Karigan dismounted, tacking Condor to a nearby tree as she stretched her tired muscles. The still-healing wound on her stomach stretched, but the pain was less than before. She lifted her tunic to check it. Though still reddened, she saw no signs of infection or renewed bleeding. Good.

She had been on the road for a week now, and she knew she had at least another week and a half, possibly two, before she would arrive back in Sacor City. She travelled alone, having convinced her father that she was healed enough to travel before he was prepared to follow. He had tried to protest, but her stubborn nature had prevailed, especially when her aunts were also on her side.

Her aunts. They were one of the other reasons Karigan had been so eager to leave. Since learning of her engagement to the king, they could talk of nothing else. Karigan had lost track of the number of times she had needed to repeat the story of their rather unorthodox courtship. And every time she did, they would titter and exclaim anew about how brave and strong he was, how grateful they were that he had protected her from the creature in Blackveil. Then, they would scold her for her attempts to protect him. It was a ridiculous double standard that Karigan did not appreciate.

She was so lost in thought that she failed to notice the small rock in front of her until it was too late. Her toe caught on it, and she lurched forward. Her arms windmilled wildly, but she was unable to regain her balance. Instead, she found herself on her hands and knees in the dirt. "Hells," she muttered, taking a moment to allow her head to clear. A sharp pain in her palms told her that she had not escaped completely unscathed, and she cursed again.

After a minute or so, she stood, sighing when she saw the dirt and blood mixing into an ugly brown paste on her palm. She had heard the gurgling of a stream nearby, and she headed in that direction. She rinsed her hands in the cool water before returning to Condor. Her palms were still oozing blood, so she dug through her pack to find something to cover them with. Her fingers touched something smooth, and she paused, recognizing the feel of the dark moonstone. She felt a brief moment of dizziness, but it surprisingly passed quickly. Confused, she pulled the stone out of the bag, expecting a wave of nausea or pounding headache to accompany her actions. However, nothing of the sort occurred. In fact, other than a brief blurring of her vision, she felt nothing.

Frowning, she peered closer at the stone. Dark shadows still swirled inside it, but they seemed somehow less intense than before. Something had changed, removing at least part of the corruption. Perhaps it just needed time away from Blackveil. Maybe without the tainted forest's influence, it would finally start to loose its dark properties.

But no, that did not seem right either. She had been feeling the gnawing in the pit of her stomach for her whole journey. Even just a few minutes ago, it had been present. In fact, until she had removed the stone from the bag, it had seemed the same as always. Perhaps it was her touch that had changed it then. Karigan was not sure why it would have, but the explanation made as much sense as any.

Deciding she was much too tired for such mysteries, Karigan returned the stone to the bag and pulled out the bandages that had been the original object of her search. She wrapped her hands with them, flinching slightly as she pulled them tight. With that task complete, she began to prepare her campsite for the night, her motions automatic after so many nights on the road. Idly, she wondered what Zachary was doing. He would be back in Sacor City now though he likely would not expect her for a few weeks more. She would be able to surprise him. He would like that. She would, too. She missed him more than she was willing to admit, even to herself. But maybe when she returned, he would have told the council. Maybe they would not have to keep their relationship a secret any longer.

Those thoughts comforted her, and she could feel the ghost of his arms around her as she drifted into a peaceful sleep.

The next morning dawned bright and clear. Karigan packed up her camp quickly and started on the road in high spirits. There was a Rider waystation less than a day's ride away which meant she would have a roof over her head and a nice fire for the night. She was greatly looking forward to that. Condor, too, seemed to realize where they were headed, for he picked up the pace to a loping canter. Karigan loosed the reins and let him set their speed. She trusted he would not lead them wrong.

They reached the waystation before the sun had even begun to sink in the sky. As they passed through the wardings around the area, Karigan felt a sense of peace and safety wash over her. She relaxed. In many ways, stopping at a Rider waystation, even one she had never visited before, felt like coming home. There was so much history at the waystations, history of the Green Riders that she had always considered family despite what blood might say. It comforted her.

Also comforting was the fact that she saw another horse in the paddock. As they moved closer, she recognized Flicker, and a smile spread over her face. She would not necessarily consider Ty a close friend, for the other Rider was rather too stuffy for Karigan's liking, but he was still a Rider. Any Rider's company would be welcome.

It seemed he felt the same way. He stepped out of the building, a smile forming on his face when he saw Karigan dismounting. "Karigan! I did not expect to see you here."

"I am on my way back to Sacor City, and it seemed a good time to stop for the night."

"I was going to make something warm for dinner, but I hadn't started yet. You're welcome to join me if you'd like."

"That sounds wonderful," Karigan said, her stomach rumbling in agreement.

"I heard you were injured in Corsa," Ty said as he stepped to her side, taking her saddlebags from her hands without her asking. She started to protest, for she still was not sure what to think of the dark moonstone. However, he seemed unaffected by it, so she kept quiet.

"Yes, there was an attack. It was a relatively minor skirmish overall, but I did take a sword to the stomach. It's healing nicely now."

"I also heard you had a rather eventful journey in Blackveil." He was fishing for information, Karigan knew. And she would likely provide it, too. She and Zachary had discussed what they would tell everyone upon their return, and they had eventually settled on the truth. After all, they needed a way to explain the presence of the Kmaern and how they knew that the dead would not rise again.

"Perhaps I can tell you over dinner, and you can give me an update of what is happening at the castle."

With two people working, it did not take long to settle Condor into the paddock. True to his word, Ty made them both a warm stew out of some dried meat from his pack as well as some wild greens he had found in the woods and a number of potatoes that had come from the waystation stores. Since the waystation was relatively close to Sacor City, it was better stocked than others. Karigan was very grateful for that fact when she took the first bite of stew.

As they ate, she told the story of her and Zachary's journey into Blackveil. Ty did not sound like he believed her when she told him of the Kmaern, but she simply smiled and remarked that he would see the truth soon enough, once the Kmaern crossed back into Sacordia to take up residency in Hillander province. During her tale, Karigan carefully avoided any mention of the more personal time she had spent with the king. However, the fact that she and Zachary were the only two Sacordians who had gone into Blackveil was fairly obvious, arousing Ty's curiosity.

"Tell me," he said, settling back in his chair after finishing his bowl of stew, "what King Zachary is like. I mean, outside of his role as a monarch."

Karigan took a sip from her water skein to give herself a chance to think of an appropriate response. "What do you want to know?" she finally questioned.

Ty shrugged. "Anything. He's always so mysterious. Do not get me wrong, I am proud to serve him as my king. But I admit a certain curiosity about what he is like as a man."

"Much the same as he is as a king, I suppose," Karigan said. "I mean, being a king is a large part of who he is. He's strong, quick, intelligent. He's a good leader—even the Kmaern followed him without question." She stopped talking, suddenly realizing she might be sounding a bit too complimentary. However, Ty appeared not to notice. Instead, he nodded in satisfaction.

"I always knew that he was not just putting on a mask, that he was as honorable a man as he seems. Still, the current rumors are rather damning."

"Rumors?" Surely no one had found out about their courtship. They were not yet ready to reveal that.

"You haven't heard?" Karigan shook her head. Ty considered for a moment. "I do not normally like spreading rumors," he finally said.

"Please, I am just curious. I told you of Blackveil."

"I suppose you did. And the first part of what I have to tell you is fact." Karigan watched him expectantly. "Zachary did not arrive back in Sacor City alone."

"Yes, he was travelling with Weapons and a small contingent of soldiers for his protection," Karigan said, wondering why that fact was news.

"Not just them. He also had a small boy with him when he returned, a boy who shares his red hair and brown eyes." Karigan's mouth dropped open in shock. What? Zachary had told her once that he had never sired a child. Had he lied? Why? And if he had lied, why reveal his secret now?

"King Zachary has a son?"

"He claims the boy is not his though of course most do not believe him. I am inclined to believe him, for as I said, he seems an honorable man. However, I do admit that his behavior is baffling, so I can see why the rumors started. I guess that since you did not know of the boy, he must have joined the king after he left Corsa. He would have travelled through Hillander on the way back to Sacor City, so that is not overly surprising."

"I guess." Karigan was too stunned to say much more.

"Well, I suppose we will likely all know soon enough." At Karigan's confused look, he clarified. "The king has been writing to all of the governors. Most are pretty sure he is calling a council meeting which is unusual at this time of year. Some have speculated that he wants them there so he can name the boy his heir. Of course, those are just rumors."

Karigan nodded mechanically. She had strong suspicions about why Zachary was summoning all of the governors. He was not announcing an heir but a marriage contract. To her. Unless, of course, the child changed things. That thought caused a knot of worry to form in her stomach, but she forced it down. She trusted Zachary. He would explain when she arrived in Sacor City. Until that time, she would not listen to rumors.

Hells, life had become complicated.