The rest was prolonged all the way to the next day because Katherine felt unwell. In front of Ethan, she claimed that she had to get used to traveling again and couldn't stand the road for the whole day yet. Despite this, she noticed his suspicious gaze following her throughout camp until she finally entered her tent prematurely.
"I'm so tired, Ella," Katherine complained, sprawled out on her thin mattress. "Traveling with him is like a nightmare, I just want it to be over... um, you know that you don't need to do this, right? I already feel indebted to you as it is."
Ella, who had massaged Katherine's shoulders, now went over to her legs and smiled. "As if I could leave my pregnant friend to her pain when she can't even use her magic. No, no, just lay back and relax. You would do the same for me if I was in your condition."
Katherine giggled. "Yeah, right. As if I knew how to massage someone. Did you forget I'm a spoilt princess, an only child? In the past,
The Duchy of Sleipnir resided only a ten-day trip from the border. With each day of the journey, Katherine became more anxious. "When will Nathaniel come?", she asked Ella every morning, midday, and afternoon. "Maybe something happened to him..." Each time, Ella did her best to soothe the worry, but the anxiety slowly crept onto her as well. Even when he knew nothing of the baby, Nathaniel was not the type to leave his wife at the side of a man who was responsible for her parents' deaths. Even Ella started to wonder if there had been some complications, and this didn't go unnoticed by Katherine. The emotional upheaval soon reflected in her bodily well-being. What started as a slight case of morning sickness, now lasted until noon each day. She made sure to eat with only Ella in the vicinity, for it was always possible for the food to come back up. On the seventh day, Ella reminded her that the baby would be in danger if she fell from her horse out of weakness
When Nathaniel's warmth seeped into Katherine, the trembling of her body stopped."You're back," she rasped, and buried her face in the fabric on his chest, deeply inhaling the aroma."Sorry I'm late." His lips brushed her temple in a butterfly kiss and her heart skiped a beat in response. For a second, the fight behind her was forgotten as she relished in the presence of her beloved."I missed you. What took you so long?", she muttered like the spoilt woman she was. When he didn't answer directly, she lifted her head while maintaining the closeness of their bodies. They were all but flushed against each other. Violett eyes met red ones, and her hand wandered up to smoothen the knit between his brows. "Something happened, did it not?"He caught her fingers and pressed another kiss onto her palm. "A minor disturbance. It was difficult to contain the... children. Their prowess is exceptional, but it will take a while before their mentality is restored. Some do not
When the fighting had ceased, Nathaniel brought Katherine to a camp in the woods, where his people and the young magicians they freed gathered. Somehow, Katherine mused, she spend quite a lot of time in camps in the last few months - far more than in proper buildings.Since the tiredness of pregnancy was seeping into her again as soon as the adrenaline left, Katherine couldn't bring herself to see the children just now. Like with Frey, she suspected that some would not be very welcoming and she needed the power to pull through their accusations.Besides, she worried that they might ask her to heal their wounds. Nathaniel would always let her do what she wanted without questioning her thus it was no wonder that he didn't ask her to heal his people - the injuries were mostly minor anyways. However, these children... they were just children.The ones she met before knew about her healing power, but nothing about her child and how it could be affected. Maybe they had told
Nathaniel just couldn't believe it. Throughout his life, he had learned that wonders did not exist. He was first ignored, then hated, abandoned, and finally send to die in a war when he was barely twelve. Sure, there were some good memories, but wonders... they were things from myths. He didn't believe in them, much less expect them to happen to him, whose fate seemed to end with death on the battlefield.Somewhere inside him, that was what he always expected to happen, despite his efforts to defy this fate. He would fight and fight until one day someone defeated him. Maybe a traitor would shoot his back, maybe his mother would succeed in poisoning him, or he fell in a fair duel with an enemy - though most likely not the latter. It was not even pessimism speaking from the thought, just the realistic calculations of possibility. Wonders were things that happened to his enemies if anyone at all.Then, Katherine appeared. And this one person brought so many wonders to his life that he
The light in Katherine's eyes grew dim as Nathaniel cursed. Whenever she had thought of their reunion, it was a happy occasion but the true one was not going her way. Now he even distanced himself from her, bringing a few steps between him and her hands that were falling down to the mattress."Why?", she suddenly asked. "You do control your magic most of the time, so why? Why can't I touch you the way I want to?""You are writing off the risk too easily." Nathaniel crossed his arms in front of his chest, his gaze dark as if all light had been sucked away. "It is as you said: most of the time. I, for my part, don't want to find out if you will miscarry the next time we touch. And I don't think you want it either. If you had thought this through, you would know that distance is the only option.""But..." Katherine's hopes fell at the determined stance of her husband. She bared her teeth, fighting against the pain it caused her. "Why? Why is it that every time we make a
Katherine felt the tension through her husband's tightening grip before he slowly exhaled. "It is possible, however, let me remind you again about the risk of testing - " "But we need to test it anyway", Katherine interjected before he could start a sermon about responsibility for their child. "You may hope otherwise but I did not forget that your veins were already dark when you left me. I doubt healing you can wait much longer." "It can wait for nine months at least." "But it will be inconvenient, right?" When Nathaniel remained silent, Katherine continued: "We need you at your full strength, not like the first time we met. These are dangerous times. How will you protect us if your condition deteriorates? Not that I need protection, but our child is a different matter!" To leave her pride intact, Nathaniel barely resisted a smile. Skadi forbid that his wife ever needed protection! Somehow he found her insistence more adorable than anything else. Neverthele
Slowly, Katherine's gloved fingers wandered over his back. The leather lacked her usual warmth, almost invoking a shiver."Disgust me?" she repeated. "No... no, they never did.""Then why did you hesitate just now?" He glanced back over his shoulder, and when he saw her averting his eyes, the line of his jaw ticked. "I dislike lies more than hard truths, especially if I expected the latter.""It's not a lie!" Indignation swung in her tone before she exhaled to disperse it. "It's just... I know it's akin to a death spell on you, a life-long illness that can never be cured. I just feel guilty that I like it too much, okay?"Stumped, he could only stare at her."Damn," she muttered under her breath and rubbed her face, but it only worsened the blush on her cheeks. Defiantly, she met his gaze this time. "Are you satisfied now? Believe me that it doesn't disgust me? Because if you don't, I would very much like to kiss every inch of this pattern. Don't underestima
"The gate to magic lies near the heart", Katherine mumbled and pressed her hands against her chest. "This is where magic originates from and mixes with the physical world."Under her hands, a light pulsed to life. She held it in place, not letting it wander from the middle of her chest as she waited for the pain and nausea to hit. Even with closed eyes, she felt Nathaniel's intense gaze on her and giggled nervously. "I... I think it's okay. I'm alright. I'll let it spread a little... only upwards."The glow turned brighter as it reached the neckline of her blouse, stretching over a greater expanse of skin. "It's... difficult. I'm not used to controlling its flow so much. But I think I can manage - ah."The small sound was caused by one of Nathaniel's hands that found her butt, gently caressing it. Her eyes sprang open. Her husband still leaned back on one arm, his gaze fixated on her with the intense patience of a predator waiting for the bird to land close by. A shiv
Five years later"Your Holiness - Uh, ah, Majesty, I mean!"Leaning on the newly-built rails atop the dome of the palace, with the view of the Capital in the background, Katherine scolded lightly: "Shht, Hazel, she just fell asleep."In her arms rested a baby, maybe a few months old, with a tuft of black hair and fair white skin. If she opened her lids, angelic blue eyes would blink up innocently at the viewer.Hazel's head appeared at the end of the staircase leading to the roof. Apologetically, she bit her lip and whispered. "I'm sorry, your Majesty. A letter arrived from Dragsa, and Prince Patrick hurt his knee while playing. He's on his way here.""Dragsa...," Katherine muttered and stretched out a hand to take it. "I wonder what they want. They were very quiet in the latter years."Lowering her head, she took a glance at the paper. Instantly, her brows furrowed, later followed by a deep sigh. "I almost expected it. What a shame."Her gaze wandered to the west, in the direction of
For once, the third wall belonging to the palace let nobles and commoners alike pass. They flooded in in masses and coagulated on the streets and the grass field before the dome. Everywhere, where they could hope to catch a little glimpse of what was about to happen in the throne hall.In front of the dome, Nathaniel dismounted and reached his hand out to Katherine to help her off as well. For a second, Katherine remembered how Pete helped her when she mounted Bell for the first time, and her smile grew shaky. Pete and Jack. One retired after suffering grievous wounds, and the other fell in battle when the undead attacked the palace to free the Queen, Emilian, and Helmina.The burial was in the time of Katherine's long travel back but she and Nathaniel visited the grave two days ago. Still, she could not believe that her funny, one-eyed companion was truly gone. It was delusional but she could not shake the thought that if only she'd been at the Capital, her power might have saved him
Weeks later, the couple reached the Capital and was welcomed with much tom-tom. Aston, it seemed, was back on his feet. The new scar parting his right brow even suggested that his exaggerated description of a battle with the best undead swordsman in history might be more than just bragging. Infuriatingly, however, the scar made him even more handsome, and he confidently put it on display at any opportunity he got. Especially in front of the ladies.Shortly after their return, King William officially announced his retirement in favor of his nephew. Though the commoners were confused at Nathaniel's sudden emergence, the prepared aristocrats soon placated them, and the rumors of his activities as the illusive sixth General did the rest.Katherine was surprised to hear that word of her ability had elevated her picture in the icelandic society to somewhat of a saintess. King William obviously prepared on this end as well, and thus nobody dared suggest that a dragsean noble was unfit to be
The ship of the king of the Glaciar Coast was a gigantic vessel with a kind of lofty wretchedness to it. In fact, Katherine thought that the silver ornaments on the dark wood looked like bones, and if the sail had been a bit more tattered, the "Charon" would've been the perfect ghost ship. When she mentioned it to Lady Brandon in jest, the sister of said king laughed out loud."Oh, he'd love to hear that! If his crew wasn't ridiculously superstitious, I bet he'd search the whole ocean floor for a sunken vessel to serve him!""Is that so?" Katherine lifted her brows, perplexed. "Isn't it already enough that it can fly?"Granted, the hovering of the gigantic vessel wasn't completely 'flight' as the ship was only lifted by the water the Glaciar Coast's mages manipulated with much afford. It could also only be implemented for short periods close to a water source. For the unsuspecting viewer, however, it looked exactly as if the ship was flying.It was this practical fea
Katherine woke up feeling fresh and well-rested. The plush cushions under her head were like soft clouds, and the blanket bore just the right amount of heat. The air smelled of salt and herbs, an unusual but welcoming combination."Hmmm." With a blissful sigh, Katherine stretched. She didn't feel so good since they resided in the hut in the Icelands with King William, his mistress, and son. Did she only dream of that long, arduous journey to a mountain in Dragsa?"You're awake." Her eyes snapped open when she heard that voice. It was undoubtedly the deep timbre of her husband, Nathaniel. And there he was, sitting next to the bed in a cushioned chair, a gentle gaze in his eyes.Eyes that rested strangely deep in his pale face. A face that was bare of the slight smile that sometimes tugged on the corners of his mouth when he looked at her. Instead, he seemed solemn, exhausted, plagued by a deeply hidden sadness that he maybe wanted to hide. Yet to her eyes, his feelings were an open
Deep satisfaction brought some power to Katherine's exhausted body, yet she did not like the feeling at all. The guilt over hitting an innocent civilian clouded her mind, together with the question if it was the right thing to do. Trapping Ethan in the other dimension was too easy. It didn't feel right.Days and nights she'd dreamed of how to take her revenge, how she would torture him and finally look into his eyes when he died. Now, she'd acted impulsively, and the results were anything but what she imagined. Yet, should she have let the chance slip by?When she'd heard him giving orders, she'd finally stopped in her path because she felt like a coward who ran from the only real battle she'd sworn herself to fight. At first, she only wanted to observe and hid where the canyon's wall stood out a bit, just in earshot of Ethan. But the opportunity was too good. She didn't know how her smart and cunning cousin could act so dumb. It didn't match his usual approach, yet maybe
It was Ethan. He stood just outside the rift, his usual harmless smile on his face, and the hands hidden in the pockets of his dark trousers. "Kitty. Fancy meeting you here."If Katherine had been raised in any lower class than aristocracy, she would've spit in front of his feet. Even so, her face soured as if she'd bitten into a raw lemon. "I don't... fancy it at all."Stepping aside to give the rest of the dark stream free access to the rift, she noticed that Ethan'd brought two helpers who lingered in the back nervously. The white lab coats outed them as researchers. She glanced them up and down and decided not to ask where Ve was. After all that happened today and with her magic nearly depleted, she wanted nothing more than walk away from this whole mess.So, she did just that. Turned around and walked along the canyon that was now almost free of the dark substance.After a second of surprise, Ethan called after her: "Hey, don't you want to know what I'll do with this? Aren't
Meanwhile, the Duke of Sleipnir got comfortable on the edge of the cave. Shortly after he'd disposed of the corpses by sending them into the rolling dark river below, some of Loki's staff came over. They were shocked to see only one person left in the cave. "Um, your Excellency, where... where is the leader?""Hm?" Ethan turned and blinked. "Oh... he... how should I put this? He was too enthusiasistic when he saw his experiment finally succeed. Look, the brilliant result of all his hard work is below this cliff. He didn't want to wait anymore and took everyone to follow him down. Which might have been the wrong decision, so to say."The staff carefully crept closer to the cliff, and when he saw the darkness below, though it was more a creek than a mighty river now, his eyes widened. "Do you mean to say the leader is...?""Dead." Ethan nodded unemphathetically. "Most likely."Unexpectedly swiftly, the staff got over his shock. For a moment, he pondered, then asked: "But the experiment
"Ahhh! It hurts! It hurts! You're tearing me apart!" Nathaniel felt the unusual urge to roll his eyes. He never knew that his magic was such a sissy. First, it asked for his help, and now it screamed like a pig on the slaughter bench because of a little pain. And why could it even feel pain? Its body was nothing but insidious black smoke that appeared like a black liquid in its compressed form. There were no tendons, no bones, no flesh, and no nerves - in short, nothing that could hurt. "Shall I stop pulling then?", Nathaniel asked sarcastically in his mind. Well, if that magic of his wanted to go by itself, all the better for him. "No, no, no! Please don't let go! Don't let goo-oo-ouuuuuuch!" It felt like mentally pulling on an elastic band, Nathaniel decided. Somewhere where he couldn't see, something else was pulling the other end, turning the band longer and longer. It got harder for him to hold on with each passing second. Then, with a last loud howl fr