Chapter Twenty-Four: In Which Bran Explains

The birth of Malcolm William Bryce Glower was a great joy for Sleyne in a time of mourning. Though the war had only lasted four days; one fourth of the army had been killed. Bran, Queen Celina, and Thalia rushed around the Castle healing as many fatal injuries as they could, but even wizards couldn't save everyone. The next few days had been very gloomy, both outside and in. At sundown, they held a memorial for the soldiers who died, King Glower tearfully giving many speeches. Celie's heart stung as she watched the crying siblings, spouses, friends, and parents.

But the village was loyal. They held celebrations for the birth of a new prince, even though no one really felt like celebrating. King Kharth had been sent a message, telling him his alliance was not necessary, but Celie was surprised to see the warlike king show his face at the funeral. She thought it was very kind of him.

Lilah and Lulath had heard the news in Bendswe that the Castle was at war, and had hurried back on their griffins to them, relieved to know the battle had only lasted four days. A very horrible, sickening four days, but not years. It had been very scary to say the least, but she had never been more glad to have her family. King Glower had his arm in a sling, Rolf had a freshly healing scar down his face, and Bran had a very large chemical burn on his hand. Pogue had gotten the worst of injuries, a stab wound at the hip, that ran for risk of infection; but he was slowly recovering.

Celie sighed heavily against Rufus. She was sitting in the sitting room after dinner, waiting for someone to say something in the silence. They were waiting for Rolf and Kalys; they had gone back to their bedchambers so Kalys could nurse Malcolm. but Rolf said they would come back down. Bran had promised them that he would explain in great detail everything that had happened when he figured it out, and it had taken him a week since Casper had been destroyed. He was know saying something to Thalia, his arm wrapped around her. Celie pouted, knowing the next adventure would be Bran's betrothal.

Just as she was about to state Rolf was a liar, he came in with Kalys, who had the baby against her in some sort of sling she had made. She sat down slowly with Rolf's help by Celie, who beamed at her. She unwrapped the straps at her back, one hand at the baby's head as she lowered him into her lap. Malcolm cooed and Celie sighed a little. She felt like Lilah, but her nephew was just so precious. Kalys clucked at him, making the swaddled infant squirm and Celie laughed a bit.

Bran cleared his throat, making everyone look up. He stood up, shifting his wizard robes before grabbing a notebook to read on. Celie was grateful; Bran was easily distracted by things when he was telling a story, and he tended to ramble on and on forever. He coughed.

"So since you all have been begging for an explanation about the soldiers in black, and by that I mean Cecelia and Rolf, I have worked with Thalia and Mother to figure out the most plausible theory." Bran paused, clearing his throat. "They were from Jhahan. Because Jhahan, this eastern country that declared war on us, doesn't exist."

Celie looked up, startled. Rolf and Lulath had very similar expressions on their faces.

Clearly enjoying the effect his dramatic pause had left on them, Bran continued. "It's a country that Casper made up. All of the men in black weren't people. They were deadly spirits that Casper called upon. The ambassador that came to the Castle just disappeared, and the assassin's body is just gone."

"So you're telling me that a whole bunch of demons flew into the Castle and killed a fourth of our army?" Rolf asked skeptically.

Bran sighed. "Black magic is very complicated, Rolf. When I mean spirits, I mean the dead."

Celie squeaked, knowing what it meant, and Lilah squeezed her hand. King Glower swore.

"He raised up a dead army? Please tell me this is a joke, Bran," Queen Celina had brought her hands to his face.

"I thought you helped him come up with this idea," Rolf said dryly, and Celie watched Kalys put a hand on his forearm.

"I was not aware of this," Queen Celina snapped, continuing to rub her temples.

Bran looked perplexed, his dark eyebrows frowning. "Think about it. Casper was basically the ultimate, full-powered warlock. He had unlocked the Castle with black magic, and he predicted the future. He raised an army of bodies, and when he died, they went back with him."

"But how did he just die? I thought you said we have to be very careful on how to kill him," Celie pointed out, squeezing Lilah's hand again.

"That's where Arkwright came in," Bran explained. "He coated himself, unbeknownst to anyone around him, with a suction spell. When Casper's body died, he absorbed the black magic around him instead of the Castle absorbing it."

Rolf popped his lips. "The Hathelockes and Arkish really hate each other. "

"Hmmm," Kalys hummed, looking defiantly up at Rolf. "We do."

Rolf rolled his eyes. Celie watched, a bit disgusted, as Rolf leaned over to gently kiss Kalys's lips. It was the first time he'd kissed her in front of just the family. He'd claimed it was just for show beforehand. But Celie supposed now was a better time than any to be affectionate. Once again, they'd all almost died. Lilah looked like she was about to giggle.

Celie rubbed Rufus with her toes. It was a lot to take in. Arkwright had saved their lives, though she could never regard him as a hero. He was an evil man, who even admitted he was just so blinded by hate, he was willing to die for it. It must be an awful way to die.

"It was so much simpler, yet so much more complicated," Celie murmured and Bran nodded. "And they didn't even touch the baby."

"Oh, Casper definitely would have taken Malcolm," Bran said causally. "He would've tortured and killed Rolf for the fun of it and then induced Kalys into giving birth by magic, and kept her alive until Malcolm weaned; then he would've killed both of them. He was convinced that Malcolm was his downfall."

"Why not kill him in the womb? Or now?" King Glower asked, and Rolf made a noise in his throat, running his hand over the infant's head.

"Hathelockes are very superstitious about who they kill. A nursing baby is the most protected people-group in Hathelande. It's one of the reasons they hated the Arkish; they would kill griffin mothers for an egg, and then kill the baby griffin. If Casper were to kill a baby still dependent on his mother for food, he believed he would be sent to a certain hell in the after life," Kalys explained, swallowing hard. "Casper was willing to keep Malcolm alive if I willingly gave him up as an apprentice. If I didn't, the moment he was no longer nursing, we would both be dead. He was so scared of this tiny little thing." She trailed off, watching the newborn squirm in her arms.

"And you're such a precious little thing, that you stopped him just by being born." Lilah reached over to coo at him, and Malcolm watched her wide-eyed.

Celie knew Lilah was right in a way. Without Malcolm's piercing cry, Arkwright never would've had the chance to impale him. She supposed they really owed it to Kalys, who had done all the work. Or maybe Arkwright for sacrificing his life in the name of hatred. It really could go to many.

"The Castle stopped him," Kalys said wearily, lowering the baby into Lilah's arms. "The Castle saved us all."

...

"Kalys, am I doing it right?" Rolf called, desperately trying to swaddle Malcolm correctly as Kalys dressed for bed.

She popped her head out from the doorway of the dressing room. "The folds are right, but you need to do it tighter. He could wriggle out of that."

Malcolm made a gurgling noise in what Rolf assumed was protest. He smiled down at him, starting over. He wrapped and tucked until it looked right, but he really had no idea. He picked Malcolm up, cradling as he began to fuss, waiting for Kalys. He stroked a thumb over his son's soft baby curls. The large eyes seemed to search him longingly as little angry noises came from his mouth.

"Mama's coming," he whispered. "But you're stuck with me for the moment."

A lot had happened in the last week. Memorials, funerals, and celebrations had left Rolf more exhausted than he could remember. That, and having a newborn in his rooms who woke up crying every four hours to be fed and cuddled back to sleep. Or in some cases, bounced through the hallways of the Castle. That had been an interesting first night with a child.

Kalys hurried in after one last scream from her baby, cooing as she gently lifted him from Rolf. Sitting down in a chair, she began to nurse him, speaking softly to him in Hathelocke. Or at least, that's what Rolf assumed, she was speaking in some language he didn't know. He recognized a few words, but he still couldn't understand her. He went to dress himself for bed, quickly, coming back out to sit on the edge of the bed, watching them. He hadn't expected to feel the overwhelming emotions when Malcolm was born. It had surprised him how much he loved the little infant already. The little person who he was so scared to break, to mess up. He had to protect him, it was a need.

He watched as Kalys set the sleeping baby down in the cradle, pulling at her nightgown sleeve. She sighed, swinging her legs into the bed. She smiled as she glanced up at him.

"He got to sleep without any of your hallways walks," she whispered.

"Don't jinx it. Last night he wanted them in the middle of the night," he whispered back, gently cupping her face. "Thank you."

Kalys frowned. "For what?"

Rolf shrugged, his thumb idly running over her cheek. "For not running away the second the Castle announced our betrothal. I mean, that's one of the reasons you wanted to leave the Found."

Kalys smiled, kissing his lips gingerly. "It's different when the Castle wants you to marry, versus some creepy old man, though in hindsight, I guess that's what it was."

Rolf laughed. "Isn't it weird? Like it was basically a fight between the Castle and Casper. Because Casper did some things that we thought were the Castle, but then the Castle still ended up causing his downfall without him really knowing it."

Kalys leaned her head on his shoulder, muttering something incoherent. She looked back up, beaming. "It will be nice to know the Castle is control again. You know, if you think about it, it really was the same betrothal as in the Found. You don't have many Hathelock blood properties, and a distasteful, elderly male wanted me to marry you."

Rolf grinned. "You complied, though. Sick of fighting arranged marriages? It must be tiring work."

"That it is," Kalys said slyly, flopping back on the bed. "Not as much work as being actually married to you."

Rolf blew out a candle, laying so he could see her face in the darkness. "What does that mean?"

"So far in the nine and a half months we've been married, I have carried your child, cared for your griffin, dealt with your emotional spirals, gave birth to your offspring, which was no easy feat by the way. "

"To be fair, you cared for my griffin before we got married," Rolf whispered. "And my emotional spirals are not nearly as bad as Lilah's."

Kalys exhaled deeply. "I wouldn't know, I'm not married to Lilah. Lulath is."

"I don't know about that. They don't show enough of affection in front of people," Rolf said sarcastically. "Also, did you see the way Cel squirmed when I kissed you tonight? I cannot wait until that one gets betrothed."

"It will be awhile," Kalys murmured sleepily. "She'll have to be in her twenties before she can marry Pogue without a scandal."

Rolf smirked, kissing her cheek, before cuddling up next to her warmth. He couldn't help but agree. Slowly he drifted back to sleep, arms tucked around Kalys, heart full of joy. And then the baby began to cry.

Lol short chapter, but it's winding down at Castle Glower. I have a more epilogue chapter left after this, but then it's the end! I'm seriously so surprised I finished this. Until next time,

-geeky34