Page 81 of Dead Crown
“Do you know if Mary the midwife lives here?”
The woman paused and pointed. “Almost to the end. Blue fence.” She eyed the lump in Lumi’s sling. “Bit late for the midwife, isn’t it?”
Jaki forced a chuckle. “We still need someone with skill in that area.”
Mary’s house looked rundown, and the blue paint was peeling off the fence. They could see a glasshouse in her backyard. They were to help draw the heat and warmth in for the plants. He doubted much grew in there anymore.
How many people had walked by, not knowing the original Crown Prince lay cold and alone in the ground? How often hadMary gone to tend her garden and thought about the body she’d been asked to bury and keep a secret?
When they knocked on the door, nobody answered. Jaki tried again, and a woman coming out of the house next door called over.
“She’s out at a birth. She’s been gone for quite a while already, and I can’t say when she’ll be back. Babies come on their own time.”
“Oh…”
“If you can’t wait and just need medicine, I know a woman who’s decent with herbs. I’m not sure what she has left.”
“Er, no. We know Mary and would rather have her. We can come back.” Jaki sighed as the woman nodded and left down the street.
“We could walk around a bit and try again,” said Lumi.
“Are you cold?”
“No. I’m all right. It’s kind of nice to be out too.”
It figured, after being in a room for so long. “Do you want a drink? There are still a couple of decent taverns, although there won’t be much to pick from. It'll likely be heavily watered too.”
“I’m sure the tavern would be grateful for the money, but I’d rather go see the Temple,” said Lumi.
“All right.”
The Temple was empty after they made their way up the steps. The Mages were probably in the back somewhere and around a fire. No one was praying, and while Jaki knew they had likely just happened to come at a slow time, it almost seemed fitting somehow.
The citizens probably thought the only end in sight was the one where Iceland turned into a barren Kingdom. Plenty must have stopped bothering to pray. Elira’s words were clear on the wall.
And death will ravage these lands.
“The columns used to have white roses that climbed on vines,” Jaki said as he paused by one. “Not anymore.”
“I remember,” said Lumi.
“They were already too hard to grow a few years after we moved to the Castle.” Jaki cast his eyes around to make sure no one was nearby. “They’ll grow again after you're crowned.”
“The Crown is yours.” Lumi raised his head to fully look at him. “Iceland doesn’t need another broken King.”
“You’re not broken.”
“You can’t look at me and say I’m whole and healthy.”
“You somehow managed to act for three years, and you found herbs to defy Tivar.”
“I don’t think I could do that again. I can’t rule a Kingdom.”
Jaki drew him a little closer. “If you still want me, we stay together, and I’m crowned, do you think I’m going to keep you as a person on the side? I’d marry you, and we’d both be Kings.”
“We can’t marry.”
“I told you, fuck what everyone else thinks.”
