Cesidia shakes her head. “I’ve already made up my mind. And isn’t this going to be painful?” She puts his hand on her stomach. “My love, I’m not afraid no matter what happens. I want you to remember that.” She frowns and looks up. “A carrier pigeon.” She holds her hand out to bird, who alights on her hand. She unrolls the message and gasps softly. “Perhaps we shall postpone this.”