***
“Sir,” the two knights said, bowing to Alric when he approached the door.
Alric nodded to them and then carried a tray of food into the bedroom. He stopped at the door when he saw the bed was empty. After setting the tray down, he walked toward the balcony door and then stopped.
Kyrin was standing on the balcony, looking out over the ocean. Her hair was down and blowing with the wind, and her light nightgown was pulled tightly against her body as the breeze tugged at it. He hadn’t seen her standing in a while, and the wind against her nightgown showed off her form and how much the babies had grown.
Alric grabbed a blanket and then walked out onto the balcony. He shivered as he put the blanket over her shoulders and lightly kissed her neck before covering it.
“I don’t know where I am,” Kyrin said softly. Her eyes never left the white topped waves as a storm brewed off of the island.
“You’re in a safe haven for Valhara.”
“Why?”
“Qualsax attacked, and this is the most secure location for us.”
“There’s no land.”
“Just the little beach.”
“Portals need land,” she said, still not moving.
“Were you leaving?”
“I don’t like being cut off. If we’re attacked, I have to find a portal, and none are out here.”
“We aren’t going to be attacked. Come back inside, please.”
Kyrin finally nodded and walked into the warmth of the room. She moved slowly and unsteadily. Although she’d been awake for two weeks, she didn’t seem to be getting any stronger, and it concerned Alric.
She sat down and looked at the hot soup in front of her.
Alric sat across from her. “I didn’t realize that you needed land to have portals.”
“They don’t appear in buildings.”
“Never?”
“No,” she said, and took a sip.
“I’m sorry then. I know you don’t like feeling trapped.”
“Can we go back?”
“Not yet. The Qualsax fled, but we want to wait to see if they regroup and attack.”
She slowly finished the soup and then sat back and looked toward the fire.
Alric took her hand. “Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“Trox is anxious to talk to you about the river Styx.”
Kyrin looked over at him. “The what?”
“Creteloc said your illness came from the dimension with the river Styx.”
“I don’t know that river.”
“Oh, it’s a legend here. Supposedly, the river Styx separates the living world from the world of the dead.”
“I didn’t know it had a name.”
“So you do know it?”
Kyrin nodded. The images of the priest of Kynneke being dragged down into the water full of bodies made her shiver.
“Are you cold?”
“It’s not the kind of place I want to talk about.”
“Well, I’d like you to avoid it. For a couple of weeks, we thought you were going to die.”
“I can’t avoid it. I have to cross it to get from Kyrstalis to Paragoy.”
“There’s not another way?”
She smiled weakly. “No, there’s not another way.”
Alric kissed her hand lightly.
Kyrin looked at him. “I stand corrected.”
“About what?”
“You”
“Dare I ask?”
“Even pregnant, you nursed me back to health. I know you could have left me to die if you really didn’t want me.”
“I’ve told you that’s not true.”
“Well, I didn’t fully believe you.”
“Will you ever?”
She shrugged.
“What?”
“You do need an heir.”
“Stop”
“It’s true.”
“That’s not why we worked so hard to keep you from dying.”
Kyrin nodded. “I know.”
“Then stop saying it.” Alric took her hand and led her over to the bed. “Now lie down and get some rest. I can still hear wheezing when you breathe, so you aren’t out of the woods yet.”
“Then we can go back?”
“Not until it’s safe. You don’t need a portal out of here.”
“And you said Creteloc is here?” Kyrin asked, lying down. She pulled the blankets up over her shoulders.
“Yes, but I wish she would leave.”
“I know you don’t like her, but I like having her here.”
“It’s the only reason I don’t have her removed.”
“Do you have a meeting?” Kyrin asked when Alric started for the door.
He shook his head and then climbed into bed and wrapped his arms tightly around her.