CHAPTER 61 IN THE WAKE OF WAR
Kat huffed irritably as the physician disinfected her numerous wounds. It was already a frustrating time, as she had to lie topless on her stomach as he tended to the scratches and bites she’d received from the sirins.
Eric grinned from his seat on the stool in front of her, his broken ribs and stab wound already bandaged, leaving him free to pull on his tunic while his wife finished being tended to.
“I said I’m fine. It was just a few scratches,” she grumbled.
“These scratches along your shoulder and waist will scar,” the physician informed her patiently.
Eric stared at her, unable to stop smiling.
“You being in a good mood makes this more annoying,” Kat bit out, though she could tell she was starting to blush as Eric brought his stool closer to her.
“Don’t be a brat,” he chided while reaching for her hands and grasping them. “I get to be happy that we survived a war involving supernatural beings, and I can now take you on a honeymoon where no one— Not a single. Person. Is allowed. To bother. Us,” Eric enunciated through his smile while leaning a little closer with each point.
Kat pretended to glare. “So what happened with the … mercenary … leader’s … body?” she asked awkwardly while trying not to explicitly mention the devil in front of the physician.
Thus far, the supernatural appearances had been explained to the general public by saying that a mage and a witch had worked together to seek revenge for how the witches had been treated in Troivack.
The only reason this narrative was approved was because Katarina and her father had fought against them, which provided a valid argument that not all witches were awful.
At least they hoped that would be the consensus … It would be hard enough with the preexisting bias against magic users …
Eric didn’t respond to Kat’s question as he eyed the physician, who was still tending to the back of her legs. So they waited in silence until the man finished, and then with a polite, quiet bow, the physician left to tend to the other wounded soldiers that had returned.
Once alone in the small room that prior to the war had been a storage closet, but had since had its shelves full of dishware pushed to the side to make room for tables for the physicians to work on the battle-injured, Eric kissed Kat’s fingers that he had been clasping and stood to retrieve her tunic.
“The devil’s body turned to ash.”
Kat frowned while accepting her tunic, carefully covering herself before rolling over to slip it over her head and bandages. “What do you mean?”
“I mean your father went to investigate after I took you inside the castle, and there was nothing but a pile of ash. Sir Cas says that he had guarded the first witch and the devil’s body with Lady Kezia, but neither of them can explain what happened. Lady Elena’s familiar, Reggie, picked up a handful of ash and ran off with it … Not sure what that was about yet, but yes, the devil is now a harmless pile of soot. We aren’t sure if he is going to be reborn from that pile or appear elsewhere … As for the first witch, they are locking her in the castle dungeon for now, but His Majesty is working on finding another prison for her where no one can find her while also having people study the tool Likon stole.”
Kat nodded along to the news. “What happened to Mr. Levin and your assistant?”
Eric’s good mood at last dimmed.
“Mr. Levin disappeared with his wife and daughter sometime during the fighting. We think he fled toward the west given that that was the only gateway not properly guarded during the conflict. As for Thomas Julian … I don’t know. I need to speak with Likon about him.”
Kat fidgeted uncomfortably.
Seeing this, Eric let out a disappointed sigh.
“Listen, I know you care about Likon, but planting a spy who tampers with my correspondence? I’m going to have to arrange a formal investigation and arrest.”
“But—”
“Kat, you know I can’t ignore this.”
After a moment of staring earnestly at her husband’s stern face, Kat’s shoulders slumped forward in defeat, though she gave a minor wince as the deep cuts along her waist protested.
“I understand what you’re saying, but can you just promise me you will talk to him about it first? At least figure out the whole situation. I mean, obviously Likon isn’t the only one Thomas Julian was talking to, otherwise we would’ve received the ransom letter the first witch sent.”
Eric opened his mouth but could tell by the desperation in Kat’s face she wasn’t going to concede on this point, and well … it was the right thing to do to ensure there was a proper punishment assigned, even if Eric still wasn’t entirely too fond of the man.
“Now that we’ve been patched up, shall we go see how my sister and His Majesty are faring?”
Kat gave a dip of her chin to signify her assent before she slid off the table.
“So … Did Alina really shoot the first witch in the arse?”
Eric grinned once more as they proceeded toward the door.
“She did indeed. Real pity you missed it … If only you hadn’t tried to sacrifice yourself, you could’ve seen it.”
“Oyy! That’s the thanks I get?! There’s no chance you would’ve survived what I did! Did you see the bite marks? I tell you, sirins are nasty birds …” Kat shouted at Eric indignantly as they made their way down the bustling corridor.
Eric rounded on her, locked eyes with her, and grasped her face in both his hands, making Kat instantly burn red … until he smooshed her cheeks.
“Never. Ever. Do that again. No amount of you being sneaky or adorable will save you in this argument. Got it?”
Kat tried to find a way to avoid making such an agreement, but sensing this, Eric squished her cheeks an extra amount until she double tapped his forearm into releasing.
“Fine! Fine, I won’t … sacrifice myself for your old arse. Do you need a cane by the way?” Kat asked while only partially jesting as she noticed Eric’s shuffling steps thanks to his ribs.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll drink some willow bark tea later—I promise I will this time. Don’t go dosing my coffee again,” he retorted sternly.
Kat smirked but held her tongue as they continued down the corridor.
As was usual between the couple, their attentions were completely fixed on each other, which meant they missed the amount of gawking and awe-filled whispers that trailed after them …
Brendan’s fist pounded his desk, making the furniture creak ominously.
Faucher had just informed the king that there was no sign of where Mr. Levin and his wife had fled to. Apparently, the ever-thorough assistant had prepared an escape plan should the first witch lose. The military leader bowed and excused himself to see to the other knights that were still returning.
To make matters even worse, they had no idea when the prince’s assistant had disappeared, though Lady Katarina’s maid Poppy said she received a sweet note from Thomas Julian apologizing to her, saying that things were complicated but that he hoped to see her again one day.
Likon had also received a letter from his nephew. It had been left with the innkeeper of the establishment where he had first been abducted. After learning the missive was waiting for him there, Likon had gone to retrieve it with several knights who were to guard him. In the meantime, Brendan was apprised of everything that had transpired in his absence from the castle.
Fin was slumped in his chair, the exhaustion lines in his face dark, and any pretense of acting as a nobleman long gone. His wife sat at his side, though she was able to maintain her cool composure as was her norm, albeit she did have blood and soot spattering her own attire as well …
“What were you saying before Leader Faucher came in? Something about the devil turning to dust?” Brendan rounded on the house witch after taking a breath to compose himself.
“It’s just that. I think he is in the process of being reborn somewhere as we speak, but what is especially interesting is that Lady Elena’s familiar, Reggie, brought her some of the ash, and we think that was the missing element from when she was trying to re-create the mold on the mushrooms.”
Brendan straightened, his previous ire forgotten in light of the startling discovery.
“With a bit of water, apply the ash to a mushroom, let it decay a little, and it has the ability to suspend someone in a state between life and death, where they see magic, half fey, imps … The mushrooms, we think, are what is anchoring the teleportation through the portal. Both Kat and Kraken said they saw the mushrooms in a stone circle in the Forest of the Afterlife.”
“Fin?” Surprisingly it was the duchess who interrupted her husband.
Both men looked to her. “You told me that when you ate the mold, it was able to separate your soul from your body and transport you … Why did you appear in our home in front of Tam?”
Fin balked.
He had completely forgotten about his impromptu spiritual journey …
“Maybe it’s because that was where I had the most pull to? I didn’t eat the mushroom with it, so my soul didn’t have an anchor summoning it. So with our home in Austice, and Tam being there, maybe that is simply where I had the strongest connection?”
Annika and Brendan each considered this theory, and after a time, both seemed to agree it did make the most sense though it really was nothing but a speculation.
“Your Majesty, I can stay until we are certain the first witch is imprisoned, but would you maybe like help finding where the devil has respawned?” Fin asked as he mentally sifted through all the work that needed to be completed following the battle.
“I will consider your offer, Your Grace. However, I am intending to send Mr. Kraft and Mage Sebastian to search for him with the assistance of a Coven of Aguas member who volunteered. If we do not find hide nor hair of him in a few months, I will send word to Daxaria’s court for you.”
Fin didn’t look fully convinced that this was the best plan of action but decided not to argue the point any further … He didn’t have the energy for a battle of wills after the recent days he had lived. Instead, he reached for his wife’s hand, startling her with the casual display of affection in the presence of the Troivackian king.
“You know … I think if you aren’t requiring our assistance … after another two months, I’d like us to head home. Kat and Eric included. Your Majesty, I understand that this ends Katarina’s time here a good deal earlier than planned, but frankly speaking, we all knew they both would need to return sooner than later after their marriage.”
Brendan tilted his head and let out a sigh.
“I’m aware. However … I will request your assistance in a matter that is going to be a bit of a problem before then.”
Fin barely resisted moaning in exasperation.
He really just wanted to make some fresh dinner rolls, his famous potato soup, and relax with Annika …
“What matter is that, Your Majesty?” Annika jumped in, sensing her husband’s patience and ability to behave properly had expired.
Brendan cleared his throat and leaned back on his desk. “Well … Sir Cleophus Miller … wants to swear his fealty to your duchy and move to Daxaria.”
Fin snorted before he could stop himself, then leaned forward, his eyes gleaming humorously. “He wants to follow Pina, doesn’t he?”
The king gave a mildly irritable grumble. “Yes, he does. But he is a knight sworn in service to me, and if he leaves without my permission, he will be charged with treason. I don’t think I need to expand on the fact that he is our most talented and notable knight, and for him to wish to change the nobility he serves—”
“Wait … Isn’t he also supposed to inherit Lord Milo Miller’s earldom?” Annika interjected.
“He … wishes to surrender the position—”
“But Broghan Miller is already set to serve our daughter for the remainder of his life,” Annika finished.
Brendan let that development rest over the duke and duchess. Fin still looked like he was about to start laughing, but Annika’s mind was racing …
“During our initial confrontation with the devil and first witch in the throne room, the first witch said something to Lady Sarah Miller, Sir Cleophus and Broghan’s sister, before disappearing. I was concerned and suspicious about what she was talking about, but it now makes sense. I’ve since learned from Lady Sarah that the first witch had believed it would be Lady Sarah herself who would inherit Lord Milo Miller’s house. The first witch seemed incredibly confident about it as well.”
Annika didn’t hide her shock, and Fin’s humored expression dulled at the mention of the first witch.
“I’m reluctant to say this would be a great opportunity to leverage more equal rights for Troivackian women given it was our enemy who supposedly sparked this development.”
“Going back to the matter with Cleophus … Hypothetically, is there a way he could remain as a part of Your Majesty’s army but be dubbed a diplomat that stays on our grounds in Daxaria when he visits? Will Lady Sarah even be approved as an heir by her father?” Fin wondered aloud.
Brendan raised an eyebrow. “If we pressured Lord Milo Miller to support the decision, he has a number of noblemen already indebted to him which could sway the vote in favor of naming Lady Sarah as the next head of her house. It is … possible that your suggestion of making Sir Cleophus a diplomat could sway him … Again, I suspect I will need your help with this, and … possibly Lady Katarina’s familiar.”
Annika and Fin shared a look that the king couldn’t quite determine the meaning of, but afterward, Annika lowered her chin respectfully. “We’ll do what we can.”
After the Ashowans left his office, the king made his way back to his own chamber, doing his best to quickly handle those that approached to congratulate him on the successful win …
However, while relieved, Brendan couldn’t be entirely happy.
Upon entering his quarters, he found Alina sitting on their bed, her back to the door as she blindly stared at the wall in front of her.
She didn’t even turn to see who had come in.
Brendan wasn’t sure she had even heard him.
Instead of calling out to his wife, he started undoing his armor.
He had just about succeeded in taking most of it off himself, when at long last he felt Alina’s gentle hands undoing the final trickier parts from around his shoulders.
“I heard you killed the devil,” Brendan said quietly as he watched Alina’s flat gaze fix itself to her task.
“I didn’t mean to. I was just trying to blind him.”
Brendan felt his chest ache …
He thought back to the sweet, whole, happy young woman he had fallen in love with back in Daxaria … back when he was simply focused on helping her lungs grow stronger …
What have I done to her?He stared sadly at his wife as she worked, wishing that Troivack wasn’t such a brutal, harsh place for a woman as good as her …
“Brendan, stop staring at me like you’re the guilty party.” Alina’s quiet voice was firm, but she still didn’t look at him before she moved over to his other side. “The violence in this kingdom … I expected it. I am making a difference, and that is what I wanted.”
“The cost is higher than you thought it would be.” Brendan continued to watch her. He stared at her fine thin nose and marveled at how she could still look so delicate after having tried to gouge the devil’s eyes out and having shot the first witch with a crossbow. Twice.
“I think this battle was unique, and to be honest …” she trailed off and turned around to set down the final plate of armor on the nearby table. “What’s difficult is that everyone has every right to be happy about winning. About being safe once more and overcoming this threat. But no one is going to properly grieve or even think much about our child, and … it isn’t fair. To anyone. While they should be happy, our child has a right to be mourned. There is no perfect solution.”
Brendan stared at his wife’s back as she lingered at the table, not wanting to show the expression she was making …
The king stepped over to Alina, and from behind, he wrapped his strong arms around her in an embrace and held her.
Alina allowed herself to break down again. She allowed herself to grieve without feeling the need to force herself to carry on through her next duty, to be strong in order to help others …
And Brendan did the same as he lowered his head and wept into Alina’s hair for their loss.
While he knew that there would be a time in the future when things wouldn’t be as hard or painful … he also knew that both he and Alina needed a little bit of time before everything felt right again. And that was alright.