Children were not all that common in Elderald society. Most Elderalds had one child in their long life spans. In the war torn time they lived in the last two hundred years they were even rarer. Many women had lost their bonded and then died from despair, or had never conceived before their mate died. There was only one pregnant Elderald woman in Imerald that Ahriana was aware of.
Fairsh's wife, Marabeth.
She stepped into the house and looked directly at Ahriana. She gripped her sword tighter, knowing she could never strike Marabeth down in her current state. Ahriana was also sure Fairsh's wife did not share that hesitation. The good thing was even when she was not pregnant she had not been a match for the princess. Ahriana had a momentary flash of the last time she had truly seen this woman. It wasn't really the best time to lose focus, but she didn't have control over when her mind took its detours. After the incident with the book Ahriana had a feeling that such things were the work of a much stronger force that was very determined to push them down a dark path.
"No sire, I will not leave, this is where my beloved wants to stay so we will. It is not our fault the magic has injured this woman, she should understand though it's not something that can be controlled. Her anger is unnecessary, this was always meant to be, and surely she knew that their love was not real. It was unnatural; she had to have known this day would come."
Marabeth was calm as she said this, uncaring it should not have made Ahriana angry but it did. Marabeth had just laid claim to a man she didn't know, a man Ahriana had known and loved for two decades. Then she had told the Princess of Imerald to get over it, Marabeth clearly was well outside her element.
Kynzi hissed with such anger it seemed unnatural for her to contain such rage, she sounded just like a snake ready to strike. Ahriana glanced over and saw Gellan gripping her upper arms so tightly they were turning red. She was lunging at Marabeth, nearly pulling him off the ground with a feral look on her face and hands formed into claws. Gellan began to struggle to hold her when she picked her legs up trying to kick free. Her legs pedaled the air and she twisted her upper body fiercely. It was rather impressive considering Kynzi was so tiny, and Gellan so large. He finally wrapped his arms completely around her and cringed as she tried to head butt him and bite his arm. Never before had Kynzi seen Ahriana in so much pain, and she knew exactly who was causing it. It brought out a purely instinctual element of her personality no one knew she had. Kynzi had only one thing in her mind, kill whatever was hurting her best friend, and do it quickly. Gellan was beginning to sweat trying to hold her.
Even that sight could not distract Ahriana from Marabeth's words. She truly just told Ahriana that her feelings did not matter simply because the entire devastating event was preordained, so Ahriana was not allowed the peace of them being banished. Ahriana didn't wait for Meekah to respond. She just launched through the air with a growl.
Marabeth strode quietly into the sitting room, stopping a few feet from Ahriana, snapping her out of the uncontrollable memories that were taking over her mind more often these days.
"Do you fear me Little Bird," she snarled, glancing at Ahriana's sword. Her blood turned to ice at Marabeth's use of that particular name. Ahriana wondered if she would ever be able to hear it without either wanting to kill someone, or rip their tongue out. No one ever used it in kindness; it was always as a means to mock her and love she had once treasured. Ahriana didn't give Marabeth the pleasure of a retort, she just snapped in her mind to Meekah.
You're not moving fast enough, just warning you now.
"I think I warrant an answer from you Princess."
Ahriana shook her head and snorted a sarcastic laugh, Marabeth always stunned people with her pomposity.
"I have done nothing to you Marabeth, neither in kind, nor in wrong so why are you here?"
Ahriana was focused watching Marabeth's every movement so her words were just whispers as her eyes followed Marabeth's lifted foot. She would have to simply defend this night; Ahriana could not harm her in this condition. Marabeth of course knew that, it was one of the reasons she was here on this night. She would be able to attack Ahriana who would be unable to strike her in return.
Marabeth had been planning this attack for weeks; all she had to do was wait for Fairsh to leave the house with Tesba, then wait for Meekah to leave and be well away from Ahriana's house. It had almost taken more patience that Marabeth had, and this was the third night she had waited in the woods watching. As the moon had risen tonight she knew this was the only chance she was going to get. Marabeth didn't have very long left until she delivered, so she had acted, and was now almost singing with joy, standing inside Ahriana's house watching her realize just who had the edge here.
Marabeth's speed wouldn't factor in, neither would her lack of skill, her pregnancy trumped any advantage Ahriana normally had. Defense was fine as long as at some point you could deflect without worrying about causing harm. Having to defend yourself without so much as putting a scratch on your opponent would test even someone like Fairsh, who was a master warrior. Neither woman could claim such a feat, but Ahriana did have some skill, but none of which she could use. She growled in frustration and Marabeth smiled, enjoying seeing the woman who humiliated and banished her years ago finally suffer what she felt was deserved.
"You haven't wronged me? Do you know where my husband is this night, or any other night for that matter?"
Marabeth was stalking now, circling. The princess stood perfectly still, tracking her by sound when she could no longer see Marabeth. Ahriana knew better than to move with Marabeth that was how she would get caught by surprise and wounded, or killed.
"Oh yes Marabeth, I speak to your husband daily, all the fond memories of our last meeting. Why in the world would I know where YOUR husband is Marabeth? Isn't that something you should know? As he is yours and yours alone."
Ahriana snapped, taking a step back and to the left so as to free herself up for more movement should she need it, and to make Marabeth cease her circling.
Marabeth may have thought she held the advantage but Ahriana knew this room even in the dull light of the full moon. She had spent a year building this whole house with her bare hands, the only creature who knew it better was Meekah. Ahriana could feel him racing to her but she knew he wasn't going to be in time.