1 Year Ago

Kirs kissed Esmund goodbye as they parted ways in the palace entry. He’d escorted her up, partially to ensure her protection, but also to talk over defensive measures with some of the military folk.

There’d been a few other attacks against her, but was the first time the Purists had gotten that close without more tethered nearby. Esmund had been walking around like he was followed by thunderclouds ever since.

She shook her head as she watched him prowl down the palatial hallway. Though he’d never grown much bigger than he was when they first met, he held himself with a different confidence now. A certainty in his abilities that he’d lacked even after years of training his tether.

It had taken him officially getting put off the records for military commitment before he’d begun changing. Her heart ached to see the shadows he now carried. Es didn’t want to hurt anybody. Her best wishes went out to her husband, but she could only support him on this. Provide him a kind ear and a warm hug.

She shuffled the folder in her arms as she headed up the stairs. A wince tore across her face as her shoulder protested. Though Master Stjarna had looked at her injury, he’d healed some, ensured protection against infection, and let the rest recover naturally. She should recover full usage eventually, though.

She pressed her fingers into the pad under her shirt, feeling the bandages there. The warp energy hadn’t passed through her shoulder, distance or lack of energy had diffused the attack on impact.

The palace halls felt empty and hollow this early in the morning. She passed a cleaning crew working in an adjoining hallway as she passed by, but only stopped once she reached the office she was looking for.

Knocking on the door, she was answered presently. “Come in.”

Kirs entered the office and bowed.

“Scholar Kirs,” Queen Minul said. She could hear the Monarch shift papers about and the distinct sound of an inkwell being stoppered. “Is it that time of the week already?” Queen Minul clicked her tongue against her teeth. “I hadn’t realized. Please come in, take a seat.”

Kirs straightened and entered the spacious office. She took the chair furthest from the door, placing the folders on the desk before her Monarch.

“I heard about last week,” Queen Minul said, concern clear on her face. “I hope you’re not too hurt.”

Kirs smiled back and gently touched her wound. Chill cold had long since set into the nearby skin. “Nothing too bad, your Majesty. Master Stjarna patched me up. A few more weeks and I’ll be good as new.”

“Please, please, don’t worry about that. Take as much time as you need. I… Understand how tough such things can be on the soul. Breaks can do as much good for your mind as your body.”

Kirs smiled. “What I think I really need is to finish this project.”

“If that is what you want,” Queen Minul acquiesced with a slightly bowed head. “So? How’s progress looking?”

“Good,” Kirs waved at the folders. “I think I’ve pretty much gotten the entire circle worked. I just need to scale it up and adjust for any modifications.”

The Queen took a few minutes to browse the various pages detailing the ritual. “This is impressive,” she glanced up. “You’re sure it can be created to scale? This will be a lot of work if it fails.”

“Fairly sure,” Kirs replied honestly. “I don’t see a reason why it shouldn’t work. I’ve found on size requirements of rituals before this.”

Minul nodded. Before she could continue her questioning, another knock sounded on the door. The Queen called them inside.

The door opened, revealing a tall woman, gray hair pulled into a severe bun at the nape. She wore a strict uniform, similar to the ones found in the Academy of War. She wore obsidian coiled around her forearms like bracers and one hand ended just before her fingers.

“Hildrid,” Queen Minul said after the woman bowed. “Please, come in.”

The older woman stepped inside and took the other chair. “I’ve finished the initial proposal.”

Kirs leaned forward in her seat. If this was what she thought it was… She had to ask. “Is this—” she cleared her throat as both women turned to look at her. “Regarding the student proposal?”

Hildrid looked to the Queen, who slowly nodded. “It is.”

“So it’s true?” Kirs couldn’t help some of the excitement entering her voice. “You are letting women into the academy?”

Hildrid exchanged a look with Queen Minul. “We have been building towards it for quite some time, yes. We believe we’ve finally softened the people on the idea enough to actually attempt it.”

“What about men into the school?” Kirs asked, thinking of her husband. Esmund might not be a good fit for her exact work, but she was sure there was some subject out there he’d find interesting enough to delve into.

Queen Minul shook her head. “We don’t need more scholars at the moment, but between the Purists and the unrest all over Ankiria, as well as the conflict on the front lines, we need more soldiers.”

Kirs stopped herself from slumping back into her seat. Deliberately resting her hands in her lap, she nodded slowly. “Still, it is a step forward.”

“That it is,” Hildrid agreed, nodding to the younger woman, then to her monarch, as Minul began browsing the papers she put before her. “I believe it’s best to start out by gathering a small group of women. People who have already voiced a desire to fight. Keep it small, a single class. We’ll have to keep it to a single element and a single teacher.”

“You know someone who wouldn’t mind teaching women?” Queen Minul asked, looking up briefly. Kirs couldn’t help but notice she was examining these papers a lot more closely than her own schematics. Whether it was an expression of trust, a lack of interest in the subject, or something third, she wasn’t sure.

“I have a few in mind,” Hildrid affirmed. “There are a few of my husband’s old friends I can call on. I could twist a few of their wrists to get them into it.”

Queen Minul looked up, staring at Hildrid for a long time. “I know you’ve had a lot of success at forcing the world to bend to your will, Master,” her voice grew stern as she spoke. “But we cannot have their teacher publicly complain about the job.”

Hildrid considered before nodding. “I’ll find someone.”

“Good. We’ll run with this next month. Have your selections ready by then.”

“Very well, your Majesty.”

“Was there anything else the two of you wanted?” Queen Minul asked them.

Kirs thought about where their conversation had been going earlier, directly toward the actual possibility of the ritual and even financial concerns. She shook her head swiftly.

“Very well, you’re dismissed.” Queen Minul turned back to her previous work, paging through other reports. Kirs didn’t have the time to figure out what they were about before she and Hildrid stepped out and shut the door behind them.

“She seemed a little short with us today,” Hildrid muttered.

“I… don’t think I know her well enough to say.”

“She can be much worse than that, but also much nicer. Let’s just leave it at that.”

“That sounds like the safe bet.”

Hildrid snorted briefly. “I’m not sure we’ve met,” she offered her hand. Kirs took it and they shook, sending a spike of pain into her shoulder. “I’m Hildrid— are you okay?”

Kirs sniffed once, swallowing the agony, and nodded. “I’m fine. Kirs by the way. I know who you are.”

“Oh? Where from?”

Kirs opened her mouth to say, but paused. “I’m married to Esmund,” she cleared her throat, but Hildrid cut her off with a look of realization.

“Svenar’s wonder student,”

“Something like that.”

“You were the ones who were attacked last week? That’s where you got hurt?” she nodded to Kirs’ arm.

“Yeah,” then after a moment. “I think Esmund’s taking it harder than I am.”

Hildrid rolled her eyes. “Typical men.”

Kirs chuckled awkwardly. “I guess. I think he’s as upset that he was forced to kill people as he was that I’m hurt.”

“But he’s a warp tethered.”

“He’s a kind person too.”

Hildrid shook her head. Then a pall fell over Hildrid’s face, her eyes darkening as she stopped and turned to Kirs. “Don’t let that feeling fester. In either of you,” she breathed out slowly, seeming to deflate. “Take it from someone who has the experience to know better.”

Kirs paused, looking at her truly. Hildrid was old. Resting on a porch and watching the world pass by old. Tired too. She breathed in once and smiled at the scholar. “I hope you have a swift recovery and everything works out. Sorry for pulling you Down like that.”

“No, no, it’s okay…” Kirs said, but Hildrid had already walked off.

It took Kirs a few minutes to find out where Esmund was, though eventually she got close enough to follow his voice. She couldn’t make out specifics, even when she was knocking on the door. The room grew quiet before a few muffled responses were exchanged.

The door opened and Esmund, flushed and slightly embarrassed, stepped out. “Sorry about that,” he muttered, voice rough.

Kirs grabbed his arm and held it to her chest. “Let’s just go home. I think I need a bit of rest.”

Es smiled, and they walked home. She was surprised by just how much she enjoyed the rest of that day. Lying in the light, Esmund’s arm wrapped around her. Resting and talking.