But the following sentence made her dismiss the thought. "That's too annoying. Just take a bunch of all of them."
Taking all would confuse the meanings. They didn't match. Maybe it was just coincidence that he choose the offensive flowers after all. An earl wouldn't waste his time to learn the flower language, right?
Convinced by her own logic and too relieved to be on guard anymore, she gave in and stretched out her hand to the daffodils. "Well, okay. They don't look that bad all together. Help me plug them, please."
Behind her back, the earl had a hard time trying not to laugh. She fell for his scheme and was picking the daffodils herself now! It really was a sight to behold.
Of course, he himself stretched his hand to the peony, not one of these with bad meaning. Just as his long fingers touched the stem, his face fell. A tendril of darkness escaped from his flesh, digging into the flower, spreading until the whole blossom was shrouded in black. In a m
Hearing the deep voice of the man so near caught her off-guard. She shrieked and jumped a step back, lowering her hands in the process. Still, she couldn't bring herself to look at his face. "N-no! I... I'm not! It was an... an accident!"Thinking swiftly in her panic, she caught onto a straw of hope. "it's all because you didn't let me out, so I couldn't see the location beforehand!"Accusing other people seemed to be the best solution, only that her voice was too high and as shaky as her knees.He was so close, too close. And there was something different about him, making her out of breath. She couldn't tell if it was anger, but if it was, it was different from the cold one before. This one made her feel weak and totally helpless, her back already pressed against the nearest bush."Oh, really?", he replied, stretching his words. He tried to resist the urge to step forward again, to corner her in between the bush and himself. Don't go near, don't touch
The earls steps paused. Did he hear it right? The girl called his name as high-pitched as a frightened little squirrel, but still loud and clearly. Nathaniel. There weren't many who dared to call him like this. He didn't want her to do it, it would only complicate their relationship. On the other hand however...He gripped the handrail tightly. His chest hurt. He didn't want her to do it, but he didn't want her to stop either. It felt like something long forgotten was slowly and painfully awakened again. A strange yearning made him not want to stop the process, although rationality told him, the thing inside his chest would only bring him bad luck and endless pain.Torn in between, he decided to ignore it for now. Maybe she will stop then. So, without reacting to her call, he began to climb the steps again, turning to the left at the end of the stairs and vanishing into the corridor leading to his study.Katherine decided for herself, no reaction was a good reac
It took them two hours to find the exit by chance and none of them wanted to go in again to search for the middle."Let's just set it free right here.", Katherine sighed. "It will find everything it needs eventually." Even Hazel nodded approvingly.It was surprising, how quiet Froseti was all this time. It seemed to like sitting on Katherine's arm. But although the rabbit was small, after carrying it for over two hours her arms were hurting badly.Crouching down, she put Froseti on the ground. "There you go. This big garden is your new home now. Be safe."The rabbit, however, didn't move at all. It just sat there and looked up at her adorably. "You're free now. Hush.", Katherine tried again. Slowly, it began to move. Just it's direction didn't fit. It hopped right back to Katherine's feet and rested it's head against her ankle. Black lines appeared on Katherine's forehead as it rubbed it's fluffy head on her. "Are you a cat?! That's not how a rabbit shoul
The next day dawned and the guards were switched for some unfamiliar faces, as the earl had called for Jack and Pete. That was all Katherine knew of the matter. Only the exchange guards and some other selected people knew that Jack and Pete were getting punished for letting the lady outside before she was allowed to.This fact made the new guards quite nervous and they swore to themselves to strictly follow the rules. Especially because their own punishment would be even harder than that of the elite guards Jack and Pete.Yes, the both of them were elite guards and quite revered by the other guards for their great achievements in several wars before starting to work for the earl when they got older. You could call them war heroes even. If you told anyone that Katherine managed to steal the dagger of one of those heroes, they absolutely wouldn't believe you.After taking her breakfast and trying to make Hazel eat with her again - which ended in a failure - , Kath
They were blue. A pure sky-blue, just like her dress the other day. Mesmerized, she stared at them. These eyes may be cold, but there was some uncertainty, and gentleness hidden in them. Completely different from the domineering viciousness of the earl.She didn't notice lowering her head while staring at him, until a strand of her hair brushed his cheek. The blonde brows furrowed and he moved his head to the side to dodge it.With burning cheeks, Katherine backed away. "I'm sorry. I'm treating you just now, so try not to move too much."The strangely deep gaze moved back to her and he gave a short nod. He didn't seem to be troubled by the pain he most likely felt on his arm.With half of her concentration focused on her magic, she asked: "What is your name? It feels strange to keep calling you 'patient' in my head, now, that you're awake."He seemed to be reluctant to answer her, just scrutinizing her hands on his chest silently.Although h
Such ungrateful people, Katherine thought while closing the door behind her silently, in contrast to her raging emotions. She just wanted a little bit of information, okay?! It wasn't even anything harmful."Milady, please excuse his attitude.", Sam, standing by the side, said humbly. "He doesn't have much patience. If we can do anything to make it up to you...?"After a short thought and calming her emotions, Katherine inquired: "Where did you get that rabbit from? The one at the dinner?""The rabbit?", Sam repeated. "We have an enclosure outside, near the stables. There are rabbits, hens and a few other animals mainly treated as a food-source."What? Her sweet Froseti was a food-source before? Katherine's cheeks paled and she congratulated herself for being so mindful as to take him with her. Hesitatingly, she asked: "Can you show me?""Of course."In the enclosure lived nine well-fed rabbits. It was quite big and had a small hut for rainy
"Do you know anything about the earl's family?", Katherine asked nonetheless. Hazel raised her nearly invisible red brows in a surprised way, while the new guards where shifting uncomfortably. Did the earl allow for the lady to know his history? Wouldn't he have told her himself then? "The earl's family?", Hazel repeated, her face changing into a pensive expression. "No, I... don't think so." "They haven't visited him? Send gifts, letters, anything?" " ... Nothing I know of." "Hmm." "Wait, no, there was one gift box! I didn't remember it, because they didn't say from whom it was. And it wasn't something a family would sent, actually.", Hazel memorized, first exited but later getting dispirited again for it wasn't what the lady asked for. Katherine gestured her to continue nevertheless. Any information was better than nothing, actually. "The cook told me that story for it was really weird and a little - " Katherine's stomach gru
The next date with the earl came up, without Jack and Pete coming back. Although she didn't spent much time with them, Katherine missed them already. Sadly, the replacements didn't want to tell her were they went or when they'll be back. Was it some kind of mission? She'd question the earl about it later just to make sure they were alright.As for the date, Katherine had everything prepared. Her dress was simple this time, because the last one hadn't caused a good reaction and she needed to have more freedom of movement today. In white and with a straw-hat she looked innocent and pure. Picking up the thing she'd made with Hazel's help, she strode to the entrance hall.Nathaniel was already there, waiting for her. He'd donned a red shirt and his usual black gloves. He didn't put in any extra-afford, but that shirt high-lighting his eyes was enough to exclude a devilish charm. Counting in his soft white hair... Katherine bit her lower lip. She really wanted to know how i
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