Her arms were folded, and her hip jutted out, as she stared at him with her wide brown eyes. Her long dark hair was tied in a loose braid as she wore a cream colored gown that fit loosely around her body.

“Why are you in the King’s chamber?” Lady Annika Jenoure’s tone was deceptively innocent and unassuming.

“I… Had a task given to me by her majesty the Queen.” Fin explained as his traitorous cheeks burned red.

“I see…” Annika continued staring up at him calculatingly. “You were told to randomly deliver a carpet to his majesty’s chambers?” She pondered allowed.

How had she known? Unless she had heard him shouting his intentions while coming up the stairwell…

Drat.

Fin knew she was tormenting him, and enjoying every second of it.

“That is exactly what I was doing. You may ask her majesty.” He knew the Queen would collaborate his story.

Annika didn’t seem phased by his confidence.

“I will. Shall we go speak with her together?” She gestured towards the vacant hallway casually.

“Why are you here?” Fin challenged suddenly, only mildly surprised when despite the query she smiled.

“Why, I heard the crash of the candelabra and Ruby’s shouts.” She laughed. Not her actual laugh- as Fin had learned. The pretty laugh she used when hiding things.

“My chambers are at the end of the hallway after all.” She pointed out casually.

Fin sighed, feigning exasperation.

“She should still be in the kitchens. We can go together-” Fin was abruptly interrupted as a door further down the hallway opened, and Annika responded by covering his mouth and rushing them both into the King’s chamber, and closing the door behind her using her heel.

Fin stared down at the woman whose face had turned calm, yet serious. There wasn’t an ounce of emotion as she very clearly listened to the sounds of the corridor while at the same time studying the chamber. She noted the King’s sleeping form, and the tapestry that was under him, and remained still as her confusion set in.

While Annika pondered the mysterious sight, she failed to see Fin assessing her while in close proximity.

Her hand was warm over his mouth, and as he stared down at her, found he didn’t resist the closeness even a little. The rest of the world had gone completely quiet to him as he watched her think, while inadvertently…

Protecting him? From Ruby?

After a moment, Annika realized his eyes were on her. She slowly turned to stare up into the pale blue gold-flecked eyes that didn’t seem alarmed or outraged at her show of force.

Annika kept her hand over his mouth, when suddenly the cook moved forward, backing her into the closed door while gazing down at her. A mysterious tenacious force he couldn’t explain, and felt overpowered by, pulled at Fin. He was leaning close to her, and had her fully shielded as his right palm braced against the door above her head.

The witch found himself somehow wishing the Lady would use her other hand to pull him closer…

Slowly, Annika lowered her hand from his mouth, and stared up into his eyes.

The intensity of the look they shared over several moments, was interrupted however by another knock on the very door the leaned against.

“Your majesty, I just heard your door open! Is everything alright?” Ruby’s voice pierced the air, and Fin saw the resolution on Annika’s face at hearing it, as though being reminded of their reality.

“MMMNSNSNjhSn Fine!” The lazy reply from the King whom was miraculously roused by the sound was enough. Thankfully.

“My apologies your majesty!”

Both Fin and Annika let out quiet breaths, before tensing once again at the sight of one another. After a few more moments of nervous silence, the witch dared to speak again.

“Why’d you help me?” He demanded, his voice barely above a whisper.

For some reason, Lady Jenoure couldn’t find any words.

“I…I…”

Without understanding why, Fin felt his balance become skewed, and as a result, he rested his forearm on the door, which only brought himself closer to Annika.

A weighted gaze locked them into stillness, and an undeniable electricity running through every millimeter of their bodies consumed their minds.

“Sorry, I… it was a lot of work bringing the King up.” Fin pushed away from the door and the Lady, feeling ashamed that he had invaded her space and had thoughts that were far from innocent.

“Don’t be. You probably haven’t even recovered from the festival.” Annika sported a small blush in her cheeks as she glanced away from the cook momentarily before masking her expression.

“Why did you have to bring the King up?”

“He… caught a small flu. I happened to be nearby. We should leave him to rest.” Fin reached for the handle, but Annika’s hand snaked out and gently grasped his arm.

“We need to wait until Ruby is gone.” She whispered hastily.

Fin slowly turned his head to stare at the Lady. Her grasp was hot to the touch, the scent of the foreign spices heavy around her.

The witch knew he was feeling… far more than was normal towards the woman.

Taking several steps back, he nodded silently in agreement to her statement before turning to look out one of the windows to the chamber.

Annika stared at his back, wondering why in the world she felt disappointed that he wasn’t still inches from her body.

“So does the King have the flu, or is it the ale making him sick?”

Fin whirled around to stare at her, and she tapped her nose with a small knowing smile. He sighed in defeat.

“I don’t know. He just kept… drinking. He ate a lot, but drank more.” Fin’s voice tightened, the worry evident.

Annika glanced at the ruler’s slackened face as he snored, oblivious to the world around him.

“His country faces war. His wife has miscarried several times and even had two stillborns… but is once again pregnant. I imagine he has been storing up all of his stress.”

Fin’s face tightened before glancing at the King whom struck deep fear in him. Not because he was an unfair or especially cruel… but because if a good, intelligent man deemed Fin unworthy and monstrous, he was inclined to give the opinion some weight.

The witch rubbed his neck out of habit, and turned to gaze out the chamber windows, which overlooked the long road that lead towards the city of Austice and the Alcide Sea which sparkled under the sun in the distance.

“Did your brother respect your wishes to remain here in Daxaria?” He asked after a moment.

“You assume that is what I want?”

Fin’s head snapped around to stare at the Lady whom looked deceptively angelic in her cream colored dress.

“My apologies my Lady.” Fin gave a small bow and turned back towards the window.

He had been foolish to think he knew anything of her wishes, or of the intricacies of court.

“I do not want to leave, and I won’t. I merely need time to finalize my plan to stay.” Annika’s soft yet determined voice met his back, but the cook did not turn around.

He felt a swell of hope that he promptly squashed.

What was wrong with him?

She was several levels of nobility above him, and the most he could honestly hope for was a passionate affair that would leave him with nothing- or the knowledge that some other man was raising his kin.

“I wish you success in your endeavors.” Fin announced in a professional tone as he turned abruptly to the door, stepping past the Lady Jenoure, and exited hastily, no longer caring if he were caught by Ruby.

Fortunately, he managed to breeze through the corridor to the servant stairwell without interruption, and as he began descending the stairs found himself picking up speed.

Fin needed distance from the strange draw he was feeling towards the Viscountess.

‘Whatever this is, it’s strong, surprising, and a pain in the ass.’

***

Norman awoke with a piercing headache that made him moan while clutching his overheated forehead.

“Serves you right.” Ainsley’s tight voice made his eyes open wide, and immediately wince at the effort.

“What… What happened?” His mind attempted to connect memories, but found they were as foggy and thick as the worst of bogs. The feeling of slogging through hazy recollections only made the nausea the King felt double.

“You went to talk to the cook, and were intoxicated by mid-afternoon.” The Queen reminded coolly from her place at the foot of the bed, her arms folded across her chest.

Norman clutched his aching head.

“Gods Ainsley… I feel as though I’m falling apart.”

The woman immediately softened.

Her husband never broke down.

“There is war coming, and we have a baby on the way, but I don’t want you to stress…” The King announced while he rubbed his hands over his face in an uncharacteristic show of weariness.

“We have handled worse.” Ainsley announced regally.

“We have?”

The Queen walked over to her husband, reached for his hand, and interlaced her fingers with his as she seated herself beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Out of twelve pregnancies, I have had only one successful child over the past fifteen years.” She began her voice wavering, yet firm. “We have seen droughts, rebels, and even a group attempt to kidnap our son. We will rise to the threats, and we will crush them. The Gods have prepared us for these trials.” She turned her bright eyes up to her husband, and as the evidence of her pregnancy showed in her rounded belly, the evidence of her conviction blazed in her eyes.

Norman felt like vomiting and collapsing back into his pillows, but seeing his wife so fired up, made those nasty little side effects shrink away to be slightly more tolerable.

“Ainsley, we don’t know how quickly they’ve drafted soldiers. Annika hasn’t been home in two years at least. Her knowledge of their military is most likely not up-to-date, and she still hasn’t heard from-”

“She will get us the information. Of that, I have no doubt.” The Queen interrupted giving his hand a small squeeze.

“What did the diplomat from Zinfera have to say?”

“Jiho? He said his majesty is open to assisting us should a war occur, but would want to build good ties with us ahead of time.”

“You mean increase their trades?”

“Trades and marriage.” The King lamented while reaching for the goblet of water that had been placed on the small bedside table. “He wants us to increase the amount Zinfera merchants are able to sell on Daxarian land to thirty percent, and a marriage to either Duchess Iona’s daughter, Marigold, or… Annika.”

The Queen tensed, saying nothing.

The King sighed and immediately kissed the top of her head.

“I know you and Annika have become quite close, however if she marries one of the chosen partners for her from Zinfera, there is a possibility that they could spend part of their time here, and the rest there to maintain a strong relationship. I’m sure the Zinferan King would actually prefer to have one of his own people here to be honest.” Norman managed to make his tone hopeful, but even so, he felt his wife’s tears falling as he held her, and immediately chastised himself.

“Norman, don’t worry about this I… I genuinely cannot help it. This pregnancy is making me a bit more emotional is all, please don’t worry.” She reached up and hugged him, but could feel how reticent he was to be embraced.

“So… how is it you got as drunk as Hilda?” The Queen tried teasing as she straightened her posture and hastily wiped away her tears.

The King smiled softly. Hilda was the infamous city drunk in Austice. She could drink anyone under the table, and it was rumored that no one had seen her sober for years. Despite maintaining a slovenly appearance, the elder never seemed to be short of coin, so she was never really deemed a hazard aside from her angry rants at times, and instead was more so thought of as a local legend.

“The cook showed me this new recipe… I have never tried anything like it before, and-”

“You mean the beef and kimchi? Oh I know! Norman I could eat it!” His wife’s eyes were wide and her excited smile warmed the King’s heart.

Norman’s eyes crinkled as he grinned at his wife’s face.

“At least that is one less worry to manage. I was troubled how weak she was becoming without food…”

He gently brushed his thumb across her forehead before speaking.

“Today in the kitchen… there was something about the food, not being surrounded by hundreds of nobles, not hearing people whisper about war, or seeing how scared and tense people are…” He looked down at the floor ashamed of himself. “I haven’t felt good or like I could truly relax for longer than I can recall, and I can’t explain how it… How I-”

The King stopped.

In the kitchen, he had felt as though he were in a safe space to put aside his burdens. Had felt warm, well fed, free to be himself, and able to just let go of his anxieties and responsibilities for one afternoon. He was ashamed of getting drunk in the middle of the day, but he couldn’t deny he got the distinct feeling that he had become slightly more rejuvenated, and peaceful as a result.

'Was it a spell?'

The monarch wondered silently to himself, but as he stared into Ainsley’s understanding face, decided he would think about it later, for now he just wanted to lay in bed with his wife, and sleep until the next morning.

***

The hooded figure stood in the thick of the forest atop their mount; dusk had settled around them casting shadows in the thick undergrowth, and the squeaks and snaps of the bats awaking for their hunt blended in with the owl calls.

At long last, the sound of another rider stealthily approaching made the horse’s ears twitch, and the cloak figure immediately turned their head towards the sound.

“They say you never see a dragon at night.” The slender man atop the black stallion called out softly.

“Its fire would burn away the night, leaving the sun to shine every hour.” The cloaked figure replied, while sidling up to the visitor.

“How have you been?” The man atop the horse wore simple clothes befitting a middle class peasant. A leather vest protected his back, a dark burgundy shirt and black pants made him slip easily into the shadows along with his short black hair.

“The Earl was here.” The figure ignored the question.

“I heard… did he inform you about the new Chief of Military?”

“He did. The threat was very thinly veiled.”

“You know how Phillip is.” The man visibly shuddered.

“A fire witch then? What about their military numbers?” The dragon demanded.

“Yes, a fire witch. A powerful one at that… he agreed to help win the war and brought with him other powerful witches to increase the military power. In exchange, he wants the Coven of Wittica and Troivack’s Coven of Aguas all under his leadership.”

The cloaked figure stilled for a long time.

“Do the Covens know?”

“I doubt Wittica is aware, but it sounds as though Aguas may already be willing to agree to the new leadership of the fire witch if he succeeds in conquering this country and its Coven.”

“How many troops?”

“At least fifty thousand.”

“They have fifty thousand soldiers already mobilized?!”

“This has been in the works for more than a year.”

The hidden rider swore colorfully.

“On what grounds do they wish to wage war?”

“They want to monopolize the fertile land and fresh water sources. They’ve depleted their soils due to the King’s decision to tax the farmers higher, and as a result they haven’t been able to properly care for their lands.”

“So they aren’t even bothering to hide behind some made up grievance to lay claim? I suppose Troivack has never been known for its subtlety.”

“Oh they are going to try to hide it behind something inconsequential.”

The hooded figure turned slowly to better face the young man.

“Charles,” The figure’s soft voice called over to the spy, making him wince.

“The… The marriage. They want the late Vicount’s wealth… King Matthias and Earl Piereva are angry that the Viscountess has amassed so much wealth that remains solely under her control. They wish to find a means to seize these funds so that they can do what they see fit with it.” The spy looked down at the pommel of his saddle looking deeply uncomfortable.

“Charles, you don’t need to soften the news by referring to me as though the Viscountess is someone else.” Slowly, the hood lowered, and Annika Jenoure stared at her brother with a mix of pity and love.

She reached out, and touched his arm, making his brown eyes snap up to hers.

“I’ll figure something out, don’t worry about me. Take care of your wife and my niece.” Annika reached into her satchel and drew out a hefty bag of gold coins.

Charles accepted the funds without being able to look in her face. Once they were stowed away, his hands kept gripping the reins then relaxing repeatedly. A sure sign that he was working up the courage to say something.

“Don’t come home. Whatever you do, don’t let Phillip take you back. It’s become worse since he inherited the title. Dad at least knew moderation, but Phillip is even more hot-headed, and wants more of everything. King Matthias keeps giving him more and more power… but I get the idea that… never mind. It’s stupid. ” Charles shook his head chastising himself.

“Haven’t I told you that the family stupidity went to John? Then it’s Phillip, then you.”

A shy smile spread on his face. Despite being almost two years older than Annika, Charles often felt like the younger brother to her.

“I was just thinking… if in the unlikely event that Daxaria wins,” Annika cleared her throat loudly.

“Sorry- the odds really don’t seem great.” Charles looked sheepish, but made an effort to continue regardless. “If I were the King… I could use Phillip as a scapegoat for most of the shady plans. If Troivack wins, his majesty just needs to grant him a large plot of Daxarian land, and can be rid of him that way.”

“Assuming of course that Phillip doesn’t turn around and try to become King.”

“Also likely, however betrayal has always been expected. I’m sure his majesty has a plan for that inevitability.”

Annika nodded. She did not miss the constant backstabbing of the Troivackian court, or the underhanded deals, and she’d be damned if she allowed that kind of group taint Daxaria.

“Thank you Charles. I will ask for your help only once more before the war. Please… I know it is a great risk, but please find out how many witches are fighting with the Troivackian army, and what their capabilities are. If you can find out when they intend to attack, I will ensure regardless of any involvement you have in the war that you become a Daxarian, safe from the Troivackian court.”

Her brother looked petrified, but after a large gulp, nodded his head.

“Until next time.” Annika offered her hand, and he shook it.

No one in Troivack were ‘huggers’.

Annika turned her steed to return back to the castle, and rode silently while deep in thought.

Once through the final row of trees, she gazed up at her home with the backdrop of billions of glittering stars making it appear magical.

“You only need to look up to see the best proof of endless possibilities.”

Hank’s voice rang out in her mind.

He had loved the stars, and would tell her the stories of the constellations as they laid in their chamber preparing for sleep. Listening to his soft voice describe the battles between angels and demons, the tricks of the fey folk, the lovers…

One of Annika’s greatest regrets was that she never bore him a child he could tell the legends of wonder to. She wished someone could have heard his tales and held them with the innocence and wholesomeness they deserved, instead of being wasted on her own cold heart that prior to him, hadn’t really loved anyone.