Chapter 11

After a week passed the couple went to the old man Grey's house again. But this time after doing his regular procedure he told them to stay for a bit.

As the old man had declined the payment of any sort the couple opted to bring some vegetables or fruits as payments whenever they came to him. Jaiden put the vegetables and sat back down with his wife.

Old man Grey stood up to pull out a paper from the nearby bookshelf. He sat back down and started writing down something on the paper. The couple looked at what he was drawing but all they see a blurriness.

He stopped the writing in a few moments. As soon as he lifted his hand the small paper started floating in the air. But in the couple's eyes, the paper was still on the old man's hand.

He pushed his hand onto the paper as it floated midair. The instant his hand touched the paper it began to integrated disappearing in the air.

Slowly motes of light appear in its place and started to float towards Renee who was sitting beside her husband. The scattered motes of light touched her skin and started disappearing.

Slowly all the motes were gone, and the old man Grey who was sitting on the chair trembled slightly. His withered face started to show signs of ageing even more and he looked even more old and weak.

Jaiden and Renee looked up and noticed that the old man was breathing slightly harder than before.

"Uncle Grey are you ok?" Jaiden stood up and approached the old man while supporting his arm.

"Fine, I'm fine. Just some old age problems.

Hmm, It is enough for today, come back next week." The couple looked confused as they remembered him asking them to stay for a bit but then as if everything was alright they handed over the vegetables and left the old man's house.

As soon as the couple went out of the house the old man started coughing, he placed his hand over his mouth and when he stopped the coughing his hand was stained with blood. The blood was red but looked a bit lighter in colour, it emitted a bit of a blue glow.

The couple did not hear the cough nor did they know the old man's situation as they left the place.

...

Almost eight months had passed since the couple found out about the pregnancy. The young miss Maia gave them the leave as well as some money for a loan which they will have to repay later.

The chief and the young miss helped the people but they also made sure that their help was not seen as something for granted. After that one visit, the old man Grey seemed to be even older as he started to walk around with a walking stick

When they noticed him walking with a stick they went to him asking about his health but he laughed and said he was fine.

Life in the town was the same as always, the news of the war became the talk of the town but soon another news came that said the war was just around the corner. In this period the town had some new residences because of the war.

After a few weeks, Jaiden invited the wisewoman again for the childbirth. Renee suddenly started feeling uncomfortable at midnight so he could only knock on the old man Grey's house.

After he went inside the house and checked her condition he informed Jaiden that the baby was coming. He asked to bring the wisewoman for help as he did not have much experience with childbirth.

Jaiden started running as soon as he heard the old man. He was naturally happy about the news but also worried that he might be late

Hearing the clatter in the night, some of the neighbours came out of their houses. When they heard the painful screams coming from the house they ran towards it but after the old man notified them, few women came forward to help.

Even though it was somewhat of a low populated area there were still some women who had experienced birth.

Elder Grey placed his hand on Renee's forehead and her scrams started to slow down.

He excused himself out after handling her to the other women. Outside the house were neighbours with their lamps or candles. He chose a simple chair outside the house to sit and closed his eyes.

Jaiden came back panting after around half an hour. He wanted to hurry but he could not just ask the wisewoman to run and she also comforted him saying it will ok as the old man Grey was there.

When the wisewoman came with Jaiden her eyes fell on the old man and she bowed slightly and went inside the house. She had noticed some time ago that the old man had become slightly older than before.

When she went inside the house she paused when her gaze landed on Renee but walked forward without showing anything on her face.

Jaiden stayed outside the house with the other men from the neighbourhood. Some came forward to talk to him as well to congratulate him. He started pacing back and forth and stopped when he heard the screams coming from the house.

He knew it was his wife but stopped himself from running inside and started to pray. After what seemed like an eternity the screaming slowed down and crying noises started coming.

He trembled when he heard the cries and came knocking on the door. A middle-aged woman opened the door and allowed him in.

The wisewoman was washing her hands beside the bed while his wife Renee was holding the newborn. A woman standing there started to smile, "Jaiden, congratulations it's a healthy boy."

Jaiden quickly walked forward and sat beside his wife as he looked over their newborn.

...

Morning came and Jaiden asked for a week off from the work. He also went to the old man Grey's house asking him to check on the baby. The house was visited by many of the townsmen as well as some of his fellow workers from the mansion.

The chief also heard the news and send a set of clothes for the newborn. The old man Grey looked much older after the childbirth but Jaiden did not think much about it.

After a week of rest, Jaiden joined his work while some neighbouring women helped him look after Renee and the newborn. Because this was her first experience she asked anything she could to the other mothers in the neighbourhood.

Jaiden was placed for a job with slightly less time requirement by the elder Morris. Old man Grey would visit the newborn almost every other day with his walking stick.

After a week the neighbouring women were surprised at how the newborn appeared to be quiet and did not cry much.

The chief visited the house with his grandson and daughter too. The chief would occasionally visit the newborn families when he went out of his mansion so it was not a much surprise that he came.

But after he visited the newborn family he also visited the house beside them where the old man Grey lived.