Sariandra had moved in with Jintho. They decided to hold off the wedding until after the baby was born, because it was far too late to organise it before. Indeed, it was a bit over a month later that she went into labour.
Sariandra was a slight girl and Jintho quite sturdy. Healer Lasko said that the baby was “big and healthy” and took its time arriving. The first day, the pains were mild and Sariandra spent much of that day in the bath being rubbed by various people, including Ellisandra when she could get out of her meetings. The second day was much more stressful. On Sariandra, because she was exhausted and the pains started in all earnest, and on Jintho because he couldn’t stand his girlfriend suffering. He walked in and out of the room, getting hot water, getting ice, getting tea or
