Inheritance: Scales of Change

Chapter Eighteen - The Bet

    You stood at the bow, looking over the railing as the Shade sliced through the crashing waves. You heard footsteps approaching and looked up to see Roisin.
"Hey, how are you settling in?" You asked her.
"Jus' as well, thanks." She smiled. "Yer ship is much quie'er than my fathers."
You laughed. "Is that a bad thing?"
"Oh no!" She laughed. ""I's jus' goin' to take some gettin' used to. I would usually hav' to escape int'a me da's quar'ers to ge' some peace, but here I can jus' go fer a walk down deck."
"Well if you ever get tired of Raxe, you're welcome to use my room as an escape too." You chuckled. "He can be a bit of a bed hog."
She chuckled. "How're things wi'd you and the King? Raxe wouldn' tell me much. Sa'd 'it's complica'ed.'"
    You sighed. "Good for the most part." You looked around you to make sure no one was in earshot. "Raxe knows so I suppose it would only be a matter of time before you found out..." You explained to her all that had happened since you last saw her. The separation, the discussion about him and the Princess, your mother... "so I suppose it is a bit complicated, but I think we're in a good place now. But please, don't say anything. It could be detrimental to his future."   
"I didn'a realize it had all tha' to it." She looked over the railing in thought. "I'm so sorry abou' your Ma. If you ever wan' to talk... I know wha' yer goin' through..." She put her hand on your arm.
"Thanks." You responded softly, and tried to give her a smile.
"I canna imagine though wha' it mus' be like, bein' in love wi' a king. Knowin' ye have to watch him marry ano'er woman. Yer stronger fer it than I am."
"Ha. I don't know about stronger. Maybe dumber..."
"Na... defini'ely stronger. Yer a figh'er. Ye figh' fer him, an he sees tha'. Tha' means somethin' ta him."
"If it's a fight, it's a fight I know I'm going to lose." You chuckled. "What would you call a warrior who goes into a battle regardless of knowing they're going to lose?"
"Loyal, brave... an' yea... I suppose a bi' o' a fool." She smiled. "Though i's normal ta act a fool when we're in love."
It made you happier than you thought it would to hear Roisin admit she was in love with Raxe, after what he had told you. "Raxe is crazy about you, you know." You turned to her.
"I think I'm crazy abou' him." She blushed. "I's strange, it all happened so fast..."
You shrugged. "It did. But you two also met under extreme circumstances. It's easy to bond over something like that."
"I suppose tha's true."
"Speaking of the guys, where are they?" You looked behind you.
"The King is showin' Raxe somethin' in the study." She motioned her head towards the stern.
"Let's go see what they're up to then. I can't leave those two alone together very long before they get into trouble."
Roisin giggled and you led the way across the deck into the study, where Caspian and Raxe were on the floor under the desk and behind it.
"Uhh...what are you two doing?" You must have surprised them. Caspian jumped and hit his head on the underside of the desk.
"Ow...Shit..." He emerged rubbing his head.
"One of the legs is loose, I was trying to add a support to it." Raxe crawled out on his hands and knees.
"I'm sorry." You tried to suppress a giggle as Caspian sat up on the floor.
"You're a hazard to my well being, you know that?" He chuckled as he rubbed the top of his head.
You bent down and kissed where he had hit it. "I didn't mean to surprise you."
His eyes widened when he saw Roisin.
"I told her..." You followed his gaze. "I hope that's alright..."
"Oh." He immediately relaxed. "I suppose so. It's much easier with both of them on our side."
You helped him up.
"So you're in on their little drama now?" Raxe put his arm around Roisin. "Welcome to the madness My Sweet."
You all laughed.
"Have you seen her birds?" Raxe asked Roisin then to you. "Roisin loves animals, she'd get a kick out of them."
"Birds?" She looked at you.
"Oh yes, my messenger doves. They're in my room. Come on." You took her in.
    Your room was just as you left it, the cage was still open and the back doors as well, allowing them to fly in and out at their will. You noticed the two letters sitting on the table that you never sent out.
    "Shit, I forgot about those..." You said out loud. "I meant to send those when we arrived in Terebinthia but they looked so happy to be reunited I couldn't bring myself to send one off..." you began explaining to Roisin but were cut short when you looked into the cage and saw Firetalon and Nightfeather switching places on a fully built nest with two little eggs inside. "Oh!" You exclaimed loudly.
Raxe and Caspian rushed in at your gasp. "What is it? Are you alright?" Caspian ran over to you.
"Oh yes! Caspian, look!" You pointed the eggs out to him.
"Would you look at that..." He smiled.
"Oh how sweet." Roisin clapped her hands softly. "They mus' have fel' truly comfor'able around you ta lay their eggs. You're goin' ta be a grandmother!"
"Congrats Commodore Grandma." Raxe laughed.
"It's a good thing we never sent those letters." You looked up at Caspian, beaming.