Later that morning...

With you mother gone, you relax, tension disappearing from you, and sink back down onto the mattress. You look back at Kara. Somehow, she slept through that entire thing. What with the turn your mother's designs had taken towards the end, part of you wished she hadn't been the only one.

You watch the Beathan sleep for a good five minutes, catching your breath, as well as recovering from your tussle with Marissa.

“What ye starin' at me for?” Kara asks blearily, a short while later.

“Oh, uh, no reason.” You stammer. “Just... admiring the view.”

“Smooth.” Kara scoffs, opening her eyes. “Spirits, I just had the strangest dream...”

As the Beathan sits up, your blood runs cold.

“W-what, uh... what w-was it?” You ask, the panic coursing through your veins bringing out your slurred speech in full ****. Kara chuckles to herself, as if she can barely believe she's speaking this out loud, and then begins:

“Ah, well, there's this lake in Beatha, up near me maw's lands. Airgid Carran, it's called. Our uncle, Rhona's da, used to take me and Donald out sailin' on it. There's tales the Spirit of the Lake's pet, a giant squid calls the lake home. Just a local legend, far as I've ever thought. Only just then I was dreamin' I was back on the water, bein' chased around by the blasted thing. Wonder what that could mean?”

“Was this lake monster wearing red paint on their lips and about three times more jewellery than it should?” You say, a sardonic deflection. “Madeleine's been following me around just the same.”

“Ach, you're worse than Donald!” Kara laughs.

-

The two of you talk in bed for another hour or so, gradually navigating around to more pleasant topics, your lives, childhoods, interests (beyond ruling) and favourite activities. Eventually, Kara climbs out of bed and stretches.

“Apologies, Edward.” Kara says, dressing. “I have things tae do. We're heading back tae the front, the day after tomorrow, If I don't oversee the resupply, we'll be facing down the Morlandians wi' planks of wood and the like.”

As you lie in bed, the warrior woman makes for the door, stopping to blow you a kiss before she departs.

You lay there another fifteen minutes, before hauling yourself out of bed and dressing. You limp for the door, deciding to find a little more excitement within the palace, or at least something for breakfast.