"Weynoh en'na dailotem hilne baitap meniem…."

Lamiya chanted the Namarel'I Cor'sie as she walked through the stony walls of Edra Hall. The great corridors toward above and ahead of her, the dark granite bricks which formed the fortress seemed to drain the light from the few candles which lit the way.

"Weynoh en'mehno sheshnem hunma scelamry…."

Unlike many of the Mothers Lamiya did not have the voice of a stonedove, she could not utter these phrases in such a soft measure that all of Anfrenia would be praising her. And so she simply chanted as though the words would calm her the way meditation would.

"Alla'lora menesem scelamil ohnierem…."

It was the day of the Halli'um-bar'e, the first day of the year. Kay'mea was not yet making his way over the horizon to assert his place within the Thri'aen sky, and sending his five sisters to their slumber. She knew that soon all of Anfrenia would be waking to partake of the usual sandcakes that was eaten for the festival.

"Mother Lamiya, could you wait a moment? I would like to have a word." Lamiya turned with a sweet smile on her youthfully plump face. Mother R'raenda stood within the doorway that led to the large library that held some of the Edra-Li's most valuable scrolls. She was engaging one of the Daughters, one of the younger ones to which Lamiya had had the pleasure once of lecturing on the importance of returning that which she borrowed.

By the way the older Mother was scowling at the girl it would seem she hadn't learned her lesson the first time around.

It wasn't long before the young Daughter scampered away thoroughly chastised and R'raenda turned to give a small smile to Lamiya.

"I swear Iia'mi shall never learn. Mother Casin will have that girl's head tomorrow." Lamiya laughed softly, Casin was not known for her tolerance with the Daughters. It sometimes amazed her how the young Mother could seem to forget so easily that she had once been just as arrogant and pig-headed. She remembered the young woman back before she had taken Connection. She had been worse than Iia'mi had. She couldn't recall how many times she had to punish the girl for her insolence.

"What did the girl do this time? She didn't drop one of her scrolls down the meditation pool again did she? That would be her fifth one in two months." R'raenda shook her head. Lamiya could see the hint of an eye roll and could not help the small giggle that bubbled up her throat.

"No, I wish it had been. It would be much easier to get her a new copy. No this time she ended up setting fire to the copy of the Truth Scrolls I had given her to study.

"She said she hadn't realized how close she was to the candle, though she is transparent. She hadn't wanted to read the scrolls." Lamiya was outwardly laughing now, this wouldn't have been the first time a Daughter, or even a Mother for that fact had set a scroll on fire.

"Oh don't you even dare laugh, or I shall make sure that you are saddled with her for her next stage of training." She quickly silenced. It had been awhile since she had been established as a mentor, and while it was an honor to be able to train the next generation of Mothers it was also stressing. Mostly for those in the position that Lamiya was.

"I am sorry, I know she is taxing on you. Now what was it that you had need to speak with me about?" The older Mother was silent for a moment before she spoke. And when she did she looked straight ahead, her eyes never once turning toward her companion.

"I am told by your Healer that you are close to birthing. Is this true?" R'raenda seemed cold as she spoke, it was known that the older Mother at times had trouble with the pregnant Mothers within the Hall. She hadn't been able to carry a child much over half a month before she would lose it. Before her husband died she would take to crying every time her courses had come upon her.

"That is correct, it may only be a few days from now. He believes that by Lunmina I should deliver." R'raenda nodded as they both continued. Once again the Mother fell silent for awhile. When she spoke Lamiya could feel shivers race up her spine.

"Good, The Namfadtia wishes to be there when the child is born. She feels that your child will be strong, if her suspicions are correct than your daughter will be listed as an Edra-Li." A small smile cracked along the stern face of R'raenda, it had been a long time since a child had been born strong enough that she was sought out before she was born. Not since the Namfadtia herself actually.

Lamiya watched as the older Mother left her side and headed down towards the central room, no doubt preparing for the days events. She could not help the small tears that slid down her cheeks. She never would have thought before the Namfadtia was born that she could ever carry an Edra.

It seemed as though their Rea had been correct, they were embarking upon a new age within not only the Edra-Li but the whole of the Anfrenian race.

She sang as she walked down the dark halls, not caring that she sounded more like she was choking. But she didn't care, she held the future within her womb.

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Author's Note: Ok not very long at all, but a small something to celebrate the seventh year of my novel.

This takes place durning the last half of the second book, not actually in the book though. Sorry I can't give too much information or it will ruin both books. What I can give you is this;

The first three lines belong to the traditional song Namarel'i Cor'sie, or The Mother's Song. They translate; When sorrow roams dust filled roads, When sadness seems never-ending, Time rushes endless expanses.

Halli'um-bar'e translates to Moon festival, it is celebrated on the first day of every year and it is much like a harvest festival with food, dancing, games, and plays.

Anfrenia is the name of the Capital city of the Anfrenian Kingdom located on North-west Alend.

Kay'mea is the name for the sun.

Thri'aen refers to the planet, Thri'ae to which this story takes place.

The Connection is a ceramony of the Edra-Li where a Daughter is in fact connected to the minds of the rest of the Edra and becomes a Mother.

The Edra-Li are a group of women who have a strange connection to the planet's five moons and each other. The fully trained women who have taken connection are called Mothers while those still training are called Daughters. Edra-Li means United Mind, or one mind.

Lunmina is much the same as our Thursday. And a Thri'aen month is actually 73 days long and there are only five months each named after the five moons.

Namfadtia is the leader of the Edra-Li, the word means Mother Leader.
Rea is the title used for a queen.