“I think you do,” Fatima corrected, and Sophia realized it hadn’t been a question at all, so much as a statement.
“Oh, no,” Sophia shook her head.
But Fatima reached across and put a hand on Sophia’s belly, closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.
Sophia felt light-headed and strong, all at once. A rush of cold air seemed to pass through her, and she saw pink lights glistening beneath her eyelids.
“Yes,” Fatima murmured, moving her hand slightly. “There is a powerful life inside you, your highness.” She moved her other hand to Sophia’s belly, hovering it slightly above the skin. “Very powerful indeed.” And then, she opened her eyes, pulled her hands away and smiled. “You have my congratulations and my sympathy,” she said from the corner of her mouth.
“Sympathy?”
“As the mother of one incredibly strong-willed child, power is not always a good thing.”
Sophia sucked in a deep breath, the words impossible to make sense of. “I’m not pregnant.”
Fatima tilted her head to face Sophia’s. “I beg to differ. Your highness.”
Fatima’s eyes ran over Sophia’s face. “This is not the news you were expecting?”
“I … wasn’t expecting any news,” she said weakly. “I … we’ve only been married a few weeks.”
Fatima’s eyes grew watchful. “Which makes even more sense,” Fatima nodded. “This little soul wants very much to be here.” She nodded towards Sophia’s stomach. “There is a power in that child. I think it is desperate to be a part of this life, of your family.”
Sophia’s heart turned over. She wanted to beg Fatima to stop talking like this, because suddenly, all of her dreams were coming true, and she wasn’t sure how she could bear it.
Her family.
She swallowed, and unconsciously, her eyes lifted to the tent which housed Malik. He’d been locked in consultation with Laith for much of the day.
“How can you tell?” She asked, focusing on the science – or lack thereof – of this diagnosis.
Fatima frowned slightly. “I’m a seer.”
“A seer?” Sophia’s heart sank. “Like a future-teller?”
“No,” Fatima shook her head slightly. “More like what you would call a doctor. I can see, or feel, perhaps more accurately, what is happening inside a person.” She touched Sophia’s stomach once more. “It is a gift. My family has possessed it for generations. It is, perhaps, most powerful in her.” She jerked her head towards her daughter.
“And is it… accurate?”
Fatima’s expression showed amusement. “You are skeptical.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be. It’s just…”
“You are from out there,” Fatima gestured with her palm heavenward, towards the outside world. “You rely on things like this,” she moved her hand to Sophia’s watch. “And have forgotten the senses we all possess.”
“Perhaps,” Sophia responded noncommittally, disappointment surging. For a brief moment, she’d truly believed she might be pregnant. But how absurd, to get swept up in some kind of witchcraft.
“Close your eyes a moment,” Fatima suggested.
Sophia wasn’t sure she wanted to, and yet, she was fascinated by this. At least, fascinated by what Fatima was saying, if not convinced of there being any truth to it. She blinked her eyes shut.
“Hold your hands here,” Fatima said, taking Sophia’s hands and arranging them palm up on her knees.
Sophia opened her eyes to find Fatima watching her carefully.
“Keep them shut,” she smiled.
Sophia laughed apologetically. “I’m sorry.”