Seats around the crammed table overflowed with the upper echelon of Ostia Novus society. Those that were loyal to the queens regent had been tasked with bringing the city to heel. Lord Lars and Lady Norbana Uticensis sat at the middle of the table. The new duke spoke to all. It seemed they would be required to pay an additional tax to properly outfit the Royal Guard outpost in the city.
“That’s fine,” Lars whispered to his wife. “We’ll be happy to pay so long as every vile Tullius is turned to ash.”
“They are not all bad, dear.” Norbana’s upper lip stiffened. Her husband knew she didn’t like his talk about their detainment by the duke.
“Good, gods. They… are… vile,” Lars said through clenched teeth. He felt his blood boil, but the man next to him was showing interest in his words, so he quieted himself. The man was some sort of newly-titled baron, and Lars didn’t know what to make of him.
The new duke went on about taxes at the head of the long table.
“I just wish… that…” Norbana whispered these words to her husband but did not finish. She pushed away from the table. Slowly she stood, her belly glowing a bright azure. Her eyes had gone quite blank.
“Norbana, sit down,” Lars hissed. “Everyone is watching you.”
“Lady Norbana? Did you have something to add?” The new duke called down the table.
Norbana said nothing as she pushed her chair back. It fell over with a loud clatter that echoed around the otherwise silent hall. Gasps and shrieks went up among the dinner guests as her belly grew larger.
“Norbana!” Lars reached for her, but she somehow slipped his grasp. She turned and walked away in a trance.
“What is this? What’s happening, Lord Lars?” The new duke’s complexion turned pallid.
“I don’t know, Your Grace.” Lars stood and made to follow. He tripped on her overturned chair and fell to the ground. When he looked up from the floor, he could see her stola pulling and pulling as her breasts and stomach grew. “Stop, Norbana. I demand you stop this sorcery this instant!” But she ignored him. In disbelief, he watched an azure circle open in the air in front of her. Inside, there was nothing but black.
Screams filled the hall now. There were several calls for the guards.
Before anyone could stop her, Lady Norbana stepped into the glowing circle and disappeared. She had vanished into thin air.
~~
“What did you do?” Day Star stood when his champions walked out of their rest chamber. He didn’t much like surprises, and here was a big one.
“You should know, angel. You did it to us.” Cassia stopped with her hands on her hips and gave the room a steely gaze. Her stola draped over her stomach awkwardly. It was not made for maternity. “You tricked us into that place. And now you expect us to charge into the belly of the beast… like this?” She waved her hand at her changed body.
“I’m as baffled as you.” Day Star looked at Hekate.
Laughter erupted from near the hearth. Vel turned his gaze there. He had been so keen on their confrontation with the strange godling, he hadn’t noticed the tall woman with shining platinum hair leaning against the mantle. Brynhild’s laugh was not kind. The chiming sound carried on and on. After some time, the sorceress’s chortle stopped abruptly at a wave of Hekate’s hand.
“Enough.” Hekate blurred into three women sitting in one chair, her voice a harmonic trio. “The new magic that this one brought into our world is powerful.” She nodded at Day Star. “You did this to yourselves. And it is most unfortunate.”
“What, how?” Naevia’s skin crawled with the thought that they could so easily, and accidentally, alter themselves.
“I would guess that all three of you heard the story of Vel and me in the wood?” Hekate looked them over.
Cassia, Naevia, and Dellia nodded.
“Then I would also guess that each of you wished for such a thing yourself. You wanted motherhood. You wanted to feel what I felt.” Hekate shrugged. “But powerful as you may be, you are limited. Your wishes overlapped. The magic sought to fulfil your desires and brought you halfway. I wish we had time to educate you. Maybe afterward, should we prevail, I will find you a tutor for your magic.”
“I volunteer.” Brynhild lifted her hand, but the room ignored her.
“How do we reverse it?” Dellia stepped forward. “I would rather not fight like this.” She pushed her swollen belly out for emphasis.
“You cannot turn back the clock on life. It flows in only one direction.” Hekate frowned. “You will have to work with this.” She turned toward Day Star. “The armory now, I think.”
“Oh, yes.” Day Star walked over to the corner where Discordia continued her mercurial, diminished existence. “Excuse me.” Day Star pushed the goddess a little to the left, opened a door, and wheeled out a cart with weapons and armor. “I had to make some last-minute adjustments after seeing how you all carry yourselves now.” He rolled the cart out before the fire. “Pick out what you need. I should have everyone’s sizes.”
“I am an unusual size.” Brynhild stepped forward and surveyed the cart. She spoke the truth. She had a tall and curvaceous body.
“I am an unusual armorer.” Day Star went back to his chair and sat. “There is nothing magic here, these are all things I’ve pilfered and altered myself.”
Vel watched Brynhild pick up an oak staff and check its balance. “Can someone explain what she’s doing here? She’s not coming with us.”
“She is.” Hekate glanced at Vel with annoyance.
“She can’t be trusted.” Vel folded his arms over her chest.
“Of course, little one.” Hekate rolled six eyes that converged into two. “That is plain.”
“Listen, everything I did was to hinder the queens and restore magic to its rightful place.” Brynhild ran her fingers over a light, chainmail tunic. She looked over at Cassia. “I was so committed to the cause, that I may have stuck my nose into a marriage or two. I am sorry, duchess.”
“Gallio chose your bed.” Cassia clenched her fists.
“That’s what I’m telling you. He did not. I used what little magic I had left to cloud his vision. He had no choice.” Brynhild did her best to fill her face with contrition. It was always good to admit to something already discovered or easily discoverable. It put others off the scent of other crimes.
“So, he… was telling the truth. You bewitched him?” Cassia’s face fell. It had been easier for her when she had thought he had cheated on her. Maybe she would get a chance to talk to Gallio after this was all over. Maybe she could set things right. She saw the sorceress nod. “And my son? What of Fortinbras?”
“He was a brash young man. I know not what became of him.” Brynhild eyed the goddess. She wasn’t sure how hidden this lie was, but no one contradicted her.
“We cannot have this duplicitous hag on our flank.” Dellia stepped to the side of the cart opposite Brynhild and eyed the swords. “She will stab us in the back first chance she has.”
“She will be a useful ally.” Hekate’s trio of voices had the tone of one long past the point of arguing. “You may watch your backs as you see fit.”