The Gifted Heart (Marks of Inheritance: The Orkeia Cycle #1)

25. A New Light

Chapter twenty-five

A New Light

F or the next week, Kiernan spent nights with me in my chambers, even moving my vanity in front of the door that connected our rooms. While I knew that the physical barriers he was attempting to place between us and the chamber wouldn’t do anything, I did make sure Abi brought a large supply of salt from the kitchens to place a magical barrier that would, in fact, be effective. But despite the evil I’d felt emanating from that room, I doubted there was an actual presence. Whatever had started there had already been released, and was now banished back to the Land of the Lost.

At least, the one that had attacked me was banished. As terrifying as it was to admit, for all we knew, there were more demons roaming the city. When I reviewed the next castle supply order with Miss Grayson, I requested a large order of quartz from the kingdom of Cogfaire to have something more powerful than salt to protect not only our quarters but the castle in general. She was confused by the order but didn’t question it, accepting the explanation that I was just fond of the gem and wanted to use it to add my own decorative touch to the castle.

The order arrived about a month later, and I immediately arranged for skilled craftsmen from the city to integrate it into every doorknob in the castle. Luckily enough, one of the runic symbols for warding off demons happened to be woven into my circlet, so no one asked too many questions about the design I had them use. But my anxieties were still ever present, especially with the eerie silence from the note left in my room months before .

I was still convinced Lewin was responsible. It was true that he hadn’t tried anything—in fact, he seemed to be avoiding me at all costs—but his dangerous eyes still met mine with malice at every opportunity. When Kiernan followed up with Stole about the investigation, the captain admitted that he hadn’t been able to uncover any evidence to support his theory of Lewin’s ill intentions. If Lewin was planning on trying something, he was biding his time.

Whenever the subject came up in conversation, it inevitably turned into an argument. For reasons I couldn’t fathom, Kiernan continued to defend Lewin’s actions, even when he actively spoke out against his king in front of other captains and knights.

“Why haven’t you at least demoted him?” I demanded after one such occurrence.

Kiernan raised his eyebrows. “Demoted Lewin?”

“You’re right,” I said, crossing my arms. “You should dismiss him.”

He frowned. “Kenna, I know how you feel about him, but he’s only doing what he thinks is best. He’s spent his life training for war, and when he feels there’s a threat he wants to be prepared for it.”

“And kill it,” I mumbled.

“He’s a brilliant strategist. If King Simeon were to attack—”

“Simeon’s too busy with the southern invaders to attack us.”

Kiernan groaned, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“No,” I said matter-of-factly. Kiernan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Taking a few calming breaths, I moved to sit next to him on the bed.

“I know you have history with him, and it’s hard for you to see what I see,” I said, placing a hand on his knee. “But Kiernan—he doesn’t respect you. I’m worried—I’m worried that if he feels like he can’t control you anymore, he’ll…”

I choked on my words and Kiernan slowly looked up at me with a raised eyebrow. Upon seeing the degree of fear on my face, his expression softened, and he pulled me into a tender embrace. The child in my stomach kicked gently, and I held Kiernan tightly in response.

“I just want our family to be safe,” I breathed against his neck. “All of us.”

He gave me a gentle squeeze, and I felt him let out a long, slow breath. When he pulled back, he ran his fingers through my hair, his eyes tracing my features tenderly.

“I may have a solution,” he said a little hesitantly. “At least, a temporary one to help ease your fears.”

I raised an eyebrow, and he continued. “King Simeon has proposed we send a military envoy to him for a few months. He would like to send an envoy here as well. The intent is to form an alliance in case the invaders start moving further north.”

“An alliance with Simeon?” I said, holding back a scoff. “He would never honor it.”

“Probably not,” Kiernan acknowledged. “But ignoring him isn’t wise. Simeon is a proud man, and once he is no longer focused on this imminent threat, he will turn his attention to anyone he feels has wronged him and seek to take revenge. It is better to play along for the moment, and perhaps we can even gain some valuable information ourselves from the man that we send.”

I frowned but nodded, knowing he was right. Though despite my misgivings about forming any sort of connection with Simeon, the plan Kiernan was implying did help my shoulders slightly relax.

“And you’d be willing to send Lewin?” I said, trying not to sound too hopeful.

“I’d already been considering him for the job,” he said, brushing my hair back again before lowering his hand to rub my shoulder. “As much as I still believe his work is invaluable here, as I said, he is a brilliant strategist. He will know what to look for and what knowledge would be useful should Simeon choose to turn on us and attack. And he will be able to gather this information much more subtly and efficiently than others might. ”

I nodded, feeling more calmed by the moment. “How long is the contract?”

“Four months,” Kiernan said, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “He would return after the baby was born, just in time for the founding celebration.”

Closing my eyes, I couldn’t help the small, relieved smile that came to my face. I felt Kiernan’s thumb on my chin as he cupped my cheek with his free hand. Keeping my eyes closed, I let my hands travel up his arms to gently wrap them around his neck and press my lips against his.

“Thank you,” I muttered.

He reached for my hand and squeezed it soothingly. “I’ll give the order in the morning,” he said.

I returned the squeeze and kissed him again, wrapping my arms tightly around him.

***

According to Kiernan, Captain Lewin was less than pleased to receive the order, but for once he did not argue. The more Kiernan had been asserting himself as a military, the more Lewin had realized he was no longer able to dictate the king’s mind. Only three days later, I stood on the tower wall as the ship he was on sailed south, feeling like the entire world was a bit brighter than it had been before.

With Lewin gone, I no longer felt a looming threat anywhere I went on castle grounds. And though he didn't directly admit it, Kiernan felt some of that relief as well. He was much less anxious after meeting with his captains and grew more confident with each day that they would support ending the Slaughters.

Captain Stole became Kiernan's chief military advisor. A little over a month after Lewin left, I returned from a trip to the library to find the two of them in the sitting room.

"The people will be thrilled, Your Majesty," Stole was saying as I entered.

I looked between them. "About what? "

Upon noticing me, both men stood. Captain Stole bowed. Kiernan crossed the room and put an arm around my waist, giving me a short but meaningful kiss. He rested his other hand on my stomach for a moment, his blue eyes shining, as he answered.

"I am repealing the current drafting laws," Kiernan explained. "Young men are no longer required to serve two years in the military when they come of age. Enrollment in the knights will be strictly voluntary from now on."

I beamed at him, placing my hand over his and giving it a squeeze. "That's wonderful."

"I will leave you, Your Majesties," Stole said with another bow, taking a few steps towards the door. But Kiernan put up a hand.

"Please sit, Captain. Queen Kenna is welcome to join our conversation if she would like. I value her insights."

For many captains, this would have been a shocking statement. But to my surprise, beneath his neatly trimmed beard, Captain Stole smiled. His eyes met mine with a profound respect that made me stand just a little straighter.

"I am sure I will value them as well," he said.

"Thank you, Captain Stole," I said, my breath catching in my throat.

Kiernan released me, briefly and lovingly rubbing my stomach before he did, and returned to his seat. There were papers and maps scattered across the small table between the two armchairs. He sat in one and Stole took the other. I considered going into my room to lay down, but sat across from them on the settee instead.

"I will give the command for messengers to immediately be sent to the isles announcing the change," Stole said, picking up a piece of parchment and writing down a note for himself. "But there is still the matter of those currently serving their compulsory terms."

"We will allow them to choose whether or not they wish to continue to serve," Kiernan said matter-of-factly. "Anyone who wishes to end their service and return to their families will be allowed to do so. "

Stole nodded, but his brows creased slightly. "I suspect that will significantly decrease our current numbers."

"And what is the problem with that?" I blurted out. "The active witch patrols have already been disbanded, and our local garrisons are overflowing. Are our current numbers really necessary?"

The captain considered me for a moment and, again, I thought I saw him smile. "No, Your Majesty," he said with a nod. "Though some would argue it would be unwise to let down our guard."

"Against?"

"Against any possible magical attacks."

I bit the inside of my lip, struggling to find a way to respond. Kiernan watched me for a moment before clearing his throat.

"Captain…when was the last time we experienced a magical attack that wasn't provoked?"

Stole's gaze rested on my husband, his expression difficult to read. "Not for some time, Your Majesty."

Kiernan and I made eye contact. Silently, we seemed to come to the same conclusion, and I let out a deep breath.

"If the magic holders aren't attacking us, should we really be attacking them?" I asked, choosing my words carefully.

There was a brief silence as the captain set down the parchment in his hands. He shifted in his seat to face me a bit more directly.

"I've had that question myself, My Queen," he admitted, a softness in his voice.

My heart thumped a bit harder in my chest and I pressed my hands against the settee. I had to choose my words carefully to avoid revealing the whole truth.

"We have not seen any increase in attacks since ending the witch patrols," I said. "If anything, there has been a decrease in violence because our men are not initiating it. It appears that, if we leave the clans alone, they are content to simply live their lives independent of the crown."

Stole nodded, his expression thoughtful. Kiernan leaned forward, and though the three of us were the only ones in the room, he lowered his voice .

"Captain—it is my intent to end this war entirely," he said. "It has been for some time now. Can I count on you to support that decision when the time comes?"

I clutched the edge of the settee so hard that I was sure my nails would leave marks in the fabric. Kiernan appeared much more calm than I felt, confidence and determination written on his face.

Captain Stole looked between the two of us. He sat up a little straighter, and as his expression brightened, I felt like the entire room did with it.

"Absolutely."

***

Kiernan didn't make his intention known to the rest of his council, but having Captain Stole's support made everything that much easier. There were still plenty of people—captains and nobles especially—who harbored a deep hatred of magic holders, but Stole helped us strategize how to start conversations that would have them questioning things for themselves. He also helped Kiernan better plan when and how to make military changes with the least amount of resistance.

Fears still persisted, of course, especially among the castle staff. Many of them had been personally subject to Pious's tyrannical rule, and Abi told me they still shook whenever his name came up, or any mention of magic, really. She had tried to talk to a few of her fellow servants about the possibility that not all magic holders were evil and malicious like Pious was, but most of them simply wanted to avoid the topic. Franklin actually told her it was treasonous to question the Great War. Thankfully, she was level-headed enough to hold her tongue in the moment, but when she told me about it, she couldn't hide her anger.

" He's the one being treasonous!" she blurted out, throwing her hands up in frustration as she worked on my hair. "His queen is a wi—"

"Keep your voice down, Abi," I said with a frown, shifting on the vanity bench and glancing at the door to the sitting room warily.

She let out a puff of air and dropped her arms to her sides. "If he knew—"

"We don't know how he'd react," I interrupted. "Not everyone is going to be as open-minded as you."

I sent her a sideways smile at that, and she sighed. She put down the brush in her hand and wrapped her arms around me from behind. I reached up to touch her arm. Resting her head on my shoulder, she met my eyes in the mirror.

"No one who knows you could keep believing those lies about magic," she said, giving me a gentle squeeze.

I closed my eyes and sighed. "I hope you're right," I muttered.

After that, I was much more careful how I spoke around him. When I told Kiernan about the conversation, he revealed that Franklin had worked for his father before him, and then for Pious himself. Franklin's attitude was understandable, and as loyal as he was to Kiernan, I didn't want to tempt fate by making him suspicious of my secret. I could only hope that when the truth did finally come out, Abi would be right.

***

The castle remained as busy as ever, and my duties started to take more of a toll on me as time went on. The last two months of my pregnancy somehow felt like both the longest and the shortest stretch of the experience. Things that were normally mundane and simple, like dressing for the day, became increasingly difficult and taxing. Miss Grayson took complete control of the household, partially at my request and partially at her own insistence. A woman 'in my state' shouldn't be making important decisions, she said.

Occasionally, however, she came to visit me in my quarters, saying she needed my approval for one thing or another. About a month before I was due to give birth, she asked me to approve the week's meals, and I sat up a little straighter on the settee and raised my eyebrows.

"Miss Grayson," I said, " surely you are more than capable of approving the cook's menu."

Her persistently pursed lips tightened even more. "Of course, Your Majesty. I just thought—"

My lips curved into a smirk. "You're worried about me?"

She blinked. "I beg your pardon, Your Majesty?"

"You don't need my help with anything at all," I laughed. "You're just making up excuses to come check on me."

I was certain she would deny it. But to my surprise, this was one of those rare occasions where her expression softened.

"I…have become rather fond of you, My Queen," she admitted, sounding almost like she was trying to swallow the words.

My smirk shifted into a smile. "I've become rather fond of you as well, Miss Grayson."

She tensed her shoulders, clearly uncomfortable with the informality of the conversation. But I thought I saw her lips twitch upwards.

She cleared her throat. "I will let you rest now, Your Majesty," she said, curtsying and turning to go.

"Call me Kenna," I called after her.

From the way she stumbled through the door, I thought she was going to pass out.

***

When the time finally came for the baby to be born, it was a long ordeal. Through it all, I could hear Kiernan pacing back and forth outside my door. If Abi hadn’t blocked both entrances into my room, I’m sure he would have burst in at hearing my first scream, but it wasn’t considered proper for the man to be present during birth, as ridiculous as I thought that was.

Abi kept telling me to focus, but my thoughts were running in all different directions. I didn't know the first thing about being a mother, and now that the moment was actually here, I was more terrified than ever. Was I ready? How would I know what they needed? Would they be a good ruler when they grew up? How could I teach them everything they needed to know? Would they know I loved them?

And then there was the biggest question: could I protect them? The world was still at war against us. How long would it be before Orkeia was safe for its own heir? How could I keep them safe until then?

The pain eventually chased out all other thoughts, and when I finally heard cries other than my own, my heart soared. Through my tears, I gazed at the beautiful baby girl Abi handed me, taking her in my arms in awe and wonder. She stopped crying at my touch, and I closed my eyes in pure joy as I held her against my chest. The warmth of her steady breaths against my skin made all the pain and worries disappear.

When I opened my eyes again, I met Abi's gaze. Her cheeks were streaked with happy tears of her own. She beamed while cleaning the baby girl in my arms. After a moment, she paused.

"Look," she said.

I tore my gaze from my baby's blue eyes to look at her arm. A small spiral swirled near her shoulder.

"She's a white witch," I confirmed. The knot in my throat tightened. Seeing the physical proof of what I already knew brought with it a mix of emotions. But for the moment, I suppressed any fearful thoughts and instead just focused on the wonderful feeling of holding my daughter.

After she made the room more presentable, Abi unbarred the door and had to practically run to get out of Kiernan’s way. Once he was inside, his pace slowed to a walk, and he numbly made his way to my side. His eyes shone and his lips split into a wide smile. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the child in my arms. I handed her to him, and he cradled her in his arms, his eyes full of more love than I thought one person could hold.

“She’s beautiful,” he breathed, a sob forming in his throat as he gazed at her before looking up to meet my eyes. “Just like her mother. ”

Full of emotion, he leaned forward and pressed his lips lovingly against mine, the child nestled between the two of us. Whatever pain I may have been in, it didn’t matter. I’d never felt such pure, unimaginable joy.

Carefully, he passed her back to me, and I again held her against my chest. “We never decided on a name if it was a girl,” I said with a bit of a chuckle, reaching up to wipe my eyes with my free hand.

“What if we named her after your mother?” Kiernan suggested. “Arabella.”

I felt a lump in my throat. “Arabella,” I agreed quietly.

Kiernan beamed at both of us, kissing her head before kissing me once more.