The Nun and King

Chapter 1

Her dark ringlets reflect the afternoon sun as she sleeps peacefully in my arms. I'm tempted to run my finger over her delicate rosy cheek but I do not wish to disturb her so instead, I settle for brushing the smooth skin of her calf. As I study her, I want to place a soft kiss on her forehead but again, I do not have the heart to wake her and surely the stubble on my chin will do the trick.

"Uncle Tom, play with me!" my nephew Everett pleads.

I tear my eyes away from my niece, Evie, and watch the almost two year old as he spins in circles in the courtyard, earning a chuckle.

"Aren't you dizzy yet?" I ask him, looking back down to my niece. It's hard to believe that something so precious could come from my brother, but then again Cora herself is somewhat of an angel.
Evie stirs in her sleep and lets out a yawn before slipping back soundly into her dreams.

He stops and brushes his blonde hair from his eye and toddles as he regains his balance. "No! Play!" he demands.

"I can't play right now Ev, I have your baby sister," I say, holding her up slightly as if to remind him.

He frowns before running over to the two of us. Given that I'm sitting down on one of the benches that overlooks the courtyard, he stands on his tip toes and stares at his sister for a moment. "She's pretty," he says, giving me a grin.

I nod and ruffle his hair. "Aye, she sis. Just like your mother," I say, then give his nose a boop.

"Thank you for the hundredth time," I hear a familiar voice say, and we both look up to see Cora and Crispin making their way towards us. By their flushed looks and messy hair, I'd say they were doing more than just gathering their belongings for their journey back home.
Shaking my head, I stand up and meet them halfway across the courtyard before handing Evie back over to her mother.

Looking down at Crispin's misbuttoned shirt, I give a smirk. "Missed one," I say, pointing it out. He returns my grin and adjusts himself before scooping Everett up into his arms.

"I swear you two are worse than rabbits. If I had known you were making me babysit just so you could scr-" I begin, but Cora cuts me off with a look.

"Need I remind you that he repeats almost everything you say? I don't need you teaching him any more bad words; it took him three weeks to forget about...s-h-i-t," she spells out. When I let out a laugh, she rolls her eyes.

Deciding that it's time to be serious and talk about the matter as to why we are here, I turn to my brother. "So, how is he?" I ask, expecting the worst.

His face falls and he runs a hand through his dark hair. "About the same. His handmaid said she was only able to coax half a bowl of soup down him this morning," he replies. Everett's eyebrows raise and he looks up at his dad.

"Granddaddy doesn't feel good," he tells him. Crispin nods his head and Everett leans forward, laying his head down on his chest.

"Does she have any idea what's wrong with him?" I ask, trying to hide my worry.
Crispin gives a shrug. "Not really. She said that it's being spreading throughout the lands though. The odds of making it are one in two supposedly."

"Hm," I say, weighing those odds. "Well I think I better go see him before I set off myself. Is Rory still up there?"

Cora gives a silent nod. "When you do leave, be careful Thomas. I've been hearing that things are getting bad down south," she says. I want to ask her who she has heard these rumors from considering they hardly go anywhere now that they have two children, but I hold my tongue, knowing that if I did it would come out harshly.