Page 6 of Our Lady of War

“Mm.” Athania picked up the stack of letters at her desk and tapped their edges against the wood until they were in a perfect pile. “Orlan came about a fortnight ago under the guise of an antiquities dealer.” She rolled her eyes, and they both chuckled at Lord Art’s antics. “Apparently, when he returned, Lisbeth was infuriated he came without her. She showed up a few days later and filled me in on all the Void’s courtly gossip.”

“Ah. She’s been rather bored since fraternising with mortals has been forbidden.”

That sounded just like Lady Love. “Forbidden because of me, I presume?”

“Quite.”

Every member of The Primordial’s godly court had endless tales of inserting themselves into the mortal world. Thanasim had been the most notorious of them all, even above Lisbeth. But that was all before he’d met Asteria. One look at her, and he’d never considered another being.

Of course, she’d tried to kill him, and that only made him more smitten with her.

Still, none of them had given up their godly status for a mortal…and then meddled ceaselessly like Athania.

“Well,” Athania countered, “they came here, so they can’t be taking that command too seriously.”

“You aren’t exactly mortal.” Asteria shrugged. “So they found a loophole, I’m sure.”

A charged silence sat between them, a rarity in their long friendship until lately. “Do you have a name for the baby yet?” Athania asked, trying to fill the awkward space before it festered.

Asteria smiled. She was always beautiful, but her smile was radiant. “Belfry.”

Athania startled forward in her seat. “As in—”

“Your original mortal surname.”

Tears sprang to her eyes, and Athania rose to hug Lady Magic. “You cannot be serious.”

“I am. We want all our daughters to know of you.”

Still misty-eyed, Athania smoothed out her skirt and walked to the sideboard. “All I have is wine and a foul tea I brewed for Igor.”

“I’m not in need of any refreshments.”

Her suddenly sombre tone halted Athania’s hand hovering over the wine decanter. “What is it?” Asteria didn’t answer. Athania poured a glass of wine with a sigh and turned to face the music. “Asteria,” she pressed.

“Are we both just going to ignore the fact that you’re lying about not going with Igor to Hawthrin?”

Athania fought the urge to frown. Instead, she kept her face placid and did not respond, but Asteria was speaking again.

“Or ignore the fact that you have a packed back hidden somewhere in this room, and those letters on your desk are correspondence giving your sincerest apologies for shirking your new duties?” When Athania chose to remain silent, Asteria sighed. “I’ve known you for a very long time, Athania.”

“I can’t just let him go out there alone.”

“Igor was commander of this army long before he met you, and he was quite good at it. He can handle his own. You asked for this life—to be a mortal wife to an army commander. Be her.” Clearly frustrated by Athania’s continued silence, she gestured noncommittally. “What are your new duties, anyway?”

“I’m in charge of producing the medicinal tonics and poultices for the healing spa.”

Asteria’s face broke into a genuine smile. She was so naturally happy for others. “You’ve discovered how to tap into your magic, then?”

“No.” Athania hung her head. “It’s hedge witchery at best.” She sat with her glass of wine across from Asteria.

“You’ll figure it out, my sister. You’ll figure it all out.” She took Athania’s hands in hers, not an easy task around her protruding belly. “You are prolonging life instead of plotting wars,” she mused, pulling a small smile from Athania.

She hadn’t thought of it in such a way, but Asteria was right. “I suppose that’s one way to look at it.”

“Do that, Athania. Be that. Embrace this life you’ve asked for.”

Chapter

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