"My Lady is doing fine. As are your children."
"Children?" Pentam put a hand out to steady himself.
"Twins, Mr. Booksdale. A girl and a boy."
Hyansea clapped her hands and said something in her liquid language. La and the women from the Embassy bowed deeply to Pentam twice, then broke into a song which tugged at Cal's heart. Hyansea opened the box to pull out another blanket, this one black with a fearsome tiger roaring embroidered on it. La handed Hyansea a lacquered tray. She put the figurines on the tray along with a bowl of clear broth.
"For mother, to make her strong."
Pentam put the cloths over his arm and picked up the tray to follow Matilde up the stairs. He had a smile on his face which looked like it would never leave.
A short while later, Pentam and Matilde came down the s
