The morning after the final night of wedding celebration was unusually quiet.
At least, by Concordia’s standards.
The bells had finally stopped.
The musicians had gone home.
Most of the guests had either departed for their kingdoms or were sleeping off the previous night’s celebration.
The streets were littered with ribbons and flower petals.
A few empty cups remained scattered across the construction areas.
And somewhere in the servants’ quarters, someone was still complaining about Thor.
Nobody was surprised.
The palace itself was beginning to return to normal.
Almost.
Lisbeth was the first to notice something strange.
She was standing in the breakfast hall when Io entered.
Lisbeth looked up.
Then looked again.
She narrowed her eyes.
Io walked toward the table.
“Good morning.”
Lisbeth didn’t answer.
Io stopped.
“Lisbeth?”
“You’re glowing.”
Io blinked.
“What?”
Lisbeth stood.
“You’re literally glowing.”
Io looked down at herself.
“I am not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No, I’m not.”
Lisbeth walked around her.
There was something subtle about it.
A faint radiance seemed to surround Io.
It was not bright enough to illuminate the room.
It was barely noticeable.
But once Lisbeth had seen it, she couldn’t unsee it.
“Have you noticed anything different?”
Io frowned.
“Different how?”
“Anything.”
“No.”
“Anything at all?”
Io thought.
“I’ve been tired.”
Lisbeth’s eyes widened.
“Tired?”
“Yes.”
“How tired?”
Io stared at her.
“Lisbeth.”
“What?”
“You’re frightening me.”
Lisbeth lowered her voice.
“I think you might be pregnant.”
Io froze.
The room seemed to go completely silent.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Then Io looked down at herself again.
“You think so?”
“I don’t know.”
Lisbeth’s excitement immediately returned.
“But maybe.”
Io placed a hand over her stomach.
“It would be much too early to tell.”
“Yes.”
“Very much too early.”
“Of course.”
“I don’t even know if—”
“I know.”
Lisbeth was practically vibrating with excitement.
“But wouldn’t it be wonderful?”
Io smiled despite herself.
“Yes.”
She sat down.
“But we can’t assume anything.”
“I know.”
“We shouldn’t tell anyone yet.”
“I know.”
“Especially Lexander.”
Lisbeth paused.
“Why especially Lexander?”
Io smiled.
“Because he’ll panic.”
Lisbeth laughed.
“He absolutely will.”
Unfortunately, neither woman had noticed that someone else had entered the room.
Thor.
She stood in the doorway.
She had heard enough.
Her eyes widened.
“Oh.”
Io looked at her.
“No.”
Thor grinned.
“You don’t even know what I was going to say.”
“I know you.”
Thor walked toward them.
“Congratulations.”
“We aren’t pregnant.”
“Yet.”
Io covered her face.
Lisbeth began laughing.
Thor sat down beside them.
“You know, if you are pregnant, that means—”
“Thor.”
“What?”
“Stop.”
Thor smiled innocently.
“I haven’t said anything.”
“You were about to.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t.”
Thor sighed.
“Fine.”
There was a pause.
Then she leaned toward Lisbeth.
“Do you think they know how that works?”
Lisbeth nearly choked on her drink.
Io stared at Thor.
“Thor!”
“What?”
“You are impossible.”
Thor shrugged.
“I’ve been alive a very long time. I’ve learned things.”
Lisbeth was now openly laughing.
Io shook her head.
“You are never allowed to discuss this subject again.”
Thor nodded solemnly.
“Understood.”
A pause.
Lysandra entered and immediately joined the conversation.
“So, are we talking about names?”
“No.”
“Boy or girl?”
“No.”
“Godparents?”
“No.”
“Nursery?”
“Thor.”
“Fine.”
Thor took a piece of bread.
“I’ll wait until lunch.”
Io groaned.
Lisbeth eventually regained her composure.
She looked at Io again.
The faint glow was still there.
“You really are glowing.”
Io looked at her.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“What could cause it?”
Lisbeth hesitated.
“Magic.”
Io raised an eyebrow.
“That doesn’t narrow it down.”
“No.”
Thor leaned over.
“Maybe it’s divine.”
Io looked at her.
“You mean because of your past life as Frigg?”
Lisbeth nodded.
“Possibly.”
Io’s expression changed.
She looked thoughtful.
“Frigg was the goddess of fertility.”
Lisbeth smiled.
“Exactly.”
Thor nodded.
“That would certainly explain the glow.”
Io sighed.
“Or it could mean absolutely nothing.”
“Yes.”
“And it’s far too early to know.”
“Yes.”
“And we’re not telling anyone.”
Lisbeth nodded.
“Of course.”
Thor raised a finger.
“I’m telling Loki.”
“No.”
Thor lowered her hand.
“Fine.”
A moment passed.
She raised it again.
“Can I tell Mara?”
“No.”
“Someone?”
“No.”
Thor sighed.
“You people take all the fun out of everything.”
The door opened.
Lexander entered.
He was already dressed for the day.
Io immediately straightened.
Lisbeth immediately looked away.
Thor immediately smiled.
Lexander stopped.
“Why is everyone acting suspicious?”
Nobody answered.
He looked at Io.
“Is something wrong?”
“No.”
He looked at Lisbeth.
“Mother?”
“Nothing.”
Then Thor.
“Thor?”
She smiled.
“Everything is wonderful.”
Lexander narrowed his eyes.
“That is the least convincing thing you’ve ever said.”
Thor shrugged.
“I’ve had a good morning.”
Lexander looked at Io.
“Are you all right?”
Io smiled.
“Yes.”
He walked toward her.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
He kissed her forehead.
“All right.”
He looked toward the windows.
“I need to go inspect the northern district.”
Io nodded.
“Today?”
“Yes.”
“The roads?”
“The roads, the fortress, and the second bridge.”
He sighed.
“The engineers have found another problem.”
Lisbeth smiled.
“What kind?”
“Apparently the eastern road is too steep.”
Thor laughed.
“That’s your biggest problem?”
“For today.”
Lexander looked at her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
He studied her.
Then Io.
Then Lisbeth.
Then Thor again.
“I feel like I’m missing something.”
Io smiled.
“You’re probably better off.”
“That doesn’t reassure me.”
She kissed him.
“Go.”
Lexander smiled.
“All right.”
He turned toward the door.
Thor called after him.
“Don’t work too hard, Father of the Year.”
Lexander stopped.
He slowly turned.
“What did you call me?”
Thor smiled.
“Nothing.”
Lisbeth buried her face in her hands.
Io stared at Thor.
Thor shrugged.
“What?”
Lexander looked confused.
Then he shook his head.
“I’ll see you later.”
He left.
The moment the door closed, Io turned toward Thor.
“You almost killed me.”
Thor grinned.
“Worth it.”
Lexander crossed the palace courtyard and headed toward Concordia’s northern district.
He had no idea that a conversation had just taken place behind him that might change everything.
For now, his mind was occupied by roads.
Walls.
Bridges.
Drainage.
Stone.
And an increasingly complicated city.
The northern fortress was rising quickly.
Its foundations had been reinforced with Valedorn stone.
A wide defensive wall surrounded the outer perimeter.
Inside, barracks were being built.
A watchtower had already reached its first level.
Lexander walked through the site with Atreyu.
“This is bigger than the original plan.”
Atreyu nodded.
“Alden insisted.”
“I noticed.”
“He was right.”
Lexander looked toward the mountains.
“Yes.”
The northern pass stretched between two mountain ridges.
Anyone coming from Valedorn could reach Concordia through it.
The fortress would control the road.
Lexander studied the terrain.
“Add another watchtower. A barracks for a contingent of Valedorn soldiers.”
Atreyu nodded.
“And signal fires.”
“Yes.”
“And make sure the garrison has enough supplies to survive a siege.”
Atreyu smiled.
“You’re planning for the worst.”
“That’s my job.”
Far away from Concordia, someone else was planning for the worst too.
And they were planning it against him.
The meeting took place beneath an old merchant’s house in a city that belonged to neither of the three allied kingdoms.
The room was windowless.
Six people sat around a table.
Three were nobles.
Two were foreign agents.
One wore the robes of a religious order.
None gave their real names.
A single candle burned in the center.
The oldest noble spoke first.
“The alliance is stronger than expected.”
A woman across from him shook her head.
“Stronger than that.”
She unfolded a map.
“Valedorn has committed resources.”
“Massive resources.”
“Their engineers are working throughout Concordia.”
“And their soldiers are training with the other two kingdoms.”
The old noble frowned.
“That was not supposed to happen.”
“No.”
The religious representative leaned forward.
“The marriage was supposed to create instability.”
“It did.”
“For a moment.”
“Then Alden removed Othmar.”
Silence.
The woman tapped the map.
“Now we have three kingdoms instead of two.”
“And a new capital.”
“A capital that will eventually control the region’s trade.”
The second foreign agent spoke.
“We should destroy it.”
The old noble shook his head.
“Too late.”
“Then sabotage it.”
“Impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible.”
The woman looked toward him.
“The city is guarded by three armies.”
“Not completely.”
She smiled.
“No.”
“Because the city is still under construction.”
The room became quiet.
The old noble looked at her.
“What are you suggesting?”
“Not an attack.”
“Then what?”
“Influence.”
She pointed toward the map.
“We cannot defeat Concordia from outside.”
“So?”
“We make them distrust one another.”
The Keeper’s influence was subtle.
It did not command these people directly.
It didn’t need to.
It had merely placed the right fears in the right minds.
One noble feared losing his title.
Another feared becoming irrelevant.
A merchant feared losing control of trade.
A foreign ruler feared Concordia’s growing influence.
A general feared being replaced.
A priest feared the alliance would weaken old traditions.
The Keeper didn’t create their fears.
It simply amplified them.
And now those fears were converging.
The woman at the table continued.
“Lexander and Io are the foundation of this alliance.”
The old noble nodded.
“Remove one.”
“Or turn them against each other.”
“They’re in love.”
“So?”
She smiled.
“Love is useful.”
“How?”
“Because people will do irrational things to protect it.”
The religious representative looked uncomfortable.
“What exactly are you proposing?”
The woman leaned back.
“Rumors.”
The old noble frowned.
“Rumors?”
“Small ones.”
She counted on her fingers.
“Questions about foreign influence.”
“Questions about Valedorn’s money.”
“Questions about Alden’s intentions.”
“Questions about who truly controls Concordia.”
“Questions about whether Io is surrendering her sovereignty.”
The old noble smiled slowly.
“And eventually?”
“Suspicion.”
The Keeper watched from the darkness.
It had no need to speak.
The pieces were moving.
The alliance had survived the attack on its people.
It had survived Othmar.
It had survived political opposition.
But it had not yet faced something more difficult.
Doubt.
The Keeper understood something that armies did not.
A fortress could resist an attack.
A city could survive fire.
An army could defeat another army.
But trust was different.
Trust could be destroyed without a single sword being drawn.
The Keeper’s voice echoed through the ancient chamber.
“Let them build.”
The darkness shifted around it.
“Let them grow.”
A faint smile appeared.
“Let them become dependent upon one another.”
It looked toward the image of Concordia.
“And then make them afraid of one another.”
Back in Concordia, none of them knew.
Lexander was still inspecting the northern fortress.
Io was still in the palace.
Lisbeth was still trying to convince herself not to become overly excited.
Thor was still trying to decide whether she should tell Mara.
And Loki was somewhere nearby.
Unfortunately.
Loki eventually found Io and Lisbeth in the palace library.
He entered carrying a book.
He stopped.
Looked at Io.
Then looked at Lisbeth.
Then back at Io.
“What?”
Io asked.
Loki frowned.
“Nothing.”
“You’re staring.”
“I noticed something.”
Lisbeth immediately became nervous.
“What?”
Loki stepped closer.
“Io.”
“Yes?”
“Have you been around divine magic recently?”
Io hesitated.
“Why?”
“Because you have a strange aura.”
Lisbeth looked at him.
“You see it too?”
Loki’s expression changed.
“You noticed?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Since this morning.”
Loki looked at Io.
“Has anything unusual happened?”
Io shook her head.
“Not that I know of.”
Loki frowned.
Then his eyes narrowed.
He looked toward the doorway.
“Where’s Thor?”
“Probably with Lexander.”
“No.”
Io frowned.
“What?”
“She’s nearby.”
“How do you know?”
Loki smiled.
“Because I can hear her.”
From somewhere down the corridor came a voice.
“I HEARD THAT!”
Loki smiled.
“See?”
Thor entered.
“What are we talking about?”
Loki pointed at Io.
“She has an aura.”
Thor looked at Io.
Then smiled.
“Oh.”
Loki noticed her expression.
“You know something.”
Thor shrugged.
“Maybe.”
Io sighed.
“Thor.”
“What?”
“You promised.”
Thor held up both hands.
“I haven’t told anyone.”
Loki looked between them.
“Told anyone what?”
Silence.
Lisbeth looked at Io.
Io looked at Thor.
Thor looked at Loki.
Loki smiled.
“Oh.”
Io frowned.
“What?”
“I think I know.”
Loki’s smile became enormous.
“I think I know exactly what you’re wondering.”
Io pointed at him.
“You’re not saying anything.”
“I’m not.”
“Good.”
“Yet.”
“Loki.”
He laughed.
“All right.”
He raised his hands.
“I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
Thor nodded.
“Good.”
Loki looked at Io again.
“But if I’m right…”
He paused.
“That would be interesting.”
Io smiled faintly.
“If.”
“Of course.”
“If.”
“Absolutely.”
Lisbeth looked between them.
“Can we please not discuss this anymore?”
Thor nodded.
“Fine.”
Loki smiled.
“Fine.”
A long silence followed.
Then Thor asked:
“So when are we decorating the nursery?”
Io threw a book at her.
Thor ducked.
Loki burst out laughing.
That evening, Lexander returned from Concordia covered in dust.
He entered the palace and immediately found Io waiting for him.
“How was it?”
“Long.”
She smiled.
“The fortress?”
“Going well.”
“The bridge?”
“Better.”
“The roads?”
“Still terrible.”
She laughed.
“Then it’s a normal day.”
He stepped closer.
“You’ve been hiding something.”
Io froze.
He smiled.
“I can tell.”
She looked at him.
“Nothing important.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He kissed her forehead.
“All right.”
He trusted her.
That trust was exactly what the Keeper intended to test.
But for now, they remained together.
And outside their window, Concordia continued to grow.
Stone walls rose higher.
Roads stretched farther.
Bridges crossed the river.
The palace climbed toward the sky.
Three kingdoms worked side by side.
And beneath the surface, unseen hands were already moving.
Foreign spies were entering the city.
Nobles were beginning to whisper.
Merchants were asking dangerous questions.
Rumors were being prepared.
And somewhere in the darkness, the Keeper of the Cycle watched.
It had failed to stop Concordia with war.
So it would try something else.
It would make the people building the city question one another.
It would make allies fear allies.
It would make love feel like a weakness.
And if it succeeded, Concordia would not need to be destroyed.
Its people would destroy it themselves.
But the Keeper had overlooked one thing.
Lexander and Io had already survived the worst thing it could throw at them.
They had learned to trust one another.
And trust, unlike stone, could not simply be torn down.
Not easily.
Not if they saw the attack coming.
The problem was that they didn’t.
Not yet.
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