CHAPTER 3 A FATHER’S FURY
Kat fanned herself with her hand as she sat in the council room for the second time that day.
She had been completely thrown off when Likon had appeared during her conversation with Eric, and as a result had forgotten that she had to be on guard the entire time during the solstice luncheon due to the Troivackians that wished to speak with her about her duels the previous day.
Luckily, she had managed to lock her father into conversation with Brendan and Alina for most of the meal, and she was able to distract Likon thanks to Sir Cas, but the time had come … to tell her father everything.
Eric sat at her side, looking a mite green, which did help Kat feel a little better, as she saw that she wasn’t the only one feeling utter terror over the storm that was about to break out.
Alina and Brendan may have looked like the calmest people in the room, but beneath the table they were tightly clasping hands. Faucher sat on the other side of Kat with his arms crossed.
While he knew that things weren’t ideal, he wasn’t sure he understood what had even the king on edge … He had never met the infamous house witch, but he’d glimpsed the tall redhead at the luncheon and, aside from noticing where Katarina inherited a large amount of her looks from, didn’t see anything all that alarming or intimidating about him.
After what felt like both a too short and an excruciatingly long time of waiting, Fin entered the council room.
He had changed from the clothes he had initially arrived in, wearing a black coat with gold edging, a white tunic, and cream-colored trousers. Fin eyed the small group, his gaze already sharp, and his expression stony.
He made his way over to the table, and after issuing the appropriate bows, seated himself down at Brendan’s left, directly across from Eric.
Fin locked eyes with the Daxarian prince and his hostile aura slipped as he straightened in surprise.
“Eri— Your Highness. You’re looking quite well!” Fin openly marveled at the changes in the prince that had taken place over the past four months. The prince had made himself scarce during the luncheon, and so it was the first time since they’d spoken in Daxaria that the house witch had laid eyes on him.
Eric’s hair was neat and tidy, his complexion healthy, and he no longer looked haggard and thin, but strong. Though there were touches of exhaustion around his eyes …
“It is good you are in fine health as well, Your Grace. Congratulations on your dukedom.” Eric lowered his chin in respect and forced himself to meet Fin’s shimmering blue eyes that, powerless or not, still revealed he had been blessed by the Goddess herself in the Forest of the Afterlife.
Fin nodded, his stare appraising, and a small tentative smile lifted his mouth before he looked to Brendan.
“I take it we are all gathered here so I might learn about what my daughter has not been sharing with me?”
Kat felt like she was going to be sick.
Alina began, “That would be correct. We were unaware of how much Kat had or had not chosen to share with you, but in light of the political climate here, decided discussing it as a group would be worthwhile.”
Fin nodded along to what Alina was saying thoughtfully, before his eyes cut to Eric, and then Faucher, who held his gaze evenly.
“Is there a particular reason, Your Highness and … ?”
“Leader Gregory Faucher of the first rank, Your Grace.”
Fin raised an eyebrow but bobbed his head in greeting.
Then he looked back to Brendan and Alina expectantly. “So, is there a reason for Leader Faucher and the prince to be here?”
Alina tried to smile reassuringly at the duke but wound up appearing as though she were grimacing instead.
“Both Leader Faucher and His Highness’s presence today will make more sense as we talk.”
Fin didn’t react, but after another moment of quiet when no one started speaking, he leaned back in his chair and folded his arms patiently.
Awkwardly, Kat shifted forward in her seat.
“Well … there was a bit of trouble on our way here to Troivack,” she declared slowly. Risking a glance at her father, Kat immediately regretted it and lowered her face back toward the table. “When we arrived, we found out there was an assassination planned for Alina, and so, His Majesty decided to split us all up to confuse whoever intended to harm her.”
Fin stiffened as he regarded his daughter with stern concern.
“After our first night traveling, I was poisoned.”
“What?”
Kat winced at the sharpness in her father’s voice.
“Y-You know poison doesn’t affect me much, so it was fine, a-and Faucher took care of the people that night, so—”
“You killed people in front of my daughter?” Fin looked at Faucher, who remained the calmest out of everyone present.
“Lady Katarina had gone to bed when I handled the assassins, and I cleaned up the scene before she rose the following morning.”
Fin took in a deep breath, his dislike over the idea of several deaths apparent, but his initial agitation settled. “I should have been informed of this as soon as possible. Had I known, I would have at the very least sought aide from the Coven of Aguas to help guard everyone.”
It dawned on everyone then … that the duke was unaware that there was just a tiny bit more to the events leading them to the present moment … He looked as though he were already relaxing under the assumption that that was the worst of the news.
“Er … Da … that … that was the first attempt.”
Fin’s face drained of color and his expression tensed once more.
By everyone’s next breath, they could all sense the dangerous ire brewing in the house witch. He looked to Brendan who, impressively, remained unperturbed … At least that’s how he managed to make it seem.
“How many attempts have there been?” Fin asked quietly, though the ominous note in his voice was not lost on anyone. When no one volunteered to speak first, the duke fixed his attention back on his daughter, who was starting to sweat far more noticeably. “Kat. How many times were you in danger?”
“L-Like I said, with poison, I don’t really get affected. You know how my magic is, Da.”
Fin rose to his feet and pressed his palms against the table.
Kat’s heart felt as though it were about to explode. It was racing so quickly …
“How. Many?”
“Poison, twice. T-Then there was the third attack on the carriage, but nothing happened because Faucher and the knights defended us. But uh … The fourth time I got hurt, though, it wasn’t as bad as last time, I swear!”
It was a struggle to remember in that moment that Fin did not have his magic as he straightened and the full force of his wrath directed itself at the king.
“My daughter was injured, and I heard nothing?” Then the duke registered the way Kat had worded the ordeal. “What did you mean when you said ‘it wasn’t as bad as last time’? What ‘last time’ are you referring to?”
While Kat couldn’t bring herself to say the words, her father managed to figure things out faster than she would’ve preferred.
“Kat … are you telling me … you were stabbed? AGAIN?”
Everyone forgot how to breathe.
When the room once again fell silent, Fin addressed the king. “You have hidden the well-being of my daughter from me and placed her in jeopardy multiple times? Did you not vow to us that you would protect her? Where were you when she was getting poisoned and stabbed?!”
Brendan raised his chin when he addressed the duke, and only Alina noticed his throat bob before speaking. “Her Majesty and I were on a separate path than the decoy carriage. Lady Katarina was traveling with His Highness Eric Reyes and Leader Faucher.”
Fin’s head snapped toward Eric, who held his gaze.
Then the house witch looked to Faucher.
However, when he spoke again, it was still to the king. “You will face dire consequences for this.”
“Da, it’s because I-I asked him not to say anything. I made His Majesty swear that he wouldn’t. I really was fine! Faucher had men die trying to protect me, and His Majesty has been respecting my wishes and—”
“Katarina, he should have been respecting the wishes of your parents. We are your guardians. You were stabbed and poisoned, and we should have been made aware to decide whether you should return home!” Outraged, Fin paused his lecture to stare at the Troivackian king. “You will be hearing from His Majesty King Norman Reyes about the penalty you will face.”
Brendan said nothing, but he did lower his chin once more.
Fin rounded on Kat. “Is that everything?” His acid tone hurt deeply. She knew it was coming from a place of fear and love for her … and pain. She knew he was mortified over the jeopardy she had been placed in …
“Da, if I had been truly afraid any of those times, you would have known! I just—”
“Your sense of safety … I’ve been afraid for a long time to say this … but your sense of safety and judgment is not to be trusted. Kat, I am beyond …” Fin trailed off, shaking his head and dropping his eyes—he couldn’t bring himself to say the words.
He continued to silently process the news, his hands eventually finding his hips as he grappled with his emotions.
After letting out a long shaking breath, without being able to look at his daughter who was battling tears, he asked, “What else is there?”
Fin’s voice was hoarse. When he did meet Kat’s eyes again, she could see his anger had merged with his anguish as the two emotions filled her father’s face.
Her voice died in her throat.
“This meeting started with me being told Leader Faucher and His Highness’s presence were important. I’d like to know why.”
Clearing his throat, Faucher had to confess he was starting to feel affected by the stress in the room. He was not used to such … vulnerable displays.
“My presence was requested as I have been Lady Katarina’s sword instructor and guardian for the past few months.”
“What do you mean, ‘guardian’?”
Faucher responded carefully. “Lady Katarina was exiled from the court temporarily due to some of her questionable conduct, though that was more so what was said for the sake of the other nobility. In truth, after her encounter with the devil, we believed it’d be safer if she were far from those plotting to harm her.”
“That is the first piece of relieving and reasonable news I’ve heard yet.” Fin remained standing but nodded at Faucher to continue.
“She is an exemplary swordswoman and surpassed everyone’s expectations. My sons have aided in her training, as has Mr. Kraft, the Coven of Aguas leader, and she has learned to hone her magical abilities to her benefit.”
Fin looked a little troubled by hearing about the intense nature of Kat’s training but jerked his chin down in understanding again.
“There were two troubling incidents at my keep.”
Fin’s look of exasperated alarm renewed itself.
“The first event was when one of my students attempted to haze Lady Katarina, only he ended up committing a far more dangerous error. He offered his life as penance, however, Lady Katarina mercifully forgave him and instead has had him vow a life of servitude to her.”
Faucher plundered on not giving Fin a chance to ask any incriminating questions about the situation with Broghan Miller. “The second incident, a stone golem attacked the keep and a magical being attempted to bind Lady Katarina’s magic. She was able to successfully evade them, and we returned to His Majesty’s castle while my keep undergoes repairs and investigations are carried out.”
Fin licked his lips before speaking. “Thus far, Leader Faucher, your decisions have been of the most sound judgment. I thank you for taking care of my daughter, though I would like more details about the incident that led to Kat obtaining an indentured servant.”
“Broghan Miller has really become a lot more likable; I’m sure he and Likon will get along well,” Kat interjected, her voice weakly optimistic as her father’s mood tentatively settled back down.
However, when his eyes cut to his daughter, she could see that he was far from finished lecturing her, but that was the least of her worries, as in the next moment, he addressed Eric.
“Why is it that Your Highness is a part of this meeting?”
It was Eric’s turn to let out a long, drawn out breath. He swallowed, then lifted his face to the duke, his former friend.
“Fin, I … I want you to know, none of what happened was done out of malice, or drunken stupidity.”
The house witch frowned. “What’re you talking about?”
Eric’s hands curled into fists atop his thighs under the table.
“Fin … Kat and … and I … We—” Fin’s expression turned murderous, and Eric had to take another quick breath to force himself to finish the sentence though he never broke eye contact.
“We got married.”
The silence was deafening.
Fin stared at Eric blankly, his entire mind and being consumed in shock … and then white-hot rage.
He turned to Kat, who was trembling in her seat.
The house witch then stared at the king whose expression had turned apologetic.
“Katarina.” Fin’s voice was like ice. “You need to explain yourself. Right now.”
Kat was struggling to stave off tears as her heart fluttered in her throat.
“Eric … and I … developed a relationship, and … we are now married.”
Fin’s eyes were wide and unblinking when he stared at his daughter.
“Why?” His attention snapped to Eric, who looked completely chastened. “Why … are you two not courting, or merely betrothed?” His voice was faint, but everyone knew his quieted words weren’t going to last long.
Kat didn’t say a word, and so Fin addressed Eric. “Did you … bed my DAUGHTER?!” The roar rang out, and the walls seemed to quake …
Even though Eric had the keen premonition he was about to be slaughtered where he sat, he replied.
“Yes.”
Fin rounded the table and seized Eric by the front of his tunic and threw him to the ground with impressive strength.
“Da! Stop!” Kat was on her feet, her aura gently flickering from her skin.
“I knew we weren’t as close as we used to be, but how dare you do that to her.” Fin seethed at Eric who, after recovering from the fall, gradually brought himself back up to standing.
“Fin, I’m sorry. I really … I really didn’t do it to hurt you or because I was being—”
“You have been in and out of a drugged or drunken haze for four years, and you come back and do this?”
Everyone in the room stilled instantly.
Alina looked at her brother in alarm, while Faucher winced.
Kat moved in front of her father, blocking him from Eric.
“Da, I already know about everything.”
Fin stared at Kat furiously, then at Eric over her shoulder.
Eric gently touched Kat’s shoulder, silently requesting she step back away as he moved to place himself directly before his old friend.
“I know, Fin. I know very well your daughter is too good for me, and yes, I am a selfish drunk who has taken too much Witch’s Brew in the past four years to remember every horrible thing I’ve done.”
Alina gasped in her chair, but Brendan’s hand covered her own, quieting her back down.
“I’m not pretending I’m anything better, but I love her, Fin. I promise. I’ve never broken a promise with you, have I?” Eric asked sincerely as the duke’s fury was visibly replaced with agony. “I promise, I’m going to try. She can leave me whenever or however she wants, and she knows that, but Godsdamnit, Fin … I swear. I swear this all happened because she’s—”
“Stop.” The duke looked away from Eric. “I can’t … I can’t hear this right now.”
“Da, I—”
Fin jolted back from Kat as she stepped forward and reached for him. “No, Kat. I … I can’t look at you right now. I’m sorry, but this … I need some time.”
He turned and started to move toward the doors.
“Da, it isn’t—”
“Kat, you … you got married, stabbed, poisoned, and attacked, and … you’re my daughter. You’re part of my family that I love more than life itself, and I just can’t … understand how you would think so little of me to not tell me any of this.” Fin spoke the words without looking at Kat.
He hadn’t even fully turned around to address her, and when he finished, he didn’t wait to leave.
In his wake, his daughter succumbed to her tears and let out a soft sob while her hand came to her mouth to try and stifle it. Alina looked at her brother with disappointment and shock, and Eric stared at Kat’s back and shaking shoulders with his heart shattering, regret crawling throughout his entire being.