The Realms Thereunder

2

Freya woke up with a queasy feeling in her stomach. Her body, evidently realising that she was awake, hit her with a full blast of nausea. Alarmed, she swung herself out of bed and lurched to the toilet, where she was immediately sick. She caressed her swollen belly as she spat into the bowl and wiped the corners of her mouth with a couple squares of toilet paper.

She couldn’t help glancing as she flushed-why was there always so little? What was her body doing, throwing up what wasn’t there to throw up?

She grabbed her dressing gown, leaving it undone, of course- she hadn’t been able to draw it together for a couple weeks now-and padded into the kitchen.

“Hello, sweetie,” Felix said. He was seated at the kitchen table, a mug of coffee in his hand, the morning paper spread in front of him. A welcome and comforting stereotype, she thought. She smiled at him and went to the refrigerator.

“Do we have bacon? I feel like bacon, toast-no, a bagel if we’ve got one-marmalade, and . . . mustard. Lots of mustard, with the bacon, obviously. Dijon, preferably.”

Felix chuckled. “Okay, my little gastronome, have a seat. I’ll whip you up something.”

Freya lowered herself into one of their kitchen chairs, shifting her weight uncomfortably. “I heard you in there,” Felix said as strips of bacon hissed in the frying pan. “How are you feeling today?”

“About average. This coffee’s helping.”

“I hope you’re not drinking it-you’ll get one of your headaches.”

“No, I just like the smell.” She spent a few moments in thought.

“Do I have an appointment today?”

“Yes, you do. Leigh was kind enough to offer to take you, remember?”

“That’s right . . .”

“In fact-” Felix glanced at the clock on the wall. “Oh dear,” he said gravely. “You’re running late. I let you oversleep. I’m sorry.

Quick, go get changed and I’ll have this ready for you when you’re done.”

Sighing, Freya hoisted herself up. As she passed the kitchen counter, she reached a hand out to take a scrap of bacon but received a slap on the wrist instead.

“Naughty,” Felix said with a grin.

Stomach growling angrily, Freya went back into their bedroom and dressed, putting on the minimum of makeup. There was a knock on the door just as she was finishing her eyeliner. She heard Felix open it and the murmur of voices greeting each other.

“Freya . . . ?”

“Coming!” Freya shouted. She stood straight and looked at herself in the mirror. When did she become so old?

As she bustled down the hallway, a wave of dizziness hit her. She slowed as she reached the doorway and put a hand against the wall to steady herself.

“Are you okay?” Stowe asked.

“I’m fine, just stood up too fast, that’s all. Hello, Leigh. You look lovely, as ever.”

“Thank you. Well, we’d better get moving.”

“I’ll see you this evening, my love,” Felix said, giving her a peck on the cheek as he helped her into her coat.

“Okay, bye.”

It was only as Freya was getting into Leigh Sinton’s car that she realised she hadn’t had anything to eat.

“Don’t worry, dear,” the older woman said. “We can pick something up on the way back. It’s been awhile since we had a good chat. How are you coming on Brize Norton’s Commentaries to the Names of the Guardians, by the way?”

“I don’t know . . . I’m a little hazy . . .”

“It is difficult, I agree. Do you want me to review with you?”

Freya was trying to remember who exactly Brize Norton was. The name rang a very faint bell, but she thought it was a place, not a person . . . Maybe one was named after another?

“These are the names of the guardians of knowledge:

Hanamiem, Tusemptoulous, Alsanaz, Moem, Noetinous. These are the names of those who stand at rest before them: Teitauem, Aufaem-”

“Leigh,” Freya said, deliberately interrupting. “Do you ever wonder why we’re doing what we do?”

“We’re doing very important work, Freya,” Leigh said, turning the radio off. “We’re retrieving information that’s been lost for centuries.”

“Why? For what purpose?”

“Why?” Ms. Sinton smiled, as if she just realised that she was being put on. “But you know why, dear. Listen, this is just the hormones. Relax, and you’ll get through it. I remember when my sister had her first, it was months before-”

“How . . . how long have I been pregnant?”

“What?”

“How long, precisely?”

Leigh, still keeping her attention on the road, stole a couple sideways glances at Freya. “Well, I don’t know how long precisely, but it’s been about six months since your anniversary dinner when you announced it to us all-that was May third. You do remember that?”

Freya twisted her wedding ring around her finger.

“As I was saying, the names of those who stand at rest before the guardians are Teitauem, Aufaem, and Acsatalt standing at Hanamiem; Raeruoak, Zocuam, and Zyquruis standing at Tusemptoulous; Ribmisot, Ribmitet, and Fusout standing at Alsanaz; Tuiujiat, Viorinrhvut, and Fasynipiat standing at Moem; and Ingekaper, Atuhis, and Ingekipap standing at Noetinous.

Proceeding from those standing before the guardians are those known as the myriads, who are Ekram, Zuler, and Kukilaor proceeding from Teitauem standing at Hanamiem; Umtip, Cenut, and Memeniat proceeding from Aufaem standing at Hanamiem; Jaekuq, Dojqubir, and Rylnshus proceeding from Acsatalt standing at Hanamiem; Iofunipiat, Eavashuapout, and Liomes proceeding from Raeruoak standing at Tusemptoulous; Tenclu, Teqiqiu, and Ujasu proceeding from Zocuam standing at Tusemptoulous; Rulaki, Ryngnge, and Shoqi proceeding from Zyquruis standing at Tusemptoulous; Cescimu, Guplacim, and Lukracem proceeding from Ribmisot standing at Alsanaz; Tumnot, Elsinuph, and Encutout proceeding from Ribmitet standing at Alsanaz; Raidi, Menc, and Cofiz proceeding from Fusout standing at Alsanaz; Jesnubim, Usuoeim, and Feaiovhe proceeding from Tuiujiat standing at Moem; Telme, Irjitoli, and Imimiv proceeding from Viorinrhvut standing at Moem; Guplivek, Ipieuak, and Cuoaega proceeding from Fasynipiat standing at Moem; Rujku, Angaragh, and Akakash proceeding from Ingekaper standing at Noetinous; Faquculur, Allugu, and Rasth proceeding from Atuhis standing at Noetinous; and Ullil, Akurri, and Ulamue proceeding from Ingekipap standing at Noetinous.

“Surrounding them are those who are known as the helpers of they who proceed from those who stand before the guardians and their names are Uzson, Lameffarrsiari, Ursapagla, and Thernilugfu surrounding Ekram proceeding from Teitauem standing at Hanamiem; Zerriol, Ujeiquaem, Ezegum, and Stamao surrounding Zuler proceeding from Teitauem standing at Hanamiem; Spugheom, Usgisi, Euzam, Leuleu, and Mazpesh surrounding Kukilaor proceeding from Teitauem standing at Hanamiem. Jimeolamemipem, Fareka, Ucuzul, and Replu surrounding Umtip proceeding from Aufaem standing at Hanamiem; Narpal, Eullauj, Ralungel, and Fareka, surrounding Cenut . . .”

Freya felt herself nodding again. She felt so tired these days. Something to ask the doctor about. Her head reclined back on the chair’s headrest, and she closed her eyes and drifted away.