Sarah pointed at me with a worried look.
"Me? You're worried about me?" I leaned in.
She nodded.
Indrell put a hand on Sarah's shoulder. "I will not let her meet the fate of so many others. She will live and be strong. You and I will see to that. Besides, she's too stubborn to do otherwise." She chuckled.
"Hey!" I laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment!"
"It was meant to be one!" Indrell's laugher grew.
My reverie in my situation was short lived when I heard a commotion out in the hall. Running to the door, I yanked it open to find Kane still standing with Wulfgar, but an armored guard was trying desperately to remove a young man in tattered clothing. “How did you get in here?”
"My liege,” The man dropped to his knees. “I understand that you possess a woman that you are using to create an heir and have paid her handsomely for her efforts. If she does not produce you a living heir, may I offer my sister?” He struggled against the guard who was pulling him down the hall. “She is well within breeding age and is strong and well mannered. My family could use the monies, and she would be honored."
“Wait.” Kane held his hand up.
The guard paused, cautiously stopped and waiting for Kane’s next order.
“You are offering your sister for money?” Kane sounded completely baffled by the man’s offer. “You would put her life at risk like that?”
“She asked me to come today. Our family is starving,” he explained.
Kane flexed his fingers as he approached the man. "That is a generous offer. However, I did not pay my lover for children. I have never paid for sex. Nor should you.” He looked him over. “However, I would be happy to help your family in return for good service to the kingdom. Get in touch with the smiths, any one of them, and tell them I sent you for work."
All of them looked stunned. I, on the other hand, was proud. That could have ended very badly for the man. And for all I knew, there might have been a time, not long ago, that it would have. Some said Kane was a generous king, but others said he was cold and even cruel at times. But there, in that hallway? He was kind.
"I have other pressing matters to attend too." Motioning to the guard, he instructed him, “If you will see him out kindly, that would be appreciated.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much, my liege.” The man cried as he let the guard escort him back out of the castle.
Turning back to Wulfgar, Kane tensed slightly. “Nobody comes in or out of the room. If anyone comes close, use your judgement.”
With a smirk, Wulfgar nodded. “No problem.”
Seeing me standing in the doorway, Kane strode back, taking me in his arms and kissing the top of my head. “I shall return. Please go inside.”
I hugged him tight. “You did good.”
He chuckled softly, kissing my head again. Ushering me inside, he closed the door. “Please, stay inside for now.”
I watched him the entire time he pushed the door closed, my eyes on his, taking in the smile he had until I could no longer see it, hearing the click of the doorknob engaging.
As I turned to rest against the door, Sarah, Oberlea and Indrell all came over, tugging me to join them over by the fireplace. Sarah signed that I should eat.
Oberlea’s energies were electric with giddiness. “He is nothing like they speak of him as far as being…”
“A monster?” I attempted to finish her sentence.
She laughed. “Not a monster, but I suppose that works. But he’s not.”
“No. he certainly isn’t.” Indrell took my hand. “Herbs and tea. Food and water. Come. Kane needs you to be strong and so does the life growing in your belly.”
She was not wrong, so I joined them, gladly eating, talking and teaching all three of them more signs. They all learned the language so easily that it was fun to show them.
Before we knew it, hours had passed. The food was almost gone. The water pitcher was empty. And the fire was dying down. Each of us jumped when the door opened, and Kane walked in.
With all of us giggling, I looked up at him and smiled. “How did it go? Did you get all of your kingly duties completed?”
He couldn’t help but smirk at all of us, laid out on the floor in front of the fireplace as if having a sleepover with best friends. "Ladies, please leave us for a time. I wish to be alone with my Auriena."
They all took turns to curtsey and leave, gathering their things on the way. Each gesturing to me an approval. Sarah, the last one out, squeaked as Wulfgar appeared by her side.
He signed. “Sleep well, beautiful.”
Her smile reached her eyes as she curtsied and rushed down the hall.
Kane reached over and closed the door, tossing his sword onto one of the chairs. “My kingly duties are set for the night. The men are properly stationed and briefed. Tomorrow, we will discuss more strategy. Tonight,” he came over and held his hand out to me. When I placed mine in his, he lifted me to stand and pulled me in to him. “I need to be sure I’m fulfilling my husbandly duties.”
I kissed his neck with a smile. "It is nice to be home."
~~~
Only a handful of sleeping hours passed before the sun crested the horizon, and a knock came on the door. We both stirred, but considering that we had been up, embraced in each other’s arms, I certainly wasn’t in a big hurry to get up, let alone deal with any duties yet. And by his
