Page 38 of Princess

She giggled just a bit before the corners of her mouth turned down.“Human parents don’t want their children learning to fight.Or at least they don’t want them learning from me.I’m trying to hold onto my patience and see it from their perspective, but I’m having trouble.”

She said human like she wasn’t one.I had a feeling she didn’t think of herself that way.

“Julia, one of the teenagers who arrived last night may be able to help.She will be going to the southern part of the island, and I’ve offered her a chance to train with the adults and to set up classes for the youth.After your brother is born, you need to meet with her and share ideas.”

Ruth’s jaw set stubbornly, but I cut her off.“Julia is older than you, and within a couple of years, you will be training with the adults too.I plan to address the lack of parent support for your endeavor when I meet with the kitchen staff again.That should give you a few children to work with.More will follow if they see the good it does.Julia has good fighting techniques, and you can all learn from each other.Use Togg too.”

She rolled her eyes at the mention of Togg.“He has a good heart, but he’s bossy.He’s disappointed in the parents too.He told me you were going to assign him someplace else on the island, and he would rather stay at the citadel.”

I hadn’t told him I was sending him south, but it was easy to figure out.I liked that he was bossy with Ruth.She needed someone looking over her shoulder.I didn’t entirely trust this new Ruth, but only time would tell.

The door opened, and Axel, looking tired, walked from the medical room.He smiled when he saw me.“Mom and baby are healthy.”He turned to Ruth.“They said for you to go in and meet your new brother.”

“Yippee,” Ruth shouted.

“Quietly,” Axel admonished.

She didn’t acknowledge his order, just rushed into the room.

Axel closed the door behind her and gave me a not-so-nice stare.

“I know,” I said before he started his lecture.“Missy shouldn’t have been on that plane.I take full responsibility.”

His anger was on full steam.“Part of being our leader is making hard choices.You gave into Missy because you feel bad that she had to care for Mrs.Barnes.It’s no excuse.”His hard eyes drilled into me.

Ms.Beast took notice, and I held her back.Axel was right.I deserved this lecture.I had made a bad choice due to guilt.I looked away.

The warmth of his hand settled on my shoulder.“You will make many mistakes, but if this one had gone south, you would never forgive yourself.The baby is in excellent condition, and so is Missy.She told Beck to keep his mouth shut, or he could find another room to sleep in.”Axel chuckled.“That guarantees even with a screaming newborn, Beck will sleep in Missy’s bed until hell freezes over.”

I looked into Axel’s eyes again.“Thank you.I know I’ll make mistakes, but you’re right.Harm to the baby or Missy would have been shattering.”

“I need to examine you and check in on the little princess.”Laughter flashed in his eyes as he spoke.

“As my doctor, as well as King’s, you are not allowed to take sides.Please call this baby an ‘it,’ if you must,” I grumbled.

“That won’t happen.I’ll say prince to King and princess to you and keep it equal.”

This time I growled, even if it was good-naturedly.

After Axel had me in a medical gown and sitting on one of his tables, he examined my wounds, which were almost healed.

“Pregnancy is increasing your healing ability.I don’t remember reading anything about this in the men’s texts.Have you run across it in the women’s?”

The damned journal!My great-grandmother made it frustrating enough that I had to fight throwing the book across the room each time I settled down to decipher more.

“That bad, I take it?”Axel said, looking at my face.

“Worse.I wish my grandmother Veda had written it.She at least would make sense.It’s like entire sections are left out.I thought Endura gave the journal to me to help.For each small bit of information I learn, it causes ten more questions that I don’t have answers to.On top of that, deciphering takes more time than I have.When I think I’ve figured out a word or two, something changes, and it doesn’t make sense.People think English is hard, but they have never attempted to read my great-grandmother’s writings.”

Axel just shook his head and changed the subject while he measured my belly and did all the other things he needed to do that made him feel better.He kept a written log, which I peeked at.

“An inch?”I questioned.His chart showed my stomach had expanded, and it had only been twenty-four hours since the last measurement.

“Yes, this little princess is growing fast.”

“I may need to give birth in my Warrior form so he doesn’t kill me coming out.”

“Hmm,” Axel said.“Have you seen anything like that in the texts?”

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