Chapter Eighteen: In Which Rolf Keeps a Secret

The past three days had been very long. The hours dragged on and on, never seeming to end. She'd read countless books, took many notes on chess-playing, attempted sketching, but mostly just thought. It was very boring being stuck in a dark room all day, forced to lay in bed. Servants brought her her meals, and Rolf would come when he could, but usually she was alone.

Now she sat at the windowsill, staring into the distance. She was dressed, today, hair braided as well, a feat which made her feel less like a hostage and like she was in control of her life. There was a dusting of snow, and it was still gray outside, but it was moving into spring. March was apparently bleak; at the Found there really wasn't different seasons, just really all the same climate. She sighed, rubbing her hand over her stomach. That was the reason she was stuck in here, though she supposed she couldn't really blame an unborn baby. Only three more months until the baby was born, three short months.

Kalys jumped when the door opened, turning around quickly to see Bran. She frowned, wishing he would've knocked. He looked up at her, seemingly confused, before shaking his head.

"Sorry, I forgot you were here," Bran mumbled. "I'm looking for a small leather-notebook, and I'm wondering if I left it in here."

"So you just barge in here to look for it?" Kalys asked, a little shocked.

Sure, she knew where Rolf had put the notebook, but she wasn't a snitch. And she was annoyed that Bran hadn't knocked first. Rolf had yet to get over learning that his older brother rebelled in such a way, though it didn't really seem like such a big deal to Kalys. They had all sworn not to tell anyone, but Rolf had mentioned to her that he might say something to Bran himself about it.

Bran frowned. "Sorry, I didn't really think about that. It's-it's just very important and I need it back."

Kalys crossed her arms, turning towards the window. "You're more than welcome to look."

The journal was hidden under the window seat cushion, the very one Kalys sat down on. She folded her hands neatly in her lap, watching as Bran searched. She felt inclined to tell him, but she also didn't want to betray Celie. She felt like she was lying to him, and she wasn't a bad liar.

Relief flooded through her when Rolf came in the open door, eyebrows raised. "Hello, Bran. Why are you searching my rooms?" He set a pile of books down on the bed, before looking back expectantly at his brother.

Bran frowned. "I lost something. Have you seen a leather notebook?"

Rolf sighed, sitting by Kalys. "Why would it be in here?"

Bran shrugged. "You and Celie were in my rooms a couple days ago unsupervised, and because I brought it with me when you insisted I perform an entire medical analysis on Kalys four days ago."

Rolf shrugged. "Haven't seen it."

Bran humphed, rubbing a hand down his face, something both of the Glower brothers did when they were frustrated, before murmuring his thanks and leaving the room. Rolf rolled his eyes and stood up, stretching.

"You didn't have to lie," Kalys said. "You could've confronted him about it."

"What is there to confront? He's my brother, Kalys, and he can do what he wants. He's an adult who can make his own choices," Rolf responded, returning to the pile of books on the bed. "I brought you less boring reading material. You better be thankful; these are some more of the ancient legends you like, and Master Charles was very particular about them."

Kalys came to look at them. They looked very old and worn, the leather old, and the hard cover ones were cracking.

"I suppose you're right about Bran; but still, don't you think it's rather irresponsible? Besides, both Sleynth and Arkish tradition are very against intercourse of such kind," she added, picking up a book on Bendswe.

"Perhaps, but I know for a fact the College of Wizardry is very loose when it comes to such matters, and it probably wore off on him. Besides, the way I see it, he could be visiting the brothel and paying women to sleep with him," Rolf said bluntly.

"There's a brothel in the village? It seems so wholesome," she murmured, looking up at Rolf.

"Yes, there is a brothel; in case you haven't noticed, they're everywhere. Where such things a matter in the Found?"

Kalys shrugged. "I think so, but I'm not sure. If there was it was very hush-hush. Have you ever visited a brothel, Rolf?"

He ducked his head. "No, of course not. I was too young before we left for Grath, and then I had you for such desires."

Kalys frowned. "Is that what I am to you? A prostitute?"

Rolf blushed. "That's not what I meant at all, and you know it. I have never considered going to a brothel in my life; I am very familiar with the village, and no doubt would be recognized and there would be some great scandal."

Kalys giggled.

"Why are you so giddy all of the sudden?" He asked, a smirk on his face.

"I'm just thinking of scandals," she said. "They are rather exciting."

"You have been locked up in this room for far too long," he laughed. "I should send Lilah in, and maybe you two can reconcile."

Kalys scowled, looking up at him. "Lilah and I aren't fighting.",

"There's still tension there," Rolf remarked. "Just like there is tension between my mother and Thalia."

"There is? I've never noticed," Kalys said, suddenly interested.

"That's because you're not people-observant. I can usually sense tension; it's my job too. Mother was used to being Bran's only female wizard assistant. And then Thalia came along who is rather, er, strong-willed. Mother is also very strong-willed, and Bran, though he can be a stickler, can be passive at times. They both try to get their way, and therefore there is tension."

"I never picked up on that," Kalys remarked. "But your sister and I are not fighting."

"That's different," Rolf responded. "You're both stubborn, though while Lilah is pushier, you're more quiet about it. You are a lot like Cecelia, though probably more strong-willed, and Lilah feels threatened."

"I don't think it's like that at all. While we're mentioning tension, I suppose we should discuss the sudden stiffness around Pogue with you since he very gallantly beat you in a wrestling match a week ago." Kalys pretended to swoon. "I suppose the handsome knight usually conquers the weaker vessel of the castle."

Rolf rolled his eyes, wrapping his arms around the front of her, hands clasped together on her swollen stomach. She leaned against him, wondering how long moments like this would last. She had fears about who they would be when the baby was born; if they would change from exhaustion, intense responsibility, and just the reality of a little person. What if it was an arranged marriage that failed? What if they were stuck together, hating each other for the rest of their lives?

The moment was interrupted by the baby kicking up sharply at Rolf's fingers. Rolf jolted and then swore, rubbing a hand down his face. Kalys turned so she could face him, laughing at his surprised face.

"Does that happen often?" He asked, eyes lowering to her stomach suspiciously.

Kalys shrugged. "I don't know, it started about a month ago. Unless it's a big movement like that one, I usually don't really notice it as out of the ordinary anymore."

"Oh." Was all Rolf said. His face was serious now, as if he was taking in every little detail of what just happened.

She kissed his cheek, studying him. "It's not that big of a deal," she said gently, but Rolf turned from her.

"I know," he whispered.

Kalys smiled sadly, attempting to blink away tears at his reaction. She didn't know why she was so emotional about it; normally she wouldn't care, but it felt personal to her.

"Okay."

He looked back at her, gently kissing her forehead. "Okay."

...

Celie sighed as Lilah fussed over Rose the unicorn. Celie didn't like fussing, unless it was her fussing over Rufus. Rufus, now, sat beside her, head in her lap as she watched Lilah coo at the unicorn. Kalys had confirmed the unicorn's pregnancy three weeks ago, though the hunch had been Lulath's about a month ago. Lilah had started crying at the news, and Celie had jumped for joy. Kalys acted like it was the most normal thing ever, and Rolf hadn't really cared. Though Rose had been a baby when she had been found, Celie was excited to start a new family of unicorns in Sleyne. The griffins had done surprisingly well, with some discipline training from her, Kalys, and Pogue.

"I sort of miss working with Kalys," Pogue said from pulling a griffin harness down, voicing Celie's thoughts. "I miss her knowledge about the griffins. Everything feels so unsure now."

"It's only been four days," Celie pointed out. "Besides, you two were very awkward to work with ever since your little fight."

Pogue gave her a stern look. "It was not a fight. I snapped at her, and then Rolf got defensive. It was more between Rolf and me than anything."

Celie shrugged. "Anyway, Kalys has been missed. Now she's stuck up in her room with nothing to do but read. She hasn't even come down for meals."

"Mother said she will be able to try things like that again; introducing them back, slowly. It's just a period of rest for her for awhile." Lilah primly gave the unicorn a pat before standing up and brushing her skirts. "If you'll excuse me, I have my lunch planned with Lulath."

Celie watched her go, wondering why her sister seemed so distant all of the sudden. It was so sudden, like a how quickly a match lit a candle.

"That was weird," Pogue commented, his gaze on Lilah as well.

Celie nodded. "Who knows with her."

"Not that all of you are acting odd, but do you know why Bran is on a rampage trying to find some notebook of his?"

Celie flushed, looking down. "No." She knew it was unconvincing; she sounded like a liar. She looked back up at Pogue was was looking at her rather suspiciously.

"You're lying," Pogue accused. "Do you know where it is?"

Celie remembered sitting on Rolf's bed as he made her swear to tell no one before -or if- he confronted Bran about what they read. She had agreed, and then sworn on the gods of Sleyne. They all had.

"So, yes," Pogue continued. "You do know where it is."

Celie swallowed. "Rolf and I snuck into his bedroom a couple of days ago and took it. We were looking for notes on Casper because Bran has been so secretive about the whole thing recently. We didn't find anything and are waiting for an opportunity for Rolf to get it back without him being suspicious."

Pogue didn't look satisfied. "You're hiding something."

"No, I'm not," Celie protested. "And you can't tell anybody; Rolf will kill me if he finds out I told you."

"See, why would you be so defensive if you didn't find anything?" Pogue asked, coming to sit beside Rufus.

"Because it was weird reading Bran's diary, and I know more than I needed to about my brother," Celie grumbled, though she was being completely honest.

"You're naturally nosy, Celie, you always have been. Something else was in there that you're not telling me," Pogue said.

Celie pursed her lips. "Why do you want to know so bad?"

"Because I am curious and you're playing coy. You're acting like Bran killed someone or something very bad needs to be covered up and I want to know what," he answered. "Besides, I could just go and tell Rolf you told me about the journal."

"Oh, alright," Celie grumped. "But you have to swear that you won't tell a soul."

"I won't tell. When have I ever snitched on you?" Pogue pointed out and Celie gave in.

"We found out a very surprising secret about Bran," she started.

Pogue crossed his arms, rolling his eyes at her. "I kind of figured that out by your not-so-subtle hintings."

Celie sighed. "You seriously cannot tell anyone; Rolf said he's figuring out a way to deal with it, and you have to leave up to him. Oh, what am I saying? I shouldn't even be telling you this."

Pogue put his hands on her shoulders. "Celie, if you really don't think I should know, don't tell me. But you can tell me if you want to. I promise I won't say anything; I've had plenty of secrets of my own. It's up to you."

Celie was surprised and impressed. Not that Pogue had ever really pressured her into something, other than his annoying habit of picking her up and setting her on Rufus to fly away in the face of danger, but she thought it was very nice that he wasn't being pushy. Especially because she knew she would've been if she was in his shoes. And that's what made her tell him.

"Bran and Thalia are in a relationship," she blurted out.

Pogue raised an eyebrow. "Alright. Not trying to be rude, and granted, I am not up to date on all of the courting rituals of royalty, but that doesn't really seem like that big of a deal, and that doesn't seem like something Rolf would have to deal with."

Celie felt her heart racing, about to reveal the secret she had kept for four days. Normally, she was a great secret keeper, but this had weighed on her chest, especially because she was afraid Bran was going to be exiled or something.

"It's not a courting relationship," she said slowly. She flushed, but then got it over with. She couldn't really go back now. "It's more like, more like they're consistently doing things of a certain nature."

Pogue blinked at her, and Celie blushed again, looking away. She had never felt this awkward. Not to mention, she had been avoiding Bran like the plague, because she felt like she would blurt out any second that she knew and Bran would never speak to her again for stealing his journal.

"You mean to tell me that Bran, Bran, studious, rather uptight, Bran is having intercourse with the college graduate he hired?" Pogue was wide-eyed. "Now that's a scandal worth freaking out about. Don't tell Lilah."

Celie put a hand over his mouth. "Don't be so loud about it. Besides, you make it seem worse than it is. Thalia is only a year younger than Bran; he graduated much earlier than normal. And if you tell Lilah, Bran will probably be exiled."

Pogue rolled his eyes again. "He won't be exiled. If it got out to the public, the worst that could happen is he would be suspended from his duties for a little while-if that. Your parents are reasonable people, Celie. And he probably won't even be found out. Bran is smart; they'll probably announce an official betrothal in six months and get married, none the wiser."

Celie pursed her lips. "I know, but what if Thalia gets pregnant? Then what? They would be in an even worse mess than Rolf and Kalys."

Pogue cocked his head to the side. "I mean, no creepy old man has threatened their future child. Again, Bran is educated on such matters; he's not going to get caught up in a wave of hormones and lose his head like Rolf did. I don't think you have to worry about it."

Celie let out a breath. "You're right."

"Hey," Pogue said comfortingly. "My lips are sealed."

...

"I'm going to be fine," Kalys murmured. "Stop fussing over me."

Rolf didn't remove the protective, ever-hovering hand on her back as he guided her toward the furnished area where they spent most of their evenings. Dagger bounced beside them, occasionally glancing up to look at Rolf and his slow pace.

"I just don't want you to overheat again. That was scary," he commented. He pushed open the door to the next hall for her, though he did let off his hand after another whine from his wife.

"I probably won't by walking, but you being a nuisance might do it," she grumbled.

"That wouldn't make sense, darling, you should think before you speak." He stayed quiet, though, when she gave him a considerably cold look.

Lilah joined them soon enough and Rolf sighed. Despite Kalys's insistence from before, the awkwardness and tension between his sister and his wife was quite obvious to him. Lilah was trying to be nice, but deep down inside Rolf knew she was harboring a grudge toward him. Though it wasn't his fault, he still felt a little guilty for taking away the title of first child married. With all of this happening, Lilah was probably being taken away from her own wedding planning, and it bothered her.

"Rolf," Lilah started. "Have you moved one of our cradles into your rooms yet?"

Rolf glanced at his sister. "No. The baby won't be here for another three months."

Lilah frowned, entering the family's private quarters. "I think you're ill-prepared."

"That's nice," Rolf snapped rudely. "I don't really care."

Kalys tugged on his arm, giving him a concerned look. she pursed her lips, and her face was stern.

Lilah huffed. "Why are you being so sensitive all of the sudden?"

Rolf rubbed a hand down his face. Not really wanting to get his mother involved, he attempted to smooth out his snappish behavior. "I'm sorry. It's just I'm sick of people telling me how to do this; we'll figure it out."

"We're just trying to help," Lilah defended softly. But she left them, going to join Lulath by the fireplace.

"Why are you being so sensitive all of the sudden?" Kalys whispered when they sat down. Her hand rested on his forearm, thumb running over his wrist.

"I don't know," he whispered back. "I just snapped. "

Kalys didn't answer, just sprung a conversation with Queen Celina about something he didn't really care about. His eyes focused on Dagger's golden back, his mind wandering to nightmares about Khelsh, Casper, and the child that was going to make a father out of him. It had set in completely the afternoon before; not just some words his mother or sister said. He saw the movement, felt the movement. And it was driving him nuts. Which had affected his temper.

He blinked when Kalys squeezed his wrist, looking up at her. She was looking at him expectantly, as if waiting for him to answer a question.

"Can you repeat that?" He asked, though he didn't know who he was talking to.

"Have you thought of any names yet?" Queen Celina asked. Much to his surprise, it wasn't passive-aggressive or referring to the argument from before.

Rolf shook his head. "I guess we've had ideas for a girl, but Kalys has refused all the names I like for a boy." His knee started bouncing as it usually did when he talked about the baby. It was uncomfortable for him to say the least.

"That's because they remind me of something one would name a cow," Kalys retorted, eyebrows furrowed. "Magnus?"

Celie flopped on the couch next to Rolf, looking up at him. "Oh, Rolf, that's awful."

Rolf smirked at Celie as she wriggled to sit up.

"At least it's not as bad as-" He started, but Kalys put a finger to his lips as Queen Celina raised her hand, gesturing for him to stop.

"I don't want anymore flack for your brother's name," she scolded, pursing her lips.

"It suits him; I'll give you credit for that," Rolf mumbled and Celie giggled.

Queen Celina ignored the snarky comment. "Have you thought of naming after a king? A Sleynth king, not one from epic poetry."

Rolf shrugged. "I'm not very fond of the name Owen, and I'd feel vain naming a child after myself to be honest."

Kalys nodded. "It's bad enough that the poor kid will have your genes."

Rolf looked at her, surprised. She beamed up at him, and his mother snickered.

The conversation stopped when Lilah called their mother over to ask a question about genealogies. Bran entered the room, his brow still furrowed from his unsuccessful search for the precious journal. He sat beside Celie and Rolf watched, annoyed, as his little sister refused to make eye contact with him. He nudged her, and she glared. Bran glanced at them suspiciously.

Rolf couldn't take the awkward silence anymore. Kalys had never been talkative around Bran; he seemed to make her a bit uncomfortable, and Celie apparently could not put on a show. Rolf figured that Bran was going to find out by Celie's awkwardness, he might was well take the blame first. It would probably be better in the long run.

He tapped his older brother's shoulder from across their slouched youngest sister. Bran looked his way.

"We need to talk in my bedchambers at your earliest convenience."

...

Bran cursed aloud when Rolf slammed the leather notebook in his hands. He should've asked more thoroughly, it had been his gut feeling. Now his gut was twisting as Rolf sat, very dignified in a chair.

"So," he started. "You're sleeping with Thalia."

Bran shuffled, looking at the floor. "You stole my private property."

Rolf nodded. "To be fair, I thought it was a work journal."

"That doesn't change anything," Bran stated, his fingers nervously playing with the pages of the journal.

"No, it doesn't change the fact that you've been having intercourse with a member of the castle staff," Rolf said, rubbing him the wrong way.

It wasn't that Bran felt an intense amount of guilt from it. It had been happening fairly often now. It was something to distract from very serious, frustrating work. Rolf appeared neither ashamed of him nor accepting, which made very rough waters for Bran to tread on. Rolf was an expert black-mailer, but he prayed that he wouldn't go this far with grudges.

"Look, the reason I'm saying this is because Celie, Kalys, and I were looking for notes on what's going on with Casper; and that's what we found. Celie has been very awkward around you, and I wanted you to know that we know coming from me. It was my idea, so don't blame Cel for it. Though I much enjoy watching you panic and squirrel around the castle, I supposed it was time to let you know I had the notebook." Rolf seemed satisfied with the explanation, though Bran wasn't.

"You can't just search through my rooms to find my personal items, Rolf. It's extremely rude, and it crosses a number of boundaries."

"Perhaps, but you could consider a boundary crossed that you've engaged in a sexual relationship with an employee," Rolf pointed out, though it really wasn't a good argument. "I'm sorry, Bran. It's just I'm getting antsy for answers and I hate when you act all secretive. To be fair, it's my business; this entire situation heavily involves me."

Bran sighed, knowing his brother was right. "Look, I understand all of that, but I also need to work and not get annoyed. As for the whole Thalia thing, it's complicated. And completely mutual. But, no one can know. I won't report you to Mother and Father for sneaking if you don't say a word."

Rolf nodded. "Deal."

"Pass it on to Celie," Bran said heading for the door. "I hope for your sake you can keep a secret, Rolf. I really do."

Bran was more than pleased to see the slightly panicked look on Rolf's face before he left the room.

I wrote that in a day. Man, it killed me. This hasn't been very exciting...I know that. But there has to be some filter before the adventures align. Stay safe out there, my dear readers. Until next time,

-geeky34