The council room had fallen into a silence after Annika’s anguished shout had rung out. It had been incredibly strange, her eyes had suddenly taken on a milky appearance and all color had drained from her face…

“Lady Ashowan, is everything alright?” the King asked while Ainsley immediately stood and walked over to her friend.

The Viscountess didn’t speak as she allowed her head to fall into her trembling hand for a brief moment as she blinked, and gradually had her vision return to her.

“Fin… I saw… I saw Fin,” she whispered, her voice hoarse as bile began to rise in the back of her throat.

“Gods you are burning up! Mr. Howard, please summon Mrs. Ashowan or Physician Durand immediately,” Ainsley ordered immediately as she rested her hand over her friend’s suddenly clammy brow.

The assistant wasted no time in rising and immediately stalking from the room to hastily summon the nearest healer.

“What was it you saw?” Mage Lee insisted though his voice was quiet.

“He… He was just staring at me, and then there was blood… Your Highness, how long did you say it’d take them to get there?” Annika’s panicked expression made Norman lean back in his chair with a frown. He had never seen her look fearful in all his time of knowing her…

“They assured me they’d remain less than an hour away at all times. I sent them my orders more than an hour ago by now… I’m sure they will intervene any moment now.”

The Lady nodded, but couldn’t fully regain her composure as her temperature seemed to be increasing even more. Reaching for the goblet of water on the table, Annika tried to stave off the sense of doom in her gut, as the men and Queen all exchanged grave expressions.

After several long moments, Katelyn Ashowan burst into the room with Physician Durand on her heels.

Both greeted the nobles with a hasty bow and curtsy before Katelyn was up and off again.

“Mrs. Ashowan, it is not necessary for you to take over all my patients you know!” The normally easy-going physician was shouting as the healer reached Annika’s side in record time.

“Come Viscountess, I think it is time you rested.” Katelyn gingerly rested a hand on the Lady’s back and gestured towards the doorway where Physician Durand stood with arms folded over his chest.

“Perhaps, Mrs. Ashowan, we allow my appointed physician attend to the Viscountess,” Norman interjected when he noticed the bags under the healer’s eyes.

Katelyn, however, didn’t seem to hear him as she regarded the Lady’s sweaty brow with a frown before resting her hand against her skin.

“Gods… Mr. Howard, there is a boy here in Austice I need you to summon immediately. Please tell him I need him. I will write down the directions for the messenger.” The healer was clearly in her physician’s mode as she straightened and moved immediately to the King’s side where she reached over to the stack of parchment beside the King without permission, and immediately picked up his quill to scrawl a hasty map.

“His name is Urick Jelani, his aunts will allow you to take him as long as you say I am the one to have summoned him.” Katelyn handed the note and map over to the assistant who was watching the woman command him with a vaguely impressed and hesitant expression.

“What… What is wrong with Lady Ashowan?” Captain Antonio interjected while eyeing the King apologetically over his betrothed’s lack of mindfulness around the ruler.

Admittedly, everyone was more than a little perplexed as to what was making the normally considerate and respectful witch behave in such a way over her daughter-in-law.

“She needs to cool down. The boy I have summoned makes ice.”

“An ice bath?! In her condition? Mrs. Ashowan that is not something that I can allow you to order. She must rest in bed with plenty of fluids and-”

“This condition isn’t like others.” Katelyn cut off Physician Durand sharply, with everyone in the room watching the entire scenario unfold with growing bewilderment as Annika herself straightened in her chair and reached out to touch her mother-in-law’s hand. She was trying with all her might not to appear as tense as the two physicians were growing closer to revealing exactly which 'condition' she was in.

“Mrs. Ashowan, I cannot have you ignore the Royal Court Physician’s expertise without explaining your reasons to him. If after hearing your explanation he does not think it is in Lady Ashowan’s best interest, then we will defer to his decision.”

“I trust Mrs. Ashowan.” Annika piped up, forcing herself to sound more in control than she felt. She was terrified of what was happening to Fin, and trying to maintain control of the situation, but what on earth was going on with her brats? She felt as though she had a small sun inside of her…

“Well, we agree that she needs to be laying down, do we not?” Katelyn turned to Physician Durand, her tone somewhat quieter than before.

The man nodded slowly, and gestured toward the door.

“No, I’d like to stay and hear what is happening.” Annika shook her head and immediately took another gulp of water.

“Absolutely not. You look as though you are about to pass out. You just spontaneously started sweating- wait. Does this have something to do with magic?” The Queen turned to Katelyn with a frown.

“Lady Ashowan just claimed to have seen a vision of the Viscount. After that, she immediately became ill.”

Kate’s face drained of color before she turned to her daughter--in-law.

“What did you see?” Her voice was a hush, and everyone immediately stiffened.

“Something bad,” Annika replied while already reaching to refill her goblet again. For a moment no one dared to breathe as they waited to see how the healer would respond.

“Viscountess, come with me. You need to lie down.” Kate’s face was still pale, and her hands folded over her skirt were gripping on until her knuckles were white.

“I already said I-”

“Now. You could harm yourself.” There was a hardness in the healer’s tone that no one had ever heard from her before.

“I will be fine! I just am warm and-”

“Oh, my… Gods. He didn’t,” Mr. Howard interjected suddenly with an astonished half smile as he stared at Annika with a light in his eyes that the Viscountess did not like one bit.

“Mr. Howard, I don’t believe anything is funny here,” Ainsley reprimanded sternly.

The assistant turned to the Viscountess once more and bowed his head. “My Lady, I apologize. I do not mean to make light of the situation. I was merely… taken aback.”

Norman eyed the man oddly before turning to Annika.

“Viscountess, I will send word of any news we hear. For now, please rest. No arguing.”

Annika let out a small sigh before slowly standing, and curtsying.

“Very well, your majesty.”

After the Lady had exited followed by the court physician and Mrs. Ashowan, Norman and the Queen turned back to Mr. Howard.

“What was that about?” the monarch demanded without hiding his displeasure. “You do realize that Mr. Ash- I mean Lord Ashowan may be dead right now?”

At this the assistant bowed his head again, his expression dutifully somber.

“I apologize, Your Highness. I truly was just taken aback for a moment. I too hope that they reach him in time…”

“What took you aback, Mr. Howard?” the Queen asked while turning to face the man squarely.

The assistant shifted in his seat, and glanced around at everyone uncomfortably while also once again trying to prevent a small grin.

“Does anyone else find it interesting the way both Mrs. Ashowan and Physician Durand mentioned Lady Ashowan’s ‘condition’? Not to mention how stressed Mrs. Ashowan was to take care of her daughter-in-law?”

Everyone except Ainsley continued frowning in confusion. The Queen’s face fell into astonishment.

“They were discussing Lady Ashowan’s visible illness. Of course Mrs. Ashowan is going to fuss, she’s already worried about her son,” Lord Fuks interjected while reaching for his own goblet of water.

“Not to mention… Lady Ashowan seems a tad… well. Uh…” The normally drole assistant grew sheepish. “Well she seems a little… filled out.”

“Mr. Howard, please speak plainly this is getting- oh.” Norman’s face suddenly fell. One by one, the men around the table’s expressions all moved into awkward realization.

“It could just be that she is eating too much of his cooking,” Captain Antonio attempted while clearing his throat.

“She didn’t wear the dress I picked.”

All eyes suddenly moved to Ainsley whose face was still frozen.

“Pardon me, your highness?” Mage Lee leaned forward.

“She… I… her dress was… different.” Ainsley waved her hand dismissing the question as she realized that she couldn’t oust the fact that her friend had been brought to the castle while acting as the Dragon.

“It would also explain why Mrs. Ashowan was so adamant that her condition was unique. It could be that the Viscountess is going to have a witch,” Lord Fuks pointed out with a twinkle in his eye.

“They must have been together longer than we originally thought… I wonder when she’s due?” Mage Lee interjected casually.

“Oh Gods… a small version of Finlay Ashowan running around here?” Mr. Howard shook his head wearily as everyone around the table smiled sadly to themselves.

“Oh, Gods, Norman…” Ainsley whispered under her breath as she turned to stare at her husband, her worry written all over her face.

“If we fail to get him back she… they… would be alone,” mage Lee voiced quietly, the sadness descending upon everyone as they realized what Fin’s passing would mean to his family.

His children never meeting their father… their mother widowed twice…

Norman glanced around the table at everyone’s somber expressions, and felt his heart grow even more ladened with the new responsibility upon him.

“There is nothing we can do, but wait,” the monarch pointed out heavily.

“And hope. Hope that he comes out of this alive…” Ainsley pointed out while reaching out and grasping Norman’s hand.

“Sometimes though… sometimes it’s the hope that is what makes the fall much worse.” Mr. Howard’s bleak observation wasn’t what the council members wanted to hear in that moment, but every one of them couldn’t help but feel the same.

All of them had just realized precisely how high the stakes were to have their beloved cook returned alive and well, and knew that the aftermath if the King’s plan failed, was going to be hell.

***

“Your Majesty! A deep sea fishing vessel is heading straight for us! Mr. Helmer says it has been near their ship since they left Daxaria. How would you like us to proceed?”

Matthias looked up from the redheaded witch bleeding on his cabin floor at the Knight who had barged in.

“Is Mr. Helmer able to set it aflame?”

“He says not yet, but it is moving unnaturally fast… there is another Troivackian merchant vessel nearing us as well, there seems to be some kind of scuffle on the deck between the crew, but they all look Troivackian.”

The King frowned. Just what in the world was happening?

As he stepped over the unconscious cook, and made his way back above deck, many of his men were standing at the ready with their eyes fixed on the fishing vessel.

“Here is the spyglass, Your Majesty,” the captain of the vessel hastily handed the item over.

Frowning, the King regarded the boat that was moving abnormally quickly towards them. In fact… within a matter of minutes they would be within shouting distance.

“Helmer, once that vessel is within your vicinity of attack I want it burned to ash unless they run up the white flag.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Might I ask where Finlay is?” the fire witch requested idly as he turned his sights to the fishing boat.

“Most likely dying or dead on my cabin floor.”

The immediate hesitation on the witch’s face surprised the King greatly.

“You were going to have him killed regardless,” the monarch pointed out while squaring his body with Aidan’s.

“I’m aware… it just feels… anti-climactic I suppose.” The Chief of Military shrugged and turned his attention back to the boat nearing them. Raising his hands, two balls of fire ignited, yet as he cast them to directly catch the sails of the vessel, two pillars of water suddenly burst from the sea.

Aidan’s shock was apparent.

“Mr. Helmer, I take it?”

The fire witch whirled around to find himself staring at two women and one man had appeared standing in the middle of the ship’s deck. The Knights all had their swords drawn, yet the trio didn’t seem all that concerned.

“Ah. Witches,” Mr. Kraft announced loudly enough for everyone to hear as he regarded one of the witches with long wavy auburn hair, then the brunette woman with a snake tattoo around her upper arm, and finally, the man with his ebony skin and short white curly hair.

“Who are you to trespass on the King of Troivackia’s vessel?” demanded one of the Knights.

“We are here to collect a member of our coven after we received word that he was in grave peril. We mean no harm so long as we may retrieve Mr. Finlay Ashowan unharmed.” The brunette woman spoke with a haughty eyebrow raised.

“There is no Finlay Ashowan aboard this ship.” The King informed the trio while drawing his sword. “You will leave my vessel immediately or-”

Aidan cast another fireball at them before the monarch could finish his threat, only to have the man with ebony skin snap his fingers and send the flames soaring upwards on a great gust of wind into the sails of the very ship they stood upon.

The Chief of Military waved his hand and immediately had the flames snuffed out, but the sails still looked incredibly singed and charred.

“You were taught to be careful when fighting with fire, Mr. Helmer. Particularly on a boat in the middle of the sea.” The witch with the auburn hair stepped forward. “Now. Before there is more damage done, where might we find Finlay Ashowan?”

The King once again opened his mouth to respond, when the captain of the vessel spoke up.

“Your Highness! The merchant ship has been heading towards us this entire time! I thought it was going to veer off but… I believe it is going to crash into our portside by the bow!”

Everyone, including the witches turned to stare at the merchant vessel that had most definitely drawn closer during the confrontation, and due to Aidan’s ship being off to the starboard, and the fishing vessel lying directly in front of them at that time, there was no way they could avoid collision.

Snatching the spyglass from the captain, the King looked for the traitor who was about to crash into his vessel by the helm. Only, no one was at the helm. Everyone was in the midst of a particularly bloody brawl. The only creature by the helm was a greyhound that… was chewing on one of the spindles of the wheel and not letting go.

Baffled by the strange sight, he roved the spyglass over the rest of the ship and nearly missed what he thought had been a lifelike figure head at the bow but no…

Squinting a little harder, the King finally could make out… a cat.

A fluffy black cat with a small white patch on his chest was sitting at the bow of the ship, his fluffy chest fur fluttering in the sea breeze as the beast stared directly at him with his sharp green eyes. The gaze was so… intelligent, that somehow… it almost seemed as though the feline knew exactly what was happening.