Shadow

Raedwulf Dolph

Thialos approaches in darkness. It is the middle of the night, but many lights still burned in the city. It was rare that Thialos was dark, especially the castle. My mind goes to Idonia, how would she adjust to this life. Would Olen hate it? If he ends up being miserable then Idonia would surely hate me.

As we get closer, the huts and farms grow closer together. Instead of wooden walls and thatched roofs, buildings are made of stone and the city walls approach. Inside, the road grows narrow and an alley appears between every ten houses. The carriage moved uphill to the castle, which grew taller than any other home, even the rich ones on the western side.

Avon woke up first, recognizing the smell of home. It smelt of shit and garbage and sweat and ale. The smell of the city was much more retched than that of the country homesteads. Northern Isles didn't have cities this big. They had port towns and villages built around a Master's homestead.

The bell of the main castle gate rings as we enter. This alerts all the others in the carriage and wakes them as well. By the blurry look in her eyes, I'll need to carry my mate to our room for the evening. Idonia didn't do well on the ship, she hardly slept and hardly ate. Then, what she did eat ended up back in the sea.

"Your greatness," my squire, who I had left in Thialos, comes to the door first. "The castle sleeps, but a great breakfast will be served tomorrow to welcome you and your mate home."

"Thank you." Avon got out first, followed by Rikki. When I got out, I grab the still sleeping Olen from Idonia's arms. She climbed down, taking Rikki's hand as she did so.

"I can take Olen to his room," Rikki offers. "Disa will probably be asleep anyways."

"I don't want him to wake up alone," Idonia states before I can pass the boy to Rikki.

"He won't," Avon assures her. "I'll take him to the family hall and escort him to breakfast in the morning."

"Thank you, Avon," Idonia grips his shoulder before he takes Olen from me. Now, Olen was easy for me to carry, a boy only having tens years and me being nearly five times his size. Avon was lankier than me, less muscle and more lean, but he managed Olen well.

"I'll escort them up, if it please you," Rikki offers and Idonia nods. Once the three leave, she turns to me.

"Are you ready to see our room?"

"I am very tired," she yawns.

"I know, my love. Let's get you to bed." Before she can protest, I sweep my arm under her leg and pick her up. She yelps a bit, then she relaxes into my chest. Before I can even get to the staircase in our wing, she is asleep. It will take time for her to learn the navigation of this castle. The halls could seem never-ending and I would be lying if I said I'd never gotten lost in them as a pup. A servant always found me though and took me back to my family's hall and into the common room where Mother almost always waited.

I now kept rooms on the floor above the family hall. This is also where I kept separate rooms for Rikki and Danal. More rooms also waited for my next Viker and Idonia's advisors and protectors, most likely where we would move Olen. In addition to those is a small nursery and rooms where pups could be homed until we moved to the hall where the Khannun was to reside. My room, that is, now Idonia and my room was at the end of the hall, easier to guard.

Inside there was a large circular table, where Rikki, Danal, Disa, and I often took breakfast. Couches sat by the fireplace and a large bay window overlooks the gardens. Behind a partition was my bed. A large four poster wooden structure, covered in white linens, a bear fur, royal purple coverlet, and many pillows.

I lay Idonia on the side closest to the wall and furthest from the door. As she lays, I take off her boots, throwing them on the floor. Then I move away to take off mine. Her eyes open slightly as I leave her side.

"Rae?" Her head bobs up a bit as she watches me undress from my many clothes. The north had been cold, here there would be many more warm weeks until frost and that meant less garments.

"Simply making myself comfortable," I assure her, throwing my clothes in the same pile as usual.

"Help me?" She stands from the bed and turns so I see the ties on her back. I quickly move to her side, over the few days I've become faster at undressing her from the many skirts she wears. When she gets down to her shift and stockings, she's ready to sleep. Tonight though, she takes both off and climbs into the cool covers.

"Naked?"

"Too hot for clothes," she explains sleepily. I simply chuckle and join her in bed. Knowing if she though this was hot, summers on Bethlianna would be torture for her.

No matter the temperature though, Idonia still moves into my arms, pressing her face to my chest. The lovely female leaves a quick kiss there before falling back into sleep. When I know she's in deep slumber, I let myself push back some black locks, kissing her forehead.

"My amazing mate, you're in for a few weeks of hell. I just hope you can forgive me for bringing you here."

I sleep soon after that, only waking when Idonia moves out of my arms. The windows remained uncovered, letting southern light poor into the room. Idonia sat on the edge of bed, breathing calmly and looking out the window. "Your gardens looks lovely."

"They were training yard some four generations back. Then some southern Khanea, I believe it was Erminguard, decided that the castle needed something more lovely than sweating men and blood to wake up to. There is a gazebo in it called Ermin's Love. Mother takes tea there all the time."

Idonia nods once, keeping her attention out the window. I move to sit beside her my hand resting on her back. My mate stays unusually quiet for a bit. Her blue eyes going from hazy, to glossy, then a clear blue. I watch as she kicks her lips, tempting me so, then scrunching her nose.

"Is something wrong, my love?"

"Nothing."

"Idonia," I draw out, moving her attention to me by the force of a finger on her chin. "Tell me."

"Nothing to tell."

"You're not happy."

"I'm homesick, that is all."

"No it isn't."

"This can wait till after breakfast," she stood determined to get ready. My parents, well, my Mother and Khannun Kol, are hosting breakfast for us. Usually I take breakfast with my Viker or alone. Mother usually eats with her daughters, occasionally hosting all her children with her. As for Khannun Kol, I'd rarely seen him before noon.

A trunk of Idonia's things were brought up. She dressed in a simply grey dress with a slit to show the white underskirt. Less layers than I'd ever seen her put on. For myself I cover in leather plants and a simple tunic, knowing I will need to bear armor for training today.

I offer my arm and the two of us set off. In the hall, Rikki sneaks out his bedchamber, half dressed. My noble Viker only wore a tunic, not even a very long one.

"Rikki?" Idonia greets him first, rising her eyebrow at the half naked male. "Good morning."

"Good morning, your greatness," Rikki bows, exposing his ass to the servant behind him. She gasps, nearly dropping her tray of food. When Rikki sees her, he gladly takes the tray. "I'll see you at training, Khanel."

He disappears again. Idonia let's out a small chuckle, "Disa must be happy he's returned."

"No doubt she hadn't heard the news."

"It is his first day back. Sorrow can wait a few hours."

I kiss her lips, continuing her on the way to where breakfast would be served. "I will call him Father, is it only right."

"I know."

"Uncle Ragnvald won't be there, and you shouldn't bring him up," I knew I was being cold with her, but that is what is expected of me. In Bethlianna, a Khanel cannot show weakness, not tl Khannun Kol and not to his Viker.

She stops us at the top of a staircase, turning so that she faces me. "It will all be fine, Rae."