CHAPTER 4 ROOM FOR REGROUPING
Kat and Eric sat with their backs to each other in the discreet bedchamber they had been permitted to use.
The room was small and cramped, but it was quiet and far from the festivities, which, after the conversation with Kat’s father, was desperately needed. A bed large enough for two people with a dark blue coverlet, two night tables, and a single chest at the foot of the bed with a rug in front of it was all there was room for.
“I’m sorry.”
Eric’s voice was hoarse, his elbows braced against his knees as he stared at the wall before him.
“Why’re you apologizing?” Kat’s voice was thick from her tears. “He just announced to everyone about your history with Witch’s Brew.”
“I’m sorry because if I were a better person, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Kat turned to look at Eric’s back, anger and a fresh wave of tears rising. “I swear to Gods, Eric, I need you to not say this is a mistake right now.”
The prince felt the ache in his chest deepen.
“We’ve been over this. I know everything, and I love you, why—”
“Because I’m still a mess, Kat. Your father has every right to feel the way he does.” Eric cut her off, his own emotions whirling closer to the surface. “Neither of us are … are ready for marriage. We have to be honest about that. If we were, Fin wouldn’t have been as horrified, and we wouldn’t be as shaken.”
“I’m shaken because my da is disappointed in me. But you want to know something?” Kat paused, as the salt in her tears began to make her cheeks sting. “I’ve been proud of everything I’ve done here. I finally feel … accepted. Like I found who I wanted to be, and the people I wanted around me.”
“Kat, you’ve done incredible things here. You have grown, but I—”
“You’re going to put yourself down next, aren’t you?”
Eric fell silent.
“Can you look at me, please?” Kat’s voice was firm. So, after taking a moment to steady himself, Eric turned to face her. “Look … you’re right. Neither of us are ready for marriage, but … I do think we are on the same page, and because of that, I think we can move in step with each other.”
Eric’s darkened eyes did not look at all convinced. “Kat, what if you do become pregnant because of that night? We got married so quickly because we had no idea when Fin was going to arrive. And … I know we jested, but … are you really alright with taking on the responsibility of ruling a kingdom?”
The redhead knew she shouldn’t attempt to sound excessively optimistic, or it wouldn’t come across sincere enough … which meant, as always with Eric, she was honest and open to a fault.
“Gods, no. I’m not alright with it at all. Your parents studied and trained for years before they took over! The only studies I’ve enjoyed have been swordplay. That said, I do want to protect people, but … I honestly don’t think I should be ruling—and now that I think about it, it might be in direct violation of a witch’s purpose. We are supposed to be medians, not leaders … I will most likely get expelled from the coven … It could brew bad blood … All this is …”
Eric didn’t finish her thought though he knew exactly the choice curses he would use. Instead, he silently recognized the validity of her points.
“So … annulment?”
“Pfft. Not happening.”
“Because of a potential child?” Eric wondered while shifting on the bed so that he was facing Kat more directly.
She did the same.
“No. We stick this out because my gut instinct says we made the right choice. It sounds ridiculous, and I have no idea how this will all work out, but … I know I love you, and I just … I just know I’m supposed to be with you. Married to you. Loving you … It isn’t the easiest of things—I’m reckless, but not a complete idiot—I know this is going to be absolutely shit at times.”
Eric succumbed to a slight smile at that.
“But are you going to fight at my back for this or not?”
The prince stiffened at the reference to their vows, and … he felt something inside himself solidify at the reminder.
“I will. I hate hurting you, Kat, and I hate that my past has made things like this with Fin, but … I do want you, and if you still say after all this you want me too, I will fight for it.”
Kat nodded.
Her face and eyes were bright red and pink, tear-stained, and swollen.
Without thinking, Eric shifted on the bed over to her until he could pull her into himself and ease them both back.
He held her, and felt her relax in his arms, which prompted him to wonder why she felt so safe with him, though Fin’s words observing her lack of sound judgment pertaining to danger rang in his head …
Eric didn’t mention that to Kat though as he decided they had enough to worry about in that moment, and he should try to remember that he was wildly grateful that Kat did feel that way about him.
“I think we have to settle in for the long haul when it comes to getting Fin on board.” The prince sighed into the top of Kat’s head before releasing her.
“Probably … but … even if it isn’t about us, I want to talk to him about everything else that’s happened to me in Troivack.”
Eric nodded seriously while gradually stretching his legs on the bed until they dangled over the side, and stared at the ceiling. Kat then followed suit.
“Something tells me my sister might want to have a word or two with me as well.”
“Oh Gods, that’s right …” Kat grimaced and looked at her husband’s profile. “Are you going to be alright?”
Eric gave a small wince but gave a slight shrug. “I have it easier than you do, sorry to say. I’m at least showing signs of cleaning myself up at this point.”
Kat nodded glumly to herself. He was right … Then a thought occurred to her.
“Do you still crave the Witch’s Brew?”
Eric considered the question carefully. “At times … but it’s usually when I have a moment on my own while stressed.”
Kat’s mouth twisted thoughtfully after his answer.
“I’m sorry.” Eric turned and stared at the redhead’s profile. “I don’t know that it is ever going to go away.”
Slowly, Kat reached for his hand and clasped his fingers in her own warm, calloused palm. “Well … you’re already better than you were … so maybe you just keep getting better. And if you mess up here and there … well … we’ll figure that out then.”
Eric let out a long breath, then allowed himself a half smile as he then lifted Kat’s hand to his mouth and kissed her fingertips before he looked back to the ceiling, pulling her hand to rest on his chest with his fingers still interlocked with hers.
“How long do you think we’ll have before the hounds are at our door?”
“Kat … Lady Dana is in the castle; you need to specify if you mean actual hounds or not.”
The redhead sighed while rolling her eyes, though she grinned as she did so.
“Alright. I’m going to go talk to my da. If he still says he doesn’t want to see me, I’ll go to Kraken.”
Eric gave her hand an extra squeeze. “I’ll see my sister. I need to find out if we are still announcing our marriage tonight.”
Kat rolled over and flopped her face onto Eric’s chest before letting out a muffled moan.
The prince’s free hand came up and scratched the back of her head. “I know. I’d hoped for a few days of peace before more excitement.”
Eventually, Kat hoisted herself off her husband and began to trudge over to the door to go talk to her father.
“Why are you still wearing a dress?”
Kat halted, then turned to look over her shoulder at Eric in confusion.
He stared back at her in equal bafflement, uncertain about why she was reacting so strangely. “Wouldn’t it be more comfortable wearing pants to talk to your father?”
She rounded her toes back to point toward her husband and gaped at him for another long moment before uttering, “Have I mentioned that I love you?”
Eric snorted, then laughed while he pushed himself up off the bed.
“I know who I married,” he retorted good-naturedly while making his way over to Kat. “I also know that whenever I have a particularly difficult task, wearing a uniform or armor helps give me the sense that I’m stronger. Even if I do not feel that way the rest of the time.”
Kat let out a whoosh of air and nodded.
She stepped assuredly over to the chest that contained her clothes, which had been brought over to their room ahead of her other belongings, and while crouching down before it, began tugging at the ties on her dress.
She had nearly finished freeing herself from the garment when she realized Eric was watching her with a roguish half grin.
“Oh, for the— Get out, you pervert!” she hollered while clasping her loose dress to her body.
Eric chortled but sidled over to his wife and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Wondered when you were going to remember I was here. Alright, I’ll go see my sister. Good luck with your father. I’ll see you at dinner?”
Kat’s chin tilted up to look at Eric’s face above her. “Sounds like a plan.”
Eric slowly bent farther down and brushed a gentle kiss on her lips before rising back up, though he gave a small grunt as he did so.
He rolled his shoulders as he strode toward the door, trying to work some stiffness from his body as he moved. He acquiesced that he should start doing more stretches if he was going to have any hope of keeping up with his wife.
Casting one final look at Kat’s back as she opened the chest, a flutter of happiness and peace soothed some of the tension in Eric’s chest. Smiling to himself, the prince took his leave, feeling far more assured of himself than he had all day …
Though it came as no surprise.
Things always became brighter around Kat.
Striding purposefully down the castle halls, Kat bore down the path toward the kitchens where she knew her father had most likely seduced the cook into letting him take over the space by baking or cooking something divinely tasty. The overall atmosphere around her was festive and cheery, but that didn’t help Kat’s nervousness that had risen again.
“LADY KATARINA!”
Looking over her shoulder, Kat was surprised to see Broghan Miller barreling toward her.
She waited for him to reach her with a raised eyebrow, her hand resting on her sword hilt instinctively.
“Lady Katarina, you need to come now; Lord Ball has Joshua cornered. You’re the only one who outranks him! Come on!” He announced desperately, his brown eyes wide.
Kat hesitated for a single breath.
She really needed to talk to her da … but then the thought of Joshua’s pale, terrified face the day they had returned to the castle.
“Godsdamnit, it isn’t even an eighth, ninth, eighteenth, or nineteenth day to or from the new moon,” she said before she took off at a sprint with Broghan at her side.
“Don’t tell me you’re starting to believe his superstitions as well,” Broghan panted as he fell into step beside the redhead.
“He’s always been right though,” Kat argued right before the two of them leapt out of the way of an upcoming maid, who squeaked as they hung a sharp turn around the corner and half leapt down the stairs, which startled a good many more servants and even one or two nobles.
“Every time it’s been those days, something bad has happened,” Kat continued as she landed nimbly at the bottom of the steps onto the first floor, then waited for Broghan to catch up to her.
He was unable to speak by the time he reached her side as he gasped heavily.
She looked at him expectantly, but instead of telling her where the confrontation was taking place, raised his hand and pointed.
Kat followed Broghan’s gesture that directed her toward the training courtyard, took an educated guess, and darted ahead of her personal guard.
Sure enough, in the hall right in front of the training grounds entrance was a huddle of people, with Lord Ball standing before Joshua, who was shoulder to shoulder with Caleb Herra, glowering darkly, while two knights and two nobles stood as onlookers.
Kat stopped running.
They hadn’t seen or heard her approach, as they seemed intent on ganging up on Kat’s fellow students who were wearing Faucher’s uniform just like she was. She could see how terrified Joshua was …
Her eyes homed in on Lord Harriod Ball.
“Oyy! Lord Ball!”
When everyone’s eyes had swiveled to Kat, she threw her shoulders back and strutted forward purposefully. She needed to draw attention to herself, but also to make Lord Ball act irrationally …
An easy feat for a proud nobleman like him.
“Lady Katarina,” he greeted with a narrowed gaze and a slow, reluctant nod of respect.
It wasn’t the bow he was supposed to give, and so Kat used the slight as grounds for her next response.
“I sincerely hope your cock is as thick as your head so that you have something to be proud of. Because it sure as hell isn’t your honor that you should count on.”
Jaws dropped.
“What did you just—”
“You’re cornering two men who’ve done nothing to you unfairly and using your status as a weapon, but then don’t respect what status indicates you should do when you see someone of higher rank. So. Shouldn’t you bowproperly? Possibly as an apology?”
Lord Ball struggled to overcome Kat’s confrontation, as it was far more uncouth and aggressive than anything he’d ever heard from a woman before.
“Lewd comments such as that are—”
“I said bow,” Kat’s voice echoed down the hall.
The two nobles behind Lord Ball wasted no time in folding themselves in half.
Lord Ball didn’t bow, but his pulsing vein did appear.
Kat waited, and when he instead stared down his nose at her, she smiled.
He opened his mouth to make a disgusted remark, when Kat pulled off one of her gloves, maintaining eye contact with the lord, then proceeded to slap him across the cheek with the leather, using enough force that the blow rang out, and he stumbled.
“For your rudeness, I challenge you to a duel.”
“L-Lady Katarina, y-you don’t have to—” Joshua was starting to step forward, but Kat shot him a quick wink and shook her head.
Lord Ball, clutching his bruising cheek, stared at Kat, hatred burning across his face.
She leaned forward, a small magical pulse running through her golden eyes. “Happy Solstice, Lord Ball. I’ll send you the details of the duel shortly. Until then … stay away from my comrades. As the head of our unit, I will pursue the full letter of compensation if you try to antagonize them. I will even take this straight to the king should I need to.”
A flicker of fear appeared in his eyes.
Kat held her ground and smiled, then waved him off.
Reluctantly, the group dispersed, leaving Faucher’s students alone at last. Though the hateful glances that were cast back at them weren’t all that submissive …
“Lady Katarina, you don’t need to defend me.” Joshua Ball’s quiet voice called her attention to him.
She looked over to the young man with a frown. “That wasn’t a fair fight. You know Faucher assigned me as the head of our class, meaning I’m responsible for you all.”
“It’s still my fight!”
Kat raised her eyebrows and stared in surprise.
Joshua Ball had never raised his voice before, but … she noted the determination in his dark gaze and the fist clenched at his side.
Even Caleb Herra looked surprised.
“I know it’s your fight, but that doesn’t mean I can’t offer support. If you want to be the one to duel your brother, I’ll name you as my champion.” Kat stared at Joshua levelly, and she could see some of his anxious energy settle.
The thought of dueling with his older half brother made the young man hesitate … but … he straightened and nodded once, vaulting over his fear neatly.
Kat grinned. “I can’t wait to watch you beat him. Now, if you all will excuse me, I need to go see my father …”
“Does he know you talk about men’s cocks?” Broghan asked casually, having joined his peers sometime during the redhead’s uncouth insult.
Kat shoved him but was glad to see both Caleb and Joshua respond with laughs, though the latter blushed scarlet.
The troupe gradually broke off to head in separate directions after exchanging a few more good-natured jests and jabs.
Oddly enough, the nasty exchange with Lord Ball had a bolstering effect on Kat’s mood, as she was reminded just how much she really had accomplished in Troivack to be placed in charge of men-at-arms …
Even if it was one of the most ragtag groups of unwanted people in existence, in that moment, she was glad to be a part of it …
Now she just had to show her father that despite her unconventional choices, she was growing into someone he could still be proud of.