by T.M. Nielsen
***
Kyrin walked slowly through the orchard, looking for the last apple before they were gone for the winter. After a hot bath, she’d changed into one of the short-sleeved, short dresses that her tailor made for her. It felt good to be clean, and her hair was finally combed out and in a long braid that hit the back of her knees as she walked.
Seeing the naked nicker, her tailor had quickly constructed a small tunic, so he wouldn’t be exposed to the castle staff. He was watching around him, looking for something interesting but always kept within just a few steps of Kyrin. She tossed an apple down to him, and he ate it quickly, core and all.
Alric ran to the orchard when Finn told him that Kyrin was there. He stopped behind her and watched as she reached up high and picked an apple, then took a bite and looked around. She finally knelt down by the nicker when he started to cry, and she saw that he’d somehow managed to cut his leg.
Alric smiled while she dabbed at the cut with her skirt and then held the nicker as he cried. She patted him softly on the back and smiled when he looked up at her.
“Welcome back,” Alric said, breaking the silence.
Kyrin stood up quickly and looked at him. The nicker reached up and took her hand as she spoke. “Thanks.”
“I was worried you wouldn’t come back.”
She didn’t feel like making it seem like she was attached, so she lied. “Yeah, well I wouldn’t have, but Daemionis forced me to.”
Alric nodded. “I figured as much. What’s that?”
Kyrin looked down. “That’s a nicker.”
“He’s wrinkly.”
“He’s harmless.”
“Is he yours?” Alric asked, taking a step closer.
The nicker frowned and then bared his tiny, sharp teeth and hissed as his ears twitched.
Kyrin grinned. “You could probably say that.”
Alric stopped a ways from her and watched the nicker. “He’s a vicious little thing.”
“He helped me on the mission.”
“I’m glad you had some help.” Alric was studying her, and she found it amusing.
“I’m back for a while.”
Alric nodded and moved to her quickly. He took her wrists in his hands and then pressed his lips to hers. Suddenly, he screamed and backed away, looking down at a bleeding gash on his hand.
“He bit me!” Alric yelled.
Kyrin stifled a grin and looked down at the nicker. “I think he’s protective.”
Alric healed his own hand and then squared his shoulders and stood his full height. “He’d better not be so with me.”
“He’s just a nicker.”
“Still, he bit me.”
She shrugged and picked up the gray creature, then gently rubbed his ears. “Be nice to him.”
“I will be if he won’t bite me.”
Kyrin started back for the castle, still carrying the nicker, who kept a close eye on Alric over her shoulder.
“Kyrin?” Alric said, following her.
She turned to him.
“Are you pregnant?”
“No”
“Were you?”
“No”
He thought for a moment. “Can I have the priests look at you?”
“No”
“Why not? What can it hurt?”
“Why do you want it? I’m not injured.”
“Please, for me.”
“Tell me why first,” Kyrin said, switching the nicker to her other side.
“Fine, it’s because I don’t trust you. They all felt strongly that you were pregnant, as did I. I want to know if you really aren’t, or if you were injured on the mission and lost the baby.”
Kyrin turned on her heels and headed into the castle. She froze when she saw Saith and Dewell waiting by the stairs.
“It’s good to have you back, Lady Kyrin,” Dewell said, smiling.
Saith simply studied her.
“I’m not, nor have I ever been, pregnant,” she said, irritated. The nicker looked at them both and hissed at the priests.
“What is that?” Dewell asked, taking a step back.
“Apparently, the only one in Paragoy who believes me!” she said, and started up the stairs.
“One of the knights said you got hit pretty hard on the back,” Dewell said to her. “Can I just look at that?”
She stopped on the stairs but didn’t turn around. “It’s just a bruise.”
“Still, please?”
Alric and Saith watched them, hoping she’d let him take a look at her.
“Fine, but step out of line, and the nicker may bite you,” Kyrin said.
Dewell looked over at Alric. “He bites?”
Alric nodded. “Just stay away from his mouth and report to me when you’re done.”
The priest swallowed hard and then followed Kyrin.
Saith turned to Alric. “She’s not pregnant now.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive. However, I can’t tell if she was and lost it. Would her god send her out on a dangerous mission if he thought she was pregnant?”
“Yes, he would,” Alric told him. “She wasn’t badly injured when she got here though, so I’m hopeful this last mission wasn’t too bad.”
“The first few weeks of pregnancy are the most precarious. It wouldn’t take a lot, and stress can do it.”
“I just hope Dewell can figure out, one way or the other.”
