Wind and Fire

by T. J. Michaels

  “This is our new home, Rhia,” RuArk said proudly, holding Rhia about the waist as he pointed to the top of the hill. She was floored. It was a four story, pure white, sprawling, bloody palatial, villa!

  Hand in hand, they walked up a stone-inlaid path to the main steps. She stood at the bottom of those wide stairs and admired the beautiful latticed gallery that spanned the entire length of the front of the villa.

  Her eyes glowed with appreciation of the small details that added to the opulence of the place. Stone terraces and balconies were bordered with lifelike carvings of vines that twisted and twined up tall columns.

  RuArk took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. He looked deeply into her eyes and rocked her world.

  “Rhia, this house is your joining gift from me. I’ve had the deeds all prepared.”

  “What?” She snatched her hand away, took a step back. Emotions spun wildly out of her control. How could he do this to her? Oh, that’s right, she was simply a means to an end. Fist planted in the side of her hip, she took a single step forward.

  “Rhia did you hear me? I said, this house is...”

  “I heard what you said. How can you give me this place? My father gave you this house. No, wait, this entire blasted township just to get you to marry me. How could you throw that in my face?”

  RuArk said nothing. His warriors took one look at his face, and left to find their own lodgings. His expression was cool granite, impassive and hard. And she didn’t give a blasted damn.

  Rhia gestured toward the villa. “Thanks for being an insensitive thoughtless jerk. What do you even call it when someone gives you a gift, and you give it right back to the person, or daughter of the person who bribed you with it?”

  Rhia gasped when her chest was suddenly against his.

  When her gaze clashed with the hard glint of his eyes, her mouth snapped closed all on its own. No one interfered with the dress-down of a Blademaster. Correction, no one interfered with a Blademaster... except this warrior.

  RuArk stood quietly, and looked down at her. The only dead giveaway to the extent of his anger was the large vein pulsing furiously in his neck.

  He spoke slowly, voice low, controlled and as icy as a midwinter wind. She winced, wishing he’d just yell at her instead. She could handle his passion better than cool disdain.

  Barely a growl, each word bitten off at the end. “In private, say whatever you wish. But you will not carry on in front of my men. Our men.” He gave her a moment to respond. She said nothing. “You. Will. Not. Disrespect. Me.” He gently released her and took a step back. “I vowed to protect you, and to care for you, and so I shall. Now, the Head Houseman will take you to our rooms and offer whatever assistance you need.”

  He dropped her gear bag at her feet, turned on his heel and stalked back down the hill. She was instantly contrite and annoyed with herself. Even though she was still pissed at the whole “sold into matehood” thing, it didn’t change the fact that as a Blademaster of high ranking with the Society of War, she knew how important it was that a leader maintain the respect of his men. She would have skinned anyone who’d dressed her down in front of her soldiers in the High City.

  Even as annoyed as she was, she couldn’t help but notice the play of muscle in his strong thighs visible through his trousers as he walked. The man moved with the grace of a feline and even pissed off, he was magnificently gorgeous. Too bad she hadn’t noticed about five minutes ago.

  Rhia called after him. No response. No look back.

  Damn, her first day in their new home and she’d blown it already.

  Way to go, Rhia. Way to go.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  With a weary sigh, Rhia hefted the bag over her shoulder and walked up the steps to the double doors. A short, stout man dressed in typical Draeman trousers and a short jacket appeared.

  “Good morning, First Heir. I’m Lunis, Society of Hospitality and steward of the estate. Please leave your gear. I’ll send someone to get it. Now, if you would come with me?”

  Lunis was friendly and polite. He offered to take her directly to apartments she would share with RuArk, but Rhia opted for a tour of her new home, instead. As they walked, he explained how the estate and its grounds covered several acres of fertile land. The villa’s stables alone housed twenty mounts. There was an armory and barracks, gardens, groves, a stocked lake, several storehouses and such. A low wall surrounded the entire grounds of their private home. The rest of the township was just outside the low gates, which usually remained open.

  As she walked beside the Houseman, exploring the rooms along the wide hallways, Rhia marveled at the finely carved marble, stone and tile. Each room, each piece of furniture, even the colors, were to her liking. And the entire place was hers—every piece of thick carpet, every mirror, everything. She was both elated and disappointed.

  On the way to the dining hall, she passed a Gaian warrior in buckskin tunic and leathers accompanied a Draeman soldier in uniform. Side by side, the two men carried large bundles of sparkling white linens and disappeared into the kitchens as Lunis steered her into what he called the great hall.

  Rhia took in a sharp breath. Now she was really impressed. It was something out of one of the history books for sure. The room was huge, dominated by a gigantic fireplace and filled with large round glass-topped tables. A long, half-moon shaped affair served as the head table. Much to her liking, it wasn’t elevated above the others.

  The floor was covered with icy white marbled tiles, and the walls were smooth semi-transparent stone. A polished gilt framed mirror took up one whole wall, and made the space appear twice its size. The gleaming piece could only be described as exquisite.

  A soldier came into the great hall, and placed a frosted glass vase in the center of each table. A warrior watered the large potted trees growing in the corners of the room. What the hell was going on here?

  “Lunis, why aren’t there any women in the villa? I haven’t seen a female since we entered the place and we’ve been walking around for a good hour now.”

  “We received specific instructions that every person with duties inside the estate grounds must be a fighter. Basically, everyone who serves here is a soldier of Draema or a warrior of Gaia. He wanted to be sure you were protected.”

  “Smothered is more like it,” Rhia grumbled under her breath while running a finger over the fine details of the mirror’s frame. She was immediately contrite. Her fingerprints remained behind, smeared across the glass.

  Changing the subject, she said, “It’s hard to fathom those huge Gaian setting tables, washing linens and cooking the meals.”

  “Isn’t it the same in the High City and every other colony of Draema?” Lunis asked.

  Rhia cocked her head in thought as she used a corner of her shirt to wipe at the smudges she’d left on the mirror. Now there was more dirt on the mirror from her travel stained clothes than from her fingerprints.

  “Our province,” Lunis continued, “especially in the High City, has male and female soldiers, housemen and horse breeders, right? Sex has never been an issue in regard to one’s profession. That hasn’t changed under the new steward. After all, this is still Draema.”

  The man had a good point. She decided to drop it. Sort of.

  “So, if everyone who works on the estate is male, what do the women do? Are there any female soldiers?”

  “The Society of Bankers, Science and Technologies and Farriers have full branches here and are run by women. Actually, the women pretty much run everything, if we men are honest.” Lunis chuckled. “You’ll see when you go into town. As for the Society of War, there is no branch way out here though we do have a few soldiers assigned to this place. None female, though. Anyway, they report back to the nearest branch clear on the other side of Neine. Well, they used to, anyway, but The Protector has...”

  “The Protector?”

  “The Protector of the Realm. It’s a Gaian designation for Mr. Miwatani, but it’s still his
job even if he lives here now. Plus, it sounds all ominous and important, so many of us use that title for your new husband.”

  Rhia quirked a brow, but didn’t interrupt.

  “Anyway,” Lunis continued, “not all of the soldiers work here on the grounds. Some are training on both the inner and outer walls with the new arrivals. There are also plenty of other Societies, shops and businesses to be run.”

  “What do you mean by new arrivals, exactly?”

  “Under orders of The Protector, dozens of warriors showed up weeks ago to help us with security around the town and to get the villa and stables ready for you.”

  That would have been right after the ceremony in her father’s study. Wow.

  “I think that many of the men who crossed the river to help us now plan on staying. This house was once used by our Councilman who sits on the Council of Seven whenever he visited. He unfortunately doesn’t make it out here too often.”

  So, the warriors she’d seen on the wall were going to be a permanent attraction? RuArk’s people had always held to themselves since the Breaking. Yet it made sense if he was to be responsible for both Gaian and Draeman holdings, that he welcomed both cultures. Rhia had no doubt he would keep to his old ways while accepting that others might not. If anyone could integrate the two societies, it was RuArk Miwatani.

  The same guy you called an insensitive jerk? Yeah, that guy.

  Rhia wore poor Lunis out, roaming up and down all four floors. Two and a half hours had passed before she realized the only rooms she hadn’t seen were her own.

  She opened the heavy doors, stepped inside, and stood frozen to the spot in a breathless stupor. It was beautiful.

  The gasp of pleasure faded to a tired sigh. Locating her gear bag just to the right of the threshold, Rhia sat down on the floor next to it and brooded. She’d embarrassed RuArk and herself twice today. It was completely out of character for her to be so undisciplined. Even when she and her father disagreed, it was never done in public. Would she ever be able to control her temper around RuArk?

  Restless and angry with herself, she got up from the floor and wandered around her new apartment. There were four large, spotless and finely appointed rooms, all done in her favorite shades of gray and peach; a large living room centered by a huge fireplace, a study complete with a big marble topped desk, a spacious master bedroom with the largest platform bed she’d ever seen positioned right in the middle, and a bathing room fit for a queen.

  All of the rooms had plush, thick carpets and large floor to ceiling windows that led out to terraces. Strategically, it was brilliant because she could reach any room in the apartment from the terrace.

  Finally, she made it into the bathroom and felt like even more of a jerk. In the center of the floor was a deep bathing pool sunken into a gray and silver platform. There was a sitting table with mirrors as well as a soft, plush daybed near a bay window where she could recline after a good soak.

  To her delight, the tub had already been filled with steaming hot water and some kind of oil that smelled faintly like her own favorite scent—cinnamon. Perfect. A hot relaxing bath was just what she needed. It wouldn’t undo her blunder, but it would sure feel good. Then she’d find RuArk and apologize for her less than heir-like behavior. Sorry wasn’t something she had to say often, but she certainly wasn’t too proud to do so. Any good leader could admit when he was wrong. Didn’t mean she had to like it.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  “Come on now, out of the tub.”

  Startled out of a deep doze, Rhia cracked an eye open and gazed groggily up at the owner of a gentle, soothing voice and met a pair of stormy, gray eyes framed by long, black lashes.

  In front of her stood a woman who looked so much like RuArk, Rhia blinked a couple of times just to make sure her vision was clear. But where RuArk’s skin was deeply tanned, hers was almost creamy with a hint of a warm blush. The woman was older and wore a jade green sarand interwoven with silken, silver thread.

  Both she and her outfit were splendidly beautiful. Finely arched black brows were set over high honeyed cheekbones. And her hair was to die for. It hung gloriously dark, bone straight, and past her hips to brush against her thighs, covering her body in a veil of secrets.

  “Good afternoon, Rhia.”

  “Hello.” It was then Rhia realized she hadn’t been breathing. The woman’s beauty and quiet air of authority made Rhia feel like a little kid in her presence. Strangely, a very comfortable kid.

  The woman smiled sweetly, held up a towel and motioned her out of the tub to the window seat. Heat infused her chilled skin through the window courtesy of a bright yellow sun. A sigh slipped past her lips as the woman vigorously rubbed her head with a scented towel, then took on the duty of taming the tangled mass on Rhia’s head that was supposed to be hair.

  “Good morning. You may call me Mila.”

  “Thank you. It’s so very nice to meet you. I remember hearing your name often when I was little. You must be RuArk’s mother.”

  She smiled down at Rhia as she worked a brush through the tangles and said, “RuArk? Sometimes I forget he has a Draeman name. But yes, I am mother to the Wind Storm, and queen of Gaia. I am so looking forward to getting to know you. Most of our people have dark, straight hair, but yours is wavy, just a shade lighter and alive with little flames of red. The curl comes from your father, I am sure, but your beauty is your mother’s. By the spirits, you look so much like her.”

  The shock that this woman had known her mother was followed by the realization that she shouldn’t be surprised at all. Mila had never travelled with RuArk and his father to visit Draema when she was a child, but that didn’t change the fact that Rhia’s mother had come from the same land.

  It would have been stranger if they hadn’t known each other. A wash of melancholy flowed through her. After all, she’d begun a new life, had a mate now, yet here she sat, sharing the moment with someone else’s mother while hers was gone forever.

  She forced away the sorrowful grip that tightened her throat.

  Instead of tears, think of something positive, Ree.

  Be grateful, her father had always told her. Good time to remember it.

  Mila herded her toward the bedroom.

  “Your mate has left a Joining gift for you.”

  Rhia wasn’t sure she could take another gift. The last one had seen her yelling at her husband before she could even get into their new home.

  Arranged on the silken, gray covers of the bed, lay a cream-white sarand. She’d never seen an outfit quite like it, and in such a beautiful color.

  Rhia marveled at the sheer number of little blue beads in various shades sewn in intricate patterns over the top, along the yoke, sleeves and hem. Mila helped her slip into the sarand. The bodice revealed a hint of her smooth belly, and the bottom was slit up the sides and fell in a wisp of luxury against her legs. Her skin peeped with each step as the weight of the beads caused the fabric to swirl around her limbs just a bit when she walked.

  White, soft leather moccs were decorated with the same blue beadwork and fit her feet like they’d been made just for her. A choker, earrings, and silver combs, all embedded with rare blue lapis stone, completed the ensemble. It was the most stunning set of clothes Rhia had ever laid eyes on that wasn’t in a history book. It was Gaian, through and through.

  The queen settled Rhia on the platform steps of the huge bed and secured the sides of her hair with the silver combs. The weight and coolness of the jewels against her skin were such a delight all she could do was touch them, smile and touch them some more.

  “It’s so beautiful.”

  “Yes, it is beautiful regalia. I wore this very same dress when I joined my life to the king. And you will wear it today for your own joining ceremony.”

  In front of a full-length mirror, Rhia’s mouth dropped open. Blazes, she’d never felt so feminine in her life. It was strange. Not unwelcome, or odd, just different. Warm. It was all so lovely, given to her as a gift by
someone who had no motive. Given because she wished to, and not because she wanted or needed something.

  When Mila nodded her approval, Rhia beamed.

  “Are you ready to go, Rhia?”

  Wait. “Go? Go where? To do what?”

  Another surprise? She certainly hoped not.

  Mila’s smile calmed Rhia, like a balm of soothing oil over her frazzled mind. She liked her new mother-in-law and paid close attention as the queen explained.

  “I mentioned a joining ceremony, remember? A traditional Gaian joining occurs when a warrior takes a lifemate by giving his vow to protect her.”

  Rhia thought back to that day in her father’s study. RuArk had indeed pledged his protection, and his life, to her. Their days and nights together, getting to know him, learning who he was as a person had been... enlightening. One thing was for sure—he took his responsibilities seriously.

  “Since you could not have the ceremony you wished for in your father’s study, my son sent word for us to prepare a traditional joining ceremony for you here in Province Springs.”

  When the hell had he done that?

  “But I don’t know much about Gaian culture. Who should I expect to see at the ceremony? What am I supposed to do?” Her heart lodged in her throat at the thought of being pushed onto a stage where she didn’t know her lines.

  “Do not fret, Rhia. The king and I, with our People, came up from the harbor not long before you arrived early this morning. Our family, now your family, has come to celebrate with you both, to support you, not to have you anxious.”

  Rhia’s mouth dropped open. The king and queen of Gaia had come to Province Springs just because RuArk told them she wanted a wedding? And the queen had brushed out her hair and helped her get dressed? It was extremely humbling.

  “The Wind Storm is our son, but you are also very special to be chosen as his woman. We feared he would never take a mate.”

  Yeah, right. I’m so special my father conspired with that big guy you call ‘son’ and bribed him to marry me. And I pissed him off within ten minutes of being here.