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IN LOVE AND WAR
CHAPTER FIVE: HIDDEN HOPE
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When Roald entered the rooms he shared with Shinkokami, he was immediately aware of the silence. The first sign of disorder was the ceramic vase that lay shattered on the ground. It was a wedding gift from a conservative noble that neither he nor Shinkokami had really liked. He rounded a corner to see another vase and a decorative plate.

Beyond the shattered pieces of glass, Shinko was curled up on the floor, sobbing so hard that her body was convulsing. Roald dropped to her side, ignoring the stab of glass to his knees, and gathered Shinko into his arms. He let her cry, rubbing her back gently and making soothing noises until he could bear her pain no longer.

A spark of his Gift flowed from his fingers into her body, and a few moments later, she slipped into a deep sleep. Roald carried her to bed, then cleaned up the broken glass. Lastly he attended to the glass shards in his knees, hastily healing the various small wounds.

He couldn't imagine the pain Shinko was feeling, but he knew that she was hurting. If she wasn't, why would she have flown into the rampage that had proved dangerous for their wedding gifts? It was very unlike her.

Roald tried to watch Shinko sleep, but he became distracted by the baby. He carefully uncovered his wife's belly, kissing the smooth, bare expanse. The child moved and Shinko's skin rippled. Roald kissed her again, and this time the baby kicked his jaw. He grinned, happy for however brief a time.

The rest of the evening, he felt restless and roamed about. He knew the child would be a happy relief from all of the sorrow that his wife was feeling. Roald was anxious for the baby to be born.

…..

Shinko, dressed in a loose black gown, walked slowly down the hallway. It had been about a week since her break-down. To the casual observer, she carried nothing but her child, but tucked into the princesses' pocket was the tragic letter from Yuki.

She stopped before the door to the office that she had been summoned to. The plaque outside of the door read "Myles of Olau" in shimmering golden letters. Shinko knocked lightly, and the baron answered, seeing her inside with a bow.

"Princess, thank you for taking time in your grief to see me," he said.

"You asked about my letter?" Shinko asked, pulling said object from her pocket.

"Not me," Sir Myles said, nodding towards his desk. For the first time, Shinkokami noticed that there was another man in the room.

Baron George Cooper of Pirate's Swoop stood.

"Please have a seat, Shinkokami," he said, gesturing towards a chair near Sir Myles. With her growing belly, it was a difficult procedure, but Shinko sat. When she was comfortable, George continued. "I don't know if you are aware that Keladry of Mindelan received a letter very similar to yours."

"She did?" Shinko said, looking up from the folded parchment that lay across her lap. In his worry about her condition, Roald had failed to mention this bit of news. "What happened?"

"Piers of Mindelan tried to protest the execution of your parents, and he went before the Emperor without a summance." Shinko closed her eyes in anticipation of the next sentence. Her uncle despised intruders. "He and his wife were beheaded as traitors." Shinkokami couldn't find any words, so she stayed quiet, trying to force back tears. Sir Myles patted her arm gently, and Baron George gave her a moment before he went on.

When he did speak, his voice was gentle and quiet.

"Keladry noticed that some of the words in her letter had small ticks on them. She thought it might be a code, so she brought it to me. The Queenscove lad must have told her that I am… good with codes."

"George found a message, Princess Shinkokami," Myles piped up. "It said 'Tomo is coming.' Does that mean anything to you?"

Shinko's heartbeat sped up. Tomo?

"Tomoko noh Yakuni is my sister," Shinko said, brightening. Baron Cooper smiled as well.

"I had thought as much. Queenscove and his wife must have gotten your sister passage over here," he said. "I'm hoping that your letter will provide us with a location so we can retrieve her."

Shinko handed over her letter. The baron studied it while Shinko watched anxiously. After a few moments, he looked up.

"Your sister will be in Port Emralín in a week. If I leave immediately, I can be there when she arrives and bring her back to you." George Cooper stood and began to leave the room. As he passed, Shinkokami stood and wrapped her arms around the Baron. When she realized what she'd done, Shinko pulled back, cheeks flushed.

"Thank you, Baron Cooper, I am in debt to you."

Shinko left the Baron's study elated. She wanted to see her husband. It took some searching, but she eventually found him with his father, looking over some old maps. Shinko turned to duck out of the doorway. She didn't want to interrupt them. She'd tell her husband the good news later. She could pass the time by getting ready for her sister.

"Shinkokami?" Jonathan had caught sight of her as she turned away.

"Are you all right?" Roald asked, standing. Within seconds he was at her side, with his arms around her shoulders.

"I'm fine Roald. I just wanted to talk to you, but it can wait until later."

"No it can't," King Jonathan stood, removing himself from the chamber. Roald led her to his chair. He knelt beside her.

"What is it?" Shinko smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Roald, my sister, Tomoko, is alive and safe. Yuki and Nealan must have sent her here. Baron Cooper went to get her from a port in the north. Oh, Roald! I thought she was dead!" Shinko paused, then blushed, realizing how much she'd spoken. She looked down, and noticed the peculiar way that Roald kept off of his knees as he stooped at her side. "What's the matter?"

"Just a few little scratches Shinko, from the glass you broke the other day," Roald said dismissively. Shinko sighed. The look that passed her face was one of shame.

"Thank you for overlooking my temper tantrum," she said quietly.

"If ever one deserved to be overlooked, my dear, it is yours." Roald put his hands on her belly. His demeanor changed completely. It was though he was in awe of her. "Shinko, the closer the baby gets, the more anxious I feel. Sometimes I just can't wait. I love you for carrying my child. I don't think I tell you that enough."

Shinko let her forehead fall against his. "I love you too."