“I thought you had already claimed me today?” Remi felt her cheeks flush once more as they headed out the door and down the hall.
“Little one, I’ve claimed you for my own but only partially. I had planned on having a discussion tomorrow with you about the whole ceremonial plans. Too much was happening today for us to discuss it, but you most definitely need to know what is going to happen Friday. I have felt the threads of our mating begin between our minds and souls, and while the…lovemaking…from earlier will help speed things along it will only become a true mating when…”
As Xan paused in the hallway, Remi looked up at him, feeling a faint blush stain her cheeks. Xan finally looked down at her and continued.
“We will only become True Mates when I spill my seed into your womb. When we love each other as husband and wife, we will be bound mind, body, and soul.” He brushed his fingers across her cheek and grinned at her, a simple boyish grin that melted her heart. “And I cannot wait for that, little one, nor can my dragon. Let us talk more of the entire thing tomorrow, no doubt my father is impatient to meet you.” He gently pulled her back into motion as they proceeded to the head of the stairs and bypassed it.
As Remi looked out over the balcony railing, she saw several heads turning to watch their progress across the mezzanine. Most had a quizzical look, trying to figure out who she was more than likely. Remi saw a couple soldiers standing near the doors, trying to look casual, but their eyes were watching everything and everyone.
Remi’s attention returned to their immediate vicinity when Xan spoke to a couple soldiers standing guard at the stairs to the upper floor. They nodded respectfully to her and spoke a few words very softly to Xan before he continued up the stairs. Remi felt eyes on her back, unfriendly and with a dark intent. Her skills were rusty, but she took a deep breath and touched upon her inner magic.
Gently reaching out, she followed the feeling from between her shoulder blades to an area on the main floor just to the side of the main doors. Casually turning, she scanned the floor and noticed several people were in the area the stare was coming from. Unfortunately, there were also several people staring their way. She knew it was only one person, but couldn’t pinpoint who within the large group.
“Remi?” Unbeknownst to her, Remi had stopped to scan, and Xan had stopped with her, following her gaze. Remi looked at him, then back at the main floor, but the group was breaking up and going in several different directions.
“I’m not sure, Xan. Someone was staring.”
“Because you are new and beautiful. They were probably jealous of me having a lovely lady on my arm.”
“Xan, I’m serious. I got a bad vibe from someone down there.” Remi spoke softly, trying to keep her views to the two of them but the two soldiers weren’t but six steps down and both tensed. One growled and went to look over the railing as the other turned to her.
“Where was it coming from, my lady?” He all but growled the question in a low tone.
“From just to the left of the door as we’re facing it. I’m not sure who it was, but it wasn’t a pleasant feeling I was getting.”
The other soldier made a motion with his hand, and the two soldiers near the main doors tensed and looked at him as his hand continued to move. One of the soldiers near the door looked across the bottom floor and made a similar gesture. Two soldiers melted from the background and split up, following groups of people going down two side corridors.
The soldier at the foot of the stairs returned his gaze to Remi. “Don’t worry, lady. We will look into those who were there and see what is going on.” He turned to Xan, tilted his head, then faced toward the railing, and watched the people moving around.
Xan put his hand over Remi’s where it still lay on his elbow. “Let’s go, little one. They will find whatever there is to find. Father awaits, and he can get cantankerous if he’s kept waiting on top of being hungry.” He grinned at Remi as he started up the stairs again.
Remi tried to smile back, but with each step up the stairs, her dread grew. She just knew the king wouldn’t like her, and she still hadn’t met the rest of the family. As they reached the top landing, the floor went from polished marble to deep, plush carpets.
Directly in front of them was a large open area with couches and tables set in various positions around the area. To the left, another corridor of doors much like on the third floor was present. To the right was a large set of double doors with two more soldiers guarding them. They bowed, opening the doors.
As they proceeded through the doors, voices could be heard from farther into the massive apartment. They passed through what could only be called a receiving room. Heavy, impressive furniture was set up in a conversational arrangement, but it was obvious one chair was set apart, as if of throne like importance. The walls were decorated with various flags and weaponry that had most obviously been in battles. A full suit of armor stood in the corner behind the throne-chair and from the dents and scars it wasn’t just for looks.
Xan led Remi down a short hallway and turned left into what could only be called a dining hall. No one could call it a dining room unless they had twenty or more children to feed. There was a table that could easily seat thirty to forty or more, but the only occupants were sitting at a smaller rectangular table near the open balcony doors. The entire wall was made of doors so if a party were to be held, the doors could be opened and the space would easily double.
The occupants of the table hadn’t yet noticed them enter and Remi was glad for the chance to observe them before they turned to her and Xan. Prince Jarok sat on the left of an older man who could only be the king. He had long, graying hair that had once been as blond as Jarok’s. His face had a worn and tired look to it as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. His eyes appeared to be a darker blue than Jarok’s and had a look of sorrow to them. From what Remi could see, his sons were built much like the king, although at least two of them were larger than the king.
The older man stopped talking and turned toward the door. Xan urged her to continue into the room, and as they neared the table, the five men got to their feet. Three sets of eyes in varying shades of blue studied her intently, and a pair of brilliant green appeared to laugh as Xan led her around the table and pulled the chair two down from the king’s right out for her. Ad’har stood opposite the end from the king, turning to watch their approach. Although her insides were quivering, she refused to allow any of her nerves to show. Xan was insistent that his family would accept her so she would trust his word.
Chapter 14
As Remi sat and the men relaxed back into their seats Remi thought maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as she thought. Xan sat in the chair on her left, between her and the king, with Prince Nic on her right.
“You’re late! Boy, you know how I feel about tardiness, and we raised you better than that. Reginald! Get the food in here now!”
Remi almost jumped and ran as King Minos barked at Xan and then yelled for Reggie. At least she was hoping he was barking at Xan because she hoped his eyesight was better than mistaking her for one of his sons.
Xan touched her hand and brought her attention to the men sitting across the table from them. “Remunada Summers, this is my father King Minos, the black-haired giant is Rizon, fourth born and you know Jarok, second born. You’ve already met Nicolas, the fifth born. You have met Ad’har.” Xan frowned as he looked around. “Father, where is Theo?”
The king sighed and drank from his mug before replying. “Theo will be along shortly. At present, the nanny is having problems getting that child to bathe. Theo was caught down in the market without an escort, again.” King Minos lifted his gaze to Xan. “You’re the only one that child has ever listened to and since you’ve…been away, Theo has gone back to being a wild child who will listen to no one.” Sorrow flitted through the eyes of the king. “I’ve tried discipline, but Theo looks too much like your mother.” The king looked at Remi. “But enough of the bad and sad. You are my son’
s True One, from what I understand, young lady. Tell me about yourself.”
Remi swallowed to clear the sudden lump in her throat. “My name is Remunada Summers, Your Majesty. I’m a simple healer from the Edessa Province. There isn’t much to tell, to be truthful.” Remi twisted her fingers together in her lap, unsure of proper protocol for addressing the king.
“You are neither simple nor a healer, girl. I can feel the magic in you from here! Normally I need to touch someone to measure their abilities, but you fairly burst at the seams with it. If you were male, I’d say you’d be a noble shifter, but as you’re female, that’s impossible. It’ll be interesting to see you bloom, Remunada.”
The brothers were staring at her, Xan as if only half surprised at what his father said. His brothers had varying expressions on their faces. Nic was laughing with a touch of glee. Rizon had a totally shocked expression that he was struggling to hide. Jarok, well, Jarok’s face was like stone, but his eyes were the windows to his mind. A thousand questions ran through his head, and distrust was sparking in those blue flames. Ad’har showed no surprise, only acceptance of the statement.
“Thank you?” Remi didn’t know what to say to the king and cut her eyes back to Xan. He reached under the table, put his one big hand over both of hers and squeezed gently.
Reggie arrived with a wheeled cart and two servants. As Reggie ladled soup into bowls, he handed them to the two servants, who set them at each place setting before walking back out the door they entered. Reggie bowed to the king, then went to stand by the door to what was probably the kitchen.
Remi watched as the men began eating, discussing general topics of the kingdom, weather, and the population. She tuned out most of the conversation and quietly ate her soup. She had laid her spoon aside when Reggie appeared at her side. “Would m’lady like another serving of soup?”
Remi looked up to realize the men had, indeed, started a second serving of soup. “No thank you, Reggie. I want to save room for dinner.”
Nic laughed. “One thing you’ll learn eating with this family, sister dear, is that we dragons can eat our weight in food. So don’t be shy if you’d like more. We’ll probably empty the soup tureen before the main course is served.”
Remi smiled as she realized she would really like Nic. He was able to lighten any mood, and that would be helpful as she learned to navigate the political waters of the Keep and the kingdom.
“Seriously, the soup was delicious, but I’m fine at the moment.” Reggie bowed his head and removed her dishes. Remi reached for her wine and sipped it slowly. She’d never been one to drink except on special occasions and then only a glass. She mentally made a note to talk to Reggie about making her tea or juice for meals.
“So, Remi. What did you do in…what was it? Cynia?” Jarok asked as he finished his second bowl of soup and waved Reggie off from a refill.
“I am a healer, mostly. I make some healing compounds that I sell and ship to other physicians and healers. I have a garden I tend, some hunters who gather the rare, wild ingredients for me while they are out in the wilds.”
“So you had no political leanings? Everyone has an opinion on things.” Jarok watched her extremely closely as he drank from his tankard.
“Brother…” Xan growled.
“It’s all right, Xan.” Remi stilled him by placing her hand on his arm. The conversation had died around the table. All eyes were now on her and Jarok.
Looking him in the eye, she answered Jarok as calmly as possible. “Did I have opinions? Yes. I was sometimes quite vocal about some of the things the council wanted to do, but it was generally about things that would affect the whole community adversely. For example, they wanted to impose a special tax on all ships that docked in our town that wasn’t registered as a local ship. That sounds all fine and good until you realize that would drive the commerce away from the city. We have some quite talented weavers and bakers and the other small towns around the lake would come to barter for what they needed. If the city implemented the tax, it would have been prohibitive for the bartering trade. It would also have deeply impacted those who shipped goods to the larger cities for sale.”
Remi continued while Jarok just stared. “The tax, while on the surface, sounded good to increase tax revenues for the town, but it would have crippled the economy, causing most of the citizens to lose everything they had. So yes, I fought hard and loudly to keep it from being instituted. I also fought against the bidding for an army barracks to be situated just outside of town.”
Xan, who’d been sitting quietly staring at Jarok, turned to look at Remi.
“Why would you fight against that? The soldiers would have brought revenues.”
“The soldiers who would have been stationed there are run by a corrupt captain. He would have demanded all supplies be donated by the people of the town. When a situation would have occurred, the troop would have conveniently been sent to a location somewhere else, unable to assist. There are several barracks like that around the province. Not all of them, but most. I shudder to even think what would have happened to the women in the area.” Remi shuddered as she stopped speaking.
Four men started talking at once while Ad’har just looked at her, but the king slammed his mug down and silenced them. “Shut it! Now.” King Minos stared at his sons until they became quiet. He turned his eyes to Remi, and with sparks flying from them, advised her, “Young lady. I don’t care if you are my son’s True One. You will not tell lies about my troops. They are more honorable than that.”
Xan grumbled in his chest, but Remi once more laid a hand on his arm. “Your Majesty, I don’t lie. Ever. Your soldiers may be honorable here, and the vast majority of them might be honorable elsewhere, but in the Province of Edessa, the people know to be wary of your soldiers. The only reason the ones who came to bring me here are still alive is because they came with your missive and in your royal colors.”
The king and two of his sons growled at her, while Nic looked confused and Xan continued to growl—at whom, Remi didn’t know. Ad’har had a small smirk on his face but continued drinking from his mug.
“You would have attacked the soldiers of your king?” Jarok sneered, showing his true feelings.
“Yes. I know of too many instances where the soldiers of the province wanted something given to them, and when denied, they took whatever they could get. That included the women, young girls, money, and food. They would drive off the farm animals or simply butcher them where they stood, killing the old, the men and boys, and any who tried to stop them.”
King Minos still growled. “What you say is treasonous. Do you have proof?”
Remi, staring straight at the king, replied. “Three years ago, the hamlet of Romia was dying. The weather had not been kind for about ten years or so with little to no rain as Romia sat in the shadow of the mountains. The snow melt in the spring would supply water for farming, grazing, and the animals, but as spring turned to summer each year the temperatures soared. Water would dry up, crops would wither, and animals died of malnutrition. The young people were encouraged to travel to the bigger cities nearby for jobs and a better life. Eventually, the young folks all left, and the remaining folks were those who’d lived their lives there and were too stubborn or too tired to move on. They were waiting for death.”
“Three years ago, in late summer, from what we can gather, about twenty-five or so soldiers came into Romia. No one knows for sure, but we can narrow it down to within a few days. From what reports the local garrisons and magistrates put out, the platoon of soldiers found a nest of rebels and wiped them out.”
“I know for a fact the reports were false. I treated some of the remaining citizens. The youngest one there was over sixty winters, the oldest was nearing the century mark, more women than men and a total of no more than twenty in all. They were just waiting to die.” Remi’s voice quavered, but she continued.
“We know the day Romia was burned, the smoke rose to the skies for all to see. I was with the
first wave of those who went to help.” Remi kept her eyes on the king. “Women in their eighties were staked naked to the ground, and it was obvious they had been raped and tortured. Men hanging by their wrists from porch supports beaten and whipped, some of their bodies burning. Some were even put on crucifixes at the edges of town, a message of some kind I’m sure. There may have been fight still left in them, fight for their own survival, but they were loyal to you, Your Majesty. They trusted their king, and his soldiers, and that’s what got them killed.”
“Young woman, are you saying it’s my fault these people died? The report I received said this town was a hotbed of rebel activity. That the rebels used it to stage raids into the larger towns and the only ones who died were those who were armed and resisted being detained.”
“King Minos, I don’t know where the reports get generated from, but your report was wrong. Armed? Yes, several of the men who lived there were retired soldiers, so I’d hazard a guess that they still had their weapons. Capable of using them? Maybe a few of the younger ones, and by younger I mean the sixty- and seventy-year-olds. None in that town would have been a match for a squad of soldiers, let alone a platoon.”
Jarok spoke up. “How do you know it was a platoon of soldiers? It could have been the rebels.”
“We found one man alive. Strapped to an overturned wagon’s wheel and beaten within an inch of his life. He said he recognized a couple of the men as soldiers who’d passed through before. But the most damning evidence was the horseshoes.”
Nic spoke up at this. “What in all the gods’ names does the horseshoes have to do with anything?”
The king, still staring at Remi, spoke with a thoughtful tone to his voice. “Every blacksmith who does work for the army makes high-grade shoes for the horses. They mark them with the crown symbol, a number, and their own personal mark. That way, if there is a dispute with the billing, all we have to do is look at the horseshoes. It was a system they started in earlier times to resolve problems and have a ‘permanent’ record of work. It’s fallen into disuse in recent history because more people can read and write and billing for services has evolved. How many marks did you find, young lady?”
The Dragon's Soul: Xan (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 11