Cara's Twelve

by Chantel Seabrook

  Maeve was talking incoherently, but still it was something. That she was conscious and not in any identifiable pain was a good thing. It meant the drugs were working.

  “Do you love them all?”

  “Who?” Cara asked, brushing the sweat-soaked hair off Maeve's face.

  “The Twelve. Do you love them all?”

  Cara shook her head at the silly question.

  “Apricot kernels,” Maeve said, suddenly serious. “You need to eat them every day. And smartweed. It will stop your monthly bleedings. I know because my mother accused me of using it.”

  “And why would I want my bleeding to stop?” Cara said, bewildered by Maeve's statement.

  “That way you won't get pregnant.”

  “I'm not doing anything that will get me pregnant,” Cara laughed, amused at her cousin's ranting.

  Maeve looked at her aghast. “Oh, but you must.”

  Cara scratched her head and giggled. “Must what?”

  “Copulate with them of course,” Maeve whispered, as if it was a great secret. “They will expect it.”

  Now it was Cara's turn to stare open mouthed. Her cousin was hallucinating from the drugs.

  Maeve continued. “You will tell me of their lovemaking. Promise me you will tell me all the details. Reyn. Reyn will be second. I imagine he will be gentle——”

  “I'm not having sex with Reyn,” Cara choked out.

  Maeve stuck out her lower lip and pouted, “Why not? He's just as handsome as any of the others.”

  Cara stared at her in shock. “Because he's like a brother to me, and because…” She was about to say because he was in love with her. “Because it wouldn't be right.”

  Maeve giggled like a child. “Of course it's right. I told you already that during the tour, whichever province you are visiting, you belong to the man who represents it. That's what the moon rituals are for, silly girl.”

  Cara couldn't remember her saying it to her quite like that, or at least not with the sexual connotation Maeve now implied.

  She knew there would be a celebration and moon ritual held during her stay in each province. It was usually on a solstice or equinox, but there were other festivals as well. Maeve had been obscure in the details of the ceremony, but Cara was certain she would have known if it involved her having sex with multiple men.

  Cara cursed under her breath and prayed that Maeve would stop talking. Her stomach churned and her head was pounding.

  “You have to give them all a chance to prove themselves. Even if you don't choose them in the end, at least they get to be king for one night,” she said seriously, as if her words made perfect sense. “It's only fair.”

  “That's ludicrous,” Cara said with a nervous laugh.

  It was the drugs talking. That was all.

  “I'm sleepy,” Maeve mumbled, her eyes growing heavy.

  “Close your eyes. Sleep. We will be at Tomias' house soon.”

  Maeve did as she suggested, and to Cara's relief, she was asleep within seconds.

  Cara rubbed her aching head.

  Maeve was mistaken. Her mind was confused by the drugs.

  But if it was true?

  No. She wouldn't think about it!

  Anxiety strangled her and she found it difficult to breathe.

  Inhaling deeply, she tried to push the panic down.

  One thing was certain, if Maeve's words held any truth, her life had just become a lot more complicated.

  Chapter 8

  “Beautiful,” Lord Tomias announced in his jovial manner as he spotted Cara entering the dining hall. “I knew you were about the same size as my daughter.”

  “Thank you for the dress,” Cara said smiling, running her fingers down the length of the soft pink silk. It wasn't a color she normally wore, but she wouldn't scoff at the expensive gift. “I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to be in clean clothes again.”

  Finn and Helfrich sat together at the large polished table across from Tomias who offered her the seat next to him.

  She noted that like her, both Finn and Helfrich were wearing new clothes. The shirt that Finn wore was a little snug against his broad chest and showed off well-defined muscles.

  Cara took a deep breath and watched Finn warily as she approached. Every time she was around him her need to touch him grew stronger. It was unnerving. Her heartbeat quickened, and she licked her lips unwittingly. His gaze found hers and she saw his blue eyes darken in awareness. Heat rose to her cheeks and her breath hitched in her throat.

  Since her conversation with Maeve, she hadn't been able to think about much else; unbidden memories of Finn's mouth against hers, his strong hands holding her tight against his hard body. She swallowed past the lump that had formed in her throat and looked away.

  Lord Tomias' voice broke the tension. “Come. Sit down. We were just discussing the logistics of your tour and working out a list of supplies and resources that you require. We have a month before your scheduled departure for Crowthorne, which gives me more than enough time to acquire everything you will need for your journey.”

  She shook her head and looked crossly at Helfrich and Finn. They should have waited to discuss the matter with her before approaching the Viceroy.

  “Lord Tomias, you have been so generous already. We can't ask you to do any more than you already have.”

  “Nonsense,” he said, pushing her chair in for her as she sat down. “I'm more than happy to help. What is a rich man to do with his wealth other than spend it on those he loves and the issues that matter most to him?”

  The province of Lydd's wealth was well known, and so were the Viceroy's own deep pockets. While the province was small in comparison to the other wealthier territories like Hellstrom and Ashwater, the land was abundant in precious metals, most importantly gold.

  Cara wasn't comfortable accepting gifts of that magnitude, but her only other option was to acquire the resources once they reached Crowthorne. She knew that Reyn's brother Herron would give them whatever they needed when they arrived, but it would be a huge burden on the struggling estate, one that the Viceroy of Crowthorne really couldn't afford.

  Lord Tomias was offering her a way to protect her family and her province from incurring that burden and driving Crowthorne into further debt.

  “Then I have reason to thank you once again, Lord Tomias,” she said gratefully.

  He bowed his head in acknowledgement. His eyes twinkling in fatherly pride, he patted her hand and continued his discussion with Finn and Helfrich.

  Their conversation focused on the equipment and provisions they would need to complete the tour. She was shocked by how extensive the list was. Tomias insisted that they take at least two dozen of his guards, one of his wife's lady's maids, and most essentially his personal cook. She was uncomfortable with the increasing numbers that would accompany them, but the Viceroy had a way of making certain she accepted his gifts.

  “I think that will cover it,” Tomias said with a look of self-satisfaction on his face. “I will see to the acquisition immediately. For the time being, please make yourself at home, and I will see you all at evening meal.”

  Helfrich followed Tomias out of the room, leaving Cara alone with Finn.

  Before she could breathe he was around the table, his hand catching her wrist gently but firmly.

  “Tomias was right. You look beautiful.”

  Heat suffused her cheeks.

  She looked up into his blue eyes and her knees melted beneath her. “So do you,” she said, before catching herself. Damn if the man didn't mess with her head.

  He chuckled, and there was a softening in his gaze that made her stomach flutter.

  He leaned down as if to kiss her, but something made him pull back. It gave her enough time to clear her head and she took a step backwards bumping into her chair.

  “I…I…need,” she stuttered, cursing him for the effect he had on her. “I need to talk to Helfrich.”

  She needed to know if what her cousin h
ad said in her drug-induced haze held any truth. She couldn't ask Finn. There were already too much pent up emotions between them, and if it was true, she couldn't bear the thought of him thinking she would sleep with other men. She needed to find Helfrich.

  He frowned as she continued to back away from him.

  She had to stop herself from bolting towards the door, and she heard him exhale a deep breath as she turned the corner of the room.

  “I'm going to lose my mind before all this is over and done,” she mumbled to herself.

  She turned another corner and walked straight into Edmund.

  He didn't budge as they collided, or try to catch her as she stumbled backwards.

  “Bloody hell,” she cursed.

  Edmund clicked his tongue and shook his head.

  “Now that isn't any way for a princess to behave.”

  She rolled her eyes and cursed him under her breath.

  His eyes flashed with dark humor and he smirked as he took an intimidating step towards her. “What is it with us and abandoned hallways?”

  Cara straightened. She wouldn't let him frighten her again. He was just a self-absorbed bully that needed a good ass beating. She had already planned on talking to Callion about it once she was home. Nothing too serious. Just a little something to make sure he never laid his hands on her again.

  “Get out of my way Edmund.”

  “Now that's no way to treat a friend,” he said, his smile mocking.

  “I didn't know friends threatened each other.”

  His eyes darkened and he took another step towards her. This time she was prepared and sidestepped him. She heard his dark laugh echo behind her as she ran down the hall.

  * * *

  Cara found Helfrich sitting in the gardens with an oversized leather bound book in his lap.

  He looked up as she approached and grinned.

  “What are you reading?”

  “A progressive genealogy of the Viceroys of Lydd,” he informed, drumming his fingers on the worn pages.

  “Fascinating,” she said sarcastically.

  His smile warmed her, but it didn't lessen tension, or the seriousness of the questions she needed to ask him.

  Closing the book, he tilted his head and looked at her.

  “Can we walk?” she asked nervously.

  He nodded and stood, placing the book on the bench where he had been sitting.

  They walked along the path toward the edge of the lake that lay behind the Viceroy's estate.

  “Maeve's already doing better,” she said, as she paused to look out over the rippling blue water. “The physician believes that most of her more serious injuries will be healed by the time we leave for Crowthorne. She should be able to make the journey without too much pain.”

  Helfrich looked at her in surprise. “You plan on her travelling with us then?”

  “At least until we reach Crowthorne. I trust Tomias, but we're still too close to the city of Annul, and Maeve can't remain in quarantine forever. The further we are from the palace, the less likely she will be recognized.”

  “And what does Maeve say about it?”

  “She's still too drugged and in too much pain to make any decisions for herself.”

  “But it will be her choice?” he said, lifting an eyebrow. “To find sanctuary or to continue on with us?”

  Cara searched his face. He was reprimanding her, she could tell.

  “Of course, but I need to think for her now,” she responded defensively.

  Crossing her arms over her chest, she turned away from him and pouted. She knew it was childish, but she hated being criticized, especially by him.

  Helfrich picked up a stone and skipped it across the glassy water.

  His silence unnerved her.

  Struggling against her frustration and her need to know if Maeve's words were true, she broke the silence. “I don't trust Edmund.”

  “Has he done something?”

  Cara shrugged, picked up a rock and threw it, trying to duplicate his actions.

  The stone sunk on the first jump.

  “If he's threatened you or hurt you…”

  “No,” she lied, shaking her head. “I just think we need to be careful with him. The same with Theo and Arwel. They haven't done anything wrong, but there seems to be something off kilter with all three of them.”

  Helfrich nodded and skipped another rock across the lake. “I've noticed it too. I'll keep an eye on them”

  She nodded.

  What else was there to say?

  Silence stretched between them again. She fisted her hands and tried to control her growing annoyance. She wanted him to talk, to ease the growing tension, but he just kept staring out at the waters with a patient expression that annoyed her.

  “Would you say something!” she shouted in frustration, picking up a large rock and propelling it into the water. This time the rock skipped twice before sinking.

  His eyebrows rose in surprise and he lifted his hands as if in surrender.

  “Sorry.” She threw her hands up in the air. “By the blood of Annul, I swear I'm losing my mind.”

  He tilted his head and studied her. “Why don't you tell me what you really want to say. It's obvious that it isn't just Edmund and Maeve that are troubling you.”

  She let out a long breath and considered her words. There was no easy way to ask the question, so she finally just blurted it out, “Am I expected to have sex with all of you?”

  Helfrich's mouth dropped open in shock and he stared at her in disbelief before he finally tilted his head back and convulsed in laughter.

  Her face went hot in embarrassment at his response.

  He stopped, stared at her, and then started howling again.

  She picked up a rock and threatened to throw it at him.

  “All right,” he said through a fit of laughter. “I'll stop, I've stopped. Don't hurt me.”

  “I shouldn't have asked you,” she sniffed. Dropping the rock, she turned on her heels and stomped angrily up the hill towards the house.

  “Wait,” he called out, quickening his steps to catch up with her. “Hold on.” He grabbed her arm to stop her. “Sorry, I was just taken by surprise.”

  She turned and stared daggers at him.

  “Who put the idea in your head?” he asked, but she could tell he was still trying to suppress his laughter.

  She looked at him and blinked back tears of embarrassment. “Maeve said something about it during the ride here. She was drugged and speaking incoherently. But——”

  “You wanted to verify if it was true,” he said still smiling, and she nodded.

  He sat down heavily in the thick grass, and patted the spot beside him.

  She shook her head.

  “Just answer me yes or no,” she demanded.

  He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair causing it to stand on end. “It's not as simple as that.”

  “Well that's comforting,” she said sarcastically.

  “Sit down and I'll explain it to you.”

  Feeling the heaviness of foreboding, she conceded and sat down beside him.

  He picked a piece of grass and twirled it in his fingers.

  “What did Maeve tell you?”

  “Not much really. I already knew about the moon festivals, but I assumed they were just another way of honoring Annul and issuing in the new matriarch.”

  “That's part of it.”

  Cara sighed, “But not all.”

  “No.” He leaned back on his elbows and crossed his outstretched legs. “The practice goes back centuries, to a time when Elbia was torn apart by civil war. Many of the provinces sought independence and those that didn't, those who campaigned for a united country, fought savagely for the throne. Do you know the history?”

  “I've heard the stories since I was a small child.” She rolled her eyes and continued his story, “During the time before Annul came to the land, when the god of thunder ruled Elbia with an iron fist, the men kil
led each other along with the women and children. When Annul saw their suffering, she came down from her throne and birthed a new Elbia.”

  Helfrich nodded.

  “A bunch of hogwash and horse feathers if you ask me,” she added.

  “Perhaps,” Helfrich speculated. “But it was the presence of Annul, whether real or horse feathers, that united the country and brought peace to the land.”

  Cara shrugged. The more she learned about the doctrines of Annul, the more she questioned how anyone with common sense could believe such nonsense.

  Helfrich sighed, “You also know that with the introduction of Annul the monarchy became a matriarchy, and the crown no longer passed from father to son, but from mother to daughter.”

  “To ensure Annul's bloodline wouldn't end. I know all of that already.”

  “And you also know that the Twelve were established in order to provide a balance among the provinces,” he said patiently.

  “Yes of course.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “But what about the moon festivals?”

  “Originally Annul was honored primarily as the goddess of fertility and sexuality. That image has changed over the centuries. She has been altered and transformed into what we now worship. The influence of foreign gods and goddesses has affected not only how we understand Annul, but also how we celebrate her holy days. The biggest change has been in the rituals that once accompanied the moon celebrations.”

  “How?”

  “Initially it was believed that during the moon ceremonies, Annul would take possession of, or inhabit the body of the new matriarch. When the moon was at its highest position, the prince of the land, the chosen consort of the province, would lie on an altar and wait for the goddess to visit him. In front of his people, she would choose whether she accepted or denied him. Life or death. If she found him unacceptable she would cut his throat and if she found him acceptable she would…”

  “She would what?”

  “She would copulate with him on the altar.”

  “Have sex with him?” She drew back in horror. “In front of everyone?”