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Bryn looked into Revna’s eyes, which were laced with passion for a long moment. Revna’s gaze softened before she rushed forward and kissed Bryn again, long and slow.

“No unnecessary risks,” Revna agreed against her mouth.

“Good,” Bryn said, voice laced with mischief. “Because I have a lot of plans for you,minnraven,” Bryn cupped Revna’s sex and swallowed Revna’s moan with her mouth.

As the night grew long, they lost themselves in each other's flesh. But Bryn would not forget the risk she was asking of Revna to help her with this. She could never forgive herself if Revna were caught up in her family’s horrible history.

For now, the bliss that followed their coupling would be enough to calm Bryn’s frantic mind. For now, it was enough to lay there with Revna and stroke her back as she fell asleep in her arms. For now, they could pretend like the gods weren’t playing with their lives.

15

The humid air of the small receiving room where Herrick’s parents held the biweekly people’s court was causing beads of sweat to roll down his back. He had always felt it was essential to attend these meetings with his parents, because while being the General in this kingdom came with many responsibilities, attending the people’s court was not usually one of them. Herrick had found that he felt closer to the people in his kingdom when he could be involved in solving the problems they brought to their King and Queen.

Usually, these tasks did not make him impatient, but that changed when he brought Maude to Veter. Herrick had never been one to shirk his duties in the name of self-satisfaction, but with her, he wanted to run away and become unimportant. Thoughts of her spread through Herrick like a bolt of lightning to his senses, and he had to smother it immediately if he was to be aware of what problems the people of Veter were dealing with.

Shaking Maude from his mind again, Herrick focused on the neighbors arguing over who had flooded the one farmer's crops.

“You seem preoccupied today, my love,” his mother said without looking at him.

“I didn’t sleep well,” he replied.

The statement was true enough. After his night spent at Maude’s side at The Broken Axe, which ended with the two of them alone in the hall again, Herrick had found sleep to be elusive.

“I see. So, it has nothing to do with the fact that you and your brother spent most of the day in Veter, returning only in the darkest hours of the night?” his mother asked, one eyebrow raised as she turned to face him.

“Of course not; we were only rounding in the city to learn about any problems that arose while we were gone,” Herrick said smoothly.

“Of course,” his mother half smiled, shaking her head slightly.

She faced forward again and reached out to her right, grasping his father’s hand.

The King and Queen of Veter always appeared at the people’s court together, but as the Queen was the Heir of Rivers before she married, the people sought her assistance the most. As a child, Herrick had always foolishly thought it was brave of his father to step back and allow the Queen to handle the problems. Over time, he grew to understand that it was not allowance that guided his father but respect and love for his partner. They had been partners first and lovers second in life when they ruled. Their affections bloomed from a mutual understanding of their responsibilities and love for their kingdom.

Before Herrick had crossed paths with Maude, that sort of relationship was all he had hoped for one day. Mutual understanding and trust that would hopefully grow into more.

But Maude had brought wildfire and heat; she had ignited unrest in his soul that forever altered him.

“Now that we have spoken with all the families displaced from the Kingdom of Flame, we should be just about done for the day,” his father said quietly.

Herrick nodded and prepared to order his soldiers to help file the people of Veter out of the receiving room when a couple ushering a small child at their side made their way to stand in front of the Queen. His mothernoticed their small procession and waved them forward with a warm smile. “Come, my friends. Tell us what we can assist with.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. We were unsure of what to do and we ask that you guide us toward the right path,” the woman holding the child's hand said quickly.

Her voice shook with fear. The husband, who had the same brunette hair as the child’s, had wrapped his arm around her shoulders tightly.

“We offer our guidance and friendship,” the King nodded. “Tell us your names.”

“I am called Iona, my husband is Mikel, and this is our son, Bjorn,” Iona began, her voice timid. “My family has always been gifted with earthgalder, Your Majesties, as we are farmers from the outskirts of Veter.”

Iona looked at her husband before continuing. He gave a small nod to her and then looked up toward the King and Queen sitting on the dais.

“My family has never been gifted withgalder,” Mikel began. “When we had Bjorn, we had hoped he would show signs of earthgalder, like his mother. We have been unsuccessful in our many attempts to have children until the goddess Freya blessed us with Bjorn, you see.”

“The gods have been good to your family, it seems. Bjorn looks to be a strong and healthy boy,” his mother said, a small smile gracing her lips.

“He is our joy, Your Majesty,” Iona said quickly. “But this past new moon…”

Iona trailed off and looked at her husband again.