Sorry for dropping this one for awhile-there have been a lot of changes in our family recently. Rest assured, I do intend to finish this story and have the rest of the plot mostly figured out (as well as a plot for another book).
Zachary sat at his desk, Xavier in his lap studying a book of fairy tales intently. Though he could not read, Xavier was enamored with the colorful pictures in the book. Zachary was just happy it kept him well occupied, for he still had a great deal of paperwork he needed to complete. He had considered finding a nanny to help with Xavier, but the boy was still extremely wary of strangers. Zachary decided he had been through enough uprooting in his short life that it was unfair to do so again. After all, Quinn had promised to be no more than two months behind them, so it was not a permanent situation.
In truth, Zachary rather liked having the small boy around. He certainly made things more interesting, often insisting Zachary read him certain passages from his book instead of poring over whatever documents his advisors insisted he review. Zachary found the fairy tales far more interesting and welcomed the break. Additionally, Zachary took it upon himself to start teaching Xavier some basic reading and arithmetic. The boy picked things up quickly, and Zachary made a mental note to tell Quinn he needed to find a competent tutor to ensure Xavier continued to learn.
A knock interrupted Zachary's concentration, and he called for the visitor to enter. "Rider G'ladheon to see you, Sire," Donal announced, stepping aside so Karigan could walk into the study. Zachary looked up in surprise. He had expected Karigan to be at least another week, for he had not imagined she would heal quickly enough to ride so soon. He cast a critical eye over her figure, but she was moving without any sign of pain. He breathed a sigh of relief, dismissing Donal with a flick of his hand.
"Gods, Karigan, you don't know how good it is to see you walking again," he remarked. He transferred Xavier from his lap to the chair before striding to her side. Cupping her chin in his hand, he brought her lips to his and gave her a long, lingering kiss. The saddlebag she was carrying slipped from her hand as she returned it, but he sensed reluctance. It did not take him long to guess why.
"I had heard the rumors, but I had thought people were simply misinformed."
"They are." She cocked an eyebrow. "Xavier is not my son."
"You can't be sure."
"I can. If he were a couple years older, it would be extremely unlikely but plausible. As it is, there is no way he is mine." She still looked slightly skeptical, and he decided the best tactic was bluntness. "I may not have always lived the chaste life of a cleric, but I have not taken a woman into my bed in nearly eight years. Xavier is four."
"I believe you," she finally said. "However, there are a number of nasty rumors floating around, and I can see why. He has your eyes and hair color."
"That's because he is my cousin. Quinn's son."
"You never mentioned Quinn had a son."
"Because I myself did not know until Quinn found me in Taros and introduced us." Zachary ran a hand through his hair and glanced back at Xavier. He still looked to be absorbed in the book, but Zachary had learned the previous week that looks could be deceiving. Xavier had repeated some rather crude comments that Sperren had made when everyone thought the boy was reading, and it had led to an awkward conversation. "Karigan, I promise to explain in more detail later, but right now, maybe I can introduce the two of you?" She nodded. "Xavier, come here for a moment. There's someone I'd like you to meet." Obediently, Xavier set the book aside and jumped down from the chair, trotting to Zachary's side. "Xavier, this is a friend of mine, Karigan. Karigan, meet my cousin Xavier."
Karigan crouched down, extending a hand. "Pleased to meet you," she said. Tentatively, Xavier took the hand, shaking quickly before shrinking against Zachary's leg. Karigan appeared unfazed by his reaction. "Do you know where the name Xavier comes from?" she questioned. The boy shook his head, wide-eyed. "He was a great hero in the Long War. A lot of the people lost their homes, so he helped them find land where they could settle. They started calling him 'Xavier' which means 'new home.'"
"Really?" Karigan nodded, smiling. Xavier considered for a moment before asking, "You wanna see my dragon book?" Zachary's mouth fell open in surprise. Xavier rarely spoke much with strangers, and he had not let anyone read to him except Zachary. Even that had taken nearly a week.
"Sure. If that's alright with your cousin." Both looked to Zachary, eyes pleading, and he realized that he was going to be in trouble in the future when he and Karigan had children. He could barely resist her pleading eyes, but the combination of her and Xavier had him ready to agree to anything.
"Of course," he agreed before his thoughts could stray too far down the dangerous path. He did intend to have children with Karigan one day, but he still needed to make it through the courtship. He gave Karigan a grateful smile as she led the boy to the couch, Xavier already talking about his "dragon book." Zachary watched them for a few moments more before forcing himself to turn back to the budget reports, knowing he needed to finish them before his upcoming meeting.
Zachary was frowning over a column of figures when Karigan's voice interrupted. "What are you working on?" she questioned. He glanced up to see her standing beside his desk. "If you don't mind me asking," she added quickly, coloring slightly.
"I don't mind at all. Though I'm afraid my answer is rather mundane. I am simply reviewing budget reports for my meeting in," Zachary glanced at the clock, "thirty minutes. Where is Xavier?"
"Asleep on the couch."
"I suppose it is naptime." Zachary reached out and grabbed her hand, tugging her toward him. She resisted a bit but eventually allowed him to pull her onto his knee.
"Zachary, anyone could walk in."
"Not with Donal and Fastion standing guard." He breathed in deeply, relaxing with her familiar scent. He had not realized just how much he had missed her until that moment. "Tell me, Karigan, how are you really?" he finally asked.
"I really am fine. The wound healed nicely, so much so that my father even agreed to allow me to return to Sacor City by myself since he was not yet ready to travel. Though I think my aunts had something to do with that. They sensed that I missed you." She blushed slightly at the admission.
"And I you," he told her. He pulled her backwards against his chest, wrapping his arms around her. They spent a few minutes in silence, enjoying the peace that came with being together again.
"The saddlebag you brought with you," he said, glancing at where it still sat in front of his desk where she had dropped it. "I'm guessing it has the dark moonstone?"
"Yes. I had thought it best to keep it with me until we could store it in the tombs."
He nodded, fingering the cleft of his chin in thought. "It did not seem to affect me as much as it did on the road. I barely even noticed its presence."
Karigan nodded. "I noticed that as well. I am guessing either being away from Blackveil diminished its dark power or it simply decreased over time."
"But it was getting stronger at first," Zachary pointed out.
Karigan shrugged, and they fell silent as both contemplated what that could mean. Finally, Karigan broke the silence, switching to a less puzzling topic. "So, what is the story with Quinn and Xavier?" Zachary gave her a brief synopsis, and after he finished, she cocked her head to the side, considering. "I suppose this means we will not be able to announce anything until he returns and the rumors die down."
"I am truly sorry about that," Zachary told her. "I wish there was some other way, but I could not think of one. Quinn is right that Haden will take the news better if Xavier is not present. Though I doubt that she will take it well no matter what." He frowned slightly.
"I cannot say that I blame her." Her tone was a bit bitter, but it also had a hint of worry. Zachary guessed why quickly.
"That is not us, Karigan. Quinn and Haden never loved one another. They were married for political reasons. Truthfully, that is one reason why I do not want to do the same. But more importantly, I love you. I will never betray you." He cupped her chin and turned her head so she faced him, allowing her to see his earnestness. After a few seconds, she nodded.
"I believe you." They fell quiet again, and she took his hand in hers, absent-mindedly playing with his fingers. He shivered slightly at her touch but did not make another move, conscious that they were still growing comfortable with one another. As she ran a finger lightly over his callouses, she remarked softly. "I have always liked your hands. They do not seem like the hands of a man accustomed to sitting in luxury while others suffer. I think they represent what makes you a good king."
Zachary gave a small smile. "The callouses are mostly from sword master training." He squeezed her to him, but a knock interrupted them before he could say more.
"Sire, it's time for the meeting," Fastion said through the door.
"I will be out in a minute," Zachary promised. Turning to Karigan, he gave her a soft kiss. One of her hands came up to rest on his cheek, her fingers stroking it softly.
"You haven't let your beard grow back," she remarked.
He smiled as he helped her slide off his lap. "You told me while we were traveling that you liked me clean-shaven, so I thought I would try it for awhile."
Her eyes went wide as she realized he had changed his appearance for her. "Zachary, you didn't have to do that. It was just an offhand comment. I really do not mind if you keep your beard."
He shrugged. "It was time for a change anyway. I grew the beard when I first took the throne because it made me look older and increased the trust of some. I'm older now, so it's not as necessary. Besides, perhaps now my lack of facial hair will serve to remind people that I am still a young man who has plenty of time to sire an heir." He smiled before glancing at the sofa where Xavier still slept.
"I can watch him," Karigan offered.
"Are you sure? I don't want to burden you."
"It's fine. I really don't mind. He seems like a well-behaved child."
"He is. Though he's quite wary of strangers. Except you, it seems."
Karigan shrugged, blushing slightly. "Children have always seemed to like me."
"They have good taste." On impulse, Zachary leaned forward, kissing her again. "There is a stack of some of his favorite books on my desk," he told her. "Feel free to stay here as long as you like. You should have the study to yourself until I return, but unfortunately, that might be a few hours yet. If you need something to eat, you can just use the bell pull to call someone. Or. . ." He trailed off, frowning as he realized just what the servants would think if they found Karigan and Xavier alone in his study.
Karigan snorted. "I cannot even imagine what rumors that would start among the servants. We can eat in the main dining hall. I do not mind."
"If you are sure. Do not hesitate to interrupt my meeting if you would rather. Trust me, you would be doing me a favor." He grinned at her, pressing another kiss to her lips, pulling away before he lost all his willpower. He quickly donned his great coat and the silver fillet marking his station before grabbing the reports and striding to the door. Fastion and Donal met him outside, flanking him as they made their way to the East Hall where the budget meeting would take place.
Two hours later, Zachary was wishing he could have found some way to excuse himself from the meeting. They had spent the entire two hours arguing about the figures on the papers he had been reviewing, for each advisor felt the funds of the kingdom should be allocated in a different way. The debate was causing a pounding to start in Zachary's temple, so he tuned out the advisors' words, focusing instead on the numbers on the page in front of him. Numbers were easier. It did not take him long to find a mistake, and he grabbed a pen, marking through the incorrect figure and quickly adding the correct digits instead. Inleigh, the advisor nearest him, looked over his shoulder as he made his correction, and the older man laughed. "I always forget just how good you are with numbers, Excellency," he remarked. "We should just have you do the budgets."
"I am sure you would have caught it eventually," Zachary said solicitously.
"Perhaps. Now, about the money for the northern forest-" Before he could say anything about the forest, however, the doors opened, and a Green Foot skidded in. The boy bowed hastily before the king.
"Sire, I just saw Rider G'ladheon. She asked me to find you and tell you that Xavier-" Zachary did not wait for the boy to finish, for he was already moving quickly toward the door of the room, heedless of the curious looks of the others in the room. Thousands of thoughts vied for prominence in his head. He knew Karigan would not have interrupted him without something important. What if Xavier was hurt badly? What if he was lost? What if. . .
Zachary reached the doors before his thoughts spiraled too far out of control, and it did not take him long to find Karigan and Xavier, for the boy's sobs carried well in the corridor. He was at Karigan's side almost immediately, noting that neither she nor Xavier appeared overly hurt though there was blood on her tunic. He could not see the source. "What happened?" he demanded.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Karigan apologized. "But he insisted on seeing only you."
"Is he hurt?" Zachary reached out, and Karigan transferred the boy to his arms. He let his eyes roam Xavier's body for a moment, searching for any sign of injury. The blood seemed concentrated around a large rip in Xavier's trousers.
"Not badly. He did not want to read anymore, so I suggested we go see the horses. He ran ahead when we got close to the stables, and I could not stop him. He fell over and scraped up his knee and hands." Karigan was pacing worriedly, chewing on her bottom lip. Upon hearing that Xavier suffered nothing more serious than a scraped knee, Zachary shifted the boy's weight to his shoulder. He supported him with one arm as his other reached out to grab Karigan and stop her pacing.
"Calm down, Karigan. He's fine."
"You should never have let me watch him. He's hurt because of me."
"He's hurt because he's a four-year-old boy who has too much energy which is probably mostly my fault. I have not had as much time as I would like to take him outside and let him run around."
"But if he had come with you-"
"If he had come with me, he likely would have interrupted the budget meeting a dozen times already and irritated most of my advisors. Not to mention that he could just as easily have fallen down in the meeting as he did outside. This is not your fault." She nodded, finally stopping her pacing. Zachary let his hand fall from her arm, placing it against Xavier's back. They boy had started to calm with the comforting presence of his cousin and was currently simply sniffling into Zachary's collar. Zachary murmured words of comfort as his hand made soothing passes down the boy's back. "Why don't you go get a mender?" Zachary suggested to Karigan. She nodded, quickly turning toward the Mending Wing. Zachary watched her go until a new voice interrupted him.
"You know, I can certainly see why the rumors have started," Laren remarked. Zachary turned to face the Rider Captain, still rocking slightly to soothe Xavier.
"He's not my son, Laren. You of all people should know." She had the decency to look chagrined at that, but he softened his words with a smile. He knew she knew more about his intimate relationships than he told her and checked up on him, ensuring he had not sired a child. But he also knew she had done so out of concern, not curiosity
"Still, the boy obviously trusts you and looks almost exactly like you did as a child. What is going on, Zachary? I want to help you, but I cannot do that if you won't confide in me."
"Alas, it is not my place to say. For now, just know that I am helping a friend. Everything else will become clear in time."
"I hope it is soon. For your sake, and for the boy's. The court rumors are growing rather nasty." Zachary nodded, frowning slightly. He, too, hoped Quinn would not be much longer.