Mahini’s pale blue eyes were full of emotion when her gaze met mine, and it felt like time held still as I locked the memory away.
Her raven hair brushed against her tanned shoulders, and tendrils stuck to her sweat-dappled forehead. Her cheeks were flushed from the level of exertion she’d just performed, but she lifted her chin proudly.
I was so happy she was okay, and I finally released the tension I’d been holding ever since I woke up to bloody sheets. My shoulders slumped, and I felt moisture in my own eyes.
Our son had dark hair, and his body was still covered in the gunk of birth, but Mahini didn’t seem to be bothered in the slightest.
The umbilical cord wound its way from the child’s belly, and it amazed me to think he had gotten all his nutrients through a rope-like organ.
“Come meet your son.” Mahini’s voice broke the frozen time sensation.
I crossed the last few steps to her side, and I lowered myself gently onto the bed beside her. Mahini turned and pressed her
forehead against mine, and I caressed her face as I pushed back her sweaty hair.
“You’re amazing,” I whispered.
“No, you are.” Mahini’s face lit up with a brilliant smile. “You gave me him.”
Then my gaze wandered down to the face of my son, and I took in his fuzzy head of dark hair, his darker-toned skin, and his unique marble-like eyes. They were a mixture of blue and brown, like small globes. He stared back up at me without taking his mouth from his mother’s breast, but I was struck by an instant feeling of connection, like we’d known each other already.
“Hi, buddy,” I murmured as I stroked the top of his head, and I was fascinated by the ridges and bumps beneath his hair. “I’m your dad.”
“What shall we name him?” Mahini asked in a conspiratorial whisper. “He deserves a strong name, a warrior’s name. He’s been practicing his fighting skills while in the womb, and I can feel his spirit through his latch. Plus, he’s the son of a god.”
“I don’t know.” I frowned as I thought it over. “It kind of reminds me of the stories from ancient Greece in my world. There were a
bunch of gods who lived on top of a very tall mountain, and they would sometimes mate with the mortals, making demigods.”
“You wish to name our son Demigod?” Mahini struggled to keep her composure.
“No,” I laughed, and the infant at her breast was startled by the noise. He kicked his feet and stiffened his arms, but he never released the boob. Once he calmed down, I continued. “I was just thinking we could name him after one of the demigods from those stories. I remember a bunch, but the stories kind of get tangled up in my brain.”
“Tell me one you remember,” Mahini urged.
“Shouldn’t we wait until you get cleaned up?” I cast a furtive glance at her lower half, but I quickly returned my gaze to her face when I saw the bloody sheets. “You’ve already been through so much since you last slept.”
“Yes, it is time to cut the cord,” Aranini announced, and she gave her daughter a soft caress on the cheek. “You did well, beloved.”
“Alright.” Mahini nodded. “Will it hurt me?”
“No,” her mother assured her. “Nor will it hurt the baby.”
The midwife tied two pieces of string along the umbilical cord, one close to my son’s navel, and the other a few inches below. Then she handed me a small dagger, and the sharp, clean edge shone in the candlelight. I took a steadying breath, and I gripped the cord in one hand while I sliced through it with the blade.
Then Mahini’s mother quickly whisked the cord away, and she bundled everything up in the sheets before she carried them away and out of sight. I glanced around the room until I spotted a blanket, and I covered my wife and son with a gentle touch before I laid down beside them once more. It felt like we were inside our own private bubble, and I didn’t want the moment to ever end.
The two continued to nurse, but every once in a while, the baby would kick his feet like he was already excited to be alive.
Aranini returned a short while later, and she carried a small basin, a water skin, and a handful of towels. After she’d gotten everything set up, she came to take the baby and clean him up.
My son screamed at the top of his lungs as soon as he was removed from his mother’s breast, and we all chuckled in amusement at his ferocious energy. He truly was spirited, but he seemed to calm a little once he was doused in the warm water. His
grandmother held him by the back of the head and shoulders, and she gently washed the gunk from his little body.
“Here, father,” Aranini said as she handed me the clean, swaddled baby. “Mahini is next.”
“Definitely.” I had some experience holding infants already thanks to my baby girl, so I took my son from her with confidence.
He immediately began to squirm and root for a nipple, and he kicked his legs with each unsuccessful attempt. “Whoa, buddy, chill out.”
Aranini helped Mahini rise to her feet, and the two women walked slowly into the bathroom. A moment later, the midwife returned and swiftly changed the sheets, and she fetched a comfortable outfit for her daughter. Then a fresh and smiling Mahini emerged from the bathroom, and she had her wet hair twisted up on top of her head like a rope. My wife took our son from my arms with a grateful smile, and I helped her mother remake the bed before the three of us laid down again.
“I’ll check on you both in a few hours.” Aranini kissed her daughter and grandson on the forehead, gave me a respectful nod, and waved goodbye. “Send for me if I’m needed before then.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Mahini’s gaze was full of gratitude as she watched her mother leave.
“So, back to what we were talking about,” I said with a smile.
“What do you think about Hercules? Orpheus? Arcas?”
“Those are normal Earth names?” Mahini scoffed. “And I thought the names of Kotar were strange to the majority of Sorreyalians. The last one was the only one that sounded half-normal.”
“Arcas?” I struggled to remember the story about the son of Zeus, but I’d gone through a phase in middle school where I was obsessed with Greek mythology, so it only took me a moment. “He was the son of the God of Thunder and Callisto, a nymph. He became the king of Arcadia.”
“A powerful name.” Mahini flashed me a pointed smile.
“You want to name him Arcas?” I returned her happy expression. “I could get behind that.”
“Arcas it is.” Mahini’s gaze lowered to the infant now happily suckling once more. “He will be a great man.”
“Mostly because he has an amazing mother,” I said. “A strong, powerful, loving mother. I’m seriously impressed, Mahini. I can’t even
imagine how terrifying it was to go through that.”
“I had my mother and my sisters with me,” Mahini countered.
“A woman just knows what to do, that it will eventually end, and that you’re not alone.”
“Do you want me to bring the other women in to meet him?” I asked. “I’m sure they’re staying back to give us some privacy.”
“Please,” Mahini said, and she reached over to push me away with a half-smirk.
I didn’t have to look far since the other women were all sitting on the floor in the hallway, and it looked like they were all on the verge of sleep. They startled upright and swiped the backs of their hands across their mouths when I came up to them, but a moment later, I was being hugged from all angles.
“How are they?” Eva asked.
“Good!” I grinned. “He’s a hungry one, that’s for sure.”
“Was he a big baby?” Elissa asked. “It seemed like he was going to be big.”
“He’s baby sized.” I shrugged. “His head was all wrinkled up, though.”
“We saw Aranini leave,” Caelia said.
“She didn’t tell us much,” Akina added and furrowed her brow.
“Aranini was amazing,” I said with an awed shake of my head.
“It was worth everything to have her here.”
“Nameless has been acting anxious,” Zenda added. “He’ll be happy to see you, but I sent him outside to burn some energy.”
“I’ll fetch him later,” I said. “But for right now, how do you feel about meeting my son?”
The women all squealed with delight before they bounded to their feet, but I quickly shushed them to calm their excited energy. I didn’t want their first visit to scare the baby, but I loved how eager they were to meet my son. They followed behind me into the bedchamber, and Elissa was the first to reach the side of the bed closest to Mahini.
“Mahini! He’s perfect.” The redhead had tears streaming from her emerald eyes, and she gave Mahini a sideways hug.
“I love his dark hair,” Akina said. “The southern lands are strong in his blood.”
“He’s adorable,” Eva sighed, and I could have sworn I saw heart shapes in her eyes. “I cannot wait to experience it for myself.”
“I didn’t realize it could be so painful,” Caelia admitted and bit her lip. “I’m a little nervous after seeing it firsthand.”
“I’m sure every pregnancy is different,” I pointed out in a reassuring voice. “Besides, you have a whole family here to support you just like all of you did for Mahini.”
Zenda had remained quiet during the introduction, but I caught her studying me with her sapphire eyes. I met her gaze with a smile, and a purple-hued blush darkened her cheeks.
“I think he looks like you,” the Zaborian said. “He will be very handsome.”
“We named him after a person from Earth,” Mahini announced.
“The son of one of their gods.”
“That’s fitting,” Eva said with an approving nod.
“Arcas,” I declared with a proud grin on my face.
Nameless suddenly burst into the room in a blur of shiny movement, and he screeched to a halt at the bottom of the bed. His eyes seemed larger than usual as he stared directly at the baby, and it seemed like he was waiting for permission.
“Be gentle,” I said, and the small dragon flashed me a grateful look before he hopped carefully onto the bed.
The dragon shuffled forward with his body low, and he snuffed his nose against the back of baby Arcas’ head. The infant’s small hands jerked instinctively, and he smacked Nameless in the face. I inhaled sharply as I prepared to drag the giant lizard away from my son, but Nameless merely shook his head before he loudly sneezed.
Strong baby. There was no mistaking the pleased tone to the dragon’s voice in my head.
I shooed Nameless away as I laid back down beside my wife and son, and the dragon curled up on the foot of the bed. I could tell he didn’t plan on budging from his spot for a while, but his presence didn’t seem to bother the mother and son.
The girls all chatted and giggled with Mahini until the new mother was stifling yawns, and then they shuffled out to let her get some rest. I snuggled in beside her, but it felt like mere moments had passed when I heard the whimpering sounds Arcas was making. I rubbed my eyes as I found the floor with my feet, and then I carried the infant to the table to change him.
“Is everything okay?” Mahini asked in a tired voice.
“Yeah, just a dirty bottom,” I said, and I put the finishing touches on the baby boy’s clothing situation. “Nothing dad can’t
handle.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, Arcas decided to scream bloody murder. He was like an angry spirit shaking in my hands, and I tried every position imaginable in an attempt to cease his complaints. Mahini quickly crossed the distance to us, and he calmed the instant she took him in her arms.
“Moms are magic,” I laughed and shook my head.
“He’s just hungry,” the new mother said with a self-satisfied smile.
While Mahini sat down and put the baby to her breast, I peeked out the windows to see it was late afternoon. It had been pitch black outside when Mahini’s labor had started, and it seemed like a week had already passed, but it had been less than a day.
Caelia and Akina came into the bedroom a short while later with trays of food, and they gossiped about Bastianville things while we ate. Zenda read old folk tales to Arcas while Elissa braided Mahini’s hair, and Eva brought in armfuls of baby clothes she’d just retrieved from the seamstress, Bellona.
The rest of the evening passed quickly, and I was starting to get cabin fever from being in the same room all day, but I was
hesitant to leave Mahini’s side. Arcas finally decided to give the breast a break, and his mother laid him on his back in the middle of the bed. We both made silly faces at him until he gave us the tiniest hint of a smile, and I couldn’t help observing how tiny he was in comparison to myself.
Someday, Arcas would grow into a strong young man, and he would likely be the first in line to inherit my territory. There was a lot I had to teach him before that came to pass, but I knew I had plenty of time for all of that.
“I can have him sleep in the nursery tonight,” Mahini said. “So you can get some uninterrupted rest.”
“No need.” I grinned. “I like having him around, and I don’t mind doing my part to take care of him. I won’t be able to stay home every day, so I want to enjoy this time with him as much as possible.”
“You will need to return to Vallenwood soon,” my wife reminded me. “But I am so happy you were here for his birth. It is funny. Arcas seemed to know when you got home, and he was eager to meet his father.”
“The feeling was mutual.” I smiled down at the sleeping babe, but he didn’t stay sleeping for long.
I lost count of how many times I got up to take care of the small infant, and it felt like time stretched on infinitely. I longed for the dawn just to put an end to the repetitive cycles of crying, pooping, and eating, but I knew this was only the first of several such nights.
During one diaper change, the little man spit up on me as soon as I picked him up, and the stench of sour milk lingered on my clothes.
Another time, Arcas waited until he was completely uncovered, and then he let out a stream of pee that coated the pile of clean linens nearby.
Arcas also wanted to eat every forty-five minutes, and I couldn’t imagine Mahini being able to get any decent sleep around that schedule, so it made sense for me to handle everything else.
The desert beauty flashed me a loving smile every time I returned her son to her, and she didn’t hesitate to bring him to her breast.
And while it was tiring work, the absolute feeling of love that filled my chest whenever I looked at my son made it all worth it.
I managed to scrape together a couple of hours of sleep before the sun rose the next morning, and I yawned and stretched before I crawled out of bed. Mahini and Arcas were both still asleep, so I crept downstairs as quietly as I could.
Akina was pulling some pastries out of the oven when I entered the kitchen, and nearby, Zenda was flipping through the pages of a large book while she sipped a cup of tea. Eva and Elissa were not known to be early risers, but I wondered where Caelia had gone.
“Good morning,” I greeted with a tired smile.
“Oh, Bash!” Akina gasped and spun to face me. “I was just getting a tray of food ready for you and Mahini.”
“She’s still sleeping,” I said. “But I was starting to get tired of being in the same room.”
“I can take the food up to her later.” Akina nodded. “Why don’t you sit and eat?”
“Thanks.” I sank into a chair at the table, and Zenda reached across the surface to squeeze my hand.
“Did you get any sleep last night?” the Zaborian asked. “I heard Arcas waking up every few hours, but Mahini insisted she didn’t want help.”
“I pieced some snores together.” I gave her a tired smile. “But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
“I’m sure the people of Bastianville would love to see you if you feel like stepping out,” Akina pointed out. “We could even take the baby out to meet his tribe while Mahini sleeps.”
“That’s a good idea,” I said. “It would be nice to get some fresh air.”
After I finished eating, I took Mahini’s tray of food from Akina, and I pressed a kiss against the fire mage’s cheek before I headed up the stairs. The new mother was sitting upright in bed with Arcas in her arms, and her face lit up when I entered the room.
“I brought breakfast,” I said, and I set the tray down on the end table.
“Thank you.” Mahini looked hungrily at the steamy plate of food. “It’ll have to wait until he gets his fill so I can regain the use of my arms.”
“Here, let me help.” I flashed her a wink before I scooped up a bite of eggs and directed it toward her mouth.
Mahini let me feed her while she fed the baby, but she giggled every few bites, and I dropped some toast crumbs on our son’s head. When my wife was satisfied, I carted the dishes away, and when I returned, Mahini was putting Arcas in some clean clothes.
“So, I was talking to Akina and Zenda, and they suggested I go for a stroll through town.” I lifted my son off the changing table and cradled him against my shoulder. “It would be a good opportunity to introduce Arcas to Bastianville.”
“I’m not sure if I have the energy to walk through town.” Mahini sighed.
“You could stay here and get some sleep,” I suggested. “I can handle Arcas for a bit, and besides, he just nursed. I’ll be back before he gets hungry again.”
“Promise?” Mahini’s lip twisted into a pleased smile.
“Swear,” I said and gave her a kiss.
Mahini returned to bed without further complaint, and I gently closed the door behind me as I took Arcas downstairs. Zenda and Akina barely restrained their squeals of delight when presented with the chubby-cheeked baby, and they both hurried to grab cloaks before they followed me out of the castle. Nameless bounded through the door behind us, and he let out an offended chirp before he took to the air. Arcas stared around in obvious amazement, and I watched him track the flight of the shiny dragon across the sky. I knew he could see little more than blurry shapes and shadows at his
age, so it didn’t surprise me when his eyes went unfocused a moment later.
Would my children be able to ride the dragon someday?
Would I?
The sun was high in the sky as we made our way to the main street of Bastianville, and there were already clumps of people going in all directions. I waved with the hand not holding the baby, and everyone smiled and called out friendly greetings. Then my father-in-law, Elrin, approached us, and I gave him a warm one-armed hug.
“Is this the new little one?” he asked in a grandfatherly tone.
Arcas stared blindly up at Elissa’s father, but he grabbed onto the elder’s finger with a firm grasp. “Already quite the strong one, isn’t he?”
“He really is.” I grinned with pride. “His name is Arcas.”
“Fitting. A strong name for a strong lad.” Elrin patted me on the shoulder before he turned to continue on his way. “Give my best to my daughter, and tell Mahini she did a good job with this one.”
“Will do,” I chuckled, and I waved him off before I turned back to the street ahead.
We made it to Caelia’s general store a few moments later, and the two ladies with me bounded up the steps and through the door.
The bell chimed to announce our entrance, and the dark-skinned beauty looked up from her ledgers. We crossed the store to the counter, and she cooed softly at the baby before she flashed us a bright smile.
“It’s a lovely day for a stroll,” the shopkeeper said. “I’m sure the townspeople will be ecstatic to meet the new baby.”
“He’s been so well behaved,” Zenda said. “He hasn’t even made a peep.”
“Care to join us?” I waggled my eyebrows temptingly.
“I have some things to catch up on here,” Caelia sighed. “I might have to delegate more of my responsibilities to my employees since I’ve been gone so much lately.”
“You have a lot of important things to tend to,” I agreed. “Plus, soon you will have a baby of your own to look after.”
The shopkeeper blushed but smiled faintly as she put a hand on her belly.
“Come see me when you’re done touring the town,” Caelia urged after a moment. “I’ll go back home with you. That should give
me plenty of time to finish these numbers and inventory lists.”
“Alright, see you soon,” I said as I leaned over to kiss her cheek, and the other two ladies gave her quick hugs before we left the general store.
Jaxtom and Torya were walking in our general direction, and the innkeeper’s hand was tucked into the blacksmith’s elbow. They’d seemed like an unlikely pair at first, but it was obvious to anyone with eyes how crazy in love they were with each other. Jax had been one of my first friends in this world, and Torya had always made me feel welcome, so I couldn’t be happier for them.
“Bash!” The blacksmith jerked his chin in greeting, but then he took in the infant in my arms, and his eyes widened. “Mahini’s?”
“The very one,” I chuckled. “His name is Arcas.”
“He’s adorable!” Torya made silly faces at my son, but he merely stared back at her with a scrunched-up expression. “What title does a son of a god have? Lord? Prince?”
“I’m not sure.” I frowned as I thought it over.
I wasn’t technically king yet, but if I accepted the rulership of Sorreyal, Arcas would be a prince. If I abdicated my power, he would be the son of the Archduke, and then he’d likely be called lord or
baron. Unless his mother was a queen, that is, but I didn’t think Mahini would ever want to take on that responsibility.
One of the other women might, though.
Before I could come up with an answer, Riondale came out of the tavern and crossed the distance to us. The general of my army was a younger man, but he held himself with an air of authority befitting his position.
“Sir, I didn’t expect to see you out and about.” Riondale clasped forearms with my baby-free hand. “Word of your son’s birth has traveled through town faster than Goliath can run.”
“Well, Ri-Guy, sometimes a guy gets antsy when stuck at home.” I grinned. “Besides, Arcas wanted to meet everyone.”
“Our future commander surveying his troops?” Riondale chuckled. “If he’s anything like his father, he will put the rest of our soldiers to shame with his skills.”
“Let’s teach him how to walk first,” I laughed.
“You seem to have accepted the cloak of fatherhood with the same grace you do everything else,” Torya said in a voice full of pride. “They’re lucky their father is such a natural leader.”
“Are you home for good, sir?” Riondale asked.
I exchanged a loaded glance with Zenda and Akina before I shook my head, and the disappointment on the general’s face was plain to see.
“There’s a situation in Vallenwood that requires my attention,” I explained. “The king… vanished.”
“You’re going to hunt him down?” Jax’s eyebrows drew together into a solid line. “Well, if you can find a duke in the desert, then you can find King Fred.”
“He doesn’t want to be found,” I sighed. “And he doesn’t want to be king. He handed me his crown and walked off.”
“What does that mean for Sorreyal?” Torya tutted. “Or Bastianville, for that matter. Are you going to abandon us for the golden city?”
“I don’t plan on going anywhere,” I said. “I built my home in Bastianville for a reason. I feel at home here, and all my friends are nearby, but I still owe it to Sorreyal to make sure the kingdom is in good hands.”
“Don’t look at me.” Riondale held up his hands to ward off the possibility of being given the task of rulership. “I like my job just the way it is.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I clapped him on the shoulder in a reassuring manner. “But I still need to figure something out.”
My mind wandered over the idea of crowning one of my women as queen, but it was a big responsibility for one person.
Maybe two of them would want to be co-queens? The thought took root, and I envisioned each of my six companions in the role. Elissa would never leave Bastianville while her father lived, and Mahini had formed a strong bond with the town herself. Zenda wouldn’t want anything to take her away from her research, and Akina probably seemed like too much of an outsider still. Evangeline had grown up in the lap of luxury, and she was familiar with the processes of court.
Caelia had a head for numbers and organization, but she would be far too shy to be the face of the realm.
“Excuse me,” I said as I shook my head to clear my running thoughts. “I think I need to go home and talk to my family. I just had a great idea.”
Zenda and Akina flashed me curious glances, but they didn’t question me as we said our goodbyes and turned toward the castle.
As promised, we stopped by the general store to fetch Caelia, and then all four of us headed home. Once we stepped inside, I could hear the sounds of Sorena fussing, so I knew Elissa was nearby.
“Will you gather Elissa, Mahini, and Eva?” I asked.
Arcas seemed to think I was asking him because he opened his mouth and released a shrill scream loud enough to wake the dead, and a moment later, the three women were running from all different directions toward the sound.
“Arcas, what’s wrong?” Mahini eagerly took her son into her arms, and she let out a sigh of relief when he calmed immediately.
“Are you hungry again already?”
“I have an idea,” I said without preamble. “I need to find out what you all think about it.”
“Alright, Bash,” Elissa said as she bounced toward the sitting room.
The rest of us followed behind her, and everyone found comfortable seats before they looked at me expectantly. Mahini revealed her breast for Arcas to nurse, and Evangeline held a squirming Sorena in her lap. Elissa tickled the bottom of her daughter’s feet, and she squealed with delight. Akina, Zenda, and Caelia sat gingerly on the couch, and they exchanged a sideways glance with each other before their gaze landed on me.
“So, you know about King Fred quitting his job as king,” I said.
“And we all know it wouldn’t be wise for me to take over his responsibilities while I still have a god and goddess hellbent on my destruction.”
“You’ve chosen someone to rule in your place?” Mahini tilted her head to the side.
“Yes.” I scanned over their curious faces as I paused for dramatic effect. “One of you.”
“One of us?” Elissa frowned. “I cannot leave Bastianville.”
“And I don’t want to, either,” Mahini quickly added. “We designed this home for our children, and this is where they will grow up.”
“I agree.” I nodded, but then I turned my gaze to the other four.
“I-I-I don’t think I would be a good match,” Akina said in a nervous voice. “The people would look at me as an outsider.”
“On that note,” Zenda said. “I would also be a poor representative of Sorreyal. Most of the Vallenwood population look at me like I’m an abomination or something from another world.”
Everyone turned to look pointedly at Eva and Caelia, and I watched realization dawn on their faces.
“I think Caelia and Eva would be perfect co-queens,” I announced.
Mahini, Elissa, Zenda, and Akina all nodded their heads in agreement, but Caelia and Eva remained silent as they looked around at the rest of us.
“I suppose that makes sense.” Eva tapped her chin in a thoughtful manner. “Caelia would be able to oversee the economy and infrastructures while I dealt with the diplomatic and authoritative aspects.”
“Exactly.” I grinned, but then I turned to the shopkeeper. “What do you think, Caels? Do you want to be a queen?”
“I-I-I would have to give up my shop.” Her voice was just as unsure as her face. “But… if you believe I could do it, I will do whatever is necessary to help the realm.”
“Good.” I clapped my hands together with an air of finality, and I gave the two soon-to-be queens a wide smile. “You’re going to do great.”
“I hope you’re right,” Caelia murmured and bit her lip. “Do you think the people of this kingdom will accept two queens?”
“If you’re crowned by a god, who is going to dare speak against you?” I smirked.
“And I’ll be by your side the whole time,” Eva promised as she patted the dark-skinned beauty’s hand. “We’re in this together.”
“Alright,” Caelia relented with a soft smile before she turned to me. “But I don’t believe this to be a permanent solution. Bash, I truly think you should be king. I know you must deal with the God of the Plague first, but eventually, once you have dealt with that, I think you should take the throne. Bastianville has thrived under your rule, and Sorreyal shall, too.”
“Well, I definitely wouldn’t mind ruling with you by my side.” I winked. “But like you said, first I must deal with my godly duties, so you and Eva shall rule in my stead. And I know you’ll both be great.”
“Hell yeah, we will.” Eva smirked.
“Now, we just have to plan the ceremony to crown you both,” I said. “I’ll head back to Vallenwood tonight to get everything in order.”
“Let me help,” Zenda requested with a twinkle in her sapphire eyes.
“Obviously, Eva and I should also go with you,” Caelia pointed out.
“I will guard the babies and their mothers with my life,” Akina swore in a serious tone. “This castle will be a fortress of security as long as your children reside within its walls.”
“Thanks.” I grinned at the former desert dweller. “I feel better with your sword at their disposal.”
Eva, Caelia, Zenda, and I blipped to Vallenwood after dinner, and we summoned an emergency meeting with the palace staff.
After a quick explanation of my plan, the royal servants all agreed it was a good idea. Miss Gervine in particular seemed excited by the prospect of a female ruler, and the rest just sounded happy they wouldn’t be expected to run the city forever.
We went over all the details, and once we had a solid plan in place for the ceremony, the girls and I were swept up in a whirlwind of preparations. We were all fitted for new outfits, and a talented blacksmith was hired to fashion two new crowns.
The morning before the coronation, I blipped everyone from Bastianville who wanted to attend the ceremony. Mahini, Elissa, and Akina all wore beautiful gowns made by Bastianville’s seamstress, Bellona, and even Sorena and Arcas had fashionable blankets wrapped around them. Zenda wore her customary turquoise robes, but she’d added a golden silk scarf.
Jaxtom, Torya, Elrin, and Riondale waved eagerly from their seats, and a bunch of other long-time residents of Bastianville filled the first few pews before the throne dais. The rest of the space was filled with nobles and rich residents of the capital, but there was still some standing room in the back where the general populace could stand and watch the proceedings.
It felt a bit like a wedding when a servant turned me away from Caelia and Eva’s rooms by stating I wasn’t to see the future queens until the ceremony, and I found myself experiencing some nervous jitters. I wanted the two women to be accepted by the residents of Vallenwood without question, but I knew there was still a long road ahead of them before the city would thrive once more.
I waited in the eaves to escort the two to the dais, and my jaw nearly hit the floor when I finally caught sight of them. Evangeline wore a flowy lace gown dyed with crimson hues that dipped low at the neckline, and Caelia shone in a brilliant golden dress that swept across the floor in front of her.
“You’re both gorgeous,” I breathed with wide eyes. “You look absolutely regal.”
When I heard the trumpets blare and the herald begin his introductions, I took their hands and tucked them into my elbows.
Then I led the two beauties to the stage at the front of the audience chamber, and a round of applause greeted us. The Bastianville crew were especially raucous, but I didn’t begrudge them their celebratory mood. Caelia had been a resident of the small mining town for years before I’d arrived and turned her world upside down, so it was only fitting that all her friends were present for this big moment.
The three of us took to the stage with our heads held high, but I could feel the nervous energy radiating from the two women on either side of me. There were two thrones situated a few feet apart in the middle of the platform, and I bowed deeply to each woman before I turned to the gathered crowd.
“King Frederick has abdicated his throne, and therefore, left Sorreyal without a ruler.” My voice carried well over the hushed crowd. “He handed me his crown and left, and while many might see this as a tragedy, I see it as an opportunity.”
I paused to let my words sink in, and I paced at the front of the platform while I felt every pair of eyes following my movements.
There were some furtive whispers washing through the crowd, but I couldn’t make out any specific words.
“So, with the power granted to me by the former king of Sorreyal, I, the God of Time, hereby crown Evangeline Bullard and
Caelia Stone as the co-rulers of the kingdom. All hail your new queens!”
I lifted my arms above my head, and the gathered audience actually cheered energetically, but another hush fell over the crowd when two servants in red and gold livery brought forward the two crowns. We’d taken King Fred’s crown and melted it down to form the two new ones, but there were still some obvious similarities.
Each golden circlet had three rubies at the front, and the gemstones glittered brightly as the servants placed them on Eva and Caelia’s heads.
The majority of the room rose to their feet as they continued to applaud the new rulers of Sorreyal, but I noticed some of the peasants in the back seemed a bit more hesitant. I knew they’d soon realize how much the two queens would change the capital for the better, and I had utter faith in my wives.
We celebrated with a parade and a feast that continued long into the night, but we were all eager for bed by the time the last guests left the dance hall. I gave Caelia and Eva tight hugs, and then I took the others home to Bastianville. Thanks to my fast travel amulets, I wouldn’t be isolated from the two new queens, but it did feel weird to arrive back at my castle without them.
I woke up while it was still dark outside, and Mahini and Arcas were both sleeping peacefully beside me, so I looked around in search of what had woken me up. Then I spotted Zenda standing in the doorway, and the blue-skinned beauty gestured for me to go with her.
“What is it?” I asked in a whisper once we were in the hallway.
“I have an idea that I need to discuss with you right away,” she said in an urgent tone. “I think I discovered a magical loophole that will greatly increase your power.”
My heart thudded in my chest as I followed her down the stairs to the study, and my mind was racing with possibilities. Zenda was not one for false confidence, so I had a good feeling about whatever her idea was.
I just had to find out.