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monarchs. Mace will need an heir.
    February 21
    Geezer wasn’t in the tower when I went there to read his big book. He leaves like that sometimes. He goes to town or just roams in the woods. I think he wants to stay away from me. I still feel so stupid.
    I thought Geezer might have feelings for me, but he never made a move on me. I should have kept my feelings for Mace to myself. I should have stayed away from Mace during the day when everyone could see. It’s easy to say that when Mace is so far away and I can’t see him.
    I took a bath before going into the house. Geezer still leaves a dress and a towel for me.
    March 23
    My boobs are killing me. They hurt so much. And I keep throwing up.
    Geezer must have heard me barfing. He came to the cave while I had my head over the toilet. I looked up and there he was.
    “I must have a virus,” I said. “I can’t stop throwing up.”
    “Come inside when you’re done,” he said.
    “Are you still mad at me?”
    “Just come inside.”
    His eyes were soft. He wasn’t mad.
    When I walked into his kitchen, the smells I usually loved turned my stomach. He had set a cup on the table.
    “Drink that. It will help.”
    “What is it?”
    “Chamomile and honey.”
    My stomach lurched.
    “It will work,” he said.
    I sat down and put my hand on the cup. The warmth felt good. I took tiny sips and he was right .̶ it did help.
    “Better?” he asked.
    “Yes, a little.”
    “Is there anything else going on?” he asked.
    “Like what?”
    “Just anything different.”
    I couldn’t tell him about my boobs.
    “I’m kind of tired.”
    And I pee all the time.
    “Do you know what’s happening to you?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “What’s happening to your body?”
    “Geezer, what are you talking about?”
    He had a smile on his face. He was enjoying this.
    “I think you’re going to have a baby.”
    No, that was impossible.
    “I’m barren. All the women on Pryll are barren.”
    “But you’re not on Pryll. You’ve been here for months with clean air and water. You’ve been eating well. Your body has healed.”
    I hadn’t thought of that. Matt was right. I was fertile again. But I knew nothing about pregnancy. I’d never seen a pregnant woman.
    “Do you have any books?” I said. “I have to see if that’s what this is.”
    Or I won’t believe it.
    April 23
    I’m not throwing up anymore. I still feel crappy but my stomach is okay. It’s warmer during the day and I’m taking walks in the woods.
    The big window at the entrance of my cave gives me a view of the world and when I saw the first leaf buds on the trees, I grew excited. We came to Tresteria in late summer. I’ve never seen spring.
    Geezer went to town today. There are rumors that Mace is bringing an army to take over London. He married Neela.
    Geezer didn’t want to tell me. He tried to keep it from me but I forced him to talk to me. I haven’t heard from Mace. He hasn’t written to me.
    Geezer is a sweet man. He wove a cradle out of tree branches. It rocks back and forth.
    He also made a blanket from lamb’s wool. The baby should be born in November. I told him the baby would never get cold as long as I stayed in the cave or his tower, but he said you never know. He likes to be prepared.
    We spend our days together now. I think we’re getting closer. He put his hand on my stomach and told me it’s a girl. I laughed. How could he know that?
    April 25
    Mace’s army entered London yesterday. Geezer was there. He flew to London two days ago when he heard the army was approaching.
    Geezer saw Justin and then he came home. He said Justin is weak and feeble. Some disease is eating away at him. His face is marked by pocks.
    Geezer wanted to see Mace but couldn’t find him at the army camp. He says Mace is leading his troops himself. Geezer smelled like burning wood.
    I can’t imagine what war is like. It’s so peaceful here in the tower. Geezer won’t let me go to town. He says people do