***
Kyrin rolled over in bed and saw that Alric was deep asleep. She slipped out from under his arm and pulled on a thick robe to cover herself with, in case she ran into anyone. She left the belt loose, and then snuck out of the bedroom and shut the door softly behind her.
The knights didn’t pay much attention to her as she ran down the stairs barefoot and disappeared into the kitchen. She lit the lantern closest to the pantry and then began going through it looking for something to eat. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t seem to stop eating.
“They say great minds think alike.” Kyrin jumped when Trox’s voice broke the silence.
She smiled at him. “Hungry too?”
“Ravished,” Trox said, and began to dish himself a piece of cake from the counter. She still hated the sweet dessert and couldn’t imagine how anyone could eat it this late at night.
Trox was peculiar though, and she often wondered about his heritage and history. He was older than anyone in the kingdom and spoke of things that happened centuries ago, but she’d never gotten up the nerve to ask how old he was and how he managed to stay alive for so long.
Kyrin took a loaf of bread out of the pantry along with some of the roast beef they had eaten the night before. She made herself a sandwich and then sat on the counter beside where Trox was eating.
“I noticed you come down here every night for a snack, and I thought I’d join you,” Trox said.
Kyrin shrugged and took a big bite.
“I’m actually surprised you don’t raid the orchard,” he said before taking a bite of cake.
She laughed. “Don’t think I haven’t thought about that. Alric doesn’t like when I leave the castle at night though.”
“Is your magic still down?”
“Yes”
“You have no idea why?”
“No, but I bet it comes back.”
Trox finished his cake and put the plate down. “If you’d like, I’ll go out with you so you can get an apple.”
“Really?”
“Sure”
Kyrin followed Trox out the kitchen door and around the castle to the orchard. He helped her climb over the fence and then reached up and picked an apple.
Trox handed it to her and watched her take a bite. “I’ve never seen anyone as infatuated with apples as you are.”
“They’re just so good,” she said, taking another bite.
“Your belt is undone.”
Kyrin gasped and quickly shut her robe, and then tied the belt around her waist again.
“Does he know?” Trox asked softly.
She dropped the apple and took his shoulders in her hands. “Don’t tell him.”
“Why not?”
“Please, Trox! Don’t tell him. I’m not ready to leave.”
“He’s not going to kick you out for this.”
She buried her face against his chest, and his shirt became wet with her tears. “Please, I beg you. Don’t tell him.”
Trox sighed and wrapped his arms around her. “I won’t tell him, but he has a right to know.”
“I can’t lose him, Trox.”
“I wish you’d trust me. He’s not going to be anything but happy about it.”
She looked up at him. “That’s what Sithias said, but I’ve seen nothing but the opposite. I can take the beatings, but I can’t take the hatred and disgust.”
“You haven’t seen any of that in Valhara though.”
“You promise you won’t tell him?”
“No, I won’t tell him. It’s not going to be long before you can’t hide it though.”
“I have to try.”
“Well don’t wear a robe then. I knew it from the instant I saw you.”
“You did?!” she gasped.
Trox nodded. “Yes, and if the Castle Protectors paid any attention, they would too.”
Kyrin let go of Trox and looked at him. “How can I get upstairs then?”
“They haven’t seen you yet. I’m sure you’re fine.”
“Thank you.”
He smiled. “Thank me by telling the king that he’s about to have an heir.”
“I will eventually.”
“You’ll have to tell him soon.”
Kyrin nodded and then ran up the stairs and crawled back into bed. Alric woke up enough to roll over and wrap his arms around her but then immediately fell back asleep.
When Kyrin woke up, Alric was already gone and the sun was high in the sky. She rolled over and saw an apple on the bedside table. She smiled and grabbed it to take a bite before standing up.
She dressed quickly in a larger tunic than usual and headed down to see if she could find Alric. Azimeth was waiting outside of her door with two knights.
“Good morning, Lady Kyrin,” the elf said with a bow.
“Is Alric around?”
“He ran into Valhara for a bit.”
“Damn, okay. Let’s get breakfast.”
Azimeth nodded and followed Kyrin down the stairs. “The painter is coming later for your portrait.”
“My what?”
“Your portrait… the one that goes in the hall of history.”
Kyrin’s nose wrinkled. “No one said anything about having a painting.”
“It’s customary. I’m sure King Alric thought you knew.”
“So where is this hall of history?”
“I’ll be happy to show you after breakfast.”
“Let’s go now.”
Azimeth nodded and then led Kyrin down a hallway that she had never felt the need to walk down. They emerged into a huge room filled with statues and couches. Paintings lined the walls, and some seemed very old.
“Wow,” Kyrin said, looking along the walls.
“Your painting will go over here,” Azimeth told her, moving to the opposite wall.
“Is that Alric’s dad?” Kyrin asked, looking at a painting marked King Ryche.
“I don’t know actually.”
“Yes, it’s the king’s father,” Finn said, walking up. “The one beside him is Alric’s mother, Lady Poshima.”
“Did she die when his dad and brother died?” Kyrin asked, looking at the picture beside Alric of the young, handsome Prince Sedomer.
“No, she died in childbirth just after having Alric.”
“That’s awful,” Kyrin said, though her throat began to constrict. She had a sudden image of going through labor alone out by Boriana ruins and dying during it.
“It was. King Ryche took it hard. He was devastated and suddenly alone with two babies to raise by himself.”
“How old was Alric’s brother when his mother died?”
“An hour or so.”
Kyrin looked over at him. “What?”
“They were twins. Didn’t you know?”
She shook her head, unable to speak.
“Are you okay, Lady Kyrin?” Azimeth asked. The elf had noticed that Kyrin was looking sick.
“I’m fine,” she whispered, and then looked up at the portrait of Alric’s mother. The woman even looked regal, but her eyes were kind and warm.
“She was one of the most caring nobles the Valharans had ever met,” Finn said. It was obvious that he thought highly of her.
“I’m not going to be up there with them,” Kyrin whispered, and then started out of the hall of history.
“Why not?” Finn asked, following her. “Every noble in the history of Valhara is there.”
“I’m not a noble, Finn. I’m just Alric’s wife.”
“That makes you a noble.”
“Hi,” Alric said, smiling when he saw them. “I came to see how the portrait was coming. Are you going to wear that?”
Finn looked down and saw that her clothes were larger than usual and kept growing bulkier as the days passed.
“I’m not getting a portrait,” Kyrin said, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Why not?” Alric asked. “Did you not like the painter?”
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“I’m not going to be put beside your family of nobles.”
“I don’t understand why though.”
She fought back the tears. “All of those people were born to be noble. They were kind and compassionate, and cared about the people of Valhara. I don’t belong with them.”
“You do belong with them,” Alric said, pulling her into an embrace. “You’re my wife, and I know you care about the people as much as I do.”
“I’m an evil.”
“You’re my wife.”
Kyrin’s heart fell. She didn’t realize he thought she cared about the kingdom. What she felt was that it was a nuisance that had to be tolerated to stay with Alric.
One of the knights ran up to Finn. “Captain! Gryphons are attacking the city.”
Without a word, Finn and Alric both took off running for the doors. Kyrin started forward, but Azimeth stopped her.
“Lady Kyrin, we cannot join them.”
“Speak for yourself,” Kyrin said, and headed up the stairs. Azimeth was shocked when she came down with her flail and left the castle.
Kyrin mounted the only horse left and kicked it hard for the city. She’d dealt with gryphons before and knew how much devastation they left in their wake. The sounds of knights fighting could be heard easily, so Kyrin followed the noise to where six gryphons were fighting the Valharan knights. Each gryphon stood over three times taller than a man and was almost as long as a house.
She jumped off of her horse and headed to the gryphon with the least amount of knights. Its fierce talons were clawing at the armored knights as they tried in vain to do damage to it with their swords. The eagle’s wings on his body flapped angrily and caused a wind that made it hard to keep your balance while fighting it.
With experience, she’d learned you had to remove the talons to kill the beast. Using her flail, she quickly attacked and wrapped her flail’s chain around one sharp, lion-like talon of the gryphon. Its screams echoed off of the houses in Valhara when one of the knights saw what she was doing and promptly cut off the claw.
Catching on, the knights began slashing at the talons and ignoring the sharp beak and sleek body. The angry screeches of the beasts made the buildings in Valhara shake, and the people began to retreat into their houses for protection.
With only one foot left clawed, the gryphon Kyrin was fighting suddenly lunged at her as one of the knights sunk his sword deep into its heart. It fell with a loud thud, landing right on top of Kyrin.
“Lady Kyrin!” the knight yelled, and began digging through feathers to find her.
Two knights joined him and tried dragging the beast off of her. The other gryphons finally fell also, and Alric looked around when he heard Finn frantically calling for Kyrin.
Alric spun and saw Finn digging under the immense wings of one of the dead gryphons. Four knights rode up on horses, and the creature’s body was tied to the horses, which then began to pull.
“Is she under there?” Alric asked, running up.
“Kyrin, can you hear me?!” Finn yelled, pushing the beast to help the horses.
Alric saw her feet first and knelt beside her when she was uncovered. He focused in on the blood across her forehead. He started to work on her head wound and didn’t turn around until he heard Finn.
“King?” Finn said softly.
Alric looked at him and then followed his gaze to where Kyrin’s tunic had pulled up from her middle, exposing her midriff. Alric’s eyes grew wide, and he couldn’t pull his gaze from her expanding middle that had been hidden by layers of the tunic.
“We have to get her to the priests,” Finn said, breaking Alric’s shock.
He stood quickly and picked her up, then began to run to the nearby temple, followed by Finn.
Alric laid her down on the table, and the priests went to work immediately to heal everything they could find. Finn stayed silent beside the king, not sure what to say.
When Saith cut off her tunic, leaving her in just a thin undershirt, her pregnancy became more visible and Alric realized that she was further along than he first thought.
“Did you know?” Finn asked.
“No,” Alric said as the priests continued to heal her wounds. He was able to take his eyes away from her pregnant bulge long enough to see the priests treating not only a concussion but a broken collarbone and wrist.
Saith finally came up and bowed slightly as he wiped the blood from his hands. “I think we have the bulk of it.”
“Is she going to be okay?”
“Yes”
“And the baby?” Alric whispered.
Saith smiled. “Both are fine, my Lord.”
“Both?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Alric nodded. His mind whirled with what Kyrin had kept from him and how blind he’d been to what was going on.
“We would like to put her in a healing trance,” Saith said softly.
Again, Alric just nodded. Saith walked over and ran a hand over her face, putting her into a deep sleep.
Azimeth ran into the temple and stopped at Alric. “Is she okay? I just heard.”
“Did you know?” Alric asked, looking at the elf.
“Know wh…,” She stopped when she saw Kyrin. “I didn’t know. I swear.”
Dewell pulled covers over Kyrin and then bowed to Alric, and the priests all filed out of the room.
“That’s what she’s been hiding,” Alric said, sitting down beside her. “She had to have known for months.”
“She was feeling sick in the caravan,” Azimeth said quietly. “I thought it was from the motion.”
“Something tipped her off and she ran to Creteloc.”
Finn sighed. “She kept it from all of us.”
“She didn’t trust me enough to tell me,” Alric said. “This proves that it’s not working.”
“King…”
“Alric,” Sithias said, appearing in a shimmer before them.
Alric shook his head. “We’ve gained no ground, and this proves that we’re not good for each other.”
Sithias smiled softly. “I want to tell you about Kyrin.”
“Don’t bother. It’s over,” Alric said, standing slowly. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t have the secrets and the distrust. Married people don’t keep this from each other.”
“Kyrin’s world is like nothing you’ve ever seen,” Sithias said. “You will stand there and listen to me.”
Alric hesitated, and then turned to his deity and nodded. “Fine, go ahead.”
“I want you to pay attention to what I say and understand that this happens and was normal in her life,” Sithias started. He then moved to look down at Kyrin with adoration on his face. “Kyrin, like all other newborns, was taken from her mother at birth and dropped off in one of the many orphanages ran by the priests of Stryker. I hate to even call them orphanages, because they aren’t as we have them here. They were more like dark, dungeonous rooms that housed dozens of children who slept on the floor and often died from neglect.”
“These orphanages catered to no one. Children immediately fought for food, for warmth, and for their lives. Infants were kept separate, but the second they could walk, they were thrown into the fray. They either died or became hardened and tough.”
“Kyrin was a pretty child, so she was used to pay off debts that the priests of Stryker had to the Shadowmere Consortium. She was sold as a wife to their leader, Mika. By law, he had to wait until her 12th birthday to marry her though, so he taught her to fight.”
“Children were an embarrassment. Kyrin wasn’t lying when she said that the second a woman’s pregnancy begins to show, she’s locked in her house, too ashamed to step out. The husband hides her and is disgusted by her condition. During pregnancy, the women are often beaten as punishment and humiliation.”
“Marriages are pre-arranged or forced to pay off debts. All you have to do to sell a woman is to have her restrained enough that there’
s no fight against the buyer. Once a woman has a baby, she’s then ostracized from her husband. They are taught that no woman is desirable once she’s had the dishonor of being pregnant. They often starve to death after having the baby or kill themselves to avoid the humiliation.”
Sithias touched Kyrin’s stomach lightly. “Things she’s seen have embedded this into her psyche. They aren’t easily forgotten, and trust comes at a steep price. This dimension is the only one that’s different. It’s not Kyrin who is blind to reality, it is you.”
“Blind how?”
“I chose to lead my people to a more peaceful and natural existence, but others did not. She’s seen hundreds of other worlds, and only ours differs in this. You’ve seen only our way and have never known how others think.”
“Still”
“She’s come such a long way. I’m surprised at how attached she is to you, and I fully understand why she kept this from you. She was desperately trying to find a way to stay with you. I wish you could see that what she’s done was because of her love for you.”
“How can keeping a secret be done in love?”
“In her world, the second you found out that she’s with child, you would hate her.”
Alric couldn’t move. He knew Kyrin’s life was different but didn’t know the extent of how other dimensions differed from his own.
“Is there no hope for her then?” Alric asked his god.
Sithias smiled. “There is hope. This is the best chance you have to show her that our dimension is different, and she’s not going to be beaten, or exiled, or any of the other things she’s seen happen.”
Alric moved toward her a few steps. “How can I trust her? She kept this from me for so long. She ran to an assassin instead of coming to me.”
“She kept it from you to keep you.”
“It’s not right.”
“She trusts you,” Sithias told him. “She’s never trusted in her life, but she does you.”
“She has a funny way of showing it!”
“It’s not just the husband that punishes women for being pregnant. She may trust you, but she doesn’t trust the rest of Valhara.”
“If she trusted me, she would have told me.”
“You need to put your distrust aside and show her she’s wrong. Show her the heart of Valhara.”
Alric shook his head. “I can’t act like nothing happened. I can’t pretend that I don’t care she kept this from me.”
“Find it in your heart to forgive her before she wakes up,” Sithias said, and then his shimmer faded, and he disappeared.
Alric turned and started for the door. Azimeth looked over at Finn, but neither knew what to do.
Saith followed Alric out of the temple. “You’re the Holy Knight of Sithias.”
“Yes, I am,” Alric said angrily.
“Show her she’s wrong. Prove it to her.”
Alric turned on Saith. “She kept that from me! I’m not talking a little secret but a big one, and she kept it for a long time.”
“She was afraid.”
“So am I! I’m afraid every day I’m with her.”
“Sir”
“I just need to think for a few hours.”
Saith nodded and watched Alric disappear on his horse. The priest went back into the temple and put a longer resting blessing on Kyrin, so she wouldn’t wake up until Alric decided what to do.
Two hours later, Alric and Trox walked into the temple. Finn and Azimeth were still sitting in Kyrin’s room, and Saith came out to greet them.
Alric smiled. “It’s okay, Saith. I have made a decision.”
Saith nodded and opened the door into Kyrin’s room. Alric and Trox stepped in, and Alric began collecting the blankets around Kyrin.
“May I ask what your decision was?” Finn asked, nervously watching him pack up Kyrin and her blankets. He knew the king wouldn’t kick Kyrin out of the dimension or even the city, for that matter. However, he didn’t know if Alric would keep Kyrin close, or if he would move her to the Lady’s chambers and try to forget about her.
“I’m moving her to our room. When she wakes up, I’m going to let her know my displeasure at her secret, and then I’m going to tell her just how excited I am to be a father.”
Finn smiled. “Good idea, sir.”
Azimeth took Kyrin’s flail and followed Alric out to a waiting carriage. He crawled in with Kyrin as she laid limply in his arms. Within just a few minutes, he was lying her down in the bed. He covered her with blankets after lightly touching the bulge in her stomach.
Trox smiled. “The noble bloodline is continued.”
Alric nodded. “It’s going to be a rough road from here.”
“I believe Sithias that she’s learning to trust you.”
“I want to be alone with her when she wakes up.”
Everyone in the room filed out, and Azimeth shut the door when only Alric and Kyrin were left.
Alric took a deep breath and then lightly ran his hand over her eyes. She started to stir almost immediately and frowned before opening her eyes and looking over at Alric.
“What happened?” she asked, flexing her hand. She couldn’t remember why she was in bed again and why her arm was sore.
“Valhara was attacked by gryphons, and you came to help.”
“Oh, that’s right. One fell on me. I couldn’t breathe.”
“The priests helped you, and the babies are fine.”
Kyrin’s eyes grew wide and she sat up. “You know?”
“Yes”
She couldn’t breathe, and she looked around the room, searching for something to help her. “You know?”
“Kyrin, I’m happy about it,” Alric said, smiling. “I’m upset you didn’t tell me, and we’ll talk about that later, but I’m very happy that I’m going to be a father. I wish you would have told me instead of keeping that to yourself.”
Kyrin’s back was still stiff, but she managed to swing her legs out of bed. “I’ll get my things.”
“You aren’t listening to me,” Alric said, putting a hand on her leg to stop her from standing. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“If you’re worried you won’t get the baby, don’t be. I can stay in Valhara, and then you can have it.”
“Listen to me,” Alric said. He lifted her chin slightly so she was looking at him. “You’re wrong. I’m going to be a father, and I’m happy about it. I’m going to announce to the kingdom, as soon as I get back, that there are two babies on the way. Another set of noble twins. You’re going to be there with me when I announce it.”
“In front of others?!”
“Yes”
She nodded. “I have a tunic for that.”
“No, Dison is making you a dress and your tummy is going to show.”
“I can’t.”
“You can. You’re going to see that no one is going to look down on you or be shocked that you’re out in public. They’ll be ecstatic that there are more nobles on the way.”
“Please don’t punish me this way.”
“It’s not a punishment. It’s a way that I can show you that you’re wrong about Valhara.”
“They’ll yell at me.”
“They won’t. I swear.”
She nodded. “They will. I’ve seen women stoned for this. You can’t make me do it.”
“I can and I am. You’re going to go and see that my dimension is different. Now, they’re bringing you up some dinner, and then you need to get some rest.”
Kyrin grabbed her robe and pulled it on, then tied it loosely when someone knocked on the door. She checked the mirror to make sure the robe concealed her secret before going to get her dinner.
The servant set it on the table, smiled broadly at her, and then bowed and left. She watched him, confused, and finally sat down to eat.
“See,” Alric said, smiling.
“See what?” she asked, taking a small bite. Even though she was constantly
hungry, she didn’t think Alric needed to see her eating a lot.
“He knows, and he didn’t care.”
“That servant? He doesn’t know.”
“He does too. I think word got out.”
She sighed and put her fork down. “Great.”
Alric stood up and joined her at the table. “He didn’t act shocked or offended to see you. Now eat.”
“I don’t feel like eating now.”
“You have to eat.”
“Why?”
He thought for a moment. “I never thought that you don’t know how to be pregnant.”
“What does that mean?” she asked.
“It means you have to eat. You have to eat more. You can’t go fighting, or… I think I’ll arrange for Saith to have a talk with you.”
“I don’t like Saith.”
“I know, but he’ll be the best. I’ve asked him to oversee the entire pregnancy.”
This news made Kyrin’s day get even worse. She figured she’d rather act as falling gryphon cushions than to have Saith anywhere near her.
“Eat, please,” Alric said, and held her fork out.
Kyrin took the fork angrily and started to eat. She wouldn’t admit it, but she was starving.
Alric sat back. “I’m surprised you aren’t eating more. I’ll ask Saith about that too, because you should be eating a lot more with twins.”
“You could have told me you are a twin,” Kyrin said, still irritated.
“I thought you knew. I’m sorry.”
“Creteloc said I could go a lot longer without showing unless you were a twin.”
“I’m glad I know. I can’t believe you’ve hidden this for so long. How far along are you?”
She thought about that. “I’m not sure exactly when to start timing.”
“Oh, well, Saith will help you with that too.”
“Use Dewell.”
“Saith is better.”
“Did he help your mom?” she asked, looking over at him. Even the thought of her dying after childbirth made her heart pound.
“No, Saith wasn’t around when my mom died.”
“You didn’t tell me she died in childbirth either.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “I’m just saying that I’m not the only one with secrets.”
“It wasn’t a secret,” Alric told her. “It’s such common knowledge that I didn’t think about telling you.”
Kyrin sat back when her dinner was gone and looked around the room. “I guess I’d better go to bed.”
“Me too. I have to make that trip to Minathim tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“Because when you disappeared from the caravan, we canceled it, and I still need to talk to them.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“About three weeks. I’m leaving Saith here with you.”
“Peachy”
Alric smiled. “Do you want me to leave Finn?”
“No, you take Finn. I’m fine here.”
Alric nodded and then stood up and stripped before getting into bed. Kyrin watched him and her heart sunk. She knew what she needed to do and swallowed hard before standing up and heading for the door.
“I thought you were coming to bed,” Alric said.
She put her hand on the doorknob but didn’t turn it. “It’s okay.”
“What’s okay?”
“I just want you to know that I understand.”
Alric sat up. “Understand what?”
Kyrin opened the door and saw Azimeth waiting for her with a smile. She opened the door and motioned Azimeth inside.
Azimeth saw the king in bed and blushed, turning away from him. “Did you need me, Lady Kyrin?”
“It’s time to do your job,” Kyrin said softly.
“So what did you need?”
Kyrin took her arm and led her over to the bed. When Azimeth still looked confused, Kyrin pushed her to sit on the bed and then ran out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
Alric and Azimeth sat in awkward silence for a few minutes, not sure exactly what was going on.
“Um, is she coming back, sir?” Azimeth asked, extremely uncomfortable about being so near to the naked king.
“I thought she’d be right back,” Alric said, still clutching the covers up to his chest.
Another couple of minutes passed before Azimeth sighed. “This isn’t proper.”
“No, it’s not. You may go.” The words had barely left Alric’s mouth before Azimeth ran out the door.
Alric laid back in bed and waited for Kyrin until he fell asleep. He woke up with the morning sun and saw that he was still alone in bed. After a bath and dressing quickly, he ran down to see if she was in the Lady’s quarters.
Alric opened the door quietly and saw Kyrin and the nicker curled up on the bed. He picked up the nicker and put him on the floor before sitting down next to her.
“Kyrin?” he said softly, and touched her arm.
She rolled over and looked at him but didn’t speak. All night, the images of Azimeth and Alric together had swam through her mind and made her heart ache.
“Why are you sleeping in here?” he asked her.
“You want me up in your bed?”
“Our bed, of course.”
She sighed. “I can’t do it.”
“Why not?” Alric looked toward the door when the trumpets blared that the caravan to the elves was about to leave. “We’ll talk about this when we get back. Saith wants to see you early next week. Do it for me, okay?”
She nodded and then rolled over and went back to sleep. Several hours later, she got up and then stretched and looked around the stark Lady’s room. Since she moved out, the furniture was put back how they wanted it, and it was open and airy again. It seemed empty though, and a cold hand gripped at her heart. She didn’t know how to face Azimeth this morning but figured she didn’t have a choice.
Starving, Kyrin first decided to head down to breakfast, and then consider how to get Saith out of the way, as promised. She just hoped he didn’t treat her like a sick child.