Chapter 173: Mourning Her Husband

Kat sat there on the table, too stunned to move. The rest gave her time. They’d all had time, but she’d been passed out.

“How’s Mum?”

“Not sure,” Ann said. “Last time Junia was here, she said she was a mess.”

“Feck. Priesty, whatever yer name is, I’ve gotta go. Leave me be or come wit’, it’s up tae ye.”

“Your Highness, I really must…”

Kat stood up and started walking. Bren and Ann fell in beside her as the group dragged along the priest. Guards saw Kat and after a quick couple questions, she was directed to the room her father was in. Ann kept quiet, letting the princess deal with her feelings. She’d be there to support, as always.

Kat knocked at the door. A guard opened it and stuttered out a greeting., opening the door wide.

The room was clean. Kremdol had been set on a marble slab, facing to the side, with a pillow keeping his head in place. The wound, for what it was worth, had closed over. Tender skin covered the hole where his eye had been, and Ann assumed the back of his head was the same. His face, long and serene, looked peaceful with the blanket pulled up over him. He could have been sleeping.

Orlana was a different story. Her hair was a mess. Frazzled and tangled from running her hands through it constantly. She was still in her armour, blood spattered across her shoulder plate. As the group drew closer, her head turned. Haunted blue eyes regarded them. Nothing had prepared Ann for that look. Her eyes and cheeks were puffy and red from crying.

“Ma,” Kat said softly, reaching out.

“Katlyn,” Orlana said with a ragged voice. “Thank the Gods. No, oh no, your eye.”

“Ma,” Kat repeated, wrapping her arms around her mother. “Feck. How’s he doin’? Please tell me he’s gonna be ok.”

“We don’t know yet, love,” Orlana said. “He’s… he’s not moved since…” Orlana caught herself, trying to choke back tears.

Kat just hugged her mom. The rest fell back, giving the pair space. This room, thankfully, had furniture, and they all took various seats.

After a while, Kat spoke again. “So, he’s alive?”

“Barely,” Orlana said, eyes back on her husband.

“We are doing our level best,” Theodore said, his hands resting on either side of Kremdol’s head. Soft white light glowed from his palms. “Extensive damage to the brain. The blasted weapon causes wounds to resist healing, as I am sure thou art aware. His Majesty is fortunate to have survived the initial wound, as well as having Rowena there to provide immediate restoration.”

“Then why isn’t he waking up?” Orlana asked.

“Your Majesty,” Theodore said with the voice of someone who has explained this a few times, “I would love to reassure you, but there are mysteries of the brain that even we do not understand. Our best diagnostics show that the wound has more to heal internally. Perhaps in a few days he will return to us.”

“Mic nan gobhar gun mhàthair.” Ann didn’t understand any of it, but she knew it was a curse. “They will pay fer this. Attackin’ me feckin’ family. Nylir will have her pound o’ flesh, I promise ye all this.”

“Aye,” Kat nodded grimly. “We’ve gotta figure out how tae make that happen, though. The thing that keeps them from us, keeps us from them.”

“I know that,” Orlana grumbled. “I’ll tear down the Seeds themselves if it takes that.”

Kat just put a hand on Orlana’s shoulder and sat with her as the Queen stewed in her rage. The woman’s shoulder slumped, and she looked back at Kremdol. “I just can’t leave ‘im. Blast it all, I can’t go on campaign. I can’t leave me love tae be here alone. I… damnit, I’m sorry, Kat. Haven’t even asked how ye’re feelin’. Sorry excuse for a mother, I am.”

“Ma, no,” Kat said. “I’m not doin’ great either. Kinda lost an eye, if ye hadn’t noticed. Gonna make chuckin’ fruit at Junia a bit harder at breakfast. She might actually get tae dodge fer once.”

That brought a weak smile to Orlana’s lips. “I’m glad you can keep your humour. Even through all this.”

“I’ll have time tae cry later,” Kat shrugged. “Fer now, I just want tae be wit’ ye an’ Da. Has Junia been in yet? Or the kids?”

“I don’t want those two to see this,” Orlana said in a strained voice. “They’re gonna know. Junia’s probably told ‘em already. She came by earlier, but I wasn’t in the mind tae talk. I just…” the Queen slumped. “I need him. I need him, Kat. Me other half meant everythin’ tae me. Not just that… He ran half o’ this kingdom. I dinnae how I’m gonna handle it without ‘im.”

“Ye ‘ave Junia, Ma,” Kat said, rubbing her mother’s back. “Shite, ye can call Somnal back tae help if ye need.”

“Not you?” Orlana asked, turning her head to look at Kat.

Kat let out a heavy sigh. “Ye know me. We’re too damn alike fer me tae help. Doesn’t mean I won’t be supportin’ ye. I just can’t handle the responsibility.”

Orlana nodded. “I know. I wouldn’t do this when I was in me fifties neither. Cac. Stay wit’ me, Kat. Please?”

“Aye, Ma. I’ll be here,” Kat said.

After a minute of silence, she turned to Theodore. “How’s the city been doin’?”

“It goes without saying that the festivities have been cancelled. I have not left the palace, but the priests tell me the city is quiet. Terrifyingly so. There is a tension in the air as though the walls themselves are waiting for more news. Of course, the inner city hath been locked down. No one in or out without thorough investigation.”

“I’d have everyone kept in this tomb o’ a city. Junia talked me down,” Orlana growled. “Who knows how many more spies or assassins Bortislav snuck in?”

“Your Majesty, paranoia will not aid thine mind. Nor will it benefit your husband. Illdall will see to our protection.”

“Like he saw to Kat’s protection? Tae Kremdol’s?” Orlana laughed sarcastically. “Not sure I hold much stock in yer god o’ protection, Theodore.”

Theodore’s face scrunched up, his beard bristling. “Thou art hurting, Majesty. I will keep my comments about blasphemy to myself.”

“Ain’t the first one tae question the Gods bein’ bastards,” Orlana grumbled.

“Please, Majesty. He will see this through. It is through His grace King Farragher still lives. The wound could easily have been mortal!”

“Dumb feckin’ luck,” Orlana said, her voice flat. “Get out.”

“My lady?”

“Nae, get out. Send someone else in. I don’t wanna have this conversation. Don’t give an asal francach who ye send in next, just do it.”

Theodore bowed and retreated. As he left, he gave Ann an apologetic shrug of his broad shoulders.

“Ma. That wasn’t great,” Kat said gently.

“Ah, shut it, Kat. I feckin’ know,” Orlana sighed, waving off Kat’s concern. “Just not in a very pious mood right now. Best healers all have tae be from the Temples. At least Rowena didn’t start preachin’ tae me.”

“It’s what they do. Hard tae turn off what ye do all day e’ery day.” Kat rolled her eye and looked at Ann, seeking help.

Standing up, Ann walked over to the pair and knelt beside Orlana.

“So, Chosen,” Orlana said. “Yer Goddess sayin’ shite about this?”

Ann forced herself to ignore the spite in the Queen’s tone. “I wish she would. All I know is that she’s working on something big. Something else. I… she says she’s sorry this happened. There are only so many things she can do to influence events. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry as well.”

“Thank ye, Ann,” Orlana said, her tone softening. “Ye were like this?”

“Apparently.”

“What was it like? Bein’ asleep fer so long, not able tae wake?”

Ann thought back, back to that strange time before she woke up in this far future. “It was… an in between. No clue if it’ll be the same for him, but for me it was endless black. Darkness forever in every direction. I found myself growing bored quickly, so I just walked, thinking I might find the edge, or something. To be perfectly honest, I don’t know if I was really thinking until Orenous showed up. Kinda on autopilot.”

“Did ye… did ye know how long had passed?”

“No. I knew it was a long time. It felt like it, but I don’t think it felt like five thousand years. Time doesn’t really work the same way if you can’t perceive it. So, unless he’s having his own meeting with a God, he’ll be safe. Maybe a bit bored, but I don’t believe he is suffering.”

Orlana was quiet for a long time. Ann just stayed where she was. It was all she could do. Be there for Kat and her mom.

Eventually, Orlana slumped. Her hand was still holding Kremdol’s but her shoulders started to rise and fall gently. She’d finally succumbed to exhaustion.

“Should we?” Ann whispered.

Kat nodded and tried to move her mother. Plate notwithstanding, she couldn’t manage it. The Queen’s hand was locked to Kremdol’s with a tenacity that betrayed her sleeping state. “Let’s just leave ‘er here,” Kat said, giving up. “Can’t say I blame ‘er.”

“Yeah.”

As the new priestess arrived, the group quietly snuck out of the room.

“Oi, could ye stop hoverin’? Ye’re drivin me insane,” Kat barked at the priest, who was still standing over her.

“But the scarring. It’s not fully healed.”

“Aye, don’t care. Ye’ve done the hard part, an’ me body will do the rest. Dismissed.”

The priest looked like he wanted to argue, but decided against it. Bowing, he retreated into the palace.

“Are you sure?” Bren asked. “That looks plenty tender.”

“It’ll be fine. Just really want tae not be looked at like I’m feckin’ broken, an’ that was all I was gettin’ from the guy. Not ‘is fault, but still.”

“I would say I have seen you through worse, but that would be a lie,” Bren sighed. “Please. If you feel the need, just ask. I will do what I can.”

“Aye, didn’t get tae thank ye fer what ye did.”

“No need.”

“There is,” Kat insisted. “Just ‘cause ye’re close doesn’t mean ye don’t get yer praise. Thanks fer keepin’ me alive, an’ fixin’ what ye could.”

Bren scratched the back of his head, blushing slightly at the sincerity in Kat’s voice. “Any time. You know this.”

“Sure do,” Kat chuckled. “Think I’ll leave talkin’ tae Junia until tomorrow. Despite sleepin’ fer a day, I’m nackered.”

“Healing is hard work,” Rosalyn said, reaching out to take Kat’s hand. “We’ve all been pushing ourselves. We all need rest.”

Kat raised the ebony hand and gave it an affectionate kiss. “Thanks fer watchin’ out.”

“Oh, I didn’t do anything special. Just was there.”

“Still means a lot tae me.”

“And thanks, Lucia,” Ann said. “Thanks for talking some sense into us. For keeping watch over people. I was not in a state to do that.”

The woman shrugged and grunted her acknowledgement. She’d never say it openly, but Ann knew the compliment was accepted.

“Katlyn!” a woman’s voice called out.

“Or we can do this now,” Kat groaned, turning to face her sister, who was sprinting at her.

Junia, impeccably composed, matter of fact Junia, leapt on her sister in a flurry of platinum blonde hair. Her arms wrapped around Kat’s shoulders and held her close. Kat staggered slightly as she caught the woman, then returned the embrace fiercely. They stood there just hugging for a moment, before Junia broke away and looked her sister over.

“By the Gods. Are you sure you should be walking?”

Kat rolled her eye. “Aye. I’m just exhausted. Need a proper sleep an’ I should be back tae normal, minus an eye.”

“The skin still looks tender. Does it not hurt?”

“It’s a little itchy, but nothin’ I can’t deal wit.”

“Wait, itchy? Itchy how?” Ann asked.

“What d’ya mean, how?”

“Let me look,” Ann demanded, grabbing Kat’s chin. “Is it itchy anywhere else?”

Kat paused a moment, thinking. “Now that ye mention it, me other eye’s itchin’ a bit too.”

“Son of a. Bren, Junia, are we sure we got the message from today? Yesterday? The speech. It did its job with Kat changing?”

“It went across without flaw. Even with the Bortislav incident, the message was relayed, and the missives to the other cities delivered,” Junia confirmed.

“Good, cause I think Kat’s getting more scales.”

“What? Ye’re shittin’ me,” Kat chuckled with a grin.

“Nope. Bren, feel here and here,” Ann guided the man’s hands, prodding around the edges of Kat’s good eye. She pushed up against slight bumps just under the skin. Bumps that hadn’t been there a couple days ago. “Either those are more scales, or she’s got a cancer I’ve never heard of.”

“Cancer?” Bren asked.

“Malignant tumors that’ll kill a person.”

“Ah, no, these are definitely not tumors from my understanding. Too uniform. I would agree with scales. The odd thing is how suddenly they appeared. I do not remember feeling these when I began healing you the other day.”

“I mean, she did get a ton of healing pumped into her. Maybe that just sped things up?”

“I doubt your effect on Katlyn would be sped up by healing. My conjecture would be that they were in the earliest stages of growth, and the healing encouraged that growth?”

“Brings me to a question: how does healing work? Does it just speed up cell growth and division or is it just magically fixing things out of nothing?” Ann asked.

“Cell division and vastly accelerating the natural healing process,” Bren explained. “Some is magic, such as restoration of blood and providing the base materials needed for wounds to close, but the rest is the body using those materials itself at a very quick rate.”

“Maybe some of the healing going to her eye got redirected by the new scales or something? I don’t know,” Ann shrugged.

“That’s going to look so cool!” Rosalyn cried. “Kat, you’re gonna have scales around your eyes! I wonder how that’s gonna work with your scars and the other eye. Maybe it’ll cover over the hole? That’d be neat. Though maybe it’ll just avoid the socket and just go around it like it should with your good eye. Will they come in closer to the eye and grow from there, or grow further out then go in?”

“From where they currently are, it feels like they will start close to the eyes. Do not scratch,” Bren glared at Kat in a knowing way.

“Yes. We do not want a repeat of what happened when you had the pox,” Junia giggled. “You looked like you’d lost a fight with a Bristlebark, and all the quills hit your face. The healers were beside themselves.”

“Alright, enough about me,” Kat declared. “How’re Kierran an’ Jonathan?”

“Crying quite a bit. Sad they cannot see their mother or father at the moment. I’ve done my best to explain what has happened, but I’m not sure if they can fully understand until they see it. Katlyn, could you visit them tomorrow? It will help.”

“I can do that,” Kat agreed. “I’m bringin’ Ann an’ Rosalyn, though. Those two like ‘em. It’ll help soften things.”

“A good idea.”

“It’s good tae see ye, sis. Got a whole new perspective o’ ye.”

Junia gave her a withering look. “That was a bad joke, even for you.”

“Well, we’ve never seen eye tae eye.”

“Alright, I’ve seen my sister is safe and sound, including her terrible humour. I bid you all a good night, and will see you in the morning.” As Junia left, skirts fluttering behind her, Ann heard the woman chuckling quietly to herself.

“Wait, does that mean you’re ok with jokes about that?” Rosalyn asked.

“I don’t see why not,” Kat giggled.

“Only sees half of point,” Lucia grumbled.

Everyone turned stare at the Thrundol.

“What? Said was fine.”

The rest fell into fits of laughter while Lucia looked incredibly confused.

“Shit, that got me good,” Ann wheezed.

“Still confused.”

“Lucia, you just don’t talk all that much and I… have you made a joke since we met? I feel like you have, but I can’t remember it specifically, it’s so rare, but it was a perfect time for it so thank you cause that was really funny,” Rosalyn blurted between breaths. “Also helped the mood, cause we’re all a little tired and sad I think, and you joking about things means it should be alright, so yeah I think that’s about it.”

Lucia raised one sharp eyebrow at Rosalyn, then gave her a tusky smile. “Get it. Welcome.”

“Now, off to bed,” Ann declared as she yawned loudly. “So much more to do tomorrow, and that’s without any other chaos or surprises.”

Saying their goodbyes, the group split up and headed to their rooms. Ann excused herself, needing to handle her Libido. Normally she’d handle that with Kat and Rosalyn, but it didn’t feel like this was the right time for sex. Too many frayed emotions.

When she got back to the bedroom, she flopped on top of an already naked Kat, knocking the wind out of her. Rosalyn crawled over to them and started petting Kat’s hair.

“Illdall, woman. Take it easy on the wounded.”

“You’re the one who’s always been talking about being tough. Big strong Kat.”

Something shifted in Kat’s expression. A flicker of something else besides her usual easygoing smile.

“Kat? You’re alone. With us. It’s ok,” Rosalyn cooed.

“Honestly? Feck, it sounds callous, but somethin’ in me was prepared fer somethin’ like this,” Kat sighed. “We’re the royal family. We’re all targets fer our nation’s enemies. Did I think it’d happen? Not bloody likely. Did part o’ me prepare fer it, cause there was always a chance? I think so. It’s a weird feelin’. Da’s alive. Sure, he’s not wakin’ up, but he’s not dead. There’s hope! I’m gonna hang on tae that hope like it owes me a good romp. Cause the alternative is tae break. Think Ma’s doin’ enough o’ the breakin’ fer all o’ us.”

Annita and Rosalyn just kept up what they were doing, being there for their girlfriend. Even with her words, they knew some part was hurting.

“Hope is good,” Ann agreed. “Just don’t bottle things up too hard. We don’t need Orenous giving us another divine counseling session.”

“Orenous, I mean the most respect, but I agree wit’ yer chosen. I won’t keep things bottled up,” Kat said to the ceiling. “Though seein’ yer arse might do me some good.”

Ann smacked Kat’s tits playfully, earning a laugh from the princess.

Rosalyn, meanwhile, had stopped petting Kat, and had a funny look on her face. She was scrunched up, like she was trying to focus on something.

“Rosalyn? What’s wrong?” Ann asked, sitting up. “You alright?”

“I’m not sure…” Rosalyn said, eyes shifting side to side. “I… is it foggy in here?”

“Nae?” Kat replied, also pulling herself up and focusing on the Druid.

“Weird, cause I can’t see that well. Like there’s a haze over my vision? It’s smoky or something.”

“That’s… weird,” Ann said, fear growing in her chest. Not more eyes.

“And now they hurt? Gods, ow. Ow ow ow!” Rosalyn cried, grabbing at her face. “What is going on. Kat? Ann? I can’t see. What’s happening? Why can’t I see? Help! Help!”

“We’re here,” Ann said, grabbing Rosalyn’s questing hands as she reached out. “We’re both right here. We need to go get Bren. Is it ok if Kat goes for that?”

Rosalyn whimpered in pain, her nails digging into Ann’s hands. Then her face twisted in agony, her eyes wide, as they fell out of her skull.