He cared. And she knew he cared for her. “He’s not my Rajni, Auri. I never contemplated life with someone other than Iavius.”
Aureliana stared at her for a moment. “Iavius would not have wanted you to be alone forever. He’d want you to find someone to be happy with. He would want you happy. And you haven’t been.”
“Life is a long time to be with someone other than a Rajni, Auri.”
Aureliana sighed before settling back into the pillows. “Life is a long time to spend alone. I have done it for over four hundred years. Wake up, Kin. Take your chance when you can.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rathan rammed the sword into his brother’s side. “I have taken you, brother. Yield.”
Ren countered with a ham-handed blow to Rathan’s abdomen. “Never. The fight ends when you are down.”
“Then we will be here for more hours than I care to spend. I wish to spend the evening with my female, not bludgeoning you until you turn blue.”
“I can turn blue any time I wish.” Ren demonstrated, his skin going cold blue in an instant. “Just bow down to superior fighting skills, and go get your consolation kisses.”
Rathan snorted. He had seen his brother turn his skin various colors like the Gaian chameleon many times before. It was a trait many warriors possessed, and one Ren was good at exploiting. “And if I do? What will you gain?”
“Cerridwen.”
“Your daughter is more than fine. She’s having a grand adventure, kidnapped and kept in a castle.”
“Complete with a daddy prince on his way to rescue her.” Ren lashed out with a long leg and Rathan avoided. “Which I should be getting to. Had you had anything to do with it, I would be wiping the floor with your blood.”
“I did not take the wee Cerri. And had I known my court was as filled with traitors as it is, I would have seen to it she was taken to Gaia and kept far from this place. You know that, right?” And Rathan would have. The five-year-old was as dear to him as Danae. He may not have been in his realm often during the child’s lifetime, but he would make a point of visiting his kingdom for an afternoon or two each month. “I would not risk her life for anything. Her or Danae.”
“You suspect Agmendias.” Renakletos’s tone said he held no surprise. “I have for a long time. And he was particularly close to our father, if you remember.”
Rathan lowered his sword. “Are you implying Agmendias holds responsibility for Galveston? For Father?”
“Someone does. I know you think it was me.” Ren gave one more good blow to Rathan’s arm before he too lowered his sword. “I’ve made my peace with that. Decades ago. Had I been in your position, I may have seen it the same way. But I knew it was not me…therefore it must have been someone else close enough to Father to have had access.”
“And you’ve spent the last century proving that.” Rathan felt shame hit him. It was not his brother, and he should not have doubted him. But all the evidence he had collected in over a hundred years had said otherwise. “In one hundred years, I have found nothing to implicate Agmendias.”
“Yet you have found much to convict me in that same time.” Ren’s eyes flashed with warrior pride, anger, and to Rathan’s shame, hurt. “And have not confronted me with it. Just assumed I was out to displace you. Take from you what is yours by right of birth.”
“I am ashamed, brother.”
“What you do not seem to realize, is that I have never wanted what you have had. I am more warrior than diplomat. I would never be king, and I do not want it.” Renakletos’s voice rose and he dropped the sword he held. “I do not want what is yours!”
Rathan let his brother strike him. He deserved it. He grappled with his brother until they were fighting hand to hand over the thin mat. “Do you think I wanted to think it was you? I bled over it. Grieved both my father and my brother for decades. And then I just accepted it and did my best to give my people the time they needed to accept me as their new ruler.”
“From Gaia? A completely different realm? How did that benefit Relaklonos?” Ren snorted as he attempted to pin Rathan to the mat. “Admit it, you could not face me thinking as you did. Do.”
“Did. And that was not true. I ruled this realm from Gaia. I saw to it that my peoples’ needs were met through Phelius and Danae.”
“While you searched for proof of my treachery! How was that being a good king?”
“While I searched for proof of your innocence! That may not have been being a good king, but being a good brother was more important to me! Do you not understand? What proof I found only convinced me of your guilt! Had I returned to Relaklonos, I would have had no choice but to arrest you for treachery! To watch you hang! I would not do that for all of the realm!”
Both men stopped. Stared at one another. Finally, Ren spoke. “Someone has made it look like I betrayed and killed our own father. Someone manipulated us both. Why?”
“Because after one hundred and ten years of my inattention, they could stage a political coup. If they could support their claims. Manufacture enough proof.”
“So they needed to keep the two of us distracted for ten more months, until the one hundred tenth anniversary of Father’s death. Then they could convene a Council of Realms and displace you from the throne.” Ren echoed the thoughts running through Rathan’s head. “Yet you chose now to return, and will be convening your own council within the week. You have a mate and a spawn on the way.”
“Making me and mine a great threat to whoever hatched this.” Rathan’s thoughts flashed to the people he loved the most—Kindara and the spawn, Danae, Renakletos and Cerridwen. Kindara and the spawn were safe in the northern wing of the castle. As was Cerridwen and her nurse. Danae…he had yet to hear from his sister.
“We need to be taking as many precautions as possible. I have sent Phelius to Lothicano to fetch Danae and the young healer Bronwen back. Yet other than Phelius, I am not sure of any of the Council’s loyalty.”
“So we know not who we can trust within our own home.” Ren’s voice was lowered as he leaned over to assist Rathan to his feet. “It is not safe here. Especially for them.”
Rathan nodded, mind running over the available options. Had it just been him and Ren his choices would be different. But they had a child, a wounded woman, and a pregnant one within their keeping that had to be kept safe at all costs. “We need to get the Dardaptoans out of the realm and to safety. Cerridwen, too. I can contact Phelius and have him bring the girl healer and Danae to Gaia. My woman’s brother is a real mean bastard, a Predatoi of disgustingly great skill. He will keep them safe.”
Ren paused as he started to slide his sword into the sheath his father had gifted him with on his one hundred year birthday. “You’re asking me to send my only spawn to a demon killer for safekeeping, brother. It is an enormous thing you ask.”
“I would send him mine. For now, his keeping is safer than mine own.”
****
Kindara read the medical tome Phelius had told her beginning healers in Relaklonos were required to memorize. It was full of physiological data on all of the 3000 or so types of beings found in Relaklonos. It was fascinating to read of the differences between the disparate beings. They had so much more than the dozen or so Kinds that populated her world. Gaia. Named so millions of years ago, after the large supercontinent that had broken into pieces to form the only world Kindara remembered. She started to say something to Auri, but when she glanced up, Auri was sleeping so soundly she hated to disturb her.
The sound of the door opening had Kindara looking in that direction.
A small girl of less than five years stood in the door.
Kindara smiled. The child had tiny silver horns upon her head, and blue-black hair. She looked much like Rathan. “Hello. Can I help you?”
“I wanted to see the warrior lady.” The little girl closed the door behind herself, then approached the bed. “I am a warrior, you know.”
“Are you now?” Kindara was surprised whe
n the child climbed onto the bed and sat staring down at Aureliana. “So is she.”
“I heard everyone saying my daddy hurt her.” Sad red eyes looked at Kindara. “I don’t think my daddy would do that. He’s a good prince.”
“I think it was an accident. What is your name?”
“I’m Cerridwen Analia Deni Malickus. The princess.” Pride was clear in the little girl voice. “My uncle is the king and my daddy is the prince.”
“I’m Kindara. I’m a healer from Gaia. This is my best friend Auri.”
The little girl touched a strand of dark chestnut hair where it curled on Auri’s pillow with an almost reverent hand. “I think my daddy is sorry.”
Auri’s eyes opened and she tried to rise. She looked at Kindara. “Kinney?”
“Meet Cerridwen; Renakletos’s daughter, I presume. She wants to apologize for her father.”
“Really, now? Hello, Cerridwen. I’m Auri. How old are you?”
“Five.” She held up three fingers proudly. “Daddy says I’m a big strong warrior princess. I’ve been kidnapped, you know.”
“Really? I was kidnapped, too.” Kindara was charmed and confused. A kidnapped child? Renakletos’s missing daughter, certainly.
“Did your daddy prince come rescue you, too? Did Uncle Rathan take you like he did me?”
“Uncle Rathan did kidnap me. But then he took me home.”
“Uncle Rathan had cousin Phelius take me to keep me safe. Then we waited for Daddy to come save me. He’s good at being a saving daddy prince.” The child leaned over to stare at Auri less than five inches from the woman’s face. She tilted her head from side to side as she studied Auri. “You don’t look like a warrior lady. They’re kind of ugly. You’re pretty. More like a princess. Maybe daddy should save you, too.”
“I think I’ll pass on that, peanuts. I prefer to save myself in most situations.” Auri crossed her eyes to make the child laugh. “Does your daddy have to save you a lot?”
“No. Just this time. Cousin Phelius said that people are trying to take the crayon from Uncle Rathan. Said they think having me can help them do that. I told Cousin Phelius that I have lots of crayons and we could share. Uncle Rathan brought them from Gaia. I don’t think Cousin Phelius understood what I was saying.” She pouted for a moment, before sinking her little hands into the curls spread over the pillow. “Your hair’s soft and pretty. You’re pretty.”
Auri touched the girl’s long black hair. “So is yours. Where is your mommy, Cerridwen?”
“I don’t think I have one anymore. Daddy said to Cousin Phelius once that my mommy was wordless as a mother.” She shrugged. “But I have my daddy and he loves me lots and lots.”
“So why did you come visit me and Auri today, Princess Cerridwen?” Kindara asked, smiling at the tiny girl.
“Daddy still has to come to the tower to rescue me. He hasn’t done that yet. I saw him with Uncle Rathan. They were fighting like this.” She mimed swordplay. “They were talking, too. I don’t like watching swords or fights, so I came to the tower. Daddy will come find me and I won’t be kidnapped no more. Are you still kidnapped?”
“No. We came here so Uncle Rathan could help us find medicines for our people.”
“So no hansim prince saved you?” the little girl frowned. “That’s so sad. I’ll tell Daddy he can rescue you, too.”
“That’s not necessary, baby.” Auri sat up, though it was obviously difficult for her. She began braiding the girl’s hair. The child let her and Kindara smiled inwardly. Auri had a definite soft side—she used to spend the evenings with Kindara and Jierra, braiding hair and polishing nails. Girl things that Auri had little opportunity to experience as the youngest child of sixteen brothers.
Kindara was about ready to caution her friend when a shout sounded outside the hall. The room began to shake. Paintings fell from the wall and crashed to the floor.
Kindara jerked to her feet. “Auri?”
“I don’t know, Kin. Cerridwen?” Auri’s words were tight. She clutched the child as close to her chest as she could, using the arm opposite of her injury to shield the child’s head and chest area. “Do you know what that is?”
“No…I want my daddy.” The girl popped her thumb in her mouth as she cuddled close to Auri. “I’m scared.”
The walls shook again. Tile displaced from the ceiling and fell to the floor, narrowly missing Kindara. She took the child from Auri. “Come. We can’t stay here. We’re going to find your father and uncle. Auri, goddess knows I don’t think you should be moving around, but we can’t stay here.”
The other woman was already struggling to her feet. “Let’s move. You got her?”
“I’ve got her. Tell me if you need to stop for a moment.”
“I’ll manage. Let’s get her out of here before the damned walls come tumbling down.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Rathan recognized the sound of an antiquated canon being fired the moment the first ball hit. He ran, his brother on his heels.
Kindara. Where was his woman? He flashed to her side, as the tell-tale pop that signaled his brother’s flashing out sounded behind him. He knew Ren would be finding Cerridwen and getting her to safety.
He repopulated in the back hall of the west wing of his ancestral home. His brother was half a second behind him, his larger body taking longer to repopulate. Kindara carried young Cerridwen clutched in her arms and had her healer’s bag upon her back, as she helped the warrior woman limp down the hall.
“Take them.” Rathan pulled his woman close to him as the walls around them shook. Someone was aiming all their arsenal toward the west corridor. Toward his woman and spawn. “Take them to Gaia. To her brother. Keep them there and safe!”
“I fight with you!” Ren had his sword drawn, his face angry and fierce.
“You protect them! They’re my life, brother! Go!” Rathan pulled the warrior woman up into his arms and shoved her toward his brother. “Pet, tell your brother and your king the threat is to you and the spawn! You must be kept safe until I come for you myself. No one else! My brother will stand in my stead until I come for you!”
****
Kindara stared at him for a moment, her arms clutched tight around the demon child. Fear was clear on his face, fear and determination. “But…I can’t leave. Bron and Belnus…”
“I will find them and send them and Danae to you as soon as I can. But you must go!” His eyes were wild as he opened the portal back to Colorado.
“What is it?”
“Canons, most likely. Laced with warlock magics.” Renakletos held Auri close, tucking her head under his chin as the walls continued to shake. “This wing is the weakest. It will not be able to sustain much more damage before it collapses from the force of the canons. Add in whatever dirty spells the warlocks have created, we do not have much time!”
“But why?” Auri demanded, her words muffled into the large warrior demon chest where he refused to let her raise her head.
“They want Kindara and Cerridwen.” Rathan waved his hands, parting the ether to reveal the inner gardens of Kindara’s home. Several shadows were present moving behind the ether, but she could not make out their features. “As my heirs, they are the main threat to Agmendias.”
Kindara’s hands tightened around Cerridwen and she said a quick prayer to the goddess that she would be able to keep her babe safe. “What are you going to do?”
“Defend my damned castle and rip Agmendias and his men into shreds. Ren, take them to her brother or a man named Rand Taniss. The wolf will keep them as safe as I would, and he owes me a blood debt. Above all, keep them safe! Now, go! Go!”
He reached out and lifted Kindara off her feet. He set her through the ether and into her world. She sat the child down and turned back to the portal as Ren carried Auri through. Rathan was just visible inside the ether. His world shook around him. The wall behind him began to crumble.
Kindara’s chest seized. “Demon!”
She sta
rted back toward him.
He cursed, began waving his hands together to close the portal. Kindara dove toward it, toward him.
Hands stopped her. Held her back. Strong hands she couldn’t resist. The ether closed around the demon, cutting her off from him.
He was gone.
“No!”
The hands holding her pulled her tight to a strong male chest. Kindara looked up into the face of her brother. “Cormac. You have to help him. You!” She pointed at Rathan’s brother. “Go help him. Go back!”
“I follow my king’s orders, though I do not like them.” Renakletos still held Auri against his chest, glaring at the males surrounding them. “He said stay with you and keep you safe. That is what I will do.”
Aodhan tried to take his sister from the larger warrior. “Give her to me, demon.”
“State your claim.” Renakletos pulled her away. His daughter wrapped her tiny arms around his thigh and held on as she stared at the half dozen strange men surrounding her.
“That’s my sister you’re holding so tightly she cannot breathe.”
“Put me down. I can walk.” Aureliana squirmed in the warrior demon’s arms. “Kindara, are you ok?”
“I…we…need to go back. Help him.”
“My brother needs no help to deal with the traitor.” Ren loosened his hold, allowing Aureliana to breathe more freely. He ignored Aodhan’s reaching hands. “He says stay here. Here we will stay. Now, is there someplace I can put her? It is best she not be jostled too much. I am sure your men folk will have many questions for me.”
“You don’t put me anywhere, demon, except down. I’m not helpless and I can walk.”
“You have sixty-eight stitches in your back and side, put there two days ago. You cannot walk without hurting. You will be carried. You will not argue.” Renakletos tightened his arms, his expression fierce. “Now, which of you is the king? The healer’s brother? We have much to speak of.”
“Arrogance is a family trait.” Aureliana wasn’t happy about it, but she gave in to the warrior. She dropped one hand to touch the child’s hair. “Cerridwen, you don’t have to be afraid. These are my friends and my brother. Kinney’s big brother, too.’’
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