There were no more complications by the time Coulta left for Arren two days later. No one had dared to question Shelton again, it seemed, and took his word that Coulta wasn't someone to fear because of his magic or the curse.
Coulta left just after the morning meal, accompanied by Rohan and twelve Guardsmen, along with Ralix, who had refused to be excused from service for the journey. Shelton had been in contact with Arren's appointed steward, Lord Malryf, one of Wildas's second cousins, and the man was aware of why Coulta was coming. They planned to conceal Coulta's arrival by playing that Rohan was visiting at the request of his brother to see exactly what was going on in the city, while Coulta hid himself magically. Malryf had offered to find Teeya for him, but understood Coulta's need to find her for himself. Coulta knew it was only right that he meet the man during his visit, but he planned from the start to find Teeya first. Pleasantries could be exchanged later.
It was strange and saddening to leave the castle and his spouses, especially Wildas, but he knew he'd return before long. They would be safe without him. Even as he felt this strange sadness about leaving, he also felt a horrible anxiety about reaching Arren. He'd worried about Teeya from the moment he'd left the city with Wildas, and it was time to learn what had happened to her. Was she alive or dead? If she was alive, was she angry with him for leaving her?
He would know soon enough, he supposed.
Coulta had been gone for three days and Myri hoped he'd hurry back. Wildas had too much to do during the day to worry, but at night he was so quiet and distant that it was almost impossible for her or Anil to make him smile. She knew he was aware of the fact that their social status meant they could be apart at times, but she supposed the very intimate connection of the soul-link between them made normal life difficult without each other. She was sure Wildas would adjust soon enough, but that it would take a few more days. This was their first separation since they'd arrived in Ryal, after all.
She was personally kept busy working with the healers, where she learned to use her new powers without very much help from Shelton. Sara had advised her that working with the sick may not be the best way to spend her days as queen, but hadn't stopped her from continuing her work. She even seemed happy to let Myri do whatever she wanted when they learned that she could close wounds and give an accurate diagnosis for every patient, as long as she touched them with her marked hand, even when the diagnosis wasn't an illness.
"I'm feeling better now, Your Highness," the servant girl assured her. "But I work in the kitchen so I thought I should come here. It's the only way I can be excused from work."
Myri nodded. "It could simply be that something you ate disagreed with you. Let me make certain," she added, gently placing her hand on the girl's wrist. There was no tainted feeling of illness, but there was another, completely different sensation. Looking the girl in the eye she asked, "Do you know you're with child?"
The girl looked away. "I was afraid of it."
"Why?"
"Because I have no future with the baby's father," the girl replied, her voice choked.
That was better than what Myri had half expected to hear. At least the girl hadn't been assaulted. "Why do you think that?"
"Because I am only a servant."
"And I take it he's not?"
As if in answer, Wildas's attendant, the young Prince Star, rushed up to them. "Blia! I went to see you this morning and they told me you were unwell." He was immediately stricken when he saw her sudden tears. "What is it?"
Myri gently put a hand on his arm. "Nothing too serious. Could you go wait by the door? I need to finish tending to her, then you can visit."
Star nodded, and gave the girl one last concerned look before doing as he was told.
"I wish I could marry him," Blia said through her tears, "but we would never be given the Grand King's blessing. We would need it, or to run away. Because he's a personal attendant and they rarely get married."
Myri squeezed the girl's hand. "I will speak to my husband tonight. Star doesn't know about the baby?"
Blia shook her head. "Not yet."
"It's your decision to tell him now or wait, but if you stay here overnight I can have an answer from Wildas in the morning."
Blia nodded. "Thank you, but I won't hope for too much."
Myri squeezed the girl's hand. "He's very reasonable, but we shall see."
When she returned to their rooms that evening she found Wildas preparing for bed with Star hovering over him. The younger man didn't seem distracted, so Myri guessed that Blia hadn't told him her news quite yet.
"May I speak with you for a moment, Wildas?" she asked as she walked up to where he was rinsing his face at the washbasin.
He dried his face and turned to Star, who was still hovering. "You can go. I'm fine."
Star gave them both a nod and wished them a good night before leaving.
"And, Star," Myri added as he turned away.
He stopped and turned to her, a concerned look suddenly on his face.
"Blia's doing fine," she assured him. "She's spending the night in the infirmary, but just so she gets another day of rest."
Star looked relieved and smiled faintly. "Thank you."
After Star had left, Wildas sat down on the bed. "What is it?"
Myri sat down beside him. He was already in his nightshirt and probably eager to get to sleep. He needed the rest and she hated keeping him from it, but this seemed suddenly more important than anything. "If one of your brothers came to you for your blessings to marry, would you give them?"
"Of course," he answered immediately.
"Even if he was asking to marry a servant girl who is carrying his child?"
Wildas sighed. "Are we talking about Rohan?"
Myri had to laugh. "No. At least, not to my knowledge."
He suddenly looked toward the door that led to the attendants' rooms. "Star?"
She nodded. "She hasn't told him yet, so wait for him to come to you."
"He's the last person I would have expected to be in such a position," he admitted.
"Why?"
Wildas shrugged. "He's so reserved. Quiet. A bit awkward around new people."
"I'd say that just means he's more likely to truly care for her, than for her to have been a single night of fun. He was very concerned when he showed up at the infirmary to visit her."
"If he asks, they'll have my blessing."
Myri smiled and kissed his cheek. "I knew you could be reasoned with."
Anil joined them then from her own room, where she'd probably been cleaning up after spending a day in the stables. She sat down on Wildas's other side and took his hand.
"I learned today that I can calm anxious horses with magic," she began. "I thought I could see if I could ease your tension, too. I know it's been stressful, learning how to be Grand King and with Coulta gone."
Wildas gave her a faint smile. "I won't stop you from trying."
Myri touched his knee as she rose from beside him. "I'll be back in a moment."
He nodded and she went to her room to change into her nightgown, which Marla had set out for her. Myri had told her several days ago that that was all she required of her lady-in-waiting at night, unless Myri called for her. When she returned to Wildas's chamber she found him more relaxed than she'd seen him in quite a while; he was sitting with his back against Anil, who was leaning against the bolsters, and his eyes were closed while Anil lightly massaged his forehead.
Myri settled herself beside them with a smile. "It seems your magic works on him, as well," she observed.
"I like this magic," Wildas mumbled.
Anil laughed and kissed his cheek. "You're welcome."
Wildas's eyes opened slightly and shifted to Myri. "Tell me how you learned about Star," he requested quietly.
As Anil continued her relaxing massage, Myri told the story of how she'd met Blia and learned that she was pregnant, then how she'd found out that Star was the father and that Blia was afraid to tell him.
"So I told her I'd speak to you," Myri finished.
Wildas nodded slightly – Anil had moved from his forehead to his shoulders. "She shouldn't worry about me when it comes to telling him. And he seems to care about her, from what you say, so I doubt she should fear him leaving her."
Myri caressed his hand. "I doubt it as well."
Anil let her hands move from his shoulders to his abdomen as she wrapped her arms around him and nestled her face against his neck. Myri smiled and leaned in to kiss his lips.
"I'm tired," he argued weakly when she pulled away.
"Just let us keep you company," she replied. "We don't like seeing you as lonely as you've been."
He nodded. "Thank you."
It was Anil who struggled to fall asleep that night, plagued by the memory of the story Myri had told. She judged it was at least midnight before she decided that she couldn't wait until morning to talk and nudged Myri awake. Wildas was snoring softly on her other side and she hoped his improved hearing wouldn't be an issue.
"I need to talk to you," she murmured to Myri when she finally opened her eyes.
Myri just nodded and moved them as far from Wildas as they could get without leaving the bed.
Alert for any change in their husband's snoring Anil asked, "How far along was Star's lover?"
"Far enough for her to start wondering, but not so far that she knew for certain."
"Can you feel anything with me?" Anil asked, somehow both excited and terrified to know.
"I can try," Myri replied. "It's barely been a month since the wedding. I don't know if it's too early for the magic to tell."
But she took Anil's hand and Anil felt a slight tingling of magic through her body. Then Myri took her hand away and met Anil's gaze. She didn't say anything, just gave her a smile and a nod.
Anil was filled with so much happiness that she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She covered any sound by hugging Myri and pressing her face to her wife's shoulder. Thankfully, Wildas kept snoring.
"Do you want to tell him?" Myri asked softly.
Anil shook her head. "Not until Coulta's home. It doesn't feel right not to wait."
Myri nodded, then kissed her. "I'll need to take a fertility tea to keep up with you."
"Why do you say that?"
"My mother never had more children than me, though I don't think she ever stopped trying. She refused any herbal help, only because the herbs were difficult to come by in Windwick and Arren. The only time she took any was when I was conceived. I'm afraid I might have the same problem."
Anil caressed Myri's shoulder. "Can you find the herbs here?"
Myri nodded. "All herbs are easy to come by here. It makes being a healer much easier."
"I'm sure," Anil murmured, then kissed Myri lightly. "Thank you."
Wildas's snoring ended then and he shifted, rolling over to face them. "Is something wrong?" he asked groggily.
Anil smiled and moved close to him. "Of course not."
Wildas nodded and put his arm over her before promptly falling back to sleep.
Myri grinned as she moved closer to them. "I'm glad to see him sleeping better," she said softly.
"So am I," Anil agreed.
Myri gave her a final kiss, then drifted off to sleep. This time, Anil wasn't far behind.
