Rale leaned into his wife as he nodded to the priest. "Yes, please." He took a deep breath and moved, along with Mary, toward the altar.
As they approached the altar, the priest started to softly pray, and Rale almost turned and left. But custom was custom and children had to be blessed before they were a week old.
"It's okay, old friend," Altin stated, "The father won't bite." He turned toward Mary, "Milady, if I could?" He reached out for the babe.
Sensing her husband's discomfort, Mary paused a moment, then whispered, "Of course, Father." She watched with concern as the priest carefully took the child from her arms.
After gently laying the child on the altar, he started to perform the blessing. Moments later, he looked up, fear in his eyes, and inquired. "Who has already blessed this child?"
Mary's heart sank in her chest as she looked up at her husband, then back to the priest. "No on, father. We waited until the seventh day, as is the custom. Is there something wrong with my baby?"
The old priest made a non committal sound under his breath as he examined the babe. With a soft sigh, he prayed to the creator, trying to divine who had carried out the blessing. After a few minutes, he stood still, as if listening to someone that only he could hear. A gentle smile crossed his lips as titled his head to one side. When he opened his eyes, he saw the concerned expressions on the couple's faces. "There is nothing to concern yourself with. Your son has been blessed by the All Father himself." He paused a moment, then asked, "Have you decided upon a name for the boy?"
When Rale shook his head, the priest commented offhandedly, "You should call him Iohn."
Mary exchanged another slow glance with her husband. "Iohn?" When the priest nodded, she continued "There has never been a Iohn in either family." She gazed at her son, then looked back to Rale. "Should we?"
Rale took a slow breath, "Yes, his name shall be Iohn. It's a good strong name."
"He will do great things." The Priest promised, watching the couple walk out the door.
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