Seven Times A Charm

The Watch's headquarters occupied a building that had once been intended to house the records office of Concordia's eastern district.

It was not particularly impressive.

That was intentional.

The building had no banners.

No royal insignia.

No guards standing outside.

From the street, it looked like an ordinary government office filled with people who spent their days arguing over paperwork.

Inside, however, it had become the most secretive organization in Concordia.

Maps covered the walls.

Reports filled shelves.

Ancient texts sat beside military documents.

Tables were covered with sketches of strange symbols, lists of names, descriptions of magical disturbances, and reports from travelers.

Atreyu stood in the center of the main room.

Loki sat backward in a chair, balancing precariously on its rear legs.

Mara stood beside a large map.

Three other investigators watched them.

"We're going to begin with what we know," Atreyu said.

Loki raised a hand.

"Do we?"

Atreyu stared at him.

"We know Surtr is alive."

"Probably."

"We know Fenrir and Jormungandr are working with him."

"Almost certainly."

"We know they have agents."

"Definitely."

"We know they're interested in Io's children."

Loki stopped rocking the chair.

"Yes."

Atreyu looked around the room.

"And we know they're trying to destabilize the alliance."

Mara pointed toward the map.

"That's where we begin."

She tapped several locations.

"These disturbances all occurred within the last month."

A warehouse fire.

A military supply theft.

A forged royal order.

A fight between merchants.

A missing shipment.

A murdered courier.

"Individually, none of them means much," Mara said.

"Together, they form a pattern."

One of the investigators frowned.

"All of them occurred along major trade routes."

Atreyu nodded.

"And every route connects to Concordia."

Loki leaned forward.

"Not just Concordia."

Everyone looked at him.

"Look at the dates."

He pointed to the reports.

"The incidents aren't random."

He moved his finger from one report to another.

"They happen whenever representatives from one kingdom meet with another."

Mara's eyes narrowed.

"Someone is trying to make those meetings fail."

"Exactly."

Atreyu crossed his arms.

"And who's benefiting?"

Loki smiled without humor.

"The same people who benefit from everyone being afraid of everyone else."

The investigation expanded.

Watch agents began traveling throughout the three kingdoms.

They interviewed merchants.

They followed suspicious couriers.

They examined burned buildings.

They searched old ruins.

They questioned nobles who had received strange letters.

They even began investigating the foreign embassies in Concordia.

But Loki insisted on something unusual.

"Don't only look for Surtr."

Atreyu looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because Surtr is old."

"So?"

"So he's not going to do everything himself."

Loki tapped the table.

"Fenrir is patient."

"Jormungandr is clever."

"And Surtr has had thousands of years to build connections."

Mara nodded.

"Agents."

"Exactly."

Loki looked at the assembled investigators.

"Find the people who are doing the little things."

"The courier who delivers a forged letter."

"The merchant who starts a rumor."

"The noble who suddenly changes his position."

"The soldier who gives away information."

"The scholar who asks the wrong question."

"Those people will lead us to the bigger ones."

Atreyu nodded.

"Then that's what we do."

While the Watch investigated the enemy, the palace had developed a different sort of military operation.

Protect Io.

At least, that was what Thor called it.

The palace guards called it excessive.

Lisbeth called it necessary.

Lexander called it sensible.

Io called it ridiculous.

She was now far enough along in her pregnancy that hiding it was impossible.

Her stomach had grown substantially.

Walking was slower.

Stairs were more difficult.

Long meetings were exhausting.

And the twins had apparently discovered that their mother was a convenient place to practice synchronized kicking.

Io sat in the palace garden one afternoon, reading a report.

Thor stood beside her.

Lisbeth sat on the other side.

Lexander stood several feet away.

Io looked up.

"Why are all three of you staring at me?"

Nobody answered.

She lowered the report.

"Seriously."

Thor shrugged.

"I'm watching you."

"I noticed."

Lisbeth smiled.

"Making sure you're comfortable."

"I'm comfortable."

Lexander frowned.

"You've been sitting for nearly an hour."

"I've been reading."

"You should walk."

Thor immediately shook her head.

"No."

Lexander looked at her.

"Why not?"

"She should rest."

Io stared at both of them.

"I am right here."

Lisbeth nodded.

"We know."

"I can make my own decisions."

"Of course."

Thor nodded.

"Absolutely."

Io narrowed her eyes.

"Then why are you treating me like I'm made of glass?"

Lexander looked genuinely confused.

"Because you're carrying two babies."

"Two very small babies."

"Two very important babies."

Io sighed.

"You're all impossible."

Thor smiled.

"That's why we're effective."

The situation became worse when Io tried to walk through the palace without an escort.

She made it approximately thirty feet.

Then Thor appeared.

"Where are you going?"

"The library."

"I'll come with you."

"I don't need an escort."

"I know."

"You say that every time."

"Because it's true."

Io continued walking.

Thor followed.

Lisbeth appeared behind them.

"Where are you going?"

"The library."

"I'll come too."

Io stopped.

"Lisbeth."

"What?"

"Why?"

"Because Thor is going."

"That's not an answer."

"It is to me."

Io shook her head.

Then Lexander appeared.

"I heard you were going to the library."

Io stared at him.

"Don't."

"I was only going to—"

"No."

Lexander smiled.

"I was going to ask if you wanted company."

"You all need hobbies."

Thor grinned.

"We have one."

Io looked suspicious.

"What?"

"Protecting you."

Despite the constant attention, Io couldn't deny that she appreciated it.

Especially at night.

Sometimes she woke because one of the twins moved.

Other times, both moved simultaneously.

The first time it happened, Lexander had been asleep beside her.

Io touched his shoulder.

"Lexander."

He woke instantly.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"Is something wrong?"

"No."

He sat upright anyway.

"What is it?"

Io took his hand and placed it against her stomach.

"Wait."

A moment passed.

Then he felt movement.

His expression softened.

"One?"

Io smiled.

"One."

Another movement came.

Lexander's eyes widened.

"And the other."

"Yes."

He smiled.

"Hello."

Io laughed quietly.

"You're talking to them?"

"Of course."

"What are you going to say?"

He thought for a moment.

"Please stop kicking your mother."

Io laughed.

One of the twins kicked again.

Lexander smiled.

"They disagree."

"They're your children."

"Already?"

"Definitely."

As Io's pregnancy progressed, the palace became increasingly organized around her needs.

The healers established a dedicated room.

Servants prepared lighter meals.

A physician began visiting every morning.

The royal kitchens adjusted recipes.

Thor inspected every staircase.

Lisbeth personally inspected the nursery.

Lexander inspected everything.

Twice.

Then a third time.

Io finally caught him measuring the nursery door.

"What are you doing?"

"Making sure the doorway is wide enough."

"For what?"

"A cradle."

"Cradles fit through doors."

"These are larger."

"Why?"

"They're twins."

Io stared.

"How large are you planning to make the cradles?"

Lexander hesitated.

"Large."

"Lexander."

"They need room."

"They are babies."

"They grow."

"Eventually."

"I like to plan ahead."

Io shook her head.

"You're hopeless."

He smiled.

"You married me."

"Unfortunately."

"Fortunately."

She kissed him.

"Fortunately."

Across Concordia, Lysandra had begun her first week at the academy.

She had been nervous that morning.

More nervous than she admitted.

She stood in front of the mirror while Lisbeth adjusted her uniform.

"Does this look right?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Lysandra looked at herself.

The uniform was simple.

Dark fabric.

Silver trim.

The crest of Concordia embroidered over the heart.

She touched it.

"It feels strange."

"Why?"

"Because this isn't just a school."

Lisbeth smiled.

"No."

"It's the first school in Concordia."

"Exactly."

Lysandra smiled.

Then she looked nervous again.

"What if I'm not good enough?"

Lisbeth's expression softened.

"Then you'll learn."

"What if everyone is smarter than me?"

"Then you'll learn from them."

"What if I fail?"

"You'll try again."

Lysandra smiled.

"You always know what to say."

"That's what mothers are for."

The academy was already crowded when Lysandra arrived.

Students came from all three kingdoms.

Some were nobles.

Many were ordinary families.

Some had magical abilities.

Others specialized in history, mathematics, engineering, medicine, agriculture, languages, or military studies.

Lysandra immediately realized something.

Nobody cared who her parents were.

At least not in the classroom.

She was simply another student.

Her first class was history.

Professor Alric stood at the front.

"History is not a collection of names."

He walked between the desks.

"It is the study of choices."

Lysandra listened carefully.

"Every kingdom in this world exists because someone made a decision."

He stopped.

"Sometimes wise."

"Sometimes foolish."

"Sometimes courageous."

"And sometimes disastrous."

Lysandra smiled.

She already liked the class.

At lunch, she met three students.

A boy from Valedorn.

A girl from Io's kingdom.

And another girl from a farming family near Concordia.

They spent half an hour arguing about which subject was most difficult.

By the end, Lysandra realized she had forgotten to be nervous.

She was simply enjoying herself.

That evening, she returned to the palace smiling.

Lisbeth immediately noticed.

"How was it?"

"Wonderful."

"Really?"

"Really."

"What did you learn?"

Lysandra thought about it.

"That I want to go back tomorrow."

Lisbeth smiled.

"Then it was a successful first day."

Meanwhile, the Watch had discovered something.

One of the strange symbols found on the spy captured during the palace attack matched an inscription in an ancient temple.

The temple was hundreds of miles north.

It had been abandoned for centuries.

Atreyu stared at the drawing.

"You're certain?"

The scholar nodded.

"The symbols are nearly identical."

Loki leaned over the table.

"Nearly?"

"The newer one has been altered."

"How?"

The scholar pointed.

"This line."

Loki studied it.

Then his expression changed.

"That's not a symbol."

"What is it?"

"A direction."

Atreyu looked at him.

"Direction to where?"

Loki pointed toward the map.

"The mountains."

Mara stepped closer.

"Surtr's territory?"

"Maybe."

Atreyu frowned.

"Can we track it?"

Loki smiled.

"Now we're getting somewhere."

The Watch prepared its first expedition.

Atreyu selected Mara.

Two Valkyrie scouts.

Four soldiers.

Three scholars.

A magical researcher.

And Loki.

Loki looked at the group.

"That's a lot of people."

Atreyu nodded.

"You're welcome."

"I was joking."

"So was I."

Mara smiled.

"We leave at dawn."

Loki looked toward the mountains.

For once, he didn't make a joke.

"Whatever is waiting for us there..."

He paused.

"...it has been waiting a very long time."

The political campaign for unification was also gaining momentum.

Lexander and Io began visiting the factions within both kingdoms.

Not ordering.

Not demanding.

Listening.

The merchant guilds were concerned about taxation.

The nobles were concerned about titles.

The military was concerned about command structures.

Farmers wanted assurances that their lands wouldn't be swallowed by bureaucracy.

Religious leaders wanted guarantees that their traditions would be protected.

Local governors feared losing authority.

Lexander and Io addressed each concern individually.

"We aren't erasing your kingdom," Io told one council.

"We're building something that contains both."

Lexander told the merchants:

"One unified market means fewer border tariffs and fewer delays."

To the military commanders:

"One command structure means fewer competing orders."

To the nobles:

"You will retain your titles under the new constitutional structure."

And to the common people:

"Concordia belongs to everyone."

Not everyone was convinced.

But the conversations were happening.

And that mattered.

One evening, after another long council meeting, Lexander and Io sat together.

Io was visibly tired.

Lexander noticed.

"Enough."

She looked at him.

"Enough what?"

"Politics."

"We have another meeting tomorrow."

"I know."

"I need to prepare."

"No."

She raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

"You're going to bed."

Io laughed.

"You're giving me an order?"

"I'm making a suggestion."

"That sounded like an order."

"It was a strongly worded suggestion."

Io smiled.

She stroked the cat that had jumped into her lap.

The cat had become a fixture around her, which Lisbeth stated she wasn’t too fond of.

"Fine."

She placed the cat on the table and stood.

Lexander immediately reached for her arm.

"I've got you."

"I can stand."

"I know."

"I can walk."

"I know."

She smiled.

"You're getting worse."

"I know."

They walked slowly toward their chambers.

Io paused halfway down the corridor.

Lexander stopped.

"What?"

She smiled.

"They're moving."

He placed his hand against her stomach.

A kick.

Then another.

Lexander smiled.

"They're active tonight."

Io nodded.

"They like when you talk."

He looked surprised.

"Really?"

"Apparently."

Lexander leaned toward her stomach.

"Hello, you two."

Another kick.

He laughed.

"See?"

Io smiled.

For a moment, there were no political factions.

No foreign spies.

No ancient gods.

No threats.

Only two parents listening to their children move.

Then, far away, beneath the mountains, a raven landed beside the Watch's temporary camp.

A small black symbol had been tied to its leg.

Atreyu removed it.

Loki looked at the symbol.

His face changed.

"What?"

Mara asked.

Loki turned the message over.

Three words had been written across it.

I SEE YOU.

Atreyu stared.

"Surtr?"

Loki shook his head.

"No."

"Then who?"

Loki looked toward the mountains.

"Someone who knows exactly where we're going."

The next morning, the Watch departed.

Atreyu led from the front.

Mara rode beside him.

Loki followed behind.

The mountains waited in the distance.

And somewhere beyond them, something ancient watched.

Back in Concordia, construction crews placed the final stones in the southern plaza.

The city was almost complete.

The kingdom was moving toward unification.

Lysandra had begun her education.

Io's pregnancy was advancing rapidly.

Two children were growing inside her.

And the people who loved her had become fiercely protective.

Thor stood outside the royal chambers.

Lisbeth was preparing another list of things Io supposedly needed.

Lexander was reviewing security reports.

And Io herself sat by the window, one hand resting over her stomach.

She smiled as another kick answered her touch.

Two lives.

Two futures.

Two children who had already changed the world before taking their first breath.

And in the mountains, the Watch was about to discover just how close the enemy truly was.

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