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"I'm fine," I insisted stubbornly. "I just wanted to let you know what I learned in Innangard. There's a possibility that my father and I could be Midgardians. If that helps in treating him further, I wanted you to know."
The doctor furrowed her brow in thought. "We've heard of Midgardians before, but we don't know much about them. Thank you for the information. The Keep has extensive old records, so this could be an interesting new study. A doctor's worst fear is failing their patients."
"Kal" – my father's voice was quiet but firm – "I heard bits and pieces about what happened, with you drinking some sort of poison and traveling to another world. Don't do that again."
"I won't," I promised, my voice barely above a whisper. I hugged him tightly, pressing a kiss to his forehead before leaving the infirmary.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
KAL
"You should meet the King by the ship's port terminal so you all can disembark together," Signe suggested, her eyes reflecting her excitement. "He'll be so happy to see you on your feet again."
"I can't wait to see them," I replied with a grin as I imagined the look on Thorsten and the boys faces when they see me up and about. Signe led me through the ship, her enthusiasm contagious. I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation as we made our way toward the port terminal.
As we walked, we came across Váli and a group of soldiers. Váli's face was still bruised from where Thorsten had beaten him upafter I had passed out from drinking the poison he'd given me. I tried to ignore him and walk past, but he stopped me with his words.
"You look beautiful," he said with a smirk. "The royal colors really do suit you." He continued, "Innangard has changed you. You've even learned something interesting about your origins and the origins of all your kind."
At first, I was shocked that Váli knew what I had discovered in Innangard. But then it hit me – he probably had a spy watching me on the ship and they overheard my conversation in the infirmary. I wasn't worried, though. Váli no longer intimidated me. "My experience made me stronger," I told him firmly. "I'm determined to stay by Thorsten's side no matter what."
Váli seemed unfazed by my declaration. "I have no issue with that," he replied, smirking. "The King's consort is a beautiful sage, a species from one of the realms of old. That is something I can sell to the nobles." With that, Váli and his soldiers left.
Signe and I continued to the port terminal onboard the ship, and I saw my children, Thor and Loki. Another servant, a tall regal-looking male, was instructing the royal children to stand up straight. Thor greeted me stoically, while Loki ran over and leaped into my arms, causing me to stagger slightly. Words couldn't describe how happy I was at seeing my boys looking and doing so well.
"You shouldn't be out of bed," Thorsten scolded gently as he kissed my forehead. "I've made arrangements for your bed to becarried into the palace. I was surprised to hear you were walking the deck."
"I'm not going to have my first impression with the nobles here be me getting carried out in a bed," I retorted, trying to sound confident despite the lingering lightheadedness. He laughed warmly.
"Are you really okay?" he asked, searching my face for any sign of distress.
"Sure, still a little lightheaded, but I was told the last bit of poison will be making its way out of my system soon," I reassured him.
The doors to disembark the ship creaked open, and I felt a chill sweep through me. Thorsten leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. "You look beautiful," he whispered, making my cheeks flush.
"Thanks," I mumbled, feeling slightly embarrassed but pleased nonetheless. Together with our children, we walked down the ramp onto the docks of Hrungnir Keep. The morning sun bathed the stone walls in a golden glow, while the salty sea breeze filled my nostrils. Seagulls cried overhead as they circled the towering fortress that loomed over us.
As we reached the bottom of the ramp, the nobles, servants, and everyone else present bowed to us. My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces. Among the nobles, I spotted Jarnsaxa, the woman I had known as The Madam back in old New York, and her human husband Barras. They were indeed astriking couple – Jarnsaxa's ethereal beauty was complemented by Barras' tall, dark, and handsome appearance.
I had gotten to know Barras back in Sahara when I signed up for his self-defense course. With his guidance, I'd learned how to fight and protect myself. He had been a good friend and mentor, and seeing him here brought a smile to my face.
"Jarnsaxa! Barras!" I called out as we approached them. Their faces lit up at the sight of Thorsten and me, and we exchanged warm greetings. Her gaze fell upon Thor and Loki, and she immediately recognized them as our children.
"You're right," I confirmed with a proud smile as I introduced the twins to the pair. The introductions continued as she presented a young Titan boy with curly brown hair and soft green eyes. "This is our son, Janus," she said, beaming.
"Nice to meet you, Janus," I said, hoping that our kids would get along well. Jarnsaxa echoed my sentiment, saying she would like that very much.
We all entered Hrungnir Keep, and I couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur of the fortress. The stone walls seemed to stretch endlessly upward, while intricate carvings adorned every surface. Inside the main dining hall, a small party was in full swing to welcome us. The nobles escorted Thorsten, myself, the children, and the rest of the newly arrived guests to a massive luxury dining hall where the celebration was taking place.
The dining hall itself was a sight to behold – long wooden tables laden with food and drink filled the space, while festive musicplayed, accompanied by the laughter and chatter of the Titan nobles. I was surprised at how much more laid back they seemed compared to their demeanor on the ship. It was a refreshing change, and I found myself enjoying it.
As we settled into the festivities, Jarnsaxa asked me how I was holding up. She expressed regret for not being able to send someone back to the human world to inform Thorsten and me about the situation in Utangard. I reassured her that it wasn't her fault, and she responded by pointing out that I was really "in the thick of it" now, referring to my new position as consort.
I chuckled, acknowledging my tendency to find myself in trouble alongside Thorsten. But I hoped this time around, things would go more smoothly than our previous encounters with danger. Jarnsaxa agreed, mentioning that passing the Innangard had been a massive power play that worked in my favor. She admitted that at first, she'd thought Thorsten's PR team had lied about my journey to Innangard, but when her own spies confirmed it, she had no choice but to believe it.
"Protecting my family is why I went into the Innangard in the first place," I said with a shrug, trying to downplay the risk I'd taken. Jarnsaxa nodded, understanding my motivations.
"Making that journey was the right call," she told me, "but don't let your guard down." She gestured across the dining hall, where Radorgrin's wife, Liv, stood sipping wine. The woman was beautiful, with long golden blonde hair that flowed over her shoulders like a waterfall. "Depending on what she wants, your troubles may not be over yet."
