Trigger warning for this chapter. It's nothing graphic but it does allude to non-consensual sex.
Zachary sank into a chair at the head of the table in the West Hall, forcing the weariness into the back of his mind so that it did not show on his face. He motioned to the Weapons by the door to admit his first visitor of the day. He knew it was Lord Coutre, knowledge that did not help to improve his mood in the least.
Coutre strode into the room, barely glancing at the occupants before his eyes settled on the king. Zachary saw them narrow slightly, but he did not need that subtle facial indication to know Lord Coutre was unhappy with him. The older man stopped near where Zachary sat and gave only a cursory bow before straightening. Zachary motioned him to a chair, refusing to stoop to his level. If nothing else, perhaps he could win over Lord Coutre with excessive politeness. "Please, sit."
"Thank you, but I'm hoping this will not be long."
"I understand you had some matters you wished to discuss with me."
"You know why I'm here, Your Highness." Coutre reached into his coat and pulled out a sheaf of papers. "The contract with all the amendments you requested. I even added some extra incentives as well."
"I appreciate that though I am sure they are not necessary." Zachary took the contract from his hands and passed it to Sperren. Coutre watched him expectantly. Zachary simply stared back blandly. "Was there something else I could help you with?"
Zachary could clearly see the debate raging on Coutre's face. He knew as well as Zachary that he could not reasonably insist that Zachary make a decision on the proposal immediately. Still, he was obviously upset by the king's indecision. Zachary knew that could turn into a problem, especially once he announced his courtship, but it was a problem for another time. Right now, he needed to focus on petitions. Glancing up, he saw that Lord D'Yer was next in line with Alton standing beside him. An irrational surge of jealousy bubbled up, but Zachary forced it back, smiling at them as they bowed. "We wish to give reports from the wall, Your Highness," Lord D'Yer told him.
"Of course. Perhaps you could dine with me tonight? That way, we can talk as long as needed." In truth, Zachary had other reasons for wishing to speak with Lord D'Yer alone. It was time to begin gaining support for his union with Karigan. He had waited too long as it was.
"I would be most honored."
"Excellent." Zachary dismissed him with a smile and a wave, turning to the next person in line. He cocked his head to the side in surprise when he saw Quinn standing there.
"Hello, Cousin," Quinn said, his voice loud enough to carry despite the crowded throne room. "I believe you have something of mine." He winked as he straightened from his bow, and Zachary realized suddenly what he was doing. He had promised to claim Xavier as his own as soon as Haden knew about him. Zachary should have expected a dramatic gesture.
"Yes, he was playing with Willis earlier. Xavier?" The boy appeared to the side of the throne, his eyes lighting up when he saw his father.
"Da!" he called, throwing himself into Quinn's arms. The other man caught the boy with ease. Zachary heard the mutter of those around them as everyone reacted to the name. Quinn smirked.
"Did you need anything else?"
"Just to thank you for watching him for me these past few weeks. It has been a huge help."
"Of course. He is welcome any time." With that, Quinn winked again and turned to leave. Beside Zachary, Captain Mapstone snorted.
"I suppose I should have seen that one coming."
"You did not honestly believe the rumors, did you?" Zachary asked out of the corner of his mouth, motioning the next petitioner forward.
"With you, Sire, one never knows."
Zachary saw petitions straight through lunch so that he could make his meeting with Lord D'Yer that night. He did insist his advisors eat, however, and they took shifts so that one would always be with him. By the time the sixth bell finally rang, he was starving and exhausted. He stood, stretching out his tired muscles as he suppressed a yawn. He dismissed all of his advisors with sincere thanks before making his way to his study, letting the servants remove his heavy mantle on the way. Lord D'Yer was already waiting outside when he reached it, and he bowed low. Zachary waved him into the room, and the two settled themselves at the table. Servants immediately appeared with platters of food, and Zachary's stomach growled loudly. He gave Lord D'Yer a small smile.
"I'm afraid I skipped lunch today," he explained.
"I noticed there were more petitioners than usual."
Zachary frowned as he dished up some of the roast beef. "Yes. The influx of magic has affected countless people. I'm afraid there is often little we can do for them."
"Unfortunately, I don't know how much I can help." With that, Lord D'Yer began to tell of the happenings at the wall. Zachary's frown deepened as he explained that the cracks were spreading and even the Kmaern did not appear to be able to stop them. "Though they do appear to have slowed since they started working," Lord D'Yer explained. "We are taking that as a positive sign though it is obviously less than we hoped for." Zachary chewed thoughtfully for a moment, considering.
"There is a women with the Kmaern that they call the Wise Woman. She is well-versed in the ancient ways. Perhaps she can help."
"Honestly, Sire, we would be happy to have anyone we can."
Zachary nodded. "Quinn mentioned that she was planning to journey to Sacor City after the Kmaern had settled in Hillander, so I expect she will arrive any day now."
Lord D'Yer shook his head as he took another bite of food. "I am still in awe that you managed to not only find a lost people but secure their support as well."
Zachary gave a small smile. "There was a good deal of luck involved as well."
"If you don't mind me asking, what did happen in Blackveil? I've heard a number of second and third-hand accounts, but I doubt their accuracy."
"I don't mind at all." With that, Zachary launched into the story of what had occurred a few months prior when he and Karigan found themselves thrust into Blackveil.
When he finished, Lord D'Yer chuckled. "I had thought the stories were exaggerated, but now I feel that perhaps they were understated." Zachary shrugged slightly, taking a sip of wine. He let the silence settle over them for a moment before broaching the subject he most wanted to discuss.
"There's actually another reason I asked you here tonight. I've hinted before that perhaps a noble match is not for me, and over the past few months, I have grown more convinced of that fact. I have found someone I wish to court, and I was hoping that I would have your support."
Lord D'Yer gave a sly smile. "It's Karigan G'ladheon, isn't it?" Zachary was unable to stop his eyes from widening, and the older man chuckled. "Don't worry, I didn't guess it until just now. But she clearly played a large part in the story you told, so it only makes sense. That kind of adventure is bound to bring two people closer."
"In truth, we had begun talking of courting before Blackveil," Zachary said, unwilling to let the older lord believe he was only courting Karigan because they had been stuck in a horrible situation together.
"Thus the reason you supported those noble/commoner marriages."
"I know you joined me in support of the last one. It is why I hoped you would be willing to support my own marriage as well."
"A member of the lesser nobility marrying a commoner is much different than a king doing so," Lord D'Yer observed, rubbing his chin, his expression inscrutable.
"Karigan is not a normal commoner."
Lord D'Yer smiled. "No, I suppose she is not." He studied the king for a moment before his smile broadened. "I will support you," he declared. "I daresay that having a woman with Karigan's fire on the throne will probably be a good thing in the coming times. Besides, my own son has been hinting about wishing to court a commoner as well, and I certainly don't want to deny him that even if I do not know who the young lady is yet. Your courtship should pave the way."
Zachary bit his lip to stop from identifying Alton's love interest. After many a long conversation with Karigan, he believed her that she had nothing but friendly feelings for Alton, but he knew that the same could not be said for Alton. Not that he could blame the other man—after all, Zachary of all people knew what it was like to be caught in Karigan's spell. "I suppose it will," he said simply.
They talked a bit more of Zachary's possible courtship before switching to more mundane topics. Lord D'Yer shared some of the latest news from his home province, spinning it into amusing tales that left Zachary unable to suppress his laughter. A knock at the door interrupted them partway through a tale of a cousin who had had a bit too much at a party and tried to court a statue, and Zachary glanced up to see Donal's face in the doorway. "Alton D'Yer, Sire," he announced. With a start, Zachary looked over to the clock, noting that it was quite late.
"He's probably come to collect me," Lord D'Yer said good-naturedly. "The boy worries too much. He treats me like I'm in my dotage though I have yet to close out my fifth century."
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay, Father," Alton said, entering the room. His eyes met Zachary's, and Zachary saw something flash in them briefly, making them appear almost black. However, when he looked closer, they appeared normal once more. He smiled blandly at Zachary who returned the smile easily.
"I'm fine, m'boy. I appreciate your concern, but you know it's not necessary."
"Nevertheless, it is late, Father. Perhaps it's best if we leave the king alone for the night." Lord D'Yer peered closely at his son, and Zachary sensed that he too felt something was amiss, but after just a moment, he nodded.
"True. It was a pleasure as always, Sire." Both Lord D'Yer and Zachary stood, the former bowing deeply to his king.
"For me as well," Zachary said honestly. Together, father and son swept from the room. Zachary watched them go, fingering the cleft in his chin as he tried to place the nagging feeling that had settled over him. Eventually, he decided that Alton was right—it was late, and he was tired. He was reading too much into nothing.
Zachary did not have much chance to dwell on his feelings, strange or otherwise, over the next few days. He always set aside two weeks near the Midwinter festival before the Lord Governors arrived to hear petitions, feeling it was his gift to his people to make sure he heard each and every one who had come. Generally, that meant fewer petitioners each day than at his normal weekly hearings, but it seemed the magic spreading throughout the kingdom led to long lines of petitioners each day and late night meetings with his advisors which typically only ended when someone nearly fell asleep. After seven straight days, Zachary could tell the long hours were beginning to take their toll on everyone though no one wanted to admit it. Dark circles surrounded the eyes of all of his advisors, and he suspected he was in a similar state though he was unwilling to look in a mirror and confirm it. However, he knew he needed to do something, for no one else would.
As his advisors gathered around him one evening, seeming almost resigned to their fate, Zachary cast aside the scroll in front of him. "I believe it is high time all of us get some much-needed rest," he remarked. All eyes turned immediately toward him, and he could see a glimmer of hope in most of them. Yes, they definitely needed rest.
"Sire, the petitions-" Sperren began half-heartedly, but Zachary waved off his concern.
"Will wait for tomorrow. It does the kingdom no good if its leaders are so tired they cannot discuss things rationally. We all need rest. Consider that an order from your monarch if you wish."
A couple people chuckled, letting the relief show on their faces. Zachary slid his gaze to the side, catching an approving nod from Laren. "I assume you include yourself in that as well," Colin remarked, eyeing Zachary critically. "Don't think we haven't noticed that you've done more work than all of us." Zachary could not deny that was true. While his advisors had done some of their work in shifts, there was no one he could trade shifts with—at least, not yet—so he had dutifully sat through every petition and meeting, forgoing sleep to ensure he could.
"Yes, I definitely plan to rest as well." Colin seemed satisfied with that, and he stood. A scraping of chairs sounded as others followed his example, and it was not long before the meeting room had cleared. Zachary remained seated for a few moments longer, letting his thoughts wander, but a voice interrupted before he could sit too long.
"I thought you promised Colin you would rest."
Zachary startled, turning to see that not everyone had left. Laren stood beside him, eyeing him critically. "I will in a moment. I just need to relax for a moment, let my head clear."
"Alright." She did not move, and Zachary cocked an eyebrow.
"You're going to stay here until I leave, aren't you?"
"I know you, Moonling. I don't trust you to stop working until I see it with my own eyes."
Zachary could not stop the short bark of laughter that burst from his lips, but he did stack his papers together before standing to leave. As promised, Laren followed him out, and they walked together in a comfortable silence until they came to the entrance hallway. "I trust that you'll ensure he goes to his chambers and not back to his study to work," Laren remarked, looking at Donal who stood beside Zachary. The Weapon nodded immediately, and Zachary could not suppress an eye roll.
"Goodnight, Laren," he said, allowing a note of command into his voice though he knew she would likely not heed it.
"Goodnight, Moonling." With that, they parted ways, Laren to the barracks and Zachary on the familiar path to his chambers as promised.
Zachary's valet had already left for the night, but Zachary did not mind. With the number of late night meetings he had, he had grown accustomed to undressing himself. On the current occasion, he stripped down to his trousers and shirt, but his fingers paused as he began to unbutton his shirt. Something nagged at his mind like a task he had forgotten, but he could not place his finger on. He ran through the events of the day quickly, but those thoughts brought no more clarity. Eventually, he stood with a sigh. Perhaps a walk would help clear his head.
Zachary started toward the door of his room but hesitated with his hand on the handle. If he left through the door, his Weapons would inevitably follow. For reasons he could not explain, he did not want them to follow on that particular night. Instead, he turned, opening the door of his wardrobe and pushing the coats aside. He felt for only a moment before his fingers found the catch in the back, and he slid open the false back with ease. He had learned about the tunnel soon after becoming king from a grizzled Weapon who had left the service years before but still remained in the castle to ensure the vast amount of knowledge he had gained was not lost. The tunnel had been built as a safety measure, a way to ensure a monarch could escape if the normal passages were blocked by enemies. It led to the extensive system of tunnels that ran through the castle, tunnels that Zachary had explored thoroughly as a boy. He had used the passage a few times before, mostly when he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts. He doubted anyone knew about his use of it—or, if they did, they had not said anything to him.
Grabbing a nearby torch, Zachary entered the dark passageways, turning automatically towards the nearest exit. His feet carried him through the tunnels as if they had a destination in mind even though his brain had not yet settled on one. He moved quickly, and it took only a few minutes for him to reach a sturdy wooden door. Setting his torch in a nearby holder, he pushed the door open and emerged in the middle of the gardens behind a large statue of a former king, one whose name Zachary probably should know but had never bothered to learn. His steps quickened further, now so fast that he was practically running. He was still not sure what was compelling him forward, but he had learned long before to trust his instincts. And right now, they were telling him he needed to move quickly.
He exited the garden at a jog, turning past the practice field. It did not take long for him to realize where he was going. The large, low-slung stable loomed in front of him, seeming almost foreboding in the little light that emanated from the crescent moon. He broke into a run, reaching the door of the stable in record time. He heard the sounds of a struggle from somewhere inside, and he rushed in, realizing belatedly that in his haste, he had not grabbed a sword. However, there was not time to dwell on that now. Instead, he followed the sounds he was hearing to the back of the stables. When he reached the area, he saw two forms, the larger one hovering over the smaller. His eyes immediately picked up the hint of green to the side of the smaller figure, and it did not take long for his quick mind to put two and two together. Somehow, he knew that it was Karigan on the ground, and that knowledge was all it took for him to see red.
"Get off of her, you bastard!" Zachary yelled, rushing forward and grabbing the man off of Karigan. While not normally one prone to using coarse language, the rage coursing through him left Zachary unable to think clearly. Roaring, Zachary threw the man against the wall of the stable, following immediately. He only vaguely registered the familiar face before driving his fist forward, meeting flesh with a sickening thud. He continued to pummel the man until a familiar voice finally broke through the haze that had settled over him.
"Zachary," Karigan moaned. Immediately, Zachary scrambled to her side, swallowing hard when he noted that her tunic had been completely torn off and her pants were open in the front.
"Gods, Karigan, what did that bastard do to you? Are you okay? He didn't-"
"I'm fine," Karigan said, stopping him before he worked himself into a frenzy. "You got here in time. How did you know where I was anyway?"
Zachary shook his head, his hands running down her face and shoulders, assuring himself she was alive. "I didn't. I just had an overwhelming urge to come to the stables, so I followed it. I suppose it is a good thing as well."
"Zachary, Alton wasn't himself. It was just like when the shadow mage controlled people." The identity of her attacker explained the nagging feeling of familiarity. A renewed feeling of rage started to bubble up, but Zachary forced it back, knowing that it had no place.
"Are you sure?" The shadow mage could not be back. Zachary had watched him die.
"I'm positive." When he still looked skeptical, she continued. "I know we've agreed that Alton does have a romantic interest in me. But he would never take it this far. Surely you know that."
Zachary paused a moment but eventually nodded. Karigan was right. While he may not have appreciated competing for Karigan's affections with the lord, he knew that Alton was a good man at heart. "I do. But what does that mean? The shadow mage died."
"Garcia did say it was only the beginning." A heavy silence settled over them after that as both considered the implications of her words. Eventually, Karigan pushed herself up slightly, glancing around. "Your Weapons?"
Zachary shook his head. "I snuck out. Something told me this was a mission best accomplished alone. Now, if you're sure you're alright, I need to check on Alton. I want to make sure he stays out of the picture until we figure out what's going."
"I'm okay," Karigan said. Her voice was weak, and Zachary peered at her carefully, trying to discern if there were any hidden injuries. He knew she was not okay, but he also knew that there was nothing he could do about that currently. As he started to turn away, she called to him again. "Zachary? Be careful. I know we were immune before, but the shadow mage died." He nodded, moving over to Alton. Bending over, he pressed his fingers to Alton's neck, feeling for a pulse. As soon as his skin touched the lord's, he felt a jolt and his vision went black. Something probed at his mind, a dark presence that chilled him to the core.
Hillander, it mused. I suppose that is only to be expected. Let us see how much you remember. The presence pushed harder, but Zachary did not want to give in that easily. He tried to push back, to close off his mind. Suddenly, flames danced in front of his vision, consuming everything. He gasped, falling backwards, away from Alton. The fire seemed to surround him, but it wasn't hurting him. In fact, he barely felt the lick of flames against his skin.
"Zachary!" a familiar voice called, and he turned towards it. Something cool touched his arm before withdrawing quickly. He blinked, turning toward the touch. Just as suddenly as they had appeared, the flames disappeared as well, and he saw Karigan crouching next to him, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. She watched him carefully as he sat up, seeming almost afraid, and he forced a smile to reassure her.
"I'm okay."
"You're burning up." She held up her hand, showing two reddened fingers. Zachary placed his own hand against his cheek, noting that it did feel warmer than usual though the heat was quickly dissipating in the cold night air. "What happened?"
He cleared his throat. "I. . . don't really know. I felt something in my head, but unlike the shadow mage, it talked to me."
"Talked?"
"I could hear the words in my mind. It said, 'Hillander. I suppose that is only to be expected. Let us see how much you remember.' And then I just saw fire."
"Fire?"
Zachary nodded, not sure what to make of the odd occurrence. "It's like it pushed whatever it was out."
"But there was no fire here." He nodded but said nothing. He could not explain the odd events of the night either. After a few seconds of silence, he stood, taking a moment to ensure he was steady on his feet before reaching down to help Karigan stand as well. She grabbed his hand almost hesitantly, relaxing as soon as his fingers clutched hers, and he realized with a start what she had meant by her earlier words. Once she was standing, he examined her fingers more closely.
"I did that?"
"When I touched you. It was like touching a hot kettle. But it's fine now. Whatever it was probably passed with the fire you saw." She leaned closer to him, shivering slightly, and he placed both arms around her. Glancing down, he found her tunic and picked it up, but he quickly realized that it would do no good, for it had been torn to pieces. Placing it in his back pocket, he quickly stripped off his own shirt and slipped it over her shoulders. She let him dress her like a rag doll, further increasing his worry. Before he had time to dwell on that, however, a groan sounded from the spot where Alton lay. Two pairs of eyes turned to a bloody, bruised Alton who was beginning to stir. Zachary gave a low growl, starting to move toward the corner, but Karigan grabbed his hand to stop him.
"He wasn't himself, Zachary," she reminded the irate king. Zachary grumbled but stayed in one place, his fists clenching at his sides. Alton sat up, his eyes quickly taking in his surroundings. Zachary watched as his face fell in horror. He obviously could recall at least some of what had occurred. Quickly, he stood, approaching the king and Rider. Karigan stood near enough to Zachary that he felt the shiver which traveled down her body, and he drew her closer, pressing her against his now-bare chest. His hand still clasped one of hers tightly, and she laid the other against his shoulder, squeezing his bicep.
Alton's eyes dimmed as he noted the action. "Karigan, I. . ." he began, but his words trailed off. His hands clutched at the air in front of him as if hoping to catch the words from it.
"Perhaps it would be best if you leave now," Zachary suggested, his voice cold. Alton stared at the pair a moment longer before nodding. He passed closer to them as he exited the stable, and Karigan shrank further against Zachary, seeking comfort in the steely strength of his muscles.
Once Alton had left, Zachary embraced her wordlessly. She shivered again, and he pressed a kiss against her temple before laying his cheek against the top of her head. After a few moments of silence, he asked, "Are you well enough to return to the castle?"
She cleared her throat as she nodded. "I am." He pulled back slightly, placing an arm around her shoulders to lead her from the stables. When the cool air hit her face, she seemed to awaken somewhat, and she glanced over at him, coloring when she realized his state of undress.
"Maybe you should take your shirt back," she offered, reaching to pull it over her head. He stopped her hands before she moved them far.
"Leave it." Their eyes met, and she nodded in understanding, letting her hands fall back to her side.
"I imagine walking through the castle like that is going to cause a stir." Despite the circumstances, he could see the gleam of appreciation in her eyes as she studied his figure in the moonlight, and he gave a small smile.
"Trust me." She nodded, and he led her into the garden. They moved slowly, and Zachary continued to glance around to make sure they were still alone. Karigan was right—if anyone saw them in the current state, it would start some rather nasty rumors.
When they finally entered the tunnel, Zachary relaxed, knowing no one would see them there. He started to turn back towards his chambers on reflex, but he quickly stopped himself. Entering those would open a can of worms he much preferred to keep closed. Instead, he turned in the direction of his study. As they walked, he opened his mouth to speculate more on the events of the night, but a single glance at Karigan's face in the flickering torchlight caused him to close it again. She was obviously still shocked, and he honestly could not blame her. Further discussion would come in time—for now, he just needed to get her somewhere safe.
They emerged nearly half an hour later in Zachary's study. He led Karigan to the couch, lowering her onto it carefully before retrieving a greatcoat from the back of his chair. Carefully, he tucked it around her before tucking a piece of hair behind her ears. "Can I get you anything else?"
She shook her head, swallowing thickly. "I just want to sleep," she told him.
He knew there was more than that, but he also sensed her desire to be alone with her thoughts. "Okay. I've got a bit of work to complete, but I will be right over there if you need anything." Karigan simply nodded, and he stepped away, moving toward his desk. He grabbed a spare shirt from the wardrobe behind it, slipping it over his head before sitting down to look at papers he knew he would not truly see.