King of the Seditious
What a Valkyrie Knows

Savage woke slowly to a warm touch on his forehead. A cooling rag dabbing his face.

Reflexively his grip snapped up to clutch the woman’s wrist.

The woman hissed in response and for a moment he thought he felt the skin in his grip going rough. Turning brown?

“Dimurah?” He asked.

“Elsabet.” She corrected acidly.

He blinked slowly. “Who are you?” He tried to lean up, but his weak neck wouldn’t obey his commands.

“Currently, your nursemaid.”

He released his grip on her. His hand falling.

“When were you born?” She asked carefully. Hesitating with the rag as she awaited his answer.

“1694.”

Why is that relevant?

“Why?”

“Some things a woman just knows.” She said cryptically.

“Huh.” He grunted.

Days went by. With the strange woman caressing a cooling palm over his forehead. Washing and bandaging his wounds.

He heard her shouting for more wraps for his wounds and RedBayne’s grunted response. Grumbling as the front door slammed.

He awoke again and smelled the stink of his own body. Realizing he was littered with infection. After a fortnight, a blonde man he didn’t know entered the chamber.

“Get out!” Elsabet barked.

“Why?” He looked at her like whipped dog. “What’d I do?”

“Nothing.” She spoke. “Out! I don’t want you or him interacting until he is well enough, Sebastian.”

“That seems rather waspish, Elsabet.” Bast grumbled.

“It’s for your own good.”

“I don’t mind him coming in.” Savage was interested in this man, Chavias had often spoken of.

“I said no.” She barked.

And Bast left.

“That was rather cruel.”

“It’s for both of you, just now.” She murmured thoughtfully. Rubbing his bangs back.

“Why?”

“Some things a woman just knows…”

“What does that mean?” His eyes narrowed on her.

She smiled softly. “I’ve seen that look afore.”

He gave her a quizzical look.

“When you are well.” She spoke. “Tell me how you came to be Sarabis food.”

“Do you know what a Sarabi is?”

“I live with Forever Knights.” She gestured around. “I’m well aware.” Her luminous blue eyes gave him a dark look.

“My enemies are widespread.”

“Radix?”

He nodded. “I’ve killed many cimmerii over the years. And starved his creatures.”

“Have you?” Her brow lifted in interest. “You’re a killer?”

“When it’s warranted.”

“And how do you determine that?”

“To protect my Kingdom and my people.”

“So noble.” She half smiled.

“Far from noble, My Lady.”

“Do you like killing?”

“No.”

“Then why do you do it?”

“Because it is a necessary evil in this world.”

“I’d agree.” She looked surprised. “Your mind is very much like mine.”

He shrugged.

“Who are you?”

“I was born in the Castle Ocnomad.”

“To the King?”

He shrugged.

“In 1694?”

“Yes.” He gave her a wary look. “Why is that significant?”

“It is only to me.”

He gave her a long study, but she said nothing more. Merely rang out the rag and began administering to his healing wounds.

“You’re healing fast.” Elsabet told him later.

“I’m healed enough.” He swept away her tending hands. “It’s time I go.”

“How do I get out of here.”

She laughed coldly. “Hell, if I know! I haven’t left in thirty years!”

“What?” He reared up. Scooting his back up the headboard. “You’re a prisoner.”

Her mouth whitened as she nodded.

“Why?”

It was her turn to shrug. “Ask the King of the Castle of Water.”

“Your lover?” He asked watching her face carefully.

She saw no insult, no accusation, no judgement. Merely a question. “Yes.” She admitted.

“Strange relations you have.” He commented.

“You’ve only begun to peer in.” She scoffed. “Where do you intend to go?”

“Back to my world. The Blue Lark.” He moved to toss back the blanket and Elsabet turned on her heel to approach the mantle.

He pulled on his bloodied leather breeches. Assessing the coarse red stains with a grunt. “She’s going to think the worst.”

“Dimurah?”

He gave her back a quick look.

“You said her name often in your fever.”

“She’s my mate.”

“Mate…Interesting word…” Elsabet thoughtfully adjusted a stone figurine on the mantle.

“It is apt. I’m an animal and I’ve chosen her and she me...”

“Huh. You make it sound simple. It is for me.” He laced his breeches. “Less so, for her.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I am simple. If I want something I go after it. Most in this country are less driven.”

She made a thoughtful sound. “I wish Sebastian to meet you. May I introduce you?”

“I owe you a debt. As you wish.” His torso was still crossed with bandages. He carefully pulled his stained tunic over his chest.

“Allow me to replace you one of Sebastian’s shirts?”

“There’s no need.” He put up a staying hand.

“There is if you do not wish to alarm your mate.”

His face softened and his hand lowered. “You speak sense.”

She exited the chamber and returned with a gold tunic, embroidered in the seams with twining black thread.

He eyed it askance. “I’ve never worn anything so fine.”

“He favors such things.” She looked at it on him. Studying his face, a long while. She walked with him down to the foyer.

“Sebastian!” She called.

Resulting in immediate steps. “Yes, Elsabet?” He rounded the banister. Step slowing as they lit on Savage. His gaze locked on him.

“You give this man my shirt.”

“I did.” She offered no explanation.

Bast slowed as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Slowly circling Savage as he eyed him, puzzled. After he’d circled twice, Savage rapidly drew the curved blade from the sheath at Bast’s side and put it against his throat.

“I don’t like men moving about me.” He warned. Pressing the blade.

Bast’s eyes widened on him. “Who are you, Boy?” He seemed oblivious to the blade at his neck, but he’d ceased circling, so Savage returned his dagger firmly to the sheath.

“What do you see?” Elsabet asked cagily.

“His light…It’s strange.”

He sees the colors? Savage had never met anyone else who could.

“I’ve only seen it on Sebet, and Mardichi’s Liam.”

She nodded slowly.

“He’s one of ours…”

“Yes.” She murmured. “Son of King Ocnomad.”

Bast’s eyes flashed to the boy’s face. “Jerica is your mother?”

Bast looked fit to slump against the railing.

“To my knowledge, yes.”

“As I thought.” Elsabet harrumphed. “He is yours.”