The Goblin's Heir

Chapter Eight: A Wake for the Living

I had expected them all to erupt into cheers and bellows of delight, but the only one that did was Odd. 

"It's about bloody time!" He threw his head back, laughing loudly, letting the sound echo through the dark abyss above our heads where even our night sight couldn't reach. His brothers and cousin remained quiet, staring at us, their faces frozen in shock. 

Floki's throat tightened as he swallowed. He frowned at me, his face pinched with worry. "Are you sure you're okay with this, Mama?"

Odd's laughter ended abruptly. He leaped at Floki's back, looping his thin arm around his throat."I swear to the Abyss if you ruin this for us I'll skin you alive and make a new suit!" He hissed.

"Agh!" Floki gagged, wrestling to get a hold of Odd and toss him off. "Let go you overgrown squirrel! You're choking me!" 

"That's the idea!"

"Really?" Frit gasped, his dark eyes burning a hole in my face. "You're not pulling our chains?"

"Really." I pulled my lips back into a bigger, faker smile. "I made you a promise."

"Did you think this was a cruel practical joke?" Knut asked. He disentangled his arm from mine. It was an effort to let him go. An even greater one not to look as unsteady as I felt. 

"Wouldn't put it past you as much as you like to tease us." Frit chuckled, his eyes shifting, following his father as he came nearer. 

"Well, it's the truth. Your mother's finally given her blessing."  Knut smiled proudly at Frit as he beckoned to the others. "Stop with the wrestling match and come here. All of you. There's something I'd like to say." Odd and Floki stilled. Odd slipped from Floki's back with a grumble and they walked back to where Frit was, standing before their father. Floki rubbed at his throat where Odd's arm had left a bruising mark. Knut turned that look of pride toward each one of them then held out his hand toward Cat, who stood off to herself with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "You too, Kitty Cat." He gestured for her to come closer, to join them, giving her the same exact look. She lifted her head a bit, looking at his long fingers. I could see even from a distance that her eyes held a wet sheen. After a moment, she obeyed, joining the grouping of men.

"Are you crying?" Odd taunted. Cat stomped her foot and he yelped.

"We have the empress' permission, but now the real work begins. You only have a week to make your final preparations. There will be guests to meet, final business to finish and choices to be made amid all the training and plotting. So use your time well." He said to our sons. He turned his head to Cat. "You will have to prepare as well. The coronation brings a lot of change and it will be a more difficult change for you."

"Yes, sir." She sniffled. A tear escaped, slipping down her left cheek. She lowered her head to hide her face behind a veil of pitch-black hair, wiping her cheek on her shoulder. 

Knut's expression softened. He laid his hand on her head, petting her hair like one would stroke a cat. "Don't be sad, Kitty." He whispered. He bent and kissed the top of her head. She sniffled a bit louder, her shoulders visibly shaking.

His eye bounced from Frit to Odd to Floki as a shaky breath escaped his lips. "I want you to make me a promise here and now that you'll look after your mother for me. The days after I'm gone will be hard ones for her and I need to know for my own peace of mind that I can count on whichever one of you kills me."

I winced at that, feeling an awful hollow feeling bloom through my chest. I couldn't fathom what it would be like in those first few days after the coronation when I'd wake up without Knut beside me when two of my sons' rooms sat empty. I feared that woman I would soon become. She was more terrifying to me than The End could ever dream of being.