His Wife

The trip is long, and I have spent most of the time explaining to Volkaros what I believe is going on. I’ve explained how Harlyn reacts, and he confirms it could be dark magic.

I have also explained Thorin, and how he acted that day, and even Volkaros was baffled by how Thorin had heard him if no one else did.

Still, he thinks it’s black magic. He’s given me some examples of the types of spells that could have been used on the pups. I’ve listened to every detail, and I’m more worried now than before.

It would appear I was right. Wayne likely used black magic while training the pups. Their minds are likely controlled by it, which is why they follow his whistle so quickly without a thought.

“We’re making a stop, Your Majesty.” Samuel’s voice comes from behind me.

“We’re not, we’re going straight there, we don’t have time for stops.” I won’t delay getting here.

“This one we need to make, there’s something—or rather someone—we need to collect, Your Majesty, that will be essential in proving to Harlyn just who Wayne really is,” he explains.

“Explain then please,” I say, and look at him waiting.

“His wife isn’t dead,” he says calmly, and I raise my head to look at him.

“What?” How can she not be dead? Harlyn said she was, his entire pack said she was.

“Earl Dustin, Harlyn’s real father got word of what they were planning. He didn’t know the entire plan; he didn’t know they planned to use Harlyn, so he kidnapped Wayne’s wife and gave him a choice. He stops his plan and saves his wife, or continues and he kills her. Wayne chose to let his wife die.”

How did he find out this? “Speak, explain to me how you know this.” I wasn’t told, no one mentioned it to me.

“She reached out to me. She knows everything, so get answers from her. She knows Earl Dustin’s plan, she has the answers we need, Your Majesty,” Samuel explains and I nod.

“How long until we get there?” That is what I need to know right now.

“It’s on the same path, so two hours. We will pick her up and continue on the journey. Your Majesty.” Samuel bows and walks out.

“I will give you time to rest, Your Majesty.” Volkaros bows and leaves, I need to consider this. Could taking this woman with us cause a war before even Volkaros can get close enough to remove the magic?

My mind considers all the options and two hours later, I walk out of the room and head towards the offices.

“She’s here,” Samuel says, and I nod. “The guards escorted her to the office before anyone could see. We are leaving straight away. The royal ship is already getting attention from rogues.”

“Thank you, Samuel. You can join me.” I smile at him and step into the office. I watch the woman turn and freeze. She looks like Harlyn, not exactly the same, but similar in some ways.

“You’re Wayne’s wife?” I ask, trying to work things out in my mind.

“I’m Katy, and yes, I am Wayne’s wife. I am also Earl Dustin’s daughter.” She smiles at me, and I stand dumbfounded.

“Look, Wayne didn’t know that my father was Dustin, neither did I. I found myself kidnapped, at which point Dustin told me I was his daughter. He said he wouldn’t hurt me. He wanted to use me to get Wayne to call off his plan. He didn’t want Harlyn used.”

“He knew Harlyn was his daughter?” Samuel asks. “He raped my mother, why?” Samuel shouts.

“At the time that happened, he was under the king’s orders, Wayne’s father. It was meant to stop your father, the Earl, from planning attacks on the king, Wayne’s father. Dustin had no idea she had gotten pregnant until years later when he heard of the plan to use her.”

The room falls quiet, and I take it in. It would have worked, no doubt Earl Harold told my father he needed time off to look after his wife.

“Anyway, I found myself taken. Dustin told me he was a father; I was another child that was created by him raping women. He promised not to hurt me and told Wayne he had a choice. Save me and leave Harlyn and the plan, or let him kill me and carry on his plan.” She glances at her feet.

“I was so sure he would save me, ‘Do what you want with her. Revenge is more important.’ Those were his words. He believes Dustin killed me, Wayne then killed Dustin as he was planning a way to let your family know what was planned.”

I just stare at her. Wayne came across as this loving guy, and everyone believed it; Harlyn’s mother, Samuel, Lucy, everyone fell for the great guy act. While all along, he essentially let his wife be murdered.

How long until that would be Harlyn, and she wouldn’t be lucky like Katy, the person likely would kill her.

“She can’t come in with us,” I say, knowing that Wayne or anyone seeing Katy will cause an instant war. “We clear them of the magic, we ensure we can get Harlyn and the pups, then we bring her out and let the entire pack know what he chose.” I won’t have Harlyn at risk, and we need to go in with the plan.

I’m there to check on Thorin and apologise for my behaviour. I then need to ask if she wishes to go to court against her own father. If Wayne pushes us to leave after that, Samuel will ask Harlyn if we can stay, just for a short while, so he gets to say goodbye to the pups properly.

It’s almost a foolproof plan, but even I know one thing can change it all, and then I have to replan it.

“So Katy stays on the ship?” Samuel asks.

“Yes, anyone who sees her will tell Wayne, and we know full well he will attack because he knows, we know the truth about her death. Or, fake death,” I say and watch as they nod and leave.

Now though, I’m wondering if Wayne got attached to Harlyn because of how similar to Katy she is. They are so alike, so was Harlyn just a person he used to replace Katy?