“No, Lady Belamal!” A Senator, one other than Melenius, was pushed forward to speak. “It was doubtless only the greed of a few. No, we have no intention of taking from you or from your son—”
“From Arixus Kelar Belamal,” Nevia said, interrupting.
“From Arixus Kelar Belamal,” he repeated, “anything which is rightfully yours.”
Nevia laughed in her airs. She was not my father’s daughter for nothing. She heard at once the politician’s promise in the words, but she pretended to take his words as meaning what he did not mean: that she should get to keep all Belamal’s plunder.
“So you give to me all?” Nevia asked. “All saving that which Belamal Triumphant, both at his return and at his funeral – through my hands – gave to the citizens of Nirrion. That is well.” Nevia went on, not allowing him to retract or qualify anything. “Then so let it be sworn and proclaimed, made law here before all the people of Nirrion.”
Nevia saw the red faces of several Senators. She had defeated their plan and done so seemingly by accident. She caught a glimpse of her father, and he was silently applauding her. Melenius, on the other hand, shook his head. She saw his lips form words, but she could not make them out. She did not doubt, however, that he promised her thorough disciplining for this.
The Senators hesitated; Belamal had brought fabulous wealth. But the clamor of the crowd behind Nevia began to rise to a feverish pitch.
The Basur consul, Nevia’s uncle, stepped forward then, and he raised his consul’s staff. “We are, technically, within the Senate. Thus I hereby make the motion that all the possessions of Belamal Triumphant, whether in Nirrion or in Kindor, whether gained by plunder or by inheritance or by any other means, pass according to his last will and testament, to his widow, Nevia Akara Belamal.”
Nevia’s airs fell at that name, and she glanced over at Melenius. He had moved nearer her somehow, and she could see him clearly enough to make out the words he silently mouthed.
“You are in such trouble.”
She no longer cared about the Senators calling her Nevia Akara Belamal. She was Nevia Akara Firin in truth as in her heart and elements.
“Do you so agree, Senators of Nirrion?” Nevia spoke, prodding them into agreement with her uncle.
There was nothing the Senators could do.
“Aye!”
It was the only answer they could make, and they spoke it in unison. To have answered otherwise would have been to risk the wrath of the multitude that seethed behind Nevia.
“The motion carries unanimously,” said the Basur consul.
Only then did Nevia rise from her knees, pulling little Arixus down to her breast. “Thank you, mighty Senators of Nirrion.”
****
“Are you ready, little snowflake?” Melenius helped Nevia down from the litter into her father’s courtyard.
Nevia glared in her fires. “I have been more than ready since my speech. I am aching.”
“Not for that.” Melenius lifted her hand to his lips. “I told you would be in trouble for your defiance, and I am not going to let you off so easily as that. I meant to meet your father.”
“I am ready for that, too.” Nevia pretended not to notice as Melenius pressed against her from behind, but the jostling of the plug by his hard cock was more than her elements could hide.
“Welcome, daughter.” Judal swept into the courtyard. “I must confess that I am surprised to see you here.”
“Really? Something I have done has surprised you?” Nevia laughed, but her elements caught on her raw desire.
“When you and Firin recovered, I expected that you would take the baby and leave Nirrion.” Judal gestured to the house. “Will you not come in and take my water?”
“Yes.” Firin took Nevia’s arm, and a slave followed them, carrying the baby.
Once they were seated, drinking honey water, Judal spoke again. “I was at first surprised, too, to hear that you had named the child Arixus, but now that you have brought him here, I understand. I had thought that you would not give him over to me after all, now that you have both recovered. By your coming, I see that you intend it, and it is the wisest course for my grandson. Son as of today.” Judal smiled. “He will be able to trade on the name of Arixus, the favored name of the Kelar clan, as well as his Akar name.”
Nevia nodded. “But you must keep both sets of adoption records.”
“Why?” Judal leaned back and steepled his fingers. “I had intended it, of course. It is only prudent, but what plan do you have that requires your son, Arixus Akar Judal as of today, be known one day as the son of Firin?”
“We had thought of taking him away.” Melenius spoke for the first time. “We had thought of taking our son and leaving Nirrion, but we do not have to, not any longer.”
Nevia sipped the honey water. She was unable to find a position that did not further arouse her. “It will be easier for Arixus to become the ultimate power in Nirrion if he grows up here. As for Faror—”
“Faror, too?” Judal’s smile broadened. “So that is why you want to keep the Firin connection.”
“I want to keep it because he is the son of my husband.” Nevia glanced at Melenius, and their elements leapt up.
“Yes, yes.” Judal waved his hand. “True husband. I remember.”
“But our son will benefit from being raised here, in your household, as the Akar heir.” Melenius stroked Nevia’s hand.
Nevia’s flesh ached for more of Melenius, but she focused on her father instead. “He is your blood, and that the people of Nirrion will know without doubt. When Belamal’s legacy is worth less – and in the future, when it is Faror that will be on Nirrion’s doorstep with an army – then Arixus can lay claim to his heritage as the firstborn son of Melenius Lozabet Firin.”
“And will that be of use to him?”
“My blood is as high as that of the Dukaluhk clan. My house has an equal claim with theirs to the empty throne of the Faror kings.”
“Kings?” Judal nodded. “If one man could rule both Nirrion and Faror, he would be the greatest power the world has seen.”
“And our son is the one to become this man.” Nevia moved from her divan to sit beside Melenius on his.
“But this behavior, daughter, will not help either you or Arixus.” Judal gestured to where she sat in the circle of Melenius’s arms.
“We cannot be apart,” said Nevia. “Our elements have commingled, joined. We cannot endure separation.”
“You will lose the good will of the people if you are seen to take a lover so soon after Belamal’s death.”
“Husband,” said Nevia.
“And don’t you forget it.” Melenius’s words were a whisper in her ear.
“Even worse,” said Judal. “Nirrion tradition requires a widow, particularly a woman widowed of her first husband, to mourn for a year before marrying again. And to my mind, you would do better not to marry him publicly at all.”
Nevia knew what he meant. A widow was freer than an unmarried woman was. She was not the property of her father or of her husband. But Nevia shifted in Melenius’s arms, feeling his domination in all her body. “I have already married him. That it was a private wedding was your doing, not mine. And when I claim him openly as my husband before all of Nirrion – and trust me that I shall do it – it will be a proud day for me, a proud and glorious one.”
“You must learn to dissociate yourself from your emotions, daughter. They cloud your judgment.”
“We are going to the country,” said Melenius.
“To the villa where we hid before,” said Nevia. “For Arixus’s sake, we will not be living together here in Nirrion city for the next year, but to ask me to live apart from my husband for a year is too much.”
Judal moved his shoulders, and Nevia recalled that the motion usually indicated unconcern. “If you insist. I confess that for myself I am glad of it. I do not trust your pragmatism, Nevia, not when it concerns your—”
“Do not insul
t him.” Nevia leaned back against Melenius. “I have had quite enough of your tongue. We do not need you any longer.”
“But Firin won’t let you kill me.” Judal smiled again. “I remember.”
“I do not really want to any longer,” said Nevia. Melenius was stroking her thigh beneath the folds of her gown. “Not for the past. We have overcome everything else. Let us go on now, for Arixus’s sake, peaceably.”
“I agree.” Judal extended his hand to Nevia, but it was Melenius who took it.
“You agree now.” Melenius smiled, but Nevia was the only one who could see it.
“I am not so certain you will agree on the day when Arixus decides to rule Nirrion instead of you doing so.” Nevia leaned forward, suddenly earnest. “He will be the greatest to bear the Akar name.”
“I cannot live forever, daughter.” Judal rose from his seat. “I will have to have a successor.”
“He will do more than succeed you. He will supplant you.” Nevia took Melenius’s hand, and together they left for their litter, leaving Judal moving his mouth, as though searching for a retort.
And as they rode out of Nirrion, hidden by the curtains of their litter, Melenius said, “Your father will not live forever, my snowflake.” He kissed her.
“But we will.”
The End
www.boundlessasthesea.blogspot.com
Other Books by Adonis Devereux:
Worth His Freedom
Bride for the God-King
Evernight Publishing
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Chasing Earth and Flame Page 23
