Numerous campfires flickered between the dense forest pines, intermeshed between the brown canvas of circular tents laid in random fashion between the clumps of melting snow. The steady rhythm of the camp was a chorus of voices, blacksmith hammers, and the whinnying of the cavalry mounts tied to their pickets. For the sake of efficiency, there were several tents in the camp, strategically located in four quadrants, which served meals to the soldiers. With the late afternoon hour, there was a substantial line extending from each as the sun began its descent from the sky. Now was the time for the perimeter patrols to come in, one by one, and switch with the next shift. After the groomsmen had fed the livestock, the cooks prepped for the next large meal, and after all activities set into stone for the next day; it was time for the camp to sleep. Though several of the commanders would find no rest as Green Riders continued to pour in from the other provinces, providing either relief or excuses as to their contribution to the fighting force.

A rather large battalion, newly arrived from Coutre, had wearily marched into camp with a Green Rider guide and escort; and all requiring a place to lay their heads for the night. It was a task that normally fell to one of the camp organizers and suppliers, universally known as quartermasters. It was one of these men who stormed towards an empty line of tents, his face purple with rage.

'No, no, no! You thick-headed idiot,' the uniformed man fisted both hands in his hair in frustration, 'I told you to place the three Light Foot companies on the eastern side of the camp, closer to the logging trails! This section cannot support another two hundred men in its mess tent!'

The sergeant addressed rolled his eyes and gave the quartermaster a dismissive wave of his hand as he continued to issue tent assignments to the waiting soldiers. 'There was space here.'

'More like you did not want to walk the extra quarter mile in this weather,' the quartermaster responded coldly.

'Things not going according to plan on your little charts and lists?'

The soldiers holding their packs watched the exchange go back and forth between the two volatile tempers, not registering the fact that the commander of the vast camp was silently standing behind them, watching the entire exchange with a sort of weary displeasure. The sergeant had now handed off his book to a waiting subordinate and balled his fists at his side, eyes blazing as he strode forth to tower over the diminutive quartermaster.

General Isleigh gently brushed past the stunned soldiers and cleared his throat audibly, prompting both blustering individuals to turn their heads slowly and gaze at him in slack jawed horror. He arched an eyebrow and they immediately came to attention, their faces mottled with shame and embarrassment.

'Gentlemen,' he said in a barely controlled voice, 'I am sure I do not need to impress upon you the need for cohesion, and the utter ridiculousness of your argument.'

Their eyes cast down onto the ground at the harsh reprimand from their superior.

He waited a moment before continuing, 'Sergeant Volan?'

The sergeant took a step forward, keeping his eyes fixed on a point above the general's shoulder. "Sir!'

'You have been in the army for how many years?'

'Fifteen sir!'

Gen. Isleigh nodded thoughtfully, 'And in all those years in the king's army, how many campaigns?'

Sergeant Volan's gaze snapped to his, as he looked at him in confusion, 'Sir?'

'How many campaigns?' General Isleigh repeated.

'T-three sir, including this one,' Sergeant Volan stammered.

The general held his gaze, 'Try to remember who feeds and clothes you during those endeavors. And Quartermaster Tuolck?'

The other man stepped forward, slightly trembling.

'Pull your head out of your . . . posterior and apply some tact to your requests,' the general said dryly.

The quartermaster gulped, 'Yes sir.'

'Well then. Carry on,' General Isleigh drawled, pivoting to stroll away. The two individuals scattered and went back to their duties, subdued and robbed of their initial ire.

General Isleigh managed to get halfway into the command post tent before a voice sounded behind him, 'Beautiful day, General.'

He moved back a step and straightened, 'How do you know what kind of damn day it is?' he growled, looking into the unfrightened eyes of a Greenie. The younger man grinned at him and crossed his arms, 'You look a tad agitated, do you have anything to do with the horror struck soldiers I see behind you?'

The general's eyes narrowed in deliberate anger as he placed both hands on his waist, 'Cocky little bugger, be off with you before that sass gets you in trouble.'

The man's smile faltered a bit as he cocked his head to the side, 'Come on now, do I really look that different from when you last saw me?'

General Isleigh cocked his head to the side, now noticing the lovely woman standing behind the man with some hesitation. He turned his attention back the man, taking in the travel worn appearance but the radiance that seemed to come from within the two individuals. The pieces began to fall into place as the man took the woman's hand carefully and brought her forward into his line of sight. 'I don't believe, General Isleigh, that you have formally met Karigan G'ladheon Hillander.'

The general rubbed at his face tiredly before directing an exasperated glance at the king, 'No sire, I haven't. If you would do the honors?'

Zachary beamed and glanced down lovingly at her countenance, 'Kari, meet General Mathias Isleigh, one of the sub commanders of my army.'

She gave a small smile, 'A pleasure to finally meet you, General. I have heard many good things about you and your service.'

The general's harsh features softened a tad when he looked upon the young Queen's earnest expression, 'Pleased as well, your Majesty. No wonder I didn't recognize the pup, because I've never seen him so bleedin' happy,' he said gruffly. 'I suppose you've had something to do with that.'

Karigan laughed delightedly, her eyes dancing as she glanced back at Zachary, 'I would hope so. Although I am sure he would tell you that sometimes I drive him insane.'

Zachary rolled his eyes and nudged her with his elbow, 'Insane with worry. You have a habit of throwing yourself into oncoming danger.'

The general blinked, seemingly stunned by the happy and joyous expressions of his monarchs, but he quickly recovered. 'We didn't expect you for at least another week, sire.'

Zachary shrugged, 'We got lucky today. River was low and we happened to be acquainted with the ferrymaster.'

General Isleigh nodded curtly, 'Well, I suppose I better bring you both up on the latest goings on,' he ducked back into his tent with no ceremony, leaving the couple behind in slight surprise. Karigan grinned and followed in quick succession, Zachary was only a few moments behind as they straightened in the sizable tent and glanced about their surroundings.

It was designed with practicality in mind, and so along with the framed maps that lined the walls, there were also a few cots next to the braziers that kept the space heated. A small desk was nestled in the corner for the clerk who would write and copy orders for the various pages to deliver to their recipients.

It was the general who ushered Karigan over to a folded chair and graciously set up the canvas seat for her to sit upon. Zachary arched an eyebrow at the unusual display of chivalry from the general but the older man just sniffed when he caught Zachary's disbelieving expression. Zachary unfolded his own chair and sat down next to Karigan, trying to keep the smile off his face.

She caught the corners of his eyes beginning to crinkle and poked him in the ribs, 'What's so funny?' she whispered, watching General Isleigh as he rummaged through an open trunk.

'General Isleigh . . . appears to have taken quite a liking to you,' Zachary remarked.

'Pardon?'

'The man has always had a reputation as a gruff, coarse, and generally unpleasant attitude. No question about his leadership abilities or his loyalty to the crown, but considering I am at least thirty years his junior, I am still a boy to him and thus still earning his respect,' he whispered back quietly.

She stifled a giggle, 'Even with your crown?'

'Even with my crown,' he said solemnly, 'But you on the other hand, have seemed to bewitched the beast entirely on your own merit and charm.'

Karigan frowned slightly, 'He seems nice enough to me.'

Zachary leaned back in his chair, 'As I said, he likes you.'

General Isleigh's voice broke into the conversation, 'I may be getting old but I am not deaf. I like her because she doesn't try to feed me a line like you do sometimes. I ain't got the patience for politics.'

'Why is it General Isleigh, that I never take offense to your tone?' Zachary asked with a grin.

'Because you know I'm right,' the general sniffed, 'Now, if we are done talking about our feelings, I've got something to show you the both of you.'

He laid out a heavy, rolled map on the large table and carefully began to unroll it. The glossy vellum had been painstakingly painted in vivid colors and written upon in clear, flowing script. They all leaned in to peer closer at the art-like quality of the map. Karigan instantly recognized that it was a coastline and that of the east and southern seas. But most interestingly of all, were the tiny swirl like illustrations made upon the ocean surface itself, some with tiny numbers next to them. The colors of the painted sea shifted from light shades of blue to a dark midnight in a strange sort of pattern that she found hard to decipher.

Zachary reached out to touch the surface but held his hand back hesitantly, 'Is this what I think it is?'

General Isleigh nodded, 'Aye, it is. A chart, supposedly made by the Sea Kings, and enchanted by the mages of the old to remain impervious to harm.'

Karigan's eyes widened as she straightened and looked at the map in wonder, 'How is it that it came to be in your possession?'

'I was going to ask this one here that exact question, for it came in a bundle from Hillander,' the general said, turning his eyes to Zachary.

Zachary shifted closer to her, reaching out to place an arm around her waist as he shook his head, 'I'd have known if this was in our library.'

'Think it might be tainted?' The general asked, suspiciously peering down at the chart.

It was now Karigan who shook her head in denial, 'No, I've had enough time around such things to know if it posed a threat to us.'

Zachary frowned, 'A gift from someone, perhaps?'

General Isleigh scrunched up his nose in distaste, 'Surprise gift. I don't like surprises. Not for my birthday and not on a campaign. It came with this note,' he said, handing Zachary a slip of paper. The king studied it closely but could only hand it off to Karigan with a slight shrug. It was only two sentences in neat handwriting, with no apparent signature.

It is time that this came back into the possession of the King of Sacoridia.

Use it well.

'So what do we do with it?' Karigan said uncertainly.

Zachary regarded it carefully, 'We could do as the note suggests and use it.'

The other two looked at him slight apprehension, but could not come up with a rejoinder. Zachary tilted his head, 'As flimsy as an excuse it may sound, my instinct says it was not given with malicious intent.'

Karigan unconsciously moved close to him and pressed into his side, 'How does one read this particular map?'

'If what the stories regarding these charts are true, and they were once rather widespread to Lord-Governors as well, then these markings can indicate depth and current in conjunction with the stylized blue coloring,' Zachary explained. 'There were also . . . accounts in the royal archives that mentioned dragons,' he said carefully.

General Isleigh looked at him skeptically, 'As in the fire-breathing sort?'

'Yes, and this sort also had an affinity for water. This particular symbol-,' he pointed at a small stylized emerald dragon that almost seemed to be iridescent, '-would indicate a breeding ground and nesting area.'

Karigan peered closer, 'But there is nothing out there. Just open sea.'

Zachary winced slightly, 'That is where the record remains sketchy at best. Some say the dragons are born as fish, others say something more akin to a whale, and the most common belief is that eggs are laid and hatched on uncharted islands.'

The general studied the shimmery marks that dotted the southern seas, 'And what is the theory on their disappearance? If they ever existed?'

Zachary smiled faintly, 'That they perished when the Sea Kings, and their mages, became part of our history and were no more.'

'Is the rest of what is here relevant?'

Karigan nodded and spoke aloud, 'Such a chart would be deemed priceless by a sea captain. To be able to utilize the ocean currents in different seasons would be a most useful skill.'

General Isleigh gave a small 'Hmph!' and turned to locate his tablet, 'Dragons and currents aside, sire, I have some other matters that require your attention. Most importantly, the grain imports from Rhovanny.'

Zachary nodded his assent before looking at the chart one more time, and carefully rolling it back into its leather case.

The tent that had been erected for their use was not ostentatious nor did it stand out in any remarkable way. It was a tad more spacious than the average army dwelling but that additional space was used in the form of an antechamber of sorts. Given that the army was going to be settled for the foreseeable future, planks had been set down on a wooden frame to protect from the cold and wet ground.

Oiled hides covered the planks and were securely fastened to the sides of the tent to discourage any spring rain from seeping inside.

Karigan ducked inside the opening of their little dwelling and happily placed her saddlebags down. 'Dry and warm again.'

Zachary reached out with his free hand to pinch her bottom, grinning when she let out a small squeak, 'Keep moving to the back, love, my bags are heavy,' he said playfully.

'And we are all about to get wet,' Fastion's voice called from outside, 'Storm's a-coming.'

She quickly swung her bags back over her shoulder and scurried to the far end, which looked to be separated by a heavy canvas curtain when not open.

Both monarchs and their Weapons managed to just get inside when they heard the distinctive clap of thunder and the driving force of rain pelting the canvas roof. Slightly concerned, Karigan looked up to peer at the slant of the roof, hoping that it would hold against the rough weather. Zachary followed her gaze and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, 'The roof is also oiled, and I lived here through a good part of the winter to know that if heavy snows do not bring it down, I really think it can hold against a thunderstorm.'

She gave an answering smile and un-slung the chart case away from body, moving towards a small folding table to withdraw the sea chart and spread it open. While Brienne and Fastion busied themselves storing their belongings and discussing the duty roster for the rest of the night; Zachary quietly came up behind Karigan and rested his chin on her shoulder as he too studied the chart.

'What are your thoughts?' he asked softly, wrapping his arms around her waist. She leaned back slightly and sighed, 'It will sound silly.'

His brow wrinkled in consternation, he nudged her cheek with his nose. Biting her lip before answering, she turned in his arms and looked him in the eye, 'What if people have been disappearing because . . . of the dragons? Eaten or some such thing?'

Zachary looked thoughtful, 'Then I would ask if they have a particular allegiance or if they are not too discerning when they choose a meal. I would hope for the latter and for enemy ships to come upon hungry hatchlings.'

She shook her head but she was trying not to smile, 'We should not joke about the poor people who went missing. It was just a thought.'

He nodded slowly as he stared at a fixed point, 'But one that has merit. I wouldn't put too much stock in labeling the mythical sea dragons as the culprits in the disappearances. But as for the sightings of fearsome beasts? Possibly, Kari. Quite possibly.'

Karigan looked back down at the chart, 'It is the fourth month of the year. With the ice nearly gone, we shall know in a matter of weeks, maybe even days, of what stirs outside the port of Corsca.'

He placed a small kiss behind her ear, 'And these quiet moments will be scarce indeed. Are you ready my love?' he asked in a whisper, tightening his hold. Brienne, upon seeing the private moment, tugged on Fastion's sleeve and they quietly donned their cloaks to disappear outside.

Karigan straightened and turned completely in his arms, looking into his slightly sorrowful gaze. 'I will do whatever is asked of me, if only to be free of this and live out our lives in relative peace.'

Zachary smiled tenderly down at her, his eyes shining as his hand fell to graze her stomach. He took a deep breath, 'I had wanted to wait until we were completely alone, but Silva let me know of your condition before we left the Golden Rudder.'

Karigan leaned back slightly in his embrace and looked down at her stomach, then up at him in confusion. He tilted his head to the side, 'Were you waiting to tell me?'

Her mouth opened slightly as she very quickly came to understand the implication. 'Tell you . . . what exactly, dearest?'

Now it was his turn to look confused, 'Silva had said . . .'

Karigan fought the urge to laugh at his stunned expression, 'Said I was in the family way?'

He dropped his hand and stammered, 'But I thought, given that she was a woman of experience . . . having seen others in a similar predicament . . .'

Karigan looked down at the ground and her shoulders began to shake as she lost the battle to stay serious. He reached up to pull her chin back up to meet his eyes, 'So it isn't true?'

She reined in her amusement and shook her head, 'Zachary, when did we consummate our marriage?'

'About three, four weeks ago,' he answered hesitantly.

'And was I untouched when I came to you?'

His expression darkened, 'Kari, I hope you know I wasn't implying-'

She placed her fingers over his lips and smiled gently, 'I know you weren't. I was only making a point that my courses have already come and gone, and I have only known your embrace. If I looked overly tired to her, it is because I have been traveling on the open road for many weeks. If I gobbled my meal, it was because I had not eaten hot food for the same length of time.'

He kissed the fingers that stayed his mouth and removed her hand, 'I would have been only too happy to know I was going to be a father.'

'I know, and I did promise to tell you, did I not?'

'You did, I suppose I just got excited,' he admitted, looking only a little disappointed. She laughed once more and disentangled herself from his arms. Moving over to the curtain, she undid the fastenings and cast him a slightly shy look, 'But perhaps you want to try for such an event?'

Zachary met her gaze with burning intensity and deliberately strode forward, backing her into the makeshift cot of plush furs that lay on the oilskin. The curtain fell closed behind them, with all conversation and sound lost in the ongoing fall of rain, intermingling with the retreating rumble of a spring thunderstorm.

I only got a few people with Silva's observation. Realistically, it is far too soon to have conceived. Let them be a couple for a little bit first and get some of the major plot devices out of the way.

A thank you to all the guest reviewers who have been very kind in their gracious praise. And to all the usual readers as well. It is very rewarding to have someone read your story and it does not go unappreciated. *HUGS*