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Aea crossed her legs, her pale peplos parting to make way for a bent knee, her bare foot swinging idly from its axis to brush the grass barely grazing her toes.
Sweat cooled along her skin, fingers thrumming from overuse, and her knives still stood erect from last places she threw them. An exercise in the mind as much as the body, throwing a blade required quick mathematics to measure both distance and angle. Throwing a blade while moving had the additional challenge of planning ahead the obstacles that threatened to sully her measurements.
Content in her exertion, she sat on a fallen log crossing a small and grassy ravine. Her hands clutched at the moss coating and her chin tilted up, eyes closed to the cool autumn air whispering through her hair and the afternoon sun warming her skin through the leaves above. She could stay like this for hours if she allowed herself.
It had been a quiet morning. Too quiet. Her duties done for the time being, she found comfort in her solitude and a silent sort of belonging in her sweat, like everything would be easy. It wasn’t difficult to imagine a life of simplistic existence in times such as this, but in the back of her mind she knew only death would bring it true. She felt far more relaxed now, the burn of her muscles melting away the gnaw of morning troubles.
A rustle in the foliage coaxed Aea from her waking dream and she opened her eyes with a soft sigh. She’d spent too long at her practice; it was time to go back to the palace and begin her afternoon duties. Perhaps Kaia would be present for them.
Aea did not hurry in slipping from the log or loosening her blades from their trees. Quietly, she slipped through the woodlands with the hem of the peplos in one hand and her daggers in the other.
By the back entrance, she poured handfuls of water over her head and shoulders, slicking the day’s blade work from her skin. Pearls of clear water rolled down her neck and arms and after they baked away in the sun, she let herself back inside and padded quietly down the hall. She meant to go to her room to drop her things off but when she passed Kaia’s room and noticed the blonde inside, she halted and swept into the small chamber without hesitation.
"There you are." She dropped her daggers on a small table and came to stand at Kaia's shoulder. "Where were you this morning? We were supposed to take out the rugs."
After a pause, she lowered her voice, conscious of the open hallway just beyond. "I didn't see the prince this morning either..." She trailed off and covered her disapproving frown behind a tiny grin. "Did he finally give into the charms of my love-struck cousin and spirit her to his chambers?"
Kaia had taken notice of their employer's eldest son. Keen notice. Aea thought nothing of it given her cousin's weakness to handsome men, but when she didn't show up this morning after being so astutely punctual every other morning, and when the prince hadn't made any appearances around the palace, it had been Aea's first suspicion. She spent half the morning beating rugs like a ruthless overseer.
Kaia couldn't sleep with their employers. If she had to lay with someone, Aea would keep her in brothel whores until Kaia grew tired of it. Kaia could sleep with the king of Taengea for all Aea cared, but not their employers. What they had here was too precious to compromise, especially weighed against one woman's desires. The queen would see them on the street in an instant and Asia would be furious. They were retainers for the princess, and that meant there were certain standards of conduct to uphold. Even if Kaia weren't sleeping with their employers, she had been absent, and that was almost as unacceptable, at least without a good excuse.
Her cousin wasn't lazy or silly, so her disappearance had defense. The question was whether it was something that had to be fixed or if it was something already seen to.
Aea pushed her hair from her face and wandered to the far side of Kaia's bed, slipping onto the mattress to lay on her belly. Knees bent, one bare foot in the air, she propped her chin on her fist and studied her cousin's profile, waiting for her to elaborate on why she was truly absent.
Arra
Aea
Arra
Aea
Awards
First Impressions:Hourglass; Glossy black hair that falls to her hips, piercing blue eyes, a voluptuous figure, and a serious, concentrated expression.
Address: Your
First Impressions:Hourglass; Glossy black hair that falls to her hips, piercing blue eyes, a voluptuous figure, and a serious, concentrated expression.
Address: Your
Aea crossed her legs, her pale peplos parting to make way for a bent knee, her bare foot swinging idly from its axis to brush the grass barely grazing her toes.
Sweat cooled along her skin, fingers thrumming from overuse, and her knives still stood erect from last places she threw them. An exercise in the mind as much as the body, throwing a blade required quick mathematics to measure both distance and angle. Throwing a blade while moving had the additional challenge of planning ahead the obstacles that threatened to sully her measurements.
Content in her exertion, she sat on a fallen log crossing a small and grassy ravine. Her hands clutched at the moss coating and her chin tilted up, eyes closed to the cool autumn air whispering through her hair and the afternoon sun warming her skin through the leaves above. She could stay like this for hours if she allowed herself.
It had been a quiet morning. Too quiet. Her duties done for the time being, she found comfort in her solitude and a silent sort of belonging in her sweat, like everything would be easy. It wasn’t difficult to imagine a life of simplistic existence in times such as this, but in the back of her mind she knew only death would bring it true. She felt far more relaxed now, the burn of her muscles melting away the gnaw of morning troubles.
A rustle in the foliage coaxed Aea from her waking dream and she opened her eyes with a soft sigh. She’d spent too long at her practice; it was time to go back to the palace and begin her afternoon duties. Perhaps Kaia would be present for them.
Aea did not hurry in slipping from the log or loosening her blades from their trees. Quietly, she slipped through the woodlands with the hem of the peplos in one hand and her daggers in the other.
By the back entrance, she poured handfuls of water over her head and shoulders, slicking the day’s blade work from her skin. Pearls of clear water rolled down her neck and arms and after they baked away in the sun, she let herself back inside and padded quietly down the hall. She meant to go to her room to drop her things off but when she passed Kaia’s room and noticed the blonde inside, she halted and swept into the small chamber without hesitation.
"There you are." She dropped her daggers on a small table and came to stand at Kaia's shoulder. "Where were you this morning? We were supposed to take out the rugs."
After a pause, she lowered her voice, conscious of the open hallway just beyond. "I didn't see the prince this morning either..." She trailed off and covered her disapproving frown behind a tiny grin. "Did he finally give into the charms of my love-struck cousin and spirit her to his chambers?"
Kaia had taken notice of their employer's eldest son. Keen notice. Aea thought nothing of it given her cousin's weakness to handsome men, but when she didn't show up this morning after being so astutely punctual every other morning, and when the prince hadn't made any appearances around the palace, it had been Aea's first suspicion. She spent half the morning beating rugs like a ruthless overseer.
Kaia couldn't sleep with their employers. If she had to lay with someone, Aea would keep her in brothel whores until Kaia grew tired of it. Kaia could sleep with the king of Taengea for all Aea cared, but not their employers. What they had here was too precious to compromise, especially weighed against one woman's desires. The queen would see them on the street in an instant and Asia would be furious. They were retainers for the princess, and that meant there were certain standards of conduct to uphold. Even if Kaia weren't sleeping with their employers, she had been absent, and that was almost as unacceptable, at least without a good excuse.
Her cousin wasn't lazy or silly, so her disappearance had defense. The question was whether it was something that had to be fixed or if it was something already seen to.
Aea pushed her hair from her face and wandered to the far side of Kaia's bed, slipping onto the mattress to lay on her belly. Knees bent, one bare foot in the air, she propped her chin on her fist and studied her cousin's profile, waiting for her to elaborate on why she was truly absent.
Aea crossed her legs, her pale peplos parting to make way for a bent knee, her bare foot swinging idly from its axis to brush the grass barely grazing her toes.
Sweat cooled along her skin, fingers thrumming from overuse, and her knives still stood erect from last places she threw them. An exercise in the mind as much as the body, throwing a blade required quick mathematics to measure both distance and angle. Throwing a blade while moving had the additional challenge of planning ahead the obstacles that threatened to sully her measurements.
Content in her exertion, she sat on a fallen log crossing a small and grassy ravine. Her hands clutched at the moss coating and her chin tilted up, eyes closed to the cool autumn air whispering through her hair and the afternoon sun warming her skin through the leaves above. She could stay like this for hours if she allowed herself.
It had been a quiet morning. Too quiet. Her duties done for the time being, she found comfort in her solitude and a silent sort of belonging in her sweat, like everything would be easy. It wasn’t difficult to imagine a life of simplistic existence in times such as this, but in the back of her mind she knew only death would bring it true. She felt far more relaxed now, the burn of her muscles melting away the gnaw of morning troubles.
A rustle in the foliage coaxed Aea from her waking dream and she opened her eyes with a soft sigh. She’d spent too long at her practice; it was time to go back to the palace and begin her afternoon duties. Perhaps Kaia would be present for them.
Aea did not hurry in slipping from the log or loosening her blades from their trees. Quietly, she slipped through the woodlands with the hem of the peplos in one hand and her daggers in the other.
By the back entrance, she poured handfuls of water over her head and shoulders, slicking the day’s blade work from her skin. Pearls of clear water rolled down her neck and arms and after they baked away in the sun, she let herself back inside and padded quietly down the hall. She meant to go to her room to drop her things off but when she passed Kaia’s room and noticed the blonde inside, she halted and swept into the small chamber without hesitation.
"There you are." She dropped her daggers on a small table and came to stand at Kaia's shoulder. "Where were you this morning? We were supposed to take out the rugs."
After a pause, she lowered her voice, conscious of the open hallway just beyond. "I didn't see the prince this morning either..." She trailed off and covered her disapproving frown behind a tiny grin. "Did he finally give into the charms of my love-struck cousin and spirit her to his chambers?"
Kaia had taken notice of their employer's eldest son. Keen notice. Aea thought nothing of it given her cousin's weakness to handsome men, but when she didn't show up this morning after being so astutely punctual every other morning, and when the prince hadn't made any appearances around the palace, it had been Aea's first suspicion. She spent half the morning beating rugs like a ruthless overseer.
Kaia couldn't sleep with their employers. If she had to lay with someone, Aea would keep her in brothel whores until Kaia grew tired of it. Kaia could sleep with the king of Taengea for all Aea cared, but not their employers. What they had here was too precious to compromise, especially weighed against one woman's desires. The queen would see them on the street in an instant and Asia would be furious. They were retainers for the princess, and that meant there were certain standards of conduct to uphold. Even if Kaia weren't sleeping with their employers, she had been absent, and that was almost as unacceptable, at least without a good excuse.
Her cousin wasn't lazy or silly, so her disappearance had defense. The question was whether it was something that had to be fixed or if it was something already seen to.
Aea pushed her hair from her face and wandered to the far side of Kaia's bed, slipping onto the mattress to lay on her belly. Knees bent, one bare foot in the air, she propped her chin on her fist and studied her cousin's profile, waiting for her to elaborate on why she was truly absent.
Shit.
Fucking shit, fuck.
Shit.
It couldn’t be true. It couldn’t. She’d been careful, hadn’t she? Could there be any other explanation? There had to be, but there wasn’t. Deep down, she knew that it was true. She’d been careless not to realize sooner, but now she was aware and she couldn’t deny the obvious truth of her condition.
Shit.
Kaia pushed her golden hair back out of her face and stared up at the ceiling. Her throat burned from the bile she’d brought up only moments before. It seemed like she was constantly plagued with nausea now. She was better fed now than she’d ever been, yet the gods thought to amuse themselves by making her unable to keep most of her meals down. Despite her stable and consistent meals, Kaia had lost weight. She felt weaker, tired more often, and just forever at risk of throwing up what little contents her stomach held. It was a cruel joke from the gods, but perhaps not undeserved. Considering her fears seemed to be true.
Shit.
What was she supposed to do? Would the Kotas throw her back out on the street where she belonged? She couldn’t keep it a secret for long. Her stomach hadn’t begun to swell yet, but it would happen soon. It was a strange concept really, to think that there was a small child nestled inside of her.
A child. Fuck.
The very thought was enough to overwhelm her. Her chest felt tighter and she could feel the now very familiar sensation of bile creeping up her throat. At least her father wasn’t alive to be disappointed in her. He died a horrible death, but at least he died thinking that his daughter was worthy of his pride. He would never have to learn that Kaia was nothing but an irresponsible whore, carrying some man’s bastard.
No, not some man. She knew who the father was, or at least could be. In truth, there were two viable possibilities, Alexandros and Xane. However, Kaia had bedded Alexandros first, weeks before Xane, but she dared not allow herself to admit that the asshole who had promised her his heart before trying to squeeze between Daniil’s legs could be the father of her unborn babe. No, it wasn’t Alexandros. She refused to accept the idea in any regard. The babe was Xane’s. Really though, that option wasn’t much better.
Either way, the babe’s father was either a disgraced ex-captain who had left the party that night and never returned, despite all that he’d told Aea. Or, the father was a slave who had to whore himself for his master. Well, Kaia would tell the child its father was Xane, and that was that. Alexandros was gone. He’d promised feelings for Kaia, then admitted to Aea that he kept a slave himself for the sole purpose of fucking. He was a beautiful man, and that had been Kaia’s undoing. He’d been too beautiful for her to ignore, but beyond his charming smile and bright blue eyes, he was filth. A man who cared more about the appendage between his legs than anything else. He’d fooled her into thinking she meant something to him, all so he could help himself to her when he felt like it. Well, at least she’d only allowed him to get his way once. But once was all it took.
Xane at least treated her like the most beautiful and desirable woman of Colchis. She knew it was his job to make her feel that way, and maybe she was a gullible sucker for honeyed whispers in her ear, but for the time she spent with Xane, she’d believed him. Kaia thought Alexandros had made her feel unique, but Xane had gone beyond that. He’d been so convincing, she actually believed that he found her desirable. She’d thought that she wouldn’t be able to forget that she’d bought his affection for the night, but she forgot very quickly. It was more than just mindless rutting with him, Xane had worshipped her like a goddess. If Kaia closed her eyes, she could still feel the soft traces of his fingers against her skin. He’d spoiled her and perhaps ruined the average man for her forever now. Perhaps—given her condition—that was for the best.
It was foolish to let her heart dwell on a whore, but she couldn’t help it. She thought about him at night before sleep took her, and she thought about him when the warm breeze brushed along the skin of her arms. She cherished the sweet words he whispered to her as they rested their bodies, their limbs entangled. If she’d been offered to give everything up to stay in that night for all eternity, she would do it in a heartbeat.
Now though, reality had sunk in. She had no family outside her cousin and unborn babe. The horrific image of her dying father plagued her nightmares still. In a way, she wished she’d just found him and her uncles dead. Then she would have only had to deal with that image in her head. But no, the bastards who killed her family left them within an inch of their life to suffer slowly. There had been no saving any of them, not in the state they’d been left, but they had enough life in them to feel agony while they waited for the gods to finally show mercy.
No one deserved to be left like that. It was sick, cruel. Her father and uncles had been far from perfect, but they still did not deserve it. Not like that. All Kaia could do at the time was bring her father a swift end to his suffering. She would forever remember the sound of his muted pleading and whimpering, as well as the metallic stench of his blood. Kaia was no stranger to death and slaughter, but never had she seen such a horrendous sight. She tried to block the memory out and look forward, but in her sleep, the moment replayed over and over, until she woke in a cold sweat, sometimes sobbing.
She hated that. Although her life had turned out better since, she still felt wrecked and ruined. She couldn’t rest at night, and her body rejected nourishment during the day. On top of that, she was with child. She’d angered the gods, but when and how, she no longer knew.
What she did know was that soon she would be incapable of doing the things she loved. She wouldn’t be able to hunt or fight. A pregnant woman was an easy target for a reason. Then she’d forever have a child to navigate through the world. Kaia had imagined that one day, she’d have a few children—likely bastards—to take along with her, but she never thought it would be so soon. She had so much she still wanted to do. She’d never manage to marry above her station now either, not that she’d had much chance of doing so before. Oh she was told often enough that she was a pretty little thing, but Kaia knew now that men just wanted to use her body to sate themselves, they didn’t have any other intention for her. The only man who had shown anything else was Xane, and he was a slave… And officially who she would claim to be the father. Alexandros decided to desert her? Well fine. He was dead to her now. He could run off to the next whore to open herself to him, Kaia no longer cared. He’d fooled her, but she would not let it happen to her again. She wouldn’t allow it.
A child. Shit. Shit.
Kaia pressed her palms into her eyes, then stood up. She swallowed hard, willing her nausea to allow her a moment of peace. She’d missed her duties again that morning thanks to her condition. That made her nervous too. She had taken a liking to the princess and had earned a friend in return. However, Kaia still had her tasks to do, and she’d been unable to do them. Kaia did not want to seem lazy or unappreciative of the opportunity, but she just couldn’t work earlier. Now at some point, she would have to announce her suspicions about being with child. As far as she could remember, she’d missed two bleeds. Kaia never really counted how long between each bleed, but they were regular enough that she should have noticed the first month she missed it. Now though, she knew it had been too long since the last one, which was before the festival in Taengea at least.
With her hands gripping the stone basin tightly, Kaia exhaled slowly. She’d not eaten since the previous afternoon and was already feeling dizzy. In such a short period, her body had grown used to stability when it came to food. She felt the pains of hunger much quicker now than before, besides when she felt nauseous at least. She wondered if the constant illness disturned the babe at all. It could only come out the way it went in though, so if her illness hurt the babe, then she would know about it. Alas, each morning her bed linen was clean.
Fuck.
She’d have to cherish her remaining time within the Kotas home, for surely she would be tossed out once her condition became clear. As much as she dreaded that day, she could not blame the royal family for the decision. She was a nobody masquerading as the princess’ retainer. Noblewomen would trip over each other for the opportunity and here she was, handed the much-coveted position all because Aea had befriended the princess. Now Kaia would be ruining everything for the both of them unless Aea chose to stay. Kaia hoped she would; it wasn’t fair for Aea to suffer for Kaia’s foolish crimes. At the same time, Kaia hoped Aea would come with her. Kaia wasn’t sure how she was going to raise the child on her own. She needed Aea more than ever, but she could never ask her cousin to pick Kaia and the child over her own happiness and opportunity.
The thought that she would be spitting in the face of the princess’ hospitality and kindness was enough to make Kaia feel sick, not that she needed any extra help there. It wasn’t like Kaia ever meant to stuff up so badly, but there was no going back now, and she had to tell the princess soon. Kaia could only imagine she would make things worse for herself and Aea if she kept her secret up until it showed itself for everyone to see.
’There you are.’
Kaia nearly jumped at the sudden sound of a familiar voice. Straightening, Kaia looked over her shoulder to see her cousin approaching. Her heart sank as she noted how well their new life seemed to suit Aea. She looked healthier, stronger. Kaia pushed the thought away and forced a strained smile. She probably looked as bad as she felt. At least her plain peplos was clean for the time being.
’Where were you this morning? We were supposed to take out the rugs.’
So that was the task she’d been too unwell to complete. Kaia opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. How was she supposed to tell her cousin that she had ruined everything for some selfish pleasure? How could she ever hope to look Aea in the eye again?
’I didn't see the prince this morning either… Did he finally give in to the charms of my love-struck cousin and spirit her to his chambers?’
Kaia’s cheeks flushed with color at the thought of Prince Vangelis sweeping her away. And there was the problem. Just the mere thought of such a fantasy was enticing. Why was she like that? Why did she seek such activities with men? Why could she not shrug away the thought and dismiss it honestly? Was something wrong with her? At least it was practically impossible for Prince Vangelis to ever do such a thing. All the times Kaia had interacted with him had been anything but romantic. She couldn’t help fawning over him. He was the tallest, largest man she’d ever seen and he embodied the very meaning of strength and power. Even if he wasn’t a prince, he would have still made her heart skip. She’d never set eyes on another man like him. He was a pipe dream that would never come to be, especially now that she was carrying the bastard of either a disgraced ex-captain or a slave whore.
“No, nothing like that,” Kaia managed, trying to feign a smile. “I’m sorry I missed our duties this morning. I was unwell.”
Kaia gave another exhale as she took hold of the basin again. She felt ill still and her stomach ached from heaving while empty. At least she didn’t feel in immediate danger of bringing up bile.
Turning to face her cousin, who was lounging on Kaia’s bed with an expectant expression, Kaia bit her bottom lip. Warily, Kaia glanced toward the open entryway to her chambers, then settled her gaze back on her cousin. She’d fought men far bigger than her and killed others. She’d hunted wild animals and even been forced to clamber up a tall tree to escape being mauled to death one time. She’d killed slavers in Megaris with Aea, yet this moment was far more intimidating than anything else she’d faced before. Aea’s opinion was all that mattered and Kaia knew it would not be positive. There was nothing to be done though and there was no way she could keep the secret around Ae; the one person left in the world who could read her so easily.
To avoid her tired and aching limbs from giving out, Kaia sat on the edge of her bed, then looked down at her hands. She wasn’t sure how much time passed before she finally found enough strength to start speaking. She just needed to get it over quickly. “I’ve not bled since we first arrived in Taengea.”
When she cast her gaze upwards again, Kaia felt like a coward. She didn’t want to see the expression on Aea’s face when she realized what Kaia was telling her. Kaia closed her eyes and swallowed. “I think I’m with child.”
Lani
Kaia
Lani
Kaia
Awards
First Impressions:Lean, athletic; Straw-blonde hair, stormy blue eyes, and a nearly permanent scowl.
Address: Your
It couldn’t be true. It couldn’t. She’d been careful, hadn’t she? Could there be any other explanation? There had to be, but there wasn’t. Deep down, she knew that it was true. She’d been careless not to realize sooner, but now she was aware and she couldn’t deny the obvious truth of her condition.
Shit.
Kaia pushed her golden hair back out of her face and stared up at the ceiling. Her throat burned from the bile she’d brought up only moments before. It seemed like she was constantly plagued with nausea now. She was better fed now than she’d ever been, yet the gods thought to amuse themselves by making her unable to keep most of her meals down. Despite her stable and consistent meals, Kaia had lost weight. She felt weaker, tired more often, and just forever at risk of throwing up what little contents her stomach held. It was a cruel joke from the gods, but perhaps not undeserved. Considering her fears seemed to be true.
Shit.
What was she supposed to do? Would the Kotas throw her back out on the street where she belonged? She couldn’t keep it a secret for long. Her stomach hadn’t begun to swell yet, but it would happen soon. It was a strange concept really, to think that there was a small child nestled inside of her.
A child. Fuck.
The very thought was enough to overwhelm her. Her chest felt tighter and she could feel the now very familiar sensation of bile creeping up her throat. At least her father wasn’t alive to be disappointed in her. He died a horrible death, but at least he died thinking that his daughter was worthy of his pride. He would never have to learn that Kaia was nothing but an irresponsible whore, carrying some man’s bastard.
No, not some man. She knew who the father was, or at least could be. In truth, there were two viable possibilities, Alexandros and Xane. However, Kaia had bedded Alexandros first, weeks before Xane, but she dared not allow herself to admit that the asshole who had promised her his heart before trying to squeeze between Daniil’s legs could be the father of her unborn babe. No, it wasn’t Alexandros. She refused to accept the idea in any regard. The babe was Xane’s. Really though, that option wasn’t much better.
Either way, the babe’s father was either a disgraced ex-captain who had left the party that night and never returned, despite all that he’d told Aea. Or, the father was a slave who had to whore himself for his master. Well, Kaia would tell the child its father was Xane, and that was that. Alexandros was gone. He’d promised feelings for Kaia, then admitted to Aea that he kept a slave himself for the sole purpose of fucking. He was a beautiful man, and that had been Kaia’s undoing. He’d been too beautiful for her to ignore, but beyond his charming smile and bright blue eyes, he was filth. A man who cared more about the appendage between his legs than anything else. He’d fooled her into thinking she meant something to him, all so he could help himself to her when he felt like it. Well, at least she’d only allowed him to get his way once. But once was all it took.
Xane at least treated her like the most beautiful and desirable woman of Colchis. She knew it was his job to make her feel that way, and maybe she was a gullible sucker for honeyed whispers in her ear, but for the time she spent with Xane, she’d believed him. Kaia thought Alexandros had made her feel unique, but Xane had gone beyond that. He’d been so convincing, she actually believed that he found her desirable. She’d thought that she wouldn’t be able to forget that she’d bought his affection for the night, but she forgot very quickly. It was more than just mindless rutting with him, Xane had worshipped her like a goddess. If Kaia closed her eyes, she could still feel the soft traces of his fingers against her skin. He’d spoiled her and perhaps ruined the average man for her forever now. Perhaps—given her condition—that was for the best.
It was foolish to let her heart dwell on a whore, but she couldn’t help it. She thought about him at night before sleep took her, and she thought about him when the warm breeze brushed along the skin of her arms. She cherished the sweet words he whispered to her as they rested their bodies, their limbs entangled. If she’d been offered to give everything up to stay in that night for all eternity, she would do it in a heartbeat.
Now though, reality had sunk in. She had no family outside her cousin and unborn babe. The horrific image of her dying father plagued her nightmares still. In a way, she wished she’d just found him and her uncles dead. Then she would have only had to deal with that image in her head. But no, the bastards who killed her family left them within an inch of their life to suffer slowly. There had been no saving any of them, not in the state they’d been left, but they had enough life in them to feel agony while they waited for the gods to finally show mercy.
No one deserved to be left like that. It was sick, cruel. Her father and uncles had been far from perfect, but they still did not deserve it. Not like that. All Kaia could do at the time was bring her father a swift end to his suffering. She would forever remember the sound of his muted pleading and whimpering, as well as the metallic stench of his blood. Kaia was no stranger to death and slaughter, but never had she seen such a horrendous sight. She tried to block the memory out and look forward, but in her sleep, the moment replayed over and over, until she woke in a cold sweat, sometimes sobbing.
She hated that. Although her life had turned out better since, she still felt wrecked and ruined. She couldn’t rest at night, and her body rejected nourishment during the day. On top of that, she was with child. She’d angered the gods, but when and how, she no longer knew.
What she did know was that soon she would be incapable of doing the things she loved. She wouldn’t be able to hunt or fight. A pregnant woman was an easy target for a reason. Then she’d forever have a child to navigate through the world. Kaia had imagined that one day, she’d have a few children—likely bastards—to take along with her, but she never thought it would be so soon. She had so much she still wanted to do. She’d never manage to marry above her station now either, not that she’d had much chance of doing so before. Oh she was told often enough that she was a pretty little thing, but Kaia knew now that men just wanted to use her body to sate themselves, they didn’t have any other intention for her. The only man who had shown anything else was Xane, and he was a slave… And officially who she would claim to be the father. Alexandros decided to desert her? Well fine. He was dead to her now. He could run off to the next whore to open herself to him, Kaia no longer cared. He’d fooled her, but she would not let it happen to her again. She wouldn’t allow it.
A child. Shit. Shit.
Kaia pressed her palms into her eyes, then stood up. She swallowed hard, willing her nausea to allow her a moment of peace. She’d missed her duties again that morning thanks to her condition. That made her nervous too. She had taken a liking to the princess and had earned a friend in return. However, Kaia still had her tasks to do, and she’d been unable to do them. Kaia did not want to seem lazy or unappreciative of the opportunity, but she just couldn’t work earlier. Now at some point, she would have to announce her suspicions about being with child. As far as she could remember, she’d missed two bleeds. Kaia never really counted how long between each bleed, but they were regular enough that she should have noticed the first month she missed it. Now though, she knew it had been too long since the last one, which was before the festival in Taengea at least.
With her hands gripping the stone basin tightly, Kaia exhaled slowly. She’d not eaten since the previous afternoon and was already feeling dizzy. In such a short period, her body had grown used to stability when it came to food. She felt the pains of hunger much quicker now than before, besides when she felt nauseous at least. She wondered if the constant illness disturned the babe at all. It could only come out the way it went in though, so if her illness hurt the babe, then she would know about it. Alas, each morning her bed linen was clean.
Fuck.
She’d have to cherish her remaining time within the Kotas home, for surely she would be tossed out once her condition became clear. As much as she dreaded that day, she could not blame the royal family for the decision. She was a nobody masquerading as the princess’ retainer. Noblewomen would trip over each other for the opportunity and here she was, handed the much-coveted position all because Aea had befriended the princess. Now Kaia would be ruining everything for the both of them unless Aea chose to stay. Kaia hoped she would; it wasn’t fair for Aea to suffer for Kaia’s foolish crimes. At the same time, Kaia hoped Aea would come with her. Kaia wasn’t sure how she was going to raise the child on her own. She needed Aea more than ever, but she could never ask her cousin to pick Kaia and the child over her own happiness and opportunity.
The thought that she would be spitting in the face of the princess’ hospitality and kindness was enough to make Kaia feel sick, not that she needed any extra help there. It wasn’t like Kaia ever meant to stuff up so badly, but there was no going back now, and she had to tell the princess soon. Kaia could only imagine she would make things worse for herself and Aea if she kept her secret up until it showed itself for everyone to see.
’There you are.’
Kaia nearly jumped at the sudden sound of a familiar voice. Straightening, Kaia looked over her shoulder to see her cousin approaching. Her heart sank as she noted how well their new life seemed to suit Aea. She looked healthier, stronger. Kaia pushed the thought away and forced a strained smile. She probably looked as bad as she felt. At least her plain peplos was clean for the time being.
’Where were you this morning? We were supposed to take out the rugs.’
So that was the task she’d been too unwell to complete. Kaia opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. How was she supposed to tell her cousin that she had ruined everything for some selfish pleasure? How could she ever hope to look Aea in the eye again?
’I didn't see the prince this morning either… Did he finally give in to the charms of my love-struck cousin and spirit her to his chambers?’
Kaia’s cheeks flushed with color at the thought of Prince Vangelis sweeping her away. And there was the problem. Just the mere thought of such a fantasy was enticing. Why was she like that? Why did she seek such activities with men? Why could she not shrug away the thought and dismiss it honestly? Was something wrong with her? At least it was practically impossible for Prince Vangelis to ever do such a thing. All the times Kaia had interacted with him had been anything but romantic. She couldn’t help fawning over him. He was the tallest, largest man she’d ever seen and he embodied the very meaning of strength and power. Even if he wasn’t a prince, he would have still made her heart skip. She’d never set eyes on another man like him. He was a pipe dream that would never come to be, especially now that she was carrying the bastard of either a disgraced ex-captain or a slave whore.
“No, nothing like that,” Kaia managed, trying to feign a smile. “I’m sorry I missed our duties this morning. I was unwell.”
Kaia gave another exhale as she took hold of the basin again. She felt ill still and her stomach ached from heaving while empty. At least she didn’t feel in immediate danger of bringing up bile.
Turning to face her cousin, who was lounging on Kaia’s bed with an expectant expression, Kaia bit her bottom lip. Warily, Kaia glanced toward the open entryway to her chambers, then settled her gaze back on her cousin. She’d fought men far bigger than her and killed others. She’d hunted wild animals and even been forced to clamber up a tall tree to escape being mauled to death one time. She’d killed slavers in Megaris with Aea, yet this moment was far more intimidating than anything else she’d faced before. Aea’s opinion was all that mattered and Kaia knew it would not be positive. There was nothing to be done though and there was no way she could keep the secret around Ae; the one person left in the world who could read her so easily.
To avoid her tired and aching limbs from giving out, Kaia sat on the edge of her bed, then looked down at her hands. She wasn’t sure how much time passed before she finally found enough strength to start speaking. She just needed to get it over quickly. “I’ve not bled since we first arrived in Taengea.”
When she cast her gaze upwards again, Kaia felt like a coward. She didn’t want to see the expression on Aea’s face when she realized what Kaia was telling her. Kaia closed her eyes and swallowed. “I think I’m with child.”
Shit.
Fucking shit, fuck.
Shit.
It couldn’t be true. It couldn’t. She’d been careful, hadn’t she? Could there be any other explanation? There had to be, but there wasn’t. Deep down, she knew that it was true. She’d been careless not to realize sooner, but now she was aware and she couldn’t deny the obvious truth of her condition.
Shit.
Kaia pushed her golden hair back out of her face and stared up at the ceiling. Her throat burned from the bile she’d brought up only moments before. It seemed like she was constantly plagued with nausea now. She was better fed now than she’d ever been, yet the gods thought to amuse themselves by making her unable to keep most of her meals down. Despite her stable and consistent meals, Kaia had lost weight. She felt weaker, tired more often, and just forever at risk of throwing up what little contents her stomach held. It was a cruel joke from the gods, but perhaps not undeserved. Considering her fears seemed to be true.
Shit.
What was she supposed to do? Would the Kotas throw her back out on the street where she belonged? She couldn’t keep it a secret for long. Her stomach hadn’t begun to swell yet, but it would happen soon. It was a strange concept really, to think that there was a small child nestled inside of her.
A child. Fuck.
The very thought was enough to overwhelm her. Her chest felt tighter and she could feel the now very familiar sensation of bile creeping up her throat. At least her father wasn’t alive to be disappointed in her. He died a horrible death, but at least he died thinking that his daughter was worthy of his pride. He would never have to learn that Kaia was nothing but an irresponsible whore, carrying some man’s bastard.
No, not some man. She knew who the father was, or at least could be. In truth, there were two viable possibilities, Alexandros and Xane. However, Kaia had bedded Alexandros first, weeks before Xane, but she dared not allow herself to admit that the asshole who had promised her his heart before trying to squeeze between Daniil’s legs could be the father of her unborn babe. No, it wasn’t Alexandros. She refused to accept the idea in any regard. The babe was Xane’s. Really though, that option wasn’t much better.
Either way, the babe’s father was either a disgraced ex-captain who had left the party that night and never returned, despite all that he’d told Aea. Or, the father was a slave who had to whore himself for his master. Well, Kaia would tell the child its father was Xane, and that was that. Alexandros was gone. He’d promised feelings for Kaia, then admitted to Aea that he kept a slave himself for the sole purpose of fucking. He was a beautiful man, and that had been Kaia’s undoing. He’d been too beautiful for her to ignore, but beyond his charming smile and bright blue eyes, he was filth. A man who cared more about the appendage between his legs than anything else. He’d fooled her into thinking she meant something to him, all so he could help himself to her when he felt like it. Well, at least she’d only allowed him to get his way once. But once was all it took.
Xane at least treated her like the most beautiful and desirable woman of Colchis. She knew it was his job to make her feel that way, and maybe she was a gullible sucker for honeyed whispers in her ear, but for the time she spent with Xane, she’d believed him. Kaia thought Alexandros had made her feel unique, but Xane had gone beyond that. He’d been so convincing, she actually believed that he found her desirable. She’d thought that she wouldn’t be able to forget that she’d bought his affection for the night, but she forgot very quickly. It was more than just mindless rutting with him, Xane had worshipped her like a goddess. If Kaia closed her eyes, she could still feel the soft traces of his fingers against her skin. He’d spoiled her and perhaps ruined the average man for her forever now. Perhaps—given her condition—that was for the best.
It was foolish to let her heart dwell on a whore, but she couldn’t help it. She thought about him at night before sleep took her, and she thought about him when the warm breeze brushed along the skin of her arms. She cherished the sweet words he whispered to her as they rested their bodies, their limbs entangled. If she’d been offered to give everything up to stay in that night for all eternity, she would do it in a heartbeat.
Now though, reality had sunk in. She had no family outside her cousin and unborn babe. The horrific image of her dying father plagued her nightmares still. In a way, she wished she’d just found him and her uncles dead. Then she would have only had to deal with that image in her head. But no, the bastards who killed her family left them within an inch of their life to suffer slowly. There had been no saving any of them, not in the state they’d been left, but they had enough life in them to feel agony while they waited for the gods to finally show mercy.
No one deserved to be left like that. It was sick, cruel. Her father and uncles had been far from perfect, but they still did not deserve it. Not like that. All Kaia could do at the time was bring her father a swift end to his suffering. She would forever remember the sound of his muted pleading and whimpering, as well as the metallic stench of his blood. Kaia was no stranger to death and slaughter, but never had she seen such a horrendous sight. She tried to block the memory out and look forward, but in her sleep, the moment replayed over and over, until she woke in a cold sweat, sometimes sobbing.
She hated that. Although her life had turned out better since, she still felt wrecked and ruined. She couldn’t rest at night, and her body rejected nourishment during the day. On top of that, she was with child. She’d angered the gods, but when and how, she no longer knew.
What she did know was that soon she would be incapable of doing the things she loved. She wouldn’t be able to hunt or fight. A pregnant woman was an easy target for a reason. Then she’d forever have a child to navigate through the world. Kaia had imagined that one day, she’d have a few children—likely bastards—to take along with her, but she never thought it would be so soon. She had so much she still wanted to do. She’d never manage to marry above her station now either, not that she’d had much chance of doing so before. Oh she was told often enough that she was a pretty little thing, but Kaia knew now that men just wanted to use her body to sate themselves, they didn’t have any other intention for her. The only man who had shown anything else was Xane, and he was a slave… And officially who she would claim to be the father. Alexandros decided to desert her? Well fine. He was dead to her now. He could run off to the next whore to open herself to him, Kaia no longer cared. He’d fooled her, but she would not let it happen to her again. She wouldn’t allow it.
A child. Shit. Shit.
Kaia pressed her palms into her eyes, then stood up. She swallowed hard, willing her nausea to allow her a moment of peace. She’d missed her duties again that morning thanks to her condition. That made her nervous too. She had taken a liking to the princess and had earned a friend in return. However, Kaia still had her tasks to do, and she’d been unable to do them. Kaia did not want to seem lazy or unappreciative of the opportunity, but she just couldn’t work earlier. Now at some point, she would have to announce her suspicions about being with child. As far as she could remember, she’d missed two bleeds. Kaia never really counted how long between each bleed, but they were regular enough that she should have noticed the first month she missed it. Now though, she knew it had been too long since the last one, which was before the festival in Taengea at least.
With her hands gripping the stone basin tightly, Kaia exhaled slowly. She’d not eaten since the previous afternoon and was already feeling dizzy. In such a short period, her body had grown used to stability when it came to food. She felt the pains of hunger much quicker now than before, besides when she felt nauseous at least. She wondered if the constant illness disturned the babe at all. It could only come out the way it went in though, so if her illness hurt the babe, then she would know about it. Alas, each morning her bed linen was clean.
Fuck.
She’d have to cherish her remaining time within the Kotas home, for surely she would be tossed out once her condition became clear. As much as she dreaded that day, she could not blame the royal family for the decision. She was a nobody masquerading as the princess’ retainer. Noblewomen would trip over each other for the opportunity and here she was, handed the much-coveted position all because Aea had befriended the princess. Now Kaia would be ruining everything for the both of them unless Aea chose to stay. Kaia hoped she would; it wasn’t fair for Aea to suffer for Kaia’s foolish crimes. At the same time, Kaia hoped Aea would come with her. Kaia wasn’t sure how she was going to raise the child on her own. She needed Aea more than ever, but she could never ask her cousin to pick Kaia and the child over her own happiness and opportunity.
The thought that she would be spitting in the face of the princess’ hospitality and kindness was enough to make Kaia feel sick, not that she needed any extra help there. It wasn’t like Kaia ever meant to stuff up so badly, but there was no going back now, and she had to tell the princess soon. Kaia could only imagine she would make things worse for herself and Aea if she kept her secret up until it showed itself for everyone to see.
’There you are.’
Kaia nearly jumped at the sudden sound of a familiar voice. Straightening, Kaia looked over her shoulder to see her cousin approaching. Her heart sank as she noted how well their new life seemed to suit Aea. She looked healthier, stronger. Kaia pushed the thought away and forced a strained smile. She probably looked as bad as she felt. At least her plain peplos was clean for the time being.
’Where were you this morning? We were supposed to take out the rugs.’
So that was the task she’d been too unwell to complete. Kaia opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. How was she supposed to tell her cousin that she had ruined everything for some selfish pleasure? How could she ever hope to look Aea in the eye again?
’I didn't see the prince this morning either… Did he finally give in to the charms of my love-struck cousin and spirit her to his chambers?’
Kaia’s cheeks flushed with color at the thought of Prince Vangelis sweeping her away. And there was the problem. Just the mere thought of such a fantasy was enticing. Why was she like that? Why did she seek such activities with men? Why could she not shrug away the thought and dismiss it honestly? Was something wrong with her? At least it was practically impossible for Prince Vangelis to ever do such a thing. All the times Kaia had interacted with him had been anything but romantic. She couldn’t help fawning over him. He was the tallest, largest man she’d ever seen and he embodied the very meaning of strength and power. Even if he wasn’t a prince, he would have still made her heart skip. She’d never set eyes on another man like him. He was a pipe dream that would never come to be, especially now that she was carrying the bastard of either a disgraced ex-captain or a slave whore.
“No, nothing like that,” Kaia managed, trying to feign a smile. “I’m sorry I missed our duties this morning. I was unwell.”
Kaia gave another exhale as she took hold of the basin again. She felt ill still and her stomach ached from heaving while empty. At least she didn’t feel in immediate danger of bringing up bile.
Turning to face her cousin, who was lounging on Kaia’s bed with an expectant expression, Kaia bit her bottom lip. Warily, Kaia glanced toward the open entryway to her chambers, then settled her gaze back on her cousin. She’d fought men far bigger than her and killed others. She’d hunted wild animals and even been forced to clamber up a tall tree to escape being mauled to death one time. She’d killed slavers in Megaris with Aea, yet this moment was far more intimidating than anything else she’d faced before. Aea’s opinion was all that mattered and Kaia knew it would not be positive. There was nothing to be done though and there was no way she could keep the secret around Ae; the one person left in the world who could read her so easily.
To avoid her tired and aching limbs from giving out, Kaia sat on the edge of her bed, then looked down at her hands. She wasn’t sure how much time passed before she finally found enough strength to start speaking. She just needed to get it over quickly. “I’ve not bled since we first arrived in Taengea.”
When she cast her gaze upwards again, Kaia felt like a coward. She didn’t want to see the expression on Aea’s face when she realized what Kaia was telling her. Kaia closed her eyes and swallowed. “I think I’m with child.”
"No, nothing like that." Kaia was always bad at pretending. Always terrible at hiding things behind an attempt to smile. “I’m sorry I missed our duties this morning. I was unwell.”
A breeze rolled through the small open window and caught the golden strands lain on Kaia's shoulders. The noon sun crawling through the window could not stretch far enough to touch upon the girl in the shadows of the wall.
Contours of bright grey and near-black shifted beneath the soft curves of Kaia's cheekbones and crept beneath her tempest-blue eyes. Like a song, Kaia's expression shifted from the light to the dark and cast the room in something ancient that Aea could not name but felt all the same. It strangled her bones and pierced her innards as keenly as a knife.
Aea did not move save to swallow the ball of apprehension clogging her throat.
"It's alright," She said quietly. No more, no less. Kaia was not the type to open under interrogation but like a bloom, unfurl in her own time.
Kaia grabbed the basin in front of her, fair knuckles bleeding a little paler. Aea watched her with care and a cautious breath held as her cousin slowly twisted toward her. She gnawed her bottom lip and cast a wary glance to the archway of her chambers, black eyelashes brushing the tops of her cheeks as she looked down again, slowly turning her gaze to Aea once more.
A leaf would be hard-pressed to flutter so quietly to the ground as Kaia did upon the bed. Folding, almost. Her hands acted as the single point of focus. Guilt, shame. Aea was not accustomed to seeing it on her cousin. What have you done, Kaia?
“I’ve not bled since we first arrived in Taengea.”
Aea’s eyebrows drew down, confusion clear in the slight turn of her chin. Possibilities fought for dominance in the battlefield of her spacial mind, Kaia’s lengthy silence allowing them to clash in a bloody campaign rather than call truce.
Had she not fought a blade since and thirsted for blood? When did Kaia ever bleed save for when she tripped and skinned herself, or when some poor sod gave them coin in exchange for kissing them with his dagger? But...in Megaris. She'd bled then. What did that mean?
A cryptic, tense quiet dared Aea to press for more, but she didn't. Not until her anxiety proved stronger than her patience. When she grew tired enough of her ignorance and opened her mouth to say as much, Kaia looked to her and closed her eyes and the answer tumbled from her lips.
"I think I’m with child.”
Robbed of breath and word, it was the last thing Aea expected to come from her cousin's mouth. Her thoughts ceased abruptly, the surprise of it like being kicked suddenly awake. With child. Pregnant. How?
Aea blinked. Her first instinct was not kind. Harsh, even. But she was a creature of chaos and thrived in her anxiety. It was when she was calm that she was carless, unobservant, clumsy, and did not think before she spoke. Right now, she was not calm, and so she choked her instinct. Her mind fell to where her heart should be, though it was not certain how long it would last. This could be fixed. Aea did not know how, she did not know the first thing about children or marriage or what was best. But this could be fixed; all things could.
Slowly, she lifted onto her hands and crawled to Kaia’s side, her words stuck in her throat. What could she say? I don’t want you to die, too. Her hand drifted to Kaia’s shoulder. And in a rare moment, her mind was not strong enough to keep her pounding heart at bay. Thinking, logic, reason, it only lasted a moment and feeling came roaring back. Aea wanted to hit her, the muscles in her arm were coiled and ready for it. She was scared and she wanted to hit Kaia because anger felt better than fear.
“It’s alright,” she whispered. Gently, she clasped Kaia’s shoulder and pulled her legs to hang over the bed, her toes grazing against the floor. Aea smiled and tilted her head to peer into Kaia’s face, willing every dark thought deep into her brain so it wouldn’t surface, willing her too-hot blood to cool.
“It’s good news, yes? You’ve always said you would have children. Think of what a good life we will give them.” Don’t you dare die.
How could they stay here? Retainers to the princess were…they were nobles, and yet Asia had picked Aea and Kaia out of all of them. This would make her look…like something. The Kotas had a perfect image, standards, the best conduct, and Aea was trying her best to make sure she did not ruin it. This would ruin it. They would have to leave.
“Is this what you want, Kaia?” I cannot do this. “Don’t worry about what people think, what do you want? We will make sure you have it, I promise.”
They needed something. Somebody. To fix this. Gods, how did this happen. Alexandros? No, not him. Please not him. He was not the man Agolois would give Kaia to. He trusted Aea to take care of Kaia and make sure she was happy because he could not be here to make sure and Alexandros would crush her spirit. Not Alexandros.
"I will take care of you, I promise. It's a good thing I put so much in savings already, we will have enough money to buy a house soon enough." She spent her money on a giant lyre that was now broken, then two xiphos. She had no savings.
Aea's eyes flicked down to Kaia's stomach, but she could see no evidence of a baby in there. She'd never even seen a baby up close. How was she to take care of one? What if it died? What if she could not feed it, or could not heal it when it was sick? What if she got angry and hit it? What if she killed it? A baby. She could not do this.
"I won't let anything happen to you." She did not know if she was talking to Kaia or herself. Kaia's skin was warm under her arm as she slipped it across her shoulders, holding her. She did not know for whose sake. "It is good. Babies are good. You will be a wonderful mother, I know it. And Callie would be so happy to hear she had a grandchild. It will be beautiful and kind just like you. And we will teach them all the things they need to know, and we will be a family. I won't let anything bad happen."
A child. Do not cry. She would not cry. This was frightening. More than being held beneath the waves and not knowing if she would be let up. More than the dark caves of Athenia. More than not knowing if she would survive. More than sliding a knife into her uncle's heart to release him. More than anything. But Kaia was the one who might die. She was the one who did not know what would happen to her and the babe. Alone. She must feel so very alone. And scared. Aea wished she could reach inside and take it away because she could do nothing to make Kaia feel safe. But she was safe. She would not die. But what if she did.
"You are not alone, alright? I will be here always. You have to know that. You're mine, and I'm yours, and you are my family and I'll never let you go. Alright?"
She promised Agolois. She promised she would take care of his daughter. She promised and he was dead, and she would not let him down. She wouldn't let Callie or Kaia down. She promised she would take care of Asia too. She wouldn't let Kaia leave her, not by death and not by the hand of man. Never. Or the baby. She promised. She would make this work. She would not lose anyone. Not another person.
The world suddenly seemed so much bigger. More dangerous in a way it hadn't been before. Heavy. Stifling. They could do this. It had always been them. She could not face this world without Kaia in it. Kaia had always been there for Aea, and even when she learned how to stop crying, Kaia knew when she was scared or hurt and she was always there and now it was Aea's turn to take care of her. Kaia saved her. She was the only reason Aea thought she was strong enough to face another morning. Kaia had believed in her, had taken care of her. Aea would do the same. And she would always. Always.
Aea ran her fingers through the ends of Kaia’s hair, not so soft and full as usual. She pressed gentle fingers against her cousin’s head and coaxed her ear to rest against her heartbeat. When Agogos was a chick, he used to only fall asleep cupped to her heartbeat. Callie used to hold her like this when Kaia did not need to be held. When Hektos was not paying attention.
Aea's lips pressed into a flat line and she stared blankly ahead, running idle fingers though Kaia’s hair. How strong Callie must have been. She did not ask for Aea, she could have let Aea go without milk and die, but she’d taken her and made sure she survived even when she had a babe of her own.
No crying, now. She’d say. All hurts heal, it only takes a little time and a magic song. Do you need a magic song? And Aea would nod ‘yes,’ and then Callie would hum her magic song until it worked. She really thought they were magic then. Maybe they were. Aea missed her so keenly right now, but she knew Kaia missed her mother far more than Aea ever could. Callie should be here with her daughter now, but she wasn’t. All Kaia had was Aea. A poor shadow of a substitute, but she would do her best. She promised.
Arra
Aea
Arra
Aea
Awards
First Impressions:Hourglass; Glossy black hair that falls to her hips, piercing blue eyes, a voluptuous figure, and a serious, concentrated expression.
Address: Your
First Impressions:Hourglass; Glossy black hair that falls to her hips, piercing blue eyes, a voluptuous figure, and a serious, concentrated expression.
Address: Your
"No, nothing like that." Kaia was always bad at pretending. Always terrible at hiding things behind an attempt to smile. “I’m sorry I missed our duties this morning. I was unwell.”
A breeze rolled through the small open window and caught the golden strands lain on Kaia's shoulders. The noon sun crawling through the window could not stretch far enough to touch upon the girl in the shadows of the wall.
Contours of bright grey and near-black shifted beneath the soft curves of Kaia's cheekbones and crept beneath her tempest-blue eyes. Like a song, Kaia's expression shifted from the light to the dark and cast the room in something ancient that Aea could not name but felt all the same. It strangled her bones and pierced her innards as keenly as a knife.
Aea did not move save to swallow the ball of apprehension clogging her throat.
"It's alright," She said quietly. No more, no less. Kaia was not the type to open under interrogation but like a bloom, unfurl in her own time.
Kaia grabbed the basin in front of her, fair knuckles bleeding a little paler. Aea watched her with care and a cautious breath held as her cousin slowly twisted toward her. She gnawed her bottom lip and cast a wary glance to the archway of her chambers, black eyelashes brushing the tops of her cheeks as she looked down again, slowly turning her gaze to Aea once more.
A leaf would be hard-pressed to flutter so quietly to the ground as Kaia did upon the bed. Folding, almost. Her hands acted as the single point of focus. Guilt, shame. Aea was not accustomed to seeing it on her cousin. What have you done, Kaia?
“I’ve not bled since we first arrived in Taengea.”
Aea’s eyebrows drew down, confusion clear in the slight turn of her chin. Possibilities fought for dominance in the battlefield of her spacial mind, Kaia’s lengthy silence allowing them to clash in a bloody campaign rather than call truce.
Had she not fought a blade since and thirsted for blood? When did Kaia ever bleed save for when she tripped and skinned herself, or when some poor sod gave them coin in exchange for kissing them with his dagger? But...in Megaris. She'd bled then. What did that mean?
A cryptic, tense quiet dared Aea to press for more, but she didn't. Not until her anxiety proved stronger than her patience. When she grew tired enough of her ignorance and opened her mouth to say as much, Kaia looked to her and closed her eyes and the answer tumbled from her lips.
"I think I’m with child.”
Robbed of breath and word, it was the last thing Aea expected to come from her cousin's mouth. Her thoughts ceased abruptly, the surprise of it like being kicked suddenly awake. With child. Pregnant. How?
Aea blinked. Her first instinct was not kind. Harsh, even. But she was a creature of chaos and thrived in her anxiety. It was when she was calm that she was carless, unobservant, clumsy, and did not think before she spoke. Right now, she was not calm, and so she choked her instinct. Her mind fell to where her heart should be, though it was not certain how long it would last. This could be fixed. Aea did not know how, she did not know the first thing about children or marriage or what was best. But this could be fixed; all things could.
Slowly, she lifted onto her hands and crawled to Kaia’s side, her words stuck in her throat. What could she say? I don’t want you to die, too. Her hand drifted to Kaia’s shoulder. And in a rare moment, her mind was not strong enough to keep her pounding heart at bay. Thinking, logic, reason, it only lasted a moment and feeling came roaring back. Aea wanted to hit her, the muscles in her arm were coiled and ready for it. She was scared and she wanted to hit Kaia because anger felt better than fear.
“It’s alright,” she whispered. Gently, she clasped Kaia’s shoulder and pulled her legs to hang over the bed, her toes grazing against the floor. Aea smiled and tilted her head to peer into Kaia’s face, willing every dark thought deep into her brain so it wouldn’t surface, willing her too-hot blood to cool.
“It’s good news, yes? You’ve always said you would have children. Think of what a good life we will give them.” Don’t you dare die.
How could they stay here? Retainers to the princess were…they were nobles, and yet Asia had picked Aea and Kaia out of all of them. This would make her look…like something. The Kotas had a perfect image, standards, the best conduct, and Aea was trying her best to make sure she did not ruin it. This would ruin it. They would have to leave.
“Is this what you want, Kaia?” I cannot do this. “Don’t worry about what people think, what do you want? We will make sure you have it, I promise.”
They needed something. Somebody. To fix this. Gods, how did this happen. Alexandros? No, not him. Please not him. He was not the man Agolois would give Kaia to. He trusted Aea to take care of Kaia and make sure she was happy because he could not be here to make sure and Alexandros would crush her spirit. Not Alexandros.
"I will take care of you, I promise. It's a good thing I put so much in savings already, we will have enough money to buy a house soon enough." She spent her money on a giant lyre that was now broken, then two xiphos. She had no savings.
Aea's eyes flicked down to Kaia's stomach, but she could see no evidence of a baby in there. She'd never even seen a baby up close. How was she to take care of one? What if it died? What if she could not feed it, or could not heal it when it was sick? What if she got angry and hit it? What if she killed it? A baby. She could not do this.
"I won't let anything happen to you." She did not know if she was talking to Kaia or herself. Kaia's skin was warm under her arm as she slipped it across her shoulders, holding her. She did not know for whose sake. "It is good. Babies are good. You will be a wonderful mother, I know it. And Callie would be so happy to hear she had a grandchild. It will be beautiful and kind just like you. And we will teach them all the things they need to know, and we will be a family. I won't let anything bad happen."
A child. Do not cry. She would not cry. This was frightening. More than being held beneath the waves and not knowing if she would be let up. More than the dark caves of Athenia. More than not knowing if she would survive. More than sliding a knife into her uncle's heart to release him. More than anything. But Kaia was the one who might die. She was the one who did not know what would happen to her and the babe. Alone. She must feel so very alone. And scared. Aea wished she could reach inside and take it away because she could do nothing to make Kaia feel safe. But she was safe. She would not die. But what if she did.
"You are not alone, alright? I will be here always. You have to know that. You're mine, and I'm yours, and you are my family and I'll never let you go. Alright?"
She promised Agolois. She promised she would take care of his daughter. She promised and he was dead, and she would not let him down. She wouldn't let Callie or Kaia down. She promised she would take care of Asia too. She wouldn't let Kaia leave her, not by death and not by the hand of man. Never. Or the baby. She promised. She would make this work. She would not lose anyone. Not another person.
The world suddenly seemed so much bigger. More dangerous in a way it hadn't been before. Heavy. Stifling. They could do this. It had always been them. She could not face this world without Kaia in it. Kaia had always been there for Aea, and even when she learned how to stop crying, Kaia knew when she was scared or hurt and she was always there and now it was Aea's turn to take care of her. Kaia saved her. She was the only reason Aea thought she was strong enough to face another morning. Kaia had believed in her, had taken care of her. Aea would do the same. And she would always. Always.
Aea ran her fingers through the ends of Kaia’s hair, not so soft and full as usual. She pressed gentle fingers against her cousin’s head and coaxed her ear to rest against her heartbeat. When Agogos was a chick, he used to only fall asleep cupped to her heartbeat. Callie used to hold her like this when Kaia did not need to be held. When Hektos was not paying attention.
Aea's lips pressed into a flat line and she stared blankly ahead, running idle fingers though Kaia’s hair. How strong Callie must have been. She did not ask for Aea, she could have let Aea go without milk and die, but she’d taken her and made sure she survived even when she had a babe of her own.
No crying, now. She’d say. All hurts heal, it only takes a little time and a magic song. Do you need a magic song? And Aea would nod ‘yes,’ and then Callie would hum her magic song until it worked. She really thought they were magic then. Maybe they were. Aea missed her so keenly right now, but she knew Kaia missed her mother far more than Aea ever could. Callie should be here with her daughter now, but she wasn’t. All Kaia had was Aea. A poor shadow of a substitute, but she would do her best. She promised.
"No, nothing like that." Kaia was always bad at pretending. Always terrible at hiding things behind an attempt to smile. “I’m sorry I missed our duties this morning. I was unwell.”
A breeze rolled through the small open window and caught the golden strands lain on Kaia's shoulders. The noon sun crawling through the window could not stretch far enough to touch upon the girl in the shadows of the wall.
Contours of bright grey and near-black shifted beneath the soft curves of Kaia's cheekbones and crept beneath her tempest-blue eyes. Like a song, Kaia's expression shifted from the light to the dark and cast the room in something ancient that Aea could not name but felt all the same. It strangled her bones and pierced her innards as keenly as a knife.
Aea did not move save to swallow the ball of apprehension clogging her throat.
"It's alright," She said quietly. No more, no less. Kaia was not the type to open under interrogation but like a bloom, unfurl in her own time.
Kaia grabbed the basin in front of her, fair knuckles bleeding a little paler. Aea watched her with care and a cautious breath held as her cousin slowly twisted toward her. She gnawed her bottom lip and cast a wary glance to the archway of her chambers, black eyelashes brushing the tops of her cheeks as she looked down again, slowly turning her gaze to Aea once more.
A leaf would be hard-pressed to flutter so quietly to the ground as Kaia did upon the bed. Folding, almost. Her hands acted as the single point of focus. Guilt, shame. Aea was not accustomed to seeing it on her cousin. What have you done, Kaia?
“I’ve not bled since we first arrived in Taengea.”
Aea’s eyebrows drew down, confusion clear in the slight turn of her chin. Possibilities fought for dominance in the battlefield of her spacial mind, Kaia’s lengthy silence allowing them to clash in a bloody campaign rather than call truce.
Had she not fought a blade since and thirsted for blood? When did Kaia ever bleed save for when she tripped and skinned herself, or when some poor sod gave them coin in exchange for kissing them with his dagger? But...in Megaris. She'd bled then. What did that mean?
A cryptic, tense quiet dared Aea to press for more, but she didn't. Not until her anxiety proved stronger than her patience. When she grew tired enough of her ignorance and opened her mouth to say as much, Kaia looked to her and closed her eyes and the answer tumbled from her lips.
"I think I’m with child.”
Robbed of breath and word, it was the last thing Aea expected to come from her cousin's mouth. Her thoughts ceased abruptly, the surprise of it like being kicked suddenly awake. With child. Pregnant. How?
Aea blinked. Her first instinct was not kind. Harsh, even. But she was a creature of chaos and thrived in her anxiety. It was when she was calm that she was carless, unobservant, clumsy, and did not think before she spoke. Right now, she was not calm, and so she choked her instinct. Her mind fell to where her heart should be, though it was not certain how long it would last. This could be fixed. Aea did not know how, she did not know the first thing about children or marriage or what was best. But this could be fixed; all things could.
Slowly, she lifted onto her hands and crawled to Kaia’s side, her words stuck in her throat. What could she say? I don’t want you to die, too. Her hand drifted to Kaia’s shoulder. And in a rare moment, her mind was not strong enough to keep her pounding heart at bay. Thinking, logic, reason, it only lasted a moment and feeling came roaring back. Aea wanted to hit her, the muscles in her arm were coiled and ready for it. She was scared and she wanted to hit Kaia because anger felt better than fear.
“It’s alright,” she whispered. Gently, she clasped Kaia’s shoulder and pulled her legs to hang over the bed, her toes grazing against the floor. Aea smiled and tilted her head to peer into Kaia’s face, willing every dark thought deep into her brain so it wouldn’t surface, willing her too-hot blood to cool.
“It’s good news, yes? You’ve always said you would have children. Think of what a good life we will give them.” Don’t you dare die.
How could they stay here? Retainers to the princess were…they were nobles, and yet Asia had picked Aea and Kaia out of all of them. This would make her look…like something. The Kotas had a perfect image, standards, the best conduct, and Aea was trying her best to make sure she did not ruin it. This would ruin it. They would have to leave.
“Is this what you want, Kaia?” I cannot do this. “Don’t worry about what people think, what do you want? We will make sure you have it, I promise.”
They needed something. Somebody. To fix this. Gods, how did this happen. Alexandros? No, not him. Please not him. He was not the man Agolois would give Kaia to. He trusted Aea to take care of Kaia and make sure she was happy because he could not be here to make sure and Alexandros would crush her spirit. Not Alexandros.
"I will take care of you, I promise. It's a good thing I put so much in savings already, we will have enough money to buy a house soon enough." She spent her money on a giant lyre that was now broken, then two xiphos. She had no savings.
Aea's eyes flicked down to Kaia's stomach, but she could see no evidence of a baby in there. She'd never even seen a baby up close. How was she to take care of one? What if it died? What if she could not feed it, or could not heal it when it was sick? What if she got angry and hit it? What if she killed it? A baby. She could not do this.
"I won't let anything happen to you." She did not know if she was talking to Kaia or herself. Kaia's skin was warm under her arm as she slipped it across her shoulders, holding her. She did not know for whose sake. "It is good. Babies are good. You will be a wonderful mother, I know it. And Callie would be so happy to hear she had a grandchild. It will be beautiful and kind just like you. And we will teach them all the things they need to know, and we will be a family. I won't let anything bad happen."
A child. Do not cry. She would not cry. This was frightening. More than being held beneath the waves and not knowing if she would be let up. More than the dark caves of Athenia. More than not knowing if she would survive. More than sliding a knife into her uncle's heart to release him. More than anything. But Kaia was the one who might die. She was the one who did not know what would happen to her and the babe. Alone. She must feel so very alone. And scared. Aea wished she could reach inside and take it away because she could do nothing to make Kaia feel safe. But she was safe. She would not die. But what if she did.
"You are not alone, alright? I will be here always. You have to know that. You're mine, and I'm yours, and you are my family and I'll never let you go. Alright?"
She promised Agolois. She promised she would take care of his daughter. She promised and he was dead, and she would not let him down. She wouldn't let Callie or Kaia down. She promised she would take care of Asia too. She wouldn't let Kaia leave her, not by death and not by the hand of man. Never. Or the baby. She promised. She would make this work. She would not lose anyone. Not another person.
The world suddenly seemed so much bigger. More dangerous in a way it hadn't been before. Heavy. Stifling. They could do this. It had always been them. She could not face this world without Kaia in it. Kaia had always been there for Aea, and even when she learned how to stop crying, Kaia knew when she was scared or hurt and she was always there and now it was Aea's turn to take care of her. Kaia saved her. She was the only reason Aea thought she was strong enough to face another morning. Kaia had believed in her, had taken care of her. Aea would do the same. And she would always. Always.
Aea ran her fingers through the ends of Kaia’s hair, not so soft and full as usual. She pressed gentle fingers against her cousin’s head and coaxed her ear to rest against her heartbeat. When Agogos was a chick, he used to only fall asleep cupped to her heartbeat. Callie used to hold her like this when Kaia did not need to be held. When Hektos was not paying attention.
Aea's lips pressed into a flat line and she stared blankly ahead, running idle fingers though Kaia’s hair. How strong Callie must have been. She did not ask for Aea, she could have let Aea go without milk and die, but she’d taken her and made sure she survived even when she had a babe of her own.
No crying, now. She’d say. All hurts heal, it only takes a little time and a magic song. Do you need a magic song? And Aea would nod ‘yes,’ and then Callie would hum her magic song until it worked. She really thought they were magic then. Maybe they were. Aea missed her so keenly right now, but she knew Kaia missed her mother far more than Aea ever could. Callie should be here with her daughter now, but she wasn’t. All Kaia had was Aea. A poor shadow of a substitute, but she would do her best. She promised.
Aea didn’t immediately speak, not that Kaia could blame her. Kaia kept her eyes closed as she waited for her cousin’s reaction. In only a few words, Kaia had admitted to ruining their future with the Kotas. Kaia didn’t belong, and that was okay, but if Kaia’s mistakes reflected on Aea—and Kaia was certain they would—then Aea would be punished too. If Aea hated Kaia for that, she would not blame her, but it would break her heart all the same. She selfishly needed Aea now more than ever.
Kaia could feel Aea’s movements on the bed, but still did not muster the courage to meet her cousin’s gaze. The taste of bile crept up her throat and into the corners of her mouth as she waited for Aea’s reaction. Part of her wondered if Aea would not be upset or angry, but she dared not hope for that result. Kaia’s actions had ruined everything and she would not expect Aea to be at ease with that purely to placate her.
’It’s alright.’
Kaia swallowed hard, then let out the shaky breath she only now just realised she’d been holding. Aea’s hand on her shoulder was kind, comforting. Her tone even more so. Dare she believe it? Kaia opened her eyes finally and chanced a look at her cousin. Aea was smiling. Kaia blinked but stayed silent as she let Aea process. Perhaps she’d misheard.
’It’s good news, yes? You’ve always said you would have children. Think of what a good life we will give them.’
We. Aea had said we. Kaia felt her jaw clench as she warred with her emotions. She was relieved that Aea included herself voluntarily but also disgusted at her own behavior. She couldn’t allow Aea to throw away her chance at a better life if the Kota didn’t choose to throw her out into the street as well.
Despite herself, Kaia began to think about what their life would look like with a child. Aea was right, Kaia had always wanted children someday. She just thought she would be older, with more experience and certainly more understanding of how she was even supposed to raise a child. Kaia had been too young and close in age to Aea to use her own experiences as an example. She’d never spent much time around babies. She certainly couldn’t even remember ever holding one.
Just like that, the panic began to spread through her, pushing the breath out of her lungs. She couldn’t raise a child yet, she didn’t know how. She couldn’t do it, she couldn’t do it, she couldn’t do it. Even if she did figure it out. How could she provide the child with a reasonable life? She didn’t want it trailing around behind her, living on scraps. What if it got sick? How could she expect a child to cope with sleeping in the cold and wet? How was she supposed to keep it fed now? “I don’t know how to do this,” Kaia breathed. Even she could hear the fear in her voice.
’Is this what you want, Kaia? Don’t worry about what people think, what do you want? We will make sure you have it, I promise.’
Gods, what did she want? She hated to even admit it to herself, but she didn’t want to be pregnant. Not yet, but it was too late for that. The babe was undetectable, but still there. Even if there was a way to get rid of it, she’d always know that she’d made that choice. How could she ever dream to live with that? The ghost of what could have been always haunting her. So no, she did not want to be pregnant, but she did not want to willingly get rid of it either. She would give anything to go back in time and prevent it from happening, but she would not rip the life away from it now. She did not know how much the babe understood, but it was living and she would never end a child’s life. Adults—predatory men or slavers in particular—she would kill without losing a moment of sleep. But a child? No, she could and would not do that.
“I don’t know. I wanted to be better prepared.” I wanted this to be my choice. Gods, she made a choice, that was the problem. She was dealing with the consequences of her actions, instead of undertaking a decision made consciously. Everything she knew about life would change in the coming months and that terrified her.
’I will take care of you, I promise. It's a good thing I put so much in savings already, we will have enough money to buy a house soon enough.’
Kaia cast a bemused look at her younger cousin. Aea had savings? “You can’t spend your savings on me and the…” Kaia trailed off and looked back down at her hands. “I’m so sorry. I’ve messed everything up.”
’I won't let anything happen to you.’
Kaia closed her eyes as she felt them prickle with traitorous tears. She did not want to cry, but she didn’t have her usual strength or energy to fight the wave of emotions that wanted to escape her. Aea’s arm around her shoulders helped though. She didn’t realise how much she needed that touch and closeness. Clenching her jaw, Kaia leaned into Aea, silently refusing to open her eyes yet, at least until the tears subsided. She would not cry.
’It is good. Babies are good. You will be a wonderful mother, I know it. And Callie would be so happy to hear she had a grandchild. It will be beautiful and kind just like you. And we will teach them all the things they need to know, and we will be a family. I won't let anything bad happen.’
Callie. Oh how Kaia wished Callie was still alive. She would know what to do. Kaia couldn’t imagine her mother being disappointed, not in the way Kaia was sure Agolois would have been. Hektos would have been furious and likely violent. Agolois would have gone quiet and disappeared into the woods for hours. When he returned, he would tell Kaia it would be alright, but he would remain quieter than normal, probably for days if not weeks. He likely wouldn’t have told her that he was disappointed in her, but Kaia would be able to see it in his eyes and the way he carried himself. Callie though, she would have been able to help. Why were they all dead?
“I won’t be. I’m not ready,” Kaia admitted, barely above a whisper. There was no stopping the tears that welled now. Even so, Kaia tried to furiously blink the tears back. “I’ll ruin them, just like I’ve ruined everything else.”
Kaia stubbornly dashed the tears against the back of her hand. “I can’t ask you to leave here. You deserve being here with the princess.” Kaia believed that with every fiber of her being, but by the gods, she didn’t want Aea to stay if she herself was thrown out. It was selfish and she hated it, but she couldn’t deny that she needed Aea.
’You are not alone, alright? I will be here always. You have to know that. You're mine, and I'm yours, and you are my family and I'll never let you go. Alright?’
More tears. Damned them all, Kaia hated crying. Hopelessly, she squeezed her eyes closed and leaned into Aea more. The tears kept coming and Kaia no longer had the energy to resist them. She didn’t deserve Aea, not at all, but she was glad to have her. Unable to help it, Kaia wept softly as her fear, panic and also relief consumed her. She couldn’t do it, but she would have to. She wasn’t ready, but she had no choice. This was happening. The baby was happening and she couldn’t stop it. She was going to be a mother, a single parent. One day the babe would ask about its father and she would have to tell them that he was a handsome whore.
Unless she didn’t have to say that… She needed money and security. She wanted a better life for her child than what she’d had. Kaia loved her father and understood that he and her uncles had done their best with what they had. Now that Kaia knew what it was like to have her own bed, regular meals, a roof over her head; she wanted that for her child. She wanted the freedom that she had always known, but the stability of a home too. She just couldn’t do it on her own. Even if he was the father, Alexandros was gone. Xane was in no position to support a child, being a slave and Kaia doubted his master would care enough to offer payment. Aea had savings, but Kaia could let her cousin spend it on her and the child. She needed to do this. She needed to figure something out. She knew she would never be able to afford the comforts that she had with the Kotas, but she just needed stability and safety….
Or could she provide the same for her child?
Kaia took a deep breath, willing herself to get a grip. She couldn’t be weak and the tears had to stop. She’d let herself stay broken for long enough. She needed to think. She couldn’t be weak, even though all she wanted to do was curl up against her mother and cry until the tears ran out. She had to be resourceful. She had to get ready. But she was just so terrified.
“I’ll fix it, I’ll make it work,” Kaia promised as Aea ran her fingers through Kaia’s hair. Perhaps Aea had been onto the solution all along. She, her child and Aea wouldn’t be thrown out surely, if the Kotas believed the child to be one of theirs. What if Kaia could convince one of the Kotas men that they were the father? Would they know? She wasn’t showing any signs of being pregnant yet, but how long before that changed, Kaia didn’t know. She’d seen pregnant women before, but they had always been quite obvious. She had no doubts that the large roundness of her stomach would happen soon enough. But for now, she otherwise appeared the same. Her belly was as flat as ever, even more so with the recent weight loss.
If she could just lay with one of the Kotas men, her plan could work. For the first time, sex was the last thing she felt like doing, given it was what got her into this mess. However, it really would solve their problems. She could provide the child with a stable home, Aea could stay and all would be okay. It was just a cruel thing to do to the royal family that had been nothing but kind; but then again, could it really be cruel given how much better the life of her child would be?
No, it was wrong. Seducing one of the Kotas princes then tricking them into thinking the child was theirs was unforgivable. But it could work. It would mean one less hungry belly in the streets of Colchis. The child would be a bastard, but was always going to be. It would at least have access to the best life anyone in Kaia’s position could hope for. The child would always have people who knew what they were doing to take care of it. Kaia was not their family, but the babe would be. All of the Kotas family and servants would dote on the child and ensure its health and safety. Kaia could not promise such a life without their help. What if she hurt it? What if she accidentally let it die? The Kotas wouldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t have to worry about making mistakes, because someone would always be around to ensure the babe was alive and well. Given that, then was her plan really so bad?
The gods would be displeased with her. Unless of course it was a test. Maybe they wanted to see how resourceful she could be now that she had to provide for another. If that was the case, then wouldn’t her plan please them?
She would fix this, or at least try. Vangelis was the obvious choice. The strapping crown prince. He would provide for the child without a doubt if he thought himself the father. If not Vangelis though, then she would have to try Silas. From what Kaia understood, there had been some chemistry between Aea and Yiannis. She did not need to hurt Aea any further, so she would stay away from him, and Zanon was married. Kaia had seen Lady Evras before and was absolutely certain that there was no way she could sway the prince to betray his beautiful wife. No, Kaia only had two chances, Vangelis and Silas. If her plan failed, then she really would be at a loss.
Lani
Kaia
Lani
Kaia
Awards
First Impressions:Lean, athletic; Straw-blonde hair, stormy blue eyes, and a nearly permanent scowl.
Address: Your
Aea didn’t immediately speak, not that Kaia could blame her. Kaia kept her eyes closed as she waited for her cousin’s reaction. In only a few words, Kaia had admitted to ruining their future with the Kotas. Kaia didn’t belong, and that was okay, but if Kaia’s mistakes reflected on Aea—and Kaia was certain they would—then Aea would be punished too. If Aea hated Kaia for that, she would not blame her, but it would break her heart all the same. She selfishly needed Aea now more than ever.
Kaia could feel Aea’s movements on the bed, but still did not muster the courage to meet her cousin’s gaze. The taste of bile crept up her throat and into the corners of her mouth as she waited for Aea’s reaction. Part of her wondered if Aea would not be upset or angry, but she dared not hope for that result. Kaia’s actions had ruined everything and she would not expect Aea to be at ease with that purely to placate her.
’It’s alright.’
Kaia swallowed hard, then let out the shaky breath she only now just realised she’d been holding. Aea’s hand on her shoulder was kind, comforting. Her tone even more so. Dare she believe it? Kaia opened her eyes finally and chanced a look at her cousin. Aea was smiling. Kaia blinked but stayed silent as she let Aea process. Perhaps she’d misheard.
’It’s good news, yes? You’ve always said you would have children. Think of what a good life we will give them.’
We. Aea had said we. Kaia felt her jaw clench as she warred with her emotions. She was relieved that Aea included herself voluntarily but also disgusted at her own behavior. She couldn’t allow Aea to throw away her chance at a better life if the Kota didn’t choose to throw her out into the street as well.
Despite herself, Kaia began to think about what their life would look like with a child. Aea was right, Kaia had always wanted children someday. She just thought she would be older, with more experience and certainly more understanding of how she was even supposed to raise a child. Kaia had been too young and close in age to Aea to use her own experiences as an example. She’d never spent much time around babies. She certainly couldn’t even remember ever holding one.
Just like that, the panic began to spread through her, pushing the breath out of her lungs. She couldn’t raise a child yet, she didn’t know how. She couldn’t do it, she couldn’t do it, she couldn’t do it. Even if she did figure it out. How could she provide the child with a reasonable life? She didn’t want it trailing around behind her, living on scraps. What if it got sick? How could she expect a child to cope with sleeping in the cold and wet? How was she supposed to keep it fed now? “I don’t know how to do this,” Kaia breathed. Even she could hear the fear in her voice.
’Is this what you want, Kaia? Don’t worry about what people think, what do you want? We will make sure you have it, I promise.’
Gods, what did she want? She hated to even admit it to herself, but she didn’t want to be pregnant. Not yet, but it was too late for that. The babe was undetectable, but still there. Even if there was a way to get rid of it, she’d always know that she’d made that choice. How could she ever dream to live with that? The ghost of what could have been always haunting her. So no, she did not want to be pregnant, but she did not want to willingly get rid of it either. She would give anything to go back in time and prevent it from happening, but she would not rip the life away from it now. She did not know how much the babe understood, but it was living and she would never end a child’s life. Adults—predatory men or slavers in particular—she would kill without losing a moment of sleep. But a child? No, she could and would not do that.
“I don’t know. I wanted to be better prepared.” I wanted this to be my choice. Gods, she made a choice, that was the problem. She was dealing with the consequences of her actions, instead of undertaking a decision made consciously. Everything she knew about life would change in the coming months and that terrified her.
’I will take care of you, I promise. It's a good thing I put so much in savings already, we will have enough money to buy a house soon enough.’
Kaia cast a bemused look at her younger cousin. Aea had savings? “You can’t spend your savings on me and the…” Kaia trailed off and looked back down at her hands. “I’m so sorry. I’ve messed everything up.”
’I won't let anything happen to you.’
Kaia closed her eyes as she felt them prickle with traitorous tears. She did not want to cry, but she didn’t have her usual strength or energy to fight the wave of emotions that wanted to escape her. Aea’s arm around her shoulders helped though. She didn’t realise how much she needed that touch and closeness. Clenching her jaw, Kaia leaned into Aea, silently refusing to open her eyes yet, at least until the tears subsided. She would not cry.
’It is good. Babies are good. You will be a wonderful mother, I know it. And Callie would be so happy to hear she had a grandchild. It will be beautiful and kind just like you. And we will teach them all the things they need to know, and we will be a family. I won't let anything bad happen.’
Callie. Oh how Kaia wished Callie was still alive. She would know what to do. Kaia couldn’t imagine her mother being disappointed, not in the way Kaia was sure Agolois would have been. Hektos would have been furious and likely violent. Agolois would have gone quiet and disappeared into the woods for hours. When he returned, he would tell Kaia it would be alright, but he would remain quieter than normal, probably for days if not weeks. He likely wouldn’t have told her that he was disappointed in her, but Kaia would be able to see it in his eyes and the way he carried himself. Callie though, she would have been able to help. Why were they all dead?
“I won’t be. I’m not ready,” Kaia admitted, barely above a whisper. There was no stopping the tears that welled now. Even so, Kaia tried to furiously blink the tears back. “I’ll ruin them, just like I’ve ruined everything else.”
Kaia stubbornly dashed the tears against the back of her hand. “I can’t ask you to leave here. You deserve being here with the princess.” Kaia believed that with every fiber of her being, but by the gods, she didn’t want Aea to stay if she herself was thrown out. It was selfish and she hated it, but she couldn’t deny that she needed Aea.
’You are not alone, alright? I will be here always. You have to know that. You're mine, and I'm yours, and you are my family and I'll never let you go. Alright?’
More tears. Damned them all, Kaia hated crying. Hopelessly, she squeezed her eyes closed and leaned into Aea more. The tears kept coming and Kaia no longer had the energy to resist them. She didn’t deserve Aea, not at all, but she was glad to have her. Unable to help it, Kaia wept softly as her fear, panic and also relief consumed her. She couldn’t do it, but she would have to. She wasn’t ready, but she had no choice. This was happening. The baby was happening and she couldn’t stop it. She was going to be a mother, a single parent. One day the babe would ask about its father and she would have to tell them that he was a handsome whore.
Unless she didn’t have to say that… She needed money and security. She wanted a better life for her child than what she’d had. Kaia loved her father and understood that he and her uncles had done their best with what they had. Now that Kaia knew what it was like to have her own bed, regular meals, a roof over her head; she wanted that for her child. She wanted the freedom that she had always known, but the stability of a home too. She just couldn’t do it on her own. Even if he was the father, Alexandros was gone. Xane was in no position to support a child, being a slave and Kaia doubted his master would care enough to offer payment. Aea had savings, but Kaia could let her cousin spend it on her and the child. She needed to do this. She needed to figure something out. She knew she would never be able to afford the comforts that she had with the Kotas, but she just needed stability and safety….
Or could she provide the same for her child?
Kaia took a deep breath, willing herself to get a grip. She couldn’t be weak and the tears had to stop. She’d let herself stay broken for long enough. She needed to think. She couldn’t be weak, even though all she wanted to do was curl up against her mother and cry until the tears ran out. She had to be resourceful. She had to get ready. But she was just so terrified.
“I’ll fix it, I’ll make it work,” Kaia promised as Aea ran her fingers through Kaia’s hair. Perhaps Aea had been onto the solution all along. She, her child and Aea wouldn’t be thrown out surely, if the Kotas believed the child to be one of theirs. What if Kaia could convince one of the Kotas men that they were the father? Would they know? She wasn’t showing any signs of being pregnant yet, but how long before that changed, Kaia didn’t know. She’d seen pregnant women before, but they had always been quite obvious. She had no doubts that the large roundness of her stomach would happen soon enough. But for now, she otherwise appeared the same. Her belly was as flat as ever, even more so with the recent weight loss.
If she could just lay with one of the Kotas men, her plan could work. For the first time, sex was the last thing she felt like doing, given it was what got her into this mess. However, it really would solve their problems. She could provide the child with a stable home, Aea could stay and all would be okay. It was just a cruel thing to do to the royal family that had been nothing but kind; but then again, could it really be cruel given how much better the life of her child would be?
No, it was wrong. Seducing one of the Kotas princes then tricking them into thinking the child was theirs was unforgivable. But it could work. It would mean one less hungry belly in the streets of Colchis. The child would be a bastard, but was always going to be. It would at least have access to the best life anyone in Kaia’s position could hope for. The child would always have people who knew what they were doing to take care of it. Kaia was not their family, but the babe would be. All of the Kotas family and servants would dote on the child and ensure its health and safety. Kaia could not promise such a life without their help. What if she hurt it? What if she accidentally let it die? The Kotas wouldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t have to worry about making mistakes, because someone would always be around to ensure the babe was alive and well. Given that, then was her plan really so bad?
The gods would be displeased with her. Unless of course it was a test. Maybe they wanted to see how resourceful she could be now that she had to provide for another. If that was the case, then wouldn’t her plan please them?
She would fix this, or at least try. Vangelis was the obvious choice. The strapping crown prince. He would provide for the child without a doubt if he thought himself the father. If not Vangelis though, then she would have to try Silas. From what Kaia understood, there had been some chemistry between Aea and Yiannis. She did not need to hurt Aea any further, so she would stay away from him, and Zanon was married. Kaia had seen Lady Evras before and was absolutely certain that there was no way she could sway the prince to betray his beautiful wife. No, Kaia only had two chances, Vangelis and Silas. If her plan failed, then she really would be at a loss.
Aea didn’t immediately speak, not that Kaia could blame her. Kaia kept her eyes closed as she waited for her cousin’s reaction. In only a few words, Kaia had admitted to ruining their future with the Kotas. Kaia didn’t belong, and that was okay, but if Kaia’s mistakes reflected on Aea—and Kaia was certain they would—then Aea would be punished too. If Aea hated Kaia for that, she would not blame her, but it would break her heart all the same. She selfishly needed Aea now more than ever.
Kaia could feel Aea’s movements on the bed, but still did not muster the courage to meet her cousin’s gaze. The taste of bile crept up her throat and into the corners of her mouth as she waited for Aea’s reaction. Part of her wondered if Aea would not be upset or angry, but she dared not hope for that result. Kaia’s actions had ruined everything and she would not expect Aea to be at ease with that purely to placate her.
’It’s alright.’
Kaia swallowed hard, then let out the shaky breath she only now just realised she’d been holding. Aea’s hand on her shoulder was kind, comforting. Her tone even more so. Dare she believe it? Kaia opened her eyes finally and chanced a look at her cousin. Aea was smiling. Kaia blinked but stayed silent as she let Aea process. Perhaps she’d misheard.
’It’s good news, yes? You’ve always said you would have children. Think of what a good life we will give them.’
We. Aea had said we. Kaia felt her jaw clench as she warred with her emotions. She was relieved that Aea included herself voluntarily but also disgusted at her own behavior. She couldn’t allow Aea to throw away her chance at a better life if the Kota didn’t choose to throw her out into the street as well.
Despite herself, Kaia began to think about what their life would look like with a child. Aea was right, Kaia had always wanted children someday. She just thought she would be older, with more experience and certainly more understanding of how she was even supposed to raise a child. Kaia had been too young and close in age to Aea to use her own experiences as an example. She’d never spent much time around babies. She certainly couldn’t even remember ever holding one.
Just like that, the panic began to spread through her, pushing the breath out of her lungs. She couldn’t raise a child yet, she didn’t know how. She couldn’t do it, she couldn’t do it, she couldn’t do it. Even if she did figure it out. How could she provide the child with a reasonable life? She didn’t want it trailing around behind her, living on scraps. What if it got sick? How could she expect a child to cope with sleeping in the cold and wet? How was she supposed to keep it fed now? “I don’t know how to do this,” Kaia breathed. Even she could hear the fear in her voice.
’Is this what you want, Kaia? Don’t worry about what people think, what do you want? We will make sure you have it, I promise.’
Gods, what did she want? She hated to even admit it to herself, but she didn’t want to be pregnant. Not yet, but it was too late for that. The babe was undetectable, but still there. Even if there was a way to get rid of it, she’d always know that she’d made that choice. How could she ever dream to live with that? The ghost of what could have been always haunting her. So no, she did not want to be pregnant, but she did not want to willingly get rid of it either. She would give anything to go back in time and prevent it from happening, but she would not rip the life away from it now. She did not know how much the babe understood, but it was living and she would never end a child’s life. Adults—predatory men or slavers in particular—she would kill without losing a moment of sleep. But a child? No, she could and would not do that.
“I don’t know. I wanted to be better prepared.” I wanted this to be my choice. Gods, she made a choice, that was the problem. She was dealing with the consequences of her actions, instead of undertaking a decision made consciously. Everything she knew about life would change in the coming months and that terrified her.
’I will take care of you, I promise. It's a good thing I put so much in savings already, we will have enough money to buy a house soon enough.’
Kaia cast a bemused look at her younger cousin. Aea had savings? “You can’t spend your savings on me and the…” Kaia trailed off and looked back down at her hands. “I’m so sorry. I’ve messed everything up.”
’I won't let anything happen to you.’
Kaia closed her eyes as she felt them prickle with traitorous tears. She did not want to cry, but she didn’t have her usual strength or energy to fight the wave of emotions that wanted to escape her. Aea’s arm around her shoulders helped though. She didn’t realise how much she needed that touch and closeness. Clenching her jaw, Kaia leaned into Aea, silently refusing to open her eyes yet, at least until the tears subsided. She would not cry.
’It is good. Babies are good. You will be a wonderful mother, I know it. And Callie would be so happy to hear she had a grandchild. It will be beautiful and kind just like you. And we will teach them all the things they need to know, and we will be a family. I won't let anything bad happen.’
Callie. Oh how Kaia wished Callie was still alive. She would know what to do. Kaia couldn’t imagine her mother being disappointed, not in the way Kaia was sure Agolois would have been. Hektos would have been furious and likely violent. Agolois would have gone quiet and disappeared into the woods for hours. When he returned, he would tell Kaia it would be alright, but he would remain quieter than normal, probably for days if not weeks. He likely wouldn’t have told her that he was disappointed in her, but Kaia would be able to see it in his eyes and the way he carried himself. Callie though, she would have been able to help. Why were they all dead?
“I won’t be. I’m not ready,” Kaia admitted, barely above a whisper. There was no stopping the tears that welled now. Even so, Kaia tried to furiously blink the tears back. “I’ll ruin them, just like I’ve ruined everything else.”
Kaia stubbornly dashed the tears against the back of her hand. “I can’t ask you to leave here. You deserve being here with the princess.” Kaia believed that with every fiber of her being, but by the gods, she didn’t want Aea to stay if she herself was thrown out. It was selfish and she hated it, but she couldn’t deny that she needed Aea.
’You are not alone, alright? I will be here always. You have to know that. You're mine, and I'm yours, and you are my family and I'll never let you go. Alright?’
More tears. Damned them all, Kaia hated crying. Hopelessly, she squeezed her eyes closed and leaned into Aea more. The tears kept coming and Kaia no longer had the energy to resist them. She didn’t deserve Aea, not at all, but she was glad to have her. Unable to help it, Kaia wept softly as her fear, panic and also relief consumed her. She couldn’t do it, but she would have to. She wasn’t ready, but she had no choice. This was happening. The baby was happening and she couldn’t stop it. She was going to be a mother, a single parent. One day the babe would ask about its father and she would have to tell them that he was a handsome whore.
Unless she didn’t have to say that… She needed money and security. She wanted a better life for her child than what she’d had. Kaia loved her father and understood that he and her uncles had done their best with what they had. Now that Kaia knew what it was like to have her own bed, regular meals, a roof over her head; she wanted that for her child. She wanted the freedom that she had always known, but the stability of a home too. She just couldn’t do it on her own. Even if he was the father, Alexandros was gone. Xane was in no position to support a child, being a slave and Kaia doubted his master would care enough to offer payment. Aea had savings, but Kaia could let her cousin spend it on her and the child. She needed to do this. She needed to figure something out. She knew she would never be able to afford the comforts that she had with the Kotas, but she just needed stability and safety….
Or could she provide the same for her child?
Kaia took a deep breath, willing herself to get a grip. She couldn’t be weak and the tears had to stop. She’d let herself stay broken for long enough. She needed to think. She couldn’t be weak, even though all she wanted to do was curl up against her mother and cry until the tears ran out. She had to be resourceful. She had to get ready. But she was just so terrified.
“I’ll fix it, I’ll make it work,” Kaia promised as Aea ran her fingers through Kaia’s hair. Perhaps Aea had been onto the solution all along. She, her child and Aea wouldn’t be thrown out surely, if the Kotas believed the child to be one of theirs. What if Kaia could convince one of the Kotas men that they were the father? Would they know? She wasn’t showing any signs of being pregnant yet, but how long before that changed, Kaia didn’t know. She’d seen pregnant women before, but they had always been quite obvious. She had no doubts that the large roundness of her stomach would happen soon enough. But for now, she otherwise appeared the same. Her belly was as flat as ever, even more so with the recent weight loss.
If she could just lay with one of the Kotas men, her plan could work. For the first time, sex was the last thing she felt like doing, given it was what got her into this mess. However, it really would solve their problems. She could provide the child with a stable home, Aea could stay and all would be okay. It was just a cruel thing to do to the royal family that had been nothing but kind; but then again, could it really be cruel given how much better the life of her child would be?
No, it was wrong. Seducing one of the Kotas princes then tricking them into thinking the child was theirs was unforgivable. But it could work. It would mean one less hungry belly in the streets of Colchis. The child would be a bastard, but was always going to be. It would at least have access to the best life anyone in Kaia’s position could hope for. The child would always have people who knew what they were doing to take care of it. Kaia was not their family, but the babe would be. All of the Kotas family and servants would dote on the child and ensure its health and safety. Kaia could not promise such a life without their help. What if she hurt it? What if she accidentally let it die? The Kotas wouldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t have to worry about making mistakes, because someone would always be around to ensure the babe was alive and well. Given that, then was her plan really so bad?
The gods would be displeased with her. Unless of course it was a test. Maybe they wanted to see how resourceful she could be now that she had to provide for another. If that was the case, then wouldn’t her plan please them?
She would fix this, or at least try. Vangelis was the obvious choice. The strapping crown prince. He would provide for the child without a doubt if he thought himself the father. If not Vangelis though, then she would have to try Silas. From what Kaia understood, there had been some chemistry between Aea and Yiannis. She did not need to hurt Aea any further, so she would stay away from him, and Zanon was married. Kaia had seen Lady Evras before and was absolutely certain that there was no way she could sway the prince to betray his beautiful wife. No, Kaia only had two chances, Vangelis and Silas. If her plan failed, then she really would be at a loss.
Women became pregnant every day. This was not a new thing, Kaia's situation was not unique. This had happened before to others and they had found a way to make it work, and so too would Aea.
"I don’t know how to do this.” Kaia's voice came out thin, frail, scared.
Nor I. "We will figure it out. We can learn. It is alright to be afraid, but you will overcome this like you have overcome everything else."
Why did she have to lay with that man? Or any man, for that matter. The reason for sex was to make children. Kaia said it felt good, but so did a nap, or learning, or singing, or doing something well. Why could she not just do those things? She had to stop after the baby. She could not keep freely laying with strangers. Marriage, that is what she needed. Then she could slake her insatiable appetite on a husband and any babies that came about would be seen to with care. She had to get married. Gods, but Alexandros was the only choice. He was the child's father. No man would wed a woman who already bore another man's child. Would they? Or would she have to be rid of it? Did Kaia want to be rid of it?
Aea couldn't stomach the thought of hurting it. She'd killed too many people to count, watched their faces go grey as their lifeblood spilled over her knuckles. She'd killed her half dead uncles. But a child? It was defenseless, blameless. Even having it and giving it away was not something she think of, for it would know nothing but cruelty afterwards. But that wasn't Aea's choice. All she could do was help Kaia navigate it.
“I don’t know. I wanted to be better prepared.”
Aea's mouth pressed into a flat line and she exhaled, looking away. When were they ever prepared for anything? Mortals made plans and the Gods laughed.
"You can’t spend your savings on me and the…” Kaia trailed off and Aea frowned as her cousin glanced at her hands once more. “I’m so sorry. I’ve messed everything up.”
"That's what family does, Kaia. You've not messed everything up. This can be fixed. You aren't the first woman to get pregnant without a husband. Even noblewomen find themselves in such situations." She thought, anyway, though it seemed noblewomen were kept close for that very reason. Gods, Aea should have watched Kaia better, stopped her from doing this somehow. She would do better going forward.
"I won't let anything happen to you," Aea said. Kaia leaned into her arm. And they spoke, uttering worries and promises and guilt but ultimately, it all came down into one point of resolution for Aea. This could be, and would be, fixed. All Kaia had to do now was rest and collect her nerves, that is all. She did not have to do anything but rest. Aea would take her shift in watching over Asia as well as her own, and Kaia could let the worries of tomorrow be just that.
Aea would see to this and all would be well again.
Arra
Aea
Arra
Aea
Awards
First Impressions:Hourglass; Glossy black hair that falls to her hips, piercing blue eyes, a voluptuous figure, and a serious, concentrated expression.
Address: Your
First Impressions:Hourglass; Glossy black hair that falls to her hips, piercing blue eyes, a voluptuous figure, and a serious, concentrated expression.
Address: Your
Women became pregnant every day. This was not a new thing, Kaia's situation was not unique. This had happened before to others and they had found a way to make it work, and so too would Aea.
"I don’t know how to do this.” Kaia's voice came out thin, frail, scared.
Nor I. "We will figure it out. We can learn. It is alright to be afraid, but you will overcome this like you have overcome everything else."
Why did she have to lay with that man? Or any man, for that matter. The reason for sex was to make children. Kaia said it felt good, but so did a nap, or learning, or singing, or doing something well. Why could she not just do those things? She had to stop after the baby. She could not keep freely laying with strangers. Marriage, that is what she needed. Then she could slake her insatiable appetite on a husband and any babies that came about would be seen to with care. She had to get married. Gods, but Alexandros was the only choice. He was the child's father. No man would wed a woman who already bore another man's child. Would they? Or would she have to be rid of it? Did Kaia want to be rid of it?
Aea couldn't stomach the thought of hurting it. She'd killed too many people to count, watched their faces go grey as their lifeblood spilled over her knuckles. She'd killed her half dead uncles. But a child? It was defenseless, blameless. Even having it and giving it away was not something she think of, for it would know nothing but cruelty afterwards. But that wasn't Aea's choice. All she could do was help Kaia navigate it.
“I don’t know. I wanted to be better prepared.”
Aea's mouth pressed into a flat line and she exhaled, looking away. When were they ever prepared for anything? Mortals made plans and the Gods laughed.
"You can’t spend your savings on me and the…” Kaia trailed off and Aea frowned as her cousin glanced at her hands once more. “I’m so sorry. I’ve messed everything up.”
"That's what family does, Kaia. You've not messed everything up. This can be fixed. You aren't the first woman to get pregnant without a husband. Even noblewomen find themselves in such situations." She thought, anyway, though it seemed noblewomen were kept close for that very reason. Gods, Aea should have watched Kaia better, stopped her from doing this somehow. She would do better going forward.
"I won't let anything happen to you," Aea said. Kaia leaned into her arm. And they spoke, uttering worries and promises and guilt but ultimately, it all came down into one point of resolution for Aea. This could be, and would be, fixed. All Kaia had to do now was rest and collect her nerves, that is all. She did not have to do anything but rest. Aea would take her shift in watching over Asia as well as her own, and Kaia could let the worries of tomorrow be just that.
Aea would see to this and all would be well again.
Women became pregnant every day. This was not a new thing, Kaia's situation was not unique. This had happened before to others and they had found a way to make it work, and so too would Aea.
"I don’t know how to do this.” Kaia's voice came out thin, frail, scared.
Nor I. "We will figure it out. We can learn. It is alright to be afraid, but you will overcome this like you have overcome everything else."
Why did she have to lay with that man? Or any man, for that matter. The reason for sex was to make children. Kaia said it felt good, but so did a nap, or learning, or singing, or doing something well. Why could she not just do those things? She had to stop after the baby. She could not keep freely laying with strangers. Marriage, that is what she needed. Then she could slake her insatiable appetite on a husband and any babies that came about would be seen to with care. She had to get married. Gods, but Alexandros was the only choice. He was the child's father. No man would wed a woman who already bore another man's child. Would they? Or would she have to be rid of it? Did Kaia want to be rid of it?
Aea couldn't stomach the thought of hurting it. She'd killed too many people to count, watched their faces go grey as their lifeblood spilled over her knuckles. She'd killed her half dead uncles. But a child? It was defenseless, blameless. Even having it and giving it away was not something she think of, for it would know nothing but cruelty afterwards. But that wasn't Aea's choice. All she could do was help Kaia navigate it.
“I don’t know. I wanted to be better prepared.”
Aea's mouth pressed into a flat line and she exhaled, looking away. When were they ever prepared for anything? Mortals made plans and the Gods laughed.
"You can’t spend your savings on me and the…” Kaia trailed off and Aea frowned as her cousin glanced at her hands once more. “I’m so sorry. I’ve messed everything up.”
"That's what family does, Kaia. You've not messed everything up. This can be fixed. You aren't the first woman to get pregnant without a husband. Even noblewomen find themselves in such situations." She thought, anyway, though it seemed noblewomen were kept close for that very reason. Gods, Aea should have watched Kaia better, stopped her from doing this somehow. She would do better going forward.
"I won't let anything happen to you," Aea said. Kaia leaned into her arm. And they spoke, uttering worries and promises and guilt but ultimately, it all came down into one point of resolution for Aea. This could be, and would be, fixed. All Kaia had to do now was rest and collect her nerves, that is all. She did not have to do anything but rest. Aea would take her shift in watching over Asia as well as her own, and Kaia could let the worries of tomorrow be just that.
Aea would see to this and all would be well again.
