Laughter, then applause rang out from the Heathden Dining Room, a smaller room with dark blue doors that was used for intimate gatherings. Anla, Caudin, and a few others were being entertained by a small theater troupe during a late morning repast while Al sat outside in riding clothes. He occasionally wiped his palms on his pant legs as he sat.

Finally, he could hear people talking and the doors opened. Al stood quickly and waited until Caudin and Anla passed him by, then joined the group. It was a good minute before Caudin turned his head and noticed him.

“Wizard! You missed a lovely short production of Twenty Nights in Kinto. The actor that played Persisco could have showed you a better way to sneak.”

“It would have been a wasted lesson, since no one here is a thief.”

“Good point. Why didn’t you join us and what do you need now?”

“I was…I was busy packing.”

“You’re slated for a trip?”

“Your Radiance, I would like to ask for an extended leave.”

Caudin stopped walking and turned to face him. “What do you mean, ‘an extended leave’?”

“I would like permission to help establish Samenstrar in Tapenstri, Your Radiance.”

An annoyed look crossed Caudin’s face. “That’s two short council members I’ve lost to this project. When do you journey?”

“By your leave, in two hours.”

“Two hours? Wizard, that’s hardly enough time to say ‘goodbye’.”

The group began walking as the King set his pace again. “I apologize, Sire.”

“Why didn’t you ask earlier?”

“I don’t know. I think I was afraid you were going to say ‘no’.”

“I should. This is a rude thing to do to a friend, but you are your own man. How long will you be gone?”

“I promise to return before your babe is born, Sire. I wish to see the school established and the students comfortable, then I will head back. Perhaps I will be gone in as little as two months, though it might be the full five.”

Anla moved forward, her violet gloved hands outspread for an embrace. He held her tightly, though not too tightly. At four months her stomach was no longer flat and her imperial violet dress of gathered, beaded tulle was gorgeous, but delicate. “You look radiant,” he whispered.

“Good luck, Al. I’ll miss you,” she said.

Caudin hugged him secondly. “You’ve said goodbye to Telbarisk, I hope?”

“Yes, Sire.”

“Well, since you wanted no fanfare, have a safe journey.” He made to leave, then stopped. “You know, I never thought it would be you to break our quartet. I always figured it would be Tel.”

“Sire, I…” he began, but the group was already on the move away from his position. He sighed and left for the stables.

“Dada, where are we going?” Marnie asked as he sat next to her in the carriage.

“We’ve been over this about eighteen times, dear. We’re going to a school that helps people become wizards like Dada.”

“We’ll come back to the palace?”

“Yes, in due time,” he said, slapping the outside of the carriage. It lurched forward as they began to move.

“Tomorrow?”

“Marnie, no. We’re going to be away for some time.”

“Tonight?”

“Marnie, stop!” he said, immediately regretting his tone. He took a deep breath. “We’re going to be away for some time. It will be fine, darling. We’ll have fun. It’ll be like when you came across the sea in the boat.”

“I was sick on the boat.”

“You won’t be sick in the carriage, sweetie. We’re going to another big house, one near the ocean.”

“I want to go back to the other house.”

“Me, too,” he admitted.

* * *

Anla squeezed her husband’s hand as they rode into the city. “I know you’re upset by his departure, but he’ll be back soon.”

“I know he will. I’m not worried about it. I’m just…confused. Why didn’t he ask sooner?”

“I could come up with a dozen possibilities. I do know that he felt quite a bit of shame over it.”

“These things make us look bad. If it were an emergency, I could understand, but this wasn’t one. He completely uprooted his life, and that of his daughter, to run off and help with this school. I mean, isn’t this enough? He dreamed his whole life of restoring the Arvonnese monarchy, which everyone assumed was impossible, and he finally gets to be in the middle of that, yet leave for something else.”

“Technically the monarchy is restored, and while things aren’t necessarily stable yet, they are running smoothly enough that he isn’t needed. People need to be needed. Maybe he knew he was needed at the school and it appealed to him.”

“Did I not give him enough to do? He was always busy, always involved.”

“Maybe it’s the other way, then? This could be a respite of sorts, a vacation.”

Caudin leaned his head into his hand. “Which one is it? Was he overworked or bored?”

“I don’t know. If I did, I’d tell you. I can, however, tell you that you’re upset not because he’s insulted the crown or left you in a lurch. You’re hurt personally by this.”

“Of course I am. You know that he’s more than just my emrys. I love him and I’m going to miss him.”

“I will as well. But, he’ll be back shortly and then we’ll put this behind us.”

“Mmm. I think I’m going to send him to all of the guild meetings for a season.” She giggled suddenly and put her hand to her stomach.

“Is the baby kicking?” he asked, his eyes wide.

“Far too early for that. No, just a sort of fluttery movement. Alistad said I should expect that during the quickening.”

“How long then ’til the kicks?”

“About a month or so. We’ll have to wait for him to introduce himself properly.”

“Speaking of introductions, are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“No,” she said, smiling. “This is a little something I’ve been working on at Al’s suggestion.”

“No surprises like Alistad?”

“No, no. Just a public appearance. I hope you’ll allow me to continue my inquiries and service towards it.”

“Likely. You know I can’t deny you anything.”

The carriage stopped a few streets later in a less than reputable part of Eri Ranvel. They stepped outside, several guards and one cloaked Merakian shadowing them, as Anla lead Caudin to the main doors of the building. Along the front several dozen children stood in a line in their best clothes, freshly washed, their hair cut and combed or in two braids.

“An orphanage?” Caudin asked.

She smiled and waved at the children. “Many, many children were displaced during the Kalronists’ reign. Even still the orphanages are overflowing. Inside they sleep on the floor and share blankets, the headmistress told me. They eat enough, but not well. There are no toys for them to play with and they only have whatever books are donated. Not all of them can read by the time they turn twenty and none know any labor skills.”

“I see.”

A middle-aged woman moved forward and curtseyed low between them. She had the look of a woman who cared for her appearance up until practicality got in the way. She tucked a few loose strands of her hair back in her bun and pulled her shawl around her shoulders. “Your Radiances, thank you so very much for honoring our home with your presence. Children, say ‘hello’ to the King and Queen.”

A chorus of greetings rang out from the children.

“Thank you, children,” Anla said. “It’s wonderful to see you today. Let’s go inside and see where you sleep.”

It had once been a factory, a two-story stone building with poor insulation and a cracked foundation. Windows had long since been boarded, the wood used as a makeshift chalkboard for fifteen years’ worth of children. The bottom floor had a room converted to a kitchen, a large room with many tables for eating, a bedroom for the headmistress, and a room with odds and ends from outside, including sticks that formed dolls. Upstairs were rooms with piles of blankets on the floors and a room with a tub for washing.

“How did it get so bad?” Caudin asked absentmindedly.

“I’m sorry, Sire,” the headmistress said, looking ashamed. “I accepted fifteen children at the start and was able to manage a better place for them. But, people kept leaving their babes on the stoop and I’d be woken in the middle of the night to a crying newborn. It’s usually the young mothers that send them, usually.” She readjusted her shawl. “As you can see, I have five times my capacity.”

“We didn’t mean to suggest you weren’t doing everything you can. We commend you for this. But, children with torn clothing and not a proper bed… How do you fund what you have?”

“The Church of Beliforn offers some assistance. I also have a few generous sponsors.”

“But, we can see it’s not enough. Thank you for walking us through today.”

They left and entered the carriage once again. Anla said nothing, knowing she didn’t need to.

“I hope you aren’t expecting us to adopt them all,” he finally said when they started moving. “I haven’t had the experience of one child, yet, never mind sixty.”

“Of course I wasn’t expecting us to adopt them, at least not directly. I think there should be a crown-sponsored orphanage, a place that we can put our stamp on. We’ll direct some of our funds there, and perhaps to a few others, and allow some of the most destitute in the city to live well.”

“I think a little could go a long way, too. I saw what they did to entertain themselves.”

“They have food, thankfully, but they need warm beds and an education and happiness.”

He clicked his tongue as he looked out the window. After a minute of thought, he turned back. “It speaks highly of someone who is willing to see others gets what they only wished they’d had.”

“Al told me that the rest of the money promised to me by the Duke of Sharka was spent on orphanages in Hanala. I thought his suggestion was such an insightful gesture and I wondered if there was a way to do the same. I understand I get a purse as the Queen and I’m able to spend money on whatever I’d like, so long as it’s not unbecoming or politically upsetting.”

“That purse is for personal items, like your wardrobe or anything you’d like to buy abroad and have shipped here. We will find funding for the orphanage outside of that. I’ll ask for someone to find you an advisor.”

“Thank you. I think this will be a wonderful cause for the world to know us by.”

* * *

As this was a quieter day for the two of them, Anla and Caudin found themselves eating dinner in their rooms. After they finished, Caudin got comfortable in his armchair near the fire. Instead of taking her own seat, she snuggled in next to him, giving him something more interesting to occupy his time rather than a newspaper.

“Are you happy?” he asked, sipping on a glass of wine.

“Yes,” she said.

“I don’t mean ‘are you happy because I’m happy?’ or ‘are you happy because that’s where you’ve forced yourself to be?’. Are you happy, with me, with everything that’s happened?”

“Is it strange that I still dream of Aviz? I think there are some people who aren’t cut out to be rich and famous. They like the feel of sweat on their backs and they prefer quieter days. I might be one of those. But, I don’t know if I would have been happy in Aviz. I know that I’m happy enough here. And I will always be happy with you.”

“Even if I carry out affairs with ugly chambermaids?”

She snorted and stole his glass for a swig of wine. “Ugly women can seduce just as easily as beautiful women, maybe even more successfully. I’m sorry I was foolish about that.”

“You weren’t foolish, you were jealous. In a way it reminds me that you love me and care about having my sole affection. You know, they’ve asked…”

“Asked about what?”

“If I would take a mistress while you were with child.”

“And?” she asked, her expression serious.

“Anla…Just like you’re not meant to be a queen, I’m not meant to be a womanizer. I’ve known this for some time, before I ever met you. I chafed against my former role just as you chafe against this one. I, however, wished for a house, a wife, and a family and got just that whereas you wished for Aviz and got this.”

“’This’ is not bad, just something I will have to understand in time. I was led to believe that I had little choice in my life as a queen when I’m finding I can influence some things. And you didn’t answer my question directly.”

“I said ‘no’ even though there is a complicated reason behind the recommendation. It’s not as simple as ‘we want to satiate your urges, here’s a pretty girl’; they often choose the girl who has political ties, who then sways my heart to their cause. They also think you’re too strong of an influence on me.”

“They’re afraid I have too much power?” She laughed at this.

“Yes. A clever, strong-willed queen confuses things. They don’t know how to appeal to you other than gifts of clothing and shoes. They’re just guessing. They know how to bribe men.”

“Chocolates would have worked,” she said, reaching past him for a truffle on a tray next to his seat. “See, Jemerie sent these to you when he should have sent them to me.”

“Maybe I’ll drop that hint. Are those chocolate covered frayed almonds?”

“No,” she said, biting into it. “The center is strawberry cream.”

“Odd choice for him. Anyway, I still said ‘no’. I understand that old game. They want to make me a king for the principals. I am one already, but I can also present a united front with my queen. I think that may have one them over, the fact that the people will look more fondly on a faithful king.”

She rubbed her eyes and pressed her fingertips into her temples. “Yes, I…that was the smart…choice.” She tried to move out of the chair but slipped against the arm.

“Anla? Do you want to lie down?”

“Yes…I…”

“You look really flushed. Let’s move you away from the fire.”

She toppled over the armrest and fell to the ground. She began to shake a few moments before she vomited.

Caudin raced around the chair to disentangle her from the furniture. She continued to vomit, trying desperately to catch her breath. It finally snapped into place for Caudin that this wasn’t morning sickness and everything shifted.

“Guards! Isken!”

The Merakian was the first to move from his place in the room next door to their room. “What passes?” he asked.

“Go get Alistad now!”

A guard entered the room as Isken bolted past him. “Your Radiance?”

“The Queen has been poisoned.”

“Sire?” he asked, then looked at Anla. He turned and ran from the room.

He continued to rub her back as she shook and vomited. “It’s okay, ainle. Get it out.”

Isken dashed back in the room carrying a wicker basket. “Anything I can do?” he asked, placing it down near the two of them.

“Assist Alistad. Quarantine the area. The guards should be looking for the assassin, but if you see anything they miss, let me know.”

Alistad came rushing in wearing an open robe that concealed a thin, cotton gown for sleeping. She slammed her basket next to the one Isken brought and knelt next to Anla, who was still vomiting. “What did she eat? When did she eat it? When did the vomiting begin? Tell me all the things you noticed about her.”

“It was most likely the chocolate. This was about ten minutes ago. Her skin started flushing, then she seemed confused and she was pressing her fingers to her forehead like she had a headache. She fell from the chair and started vomiting and shaking.”

“Bring me the chocolate,” she asked Isken. “Use gloves or a napkin.”

By this point Anla was no longer retching, but doubled up and shaking. Caudin held her and waited. Isken brought it over and Alistad sniffed. “Other than strawberries and chocolate, what are you smelling?”

Isken took a whiff. “Floral wood. Smells familiar.”

Caudin gestured for them to bring it over. His face clouded as he sniffed it. “Henchin bark.”

While trirecs never used poisons for assassination, they needed to be familiar with them. In this case, the smell would have been important to know. Caudin would’ve caught the scent and known what it was before swallowing. The Network wouldn’t have known that, though, and they also wouldn’t have known that he knew henchin trees grew exclusively in the colder, mountainous climates of central north Noh Amair and was used frequently by the Network.

Alistad was already taking her tools out of her basket. “I’m going to need hands,” she said.

“Isken, go grab five of those gawkers in the doorway and bring them in here.”

She first gave Anla a dark solution that caused her to retch and dry heave. Then, in turn, she crushed, mixed, and set several vials, which she handed to waiting servants with instructions. Everyone awaited in silence or tight-lipped prayer.

It took the better part of an hour for Alistad to mix the compounds together. Caudin lifted Anla each time to help Alistad pour the mixture down her throat, speaking soft and encouraging words to her every time she tensed and grimaced.

Anla stabilized over the next hour. She stopped wincing in pain, her breathing deepened, her pallor returned to normal, and she stopped shaking. Caudin picked her up when Alistad gave him approval to do so, laying her in their bed after her ladies changed her clothes.

“If you don’t mind, Sire, I’d like to sleep closer for a few days,” Alistad asked. “May I use one of your rooms?”

“You have our permission,” he said.

Other physickers and priests were called the next day, to see if there was some way to improve Anla’s health. She remained asleep and Caudin remained at her bedside the whole day, canceling all his plans.

That night he awoke to her loud moans of pain. “Alistad!” he yelled. Anla’s moans grew louder and she writhed, arching her back. It was then he realized that the bed was soaked. He jumped out and peeled back the covers, devastated to see the stain was wide and dark in the candlelight.

Alistad strode in and stopped short for just a moment. She immediately yelled for one of the midwives.

“What’s happening?” Caudin asked.

“I’m so sorry, Your Radiance. I prayed that this wouldn’t happen.”

“What’s happening?”

“The poison was too strong for the baby, Sire. She’s miscarrying.”

“What?”

She met his gaze and held it. “I know you want to be there for her, but it would be best if you left and let us handle this, Sire.”

“I’m not leaving her.”

“Sire, we can move a chair over for you, but please stay there. We’ll let you know how things are progressing.”

He sighed and moved to the chair in their sitting room. It was a grisly ten hours before the screams and moans stopped. He suddenly perked up and caught Alistad’s attention.

“How is she doing?”

“She’s still not well, Sire. She was already weak from the poison before having to go through childbirth. The worst is over; now she needs to recover.”

“Will she, though?”

“That’s for her to decide, Sire.”

He slumped forward, resting his elbows on his knees and heeling his eyes. Some time later, minutes or hours, he felt a large, comforting hand on his shoulder.

“Caudin, would you like me to sit with her while you rest?”

“I can’t leave her, Tel. I don’t want to be away in case…”

“She’s strong and she will get better. You need to be rested for when she awakes.”

He nodded. It made sense. But, he didn’t move. Instead, he spoke of what he had been thinking of the entire time his wife labored. “I’m sorry, Tel.”

Telbarisk crouched down next to him. “What for?”

“You have done everything in our friendship to teach me how to be a better man. I may have grasped some of them, but it seems forgiveness is still far from my reach.”

“What aren’t you willing to forgive?”

“This. Three times now they have tried to kill me, and all three times they have put my wife in peril. They killed my child, Tel. Anla’s life hangs on by a thread. I’m certain that the next time, if there is a next time,” he said, his voice cracking, “she will not survive.

“I know we planned things differently, but I’ve made my decision. The longer I wait on this, the more harm will be done to my country. I’m calling a meeting of the Principals and I’m declaring war on Sayen.”