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"Good," I growled, "I will set you up in a room. You will be safe so long as you are under my wing. I will prepare a message to send to your king."
The messenger bowed, and I turned to Váli, my anger boiling beneath the surface. "Escort this man from the throne room," I ordered, my voice cold and hard.
As the guard led the messenger away, I allowed myself to lean back in my throne, my thoughts swirling like a storm. My love for Kal and our children warred with my duty to my people, and I knew that whatever choice I made would carry a heavy weight.
Once the throne room was clear, and Váli and I were alone, I turned to him. "Falka does not have my children."
"Are you certain?" Váli asked, his brow furrowing.
"Positive," I replied. A wicked grin spread across my face. "My son does not have a rash."
Váli smiled, his eyes glinting with admiration. "Clever. If Falka doesn't have the twins, then who does?"
"Whoever has my sons wanted Falka to know about it," I mused, the cogs in my mind already spinning. "Falka is merely taking advantage of the situation."
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Huginn and Muninn, Kal’s trusted little ravens…honestly, I didn’t know if he was using those names or not but unless he tells me differently, I plan to stick to using the name of Odin’s ravens. The dark aviancreatures fluttered above us in the rafters. Were they watching me, or was Kal watching me? I shook the thought from my mind.
Váli then reported, "A handful of nobles did depart the castle sometime last night. Minor ones." He handed me a parchment with the names written on it: Asmund, Bjornulf, Geirfinn, and Yngvar. I scanned the list, my eyes narrowing as I recognized two of them. Geirfinn and Bjornulf.
"Two of these nobles had trade deals with Undvik before the war," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "I want to know which other nobles here have had contact with them."
"Consider it done," Váli responded without hesitation. His loyalty was unwavering, and in moments like these, it was invaluable. I still disliked him for giving Kal the poison and putting the thought of travelling to Innangard in his mind. I would have gutted him like a fish that night had Tyr not stopped me. But he was loyal to his country above all else, that was value in itself. Whether my old friend still existed or not remained to be seen and I was starting to not care, so long as he did his job.
"Good. Keep me updated on what you find," I ordered. Váli nodded and left the throne room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
The truth remained elusive, but if Thor and Loki were taken by these nobles then my chances of getting them back had increased. Why did these nobles flee now? King Falka's nearest strong hold was days away even by transport. It would take even longer because they would have to travel through the red marshes to get there. Plus Geirfinn was always a snivelingcoward and the red marshes is teeming with Draugr. He would never risk such a journey without knowing for certain he would survive.
I pulled up a holo map of the Keep and the surrounding area, we were just across the red marshes, far enough away to be within the safe zone. Why would Falka risk pretending he had my sons when he didn't? Unless Falka is closer than I think. He must have a camp in the red marshes! But such a thing is damn near impossible. It would be tantamount to suicide.
I didn't want to do this, but I would have to ask Kal for help. His ravens, if they could survive Innangard then perhaps they would survive the red marshes. I need them to track down the nobles who fled and if I'm right then they would be heading to the red marshes, where our boys would likely be absconded to. But if I'm wrong, then I would be giving Kal false hope and signing my children's death as guaranteed.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THORSTEN
Entering the royal chamber, I found Kal lying in bed, worry and despair within his eyes. Seeing him like this tore at my soul. I approached, my voice tender yet firm. "Kal, we need to talk."
"Is it about our boys?" he asked, sitting up, his black hair tousled from sleep.
A pang of guilt surged through me. I hated seeing my love so distraught, but I had no choice. "Yes," I admitted. "I received a messenger from King Falka. He demands that I abdicate the throne in exchange for our sons' lives."
"Then give it up!" Kal pleaded, desperation etched on his face. "If that's what it takes to save our children, Thorsten, please! Give up the throne!"
"Kal," I said, my voice stern, "there is a chance that Falka will still hurt them even if I comply. All I would have done is shake everyone's trust in me."
"Is your title more important than our sons' lives?!" Kal cried, tears streaming down his face.
"Are you truly asking me that?" I snapped, anger flaring within me.
He sobbed, then whispered, "No... I don't believe that. I'm sorry."
"Listen to me," I said, my voice softening. "King Falka does not have our sons. I am certain of it. I believe a group of minor nobles have them."
"That doesn't make me feel better," Kal murmured, wiping his tears.
"It's not meant to, my love," I replied. "I'm here telling you this because I need your help." Kal straightened up in bed, ready to hear what I needed from him. I reached out to comfort him but stopped myself. What he needed was our sons back, not empty gestures of solace.
"Kal," I began, "I believe that the nobles who took our sons are traveling across the red marshes. And I have every reasonto believe that they wouldn't do such a dangerous thing unless they had assurance that they would be safe. Falka also sent a messenger to us within a few days of the boys going missing. There is no way this messenger could have reached us as quickly as they did without crossing the red marshes. I believe Falka must have a camp nearby and that's where the nobles could be taking the boys."
