Sisters Three (Completed)

49. Morna (1/2)

Morna's feet ached in the boots and her back felt like it was on fire more often than not. She pattered after Afton on the lesser-used roads through the countryside, leaning on a walking stick as her stomach steadily grew during the time after her escape. She wasn't quite sure on how long it had been, or even how far along she was with the baby, but she knew it was nearing the time that she would give birth. She was large and uncomfortable, and Afton watched her with knit eyebrows when he didn't think she was paying attention.

Added to the discomfort of being pregnant and walking nearly all day on dirt roads that were not always well maintained, the uncertainty of whether they were being pursued or not was a constant companion to them. Though Esmond had promised to spread the rumor she was dead, there was no way of knowing whether they believed it.

At night, Morna would stare at the stars and wonder if that branch snapping in the woods nearby was a wild animal or soldiers sent to retrieve the queen's sister. Morna was fairly certain that Brenna would not want her wandering the Anjeluund countryside. And if they found her, then they'd find Afton. And if someone had wanted to kill him before, they would certainly attempt to do it again.

Thankfully, no one seemed to recognize them when they stopped for what supplies they could afford in the villages and towns along the way, and Morna heard almost no news from the capital. Not that she was particularly looking hard. She had enough to do to fight off the constant waves of nausea that plagued her when they retreated too far from the rivers or lakes that dotted too little of their route.

One day they were preparing to leave a new town, one which boasted an unusual amount of fishmongers, and Afton offered to carry the pack even though it was Morna's turn. She handed it over without protest, although she always felt a little guilty that he carried around her spare clothes and their blankets when he rarely used them himself. He also seemed to exist on barely any food at all, since he gave most of his ration to her. He demonstrated it by digging in his coat and pulling out a piece of hard bread. He offered it to Morna, and though she wanted to share, she knew she'd faint if she didn't eat something soon. She nibbled the almost impenetrable crust with an apologetic air, wishing she could have eaten it where he didn't have to watch.

"I heard some news about your sister," he said, his eyes trained on the long road ahead of them. The land was scrubby and sandy, with small dunes that gave way to flat fields that stretched until sparse copses of trees broke the horizon.

Morna paused in her chewing. "Really? What?" Her first thought was that soldiers had been asking after them in the town, but she couldn't remember seeing any men in uniform.

"Apparently there have been riots going on in the city. The folk here are running on delayed news, but there are rumors that maybe the soldiers are contemplating deserting."

Morna's mouth popped open. If the soldiers deserted, Brenna and Robbin would be without protection. "Did they say why there's unrest?"

Afton shrugged, but it was after a slight pause. She saw his eyes flick back and forth across her face, and the way his hand tightened on the pack. He knew something about it, but he didn't want to share. It annoyed her, but she didn't have the strength to demand he tell her everything. She only hoped his hidden news wasn't that Brenna was dead or that she'd been hurt in any riots.

"Maybe we should head back to Latterstill," she said, shifting to try and relieve some of the pressure on her back.

A furrow grew between Afton's brows, and he shook his head. "It's not safe."

"Well, we can't just wander forever," Morna said, sighing and throwing her hands into the air. "I'm near on bursting with this baby, and I'd rather not have it on some bend in the road. Not to mention that I'm still chained to the call of the water, even if I'm making some strides."

Afton paused, shifting his weight,

"What?" Morna asked.

"Keep in mind that you want to heal, before you get angry," Afton replied. He motioned with his hand toward a gap in the trees, where she saw the glint of ocean waves.

"Afton!" she said.

"Look, I was thinking maybe... well, maybe you shouldn't be fighting it so hard."

She laughed.

"I'm serious, Morna. Maybe we should see what it wants with you."

"It wants me dead. It wants to fill my lungs with water and drag me to the bottom where it can't leave," she spit out, shaking her head. "I may not be prepared for this baby, but I'm not going to kill it before it's even born."

"But you'll never be free, never be safe, as long as you fear water. It's controlling you, and you do nothing but run away from it or cower."

She clenched her teeth and spun around to head back to the town they'd just left, but her feet were like iron blocks. She frowned, trying to force herself forward even though she was rooted to the spot. "What's going on?" she asked, but even before the words were completely out of her mouth, she felt that familiar tug in her stomach.