Daughter of the Diamond: Book IV of the Elementals Series

by Marisol Logan

  Andon scoffed at Strelzar's flippant, casual boast. “Is he always like this?”

  Veria, Turqa and Tanisca answered in exasperated unison: “Yes.”

  “Oh, spare me,” Strelzar sighed and dismissed their accordant statement with a wave of his hand. “I'm a genius and you know it. Now let's hurry up with my genius plan before that mule's ass who calls himself King gets wind of his child almost being born in one of his carriages.”

  Veria looked up at Andon, who met her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For being here.”

  “I'm glad I was here.”

  “He's going to be yours,” Veria said, a lump in her throat that it wasn't the complete truth, but knowing that wouldn't stop him from loving the baby exactly as his own. “You should name him.”

  Andon's face was consumed by emotion, and more tears rolled down his cheeks as a glow touched his eyes and an elated smile spread his lips. He reached out and caressed the baby's head gently in his hand, stroking his small, shiny forehead with his thumb that looked like a giant’s in comparison. The baby opened his eyes and looked right in Andon's direction, squirming a bit in Veria's arms, seeming to be searching for food which she offered, slipping her chemise out of the way of her breast and pulling his hungry mouth to it.

  Tanisca quietly explained the process she had used to place the deception on Irea to Strelzar and he listened and nodded intently as Turqa was pouring all of them glasses of meade. Tanisca downed hers nervously, and Strelzar set his down on a table after smelling it and apparently deciding it wasn't up to his tastes, Veria figured. Turqa came around to Andon and handed him a glass.

  “Congratulations,” he shrugged and clapped a firm hand on Andon's shoulder. “From no children to two in a matter of a few months,” he chuckled ironically, a slight grimace showing beneath his well trimmed white beard.

  “I absolutely could not be happier,” Andon smiled. “Not how I ever imagined things would go when I picked out my future son's name, but I wouldn't change it now that it's happened.”

  “When did you pick out a name?” Veria asked.

  “When I met you,” he murmured. Her heart leaped in her chest and filled with warm emotion.

  “What's the name?” she whispered.

  “Aleon,” Andon answered, running a finger down the baby's arm as he nursed quietly.

  “It's a wonderful name,” Turqa said softly, and Veria could tell he was touched by the exchange between her and Andon.

  “We are ready,” Strelzar announced, and Tanisca looked more confident, but still slightly unsure of herself.

  Turqa strode toward her and grabbed her hands, squeezing them affectionately before planting a gentle kiss on her cheek. Veria looked at Andon with raised eyebrows, an expression that mixed bemusement and shock taking over her tired face.

  “They have been like this all night,” he whispered with a conspiratory smirk.

  “Oh my,” Veria giggled.

  After months of feeling nothing but stress and fear and dread, Veria finally felt overwhelmingly happy. She was certain they weren't through it all yet, as Browan would arrive in a matter of hours. But with the people in this room at her side, she knew she could get through anything.

  -X-

  When Browan arrived the next morning, shortly after dawn, Andon had not left Veria and Aleon's side all night. Veria did manage to sleep a combined total of about two hours, during which Andon rocked Aleon in a rocking chair that Tanisca brought into the room from one of the guest rooms. He looked exhausted, and Veria was hoping to get the ordeal with Browan over with quickly so that maybe she could convince Andon to rest. Tanisca had already tried, bringing them both breakfast trays at sunrise and insisting she could hold Aleon so they could eat and rest, but Andon had joked that he knew better than to give a baby to its grandmother.

  “I may not get him back until he is three years of age,” he had grinned at Tanisca, who, unlike Veria and Andon, looked fully rested and well groomed, with perfect curls in her flame red hair, flawless makeup on her porcelain skin, and floating through the house in a gorgeous dress of golden silk.

  Now she stood in the room with them, with Turqa behind her, holding her supportively, as King Browan filed in with Pascha, Raken, and a third Elemental Guard member that Veria had never seen before, but she assumed was acting as the verifier. At the sight of Raken, Tanisca went visibly tense and her eyes filled with fear, and Turqa rubbed her shoulders comfortingly.

  “Veria,” Browan sighed once every one was in the room, “I apologize for my behavior last night. I never meant—”

  “Save it, Browan,” came Strelzar's voice as he sauntered into the room. “Of course you didn't mean to. But you did.”

  “How dare you address the King in such a manner!” Raken snapped.

  “Funny, Plazic, I don't remember giving you permission to take leave?” Browan sneered.

  “That's because I didn't ask, nor do I have to ask at any point in the future because I resign,” Strelzar said casually, sitting on Veria's dresser and crossing his arms.

  “Sounds like today is my lucky day, then,” Browan retorted.

  “I resign, as well,” Turqa said softly, “your Majesty.”

  Browan scowled, surveying the room. “Quite the ragtag band you've amassed, Veria,” he said with distaste, but Veria could tell there was something else there...jealousy. She stared at him with icy eyes. He knew perfectly well that the members of her 'ragtag' group that stood in the room were more formidable than the three Elemental Guards he had brought with him. Pascha and Raken were his two best, and Veria and Strelzar could overpower them in a second, not to mention that Turqa, Tanisca and Andon were all quite powerful, as well, and certainly all on the quick and intelligent side. Andon was likely the most limited, but Veria had no doubt that he could completely incapacitate a person with how strong his skill in natural state seemed to be.

  “Let's proceed, shall we?” Browan finally spoke, gesturing to the baby secure in Andon's arms. He reached for the bundle impatiently, but Andon didn't move a muscle.

  “He's asleep and comfortable,” Andon said, glaring at Browan. “No need to disturb him. They can perform the examen using me.”

  Browan's eyes went wide with anger. “Fine.”

  Pascha stepped closer to Andon and the baby, exposing Andon's forearm and Aleon's tiny belly and placing her hands on them. Then, to Veria's horror, Raken stepped in as well, wrapping his body completely around his wife's and placing his hands on top of hers.

  They were combining powers.

  Veria locked eyes with her mother's briefly, seeing her own panic in their emerald depths before she took a deep breath and composed herself. Veria looked to Strelzar as inconspicuously as she could manage, and if he were worried at all about Pascha and Raken combing their power, making them stronger, then it wasn't showing in his relaxed, casual body language. When he realized that Veria was looking his way, he flashed her a quick knowing grin and gave her a crisp, reassuring nod. Veria hoped he actually knew something she didn't, and wasn't just being prideful in his own skill level, as was usually the case with him.

  When they were done, Pascha and Raken removed their hands and stepped back from Andon, turning slowly to Browan.

  “Your Majesty,” Pascha said, “Ambassador Villicrey is the father of the child.”

  Raken nodded next to his wife, and Browan turned to the third Guard he had brought with him, who nodded as well.

  “Congratulations,” Browan snarled reluctantly at Andon before turning and storming out of the room. Raken and the Earth Mager followed him quickly, but Pascha turned back to Veria instead of joining the exiting train of people.

  “Congratulations, Veria, Ambassador,” she said, her voice warm and maternal. “He is a beautiful child.”

  She smiled and took one last look at Aleon, still snoozing in Andon's arms, before rushing to catch up to the others.

  Once the King and his Guard were all out of the house and the sound of hoof b
eats indicated the departure of their carriage, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Good riddance,” Strelzar grumbled. “I would be happy not to see him for quite some time. Ever again would be my preference.”

  “I concur,” Andon muttered. “Although, I am positive I won't be so lucky. I still work for the bastard.”

  “You should have resigned,” Strelzar joked. “You'd be in good company.”

  “I would, but I have a family to provide for,” Andon said, smiling at Veria. “And I don't trust him. One of us needs an excuse to keep an eye on him.”

  “That's what spies are for,” Strelzar said, rolling his eyes. “I think you just like your job.”

  Andon chuckled and nodded. “Yes, that too.”

  “I can't say I fault you there, though diplomacy has always sounded distastefully mundane to me.”

  “Without diplomacy, there would be a lot more war.”

  “I don't mind war. It's flashy and grand and there's fire.”

  “Of course you'd say that,” Andon sighed, giving Strelzar a knowing look. “People die, though.”

  “People always die,” Strelzar rebutted. “Even I will die. And I would be beyond pleased if it happened in a grandiose battle with a lot of flames and cannons and trees flying everywhere.”

  “Trees flying everywhere?” Andon asked, cocking his head.

  “Oh, yes,” Turqa laughed. “Veria has quite the penchant for uprooting entire forests and using them as weapons.”

  Veria blushed and smirked, dropping her chin in embarrassment.

  “This I would like to see,” Andon laughed.

  “It's rather annoying,” Tanisca said. “Impressive, but annoying. The view of Bermedge Forest from my window is permanently scarred from her abuse.”

  “Alright, enough making fun of me, and no more war and death talk,” Veria ordered. “I am starving and soon Aleon will be starving, and Andon needs rest, and Irea will be up soon—”

  “Don't worry about Irea,” Tanisca said. “We will leave you both to rest.”

  She and Turqa exited the room holding hands, a sight that Veria was still having trouble getting used to, and Strelzar followed them.

  “You know, I'm quite famished myself,” Veria heard him say once he was out in the hallway.

  Veria grabbed a pastry from the tray her mother had brought in earlier and nibbled at it, her eyes on Andon as she ate.

  “When he wakes up to nurse, you need to rest,” she ordered.

  “I'm fine,” he said, gently swaying side to side in his wide stance.

  “You'd be better if you slept,” she argued.

  “I will rest,” Andon replied. “But only because you want me to,” he added with a smile. “And you are right.”

  “I promise if we need anything, I will wake you,” Veria said.

  “Oh, you are a terrible liar, vina,” he smirked and shook his head at her, then turned his face to the baby. “Aleon, tum mera ne metrila malla.”

  Veria laughed with a mouth full of pastry and braiberries.

  She heard little footsteps in the hall, approaching the room, and within a matter of seconds, Irea burst through the door, her face alight at the sight of Andon. Veria felt the familiar sting of tears in her eyes, seeing how much Irea had grown, suddenly hating herself for ever choosing anything other than her beautiful daughter.

  Andon dropped to one knee in front of her. “Want to see your baby brother?”

  Irea peered into the blanket bundle and her eyes went wide. “Baba?”

  “Yes,” Andon nodded with a wide smile. “Baby. Aleon.”

  Irea reached for her brother to hold him and Andon chuckled softly.

  “Not yet, sweetheart,” he murmured. “You can hold him when he's a bit bigger. When you're both a bit bigger.”

  Her pink lips pulled down at the corners into the most adorable pout Veria had ever seen.

  “Go get your baby doll and you can hold a baby, too,” Andon instructed, and Irea toddled off immediately, returning a minute later with a hand-sewn baby doll in a pink linen dress.

  She walked to the bed and waved the baby doll up toward Veria's face.

  “Doll,” she said clearly as she handed it to Veria.

  “Oh, this is a beautiful doll, sweetheart,” Veria said. “Who gave it to you?”

  She pointed to Andon, and uttered another clear word. “Dada.”

  “That was so nice of Dada,” Veria murmured, handing the baby doll back to Irea, who cradled it in her arms just like Andon did with the real baby.

  “I made it when I got back from Jorriza,” he said.

  “You made that doll?” Veria uttered in shock.

  “Yes,” Andon laughed, holding his fingers to his lips to indicate she should keep her volume down.

  “I didn't know you could sew.”

  “Of course I can sew, Veria. My mother was a seamstress, remember? I made Irea the nightgown she is wearing, too.”

  “Have you done nothing but shower your daughter with hand-sewn gifts since I rescued you from the jungle?” Veria joked.

  “That sounds about right,” Andon said softly. “Not just our daughter, though. There are other recipients of my handy work. This blanket for the baby. There's a dressing robe for you in the wardrobe, as well. Tal'lean silk. And definitely not red,” he added with a wink.

  “Oooh,” Veria squealed with delight. “Let me guess...purple?”

  “A lucky guess,” he grinned.

  Irea flopped to the floor and clutched at her tummy. “Tani!” she called out in her cute, high-pitched voice.

  “Is she alright?” Veria asked in concern. “If she's sick she'll have to stay away from Aleon,” she added, panic creeping into her voice.

  Andon laughed heartily. “She's not sick, she's hungry, and she's calling for her hand maiden—Grandma Tanisca.”

  “Tani!” Irea yelled again, this time loud enough to wake the baby, who squirmed and grunted in Andon's arms.

  “There you are,” Tanisca said, rushing into the room and scooping up her granddaughter. “I turn around for a minute to take Strelzar a breakfast tray, and this little weasel scurries away from me!”

  Aleon's grunts turned into more insistent wails, and Tanisca rushed Irea out of the room for breakfast as Andon handed the baby to Veria to nurse. Once Aleon was securely in her arms, and she had offered him her breast, Andon walked around to the open side of the bed and sprawled out on it, closing his eyes.

  He fell asleep within a minute, and started to snore loudly next to Veria, which made her grin and chuckle to herself. Andon slept the entire time she nursed, which felt like at least half an hour, if not more, and she managed to stand up and walk Aleon to the bassinet and lay him in it without waking him. The few steps were painful, but it also felt nice to move around after laying in the bed for hours.

  Andon would probably be angry if she went outside the room without his help, and her legs felt shaky in her aching hips, so she decided against attempting the stairs today. She did want to change though, as she had bled a bit in the undergarments and nightgown Andon had helped her into the night before. As quietly as she could, so as not to wake either of her sleeping boys, she tiptoed to the wardrobe and opened it, pulling out a fresh nightgown and the silk dressing robe Andon had made for her.

  It was stunning, rivaling all of her mother's silk robes which had been commissioned by the best seamstress in Northern Londess. The amethyst silk was trimmed with violet lace, stitched so perfectly that the stitch-work was practically invisible. Veria pulled undergarments from her dresser drawer, then went about the task of changing her clothes, which was quite the effort with her depleted muscles, many of which felt like they'd been torn to pieces. With a firm grip on the dresser to steady herself, she managed though, and quietly slid back into bed next Andon.

  She frowned as she bumped his leg, and he opened his eyes.

  “I'm sorry,” she whispered. “I was trying not to wake you.”

 
“Where's Aleon?” he muttered into his pillow.

  “In the bassinet, sleeping with a full belly,” Veria replied, keeping her voice as quiet as possible.

  “The bassinet? Is this his first time in it?” Andon laughed softly.

  “Yes, his father has spoiled him by holding him constantly,” she teased him with a smirk, laying on her side to face him.

  They looked into each other's eyes for several moments in contented silence, before Andon finally spoke. “I want to stay.”

  “You are welcome to stay,” Veria whispered. “I want you to stay, too.”

  “How long?” he murmured.

  “As long as you want.”

  “I want forever.”

  Veria's heart danced inside her, and warmth trickled across her chest. A lump of emotion filled her throat and she struggled to speak through it without crying. “I want that, too.”

  Andon reached out and brushed his fingers across her jaw, then sighed a deep sigh as he rested his hand on her neck. “I will have to talk to Emmandia,” he said softly, his voice tinged with pain.

  Veria inhaled sharply and pulled her hand to her lips. She had completely forgotten about Emmandia. How selfish was she? she berated herself silently. Asking Andon to claim her baby as his when he was engaged to another woman!

  “I forgot about Emmandia,” Veria admitted in a self-conscious whisper.

  “Honestly, Veria,” Andon sighed, “so did I. And it's not the first time. All I thought about the entire time I was studying in Esperan, and then the entire time I was being held hostage by the Separatists, was you. I thought about the amazing weeks we had together in Barril. I thought about you, about us, so much, that when I finally did arrive home, it was strange to see her waiting for my return with my father, instead of you.”

  “Did you tell her about Irea already?” Veria asked.

  He nodded. “She was not pleased, but she was supportive. She's too proper to argue or make a fuss. She was worried that having a child together would give us more time in each other's company, and you would draw me back into your man-hungry clutches,” he grinned wickedly. “Her second cousin, Lady Ambra, told her quite a few stories about how you tried to seduce Rames before they were engaged, so she's been worried about you for awhile.”