***
The next few days were truly the happiest of Pulchra’s life. She and Akaru were inseparable. He sang to her, he took her on thrilling flights, and at night his tails tenderly wrapped around her. She was truly and completely happy.
One morning after an especially late night, Pulchra awoke before Akaru, for in her joy she could not wait to begin her day while Akaru, in his peacefulness, was not ready to quit his bed. He rolled over as Pulchra pulled his tails from around her waist but he did not wake. Running her fingers through her husband’s soft hair Pulchra was surprised to hear a rumble in his throat, but then a smile spread over her face when she realized he was purring. Deciding that she would bathe and beautify herself so she would be especially pleasing to her husband when he did wake, she slid off the bed and tiptoed out of the room.
Wrapping a robe around herself, she left the bed chamber. She considered waking Celisha and Carmina to begin breakfast, but she decided to let them sleep late as well and proceeded to the bath.
The trickle of the running water in the grotto was as soothing as ever, though the water in the pool was tinted red. Pulchra stopped in her tracks. On the far side of the pool lay a slender girl with stark white hair which fell around her and was so long it would fall to her ankles if she were standing. She appeared a couple of years younger than Pulchra though her pointed ears, the sharp claws on the tips of her long fingers, and the not three but four tails spread out behind her marked her as a daemon, so her age was impossible to judge.
Pulchra gasped and took a step backward, unable to scream despite the fact that she did not feel an oppressive presence from the strange daemon. She wondered why this might be and then noticed that the mysterious daemon’s white tunic was stained red over her midsection and dark blood dripped from her into the pool.
Pulchra’s surprise turned to pity, believing the poor daemon’s death to be the reason she felt no foreign presence. Pulchra sighed, expressing her sorrow and the daemon’s eyes flew open burning with the same golden intensity as Akaru’s. Despite her injury, she leapt to her feet and Pulchra felt a weak though menacing presence.
“Who are you?” the daemon growled.
“Akaru!” Pulchra yelled, finally finding her voice, and bolted from the room. She met Akaru in the atrium and buried her face in his shoulder, but he only held her for a second before proceeding toward the bath.
“Mistress?” Tobart asked entering the atrium, though oddly he was looking past Pulchra rather than at her.
“Tobart,” Pulchra cried, gripping his hand. “There is another daemon in the bath.”
“Yes, mistress, I felt her too. We should hurry, she feels very weak.”
“Do you recognize her presence?”
“Yes, mistress,” Tobart said and pulled Pulchra back toward the bath. “She is Mistress Aleckasia, Lord Akaru’s daughter by his first wife.”
Pulchra’s jaw dropped and she allowed herself to be dragged down the corridor. In the bath, Akaru was cradling his daughter in his arms and brushing hair off her face.
“Father,” her eyes opened briefly and then fluttered shut again.
“Aleckasia!” Akaru cried. “Tobart, throw me a towel.”
Akaru tore Aleckasia’s tunic open and removed the blood soaked bandages on her chest and stomach then quickly pressed the towel against the long gash as it gushed blood. Akaru lifted her off the floor and darted out of the room calling, “Bring herbs!”
Tobart ran to obey and Pulchra followed her husband to one of the guest rooms where he laid Aleckasia on the bed and pressed his hands against the towel over her wound. There was so much blood. Pulchra felt faint.
“Aleckasia!” Akaru kept crying. Finally the pale girl’s eyes opened again.
“Father, I flew here as quickly as I could,” she said weakly. “Tykar has overrun the border. We fought but we could not hold. I think my wound opened again.”
“Shhh, you’re okay now,” Akaru quieted her as Tobart arrived with medicines and bandages. “We’ll take care of you. Pulchra, you may want to leave the room.”
Pulchra silently turned and left. Celisha and Carmina were waiting in the corridor. The three of them walked to the garden where they waited in silence listening to Aleckasia’s wails as her wound was dressed.
Presently Tobart appeared and hurried off. Fifteen minutes later he returned carrying half a dozen rats by their tails and again entered the room. Pulchra looked at Celisha inquisitively.
“She has lost a lot of blood,” Celisha said. “She needs fresh meat.”
Pulchra shuddered.
After nearly an hour Akaru and Tobart emerged from the room, both with somber looks on their faces. Akaru put his hand on Tobart’s shoulder.
“Run through the valley,” he said. “Tell everyone. I will fly further through the domain. We have to be moving south by nightfall.”
Akaru did not look at Pulchra as he walked up the stairs to their bed chamber. Pulchra stepped forward and stopped Tobart.
“What is it?” she asked.
“War,” Tobart answered. “The border has been overrun. Lord Tykar, who rules the domain to the south, convinced enough of Lord Akaru’s supporters to switch their allegiance to him and he has claimed that territory for himself. We have to move quickly to counter the invasion.”
“What about Aleckasia?” Pulchra asked.
“She is weak, but I think she will survive,” Tobart said and moved away. Pulchra signaled Celisha and Carmina to check on Aleckasia while she followed Akaru. She found him changing his clothes. He did not look up as she entered the room.
“Akaru,” she said softly. He did not answer. “Akaru, I am sorry about Aleckasia.”
“So am I,” he said gruffly. “If I had gone to the border as I planned, this would not have happened.”
“You blame me for this?” Pulchra gasped.
“No, I blame myself,” Akaru said, his tone was still gruff. “For being swayed to neglect my duty by a girl who cannot understand my position or my people.”
“I am the daughter of a magistrate,” Pulchra retorted, her voice becoming harsh as well. “I completely understand the duties of a public office. As far as understanding your people, no one can claim that I have not made every effort, without the aid of my husband, I might add.”
“I tried to include you in my duties,” Akaru answered. “It was quite clear that you were not up to the task. I will not apologize any longer for doing what I must.”
“And I will not apologize for feeling lonely in a strange house surrounded by strange creatures and an absentee husband,” Pulchra yelled and stormed out of the room slamming the door. She stalked through the house not paying attention to where she was going. How could he say such things? She had been extremely supportive of a husband she really did not understand. She huddled in a corner and buried her face in her hands.
“Why are you crying?” a weak voice asked, making Pulchra jump. She looked around and realized that she had wandered into Aleckasia’s room. The daemon’s eyes were not open and she breathed heavily.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Pulchra said wiping the tears off her cheeks. “I’ll let you rest.”
“No,” Aleckasia’s voice was weak but there was no missing the harsh tone. “I should get to know my lovely stepmother.”
“Oh, yes,” said Pulchra. She hadn’t realized until then that she was indeed Aleckasia’s stepmother. She looked down on her slim and bloodied body and felt a new pity for the girl. She suddenly also realized that Akaru was not simply upset about being neglectful or even that his territory had been invaded. His child had been injured, nearly killed.
“What is your name?” Aleckasia asked, her eyes still closed. “I will not be calling you mother.”
“My name is Pulchra.”
“Beautiful,” said Aleckasia, some of the harshness in her voice was replaced by fatigue. “That means beautiful. Your parents had a sense of humor.”
Pulchra was about to reply when the door opened
and Akaru entered wearing a heavy woolen mantle. His expression was somber but no longer agitated. He stepped into the room and took Aleckasia’s hand in his left hand and held out his right to Pulchra which she took.
“I must hurry,” he said. “But I cannot leave until I know that the two most important people in my life will be alright when I am gone.”
“Akaru,” Pulchra said after a moment. “It was wrong of me to selfishly hold you by my side. Though it is no excuse, please know it was because of the love I have for you. Because I love you, I also love your daughter and shall tenderly care for her.”
Aleckasia’s eyes finally opened and glanced at Pulchra before looking to her father. She said to him, “Do not worry about us, father. Tykar is stronger than he was the last time we met him in battle. Be careful.”
Akaru squeezed the two women’s hands then let go of Aleckasia’s and led Pulchra out of the room. He pulled her into his arms and placed a long kiss on her lips.
“I love you, Pulchra,” he said, holding her close.
“I love you, Akaru,” she whispered. “Hurry home to me.”
He let her go, walked down the corridor, and was gone.