“Helga, that can’t be. My father was human.” Seraphina shook her head dismissively, she had more important things to concentrate on. “And most Mages were human! Queen Ethena said that your father was gifted, well his clan were known to be gifted. What if those ‘gifts’ were the gifts of spirit magic? You bare the marking! I can’t believe I didn’t make this connection earlier. Seraphina, we could locate them, find your people, they could teach you how to hone spirit!” Helga clasped her hands under her chin as she stared hopefully at Seraphina, her eyes glistened with excitement.  Seraphina smiled sweetly at Helga, she knew her heart was in the right place though, she often got carried away. “Helga, why don’t we put a pin in this matter for

Seraphina stared at the walls of the infirmary for what felt like an eternity. “Seraphina, Seraphina?” Achilles voice finally broke through her trance. “Yes?” She looked up at him with glassy eyes. “Seraphina, we’re having a baby, well babies…We’re having twins!”  Achilles wrapped his arms around her and captured her slack mouth in a gentle kiss. Silent tears ran down her cheeks, Achilles pulled back and looked at her with worried eyes. “Are you not happy? I thought you wanted this?” tears filled his own eyes. 

Helga placed the pinard on Seraphina’s enlarged stomach. After what felt like an eternity, she finally raised her head.

 “Ahhhgghhhhhh, get this bastard out of me!” Tears streamed down Lady Briseis face as another contraction took hold of her. Achilles was frozen watching Lady Briseis’ body contort in pain. “You did this to me!” Her black eyes bore into him. “Fucking do something!”  Achilles stumbled back out of the room, “HELGA! HELGA! QUICK, COME QUICK!”  Helga fell out of the library and rushed over to Achilles, her face paled as she noticed his distress.“What’s wrong? Is it Seraphina?”  

The afternoon sun had just begun to set, lighting up the evening sky in an array of purple, blue and orange light. Seraphina tightened the blanket around Leonardo as a cool breeze drifted through the garden.  His head turned to root against her breast, Seraphina chuckled as she unlaced her dress.  “Does he ever stop feeding?” Ethena gasped.  “No,” Achilles answered, “He’s been like this for the last week, constantly attached to Seraphina’s breast.”  “Feeling jealous brother?” Aurelia teased hi