The Burning Witch 3: A Humorous Romantic Fantasy

CHAPTER 9 COMMUNICATION CAVEATS

The morning following the Winter Solstice, Kat awoke feeling unbearably warm …

She shifted in the sheets, wondering why in the world she was sweating when she wasn’t wearing anyth—

Her eyes flew open, and she looked beside herself to see Eric fast asleep on his side.

She blinked.

Then she stared at his slackened features with a giddy smile that she then turned toward her hand clutching the sheet.

His face had a bit of scruff, and the faint lines around his eyes looked lighter than normal.

Kat gripped the sheet in her hand a little more tightly before she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling.

She was married.

And she was going to sleep beside Eric just about every night of their lives.

Kat let out a slow breath.

It was something she should have had time to process the first day she’d woken up after their wedding, but because of the arrival of her father and the fact it was a secret wedding, she hadn’t been able to.

So in that moment, she relished the quiet peacefulness.

Awake, but not alone, and no maids would come unless she or Eric called.

A tension she hadn’t noticed existed in her chest before eased, and with its disappearance, Kat found herself feeling tempted to fall back asleep …

And so she did.

She closed her eyes and slipped back into a dreamless slumber that she had never been able to achieve without exhausting her magic extensively.

In that moment, she didn’t even care why that might be.

Fin stared at the food-ladened table in deep thought. He had to time everything just right, and it was quite a bit trickier when he didn’t have his magic at his disposal.

“A-Are the ingredients not to your li—”

“Shh!” The Royal Troivackian Cook shushed one of the kitchen maids. “Let the man think.”

Fin cast a kind smile at the maid who had tensed at the cook’s outburst, making her relax once more and give a surprisingly shy smile of her own.

“Alright … I want you and you peeling the vegetables; Cook, please start simmering the broth; and I want you to add grated turmeric root. You and you, when those vegetables are peeled, I want the carrots chopped in quarters and the potatoes in cubes. We’re going to start with a spiced vegetarian soup today, then serve the roasted chickens paired with green salad with an oil jam dressing. After that—”

The kitchen doors burst open, and in strolled Katarina, grinning ear to ear with her familiar, Pina Colada, on her shoulder.

“Good morning, everyone!”

The staff all jumped, then began bowing and offering their morning greetings to the future queen of Daxaria, who was dressed in her uniform from Faucher.

Fin raised an eyebrow. “Kat, you’re interrupting our work.”

While the house witch’s ire had lessened compared to the previous day, it wasn’t entirely dissolved. While he still needed time and space his daughter had never been the patient type.

Kat held up her hands apologetically. She couldn’t fully quench her good mood despite sensing her father’s reticence. “I’ve got some things to do today myself, but I was wondering if we could set up a time for Kraken and Pina to meet. I really want to know what she’s saying!”

Fin eyed the sleeping kitten on Kat’s shoulder and, with a short sigh, was forced to silently admit that he, too, would like to know the very same thing.

“Alright. He’s in my chamber. Christos, I’m sorry for running off again, but I will be back by the time the broth is ready.”

The Troivackian inclined himself to the duke, as did the rest of the serving staff, and then without further ado, Fin made his way over to his daughter’s side.

Once they had left the kitchen, Fin briefly noticed that the guards outside the door were whispering amongst themselves and gesturing with their heads toward Pina …

“Your familiar has certainly made an impression,” Fin observed casually as they walked.

Kat smiled as Pina pressed her nose to her witch’s cheek and purred. “She’s a sweet girl. Who can resist that?”

Fin tilted his head thoughtfully as they walked. “What duties do you have today?” he asked while glancing at his daughter’s attire.

“Ah, I have to witness a duel between a classmate of mine and his brother, and I’ll also be starting to recruit the women who wish to learn how to defend themselves.”

The duke’s lips twitched. “Someone mentioned you had something to do with that new subject being offered to the finer gender.”

Kat smiled and pointedly avoided meeting her father’s gaze. “A little bit.”

“And then I also heard how someone tried to drug you during a certain sparring match.”

Kat’s smile vanished in an instant as she looked at her father wide-eyed and her heart skipped a beat. “I-I swear I didn’t mean to leave that out, I just—”

“You forgot. Because it seems like something is always happening around you, or someone is attacking you.” Fin’s voice was hard, his expression stoic, but he kept his gaze ahead and didn’t look at his daughter.

Kat wasn’t sure there was anything she could really say to that, and so she opted to make the rest of the journey to her father’s chamber in silence.

When they at long last had reached their destination, Fin pressed open the door, revealing a large room with a four-poster bed with a thick navy coverlet, chairs with matching cushions in front of the hearth, a table and chairs for dining, and plush carpets …

“I suppose being a duke has its perks,” Kat observed while also looking around for any sign of her father’s familiar.

“They give bigger rooms to house all the paperwork. I’ll be making you help me while you train to be queen.”

Kat turned to her father, her jaw dropped wordlessly in betrayal and dread.

Fin remained unmoved as he strode over to one of the chairs and put his hand on its back.

A fluffy tail dangled from its seat and swished.

“Kraken? Kat brought her familiar for you to meet and talk with.”

Reaching up excitedly, her previous trepidation instantly forgotten, Kat gave a gentle squeeze to Pina’s soft paw; she purred a little louder in return.

With a chirp, Kraken leapt from the chair, stared up at Fin, and meowed.

“I’ll try to make sure it isn’t a regular thing during your naps in the future.” Fin sighed wearily while staring down at his familiar.

Kraken gave two shorter mews, then sauntered over to Kat and brushed against her legs.

Grinning, Kat crouched down. “Kraken, this here is Pina!”

The familiar stared at the kitten on her shoulder.

He went completely still.

Then, Kraken carefully leaned forward, his nose twitching.

Pina’s eyes blinked open, and she proceeded to leap down from Kat’s shoulder.

Kraken hissed in surprise and backed up, while Pina, on the other hand, went on her hind legs and straightened herself curiously.

“Awe! That’s adorable! I’ve never seen her do that!” Kat whispered to her father.

However, Fin was watching the exchange, looking utterly baffled.

Kraken continued staring at the kitten, barely moving a muscle, when Pina dropped back down on all fours and gave a small mew.

“Well?” the house witch wondered interestedly.

“I don’t like her, witch.”

Fin blinked and frowned. “Why not?”

“I have no idea what she’s saying.”

“What … ?”

“What’s she saying?” Kat queried, unable to contain her curiosity for a moment longer.

Fin held up his hand, prompting her to wait.

Pina gave another mew and Kraken growled before stalking closer to Fin.

“She’s speaking another language,” the familiar explained briefly, though his hairs were still standing on end.

“Why are you hissing at her because of that?” Fin asked, confused.

“She’s not afraid of me.”

“Well, she’s a familiar, she probably isn’t like other cats.”

“James Paws used to be a familiar too, but even he grew to respect me.”

“Wait … the cat you said trained you? Who was his witch?”

“Da!” Kat interrupted the discussion her father and Kraken were having with a laugh. “What’s happening?”

Fin grimaced as he tried to think of a way to answer, while at the same time trying to come up with a possible reason Kraken couldn’t understand Pina …

“Kraken says she isn’t using a language we know.”

Kat looked down at her own familiar, equally surprised. “Is it because she’s just a baby?”

Fin shook his head. “I understood Kraken perfectly fine when he was younger than her.”

Kraken hissed again, and the two looked to see Pina inching forward while in a crouch.

“Careful, baby girl, he’s the emperor in Daxaria.”

“I am the empurror of this entire world! I have met cats from all corners of the kingdoms—even Lobahl! But this kitten … I think she mocks me!” Kraken hissed again and trotted back over to the chair he had been napping in upon their arrival.

“Kraken, there has to be an explanation,” Fin tried to say to his familiar’s fluffy haunches.

The emperor did not respond.

The duke sighed. “Sorry, Kat. I don’t think things are going well between them.”

Kat twisted her mouth in disappointment.

“I see … Come on, Pina. Let’s leave him be for now. Maybe we’ll try again later.”

Scooping the kitten back into her arms, Pina gave a small heartbreaking whimper.

Hearing this, Kat looked at her father, her eyes wide and her mouth turned down into a pout.

Sighing, Fin looked toward the chair.

“I don’t care what you say! I’m done talking to that disrespectful creature!”

Fin looked back at his daughter and gave a half shrug while shaking his head and rubbing the back of his neck.

Nodding in understanding, Kat made her way out of the chamber with her father following behind.

“I’m going to go back to the kitchen. I’ll see you at the luncheon hour.”

“Would you like to see me train?” Kat blurted out suddenly.

While it wasn’t normally in her nature, she felt quite shy about how much she wished to show her father what she could do …

“Maybe later today.”

Kat felt the last bit of her good mood drop her off into weary dejection, and it was written all over her face.

“Kat, look … I do still need time, alright? If you need me for something in an emergency—”

“You used to tell me that parents are always needed. Da, I … I’m really proud of what I’ve done here, and I couldn’t have done it without Eric. Despite all the other stuff, when it comes to my swordsmanship, I really hope you … you can be proud of it too.”

Without the fortitude to take any more disappointment for the day, Kat took her leave and didn’t look back at her father, who stood in the corridor with a lump in his throat.

Fin idly wiped at his nose as he listened to his daughter’s footsteps grow farther and farther away.

I want to be over it, Kat. I really sincerely do …Unable to finish the thought, Fin slipped his hands in his pockets and started back toward the kitchen. He hoped to distract himself with lunch preparations, and perhaps after completing a familiar task, he’d be able to let go of some of his pain.

Kat was merciless on her training dummy.

Her sword swiped up, down, across, then in reverse order. She switched her footwork, she moved faster, and faster, and—

A firm hand gripped her wrist.

Kat looked over to see Faucher.

“You’re scaring the knights,” he informed her dryly.

Kat only then noticed her aura flickering out, red streaks tearing through the normal orange-gold glow.

“Sorry,” she mumbled with a small huff.

Faucher eyed her.

He didn’t want to have to have a personal conversation with her, but … the stress in her eyes … and the way the duke had pointedly avoided looking at his daughter numerous times over breakfast struck an unexpected chord in Faucher as he found his thoughts turning to his own daughter.

He let out a sigh mixed with a grunt.

“Walk with me.”

“Yes, sir.” Kat sheathed her sword and, while passing the knights who were openly gaping at her, did her best to settle her aura.

When the two had made it out of the courtyard and began rounding the castle that would lead toward the gardens outside the terrace off the throne room, Faucher spoke again.

“Your father is … angry,” he started slowly.

“Yes. Furious.”

Faucher looked at his student and saw the guilt on her face. “Do you remember what I said back when we first returned to the castle? Firm up your allies.”

“I’m trying!” Kat exploded, rounding on her teacher, her voice hoarse. “I’ve apologized! I’ve tried to explain. It just … He’s mad about things that have happened, and I can’t do anything about what is already done!”

The Troivackian regarded her without any outward reaction. “You are entitled to your decisions, just as much as you are entitled to the consequences.”

“Faucher, I know! I’m not saying I don’t deserve the repercussions … He has a reason to be upset! I get it!”

“Do you?”

Anger choked the words in Kat’s throat, which was fine because it gave Faucher time to continue.

“Imagine the person you love more than anything does not feel safe or trusting enough to tell you the important pieces of their life. You shut people out of those moments, and they start getting the impression they are worth very little to you.”

“He knows I love him! You’re just repeating what he has already said. Why does everyone expect me to be an open book?! I don’t think less of him, or think he is a bad father, I just—”

“Ashowan. I, of all people, understand not wanting to … Share your feelings, but”—he paused, his expression pained as he was forced to hold what to him was a lengthy conversation—“I knew about your wedding before your own father. I knew about your poisoning and being stabbed, and he didn’t even receive a letter. What if your own child did that? Or if your husband or Her Majesty the queen had? It shows what type of relationship you wish to have with them, and it makes sense for a father to react as the duke has.”

Kat couldn’t say anything in response.

“You can live your life how you want, but that is why your father is behaving the way he is. Maybe you can’t do anything, but at the very least, do your best to understand before deciding if that is the case.”

Kat was battling her tears with everything she had.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Faucher reached out and patted her shoulder.

“Your … Your feet were too far apart during your last set because you were overextending your backhand attacks.”

Kat gave a burbled laugh before sniffling and placing her hands on her hips as she looked around. “Right … Right. Well … shall we go back and see if I can fix that?”

Her teacher nodded then gestured her forward.

“Thank you, Faucher.”

He grunted, and that was it.

Kat could feel a small broken piece of herself tremble in fear as she realized what she should do … but … despite how terrifying it was, she was starting to see that she did need to do it.

Especially since her father of all people deserved any and every effort from her so that he knew just how much he meant to her.