Chapter 22
BRONWEN sat. Koios’ men had arrived and sought her out with his message.
They’d bowed to her, addressed her as their queen.
It was one thing for him to be telling her that she was his queen—regardless of what she wanted—but for other men to say it?
That had her sick in a way the portkey definitely hadn’t. She didn’t deny it when they’d said it. Didn’t that make it mostly true?
It did in a lot of Dardaptoan culture, in a lot of myths and even in some of the laws that her brother Theo had studied so closely.
But when the words had started to form on her mouth she’d been unable to say them. How could she deny the mate the goddess had given her in something like that? She could never embarrass him in front of the men he fought beside. Any more than she could have done it to either of her brothers, or Nalik, or any other man that she respected.
To shame him that way would have been horrible of her. And though she had never intended for it to happen, she cared about him far too much for that.
They were nearby, watching over her as she rested. Where was he?
What was she supposed to say to him when he arrived? ‘Oh, hi, by the way, you’ve made me your queen by default. I’m not too happy with you, buster?’
Wasn’t exactly something she would do or say, was it?
“My lady, is there anything I can get for you while we wait for our King?” one of the men asked.
“No, but thank you. I just need to rest for a few moments. And have something to drink. Where was Koi—the king—again?”
“He insisted on checking the safety of the new city before you arrived. He wanted to ensure it was a safe and appropriate place for you, my lady. His honor demands no less.”
“Of course it’s safe!” Phaenna nearly purred the words. Bronwen didn’t have to see the man jump because she felt it. What was Phaenna doing? “My delicious warrior man, I picked the city for our Bronie myself. I wouldn’t make such a mistake.”
“Phaenna! Stop that!” There was shock in Eaudne’s voice, and Bronwen wondered at it. “They are not playthings!”
“Oh, I don’t think this one minds.” But there was a definite pout in Phaenna’s words. That was clear over the laughter. “He likes a hardy female as much as the next warrior, I’m sure.”
“That I do, my lady. I just wish to have a bit more warning before one...engages my attentions.”
Bronwen wondered—what had the woman done? Whatever it was the tension filling the crowd around her had lessened somewhat. Had Phaenna done it on purpose?
Someone handed her a bottle of water and she took it gratefully. She thanked the bearer.
“It is my honor to serve my queen. Your gamata has long been a true friend to me. I am pleased for him that he has found the woman he wishes to be with for the remainder of his days. He is a good man.”
She thanked him again, and he walked away to give her some privacy.
She sat there and thought about what he had said. Did Koios think the same way, with his wild claims? Did he really want her forever?
Was his guilt that strong?
She didn’t want her Rajni with her out of guilt, or out of political strategy, or even expediency.
Was that too much to ask for? She wanted what a Rajni should be.
Why had the goddess given her Koios instead?
“Do you plan to sit there all day, female?” Strong hands lifted her from the ground. The crowd around them quieted.
Had she somehow conjured him out of ether? “Koios?” She knew it was; even though he smelled like hot, sweaty male in that moment she knew by the underlying scent that it was him.
She’d be able to pick him out of a crowd of fifty men just by scent and touch alone, wouldn’t she?
That flat out terrified her.
“The city is beautiful. It waits only for a queen—and her mate—to rule it.” He had her off the ground and even with his mouth. She could feel it, couldn’t she? “You need me to carry you the rest of the way?”
“Put me down, Koios. I definitely can walk.” There was no way she would have him carrying her to the city. Not with her people watching. “I have my people to lead. I need to appear as strong as possible.” The last was said in a whisper. “Please help me do that.”
Chapter 23
KOIOS lowered her to the ground and set her back on her feet. He studied her for a long moment. Did she realize that other than the children and a few other females mixed in with the Healers, she was the smallest of any in this strange place?
How was he to forget that, of almost all that she led, she was the most vulnerable? He had never handled vulnerability well—how would he?
He was big, strong, and warrior. And king. Those didn’t generally resonate with weakness.
But...he was not Laquazzeana, either, was he?
He leaned down and brushed a deliberate kiss against her brow, in the traditional way of gamatas.
Warriors of Relaklonos world were trained to show emotion so rarely, even to their chosen mates. But sometimes the gamata females needed more than just duty and protection. The kiss had evolved out of that need. It was a way of demonstrating publicly the female’s importance. Even with many gamata, the kiss was a rare occurrence—at least in front of others.
His father had even rarely bestowed one upon Koios’ mother, and the depth of the caring his father felt for his mother had long been known to Koios. Did his Bronwen realize what the gesture meant?
He looked around at some of the other mated Dardaptoans. There were many there, and he watched them for a moment.
The males—though extremely weak by demon standards—touched their females more than he would have ever imagined.
Was that what his female was used to? Was that what she expected from him?
“Turn to your people,” he whispered in her ear. “Tell them that the city awaits them. That there will be space for everyone. Tell them that tonight is a time of settling and celebrating. For tomorrow the real work will begin. Make them know that you will be working alongside of them. And that you—none of you—are alone. Do not tell them that we will be outnumbered, that every life you heal and spare, ten more will most likely be lost. That is a lesson the young and naive will learn on their own. Today, today is for you to capture their hearts and their loyalty. Their love. And I will be here with you. You will not have to do any of this alone. One thousand years I have ruled, now. You will not have to do this alone.”
Chapter 24
SHE did as he said, and it took every bit of strength she had to make herself not cling to him. Or to Eaudne who had a hand wrapped around Bronwen’s.
She squeezed the older woman’s hand and then released it. Bronwen pulled every bit of courage she’d ever had in her body around herself and took a small step forward.
She forced herself to not wrap her arms around her stomach and tilt her chin down.
Instead she reached up and pulled the dark glasses she’d worn every waking moment for the past year or so free. She slipped them into the pocket of her vestis as her useless eyes adjusted to the heat of this strange new place’s sun. She held up a hand, just as Koios’ hand wrapped around hers. He guided her to a large rock.
“Let me help you.” He whispered it as he lifted her onto the surface she guessed to be about three feet above the ground. “It’s only about as wide as I am, so do not fall off. But now they can see you.”
“Though I cannot see them.”
“You do not need eyes to lead. You need heart and courage and wisdom. You have those. And you have me.”
No. What she needed was a voice. She opened her mouth but no words came. She pulled in a deep breath and went with what little instinct she possessed.
“Sometimes, when I least expect it, I come to a point where...I guess...sometimes I just don’t understand.” Even to her, her words were faint and confused. She stopped again. “I’m sorry. I’m not very good at this. I suppose I should start
at the beginning, with who I am. And why it is that you’ve been called here today, and why we find ourselves in a world that doesn’t even have a true name.
‘I am Bronwen of the Gaian Dardaptoans. The House of Sebastos, to be exact. We are a family of healers and prognosticators and justices. We aren’t a family of born leaders, though my eldest brother manages well enough. But I am the youngest of our House, and indisputably the weakest. I spend a great deal of time questioning myself and just what exactly it is that I am doing here. Or doing anywhere, really. But recently I had to face the fact that no matter what choices I make, there are still places and situations that I will find myself in where I am either useless or not.”
Not being able to see the crowd had some definite advantages—she didn’t have to gauge their responses as they listened to her words. She could just speak from her heart.
So that was what she did.
“Some of you know of me and my history. Most of you do not. Most of you just know that a call went out through the worlds that a band of Laquazzeana had put out a request for healers to gather. Well, I am one. I am Laquazzeana, I am Dardaptoan, and first and foremost I am Healer. I am also blind, for those of you who do not know. So I cannot see you today, but I can feel you. Especially in my heart. And I know you are questioning, and I know you are all afraid. As am I. How could we not be in these times? I know you have heard the rumors, and have no doubt heard about the Battle of Thrun.
‘War is coming. And I am not so old that I have seen so many before. I do not know what the words ‘War is coming’ truly mean. But I know that many—if not most—of you do. You have seen death and war before. But I have not truly. Yet the rest of the Laquazzeana have told me that it is the wish of the Four Destinies that I be the one to lead you this day. This week. Until either this war is ended or...well...until I am ended.” Someone shouted questions. Questions Bronwen could not yet answer. She waited until the voice was quiet before continuing. She wanted to pace upon the rock, but didn’t dare. She settled for rocking back and forth instead.
“I want you to know that I do not take this responsibility so lightly. Not at all. I am thinking of you every moment of every day.” The crowd was murmuring, their fear apparent even though she couldn’t see it on their faces. She held up both hands until the buzz quieted.
She continued. “And as these wars approach us so quickly know that I will be beside you, working, healing. Fearing. I’m not asking you for miracles today, though those of us who have been healing for a while know that miracles can a do occur. From whatever deity we choose to follow. And there will be losses. War always brings loss, to those who are defeated and to those who win. For a piece of every soul is lost when a war rages. But I am going to ask you today this one thing—tend the souls in your care. And tend them well. We do not know what the future brings, or even when the horrors will be brought to us. But all we can do is work hard, love each other, and do what we must to ensure that this place remains a haven for those in need, a place to heal and to grow. A place that only we the healers of the Nineteen Worlds can build.”
She waved a hand toward where she knew Koios stood. “The Warrior King Koios stands near me—being blind I can’t tell you just exactly where he is, but I can feel him nearby—and he has spent a thousand years in the pursuit of war. In the prevention of it as well, as only a wise man would wish. He has brought with him this day more than six thousand Warrior demons from Relaklonos. Each and every one of them has sworn an oath to him to serve as he asks. And he has brought them here today to protect all of us. So that we may heal the wounded, and comfort the sick. And when the time comes, console the grieved. Remember them, these warriors who would fight to defend and protect us. And warriors, remember the healers who would die to save you, for the sacrifices of us all are what determine the real prevailers in war. The sacrifices of good souls will be what leads us through the coming days.”
She bowed her head as the crowd roared at her words. Koios wrapped his fingers around her left hand. His hand felt so different from Thadd’s. When had her brother grabbed her right? She gently pulled her fingers free of the two men. Then stepped off the rock herself.
No more would she be the protected and the coddled. No more.
She addressed the crowd again. “There is housing available to all in the city. At this point I do not know the condition of these houses, but no matter what we have to do. Or what supplies we have to have brought in from our home worlds, we will build this city up to what it needs to be. We will do what we must. And I ask that you do it quickly. Thank you, and may the deities above or wherever they be now, be they with us and this new city of Dekimos.”
Chapter 25
HE didn’t have to like it, but he knew he couldn’t stop her from being one of the first in the city. But he would have at least liked a few more hours to explore the city for hidden dangers. But once she decided to take leadership of her people, his female hadn’t stopped.
She directed his top warriors—his warriors—to take her to the place where she would be staying.
Koios found himself almost meekly walking behind her. He had already explored the large hall that would be their home, and while it was far less modern than his home in Lothicano, it would do in this new world. The same orange brick that characterized the rest of the city made up what he suspected was once the palatial home of the ancients. There was an especially spacious apartment area on the second level that had a bathing hall—with plumbing that could most likely be salvaged by someone with skill in that area.
This world was obviously an odd blend of modern and archaic, and was as different from the rest of the nineteen worlds as any other. He understood it—each world developed differently from the others after forming.
The hall had several office areas, plus many large caverns that could be used for the efficient running of the city. That would most likely fall to him while Bronwen was busy with her healers.
And why not? He had been running an entire kingdom with only his brother for one thousand years. He had the skills and training to make this place grand again.
“The ruling suite is this way.” He wrapped his fingers around her shoulder and guided her in the direction he wanted. He waved his other hand down the opposite way. “There are other family suites in that direction. I am sure you all can find a place to suit your needs.”
She tried to pull away from him. He tightened his grip. “You and I, gamata, are going this way.”
Her brother put out a hand. Koios glared at him. The healer glared back.
“If Bronwen wants to be away from you, demon, she can. It is her choice.”
“She is to lead these people, as am I. That must be done from the king and queen’s suite, shouldn’t it? Do not interfere, Dardaptoan.”
He did not want to argue with this male, not for the right to have his gamata with him. But he would.
No one would separate them in this strange land.
“Thadd, it’s best not to argue with him.” There was a resignation in her words that he hadn’t expected. He frowned. He didn’t want her just giving in, did he?
No, he didn’t. He wanted her with him because that was her choice, didn’t he?
“Ah, go with him, Bronie,” the Laquazzeana Phaenna giggled. “He looks rather delicious today. I say go with him and enjoy yourself while you’re both still alive to do something about it.”
Embarrassment hit him for the first time in more than eight hundred years, as all eyes turned toward him.
He solved the situation by simply tossing all of his female’s possessions at his man Dell and scooping his female up into his arms. She yelped his name and he joggled her. “Be silent, female. I am claiming you and taking you to our new home. It’s best just to go along with it in front of these eyes. Then we may figure it out between us in a private place. The suite I mentioned is large enough for the both of us to be comfortably. We will not trip over one another. This I promise to you.”
***
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She allowed him to carry her away. What else could she do?
Like it or not, if she was going to run this city successfully, she needed someone with his experience. She had him, and she had Eaudne.
She wasn’t sure she wanted to put the older woman through the responsibility of leading another group of people into a war. What if something happened and they were attacked? Would Eaudne be able to handle it?
And he was big and strong and an experienced warrior. And the people—especially the warriors who followed him—would look to him for guidance.
And most of the injured they would be serving would be warriors just like him.
No, she definitely needed him.
But that didn’t mean that Bronwen wanted to share a suite with him. Because she knew what would happen—after a time she’d be accustomed to having him there, she’d look for him, and miss him when he wasn’t around.
It was the way the Rajni bond worked for her people. And though she’d deny it to anyone who questioned her—and even to him, if it came to that—Koios was the Rajni the goddess Kennera had picked for her.
He carried her for a while then he placed her on her feet. “The door here slides open on a crude rope and pulley system. I had my men replace the rope with one from our world. It is especially strong, and when you want to lock the door you wrap it around a stone knob here. It will hold. I tested it myself. The suite is a basic rectangle. It has stone archways instead of traditional doors. There are sliding doors on the bedrooms—there is the king suite and two smaller. There is a study area and a sitting area. A dining area and a place to prepare foods. And there is a bathing suite. I have already sent two of my men back to Relaklonos to gather furnishings befitting a queen.”
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