Page 32 of Pregnant With Their Babes

Dagr took a step back, his expression pained. He appeared stricken, the words having a physical impact. Llyr wanted to rush over. To console him. But he was unsure Dagr if would accept his comfort in that moment.

The witch strolled closer to Dagr, eyeing him closely. “Tha boat. E’ryone else onboard died. All but ye. Floating along in a basket, saved by a ship that had mysteriously veered off course fer no conceivable reason. They found ya—ten days later. No food. No water. Nothing. A babe but months old. Ya should’ve been dead, but yalived. Has thatneverseemed odd?”

Dagr’s nostrils flared. “How do you know all that?”

She focused her intense gaze on Oz. “Tha same way I know ya wish ta ask ‘bout yer mother and yer brot—”

“No!” Oz screamed, lifting his palm. His expression covered in pain.

Silence raced through the room like a cold tide.

The witch sighed. “Go home, Oswald. Yer fatherneedsya.”

Oz frowned. “We leave tomorrow, headed for home.”

“Leave tonight,” the witch replied. “Sooner if ya can.”

Llyr watched the look shared between Dagr and Oz.

“Take tha merman. You’ll need him if ya wish ta save yer father’s life,” the witch prophesied. She placed her palm out. “A coin fer my time?”

Oz sighed before digging one out of his pocket and laying it on her palm. “If we’re being deceived…”

The woman whispered something to Oz that Llyr was unable to hear. All he could see was Oz’s face going white. Past white. And on to green. He fled the cottage. Llyr raced after Oz, Dagr on his tail. They found him a few paces away, his hands on his knees and breathing hard.

“What did she say to you?” Dagr demanded.

Oz was silent, continuing to breathe heavily a few more breaths. He finally rose to his full height and turned to stare at them. “Something my mother said.”

Dagr closed his eyes, shaking his head. Oz’s face twisted in pain, but he remained silent. Llyr felt as if he was being left out.

“Are you and your mother at odds?” Llyr asked.

“No,” Oz said, his eyes shining with unshed tears. “She’s dead.”

“Oh,” Llyr whispered. “I’msosorry.”

“Thank you,” Oz whispered.

“And your brother?” Llyr asked. “Is that what the witch was about to say?”

“Brothers. I had two. They both died onboard a ship,” Oz continued. “On waters not far from here.”

Realization hit.The Draugar. Both could easily be under his father’s spell. “Oh no.”

Dagr had said it had been unkind for him to speak of his monsters. Now he understood why. “I didn’t know… I’m so sorry…”

“Llyr and this witch are toying with us,” Dagr spat. He deliberated a second before spinning to face Llyr. “Did you slip off the ship last night and come find her? Is that it?”

“No,” Llyr cried.

“If you did this,” Dagr paused, hissing as if he were in pain. “To put Oz through that kind of pain—I could never forgive you for it.”

“I would never! I had no knowledge of any of this. Youmustbelieve me!”

Dagr only glared at him. Llyr focused on Oz, but saw the man’s face was a mask of pain.

“She discerned things she shouldn’t have,” Oz said to Dagr. “Look what she knew of you.”

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