“The ship is being steered by a dog,” the King announced as he lowered the cutlass and turned to the three witches who all wore matching expressions of bewilderment. “You mean to tell me this is not your doing?”

“No. Now either surrender Mr. Ashowan to our care, or-”

Aidan stepped forward and flung out his arm, a ring of fire crackled into existence that coiled around the three witches, making them all cry out. A wave of water suddenly cascaded over the edge of the ship, lurching the entire vessel onto a forty-five degree angle, subsequently tossing most of the Knights into the sea. The King, Aidan, Mr. Kraft, and a handful of men managed to stay aboard by grasping onto the railing they were thrown against.

“Vera, go find Mr. Ashowan, Chima and I can handle the nasty little firefly we seem to have on our hands,” the witch with the snake tattoo cried out as she then swelled water beneath the boat, forcing the vessel to once again be level, but also causing the men in the water to be forced further from the vessel.

The auburn haired witch began to step towards the entrance to the cabin when the King drew his sword, and with speed which was almost inhuman for his size, he lunged towards the woman.

That was when the Troivackian merchant ship collided with the vessel, sending the King back several steps, but the witch however… had vines sprouted from pockets of her cloak, holding her into place as she then continued her descent down below deck.

Aidan regained his footing and straightened while facing his opponents. Heat rolled off of him, drying him instantly as his eyes and aura began to glow like a blacksmith's coals.

Tensing his hands at his sides, fire burst out as he once again cast rings towards the two witches, only this time the white haired man was suddenly flying high in the air, dodging the attack effortlessly before casting a concussive air strike at Aidan that hit him firmly in his gut, making his powers extinguish immediately.

"As powerful as you are Mr. Helmer, you are far outside your element," the man called out calmly.

Another wave of water rose up, and swept the fire witch and remaining Knights off the ship, only the King remained on board clutching one of the ropes.

The dark haired woman called Chima, nodded to her partner as they turned towards the cabin together, intending to join Vera, when a sudden shot of compressed air suddenly blew them both backwards.

Standing on the top deck was an elderly Troivackian man with one milky white eye, and the other dark like his brethren. He wore a dirty stained cream tunic, and a tattered gray robe, but in his hand he wielded a gnarled staff with a shining crystal at its top.

“Goddamn mages,” the Chima witch hissed as the brunette's lips curled.

The pair squared off with their new adversary when a fluffy streak of black darted past all of them, and dove into the cabin below deck.

*

Vera had just finished checking the second cabin along the narrow ship corridor when the sound galloping paws reached her ears.

Poking her head outside of the room that looked like a cramped office, she realized that a fluffy black cat was frantically pawing at the door at the end of the hallway.

Frowning, but deciding to trust her instinct, she strode over to the door, and pushed it open.

The stench of blood filled her nose as her gaze moved swiftly around what was clearly the King’s quarters. She froze when she noticed the smeared path of blood that led to the body of a man who was undoubtedly Finlay Ashowan.

“Oh, Gods… the ship lurching so much must have moved him,” she muttered panickedly to herself as she immediately moved to the figure’s side and dropped down beside him.

Noting the bright red hair that matched the King of Daxaria’s description, she held her breath as she reached out and gently rested her fingers on the side of his throat.

Staring earnestly at the handsome pale face, Vera felt her heart constrict as she waited for any sign of life.

The feline that had led her to the witch was repeatedly rubbing his head against Fin’s, and chirping worriedly.

“You’re his familiar aren’t you?” Vera asked quietly as she continued waiting to feel some kind of pulse.

The cat turned its green stare to her, and she was alarmed to see tears in its eyes.

Another moment passed, then another, then… she felt it. The faintest beat of his heart.

Regarding the chest wound cautiously, Vera immediately tore the hem of her skirt and pressed it to the wound before then summoning her vines to coil around the redhead’s body to hold it in place.

“Lord Ashowan, you have a great many people waiting for you,” she whispered before having her vines carefully roll him over onto his back.

Standing up, she then turned to the feline. “Guard him. I can’t lift him on my own, I’ll need help.”

The fluffy beast seated itself dutifully beside his witch, and stared at her keenly, as though saying,‘Hurry up.’

Running back down the corridor and setting foot on deck, Vera was momentarily distracted by the elderly man in sandals who was flying through the air, over the rails and into the water. That is until the spinning staff landed with a clunk on the deck mere steps in front of herself.

Looking up towards her colleagues, her expression flat, she asked, “Mage?”

The two nodded before rolling their eyes. “Mage.”

Letting out a disappointed sigh, Vera then remembered the dire straights their ward was in.

“Lor-Mr. Ashowan appears to be near death. I can’t move him.”

Chima didn’t say a word as he hurried past her down below deck.

“He’s in the room at the end of the corridor! Hurry!”

Turning her attention back to Cora, the brunette witch, she stepped forward.

“I don’t know that he will make it back to shore, we need to go as fast as we can to return. How much magic has Chima used?”

“A fair bit, I won’t lie… I don’t know that he will have enough in him to make it all the way to Daxaria in one go, but we can always send a message to the shore and see if they can send a ship to-

“Why are my feet wet?” Vera interrupted with great alarm.

“Remember how that ship, hit this ship?” Cora asked dryly. “The men we’ve cast off are boarding that ship over there… it looks like they will start firing arrows once they get organized.”

“Right.”

Chima appeared again then, floating the redhead carefully while the black feline trotted beside him.

“You weren’t kidding, I don’t even know if this man will make it to see nightfall, I’ll meet you two down in the boat. We need to move now."

“Bring the boat to the other side, otherwise those Knights are going to tear apart our sails. I’m shocked they haven’t started firing at Isla yet,” Cora commanded while moving to the other side of the sinking ship.

“She’s probably hiding, which is best… she is still a bit young to see this.” Chima nodded to the blood stained witch.

The women shared a knowing look before turning back to the task at hand of successfully escaping the Troivackian ships, and making it back to Daxaria.

Vera used her vines to swing down to the small fishing boat that they had been hiding on during the previous days, while Chima floated down with Fin and Kraken. Cora leapt into the water and allowed a small swell to carry her over the edge of the fishing vessel.

“Right. Chima send a message requesting a physician to meet us and our coordinates. Don’t lie about his state though… we need someone as fast as possible. Even if he does make it, I… I don’t know if he will ever be quite right,” Cora ordered while checking the wound briefly. “I’ve only learned the preliminary of wartime medicine, but even I don’t think he will make it.”

The air witch nodded grimly, and after a brief glance at the poor man on the deck of their ship, did as he was ordered.

*

Panting, Annika tried to slow her racing heart as the heat in her body grew more fevered. Katelyn pressed a cool damp cloth to her forehead. Maids were rushing in and out as they proceeded to fill a tub with chilled water.

“Physician Durand went to personally escort Urick here. Just take deep breaths. You need to calm down,” Kate soothed as Annika remained curled on her side.

“What… What is happening? Why do I feel like I’m on fire?” the Viscountess asked as she began to once again try and sit up, only to have her mother-in-law gently push her back down. The healer lowered her head so that when she whispered none of the maids might hear.

“The magic of the fire witch in your belly is growing agitated by your panic. Calm down, it could hurt you or the other babe if you don’t. Unless they both are fire witches, but I’m doubtful of that.”

“I thought… I thought witches don’t have their powers emerge until they are older?”

“That is true, but usually there are hints… when I was pregnant with Fin for example, I made the best food I’d ever been able to in my life. It was strange because cooking has never been my strength…”

Annika smiled sadly, but slowed her breaths. “How do I not be worried?”

“You need to think of the children right now. You cannot afford to be anxious or to… or to even grieve should the worst happen. You need to save the last parts of him,” she touched Annika’s thickened middle. “No matter what.” Katelyn grasped the Viscountess’ hand and squeezed it tightly. “Just focus every ounce of your love on them.”

Annika could feel the witch’s desperation, and realized that the order was also a plea from a mother who was deeply terrified that the children she was carrying was all she’d have left of her own son…

Another hour passed, and the Lady was already in the tub, her temperature gradually cooling, when they began bringing in the ice.

Incredibly, it didn’t even feel all that cold as Kate saw to at least three buckets being added to the tub.

After another hour, the Viscountess’ temperature was once again under control, and her mother-in-law deemed her condition safe enough that she could leave the tub and dress herself again. She had just turned to ask Katelyn if she might thank the witch named Urick who had selflessly come to lend her his power, when a rapid knock at the door rang out.

“My Lady! The King has summoned you and Mrs. Ashowan immediately.”

Both women stared at each other nervously before they then hurried unceremoniously from the chamber, back down the corridor towards the council room.

The second Annika burst into the room, she felt her world drain of color. Everything seemed devoid of warmth in that long agonizing minute as she noticed everyone’s pained and saddened expressions.

“Oh, Gods… no. Please… no,” the broken voice that came from Katelyn made Annika’s throat suddenly close, but she couldn’t move. She had somehow become rooted to the spot.

“Lord Ashowan is… was… alive when they sent word about an hour ago. They are requesting a ship be sent out to meet them with a physician, however the damage done to… done to the Viscount they indicated to be... dire. They suspect he will pass this evening, and even if we manage to meet them while he is alive, he will not ever fully recover.” Norman’s voice was somber, and anguished.

Katelyn trembled, her arms wrapping around her middle as broken sobs tore from her throat.

Antonio was up and across the room in a matter of moments as he wrapped her in his embrace.

“We’ll send our fastest vessel with you on it, lass,” the Captain murmured quietly into his betrothed’s hair.

“Annika?” The Queen’s quiet voice did little to break through the nightmare surrounding them all.

The Viscountess was unaware that tears had begun falling from her eyes as she stood like a statue by the council room doors, her mind unable to properly function…

“We need to act quickly if there is even the slightest hope, please, Mrs. Ashowan. We know that you are the only one who could ever hope to heal him.” The King’s quiet insistence succeeded in managing to pull Katelyn from her haze of grief.

“I...I will… I will go. I know a… I know an air witch who can move the vessel quickly… She resides with the boy, Urick…”

Norman nodded, and locked eyes with Antonio who didn’t need any spoken orders before he gave Katelyn’s shoulders one final squeeze, and dropped a kiss onto her forehead. Then with impressive speed for his age, he took his leave from the room to carry out the King's command. Katelyn followed the Captain without a second look at the men of the room, her hands still gripping her upper arms, as she stumbled in his wake- presumably to prepare any tools she might need.

Annika remained motionless in the deathly silent room, until the Queen stepped forward, and slowly reached out to touch her friend’s shoulder. The Viscountess jerked away at the last second.

Turning around without a word or a curtsy, Annika left the room and on numb legs, walked down the corridor to the castle stairs. Descending down to the main hall, Clara suddenly appeared by her side.

“My Lady, is everything alright?” The maid glanced around nervously at the number of nobles and servants who were watching the Viscountess’ teary face and were whispering to each other.

She didn’t say a word, and instead headed to the kitchen.

She ignored a number of servants and Knights trying to stop and question her, and when she finally reached the kitchen, she found the aides all gathered around hurriedly preparing dinner. For some reason even Jiho was present, his sleeves rolled up and his tunic sooty as he added another log to the fire while pointing out that there was a bit of mold on a corner of cheese Hannah was about to cut.

The aides didn’t even notice Annika for a moment as she watched them all work, chattering idly amongst themselves, but the first to see her was Sir Lewis.

“Viscoutness? What is-” the Knight began to ask, making everyone stop what they were doing and look up. Seeing all of their faces, but not one of them being Fin’s, Annika burst out in sobs as she gently slumped against the kitchen wall, and slid down to the ground while clutching her face.

Everyone looked at her and stilled in alarm, until Jiho stepped forward, his hands limp at his sides. Swallowing with obvious difficulty, the Zinferan licked his lips, and when he spoke, his voice was hoarse.

“He didn’t make it… did he?”