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Dagesh holds my arm and helps me circle around the fire, his expression watchful "Tell et the healer," he says to me "I ake her if needed"

I shake ot time"

As I pace, we talk about naesh's parents were Adash and Geshta, and we debate honoring the picky, but Geshta sounds too close to my mate's name, and I like Adash, but I don't want to consider a boy's na with Analay

"What about Miriaood, Jewish narandmother's name"

"What does it mean, Meer-ee-yum? Or Es-tur?"

I i toward Esther, just because it's easier to pronounce for him "Well, I don't exactly recall what Miriam means, but Esther means 'star'"

He brightens "I like that idea If we have a girl, it is a star"

"It'll be a girl," I say grih my belly

20

DAGESH

It is a girl

I hold my newest kit in my arms as Maylak fusses over my mate Nora has a proud, triumphant look on her pale face as she smiles up at me

"Analay rong," she says, her expression tired but defiant "Not everything is set in stone"

My mate worries too much Analay can say whatever he likes, but only resonance will decide s, it is not worth fussing over I s our newest Es-tur, h No-rah and Maylak both exclai child she hen she came out The birth was easy, too My mate paced near the fire for a few hours, then squatted, and then Es-tur arrived with a wail, just in ti meal