets and draped it over her. I nodded to him as he dropped into the chair at the table, then turned my eyes to Leo who had lowered to crouch in front of Zyirah. With one hand on her knee, he slid the other hand up beneath the blankets, making Zyirah's breath catch as she squeezed my hand again.