The Champion's Ruin

by Kristen Banet

  It was an odd place to be compared to where he started. A young male, trying to live up to his father’s reputation in the Ivory Shadows, trying to gain the approval of the males who helped raise him, and the approval of a king who had never glanced his way until he was an adult.

  He, of all people, understood how life-altering the simple act of love could be. He saw the role it played in Mave’s life. It put him where he was now. He wanted to make sure Lily felt love, too.

  “Rain?” Alchan was frowning.

  “Sorry, I was lost in thought. I call her Lily because I asked her if I could. You can try it, you know. Talking to her, that is. You never do.”

  Alchan growled softly and let him go. Rain had known better, but it needed to be mentioned. Lilliana had been in their home for just over a month, and Alchan barely spoke to her. In fact, as the female walked into the dining area, yawning while she rubbed her eyes, Alchan only grunted a good morning as he disappeared back into the main bedroom.

  “Is he okay?” she asked softly after he was gone.

  “He’s fine.” Rain rolled his eyes. “He’s a bit grouchy because of something I said.”

  “It was about me, wasn’t it?” The guilt on the female’s face was clearer than a cloudless day.

  “It was more about him in relation to you,” Rain answered honestly, knowing lying to her was pointless. She was sheltered but not unobservant. She saw and heard things most would miss. Maybe it’s her quiet nature. She’s never the center of attention, which lets her listen more. “It’s nothing you do personally. He’s probably still a bit annoyed with Leria about this situation.”

  “Ah.” She frowned, a little wrinkle forming on her forehead. “I could go and live somewhere else…”

  “It’s not advisable,” Alchan said, walking back in, now fully dressed.

  Rain could hear the king in his words. Alchan had faces he wore. Only a few people saw Alchan without the mask of kinghood. Lily wasn’t one of them. Alchan was now talking to a subject, who just so happened to live with him. Rain wondered why. After more than a month, Alchan should have loosened up by now.

  “Forgive me. My Consort knows how to cut to the bone when he wants to.” Alchan’s gaze turned to him, amber eyes narrowing for just a moment. The gaze softened before it turned back to Lilliana, but only minutely. Alchan was still firmly wearing his mask as king. “We have no problem, you and I. You’ve done nothing wrong. Enjoy your breakfast.” Alchan walked out.

  “I’m so sorry,” Lilliana said quickly, swallowing.

  “It’s not you,” Rain said, sighing. “I poked the dragon, and I’ll deal with the temper. He’s a bedru, and I knew that when I said what I said.”

  “What did you say?”

  “He asked about why I called you Lily, and I told him I asked you if I could. I followed that up with how he could try it sometime.” Rain did his best to tell the story in a casual way. He wasn’t too worried about it, really. He would apologize for the way he put it to Alchan, but he would stand by his opinion. Alchan lived in a world where he sat on top and he needed people who could tolerate his need for control and accept his rule. He also valued those who were willing to stand up to him for what they believed. It often left everyone in conflicted places, but Rain was good at navigating the moods of his king. He knew when he could push, and when he needed to retreat and find a comfortable place as the submissive husband.

  “Try what?”

  Her confusion was cute. He would keep fighting for her. He just needed Alchan to see what he saw, which meant his king needed to talk to the female.

  “Talking to you,” Rain said with a one-shoulder shrug as he turned back to making breakfast.

  “That’s…that’s quite rude for you to say, actually,” she declared, huffing. “He’s the king, and you’re okay with saying that?”

  “I’m his Consort, his lover, and husband, the person who helps him with the weight of his responsibilities by staying by his side and loving him unconditionally. I’m allowed to call him out when I think he’s doing something wrong,” Rain said with a small smile. He finally got back to cooking breakfast, getting the eggs finished quickly. While he wasn’t looking, Lily walked around him and went into the cold box, pulling out the package of bacon. He didn’t take it from her, letting her prepare it on her own. He grabbed a second pan and let it heat while she did.

  Over the month, he’d become proficient at cooking with her. When Alchan was in the kitchen, neither of them got in his way, allowing him that private time. The male loved to cook, but he didn’t have as much time as he used to, and there were more people to cook for. Rain and Lily learned to work together while they were both in the kitchen. It started because Rain never let her cook alone, uncomfortable with the idea of her taking care of them. After that, she started stepping up to help him. By the end of the third week, they had a rhythm.

  “Thank you,” he said softly as she dropped the bacon in the pan. He caught her gaze, the amethyst eyes soft and pretty. He wasn’t into females, but he never denied their beauty. She had a type of beauty he’d never seen in an Andinna female. Even the most stunning females like Allaina were hard and rough, defined by their strong features. She reminded him of his Ziran mother or a pretty human woman. There was an undeniable softness that both the Andinna and the Elvasi lacked.

  It’s like comparing the majesty of a mountain versus the gentleness of a cloud. One unbendable and imposing in its glory while the other looks breathtaking but could disappear with a strong wind.

  Liking the poetry of his comparison, he kept the thought in mind as he cooked. As he finished the bacon and began to dish it out between their plates, he decided he didn’t like the comparison to a cloud anymore. A cloud was airy, indicating a lack of substance. That wasn’t Lily’s problem. He knew there was more to her beneath the surface, but he couldn’t convince her to let it out. She started eating as he sat down. He watched her, wondering what would be more appropriate. Females like Mave, Allaina, and Senri were exactly what he considered them to be—mountains compared to her. Strong females stood tall among the Andinna and became focal points, landmarks of their society. Lily wasn’t and never could become that.

  “What are you looking at?” she asked softly, looking up from her plate.

  “Ah, nothing,” he said quickly, focusing his attention on his own food.

  When they were finished, he took their plates and dropped them into a bucket to be washed later. He helped her with her boots, laughing as she clumsily fought to pull them on.

  “You need a bench,” she reminded him as she did most mornings. “In the temple where I was raised, there are benches at exits, so everyone can sit down and put their boots on. That way, no one tumbles.”

  “We can ask a carpenter at the market,” he said with a grin, offering his arm. “Let’s go. You want to be there at the opening, so we’re going to get there by opening.”

  She smiled brightly, weaving her arm with his. He walked her out of the home and down the trail. They could have flown, but Rain realized very quickly Lily loved to walk. She took in the world differently than anyone he had ever met—except one. She had that same open-eyed expression as Mave, though with less wary distrust. Mave had always been calculating the dangers of her environment, while Lily just took it all in.

  “Did you never go to a village market up north?” he asked finally, wondering just how new this was for her.

  “I did. It’s one of my favorite things to do. When I had silver on me for trade, people finally paid attention to me, but I could also go completely unnoticed, which was nice, too. I could never hide in the temple. They always wanted to know where I was, what I was doing, or if I had finished some chore they needed done.” He didn’t miss the sadness or the annoyance in her tone.

  “Did they force you to work for them?” He would tell Alchan if they had. Any sort of indentured servitude was not allowed in Andinna culture. There was only one exception, but it only impacted a very small group of A
ndinna. The royal family was born to duties they couldn’t run from. Hearing Alchan talk about it was always interesting.

  “No!” Lily shook her head, sending her bone-straight black hair flying. “No, not at all. I offered because it let me learn new skills, and they let me stay with them free of charge. I ate from their supplies, so I felt it was something I should do. When I offered to do a task, they got pushy about how fast I could do it, but they never forced me to do anything.”

  “Good,” Rain declared, nodding once. He would hate to give Alchan anything more to deal with, like wiping out a temple full of priests and priestesses.

  As they entered the village, Andinna who saw them lowered their heads respectfully. Word of her title had spread quickly, and his own was well known. They were two of the highest-ranking Andinna when it came to the loose idea of nobility in their culture. It made up for what they lacked in dominance. The market was almost set up as the crafters, cooks, and more finished their tables. Some waved, grinning because they were excited to see any of the leadership in the market.

  “If no one has any money, how does the market work?” Lily asked, looking around. “In Leria’s community, we have copper, silver, and gold. We also barter a lot.”

  “We mostly barter here if something is for a single household. Necessary goods are on donation for the entire community right now because we can’t let anyone starve or freeze, but the market is for those who are trying to make a name for themselves or offer things not needed. A cook trying out a new recipe or a new carpenter who makes furniture to practice his or her skills and needs to unload his goods.”

  “Ah.” Lily nodded wisely. “So, if I made wraps and dresses, I could sell them here.”

  “Do you enjoy making those?” Rain asked, trying not to bug-out at the new little detail about her.

  “I do,” she admitted softly. “Sewing new clothes for the priests and priestesses was one of my favorite things. Nothing useful for warriors but pretty things. When we had the materials for it, anyways. We had scarcity problems like everyone else.”

  “So, if I needed a suit, you would know how to make it.” Rain was glad to hear about this. He would have to tell Alchan. If they could get her a trade job where she could take limited clientele, it would let her do something she enjoyed and not for free. She could have a business and a reputation.

  She would still need someone looking out for her, so no one forced her to work for less than she deserves, but we could do that while she lives with us. And maybe one day, we can assign her a guard and her own little bit of land. She’s a noble now. She’s due land that belongs to her.

  The ideas were forming as the market opened, and the Andinna began to call out to sell their wares. Rain purposefully angled Lily to a carpenter near the end, a new young male who was promising. He wouldn’t have a lot of orders yet.

  “Pick a bench, please. Watching you stumble around has been fun, but you’re right. There’s no reason we shouldn’t have one,” he said, chuckling as she gave him a withering look.

  “A bench?” the young male asked, looking between them. “I have a couple, one I finished only yesterday.”

  “May I see it?” Lily asked softly, clearly unsure of herself. Rain walked beside her as they went into the stall and saw the simple bench. She sat down on it, testing it for any unevenness. Rain toed it, seeing if it was structurally sound enough to be kicked—not that he expected any piece of furniture to survive if Alchan decided to take his frustration out on it.

  “What room is it for?” the male asked, looking at Rain, not Lily.

  “The entryway,” Rain answered. “So Lady Lilliana can put on her boots without falling over.”

  “You tease too much,” she accused, looking up at him. “And I don’t know if this will work. Um…”

  “It’s fine,” Rain said softly.

  “It’s going in his entryway, though,” she said in a tiny voice. “And it’s not very…fancy.”

  “He’s not a fancy male. He likes things that do their job,” Rain said quickly. “It’s sturdy, well-cut, and not ugly. Could you put a dark stain on it?” He asked the last question of the carpenter. “I know staining is a bit difficult.”

  “I can!” The young male smiled. “Whose home is this going to? Once it’s complete, I can send it over.”

  Rain raised an eyebrow. “Let’s take three guesses,” he said patiently, trying not to laugh.

  “Well, it could be for your father, who is the husband of Champion Mave Lorren. It could go to any of the Company, really, or it could be for your home with King Alchan,” the carpenter smartly retorted, his smile growing. “I would hate to make any of them upset by sending them a bench they didn’t ask for.”

  “Good point,” Rain said with a laugh. “You’ve got me. It’s going to my husband.” Rain loved the way those words rolled off his tongue. He’d never thought he would settle into married life. Maybe it was because they acted like a married couple before it was ever public, but now Rain took every opportunity to claim it. Not for personal gain, but because he loved Alchan, and he wanted everyone to remember that. “Now, what do you want for this bench? And don’t say it’s a gift to the king. He doesn’t know we’re getting it.”

  “Then a gift to you and Lady Lilliana for honoring me by using something I sweated over to create,” the young male said, bowing.

  “No,” Rain replied sternly. “That doesn’t work for me. It’s a kind gesture, but you worked hard, and supplies aren’t easy to find. You’ve even agreed to stain it. Is there anything you need?”

  Lily stood back up, wrapping her arm through his. Her gaze flicked between him and the young carpenter.

  “Well…” He sighed, shrugging. “From you? I don’t know what to ask for.”

  “I can make gloves for you,” Lily piped up. Rain’s eyes went wide as he looked at her. She bit her lip as her face flushed. “His hands, look.”

  Rain caught a glimpse before the young male could hide them, and they had seemed beaten up.

  “You don’t have gloves to work in?” Rain asked, frowning. “Show me.”

  The young male groaned and revealed his hands again. A network of small scars covered them, and he had more than a few splinters still in the skin from his work. There were even splotches of the stain used on wood on his skin. “They get stolen, and it’s not—”

  “Lily, your suggestion is perfect. You’ll make him working gloves in return for this bench you wanted.” Rain nodded, pleased.

  He often teased Alchan for having a king face, a persona he put on when he needed to do something official. Rain had one as well, a way he acted when he needed to be the consort. It was something that had begun when he was Alchan’s nemari, a young warrior in training under a specific person. He had the responsibility of making sure his king’s people were cared for, supporting the overall goal of making sure everyone had what they needed.

  This morning, he felt like he did that.

  “When you come by with the bench, I’ll take your measurements,” Lily said sweetly.

  After a quick conversation about the timeline and when they could expect the bench, Rain gave the standard platitudes to leave, taking Lily with him.

  “That went well. Is there anything else you would like?” He knew she had very little when it came to worldly goods, probably because she lived off hand-me-downs from the temple, using whatever resources they didn’t need to make her own clothing. She didn’t own any weapons for her own protection, and she had very little when it came to jewelry. Not many Andinna had jewels anymore. Most of that wealth was held by the Andinna who struggled to remain free after the War ended. Mave was no longer the odd one in the village, refusing to wear it. Hundreds of freed slaves were trying to find their place and their own sources of wealth, which came before buying jewels that would become family heirlooms and personal pieces of joy.

  “I don’t think so.” She looked around, shrugging. “I have everything I need. It’s not like I have nothing. You
have my trunks.”

  “Is there anything you would like to do? Maybe talk to a cute male?” Rain grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. “That carpenter was a hardworking, attractive male.”

  “Who barely noticed I was there because you were in the room,” she retorted. “You are very handsome.”

  “I’m also very unavailable, and he wasn’t my type. I outgrew young males like him a few years ago,” Rain said, trying not to be annoyed she had picked up on the carpenter’s attention to him. I knew she was observant. I don’t know how I figured she wouldn’t pick up on the attention I got.

  “You outgrew everyone because you fell in love,” she said with a bright smile. “That’s what the priestesses would say if they met you.”

  “And you? Have you ever wondered about falling in love?” Rain remembered her mentioning the skills of Amonora’s most devoted weren’t for her, and he didn’t fault her for that. Not everyone could do what they did. Even Varon, who was in the most committed relationship Rain knew, would offer help to someone in real need and would do so without hesitation. For a priest or priestess of Amonora, that normally meant fucking the person and it was truly healing for those who had trauma or reservations. Nevyn took it in stride every time, but it didn’t happen often, which probably helped. Nevyn had once been one of those people who went to Varon in search of healing, which had sparked their relationship and love story.

  “No,” she said softly. “I’ve never wondered about it.”

  He nearly pulled her out of the crowd to call her out. The expression on her face, the way she bit her bottom lip, and refused to make eye contact, he knew she was lying. Rain was so desperate to know this female, he wanted to scream for the real answer, but she remained locked away inside herself.

  “I didn’t think about love until I met Alchan.” Rain hoped telling her more about himself would bring more from her. “I had plenty of sex, but I never met anyone I wanted forever with. Alchan…he was different from the first moment I kissed him. He plays for keeps, and I had to go into our relationship understanding that when he said forever, he meant it.”