Ainsley watched as her husband finished buttoning his tunic up to his throat before turning towards the fine velvet blue coat that had been laid out for him. She could see the nervousness in his slight frown and distracted gaze as she continued cradling their sleeping daughter in her arms.

“I have a question I have been wanting to ask you for a while now, and… I need to ask it now before I lose you completely to the stress of having Troivackia’s Chief of Military under our roof.”

Norman turned to face his wife, and it was clear that pulling himself from his many thoughts was difficult enough.

“Why is it that you chose to send Finlay Ashowan to investigate the whereabouts of the Troivackian soldiers instead of one of your Knights or a mercenary? He isn’t a trained soldier, and off the castle grounds he has no magic.”

Surprisingly, a glimmer of good humor spread to the King’s eyes, and his shoulders relaxed.

“I did have other Knights searching, but Austice is a military city- all the soldiers are known, and it would take me too long to find a trustworthy mercenary after Lady Jenoure had to send hers away. Fin had asked me for a bit of a rest, and so… I thought… might as well see what he finds. Afterall, things seem to turn out… well if he is involved.”

The incredulous eyebrow raise his wife gave him urged Norman to expound on his answer.

“There is a lot of chaos before the beneficial results, but… somehow even those events wind up as good stories in the end. For example never in my life did I think I would have a Royal Secret pertaining to ten fountains located all over the grounds.”

Even Ainsley couldn’t suppress a small snort at the memory.

“Well… there is another reason I had as well.”

The Queen tilted her head with interest.

“Finlay can protect the castle grounds because they are his home, but what if… what if I gave him an even bigger radius to think of as ‘home’? I wondered if he spent more time out in Austice, if perhaps he could feel that way about the whole city...”

A glint of conniving interest sparked in the Queen’s eyes. She too, had been wondering about such a thing.

“Have you asked Mr. Ashowan about this?”

“I’ve avoided it as there was always so much to think about, and he has until recently been incredibly private about his magic… but… it is starting to feel more urgent that I ask him. Once his father leaves, I will broach the subject.”

Ainsley nodded somberly, but as she studied her husband’s face, a sly smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “I’m beginning to realize the amount you’ve kept to yourself during my final months of pregnancy with Lina.”

Norman closed his eyes with a small wince and strained smile. “Sorry, love.”

“I understand why, I’m not upset. To be perfectly honest though, sometimes I need a distraction from other troubles, so in the future… don’t carry your burdens alone. Remember, I’m the one who got you into this whole mess of being King,” she reminded playfully. “If it were up to you, we’d be fat and lazy on your homelands blissfully ignorant of the Kingdom’s plights.”

Norman laughed. The stress his position brought him had molded deep worry lines in his face, he at times lost sleep, and other times loathed the moments he lost with his son…

But, Ainsley always reminded him it was worth it.

They had created a Kingdom together that while not without its issues, was built on trust, loyalty, and fairness. It was still a mess- implementing great changes tended to take many years of hard work, but Norman could honestly say it was better than it had been when he’d first been crowned.

“As much as I love to admire you donning your new coat, go welcome that soiled loincloth known as Aidan Helmer, and tell me all about him.” Ainsley smiled ruthlessly, and Norman grinned back.

The truth was over the years, many people forgot that when Ainsley wasn’t wracked with grief or hormones… she was an incredibly sharp, and capable woman…

The birth of their daughter, and the subsequent consequence of the Queen no longer being able to have children meant that the many nobles and members of the Kingdom were in for a surprise in the coming weeks… one that Norman was more than a little excited for.

*

Aidan strode into the castle’s entrance already displeased.

The King hadn’t been waiting nervously on the steps like he should’ve been, and they had been prepared for his arrival.

‘Either my wife or son warned the King of my methods… how… annoying.’

Footmen carried his trunks, and maids that scurried by and recoiled from his charcoal gaze.

‘Strange. Most women find me alluring… Even as an enemy representative this seems strange…’

A woman stepped forward then. Plump, plain, but her gaze was direct and her spine straight.

“We are pleased to receive you, Mr. Helmer. I am Head of Housekeeping, Ruby. His Majesty is awaiting you in the throne room,” Ruby announced while studying him with a keen interest. It was remarkable how much he looked like Finlay…

Aidan’s slitted gaze surveyed the woman with deeper displeasure. She was all too entitled for her role. It was supposed to be the King himself that was to greet a foreign diplomat! This welcome suggested that the ruler of Daxaria believed himself to be in a far superior position than he was.

Without acknowledging the woman called ‘Ruby,’ Aidan continued in the direction she had gestured, assuming that footment would appear to guide him in the proper direction.

Unlike the Troivackain castle, this one had clearly not been built for its royalty to reside in throughout the year. Austice was a military city, and so when the King of Daxaria had declared that it would be his main residence five years prior, it sent many interesting messages out to his citizens, as well as his foes.

The building itself had smaller rooms, narrow passageways, and a strange layout that Aidan didn’t like one bit.

He kept these thoughts to himself however, as he strode down a western corridor that appeared to be lined with guards and serving staff.

As he walked, he noticed several interesting things.

For one, the stones beneath his feet were barely worn.

Did they not have people in the throne room that often?

Where would he deliver his decrees upon his people?

For another thing, not a single member of nobility had come to exchange pleasantries with him. The lackadaisical handling of hospitality further irritated the fire witch.

Once in front of the throne room doors, Aidan raised an eyebrow at the guards standing at the ready.

The men stared through him as though he weren’t there, but opened the doors regardless.

“Presenting, Mr. Aidan Helmer, Chief of Military of Troivackia.”

Instead of a booming imperial voice, Aidan’s gaze cut to a man with sandy brown hair and clear blue eyes who looked… irritated. When they locked eyes, the Daxarian notably stiffened, then muttered something to himself that Aidan couldn’t hear, and slowly walked up towards the throne… to stand behind the King.

The throne room was… small.

Perhaps only thirty nobles were present and standing comfortably. While the King’s golden ornate chair was regal and imposing, it somehow felt as though the Chief of Troivackia Military's audience with the monarch was purposefully made as insulting as possible.

Aidan bowed, but not to the proper depth, and when he straightened he fixed the King with his dark eyes and waited. He was supposed to speak and thank the royal for welcoming him to his Kingdom. Instead he stood silently.

No one said anything, or dared to even breathe.

‘You began the nature of this insult,’ Aidan hissed in his mind.

“I see you have arrived safely, Mr. Helmer.” Norman’s hazel eyes seemed to gleam dangerously, as though he knew exactly what the witch in front of him was thinking.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. It is unfortunate that we must formally meet under these circumstances.”

“Quite so. Lord Piereva is being kept in a secure location in Austice. Once we agree on a proper punishment, I’m sure you will be eager to return to your home.”

“While Troivackia is my current home, I must say it is quite wonderful to have returned back to the shores that raised me.”

There was a ripple of tension that moved through the room.

“Head of Housekeeping, Ruby, will show you to your quarters. We will see you at the dining hour.”

Aidan bowed again and turned towards the doors, the nobility all shared meaningful looks once he passed them, as they all formed opinions that they felt would explode from their mouths at any given moment.

“Oh, pardon me, Your Majesty, but is my wife, Katelyn Ashowan, still under your employ at this time?” Aidan turned around, and smiled at the King.

The nobles were unable to contain themselves as they all burst out in surprised whispers.

Norman didn’t bat an eye however.

“It is not your place to question which Physician serves the Daxarian monarchy. I hope you do not forget yourself while visiting us, Mr. Helmer. Lord Piereva created enough of a mess already, I’d hate to discover you have come with similar intentions.”

Infuriatingly, Aidan didn’t respond to the chastisement as Norman had wished him to.

Instead, the fire witch smiled. “My apologies, Your Highness, I just am eager to see my wife and son. I’m sure you can understand my impatience.”

Then with another bow, Aidan turned and left the room.

Norman’s stomach churned as everyone around him burst into worried whispers. Letting out a long sigh, he summoned Mr. Howard’s presence to his left.

“Keep Mrs. Ashowan’s whereabouts hidden at all costs until the time is right. Inform the staff that no one is allowed to breathe a word about her or Fin with him here.”

*

Aidan entered the banquet hall and felt his earlier judgment of the castle shift. It was an appropriately large room, and there were a significant number of nobles that had descended in their finery for the meal.

The King sat waiting at his table with his chalice clutched in hand as he watched the fire witch draw nearer.

“Good evening, Your Majesty.” Aidan bowed.

“Good evening, Mr. Helmer. My assistant, Mr. Howard, will show you to your place.”

Aidan followed the same man who had first introduced him to the King, and guided him to a seat only two nobles down from Norman himself.

The room had fallen quiet as this happened, but still were murmuring to their friends and spouses about the visitors. The men Aidan had brought with him were all lowly soldiers… he had left his assistant on the ship. A most strange decision…

As the servants began to file into the hall carrying dishes that smelled heavenly, everyone turned their attention to the meal.

Exclamations echoed throughout the room.

“He’s back!”

“Oh, thank the Gods…”

“Rolph, are you weeping?!”

Aidan raised an eyebrow curiously. Who were they all talking about being back?

Just then a lone bowl was set in front of him, making him wrinkle his nose and scowl.

“What is this?” Aidan demanded while gesturing to the other bowls of soup that had been laid out that glowed with the enticing warmth of potatoes and butter, where as his resembled a strange gray seafood stew…

“Our cook prepared this especially for you,” the serving wench who had laid the plate down squeaked nervously.

‘What is that son of mine trying to pull…’

Waving the lass away, Aidan snatched up his spoon, and lifted the food towards his mouth, when the scent reached his nose. He froze, his face draining of color as he then slowly lowered the spoon, still full, back down to the bowl.

“Is something amiss?” Norman asked, his tone sharp.

Aidan smiled charmingly. “Not at all, sire. I think I may forgo this course for tonight is all.”

Norman’s eyes narrowed before he dropped his gaze to the bowl and realized Fin had served his father something different than everyone else…

‘Still holding grudges, are we?’ Aidan thought to himself, his smile growing brighter as he closed his eyes and thought back to the last day he saw his son.

He had come home… a particular fish stew had been prepared… and shortly thereafter, the boy who had been a snivelling lump clinging to his mother’s skirts had exploded with power.

Aidan was quiet through the rest of the meal, however as the final dessert vestiges were removed from the tables, he turned to the King, a dark glimmer in his eyes.

“Your Highness, this food far exceeds my wildest expectations. I would be deeply appreciative if you might summon the cook so that I may give him my praise.”

For some strange reason, multiple men at the table stiffened at the request. One was an elderly man with a ridiculous name who was infamous for being a touch mad. The King’s assistant had a far off look in his eye as though a great doom awaited him. The Captain had hesitated for a moment, and even the disgusting mage had shown some kind of reaction.

Aidan waited. He knew such a kind request would be too difficult to publicly refute without being the epitome of rude.

“Very well, we will summon Mr. Ashowan.” With a nod, the King sent the Head of Housekeeping scurrying from the room, and a strange wave of excitement fluttered through the noblewomen.

Sitting back in his chair as they all waited for several long moments, Aidan swirled the contents in his goblet around.

“Our cook is a busy man, so we will not keep him long,” the King warned with an obvious edge in his voice.

Aidan shot him a sly smile. ‘Been rubbing elbows with nobility lately, my son?’

“Of course, Your Highness.”

The room suddenly quieted, and without looking, the fire witch could hear the long steady strides drawing closer to the table.

“You called for me, Your Majesty?”

Lifting his chin, Aidan laid eyes on his fully grown son for the first time in twenty years, and before the King could utter a word, he burst out laughing.

He was perfect.