Arboris didn't ring the bells for joy. They clanged with a heavy, rhythmic bronze chime, like a funeral procession for a man still breathing. The bells didn't announce the Queen's pregnancy with three babies.
The bells rang out to let the people of Arboris and the Veridian kingdom know about a diplomatic visit. Soren, who was weighed down by his own body, felt like they were calling him to battle, but he couldn't answer that call.
Three heartbeats. Three pulses.
Soren was lying on a silk pillow, breathing heavily. "Softening" was no longer a minor change, it was a complete transformation. His abdominal muscles, once sharp, had become smooth and heavy, almost as if they were pulling at his spine.
He was only four months along, but the pain he felt had already got much worse. A week had gone by since the Royal Physician said he was expecting triplets. The court officials were pretty pleased about it. But they agreed to keep it secret because of the Queen's poor health.
