“Before his death that was what they called me. After Mevuk’s body was laid to rest, the men once again call me by my family name. You might have heard of that one as well. It’aryn.”
“The Chief ’s daughter,” the man laughed quietly, a hint of hesitation ringing through his tone. “This is an honor, then. Not many men have the honor of being slain by one ordained by the gods.”
With a false air of sadness she settled her gaze on Naphul. It was important that he think her emotional, but not too much so. If she appeared overly distraught, he would know something wasn’t right. Ovatai women weren’t known for open displays of emotion. Especially not the daughter of the Chief. While she mourned the death of Mevuk, she felt little else over the loss of her husband than she did for any of the other brave warriors lost in battle that day. He was a fine man. Chosen for her by Chief Okivra. Their marriage had not been long enough to allow her feelings to flourish into anything remotely similar to the mythical concept of love ranted about by the races outside Ethrysta. “I didn’t come here to kill you,” she shook her head solemnly. “I came to find out why my husband was taken from me. No one has been able to grant me the answers I require to lay my heart at ease.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Is it so difficult to accept?”
“A daughter of the Komoa tribe pining over the death of her husband?” Naphul snickered, seemingly amused by his own cleverness. “I don’t believe in love. And neither do you. So don’t try to convince me that you feel anything more for Mevuk in his death than you do for the other warriors who serve under your father.”
Damn. He was more intelligent than she hoped. It was to be expected. Their people were known for their sagacity. Enemy or not, he was no different. Determined not to give him the pleasure of seeing her deception exposed, she maintained the somber expression on her face, moving slowly to stand before Naphul. He watched her every movement, an obvious enjoyment visible in his eyes, studying her. Admiring her.
The closer she came, she was aware of his muscles tensing, pressed against the wall of his cell. “Careful,” he stated, a smug smile on his lips. “Matters of love aside, I have been in this prison for months. No company. No companionship. My wife most likely thinks me dead, and I assume my life is as good as gone once Okivra grows tired of toying with me; so I wouldn’t get too close if I were you.”
Ignoring his threats Neomi continued to move in. Naphul was bound and weak. He was no threat to her. His empty talk only served to provide more avenues she could take advantage of in gaining the information she sought. He accused her of having been sent there to seduce him. Perhaps that was the best course after all.
“Do you forget who I am and what I am capable of ?” she asked quietly. “If I wanted you free, it would take little convincing on my end to see the Chief open this door and let you walk out. And if you were helpful enough, I might even be swayed into letting you sneak out of here right now. I hold the key. You hold the answers. I fail to see why we cannot strike a deal between us.”
“It will take more than an offer of freedom to buy my knowledge. You will have to do better than that.”
“Name your price. I may be willing to negotiate.”
Fighting against the ropes which bound his wrists, he brought his hands up to her face, lightly stroking her cheek with the back of his index finger. It was all she could do to keep from recoiling. He was so far beneath her. It was traitorous for him to even think of touching her. She was the Chief ’s daughter. No man was allowed to come near her without her father’s permission. “I want you,” he replied, straight-faced, uncaring about the inappropriateness of his request. “Once I am out of this prison, I would expect you to come with me to my village. Your presence would be a significant help for our cause. Okivra would have no choice but to relinquish his power if he wanted to see you returned safely.”
She was almost disappointed at how easy her task had been. Seduction was a cheap trick, but one that never really failed when it came to convincing men to see her point of view. And Naphul was proving more than susceptible to her charms. “You wish to see Okivra relinquish his position as Chief ?”
“I’m no fool, woman. I will tell you nothing without knowing if you will accept my terms.”
“Then consider them accepted,” she stepped closer, feeling her body brush against Naphul’s chest. “Tell me what I want to know and I will go anywhere you ask. Do you seek Okivra’s resignation?”
“Emakai seeks his resignation. I am merely an avid supporter of change.” With renewed confidence Naphul moved away from the wall, leaning forward to kiss Neomi. She twisted her head to the side, avoiding his lips, standing firm in her stance. There was only so much she was willing to sacrifice in exchange for this man’s knowledge. Her dignity was not one of them.
“Emakai?” she questioned, vaguely aware of Naphul’s face beside hers. The name was familiar. Many times she’d heard it spoken by her father during talks of their people. A decorated leader of a powerful tribe in the western reaches of Ethrysta. “You are of the Ythes tribe? Why would a man of your prestigious heritage risk everything to challenge the Ovatai Chief? Your people are more respectable than that.”
Frustrated by her deflection Naphul frowned. “We are stronger than your father’s men. Emakai is more suited to rule the Ovatai. The most powerful tribe should govern Ethrysta and that is the Ythes. You cannot deny the truth in that claim. Now, I have held up my end of the deal. It is time you did the same.”
“Yes, of course,” Neomi nodded. In a single step she placed distance between her and Naphul, relieved to be free of his touch. He smelled revolting. The months in this cell had done nothing for his already lacking attractiveness. “I will check the hall to make sure our path is clear.”
“You agreed to give yourself to me. That can be accomplished before we leave this place. An act to assure me of your continued cooperation.”
“Don’t be foolish. If my father’s men found us together, they would kill you instantly. We will proceed with the details of our arrangement once we have put miles between us and the village.”
Turning from Naphul she focused on the door. She had all the information she needed from this man. As far as she was concerned, he had officially outlived his usefulness. She could hear him stumbling across the floor behind her. Prepared to strike, she tensed her muscles, every part of her body aware of Naphul’s approach, seeing his arms descending over her head before they could secure the rope around her neck. With incredible accuracy her elbow shot upward, connecting solidly with Naphul’s face, knocking him onto the floor in a heap. She didn’t need to waste time checking to see if he was conscious. The blow would render him no longer a threat. By the time he regained his senses and managed to clamber back to his feet, she would already be safely in the upper chambers of the home.
Confidently she moved through the door, securing the lock in place once again. Things hadn’t gone exactly the way she anticipated. What mattered was that she had learned the name of Naphul’s leader. Emakai. Her father would be enraged to learn of the deception. The question now would be in how to approach him with the information. He would no doubt be curious of her source. It was inevitable that he would discover her visit to the bowels of their home. Somehow it felt best to not announce the truth too soon. Once he knew the details she’d uncovered, he would be too distracted by business to worry about reprimanding her. For now, she wanted to get out of the oppressive darkness of the basement and back to the upper levels where she could focus her thoughts on how to proceed.
Edric found his way to the drawing room, accompanied by Callum at his side, their mood relaxed, casual. Lighter than it had been prior to sitting down at the dinner table. Depression was impossible when surrounded by family and friends. Conversation never ceased, laughing and joking about the past and present, reminding Edric of the reasons why he loved being at home with his family. When not under the constant scrutiny of the courtiers, it was surpris
ingly pleasant.
The ladies of the family were already inside the drawing room, having taken leave of the dinner table long before the men. Immediately upon their arrival Callum moved from Edric’s side to greet Aiva, wrapping her in a warm embrace. Edric watched them, smiling to himself, happy to see the two in each other’s arms. While their troubles remained, their love for one another was undeniable. He didn’t doubt their ability to work through the issues that weighed on them currently. He only hoped they would find a way to settle their problems soon.
From the center of the room Edric took in the faces around him. Callum and Aiva were already finding their way to a large settee positioned to face the other furniture, creating a more sociable area for the family to gather. Shaelyn and Herryk beckoned Danil to sit between them on the sofa across from Aiva, chattering excitedly with Audri about the upcoming rites she would perform for her birthday. The twins, Ehren and Sidonie, were unsurprisingly lost in their own private conversation near the piano at the back of the room, occasionally gesturing toward the songbooks arranged on a shelf in a heated debate over some musical topic beyond Edric’s understanding. He wasn’t much of a singer. Music was best left to his younger siblings who had the ambition to learn the intricacies of the art.
The King and Queen stood near the door, enjoying the company of Callum’s mother and father, General Cadell and Valeska Zerne. It wasn’t often that the General’s wife graced a social gathering. She disliked the court possibly more than Edric himself, finding every excuse to avoid being seen on the palace grounds. Since the death of her betrothed, their daughter Calie had become very similar to her mother in many ways, now wandering alone throughout the room, seemingly oblivious to those around her.
Reunited with her husband, the Royal Consul’s wife, Maeri Diah, joined him at the side of the King and Queen. Next to Cadell, Maeri and Feolan were the oldest friends of Edric’s family. When in the privacy of their personal quarters, titles were done away with, leaving everyone as equals. His parents became Thade and Leyna Levadis to those around them. It was those times that Edric enjoyed the most. The equality made him feel a welcome sense of normalcy.
Left without Callum to talk to, Edric spotted his cousin Jaslyn standing by her brother, Soren Diah. They waved to him, motioning him to come closer. He gave no argument at the invitation. At this point he didn’t care who he spoke to, as long as there was conversation to be had. Jaslyn seemed a perfect companion. Much like himself, she remained unattached to anyone, hindered in acquiring a husband by her father’s profession. As the Royal Consul, their family lived in the neighboring country of Siscal, surrounded by humans and half-breeds, limiting the options Jaslyn might otherwise have. She was a pretty girl. Some might even say beautiful. Her resemblance to her mother was uncanny, their eyes the same vibrant shade of emerald against their fair skin and long black hair. She was a favorite among the Vor’shai men when she came to visit. Unfortunately for her, their vacations to Sivaeria were short-lived and left little time to form a significant bond with any of the men at court.
“Edric, we were just discussing how hard it is to believe that Audri is almost twenty-five. It seems only yesterday when she was born,” Jaslyn smiled, bringing her wine glass to her mouth in a dainty, feminine motion, barely allowing the liquid to touch her lips before lowering it again. Savoring the flavor and scent without consuming it too quickly. The mark of a true woman trained in the art of respectable etiquette.
Chuckling to himself Edric nodded, clapping Soren lightly on the shoulder. “It is funny to hear you say that when I still remember when both of you were born,” he grinned. “I’m beginning to feel like an old man. All these children growing up around me.”
“You were not that old when I was born,” Jaslyn waved dismissively. “I cannot believe you have any clear memory of me as a child.”
“You’re right. But that doesn’t change the fact that I remember you being born. Your mother let me hold you.” Chin lifted, Edric eyed Soren curiously, impressed by the sturdiness of his frame and posture. At times it was easy to forget how young he was. The Diah children always presented themselves with such confidence and strength. “Speaking of babies; Soren, you have a birthday coming up as well, do you not?”
“Next month,” he nodded, unable to contain a smile. “I’m not sure I would consider myself a baby, though. I will be thirty-nine.”
“That makes me more than double your age. Forgive me if I can’t help thinking of you as a young man.”
Through their laughter Edric heard the soft notes of the piano begin to play throughout the room, lulling the conversations into silence. Turning to see who played the beautiful melody he was surprised to discover Valeska seated behind the instrument, her fingers expertly moving along the keys, striking each one with incredible ease and fluidity. Cadell had taken up a position on a high-backed chair, gazing in admiration at his wife. He was always such a hardened man. It was a drastic change to see his features so softened, entranced by every movement Valeska made, completely taken in by her. After more than two hundred years of marriage, she remained the one person in the world who could make him look so starry-eyed. Her long auburn hair was dotted with grey at the roots, having become more noticeable over the years. It did nothing to obstruct her natural beauty, the lines on her face soft and gentle, like the notes of the song she now sang, her airy soprano voice filling the room.
Edric found himself mesmerized by the sound. He had never heard her sing before. It was a rare treat for them to be graced by her presence as well as a performance. He doubted the event would repeat itself again. It wasn’t until his mother’s voice joined with Valeska’s that he noticed her beside the piano, accompanied by Maeri in the refrain. They continued in perfect harmony, soothing Edric with the sound. A masterful display of skill and talent. If only every night at the palace could be this way.
When their song finally came to an end, Edric wished they would go on forever, disappointed by the brevity of the show. The room erupted into applause in recognition of the display, the three women moving away from the piano to take their places near their husbands in joyful celebration.
“I must insist on another song,” Edric smiled, catching his mother’s eye. “The three of you sound like angels together. Why have you never performed for us before?”
“It is not every day we find ourselves in such good company, Edric. Were our evenings always so relaxed, you might find us more willing entertainers,” she laughed quietly. “Perhaps you can convince your sisters to sing. I have not heard them all together in quite some time.”
Glancing to where Aiva sat cradled in Callum’s arms Edric shook his head. He didn’t want to make them move. For the first time since their arrival, Aiva looked genuinely content. She deserved this moment of peace with her husband without anyone demanding her to put on a show. “It’s not my place to ask them to take time out of their evening just to entertain me.”
“Nonsense, Edric,” Shaelyn laughed lightly from where she sat on the sofa, rising to her feet excitedly. “Aiva and I used to sing together all the time. I would love to do so again. For old time’s sake.” Edric watched miserably as Shaelyn walked to Aiva’s side, reaching for her hand and pulling her away from Callum to stand beside her. Aiva looked taken aback, surprised by the interruption, casting an apologetic gaze upon Callum while being led toward the piano by her sister. “Sidonie. Audri. Come sing with us,” Shaelyn urged. “We cannot let the other women show us up.”
At Shaelyn’s direction the other two girls found their way to the front of the room, their willingness more noticeable than Aiva’s had been, her eyes still staring longingly at the settee where Callum remained seated, a half-hearted smile on his lips, waving to her as if assuring her that it was alright. All eyes fell to Aiva, waiting for her to begin, expectant of what she would choose to sing. She cleared her throat, a faint tremble in her voice immediately catching Edric’s attention. It took her only a few notes to regain her composure, resting her
hand against the piano while leading the others in their harmony. They required no music to aid their beautiful symphony. Had it not been for the paleness of Aiva’s complexion and her growing need to rely on the instrument to remain on her feet, Edric might have enjoyed it more. Instead he watched his sisters, fearful for Aiva’s safety if she didn’t return to her seat soon.
How did the others not notice? Looking over to Callum he could see a similar concern in his eyes, already partially raised from the settee in case Aiva started to fall. Despite her discomfort she pushed through the notes, the smile on her lips wavering only once as she brought the song to a close. Edric watched Aiva lift her free hand to her forehead, the focus in her eyes seeming to disappear briefly, blindly staring down at the floor in front of her. Callum was at her side instantly, his hand around her waist to hold her against him. Afraid of what might be wrong Edric hurried to her other side, checking for any hint of a fever. Her skin was surprisingly cool, though somewhat clammy, his touch drawing her from whatever reverie she’d sunken into.
“I am feeling a bit tired,” she whispered, a half-smile all she could muster for the questioning eyes staring at her from around the room. “I hate to be rude and retire so early, but the journey here has left me exhausted. It is best I lie down so I can be better company at the picnic tomorrow.”
Edric held Callum’s gaze, reminded of what he’d said earlier that afternoon in regards to Aiva’s health. Callum mentioned her near constant fatigue. Though she reassured the rest of the family that it was nothing more than the length of their trip, Edric knew better. Whatever ailed her, she needed to be seen by a doctor. If there was anything he could do to assist Callum in convincing her to let one near her, he intended to do whatever it took.
He barely heard the rest of Aiva’s assurances while Callum guided her from the room. She was just tired. It was nothing. He didn’t believe any of it. The look on their mother’s face was enough for Edric to realize that she suspected something beyond what Aiva claimed, though she made no move to question her. It was better for Aiva to lie down for now. They would be able to investigate her symptoms once she had the night to recover some of her energy.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Three: Crown of Ice Page 4