"No… perhaps I should explain. By the time I got pregnant with Lavender, I had conceived 3 times and lost all three children. My maid had been sleeping with my husband, and I was unaware but Fantasy had seen it. She put two and two together and realized that my maid was trying to conceive an heir so she could marry Reever in my place. Just as you grandfather… or supposed grand father had done to Fantasy when he married her maid." Rose explained and Kyera sat looking at her wide eyed.
"WAIT Uncle Reever who flinches if you so much as raise your voice cheated on you? Harems are not allowed here… what was he thinking?" Kyera demanded and Rose chuckled softly. She leaned forward conspiratorially.
"Have you ever wondered why Reever does that? Can you imagine if their mother found out not only Roland had cheated on his wife and ripped our family in two but to find Reever did it too?" Rose asked raising a eyebrow. "And imagine if she found out the baby boy I lost in my second pregnancy was poisoned in my womb by the woman he was unfaithful with?"
Kyera's disbelief turned to anger and sorrow. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, but then again women could abandon their own children apparently. There is no end to what they could do to other people's children who were in the way. "I am sorry, Aunt Rose… I didn't know."
"No one did you silly child. Your grandmother and I were the only ones who knew. I was pregnant with my Lavender when she walked up to me in the gardens where I liked to rest and asked me the same question.I responded then same as you did. I thought she was there to hurt me or the baby." Rose pointed out as she settled back into her chair and took another sip of her tea. Kyera took a cup herself and blew on it gently, letting the steam swirl off in the chilly air.
"So, I take it you were a lot more guarded after that and were rewarded with Lavender?" Kyera asked and Rose nodded. She set the small glass bottle on the counter. Inside Kyera could see a small balls of leaves. It looked like dragon pearl tea… but the colors were wrong. The bottle was half empty, only around one hundred balls left in the bottle.
"Yes and I began taking this every day. This is what your grandmother gave me. It is a tea ball that you steep once a day. You must drink it daily. It will prevent toxins from reaching the child, and supposedly helps the baby adhere to your body." Rose explained as she watched Kyera's flickering emotions. There was distrust, hope, and a little fear in her eyes.
"Do you think its necessary?" Kyera asked softly. Deep down, she really didn't want to believe her child would be in danger. It was hard enough worrying about her people. Her baby was the only thing she believed she could keep safe.
"Kyera, your raising another woman's child who was abandoned. Your married to a tortured soul, who was abused by his father's wives. You mother in law was cast out and unfairly vilified for things she did not commit. Do you have the luxury of deciding necessary or not to be cautious?" Rose asked raising a brow. Kyera felt the tears pricking in her eyes and her hands wrapped the span of her tummy thinking of the little life inside. Rose was right, painfully so.
The older woman stood from her chair and knelt beside Kyera's chair. She wrapped the younger woman in her arms and waited for her to calm down. Maternal emotions were powerful and it took time for Kyera to relax. "Child, just heed my warning. Once a day drink the tea. Your Grandmother would be proud of you. I know we are." Rose whispered before turning to walk back to the doorway. Soon Kyera was alone with the bottle of tea.
She reached out, taking the glass and turning the bottle in her hand. The front was labeled with paper and a tiny scrawl of handwriting. She had seen it once before on a brush her mother had given her when she was a baby. It was Fantasy's hand.
"May the Wicked be thorted, and may my Dreams come true." She read aloud and Kyera wondered once again about the woman who was her grandmother. What pain had made a woman write words filled with such sorrow and determination before passing it along to another woman. Kyera wasn't sure. All she knew was she needed to put a new kettle on the fire.