Zendar, page 10
She chuckled and turned her head to the side slightly. “We haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
Aleron rose above her before he asked. “Would you deny me?”
She laughed at that and kissed him before answering, “I have done so effectively before now.”
He pulled back slightly and pressed himself into her so that his tip pressed up against the very wall of her womanhood. “Would you deny me now?”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Villain.”
“Yes,” he said leaning into kiss her. “Your villain.”
Chapter 20
“Lotus”
“This is really good,” Azel said to Juni.
“Thank you mistress,” Juni said with complete pleasure.
Azel sat in the dining room with many different desserts spread around her, and she had just taken a bite of a cocoa cake. As their wedding drew closer, only two days more to wait, Azel was making the final preparations. Of all the chores she had done lately, cake tasting seemed to bring her the most pleasure. She nearly blushed at the thought, considering how much pleasure she had really been getting.
“Did you and Mabel make these?” Azel pointed at the flowering lotus made of heavenly frosting.
“Mabel did,” Juni said with a slight blush, “She is very good at decorating; my skills are not nearly as refined.”
“I have always loved the lotus,” she said, touching the stiff frosting before putting it to her lips. “It seemed as though it was reaching up to embrace the heavens.”
“His Liege requested that the lotus be red, and should they please you, would decorate the plate of every guest,” Juni said with a soft smile. “He is very much altered by you.”
Azel smiled as she picked up the plate with the lotus on it and set it before her. “My grandmother grew lotuses in our garden. She would wear them in her hair, and when we sent her back to the planet we surrounded her with lotuses so that they would always be with her.”
“Here, lotuses are only permitted within the royal garden,” Juni said. Her head rested on her hands. “Your family must have been very well off.”
Azel’s eyes turned sharply on Juni in surprise. “They were a gift.”
“Just as you were a gift onto us,” Juni said, taking Azel’s free hand. “The Liege was driven by desire to conquer the world and it made him cruel to his enemies. He once pulled the heart out of a man’s chest because he was a traitor. I shall never forget the look upon the Liege’s face as he punished the man who had betrayed him. You have tempered his cruelness towards those he takes as prisoners of war because you are the daughter of our enemy.”
Azel had considered the change. It pleased her to have been such a positive effect. Now, instead of instant execution, Aleron ordered trials to be carried out on her fellow countrymen. They were not perfect and most of them were sent to do slave labor, but she was fixing their conditions as well.
A young page entered the room, announcing himself before coming over to hold a letter out to her. “For you, Mistress Azel.”
Azel smiled to the boy. He seemed to come only as close as to pass the letter to her. “I thank you.”
“I accept your thanks,” he answered formally as she carefully took the letter from him.
As he was about to turn she said, “do I scare you?”
He stopped. His entire back was rigid. “Of course not.”
“It is worse to lie to me than to tell me a harsh truth,” Azel said, standing to come around and block his escape. “I would not have a single of my subjects lie to me.”
He glanced at Juni, who nodded to him with encouragement. “That is, Mistress, there have been rumors circulating that your powers are of a dead Bloodline.”
“Not dead,” Azel answered honestly, bending her head to try and meet his eyes. “Perhaps on the brink of extinction. But not dead. You fear me because of this?”
“There are rumors, mistress,” he said shyly.
“Speak honestly.”
He looked up at her with wide eyes, “They say you are an enemy of our people who is poisoning the Liege with your wicked ways. That you will ruin all of Sol.”
“Brac!” Juni scolded.
“No, Juni,” Azel said, holding up a hand, “I would be better equipped to handle these slanderous accusations if I am aware of them. Thank you Brac. You are dismissed.”
She moved out of his way and watched him as he bolted from the room. She was thoughtful as she resumed her previous seat, setting the letter in her lap unopened. Juni was wringing her apron in her hands and watching her anxiously as Azel resumed tasting the cakes.
Juni could no longer contain herself and she exclaimed, “I do not think those terrible things, and only fools would spread such fancy. You may be born of our enemy but you have never treated us ill. His other consorts are far crueler to us servants and slaves within the palace walls then you have ever been.”
“Does he keep them here still?” Azel asked as she fingered the edge of the wax seal.
“Yes,” Juni answered, “but he does not call on them.”
Azel nodded her head. “I understand.”
“Mistress,” Juni said as she drew closer, “It is well known that the Liege’s heart belongs to you and no other.”
“My mother once told me that Lieges have consorts and rich men take mistresses, but a true heart is content only with another heart. It was her wish that I never bind myself to a man who was anything but a true heart,” Azel recalled. She turned to look at Juni. “I am no fool. He needs heirs and a single woman cannot give him all that he needs.”
Juni shifted uncomfortably. “He already has two children.”
Azel raised her head in surprise. “Why have I not seen them?”
“They stay in Nova with their mother. She is the one that the Liege use to travel with,” Juni explained. “She was always his honored concubine.”
“I did not know,” Azel said with a sigh. “I have been here such a brief time and there is much I must learn.”
“You will be queen,” Juni said, kneeling at Azel’s feet and taking her hands. “You were born to be a ruler, and you shall be the finest queen Sol has ever seen.”
Chapter 21
“Among the People”
“Don’t look so worried,” Azel said with a smile as she kissed Aleron’s frowning face.
“Were I not needed elsewhere I would accompany you,” Aleron informed her. “I do not believe it is safe.”
“Your enemies are against our marriage but your people are simply unsure. Allow me to persuade them” Azel said. She put a hand on his arm. “You have commanded Draken and four of your most loyal knights to protect me.”
“I am still unhappy by the arrangement.” Aleron seemed to be talking to himself. “I would feel safer if I were there to protect you.”
She looked up at him and gave a slightly mischievous smile. “We both know I am perfectly capable of protecting myself.”
“Yes” he said, leaning towards her. “But even you have your limitations.”
He kissed her and she could taste his love, but also his worry. Had there been no assassination attempt she doubted he would be so openly apprehensive. That alone was enough to make her openly reassure him.
She pulled back and walked directly into the litter, pushing the curtain aside. “I shall return to join you for dinner.”
The servants lifted the litter up by the extended poles as the great doors that led into the city opened. There were three sets of gates that she had to pass through until she was out into the open city. She would be seeing a friend of Physician Jeren’s, Physician Kai. He was well renowned for his work with the poor and she had every intention of assisting with broken bones and other physical ailments.
She peeked out into the street every once in a while, but Draken had seemed intent that she keep herself hidden from prying eyes. She fanned herself as the sun beat down on the top of the contraption and filled the interior with heat. It was a box, barely large enough for two people, and it was making her a little claustrophobic. In Undel she had been free to wander aimlessly among the people.
She pressed back the curtain slightly and she could see people pointing and whispering amongst themselves. They must all think her so foreign and strange, but she would prove to them that she could love them as she loved their Liege. She wanted to prove that though she was born their enemy she was not longer set on destroying them. The meaning of war had always lied behind her people facing a faceless enemy; now it was not so easy for her to know who was right.
Azel glanced up at Draken riding astride a horse beside her litter. “Tell me,” she said, “what are the opinions of the Liege’s people?”
He glanced down at her and seemed to shift uncomfortably at being addressed directly. “What opinions do you speak of?”
“You, as any one of the Liege’s people, must have an opinion on my marriage to the Liege.” Azel explained “Tell me what I face.”
“They are uneasy, that you are using yourself to destroy Sol and Corvinus Bloodline.” He drew his Horiti closer to her so that they could speak in quieter voices. “Your beauty is well known.”
Azel let her eyes fall to the cobblestone street as she smiled to herself. “I did not choose this affliction; I am beautiful by the planet’s grace and my mother’s ancestors. Is it not ironic that not long ago you nearly took my life and now you are protecting me?”
“Ironic was not the term I would use,” Draken answered gruffly.
Azel could not help but laugh. “You do not appreciate being my guard dog, and it seems you resent me to a degree. When Aleron makes me his Queen, you will guard me as you guard him. Can I trust you to do your duty?”
“I may not approve, but I serve my Liege, and his commands I will always follow.” His displeasure was no longer thinly veiled by the downward curve of his lips.
“You are a good warrior Draken, I can see it in your confidence.” Azel glanced forward. “I respect your ability to put your distrust of me aside and follow the command of your Liege. Should I return unharmed, I will inform him of this.”
“As you wish, My Lady,” he said and turned his attention ahead as he adjusted his hold on the reigns. “I can see the Physician’s residence ahead.”
“Tell me, Draken,” Azel said slyly, “is your hatred of me because your sister has borne him two sons and been his most honored concubine?”
He pulled on his reigns and looked down at her with obvious surprise. “Who told you of such tales?”
“No one told me tales,” Azel answered as he urged his Horiti forward. “They simply told me of your sister and her status. Any fool could guess at your reasoning.”
The litter stopped before a house, and the instant it was set upon the ground she quickly exited the odious compartment. The house was red, a rusty color as was standard for all Physician facilities. She glanced up at Draken as a young man in a long robe came out of the front door. He was much younger than she had anticipated and particularly handsome.
“My Lady Azel. I am Kai,” the man said. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “I welcome you to my home, and hope that our time together will be both advantageous and enjoyable.”
“We are in agreement that our time together should be advantageous,” Azel said slowly. She took her hand back to gesture to her litter. “I have brought food for the ailing and their families.”
“Your gesture is far too generous. I have gathered many patients suffering from broken bones for you to examine. I do not entirely understand how many you will be able to assist, but I thought I should bring them all.” He put a hand on her back and gestured for her to enter the facility. “I shall take you to them straight away.”
“I shall meet you inside. I wish to discuss something with the Liege’s right hand.” Azel’s smile was fake. “I am sure you understand.”
“Indeed,” he said with a bow. She could hear Draken dismount just behind her. “I shall wait for you just inside.”
She smiled and gave a slight nod of her head and waited for Kai to turn. “I don’t trust him,” she said to Draken. “You must stay with me throughout this time. I will be weakened after healing and I will need you to perform your duty and protect me.”
“As you command,” he answered. His face was empty of emotion.
She turned back and pulled the fan from the litter as though she had forgotten it. “You are right,” she said in a regular voice to throw off any question about what she had said to Draken. “I did leave it in litter.”
Azel opened the fan and began to use it as she passed through the doors. Physician Kai joined her immediately and began to speak of the good she could do. Her servants that had carried her were now bringing the baskets of food she had brought into the open courtyard as she was lead towards a separate room. She listened to him and his erratic heartbeat; he was hiding something.
“Here we are,” he said. They were entering a large, open room with multiple people.
Immediately she could sense the fear in the room. Their frightened glances were directed at Kai. Every cell in her body immediately went into overdrive; she could feel the hair on her arm stand on end. She smiled up at the man as though she was unafraid, so not to alarm him.
“Shall we begin our work?” Azel motioned for him to lead the way. “Who is the most injured?”
“I believe this man could best benefit from your skills.” He began to approach a man with a slight fracture on one of the bones in his left arm. She knew immediately that the man didn’t have any ability to heal or he would know it was minor while others in the room had worse injuries. Her eyes flicked to the woman sitting against the wall that had a broken wrist that needed to be set and mended immediately.
Once he was a few steps in front of her she focused her energy and brought him to his knees. “Who sent you?” She tried to keep the fury from her voice, but it shook with anger.
He opened his mouth to yell. She could see it by the way he quickly drew in air so she applied pressure on his windpipe. He choked and sputtered but not a single sound escaped his lips. She glanced around the room and could to expression of surprise of many of their faces; she caught everyone off guard by her sudden action. Some even leaned away from her in fear, as though to distance themselves from her.
Draken’s voice was right behind her. “What are you doing?”
“This man is not Physician Kai,” Azel said, glancing around the room at each of their faces. “You there, come closer.”
The young soldier stood and cautiously came forward, “What is going on Draken?”
“I am not entirely sure. Do you recognize this man?” Draken was glancing at Azel as though he was slightly unnerved by her.
Another man behind him spoke up. “The soldier came too late. They came and took the children earlier and told us that we must play along with his rouse or he would kill them.”
Azel felt the blood drain from her face. “Children? Where are they holding them?”
“They lead them through those doors,” the older man said, pointing through doors to the left of the room.
Draken grabbed her arm as she tried to turn towards the door. The haze that had taken over her mind dispensed as she looked up at him. She glanced back at the man and she released her hold on his windpipe as she strode around to stand in front of him. He gasped for air and she waited patiently for him to catch his breath.
“Do not try to yell, or I will kill you,” Azel said flatly. , “Where are the children?”
He spat at her feet. “Foreign whore.”
Her jaw clenched but she put a hand up when Draken stepped forward to hit him. “Whatever I am, I am of the Vandi Bloodline. I can tear you limb from limb, and I can also make sure you don’t bleed to death.”
That gave him pause. She knew such stories of the Vandi had been told. Azel didn’t know if she really was capable of doing such violence but her ancestors had successfully tortured their enemies in such a way. She focused on his finger and she began to dislocate it, a small example of what she could do to him.
She could see his resolve falter. He lasted until the finger was almost completely bent back. “In the stock room,” he said quietly.
She put a hand to the man’s head. “Sleep now.”
They all watched as the imposter crumpled to the ground, unconscious. She stepped over him and walked over to stand directly in front of the soldier, “Do not fear. I will need as many able hands as possible.”
She put a hand over his broken bone and began to heal it. The Physician of her home had taught her how to numb the nerves so that the healing process wasn’t painful. Bone was a hard and difficult area to heal; she could heal three open wounds to one bone. Not one person moved besides those who leaned forward to see what she was doing.
“There, you are healed,” Azel said, taking her hand back “Are there any others that can defend themselves?”
“Lady Azel.” Draken stepped forward, “You are not trained in battle. Allow me to take you from here.”
“There are innocent children that need our help, I shall not abandon them when my power is so great.” She could feel her worry for the children tighten her heart. “I will concede if we are outnumbered, and if my presence will only hinder, I shall allow you to spirit me to safety.”
“As you wish,” he answered without any sign of amusement at her attempt at levity in such a dark situation. “You there, go to the front and tell my men that they must come to protect the Liege’s betrothed.”
The called-upon messenger quickly stood and ran from the room. Azel watched him go. She was unequipped for battle; her first experience was the day her mother died. She could feel the fear trying to cloud her head, and a slight tremble in her limbs. She watched as the soldier bent to gag and bound the imposter.
“You are shaking from fear,” he said softly. He eyes softened as though at that instant he realized she was a frail woman.
“Perhaps my limbs shake, but my resolve is firm.” Azel met his gaze. “We need to proceed.”
