He sank back onto the edge of the bed and handed her a wooden box inlaid with mother of pearl. “This isn’t a gift from me, actually. It’s from my mother.”
Bryn’s eyebrows rose. Queen Anathalda had died when Rangar was very young, and he rarely talked about her, but Bryn knew that he’d loved his mother fiercely and that she’d adored her sons in return.
A question was posed on her lips. “How—how is that possible?”
“Open it,” he said simply. A strange look graced his face.
Bryn lifted the lid to find a small white gown embroidered with a sweet image of a goose. It was just the size for a baby. Eyes widening, she sucked in a breath. “Rangar, we—”
“I know,” he said in a calm voice. “We agreed it isn’t time for children until you are ready. I’ll honor that promise to you. But my mother stitched this while she was on her sickbed. She made one for each of her sons’ firstborn children, the grandchildren she knew she’d never see. She wanted us to give it to our wives on our wedding night as a blessing for a large, fruitful family.”
Bryn examined the sweet gown. She could only imagine the love and sorrow Queen Anathalda had poured into each stitch.
“It’s beautiful,” she said sincerely, closing the box. “I’m honored by your mother’s thoughtfulness. I’m sorry neither of your parents was here to see you wed.”
“They are watching from the afterlife,” he said.
She touched his scars gently. “We will have many babies one day, Rangar Barendur.”
His mouth hitched in a wicked smile. “I shall enjoy putting them in you, my queen.”
As much as Bryn wished for a lazy, careless day together, she wasn’t surprised when a knock soon came at the door.
We’re king and queen now, she thought with a sigh.There are no lazy days for us.
It was a messenger summoning them to meet with Mars and Illiana in the council chambers. Bryn assumed they were eager to return to Castle Mir and wished to say goodbye, but when they entered the chambers, a heavy silence portended different news.
“Has something happened?” Bryn asked in alarm.
Valenden, Mage Marna, Mars, and Illiana sat around the table, along with the Baersladen’s captain of the army, Ulfmund. Valenden waved a hand toward the captain. “Ulfmund got word late last night of more wolf attacks. Some in the Baersladen. One in Kaldbad.” He paused. “Ten people are dead.”
Bryn gaped. “Kaldbad? That’s no tiny farmstead or village. That’s a large town.”
“The berserkir wolves are getting bolder,” Valenden said darkly. “And multiplying in numbers. The town of Kaldbad is already calling for a ban on magic within its borders.”
Illiana looked troubled as she drummed her fingernails on the table. “On our ride here, our guards asked at every village about the berserkir wolves. People are terrified. We often heard that a dark mage is to blame, and only a ban on magic will end the attacks.”
“Forbidding magic wouldn’t stop a dark mage,” Bryn argued. “Someone this evil doesn’t care about the law.”
“When people are scared,” Illiana said, “They grasp at whatever solutions they can. It isn’t just about these wolves and the person behind them—it’s about growing fear over what magic can do in general in the wrong hands.”
Bryn turned to Mars, exasperated. “Were you able to send a spy to Ruma?”
He nodded, stroking his chin. “We sent three, but it has only been a few days; too soon to hear back. I have hopes that by the time we return to Castle Mir, we will have word from them.”
“I’ll send Zephyr with you,” Saraj offered. “He can fly back here with a message within half a day. It’ll be the fastest way to get word to us.”
Mars nodded. “Good. Though we haven’t heard back directly from our spies, therehasbeen word out of Ruma. King Cedric of Ruma has called for a grand parlay between all the royal families of the Eyrie to discuss these wolf attacks and this ‘sin of magic’ as he calls it.”
“That’s it!” Bryn exclaimed. “That’s practically evidence that the Ruma royal family is behind the wolf attacks and conspired with Baron Marmose to make it happen! This was their plan all along.”
Rangar added, “We haven’t received word of this grand parlay.”
“You will be soon,” Mars said. “As will Vil-Kevi and Vil-Rossengard. It takes longer to deliver messages to the Outlands, especially in winter. King Cedric called for the parlay to meet in the Wollin. Queen Amelia Hytooth of the Wollin is too elderly to travel, so we must all travel to her.”
Valenden folded his arms tightly. “It isn’t an accident that the Wollin is one of the few neutral kingdoms whose vote could throw the results to either decision.”
Rangar and Mars both nodded their agreement.
