The Soldier's Lotus

by Adonis Devereux

  “Who did you work with?”

  “I gave the job to Ulen Ahnok.”

  The sailors all looked at one another in bewildered amazement.

  “Why Ulen?” Darien asked.

  Talex was jelly in Darien’s arms now, clearly having abandoned all hope for himself. “We made a deal. He would wipe out the Kesandrahn, and I would give him all the pearl contracts the Chamri had.”

  The sailors’ black countenances displayed their rising wrath.

  “Why kill the Kesandrahn?”

  “With them dead,” Talex said, “the Chamri would have a monopoly.”

  Darien released his foe and stood. “You’ve heard the confession.” He looked at each sailor in turn. “You are all loyal Chamri men, I know, but this man is a blot on your family name. His crimes are known in Arinport. If you fail to bring him to justice, I will make sure your family’s crimes are known to all the Dimadan. It’s your choice.” Darien sheathed his sword and stepped aside.

  From what he had learned from Saerileth, Darien knew that family honor was important to the Zenji, more important than life itself. For family honor, Saerileth had taken only one kill in vengeance. That was the only reason Talex had sailed free out of Arinport. The sailors closed in on Talex and cut him to ribbons, killing him in a pool of his own piss, shit, and blood. Yes, Darien had guessed correctly. To the Zenji, honor meant more than life.

  ****

  Saerileth must have arranged for a tout to meet Darien at the docks, for as soon as he disembarked from the Crown, he was greeted by a smiling, sprightly little boy with no shirt and no shoes.

  “You must be the mountain Darien.”

  Darien laughed and mussed the boy’s filthy dreadlocks. “From a lad’s perspective, I can see how I might be a mountain. What can I do for you?”

  “It’s what I can do for you,” the boy said. “Your missus told me to come fetch you back to your house.”

  “My house?”

  “That’s what she said.” The boy started to run off. “Well, come on. These stones under my feet are hot, and I don’t want to stand around all day.”

  After the dark deed done aboard the Zenji ship, Darien was glad for light spirits and bright sunshine. The sea washed away blood, and in time Arinport would wipe away memory. This day his new life began. Taking long strides, he kept up with the boy who chattered and skipped beside him all the way to his new house. He was stunned by Saerileth’s choice, and he could not have taken a better house. It was built on top of a cliff of bedrock, and the river valley spread out before his vision. Lush grass and palm trees for as far as the eye could see. The River a shining ribbon winding its way across the land.

  Darien found Saerileth dangling her feet in the pool in the high-walled backyard. “Saeri.”

  She jumped up and ran to him, and he caught her halfway, raising her small body up into the air with his powerful arms, spinning her around, and setting her down again into a tight hug. She wore light Sunjaa cloth; she smelled of lavender.

  “What a beautiful home, my Saeri.” He kissed her lips, enjoying the softness of her mouth and the lingering taste of strawberries. “But what do you say we leave Arinport forever?”

  Saerileth pulled away from his kisses but did not move to break his embrace. “Leave Arinport? Why?”

  Darien kissed her again. “Because I want to marry you. We can go live in Vadal lands.”

  Saerileth laughed, her mirth like water springing up from a fountain, splashing all around her, making Darien wet with her delight. “There is no need for that. We both know that you do not consider me property.”

  “But you call me ‘Master’.”

  “And if you really were, I never would call you that. Our children will be legitimate.” Her cobalt blue eyes were wide with love. “Being your concubine is enough – but if you ever even think of taking another concubine or a wife, don’t expect her to live out the night!” She touched the tip of his nose with her forefinger, playing the jealous wife.

  This just made Darien kiss her again, and this time he pulled her in closer, hunching over her so that he could drive his pelvis into her. He wanted her exquisite sex.

  Saerileth responded, bending her body into his. “Besides, you are a true Sunjaa, a man of the Word and a man of law. If I were your proper wife and not your concubine, you would always be aware of my status and rights.” She tilted her head back, exposing her long, white neck, which Darien set to kissing roughly. “You would not feel free enough to play with me the way you like to.”

  “No,” Darien said between kisses. “No, you’d always be my Saeri. I’d take you any way I wanted to.”

  Saerileth ran her fingers across Darien’s scalp and caressed his ears. “I know you better than that. You would never turn me over your knee and paddle me for being naughty.”

  Darien growled. “Then we stay. Let our new life begin then this way.” He held her out at arms’ length, and her rising passion was shaken. “Saeri, I had Talex Chamri killed.”

  Saerileth’s mouth opened slightly in the only astonishment a Lotus would ever show. “Had him killed?”

  “I exposed his murderous ways to his own clan, and they executed him right there aboard ship. You know how Zenji are about their honor.”

  Saerileth threw herself into his arms, wrapped her arms around his thick torso, and buried her face in his chest. “I love you, Darien. I love you so. You have avenged me at last.”

  “Anything for you,” he whispered into her hair. “I love nothing so much as I love you.”

  They returned to the house, kissing the whole way, unable to keep their hands off each other. A sandal dropped here, a belt there. By the time they reached the over-sized bed of plush mattresses and silk sheets, they were naked and sweating. They gasped between kisses. Darien slapped her ass, and she clawed at his sides. Saerileth’s howls filled the house, anointing each corridor, blessing each room with hers and Darien’s ecstasy.

  Epilogue

  Saerileth sighed as she nibbled at the carrot stick. It did not help much, but any easing of the nausea was welcome. According to the midwives she could expect the nausea to subside after another fortnight. She did not, however, fidget. Her handmaid was busy plaiting Saerileth’s long black locks into the elaborate pile currently in fashion.

  “Are you sure you’re all right to go, Saeri?” Darien swept into the room with Orien on his shoulder. “Son, do you think Mamma ought to go?”

  “No.” Orien was only just past two years old, and it was joy to Saerileth to hear him lisping out Zenji as well as Sunjaa. “Mamma should go with us to the boats.”

  “To the docks,” said Saerileth, waving her handmaid away. “And how would it look if Lord Darien Kesandrahn, admiral of all the Sunjaa navy, was not represented at the King’s birthday celebration?”

  “Not well.” Darien leaned down and kissed her lips. “But I’m not going myself.”

  “Down, Pappa.” Orien wriggled from his father’s grasp and ran over to his parents’ enormous bed. He climbed up into it and began to burrow around beneath the coverlets.

  “I know, my love.” Saerileth rose and slipped her arms around Darien’s waist. He attended far fewer royal functions than he ought to considering his station. He had been ennobled in the first month of King Jahen’s reign, and in the ensuing restructuring of the army and navy, Darien had also been made admiral. As it was peacetime, it entailed little actual combat, but he was often aboard ship for a day or so at a time – and Saerileth was always at his side. Little Orien was as at home in the water as on land, and, looking over at him where he played amidst the silken sheets, Saerileth knew that it was not merely her maternal prejudice that accounted him the loveliest child she had ever seen. He was not quite so dark-skinned as Darien, but his features were the same, the same high brow, noble chin, and full lips. The hair, Saerileth admitted, was hers, though.

  “Has Kamen found … anyone yet?” Darien had clearly not been following the same train of thought as Sa
erileth, instead dwelling on what kept him from attending the current celebration.

  “No,” said Saerileth, tracing the head of Darien’s water-serpent tattoo with her forefinger. “The Regent is well and truly sought after, but he has yet to find anyone to fill his … vacant affections.”

  Darien twisted one of Saerileth’s locks around his fingers. “Has he said anything particular to you?”

  Saerileth caught the tinge of jealousy in his voice, and she laughed lightly. “Master, what has your concubine done to arouse your jealousy?” She slipped her arms around his neck. “I am nearly four months gone with your second child. I am not one to draw the eyes of men to me.”

  It was Darien’s turn to laugh. “You are still absolutely, perfectly beautiful, and I’ll prove it to you as soon as you get home.” He kissed her, and she felt the proof of his words rising against her belly.

  She ran one finger along his hardening shaft. “You will tempt me to stay home after all, and then where would we be? King Jahen wants to see us.”

  “Then go, so you may come back more quickly.” Darien gave her a quick slap on her ass.

  “Hurry, Mamma.” Orien popped his head out from the sheets.

  Saerileth kissed both her beautiful Sunjaa men and left.

  ****

  “Welcome, Lotus.” King Jahen spoke in Vadal to Saerileth, and she responded in kind.

  “Your Grace.”

  “Is Admiral Darien coming?” The young boy’s eyes held hope.

  “No, Your Grace.” Saerileth leaned forward to murmur in his ear. “But tomorrow he is, and he will bring Your Grace a gift then.”

  “That’s better.” King Jahen smiled, and in his mixed-blooded loveliness Saerileth saw her own son’s future. “We can talk more if he comes tomorrow.”

  Saerileth bowed and went back to the celebration. She was not wearing her Zenji fashions, but rather the translucent white gown of a Sunjaa noblewoman, and she knew that, by the end of the evening, word of her pregnancy would be the gossip of the city.

  “Lady Kesandrahn.” Kamen came and bowed over her hand.

  Though it always pleased Saerileth to hear herself addressed by the name Darien had taken as his house name, she pitied Kamen too much to stand upon that degree of formality. “To you, Regent, I can never be other than ‘Lotus’.”

  “Thank you.” Kamen glanced down at her rounded abdomen. “Congratulations. Be sure to tell Lord Kesandrahn how happy I am for him.”

  Saerileth listened carefully to Kamen’s speech. His heart rate did not alter as he spoke Darien’s name, and the only change in his breath was a slight sigh. “I will tell him.” She smiled wryly. “Are there any carrots to be had here?”

  Kamen laughed, and he waved over a servant. As the Regent gave orders for carrots to be brought to her, Saerileth watched the motion of his muscles beneath his scarred chest. The water-serpent tattoo was spoilt by a particularly wide scar. Though Kamen could have worn Vadal fashions to cover the scars, the little king was too proud of them for anyone to think them a blemish. Saerileth was reminded of Darien’s scars and how they moved her. She wished only that Kamen might find one who would love him as she loved Darien. Or at least as near that as possible. Saerileth did not deny, even to herself, that the passion she and Darien shared was not necessarily possible for everyone.

  “Will Lord Kesandrahn—”

  “No, Regent.” Saerileth patted his arm. “If I am ‘Lotus’, then he must be ‘Darien’.”

  “Will Darien be coming tomorrow to visit His Grace?”

  As Kamen said the words, Saerileth understood his heart’s state. Kamen was as much over Darien as it was possible for him to be, at least until he found someone who truly could love him. “Yes, my Master will be here tomorrow, and you will not, will you?”

  “I wouldn’t want to distress him.” Kamen could not look at her as he spoke.

  “Please, Regent, you must not think this way.” Saerileth sighed. There was no way to for her to explain; that was Darien’s place. And Darien would not hurt Kamen’s pride by speaking aloud of Kamen’s fruitless love.

  “I know, Lotus. He doesn’t want to see me, and I don’t blame him. After I tried to divide the two of you—” He broke off.

  Saerileth could not stand it any longer. Kamen’s heart would never heal further without help. He had forgotten as much of his love as he could, but Darien was not helping the cure. True, Darien was keeping himself from Kamen, but Darien could not less deserve to be loved. Until Kamen’s heart could rest elsewhere, he would always yearn after Darien. She resolved to speak to Darien about it when she returned home. Together they would find a fit mate for Kamen. Darien was richer now than he had been before the rebellion, thanks to the honors and rewards the king had heaped upon him, and it would not be impossible for them to obtain a Lotus for Kamen.

  It was a good plan, and she was sure that Darien would agree. If Kamen loved someone else, Darien would be able to be with his friend again. Yes. That was what was needed.

  A Lotus for the Regent.

  The End

  www.boundlessasthesea.blogspot.com

  Other Books by Adonis Devereux:

  Worth His Freedom

  Bride for the God-King

  Chasing Earth and Flame

  The Twelve Naughty Princesses

  Love Comes Twice

  Burn Like Ice

  Evernight Publishing

  www.evernightpublishing.com