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[Adrian Bishop]

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“Ready, Sparrow?” Soren emerged from the tent, looking tired and pale. Adrian felt his heart sink in his chest as he looked her over, and he sighed. “Solstice or not, you don’t look well. I’m not sure you need to make this trip.”

Soren forced a bright smile, her deep auburn tresses contrasting vastly against her pallid cheeks. “I will be fine. It’s just the fish.”

“That cook…” Adrian smoldered for a moment, eyes beset with anger.

“It’s fine, Adrian. Stormy’s all packed up. Let’s go…” She patted the giant blue beetle, which chattered and chirped in response. Soren mounted up, but she didn’t last long. She swayed slightly, her face graying out further, then slid down the other side. With a look that conveyed pure panic, she sprinted out of the perimeter of the camp and Adrian could hear her wretching.

Adrian found her quickly, wringing a wet cloth as he ran, and patted her forehead, then allowed her to wash her face. He looked her hands over for scratches or pricks. She had handled the wretched rose a couple of hours before, and he felt sure the rose had something to do with this. Amdiriel had never served undercooked fish. As long as he’d known her, she’d never served anything that was less than perfect.

Soren meekly handed the washcloth back to Adrian, her face somewhat apologetic. “I’m sorry, My Adrian…it’s just the fish.”

Adrian nodded silently, and helped her back to Stormy. “My sister waiting for us at the Compassion Camp. She’s a healer. I want you to see her when we get there.” Soren nodded as she situated herself atop the great blue beetle, Adrian fought every instinct he had, managing to to pick up the rose and stuff it unceremoniously into a pack hanging on Dunnye’s flank while Soren was distracted. Then, he mounted the horse and sidled up next to Soren. “All right Sparrow?”

Soren looked up to him and nodded, the excitement of traveling seeming to overcome her illness. Adrian watched her cautiously, silently fuming. So help me, if Arden tells me this rose has poisoned you, I’ll kill Ariana Lenoir myself, with my two bare hands.

Together, as the sun rose brilliantly over the mountains, the two set off for Ilshenar.

[Adrian Bishop]

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Soren swayed again, and a wave of heat passed through Adrian as he halted Dunnye and jumped down to help his wife off Stormy. She hadn’t made it more than a few hours at a time throughout the day without stopping to be sick. Each time, Adrian felt more helpless, holding her auburn waves back and rubbing her back as she wretched. The anger inside him had reached a boiling point. But so far, her spirit felt no weaker, and for that he was grateful. They were no more than a mile from camp this time. Soren paused, catching her breath and wiping her mouth again.

“I’m never eating fish again.” Soren’s lips were ashen, her eyes somewhat hollow. But still her enthusiasm bubbled forth as she smiled. “Are we almost there? I can’t wait to meet Arden!” She clambered up onto Stormy for the last leg of the trip, bouncing slightly as she waited for Adrian to mount up as well. Stormy clicked and made a sound like a sigh in protest, and Adrian couldn’t help laughing.

“Maybe the bouncing isn’t helping, Sparrow.” He smiled wryly.

Instantly, her bouncing stopped. “Ooh maybe…”

By the time they reached camp, the she was bouncing again.

Soren slid off her beetle, recognizing the resemblance of Adrian’s twin without introductions. As Adrian took Dunnye and Stormy into the pen, Soren dashed into Arden’s somewhat surprised and waiting arms.

“I’m SO GLAD to meet you!!” Soren squealed, but then she stopped bouncing again as her face went grayish. “Oh….”

Adrian emerged from the horse pen and exchanged a glance with Arden. He didn’t have to say a word. Arden spoke into Soren’s hair as Soren continued to hug around her waist. “Let’s have a look at you, hmm?”

Soren released Arden and looked from her face back to Adrian with an expression of betrayal, but nodded and spoke insistently as Arden took her hand and led her toward the healer’s wagon. “It’s just the fish.”

[Adrian Bishop]

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Adrian paced by the fire, kicking a rock here and there, so hard that they bounced off the sheer cliffs on the sides of the camp and sent the inhabitants ducking and shuffling out of harm’s way. Their expressions were sympathetic as they watched him silently going mad. He occasionally stopped to look toward the healer’s wagon. He could hear the girls’ muffled voices inside. His stomach churned with dread each time he thought of the possibilities. If this rose was so damned impossible to kill, how much harder will “Her Grace” be? Even in his head, the title dripped with sarcasm.

Arden finally emerged without Soren. Her expression was unreadable as she approached him. Adrian became frantic. “Is she all right? What’s wrong? Poison? Was it the fish? Was the rose? Has the rose poisoned her?”

Arden paused and held up her hands, unsure of her answer. She hugged Adrian in a comforting embrace, and he could feel her magic covering and calming him. “First, Dear Brother, we need to talk. Then you can see Soren, and I’ll have a look at this rose.”

[Adrian Bishop]

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Adrian’s face was as pale as Soren’s as he entered the healer’s wagon. Soren lay quite still on a bed in the corner, and he hastened to sit by her side. He took her hand and held it gently, caressing her forehead with the back of his other hand.

“Are you feeling all right, Sparrow?” Adrian inquired tentatively.

Soren nodded. “I told her it was just the fish.” Her tone was impatient, and she sighed. “I’m all right. Didn’t she tell you I was all right?”

Adrian smiled warmly, his eyes brimming with tears. “Aye, she says you’re both all right.”

Soren looked at him as though he’d lost his mind. “Both?”

Adrian moved his hand down to rest on her belly. “Both you, and Fish.”

Soren’s eyes went wide as his words began to sink in. “Fish?”

“Seems to be your pet name of choice.” Adrian smiled and laughed with half a sob catching in his throat. “My Love, you are carrying our child.”