Fin’s face hardened for the briefest of moments before he let out a small sigh and then donned a sad smile.

“I’m holding on to it for someone,” he replied wearily to his father’s question regarding the band he wore on a chain around his neck, as he began scraping the cabbage into one of the bowls nearby.

“So are you betrothed? Or is that a friend’s? I did hear that you are close with one of the Zinferan representatives… it’s gold from what I was told by the crew on board with us, so it can’t be yours,” Aidan mentioned casually, a glint of triumph in his black eyes.

“Something like that,” the redhead answered vaguely as he began tossing the cabbage with the vinegar, averting his eyes from the Chief of Military’s appraising stare.

“Or...” Aidan chuckled to himself “Could it be the rumors true that you’re in a homosexual relationship with the King’s assistant?”

Fin wanted to smile…

It was too easy…

He could somehow hear Mr. Howard’s infuriated scream in his mind without any effort...

The redhead said nothing, and hid his face as he worked to stave off a smile.

Aidan stilled. “No… you… are you serious?”

Fin turned to face his father, his features schooled to the best of his ability. “What’s wrong with being gay?”

The Troivackian Chief of Military’s face paled. “You plan on taking a mistress to breed more witches at least don’t you?”

The cook didn’t hide his disgust at the comment. “Why in the world… would I do that?”

“Surely if he loves you, Mr. Howard must see how valuable a witch can be! I’m sure he would be understanding if you tried to-”

“Mr. Howard is not a patient man with me,” Fin cut off his father, and sincerely thought he was going to begin twitching from trying to stave off his laughter.

The cook was sticking to the truth as closely as possible... The King’s assistant would most likely commit a murder suicide if he ever heard the discussion…

“It’s just as well that I’ll be killing you… I don’t care what your preference is as long as you do your duty and carry on the line.” Aidan huffed while shaking his head incredulously.

“Ironic that you want to kill me with that outlook…” the cook pointed out glibly.

“I can just make another child… I’ve been too busy the past few years to give it much thought, but now I see it is more important than I realized.” Aidan waved his hand casually as though they were discussing concerns pertaining towards the speed grass grew.

“How wonderful. A younger sibling.” Fin found himself chuckling as he then moved on to the next cabbage head.

“Yes, well, my first child was more a practice round I suppose.”

“That makes sense, though, as your practice round, my advice is to not terrorize your next offspring.”

“I won’t need to if I succeed with a pure elemental witch from Troivack. They are far more advanced in terms of discipline than Daxaria witches and citizens,” Aidan replied unfeelingly.

Fin decided not to comment any further, and was saved having to physically bite down on his tongue when the soldier from earlier returned with the honey.

All in all, Fin had managed to keep his relationship with Annika hidden, and at the same time learned more about what his father was thinking… These were all good things.

Though none of that changed the small detail of his pending death.

*

Annika sat cradling the cup of tea in her hands with Katelyn on her left, and the rest of the kitchen aides waiting. The kitchen felt somehow empty without Fin, even though the aides had learned their lessons, and it was kept significantly cleaner than the last time he had left them. There was just a bit of magic missing that had nothing to do with brooms sweeping the room on their own, or buckets of floating water.

However, that was exactly what made their objective so important… and so they continued to bide their time in the silence…

After a few more drawn out moments, the faint thrum of endless talking reached their ears.

“-interesting how she didn’t like it when I pointed out how everyone experiences flatulence. You wouldn’t think that she would refuse my offer of creating a small breeze to clear the smell from the room!” Keith Lee opened the door to the kitchen with his father at his side who looked stuck between a laugh and a grimace at his son’s story.

“Oh my- hello, everyone! My father said that there was an issue that we needed to solve?” Keith looked around the kitchen smiling, which was when Hannah, with visible hesitancy stepped forward.

“Yes we… were hoping Keith you might provide the Knights and I… some… advice. We are considering opening a tavern one day, and seeing as you are knowledgeable about everything…”

The young soon-to-be mage clapped his hands in delight.

“But of course! Shall we all sit and have a cup of-”

“Well, Mrs. Ashowan and Lady Jenoure were wanting to discuss about the wedding with the Captain here, so we wondered if you’d like to go into Austice for a pint?” Hannah managed to smile and make it seem genuine, while mage Lee suddenly stood impeccably straight and turned glittering eyes to the two women seated at Fin’s cooking table.

“I normally do not imbibe, you know how great a responsibility it is to wield powerful magic and-”

Mage Lee clapped his son’s shoulder. “Nonsense, cutting loose every now and then is equally as beneficial as practicing a regimented life. Go with them and hear what dilemmas they are faced with.”

Kate shot Annika a quick look, her surprise over the bait working barely hidden…

Once the aides and Knights had left with Keith leading the way already citing off what he knew about running a tavern, mage Lee turned to the two women at the table with a cheery smile.

“Mrs. Ashowan, you must forgive my rudeness, I completely forgot to offer you congratulations regarding your engagement to our dear Captain! Are you thinking a fall wedding? It would certainly give you enough time to arrange the guest list- and by next year we should hopefully have found a way to end the war.”

Kate blinked in astonishment. She was reluctant to admit she hadn’t truly believed the Viscountess’ insistence that the man was obsessed with matrimony.

“Mage Lee, while I appreciate and thank you for your well-wishes, I’m afraid right now with us knowing so little about what is happening with my son…” Kate’s voice was disconnected and halting…

Annika reached over and clasped her hands comfortingly. “Sorry, mage Lee. We had only just started saying how nice it would be for Fin to be back safely, and how she could even plan with him what he thinks might be best for the engagement feast.”

“An engagement feast!?” The delight and excitement on the man’s face had the profound effect of startling Kate, but the mage didn’t seem to notice. “What a splendid thought! Have the feast before the war to bolster good tidings, then afterwards we can celebrate with the official ceremony. I think you’d look ravishing with a bouquet filled with yellow blooms. I can even speak with Kasim about cultivating enough to-”

“Mage Lee. Please… my daughter-in-law is distressed right now. We haven’t learned anything about Fin’s safety or what is happening aboard that ship with my blasted ex-husband and I…” Katelyn trailed off as tears welled up in her eyes.

Annika knew the woman was too pure-hearted to fake those tears, and so made sure to give the healer’s hands an extra squeeze.

“Well… surely the Captain told you both that Finlay is fine!” Mage Lee ventured nervously. He clearly was desperate to keep the topic on wedding plans.

“But that tells us nothing! He could’ve been forced to write that,” Annika pointed out while forcing her own tears to rise into her gaze to back the elder even further into a corner.

Realizing that the situation was quickly spiralling out of his control, mage Lee shifted the staff in his hands nervously.

“Lady Ashowan… Mrs. Ashowan I… I am sorry for seeming insensitive I-I know Fin… is fine! He managed to tip off his majesty about some important information and the rest we… I’m sure it was nothing!”

Annika allowed her tears to fall as she fixed the mage with her most heartbreaking expression.

“What was nothing? I’ve lost my brother this week, are you saying I’m about to lose my husband?”

“No, no! It was just… he mentioned that in a couple of days that the Troivackian men might think of him… poorly. He said it far more cryptically though…”

Annika’s gaze sharpened, and Kate went rigid.

“What was he talking about then… what’s happening in a few days? Isn’t he on the ship for the week?” Kate demanded desperately.

Mage Lee held up his hands in surrender.

“I do not know. We are waiting to see if he is able to reveal more in tomorrow’s letter.”

“Will… will the others even tell us if he is in danger?” Annika asked quietly. Truthfully it was taking every ounce of strength she had to keep the weak facade up. She wanted to spring into action immediately and shake the mage by his robes, but knew she had to be careful in case there was more to learn…

“I… imagine his majesty will let you know if the status changes! Now… erm… if you might excuse me. I best go see to some… work I have… to do.”

The Royal Mage of the court then darted from the kitchen as hastily as was possible without flat out running.

“I don’t like this…” Katelyn Ashowan’s eyes bore into the worn cooking table in front of her.

“Neither do I. If his highness isn’t sending a ship tonight there isn’t a hope in hell they will catch up barring a miracle… Unless we go with a smaller vessel, but then we have no military power to get him back.”

Annika stood up, and faced the castle door, a plan brewing in her mind, when her mother-in-law’s gentle touch on her forearm drew her attention back to the woman.

“Remember, everything you do now, you also risk the lives of your children.”

Annika felt as though a stone had been dropped in her stomach. She still hadn’t wrapped her head around her pregnancy, but to then also be inhibited in how she could protect Fin in order to take care of her offspring? Brats she’d never met, and really, who would continue to invade her body and life…?

She clenched her teeth, trying to think of words to say that could diffuse the healer’s worries while not betraying her anger…

“Not all women… feel maternal. Or find the changes easy to accept,” Kate began, there was a wisdom in her stare that stunned Annika to the point where she forgot her anger. “You have been quite successful in your life from what I’ve seen and heard, but… this is not something to ignore or dominate. It just happens, and you adapt the best you can.”

“Do… Do the women that… perhaps not feel… excited or… loving towards their children ever change?” The Viscountess’ heart was pounding. It had been a lingering fear in her mind since the moment she found out about her condition…

Was she going to be a good mother who loved her protegees?

“Some don’t. Some most likely shouldn’t have had their children if I’m being frank- and believe me, I pity those families fiercely, but in your case, I’m not worried.”

“Why not? Just because Fin is good with children doesn’t mean-”

“If you love Fin? You are going to adore your children. It might not be the second you hold them, or even in the first week or month but… you will. One day you will love them so much that you would risk treason just to save them.”

Annika smiled a little, but still wasn’t confident about what Kate was saying. Though she rested her hand on the woman’s shoulder, and with a firm tone that she hoped was convincing said:

“Well right now, I think the best thing for my children is ensuring their father returns in one piece.” Turning towards the castle door she knew despite her condition, she was going to do whatever she could to keep Fin alive. No matter the cost. Striding forward purposefully, Annika hoped that Clara wasn’t finding it too difficult keeping the Captain and Mr. Howard occupied. Afterall, odds were high that they were already aware who would be the most likely to blurt something out…

*

“Only five minutes, Viscountess. The Captain will kill me if he hears I let you speak to her.”

Nodding to the prison guard, but keeping her hood drawn, the Lady spoke. “I only want to confirm that my trade ships have had no business with her. Thank you for your understanding.”

The guard grunted, clearly not fully convinced, but had already tried to argue with her an hour before and it had been the longest, most headache-inducing hour of his life. He then led the noblewoman down the stone steps carrying a torch high above himself, keys jangling at his side as he proceeded into the dark corridor lined with cells.

As it turned out, they didn’t even need to walk very far, as the very first set of bars held the occupant Annika was interested in speaking with.

“We keep her close to the stairs in case she needs to call out for help. I don’t understand what ails her brother, but the man has more foam than ale in his head if you know what I mean.”

Annika didn’t know what he meant, but didn’t care to ask. All she was interested in was getting the information she needed.

After the guard lit the torch beside the cell, he pounded his fist on the bars, making several of the other prisoners groan and shout out over the ruckus.

“Oyy. You’ve got a visitor. Be nice to her and she might be nice to you,” the guard called out looking completely bored with the situation. He gave Annika a brief nod, then turned and headed back up the stairs to his office without a second look back. He didn’t need or want any more trouble from the Lady.

A shadow shifted in the cell after a moment, and the jangle of chains slowly drew closer until standing in the warm firelight, with dark bags under her eyes, and her hair looking an oily mess, stood Elizabeth Nonata.