Chapter 52
The day had grown long, and as the sun slipped toward the western rim, a sense of weariness settled over the company. Kathy, her gaze soft but earnest, pressed a hand to her stomach—a gentle signal that hunger had caught up to her, as it does to all who travel far and ponder deeply.
King Frances, ever observant, noticed Kathy’s silent distress. A subtle sigh escaped him, not of disappointment but recognition; he saw, in the faces around him, a universal need for sustenance and respite. “It seems,” King Frances declared, voice resonant yet kind, “that we all could use a bite to eat and a moment to rest. Let us not embark on any grand schemes until our bodies are restored and our spirits refreshed.”
The company murmured in agreement, and the air became infused with anticipation—food, rest, and the promise of new plans yet to be formed. The counsel of kings and companions was not to be rushed, for wisdom thrives best when minds are fed and hearts are comforted.
As the group dispersed in search of nourishment, Kathy’s attentive eyes wandered to King Theo. There was something extraordinary about him that held her gaze: his hair, a sweep of snowy white, cascaded to his shoulders, and even his beard shimmered with the same pale brilliance. Yet what truly captivated her were his eyes, which gleamed with the shifting hues of the ocean—deep cerulean depths rimmed with hints of emerald and stormy gray. They seemed to hold stories of tides and tempests, of ancient wisdom and the mystery of the sea.
But more wondrous still were the iridescent scales that adorned King Theo’s sides and arms. Each scale caught the fading light, scattering it in a dance of blues and silvers, as if fragments of the ocean itself had chosen to rest upon his skin. Kathy watched, marveling at how these scales glimmered with every movement, reminiscent of a wave’s crest or the gleaming shell of some secret underwater treasure.
As the evening unfolded, the kings and their companions ate, laughed, and allowed exhaustion to melt away. Kathy’s curiosity about King Theo’s oceanic features grew—but so too did her sense of belonging among these extraordinary figures. Soon, with appetites sated and minds restored, the company would gather again, ready to chart their next course beneath the watchful gaze of two kings, and the mysterious depths reflected in Theo’s ocean-colored eyes.
Rest would give rise to vision, and vision, to plan. But for now, comfort and wonder filled the air, and the world seemed a little brighter for it.
King Seth announced, "I must return to the coven; we'll regroup shortly to discuss the strategy."
“I will be staying a little bit longer, my son can handle the workload at the water kingdom,” said King Theo
Seth puff into black smoke in front of everyone. As everyone getting out of their chair and follow King France to the dining room where food was set on the table. Kathy starts feeling nauseous, but she doesn’t want the food on the table, Anthony looks at Kathy because he notices she got even paler than before and turns her around.
“Kathy, are you sure you alright?” asked Anthony
“It’s my stomach I feel so nauseous but I am hungry too,”
Anthony took her hand and lead her to the dining table and pulled out her chair so she could sit down and he sit next to her, the food in front of her she didn’t want it, but something else like some soup. Anthony notice his mate wasn’t eating then he took an empty plate and give Kathy some of his food to see if she would eat that.
“Kathy is not poison, you have to eat something,” said Anthony
Suddenly, unable to contain the storm swelling inside her, Kathy burst into tears, her stomach rumbling in protest—an ache for something comforting, something familiar to soothe the unrest. Anthony, startled, and a little bewildered, brushed away a tear from her cheek and leaned closer, breathing in her scent. Tonight, it was Black Raspberry Vanilla, rich and sweet, so unlike her usual notes of Apple Spice and Brown Sugar that he’d come to know. He said nothing about the change, holding his silence like a secret, sensing there was more unfolding within her than anyone could see.
At the table, the others watched Kathy’s sudden outburst—her tears, her reluctance to eat, her hands fidgeting nervously like a child denied her favorite treat. Most exchanged glances, perplexed, and a little amused, but only Sarah’s eyes lingered longer. She alone recognized the pattern, the tender tremors of longing and aversion, the shift in scent that was more than perfume or cuisine. Sarah’s lips curled into a gentle, knowing smile as she watched Kathy, understanding the quiet miracle taking root before anyone else.
Anthony reached for Kathy’s trembling hands, his voice low and gentle as concern etched his brow. “Kathy, just tell me what you want. You want something else to eat?” he asked, searching her eyes for any sign of relief.
Kathy hiccupped, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, her voice fragile but determined. “I want Beef Udon soup,” she managed, still crying.
Before Anthony could respond, a ripple of laughter broke out at the far end of the table. King Frances exchanged a sly wink with King Theo, both unable to contain their amusement. Frances chuckled, shaking his head as he leaned back in his chair. “Oh, Kathy, you remind us so much of our mate during their first pregnancy,” he said, his eyes warm with nostalgia. “There was a week when nothing in the world would do except lemon cakes—but only if they were fresh out of the oven. If they weren’t, tears would flow as if the kingdom had fallen.”
Frances joined in, his laughter deep and resonant. “Beef Udon soup,” he repeated with a grin, glancing at Anthony. “You know, my mate once woke me up in the middle of the night craving roasted chestnuts. She cried until my guards found a vendor who’d open up just for her, and even then, she sniffed each chestnut suspiciously before she’d eat.”
Their laughter was not mocking but affectionate, a shared recognition of a secret rite among those who had walked this path before—a memory of cravings and tears, of the peculiar tenderness that flickered through expectant hearts. Kathy blinked through her own tears, a hesitant smile tugging at her lips as she caught their meaning. The tension in her shoulders softened, comforted by the gentle teasing and the knowledge that she was, in fact, not alone in her peculiar longing. Around her, the room filled with warmth and laughter, the air humming with stories of cravings past and the quiet joy of miracles just beginning.
Frances quietly instructed the servant to request the cook prepare a large, steaming bowl of Beef Udon Soup for Kathy. The end of the crying and Frances and Theo's discussion about cravings finally clicked in Kathy's mind. Anthony looked at her with concern, then gently wiped her tear-streaked face with a napkin as she looked back and offered a small, grateful smile. Kathy thought, "Anthony can't know about the baby," as she considered the possibility. The servant returned to the dining room, setting the fragrant bowl before Kathy, whose mouth watered as she drank the broth and began savoring the noodles. Because Kathy provided food, everyone ate, and the joyful sounds of satisfied appetites filled the air.