Free Song of Princes (Homeric Chronicles #1) by Janell Rhiannon Page B

hand on the cow’s hip, and gently inserted the other hand inside the birth canal. The beast snorted and groaned and kicked her leg at Agelaus. “Calm her, Paris!”
    “Be still, cow. You are being aided. Soon you will see your baby,” Paris reassured the beast.
    Agelaus pressed his arm deeper into the birth canal until he touched the problem. “Paris, one of the calf’s legs is turned back. I need to push it back, so she can push the calf without exhausting herself to death. Tell her it will soon be finished.”
    Paris stroked the cow’s head. He leaned so close to her ears that Agelaus couldn’t hear the secret words his son murmured.
    Sweat soaked Agealus’ tunic so it clung like a second skin to his back. He felt for the calf’s head and gently pushed it back, reaching for the bent leg. “Ah! There it is girl.” The cow’s body pushed against his arm impeding his progress in pulling the calf straight. “Tell her to stop pushing her baby to the light. I can’t get the calf positioned if she works against me.” Paris murmured into the mother’s ears again and her body stopped heaving against Agelaus’ arm. The calf’s bent leg slipped from his grasp. “By Zeus you’re hard to get hold of.” He reached again, moving slowly and carefully. He did not want to risk injuring the cow for the sake of the calf. The cow winced with his effort, and groaned with her effort to birth her baby. She lifted her head, looking back at Agelaus. “Paris, keep her down!”
    “Be still. Be still,” Paris reassured the animal. Her head dropped back to the grass. She closed her eyes. “Father, she is spent and wishes to give up.”
    Agelaus heard the worry in his young son’s voice. He reached up to wipe the sweat from his brow with his free hand. “Not long now, Paris. Tell her to ready and welcome her calf.”
    “Did you hear my father? The wait is not much longer. Be still. Your calf is coming.”
    Over the years, Agelaus had assisted many cows through difficult deliveries, but he had never had such an able hand to aide him. And such a young one at that. Paris merely five springs on the earth had managed to keep a distressed mother from struggling against his intrusive arm. “Ah! The head and both legs are facing the light!” Agelaus announced triumphantly. He removed his arm gently, wiping the birthing matter on his tunic. “Your mother will not be pleased with the filth and stench on my clothing.”
    “Why should she be upset that you helped to bring a calf to our farm? Is it not what we do? Who we are? Proud herdsmen?” Paris asked.
    “I wish she saw it so simply, Paris. We are indeed breeders of fine cattle.”
    “And prize bulls most of all!” Paris exclaimed. “And this new bull shall be mine to raise.”
    “Yes, we have been blessed by the gods with the finest bulls in Troy. We do not know yet if this one is a bull.”
    “She does,” Paris said.
    “The cow?” Agelaus asked.
    “Yes, she told me he will be a fine bull. The biggest we’ve ever bred.”
    “How does she know this?” Agelaus asked incredulously.
    “Was that not your intent, father, when you bred her to Theodoros? The god-gift?” Paris eyed his father resolutely.
    “Yes. It’s true. I’d hoped the pairing would breed a fine bull. The finest. She is the best cow we own. And he the biggest bull.”
    “She said Theodoros is fierce, but will pale in comparison to this bull calf.”
    Agelaus threw his head back and laughed. “Tell her to bring him to the light without delay. Let us see this magnificent beast.”
    “Did you hear father, cow? Bring your baby to the light!”
    Agelaus watched as the cow seemingly understood Paris. Her belly contracted several times, until first the calf’s front hooves appeared and then its nose pushed into the air, followed by its entire head. “Paris, quickly! Come here!” Agelaus urged. “The calf must take its first breath now.”
    Paris stood behind his father, observing over his shoulder.