Prince Kelton felt a lot calmer now that he was in Pride Town, but something was still nagging at him. Being a Seer didn’t necessarily mean magic, but knowing he felt drawn here as he was looking for the Dragonwoman, and hopefully Lady Iredys, it was possible she stopped here. Especially since news of her abilities had reached Shounto Village, she had been here for a little while at least. Prince Kelton knew that gossip spread quickly, but it usually turned into so many different forms of talk, so it took time to decipher what triggered the gossip in the first place.

The fact that Sir Droyn only mentioned hearing whispers of a Seer here in Pride Town after their arrival was proof alone that the Seer and those that had come to see her were being cautious. Prince Kelton stared at the ceiling of his room and rested his arm over his forehead. Would she know where Iredys was? Was she still alive? Would he have time to get her and bring her back to the castle in order to marry her before his mother used force to tie him to Princess Analisa?

He could feel the hope in his heart grow brighter and stronger at the thought of finally being able to have answers after a year and a half.

“Please, let it be so,” he whispered before turning onto his side to sleep.

When he got up the following morning, he was anxious to hear what the Seer had to say. He had just stepped out of his room when Sir Droyn stepped into the hall with food for the two of them.

“It is still early, My Lord,” Sir Droyn said. “She may not yet be up.”

Prince Kelton wanted to speak in protest, but his stomach beat him to it. Nodding, he opened his door again and Sir Droyn joined him at the small table inside the room. They ate. A half smile graced Sir Droyn’s lips as he watched Prince Kelton eat the majority of what he had brought up. He seemed pleased that Kelton had more of his appetite back.

“Shall I have them get the horses ready?” Sir Droyn asked.

“No need. The Seer is not that far,” Prince Kelton replied.

Sir Droyn nodded.

They two of them left the inn and walked through the increasing bustle toward the black haired woman’s home. Sir Droyn knocked on the door. He had not knocked more than twice before the blacked haired woman answered the door. Her eyes grew wide when she saw the two of them. Conflict quickly replaced her surprise before she lowered her head.

“Is something the matter?” Prince Kelton asked.

She bit her lip then slowly stepped back to allow them in.

Sir Droyn entered and Prince Kelton followed.

Prince Kelton’s eyes were immediately drawn to the woman lying on the cot in front of the fire. She was lying on her left side, facing the fire, so he could not see her face. Her light brown hair was no more than a thin layer of down across her scalp. The clothes she wore had a high neckline. The rise and fall of her chest was steady, but deep. He turned to the black haired woman, who had dropped to her knees. She pressed her hands and forehead against the floor as she bowed. He could see the slight tremors passing through the woman’s hands.

“I don’t mean either of you harm,” Prince Kelton said. “Please, rise.”

The woman looked up hesitantly. She looked toward the woman sleeping on the bed before she slowly rose to her feet.

“Do you know when she will wake?”

She shook her head. She motioned to the chair behind Prince Kelton.

“Thank you.”

She nodded then walked over to the table. Prince Kelton could see she had left her writing kit out, but instead of writing, she picked up each of the many jars on the table and shook them.

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“You are the town healer?” he wondered.

Pausing her shaking, she set the jar back on the table then nodded solemnly.

“You seem nervous. Is something the matter?”

She pulled her lips in. She started to reach for her quill when the woman on the cot took a noticeably louder inhale and shifted on the bed. Prince Kelton turned toward her. She had turned her head slightly. He could see a little bit of her profile and Prince Kelton felt his heart jump in his chest. Furrowing his brow, he stood slowly. The black haired woman looked between him and the woman on the cot several times.

Noticing the woman’s increased agitation, Prince Kelton walked toward the window. He wanted to get a better view of the woman on the cot without alarming the other woman. He wanted to know why that little bit of profile made his heart react like that. Prince Kelton kept his eye on the Seer as he crossed the room. As more and more of her face came into view, he could feel his heart start to beat harder. A desire that had gone dormant, to protect his heart, started to wake up.

“Iredys,” he whispered.

Unable to hold himself back, Prince Kelton approached the cot as he pulled off his gloves. He knelt between the hearth and the cot before his trembling hand reached for her face. He ran his thumb across her cheek. The bones were a little more prominent. Her skin was pale, but flushed slightly under his touch. She had lost weight, but he would never forget the face of his beloved betrothed.

Prince Kelton carefully slid his arm under her neck as he sat on the edge of the cot. He lifted Iredys into his embrace. He held her securely. She groaned. Prince Kelton was just about to kiss the top of her head when she jerked in his arms. His right arm went numb after Iredys’ head slammed against his shoulder. The dark haired woman hurried over, laying Iredys down as her body continued to jerk and twist uncontrollably on the bed. Prince Kelton stood in shock as he watched his beloved shudder and twitch for several minutes before growing still. It was only then that he noticed his beloved’s distended belly.

“What…?” he started to ask, as Iredys started to sob.

Iredys reached out to the dark haired woman. Her hands fumbled before she could curl up with her head resting on the black haired woman’s lap. The black haired woman tucked the blanket around her to keep her warm before rubbing her back and stroking her head. Iredys cried for some time, not calming in the least. The dark haired woman waved a hand to get Sir Droyn’s attention before pointing to the small bottle on her table.

“This one?” Sir Droyn asked, picking it up.

She nodded.

Sir Droyn handed it to her.

“What is it?” Prince Kelton asked.

The black haired woman turned to him and showed him the label.

“Chamomile?”

She nodded. She motioned to Iredys, who was still crying on her lap, then motioned with her hand that something was lowering.

Prince Kelton nodded.

The woman then opened the bottle and carefully turned Iredys head so she would be able to take a couple dropperfuls. Iredys swallowed them before wrapping one of her arms around the woman’s waist and hiding her face. The woman put the cap back on the bottle before resuming her rubbing and stroking. After a few minutes, Iredys crying slowed to a stop. Her breathing became rhythmic, but her hold around the woman’s waist didn’t change in the slightest.

Prince Kelton swallowed hard. The questions he wanted to ask were lodged in his throat. He took a few halting steps to see the black haired woman’s face. She looked up at him. There was a conflicted knowing in her gaze. He started to kneel when she held out her hand to stop him, her eyes widening in alarm. She motioned to Sir Droyn to have the chair brought closer. Iredys twitched a couple times then was still as Prince Kelton sat on the chair beside them.

He watched the woman he loved as his mind continued to spin with all the unintelligible questions rolling around in his head. Leaning forward, Prince Kelton clasped his hands together and bowed his head. He turned his head to the side then leaned back again as he dragged his hands up his thighs. He folded his arms and covered his mouth with his left hand. Then he leaned forward again, looking at the floor. Only after a minute did he lift his eyes to look at Iredys once more.

“I…,” he started to say just as there was a knock on the door.

Prince Kelton sat up slowly as Sir Droyn opened the door.

“Is His Majesty with you?” he heard Sir Hamnet ask.

Sir Droyn nodded once, but made no move to open the door further.

Prince Kelton stood and approached the door. Sir Droyn stepped back to allow the rest of the knights to see him.

“Take some leisure time,” he told his knights. “We’ll be here a short while.”

“Request to stay, Your Majesty?” Sir Hamnet asked as the other knights started to leave.

He sighed. “No. …In fact, take Sir Droyn with you,” he said, practically throwing Sir Droyn out the door. “You both need a break.”

Sir Hamnet and Sir Droyn both looked puzzled before Prince Kelton closed the door.

He waited by the door for a moment before turning back to the woman tending to Iredys. He approached the two of them slowly and settled on the chair once more. “I have so many questions, but I don’t know where to start.”