I poured a coin of wax beside my signature, sliding Kallias’ ring onto my thumb and pressing it into the hot liquid.
“Does Her Majesty need a bath?”
I squinted at her, frowning.
“Perhaps a foot massage?” She dropped into his chair, smirking. “I’m to ensure you’rerefreshed. Ordered by the king, no less. ”
“He worries. Last night I nearly coughed up my intestines.”
“No worse than vomiting them up.” Her green eyes sparkled, a wry smile twisting her lips.
“You know.”
“Did you think Edith would dare send you across the continent without updating me on your state? Honestly, to think you were raised with me and Scythe… Handmaids know everything.”
“How long have you known?” I taunted, peeling the ring from the paper.
“As long as Edith.”
I shot her a deadpan look, grasping another order.
“Perhaps a day later. Your mother insisted on knowing the latest of your cycles. And given how often you entertain the king–”
“Freya!”
“It was bound to take quickly!” She laughed, leaning out of reach as I swung at her. “Though your pregnancy hasn’t chased him off as it does with some men.”
“Oh, he tried.” I chuckled, pressing my lips together, pretending to study the list of destroyed temples and their rebuilding requests.
“No! You must tell me! He’s not the type to breed you then wipe his hands. He can’t stay away.”
“You, my friend, need to get your mind out of the gutter.” I jabbed the quill at her. “He feared he’d endanger the babe.”
“With hisrigorouslove-making.”
I gasped, lunging forward, but she danced out of reach, giggling. “Freya, I would like to see the attention you give my love life directed at packing for the Craggs. Perhaps the manual labor shall ease your mind of such burdens.”
“You and the king are my only taste of passion now.” She grinned, striding across the room to fold my nightgown. “As your maid in Radaan, I will not take a husband. Unless it’s Greaves—that could work.”
“You’d be better off seeking marriage with a crab.” I snorted. “That man is as prickly as they come.”
“Oh, he’s just like a crab! Hard and pinching outside, soft and tasty inside.”
Greaves was a protector, loyal to his core. It was ingrained into his very soul. He wasn’t some young lad looking for a woman like Freya. As old as Kallias, perhaps older, his life belonged to the king. No family, no love for him. In a way, Kalliaswashis family. I doubted there was a woman out there who could pull him from my husband’s side.
“I’ll thank you not to refer to men astastyever again, if you please.” My nose wrinkled, but my lips curved. The trek to the Craggs would be long, yet with Freya, a little more bearable.
Kallias moved among the weary crowd, their bundles knotted in blankets and worn cloaks at their feet. Those who fled Phares stretched to the horizon, a sprawl of soot-streaked faces and hollow eyes. North winds cut across the plain, cruel as blades, tugging at frayed garments.
Dragons towered behind me, scales gleaming against the broken city. Ash drifted through the air, catching in my throat. Ronan stood at my side, arms crossed, gaze fixed on Kallias’ golden armor.
“He’s probably apologizing.” He scoffed.
My elbow twitched with the desire to drive into his ribs. “Thekingis assuring them they’ll have shelter farther south to weather the winter, you scallop. Phares will take time to clear.”
“Who are you calling a scallop?” He bristled. “Tsunami dropped wet fire. It could be weeks before those flames die. Even longer before it cools enough to touch.”
The report had landed like a stone in my gut. Dragons required discipline; their ruin was measured in careful strikes.I hadn’t given it much thought, letting Tsunami join in the ruin of the city. Now I carried the burden of telling Kallias that the clearing would stall for weeks, perhaps months.
