Chapter Seven
Bran had forgotten about the new wizard graduate coming to town. He had a lot on his mind, to be far, Rolf being difficult one of them. It had been three weeks since he'd tested Kalys. Three weeks of Rolf avoiding him like the plague. He'd gotten the Castle Physician to look after him when the infection had left, and Bran had subsided, knowing he didn't really want to discuss it more than Rolf did. When their Father, perhaps sensing some tension, assigned them to go through magical files together. Bran hated the work, Rolf hated filing, and both of them were determined to be asses to each other.
Finally, though after hours of enduring Rolf's insults (his wit was irritatingly better than Bran's), Bran absolutely lost it. He couldn't bare to hear one more thing about how he was utterly boring and nobody liked being around him because they all wanted to jump of cliffs just listening to him go on and on about mountain climbing.
"Well at least I could keep it in my pants at sixteen and didn't knock someone up I'd only met six months ago."
Rolf went red, and then primly folded his hands, looking pointedly at all the Castle staff who had heard Bran's little fit. Now the rumors would never stop, and Rolf may be boxed in the ears for not telling his parents himself. And it would be Bran's fault.
"Well at least I actually got a woman to sleep with me," he retorted, making Bran glare, though he definitely deserved it.
They were interrupted by a woman in wizard robes. And she had obviously heard their entire conversation. Bran winced, and Rolf blushed, tapping his fingers on the table.
The woman suddenly remembered her place and bowed, recognizing who they were, and that they were paying attention. Bran studied her; she was obviously the new wizard graduate he had sent for, her robes signified that. She was tall, slender, with an athletic but womanly build; reminding him of his mother. Auburn hair fell down her back, and piercing brown eyes studied, freckles splattered across her long face.
"Ahem," Bran started. "Royal Wizard Bran. And my brother, Crown Prince Rolf."
They both stood up to bow, Rolf charmingly smiling. Bran envied how easily he could flip the switch, as he himself was still trying to recover.
"Wizard Thalia," she introduced herself. "The wizard the College sent."
"Right, right," he concluded, sighing. "I'm sure Rolf can finish this and I will-"
"Actually," Rolf objected, using his court voice, greatly exaggerated to bring Bran's temper to a boil. "I have to go clear up some rumors and have a meeting with the King and Queen about some things."
Bran sighed. Rolf won this one, he supposed.
Celie watched as Bran unwrapped Rolf's bandages. It had been three weeks since the incident and Rolf was out of a sling, and Bran had mentioned that he probably would be mostly healed up by today. Since Pogue was needed to assist Bran because Queen Celina was in the village, Celie had to go with him. With all her annoyance of being followedaround, she also got to do some exciting things when Pogue was needed. Not that Rolf sitting shirtless on his bed while Bran unwrapped bandages was that exciting. But it was certainly better than hearing Lilah talk about her wedding.
"I still can't get a ton of movement without pain," Rolf noted, wincing as he rolled his shoulder back. "But at least I can sleep."
The wound wasn't completely healed. Celie could still see the edges hadn't been fused back together, but it was much better than the original wound.
"I want you to let it air out for a couple hours," Bran told him and Rolf groaned. "Just stay up here. I have things to discuss with you anyways. About the assassinations of course."
Celie exchanged looks with Pogue. The last part had been tacked on with a nervous laugh, and while Rolf had a composed look on his face, Celie hadn't missed the flash of annoyance in his eyes. Pogue shrugged, and Celie decided to let it be. She was trying not to be too nosy, though her brother's behavior was rather suspicious.
She herself was treading very carefully on who she bothered too much. The holiday feasts started in three days, and if she wasn't careful Lilah would make Celie help her do something Celie didn't care about. Like decorating.
"Don't get shot with an arrow," Rolf said, flopping onto his back. "It's not very fun."
Celie wanted to give him a retort, though she supposed she couldn't. She was gravely reminded in the moment that Rolf had risked his life to save their father, a noble thing that Celie wasn't surprised by. But it was still disheartening as she yearned for a peaceful life going forward.
"Celie," Pogue started. "I think we better go. Ethan mentioned needing help with the griffins this afternoon."
Celie sighed. "Rolf, why did you have to go and marry Kalys? Ever since then we have been stuck with Ethan who for all his training under the Arkower, isn't quite as natural with the griffins as Kalys, and Kalys is filling her afternoons with meaningless things."
Rolf sat up, rolling his eyes. "Like learning how to be Queen someday? You might as well take it up with the Castle. I made no marriage proposal, Cecelia."
Bran looked like he was going to say something, but refrained. Another suspicious thing Celie noted. But she followed Pogue out of the door, Rolf calling some witty remark after her. Bran's secretive behavior could wait.
"When are you planning on telling Mother and Father Kalys is pregnant?" Bran asked Rolf, a few minutes after Pogue and Celie left. "It's been three weeks, Rolf! I can keep seeing how Kalys is going, but she's reaching the point where she should have a midwife. Things get much more thorough, especially since she's nearly three months pregnant."
Rolf swallowed, not really knowing what to say. Him and Kalys had barely discussed this, much less figured out what they were going to do.
"I was thinking," he started, making a plan up in his head, trying to sound like it was very thought-through. "That I would tell Mother and Father tonight, and then the rest of the family the next night, and then announce it at the end of the holiday feasts. Especially considering the rumors you started this morning."
"Mother is going to be a touch upset that she only knew about her grandchild's arrival a week before the people of Sleyne did," Bran muttered, but Rolf didn't have much to say. She probably already knew due to Bran's big mouth.
"Are you going to have Kalys go with you?" Bran asked.
"No," he said, forming a plan in his mind. "They're my parents. I'll be the one to tell them, I don't see how she needs to be involved. She's already embarrassed enough to be seen by me in front of them."
"She's just shy, Rolf. I mean, she barely knows us, if you think about," Bran paused. "Which is why I'm a little upset that you've been taking her to bed."
Rolf wrinkled his nose. "It was perfectly consensual, if that's what you're implying, and it only happened twice."
"Of course I know it was consensual," Bran said gently. "I guess, I just thought you of people would be aware of such consequences."
Rolf tried not to be annoyed, but it still came out. Maybe it was because guilt gnawed at his stomach. "Oh wretched me. My downfall by a pair of nice breasts."
Bran scowled. "That's not what I meant, Rolf. It's just you don't often lose your head like this. I'm just nervous you aren't prepared for fatherhood."
Rolf looked at Bran incredulously. "Of course I'm not ready to have a baby. I'm not ready to be married. Really, Bran, you're being so incredibly unhelpful. In fact, if you're just going to sit here and spout your disappointment in choices that I've made, you might as well leave."
"Im not trying to be a bear, Rolf, I'm just trying to figure out how this happened," Bran said, rubbing a hand over his forehead.
"Well, Bran, I consummated my marriage. And to do that-"
"Stop being snarky."
"When you share a drink with a lot of nobles, and you're over-stimulated, and suddenly a very pretty girl comes out wearing next to nothing, a very pretty girl who you've been kissing all night because you just married her. It's hard not to give in."
Bran flushed.
"I swear if you're picturing Kalys-"
"Fuck's sake, Rolf!" Bran nearly shouted, cursing uncharacteristically. "Why would I do that?"
Rolf smirked. And Bran glared back.
"I'll tell Mother and Father tonight," Rolf reassured. "But rest assured, Bran, I'm not stupid. I have this figured out."
It was a straight lie, but to reveal his true feelings in the matter would make Rolf lose his ground.
Celie didn't have to spend too much time with either of her brothers to know that something weird was going on. Each of them had complained explicitly about each other to her over the most miniscule things; things that normally wouldn't bother either of them. It was sort of odd, though they had had their fair share of fights, they didn't really argue too much. Not as much as Celie and Lilah did. But now they barely acknowledged each other except for the negatives. She wasn't the only one noticing it either- in fact Pogue actually brought it up with her.
"It's weird to me," Pogue mentioned. "Especially Rolf. While I've seen Bran hold a grudge for awhile, Rolf has always been the forgiving type. At least to me, and I can admit there have been times I certainly did not deserve it."
It was odd for Rolf to hold a grudge. While he was an expert black-mailer, he usually didn't stay angry for long. But this had been going on for three weeks now. And no one knew what Bran had done. Or what Rolf had done. They were just massively irritated with each other, neither of them giving an explanation for the sudden rush of feelings.
"He's been in sort of an ill-temper with everyone but Kalys, though." Celie winced. She had been avoiding him for quite a bit.
Their conversation was short-lived when Queen Celina entered the room. She looked poised and graceful as usual, though Celie could see the fine lines of annoyance behind her eyes. She let out a long sigh when she saw them and placed her hands gingerly on the back of a chair.
"Cecelia," she started, Celie cringing because her full name was used. "Have you seen Kalys? She has three fittings today, and I'm sort of wondering if she's trying to wriggle out of them, and you know all the hiding places."
Pogue ducked his head before excusing himself, which Celie thought was justified. Why would he want to hear about fittings? She certainly didn't want too. As soon as he left, the Queen sat down heavily. She put her head in her hands before looking up at Celie.
"Have you heard the rumors going around the Castle?" She asked, voice strained.
"There are always rumors going around the castle," Celie said carefully, but knowing what to expect from this very odd conversation.
"Apparently Bran made some crass comment publicly, implying that Kalys is pregnant."
Celie's eyes widened. She was surprised her mother was telling her all of this. Normally castle gossip was castle gossip. Then again, there had been rumors about Kalys being pregnant for a long time.
"And normally, I would wave it away. But yesterday's fittings were a bit awkward. Perhaps she is just better, er nutritioned, but she had the shape of early pregnancy...and well, it would explain why Rolf has been rather testy."
Celie patted her mother's hand. She looked like she was about to cry, and Celie didn't know what to do. Normally the Queen was so composed, and light, and never succumbed to such high pressure situations. And if she did, Celie didn't really feel like she was the right person to witness it.
"Mother?"
They both jumped, and turned to see Rolf, hands stuffed in his pockets. He locked eyes with Celie, and she wondered if he'd heard all of this; neither of them had heard him enter.
"Yes, darling?" Her voice cracked, and Rolf flinched.
"Father and I are having a meeting I'd like for you to join."
Celie looked up at her brother. He looked very normal, causally rocking on his heels, waiting for the mother to smooth out her skirts.
"See ya, Cel," he told her, and for a second she thought she heard a slight strain to his voice. She brushed it off; it was probably because of him and Bran's forced encounters today.
Surely that's all there was to it, she thought uneasily.
Queen Celina had thought it was a council meeting as she took her son's arm and they walked in silence towards her husband's studies. Her heart sunk when Rolf closed the door, beginning to pace. She reached over to grip Owen's fingers, a sinking feeling in her gut.
"Kalys is pregnant," Rolf said quietly.
Celina didn't know what to make of it as her husband shifted awkwardly, looking onto her for what to say. Celina didn't have anything to say. Her son, her youngest son, stood before her, telling them he had fathered a child. At sixteen. She hadn't let Delilah marry yet, and here Rolf was telling them his wife was carrying a baby.
A part of her was angry. Angry that he hadn't told her until rumors began thickening in the Castle. Angry that he had made such rash decisions. But she couldn't really blame him, either. It's not like they had told him what to do with this suddenly forced marriage, or really, what not to do. He's been thrown into it, and cracked, it seemed.
She and Owen were married when she was only a year older than him, and she was pregnant with Bran soon after. Then again, she'd been in love with him since she was fourteen, and Rolf hadn't even known Kalys existed for a year, but she tried to relate.
She watched him carefully before he said anything. He stood tall, now almost as tall as Bran, though his shoulders were as wide was his father's. His face was set, jaw clenched, dark eyes staring at both of them to answer. She wondered if this is how he looked as Glower the Eightieth; so stern. He resembled Owen very much, especially Owen when he was Rolf's age. It made Celina a touch nostalgic.
"Are you going to say anything?" He asked, his voice still soft.
"What do you want me to say?" King Glower retorted, though there was only a hint of anger. "I guess I shouldn't be shocked; I'm only sorry we didn't educate you on such purposes beforehand."
Rolf frowned at his father's comment, and Celina lay a hand on her husband's forearm. Though it was true, she didn't think it was very helpful.
Finally trusting her voice, she spoke. "Are you sure she's pregnant? Has a midwife confirmed with her?"
"Bran did," Rolf said, clearly offended. "I'm not stupid."
King Glower raised an eyebrow. "Kalys is pregnant so I wouldn't be saying that with such conviction, unless this was planned?"
Rolf's face was red, and he clenched his fists.
"Did Bran confirm how far along she is?" Queen Celina continued, ignoring her husband's rash words. That, and the fact that it probably wasn't the most decent thing for Bran to be testing for pregnancy. That was a woman's issue.
"Twelve weeks," Rolf snapped, though the tone was clearly aimed at his father.
Good lord, that meant. Celina put a hand to her forehead. If the baby was born at all early, it would nearly be confirmed that was the reason for a hasty wedding.
"I'm sorry to be such a burden," Rolf emphasized. "I'll see myself out."
Queen Celina watched as he slammed the door behind him.
"Why do you have to be so rash with your words, Owen?" She demanded. "Do you think he chose any of this?"
She made to follow her son, but when she stepped out of the doors, she saw Kalys skipping to keep step with him. Her heart hurt a little. There was another person now to comfort him after such things. She sighed; the things her children had dealt with over the last years were truly heartbreaking.
Kalys didn't really say anything when she came out of the dressing room, nightgown on. Rolf stood by his window, looking completely read for bed. Kalys didn't know how he stood to only wear pants in the cold weather, but nevertheless, here he stood.
Her heart beat fast as she approached him, finally understanding his want to push everything out of his mind.
"What is this scar from?" She asked, tracing her hand down the long scar starting at his shoulder blade, rubbing down to his lower back. It was faded enough, though it was still there.
"You're hand is cold," he complained grouchily, sighing and turning to her. "Khelsh."
He looked her up and down and held up his forearm. There was another one, drawing a pale line from his wrist to his elbow.
"So is this one," Rolf said gently. "He pulled a knife on me right before we started messing with their chambers."
He looked mildly concerned, though Kalys thought he'd be bit more emotional. He looked more thoughtful than anything.
"That's also something my sisters don't know," he put in. "Or my parents."
She continued to trace the scar, and she wasn't foolish enough to not realize how deep this would've been. And only two years ago. Perhaps Rolf was more perceptive due to circumstance than she'd originally thought.
She lifted her nightgown up until she could see the mark on her inner thigh. Her foot rested on his window seat, and she drew his attention to it. It was still ugly and purple, but she didn't really think that would go away.
"The Griffin Lost, or the Arkish, threw a spear at me once when I was going through their land. It was aimed for the abdomen, but I managed to catch it in the thigh," she explained, watching him cock his head at her, face still. "I had to pull it out myself, and stitch it up, because my mother had passed out from drinking. I was thirteen."
Rolf's hand came to rest on the spot, thumbing the scar. Kalys didn't mean to let out a whimper, but it still came. Tears were filling up, and Rolf came to meet her eyes, his half-lidded.
His hand ran up her thigh, curving up her hip, as she steadied herself on the ground. Both hands came to cup her cheeks, searching for something in her face. She knit her eyebrows together, closing her eyes as Rolf slid his lips against hers.
"Rolf," she started, but couldn't finish her thought.
He picked her up, her legs coming to wrap around his waist. She fell on her back on their bed, Rolf's hands coming to rest on the healed wound of her thighs, hers resting on the bump of his scars.
"Is the door locked?" He asked breathily, and she nodded. "I'm not going to hurt you, am I? Because of the baby?"
She shook her head, and he paused, before attaching his lips to her neck, hands rubbing up and under her nightgown.
Kalys sighed. She didn't really know how else to feel closer to him.
Celie squinted at the Bran's new employee. Rowen and Bowen had left the Castle sometime while they were in Grath, and a new assistant had come. Bran had assured everyone this would be a much more permanent situation. Celie didn't know.
Wizard Thalia, as she introduced herself seemed much more relaxed than Arkwright had ever been. For one, she actually ate their food instead of picking it apart. For two, Lulath's girls seemed to like her enough. She was much younger than Celie thought she would be, looking a little older than Lilah.
It was two days before the Holiday Feasts began, but somehow Queen Celina had managed to put together a formal luncheon to welcome Bran's assistant. Celie thought it was very silly. Thalia didn't seem as she thought herself superior or in the need of a formal lunch. She was more intrigued by the griffins.
Celie was seated by Kalys. Normally, she had her place by Rolf who would be some sort of entertainment to her during such things, but now that he was married, she'd lost the spot. Celie always admired Rolf's talent to simultaneously fool around and pay attention in formal events such as this. Celie had to look across at Lilah who was wearing a court smile while Lord Feen kept telling her about his own wedding. Celie could never imagine Lord Feen being young enough to be in love.
"Wizard Thalia, please, tell us where in Sleyne you are from," Queen Celina asked, giving the wizard a warm smile.
"I'm from Costin originally," Thalia told them, and Celie wracked her brain to remember where that was. South side of Sleyne? "But I was actually brought in by a duke and duchess of Kithage, and went to Kithage until I attended the College of Wizardry."
"Where's Kithage?" Celie whispered across Kalys to Rolf. She hadn't heard of the city.
"It's a country to the east," Rolf whispered back. "A bit farther than the distance between here and Bendswe."
He looked intrigued enough, though Celie didn't care too much. Sure, she was a little happy a woman wizard had come, but she was still a little sick of who Bran had had come to the Castle. She wondered what kind of friends Bran had there. Or if he had any. Rolf had often told her he hadn't been very friendly before he went to the College, but Celie had to think he had some friends.
"How interesting," King Glower remarked. "It will be nice to have someone in the Castle who grew up away from Sleyne."
Celie squinted. Kalys had grown up away from Sleyne. If Kalys was offended, she didn't show it, just continued to pick at her chicken. Celie didn't really care for chicken, especially because now because she had something that was half-bird for a companion. She wondered if she could not eat meat, like Lulath.
The formal lunch dispersed quietly; Rolf and King Glower, trailed by bodyguards as they all were, left for council meetings, Kalys and the Queen for duties, and Celie and Pogue to go exercise the griffins. Sometimes Lilah came with them, but she was much too busy with the Holiday Feasts. Or flirting with Lulath. Both apparently were very important.
"I hate formal luncheons," Celie grouched, tugging on her dress. The stiff satin was becoming quite the problem.
Pogue smirked, Arrow and Rufus clicking along beside them. She had to take more time to stop at her rooms, change into something more suitable and come back to a waiting Pogue.
"I feel like I'm in Grath again," she grumbled, pulling her cloak around her tighter so she'd be a bit more comfortable in the griffin stables.
"Oh, Grath," Pogue said after looking around to make sure Lulath wasn't in the halls. "I don't think I could stand to ever go back there. It's so pretentious."
"Don't say that in front of Mummy," Celie told him. "Rolf was complaining about Grath and Mother scolded him quite harshly."
Pogue rolled his eyes. And Celie smirked. Pogue really couldn't say anything bad about the Queen or really any part of the royal family, especially because he was a knight now. But sometimes Celie could get his true feelings out, especially since he was a friend, too.
Ethan was there to meet them, his face concerned. Griffins were chirping and squawking as usual.
"Can you find Kalys?" Ethan asked, which was unusual. Ethan and Kalys had never fought, but they clearly had very different philosophies when it came to griffin training. It made sense, considering while they were both raised learning about griffins, their ancestors had killed each other over such matters. "The unicorns keep ruling up the griffins. They're becoming quite the bother, and the stable boys are not helping."
"I'm sure Princess Cecelia can send a page or a maid to find Princes Kalys," Pogue said with emphasis, flicking his eyes around to the listening stable boys. And Ethan apologized swiftly, sending someone to get Kalys.
"I really don't like the unicorns," Ethan said grouchily. "They're mean."
"Are you afraid of horses?" A stable boy about Celie's age asked.
"No, Eli," Ethan snapped, and Celie stifled a giggle.
Pogue was openly laughing, but that was because he didn't like Ethan very much. Celie never knew how to feel about Ethan. She was much more loyal to Kalys.
Celie cooed at Beatrice the griffin. Bran's tiny griffin who was cowering from the other ones in a corner. She hissed at Celie, and Celie rolled her eyes. She could try.