-Karen-“It’s really too bad because Conor is very apt on the battlefield. But the Empire is not a battlefield and cannot be treated as such...” Zachary continued calmly as he twirled the dagger between his fingers. “I know his mother will be most unhappy to hear the news that one of those pesky Resistance Mages took him out with an extremely well-aimed attack.” Zachary stated with a cruel grin as he turned back to Bart and Joanne. “As for you two morons- I’ll let you two have one more chance since I feel like I can still use you… If either of you slip up again, I’ll have you executed with no more effort than it took to have Conor beaten nearly to death.” He pulled some folded papers out of his back pocket, opened them, and laid them on the table facing Bart and Joanne. Just to add to it, he angrily stabbed the dagger through the papers as they flinched.They both had grim expressions as they looked at the papers. “I just have to sign them. I’ve already signed Conor’s and that nasty l
-Karen-I decided to try to sleep off my hunger. When I woke again, the candle was only a half inch high. My back hurts terribly but I don’t think I can roll over and get up right now… I’m just too tired and sore. The waves of pain returned but they weren’t terrible like before. It felt like an hour or two passed as the pains started coming faster and sharper as my belly got hotter. I groaned loudly from the pain. I felt extremely exhausted, and I was starving. I just want a piece of bread or something… But this pain is making me feel sick to my stomach. I was all alone and afraid that I was going to lose Alexander just like I lost William. I wish Bart or Bertha were here to help me… I’m so scared right now… I need to remember to try and stay calm. More time passed by when I suddenly felt a gush of a liquid and I panicked thinking the worst. I’m going to lose him! Oh no! No! No! No! No! No! I grabbed the blanket to make sure it didn’t get wet. I felt the urge to push so I did. I yell
-Karen-I was in the drink cupboard and grabbed the largest basket I could find in the picnicking supplies. This will do nicely! I quietly slipped out of the cupboard and raced around the large room gathering two loaves of bread, a large brick of mixed cheese, and several types of fruits including strawberries and blackberries. I also grabbed a couple cucumbers, a small bag of turkey meat and smoked ham and a large handful of towels to be used as diapers for Alexander. I snacked on a roll while trying to gather my wits. I slipped back into the cupboard with the loaded basket and raced back to the picnic supplies looking for a folding knife. I found two knives and a small first aid kit which I hastily stuffed into the heavy basket. Opening another portal, I went back to the servant room and I closed that portal from the wine cupboard. I handed Bart the basket as Joanne was singing to Alexander. He had quieted down for the moment. I summoned another portal and watched the three of them
-Karen-“I’m glad to see you two alive and in one piece...” Bart commented, walking over to us. “Alexander is really fussy right now, Kay.” After a minute, my eyes adjusted to the slight light from Taurameras. I set the large comforter down quickly so I could nurse our poor little son. Ah… That sweet cry. I carefully walked over to Joanne’s outline and knelt down next to her. Geez… I’m so tired- I want to sleep for a week at the minimum.“Oh, my little pumpkin!” I softly murmured, taking him from Joanne. He stopped crying as soon as I picked him up. I lay down on my left side and started nursing him. I was feeling the fatigue and I just wanted to sleep for a while. Conor found a light switch and illuminated the inner room that we were in. I heard the door shut while I squinted from the sudden change. I anxiously looked down and saw that Alexander looked just like Conor which is what I had hoped for. Ah! He’s so precious… He peeked his tiny eyes up at me and I saw the same pretty viole
-Karen-“I will?” She seemed confused until he smiled sweetly at her again nodding. He’s looking at her like she’s the only thing in this room. A captivated and adoring look. “I am?” She asked almost breathless. Bart nodded seriously to her. “How far…?” Her hands immediately went to her belly. I’m so happy for you Joanne! You and Bart deserve to be happy together. “I thought I was gaining weight! I figured it was all the chocolate I was stress-eating… And long naps… And me just being lazy and lonely… And… And…” She looked like she was going to burst into tears.“You’re about three and a half Mazifikian months now…” Bart replied wrapping her into his embrace. “I’ve been so afraid to say anything because I didn’t want something to happen to you… I was afraid that Octavian would kill you.” He explained as she cried clinging to his chest. Conor and I exchanged sweet smiles as Joanne and Bart kissed repeatedly. “Now you don’t have to marry Justinian… You can marry me. We can have our famil
-Karen-I shook my head silently feeling even more nervous. “I have a son now, Nathan…” I replied as I watched Alexander eat like he was never going to eat again. Such a little pig! He was quite amusing to watch while he would drink his milk. “I came here to ask that you allow us to stay and fight with you.” Nathan looked absolutely furious with me. If looks could kill… I’d be deader than dead. He scoffed angrily and almost laughed. “You don’t have to say yes. We can go somewhere else!” I snapped sharply. “This isn’t the only hiding spot in the kingdom!” Taine’s Tower is an option though I’d rather not… Or Dareme even. I mean I’ll find somewhere. I hope! Nathan walked up to me and glared hatefully down his nose. “You have some nerve showing up here after everything that has happened since we were attacked last year.” He looked down at Alexander who was watching Nathan curiously. “I’m so very upset with you. You have made some extremely horrible life choices Karen… Especially when it
-Karen-I was awoken with a sharp slap to my left cheek. “Ugh! Damn that hurt.” Nathan stood over me glaring coldly. “Where’s my baby?” I asked weakly. I feel horrible… Almost as bad with that infection. “What did you do to my son?!”“He’s safe- With the other prisoners.” He replied sitting down on a chair in front of me. You’re being completely unfair! He’s not even a week old! He needs me!“Nathan, you need to give him to me! He needs to be fed!” I snapped angrily. “He’s too little to fend for himself. He’s not even a week old! I need to be able to take care of him!”“No. His father can figure out how to take care of him.” Nathan growled coldly. What?! “That little bastard has been crying for a full two days now. He needs to hurry up and shut that whiny little baby up. All that irritating crying is giving me a migraine!” I felt every drop of blood boil at his insensitive words.How dare you call him a bastard! “Are you serious right now Nathan!? You know as well as I do that Conor c
-Karen-Bart and Joanne surrounded me protectively as Arthur and Aaron exchanged frustrated glances. “You’re being very stupid about this Karen.” Aaron snapped angrily. “They aren’t worth protecting! Stop proving that you’re a traitor!”“To you they aren’t worth protecting!” I snapped back hatefully. “Just let us leave and this will all be over!” Alexander had stopped crying for the most part. I was working on getting him to settle back down but I could see he was wondering what all the yelling was about.“Aaron’s right, Kay. Besides, you’re only going to piss off Nathan and you really don’t want that right now.” Arthur warned crossing his arms over his chest. “You know how he gets when he is provoked-”“I really don’t want to have to go and get him. He’s already mad at you. You’re only going to make it worse on the prisoners tomorrow.” Aaron continued shaking his head at me. “You’ve changed so much since last year.” I narrowed my eyes at him as he kept talking. “The Karen I remember