The Illegitimate Claim (58 page)

Redo.

“I feel the best I’ve felt in quite a long time. How do I look?”

Andru smiled as he watched Meah turn sideways to inspect the standing of her

post-pregnant figure. She still had a few pounds to lose but he would never tell her that.

He was no fool when it came to the vanity of women.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you more beautiful,” he whispered as he walked over

and nibbled her neck.

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“Andru, you don’t play fair,” she whispered back, as she glanced over at Fulga who

was making a big show of ignoring them. “The doctor says I have to wait a few more

weeks so I can properly mend, and it already feels like it’s been a full winter since I’ve

been with you.”

He smiled seductively at her as he cuddled his son to his shoulder. “I promise you I

will make the wait worth your while.”

Fulga cleared her throat and Meah blushed. “Are we ready to go?” Meah asked.

“Everyone is already at the temple.”

“Oh, okay,” Meah said and looked around the room quickly then grabbed Redo’s

blanket. “We’re ready. I wish your parents could be there.”

“They’re down inspecting Bargstown. In the past cycle, the town has doubled in

population.” Andru worried many of the degenerates who’d heard Beel was managing

the town thought they might do well there. His parents decided to make an impromptu

visit on the pretense of helping the newly claimed couple settle in to their new home.

When they arrived at the Crator temple in Bryton, the sidewalk in front of the

building, as well as the stairs leading up to the temple, were lined with people. Andru

took Redo from Meah, and then helped her from the jeep they’d used to ride into town.

It would still be a few more weeks before the doctor would approve any major activity

for Meah, but he’d agreed to the blessing of Redo at the temple as long as Meah agreed

to take it easy. Andru made sure she exerted no energy.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a turnout,” Ana said as she approached Meah.

“Look at all the womenfolk curious to get a look at the new Gothman Lord and his

family.”

Meah walked through the crowd slowly, aware of Andru and Gilroy behind her,

Ana by her side, and their children around them. Gothman men and the Runner men

and women greeted them politely but Meah noticed that the Gothman women huddled

off to one side.

As they neared the stairs, the women parted and a small group of well-dressed

women appeared to be waiting for an audience. Meah’s stomach suddenly tied into

knots when she made eye contact with the older woman in the center of this particular

group. The woman held herself with an air that most Gothman women didn’t possess,

and Meah desperately wanted to ask Ana who the woman was.

The woman wore a paisley gown that fell almost to her ankles, and a matching scarf

that elegantly fell from her shoulders. Her gray hair was wrapped around her head, and

her slim figure made her appear younger than she probably was. Four younger women

surrounded her with similar features. All the young women had coal-black hair that fell

loosely down their backs. As the Lord of Gothman, his first commander, and their

families approached, the younger women lowered their heads in respect.

Meah was more than relieved when one of the local merchants intercepted their

path, and offered his congratulations to the lord on the addition to his family. Andru

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and Gilroy exchanged pleasantries, but Meah was distracted by the pale eyes of the

older woman who continued to assess her.

“Ana,” Meah turned and whispered, as she tore her eyes from the older woman.

“Who is that older lady over there?”

Ana glanced up to Gilroy who obviously overheard the question. He glanced over

their shoulders and then down to Meah.

“That, my lady, is Ulga and her four daughters.” Gilroy searched her face and

noticed her uneasiness. “She speaks for most of the women in Bryton and will want a

small audience with you.”

“Why is she dissecting me with her eyes?” Again Meah addressed the question to

Ana.

This time Ana answered. “Meah, she’s Gilroy’s mama.”

Meah froze in horror. “I can’t talk to her. Please, can we go inside the temple now?”

“They’re curious, that’s all.” Ana placed a hand on Meah’s arm. “You do look an

awful lot like Gilroy, you must admit. And you know how Gothman gossip.”

“But in this case, their gossip is accurate.” Meah’s eyes widened with panic. She

knew the woman despised her for who she was, and her position in their society. “She

doesn’t want to meet me and…what about Redo?”

“Meah, what is this whispering?” Andru leaned into the two women. His tone was

quiet but forewarning. He expected his claim to show the best of manners in front of the

townsfolk.

“She’s noticed Ulga and her daughters watching her,” Ana offered.

Meah looked up at Andru then at Gilroy. Gilroy’s face was chiseled in stone, his

lips no more than a strong line above his solid jawbone. The jovial dancing blue eyes

were gone, and she was surprised to see the icy cold eyes of the warrior whom she had

learned to dread when she’d first returned to Gothman appear before her.

Meah mistook his look as annoyance with her behavior and resigned herself to the

fact that she would have to speak to the woman. “How am I supposed to act?”

“Act as you always do, my lady,” Andru said, gesturing for one of the servant girls

who accompanied them to take Redo. “They will want to sing their praises to our new

son. Go now and be quick. We have a ceremony to attend.”

“Meah.” Gilroy’s voice was a growl above a whisper, and Meah caught herself

flinching at his tone. He didn’t look at her when she looked up at him but over her head

and she knew the chilling stare was focused on the women of his family. “I assure you

they will treat you with the utmost respect. You have my promise.”

Meah felt icy fingertips trace her spine as she turned with Ana, and left to talk to

the Gothman women. She glanced once at Andru, and then at Tory who matched his

papa’s stance by his side. Then she focused on Redo, who was in the servant’s arms

next to her.

“Greetings to you, my lady,” Ulga spoke as she bowed her head slightly in respect.

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“Ulga, I understand you haven’t had the honor of meeting the Lord of Gothman’s

claim. This is Meah of the Red Star clan.” Ana spoke pleasantly, but Meah noticed

immediately that she’d turned in such a fashion so she faced her brother as well as

Meah and the older woman.

“Meah of the Red Star clan, it is an honor to meet you.” Ulga’s voice was quiet,

almost meek, but her pale eyes told another story. “We are pleased to see you, after

hearing the stories of your trying birthing.”

Meah smiled, although her heart pounded as she felt the eyes of the older woman

search every contour of her face, and take in her coal-black hair.

“I’m afraid my body wasn’t designed to birth babies as well as some.”

“You are the small one, that much is certain, quite often a family trait, yes.” Ulga

smiled as she let her gaze travel over Meah.

“My mama was also quite small, and died shortly after I was born. I give thanks to

Crator that I’m here today.” Meah swallowed and hoped she didn’t appear as nervous

as she felt.

“As do we all, my lady,” the older lady said pleasantly, and then her eyes dropped

to Redo.

“And this is your precious child, my lady?”

“Yes. This is Redo.” Meah focused on her son and felt her senses regain control.

“A family name, I assume?” Ulga asked.

“Redo was my papa, and leader of his clan.”

Ulga looked up at Meah. “I see. Your son will be proud to carry on his family’s

name, I’m sure.”

The child stirred in the servant’s hands and the women cooed as he stretched then

opened his bright blue eyes and looked up with the glassy stare of a newborn.

“I daresay those are beautiful blue eyes,” Ulga said with a smile, and reached to

stroke the infant’s cheek.

“The twins take after the lord,” Meah said lightly with a shrug. “It’s only fair that I

have a child who looks like me.”

Ulga now gave Meah a shrewd look, obviously moving in for the kill. “So your

family is blue-eyed with coal-colored hair?”

Meah swallowed her nervousness but felt it creep back up with an unpleasant taste.

“No. I’m the only one.”

“Who is your mama?” Ulga’s question sounded innocent enough, but Meah knew

different.

Meah shot Ana a glance. Ulga suspected the obvious, and made it clear with her

line of questioning. Ana looked over at her brother.

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“My mama died shortly after I was born. You wouldn’t have known her since

Runners didn’t enter Gothman at that time. But my features are unique to me and no

one else in my family.”

“You are fortunate to be given the rank that you have. There are many others who

are not as privileged, yes,” one of the daughters behind Ulga spoke up, and Ulga looked

down at her hands quickly.

“Many others?” Meah felt anger brew within her.

“Oh, I don’t know why we play this game.” The outspoken daughter tossed her

long curls. “You look more like my brother’s sister than I do…and as for that child—”

“That is enough.” Andru’s voice boomed from directly behind Meah and she

jumped in spite of herself.

Gilroy stepped around Meah and looked down at his mama. “Woman, remove

your daughter before I have her flogged.”

Meah felt Andru’s strong arm wrap around her and relished the instant comfort

and support she felt as she willingly leaned into him. Ulga turned and snapped

something quietly to her daughter who immediately bowed her head and turned

quickly to flee down the street.

“My lady.” Ulga’s voice was calm and serene. She placed a delicate hand with tiny

blue veins running across it on her son’s arm but her focus was on Meah. “My daughter