"I assume that's the five of us?" Ian drawled leisurely, not willing to play games at the moment. His heart beat faster, though no one was the wiser. After his conversation with Jeff, he had begun to believe this was the situation, but guessing was different than knowing. He was relieved he didn't have to relinquish her. After that kiss, nothing could have kept him from seeking more.
"It is," Carson confirmed.
"How is that possible?" The Scholar asked. His voice was bland, but slightly pained.
Carson shrugged. The senior Advisors, one from each House, observed the exchange with interest but let Carson take the lead. Since he was imparting information, the action was predictable. Ian hoped his fellow apprentices wouldn't expect the same thing of him. He preferred to watch other's reactions instead of instigating them. Carson evaluated each of their expressions closely. "Will any of you challenge this match? If there is resentment between you or regarding this shared match, it will cause problems with future plans."
"I assumed this was the case," Ian said, hoping his confession would encourage the others.
"I'll need to get used to it, but I am happy to be included," Seb said. If he were a puppy, his tongue would be lolling from his mouth. The exuberance made him appear even younger than his twenty years.
Mason leaned against the wall by Ian. "If we all have her best interests at heart, I think the arrangement might even be preferable." His opinion surprised Ian. He suspected his friend harbored a compulsion to protect Kiarra, but he hadn’t realized that extended to sharing her body and her love.
"I will come to terms with this. In some ways I find the situation preferable as well," the Merchant added. He glanced at Mason with a nod. Ian suspected he might not feel capable of protecting Kiarra on his own.
"I will need time to accustom myself to the idea," Reed echoed his brother's words. "But if this is in Kiarra's best interests and no one hurts her, I will cope." The sentiment was not exactly heartwarming acceptance, but Ian hadn't expected every man to jump up excitedly about the prospect of sharing a woman among four others. He still had reservations himself.
"Very good," Carson continued with a final nod. “When the King gives you the rest of the information, you will understand why it's vital you all work together. She will need to improve her skills in each House if she is to fulfill her duty. Additionally, growing the bonds between each of you and with Kiarra is essential. Since she is connected to you and that connection will only grow, she will feel any dissension in your ranks.” Carson’s last statement had a more profound effect on the Scholar than any previous words. Ian could practically hear the tumblers clicking in his impressive mind.
Carson mentioning Kiarra's duty built upon the seed of an idea the Mishokian wise woman had planted in his brain. He paced several steps before resuming his position against the wall. If he was correct, Kiarra would need all their help and unwavering support.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Kiarra
The King paused before a closed door. One of the guardsmen knocked once, opened the portal, and the King swept inside in one graceful motion. Mum trailed after him. I followed but immediately reeled, instantly overcome with an unsettling wave of dizziness. Emotion cloaked the room, too much for me to interpret or bear. The invasion assaulted my senses. My knees shook and my hands trembled.
"Kiarra?" Mason appeared at my side immediately. His concerned face stooped to my level, his hand on my elbow steadying me. I breathed deeply, pushing aside the bombardment with concentrated effort. Mum and the King also closely inspected my face, but the King's expression was not curiosity. In fact, I could only describe it as satisfaction.
"I'm fine," I insisted. "Maybe the food I ate was too rich. I felt dizzy for a moment." I managed to raise my eyes. "Oh." My mouth formed a wide O. Older men stood to the back of the room, robed in the colors of their Houses, but I barely registered their presence. The younger men captured the entirety of my attention.
Reed and Seb stood in front of a firm settee, their backs straight, their eyes glued on me in equal gazes of surprise and adoration. I had the feeling they had been sitting just a moment ago. It was the first time I had seen them in their robes and I bemoaned the lack of their more revealing tunics and breeches. Reed's electric blue gaze scrutinized me carefully, his expression grave. I hadn't seen him up close since that tender moment outside our family unit. I'd had doubts at the time about his feelings towards me, but the same connection drew us together that I experienced with my other four men. They were all here as well.
Seb's adorable face bore a wide smile. Ian lounged against a portion of the tapestried wall, one hip propped against the surface like we were at a pub and he was waiting at the bar for a drink. His crooked grin increased the butterflies in my stomach and his dark eyes brought to mind the kiss we had shared. Clay stood awkwardly on one crutch and he appeared unsteady. His regard was appreciative as he scanned my form. Mason remained at my elbow.
The King noted Clay’s precarious position. "Please, sit back down. And the rest of you as well."
The men resumed their seats, their attention still firmly upon me. Mason released me reluctantly and joined the others. Now that Clay no longer struggled to balance himself, his smile instigated mine. I was certain I blushed scarlet as all five of my men stared at me like they were starving and I was a gourmet meal. I looked away, mostly because their intensity was too much for me. My skin burned. I couldn't recall when I began considering them 'my men' but my mind refused to think of them as otherwise.
It wasn't difficult to pinpoint the reason for my dizziness. The more time I spent with each of them, the more attuned I became to their emotions and their personalities. The five of them in one room had slammed into me like a runaway carriage.
I sat, relieved there was actually a seat behind me because I hadn't checked. It would have been my luck to flip upside down in my fancy dress before the King and my men. My position placed me in full view of everyone else in the room. I hadn't done so intentionally, but moving would seem circumspect.
I glanced at Mum, uncertain whether she'd be confused or amused if she recognized my admirers. Her attention was entirely diverted, however. A red tinge flushed her cheeks as she regarded one of the older men in the room. I followed her gaze. The handsome man in Scholar robes also stared at my mother, perplexed interest shadowing his features. I smiled to myself as the truth sank in. Mum's Soul Match was the King's Scholar Advisor. I wonder if she recalled she was now a single woman. Judging by the blush on her face, I would wager she did.
My eyes traversed the other older men. I recognized the Planning and Development Advisor. He had visited secondary school to impart a lesson on the design of the city and reasons why. He was the most hands-on of all the Advisors. The older occupants were therefore the King's other Advisors. I didn't recognize any of the others but that wasn't surprising. Their ages and robes indicated their status.
"Thank you for coming," the King greeted in his royal booming voice. He remained standing and so did his Advisors. They ringed the back of the room. The King must believe himself secure to harbor so many influential people in one place.
I was more at ease now that I had all my men in one room, even though their intensity caused my senses to spin. The beginning of the bond with each of them reinforced the belief that I was meant for these men, all of them. They were my Soul Matches. The understanding made me fear for all our futures. Our relationship challenged the very fabric of Treleaven, of all of Megreria. Would we be allowed to exist, to be together? In the next second, something else clicked. The King had said he was introducing me to my tutors. If he didn't approve of our relationship, why would he place us together? Maybe his motive was to keep a close eye on us and out of the public's attention.
Mum sank down next to me on the chaise lounge. She and I shared a look of womanly understanding. We recognized each other's predicaments. The men we were meant to be with occupied the same room as us. The realization aged me. I wa
s no longer a child; Mum and I shared the same playing field.
I examined the Scholar Advisor even as I acknowledged the pull of the gazes from the men I adored. For an older man, he was quite handsome. Kindness and a hint of shyness clung to his bearing. He peeked at Mum from time to time, utterly failing to be sneaky. He would be perfect for Mum and the thought filled my heart with joy. Thankfully, he also wasn't married since he was an Advisor. I doubted the King had sanctioned more false Soul Matches. I was still upset about Mum and William being matched but I pushed the thought away for the moment, concentrating on what this meeting meant for us.
"Are there going to be any issues?" the King asked, looking at the balding man in the black robes of the Information House. The Advisor shook his head and the King appeared relieved. I had no idea what he was referring to. He turned to the rest of the room. "For you young men, I hope the time I've dallied has given you an opportunity to meet the Advisory Council and to introduce yourselves to each other if you hadn't met before tonight. This advisory team will tutor you in your advisory roles. As they teach you, I would like you to tutor Kiarra Walton. You have all met the young lady, I believe?"
The younger men nodded. The King stroked his long beard. I'd noticed it was a common habit. The repetitive gesture revealed him as more of a normal person to me, not a ruler above his people.
I wasn't at all surprised my men were being trained as the next round of Advisors. They were all brilliant in their field. The older Advisors stared at me with differing expressions. More than one appeared uncertain though the Information Exchange Advisor seemed the most curious. Then again, it was his job to be suspicious. He didn't know me from an Accleshian, or maybe the skepticism was his typical expression.
The King paced, alternately stroking his beard and looking at the ground. "I have been debating how much information to divulge. I have discussed the matter with my Advisors and their counsel was mixed. I have concluded I will trust all of you within this room. Before I begin, though, let me make one thing clear. If any word that I speak here escapes past these doors, the person who leaked the information will be prosecuted with the severest punishment possible."
A weighty pause cloaked the room. Any word repeated beyond this room would bring death, swiftly and without question. I shivered. There was more at play here than the indoctrination of the next round of the kingdom's Advisors. This wasn't the typical process followed by the crown in the past, but the young men sitting across from me were worthy of their positions. As to why Mum or I were here, I possessed no clue.
Tension filled the room as the implications of the King's words set in, but not a body moved except for nods of understanding. Mum sat stiffly beside me. She likely wondered the same things I did. Where did we fit in? Why were we here?
The King studied each man individually before continuing. "Our Soul Tenders typically only have a vision apiece. If visions were always shared among them, they would be constantly overwhelmed. When all the Soul Tenders receive the same vision, it's considered more prophetic. As you all know, the most significant aid the Soul Tenders render our kingdom is to unite matched pairs, broken souls, if you will. What some of you may not realize is that occasionally a Soul Tender also has a prophetic vision. Twenty-five years ago, a vision was shared among all the Soul Tenders. The Fates adamantly insisted on matching two people who were not two halves of the same soul. It was one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make during my reign. I had to live with the knowledge that I was forsaking two people's happiness at the bidding of the Fates. It is one of the burdens of being a ruler in Megreria, enacting the wills of the Fates."
The King paused and I clutched Mum's hand. She squeezed my hand in return but her bearing remained proud. The Scholar Advisor couldn't stop glancing at Mum, just as the attention of the five younger men in the room often travelled from the King to me. The similarity between the way Mum and her Soul Match regarded each other matched the manner in which my men and I traded glances.
"Until recently, we were unaware why the Fates insisted on the union. The oldest, and only, son of that pairing was called upon this past week to serve as our youngest Soul Tender. The oldest daughter sits here with us. Gentlemen, this is Kiarra Walton and her mother, Matilda." The King managed to reduce the awkwardness of such an introduction. I acknowledged the nods of the Advisors, but couldn't do much else as the King continued speaking. "All of the Soul Tenders, the newest one included, have recently shared another vision. The vision references a prophecy forecasted a century ago. Until now, it has remained unheeded in the annals of our history.
"Our kingdom faces a threat from the neighboring kingdom of Acclesh. My son, the heir by birth, is not suitable to occupy the throne once my time is done. He doesn't have the compassion or the understanding to rule a kingdom."
A pregnant pause blanketed the room as the information was absorbed. The stories I heard of the Prince substantiated his words, but I imagine the King required strength and humility to admit his son was not fit to rule. I felt sorry for him in one breath and in the next I wondered if the Prince was aware of his father's decision. He didn't seem like a man who would take the change of plans well. The rumors mentioned he used his power to hurt others. Depriving him of that power would make him a powerful foe, creating another enemy of the crown.
The King stepped closer to me, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. I craned my neck upward, uncomfortable sitting while he towered over me. "The Soul Tenders' latest vision informs us that this special young woman has five Soul Matches, one from each House. They all sit within this room."
My breath caught, my heart beating harder. Dreamily imagining one thing, knowing it within my heart, and hearing the confirmation aloud was very different. My eyes flew to the men, my men. Their faces weren't shocked and I guessed they had been told before I entered. Reed and Seb were offering me small smiles, Clay continued to gaze upon me with adoration, and Mason and Ian both looked unfazed. How they had accepted the information so readily was beyond me. I couldn't wait to talk to each of them in person.
The King's voice softened as he delivered his next blow. "Not only does this special young woman have five matches, five other parts of her soul, who are to be the next generation's Advisory Council; but the Fates insist Kiarra Walton will be the next Queen of Megreria."
The room blurred, the words barely penetrating the haze they created. My eyes found the floor and couldn't move elsewhere. I struggled to breathe. The emotions from within and those transmitting from my men were so overpowering, I could barely form thought or any sort of reaction. I had never fainted in my life, but at that moment, I neared the darkness. The Soul Tenders were wrong. I was not fit to be Queen. I was a nobody who couldn't pass the kingdom's testing process. No House wanted me. How could I rule them all?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Seb
Nothing the King said surprised Seb. He would need time to adjust to the situation and better acquaint himself with the other men, but he didn't feel any animosity towards them. He imagined himself becoming friends with all of them. He'd never shared a woman before but he was pleased he wouldn't have to fight Reed for her affections. They had shared nearly everything all their lives. He wasn't surprised Kiarra had five suitors. She never did anything halfway from what he knew of her. Nothing could diminish the power of his attraction to her and he acknowledged he might do anything to keep her in his life. If that included sharing her, so be it.
As for the amazing news that she would rule Megreria, he smiled to himself. From the moment he'd seen her, he'd predicted she was destined for greatness. Kiarra, however, didn't appear to agree. Her face whitened to a deathly pallor, washing out the color the exquisite dress enhanced. He'd had a day to become accustomed to his new role and future as an Advisor, hers had just been thrust upon her.
Seb reflexively stood, wanting to catch her before she tumbled face first onto the floor, but she seemed to gather her wits before she fell. Her mother sat at
her side, equally flabbergasted, but retaining enough of her composure to bring Kiarra back from a pending fit. The other young men in the room made similar movements towards her and Seb imagined them all rushing her if she did indeed faint. They were more likely to knock each other out than catch her. The image amused him. The logistics of many things would need to be worked out, including some things he'd rather not think about at the moment.
"Queen?" Kiarra's voice squeaked adorably. Her mother recovered faster, still surprised but relieved. He'd seen that expression on Reed's face before, the satisfaction of solving a complicated equation. What didn't please Seb was the idea they faced possible war with another kingdom. If the King was using this as a ruse to save his son from a bloody battle, throwing them under the hooves of horses, so to speak, he would not be happy. From what he had heard of the King, however, he didn't believe that was the case. He was a straightforward man and mostly honorable, unlike other men in positions of power. Still, men and women acted differently when their offspring were involved.
"I apologize for springing this upon you, dear girl. We debated a long time over whether to tell you. Several of my Advisors argued against it, but I wanted to properly prepare you. Not only that, but your matches would have guessed or been told, and I didn't want to start your relationship with lies." The King appeared compassionate and sounded like he had their best interests at heart. He was still a healthy man, barely into his fourth decade. Hopefully, they had plenty of years to grow into their roles and their relationships. Seb could only pray the threat passed before Kiarra took the throne.
"I can't be Queen," Kiarra continued to protest. "I can't even pass a sorting exam."
Pieces of Her Soul: A Reverse Harem Fantasy (Soul Tenders Book 1) Page 20
