The Black God's War (15 page)

She cupped one side of her face, from chin to ear, and waited for more.

You want me to say it. All right.

“I absolutely loved that time with you, Lucia. I would say I care for you, but that wouldn’t be proper for me to talk about, would it?”

“Why not?”

“Who am I to think about you? I’m the furthest thing from royal stock—I’m not even a native Rezzian. And your father employs me. I’ve thought about this more than you’ll ever know, but I’m already lucky to be so close to your family.”

“You’re where you are because my father admires you. He knows your heart is good. My life is mine to live. Whatever I decide, my father will need to accept it. And he
likes
you.”

Ilario lowered his shoulders along with his glance. “I respect your father. He’s given me so much. I could never do something to upset him. You couldn’t be with me, anyway.”

“I can do whatever I want.” She patted the bed. “Come sit by me.”

Ilario’s heart raced with excitement.
All right
.
If that’s how you feel about it … I won’t be afraid either. Who knows? Maybe your father
would
approve. He already trusts me with his son’s life.

He sat next to her and stared at her soft skin and proud face. Lucia looked as receptive to him as he’d ever seen, though her eyes were fearless. Ilario could barely breathe.
No man could be worthy of you. But if you give me the chance, I would try.

He leaned forward and kissed her. She met him without hesitation. Her lips were soft and confident; his lips tingled against her flesh. She responded to his forceful movements, answering with even greater passion.

Ilario felt whole, reunited with some part of himself Lucia seemed to possess. He pulled her closer.

She pulled away and squeezed his knee, looking deeply into his eyes.

I want nothing more than to know the depths of your heart, Lucia.

“We’d just have to start somewhere and then find out where things go,” she said.

“That’s what I want. We need to defeat Pawelon and get out of this valley. Get back to Remaes, discuss this with your father, and,” he tried to win her over with his wide smile, “keep both you
and
Caio in the holy city.”

After Lucia stood up, Ilario followed her lead. She embraced him, and he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. “I’m very sorry,” she said. “We don’t have time now. We need to rest and wake early.”

Right. If I can even get to sleep after this.

“Pray that all goes well tomorrow,” she said.

“I will pray to Lord Sansone for a swift victory. Lucia, I want to know you. I want to know things about you that no one else has ever known.”

She kissed him again, with her sweet tongue exploring his mouth. He wrapped her up and pressed her full chest against his. Feeling her feminine strength against his body filled him with yearning.
It’s been so long
. She pushed him back with one hand, flashing her seductive smile.

“Until the morning, beloved of Sansone. Help Caio. Give him confidence.”

“I will.” Ilario glanced at Ysa’s armor with an enormous grin. “I can’t wait to see you wearing all of that.”

She only winked and pushed him toward the doors.

This is really happening.

The doors shut behind him, and Ilario rejoined Caio. The young Haizzem had all of the guards laughing about something, but he turned right away and gleamed at Ilario with the purest acceptance.

I love her, Caio.

Chapter 16: The Long Wait

The previous night.

RAO’S STEPS ECHOED as he passed his father’s guards and walked under the archway to the rajah’s quarters. Burning lamps flickered and gave the place an oily scent. Dim, orange light flitted around the cavernous space like a somber ghost. The dilapidated stonework provided nearly all the decor.

Five paces to Rao’s left, his father sat behind a massive desk upon which rested a metal goblet and a plate of crumbs from his dinner. An open passage behind the rajah led to his bedchamber. One other large object furnished the room, a dark hand-carved table and eight matching chairs.

The only item with any real color hung behind the desk. The painting stole Rao’s awareness and breath, fixing his vision inside its solid frame. He’d last seen it when he was a child, before the war, when his father still lived in Kannauj. He wanted to run to it, to study the likeness of his mother and his brothers.

Instead, he strode to the desk and raised a fist in salute to the unresponsive man before him. “Hello, Father.”

The rajah’s silent stare felt especially cold in the emptiness of his hall.

What have I done to deserve your scorn? Before I came here, I’ve done all you’ve ever asked of me
.

“I spoke with Indrajit.” His father stood and returned the salute with a giant fist. He placed his hands on the desk and leaned forward. “He told me you refused to fight.”

Really?
“Is that all he said?”

“He told me you helped him once things looked grim. He said you stopped the storm.”

“Well, yes, I—”

“Is it true?” Devak narrowed and focused his black eyes.

“It was a terrible situation, I—”

“I don’t want your modesty. I need facts.”

“Yes, I used my
sadhana
to stop the storm. I think the royal daughter caused it. If I’m right, she’s extremely powerful. She was actively controlling the sky. It was—”

“I know. Too many of our men died.” His father straightened up. “Why didn’t you fight when the battle started?”

You’re about to lose whatever respect you might’ve had for me.

“I believe it was reckless to risk our entire army, and wrong in principle to be the aggressors. Our defenses have been successful. Why—?”

“I think you’re half-right.” The rajah crossed his arms over his thick chest. “It was reckless. I don’t care about your principles, but I had my reservations about Indrajit’s strategy.”

Rao stared at the swaying flame of the lamp nearest to the painting, letting his father’s words sink in. “I didn’t expect to hear this.”

“Indrajit has yet to disappoint me. But it sounds like we were fortunate you were there.”

“Thank you, sir.” Rao felt his chest expanding with his next exhalation. His shoulders relaxed.

“You’ve done well for yourself. Narayani’s stunning. How is she adjusting?”

“She seems in good spirits. I wonder if you have any trusted men who could watch over her when I’m away?”

“My best men guard me alone. If she wants to stay in my chamber during the day, she’s welcome to. It is always well guarded.”

“Thank you. I will tell her.”

“Don’t worry about Indrajit’s men. He’ll make sure his daughter is taken care of.” Devak walked around to the front of the heavy desk, and crossed his arms again before he spoke. “Rao, when I hit you I was protecting Indrajit’s honor. And I was angry at you for coming here.”

Rao looked at the stone floor, hardly believing that Rajah Devak was explaining his actions—not with an apology, but maybe with some degree of remorse?

“You’re a grown man,” he continued. “Your actions and accomplishments make that clear. I didn’t want you here, but you’ve earned the right.”

“I want to fight for you,” Rao said. “If I am ever to be rajah, I should be willing to do the same things that I ask of our soldiers.”

“That’s debatable, but I’ll leave that decision to you.”

“Thank you. Father, I’m only here to help you.”

“This isn’t about me. It’s about our way of life. Our freedom and our culture. And punching the dogs right back in the mouth.”

“I agree.”

“Rao, I’m going to put you in charge of your own unit.” His father spoke in the same rumbling monotone as always. “You and Indrajit aren’t working well together. You’ll take the men you brought from Kannauj and direct them independently from Indrajit’s commands. You’ll choose their orders. So far, your instincts have been …” He stopped for a long breath. “Very good.”

“Thank you, sir.” Rao had expected to be punched again, sent back, berated, punished, or worse. “I won’t let you down. Aayu and I will work together and we
will
impress you.”

“Good, then. When their Haizzem comes, we’re going to have to find ways to counter his powers. Either that or we’re going to need other creative solutions.”

“I agree. I’ve been thinking on this ever since I saw the solar flash. I’m going to do my best to come up with some way to stop him.”

Rao’s attention returned to the painting. “Father, I haven’t seen this portrait since I was a boy. May I have a look?”

His father raised his arm and waved his hand at the cracked but vivid canvas.

Rao stepped slowly toward the scene.

His mother—Kunti was her name—stood beside his father twenty years ago, holding two toddlers who clung to the sides of her body. She had light skin for a Pawelon. Her face was proud, with the same high cheekbones Rao possessed. Her stare penetrated, but there was an undeniable sweetness to her eyes. His father actually had hair then, long and thick. His mother’s black hair ran past her waist where the painting ended.

Devak looked at him occasionally, stroking his chin.

“Can you tell me more about what happened to them?” Rao had long assumed his father had ordered everyone silent on the matter. Throughout his life, no one answered his questions about his family. They only said what he’d already heard many times, that they died in a tragic accident while traveling.

“No. We have more important things to think about.”

Listening to the cool wind blowing outside, Rao stared again at his mother’s face, noticing her strong smile and athletic build.

I have not one memory of you, not a single one
.

His father walked to the other side of the room. He stared through a hole in the stone wall that functioned as a window.

Rao forced himself away from the painting and walked back to the archway. “I should go. Thank you for having faith in me.”

Devak gazed into the night, with his back turned to his son. He stayed silent as Rao started down the stairs.

Chapter 17: An Innocent Plot

NARAYANI LAY ON AN OPULENT BED of pillows, staring at the crumbling ceiling and listening to the wind howling through the eroded holes in the stone tower. The quarters she shared with Rao were just high enough to give a view beyond the fortress’s outer walls during the day. At night, the darkness was undone by seven rustic oil lamps.

“Do you think this tower is safe?” she asked Aayu. “What if it collapses?”

“Yes, it’s well supported.” Aayu stopped pacing and jumped up and down on the ancient floor. “It’s stood here for longer than anyone knows.”

“Stop, you’re scaring me. I believe you.” She sat up and noticed Aayu’s tight lips and tense forehead. He was still angry with her.

“You want something.” He resumed pacing. “I can tell because you’re looking at me.”

She let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t just look at you when I want something.”

“Yes, you do.”

“I don’t
want
something from you—I want to make things
easier
for you. What if you taught me the mantras for your
sadhana
, then I could protect myself better. You wouldn’t have to worry so much—stop laughing!” He didn’t. “You don’t know this, but I meditate.”
I mean, I tried a couple times.
“I don’t tell anyone that.”

“That’s funny. What’s even worse is the thought of you hiding all over this fortress, spying on everything and everyone. I
like
being able to keep track of where you are.”

“Oh sure, you’d rather I be defenseless and get assaulted by some brute that hasn’t seen a woman in ten years.”

Aayu stood still and glared. “Oh sure, Cousin. That’s it.”

She didn’t see Rao until he’d taken a few steps into their chamber. His head hung low and his shoulders drooped with exhaustion.

“You’re just in time,” Aayu said, “to hear her arguments for why I should train her to be a sage.”

Narayani shot him a sour look. “You need to stop making things up.”

She hurried to Rao and kissed his lips, feeling a warm rush of passion through her body. Her fingers pressed into the fleshy palm of his hand and she pulled him deeper into the room. “Look, my father collected all of these pillows for me. Wasn’t that nice of him? Lie down. You look terrible.”

Rao collapsed just as she thought he would.

“How did it go with the old man?” Aayu sat, leaning back against the stone wall closest to Rao.