A Lotus for the Regent (32 page)

“
I want to go to the Dimadan,” said Kaelmoro. “But I can't. I had to
kill the one who was like my father because he murdered my mother. He wanted to
keep me from my sister, but he loved me. I was like a son to him.” Tears welled
up in Kaelmoro's blue-green eyes, and Ajalira felt answering tears in her own.
But to her surprise, she saw that Kamen, Tivanel, and even Konas, who sat off
to the side, were all beginning to weep, too.

“
I'm sorry.” Kaelmoro shook his head. “The Guildmaster always told me
to be careful of that.”

Ajalira's sorrow
faded, took on a different quality, and then she understood. Her earlier tears
had been Kaelmoro's sorrow in her. This sadness was her own, a sadness that
this strange, melancholy boy was to be the Ausir King, that he was her
long-sundered brother, that she did not know him, and that she never would, for
he would leave Arinport, and she would stay.

“
I think we should go home to
our
house,” said Kamen, taking
Ajalira's hand. “And you, too, King Kaelmoro, should come with us.”

“
Why?” asked the Seranimesti lord. “There is no longer any dispute
over the succession. You chose me, and I will step aside in favor of the
rightful King.”

“
And the Kimereth?” Kamen shook his head as Ajalira interpreted. “You
don't think that
they
will accept King Kaelmoro any more than they would
have accepted you? They wanted my Ajalira only to put the seal on their own
claim. They hate the Tamari, and they did not actually acknowledge Ajalira's
rights. They did so only insofar as it was expedient for them.”

Kaelmoro did not
seem to be listening as the men spoke of his crown. His eyes were on Ajalira's
face, but she doubted that he was looking at her. She concentrated, and she
could just barely make out the nearly inaudible sound of humming. The boy-king of
the Ausir was composing a song as others discussed his crown, a song of sorrow
and death, of loneliness and wandering without a homecoming.

“
Lira?” Kamen nudged her. “What did he say?”

“
Oh.” Ajalira shook herself. “Lord Seranimesti agrees that it might be
best to have the coronation go off as planned, only substituting … my brother
for himself at the last moment. That should unbalance Kimereth, if he is going
to be there.”

“
I would be, if I were he,” said Kamen. “He has risked everything,
and, since the little King can read minds, Kimereth won't be able to deny his
involvement in your abduction, in the attempt on my life, or even in the
original assassinations of the Ausir royal family. We will be able to learn how
far the treachery goes. It will be the end of the Kimereth House.”

Chapter Twenty

Tivanel paced in front of a long
mirror, but he did not look at himself. He smoothed down his white tabard and
cleared his throat. Kamen watched him pace, and he rolled his eyes at the
figure of the Ausir nobleman. What kind of house took a red rose as a symbol
anyway? The coronation was mere minutes away, and Tivanel just would not let
the matter drop.

“
You don’t
understand,” Tivanel said, continuing his attempts to convince Kamen.
Saerileth, who stood nearby, interpreted the Ausir’s words. “It is essential
for the Ausir people that I take Ajalira for my bride. Not only that, but she
deserves better.”

“
What do you mean by
that?” Kamen asked through gritted teeth.

“
I can cover her shame
by properly marrying her.” A jab at Sunjaa law. “Besides, she’s the King’s
sister, after all. You know this is the right thing to do.”

Kamen got right in Tivanel’s
face. “I know that? How do I know that? How am I supposed to know that? Your
law may not recognize it, but she’s my legal concubine, and we’re here in my
lands. And my laws are older than yours.”

“
That may be true.”
Tivanel’s green eyes remained cool, his expression calm. “But is concubine
enough for her? She’s going to outlive you.
She has a
lifespan twenty times yours, and you plan to leave her with no more than the
memory of having been your concubine?”

Tivanel was
right, and the realization struck Kamen like a blow. But the only outward sign
of his distress was a slight twitch of his eye. He would not give his foe the
satisfaction of seeing his pain. Ajalira would outlive him, and when his bones
were nothing but dust, she would still be in the bloom of youth. When he was
not even a memory anymore, she would still be beautiful. Kamen’s heart sank
into his stomach.

“
Why now?” Kamen would not be defeated. He looked at Saerileth, but
he could not read her impassivity. She was the perfect Lotus, and he would get
no help from her. This was his problem, alone.

Tivanel poured
himself a cup of cold water. “Why now what?”

“
You despised Ajalira before for being trained as a Lotus. Why the
change of heart?”

“
I made my judgment in haste, but when I learned how she sold herself
into prostitution to save her mother’s life, she showed her Tamari heart. Her
honor is above reproach, as is her chastity. But she must be reclaimed and the
noble crown of ‘wife’ set upon her brow. It’s time for her to come home.”

Home. Where was
her home? Kamen thought it was with him. Ajalira had been driven from her
homeland by assassins and raised by the Zenji. And now she was concubine to the
Sunjaa Regent. Where was her home if not with Kamen? He loved her more than any
other, and he was sure she loved him equally. Her mother was dead, her family
slaughtered, so all she had left in the world were her little brother, whom she
had just met, and Kamen. But would Kamen be enough for her? He would be dead,
and she would live on for centuries. Why keep her from her home and from her
people? What did it matter, the few short years they would have together?

For a brief
moment, Kamen considered resigning the regency and giving it over to Darien.
Then he would be free to take Ajalira away to the Vadal lands and marry her.
Saerileth and Darien could handle the kingdom until Jahen was of age.

“
Why not ask her?” Tivanel asked, gesturing to the door.

Kamen spun
around to see Ajalira and little Kaelmoro coming in through a side door that
did not lead to the main audience hall. For security reasons, Kaelmoro would be
kept secret until the moment of the coronation. For all anyone knew, Tivanel
Seranimesti was going to be crowned the Ausir King.

When Kamen saw
the way Ajalira smiled at him, he forgot all his worries. She loved him, and he
her. That was enough for any lifetime, no matter how long or short.

“
What are you two talking about?” Ajalira sat Kaelmoro—who was
dressed in the green and black of the Tamari royal house—down on a divan and
came over to Kamen, taking his hand and kissing him on the cheek.

Kamen loved her
for her direct speech, a refreshing change from all the court niceties and
double dealing. A person always knew where he stood with Ajalira, so he knew
that her answer to Tivanel would be the truth.

“
Tivanel wants to marry you,” Kamen said, deciding to be as blunt as
Ajalira.

Ajalira’s eyes
widened, and she switched her grip from Kamen’s hand to his arm. She squeezed
his elbow as she addressed the Seranimesti lord. “I cannot marry you. I am my
lord’s own.”

Tivanel set down
his cup and walked over to the couple. He bowed low to Ajalira. “Your honor
does you justice, and your heart, even in this, is pure.”

Kamen narrowed
his eyes. There was no way Tivanel was giving up that easily.

“
I don’t mean to distress you,” Tivanel continued, “but I will wait
for you.” He looked at Kamen and then back to Ajalira. “Once you are … free
again, I ask you to consider me. I will restore you to your proper high place
among the Ausir, and you will have no equal. Your brother will be King, and you
will be the wife of the noblest house of our people.”

Kamen’s heart
pounded, and he could hardly look at Ajalira. He did not doubt her love for him
or that she would stay with him forever. But his forever was not her forever.
What would she do after his death?

“
I thank you for your offer, Lord Seranimesti,” Ajalira said with a
low Zenji bow, “but I must decline.”

Tivanel’s mouth
fell open. “But—”

Ajalira raised
her hand. “Please, Lord Seranimesti. It injures your nobility to beg.”

Tivanel’s pale
Ausir flesh flushed red, and Kamen laughed inwardly. His dear Ajalira destroyed
Tivanel with a word, and the Ausir lord could not hide his shame. Such was not
the case with the Sunjaa. Black was the best hue, for it scorned to bear
another hue.

“
There is no shame in your desire,” Ajalira said, “for Lotuses are
highly sought all over the world.”

Another perfect
jab.

“
Consider this.” Ajalira swayed on her feet, but Kamen caught her.

“
Are you all right, my love?” Kamen lifted her off her feet and set
her down next to her brother who had been watching the conversation with silent
interest.

“
I am fine.” Ajalira took the cup of water Tivanel offered her.

Kamen just
wanted the overbearing Seranimesti gone.

“
As I was saying,” Ajalira said after taking a long, slow drink,
“consider this: I will give you my daughter to marry.”

“
Daughter?” Kamen and Tivanel said simultaneously.

Saerileth
massaged Ajalira’s shoulders, and Kamen detected the slightest smile curve her
lips. She already knew.

Kamen knelt
before his concubine and look her hands in his. “You’re pregnant?”

“
Yes.” Ajalira leaned forward and kissed his dark brow. “I was going
to tell you after the coronation.”

“
Chiel and Elendrie watch over you.” Kamen rubbed his hands up her
arms and then stopped. Was he touching her too roughly? What did she need? What
could he do for her? “I will take you away from here. I will marry you, and you
will be my wife, and we will be happy, and our children will be happy forever.”

Ajalira laid a
finger on his lips to stop his babbling. “No, Kamen. You are the Itenu lord,
and your responsibilities are here.”

“
But what about us?”

“
Us? Are we not happy together?”

Kamen glanced up
at Tivanel. His words still rang in his mind like a death knell, but Kamen was
happy that Ajalira was now speaking in Sunjaa. At least the damned horned Ausir
devil could not understand them.

Ajalira seemed
to be able to read Kamen’s thoughts as easily as little Kaelmoro. “Running away
to marry a foreign woman is forbidden by Sunjaa law. I would not have my lord
and master turn criminal for me. And I am grateful to prove my love for you. I
am your concubine, and you are my lord. I am content.” She looked over her
shoulder at Saerileth, and the Lotus nodded back to her.

Darien and
Saerileth had made it work, so Kamen and Ajalira would, too. For as long as
they had together.

A pounding sound
echoed through the room causing everyone to rise. The King approached. There
was so much Kamen wanted to say to Ajalira, for his heart was heavy with the
thought of their eventual separation, but now was not the time.

King Jahen
entered the room attended by a score of slaves. He was decked as a King, with a
long, black wig of perfect curls on his head and a shawl-necklace of gold
resting on his thin, boyish chest. Everyone bowed.

Jahen, dressed
in the long white skirts for Sunjaa males, strode across the room to stand by
Kamen. He looked up into his Regent’s eyes before he spoke. “I have been told
that you understand our tongue.”

Kaelmoro stepped
forward away from his sister. “I do. Thank you, Your Grace, for your
hospitality and protection.”

“
It is my pleasure,” Jahen said. “I have every confidence that you
will restore order and peace to your realm, and our friendship will lead to the
mutual benefit of our nations.”

Kamen could not
be more proud of his protégé, speaking every bit like a true King.

“
Today begins an alliance that will not break as long as kings like
us rule,” Kaelmoro said. “But history repeats itself, and man soon forgets the
mistakes of his forebears.”

That caveat
disturbed Kamen. Kings were supposed to be politicians who spoke sugar in their
peers’ ears, but Kaelmoro’s sad eyes troubled him. There was some deep sorrow
in the boy that knew no depths. He had lost his mother to a man whom he had
considered a father. And he had killed that man in retribution. But Kamen
remembered Kaelmoro’s song. He had been melancholy even before he discovered
the truth. Something deeper. Perhaps it was his education, or perhaps it was
his ability to read thoughts and detect emotions.