EPILOGUE 2 AN ASHOWAN ANNOUNCEMENT
Fresh green buds dotted the trees, balmy winds carried the smell of the earth readying itself for farmers to plant their spring crops, birds trilled in the mornings, adding notes of brightness …
And on that sunny, spring day, the castle in Austice of the kingdom Daxaria bustled with excitement that the enticing weather only complemented.
It was the day the prince of Daxaria and the Ashowan family returned from Troivack!
As King Norman Reyes discussed with Hannah, his newest Head of Housekeeping, the details of the feast they were to serve that evening, several excited shouts rang out around him.
“The carriages are coming up the hill, Your Majesty! They are almost here!”
Norman perked up excitedly.
He had missed his son and friend a great deal, and in light of the onslaught of news from Troivack, he had lain awake more nights than he’d slept as he worried for their safety …
After all, a battle with the children of the Gods … It was hard to even try to imagine. Of course, it also made sense that after such an ordeal Katarina Ashowan would return to Daxaria, and so Norman didn’t question her early return for an instant.
The king was also worried about news of his own daughter … He had heard of her miscarriage and had wept, wishing she did not have to endure such hardship while in a foreign, harsh land. Though Norman was immensely grateful that at the time Eric, Katarina, and Duchess Annika Ashowan had at least been there. At the very least Alina’s most recent missives had been upbeat and hopeful.
Upon hearing that the duke’s family and prince were almost returned, the king seated himself on his throne while his courtiers filed in, all aflutter with excitement.
Captain Taylor talked and jested with his knights off in the corner—the man seemed to be in better spirits than anyone had seen him in in months. Lord Dick Fuks was rambling in great detail to Mage Keith Lee about some peculiar dreams of his involving a nobleman named Lord Harry Ball. And last but certainly not least, Mr. Kevin Howard entered the throne room, his head hidden behind a scroll he was reviewing. The paperwork was most likely from the Coven of Wittica, discussing the refugee witches that wished to come from Troivack.
“Mr. Howard!” Norman called over the many heads.
The assistant proceeded up the aisle not raising his gaze until before the dais.
“Your Majesty?”
“You’ve heard the news that His Highness and Duke Ashowan have returned?”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.” Mr. Howard bowed, then climbed the stairs to stand beside the king.
Norman’s hazel gaze moved knowingly across his assistant’s lined face.
While he may have appeared composed and indifferent to the return of the duke, the king was well aware that the assistant had polished off two bottles of wine the night before, and a maid or two had reportedly heard him muttering to himself about such things as “He’s going to give me a wildly inappropriate gift in front of everyone again, isn’t he?” And “I swear if he tells me Kraken has organized another kind of rodent that I have to keep track of, I’m going shove that cat out on a rowboat … Gods … but knowing him, Kraken would enslave the fish next, wouldn’t he? That fluffy bugger …”
Norman chuckled to himself.
It was true that whenever Fin returned from a diplomatic mission, there was almost always some new small aggrievance he would bestow upon the assistant. Though Norman had seen to giving Mr. Howard raises around the same time these events took place just to be on the safe side, it didn’t bode well that there was a mysterious artist who had taken up a prime viewing spot in the throne room’s front row that was sent as a gift from Alina …
Norman straightened his rust and emerald patterned vest and sat taller in his throne as the room filled completely save for the aisle.
While it simultaneously felt like a long and short time had passed, eventually there was a gesture from one of the guards at the doors to Mr. Howard, who, with a faint grumble at the back of his throat, held up his hand silencing the crowd.
“Announcing the return of Prince Eric Reyes of Daxaria!” Mr. Howard shouted, as the doors to the throne room swung open once more.
Eric strode in, nodding his thanks to the guards as he passed the nobles. Several young women whispered excitedly to their parents.
Norman beamed at his son, who looked significantly healthier than the last time he had laid eyes on him. Even his hair was well kept, although he did have a stoic seriousness about him that told Norman there was bad news to come, or that perhaps he had simply become too accustomed to Troivack’s severity …
Whatever the reason, the king couldn’t ask about it just yet.
When Eric reached the dais, wearing a simple white coat with a black tunic underneath and black pants, he proceeded to bow to his father.
“Welcome back, my son,” Norman declared, his smile warm.
Eric straightened. “I am pleased to be back, Father.”
Norman nodded and gestured to his right, where Eric could stand at attention while he continued to greet the Ashowans.
However, shortly after this exchange, a squire whispered something to Mr. Howard that had the man blinking in surprise. After overcoming whatever news he had just heard, the assistant gave a brief shake of his head.
From the sidelines, Eric barely stifled a smile.
“Lady Katarina, head of her peers as a student of Leader Gregory Faucher and daughter of Duke Finlay Ashowan, has returned.”
Eric chewed on his tongue.
He had come up with the idea of how best to introduce Kat to the nobility without lying … And judging from the look of subtle disgruntlement on Mr. Howard’s face, he had chosen the perfect wording, as the man obviously thought Katarina’s status as a swordswoman to be problematic …
When Kat appeared in the doorway to the throne room, the nobles broke out in whispers.
She wore an official uniform.
Not all the nobility even recognized the gravity of the symbolism of it either, but they did notice the sword at her side and the severity of her expression as she made her way down to the king.
With a ceremonial stop, Katarina swept into a bow, further shocking not only the audience, but the king himself.
“Lady Katarina at your service, Your Majesty. I am pleased to have returned home, and I am happy to report that my studies in swordsmanship were a success. I have letters from my teacher, Leader Gregory Faucher of Troivack, as well as from His Majesty King Brendan Devark, recommending me to be knighted in Your Majesty’s court.”
Norman’s mouth dropped open a fraction as the room fell into a stunned silence once again.
He had known that Katarina Ashowan would be learning how to wield a sword theoretically in the name of self-defense, but had she really excelled to the point of earning knighthood recommendations from two powerful men in Troivack?!
Mr. Howard let out a soft whimper. Norman knew the man was imagining the chaos she would bring to their own men-at-arms.
“I shall take these recommendations into serious consideration, Lady Katarina, and we can discuss this at length in the near future. For the time being, however, I hope you take time to settle yourself back home. I also wish to thank you for your service to my daughter. It was a great comfort to know she had a loyal friend at her side.”
Kat bowed formally once more and stepped over to stand beside the prince, her head held high.
Freeing themselves from their shock, the nobles couldn’t resist gossiping with one another about how Troivack seemed to have changed the troublesome Lady Katarina, and whether she truly was good enough with the sword to be worthy of being knighted …
The king studied the redhead and his son carefully. What was it exactly that seemed so different about them?
Certainly, they both looked stronger, and they both stood straighter, but there was something else … A presence about them that had completely changed …
“His Grace … Duke Finlay Ashowan and Her Grace Annika Ashowan!” Mr. Howard almost sounded as though he were going to weep.
Norman wondered for what felt like the thousandth time whether his assistant ever put effort into being so dramatic.
He didn’t spare it any more consideration though, as Finlay and Annika swept into the room, looking as striking as ever. The duchess wore a sharp navy blue dress while her neck was adorned with glittering diamonds, and a small clump of her hair waved by her face. Finlay wore a navy blue coat with silvery lining and pants that matched his wife’s dress.
As always for formal events, the two matched beautifully.
A feat Norman knew without a doubt was the duchess’s machination.
He smiled as the duke and duchess bowed and curtsied gracefully before him.
“I hear thanks to the Ashowan family, my daughter, Her Majesty, can live in a much safer land. I am grateful for all your efforts.” Norman lowered his chin. “I look forward to hearing about your travels.”
“Yeah,” Fin started informally before his wife subtly elbowed him in the side, making him clear his throat. “Yes, Your Majesty, though … there is something of the utmost importance that we must tell you today.”
A low, prolonged groan began to sound from Mr. Howard. Fortunately, Norman was the only one who could hear it.
“Yes, Your Grace? What might this news be?”
Everyone in the room leaned forward interestedly. They wondered with what new surprise the house witch could spring on the king’s assistant …
Fin and Annika bowed and curtsied again.
Norman frowned. Were they asking for forgiveness … ?
“Actually, Father, it is my news they are referring to.” Eric stepped in front of the duke and duchess while giving another bow to the king himself.
Norman shifted forward in his seat with a concerned eyebrow raise.
“What is this news?”
Eric lifted his face and took a steadying breath.
“While in Troivack … I fell in love and was married by His Majesty King Brendan Devark with witnesses. This happened before His Grace arrived.”
The quiet that crushed the room bordered on supernatural.
Norman tried to speak twice.
But he did not have a voice.
“Wh …” He licked his lips and tried again. “Who …” He wheezed, then swallowed. “Who did you marry?”
The corners of Eric’s lips twitched as his gaze slid to Mr. Howard.
The assistant’s eyes bulged. “Gods … No …”
“I married Lady Katarina Ashowan. Though she is now Lady Katarina Reyes. My wife.”
Kat made her way over and stood beside Eric before bowing once more before the king and then looking at the king’s assistant.
Norman stared dumbly at his son, then at Kat.
Mr. Howard whimpered, let out a ragged breath, gagged a little, and then …
Fainted.
“Oh … dear. Kevin.” Norman was up from his chair and kneeling at the assistant’s side while waving forward the Royal Court Physician earnestly.
The man hustled up the stairs while everyone in the room abandoned any former attempt at whispering.
It was during this time that Eric and Kat locked eyes with the artist and gave simultaneous thumbs-up gestures in silent affirmation.
The man nodded to confirm he indeed would capture the moment perfectly.
Kat and Eric then looked back at each other and finally grinned as brightly as they had wanted to the entire time as the room fell into utter disarray.
“Oh … by the way … I had this made for you back in Troivack.” Eric said the words loudly enough that they drew even more attention as he proceeded to procure from his pocket a small silvery band. “I had this made out of the blade that you had on you when you were stabbed.”
“Which time?”
“The second time. You know I can’t melt down the first witch’s blade.” He scoffed.
Kat beamed as he slipped the ring onto her finger, then produced the matching band that was to be his own for her to do the same.
Kat did so as her father and mother smiled happily at them from behind.
By this time, Mr. Howard was thankfully coming back to the world of consciousness.
He sat up, taking slow, deep breaths.
Eric leaned back toward Fin, and while lowering his voice said, “I guess neither of us won the bet.”
“Oh, just wait. You just finished your announcement; I have one myself,” the house witch retorted innocently.
Eric reared back. “We agreed that it’d be about this news! You can’t just add news. That wasn’t—”
“Your Majesty!” Fin called out over Eric while Annika delicately lifted her hand to cover a smile of her own.
Norman looked at the house witch as Eric and Kat moved aside so the two could stare at each other clearly.
“My daughter happens to have a bit more to add to His Highness’s announcement. She has given me permission to share it with you.”
Mr. Howard, who was already accepting a goblet from a nearby steward, held up his hand, stopping the house witch as he drank. Even though it wasn’t Mr. Howard’s place to do so, Norman decided the poor man needed a bit of pity …
“Your Grace, I … I do think we should maybe try and hear a bit more about His Highness’s marriage before any other details are shared.”
Fin stared at the king with a mysterious half smile, then shrugged.
The nobility collectively stared at Norman pleadingly. They wanted to know what it was!
“It’s fine, Your Majesty, I know you are caring about my fragile state of mind, but it may be best to get this all over with at once,” Mr. Howard informed the king charitably.
“Kevin, this is as much about my mental well-being as your own,” Norman muttered.
However, when he stared at the room full of courtiers, he admitted that he did indeed wish to know what else could possibly compare to the news that Katarina had married his son …
“Oh, very well. Out with it.”
Fin’s smile turned perfectly devious as he stared at his daughter who gave an affirming nod then at his son-in-law before gazing up at the king.
“I happen to have the great privilege of informing you that Katarina is also expecting the next ruler of Daxaria.”
“Come again?” Eric’s voice had jumped a pitch as he turned to his wife, utterly baffled, and staring at her as though expecting her to announce it was a prank, but instead she leaned in a little closer with a glowing smile.
“I wanted a picture of your reaction and Mr. Howard’s, and let’s be honest … It’s far better for Mr. Howard to hear it from my father for dramatic effect. It was Alina’s idea back before we left. She must have had a sixth sense about the pregnancy because that was weeks ago, and Da just told me this morning!”
Eric dumbly looked over at the artist who proceeded to nod toward Kat while furiously scribbling on his notepad. The prince then half collapsed into a sitting position on the stairs. “I think … I’ll just … sit … here … for … a moment …”
It was then in the absolute chaos of the room, that a lone figure broke free from the crowd and stared at the scene.
“Well … Kat … I really think you’ve outdone yourself this time.”
The Ashowan family members turned to find Tamlin Ashowan, who was staring at his twin sister with a mixture of utter disbelief and humor.
Kat put her hands on her hips and beamed at her twin brother. “You know I always like to make an entrance. Good to see you, by the way!”
Luckily, Eric at least overcame his shock enough to look over his shoulder and discover that Mr. Howard had, in fact, fainted again, making him nod and smile in appreciation as he idly thought it was worth being caught off guard to capture such a moment.
While this carried on, Fin looked back up at Norman. The Daxarian king gazed back at him. His thoughts and feelings indiscernible … Until after a moment, he shook his head slowly, let out a long breath, and stared at the house witch. Looking a mixture of defeated, happy, and maybe just a little bit amazed by the Ashowan family, who yet again, threw his entire life into a whirlwind of wonderful mayhem.
Tam closed the office door behind him and let out a breathy laugh while reaching up to rub his eyes.
“Godsdamn … I knew she’d get into trouble, but she really pulled a whole kingdom into her nonsense …” He shook his head while slipping his hands into his pockets and leaned with his back against the door.
“I guess I’ll have to wait to ask her about anything strange involving her powers in Troivack …”
The young man’s jovial expression dissipated as he then lifted his gaze to the scene he had been trying to hide ever since his sister did something in Troivack that he had felt all the way back home in Daxaria …
The entire wall of the office overlooking the Alcide Sea was gone along with part of the floor and the large heavy desk that had held innumerable stacks of important paperwork.
Tam hadn’t been able to find a way to explain what had happened and so had barred everyone from entering the office.
Outside, gulls cried over the water, and the peaceful sound of waves lapping the cliff below echoed up …
Tam wasn’t even sure he understood how it had come to be, but what he did know was that one day he was sitting, working on the mountain of paperwork his father and Likon had left him with, and then a rushing jolt of power had suddenly thrust his magic out of him for the first time since he was a child.
Sighing, Tam reached up and rubbed the back of his neck.
“I … don’t think my family is just going to let this go …”