Finding Destiny

by Jean Johnson

  “Maybe in a chapel—but not in my bed!” Fighting her lifetime of fear, Gabria shifted one arm far enough to push at his chest with the edge of her wrist. “I don’t want You in it!”

  He blinked, shook his head, and stared at her with plain brown eyes. “What ... ?” Looking around, at his position on his side, half supported by one elbow, at the fear in her gaze, he blinked again. His gaze unfocused for a moment, then he sighed, focusing on her again. “... Ruul asked that I convey His apologies. He is ... disappointed ... but will abide by your wishes, and stay away from us when we make love.

  “He adds that He apologizes for intruding on our privacy ... but that He finds you a fascinating, attractive woman for whom He only wishes great pleasure. I myself hope you’ll eventually reconsider,” Devin added, giving her a smile. “After all, if you thought last night was fun ...”

  Gabria shuddered. “I can’t ... I just can’t.”

  “Shhh,” he soothed, sounding different from his God. Stroking her sleep-tangled hair back from her face, Devin shook his head. “Neither of us would force you. He will stay away, unless and until you ask for Him. That is, He’ll stay away when we make love. Unfortunately, I have only the Three Days of Intimacy left before I must return to my duties ... and that does mean channeling Him again. At least, in the daytime.”

  She lifted her other hand, rubbing at the frown creasing her forehead. “I know ... I know He’s not the same, and I know you trust Him ... and maybe one day I can get over this fear, but ... I’m still afraid. Some of us ... mages ... got over our fears quickly enough after Mekha was dissolved, but ... myself ...”

  His finger covered her lips, hushing her fears. He followed it with his own lips, soothing her nerves with a perfectly normal, warm, succulent kiss. As a distraction technique, it worked well. Aside from a few wary peeks to make sure his eyes were still mortal brown, Gabria was eventually able to let go of her worries and enjoy a repeat of a few of the activities which had made her so deliciously sore upon waking.

  When they finished, she cuddled against his side, silently fighting her fears in the aftermath of her bliss. Only time would tell, however. She knew it, down to her bones. Time, and the God of Vision keeping His promises to her.

  A stray thought wafted through her head a few moments later. A disconcerting stray thought. “Devin?”

  “Mmm, yes?” he murmured, softly stroking the arm she had wrapped around his chest.

  “Did you ... of course you probably know, but ... did you know He made love to your mother? And your grandmother?”

  The fingers stroking her skin stilled for a tense moment before he answered her. “I try not to think about it.”

  Disconcerted more than a bit herself, Gabria tried not to think about it, either.

  Granted entrance into the private parlor of the palace section known as the Royal Retreat, Mage-Captain Ellett greeted his liege with a deep bow, and his liege’s bride with an equal bow, the morning after their Three Days of Intimacy had come to an end.

  “Knowing what I do about Guildaran magic—which is more than most in our land—and after having consulted with our own equivalent to a Mage’s Guild, I have found the best possible tutor for Her Highness,” the head of the Royal Guard stated. “In fact, she taught a full quarter of the older members of the Royal Guard, with myself as one of her last pupils. I refer, of course, to Milady Samia—one and the same as Milord Souder’s great-aunt,” he added in an aside. “She is amenable to the idea of coming out of retirement for this task, though she says she would rather wait until the royal court is settled into the winter palace before making a habit of it.”

  Souder sighed and fiddled with his loupe, but shrugged. “I suppose she’ll do. She can also teach the basics in Aurulan etiquette, and slay two spiders with one shoe.”

  It was obvious from the way he lifted his loupe to his eyes and gazed through them that he was comparing those spiders to a specific target.

  Gabria put down her fork. “Enough.” Her voice wasn’t loud, her tone wasn’t sharp, but it halted the Master of the Royal Retreat. “Why do you keep picking on me, Milord Souder? Why do you insult me? And then smile when I confront you over it? At least the Mage of the Palace is more consistent in her dislike of me.”

  This time, the same as the others, he smiled. The man also had the grace to blush a little, and since his skin was on the paler side of the Aurulan spectrum, it was quite obvious that he blushed. “I am merely doing my duty, Your Highness. I must test your mettle, to see what sort of a mother you would make. It wouldn’t do to raise a spoiled or slovenly child, after all. Sons of poor character will never be chosen to become the next Seer King, and daughters of the same are equally uncomfortable as family members.

  “Since every child born to a Seer King automatically becomes a noble, it is important that each one be raised well—that is my compatriot’s foremost complaint about you, that you are not only a foreigner but that you take pride in your commoner status. Lady Lianna disdains your origins. She will be polite because of your new station, but until you prove yourself worthy, she will not give you much leniency. I, however, am more concerned with your character, which will determine your suitability as a mother,” Souder explained.

  Gabria nodded slowly, trying not to take offense. This was very much a different culture, after all. “I suppose that makes sense ... And your judgment of my suitability?”

  “A bit rough in the etiquette department, a bit common in the personal tastes ... but I think you’ll do well enough as mother material. At least, you won’t need too much in the way of guidance. As for the etiquette, Great-Aunt Samia will suffice for your initial lessons—be mindful of those lessons,” Souder added, pointing at her with his stereoscopic loupe-on-a-stick. “She wields a mean wooden ruler, and your knuckles don’t need to earn more of those dreadful calluses still clinging to the other side of your skin.”

  “If I may continue,” Captain Ellett interjected smoothly. “Milady Samia is mostly retired from teaching, but has indicated she is willing to undertake the proper instruction of Her Highness. Provided, of course, that the two of them can get along. Milady admits she is a good teacher, but much set in her ways, given her age. And, given her advancing age, her knees are not quite up to the amount of walking that a visit to the palace would entail.

  “I will therefore make myself available to escort Her Highness to her initial lessons, to personally ensure her safety,” he offered. “At least until such time as another teacher needs to be found, or milady can be convinced to travel to the winter palace and take her lodgings in the royal court, so as to be closer at hand.”

  Devin opened his mouth to reply, but paused. Gabria, glancing up at him, caught him just as the brown drained from his eyes, turning gold. Off to one side, the two menservants who attended their breakfast quickly scrabbled for their pouches, pulling out the tablets they kept inside.

  To stay the hand

  Of the pirates’ pride

  You must set sail on

  The Parrot’s Ride.

  To keep the peace

  And fell your foe

  Your gentlest touch

  Will be your hardest blow.

  The gold faded. He blinked twice, shook his head, then looked over at the servants. They finished scribbling, compared notes in hushed murmurs, then the shorter man dutifully recited back the words to him. Devin absorbed them, shrugged, and glanced up at the head of his Royal Guard.

  “Well. I guess you’ve been temporarily reassigned, Captain Ellett. Find out when this Parrot’s Ride sets sail, and where it is going ... and if you can find a way to get the people of Jetta to stop raiding our ships, all the better. I give you permission to speak on the kingdom’s behalf; my brother and I will trust you to know what is acceptable, and what is unacceptable, should you have to seek a compromise in order to secure peace.

  “But do your best to secure some sort of surety that they will behave, while you’re out there. Even if it has to be a hosta
ge in the guise of an honored guest,” Devin added. “Or however you can manage it. These things are open to more than one interpretation, after all—do make sure whoever you pick is treated as an honored guest. Even better, bring them here as an honored guest,” Devin emphasized. “And best of all, an actual envoy or ambassador with whom we can officially treat. Perhaps if we finally show them some respect, they will resume a more respectful behavior themselves.”

  Gabria thought he sounded something like his elder brother, the Prime Minister, with those pragmatic words. Ellett bowed, accepting his liege’s words with more equanimity than she could have mustered.

  “As it is said, so shall it be written. Thus it is proved, and so shall it be,” he murmured. “I will seek out this ship immediately. But, I would not abandon my duty to the safety of Her Highness, either. I would defer this quest by a few minutes so that I can hand-select an appropriate escort, but I am uncertain how urgent my departure may be ... ?”

  Devin negated that concern. “That is a matter easily settled. Master Souder, send a palanquin to pick up Milady Samia. One sized to fit through the corridors of the palace, to give your great-aunt’s knees a rest. Arrange also for her to have escort and transport among us as we travel to the seven cities of the eastern half of the kingdom. She may not be of noble blood, but she has earned the right to such an honor through the efficacy of her teachings. Our Royal Guard is second to none, thanks to the efforts of men and women like her, and I trust the judgment of our Mage-Captain.”

  “Your Majesty’s praise is most kind. I shall inform my Leftenant about your prophesy, give her some instructions on handling my tasks in my absence, and then I will seek out my destiny.” Bowing once again to Gabria and the Seer King, the Mage-Captain left them to their breakfast.

  Gabria blinked. “Well. He’s very loyal. I’m not sure I could just drop my duties and just take off like that.”

  “I wouldn’t send him away so precipitously, either, if I had a choice,” Devin agreed. “But Ruul has spoken, and spoken urgently—I can tell His attention is focused mostly elsewhere in the kingdom, but this one moment was important to Him.” He shrugged and picked up his fork. “Some days I am close to my God, while other days I am but a cushion for Him to briefly rest upon.”

  “A prettier cushion never waited for a more holy bottom to sit on it,” Gabria teased dryly.

  Devin narrowed his eyes, mock-glaring at her, and flung a soft bun at her. She laughed and flinched, letting it bounce off her forearm. Souder groaned and jabbed his loupe-on-a-stick at her.

  “You are a disrespectful wife, and I see you are a terrible influence! And you,” he accused, pointing next at the Seer King, “need remedial lessons on breakfast etiquette!”

  Plucking the roll off the table, Gabria tossed it at him, next. “And you need to relax, Master Souder. This is breakfast in the private royal quarters, not some public feast!”

  Glaring sternly, the Master of the Royal Retreat carefully brushed any possible, miniscule crumbs off his thigh-length sleeves ... and then peered through his loupe lenses and stuck out his tongue at her, raspberrying her with a distinct lack of his usual decorum. Gabria giggled, delighted, and Devin almost choked on his drink. Even the servants off to one side had to stifle their mirth into mere snickers, while Souder himself laughed outright.

  Three months later, Gabria didn’t object to being clad in the excessive layers of full noble dress. They had moved to the cooler mountain climate of the summer palace, but that wasn’t why she allowed the maidservants to layer her in four etama, each one an increasingly darker shade of purple. They wrapped the layers carefully in place with a pale lilac sash which matched her gathered trousers and the sueded slippers beneath, crossing the sash over both of her breasts and thrice round her waist.

  She did not object to her hair being plaited in dozens of little braids, nor of the artistic way they were twined up together and dotted with tiny little lilac blooms, forming a flower-studded waterfall at the back of her head. And she did not object to the young serving girls who were pressed into duty, tossing rose petals and lilac blooms in front of her as she descended the steps to yet another glass-walled temple, this one nicknamed the Chapel of Arches from the ornate marble spans that supported the glass-tiled roof. It was three times as large as the Vaulted Chapel, with an equally larger number of pews, and an equally larger crowd occupying them.

  By now, she had learned quite a bit about both Aurulan magics and Aurulan customs. This particular one was too important to these people, and more important, to the Seer King, to skimp on the expected traditions. This time it was Lord Daric, Prime Minister and sibling of the Seer King, who led her into the chapel and bowed himself to one side. Somehow, he had timed it so that the current petition was just leaving, granting her the full attention of everyone. Necks craned, heads tilted and swayed, and she felt the Eyes of Ruul upon her, even from so far away.

  No one spoke as she paced slowly and gracefully up the carpeted aisle. The flowers in her hair, the color of her robes, all bespoke the message she brought, but no one even whispered to his or her neighbor. It was up to her to reveal the message she brought. Stopping at the foot of the stairs, she bowed to her watchful, golden-eyed husband.

  “I come before the Eyes of Ruul as a vessel which has been filled,” she stated, using the ritual words. “It is my honor to be filled with Your holy grace ... and may I one day become the mother of the next Seer King.”

  “You are a most worthy vessel,” He stated aloud. Then added in her mind, Though technically, I have not filled you. Nor will I, for I will keep to My word, as promised. But I am pleased My Seer finds deep joy in you, and that your union is proving fruitful on many levels.

  The smile that graced His lips was a gentle one. A loving one. Briefly closing His eyes, He vanished from the Seer King’s body. Devin, gazing at her with his own warm brown eyes, rose and descended from his throne with a warm smile of his own.

  “... And I myself am pleased. Ruul has graced me with a day’s freedom, to properly celebrate this news. Petitions will be heard on the morrow. Tonight, let the whole kingdom rejoice!” he called out, reaching her side and lifting her hand for a brief kiss. With his free hand, he touched the section of stomach outlined by the lower two swaths of her sash. “We have a future son or daughter on the way.”

  Looking up at him, loving him, Gabria realized she was no longer afraid. Ruul? she thought, shaping the name carefully. Ruul? Can You hear me?

  Always.

  Um ... You’ve kept your word ... and I’m not afraid. If You want—if you both want—You can share our joy. Even, um, in bed.

  One eye blazed gold while the other remained brown. Devin flicked up his free hand, the one on the golden-eyed side. Gabria blinked and stared around her, taking in the colorfully inlaid walls of their winter palace bedchamber, which had abruptly replaced the body-filled, glass-walled chapel. Not to mention the startled faces of the maidservants, who were caught in the act of changing the bedding. One look at their sovereign and they quickly scuttled out, not even bothering to finish straightening the covers. Within seconds, the bedroom door banged shut, and moments after that, they could hear the muffled sound of the parlor door closing as well.

  Devin-Ruul smiled and lifted her fingers once again to their shared lips. You will not regret this ... and since I can tell you want to comment on it, no, it is not incest. Neither I nor My hosts have been related by blood to any of the women We have loved. Nor have My Seers loved more than one woman at a time. The right woman for each of them, hand-selected by Me.

  I have simply loved all of them ... just as I love you. Just as he loves you.

  She blushed, but cleared her throat and spoke her mind. Knowing that she safely could, with this particular God. “Just so long as You understand that I love Devin more than I love You. I’m not afraid of You anymore, and I do ... I do love You. I just love him more.”

  I can live with that, the golden-eyed half of her husband teased,
while the brown-eyed half pulled her close and kissed her deeply. The two of them merged ... and suddenly she felt like she was being kissed all over, all at once, by a dozen hungry mouths.

  Oh, dear Gods—and I thought having my toes suckled was ... wow!

  Ruul chuckled in her mind, and the sensations increased. Indeed. You can return the favor by introducing Me to this “crankman” machine of yours ... after the second or third round . . .

  Gabria shuddered at that particular thought—but not, thankfully, from fear.

  JENODAN ISLES

  ONE

  If I weren’t such a faithful man, Ellett thought to himself, watching the crew of the Parrot’s Ride hauling on the ropes that shifted the cargo ship’s colorful sails, I might have given up by now. But that does beg the question, Ruul, he added, aiming that thought at his Patron Deity. You prompted my king to tell me to set sail on this ship ... but this will be my fifth trip around the rim of the Jenodan Sea. When are these Jettan pirates going to show up, so I can do something about their predations?

  For that matter, what am I supposed to do?

  He didn’t expect an answer. Even if his friend and liege were there beside him, he wouldn’t have expected a reply from Devin. Gods could help, but it didn’t mean they always would. Not after having given mortal men and women free will. At least I can take comfort that Ruul does see all that happens in and around our borders. Which includes this sea. So I know I will encounter the pirates while on board this ship. Eventually.

  Hopefully soon. As Captain of the Royal Guard, leader of the finest mage-warriors in all of Aurul, he really shouldn’t be assigned to a simple task like this. A good part of him itched to be back in command of his fellow guards. He did believe his Leftenant was competent, though he thought she was a bit too zealous as an organizer and not quite personable enough to lead with the greatest effectiveness.