Fathers and Sons by Merry Farmer

Author:Merry Farmer [Farmer, Merry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Nine

Each day that brought us all nearer to the coronation was tenser than the one before. Partially because plans for the festivities surrounding the coronation picked up pace the closer we came to the event, and partially because no one was exactly certain when all of the various guests would arrive.

Fortunately, our staunchest allies arrived first.

“Setting foot in the Wolf River Kingdom is always an adventure,” Vikhrov said as Magnus, Neil, and I—and Ludvig and the key leaders of our kingdom, of course—greeted him and his party from Good Port at the docks five whole days before coronation day. “Something tells me this visit will be particularly lively.”

He shook Ludvig’s hand first, but only because Magnus held back and more or less made it so Vikhrov would acknowledge the new king over him. Vikhrov’s eyes went straight to Magnus, though.

So did the eyes of Patrius and Ivor Lobe, and the women who I assumed were their wives, who had come along for the grand occasion as well. And Daron Villejo, formerly known as Master Daron, was there as well, which surprised me and almost made me want to laugh. The man certainly had taken advantage of the little Solstice gift Lefric had arranged for him three years ago by making himself indispensable to Vikhrov. And he’d done exactly what my friends predicted by marrying one of his whores and having sons so that the gift of being made the patriarch of a primary family would continue.

“You know you are always welcome in the Wolf River Kingdom, my friend,” Ludvig told Vikhrov, thumping his back once they’d shaken hands. “And now we’re equals in leadership as well,” he added with a wink.

I remembered then that Ludvig had spent more than a month in Good Port three years ago, after he and Anton had had their ordeal in the forest. Vikhrov had hosted Ludvig for the period of his recovery, and the two had become fast friends.

Something I had a feeling we would all be glad for, depending on what happened next on the frontier.

“Where is my runaway daughter?” Ivor Lobe said, stepping forward and glancing around.

My heart sank as, yet again, I was reminded that Ox was gone.

“She has, er, taken a small leave of absence from her duties to recover from giving birth,” Ludvig answered him, glancing anxiously to Magnus, me, and Neil.

Ivor’s brow shot up. “My daughter gave birth?” He looked absolutely dumbfounded. “To a baby? That a man put in her?”

“She graciously and generously volunteered to have one of our babies,” Magnus said, moving forward at last to greet Ivor. “You will have to ask the healers who implement our program for reproduction exactly how, if you wish to know more.”

Ivor continued to gape at him, then blinked. “So she hasn’t…changed her ways, then?”

“No,” I said, unable to keep silent any longer. “And I don’t think we were particularly kind to her or appreciative enough of her sacrifice.”

Ivor glanced to me, confused.

Magnus frowned, as if it was completely unnecessary for me to say what I’d said.

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