Rosalea was still struggling to wrap her brain around the idea that she and Ulric were related as she dried his clothes. She was glad that he was eating slowly, it gave her time to try to think.

As an adult, it seemed so painfully obvious. Every time she acted like his cousin Lindir, he must have panicked. I guess that is something we have in common. Thanks to her mind magic, she killed herself in front of both of us. It was a bitter thought. It didn’t help her feel better. She set his clothes down near him. She refilled his tea and called her own cup to drink some from. It helped to calm her nerves in the silence between them.

I do not feel that guilty about how I acted as a child though. I am sorry for what happened to Ulric, but I could not have known what was going on, and he was beating me. Ulric looked vulnerable to her still, and more miserable than she had ever seen another person look. She wondered if he would have been able to act any differently than he had acted with her when there was so much at risk.

He offered back his stew bowl. “I feel a lot better with something to eat and drink. You have been very kind,” he said.

“Not that kind, I did some mind magic to stop you from touching me or lying to me.” Rosalea floated the bowl and cup back to herself.

Ulric barely reacted. “That was a wise precaution to take, given what you know about me.”

Rosalea felt color coming into her face. “Do you want to get dressed? You clothes are clean and dry.”

He nodded.

Rosalea turned her back to him. Fen moved to him so he could lean on her while he put on his pants. Rosalea made herself busy washing the stew bowl and then pouring more tea for both of them.

“I am done,” Ulric said in soft tones. Rosalea turned back and brought him tea. He was sitting on top of the blankets, with socks on, but boots still off. “Thank you.”

Rosalea returned to her seat, her heart fluttering a little. “So, you killed Gaiden, and there was more to it than I know?” We might as well get this over with.

He opened his mouth, struggled with what to say, shook with emotion, and closed his mouth. He drank more tea. “Genya came to us with child,” he said. “She is a weather mage, mostly with imber magic, but a little sliver of caelus magic lives within her. Imber mages sometimes see the past, and caelus mages sometimes see the future. Genya… had a vision shortly after her child was lost.”

He paused, taking another sip of tea. “My father had already betrayed our people and caused Castle Ninevah to fall. I was stricken from the records. Even so… I loved a woman. She was a Myradulian slave brought to us as a child. And… she didn’t see me as a dishonorable nothing.” He bowed his head. “I loved her even though it was wrong. Even a slave is more than a baktya that has not been banished. I… wanted her so much. She accepted me and saw me as a real person. But… Genya said that in her vision, Lindir would come to love an enemy and that enemy would do me harm, and…” Ulric trailed off. Rosalea felt like he was about to say something. “The raiding party that first brought Lindir and Gaiden together killed her.” Ulric’s face grew into a snarl. “We were going to run away. She was going to have my baby. We wanted… I just wanted…” but he did not finish it.

“Gaiden led that war party. He killed her. He killed many people before he was finally stopped. I have killed that man a thousand times in my mind before I actually killed him… and a hundred thousand times since then!”

Rosalea shivered. He was so expressive, as if the barriers between them had finally come down. She felt a pang of guilt and a lot of empathy. Then she frowned, “And Lindir… went with a man that killed her people? And… Genya? Raised me?”

Ulric looked away. “I was opposed to everything about it. I wanted Genya sent away. I … could barely stand to look at her. I blamed her at first…” He bowed his head, “But it was wrong. She was always good to you, and she… saved you when I could not.”

Rosalea shook her head. “I love Genya, but I am sorry… You would have been king if not for me.”

Ulric looked at her, a little softness in his face. “Well, I lied about how Lindir died. Suicide is also a good way to get stricken from the records. They would have likely gone to another noble line for the heir. Now, I wish a little we had just been left out of it.”

“How were you able to look at me every day after what Gaiden and Lindir did?” Rosalea asked. She folded her arms to herself, feeling exposed in a way she had not been prepared for. Fen pressed up against her, so Rosalea hugged her close instead of hiding behind her own folded arms. Rosalea suddenly felt a terrible sadness, and wished she did not know this. It was easier to hate Ulric when his life had been simple - peasant tasked with watching over her and trying to teach her. All the indignity he suffered, being lowered to a teacher watching over me… Knowing that the only reason I was treated any differently was that he lied about Lindir’s death… It seemed she had lived a lifetime in those moments.

“Rosalea… I just want this opportunity for you and I… not to be pawns pitted against each other. I want to help you, as much as I can.”

Rosalea avoided answering. “Who hurt you? You were stabbed by someone before Nira got you to me. How did you even know I was out here?”

Ulric brightened a little. “The animals all call you forest child, so it is easy to know where you have been by talking to them.” He breathed out slowly, calming down as she took interest in talking about his near death experience instead of their horrible family history.

Rosalea’s mouth gaped open. “What?”

Ulric shrugged. “I have always thought it was because of your magic, but now I think it might be because of the prophecy.” Rosalea frowned. Ulric shrugged again. “Uh, anyway. I… was attacked by a Uryan a few days ago. It… was not a pleasant thing. I was tracking you, and the animals told me about a Uryan that lost her liana. So, I rushed in, and she hit me with a rock from a tree, and knocked me off Nira. She was absolutely maddened, and before I could even collect my wits, she had jumped on me. She began ripping my clothes, and she took the knife from my belt and stabbed me. Nira kicked her, or I would have been done for. Nira helped me up, and I escaped. However, I was so hurt… I could not stay on. I tied myself to Nira, and I do not know how much time I was like that. When we reached the nearest people, they attacked.”

Rosalea touched her face, where the bruise was. “I think you had that whole city on high alert when I was there. In no time at all, they had every guard there looking frantically for me.”

“I am glad you were not seriously hurt?” he touched his own face where she had been bruised.

“I was not hurt. This was from a drunk who made a pass at me because I usually wear a veil around Myraduilians.”

“It is wise. We are not on good terms with them.”

Rosalea breathed out slowly. “So, did the animals direct you to me after you got away from Dyna?”

Ulric nodded.

Rosalea breathed out. “You are lucky Nira is loyal at all. She’s ragged.”

“I was afraid of losing my chance to catch up with you. No one really knows what is suppose to happen when the One is found.”

Rosalea pursed her lips. “I guess they wander around and get in trouble and do not know where to go. I am going to try talking to the forest gods in Dyran.”

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“The border crossing will be hard, we should try to avoid any main roads.”

“We?”

Ulric stared intently at her. She breathed out as Fen pressed against her again. “Oh, fine. In the morning, you may come with us. But… the last people I was around got attacked by Gods, just so you know. I am not sure this is not supposed to be some sort of solitary thing.”

Ulric smiled. “It will work out just as it should,” he said, and Rosalea frowned, sensing he was hiding something, but she was afraid at this point to ask.

“Uh… well, I am going to go hunting. You should rest. I want to get moving in the morning. If I am allowed to go back to being a normal person after fulfilling this prophecy thing, then I want to do that as fast as possible so I can see Lio.”

To her surprise, Ulric smiled in a way that made even his eyes look bright. “I think that makes perfect sense. Thank you… for everything.”

Rosalea did not know how to respond to that. She changed the topic, “Since we cannot get going this afternoon, I am going to take some time to hunt. Here are some brushes if you get energy to look after Nira.”

“Thank you,” he said again.

Rosalea nodded to him and took on her wolf form. Vulnerable and grateful Ulric is difficult to deal with.

She was glad that Fen came with her as they headed into the trees.

“How do you feel now that you know more about Ulric?” Fen asked.

Rosalea breathed out. “I am not sure.” She found the creek that flowed into the pond they were camped at and she followed it upwards until she saw it flowed from the farmland. She did not want to head back into Dyna, so she turned back toward the trees. “In some ways, I found it easier to deal with him when I did not see all the pressure behind him; when he was just an adult in my way who terrorized me.” Rosalea was silent again, following Fen as the more experienced wolf picked up the smell of a rabbit. “I remember when Haidi poisoned me, I had no trouble understanding that she was miserable because she lost her daughter. I could not find energy to be angry at her. I knew I had come in behind her back and put Rhainnon in a position that was dangerous for her. She was right actually, Kaylar did recognize Rhainnon as a Uryan and took her.”

“And so now you are finding that you understand Ulric was in a miserable position, and so he did aggressive things?”

Rosalea agreed softly. “But still I am angry. I am empathetic, I feel pity, but I… I am so angry, Fen, somewhere deep inside. Ian asked me to teach Rhainnon, and Rhainnon had to learn magic eventually. I just wanted to help my friend. Haidi almost killed me. I did not mean to be born the one of prophecy, and I did not mean to lose that information. I did not mean to act like my mother and scare Ulric, but how was I supposed to know what I did not know? He still beat me and tortured Nerric and helped to force us to have Lio.”

Fen paused in her tracking, and she turned back to Rosalea, pressing herself close. Rosalea leaned into it, shaking, unable to manage her emotions the way she wanted to. She was confused, angry, and sad all at once. “My little Nadia, sometimes… things happen that can never be made fair or right. All we can do is respond as best as we can, right?” Rosalea breathed out slowly, pressing into Fen’s reassurance and clinging onto it for dear life. “So now that you see more of Ulric, now that he is less a symbol to you and just a man, what will you do?”

Rosalea closed her eyes. She did not want him, but then again, she had grown up thinking she was the only one left after Lindir. Just her and Lio… but now also Ulric. She was focusing on the wrong that went on in her own life, a lot of it caused by Ulric, but he had likewise been trapped in web of intrigue woven by others and the Gods, and she felt what she wanted most to do… was be kind to him. He maybe didn’t deserve it completely, but it felt better than any other course of action to take. He knows a lot, so he might be able to help us.

Fen pressed her neck and head over Rosalea’s shoulders. “I think it is good to let it go. If you focus on the wrongs, you will lose track of what goes right.”

Rosalea nodded. Then, thinking about something else Ulric had said, she breathed out. “What happens if I lose you? Ulric mentioned the loss of the liana like he thought it was connected to the woman’s behavior?”

“If you die, I will die. My magic and life are completely invested in you. You become strong, and I become wise. This is what the Gods wanted for us to have. However, if I die, you will be left with my magic and none of the stability from me being with you. Most Uryans go mad, as Ulric described.”

Rosalea frowned. “What happens to the ones that do not?”

“Despair,” Fen said.

Rosalea tried to remember as much as she could about the Uryan camps, but try as she might, she could remember no Uryans living there without a liana, unless they were too young to have one yet. Rosalea told herself she would never let anything happen to Fen. She hoped the Gods were on her side, if someone with a liana was really needed to help meet their prophecy, then Fen should be safe.

“Are we just out for a walk or are we really planning to hunt a rabbit?” Fen prompted her with more upbeat tones, leading Rosalea away from worrying.

Rosalea let herself be led. “Something meaty for dinner is probably a good idea to help Ulric recover more of his strength.

Dinner was quiet as Rosalea processed the rabbit. Ulric had fallen back asleep. Nira was grazing nearby and her mane and tail looked very clean and untangled, the brushes were in a new position. Rosalea let him sleep, only offering him roast rabbit when she had it finished. She gave Nira some grain she still had from owning Hazel, and she slept through the night feeling a lot better than she had the day before.

The next morning was quiet. Rosalea did not let Ulric cook any breakfast, putting him off until he felt better. Ulric walked part of the day on foot with her to help spare Nira, but he was still recovering, so Rosalea encouraged him to ride while she walked. “You had a horse before?” he asked.

Rosalea nodded. “He was Hazel. Kaylar gave him to me, but I was riding at a pace that was hard on him.” She patted Nira, “So, I am sure that contributed to how hard it was to trace and find me.”

Ulric huffed a little. “So, why did you decide not to keep him?”

“The winter would have been hard for him. I also, you know, have a lot of magic. I was planning on spending a bunch of time in wolf shape and covering more ground on my own.”

Ulric made a thoughtful noise. “I see. That makes sense. You do not find it exhausting?”

Rosalea shook her head. “It comes easily to me. Sometimes, it feels easier than being human. However, you and I cannot talk if I am in shape, so I am content for now to walk with you.”

“Thank you.”

Rosalea did not know what to do with all this Ulric-gratitude. She smiled.

“Yesterday was the first time I got to see your animal-shape. Most people carry some semblance of themselves with them into their animal shape, but you are the opposite. It is as dark as you are fair.”

“I have been self-conscious about looking the way I do my whole life. It was one thing I liked about Nerric, he and I looked a little alike.” The walked in silence for a little. Ulric seemed anxious to try and please her, somehow, and so she hoped by talking to him, she could get him to act a little more like himself. “How has Nerric been doing?”

Ulric started, and then grimaced. He cleared his face and answered, his tone uncertain. “He has been well enough. He will never become King because he can never marry you – because of who you are. He has not married and says that he never will. After Lio was born, he became Captain of Castle Darius.”

Rosalea nodded her head. “That seems like something he would have had a good head for. I remember when we were kids, he was really tactical.”

Ulric nodded. Then there was a long pause again. “So far as I know. May I ask you a question?”

“You do not need my permission to do so,” Rosalea answered, trying not to sound tart about it. Come on Ulric, she thought, you can be yourself.

He flushed a little. “Right. I just… given the circumstances, how do you feel about Nerric? You sound more positive than I expected.”

“I do not hate Nerric. The fact that Lio was born was neither his fault, nor was it mine. He was my friend before all that happened, and I miss him sometimes,” Rosalea replied, thinking of all the good moments in the past... sneaking out of the castle, learning magic, and even watching him in the training yards when she had been under mind-control. Ulric was silent again, and this time he was not just quiet, but tense as well. I cannot keep this up, it would have been better to travel alone, she thought, careful not to say it.

“Have patience, Nadia,” Fen replied. “It will work out.”

“What?” Ulric asked startled.

“I was just thinking of the prophecy,” Rosalea lied. She did not want to start talking about not traveling with him again. “All of this time, and it seems like I have been getting nowhere.”

“You mentioned that. Do you remember your lessons on the forest gods?”

Rosalea raised a brow at him. She was gratified as he turned red, reading her expression perfectly. If I do not, whose fault is it?

Ulric huffed. “Some teacher I turned out to be, spending a bunch of time driving knowledge into your head and then participating in removing it.”

Rosalea felt like she had an opening here to adjust the dynamic between them to something that felt more comfortable. “So, you could teach me about it again? We are already outdoors, so there is nowhere for me to sneak off to.”

She was a tiny bit gratified that he smiled just a little.