The years treated Mary kindly with her wealth and magical knowledge growing. She married a wealthy noble enchanted with her beauty. He came to love her wisdom beyond the years he thought she had. Whatever magic possessed the weapon master Karas kept her youthful. Lord Armand Werton her husband lands generated a sizable income that he used to further Mary’s mystical studies.
Armand distrusted King Emeril whose whims often ruined men and women alike. He stayed out of the capital if he could. He desired to remain out of the politics but prepared himself to face down any threats that might disrupt his idyllic existence. He trained a personal unit of knights loyal to him. He studied magic alongside his wife equaling her ability. Though few knew of his talent as the king’s paranoia of magic users was well known. Armand treated Kara as his daughter raising her with the brood Mary and produced through the years. Eighteen years saw Kara fill out into a beauty like her mother. Standing next to each other they appeared more as sisters than parent and child.
Kara gave glimpses of her former ability with weapons but showed no signs of remembrance of her former life. Her archery skill surpassed any knight or soldier in her father’s employ. When she cooked in the kitchen her knife skills impressed all the staff. Despite these talents no one would mistake her for a manly woman. She loved sewing and teasing boys her hips swaying enticingly for handsome young men. Recently she set her eyes on the son of a neighboring noble. His visits grew frequent with a few well-placed battings of the eyes and smiles. Only Armand’s watchful eye kept them from a more physical understanding of one another.
Mary waddled down the hall smiling despite her distended belly and backache. Any day now she would again birth a child for her husband. The magic within her aided fertility she held no doubt. Every year she wound up in the same position pregnant. Twenty children to her name excited the local gossip that she might be an aspect of Asherah the fertility goddess. The morning sickness she could live without but she loved all the children running about. She wished to visit with Kara whose hormones might soon over take her. The lustful longing looks to Bryant Morland might lead to Mary's current condition if she didn't talk to Kara. Their marriage first was all she desired. Having a child remain so close suited Mary.
