© 2026 Duleigh Lawrence-Townshend. All rights reserved. The author asserts the right to be identified as the author of this story for all portions. All characters are original. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. This story or any part thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the expressed written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a review or commentary.

Six years have passed since the death of Neth Skelm and the king was left without an heir. The Kingdom of Uduithia has continued on in peace with the occasional harassment at their borders by bands of pillagers. Life for the Duke and Duchess of Wægn has been peaceful and prosperous. The Stein family is now up to four with the birth of a girl, Hollie, who was born on Yuletide day, Yule 8, 3434. It is high summer in 3438 and the duchess is expecting twins.

Gods Save the Queen

Book 5 Part 1

Yuletide

Chapter 01 - The Twins

Mystara 27, 3438

Elm Springs, Uduithia.

"Marlon!" Octavia called for the fourth time. The pregnant wizard shook her head, muttering, "where is that boy?"

"You should be calling for Annette," said Izhar. He was right, she should be calling for Annette. The little blond and Marlon were never apart, and Annette came running whenever she was called. Finally, six-year-old Marlon Stein came running to the tiny witch's cottage they called home. His hair was soaking wet and water glistened on his face, arms, and legs, but his clothes were dry. She was sure her son had been swimming. Tiny five-year-old Annette followed. Her long, golden-blond hair was soaked, but her pretty gingham dress was dry. "You two were in the pond again."

"We were fishing for dinner, and it got so hot!" said Marlon.

Octavia nodded. There was no deceit in his words, but she had a feeling he wasn't telling the entire truth. "Where's your sister?"

Marlon looked around and saw his four-year-old sister, Holly, crouching among a flock of scratching chickens. "She's talking to the chickens again." He watched as a chicken stopped scratching, faced tiny Holly, and began clucking. Holly was a born witch like her father, but their dad, Nick, rarely if ever conversed with any animal other than his mules.

"Hitch the wagon to Bongo and take water to your dad and the boys," said Octavia. "They're pitching hay today, and they're going to need their water."

"Yes, Mom."

"And make it cold water!"

"Yes, Mom!" The two children ran off to the barn to get the wagon.

Octavia placed her hand on her distended stomach and huffed. Izhar, her assistant wizard, pointed to the love seat inside the cottage. "I'll take care of Hollie, you go sit and put your feet up," said Izhar with a scolding tone.

"Please don't make fun of her, she likes those chickens."

"I will. I've watched over children before. Now go sit and open a good book." Izhar worried about that wizard. She was so powerful, but soon she would be in for a trial like she's never experienced.

While Izhar and Hollie talked to the chickens, Marlon and Annette emerged from the barn with Marlon's donkey Bongo hitched to a small four-wheel wagon that was filled with a half dozen tin water jugs. They pulled up to the well pump and played a quick game of Rock-Paper-Scissors to see who would pump the water. Marlon claimed his mom enchanted the well pump, which she did, but in truth, it was an artesian well, and you only had to lift the handle for water to flow. Her enchantment caused the water to come out hot or cold and that was determined by a twist of the well handle.

As usual, Annette won the game and got to operate the pump, which means Marlon had to carry the empty water cans to the well, then haul the filled cans to the wagon. The cans were smaller versions of milk cans and had lids. They were almost magic because the water they held remained cool and refreshing for hours without magic. The cans were made by their farm manager Wayne Metsker, who was also an excellent blacksmith. When the town blacksmith, Wayne's father Trei, has too much business, he'll send customers up to the farm to see if Wayne has the time to serve their needs.

With the wagon loaded with six cans of ice-cold water, Marlon and Annette led Bongo out to the field where three huge men were pitching hay from a huge pile onto a hay wagon. Further off in the field they could see Wayne with a mule and a hay rake raking up the sun-dried hay into piles. They pulled up to the three demi-giants and Marlon bowed to them. "Good morning, Mister Alfie, Mister Bert, Mister Dexter."

"Good morning to you, yer lordship," said Alfie as the three demi-giants bowed to Marlon. The young boy had a special place in the hearts of the huge men. His middle name, Jehans, honors a demi-giant who died in the Battle of Breaze. Jehans Du Gouey was a close, personal friend of Duke Nicholas, and was the first Sergeant of the Breaze Royal Guard when Nicholas was the commander. Jehans died fighting to allow Marlon's father to carry the queen to safety. Now Marlon is the son of that queen and the man who carried her to safety.

Additionally, Marlon has the courtesy title of Marquess of Black Mountain, which doesn't mean much, but it sounds regal. He does have legal authority over the rule of Black Mountain, but his parents haven't revealed any of that yet. He's still learning how to read.

Marlon looked around, trying to see his father. The morning was very warm and the air was hazy but he could see the entire hay field. Being a farm in the mountains, the only truly level portion of the farm was the area around the house, barn, pond, and pasture. Everything else was on an incline of some degree, so if you situated yourself correctly, you could see the entire farm. "Where's dad?"

"The professor was feeling good, so he wanted to do some fishing. They're up at the duke's secret fishing spot."

"Ok, thanks, Alfie." Marlon turned and helped Annette unstrap the wagon from Bongo, leaving the wagon and water cans there for the men to refresh themselves. Then Marlon boosted Annette onto the back of Bongo where Annette rode sidesaddle.

"Hi, Mister Metsker!" called Annette as they walked through the hay field and Wayne rode past on the mule-drawn hay rake. Wayne chuckled and returned the wave. "Those two kids," Wayne muttered and shook his head. It was rare to see Marlon and Annette apart. They were always together, and when they were apart, they were both morose and silent until their joyful reunion.

Marlon and Annette headed up the mountain. Above them towered Black Mountain, known to the elves as Morna Oran. The massive mountain was home to dozens of species of elk, deer, mountain goats, longhorned sheep, and not a few mountain lions. Beneath the rocky flesh of the mountain were entire abandoned cities, even an underground palace; and it's all owned by Marlon's dad, Sir Nicholas Stein, the Duke of Wægn.

Nick's secret fishing spot wasn't a secret to anyone. It was a twenty-minute hike up the main road: then turn right at the rock with the odd dwarven carvings and follow the wagon trail through the woods to the stream. As Marlon, Annette, and Bongo approached the stream, a royal guard cried, "Halt! Who goes there?"

"Uncle Sloan!" scolded Annette. "You know me."

"Sorry, my lady, but it's part of the job."

"Is the king here?"

"I can't say that. You should know the rules." Sloan Sidwell was a big, strong, brutally honest palace guard, and somehow Annette grew up calling him "uncle." Both of her parents were born and raised way up north in Breaze, and Sloan was from the southern city of Torwin-Armistad, so the young girl could never figure out how he was her uncle. She decided that it must be a cop thing. Both of her parents were police officers, and Uncle Sloan was a royal guardsman, which was like police. She hopped off Bongo and walked up to Sloan and peered into his eyes... deeply...

"Ha! I knew it!" She turned back to Marlon, took his hand, and said, "Let's go."

"What did you know?" asked the confused boy as they led Bongo down the forest path.

"He's a werewolf. You can always see it in their eyes."

"Are all werewolves related?"

"No, but my mom's family is huge." Her mother was a member of the mysterious von Reichenbach family, the ruling family in Elbreshowth on the Moor. More accurately, they were the ruling family above ground. In Elbreshowth on the Moor, there's also a huge population of dwarves who have many underground cities.

They walked through the trees and found themselves at the stream. The king's carriage was parked in the shade of a maple tree, along with another guard. Nearby, fishing in the stream, was the King of Uduithia and Marlon's father, the Duke of Wægn. Seated on a wooden bench under a spreading beech tree was the man that Marlon and Annette called grandpa, Doctor Tidor Dhukonn. He was the man who helped Marlon's mom, Octavia, become the only female wizard on Kodu. He really wasn't Marlon's grandpa, any more than Sloan was Annette's uncle, but there was some kind of relationship that Marlon wasn't aware of. Marlon led Bongo over to the king's carriage where the little donkey and the big black mare helped clip the grass from the path under the trees.

"How's the fishing, Grandpa?"

Professor Dhukonn didn't open his eyes; he just held his finger to his lips. "Shhh, you'll scare the fish away." It was clear that Professor Dhukonn liked the mystique and atmosphere of fishing better than the actual catching of the fish. His pole was leaning against the tree and Marlon checked his creel. There was two nice fat trout in the damp leaves.

"Can I use your pole, grandpa?"

"Go, enjoy. Just don't scare the fish."

Marlon grabbed the Professor's cane pole and creel, then he and Annette dashed downstream. His dad's secret fishing spot was fair, but he picked it because it was comfortable: nice shady trees with the branches trimmed back nice and high, easy to get to, fairly level, soft ground to stand on, or even nap on. However, Annette found the mother lode of trout. Further downstream just past some shallow rapids was a pool with enough current where the trout could just rest with their mouths open and let the current wash over their gills. And if a delicious fly should drift by, it was snack time.

Marlon and Annette were able to catch two more plump trout for the Professor's creel when Annette dropped to her knees, clapped her hands to her temples, and cried, "Momma!"

"Are you well?" gasped Marlon. He bolted to Annette's side and put a hand on her forehead like his mother does when he's not feeling well.

"Momma wants Poppa," gasped the tiny girl. Momma and Poppa are what Marlon's parents call each other and Annette's magical nature allowed her to hear Duchess Octavia's silent conversations with Duke Nicholas when Octavia was scared or in pain. Marlon helped Annette to her feet and the youngsters sprinted back to where Duke Stein was fishing with the king and Professor Dhukonn.

Duke Stein was packing up his gear and making apologies; he also heard the call from the duchess. When he saw his son approaching, Nick said, "Can you stay with His Majesty and Professor Dhukonn? Your mother needs me."

"Take me!" said Annette. "Lady Octavia said I could be there!"

Duke Stein crouched down and said, "Get on my back and hold on tight." Annette threw her hands around Nick's neck and squealed as he stood and sprinted down the narrow path. The young girl could feel him change underneath her. His neck grew longer and stouter, his body grew wider. He was running on all fours as he became midnight black and was covered with short hair. Annette cried out with excitement as they galloped through the woods. She grabbed two fistfuls of his mane, laughing in delight; the Duke was now a proud stallion. They burst out of the woods and onto the main road and Nick began to gallop even faster.

"Faster!" cried Annette with a laugh. "Faster!" and Nick raced down the mountain. That's when Annette saw his wings unfurling. "Tianma!" she shrieked in delight. "I'm riding a tianma!" The huge wings caught air and the ride became smoother as they were lifted off the road and above the trees. Nick didn't have to flap his wings; it was all downhill, all he had to do was stay above the treetops. He dove for the cottage where his wife waited, the treetops brushing against his hooves. Annette was breathless in excitement; she was actually riding a tianma! A black tianma, the fastest kind there was!

It seemed to her like they were going to crash into the house, but at the last moment, Nick leaned back with those huge wings catching the air, slowing them down to a near stop like a hawk eyeing its prey from on high, and with a jolt his hooves were on the ground. Nick crouched and checked to see if Annette was well after that flight, but he quickly realized that he needn't have worried about the tiny girl. She was as tough as her mother, Detective Sergeant Annabelle Prescott. "You may join, but your job is to observe, learn, and keep Hollie quiet. The duchess is going to have a hard time; she doesn't need to hear Hollie crying." Four-year-old Hollie Stein was a typical four-year-old if not a bit more emotional. She was a born witch and showed some interesting peculiarities, like conversing with the rabbits and chickens on the farm.

"I will, sir."

As they entered the cottage, several more witches arrived, some on a broomstick, others in carriages (a true witch would never ride atop another creature!) There was Nick's cousin Bella McTavish, who was gaining seniority quickly in the witching community. Seldanna of the Rofir also arrived; she was an elf witch in the elf village of Irla Stein Anore. Tilly Potts, another young witch from over in Deasil, arrived. Even Silver Metsker, Wayne's wife, arrived. Silver wants to be a witch, but she doesn't have the magical aptitude. That doesn't stop her from learning medicine and herbology.

When the word went out that the duchess was in labor, several women who were not witches also arrived. Silver's sisters-in-law, Darina Ivers and Ena McCrory, arrived, and the only other twins in Hay-on-Wægn County, Lynet and Guendolen Borson arrived to welcome the new set of twins. The Borson girls were the first twins that Nick ever delivered as the new witch in the area, and only the third birth he ever attended. Guendolen was stillborn and Nick was able to revive her, and that act of mercy cemented his position as the witch of Hay-on-Wægn County.

Octavia was reclining on the couch that once served her as a throne when she was empress of the Xuantang empire six years ago. Nick had moved the couch into the center of the room and Octavia was resting between contractions. Nick was lecturing his fellow witches, many of whom had never seen a twin birth. "It's really not unlike a single birth, the mother's body knows when it's time for the babies to get out, it just happens a bit earlier than a single birth. Since the babies will be less developed than in a single birth, much care must be given to the infants and the mother. If the mother isn't able to nurse, a wet nurse must be on hand. If none are available, then I suggest warmed, whole goat's milk. If no goat is available, then give the babies fresh, warmed whole cow's milk."

Hollie was wandering around confused. She knew something was happening with her mother and she didn't understand. Then a heavily accented woman's voice said, "Come stay with me. We'll be in charge of the babies' bath. Won't that be nice?" Hollie looked up and saw Hau Chung Ning, mother of the Emperor of the Xuantang Empire. Auntie Ning. Hollie smiled and nodded; Auntie Ning always brought the best snacks from the palace kitchens.

"Thank you, dear lady," said Izhar who was being ignored by his chicken-talking buddy, Hollie.

Unlike the sturdy women of Uduithia, Hau Chung Ning was short and slender with raven black hair and chestnut-brown almond-shape brown almond shaped eyes. She didn't wear flannel, linen, or wool like the women of Uduithia; she wore brightly colored, figure-hugging silk dresses with golden pins and clips in her thick, straight hair. Hollie liked her because Auntie Ning had the same color hair as her mother, midnight black, and that was proof enough that she was worthy of the title of Auntie.

The witches were clustered around Octavia and the little girls couldn't see what was happening. Silver Metsker turned to Annette and said, "It's hot in here. Can you girls open windows and doors?"

"The bugs will get in!" said Annette.

"The fairies will catch them. Now hurry, Miss Octavia is getting over-heated. You need to help her."

"I will!" cried both girls and they dashed around the house opening windows and doors. When they opened the front windows that looked over the front porch and garden, six fairies fluttered into the house to join the six already in there.

"You're doing great, darling," said Nick. "You are so wonderful."

"I wish I could just magic them out," panted an exhausted Octavia. Then she smiled at Nick. "Are you ready for your greatest challenge?" That was a joke between them. When Hollie was born Nick fretted over his baby girl so much it was starting to worry Octavia. Now they were expecting two more girls, how would he handle this?

Nick crouched next to Octavia and gave her a kiss, then mopped her damp brow. They both knew that magic wouldn't work here. For some reason, as her pregnancies progressed, her desire to use magic faded until it was a memory, but immediately after delivery, it came back vigorously. When she gave birth to Marlon in a bamboo jungle, she created a cottage out of bamboo trees for a place to rest and recuperate. Shortly after Hollie was born she magically filled the house with cookies and pastries because she was hungry. Nick was naturally concerned about what she would do after giving birth to twins. "Are you ready? We're almost done."

"My leg!" cried Octavia. "Put my leg back on! I don't want my babies to see me with only one leg." She genuinely looked panicked, worse than when she lost her left leg.

Nick looked around and couldn't see it. "Where is Octavia's leg?"

Everyone there began looking around but it was nowhere to be seen. Then Annette had an idea. She asked Hollie, "Have you seen your mommy's leg?" The four-year-old girl nodded and led Annette to the back porch where everyone took off their work boots before entering the house. There with the work boots was Octavia's wooden leg. "Did you put mommy's leg away?"

"Uh-huh!" said Hollie proudly.

Annette picked up the leg and asked, "Where's Mommy's sock?"

Hollie dashed into the house where there in the laundry hamper was the thick cushioned sock that goes over mommy's leg stump. Annette crouched down and gave Hollie a hug. "You are such a good girl. Here, give this to daddy so he can put mommy's leg back on."

"Uh-huh!" and the tyke zipped through the crowd of witches and handed Nick the sock. Six years ago, at the battle of Waelmore Castle, Octavia's lower left leg was gnawed to the bone by a basilisk when Neth Skelm sent her and many other supporters of the king to Põrgu Saar, the land of nightmares. Many died, including the king's two sons, Exavier and Abraam. Octavia once had perfect legs, legs Nick came to love having wrapped around his waist at the appropriate moment; now both were slashed and scarred. Her lovely face was also horribly slashed, but it was back to perfection after years of magic to heal the scars. The only remaining evidence of her facial injury was a violet left eye and an azure-blue right eye.

Nick quickly put the sock over her stump, then belted the wooden leg back into place in time for Octavia to let out a terrible scream. "Here it comes; it's got Mommy's hair..." called Nick as the baby slowly appeared. Next to him stood his cousin Bella who was ready to help. She had the string ready to tie off the umbilical, along with the snippers. "It's a boy!" called Nick. He was stunned; they had expected two girls. They quickly cleaned him off and, as he cried, Nick named him Llywellyn, after the historic elf warrior Llywellyn Olomyar who helped drive Neth Skelm off of Kodu thirty-five centuries ago.

Bella took Nick's place as he and Octavia got to know their baby, then Nick took the baby over to the pan of warm water where Silver Metsker and the girls waited. "That's your brother, Hollie. His name is Llywellyn."

Hollie struggled with the proud, ancient elf name and finally said, "Lou!"

"That's a good name, Hollie," said Silver Metsker. "Now you have two brothers." That confused Hollie. In her world, brothers were older. Now there's a brother that's little? While Hollie got used to the idea of a little brother, Silver dried off Lou. At the same time, they heard a second baby give its first cry.

"Your daughter wants a name, Sir Nicholas!" called Bella McTavish.

There was only one name that would work. "Llywella!" cried Nick. Llywella Olomyar was Llywellyn's twin sister and she helped rebuild the nations of Kodu after Neth Skelm left Kodu in ruins. "Mommy and I made sure you never have to live up to your namesakes," said Nick as Octavia cuddled both babies. "What would you like, darling?" asked Nick after giving Octavia a kiss.

Octavia looked exhausted but happy, but her features turned sorrowful. "I want my mother." As she hugged her babies, she began to weep, and she used her magic.

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Chapter 02 - The Eighth

Luminex 28, 3409

Pirangi, Kingdom of Chelmsford

Life was wonderful for Jutta Gilmaris. She was the daughter of a seamstress on a large farm, and her dad was a lead farmhand. Jutta grew up in the cabbage and onion fields of the Kingdom of Chelmsford, Barony of Pirangi. Pirangi was the breadbasket of The Cities, as the twin cities of Torwin-Armistad were called by the field workers of Pirangi. Pirangi was endless miles of rich, level land where the grains and vegetables that fed Torwin-Armistad were grown.

Jutta, her parents, and her two brothers were employed by Magthildis Farms, a huge multi-family farm growing vegetables, grains, and feed crops, and Jutta loved every acre. She was a beautiful farm girl, tall and strong like her parents Ayluin and Shelara, and her brothers Ryul and Santo. Like them all, she had raven black hair, a rarity on the continent of West Edux. She could manage mules, horses, and oxen and could control teams of up to eight mules or oxen. Every summer and autumn she joined the overland trains and hauled produce seventy-five miles to market with her lord's ox team. In summer she drove three wagons, hauled by eight oxen, loaded with cabbage and onions from Pirangi to the Torwin Farmers Coop Produce Warehouse, a five-day, seventy-five-mile trip, and then returned with wagonloads of empty crates to hold next year's harvest.

As autumn neared, she managed mules that powered the threshing machines. The mules pulled a fifteen-foot-long arm in a circle. The arm turned gears, which turned a driveshaft, which powered the mechanical thresher, which knocked wheat free from the straw and hulled the grain. There were ten of those threshers in a row keeping twenty mules busy all autumn long. When the harvest was in, Jutta joined the grain train to Torwin with three wagons, each loaded with a short ton of wheat.

Many men lusted after the tall raven-haired beauty, but she fended them all off. Jutta had a perfect hourglass figure with large, firm breasts, a tight, narrow waist atop round, perfect hips. Her legs were long and shapely from miles of walking with her mules. At the end of the day, when she bathed in the Tunmore Creek with the other farm girls, the girls all complimented her figure, and so did the fellows watching from the bushes.

Jutta had no interest in romance; the subject had never been all that important to her. Her parents aways appeared to her to be each other's best friend, and that's all she was looking for. The only man she showed any friendly inclination toward was Felix Aldana, a fellow drover who usually drove the lead team in the train. Felix was as tall as Jutta, and like Jutta, he was muscular from the hard farm work, and he was a kindred soul. Jutta and Felix could talk for hours about mules and oxen, which wagons pulled the best, and the best ways to repair the mule's tack. Oddly, he had black hair like she did.

One evening, after a refreshing dip in an unnamed stream, she and Felix sat by a small fire and chatted. Somehow the talk got to their future plans. "I want to be a canaler." She pronounced the word "Can-awl-er."

"A what?" chuckled Felix as he tossed another piece of wood on the fire. It was a moonless night. Kuu, the largest moon over Kodu, was new, so it cast dim light on the plains below. The ring around Kuu was easiest to see at this phase.

"A canaler, a member of a canal boat crew." Jutta got a dreamy look in her eyes and she looked up to the stars for validation. "That would be so nice, walking along a steady canal with only two mules pulling thirty-five hundred stone of cargo. I'd have a bunk every night and three hot meals a day, and a break every fifteen miles."

"Wait!" Felix quickly did the arithmetic in his head. "Thirty-five hundred stone... that's twenty-five tons. With two mules?"

"Four mules actually. I hear they have a second set of mules on the boat, and when the first set gets winded, you switch them out and the winded mules rest on the boat."

"Where on Kodu is something like this happening?"

Jutta looked at Felix like he was from another world. How could he not know? Canals were replacing ox wagons all over Kodu. "The big canal is the Eldrin River between The Cities and the sea at Port Meabras, another up in Teurnia on the Arn River between the seaport of Edhellond and the capital of Termagant's Bane. I hear ore is being hauled on the Gjorgiev River from Copper Mountain to near Slate Bottom Creek where it's transferred to wagon. There's even talk of digging a canal from Silvanor to the Eldrin River so they could haul a boat from Silvanor through Torwin-Armistad then to Port Meabras on the Lounast Sea."

"I'd like to see that," said Felix. He picked up a rock and threw it into the dark where it landed in the nearby creek with a splash. "That creek there is the biggest body of water I've ever seen."

"What about the Eldrin River?" asked Jutta.

Felix chuckled and shook his head. It's said that the Eldrin River proudly flowed into Torwin-Armistad from the north, then crawled out to the south weeping. It was the most polluted piece of water on the planet Kodu. "That's no river, it's a moving privy."

"You make it sound so nice," said Jutta as she punched him in the arm.

"Why don't you bunk down in my tent tonight? We'll sleep warm if there's two of us in there."

"I'm not quite ready to spend the next sixteen years carrying your child."

Felix pulled a blade out of his hip sheath. It was long and razor sharp. She had seen him slice thick leather to repair tack with that blade. He handed it to her hilt first and said, "Here, sleep with this at your side. If I do anything more untoward than snore, you can cut me up and then cut your way out of the tent."

She took him up on his offer and they spent the night talking in his tiny but warm tent. They talked of oxen they knew, and mules they loved, and the horses they rode, and they talked until the sun came up. Somehow they survived the night with their chastity in place and the blade unbloodied.

From that sleepless night onward Jutta was thrown into a state of confusion. Felix acted like she was his fiancée, but she didn't want to be near him... unless she was not near him. When driving their oxen, she could see him ahead, leading the train two teams ahead of her, and she wanted to run to him. Then they would stop and water the oxen and she would somehow find too much to do preventing her from being near him until they started moving again, and she was two teams behind and she cursed the missed opportunity to be near Felix.

They slept in the same tent every night when on the trail; he slept half naked on top of his blankets, she slept twisted up in her bed roll with that huge knife in her fist. He was big, oafish, and loud, and he smelled so good... She usually nested with him at night because he was a gentleman, or as close to a gentleman as you can find leading a team of oxen. No matter how much the men of the grain trains admired her skills as an ox drover, they were still men and she didn't want to spend the evening fending off their advances when the sun went down.

On the third evening of the return leg of the mid-summer trip in 3401, Jutta and Felix turned their teams over to their assistants and walked off in the dim moonlight. Only Rahn, the red double-ringed moon, was in the sky casting its reddish glow onto the world below. They walked in silence in the warm evening, like they did every evening, enjoying the cool breeze. Felix worked up his courage and said, "You can feel the attraction, can you not?" It was the most he said to her in over a week. He was quiet and let her have her way in this... whatever it was.

Jutta was attracted to a great many things: music, flowers, berries, puppies; and she was sure he wasn't speaking about any of them. "You mean to you?"

" Our blood--it calls to each other." When he said that, she just looked perplexed. She did feel an attraction to him, and she was sure it would end up in marriage, which is why she pulled away. But now, what in the name of all eight hells was he talking about?

"Blood?" He merely nodded in response. "Ewww. You mean to your blood?"

"I have elf blood in my veins." He threw a flat rock side armed and it skipped along the dirt path like it would skip across a pond.

"I don't understand. You're not elf, what do you mean?"

"My grandfather was a plains elf... your father has plains elf in him also. We are drawn to each other by our blood."

"It can't be. My father doesn't have red eyes!"

"Your paternal grandmother was an elf, and your father's father was human. That combination ensured that your father got all of the plains elf's blood."

Jutta frowned. She had never seen her paternal grandmother. She died before Jutta was born. It's well known that despite their appearance, elves were different from humans. Plains Elves looked most like humans although many have ruby-red eyes. The conversation confused Jutta; this wasn't a seduction, but they did hold hands as they walked in the ruddy moonlight. "How do you know so much about my family?"

"Our parents talk and..." Felix nervously sputtered and said, "When someone talks about you, I listen."

Now Jutta was blushing. "So we are drawn together by our blood?"

"Blood... heritage... culture... maybe even magic, whatever you want to call it. Everything in us that comes from elf descent is looking for a mate of similar makeup." Felix squeezed her hand and said, "I've never felt an attraction to anyone else, elf or human. But I am drawn to you." Felix stopped in the road and faced her. He took both of her hands in his and said, "I feel so alone when we are apart, but when we are together I feel complete again."

"I'm so confused," she cried loudly. "What are you doing to me?"

"I was confused too, until I realized it wasn't confusion; it was love." He dropped to one knee and said, "Apart from you, I am nothing, a half looking for my other half to make a whole. Please, my dear Jutta, marry me, and our confusion will be gone."

For the first time ever, Jutta was incapable of finding the right word; she finally stammered, "I don't know!"

"That is fine." He stood and pulled her close. "It's not no." She shook as his arms wrapped around her and there, in the moonlight, their lips met. A jolt of something shot through her body. It was everything she expected a first kiss to be, and so much more. The warmth of his body against hers, the taste of his tongue as it danced with her tongue, and the beating rushing sound of her heart in her ears.

When their lips parted, she could only gasp, "I can't say yes. Not right now."

"I can wait."

That night they entered his small tent as usual but Jutta didn't grasp his knife. In fact, when they woke up in the morning they were sharing a blanket. That day at the morning meal, they sat together eating their porridge in silence, but it was a peaceful silence. It was a shared, joyful secret that soon had the entire camp wondering what they were smiling about.

When they got back to Magthildis Farm, Jutta went straight to her family cabin, the tiny three-room cottage where she was born and raised, and went to her father who was puffing on his bone pipe and reading the almanac's farming prediction for the next three weeks. All the successful farm leaders swore by the almanac. "How was your trip, dear?" asked her mother, Shelara, without looking up from the embroidery she was doing.

Instead of answering she went to her father and parted the long black hair on his left shoulder. Her gasp when she saw his pointed ear filled the cabin and all went silent. She looked in shock at her father's ear. "Is this why you grow your hair long?" she demanded.

"Yes. There are a few men who wouldn't understand. Most men wouldn't care, but there are a few."

Jutta stumbled back, not far, there's not much room in the cabin. "So I'm an elf too?"

"Oh don't be silly," said her mother. "Neither your father nor I are elves, but we did inherit a bit of their magical nature and you did too."

"So I can do magic?"

"You can probably learn. Next time you are in Torwin-Armistad go to the temple and talk to someone about it," said her father without looking up from the almanac. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes, I'm getting married."

"That's nice, dear," said Shelara as she finished the embroidery on Jutta's wedding gown.

<><><><><>

Their wedding ceremony was simple, perfect for people of the land. A witch came in from the town of Pirangi and performed the ceremony and ten months later, on Luminex 28, 3402, Jutta Aldana gave birth to Corina Aldana. Corina was daddy's little girl; Felix went nowhere without his princess. She was barely a month old and he introduced her to every mule and horse under his care. When she was two months old, they took her to the god of the Harvest, Bet ha-Kise, in Pirangi.

Bet ha-Kise was barely taller than a man and dressed as a peasant farmer with worn, rough-spun trousers and jacket, worn boots, and a straw hat. His skin was mahogany brown, and his eyes were yellow. He looked like a common farm worker, and he could have been on any produce train that Felix or Jutta had ever driven, but he had that aura about him. It was a tradition among the field workers of the big Pirangi Valley farms to present their child to the god Bet ha-Kise for his blessing.

The wooden temple was bare and rustic and reminded Jutta of a barn more than a temple, but there were the four temple columns that the gods use to travel from temple to temple. Her father told her how they step between the columns and emerge from the four columns in another temple.

"We beseech your blessing on our daughter," said Felix as he and Jutta bowed to the god of the harvest.

"This soul is known unto Me," mumbled Bet ha-Kise.

"Pardon?" asked Felix.

"We will have met," muttered the god.

"What does he mean?" demanded Jutta. She looked at the tiny creature in her arms and she was still amazed that this little bundle of love lived inside of her.

"Gods are not bound by time like we are," said an acolyte.

"Is this good or bad?" demanded Felix.

The acolyte shrugged, but Bet ha-Kise said, "It is most sublime! This little one is a celestial being of light. Escort her unto Lord Saehrimnir, for it is his divine will to bestow his grace upon her as well."

"We will be taking a train of wheat to Torwin-Armistad in three weeks," said Felix. "We can see Lord Saehrimnir then."

"That is perfect." The god handed Corina back to Jutta then bowed to the infant and said, "Until we meet again, your majesty."

<><><><><>

Babies are not unusual on the ox trains that move across the prairies to Torwin-Armistad. This trip was extra special because it was Corina Aldana's first ox train. Jutta was able to ride the wagon for the entire trip for the first time in years; she had been walking next to the oxen since she was ten-years-old. She held Corina the entire time and mother and daughter got to know each other.

Often entire families travel, and are welcome on the trail. The younger children learn about life on the trail, and the children old enough to work help wherever they can. In the evening when the teams are bedded down and the drovers and assistants gather at the cook wagon, someone would break out a lute and begin to play and the young girls would dance.

Even before heading out, everyone knew of Corina's birth, and everyone on the train had to stop by the young Aldana family and see little Corina. "I knew it, I did," said Gaffer Bivens, the Train Master. "When I saw ya lookin' at young Jutta with that look in yer eyes that night of the big stardance, I says to myself, 'those two are gonna hitch up!'"

"Master Bivens, the big stardance happened when I was seven!" said Felix. "That was my first train to The Cities. It was ages ago!"

"Aye, NOW it is ages ago, but when you tell the story to yer grandchildren, it will be just a moment ago."

"He's right, you know," said Jutta after Gaffer Bivens left. "When we get back, we should go into town and pose for a portrait, so we can remember these days forever."

"We should have the money for that. It will be a slim Yuletide though."

"It will be our Yuletide gift to our future."

Felix gave his beautiful wife a long, sweet kiss and said, "How did you get so wise?"

The next day the train pulled into Torwin-Armistad Farmers Co-op Grain Elevator and offloaded their wagon loads of grain. The next day, while the wheat grain was weighed and the price determined, Felix, Jutta, and Corina headed to the Temple of Saehrimnir. It was about a seven-block walk from the loading docks to the temple, a fair stretch of the legs. The Aldana family let everyone know what was happening, then made the treacherous journey to the temple through the streets of Torwin.

When they approached the temple, they stood, gazing in awe at the buildings. The temple itself was huge; it was said there were four Æther portals inside there. But attached to the temple was a huge university, and attached to that was a hospital. It was the biggest building either of them had ever seen. "Ready?" asked Felix.

"Let's go!" And happily, the young family walked into the temple.

As they entered they were met by an acolyte who asked, "Greetings, fellow worshiper. What is the nature of your visit?"

"Bet ha-Kise told us to come here and get Saehrimnir's blessing on our child."

"Then your child must be precious to the gods! Come. I will show you where to wait for Saehrimnir's appearance." The acolyte walked between Felix and Jutta with a hand on their shoulders. Both Felix and Jutta felt a tiny prick on their necks but didn't think anything of it. But soon both felt flushed and broke into a sweat; they started shaking and felt weak, then sank to their knees. "My goodness! Are you unwell?" cried the acolyte.

It was the last thing Jutta and Felix remembered hearing.

<><><><><>

"Lord Saehrimnir! So happy to see your return!" said His Holiness Stoill Spakeman, Archbishop of the Temple of Saehrimnir. The god was in a fair mood. He had been meeting with other gods. There was a war coming, and they were working hard to avoid it. It had been over four thousand years since the gods were involved in a war and they were not in a hurry to participate in another war.

"Greetings upon this twilight, Bishop Spakeman. How fares the sanctuary of my spirit?" said the god. His voice boomed through the huge temple and everything became silent as everyone there turned to listen to Saehrimnir. Saehrimnir was the presiding god because he was most powerful. He was a twelve-foot-tall man, handsome, with masculine features and curling sandy hair, and he radiated an aura of power. He wore a simple toga with a belt that showed off his muscular physique and sandals. It was the common clothing of three thousand years ago but Saehrimnir felt most comfortable in it, as did many other gods.

"We have a surprise for you, your holiness. Bet ha-Kise sent someone for your blessing."

The bishop snapped his fingers and an acolyte approached with a baby in his arms. Saehrimnir gazed down at the tiny child who was finally asleep; she had been crying for several days. The acolyte put the baby in the god's huge hands. "By what title is she known to the heavens?"

"Her name is Octavia, my lord."

"Octavia what?" demanded the god. He still had a smile on his face but his voice was cold.

"We do not know, sire," said Bishop Spakeman. "She was the eighth foundling brought to the orphanage that day so the Holy Sister gave her the name Octavia."

"Whither have her parents departed?"

"Her parents? Uh... it... appears..." The bishop couldn't stop. The words were being painfully ripped out of him one by one. "... they... contracted... Haemoris... Fever... "

"LIAR!" roared the god. Saehrimnir saw the acolyte trying to sneak away. "YOU! SPEAK NOW!"

"I had to do it, sire! The Bishop said he would sell my parents to the Idamaa slave traders." Acolyte Rupert Belsey began to babble how he had a ring on each hand with a needle and poison on the ring. He knocked out the young couple and they were now on a ship to the Mandril continent.

"BRING THEM BACK!"

The bishop screamed and clutched his head. "Their ship is on the Lounast Sea! We can't reach it!"

"Then you shall commune with them directly; command them to repent and return." Saehrimnir waved his hand and the bishop and acolyte disappeared, leaving their fine robes behind. Then he handed the baby to Caspar Scholtz, a temple priest, and said, "Behold, I vest thee with the mantle of Archbishop. This child dwelleth beneath my divine protection and benediction. No shadow shall touch her if you want to live."

<><><><><>֍<><><><><>

Chapter 03 - The King of Breaze

Mystara 27, 3438

Elm Springs, Uduithia

"I should kill you," growled Octavia.

"I'm sure you could, and I'm sure you have plenty of reason. Is there any reason in particular?" asked Nick.

"We had a house full of people staring at my doodle all day!"

"Mommy said doodle!" giggled Hollie.

"Shh!" warned Marlon as the two children sat at the screen door on the front porch listening to their parents talk inside the cottage.

"Dear, they were all witches, including me. It was all medical. I wanted these young witches to realize that having twins was nothing to panic about. All they had to do was keep everyone calm and take their time."

"Even your cousin Bella was here!" That angered Octavia more than anything else. "She's already had twins, so she didn't need to be here."

"She was here so she could give firsthand advice to the younger witches like Matilda and Seldanna."

"Seldanna is an elf. Elves don't have twins." Then Octavia noticed the blush on Nick's cheeks. "What is it now?"

"Ummm..." Nick continued to change the infant he was cleaning up.

"No! Don't tell me."

"Phyrra Glynwarin, the elven artist, Jhaeros Glynwarin's mate, is carrying twins."

"What is with you? Every female you touch starts squirting out twins!"

"Daddy makes twins!" giggled Hollie.

"Shhh! I want to hear what they're saying," whispered Marlon.

"I've never touched Phyrra, you can tell by the way I'm still alive."

"Jhaeros owes me a favor so watch yourself," snarled Octavia. "Hand me my son."

"You have your son; I'm changing Loo-Loo."

"For truth?" Octavia parted the swaddling and peered into the diaper of the infant she was holding. "Lou! You told me you were Loo-Loo! You faker!" Lou opened one eye as if to see why his mother was growling at him, then went back to sleep. "How long are they going to be sweet and quiet like this?" said Octavia with a contented sigh. Nick handed Loo-Loo to Octavia and both arms were full of the sweetest children she's ever met.

"If they're anything like their siblings listening to us on the porch, about twenty more minutes."

"What's a sibling?" whispered Hollie.

"I don't know, but I think we both are one."

"It means brother or sister, you goofs," scolded Annette from the big rocking chair where she was relaxing.

Inside the cottage, Annette's mother Annabelle came down the stairs with a cloth sack filled with extra clothing and pajamas for Marlon and Hollie. "I think I have everything they'll need for a sleepover," said Annabelle. "Are you sure there's nothing more I can do for you?"

"No, thank you so much, sweetie," said Octavia. "All we ask for is a chance for as much peace as Bubble and Squeak will give us."

"We will give you as much peace as possible," said Uric from the kitchen area as he finished cleaning the trout he caught. He put two trout in Octavia's ice chest and the rest in his creel for dinner tonight at the palace and then cleaned off the counter where he was working. "I will leave a guard here to help you and fend off any visitors until you are ready to see well-wishers. Shall we go, sergeant?"

"Yes, your majesty." Even though Detective Sergeant Annabelle Preston was raised among the royalty of Elbreshowth on the Moor, they were all relatives and thus their status did not impress her. Standing next to a real, live king with a crown and a castle was unnerving her. The only other king she knew was King Samrel Oakenarmour, king over all dwarves, yet he was just one of the characters that hung out at her grandma's house. King Oakenarmour had far more subjects than King Uric, but he was a miner like his subjects. King Uric had an air of royalty about him, even though he just cleaned his catch in the kitchen of a subject. Annabelle turned to Marlon and Hollie and said, "Are you ready to go?"

"I wanna stay with the babies!" whined Hollie.

"Trust me, the babies don't do anything," said Annabelle. "They eat and sleep and cry. They don't even wake up to poop."

Hollie was horrified that babies would do such a thing. "Babies poop in their sleep?"

"It's best to let mom and dad deal with that. We'll have a pajama party with some snacks; I made some cookies we can eat before bed tonight. Now go give mommy a kiss and tell her you'll be back tomorrow."

"Uh-huh." And Hollie dashed into the house. Nick had made a bed in the living room for Octavia and the babies and seeing it there sparked her curiosity. "Are you sleeping here now?" she asked her mother.

"Yes, so I don't have to climb the stairs."

"Can I have your room?" said Hollie with a look of eager excitement.

"No." Mom closed the door of opportunity quickly. "This is just temporary. I will be back upstairs before you know it."

"Awww..."

Octavia patted Hollie's dark locks and said, "Someday you will have this entire house all to yourself, just like daddy did when he was young." She didn't tell her that the cottage was a tiny one room shack and Nick slept on the floor in front of the fireplace. There was no kitchen, no upstairs bedrooms, only one stick of furniture and that was Great-Grandmother's rocking chair.

"All for me?"

"All for you. Now say goodbye to your dad and grandmother."

"I will!" She dashed to the kitchen where Dad was preparing a meal for Mom. "Bye, dad!" And she turned to run but Nick snagged her by the frilly dress she wore.

"Come give me a kiss!"

"Awww..." Hollie gave her father a kiss and in return he tickled her, then she dashed to the rocking chair in the main room. "Bye Gamma!"

An image of a sweet old woman slowly appeared in the chair. "My, my, where are you off to?"

"Aunty Annabelle's house. Mommy wants to sleep so we have to go away."

"Having a baby takes a lot out of you," said the ghost of Nanna Peacock, Hollie's great-great-grandmother.

"Mommy made two babies!" cried Hollie holding up two fingers. "Lou and Loo-Loo." Hollie's outburst brought a "Shhh! Baby!" from her mother and father.

"We must keep quiet, little one. Babies have to sleep if they're going to grow up big and strong like you."

"I will, grandma."

"Good. Now you run along and have fun. I will always be here for you."

"Thank you!" She zipped out the door with a chorus of "Shh! Baby!" behind her. Marlon said his goodbyes and followed Hollie out the door and climbed into the police carriage with Detective Sergeant Annabelle Prescott and Annette. The King's carriage followed with King Uric, Izhar, and Doctor Tidor Dhukonn in the carriage. This was their occasional trout outing, something the professor and the king enjoyed very much.

"We will escort His Majesty to the top of Breeder's Peak before heading home," said Detective Sergeant Prescott. Annabelle was small and cute, and was often teased that her daughter was as big as her, but she has an inner strength and a magic that she can use to protect anyone that is close to her. She proved that by killing the wizard Neth Skelm six years ago.

"Why?" asked Marlon. He was a bit confused; the king had several escorts and outriders. "He's got guards."

"Because he is our king, the ruler of our land, we extend him courtesy and protection."

"My dad rules Black Mountain," said Marlon with a huff.

"He rules Black Mountain with the king's permission," said Annabelle. "If your dad wanted to do something that the king didn't like, the king can say 'Stop,' and he would have to stop. Your father is wise and he clears every decision he makes through the king."

Marlon thought for a while then said, "Even the pub?" The One Eyed Duke was a pub named in Nick's honor, so it was often called "Nick's Place" or "Nick's Office," because the business of running the Duchy of Wægn was held there in the pub, in plain sight for all to see.

"The king helped build it and donated some of the materials."

The path from Nick and Octavia's cottage was an arrow straight road through the thickest part of the forest at the foot of Black Mountain. The road was called "Nana Peacock's Drive" after the witch that built the cottage and started the farm, Nick's great-grandmother. It was the home of the witch that provided medical care for the people and livestock of Hay-on-Wægn county for generations; now Nick is providing medical care as well as ruling as Duke.

It was a beautiful summer afternoon as they trotted down the narrow road to the bottom of Creel Creek Valley, where the village of Elm Springs was located. Elm Springs was well equipped for a tiny village with a grist mill, a sawmill, a blacksmith, a tiny general store, a cobbler shop, a temple (with both a god and a ghost in attendance), a police barracks, and a pub.

Even though the road between Elm Springs and Nick's farm was through a thick and dark forest, the king wasn't worried of bandits. Bandits stayed away from the forests north of Elm Springs because there were reports of three massive werewolves prowling the forest. King Uric would laugh at these reports because he knew the truth. There was only one werewolf and she was in the police wagon with the children. Of the other two werewolves, one was Nick's pet, and the other was Nick.

"Professor, why don't you stay the evening in our castle? We'll dine on our trout and fresh vegetables and throw a dart or two in our pub," said the king. "Izhar is filling in as my court wizard, you can observe and see if he is giving Uduithia a proper turn as wizard."

"Indeed!" said Izhar.

Doctor Dhukonn thought about the king's offer. Since retiring from teaching, the only thing he's really done, other than play with Nick and Octavia's children, has been assisting Izhar with his research in the Library of Nolmë. As he struggled with his decision, the king added an option. "Missus Henshaw has been asking for you." Missus Henshaw was the queen's secretary, and a widow about the same age as the Professor.

"Would Missus Henshaw be available to join us for dinner?" asked the professor.

"I'm sure she would be happy to join us. If you'd like, you may remain and continue your research with Izhar."

The plan was for the professor to step off the king's carriage in the village, then use the Æther portal in the temple to return to the Temple of Saehrimnir in Torwin-Armistad where he had a room. "I would like to spend the evening in the company of Missus Henshaw," said the professor. "Of course, I would love to continue the work that wizard Izhar and I have been investigating for the past half decade. We are making some fascinating finds."

The king smiled. It's nice to have someone in the castle whose mind is on something other than politics, someone whose first words are not "Have you picked an heir yet?"

<><><><><>

The news that Octavia and Nick had twins spread from Uduithia out across the west side of the Edux continent. A week after the twins were born, Nick felt it was safe to leave Octavia and the twins, so he resumed classes in town. He took Marlon with him while Eryri and Seldanna of the Rofir came down from their positions on Black Mountain to help Octavia with the babies, and Hollie.

Nick was holding classes for anyone that wanted to learn to read. On the chalk board that normally displayed the pub's menu, Nick had the twelve months of the year and the name of the sixteen-day holiday season written on the board:

Astra, Celest, Starend, Nebulique, Æther, Luminex, Mystara, Nebula, Spire, Whorl, Nexus, Cosong, and Yule.

"Ready? Which summer month has the planetary alignment that creates a stardance?" asked Nick. This one was easy; any child should get it. Hands shot up the moment he asked that. Nick had twelve students: seven children of all ages and five adults. He was teaching practical reading, quick lessons to get them started. His students may not return for more classes after today, so he needed to teach them to recognize words that they run into often. Were there any adults with their hands up? Yes, an old friend, and he called on that friend. "Merle, which month is that?"

"The planetary alignment happens in high summer, so it's Mystara."

"That's right. Can you point Mystara out on the board?" asked Nick, and he gave the pointer to Merle Rorie, one of the boys that would be out watching Trei Metsker at the blacksmith forge with Sieffre Merrick and Tiernan Brighid. Merle walked up to the chalkboard and he pointed straight at Mystara. "Excellent! And how did you determine that?"

"It's the only month that starts with the mmm sound, and that's the only month with an M up there."

"Absolutely right! This is what I mean by 'sounding out a word...'" Just then, there were two extremely loud clangs of the temple bell next door telling Nick that Tervis, the god of health, did not recognize two people who just came through the Æther portal.

"Are you going to get that?" asked Merle as he sat down at a table with his grandchildren.

Nick shook his head. "We have a mayor, let him welcome the visitors to Elm Springs. Please take your books out; we are on page twenty four. Top of the page. Read along with me... Sir Daniel drew his sword and called, 'Halt! Who goes there?' and in the darkness he heard a familiar voice call, 'Tis I, Sir Morgan; I must speak with the king! The centaurs are gathering for an assault..." The book was fantasy and not particularly good fantasy, but it kept the students' interest, especially the teenage boys and the romantically blossoming girls.

Nick read an entire chapter and as he read, three men and an elf entered the pub and sat in the back. Nick soon came to the end of the chapter, snapped his book closed, and said, "That's all for today; we will delve into chapter five next time we meet. As usual, you can take your books home with you to read or leave them here for next time. Place your slate and chalk on the shelf and push your chairs in!"

"Is there any homework?" asked Lynet Borsen.

"No, not this time," said Nick. Lynet and her twin sister Guendolen sighed in relief.

"Can we see the babies?" asked Guendolen.

"You've never seen a twin before?" Nick teased the twins he delivered seven years ago. "Not this week. Let's give Lady Octavia another week to get her strength back so she can shout at you good and strong."

"Aye!" cried the girls. "Come on, Marlon, let's play some ball!" Marlon looked at his father, who nodded. Then Marlon and Annette ran to join the Borsen girls and several others for a game of football in the street out front where Nick could watch. Soon it was just Nick and the two humans and one elf who came through the Æther portal in the temple next door. The humans were reviewing some documents they brought. The elf was armed with a sword and buckler, and he wore a breastplate and shoulder armor, but he was turned in his chair to watch the children play through the front windows of the One Eyed Duke.

Nick pulled up a bar stool and sat on it, which put him in a position above the visitors. "How can I help my visitors from Teurnia?"

"How did you know we were from Teurnia?" asked one of the men.

"It's not hard. Bureaucrats from Teurnia have an aura of defeat and boring servitude about them." That caused the elf to snort with restrained laughter.

"That was quite rude, even for a schoolteacher," said one bureaucrat.

"Oh dear, I suppose you are going to have me killed," said Nick with a sigh.

"I believe you are right," said the elf. "Arm yourself, Sir Schoolmarm." He rose and drew his sword.

"And you too, Sir Nursemaid," said Nick and with a brilliant flash of sapphire light the walking stick he carried became a broadsword.

"Oh that's nice!" said the elf as their swords crossed. "If I win, can I keep it?"

"If you win, you'll have to explain to my widow how you cheated." Their swords clanged and rang as they slapped together, terrifying the bureaucrats.

"Please stop!" cried one of the men. "There was no slight intended."

"Oh! That is quite different," said the elf. He sheathed his sword, and Nick's broadsword became a walking stick; then the two embraced as old friends.

"Leomaris Autumnfall, how long has it been?"

"Easily five years, your grace," said the elf, who was the commander of the Teurnian Royal Guard. "You and the duchess came to unwind; your boy was still a sprout."

"This has all been a bit of theater?" asked a bureaucrat.

"Yes, and you earned it when you called the Duke of Wægn a schoolteacher." With that, Leomaris returned to his seat and returned to watching the football game outside.

The two men rose and bowed. "Our apologies, your grace. We did not realize that a duke would be teaching children!"

Nick grinned and sat down on his bar stool. "Very few dukes are wise enough to do so. How may I help you? My math class is tomorrow if you wish to sign up."

"It is about Breaze."

Nick's grin faded. "There is no Breaze. I failed my king and my revenge came far too late." He tapped the scar on his cheek. "I still carry the reminders of my failure."

"I told you this would be a hard sell," said Leomaris without turning around.

"His highness King Ranzau of Teurnia needs a man like you to lead Breaze. Mariseau Castle and the city of Enkmaar are being rebuilt, and a king is needed. King Lars believes you are the man to return Breaze to its former glory."

"Tell me, Mister Bureaucrat, how free am I with my tax levy?"

One of the men looked through the papers then said, "You may freely determine the tax burden of your subjects."

"Oh, good, and I expect to retain one hundred percent of the tax income."

"Uhhh, no, the percent you keep is determined by the crown."

"Excuse me, if I were the king then I am the crown. I will need that income to raise an army."

"You would not need an army; Breaze will be protected by King Lars's forces."

"So I would pay King Lars to protect Breaze, and if I did not pay, he would send his forces in to collect. Is that not right?"

"That would be correct," said one of the Bureaucrats.

"So I am paying King Lars to protect me from his army." Before the shocked bureaucrats responded, Nick continued. "Can I determine which crops the farmers of Breaze can grow?"

"Um... no. That will be determined by the court of Teurnia."

"Where my fishers can fish and what they can catch?"

"No. That will be determined by..."

"What my miners can mine?"

"No... but you can..." Suddenly the bureaucrat stopped. He was no longer talking to a man; in Nick's place was a Snowcross Mountain Lion, light tan in his summer coat. The cat was huge and it made a sound deep in its throat. Was that a growl? A deep purr? The huge cat drew close, and the two men could see that its left eye was solid gold. The cat reared up and put its massive forepaws on the table, and they could see the key-shaped tuft of white fur at the base of the lion's massive neck. With a snarl, the lion swiped the documents the men had on the table and shredded the documents to ribbons.

With trembling hands, the men inspected the documents. "I tried to warn you," said Leomaris. "Is that your boy playing outside, Sir Pommy?"

"Yes, it is," said Nick proudly as he returned to human form. "Gentlemen, you said you need a king, but instead you showed that you were looking for a castrated governor. If you intend to hand me a crown and call me a king, then I will demand to be treated as one."

"Sire, we were sent..."

"It's 'your grace,' not sire. Sire is reserved for a king. And your king sent you here knowing what I would say. I love King Lars and would gladly serve him, but what you offered is a step down from my current position. King Uric needs me; my loyalty to that man cannot be questioned. What King Lars needs is a Duke in Mariseau Castle ruling Breaze, and the one that could fill that position best is sitting right there," and Nick pointed to Leomaris.

"You bastard!" said Leomaris without turning around.

<><><><><>֍<><><><><>

Chapter 04 - Conscripted

Spire 3, 3345

Elm Springs, Uduithia

Nia Frost was born in the village of Troyer's Corner and learned at an early age what it is to be a witch. She was in her teens when her sponsor, Tegwen Pugh, said, "I can't teach the girl no more, she's now teaching me." So Nia struck out and stumbled upon an old shack on Black Mountain. None of the farmers knew or cared about the old shack, nor the abandoned barn behind it, nor the land it sat on. All that was there was a pond and a couple of level acres of land which was rare enough in the mountain kingdom of Uduithia. Nia purchased the shack, the barn, and the land from the Duke of Wægn, old Silbannacus Roem. A series of fortunate clerical errors occurred, and when the papers were set, signed, and sealed, and Nia's only gold coin changed hands, she became the documented owner of the cabin, the barn, the pond, the farm--and all of Black Mountain.

Nia flew from Waleston over Breeders Peak and down into Elm Springs late one evening after sealing her purchase. Nia was an expert at flying on her broomstick, but she was shy and bookish so she only flew when she wouldn't be seen. She was terrified that when she flew, someone was trying to peer up her skirts. Wearing frilly leggings and flying at night eased her worries, but limited her travel.

Nia found that Elm Springs was an empty village. It had hope and dreams but not much else. She stepped into the temple and discovered that the god who had reigned there left decades ago. She stepped into the administrator's office, saw an elderly man at the desk, and said, "Who administers this temple?"

"Pray, art thou the new temple high priestess?"

"I just got here!" said Nia. "I just bought Black Mountain from Duke Roem."

"Bless my soul, Duke Roem! I'm quite astonished he didn't part with his whole duchy for a pittance. He's become a touch addled in his dotage, you see."

"Who are you?" demanded Nia.

"I am Grigeor de la Montesquieu, sorcerer and cleric of this most hallowed Temple of the Woods. I assumed my duties in the year 2891 and have not faltered in my service since."

Nia was shocked and said, "That was over four hundred years ago."

"I permit not even death to hinder my spirit. Art thou prepared to assume thy dominion, my daughter?"

"Daughter? My father is Alun Frost of Troyer's Corner," Nia said with a huff.

Grigeor nodded and said, "Alun Frost, scion of Aeron Frost, descendant of Vaughan Frost, of the lineage of Neifion Frome..." he named names that led directly back to him. "I am your grandsire, by fourteen degrees of separation."

"That's the problem with a small town," said Nia with a sigh. "You can't get away from relatives. Gaffer Grigeor, be a doll and send a young man to help with my farm."

"Gaffer?" roared Grigeor. "Your generation possesses naught but a profound lack of reverence for their elders!"

"That may be so, but I can step outside and smell the flowers while you have to stay put and haunt this old temple. If you find an appropriate assistant, I'll see to it that my grandchildren assist you in your temple duties."

"Witches!" grumbled Grigeor. Defeated, he sighed and said, "I may be acquainted with a young crofter in search of honest toil."

"Good; I'll be done with my cottage on Thursday. You can send him up then." And with that, she stepped outside, mounted her broomstick, and drifted off into the night.

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The shack became a cozy little cottage with an artesian well and a kitchen garden maintained by garden gnomes. The cottage remained a cozy one-room cottage for several days, then it suddenly sprouted a kitchen that contained an iron stove, a wooden ice box, and a dining table. Later that day, a young, strong fellow named Norman Peacock arrived looking for work. Norm was handsome and strong and he came with a pregnant cow.

"How long have you been farming?" asked a smitten Nia.

"About a year... maybe two. I used to be a carpenter."

"Good enough!" Nia hired him and Norm moved into the barn.

Those were their halcyon days: long days of demanding work gathering fuel and food for the winter. And Nia had her hands full with the needs of the village. When word got out that there was a witch within a five-minute broom ride, pregnant women and injured workers emerged from every house and farmyard in the county. Nia and Norm looked like they were a couple; both were fair-haired and easy on the eye. Nia was cute as a button but had a stern will when it came to witchery and health. Norm was handsome and strong, able to do the work of two men eighteen hours a day and rise early the next morning ready for more.

As was typical of rural communities, birthing babies was paid for in livestock, and splinting bones and curing maladies was paid for in produce. Soon Norm and Nia were set with chickens, rabbits, and lambs. They even ended up with a bull calf. He was going to become steak, but when you have a bull in one field and two cows in the other... this is how profits were made.

Their days started at sunrise when Norman gathered eggs and set them in the kitchen for breakfast and for Nia's shopping. In a rural economy, eggs were currency. He would start a fire in the stove, then, if Nia were sleeping, he would give her cheek a delicate kiss, then head out to feed the animals. Most of the time she was pretending to be asleep. As Norman went out to start his chores, Nia dressed and made a hearty breakfast then called him in by ringing the triangle bell for breakfast. They would discuss their plans for the day over breakfast, but both were thinking about the same thing--the kiss that Norm gave her earlier.

Winter neared, and Norm gathered several cords of firewood by clearing the deadfall off the mountain. He had traded a calf for a mule and was able to skid logs down to the farmyard where he would cut and split the logs. Luckily all the available firewood was uphill, and it was easy to drag the logs downhill. Through the autumn, Nia was busy delivering babies, so Norm ended up making dinner for them.

One morning Norm didn't show up for breakfast. Nia was called to deliver a baby so she was gone most of the day. The next day, he didn't show up for breakfast again, so she went into the barn and found him wrapped in a blanket unconscious. She had been so busy that she didn't notice that Norm came down with pneumonia, and now he was near death.

She brought him in the house and put him on her bed, then built a warm fire in the fireplace. "I've got to check on a patient," she told him. "I'll be back as soon as I can," and she was gone. Norm woke up to pee and put some wood on the fire then crawled back into bed. The next time he woke up, he was alone in the cabin with Nia, and she was feeding him soup. "I'm so sorry Norm. I'm going to stay right here with you until you get better."

"You have work to do," he said with a harsh whisper.

"You are my work," she said as she fed him chicken soup. "You raise me food and give me fuel so I can feed you and help my people." She held up the spoon and waited for him to quit coughing. She gave him another spoonful of soup and said, "Norm, why have you never asked me for anything?"

He swallowed the savory soup then said, "What I want the most is not mine to ask for."

"Tell me, so I can answer you."

"You will say no and I couldn't live with that, so I will let it remain a..."

Nia placed a finger on his lips and silenced him. "Yes. There is your answer. Now ask."

Norm shivered and looked at the wooden spoon of soup approaching his mouth. He summoned his courage, terrified that in a few minutes she would be throwing him outside. "What I want is you. I've never met a woman I've cared for like I do you. Will you marry me?"

"There. Was that so hard? When you're feeling better, I'll get a witch and a witness over here, and we'll take care of that."

"You don't even know if I love you," said Norm, followed by a coughing fit.

"Of course I know. I'm a witch. Now eat."

Norm went back to sleep even before he was done eating, and when he woke, Nia was under the covers with him and Norm realized he would never have to sleep in the barn again. Three days later, Norm tried to rise and check on the animals, but Nia stopped him. "Please, Nana, these animals are our responsibility; they're like our children!"

"Nana?" Then Nia laughed. "I have the chickens all warm and cozy in their henhouse; I moved the rabbit warren inside the barn, and the cows and the mule are doing fine--now get back in bed!"

They married on the first day of winter, Cosong 14, 3346, and walked to Waleston to stand before the king and proclaim their marriage. Neither Nana nor Norman liked King Gerlach very much. He was younger than they were and seemed arrogant in his position as king. They spent the night in the castle as tradition, then walked home.

They returned to Waleston on the fourth day of Yule to see the Yuletide celebrations and ended up staying longer than they expected and spent three days celebrating the Yule holidays and sleeping in a hostel tent that was set up for revelers. It was the silliest thing they ever did, but they got a wagon ride back to Elm Springs and were home in time for Yuletide morning.

Their marriage was based on a love, the kind of which people only dreamed about. Love and demanding work. Farming is never easy, and witchcraft is just as hard, which is why the 16 day celebration of Yule exists between the last month of the year, Cosong, and the first month of the new year, Astra.

"Nana" and "Pappy" didn't plan on children; they decided to take what came. They believed that children were not in their future, but after five years of delightful love making, Nana joined the field of expecting mothers. "Now I know why so many children are born in Ætherwhorl," said Nana, using the ancient name of the tenth month of the year, Whorl.

"Why is that?" asked Pappy as he massaged her feet.

"All we did all Yule long was fuck."

Norm looked at his pretty, disciplined, well-mannered wife in shock. The only time she said fuck was during sex and only during her window rattling climaxes, but he thought about it. Their first child was due in Ætherwhorl, and they had a very, very sexy Yule celebration ten months ago. With each month having 28 days, an average pregnancy on Kodu is 10 months.

Their first child was a boy that they named after both of their fathers. Nicholas Alun Peacock was the mirror image of his father, Norm, and his paternal grandfather Nicholas. He grew up strong and handsome, and hard working. As a young boy he followed Norm around the farm learning how to manage the farm and tend to the crops. He paid careful attention to his mother when she cared for the animals. Witches are experienced in veterinary medicine as well as human medicine, and he learned much from Nia, whom he called Nana.

Three years later came Agness Brunhilda Peacock. Agness was named after both of her grandmothers and quickly became a witch-candidate. She could be a sweet child, but when crossed she would stand her ground. Agness had a sharp memory and was the expert on everything she ever heard. Nicholas would put up with her to a point. She followed him out in the field one day and began to lecture him on the proper method of pitching hay. She came back to her mother crying; hay was tangled in her hair and everywhere on her dress from an "accidentally" miss-pitched fork full of hay. When she demanded retribution, Nana replied, "I told you to let the men work. You should spend the day in your room for getting in the way."

Two years after Agness was born came Gertrude Beatrice Peacock. Gertie was a happy baby in spite of Agness's scowling all day long. Both Agness and Gertrude wanted to take after their mother as witches and both scoured the north face of Black Mountain looking for appropriate herbs.

Last came Martyn Seumas Peacock. Marty idolized his brother Nicholas and began to follow and copy Nicholas the day he learned to walk. Nana had two witches in training, and Pappy had two apprentice farmers learning the job. Life was sweeter than anything Nana or Pappy could believe possible. Nicholas was the walking personification of a loving big brother. When Pappy was off helping a neighbor and Nana was out tending to an ailing person, Nicholas was in charge of his three siblings. He could keep the girls busy by claiming that he had some malady like a "sprained lung" and send the girls off to find the appropriate herb while he taught Marty the proper way to harness and drive a mule.

Agness and Gerty were examples of the two sides of witchcraft. Regardless of the herb that was brought back, Agness would concentrate on the herb's magical uses and Gerty would concentrate on that same herb's medicinal properties. Two different uses, two sides to the same herb. Even Basil had magical and medicinal uses. Gertie said it prevented medical issues that Nicholas didn't understand but it boiled down to making your heart work better. Agness said it attracts money, love, protection, and is used in making flying ointments.

Nicholas later asked his mother what a flying ointment was. Her answer was what he expected. "If I took a jar of ointment and threw it at you, that would be a flying ointment."

"Oh, I thought it was something you put on your broom to fly."

"Let me tell you a secret." Nana looked around to see if anyone was listening, then said, "Brooms have nothing to do with flying."

"What?"

"They are used by beginners because they are easy to levitate, and that's all flying is really, levitating yourself. A beginner levitates her broom and sits on it."

"You're not a beginner, why do you use a broom?" asked Nicholas.

"It keeps my skirt bunched up so no one can peer up my skirts when I fly. Without a broom, I'd have to wear trousers."

"Oh." Her smile told Nicholas that she wasn't being completely honest with him and he left more confused than ever.

<><><><><>

Then came the day that several hunters from Spatz Mountain crossed into Uduithia and began poaching game. This was the excuse King Gerlach was looking for, and he ordered Duke Roem to call up every man in Hay-on-Wægn County over the age of sixteen for military duty. A crier walked through Elm Springs ringing a bell and the temple bell rang for the first time in over a century. When the townsfolk had gathered, the crier stood on a crate and gave them the news.

"Hear ye one and all! A contingent of armed men have attacked Uduithia, intent on killing and raping our women. To prevent such an outrage, King Gerlach has called for all men over the age of sixteen to defend our nation!"

"What armed contingent?" cried someone. "There was a pair of poachers that we scared off."

"Are you saying you know more than the king?"

"Yes! It's clear that the king is... hey!" the man struggled but he was hauled off by armored guardsmen.

The crier continued, "ANY eligible man that does not report here tomorrow before noon faces the loss of home and all family holdings!"

"Don't go!" gasped Nana, as she clung to Pappy.

"We must protect our borders!" cried seventeen-year-old Nicholas.

"Take me too!" cried ten-year-old Marty.

"It's just stupid," mumbled Gertrude. "The king just wants to take Spatz Mountain for its iron and copper."

Forty-three-year-old Pappy put his hand on Nick's shoulder and softly said to his wife, " I know you girls are going to fly in to protect us, but don't make a target of yourselves. Give aid to the men behind the lines."

"Norm, don't go," wept Nana, calling her man by his given name for the first time in years.

"Somebody has to watch over Nicholas." And with a kiss he and Nick were off. They joined the men of Elm Springs and a score of men from Widdershins who marched into Elm Springs that morning. Several sergeants with armor and truncheons swung those truncheons as the ranking sergeant growled and slobbered his commands. Soon they were marching east, picking up men from farms as they went. Nicholas was excited and chatted with the young men about the great adventure they were going on. Further back in the column, Pappy watched the boys as they chatted. Boys! Children!

"Remind you of anything?" asked the old sergeant marching behind him.

"That's my son," whispered Norm. "I'll put the armor back on, I'll do what you want, just let him go back to the farm and care for his mother and sisters."

"Corporal Peacock! You will do the job you left twenty-five years ago, and if you don't I will execute your son before I execute you." The grizzled old sergeant shoved a bow and a quiver of arrows into Pappy's hands. The arrows had black flights--flights that had become known as Peacock feathers. "Do I need to remind you what Peacock feathers are?"

Peacock feathers were a symbol of shame. When Norman was a starving, unemployed man, he enlisted in the Uduithian Guard. The guard quickly discovered that Norman was deadly accurate with bow and arrow, and put him at the rear of the formation. Anyone who ran from the fight was shot in the back by Corporal Norman Peacock. The black feathers showed to the army that he was running and was executed, and traditionally the body was left on the battlefield to rot.

The sun was setting by the time they reached Slate Bottom Creek, where they were told the king's army was waiting to join them. Norman looked around and saw there were no regulars. The field outside of town was filled with conscripted farmers and laborers like himself. The meal provided was a tin cup of beer and a small loaf of heavy black bread. Nicholas thought this entire event was a grand adventure.

"Dad! You got a bow! All we got was these knives!" Nicholas showed Pappy the ancient short-sword that they handed out. There were no helmets, breast plates, or leggings. They didn't even hand out bucklers. They told the troops that the men of Spatz Mountain would drop their swords and flee in terror, that the men of Uduithia just had to pick up the dropped equipment and soon they would be the best equipped army on Kodu.

"Nicholas, please, listen to me. Before I met your mother, I was a regular in the guard. That knife you carry was ancient when I held it. I was a Black Bowman, my job was to assassinate anyone who ran, and now I'm doing it again."

"Why?"

"Because if I don't, they will kill you. This isn't a grand adventure; look around. How many regular guardsmen are here? We're being set up to test Spatz Mountain to see how strong their defenses are. They want us to see if an attack by the regular guard would succeed. We are expendable."

Nicholas didn't believe his father, but Norm begged him. "Don't run, but don't get out front. Stay back by me. Be my guard." Sadly Nicholas walked off to join his new friends.

<><><><><>

The troops were so tired from their forced march, they didn't notice that the barge they took shelter in for the night was moving. They drifted down the Gjorgiev River silently until the five Sergeants woke their tired troops by clanging bells. "Up! The enemy is at the gate! Rise, men of Uduithia!"

The groggy troops were kicked to wakefulness and driven out of the nice, warm, wooden barge onto a sandy shore. One young captain, five old sergeants, one corporal assassin, and ninety-nine untrained, ill-equipped farmers to assault the Duchy of Spatz Mountain.

As the sun came up, everyone could see a big stone building on the other side of the river. The young captain stood on the shore of the river and shouted, "Men of Uduithia, that gaudy building is the home of the renegade, lawless Duke Emilio Vivas. Capture him and the duchy is ours. GO!"

There was some confusion, but with blows from the truncheons that the sergeants swung, the troops were driven into the river. The Gjorgiev River wasn't deep or fast, but it was cold. The troops waded across the river, and just as they stepped on shore, the Spatz Mountain army sprang out of their hiding places. It was horrific; Uduithian men were dropping left and right and the regular army men ran. Norm was ordered to shoot anyone that ran, so he fired six arrows at the six regulars and suddenly he was the ranking man.

"FALL BACK! FALL BACK!" Norm shouted and the farmers of Uduithia fell back into the river. Norm fired as fast as he could, aiming for the ranking men in the Spatz Mountain formation. "FALL BACK!" he continued to shout.

Just as he fired his last arrow, Nicholas collapsed into his arms.

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Chapter 05 - The King's Court

Nebulara 10, 3438

Waelmore Castle, Uduithia

Tuesdays in the court of King Uric were for business with his court and Wednesdays were for the common folk. That was the day that the king saw the average man and woman, listened to their petitions, and recognized marriages and births. Even though Nick and Octavia were Duke and Duchess of Wægn and as high in the ranks of nobility as one could be outside of the royal family, they were still common folk. Nick and the children headed out to the barn and got their carriage ready to pull. Hollie's job was to hold the brake handle while Marlon and Nick got their carriage ponies Jiffy and Trixie backed in between the traces and hitched up. Marlon handled Trixie because she's about the same age as he is; Jiffy is a young pony, still antsy and nervous, so Nick handled her.

He was worried about transporting the babies all the way to Waelmore Castle. It was a bright sunny day, and he was worried about the babies getting sunburn. Nick checked the harnesses on both horses then he setup the top on the carriage showing Marlon where the arms locked into place. "It's not going to rain," insisted the six-year-old boy.

"No, but it's very sunny, we don't want the sun to get in the babies' eyes."

"Maybe we can make them dark glasses like Annette's dad."

Nick thought sadly. His friend and longtime subordinate Preston Prescott was sent to Põrgu Saar along with so many others and he fought nearly to his death to defend Princess Sophia, Octavia, and Marlon. The burning lands north of the equator are scalding hot and horribly bright. Since then, his eyes were forever sensitive to light and he now wears dark glasses of varying shades both indoors and out of doors.

With the canopy up, Nick said, "Outstanding job, Marlon! Now, can you teach Hollie how to keep the horses happy while I get your mom and the twins?"

Marlon showed Hollie how to hold the pony's bridle but she was so short she could barely reach it. Trixie had to bend her nose down for Hollie to pet her. "Can we ride the flappy horses?" the four-year-old asked.

Nick put a finger to his lips. "The flappy horses are a surprise for Mommy."

"A 'prize?"

"For being a good girl and giving us Lou and Loo-loo."

"Are we ready?" asked Octavia as she and Ning stepped out of the cottage, each carrying a baby and a large bag of baby needs over their shoulders. Octavia glanced into the near pasture; it had been almost two weeks since she stepped outside for anything other than a visit to the outhouse. She immediately saw the new addition to the farm. "Foals?"

"They're a prize for you, mommy!" cried Hollie.

Octavia smiled and nodded. Their farm was getting big enough that a couple more horses were welcome. The foals were nervously looking about their new home with Bongo the donkey standing with them. Then one of the foals flapped its wings. "Tianmas?" gasped Octavia. She entered the pasture and slowly approached the young tianmas. They eyed her and backed away slowly, but Octavia walked up to Bongo and petted Marlon's donkey and the tianmas grew curious and approached Octavia. They must have been jealous of Bongo getting petted because they approached cautiously and let Octavia pet them and scratch them behind the ears.

Such fascinating creatures! Octavia used to care for the horses in the stables back at the orphanage and loved it. She was hoping to be sold to a rich man who owned horses. She never dreamed she would own a pair of tianmas.

After returning to the cottage, she turned to Ning and said, "You brought me tianmas? Oh thank you!" and she hugged Ning. Tianmas were the fabled winged horses of Xuantang and were the mounts of emperors. They were strong and smart. They ran like lightning and flew like a dream. Nick occasionally became one so she could ride, and it was wonderful. Not as fast or as much fun as riding a dragon, but they were wonderful mounts.

"They were all Sir Nicholas and Emperor Jia's idea," said Ning. "I just picked them out. The bay is named Mei, which means beauty, and the black one is named Xiu, which means graceful. We will, of course, provide training."

"They are beautiful!" sighed Octavia. She ached to go out and spend more time with them, but they were now on the far side of the pasture, and she had to get going. The foals didn't seem bothered by the donkey, Bongo, who made friends and joined the two nervous foals.

"Shall we go, my dears?" asked Nick.

"Oh, all right," mumbled Pepin and the wolf climbed into the rear seat and curled up on the floor and went to sleep. Pepin, the unofficial Viceroy of Elm Springs, was a talking wolf that befriended Nick when they were both young pups. Now that Nick was blossoming in his majority, Pepin was nearing the end of his and it was breaking Nick's heart to see his old companion in such pain every day.

Ning, Hollie, and Octavia climbed in the back while Nick and Marlon sat up front. Hollie kicked off her shoes and rubbed her bare feet on Pepin, who sighed in delight at the attention. "How's the girlfriend, Pepin?" asked Octavia.

"It's a wolf thing, you wouldn't understand."

"No? I've got four children," said Octavia.

Pepin rolled onto his back so Hollie could rub his tummy with her toes. "That's barely half a litter."

It was a beautiful ride over Breeders Peak and down into Waleston, then to Waelmore Castle. The huge, brooding edifice had four huge towers marking each corner of the massive building. It was assumed to be a shelter for the people of the city of Waleston, and certainly had the space inside for it, but it's unknown what the thought of the original builders was. Nick was hoping that the research being done by the elf warrior/scholars Tanithil Glynrie and Tsarra Naedove, among others, would reveal the history of this edifice. He knew that the history behind this massive stone structure had to be meaningful.

All the while they travelled, Hollie rubbed her feet on a snoring Pepin and continually asked Ning embarrassing questions. She wanted to know why mommy could breastfeed Lou, but Ning was bottle feeding Loo-loo. Ning explained that women can only nurse babies right after giving birth. "Are you going to have a baby?"

"My baby is waiting for us at the castle."

"Oh!" The little girl thought for a few moments then said, "My mommy has two babies."

"I've got five babies," said Octavia.

"HUH?"

"Lou, Loo-loo, Hollie, Marlon, and daddy."

Hollie wrinkled her nose and said, "I'm not a baby!"

Marlon was going to turn around and make a remark but Nick stopped him. "When women are talking, you let them talk."

They pulled up to the door reserved for the peerage, where Nick stopped the carriage and everyone hopped out. The groom petted the horses, and Trixie nuzzled with him. "How is the new mare, your grace?"

"Her name is Jiffy and she's a little skittish if Trixie isn't around," said Nick as he helped Octavia and Ning out of the rear of the coach. "Keep Trixie and Jiffy close to each other and you won't have a problem."

"Aye, I will do that, your grace."

"We will spend the evening so you can let them in the pasture," said Nick as he lifted a giggling Hollie out of the carriage.

"Have a wonderful stay, your grace." And the groom led the horses and carriage off. They entered through the entrance reserved for nobility where they were met by several members of the palace staff. Compared to most royal palaces, Waelmore Castle is barren. King Uric maintains a lean staff, but he still has enough staff to assist visitors.

"If you will follow me, your grace," said the steward that met them at the entrance.

"We know our way," said Octavia, and to prove that Pepin trotted off to the "Stein Tower."

"I know, your grace, it's my job to see you arrive safely and fulfill any requests you may have."

"May I assist, your grace?" came a female voice. Octavia turned and it was Haydée Cyriaque, wife of Marquis Nathanaël Cyriaque, the international advisor to the king. Her husband had replaced the traitor, Lord Silas Singe, who was still in the dungeon and will remain there until he dies. Haydée was cute and quite young--just barely old enough to marry. She took Lou from Octavia's arms, allowing her to concentrate on walking without having to worry about the baby. Octavia is quite used to her wooden left leg, but she can be put off balance easily and had to walk with a walking stick. "He's beautiful! What is his name?"

"He is Llywellyn but we call him Lou; his sister is Llywella, and we call her Loo-loo."

Haydée turned to look at the baby that Ning was carrying and cooed, "named after the Olomyar twins, so beautiful. You must be so proud." Her recognition of the twins' namesakes surprised Octavia. Then she recognized who was holding the baby. "Lady Hau!" She tried to bow to Ning but wasn't quite sure how to do it with an infant in her arms. "My husband is International affairs advisor to the king! He would love to speak with you."

Ning gave her a sweet, but sad, smile. "I am merely the mother of the emperor. He would best be served by speaking to the emperor, or, if you prefer not to wait, you can speak to one of the former emperors; there are two here."

"There are?"

"Ning, please!" said Octavia with a smile. "Don't torture Marchioness Cyriaque with tales of ancient history." Just then, Marlon and Annabelle zoomed past, running hand in hand.

"Not all that ancient, your grace," said Ning with a giggle. Marlon was born in Xuantang on Nick and Octavia's last day of rule.

"Oh? What am I missing?" asked Cyriaque.

"My son Marlon becomes a member of the nobility tomorrow," said Nick.

"Tomorrow?" Cyriaque didn't understand. Children born to peers become nobles at the moment of their birth. Only adopted children 'become' members of the nobility by order of the king. "Oh, I didn't realize he was adopted."

"He's not adopted." And Nick left it at that, leaving the young wife of a well-suited international advisor to the king to wonder what was going on. She did not know that Marlon was born outside of Uduithia.

They reached their suite in the castle and found Preston and Annabelle Prescott waiting for them. The suite was a circular suite of rooms at the base of the Northeast tower or, if you're facing the front of the castle from the outside, it would be the tower in the back right corner. The king teased that he was going to have to give Nick the entire tower at the rate he and Octavia were producing children. The bottom suite of the tower was officially reserved for Nick and Octavia, and the floors above were for their guests. Nick was terrified to ask what caused such largess.

The suite was one central room with four rooms surrounding the central room. The central room is a shared area with a table and chairs, and loveseats. Preston was there waiting for everyone. "Can you be ready in time, your grace?"

"I just need a moment to put on my clown suit." Nick's clown suit was his official uniform. All members of the king's court were expected (meaning required) to wear a uniform. Nick's uniform was the blue and silver of Uduithia festooned with golden epaulettes, medals, and awards. For his actions, Nick was awarded two Uduithian Medals of Honor, known as the Uduithian Royal Star. Two Uduithian Royal Star medals entitled Nick to the Kings Warrant, which allowed him to knight anyone he deemed worthy of the honor. He first knighted Preston Prescott for his actions when sent to Põrgu Saar.

When Nick and Octavia stepped out of their bedroom, Nick was wearing his "clown suit," and Octavia was wearing a midnight blue robe and pointed wizard's hat, but hers had a wide brim like a witch's hat. Her robe had tiny silver eight-point stars to show her allegiance to Uduithia. "Are we ready?" asked Octavia.

"I'm ready," said Preston as his wife Annabelle helped him with his sling. Preston's left arm was damaged by a crab-like creature at Põrgu Saar and he was most comfortable with his arm in a sling.

"I'm ready also," said Claus Hillingham as he and his wife Sara McLeod Hillingham joined him. Claus was a tall man, born to ride and to command men. Sara was tiny, but she still rode with the troops and had a small horse to ride--a Phocis stallion, only fifteen hands high. Claus was the commander of the Wægn Highway Guard.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" asked Nick as they headed over to the courtroom.

"We respect the honor," said Preston, "but we can't leave Elm Springs, it's our home. We want to stay with the Elm Springs Highway Watch."

Nick frowned. The king wanted to appoint Preston as the Commander of the Uduithia Watch, but Preston didn't feel he deserved that honor and wanted to remain a small town police chief. He was going to nominate Claus Hillingham for the Uduithia Watch. "It is up to the king."

Ning was carrying Lou, and Nick was carrying Loo-loo. Jia, the Emperor of Xuantang, joined them and begged to carry one of the twins.

"I got to hold Marlon when I didn't realize what or who he was," said Jia. He was seven years old when Marlon was born and got to hold him a few weeks later. "I got to hold Hollie on Yuletide morning. Now I get to hold one of the twins."

"But you're going to marry me, right?" demanded Hollie.

"I may marry your sister," said Jia happily as he looked at the baby in his arms.

Nick leaned over and whispered, "That's Lou. Your mom is carrying Loo-loo."

"Are you positive?"

"His hat. Here in Uduithia, blue means boy."

"That is so odd."

They reached the court room, where Nick and Octavia took their seats at the main table and everyone else, except for Marlon and Annette, sat down in the visitors seating area. The court was soon all assembled and King Uric II entered, and the court rose and bowed to him until he ordered them to be seated. Then he bowed to Jia and said in perfect Xuantang, "Shining Emperor Hong, I would be honored if you joined this humble group."

Jia rose and bowed to King Uric and said, "I am honored by your heartfelt invitation." The young emperor handed Lou to Annabelle and joined the court. As he sat next to the king, he felt something warm on his thigh and looked down. Pepin sat next to Jia and rested his chin on Jia's thigh. The wolf closed his eyes and sighed, happy to be with a friend, and Jia was overjoyed to be able to pet the magic dog he fell in love with years ago.

The king started with a fatherly disapproving glare at Octavia. "Pray, what brings you here? You are granted thirty days of leave per child."

"All children? Does that include Sir Nicholas, sire?"

The room went silent. Since the horror of Neth Skelm, King Uric II appeared to have lost his sense of humor, and the court was terrified at how the king would accept her retort. He glared at her then finally said, "Were you not a wizard, I should have you across my knee!" he said sternly.

"If I weren't a wizard, I wouldn't have said it."

With that rejoinder, the king burst into laughter for the first time in six years. His entire court and the onlookers at the meeting burst into laughter also, but theirs was mostly laughter of relief; their once jolly king was laughing again. "Quite so, my lady sorceress. And Lord Nicolas, you have my most gracious sympathies." That caused even more laughter, which Nick was more than happy to join in. When the laughter died down, King Uric turned to Octavia and said, "My dear Dame Octavia, have you any matters to present before this assembly?"

"No, sire, I am here because we present our babies tomorrow, and I missed everyone, so I wanted to join the meeting."

"You like to attend the gatherings? How could that be? Most individuals hold meetings in utter contempt."

"Sire, when I first started coming, I hated them; I was called names like you couldn't imagine. But not to my face; they didn't have the guts. I couldn't stand the smug, snotty, arrogant gits. You don't realize how close you came to having a bucket of frogs for your court. If I had done that, I would have ended up in chains, but it would have been worth it."

"They insulted you?"

"Not to my face, sire; they were aware that my husband was raised on the streets of Torwin-Armistad and would have reminded them of how manners were enforced in The Tubes. Lords Slipspring, Cadence, and Laird were rude, but they weren't suicidal."

King Uric sighed. "We still retain those fellows in the dungeon should you care to sample a dish of frog legs. I am given to understand frog legs are considered a delicacy in Vespil." That produced some chuckles and the king went around the room looking for updates from each member of his court. Finally, he said, "I have bid Sir Preston Prescott attend this day to discourse upon the necessity of a department for security. Not a standing army, but a constabulary ever ready to render aid when assistance is required and assist with crime prevention. I am of the conviction that Sir Preston is the very gentleman capable of establishing such a force. Sir Preston, have you anything to add?"

Preston rose; he was clearly not well. He was wearing his dark glasses and was squinting behind them even though it was not bright in the court room. His paralyzed left arm was in a sling, but his fingers trembled at the memory of what happened there six years previously. "Sire, I do not believe I have the physical or mental strength to give you the force that Uduithia deserves. I beg that you let me remain a small town cop where I can raise my family in peace."

Nick stood and put his arms around Preston and whispered, "All is well, please sit and let me finish for you. Please?"

"Thank you, Pommy," said Preston, mentally putting himself back in Breaze where everything was peaceful. He nervously sat and let Nick take over.

Nick turned to the king and said, "Sire, may I introduce Commander Claus Hillingham? He worked for me in Breaze, and when he was ordered to hunt me down, he chased me across Breaze down the coast to Edhellond, then all the way up the Arn River to the gate of Termagant's Bane. He would have had me if the entire Teurnian army hadn't shown up and arrested us all."

"What have you to say, Commander?" asked the king.

Commander Hillingham spoke about setting up a national semaphore system, placing a semaphore tower in or near every village in the mountains. Pairs of troopers would patrol the mountains, traveling from village to village, carrying mail and delivering news to gain popular trust. The patrols could flash back their status or calls for help with the semaphore towers. A central tower would be mounted on Waelmore Castle, where it could relay news to the surrounding towers. A trio of trows could man each tower. It was unknown whether a trow was a human that looks like a tree, or a tree that acts like a human; wizards believe that trows are a type of dwarf. Trow volunteers learned semaphore quickly and loved transmitting the test messages that Claus gave them.

"Why would we want to do such a thing?" asked King Uric.

"For multiple reasons," said Claus. "For example, if there was an emergency in Vale Wood and Nonna Umbra was overwhelmed, she could tell someone to run to the semaphore tower to request witches to assist her. If there was a crime, an individual could go to the tower and request a patrol to hurry there. Village mayors could send official messages to this castle, encoded, of course. The uses are almost endless."

King Uric nodded and frowned. "Counting all villages and Waleston, that's fourteen towers. The cost of lamps alone would be..."

"Salamanders, sire," said Octavia. "You yourself said the kingdom was becoming overrun with red salamanders. A salamander at the operator's station would provide light for an entire evening of semaphore. A bucket full would last for months." Red salamanders were related to the green salamanders that burst into flame when disturbed. Red salamanders lived in dark tunnels and flare a sudden, brilliant white light when disturbed as their defense. They can flare dozens of times before becoming exhausted.

"How many trow and how many troopers?"

"With the towers, we would need fifty trow and I could patrol the kingdom with twenty troopers," said Claus.

"And without the towers, how many men would it take to patrol the kingdom?"

"I would probably need eighty trained troopers and at least one hundred horses placed in four barracks of twenty men and thirty horses. I'd place the barracks at Waleston, Slate Bottom Creek, Little Brimp, and Widdershin. Each barracks would need four support personnel."

"We can afford twenty troops and horse, but who is going to finance these towers?" demanded the king.

"I will," said Nick.

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Chapter 06 - Slaves

Spire 19, 3409

Cargo Dhow Qarib Qabih, Hisa'an Bay, Idamaa

A barge left Torwin-Armistad and silently slipped down the Eldrin River toward the ocean. It eased past the Edux galleys full of snoozing marines, men known as fierce anti-pirate troops, but on that quiet moonless night they were fast asleep. The barge drifted to a stop in the Bay of Cottlena and waited. Soon the Qarib Qabih came up alongside the barge and the crew of the barge tied up to the dhow and began to transfer the cargo. "How are they?" asked the captain of the dhow, Palan Zozik.

"They just ate, so they should be quiet for a few days," said the bargemaster Gaetano Bonini.

Captain Zozik nodded. Hauling slaves used to be a distasteful job, but then a wizard named Orhan began experimenting with distilled herbs that the witches used for healing severely injured people. It was said that the witches were able to save hunters mauled by mountain lions and soldiers that were gut-shot with poisoned arrows. It was all a matter of keeping them calm and letting the body heal itself.

Orhan discovered a way to vary the potency of the drugs and they became quite handy in keeping slaves quiet while being transferred. A strong dose made the mind malleable and the body weak. A stronger dose would make both the mind and the body unconscious. The modified drug was called ghubar alsukar (sugar dust) by the slavers. Slavers learned how to adjust its potency. A partial dose in the morning would leave them able to feed themselves, useful, and not fight back. A full dose in their evening meal would make them sleep for three days.

"Hurry, get them aboard!"

"Yes, captain." The sailors were well paid but they were still motivated by the lash and they hoisted forty-five young men and women aboard the Qarib Qabih.

Captain Zozik turned to the barge master and asked, "Was their dose varied?" A proper shipment of slaves would have a third awaken in one day, the next third awaken in two days, and the final third awaken in three days. The awake slaves were tasked with taking care of the sleeping slaves until dinner time when they would eat a stew containing a dose of ghubar alsukar that would knock them out for three days.

"Yes, captain, of course."

"The shipment is aboard, captain," reported the first mate, Vano Plity.

"Excellent. Cast that thing off and sink it. I will be down to inspect the cargo shortly."

The bargemaster, Gaetano Bonini, and his men swung down a rope to their barge and began chopping holes in the hull with pickaxes. As soon as it was sure that the old barge would go under, they clambered aboard a fishing boat and rowed back toward shore. There was no loss, the barge had been stolen anyhow.

"Mister Plity," said Captain Zozik softly.

"Yes, Captain!"

"Raise anchor. Prepare to make sail. Quietly. We are still within earshot of Port Meabras."

"Aye, captain."

With that, Vano Plity selected his capstan crew, and they got to work. First the eight wooden handles were attached to the capstan, a wooden cylinder mounted on the foredeck. Next they pinned the anchor shaft. Below deck in the forecastle was a shaft that would be connected to the capstan above by a thick wooden pin. "Pinned up, Mister Plity!" came from below.

"Lean into it, boys," said Mister Plity softly and eight sailors began pushing on the capstan handles which rotated the capstan, which rotated the anchor shaft, which raised the anchor. Finally, Mister Plity turned to Captain Zozik and said, "Anchor up and secured, sir."

"Fine, Mister Plity. Fill the air with canvas."

"Aye, sir. Run that line to the capstan, unpin the capstan from the anchor hoist, mind that yard, boys, we're going up. Hoist the yard!" The capstan team began turning the big wooden drum which pulled the line connected to the forward yardarm and slowly the long wooden yard arm climbed the mast, hoisting the big triangular sail on the fore mast. Then the main sail on the main mast, and finally the mizzen course on the mizzen mast were raised and the three triangular sails were fluttering in the wind. "Secure that capstan, boys; let's get these sails trimmed up."

Soon the three huge triangular sails caught the breeze and the Qarib Qabih moving out of the Bay of Cottlena at the southern end of the Edux continent and heading into the Lounast Sea. Below deck Jutta and Felix Aldana slept, not knowing if they would ever see their child again.

<><><><><>

Where did Felix and Jutta go? They rode into town to visit a temple and they were never heard from again. Torwin-Armistad had the bare minimum of law enforcement and Gaffer Bivens ended up standing in the office of Orazio Laurita, Dominus, the autocratic ruler of Torwin-Armistad who was less than happy to see him. "To what do I owe the honor of your visit, Mister Bevins?"

"My grain train entered your city and a young family from my train walked into the temple of Saehrimnir and never came out. They were seen going in, but the Archbishop denies it."

The Dominus looked at Gaffer for a long time, then finally said, "This appears to be a theological problem." Then he went back to writing a document. Without looking up, he said, "Do not let me detain you."

"You're not going to do anything?" demanded Gaffer.

"What would you have me do?" asked Orazio Laurita without looking up from his document.

"Go into that temple and find out what happened!"

Now Laurita looked up from his document. "Mister Bevins, you may consider me a bastard, and that is your right, but another right you have is separation of church and state. I do not tell the gods what to do, and they treat me the same way. Your best bet would be to speak to Mister Saehrimnir himself. Now if you don't mind, I have work to do."

"You could at least speak to law enforcement."

"Mister Bevins, right now, that is the last thing you want me to do."

Gaffer stormed out of the city and straight to the grain dock where they made a tidy profit for the farmers of Pirangi. He went to the cook wagon and asked, "Cookie, are you ready to move out?"

"I have Dunbar and his sons coming back with fresh produce and I'll be ready."

"Soon as you have it, we're moving out." He went back to his tent and gave a sharp whistle and called out, "Strike camp, we're headin' out immediately." At the words 'strike camp,' his sons and grandsons started to take down their tent. They were already packed because Gaffer was known to leave at a moment's notice, so this wasn't unusual. "Toby! You're leading the ride home. I want this train moving sunrise to sunset, no lollygagging."

"You got it. Anything wrong?"

Gaffer squeezed his fists until his knuckles turned white. "I think Felix and Jutta got nabbed."

<><><><><>

An outrider reached Ayluin and Shelara Gilmaris' cabin long before the wagon train returned. "Sir, ma'am, Gaffer would like for you to meet him at the temple in Pirangi."

"Why? Is something wrong?" asked Shelara.

The rider, a friend of Felix's looked like he was going to cry. "Felix, Jutta, and Corina were seen going into the temple of Saehrimnir, but they never returned. I think Gaffer is going to try to kill Bet ha-Kise."

"You can't kill a god, it's impossible," said Ayluin. "Why would he think of such a stupid thing?"

"Bet ha-Kise was the one who told Felix and Jutta to take Corina to the temple in Torwin-Armistad."

"Go tell Ryden and Leri Aldana; tell them we'll meet them at the temple."

"Yes, sir."

The rider dashed off and Ayluin called for Jutta's brothers. "Ryul! Santo!"

"Yes, Paw?" asked Santo breathlessly as the boys ran up.

"Get the carriage ready, I'm taking your mother and grandmother into town."

"Can we come too?"

Ayluin was about to say no, he didn't want the boys to come apart if the news was bad, but this was their older sister, brother-in-law, and niece. "Saddle up."

<><><><><>

Gaffer Bivens was there to meet the Gilmaris and Aldana families and they went into the temple where a tormented looking Bet ha-Kise was waiting for them. "Saehrimnir hath declared his presence shall soon grace this temple..."

Suddenly a thundering voice came from behind them. "What words do you seek to utter before the divine?" They spun around and the senior god was there. The temple of Bet ha-Kise was not big, so Saehrimnir crouched, resting on one knee.

Ayluin spun and found himself eye to eye with the senior god. He didn't cower; in fact, he stepped closer. "My daughter Jutta and her husband Felix brought their child here for the blessing, and Bet ha-Kise said you wanted to see our little Corina. Felix, Jutta, and Corina entered your temple six days ago and have not been seen since."

Anger washed over Saehrimnir's face, but when he spoke, he spoke softly. "The divine beings of this realm are not all-seeing; were they, mortal multitudes would dwindle. I shall act within my power, yet if they stray into another god's domain, my hands are bound." With a clap of thunder, he was gone and appeared in his own temple smiling and happy. He was gone far too long. His bishops needed a lesson in humility.

After the welcome home pleasantries were out of the way, Archbishop Spakeman smiled and said, "We have a surprise for you, your holiness. Bet ha-Kise sent someone for your blessing." And he produced the most beautiful baby ever seen on Kodu.

"By what title is she known to the heavens?" Saehrimnir knew she was Corina Aldana, but he did not trust this bishop and acolyte.

"Her name is Octavia, my lord."

Saehrimnir could barely contain his anger. They gave this beautiful darling a number! "Octavia what?"

"We do not know, sire," said Bishop Spakeman. "She was the eighth foundling brought to the orphanage that day, so Eternal Mother Ramsey gave her the name Octavia."

"Whither have her parents departed?" and the angry god began ripping the knowledge out of Bishop Spakeman's brain, word by painful word.

"Her parents? Uh... it... appears..." The bishop couldn't stop. Each word was agony as they were torn from his living brain one by one. Even the planned lie was ripped from his head. "... they... contracted... Haemoris... Fever... "

"LIAR!" roared the god. Saehrimnir saw the acolyte trying to sneak away. "YOU! SPEAK NOW!"

Acolyte Rupert Belsey froze in fear. He was silent for a second, then he began to babble. "I had to do it, sire! The Bishop said he would sell my parents to the Idamaa slave traders like he did to her parents." The acolyte told the god all about drugging Octavia's parents like he had done dozens of times before.

"BRING THEM BACK!" roared the god.

The bishop screamed and clutched his head. "Their ship is on the Lounast Sea! We can't reach it!"

"Then you shall commune with them directly; command them to repent and return." Saehrimnir waved his hand and the bishop and acolyte disappeared, leaving their fine robes behind. Then he handed the baby to Caspar Scholtz, a temple priest, and said, "Caspar, I vest thee with the mantle of Archbishop. This child dwelleth beneath my divine protection and benediction. No shadow shall touch her if you want to live."

"Yes, your divine glory."

"Summon Eternal Mother Ramsey and the Sage Professor Tidor Dhukonn unto my presence this instant!"

"Yes, your ultimate fairness." The new bishop dashed out of the temple and returned with Eternal Mother Ramsey, head of the orphanage, and Professor Tidor Dhukonn. Mother Ramsey was holding Octavia and wondering what was going on.

"Mother Ramsey, thou shalt cherish this child as mine own flesh. Spare not the rod, for within her lies a spark of divinity unmatched in thy humble sanctuary. Bring forth that spark!"

"If I may ask, highness, what is so special about this child?"

Instead of answering, Saehrimnir said to the professor, "Divine Sage Dhukonn, how dost thou perceive this fledgling soul?"

Tidor put on his glasses and leaned over and inspected Octavia. He didn't seem impressed until he ran a hand gently over her cheek. He gasped and jumped back. "She is not a god?"

"Verily, she is no deity, but a sacred fusion of elf and human."

"My lord, she is more magically endowed than many of our graduates!"

"Nurture her with wisdom, my chosen one. A divine blessing has graced your lineage. When her mate is revealed to my sight, I shall bestow upon him such boundless wisdom that, united, they may reign over Edux."

<><><><><>

The Qarib Qabih sat becalmed on the Lounast Sea. By the light of two full moons they sat, waiting for a breeze. Captain Palan Zozik sat next to the helm with his feet propped up, puffing on a good cigar. Suddenly a thump was heard and he looked and there was a naked fat man on the main deck, trying to stand up. A moment later, another naked fat man landed on the deck with a damp sounding "splat!"

Captain Zozik leaned forward to see what was going on. He smiled when the younger fat man with long hair stood up and roared, "This is your fault!"

"My fault! If you hadn't spilled your guts!" shouted the bald fat man with a long grey beard.

"Now where the hell are we, you pig! You greedy sow!"

"You couldn't follow simple instructions you stupid shit!"

Soon, fists joined insults, and the two naked fat men were flailing away at each other. Neither was a fighter, so their blows were wild roundhouse punches, and it quickly became great entertainment for the becalmed crew. Soon, the crew was cheering them on, placing bets, then shoving them back into the fight if a solid hit sent them across the deck.

"Should I put a stop to this, captain?" asked Vano Plity.

"No. As long as we're on course and the work is getting done, let them entertain the crew."

"Yes, sir." The first mate stood and watched the fight.

"Oh, Mister Plity, go down there and tell them that the loser will spend the day below with the crew. That should keep them going for a while."

"And what will the winner receive?"

The captain puffed his cigar and considered the ash. "Same thing."

"It would be more merciful to throw them overboard."

The captain shrugged. "How much do you think we can get for them?"

"Twenty in gold at best. Maybe fifty if they lost some weight."

"A few months of being handed around by the crew should burn the weight off." There was a hard and fast rule on slave ships: no sex with the cargo. However Captain Zozik recognized Archbishop Spakeman. A man of faith selling his people into slavery? That disgusted Captain Zozik, even though he had no moral problem with hauling slaves from Edux to the slave dens of Idamaa.

<><><><><>

Two days into the trip, Jutta woke up. She was in a stinking hold filled with women dressed in rags. Many were clearly from Eastern Edux, their reddish hair and dark brown skin gave that away. They glared at her with her black hair and pale white skin. From their talk she realized that many of the easterners were from Scoville or Schulberg, the two largest city-states on the eastern end of the Edux continent.

While the western side of Edux has gods everywhere, on the east end there's two minor goddesses. Anmera, the goddess of winter, was in the city state of Schulberg at the southern tip of the Horn of Edux, where the arctic blasts off the southern pole make winter in Schulberg an eight-month-long event. Ohses, the goddess of weddings, was in Scoville, a city-state in the eastern plains, where the land was so flat you could see for hundreds of miles. Trees were few and far between. People burned cattle chips for fuel.

What good is a goddess of winter? Or a goddess of weddings? Jutta also heard that they don't have horses on the eastern side of the continent. What kind of civilization would not have horses?

Jutta's life became one long episode of misery. One day after another became Jutta's life, and she had no way of knowing that she would sleep for two days between each day of wakefulness. They would wake, be allowed to use the stern midden or whatever a ship's toilet was called, then return to her spot; that was her exercise, a two-minute hike where she would hoist her skirt and sit. She never saw Felix, and never knew there was a hold full of men below her. Talking was forbidden; the stinging crack of a lash would end all speech. Slaves who failed to obey were strapped to the main mast and whipped. If two whippings didn't correct a slave's attitude, the third offence got the slave tied up and tossed overboard where the slave was dragged for a day. If the slave survived, they were obedient from that point forward.

Then one day, as she trudged to the midden, she noticed the ship was entering a harbor. A city surrounded the harbor--a city filled with minarets, buildings with onion-dome roofs, and people shouting from towers in that odd warbling language of Idamaa--and it occurred to Jutta that she would never see Corina ever again.

The ship docked and the slaves were hustled off of the Qarib Qabih. Somehow, all slaves were awake and were led away in chains to the jeering of the crowds. This was the first time that Jutta saw the men that were held captive along with her. She struggled to see Felix, but there were more men from Western Edux with them. She believed she saw a flash of dark hair, which is rare in Western Edux, so it had to be Felix.

The women were led into a large stone building and stripped and hosed down with perfumed water. Their hair was combed out and they were given a simple handwoven shift to wear, the shift of a slave. Jutta had an advantage over most of the slaves: she could understand the language of these equatorial lands, Al Fransic. It was almost the international language of horse traders because some of the finest horses came out of Idamaa.

The women were taken out into the courtyard and lined up. This was where they were to be sold. Jutta imagined that she would be made to stand in the middle of the courtyard on a small dais, strip naked, and be ogled and pawed. Instead, a man with a short beard wearing long, flowing white robes stepped on the dais and, in Al Fransic said, "I am Safar al-Azad, governor of this city. I have a two-foot-long penis and when I cum, it tastes like the sweetest honey." He watched the slaves for their reaction, and, as expected, only a few of the women reacted; one was Jutta. He turned to the slave auction master and said, "I will take that one, that one, her over there, and the one with the black hair." And with that, Jutta's life as a slave began in earnest.

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Chapter 07 - Presentations

Nebulara 11, 3438

Waelmore Castle, Uduithia

King Uric preferred Claus Hillingham's idea of setting up semaphore towers throughout the mountain villages that circled the capital city of Waleston, but the king personally liked Preston Prescott. He liked the idea of a small town cop guarding his people. "Please, your majesty," begged Nick. "Preston is terrified of being in this castle. The memories haunt him."

"The recollections vex each of us," said King Uric sadly. He was about to say more, but he went silent for a long time, then scooped up the cards that Nick dealt him. After arranging his cards, the king looked to his partner Octavia and said, "Open."

The queen, Nick's partner, called "Ninety-five." A twenty-five-point jump bid! She must have something incredible.

"Hundred," called the king.

"One-oh-five," bid Nick with his mediocre hand.

The queen won the bid and the play began. It was a bloodbath. What the queen didn't win, Nick won, and there was a trick with 30 points on the table and Nick hit it with the falcon--a fifty-point trick. "You don't know how terrifying this is, playing against two powerful magic users," said the king.

"If you didn't notice, dear," said Queen Elinor. "The most powerful magic user in your kingdom is currently getting her arse kicked." The queen laid down another trump card, taking the ace that Octavia played.

The king won a trick but lost the next trick to Nick. "Sir Nicholas, to what extent do you place your faith in Commander Hillingham?"

"I trust him with the safety of our railhead." The railhead at Slate Bottom Creek was one of the most important parts of the economy of Uduithia. Nick continued. "He's a stickler for communication; he invented the signal flags that let the east-west patrols on the main road through Wægn know their status. It's a simple way to tell the road patrols 'Come in, we have information for you,' or 'all is well, continue your patrol.' If we combine that with the signal tower, any subject can ask for help and get it in minutes."

"How is he as a leader?"

"He kept my mounted guard together in a cohesive unit all these years... in Breaze, in Teurnia, and now in Slate Bottom Creek. I trust him above anyone else."

The king tossed the four cards he took to Octavia for her to score and said, "Shall not the keepers of the Flash Semaphore System have anything to remark upon it?" He was referring to the wide-area semaphore system known as Flash that linked the cities and villages across Edux. Slate Bottom Creek was the only town in Uduithia that was part of the Flash network because of the Torwin, Pirangi, & Elf Harbor Tramway whose rails terminate in Slate Bottom Creek.

"This is our own system using our own code. Using salamanders is completely different from their system. They will probably be interested in watching. I suppose we can link into their system but then we'd have to start writing checks."

"We still have an account with the Flash network," said Octavia. "We inherited it when we absorbed the Peregrine and Aegir Mining Company."

The king leaned back in his chair and sighed. "I daresay we shall consider that matter come the spring. Do inform Commander Hillingham to commence his duties as head of national security on the morrow. I desire that all law enforcement bodies within the kingdom report directly to him, save for the palace guard."

"Yes, sir!"

The king's face gained a serious expression. "Have you yet had a word with Marlon?"

"About what, sire?"

"On the morrow, he ascends to his inheritance. He shall be positioned to succeed to your estates, your peerage, and your duty towards your subjects."

"We have talked, and he understands. He's only six but he knows about the responsibilities that lie before him. He even wants to fulfill Woodshed Wednesday."

"That is a rather considerable amount of labor!" gasped the king.

"He worries about the older folks in Elm Springs; when we lost Homlette and Ophilia d'Marhk last year, he cried for a week. He worries about Sieffre Merrick the most."

"He is truly your son."

<><><><><>

It was after midnight when Nick carried his wife back to their suite piggyback. Ever since their battle with Neth Skelm when she lost her left leg, he carried her almost constantly. She could walk but after a while the leg rubbing against her stump grew painful. She could levitate herself and float through the halls of the castle like a balloon, but there's only one man she wants peering up her skirts, so he carries her. When out of doors, she rides him in his form as a horse or dragon. On the farm, she will float around riding her enchanted staff, Virga, like a witch's broom, but with two babies to carry, that's going to come to an end until they can walk.

Entering their suite, they checked on the children. The twins were asleep in a bassinette in the center room. Their nanny, sixteen-year-old Magdalena, a cute, blond, slightly chubby chamber maid, was sitting next to them, waiting for Nick and Octavia to return. She rose and curtsied and in her West Shoreland accent said, "Good evenin' to ye, yer grace."

"Good evening to you too," said Octavia as Nick set her down. "Or should we say good morrow? It's well past midnight. How were the children? Did they behave?"

"The wee'uns were a fine bunch. They were like the angels themselves, so they were."

"And when did the fight end?"

"There were no fights at all, yer graces. Missus Prescott and her darlin' daughter Annette were here, and Sir Marlon, he was on his best behavior, so he was. The Prescott clan is havin' a kip in the spare room, and Marlon and Hollie are both in that room yonder."

Octavia peered in the children's room and Marlon and Hollie were sleeping in the big bed in there, but there was a lump under the covers between them. It couldn't be Pepin; he was sleeping on the floor by the fire. Octavia pulled back the cover and there was Annette sleeping between Marlon and Hollie.

In the common room, Nick pressed a gold coin into Magdalena's hand. "Thank you so much; the children love having you watch them."

"I do be lovin' yer wee ones, but I can't be takin' this coin. We're not allowed to take tips at all."

"That's not a tip, it's a bribe," said Nick. "If anyone here gives you grief over that, you tell them to come see me."

Confused but grateful, Magdalena bowed and said, "Thank ye, sir, an' a grand evenin' to yerself an' the duchess." She hurried back to the maid's dormitory, but on the way she stopped under a torch and inspected the twenty dollar gold coin, commonly called a double sawbuck. She had never seen one before and now she has one of her own. She must come back again and watch the children, if only to feel like she earned this coin.

In the master bedroom, Nick lit a small fire in the ornate glass stove. Then, as Octavia nursed Llywella, Nick undressed his wife. He gently eased off her right shoe and stocking, then he unbuckled her left leg and gently set that aside before taking the sock off her stump and massaged in some ointment to relieve the pain. He unbuttoned her dress, then said, "Up." Octavia floated up a couple of inches off the bed and Nick was able to undress her completely then she settled back down on the bed.

After Llywella was done with her midnight snack, Octavia lay back next to Nick and he kissed her sweetly. She looked so sad that his heart ached for her. Eight years of marriage and four children, and she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The problem was that Nick was ruining her entire life. She was raised to live in the lap of luxury and instead he put her in a tiny cottage on a smelly farm. Instead of giving her a life of joy he put her in danger and got her body hacked up. He couldn't take it anymore, the thought of her life being ruined twisted his guts. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.

"Then why are you doing it?" she asked. She was crying too, and she looked angry. "Why?" she demanded.

"I love you, but I don't have a mansion for you; all I have is a little farm and a tiny house..."

"What? I don't care about that; those are just things. When we realized I was pregnant, didn't the cottage add a room? Has the mountain ever failed us for firewood, or meat, or ice?"

Nick kissed her tears away. "Then why are you sad?"

"Because of what you are doing to Marlon!"

"I don't understand. What are you upset about?"

Octavia's left eye, violet and bright, flared in anger. "You! The king! Both of you are going to make him an heir! He's going to be nobility! He's..." she struggled and tried to keep her sorrow back but she failed. "He's not my little boy anymore!"

Her wails of sorrow broke Nick's heart and he held his beautiful wife close. "Darling..."

"DON'T DARLING ME!" Suddenly she was fighting against him but years of being a soldier and a farmer made Nick a strong and solid man. He held her close and she fought until she gave up and went limp in Nick's arms.

"Darling, if we don't do this, the title passes to his brother, Llywellyn, and if he's not available, it goes to whomever Hollie marries."

The thought of tiny Lou being forced to take over the duchy before he was ready shattered Octavia. Her terror of what might happen to her boys reached Nick and they both wept long into the night.

<><><><><>

Wednesday was the good day. On Monday morning, King Uric opened court to the people of Uduithia. The public was allowed to petition the king with any complaints they may have. Nothing requires the king to act on those complaints, but the people have the right to air them respectfully. Tuesday was meetings with political factions and his court. Thursday and Friday were criminal and civil court, but Wednesday was the good day. That's when the real people of Uduithia came.

Married couples and the witches that performed the ceremonies came and announced their marriage to the king. For many couples this was the closest they would get to a fancy wedding ceremony and many invited their families to join them at the castle. Couples that can afford a big wedding usually get married in a temple, and part of that fee goes to registering their wedding with the royal clerk.

Then came the babies. Babies born in Uduithia were brought to the king and they were entered in the national rolls as citizens. The person who delivered the child, most often a witch, was there to act as witness. Then, after lunch with the newlywed couples and new parents, came the swearing-in of the new citizens. People from outside Uduithia who moved there and wished to become citizens were sworn in in a ceremony.

Two of Nick's trainees were here for the wedding ceremony: Bella McTavish and Matilda Potts both performed a wedding ceremony and both delivered a baby this month. Bella performed a wedding in Widdershin, and delivered Loo-loo while Nick was cleaning up Lou. Matilda Potts performed a wedding and the next week delivered a baby in Deasil, her first solo delivery. She was also there at Nick and Octavia's cottage to watch the twins being delivered.

These ceremonies were relaxed, but Nick insisted that his witch trainees show up in their finest black robes and a freshly pressed black hat. The married couple could wear anything they wanted, and Nick made sure that the witches he trained would give their newlyweds that information. Uduithia is a poor nation and witches performed weddings for free, so Nick didn't want a young farm couple to feel like they're unworthy. He and Octavia wore their everyday farm clothing and sat in the gallery with the common folk.

The witches in attendance gathered around Nick and Octavia, and when a young witch from Little Brimp asked who Nick was, another young witch said, "He's the senior witch."

"No, I've just been at it for a while. I studied medicine at a school, and I learned witchery under numerous witches. That one over there is the most senior here; she's my great-aunt Agness, and she's not the most senior witch. Our senior witch is Ezzie Fahy."

"I'm so nervous," gasped Bonnie, a young witch trainee. Her trainer, Ursula Umbra, just told her that she would present the baby she and Ursula delivered to the king. "I don't know what to say to a king."

"Let me tell you a secret," said Nick. "The king likes witches."

"How do you know?"

He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "He married a witch."

Bonnie's eyes popped wide open. "The queen?"

Nick nodded and smiled then whispered, "She trained me in herbology."

The king and queen were dressed casually with just enough finery to show that he was king. They saw no need to wear their finest robes because the vast majority of the people they would see today couldn't afford to buy a good suit. The queen was wearing the same flowered dress she wore to Nick and Octavia's home seven years ago, and the king looked like he was ready to go fishing.

One by one the married couples stood before the king and queen, and the royal couple gave them encouragement and sage advice. Even in the depths of sadness after the deaths of their sons, they put on a show for the newlyweds and the new parents. Finally, the last couple was presented, and the king looked at the gallery. "Now for the best part, our new Uduithians. And we have twins to greet!"

Legally, to register a birth, parents had only to go with their witch to the county clerk and give their local clerk the birth information. The people of Waleston have their clerk there in the castle and this little ceremony evolved over the decades. Eventually people from the outer villages began taking part. The Court Herald, Harold Lorchester, banged his staff on the floor and called out. "The Duke and Duchess of Wægn, and the Witch, Missus Bella McTavish."

Nick and Octavia rose and approached the king and queen. Bella carried Loo-loo and Nick carried Lou because traditionally the witch who performed the delivery presented the baby to the king. They stopped before the throne and Uric gestured to them to approach. "Sire, may I introduce my son, Llywellyn Blair Stein."

The king was stunned. His original name was Blair McLeod, a minstrel who became king. Nick put Lou in the king's hands and the king gazed at the baby with moist eyes. "So tiny," were the only words that the king could say.

"Your majesty, may I present Llywella Elinor Stein," said Bella, and she placed Loo-loo in Queen Elinor's arms.

"Named for the Olomyar twins," said the king with a nod of approval. Then he whispered to Lou, "Welcome to Uduithia, young wizard." As he handed the baby back to Nick, King Uric looked at Octavia who now had a bouquet of flowers and said, "Thank you, my lady; your children are a blessing and I pray they have a long, peaceful life."

"Thank you, your majesty," she said, and tried to curtsey, which is hard to do with a wooden leg.

Later, the couples that presented babies to the king and their witches joined Nick and his family at lunch. It was a joyful meal with the king and queen entertaining the newlyweds and Nick and Octavia entertaining the new parents. Laughter filled the dining room as Nick and King Uric teased their guests with tales of their past. Agness even joined them and she asked Nick a question that was vexing her, "Is it easier to deliver your own child?"

Nick went silent for a moment then said, "No. It's terrifying. There's Octavia, my dearest love, and she's in so much pain. And when the baby cries, they're scared and cold and suddenly alone. I end up crying with them. I suppose, for a witch, the equivalent would be to deliver your daughter's child."

"Who is Guendolen Borsen?" asked Bella.

"Who told you about Guen?" demanded Nick. He still keeps an eye on the Borsen girls and they often visit his farm.

"Your great-aunt," and Bella pointed at Agness. This was a game that Bella and Nick played. To Bella, Agness was Nick's great-aunt. To Nick, Agness was Bella's grandmother.

"Desdemona Borson was my third delivery. She was carrying twins, two identical girls, and Lynet was born healthy. Guendolen was stillborn, but I was able to save her, and that was my very happiest moment as a witch."

"How is Guendolen now?" asked one of the mothers.

"She chases me," groaned Marlon, and immediately Annette swatted him on the arm, which caused laughter to roll through the dining room.

Octavia slowly stood, leaning heavily on her cane. "Marlon, we need to talk." Then she slowly left the dining room, limping and leaning on her walking stick, but she maintained her dignity.

"I've got to go," said Marlon, and he stood, and Annette rose with him. "No, Mom wants me."

"I'm coming with you," Annette insisted and she followed Marlon. Octavia led Marlon into a side room, and Annette tried to follow, but she couldn't enter the room; something kept her from entering. The door closed on her, and when she knocked on the door, there was no sound.

Inside the room, Octavia sat on a chair, her delicate hands clutching Virga, her walking stick. "Do you realize what this ceremony means?"

"Yes, I become a Uduithian citizen. Jia can't draft me into the Xuantang army."

"Did your father tell you that?"

"No, Jia did. He said I could be a general." Jia was the emperor of Xuantang, but at thirteen years old he was more like Marlon's big brother.

"And you don't want to do that?"

"No, I don't speak Xuantang and Jia said all they eat is seeds."

"That's called rice. Is that why you want citizenship?"

Marlon shook his head. "No. I got duty. I have to be ready to be duke if something happens to dad."

"You don't have to be duke."

"Yes, I do. If I don't become duke, Lou has to. It's my job to be duke, it's his job to be a knight or a wizard or something."

Octavia gently grasped his arms and fought back her tears. "Honey, what I'm saying is that you don't have to if you don't want to."

"I want to, and, mom, I need to. I'm the big brother. It's my job."

"Is that what your father said?"

"No, he tells me the same as what you are saying."

"I was making sure," she said, trying to convince herself more than Marlon. "Go get your good uniform on. I'll be along to help with the sash."

"I will!" He wrenched open the door, and Annette almost fell on him. "Come on. Beat ya to my room!" In moments, they were gone. That's when Octavia's tears came.

<><><><><>

There was only one new applicant for citizenship in Uduithia other than Marlon. He was an elven brewmeister and he had opened a brewery in Waleston and found that becoming a citizen had its advantages. After Paeris pledged his allegiance, the king said a few welcoming words, then said, "You seem to be surprised about something."

"I didn't expect to be accepted, your majesty. Many kingdoms do not welcome elves."

"Welcome to Western Edux, new friend. Our ranks are slowly filling with elves. Three years ago, I was given the privilege to welcome an entire village of elves to Uduithia. They pledged their allegiance to the duke of their land back in thirty-two, and we made it official in thirty-five. They have every race of elves that I know of. Plains, forest, mountain, and dark elves."

"I must go visit this marvel of elven fellowship," said Paeris Mornala, the new citizen of Uduithia.

"Then speak to our next new citizen when we are done here. I know for a fact that he can lead you there."

With that, the entire Stein family rose and approached the throne. Octavia and Hollie wore dark blue gowns and matching witches hats. Nick and Marlon wore their midnight blue and mithril silver uniforms. The difference was that Nick wore a silver sash, several medals, and golden epaulettes on his shoulder boards, while Marlon's jacket had a golden sash and no medals or shoulder boards.

As they approached, Marlon's friend Jia, known in his home country as Emperor Hau Chung Jia stepped up next to the king and said, "Ying Zhi Zi, please step forward." Marlon stepped forward, and Annette stepped forward with him. She was wearing a midnight blue dress that hung to the floor. "Brother Ying Zhi Zi, do you wish to decline your citizenship in the golden empire of Xuantang?"

"Yes, I do," said Marlon firmly.

"Then, with a heavy heart, I cast you free. But may I continue to call you brother?"

"You better," growled Pepin from under Magdalena's seat where she cared for the twins.

"Yes, I would be honored," said Marlon as he and Annette bowed deeply to the emperor. Jia and his mother Ning, both in their formal silk robes, stepped forward to Marlon and removed the gold sash from his jacket, and as Ning handed the folded sash to Annette, Jia bowed to King Uric and said, "Your majesty, please care for Ying Zhi Zi, the son of eagles."

"Thank you, Emperor Jia." The king rose and said, "Marlon Jehans Stein, after passing the required challenges, you are eligible to become a citizen of Uduithia. Please raise your right hand and swear your oath of citizenship."

Marlon raised his right hand and repeated after the king. "I, Marlon Jehans Stein, do pledge my allegiance to the crown of Uduithia and to the people that crown serves. I pledge my loyalty to our kingdom and to the principles we uphold--unity, fellowship, and justice for all. I will act with integrity, respect the crown, and work together for the good of Uduithia."

The king smiled and said, "Friend Marlon, welcome to your new home." As they shook hands, Annabelle Prescott and Octavia put a silver sash on Marlon's jacket.

"Do I get shoulder boards too?" asked Marlon, eyeing his new sash.

The shoulder boards were a sign of nobility. When Nick gives Marlon the complimentary title of Marquess of Black Mountain, he will then get the shoulder boards, but Octavia was standing firm on that. Marlon needed to read and write properly first. "Later," scolded his mother.

<><><><><>֍<><><><><>

Chapter 08 - Catrin Wolfe

Nexus 13, 3380

Elm Springs, Uduithia

Because the common calendar has twelve months of four weeks, every month has a Friday the thirteenth. Unlike some societies, Friday the thirteenth is not considered unlucky in the kingdoms on the Edux continent. That was because every Friday is considered lucky, and why not? The next day is Saturday. But this Friday the thirteenth was especially lucky for Norman Peacock.

He awoke shivering and coughing as usual. "Are you unwell, Norman?" asked the jailer. Norm looked to the door and as usual saw a skull wearing a helmet peering in at him.

"Same, same," said Norm with a cough. "Could you hold the torch up so I don't miss the bucket?"

"How is that?" asked Stan, the skeletal jailer as he raised his torch.

"Fine, thank you... what is that racket going on? I could barely sleep."

Stan made a sound that sounded like a laugh. "It appears that the army has decided a new king is in order. They made sure that King Gerlach's rule ended last night."

"They killed him?"

"Not yet. He's in the cell four down from you. I feel he won't survive when the army discovers how few men of the Spatz Mountain raid survived. They're on their way now. The palace guard is leading the way."

"I don't hold truck with regicide."

"That, my old friend, is not your decision. Please step back, your escort home has arrived."

"Huh?" But the door slammed open and a familiar voice blessed his ears when he heard the love of his life crying. "Nanna, is that you?"

"Pappy! Oh my Pappy!" Nana Peacock threw her arms around Pappy but she squawked when she discovered how scrawny he was. "Come here, boys! Carry my man here to the king's bath itself!"

"Wait, what?" Norman was confused but men poured into his cell and gently carried him off. He couldn't open his eyes because the torches they carried were too bright. He had been held in near total darkness for years, accused of murder for following orders, and the rest of the men were accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy. "I don't understand..."

"You're going home, Pappy," said a young soldier. Norm Peacock became Pappy to every man under arms in Waelmore Castle and now they were overjoyed to free him. "You taught us well, Pappy; now we come to return the favor."

"We're going to need some ointment for his sores," said Nana to someone. "Get me some Doctor Souto's Penirolac ointment for the sores, and some tincture of rose water for his eyes." Norm felt his clothing being ripped off, and he started to cry. "What's wrong, Pappy?"

"I must appear as a corpse. I'm so sorry..."

"You hush now, Norman Peacock. You do look to be a challenge for any witch, but you know how I love a challenge!" The tears wouldn't stop. Pappy wept for all the pain, all the suffering but mostly for all the time lost, all the men lost and all the young boys lost, especially Nicholas. "Pappy, if you keep this up, you'll get me to cryin' also."

"Sorry, Nana... but... all I wished for was to spend my last moments with you..."

Nana scolded him between tears. "Norman Peacock, you have far too many last moments left to count. You have work to do when you get home! I ain't had a proper trout dinner in pert near fifteen years. That stream o' yours is probably so crowded with trout you'll be able to dip them out with your hands."

<><><><><>

Home wasn't quite home for Norm Peacock. The last time he saw his oldest daughter Agness Brunhilda, she had been fifteen years old; now she was thirty, married to Harold Dempsy and living in Soilly on the other side of Four Forks Mountain. She had three girls, Lorayne, Kendall, and Everleigh. She wasn't the smiling happy girl she once was. Her younger sister, Gertrude Beatrice, was married to Peddyr Rory Wolfe, who became the man of the farm. A few months before Pappy was released, they had a daughter, Catrin Wolfe, who became Grandpa's angel. Martyn Seumas, the youngest boy, was a rare sight, though not as rare as Agness. He spent most of his time down at the Temple of the Woods learning wizardry.

For days after returning, Norman walked around the farm he built, Nana holding his hand showing him around. She introduced him to each chicken, and each rabbit, to each row of carrots and each stalk of corn. She showed him where the mules lived and pointed out where they used to build snowmen. "I missed you so much, my love," whispered Nana.

"We lost so much time, I'm almost ashamed to return. I can't do anything... I'm just a drain on the whole farm."

"Nonsense, Norman Peacock. You've got a much needed skill. Now come with." And Nana led him into the cottage and pushed him down in her rocking chair. "I've got to check on a patient, and you've got a patient of your own!" She placed the fussy infant in his arms. "Pappy, you need to show your daughter how to calm a babe. You were always the best at this; now show your daughter how it's done."

Pappy looked at the baby who had been born before he was released, with blond hair and blue eyes like her grandmother. The fair-haired little girl was probably what kept Norman alive. She was so happy to have a grandpa in her life, and Norman couldn't disappoint her. He would spend hours rocking the child and telling her stories he heard and remembered and as the winter set in, the family gathered together in the cottage, rebuilding their lives.

"I'm sorry that I didn't participate in preparing this meal," said Norm as the family gathered. It was just Norm, Nana, Peddyr, Gerty, and Catrin. Agness was with her family and they rarely stopped by.

"You participate as you are able," said Peddyr. "Come spring, I'm sure you'll find something that will make you feel proper."

"You don't understand..." and Norm began to fade back into that world of darkness.

"I do understand about men. Men need to feel needed; they need to feel useful. Personally, I'm the worst fisherman on the mountain. I'd be lucky to catch a cold. I'd be honored if you could show me up." He was so soft spoken but his words still had iron in them. He was assuring Pappy that there was still use in that ruined body of his.

"I suppose I could convince a trout or two to tangle themselves in your line. But until the thaw, I have nothing to add." That caused everyone to laugh. "What? What did I say that you find so funny?"

"Your granddaughter," said Gerty. "I've been able to get so much done around here because you've been watching Catrin for me." She reached over and tickled Catrin's nose. The baby was tucked in the crook of Norm's left arm and was half awake. "That is so valuable to me, daddy. Thank you."

"I notice there's no bread on this table. My Gerty once said you baked the best bread on Black Mountain. I'd be honored to try a slice."

"Please, daddy?" cried Gerty. "I miss your jelly bread sandwiches so much."

Then on cue, Catrin giggled that giggle that captured Norman's heart and spooled him around her little finger.

Norm nodded his head. "I suppose I can give it a try." Baking a proper loaf of bread was a full day affair, and the secret was to get the stove to a perfect temperature and keep it there. That took good hard wood and attention to the fire. He was sure he saw beech and maple on the wood rack behind the cottage. He turned to Nana and said, "Where did you find these two?"

"I told Gerty, 'you go find a copy of your father.' And she did." She squeezed Norm's hand, overjoyed to see his smile again after so long. "When she's older, you need to teach Catrin her letters and numbers, that alone should keep you busy when you're not fishing."

<><><><><>

"This house needs fairies," said Norman at least once a week as he kneaded the dough for that week's loaves. "When you have fairies you always have music." Kneading the dough made his hands and arms stronger, and his lessons with Catrin kept his brain busy. He wasn't a scholar, but he did know his letters and ciphering. Fifteen years in the darkness almost made him forget all except Nana's sweet kisses.

"Why were you in jail, Papa?" asked Catrin one blustery winter evening at dinner. She was five years old and she was inseparable from her grandfather.

"Catrin Louise!" gasped Gertrude. "You apologize to your grandfather!"

"No, she was right to ask. She didn't ask out of malice, she wants to know." Norman held Nana's hand for comfort and spoke for the first time since Nicholas died in his arms. "Once upon a time, we had an evil king who wanted to steal the land from the neighbor's kingdom. So he rounded up the men here in the valley who could fight and told us that we would help the army. He took me, Uncle Nicholas, and ninety-eight others. We weren't soldiers; we were just farmers. They gave everyone a sword and took us over to the neighbor's land. We had six army officers and they gave me a bow and some arrows and made me a corporal, that's like a sergeant with a real job. The captain told me to shoot anyone who ran away."

"Maybe Grandpa should stop," said Gerty. She realized that he made it sound like a fairy tale to make the story easier on Catrin and for himself.

Norman turned to Nana and asked, "Grandma, should we save the sad part?"

"Awww, tell me!" moaned Catrin.

Nana feared hearing the rest and said, "Only tell what you can. The rest can be saved for later."

Norm took a shuddering breath and continued. "There's not much to tell. They put us on a barge and floated us down the river to the north side of Black Mountain. The army troops they promised didn't show up, so they sent our boys in without the army. When we crossed the river to Spatz Mountain land, their army was waiting for us and they were ready. It was a slaughter. I looked for our officers and saw they were running away, so I obeyed their orders and shot six arrows. That made me the ranking man, so I called everyone back across the river. We buried our dead, bound up our wounds, and walked home. They arrested me for shooting the officers and they arrested others for retreating. And that's the story."

"My dad died there," said Peddyr.

Norm jerked like he was suddenly woken from a nap. "Reggie? Was your dad Reggie Wolfe?"

"Yeah, they took him when I was ten, same as Gertie when they took you. Thank you for trying to save them."

Norm looked like he was going to cry. Tears welled up in his eyes and he said softly, "Reggie was a good man; he watched out for the teens that were around him..." Norm grew silent, then without a word he collected the dinner dishes and carried them to the kitchen sink to wash.

Nana waved Gerty and Catrin back and they returned to the table as Nana hugged Pappy from behind. Norman washed the dishes in the scalding water, fighting back the tears and the memories. While Nana wrapped her arms around her man and held him, she rested her cheek on his back. His battle with the memories went on for a long time, and she wished he would say what was tormenting him, but she knew he never would. When he finally relaxed in her arms and patted her hands, she sighed a breath of relief; they won this bout. "You go sit by the fire; I'll make us some tea."

"Thank you again, Nanny," he whispered.

<><><><><>

When Martyn heard that his father returned, he joined the family for dinner on weekends when the weather was fair and he could travel. He was terrified that his father would be angry with him for abandoning the family, so he was reluctant to approach the cottage. He was nervous and didn't know what to say because he had reasons for disappearing that he didn't want to discuss. Only Agness knew, and she claimed that she promptly forgot after Martyn told her because the idea was stupid. The moment Martyn stepped in the house, his sister Gertrude broke into a huge smile and cried, "woman of the house! Your son is here!"

Nana and Pappy appeared and Martyn tried to smile but he was failing horribly. His dad looked like hell; he had lost so much weight. He wasn't fat before, he was muscular, like Nicholas, but now he was stringy, like Sieffre Merrick. Martyn was there when Sieffre was released after eight years and he was in shock at the change that came over the muscular young man. "Marty, why so glum?" asked Nana.

"I... have my reasons." He hugged his father and Norm felt like a sack of bones.

"Marty tried to see you in jail twice, Pappy," said Nana.

"Ma, please," groaned Martyn.

"I take it they didn't let you in?" said Norman.

"Oh, they let me in, that is for certain. The first time they let me in for six months, the second time they let me in for a year."

Norm looked at his youngest son. Something happened in that dungeon. The joy was gone from that boy's eyes; his once cheerful attitude was filled with fear. He wore a wizard's robe and Norm was worried that those crazy old coots taught Marty horrible, perverse things claiming they were the path to enlightenment. He knew that the jailer, Stan, wouldn't do anything to the lad. He pulled him close and hugged Marty again. "Come home, my boy; I miss you."

"I will visit when I can, father," said the worried young man.

As spring came, Norman was true to his word and provided for his family by fishing, spending a sunny afternoon alongside a stream filled with pure, crystalline water, which soothed the anxiety of being trapped in darkness and given foul water to drink. Little Catrin with her stick, string, and safety pin often joined him and made his afternoon complete.

"You're studying foul wizardry," said Nana during one of Martyn's rare visits. It was an accusation, not a question, and the tone of her voice told Martyn that she knew it all.

"There's naught foul going on. I am proving texts," he whispered hoarsely. He was a master of bibliomancy and astro-prognostication. His school believes that the future of this world has been seen in the stars and written down in ancient volumes, and his task was to prove the accuracy of the ancient readings.

Nana scowled, her brow furrowed. "Many believe that is all nonsense." Her tone indicated that she believed that as well.

"The attack on Spatz Mountain was seen," said Martyn. "I knew they'd jail me if I went to visit dad, but I went to talk to the veterans, to hear what they saw... It all matches an ancient series of books."

"Seeing the future in ancient books? Gammon and spinach! You'd be better spending your life in proper witchery. Take a spell as a temple priest..."

"Mother, I saw Nicholas die," he whispered. "Then I saw him kill a god."

"That cannot be!"

"This family is the keystone of prophecy; a sapphire flame is the linchpin of so much prophecy. I believe I am the observer and you are the...

"This family is fading, Martyn Peacock! And your walking away is not helping. Go find a young lady and bring me grandchildren!"

"Yes, mother," he said sadly.

<><><><><>

Norm lasted five years and passed away in the spring. He was buried up by his favorite fishing spot where he was able to catch the biggest, best trout that the family ever ate. After Norm passed away, it seemed like he took something of Nana with him. She sat down in her rocking chair and began to knit. It was as if she was waiting to join her Pappy. She still dispensed sage advice and her training made Gertrude one of the most sought-after witches in Uduithia. Catrin showed the potential to be an even more powerful a witch than her mother or grandmother.

Nana joined Pappy not long after Catrin turned fifteen, and the cottage seemed emptier than before, and Catrin felt lonelier than ever and took to wandering Black Mountain. She helped her father with the small animals in the morning then headed uphill. Occasionally she'd take a small fairy cage and come back with a fairy or two to add to the collection in the house. Pappy was right, when you had fairies in the house you always had music, and music lifted the heart. She also discovered that there were gnomes and she convinced one to lead a team of gnomes to Nana's cottage and start a kitchen garden.

Catrin was beautiful, innocent, and sweet. She walked naked in the woods and bathed in hidden ponds. The fairies followed her and told her of the magic that lay under the mountain. She was lost without her pappy and was looking constantly to replace that love. She always returned home in time to help her mother with dinner.

One evening Gertrude saw Catrin come soaring down from the woods on a broom that she had made herself. She landed on the back porch and stepped barefoot in the house. "That was quite a landing," said Gertrude. "Who taught you to fly?" Flight was reserved for older witches so they didn't have to walk.

"Taught? Nana said she learned herself, so I figured it out."

Gertrude was angry with her daughter but also proud. Figuring out the secret of flight is the sign of an active mind. However, as she was about to complement her daughter, Peddyr, who had watched her land, entered the cottage and said, "I hope you can figure out where you left your shoes."

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"Hello, pretty lady."

Catrin looked at the being that was watching her soak in the hot spring. "You're an elf!" she said happily. She wasn't embarrassed about being seen naked, she was too excited to see an elf to worry about that.

"You're a human!" said the elf in a mocking tone.

"How could you tell?" she taunted.

"Your ears are too small to be a proper elf, which leaves me with a choice of human or monkey."

"There's no such thing as a monkey." Catrin eyed him up and down; he was muscular for an elf, and handsome.

"May I join you?" asked the elf.

"If you stay on that side of my hot spring."

"Your hot spring?" said the elf with a chuckle.

"It's my mountain, so that makes it my hot spring."

"Your mountain, is it? How did that happen?"

"My grandmother bought it. When the king realized the clerical error, he agreed to the sale. He figured that selling the mountain would bring in tax money."

"He was wrong?"

Catrin giggled. "Witches don't pay tax. The last king who tried to tax a witch spent his life believing he was a rooster."

"That's quite humorous," said the elf as he sank into the water. It was a cool autumn day and Thaal was glowing through the sweetwood trees making the red and gold leaves gleam with their own light.

"Our previous king angered my grandmother. He got my uncle and many more men killed, and those who didn't die got thrown into his prison for fifteen years."

"King Otker?"

"No, not that useless drunk. King Gerlach. They say he's still rotting in his own dungeon... Who are you?"

"I'm an elf."

"I know that. What is your name?"

"I am called Folmer Presjeon. Does that mean anything to you?"

"Yeah, you're a prince or knave or something. I don't understand elf politics. I'm Catrin Wolfe." She giggled and sank down lower in the steaming water. How could Catrin know that this meeting would send her and all of Uduithia on a new path?

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Chapter 09 - A Graveyard

Spire 14, 3438

Elm Springs, Uduithia

Autumn comes early in the mountains, and some years it comes so fast that the harvest is ruined. The autumn of 3438 brought weather that was perfect for harvesting the root vegetables. They harvested potatoes, yams, carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets, and radishes including horseradish. Nick also grew what were considered the royal roots: skirret and cardoon. Last year the fellows dug a root cellar behind the barn to store the vegetables so they could be marketed in the spring.

Marlon and Hollie joined in the harvest. Marlon and Annette were carrying full bushel baskets of unearthed vegetables to the wagon, where Nick loaded and inspected the harvest. Hollie was "Tater-catcher" dragging a bushel basket behind her as she inspected the furrows for potatoes, yams, carrots, and other roots and tubers that were dropped by the harvesters. The five demi-giants were together again for harvest. As usual, Carl resurfaced from his other job to help Alfie, Bertie, and Dexter with the harvest, and this year they were joined by their former boss Hugues who needed extra money. Baby #3 was on the way.

The guys were using a tool that Nick and Trei Metsker invented years ago. When rummaging through a weapons cache in Artafána, the underground castle under Black Mountain, Nick found what he thought was a trident, but it turned out to have six points. Nick and Trei Metsker designed a farm tool out of it, welding a pair of foot plates so the user can drive the spikes into the soil with either foot. It drove through the most compacted soil, and in the hands of a demi-giant it could dig up an acre of potatoes in no time. Trei was making plenty of good money making "Potato Rakes" out of scrap steel and selling them for five dollars each. Trei's best customer was Jia, who would purchase Trei's stock for "pocket change," which could easily be a hundred dollars in gold. Jia would hand them out as rewards to the hard-working farmers of Xuantang's Valley of the Dawn.

"It's not fair that they don't have to work, just because they're babies," grumbled Hollie as she searched through the dirt for the tiny potatoes that her dad loves. Most farmers would save them as "seed potatoes" but Nick loved them roasted more than any other vegetable.

"Hollie, they can't walk, what good would they be?" asked Marlon as he and Annette carried a bushel basket past the little girl.

"They can crawl!" cried Hollie.

"They can't do that either, and they would put everything in their mouths," said Annette. She was becoming the foremost authority on babies because she planned on having at least four.

Nick and Wayne Metsker were working in the "royalty field" where the plants that the castle requested were grown. They grew a lot of skirret, a sweet, nutty tasting root used in the kings annual skirret cake for the New Year dinner, similar to a carrot cake but sweeter. Then there was cardoon, also known in the mountains as sweet thistle. The buds could be eaten, but the king preferred the stalk, which was similar to celery but more flavorful. As Nick and Wayne reviewed each cardoon stalk and cluster of skirret roots, Octavia rode up on Mei, her tianma mount. Mei was bay colored and unlike his sister Xiu, he enjoyed having a rider even at his young age.

"You should let the kids take a break; they're getting grouchy."

"I never got a break from harvesting when I was their age," said Nick without looking up from the roots he was inspecting.

"You never harvested when you were their age."

"Details, details, details." Then he gave a sharp whistle and called, "Marlon! Hollie!"

"What about Annette?" asked Octavia.

"Where there's Marlon, there's Annette." When the three assembled, Nick asked, "Did you kids eat your lunches?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Every bite?"

"Well..." Then Annette added, "Hollie didn't like the cheese but she ate it all eventually."

"It was stinky," mumbled Hollie.

"Are you saying that the cheese your very own mommy made is stinky?" asked Nick.

"Yes!" said Hollie with a pout.

"You troopers did good work today. Go play."

"What's there to do?" groaned Marlon who truly enjoyed the harvest.

"Mister Highgrower is leading his family home," said Octavia. "Why don't you see how they get back home?"

"Yeah!" gushed Annette and Hollie.

"How?" asked Marlon. "They're only this big." Marlon held his hands apart to indicate a height of six inches.

"Listen for their singing," said Nick. "They sing while they hike." That was all he knew about the migration of the garden gnomes. They appeared in the spring and planted the garden, tended it all summer long while they lived under the front porch. In the fall they harvested, leaving the harvest on the porch to be taken to the kitchen. Then they prepared the soil for winter and disappeared. It was only a few years ago that Nick discovered that they wintered in the underground gardens of Artafána in Black Mountain.

"Do they follow the road?" asked Marlon.

"Maybe, but someone would see them or they could get run over. I guess they follow the stream," said Octavia as she shifted so Mei could spread his wings and flap them a little. He was still too young to fly, but he liked to flap his wings. "I have to get back," she leaned so she could give Nick a kiss. "Let me know what you find!" She wheeled Mei and nudged him with her right heel and he took off, dashing toward the cottage, wings spread wide as he ran.

"They look so silly when they do that," said Annette who wanted to fly a tianma again.

"Leave your bushels, we'll get them. Now go!"

"Bye Unca Wayne!" cried Hollie. The three were joined by Wayne and Silver Metsker's three oldest children, Trei, Nicole (who was named after Nick) and Eric. The six intrepid explorers headed for the stream that eventually fed the village's mill pond before joining Creel Creek as it flowed through Elm Springs.

Streams and creeks were children's playgrounds; they etched a path through the mountains that kids could always follow and no matter how hard they played, they never got thirsty. They dashed through the woods laughing, following the ice road which led to the broad, flat ice pond that fed Elm Springs with the ice they would need over the summer. Later this winter a team of men will cut huge blocks of ice out of the pond and mules will haul the ice to the big insulated barn next to the police barracks. The ice will be packed with straw and hay to keep the blocks from thawing, and to keep them from merging into one huge barn-sized ice cube.

"They have to be on the west side of the stream," said Trei. He was eight years old so he was packed with knowledge. "If they were on the east side they'd have to walk around the pond which could take them a day."

"Agree," said Marlon. "Dad says they prolly get into the mountain up by his hot springs, so I guess they cross over the creek somewhere and follow it up on the east side, all the way to the hot spring." It had been a long time, but Marlon had a dim memory of a tiny pond with steam rising off the surface surrounded by walls of basalt columns. A steaming stream comes out from the cliff face to feed the pond and the pond flows out to a cold-water stream.

"Nana's bridge!" said Hollie. Up the stream past Nick's fishing spot was an ornate arched wooden foot bridge. The rails and upright handrail supports were covered with elegant carvings that reminded Marlon of the elf designs he saw in the elven village of Irla Stein Anore. They had no idea how long it had been there, but Marlon believed it was made hundreds of years ago.

The six youths traveled north, following the stream, having so much fun in the autumn woods that they almost forgot the reason why they were there.

"SHUSH!" came an admonishment from behind a bush. They all turned, and there were two elves, obviously children, about the same age they were.

"What are you doing here?" whispered Marlon.

"The gnomes," said the older of the two elf children. She was pretty enough to make Annette jealous. "They are going to cross the Peacock Bridge." She pointed upstream and there was the curved bridge over the stream. "The bridge is named after a mystical bird whose colors are so bright they hurt your eyes. It's said that the male has eyes on his tail, and can see you from miles away."

Soon the sound of marching feet on wood could be heard as the gnomes started across the bridge. "That's Mister Highgrower!" whispered Marlon.

"You know him?" asked the stunned elf.

"He's a friend," said Annette who had spent long hours in conversation with Mister Highgrower.

"Come on, let's follow them," and the children fell in line with the tiny gnomes. Instead of turning when they got off the bridge to follow the stream north, they kept walking straight east into the forest. They didn't get deep into the forest, the pines gave way to sweetwood trees, the kind that fluttered in the slightest breeze. It was odd that there was no underbrush, just bare dirt and some grass.

In their odd language, Mr. Highgrower called a halt then gave some orders and the dozen or so gnomes spread out and began to carry off the fallen leaves. "What are you doing, Mr. Highgrower?"

"Ahoy there, laddie. We are just lookin' after the old master."

"What?"

"Ye know, a bit of a clean-up. We want to make his final restin' place neat an' tidy, don'tcha know."

"The old master?" asked a very confused Marlon.

"Aye, he's the one who asked us to help his family with their garden, and here he rests fer all time. We come twice a year t' remember him."

"He's your great-great-granda. We all loved him, so we did," added a female gnome. As she spoke she patted a standing stone that was carved with the name: Norman Peacock. Beneath that read: Beloved Father. Next to that was a stone that read: Nia Frost-Peacock. Beloved Mother.

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"MA! WE FOUND GRANDPA!!! I think..." The six explorers came racing down off the mountain out of breath like they usually were, and they dashed into the cottage, all talking at once.

"Shush! Pepin isn't feeling well," scolded Silver Metsger. "Now tell us quietly what you're so worked up about.

"We found Grandpa Peacock!" said Hollie in a loud whisper as she rushed to Pepin. Nick was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace next to Pepin, the wolf was wrapped in his favorite blanket and his head was resting on Nick's crossed legs.

"We found a graveyard up on the mountain," said Marlon.

"A little family yard," said Annette.

"We were there," said Trei Metsker. "It weren't spooky or nothing. The garden gnomes came and cleaned up the leaves, then they sang a song to the headstones."

"Do you know anything about this Nana?" asked Octavia softly.

Strangely, the spirit of Nana Peacock did not spout sage advice or funny, old-time humor. She packed up her knitting in her bag then looked at Octavia and said, "I'm sorry, you're going to have to speak to my daughter." The ghost faded from sight, and Octavia was sure she was crying.

"It is probably a family cemetery," said Octavia softly. "How many stones were there?"

Nicole Metsker softly said, "there were some tombstones lined up in a row. One said Norman Peacock, another said Nia Frost-Peacock. Then there was Nicholas Peacock. There were two more, but they were named Wolf."

On the end table was a large round purple candle with three wicks, which was the messenger candle that Nick created. If one of those three wicks burst into flame, it meant that someone needed him. Next to that was a small purple cone-shaped candle, which was the caller candle. Octavia touched the wick and it burst into a small, noisy flame while somewhere else a messenger candle lit.

Nick didn't seem to care about what was going on, but he was listening. He was gently petting Pepin's head as the kids told of their adventures to Octavia and Silver. "We found two elf kids, Elmar and Kali. I think they were tree elves," said Marlon.

"Do you mean forest elves? How could you tell?"

"They had purple eyes and black hair, like you!"

"That's a mountain elf. Those elf kids must be Quildor and Alanis Royra's children." Quildor and Alanis were quite active in the Stein Project, a project to build more small elf villages throughout the Snowcross Mountains of Uduithia and Elbreshowth on the Moor. The hope was to re-integrate the plains, forest and mountain elves in small villages, and so far it was working.

Just then Agness Dempsey burst into the house. Her hat was askew from flying so fast into the wind. "Who needs me?"

"Yeah, doc," growled Pepin without opening his eyes. "I could use some whiskey."

"I don't do dogs," said Agness. "Please tell me you didn't call me here for the dog."

"He's a woof!" said Hollie. "Like the stone!"

"Stone? What are you saying little witch?" For some reason, Agness loved Hollie and always called her "Little Witch."

Marlon stepped up to Agness and said, "We found the family cemetery and neither dad nor I know anyone there."

"It's time the young heir learned about his family," said Octavia from the loveseat.

Agness lowered herself onto the Honorable Throne of the Xuantang Empire and sighed. "I suppose I should have made sure that Nick knew about our history." She unpinned her hat and took it off and worked out the wrinkles. "Back about ninety years ago or so, a powerful witch by the name of Nia Frost bought all of Black Mountain with a coin she got from where this couch came from. She just wanted the farm but the king's clerk threw in the whole mountain. She hired Norm Peacock to manage the farm and they fell in love and married. They had four children, Nicholas, me, Gertrude, and Martyn. Martyn became a wizard, changed his name, and left. He shows up quite often but he hides behind a spell. Gertrude and me became witches. Gertie married the new farm manager and had one girl, Catrin, who..."

Agness stopped talking and sat looking at her hands. "That's ok," said Nick. "We know that part of the story. What happened to your other brother?"

"Before King Uric the Second, the ruler was King Otker the First and hopefully last. Before him was King Gerlach, and he was evil and cruel. He wanted Spatz Mountain but he didn't know how strong their forces were, so he gathered up a hundred men from the Duchy of Wægn, put 'em on a barge and floated them down the Gjorgiev River to Spatz Mountain. Their army was waiting for them. My daddy had orders, shoot any man that ran away, and the only men who ran were their officers, which left daddy in command so he called a retreat to the Uduithia side of the river. My brother Nicholas died in his arms and daddy was thrown in prison for fifteen years, until the army overthrew Gerlach and Otker took the throne."

"Nicholas Peacock was your brother?" asked Marlon quietly.

"Aye. He was named for my grandfather Nicholas Frost."

"Was daddy named for him?" asked Hollie.

"I don't know, no one knows what Catrin was thinking."

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Sometime in the middle of the night, the fire was low and Nick was talking to Pepin about living under the trash heap together. Their only light came from the red embers glowing in the fireplace and the occasional sleepy fairy who fluttered close to see what they were up to. Pepin began to cough. It was a dry hacking cough that left the old wolf exhausted. "Can I get you something?" asked Nick.

Pepin was panting and said between gasps for breath, "Your grace..."

"Don't call me that."

Pepin ignored Nick and continued. "You were... the... best boy... a dog could ever have."

"Don't," ordered Nick. "Don't talk like that... Pepin? Pepin? Pepin?" But his longtime companion let out a long breath and faded from Nick's life. Nick could see the shrouded shape of Droul, god of death, crouch down and pat Pepin with a skeletal hand. "A DOG COULDN'T ASK FOR MORE," whispered the god, and he disappeared into the dark, accompanied by the barely visible shade of a wolf pup bouncing along with him.

"Pepin..." Nick was crushed. His weeping woke Octavia and she crept downstairs the way that Nick told her never to do (sliding down on her butt like a child) and crutched her way over to her husband where she held him tightly. "This is worse than when he was stolen," gasped Nick, trying not to weep in front of Octavia. "I knew I would find him again, but now..." Octavia held Nick tight. When Pepin was taken he always knew that they would reunite. That wolf reentered his life when he needed him the most. Nick felt like a huge part of his heart was removed.

It was after moonset and an hour away from sunrise when Nick quietly went outside and put Bongo's harness on the little donkey then hitched him to a small wagon. Then he gently carried Pepin, wrapped in his favorite blanket, to the wagon, then he headed up the mountain with a hurricane lamp in one hand, the with the other hand gently leading Bongo out to the Irla Stein Anore road.

It wasn't hard to find the family cemetery, now that he knew where to look. He used the lantern to study the headstones. Grandpa Norm was in his early sixties when he died, Nana followed him a few years later. He hoped she didn't walk up here every day and worry herself sick, but he had the feeling that she did just that.

The sky lightened as he dug. It was a large hole, almost big enough for a human because he didn't want Pepin to be cramped. He almost jumped out of his skin in terror when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He looked, and it was Vesstan Aedi. He was joined by Bughac Orebeard and Hugues Du Gouey. "It's my turn," said Vesstan. "He was my friend also."

"Guys, you didn't have to," started Nick, but Hugues hoisted him out of the grave.

"Yeah we did. You are always there for us, let us return the favor, yer grace," said Hugues. The four of them, known to wags as the Door Guards of Hell, were the fiercest fighters on Kodu and they proved it by killing Zeddicus, a god who had gone rogue. The only god that was ever killed by man, or elf, or dwarf, or demi-giant.

As Nick, Hugues, and Buggy sat and watched Vesstan dig, Buggy popped open the porcelain stopper on a large bottle of beer and handed it to Nick. "Beer for breakfast?"

"You never had a beer for breakfast when you were in the Royal Guard?" asked Hugues.

"I never said anything like that. But I wasn't a duke back then." He sipped the beer and handed the bottle to Hugues. "It's pretty good, it tastes like mine." Nick had become a deft hand at brewing beer for the pub in the village.

"It is yours," said Buggy with a raucous burp. "When I clean the pub after village meetings I fill up a few bottles for the long walk home."

"You live in my guardhouse! That's not even a mile."

"A mile on dwarf legs is much longer than a mile on human legs."

"Need a hand, yer grace?"

Nick looked up and saw that they were joined by Wayne and Trei Metsker. "We were just giving Pepin a sendoff," said Nick as Buggy pulled another large bottle of beer from his pack and handed it to Trei.

"A proper sendoff it is. That wolf loved his beer," said Trei after a sip. "Erin tells me that if there's a spill, he'd have it cleaned up before she could get the mop."

One by one, the folks that knew and loved Pepin, the wolf with human speech, joined Nick and the crew. As Pepin's grave neared completion, Nick pointed out the headstones to Trei. "That's my great-grandmother, my great-grandfather, my great-uncle whom I might be named for, and there, the Wolves, they're my grandparents, Gertrude and Peddyr."

"That's quite the family," said Wayne.

"I just met most of 'em this morning," said Nick with a burp.

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Chapter 10 - The Wizard

Spire 14, 3410

The Tubes, Torwin-Armistad

For two years Catrin Wolfe and Folmer Presjeon were inseparable. He taught her so many things, and when he kissed her, her world became whole. Gertrude tried to sit her down for a mother-daughter talk but it didn't help. "Dear, he's a mountain elf," started Gertrude.

"You hate him because he's an elf!"

"No, I don't hate him. You don't bring him by so I don't get a chance to meet him. However, the fact remains, he's a mountain elf. They don't stay in one place. He will be gone soon, and I want you to realize that."

"You elf haters are all alike!" and she would run from the cottage in tears and not be seen again for several days. Even Grandmother Nana would try to talk to her but she would get the same results. The elf had bewitched the young witch.

He didn't intend to bewitch her, but she was beautiful, smart, and engaging in conversation. "Your mother and grandmother are right, dear. I will leave soon, and I can't take you with me."

"But why?" wept Catrin.

"Because I have business to attend to. I have been ordered to appear before the king of Wädendris; you won't survive the trip. Even if you did, you wouldn't be able to enter Wädendris."

"Wädendris is a village in the Mon Sunnah mountains. I'm a mountain girl; I can get there."

"No, not that Wädendris, the Wädendris Desert. There are two elf cities in the desert: Lebeum and Laoduros. They're guarded by three watch towers, Enlil East, Brightdeep Watch, and Stillfront Watch."

Catrin shook her head in disbelief. "Those are all ruins!"

"To a human that is what they look like. These are ancient cities that escaped the great Starfall thousands of centuries ago."

"No!"

"Catrin, don't waste your time on me. Find a nice human boy who will give you happy babies. I'm a mountain elf; we can't have children."

"I don't want children; I just want you."

"Cat, listen to me. You will always be my favorite human, but I'm so much older than you. I've got duties and responsibilities I must return to."

"Please don't leave me," cried Catrin in a tiny voice. She wasn't experienced with men, but she knew this elf was getting ready to leave.

"Catrin, you need to help your sister witches in the cities and bring them fresh herbs and new methods. Traveling back and forth between the cities and Elm Springs will get your mind off of me." He kissed her again and this time she was positive he was leaving. His kiss was sweet, and sad, and urgent.

As they kissed, she pulled his tunic open and he tugged off her blouse, and when their bare skin touched, it felt like magic. They were in their favorite place, under a grove of sweetwood trees, and it was Nebulara, the month of high summer. The sun flickered through the golden sweetwood leaves, adding a gentle shimmer to the afternoon light.

The air was warm and gentle as they explored each other's body for the last time. Folmer Presjeon was so handsome and Catrin wanted him so much that her tears flowed the entire time they kissed. They had made love before, but this time there was a special urgency. His mouth traveled over her curvaceous body, exploring places he had never touched before due to her shyness. This time she was unable to tell him to stop. Her hands claimed his mast and gently massaged him the way he taught her.

Normally, when they lay together they played and giggled like children at a sleepover, but this time was different. She urged him between her legs and guided him into her flower. Her climax started the moment he entered her and didn't end until she faded to sleep, and when she woke, he was gone.

That evening, when she entered the cottage, Gertrude was waiting for her. She knew the signs and she chased everyone out so Catrin could cry and let all her sorrow and heartbreak out.

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Catrin knew she was pregnant within a month, but she was terrified to tell anyone. She had taken Folmer's advice and was shipping dried herbs to a coven of witches she heard of in Torwin-Armistad. She traveled to Torwin-Armistad and met with a coven that had reached out for help. It took four days by coach to get to the cities. Their children were sick, and it didn't take Catrin long to discover they were drinking out of rain puddles. She taught the witches to insist that mothers boil water and keep it in a jar for the children to drink. It never dawned on the witches that could be the problem, because they did it as children and lived.

Catrin returned home with a notebook full of their questions and she spent a week getting answers from her mother, Aunt Agness, and Nana. She was going to mail the answers to her city sisters, but none of the city witches could read so she had to head back to Torwin-Armistad. She didn't mind going back because it was such an exciting way of life. The witches of The Tubes were close sisters and were from all over Kodu. Catrin was exceptionally bright, especially when it came to communication. She learned several languages working with those girls.

She needed a place to stay so one of the local witches introduced her to Ivo Stein, a local tradesman that had a small apartment there in the Tubes and was willing to loan out a room. The Tubes was a huge neighborhood of very narrow streets and tall buildings that arched out over the streets, which gave the Tubes its name. Many streets were so narrow that four could not walk abreast. Buildings were five stories high and taller, giving the Tubes a feeling of canyons. In the Tubes, small shops and tiny restaurants plied their trade by day, while pubs and whores ruled the tubes at night.

Ivo, a short balding man, agreed to give her a room if she did cleaning and cooked an evening meal. He said he didn't care if she was pregnant, just so long as she could cook, and she was a marvelous cook. Being a mountain farm girl, she could make a fine meal out of almost nothing. Late winter to early spring was hard on the farmers because, if it was an exceptionally hard winter, you might not have stored enough food to properly feed a farm family, so you had to be creative.

With a room for her to stay, she was able to spend more time with the city witches of Torwin-Armistad. Soon the secret was out; Catrin Wolfe was going to have a baby, and suddenly every witch was her sister, a tempting situation for an only child. But as her pregnancy progressed, Ivo seemed to become more jealous of the baby. The witches urged her to move back home. She made one more trip home but Grandma Nana had died while she was gone and she felt so guilty for not attending the funeral. She was terrified of what Elm Springs would think of her. She was pregnant out of wedlock; forget the fact that most of Aunt Agness's daughters were born before she found a man to marry. She felt shame. Was it because her baby's father was an elf?

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The only thing that Catrin ever asked Ivo to do for her was to run and get a witch when her water broke. He grumbled about having to do it like a child asked to take out the trash, but he eventually did it. He had to have dinner at the pub for the next three nights because his woman was busy with the brat she brought into his house. The baby was a beautiful boy, and he was born in perfect health. He had a good, healthy cry that cleared the lungs and then settled down, happy to have Catrin as his momma. She wanted to name him after his father, but she knew several boys who had an elven name and were taunted over that, so she named him Nicholas after the uncle she never met. She gave him the middle name of Folmer but never told anyone. It would be their little secret.

Ivo decided that Catrin was now his wife. This was a hazard of Torwin-Armistad; there were no laws about marriage. Orazio Laurita, the autocratic ruler of Torwin-Armistad and surrounding lands had decided that if the temples wanted to regulate marriage, fine. That was one less thing for him to worry about. Many marriages in The Tubes happened when a man said, "We're married." If the woman wanted a roof over her head and food presented to her to cook, she didn't disagree.

Their first year of marriage wasn't happy, but it wasn't a living hell. Catrin continued to help the city witches learn numbers and letters, and she shared mountain cures with the herbs they could gather or grew in window boxes from their tenement windows.

The second and third years were a living hell. Ivo started drowning his sorrows with Skim--the most addictive drug on the Edux continent. Originally it was a muscle relaxant for overworked mining trolls, but when given to humans, it caused feelings of euphoria that eventually led to hallucinations. Full addiction was characterized by fits of uncontrollable rage when coming down from a Skim high.

Skim was often slipped into the men's drinks at whorehouses because it got them off their girls and out the door quickly and in a good mood. That is where Ivo became addicted, and that's when he started hitting Catarina. The only thing she could do was to take the beating. She had nowhere to go, and she had Nicky to protect. He beat her for cold meals, he beat her for giving him sass, he beat her for not having sex with him. She didn't want Ivo touching her and spoiling the memory of Folmer.

As Nick neared his third Yuletide he stood up to Ivo. He tried to protect his mother and got slapped across the room. He slammed into the wall and was knocked unconscious. In a Skim-fueled rage, Ivo attacked Catrin, who was knocked unconscious. He threw her out of the apartment and she tumbled down three flights of stairs. The next morning she was gone and Ivo was stuck with a crying brat. He fed Nick the cakes his mother made for him, and when that was gone and Catrin didn't return, he threw Nick out. Tossed him in a trash heap late one night during Yule, leaving a three-year-old to fend for himself on the streets of Torwin-Armistad.

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The wizard heard the commotion and ran to the tenement where he heard the cries of pain, and there at the bottom of the stairs in a crumpled heap was Catrin Wolfe. She was tiny, blond, and probably beautiful, but with the bruising and swelling, it would be hard to tell. "What are you going to do with her?" asked the cat that followed the wizard around. The wizard had a knack for giving animals human comprehension and speech.

"Take her to a hospital, what else?"

"Leave her be," said the cat. "Let's go get an ale."

"No, this is the one I promised to tend to." He checked her for severe injuries. She was probably bleeding internally and may have a brain injury. "Get a cab."

"I'm a cat. Get one yourself."

The wizard shook his head and sighed. Time was running out for this girl; he had to work fast. He finally spotted a rickshaw and hailed it. "Where to, Mister Wizard?"

"Saint Hempera Hospital, as fast as you can."

"Our Lady of Camara is closer."

"I have an... ah... an account at Saint Hempera. Let's hurry."

The rickshaw driver didn't help the wizard lift the girl into the seat, but he didn't say anything when the cat hopped in also. "What happened? Angry street customer?"

"This girl is not a whore, she's a witch, and she's probably saved more lives than you've hauled this year."

"Ain't no such thing as witches," said the rickshaw driver and he began to trot, which was about as fast as he could go through the crowded streets of the Tubes. They soon came to an old slaughterhouse that was converted to an emergency hospital. They got most of the smell of blood out of the building when the Temple of Saehrimnir's Lady's Auxiliary and Men's Chanting Society converted the old slaughterhouse. That building was the end of the line for a number of cows, and after conversion, it was the end of the line for quite a few drunks and drug addicts as well.

"How much?" asked the wizard.

"Halfer."

"Half a dollar? That was a twenty-five-cent ride!" shouted the cat.

"It's a quarter at a walk, a halfer at a run."

All the wizard had was a dollar, so he handed the coin to the driver and said, "Keep it," and he carried Catrin into the hospital.

"What do ya want?" asked the receptionist.

"I have a severely injured witch and..."

"We don't hire witches."

"Cat, talk to her," groaned the wizard. He didn't have time to argue with this idiot. The cat jumped up on the receptionist's desk and glared at the woman. His back arched, his tail shot up in a warning, and in the distance thunder could be heard. Their eyes met and the receptionist was trapped in the cat's glare.

As if coming out of a trance, the receptionist picked up a voice tube, blew into it, then called "Doctor Berrilis! Emergency victim at the main entrance."

"Thank you," said the wizard to the cat.

"I hate picking through their brains," said the cat as he sat on the desk licking his ass. "Especially the stupid ones. They make me feel nauseous."

The receptionist glared at the wizard and snapped, "I'll have you know I graduated from university!"

"Don't talk to me, talk to the cat, he's the one who called you stupid."

Soon a doctor in a white lab coat and an assistant arrived with a wheeled examination table, and the wizard laid Catrin on the table. The doctor muttered findings to the assistant. "Human female, light complexion, weight seven stone, height three and a third cubits..." It was all modern medical jargon to the wizard but he let Doctor Berrilis work. "Exam room three!" and the assistant pushed Catrin down the hall. "Wait here, old friend, I'll be back shortly."

The doctor returned almost an hour later. "She's going to live."

"What is her condition?"

"Severe trauma to the head and upper chest region, several broken ribs, severe internal bleeding. We're hoping she comes out of this coma intact. It's hard to say. It's in the gods' hands now."

Swearing under his breath, the wizard walked all the way back to the Temple of Saehrimnir. First he went to the monastery and entered his cell where the cat curled up on the bed. He took his wizard robe off and put on a monastic robe before walking over to the Orphanage to check on the girl. The Temple of Saehrimnir Orphanage for Exceptional Girls was for girls only; there was an orphanage for boys over at the Temple of Nyznir, God of Judgement, which was on the other side of the city and was always overfull. The wizard met a woman in dark burgundy robes which identified her as the head of the orphanage. "Prioress Maniake, how is the girl?"

Sister Anthemia Maniake smiled at the monk. He was a wizard but inside the walls of the temple he wore the simple robes of a monk. It was because he had a calling that he dared not share. Still, he was polite to the point of being overformal. "Brother Issiah, how many times have I asked you to call me Sister Ann?"

"One more than the number of times I have asked you to dine with me."

"You are such a scallywag!" laughed the nun. He was young for a monk and should be settling down with a sister from the university, but he seemed to save his affection for her. "The girl is a year old now and running around like an athlete! She is growing up beautiful and will certainly be accepted into the Prep School for Exceptional Young Ladies."

"I am sure she will make a fine queen," said the wizard. The Temple of Saehrimnir Prep School for Exceptional Young Ladies prepared young girls to be sold off to the highest bidder among the higher classes. Not as slaves or sex toys, but as wives. Usually, the most successful girls graduate as second wives for widowed, divorced, or polyamorous royalty.

"Brother Issiah, I never see you with anyone but your cat. It's not good for a man or woman to be alone so much, and cats make poor dining companions. I think I will join you for dinner."

The wizard smiled, he knew a way to send her off running. "In my cell, of course. It would be unseemly to see a low ranked monk enter your apartment after evening prayers."

Her reaction almost sent him off running. "In your cell, of course. See you after evening prayers."

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It wasn't the wizard's first time, but it was definitely his best time. He spent three days with Sister Ann in his cell, and they made love every way possible. She was magic with her lips and tongue, and he returned the favor in a way that made her second guess her vow of spinsterhood. Three days of food, wine, sex, and conversation. He explained his mission to her and she laughed, called him by the name his mother gave him, and said, "When your task is complete, I believe I am going to come looking for you."

As they ate breakfast, a crow flew through an open window and landed on the back of an empty chair at their table. "The witch wants the boy brought to her!"

"Tell the witch I will get the boy." The crow fluttered off and the wizard sighed. "She's always like that. Thank you for a wonderful time, but I have to get the child I mentioned, and it looks like I'll be spending Yuletide in the mountains. But I will be back in time for New Year's Eve." After kissing her hand and whispering farewell the wizard hit the streets. The weather was cold, and wet winds blowing in off the plains carried a sleety mixture of snow and rain. He entered The Tubes and found his way to Bell Street then walked up the three flights of stairs to Ivo Stein's apartment. He beat on the door several times until the ugly little man opened the door.

"What do you want?"

"I come for the boy."

"He's gone. He ran away."

"Damn, what a shame. His mother offered fifty dollars in gold for him in any condition." It was a lie, but if Ivo was truly stupid, he'd get Nicholas back for a fifty-dollar gold piece.

"Fuck! Damnit! Sonofabitch!" Ivo started kicking empty food tins that were filling his apartment.

"What's wrong?"

"Like I said, he ran away! I woke up the other morning and he was gone."

The wizard thought for a moment. He wanted to turn this tiny man into something vile, but living as Ivo Stein is punishment enough. He'll probably die in a bar fight soon. "Give me his clothing, and I'll leave you alone."

Armed with a small sack of children's clothing, the wizard called for his companion. "Cat, find me a puppy."

"Rare or well done?"

"Rare, please. Barking rare. I need one with a good nose. I'm going to check on Catrin then head back to the monastery."

It was a long walk to the hospital and when he got there he found Catrin asleep, or possibly in a coma. Doctor Berrilis could only shrug. "She'll wake when she wakes."

It was getting late by the time the wizard returned to the temple and found the cat waiting for him. "Come on, I found a puppy." And he led the wizard to a huge trash heap behind the temple. The cat ducked into the pile and soon emerged with a wolf pup. "How's this one?"

The wizard crouched down and put his hands on the pup and began muttering the incantation that would give the wolf human awareness. Finally the wizard asked, "How do you feel?"

"Hungry," said the wolf.

"Here, sniff these clothes." He held the bag for the wolf to sniff, then the wolf began sniffing the ground. He dashed around the huge trash heap and dove into a tunnel through the junk and refuse.

"He's right here!" came the wolf's voice from under the pile. "He doesn't want to be hit anymore."

"Bring him out and I'll..." suddenly the wizard was interrupted by the booming voice of the god Saehrimnir.

"Cease. This one is claimed by me. The child rests beneath my shield. Your servant may remain near, yet ever henceforth, I am his divine ward."

"The witch is going to hate this," groaned the wizard, and she did. When her crow returned with the news she had a fit.

For a year, the wizard kept an eye on a girl he couldn't contact, a boy he spoke to through a wolf pup who never aged, and a woman in a coma... until Catrin disappeared. A year after being told to stay away from Nicholas, the wizard went to the hospital and she was gone, and so was Doctor Berrilis.

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"Are you unwell?"

"I don't know where I am. I remember being beaten by a man and thrown down a staircase. I remember thinking, 'this is going to hurt,' and I woke up on a ship. We came into port and some guy was talking about his cock. When I asked him where I was, all he said was, 'I'll take this one' and here I am."

First of all, do you speak Al Fransic?" asked a tall, black-haired woman.

"I'm a witch, I can speak most languages on Kodu."

"You are in Qudura, the capital city of Hamz Al Jasrer and that man was Safar al-Azad, governor of Qudura."

"I just want my boy. Where's my boy?" cried Catrin. She began weeping and the woman held her, and tried to console her.

"What's your name? Where are you from, honey?"

"I'm Catrin Wolfe. I'm from Uduithia... Elm Springs, Uduithia." She fought hard to speak through her tears.

"I'm from Western Edux, too!" said the dark haired woman. "I'm from Pirangi in the Kingdom of Chelmsford. I'm Jutta Aldana, and you and me are going to be best friends. We have to stay together to survive here."

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