The Jealousy of Kyprioth

Chapter 9: Reconciliations and Revelations

Stepping into the large brightly-lit room, Dove's eyes fell on Aly sitting on the window seat. Aly's face was turned towards the windows. Slowly, Dove closed the mahogany door behind her and in the silent room, the click of the lock echoed loudly. Aly didn't turn her head. Dove waited for a reaction. She was beginning to think that Aly didn't realise that it was her who stood at the door and opened her mouth to speak only to be interrupted by a tired weary voice.

'I should have known he'd send you. Or at least say something that would get you to come running.'

Aly still hadn't turned her face from the window. Dove stood quietly. She waited for Aly to continue but when she didn't, Dove ventured out to say something.

'He didn't say anything to bring me here. If anything he told me to wait for you to come to me.'

'So he didn't tell you about what happened?' Dove watched as Aly moved from the window seat and sat down gently on the bed. Dove moved closer to stand at the end of the bed. 'Life was...is...perfect. I have an amazing husband and a beautiful boy and they are my life. I have amazing friends who care, and then the gods interfere and I deal with it and I get where I was destined to go.'

Dove listened to the bitter tone spewing from Aly's mouth and moved to sit beside Aly, still silent. Aly still hadn't even turned her face towards Dove.

'And life is...was... brilliant for so long.' Aly stood suddenly and began pacing in front of Dove. She waited for Aly to say something, knowing she had to get it off her chest. Stopping suddenly, Aly finally turned her face towards Dove, allowing her to see the tear tracks that marred her face. Aly's voice dropped and trembled in a way that Dove had never heard before.

'I'm pregnant.'

'Congratulations are what I should be saying then,' said Dove, confused. Aly started pacing again, her voice rising as she went.

'No. Not congratulations. Don't you get it? I'm pregnant. I'm two months pregnant! Don't you get it?' Her voice dropped to a whisper. 'Nawat's been gone for just over three months.' Aly watched as realisation dawned on Dove's face, all the while continuing her pacing. 'I found out about a month ago and I was so confused. And then this thought pops into my head "I can't be pregnant unless it's divine conception" and you know what...it was.'

Dove stood and took hold of Aly's arms, stopping her frantic pacing. Using force, Dove moved her to the bed and sat her down.

'All this tension can't be good for the baby. Just relax for a bit.'

'Relax? You really want me to relax? I don't know what Kyprioth's game is but he made me pregnant for another one of his crazy schemes. He's involved a child and he's gone too far. Not to mention I don't even know what Nawat's going to say when he finds out. By the time he gets back I'll be big enough to tell!'

Dove brought her arms around Aly as her shoulders shook with emotion. They sat there for what seemed like hours but in reality only a few minutes passed. Dove moved slightly back as she felt Aly go limp. A weariness entered Aly's voice that tugged at Dove's heart.

'I'm tired Dove; tired of my life being interfered with by any god that sees fit, and I'm especially tired of Kyprioth. He just couldn't leave well enough alone could he? He just couldn't...'

For the first time in years, Dove held Aly as heart-wrenching sobs tore from her body, providing what comfort she could, hoping that one day her Spymaster, her friend would be able to live her life in peace.

Kyprioth looked on curiously as Aly cried. Now there is nothing to say that Kyprioth would stand back and leave her alone should she be in trouble, since he wouldn't. However, he also wouldn't intervene if she was currently crying on the shoulder of the Queen of the Kypriang Isles. Shaking his head, Kyprioth left the women alone, knowing his presence was not one that would be appreciated right now, especially not after what he had just heard Aly say.

Nawat knelt on the branches of a tree. The bandits that he had come to deal with were already in disarray when he and his team arrived in the area. The bandits were sorted out, sent to the prisons and were currently serving their punishments. Nawat sighed, for he should already be on his way home, but for some reason or another minor issues kept cropping up that the locals seem to think that only he personally could sort out. Three months was too long without Aly! More often than not, he found himself thinking of her.

Nawat shuddered. He had had this bad feeling for about a month now. He knew that something was happening. There was unrest around the Isles and he didn't think that the people themselves knew of it. Nawat knew when his family was in danger and that sense was flaring now. Somehow he knew that he had to get back to them.

Somehow, he knew he had to get back home.

Mequen skipped down the corridor, his dark hair flying, occasionally turning back to glance at his smiling parents that trailed behind him.

'Be careful, Mequen. Don't run too fast.'

Zaimid chuckled, noticing the twinkle in his son's eyes, so like his own dark orbs. 'Don't worry Sarai. He's a strong boy. Being in the infirmary for a month means he's restless. Let him play for while.'

Sarai shook her head as she watched Mequen jump from stone to stone on the floor.

Mequen ran round a corner only to be confronted with a wooden door standing alone in the middle of the corridor. Peeking back around the corner to his parents, he saw them a little way back. Spotting him they waved. Turning back to the door he grinned and stepped forward, not realising that there was something unusual about a door in the middle of a corridor. Mequen opened the door and saw the rest of the corridor through the open door. Shrugging, he stepped through with the careless abandon of a child.

Sarai and Zaimid turned the corner and their smiles morphed into frowns. The long corridor ahead of then lay empty and there was no sign of Mequen. Sarai called out to him, in case he was hiding behind one of the numerous doors in the corridor ahead of them. Zaimid closed his eyes and sent his gift out to search for his son. After several seconds Zaimid's eyes flew open as he bit back a gasp.

'He's not here, Sarai. Our son is not here.'

'I can see that, but I'm sure he's in one of these rooms. You know how he likes to play hide and seek.'

Zaimid turned Sarai and grabbed her upper-arms in a tight grip. Sarai's heart jumped into her throat as she saw the scared and slightly crazed look in her husband's eyes.

'You don't understand, Sarai. Our son is not here. Mequen is not in the castle!'

A/N. Hey everyone. For those who have stuck by this story thank you so much. I finally updated and i know its short but im already working on the next chapter! I hope you can forgive me!

Thank you to my fantabulous beta ConfusedKnight, who helped me get this story going after i'd reached a major writer's block.

Please review and tell me what you think and what can be improved! Thank You.

Erytha