The Jewel of Kamara (The Delthenon Chronicles)

by Bridie Blake

  She turned at the commotion from the other side of camp and groaned as her niska approached, her face clouded with anger.

  “You can’t marry a Kamari,” she hissed. “Especially a royal one.”

  “I thought I could choose my own husband.”

  “He is the enemy.”

  “The enemy is still in Fenella. Not here,” she snapped.

  “What are they saying?” Nic whispered to Chae as he struggled to keep up with the rapid exchange between the two women.

  “She’s not happy about the marriage,” Chae whispered back.

  “I gathered that much.”

  “You’re the enemy,” Madoc chimed in.

  “There was once a pact made between an old Kamari king and an old Shiasa to unite the two through marriage,” said Tempani. “Now we are honoring that.”

  Her niska spat on the ground. “That king was a liar.”

  “Well Nic isn’t, and I want to marry him.”

  “You must marry a Kalaowin.”

  “Why? I have found my match, and he has agreed to marry me.” She was putting on a brave face in front of her grandmother, but on the inside, she felt like falling apart. Yes, he had agreed to marry her, but she wasn’t even sure now that he really wanted to. Was she fighting her niska on this for nothing?

  “It is disrespectful to the Kalaowin people.”

  Tempani sighed. She was tired of fighting her niska on everything. It seemed to just be one thing after another with her. Nothing was ever good enough for her.

  “I wish to plead my case before the elders,” Nic said. “Give me a chance to prove that I am not like my ancestors.”

  The older woman glared at him for a moment and then nodded curtly before hobbling away and barking orders at Keer.

  Chae grinned and clapped Nic on the back. “You’re one brave man going up before the elders.”

  “Do I really have any other choice?”

  “What are you going to say?”

  He frowned. “I have no idea. Perhaps I should speak with your father and Darby and see what they recommend. If things don’t go my way tonight, I doubt there’ll be a second chance.”

  Tempani fought back tears as she watched him go. She wanted to tell him not to bother. He shouldn’t feel obligated to marry her just because he’d taken her virginity. She was sure she’d be able to find a man willing to overlook that.

  She forced another smile onto her face when Dahlia linked her arm through Tempani’s and once again started talking about the wedding. By the time the elders convened, Dahlia had planned as extravagant a wedding as possible despite Tempani’s insistence that it would be a simple, tribal affair. And if they ever did get the opportunity to marry before the Kamaris, it too would be simple.

  She stood quietly beside her friends as the fire crackled, and Nic stepped forward.

  “I stand before you tonight, a former king of your northern cousins.”

  He remained silent as they hissed.

  “My people turned their backs on me. Betrayed me and aligned themselves with the man responsible for killing my father. For killing the daughter of your beloved Shiasa. I no longer belong to them. I am a man without a people.”

  He glanced over at Tempani, and she gently nodded her head at him.

  “I have been offered salvation here. A second chance at life. She has been kinder to me than I probably deserve and forgiven any sins I have made. In return for her generosity, I pledge to allow her to shine. To not stand in her path but behind her, where as a true husband of a Shiasa, I belong.”

  The Shiasa watched him closely, her black eyes studying his every move, every blink of his eyes as she judged each word he spoke.

  “I will offer my opinion if that is what she seeks, but I will never force a decision on her. My encouragement will be given without a moment’s hesitation and my respect and faith in her will never waiver.”

  He walked over to her and reached for her hand. “I will provide her with an heir so the line may continue. She will be my priority.”

  She forced a smile on her face. It had not escaped her that he hadn’t offered to love her unconditionally. She just wanted this day to end so she could talk to him privately. She had to know why, after pushing her for marriage back in Fenella, he suddenly seemed so cold on the idea. Yes, he had agreed to marry her, but he didn’t seem thrilled by the idea.

  “I have heard enough,” Chae translated for Nic as his niska spoke. “I do not like you, and I never will.”

  Nic frowned. He had blown it.

  “I lost my daughter to a northerner.” She glared at Otto, who returned her stare. “You all take what does not rightfully belong to you.”

  Nic opened his mouth to argue. Chae elbowed him and shook his head.

  “Unlike the northerners, we are a smart people, and we learn from our pasts. You have shown respect for us by stating your case, and you have not run away like a coward.”

  Otto groaned and shook his head.

  “If she has chosen you, I will not stand in her way.” Chae paused in his translation to clap Nic on the back. “But heed my warning,” he said quickly as his niska glared at him. “If you betray our people, your treacherous blood will be spilled.”

  With that she hobbled away quickly, allowing the tribe to push forward and offer their well wishes.

  Tempani accepted them graciously, but when her jaw began to hurt from smiling, she grabbed his hand and forced him to follow her to the woods. When they were far from prying ears, she turned around and punched him hard on the arm.

  “What was that for?” He asked, rubbing his wound.

  “If you didn’t want to be my husband, you should have just said no.”

  “Of course, I want to be your husband.”

  “Then why are you being so distant? This should be the happiest moment of our lives, and you look like you’d rather be anywhere but here. And you’ve barely touched me since this morning.”

  “Why do you want to marry me?” He asked for the second time that day.

  “You know why.”

  He nodded. “Because it will strengthen the ties between the Kalaowins and the Kamaris. If we win, we will be united.”

  She stared at him. Shocked at what she was hearing. She gripped his face between her hands and forced him to look her in the eyes. “I want to marry you because I love you. I know life with you and without you, and I never want to be separated from you again.”

  “And the fact that I am the rightful heir to the throne doesn’t have anything to do with it?”

  She smiled as she kissed his lips. “It’s just an added bonus.”

  “That it is,” he said as he pinned her against the tree and kissed her.

  “You’re being pert again,” she giggled. “Just because you’re about to be my husband doesn’t mean you can have your way with me.”

  He stared at her, and she trembled under the intensity of his gaze. He left a trail of kisses from her earlobe, down along her jaw and falling just short of her lips. “I guess I can wait,” he breathed.

  She groaned as he inched his face away. “I can’t.” She pulled him back to her, molding her body into his and covering his lips with hers.

  —

  The day of their wedding approached and brought with it the beginning of a cold snap. Tempani was in her tent, shivering from nerves and the cold, as Dahlia and Zadi helped her pull the brown fur lined dress over her head. It was a simple dress, but she liked that. Today was about their love, not what she wore.

  Her niska pushed through the flap, holding something in her hands. Tempani craned her neck to get a better look, but she hid it behind her back.

  “Not yet,” she scolded. She looked her granddaughter up and down and then turned to Zadi. “Braid her hair. She must wear it like mine.”

  “It looks nicer loose,” Zadi said as she fanned it around Tempani’s shoulders. “See?”

  She turned to Dahlia and pointed at Tempani’s hair. “Braid.”

&nbs
p; Dahlia swallowed hard and stepped up to Tempani. “What does she want?” She muttered.

  Tempani laughed and squeezed Dahlia’s shoulder as she explained quietly what her niska wanted.

  Dahlia nodded and got to work on Tempani’s hair. She worked slowly, fumbling every now and then under the stern gaze of the Shiasa.

  Tempani found it difficult to calm herself down as the noises from outside grew louder. People were making their way down to the lake. Soon she would be a married woman. She would be able to call Nic her husband. The idea of it brought a smile to her lips.

  “You are beautiful,” Dahlia whispered as she stood back from her friend and admired her handiwork. Her braids were wrapped on top of her head as though they were a crown. Her big brown eyes were lined with heavy black lines and her lips were painted a deep red. Yes, her dress was simple but now Dahlia understood it was to make her face shine.

  The Shiasa ushered Dahlia out of the way and offered Tempani the gift that was in her hands. Tempani grabbed it and held it up in awe. It was a heavy gold necklace, clusters of diamonds set evenly around it.

  “I wore it when I married your niski, as did my ancestors before me. Now it is your turn.”

  “It’s beautiful,” she breathed. “Thank you.” And then she surprised them both by bending down to kiss the older woman’s cheek.

  She scowled as her cheeks turned a deep red. “Your hair is up to show off my necklace.”

  Tempani rolled her eyes. Her niska would always turn everything into something that was about her.

  Reeta rushed in. “It’s time,” she said.

  Tempani exhaled deeply one last time and stepped outside.

  Freloha’s voice carried across the gathered crowd as she sang the Kalaowin wedding song. The Shiasa walked ahead of Tempani and led her down to the lake. She tried to peer over everyone’s heads so she could see Nic, but he was blocked from her view. She gave a nervous smile to the eyes in the crowd that met hers and hoped she seemed confident.

  Aidis was across the lake to show her approval of the match. Beside her, Mincha and Tilaw stood, both of them watching the dragon apprehensively. Kwahi swooped over them, keeping a respectable distance from Aidis.

  She spotted her father standing beside Darby and thought she saw tears in his eyes, but she couldn’t be sure. She gave him a small smile and was surprised to see it returned. Perhaps there was hope for them.

  And then she saw him. A face so sure, so happy that her nerves disappeared. A sense of calm washed over her as he offered his hand to her, and she gladly took it. He rubbed his thumb across her hand as they listened to her niska speak.

  “Today we celebrate the joining of two hearts as a new life begins. A life that will bring many ups but also many downs. Today you pledge to stand by each other’s side during all these times. Your love may waiver over time, but your commitment to one another must never.”

  Nic squeezed her hand, and they shared a smile.

  “Now you must face one another and make your promises.”

  Tempani swallowed hard and met Nic’s eyes as she spoke. “I promise to be open to your views and not judge. I promise to be kind and laugh with you. But most of all I promise to love you for the rest of my days.”

  Nic blinked the tears from his eyes. “I promise to spend the rest of my days making sure you are happy. I promise to be truthful and dependable. But most of all I promise to love you for the rest of my days.”

  She leant forward and brushed her lips against his.

  “Not yet,” her niska scolded as those gathered chuckled. “You have pledged your commitment before your tribe and your Goddess. Now your hearts are joined for life.”

  Tempani turned to her niska. “Can I kiss him now?”

  She nodded. “You may.”

  Tempani grinned and threw her arms around Nic’s neck as she planted a kiss on him.

  “We’re married?” He asked.

  “We are.”

  He laughed and spun her around in his arms. “Finally!”

  Their friends, family and tribes rushed forward to offer their congratulations. She was passed around as everyone wanted to hug the new bride. At one point she found herself wrapped up in a pair of strong, familiar arms and looked up to see her father’s face smiling down at her.

  She drifted off to sleep that night with the memory of his hug and the bliss she felt at being Nic’s wife. And for the first time in a very long time, she felt at peace in this world.

  ~11~

  A LEADER IS BORN

  Thara scooped the baby up and hugged him to her, patting the tufts of red hair that had been mussed by his sleep. He was crying again, and his wails broke her heart. He cried constantly yet it never once stirred Colbert to rush to his side. The most Colbert gave his son was an awkward hold and that was only when Tempani forced him to.

  It made Thara angry. It wasn’t this child’s fault that Leandra was dead, but Colbert couldn’t bring himself to look at him. Thara just wanted to shake him and tell him to snap out of it. But she would never do that. Perhaps Tempani would. Everyone listened to her. Even Thara had when Tempani asked her to care for the baby. And Thara had done as she was told and cared for the little boy, who still didn’t have a name.

  What surprised Thara was the love that she felt for this boy, and he didn’t even belong to her. It was a love that swelled at the sight of him, and it was a love that Colbert should know. The child deserved his father. He deserved more than a stranger rushing to his side each time he cried or needed feeding or changing.

  She sighed and walked out of her tent, rocking him gently to settle his cries. She tried cooing to him but that only made it worse. His wails carried through the camp. She spotted Bhatia and Tempani and hurried over to them.

  “Again?” Bhatia groaned. “All this baby does is cry.”

  “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Have you tried bouncing him? I used to see some of the mothers at Amarill do that,” Tempani said and reached out to rub the baby’s back.

  “Can’t you just use your Power and stop his crying?”

  Tempani rolled her eyes at Bhatia’s suggestion. “I’m sure that’s good for him.”

  “It’s got to be better than him crying all the time.”

  “Here,” Thara said and tried to pass him to Bhatia. “Can you please try?”

  Bhatia stepped back quickly, shaking her head.

  “Let me try,” Tempani said and took him from Thara. She held him against her chest and bounced him gently, rubbing his back as she did. “All right, he doesn’t like that,” she said as his screams grew louder.

  “Well this warms my heart,” Nic said as he approached them. “A glimpse into my future.”

  “You try,” she said and passed him to Nic.

  “That’s your future all right,” Madoc laughed.

  “What do I do?” He asked, holding him out at arm’s length.

  “Not hold him like that for starters,” said Bhatia.

  “At least he’s trying,” Tempani snapped. “You practically ran in the other direction.”

  “Here,” Nika said firmly as he appeared out of nowhere and grabbed the baby. He was dwarfed in Nika’s large hands. He held the baby against his chest and swayed gently from side to side. He rested his lips on the baby’s head. Kwahi circled above them.

  Thara noticed he was murmuring softly to the boy. She inched closer, unsure if she was curious or feared for the child’s safety. All she knew of this man was that he was Tempani’s cousin. She hadn’t heard him speak until now.

  “A Kalaowin lullaby,” Tempani whispered. “It’s working.”

  And it was. The baby whimpered slightly, but the wailing had stopped. Thara breathed a sigh of relief. Her nerves couldn’t take the screams for much longer.

  “So, we’ll just leave you to it,” said Tempani. “Holler if you need anything.”

  They all left quickly, leaving Thara standing beside Nika.

  “His name?” Nika asked.<
br />
  “Colbert hasn’t given him one,” she stammered. “It’s his baby.”

  He stared at her, his eyes dark and intense. She found herself blushing under his gaze. She wondered if he was going to say something, and then she realized that he hadn’t understood her. He must not know much Kamari.

  “Him,” she pointed at the baby and tried to make her voice louder. “No name. His pa,” she tapped his red hair and held her hand up to indicate a taller man, “give no name.”

  He stared at her again, an amused expression on his face.

  She frowned at him, assuming he didn’t understand. How was she supposed to communicate with him if they didn’t understand one another?

  Nika smiled thinly and handed the baby back to her. “He stop.”

  She nodded and muttered her thanks before scurrying away.

  He stood there, his mouth twitching as he watched her go.

  —

  After leaving Thara in Nika’s hands, Tempani and Bhatia went for a walk in the woods to collect herbs for the Shiasa. She had given them a long list, and they dared not return without every item. Even Bhatia knew better than to cross the old woman.

  Tempani was silent as she weighed up whether or not to broach the subject with Bhatia. It had been on her mind since the first time she ever saw Bhatia, and her desire to know had only grown the more time she spent with her.

  “Can I ask you a question?” She eventually asked.

  “You just did,” Bhatia replied.

  Tempani rolled her eyes. “Be serious.”

  Bhatia sighed and sat down. “Go ahead.”

  “Why don’t you ever talk about your family?”

  “Cos there’s nothing to say about them.”

  “Do they live in the city?”

  “No.”

  “Oh that’s a shame,” she said.

  “Is that all?”

  “Well, no,” Tempani said, suddenly overcome with nerves. “I just want to know how you became,” she stammered. “You know, how did you get into…”

  “You want to know why someone would choose to be a Lady of the Night?”

  Tempani nodded, feeling guilty for even wanting to know.