"No, it's not spelt like that," I said and pointed to the word she had spelt wrong.

Isla put a line over the word and rewrote it.

"Yes, good," I said proudly.

She glanced up at me. "Thank you for helping me with this, Quinn. I'm not very good at spelling."

"Hey, it's about the only thing I'm good at. I'll edit all of your essays until the end of time, Isla." I smiled encouragingly at her. "Besides, it's not often I get to help you. You're a very smart girl."

She tried to hide the smile, but she wasn't winning that battle. She kept her eyes glued on her paper, writing.

"Have you learned how to type yet?" I asked.

"No, we've never had the money for a typewriter, so..."

"Well, you're a princess now. I'll get you a typewriter. You can't be a modern woman without knowing how to type. Or so I've heard."

She bit down on her lip. "You don't have to buy me stuff, Quinn."

"I know. But I want to."

"Why?" She tore her gaze off the paper and looked up at me with that scrutinising look only she could muster.

"Because you're special to me, Isla."

"Because you're married to my dad?"

"No, not just because of that. You're family, Isla. And I don't have a whole lot of it, as you may have noticed. You're Àlvar's big sister too. I'm very protective of you, and I know you... Don't want another parent. I know that, but..."

She frowned a little. "You're not my dad," she said, and I cringed a little. "But you're still family to me too. I don't mind having your last name, either."

I teared up and clenched my jaw as she circled her arms around me. I hugged her back as gently as I could.

"I know things are scary right now," she said softly. "But Dad will fix it. He fixes everything."

I smiled and nodded, pulling back. "Yes. He will fix everything. And then everything will be alright. And you'll meet my sister too."

Isla widened her eyes and nodded. "She is so cool!"

I laughed and nodded. "She is."

"She's out there now, fighting, isn't she?"

"From what I've heard, yeah. She's on the frontlines. It's happening because of her. Barr said, she went to Kabir to get them to help us. I don't know how she does it..."

"She's a hero." She looked dreamy, with so much awe. And I couldn't blame her. Al was an inspiration to everyone.

"Hey, Quinn," Islo said and looked incredibly excited as he came walking into the sitting room with the radio. "Listen to this." He turned the volume up a bit.

"... Coming to you live from Paasmut. We're covering the actual facts of what's happening out in our proud nation, as opposed to the national radio. Just today we've had confirmation of the successful take-over of Kasinaq and Suuk, two larger cities on Aatskina land. This means, there is no longer any Bursaaq or Andaheim troops in Aatskina."

My eyes widened and I met Islo's gaze. "How is this reaching us here?"

"They have some kind of big broadcaster or something. I don't know, but Barr's boyfriend has apparently been very busy. They credit him for building the new radio towers."

I couldn't stop smiling. Islo put the radio on the small coffee table and sat down next to me on the sofa.

"... With the help of the Kabiran navy, we've also secured Skyen, making them surrender to our rightful queen, Alvina av Stál, who runs her army with the metal fist she wields."

I couldn't help but be excited. This could all be over soon. This would all be over soon. The rebels wouldn't be able to keep this up for another year. They had held their ground, but the city would fall. No matter how strong it was.

And it was strong. Especially with the aeroplanes taking out the big flying balloons the Aatskina tribe had acquired. But we couldn't keep doing this. We had rations for maybe another year, and we were already running low on some essentials. Like potatoes and meat. We still had access to fish and wheat but all it took was one harvest going wrong out in the countryside and we'd no longer have any bread. If the Aatskina were smart, they'd start putting the fields on fire.

"We're winning this, aren't we?" I asked.

"We are. Just the fact that they can get a broadcast in here is showing that the rebels are slowly losing their grip on the people as well as the country. What are they gonna do now? They can't possibly think their own propaganda broadcasts will work forever. We're winning this. The right way too."

I nodded and sighed very deeply. "Al is doing everything right. Do you think... She'll want the throne back when she takes the city?"

"Honestly, who knows? Right now that shouldn't be the priority. We need to get the city back and that is something you both agree on. Who ends up sitting on the throne is something we'll think about later. Until then, you're the king here. She's the queen out there." He patted my hand and I knew he was right.

But we were holed up here and couldn't go outside anymore. We had access to the garden still, but the city was off-limits. The rebels couldn't control us nor the people. Who knew what would happen if I left the stronghold? Maybe I could even escape, swim out to a Kabiran ship and be free.

Of course, I wouldn't. I'd have to leave Islo here then. He couldn't get far, and he was slow. His leg was ruined.

They had been smart when they smashed it. They knew I'd never leave this place without Islo. And now I had a baby to think about too. And a thirteen-year-old girl. I might've been able to make it out if I was alone, but with my family, I'd never make it. I felt selfish for even entertaining this train of thoughts. My place was here. I would greet my victorious sister on the steps of the stronghold, embrace her and welcome her home. No matter what the aftermath would be.

Barr strode in then and smiled widely. "They are talking about Huqqa on the radio," he said with so much glee. He had Isla on tow.

"I showed it to him. They had another programme about Huqqa. He's a visionary!"

"He is an amazing creator," Barr said and nodded. He sat down in the armchair and leaned forward, closer to the radio. "Can the little men in the radio always talk about Huqqa?"

Islo snorted. "No, they have to be careful about not letting the public here know too much. Especially the rebels. I'm sure your boyfriend has many new inventions that can help with the invasion."

Barr nodded very eagerly. "He can create anything. He made Al's arm. And his own leg."

"Oh, he's missing a leg?" Islo asked,

It wasn't often we could get Barr to do anything but gush over his boyfriend, and while that was cute, it didn't really tell us much about this apparently genius inventor the Aatskina tribe had been hiding away.

"A dragon bit it off."

Isla and Islo both frowned at the spirit. Barr looked from one to the other and then at me.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, but the fact that there's dragons is still... Hard to get used to."

"Once they find the spiritual block, the dragons will return. And maybe the Huldurfólk as well. So many spiritual creatures have sought north due to the block."

"Actually, about that..." I started and hesitated before pushing on. "I'm confused how I could break through the block."

"You have not entirely. Your powers are weak and unstable because of the block. Once it is lifted, you would be able to lift this whole city off the ground, if you wanted to. You will be able to hear every single citizen's thoughts too." He tilted his head to the side. "But your connection is strong. It was also dangerous. It was as if you kept pushing against a wall. At some point your arms would break. Does that make sense?"

I nodded a little. "Yeah. I felt like I was breaking at the end. I'd bleed from my nose and ears."

"And you pushed yourself too much. That is why your eye is still blue. I do not think it will change."

My fingers flew up to my left eye. Since the attack on the city the white in it had been partially blue. It looked very... Scary. I didn't notice it much anymore myself, but Islo had said it had taken some getting used to.

"I would've died that day, if you hadn't been there. Wouldn't I?"

Barr shrugged a bit. "I do not know. But you had very little time left. Through me you gain more strength. I give you more time, but the block must be removed. I am not an unlimited source of power. Which is also why you must not use them too much or strain yourself."

"Yeah, I know. We're taking things slow."

Barr nodded and smiled. "And you are doing it brilliantly. You have stopped sharing your thoughts with Islo at night. That is big. Celebrate your victories, Quinn. They are yours, after all."

I smiled too. "Yeah. I am happy. I feel lighter as well. It was as if this weight was on my shoulders and in my chest."

Barr rose to his feet. "Let us walk." He jerked his head and motioned me to follow him. I was a little confused why we had to leave. It wasn't like Isla and Islo hadn't heard all of this before.

Barr sat down on one of the stone benches in the garden. "I wanted to speak to you in private," he said very seriously.

I nodded hesitantly.

"I have seen what is in your mind, Quinn. The darkness is not only from your blood and the block. You blame yourself for things that are not your fault."

I looked down at my hands. The round scars in the palms of my hands still looked ugly and discoloured compared to the light brown skin.

"We need to be open, Quinn. I do not want to have to look for answers in your head."

"I know," I whispered. "It's just... Hard."

"I know."

I glanced up at him. "Do you? Do you know how it feels to kill a man? To be beaten so badly you just want it all to end?"

"I was not beaten, no. And I have never killed a man. But I feel your pain as you do yourself. And I know you still have nightmares of maggots. So, tell me about this man. What was he to you?"

I swallowed hard and looked back at my hands. "I thought he was someone special. But it turned out he didn't... He wasn't... With me. For me. He was an infiltrator. I feel stupid for not seeing it."

"How could you have seen it?" Barr asked, curious.

"It happened too fast. He was whispering sweet things in my ear from the first day and I fell for it. Now, I would be suspicious. I was stupid and spoiled and I should've known better."

"How could you, though? Had anyone ever lied to you in that manner before?"

"No..." I whispered.

"Then how were you supposed to know an infiltrator from another tribe would seduce you only to use you?"

I shrugged. I mean, I knew he was right. When he said it like that it did sound ridiculous. How was I ever supposed to know? And it wasn't like men hadn't shown me immediate attention before. Islo did the same, didn't he? It didn't take much convincing before he was in my bed too.

"You are very beautiful, Quinn. But that is not why people are drawn to you. You have a light in you very few have. You make people happy. Al showed me a memory of you where you made her smile. You always did, did you not?"

I shrugged again. I wasn't really sure where he was going with this.

"Who made you smile?"

I bit down on my lip as tears flooded my eyes. Because no one had had that role. I always made a fool of myself in order to make people smile around me. I brought people into my bed to forget that there wasn't anyone who actually took care of me. Not after my father died. Àlvar had his own life and so did Al. Al needed me more than I needed her, so I took a protective role of her. She needed that protection, but hadn't I needed it too? I needed it now more than ever, but I was a father now. I didn't have time to sit and cry over the fact that I had had a rough childhood.

"Quinn," Barr said very softly and put his hand on top of mine, covering the scar. "What you have been through will mould you. And it will be hard to not let it mould you into something that is not good. But that is why I am here." He smiled encouragingly. "I am here for you. To protect you. To teach you. And I am not going anywhere."

I nodded a bit, the lump in my throat too big to say anything.

"You are very strong, but you do not have to carry all of this alone. You do not even have to talk about it. You can show me." He nodded down towards our hands.

I swallowed hard and closed my eyes. I thought of Aki. Thought of his name first. Then his grey eyes. And then I thought of his fists flying towards my face. How he had kicked me in the head when I was on the floor.

Then the candlestick formed in my head. How I had picked it up. My pulse had been so loud in my ears as I walked towards Islo and Aki. Aki was on top of Islo, his back turned to me, his hands around Islo's throat.

I opened my eyes took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I can't."

"It is alright, Quinn. You are safe. Show me."

I clenched my jaw and closed my eyes again. I remembered myself lifting the candlestick over my head and then hammering it down into the back of Aki's head. How a loud crunching sound had almost deafened me. He fell to his side, slamming his head into the floor. The sounds he had made still made me sick. And I... Soiled myself. I was so afraid.

I opened my eyes again and met Barr's dark ones.

"He was killing Islo," Barr said.

I nodded and cleared my throat. "Yeah. And I couldn't... Let him do that."

"No, of course not."

"But why do I still feel so bad? I feel sick to my stomach. I took another person's life that day. Ended it as if it was nothing."

Barr sighed and leaned back against the stone wall behind us. "Honestly, Quinn, I would be concerned if you did not feel bad for taking another man's life. It seems very human to mourn lives. You have so much empathy, Quinn, and that is not a weakness. It is a strength for a leader. You are and will continue to be a good king, if you always care this much even about those who have hurt you."

"I feel weak though."

"Yes, but you must trust me, when I say you are not. You broke through the block on your own. You protected the man you love, and you were ready to die for Alvina too. You are a very selfless person and that is a strength." He patted my hand and then retrieved his own.

We sat in silence for a bit. My thoughts were all swirling around and it was hard to really figure out how to feel about all of this. I tried to be as objective as I could. If what had been done, had been done by someone else I would say the same things Barr had said. If someone had to kill another person in order to protect the ones they loved, I wouldn't blame them for that. I probably wouldn't commend them for killing, but I'd commend them for protecting. For being brave.

Was I brave? I wasn't so sure. I had never seen myself as brave. I had always just been Quinn the moron. Quinn the bastard. But I wasn't a bastard. Not legally anyways. My father had claimed me, and I was as legitimate as Àlvar and Al.

Maybe it was time I stopped thinking of myself as a bastard and everything that came with that. I was a king now. I was a father and a husband. How I had gotten into this world hardly mattered anymore. And maybe it was also something that needed to change. A child became no less real if the parents hadn't been married before the birth or not. Nor did a child become less real if its father wouldn't acknowledge it. It was pretty obvious that not all parents were the best and it really shouldn't be up to them to decide if a person was legitimate or not.

It shouldn't be up to anyone to dehumanise another human being.

"Hey Quinn," Barr said then, breaking right through my thoughts. "Why do the other servants think we are lovers?"

I snorted and then burst out laughing. "Gods, I'm sorry. I've completely forgotten to tell you. The rebels had noticed we were spending a lot of time together and they thought you might've been a spy. I told them you were my lover."

"Ah," Barr said and snorted. "I did not say we were not to the other servants. But if Huqqa asks, we are not."

"No, but by the time your boyfriend makes it here, it won't matter anyways. By then the rebels have all been captured and you can freely expose yourself as my spirit."

"I would like that. I do not like looking like this." He held his arms out and frowned. "It is not me."

"I know the feeling." I rose from the bench and stretched my arms over my head. I looked back at my friend and smiled. "When this is all over, you will never have to hide your true form ever again."

Barr smiled very widely and nodded, following me inside the stronghold once again.