by D. R. Grady
“She said the moment I married.”
“You didn’t do that on your own. It took two.” Lajos pointed out the obvious.
Kellen’s eyes narrowed. “You’re saying she believed our marriage opened the portal?”
“That’s essentially what she said.” Ari struggled not to fidget.
“This is interesting.” Kellen and Lajos exchanged long looks. Felicity joined them. She looked to have readjusted her hair already because it was better anchored than her own.
“If your marriage opened a portal to another dimension does that mean we only have access to those dimensions through marriage?” Felicity readjusted her sword, her expression musing. “Why do we have to marry before we can gain that access?”
“We don’t need to marry to gain access,” Kellen stated this with full confidence. “Any wizard worth their magic can open a portal.”
“But only those of us who were married were able to cross through.” Lajos’ troubled expression, at least for him, harmonized with her own.
Her frown grew. “An Aasguard marriage therefore opens a portal? And Kellen and I were able to enter it. Lajos entered, because the desampus grabbed Stefana. Both of whom could enter the portal because they’re also married?”
“I couldn’t enter that portal.” Felicity reminded them. “Are the desampus all married? Is that how they were able to access our dimension?”
“Marrying doesn’t seem like a part of their biology.” Kellen clapped a hand to a wound that still sluggishly bled.
Ari located the plant that would help to stop the bleeding and packed his wound with the leaves that boasted brown edges. With autumn’s approach, the herbs and healing specimens would soon go dormant for the winter. Had this been later in the season, they would have needed the services of a healer.
But his wounds responded to the specimen and she plucked more of the leaves to pack the wounds of her brother, Felicity, and her own. That she only now became aware of.
Desampus claws and fangs weren’t deadly, but they did carry an enzyme that burned if left untreated. Since they didn’t need or wish to be uncomfortable for the next few days, she finished packing everyone’s wounds. This plant countered the enzyme and rendered it useless. It also would help close the wounds that much faster.
She approached Stefana, and yes, this woman had fully transitioned to an Aasguard warrior. Stefana hadn’t fought with them, but while in that other dimension, she’d been cut at least once, and the desampus had licked at her blood. Ari showed her how to pack a wound and indicated the plant. Stefana’s Aasguard brain worked that much better now, and she likely wouldn’t forget anything she learned.
“Welcome to our world, Stefana.” Ari hugged her sister-in-law. And couldn’t help but be impressed with the tall, confident woman who stood before her. She’d been born of necessity, a little earlier than intended.
“Thank you. I was on my way, so I’m not upset.” Stefana sank inside of herself. The path was clear and unhindered. “I’m content with this.” Yet her forehead furrowed. “However, now that I’m full Aasguard, does this mean at some point in the near future that Lajos and I will open a portal?”
Stefana’s cheeks didn’t redden. She asked this important question from the standpoint of a concerned Aasguard now.
“I don’t know.” Ari shot a glance to the others.
The three others shook their heads. “I’m not convinced our union did so. Although it is possible.” Kellen’s answer didn’t reassure any of them.
“We better alert the wizards that another portal could open again.” Ari chewed on the inside of her cheek as she thought. “And we should also let other Aasguards know if they intend to marry to make certain the wizards know so they can close any portals opened.”
“I’ll speak with Mozark about locking all the portals they know exist. He can probably also send out groups to discover any new ones and lock those as well. We certainly don’t need anything worse than desampus entering this world.” Kellen already had dug his crystal out and he paced a few steps away to speak to the wizard.
His conversation took some time. While they waited, the remainder of them checked Stefana and put her through a few paces. “She’s fully Aasguard.” Lajos sounded both thrilled and bemused by this.
By the time they completed Stefana’s testing, Kellen finished his conversation with Mozark. “He and his colleagues plan to travel to lock down all known portals. He believes that for Stefana and Raene because they were human when they married, their marriages will go unnoticed by the portals. Because they’ve been married this long already, he’s hoping no portals will be opened. However, they shall remain alert for the next week.” Kellen didn’t go into detail, for which she guessed all of them were grateful.
Lajos and Stefana were married. They were allowed to do what married people did.
Then a new thought blasted her. “What about children? Montequirst and Swiftland need heirs.”
It might be a trick of the lights flickering from the castle windows, but those who were married seemed to have paled.
“What are you thinking, Ari?” Lajos looked a tad green around the edges, while Stefana’s face showed traces of translucence.
Kellen looked to his wife.
“We don’t know if we can have children, first off. But what if bringing a child into this dimension provokes the catastrophic?” Ari dusted off her trousers. “Will the child be human, Aasguard, or some combination in between? Can an Aasguard carry a baby? Is our gestation the same? There’s so much we don’t know.”
“I never once believed we couldn’t have children. But then I’ve only been a full Aasguard for an hour.” Stefana gripped Lajos’ arm. Her fist white knuckled. “Are Aasguard women like human women?”
Of course not. Aasguards were very different…
But Ari and Felicity exchanged glances, as though they understood the information Stefana sought.
“Sort of. We don’t flux every single month.” Ari swiped a hand across her nape in a gesture that reminded him of Vidar under pressure. “It’s more two or three times a year, sometimes not even that often.”
“Yes, that’s true for me as well. Now that you’re married, it might change.” Felicity bit her lip. “We just don’t know.”
“I’ll ask Raene if things have changed for her.”
“Have they for you?” Ari asked Stefana outright.
“Yes. But I attributed this to the stress we’re under.” Stefana sent a worried look to Lajos. He tugged her closer.
Kellen finally clued in to what they must be speaking about and it all finally made sense. If a woman didn’t go through her menses, she wasn’t fertile. Therefore she couldn’t have a child. But if Ari and Felicity only did so a few times a year, that meant getting pregnant for them would be more challenging.
Yet this made sense. Their lives were long. For a woman to be fertile all these years seemed far-fetched.
“There is so much we don’t know.” Ari’s agitation had to be apparent to everyone. “Both for those of us who have married, and for those who haven’t yet.”
“It’s probably better for those who haven’t to—” Lajos didn’t finish his statement. His eyes strayed to Felicity, the only single person in their little group.
“What you didn’t say is that single Aasguard warriors should refrain from marrying?” Even Kellen could tell Felicity was bothered by this.
Ari reached out to her friend. “For right now, maybe you should. Only until the wizards can make certain we won’t open any other portals.” Her chaotic emotions hit him full force, perhaps because of their connection. “And perhaps until those of us who have made this leap manage to figure out what this means for Aasguards.”
Kellen yanked her into his arms and held her tight. She held onto him as though fearful someone or something might rip her from him.
Over my dead body.
That same monster who had awakened during this battle growled in low, menacing tones.
<
br /> “Easy, Kellen.” Lajos settled a heavy hand on his shoulder. When he looked to his friend and new brother-in-law, he saw the same struggle. This helped him breathe a little easier.
“Thanks.” Kellen took a deep breath before peering at Felicity. “It’s my belief that Aasguard warriors should be able to marry. Obviously, all of us feel this way.” He gestured toward the other married couple but meant Vidar and Raene as well. “This is a right we should all have. If you wish to marry, we will aid you in every way.” His adamance must have been obvious because Felicity’s shoulders relaxed.
“You’re thinking this is only temporary?” Felicity still inquired. She kept her emotions tight, but they sensed her trepidation and denial.
“Definitely. And as temporary as we can make it.” Ari rushed to reassure her friend. “We’re stepping into unknown territory. We certainly do not wish to bring harm to those we’ve sworn to protect.”
“No.” Felicity’s mouth drew down, but she continued to keep her emotions tamped. If they’d even reemerged yet.
Then Kellen thought of Rykert and darted a glance to his dearly beloved. Ari’s subtle nod told him Felicity probably was thinking of marriage after meeting Rykert, but their meeting had been quick, a little abrupt, and they’d had major issues on their minds during that limited time.
He wanted to pepper Ari with questions, which was very unlike him, but he also wanted all his fellows to be as happy as he and Ari were. Portal openings into other—nasty—dimensions aside.
“We knew there could be consequences for marrying.” Ari’s grip tightened on him. “We were aware of that. None of us would have ever expected what happened.” Her voice cracked.
“There is still no definitive evidence that your marriage caused that portal to open.” Lajos’ voice also cracked, but with authority. “You and Kellen should not in any way feel guilty for the love you share.”
Love? Who had said anything about love? But Kellen’s full attention leaped to the woman holding onto him for dear life.
Her wide-eyed stare landed on him. The color drained from her face, but then rushed back with a gorgeous pink and her entire face took on the expression of someone who has been enlightened.
Probably an exact match to his own. Because how shortsighted had he been?
The castle doors flung open and the king, queen, and her sister strode across the grounds.
“What happened? Are our people safe? Are you well?” They wouldn’t miss the wounds all of them sported, or their disheveled state.
How to even begin this tale?
Chapter 19
Kellen succinctly informed the royals of Chariovalda what had happened. Ari was impressed with how well he handled the explanations. It couldn’t be easy to tell someone about desampus. These were humans who had no notion of the existence of such a monster, so this required additional commentary. These humans might have encountered a lagoon reptile, but many in this region probably had not.
Everyone knew it wasn’t safe to swim in the southern lagoons. Any body of water south of Montequirst probably contained something large with teeth and claws who enjoyed eating people.
She’d personally seen this and since Aasguard warriors could succumb to Mother Nature, she and her fellows didn’t venture into the bodies of water where such creatures were known to exist. They could probably overcome one, but why risk limbs? Ari had certainly eaten them and didn’t mind as their meat was tender and tasty.
But then Aasguards didn’t complain about much; certainly not what they ate. They adapted to whatever those of the land preferred.
Now, as Kellen finished his tale of what had transpired here the royals paled at the mention of how the desampus had devoured the invading army they had been warned of. Ari cleared her throat as she looked to her brother and Kellen.
“I believe a few of us should remain here.” She indicated where the portal had been.
Lajos’ eyebrows snapped together. “You can’t hold those creatures off yourselves if it does open.”
“No, but Kellen knows the wizards who can shut it again.” She looked to her new husband. His nod was subtle.
“Someone needs to make certain this lock holds.” He adjusted his sword handle. “We can at least be the first line of defense until we’re certain the lock holds.”
“Have you ever known any of Mozark’s work not to hold?” Lajos wasn’t trying to be disagreeable. In his typical fashion, he sought all the facts before making a decision.
“Thus far it does. We’re simply being overly cautious.” Kellen finished the statement in their heads. Since there are humans here who don’t have any hope of defending themselves.
That explanation was good enough for her. She and Kellen agreed on this score. These innocent people hadn’t asked for that portal to open, and while they hadn’t known loss of life, that could change. Having two Aasguard warriors on hand for a week or so seemed like a good measure.
“I agree. Two should stay, and clearly, Kellen and Ari wish to do so.” Felicity weighed in, with Stefana supporting her.
“I agree as well. We can lend their swords to Chariovalda for a week while they ensure all the measures here remain intact.” Stefana stood tall and confident.
As she should since she had joined noble ranks. Then again, as the Queen of Swiftland and the former Princess of Montequirst, she’d been such for a long while.
Fricassa bumped Lajos. “Aernie and I can take you two home with Felicity and Maeze, and then return to help keep watch.”
They all thought upon this. But a bright light twenty feet formed in front of them. Mozark stepped through the small portal he had created.
“I heard your discussion. We’re currently searching out all the portals.” He looked weary. “However, this one will not open until one of us opens it.” He looked sly for a moment. “And if they do manage to open the portal, there will be a very nasty surprise awaiting them if they seek to enter our realm.”
Ari’s lungs gusted out a long sigh of relief. “Thank you, Mozark.”
He bowed to her. Which he did not need to do. “You are welcome, Ari the Noble. We protected the humans here so you can continue with your own destinies. A school for future Aasguard warriors has been sorely needed.”
She opened her mouth to ask how he knew of their plans, but then shut it again. These people could travel between dimensions and while she didn’t much understand all their abilities, that they knew of her and Kellen’s plans and approved of them offered much needed reassurance.
Rajie, the Queen of Chariovalda, stepped forward. “Thank you for protecting us. Please come and dine with us before you start your journey. You are of course, always welcome to remain with us.” Her kindness and gratitude wafted from not only her, but also her husband and sister, the latter of whom she drew forward. “This is my sister Drika.”
The human warrior shook their hands with quiet confidence. She certainly resembled an Aasguard. Her height, muscles, and attitude were all correct.
“Are you betrothed?” Kellen asked Drika.
Her nose wrinkled. “No. I’ve never met a man I wished to marry.” She eyed him and Lajos with respect.
“My sister is first and foremost a warrior.” Rajie’s pride in her sister shined through.
Drika slid an arm around Rajie. “I’m particular and I’m also larger than many of the men I’ve encountered.” Her mouth turned down.
Ari smiled. “Yes, I can attest to that. My father wished me to marry. Which is fine except I had no suitors and no interest in any of the men I knew.”
“You are Aasguard.”
“I am. But we begin life as humans. My brother, Lajos, was invited to train as an Aasguard first. Then our brother Vidar, next. Finally, I was also invited, and I immediately accepted, despite my father’s resistance.”
“Father was resigned to Vidar and I leaving home, but he didn’t condone Ari, his daughter, leaving to fight.” Lajos didn’t give away his feelings, but she thought he understo
od, yet also applauded her decision to make her own way.
“You’re married now.” Drika’s eyes slid to Kellen.
“I am. As of this afternoon.” She slid her hand into her husband’s, thrilled to be able to call him such. Her heart pumped for him.
“How long were you single before meeting him?” Drika’s emotions were tamped, but a smidgen of eagerness still permeated.
“I’ve been an Aasguard warrior for centuries, so eons.” Ari made a joke of it. “If Vidar and Raene hadn’t married, I would still be a maiden.”
“As would we.” Lajos indicated himself and Stefana.
Felicity didn’t fidget, but she side-stepped in a way that made Ari’s heart go out to her. “With Aasguard weddings being so new to our kind, we’re learning the pitfalls. It will be a process.”
Ari pondered whether she should warn them, but in the end decided to do so. “These are new times. Please be vigilant. Do not relax.”
Kellen and Lajos nodded firmly. “Yes. With one dimension opening there is a possibility of others doing so. We do not know the extent of what could be on the other side.” Kellen didn’t paint a pretty picture for them.
Mozark stirred. “We have protected you here, but that does not mean our safeguards will work against everything. The best thing you can do is devise a strong safety plan. Where all of you encase yourselves in rock with a barrier between you and whatever might escape into our dimension.” The wizard didn’t shudder, not exactly. “Some of the creatures on the other side of those portals are not to be trifled with.”
“We shall dig into our cellars then and encourage our people to do the same. We have a rock here that should protect us.” King Faulk ushered them into the palace to dine.
“It wouldn’t be amiss for your warriors to learn to fight with fire. Many of the most terrifying creatures can be stopped using fire.”
Faulk tilted his head to the side. “It is interesting you should say that…” And he explained on their way indoors about how they’d recently learned several new techniques in fighting with fire.
