– No, it's all right… You helped me wake up," I murmured quietly, and turned to look around and grinned: all the people I cared about were here. Even Bergil had left his post and now stood before me, as pale as a freshly baked Kaldwinian pastry. Andrada, calm, but with a serious, even stern look, looked straight into my eyes, as if knowing that I was the prisoner of a nightmare. – I'm alive, my darlings, you don't have to be afraid for your daddy," I said hastily, approaching my daughters, and they threw themselves around my neck as if they were in agreement.

– Your scratches need cleaning, my lord. Let me apply a healing ointment to them. Come to my laboratory," Andrada said quietly.

– There's no need… It'll heal on its own," I dismissed her, not wanting to be alone with her. Her concern seemed too intrusive and intimate at this moment. – I have received such scratches many times, from the swords of my enemies, but as you can see, there is not a single scar on my skin.

– Those were the weapons of men, my king. A familiar's claws, on the other hand, wound much deeper. – Andrada pressed her lips together.

– What is she talking about? – Bergil looked from Andrada to me.

– Forget it," I said. I needed my faithful friend to turn his back on me when he realized I was somehow connected to magic, perhaps even dark magic. – Who's going to tell me what I'm doing here? The last time I closed my eyes, we were at mass.

– You fainted again, my king… So as not to frighten the people, we carried you out the back doors, put you in a carriage, and sent you to the palace," Hedda explained to me. Her voice trembled slightly, and she was even paler than usual. – We tried to bring you to your senses, but you didn't respond… Even Andrada's herbs didn't help. It was as if you were dead, but at the same time you were still alive. – The princess swallowed. – We thought we had lost you, we didn't know what to do.

– But I'm not dead, so my foes will have to wait," I grinned.

– Let's drop the jokes! You're dying, Derek! You need to name an heir! – Bergil interrupted me in a grim tone.

– Are you dying? No, no! I won't let you! – Vilja immediately wept.

– Come, girls-let's go! Your father is fine! Bergil is joking! – Hedda suddenly declared firmly, taking Vilja from me. – Lady Sulwai! Take Alva and let's go and have tea! I hear they've made some delicious candied cakes from Emmerlend especially for us!

– Thank you, Hedda," I said to the princess with sincere gratitude.

– Get well, my lord," Hedda smiled absent-mindedly, and, clutching a screaming and kicking Vilja to her breast, she left the chambers, accompanied by my mother and Alva.

– I need to speak to my consort," I said to Andrade when it was just her, me, Bergil, and, of course, Vit. – Can you put me in touch with her?

– I cannot vouch, my lord, but I can try. The dagger that Queen Sylvia received from me is enchanted to be the only element that can open a water portal," the sorceress replied thoughtfully, but suddenly frowned her eyebrows. – Aren't you afraid it might be dangerous? Perhaps she is in the center of the battle, and we distract her? You can see for yourself what that could lead to.

– But can't you sense the magic in that very dagger? Even though it's not in your hands, you put a piece of yourself into it. What do your senses tell you? – I said quietly, still noting rightly that her concerns were well-founded. But something told me that Sylvia herself wanted me to take the initiative and try to contact her. I hoped so.

– I feel that the dagger is at peace…the Queen is not using it. As you wish, Your Highness, I will go to my place and try to open the portal. But as I said, I can't promise I'll get the results you want. I'll take care of it right away. You and the head of security will have a serious conversation," Andrada said without a single emotion on her face. Then she nodded slightly and left the chambers.

– Women… No peace from them! – Bergil grumbled, as if he was just waiting to be alone with me. – Have you any wine? – He went without permission to the cabinet where I usually kept bottles of delicious old wines, took one of the tall glass vessels, uncorked it, and took a couple of sips from the narrow neck.

– I envy you mortals. You drink this red drink so greedily and with such relish that I wouldn't mind a taste myself," Wit grinned, looking at Bergil with interest. He had already climbed onto my bed and was sprawled on it like a big, fat cat.

– I'll pour you a drink," I said to Vit, barely audibly.

– Yes, please! – rumbled my surname. – But I don't think I'll drink it. Unfortunately, I don't eat your food or drink your liquids. Though your friend's birds look quite appetizing.....

– So who is your heir? – Bergil asked in an impatient tone.

– I haven't thought about it yet," I answered him honestly.

– I haven't thought about it… My friend, you almost died, and everyone in the church saw it! Now everyone knows that you are not well, and they demand to know who will rule Kaldwind when you die!

– If I die, Bergil," I said softly. My friend's certainty of my imminent death struck me unpleasantly.

– Look at you! You look like a living corpse! – Bergil sipped his wine again. – Go to the mirror and see for yourself! The ladies have kept silent about this out of politeness, but I am your loyal friend and I will not keep silent! – He brought the bottle to his lips again: "Andrada said that nothing can help you now, and she knows a lot about these things… You need to name an heir.

– You're exaggerating. Poison couldn't have done that fast…" I started to smile derisively, but as I walked to the mirror and saw my reflection, I realized that Bergil had told the truth, which, either out of respect or not wanting to upset me, neither my daughters, nor my mother, nor Hedda, nor Andrada had told me.

"What's wrong with me… What are these spots on my skin? What do I look like? It is the reflection of a dead man rising from the grave… My poor daughters… How frightened they are by this sight of me!" – I thought with horror, not believing my own eyes: the man looking at me from the mirror looked so sick and frightening that I involuntarily began to hope that I was still in the grip of a nightmare. Because if what I was seeing was really what I had become, what Hund's cursed poison had made me, the reality was scarier than any horrors my mind had ever seen.

"Why didn't you tell me?" – I mentally turned to Vit with reproach.

"I knew Bergil would not be silent about it. Why should you hear this unhappy news two whole times?" – The snow leopard answered me.

– Are you convinced? Name an heir. And you better do it today. Derek, you have no idea-" Bergil's voice trembled, "-you have no idea how hard these words are for me to say. But the fate of Kaldwind depends on who inherits your throne, and I serve it faithfully.

I didn't answer. I couldn't believe what was happening. I couldn't accept that I'd gone from being a healthy man, a warrior, to a strange, thin creature covered in dark spots. The hair on my head had thinned, and my beard was almost gone. It wasn't me. Someone else, but not me.

Suddenly it hit me: I'd put so much faith in Sylvia and her loyalty that I hadn't even thought about the fact that she might not be there in time to save me. Save me? Does she want to? She left the palace in the company of a handsome young healer, so why would she return to me, who took her by force as his wife and raped her on their wedding night? No. She won't. I was blind. I was stupid. I'll be dead soon.

Bergil is right.

I need to name an heir.

But who can I name? Who should I choose from?

The first and rightful heir was Hedda. But, God, what can this frivolous girl do but spend money on dresses and jewelry and have fun? She doesn't know the basics of diplomacy… Does she? What am I talking about? She's never taken an interest in her own kingdom's affairs, so what diplomacy is there to talk about? Besides, Hedda made it clear to me a long time ago that she has no claim to the throne because she doesn't want to take on the responsibility. "Also, my lord, I want to enjoy life, not live it in the throne room or on the battlefield. You are much better suited to that role than I am," Hedda told me on the day of my coronation.