Seven Times A Charm

The first cry came just before dawn.

Io woke suddenly, one hand gripping the sheets.

For several seconds she simply breathed.

Then she looked at Lisbeth.

“LISSY!"

Lisbeth was awake immediately.

"What is it?"

Io swallowed.

"I think it's time."

Lisbeth stared at her.

Then her eyes widened.

"Oh."

She was out of the room before Io could say anything else.

"LEXANDER!"

The shout echoed through the palace.

Everything happened at once.

Lexander came running from the council chamber.

Thor appeared from the opposite corridor with Shadow perched on her shoulder.

Loki arrived carrying three books he had apparently been reading.

Atreyu and Mara came rushing from the Watch headquarters.

Baldr practically sprinted through the palace.

And Aurethar's roar shook the windows as the dragon landed outside.

"What happened?" Thor demanded.

Lisbeth pointed toward Io's room.

"She's in labor."

Everyone froze.

Lexander's expression changed instantly.

"How long?"

"Just started."

"Are the midwives here?"

"They're on their way."

"I'll—"

"No."

Everyone looked at him.

Lisbeth pointed at him.

"You stay with her."

Lexander nodded.

"Of course."

Thor stepped forward.

"I'll secure the palace."

Atreyu immediately nodded.

"I'll take the Watch."

Mara drew her sword.

"I'll secure the eastern wing."

Baldr looked toward the windows.

"I'll take the western side."

Loki smiled.

"And I'll make sure nobody gets through the magical defenses."

Aurethar lowered his enormous head outside the window.

"I will guard the palace from above."

Lexander looked at all of them.

"Thank you."

Thor put a hand on his shoulder.

"Go."

Lexander entered Io's room.

The palace changed within minutes.

Doors were locked.

Guards doubled.

Then tripled.

The Watch moved into position.

The magical barriers surrounding the palace were strengthened.

Aurethar took to the sky.

Thor stationed herself outside Io's room.

Shadow remained on her shoulder.

Nobody was getting through.

Nobody.

At least, that was the plan.

Inside the chamber, Io gripped Lexander's hand.

Another contraction came.

She cried out.

Lexander squeezed her hand.

"I'm here."

"I know."

"I'm not going anywhere."

Io managed a strained smile.

"You'd better not."

The first midwife arrived.

Then another.

Lisbeth remained beside Io.

The room became busy.

The midwives prepared everything.

Io's breathing became harder.

The first child was coming.

Outside, however, something was moving.

Something that had been waiting for this exact moment.

Atreyu was the first to notice.

A guard stationed at the northern entrance disappeared.

No alarm.

No struggle.

Just gone.

Atreyu's eyes narrowed.

"Something's wrong."

Mara immediately drew her sword.

"Where?"

"North entrance."

They moved.

Two Watch members followed.

They reached the corridor.

Three guards lay unconscious.

Atreyu's expression hardened.

"They're here."

Mara nodded.

"Wake the alarm."

The bells began ringing.

The attack came from everywhere.

Figures emerged from hidden passages.

Others appeared from the streets.

Several came through tunnels beneath the city.

The conspirators had been preparing for this for months.

They had weapons.

Magic.

Explosives.

And knowledge of the palace defenses.

But they had made one critical mistake.

They had underestimated the people defending the palace.

Thor met the first group at the eastern gate.

She didn't even draw her weapon at first.

She simply stood in their path.

The attackers stopped.

One raised a crossbow.

Thor looked at him.

"You're attacking a palace defended by Gods and a dragon. Are you daft?"

He fired.

Thor caught the bolt.

The man stared.

Thor threw it aside.

"You chose a terrible day."

Then she charged.

Baldr encountered another group in the western courtyard.

He moved with almost impossible speed.

A sword came toward him.

He stepped aside.

Another followed.

He disarmed the attacker.

Then another.

Within seconds, the entire group had been driven to the ground.

Baldr looked toward the palace.

His expression was furious.

"They're attacking while Mother is giving birth."

He turned back toward the remaining attackers.

"You will not get near her."

Aurethar descended upon the outer wall.

His wings created a storm of wind.

Attackers were thrown from their feet.

The dragon landed among them.

His roar shook the stones.

"You dare attack Concordia on this day?"

The attackers scattered.

Aurethar's eyes burned.

He pursued them.

Loki moved through the palace like a shadow.

Everywhere he went, magical traps appeared beneath the attackers.

Doors slammed shut.

Hallways shifted.

Illusions separated groups.

Weapons disappeared from hands.

Loki wasn't laughing anymore, he was livid. Daring to attack while his little brother and sister were entering the world was the wrong move.

If the attackers knew what they had wrought, they would turn and flee.

"Loki!"

Atreyu shouted from across the courtyard.

Loki turned.

"They're trying to reach the birthing chamber."

Loki's eyes narrowed.

"They shall not pass."

Mara fought beside Atreyu.

The two moved as though they had trained together for years.

Mara blocked an attacker.

Atreyu struck another.

A third tried to flank them.

Mara caught him.

"Behind you."

Atreyu turned.

The attacker barely had time to react.

Mara looked toward the palace.

"How long?"

Atreyu understood immediately.

"Not long."

Mara's expression darkened.

"Then we end this now."

Inside the chamber, Io screamed.

Lexander's heart nearly stopped.

The first child was coming.

"You're doing wonderfully," one of the midwives said.

Io shook her head.

"I don't feel wonderful."

Lisbeth laughed nervously.

"That's because you're having two babies."

Io looked at her.

"That isn't helping."

Another contraction came.

Lexander held her hand.

"You can do this."

Io squeezed his hand so hard that he winced.

"Ow."

"Sorry."

"You can break my fingers."

"I might."

"That's fine."

The midwife looked up.

"The first baby is almost here."

Lexander's eyes filled with tears.

Io saw them.

"Are you crying?"

"No."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You absolutely are."

The midwife smiled.

"He's allowed."

Lexander laughed through his tears.

"Thank you."

Outside, Thor heard another explosion.

She turned.

"Where?"

A guard shouted.

"Southern corridor!"

Thor ran.

Shadow clung tightly to her shoulder.

The attack had become more coordinated.

They weren't trying to conquer the palace.

They weren't trying to capture the city.

They were trying to reach one room.

Io.

And the unborn children.

Thor realized it instantly.

"They're using the other attacks as distractions."

She turned toward the birthing chamber.

"Someone is trying to get through."

She ran.

The first baby was born.

A cry filled the chamber.

Io collapsed back against the pillows.

Lisbeth began crying.

Lexander stared.

The midwife carefully lifted the newborn.

"It's a boy."

Lexander laughed.

"Our son."

Io looked at him.

"Our son."

The child cried again.

Then something strange happened.

A warm golden light appeared around him.

The midwives stared.

Lexander froze.

Io looked down.

The light spread gently through the room.

It was warm.

Peaceful.

Healing.

The boy's tiny hand opened.

The light faded.

Io smiled.

"He's beautiful."

Lexander touched his son's cheek.

"Hello."

Outside, another explosion shook the palace.

Lexander looked toward the door.

Then back at Io.

"I need to make sure they're safe."

Thor's voice suddenly echoed from the hallway.

"LEXANDER!"

"I'm here!"

"The eastern wing is secure!"

Lexander relaxed.

Then came another voice.

Atreyu.

"Southern corridor is clear!"

Mara followed.

"Western hall secured!"

Loki's voice echoed next.

"Magical defenses holding!"

Lexander smiled.

Io laughed weakly.

"Your friends are very loud."

"They're worried."

"They're terrified."

"Probably."

Then the door opened.

Lisbeth stepped into the hallway to speak with one of the guards.

She never saw the attacker.

He was already inside the shadows.

He moved silently.

Quickly.

Lisbeth turned.

A dark figure emerged behind her.

She barely had time to react.

Something struck the side of her head.

She collapsed.

The attacker rushed past her.

Two midwives turned.

The attacker struck one.

Then the other.

They fell.

Io screamed.

"NO!"

She tried to rise.

Her body refused.

She had nothing left.

The first baby cried.

The second child was coming.

The attacker stepped toward the bed.

Io stared at him.

She tried to summon her power.

Nothing happened.

She was too exhausted.

"Please..."

The attacker raised his weapon.

Then the second baby was born.

A girl.

She cried once.

And the room exploded with light.

The First Flame awakened.

The boy glowed with golden warmth.

The girl burned with brilliant white-gold fire.

The two halves of the ancient flame surrounded them.

The attacker froze.

The girl opened her eyes.

For one impossible instant, the chamber seemed to contain the entire history of creation.

Fire that destroyed.

Fire that healed.

The attacker tried to move.

He never got the chance.

The girl's flame struck him.

He vanished within the light.

Not burned.

Not wounded.

Simply consumed by the destructive half of the First Flame until nothing remained.

The room went silent.

Then the boy's light spread.

It flowed toward the injured midwives.

Their wounds began closing.

Breathing returned.

Color returned to their faces.

The light moved toward Lisbeth.

Her injuries healed.

She stirred.

The girl continued crying.

The boy continued glowing.

Io stared at them.

"My children."

The door burst open.

Lexander came running.

He had heard the scream.

"Io!"

He stopped.

The room was filled with light.

The attacker was gone.

The midwives were alive.

Lisbeth was beginning to wake.

And Io was holding both babies.

Lexander's eyes widened.

"What happened?"

Io looked at him.

Her face was exhausted.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"They saved everyone."

Lexander rushed to her.

He dropped beside the bed.

"Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine."

"Mother?"

"I’m here."

"The midwives?"

"Alive."

Lexander looked at the babies.

The boy's tiny fingers curled around Io's hand.

The girl opened her eyes.

Lexander stared.

The First Flame pulsed around them.

He whispered:

"The prophecy."

Io nodded.

"They're the prophecy."

Lexander gently touched his son's forehead.

Then his daughter's.

The light responded.

He laughed.

Then he began crying.

Io smiled.

"You really are crying a lot today."

"I don't care."

She laughed weakly.

"I don't either."

Lisbeth groaned.

Everyone turned.

She slowly opened her eyes.

"What happened?"

Io laughed.

"You got knocked unconscious."

Lisbeth frowned.

"I did?"

"Yes."

"By who?"

"Someone who isn't here anymore."

Lisbeth looked at the babies.

Then at Io.

Then at Lexander.

"Oh."

She smiled.

"They're here."

Io nodded.

"They're here."

Lisbeth's eyes filled with tears.

"My grandbabies."

Lexander smiled.

"Our heirs."

Thor entered next.

She had blood on her armor, though none of it was hers.

She stopped when she saw the babies.

Her entire expression softened.

"Are they safe?"

Lexander nodded.

"Yes."

Thor approached carefully.

Shadow climbed down from her shoulder and jumped onto the edge of the bed.

The female cat sniffed the newborns.

The girl reached out.

Shadow immediately began purring.

Thor laughed.

"Well."

Io smiled.

"Apparently she approves."

Shadow curled up beside the babies.

Thor looked at Lexander.

"How?"

Lexander looked at the twins.

"They used the First Flame."

Thor's eyes widened.

"Both of them?"

"Yes."

Thor smiled.

"Surtr is going to hate that."

Loki entered behind her.

"Surtr is going to lose his mind."

Atreyu and Mara followed.

Then Baldr.

Aurethar appeared in human form.

Everyone stared at the twins.

Baldr's eyes filled with tears.

"My siblings."

He smiled.

"The prophecy was true."

The Watch gathered around the room.

Atreyu looked toward the empty space where the attacker had stood.

"One got through."

Mara nodded.

"We'll find out how."

Loki's expression was grim.

"They knew exactly where to strike."

Baldr looked at the injured doorway.

"This wasn't random."

"No."

"They wanted to kill the children before they inherited the Flame."

Atreyu nodded.

"But they failed."

Loki looked toward the babies.

"More than failed."

He smiled.

"They gave us proof."

Atreyu frowned.

"Proof of what?"

"That the prophecy has begun."

Outside, the bells of Concordia began ringing.

One tower.

Then another.

Then another.

The sound spread across the city.

People poured into the streets.

They knew.

The children had been born.

The first heirs of the royal line had arrived.

Trumpets sounded.

Banners were raised.

Workers abandoned their tools.

Merchants closed their shops.

Families gathered in the streets.

Concordia celebrated.

On the palace balcony, Lexander held his son.

Io held their daughter.

Lisbeth sat beside them.

Thor stood guard.

Loki watched the windows.

Mara and Atreyu organized the Watch.

Baldr stood near his family.

Aurethar circled above the palace.

Shadow stood watch near the newborns.

Ready with claws out.

Everyone of them ready to give whatever necessary to protect these precious babes.

The city had its heirs.

The prophecy had begun.

And somewhere far away, Surtr felt it.

He felt the First Flame awaken.

He felt the birth of the two children.

And he understood immediately what had happened.

The heirs had inherited the Flame.

Both halves.

The healer.

The destroyer.

The future of the First Flame was no longer hidden away in an ancient cave.

It was alive.

Two children.

Two kingdoms.

Two halves of one ancient power.

Surtr stood alone in his fortress.

His hands clenched.

"No."

For centuries, he had planned.

For centuries, he had waited.

He had survived Ragnarök.

He had gathered followers.

He had infiltrated Concordia.

He had stolen weapons.

He had sent assassins.

And still...

He had failed.

The children were alive.

Worse, they had already demonstrated the power he feared most.

The First Flame had chosen them.

Surtr looked toward the distant horizon.

"Then I will have to change the plan."

Back in Concordia, Lexander looked down at his children.

Io rested beside him.

For the first time in months, neither of them was thinking about politics.

Or kingdoms.

Or Concordia.

Or Surtr.

They were simply parents.

Lexander smiled.

"Welcome to the world."

Io leaned against him.

"Our little flames."

Ignatius, the boy's golden light flickered softly.

Seraphina, the girl's white-gold flame answered.

And Concordia celebrated long into the night.

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