“Well, she can talk about it with me,” I said. “I suppose it’s a good point, I never smelled it.”
“I can hear every damn word you’re saying.” Himika slammed the door open. “I guess one way to stop a girl from crying is to start talking about smelling her menstrual cycle, so thank you for that, sir.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Human men don’t have a very good sense of smell either,” Raia said. “They don’t know when to back off, that’s for sure.”
“Enough!” Himika said. She sighed, and wiped her nose. “It’s true. I just got a moon cycle for the first time in a few months. I’m—I’m not feeling very well.”
“Why don’t we just go to the baths? The warm water will do wonders for that.”
“I’m not pregnant,” she said.
“These things take time.”
“What if I’m barren like Izeria and Dvaro?”
“It’s way too early to consider things like that. You’ve been under a lot of stress and it’s only been a month since we started trying. I didn’t even think you were that eager for a baby.”
She started sobbing. I put my arms around her, but I was generally confused. “My gem, you’re in good health. I’m not worried. And even if the worst was true, Seron will get over it. Personally, I’m not that attached to this idea of needing to carry on my blood, even when I thought it was the right blood. Children are fine, but…sex is better.”
Raia grabbed me. “You’re bad at comfort, you horny dragon. Go away. Maybe I should just make her up some tea and a hot water bottle and put her to bed.”
Himika started laughing through her tears. “It’s okay. Raia, that sounds nice. I do want to lay down. Aurek can stay.”
She lay down, and I sat next to her and held out my hand. Her skin was colder than usual, but her fingers wrapped around mine with a strong grip. When I felt her hand it clicked in my mind that she must be missing Oszin, and then I realized—
“Ah…before Oszin left…that night… You were hoping that if he dies, you’ll still have his son or daughter, is that it?”
“I never said that,” she said, annoyed. “I mean—I really hope you wouldn’t be angry if I did.”
“Of course not. I just told you I don’t even care if I have children or not.”
“Well, you could care a little.”
“I just want you to be happy. I’m sorry about the moon cycle. I think he’ll be all right…”
She had just flopped back on the pillow and now shot up in bed. “You ‘think’?”
“No, that is—well, the thing about this is that this wasn’t Dvaro’s plan and he didn’t expect to lose Ezeru. We’ve caught him off guard and he’ll probably agree to it, unless…he manages to get Ezeru back, by hook or trap.”
“Is that another one of your fish metaphors?”
I nodded. “I mean…manipulate him or take him by force. Well—anyway. Don’t worry over it.” I needed to distract her after going down that unfortunate track. Luckily, Seron walked in the door just then.
“I thought you two were supposed to practice,” he said.
“Himika has her moon cycle,” Raia said. “Do you want some tea, King Seron?”
“Sure.”
“It’ll ease any womb cramps you might be having,” Raia said, with a laugh. “But I made it taste good too.”
Himika reached for her cup. “Thank you all for taking care of me. Oof…I’ve always had bad cramps. At least it’s not on top of any other problems anymore.”
“Shall we bring in some musicians for you?” I asked. “Or read you something, while you convalesce?”
“Seron,” she said. “I told Aurekdel, so it’s only fair that I tell you too. Before Oszin left, we made love without any precautions, in case he died.”
Seron was silent for long enough that it made me nervous. “Himika…”
“I know that you need an heir. I want to give you one. I was scared that he would die and all I wanted in that moment was to give him everything I could.”
“I never even though I would be permitted to have a child at all,” Seron said. “I thought I would be in the same position.” He dragged a chair closer to the other side of the bed. “Raia…you can go.”
“Oh yes. Certainly. I hope you feel better, my lady.” The door shut behind her.
Seron sat across from me. He was quiet in the way that I guessed he was thinking something over. “I think we all need to talk about this. We keep having all this awkwardness over whose baby Himika is allowed to have. We’ve tried to give Oszin a fair place, but…”
“It’s quite a mood killer,” I said. “It was one thing when we all had to use precautions with her, but if only Oszin does, he is constantly reminded of his lesser status.”
“Yes,” Himika said. “How we rule is one thing, but when we’re alone…I really want us all to be equals. Otherwise, I know I’ll lose him. I can’t expect him to be my servant forever. He deserves better than that. I’m afraid it’s why he volunteered for such a dangerous mission…but what if my first child was his? Fully human?” She frowned. “Would he or she be accepted here?”
“We should follow the example of the priestess and her guardians and your brother’s kingdom,” Seron said. “The king of the dragons must be a dragon, but there is no need for all the children to be dragons. This might bother some people, but I don’t especially care.”
“If something happens to him…I suppose it’s solved,” she said softly.
“No crying,” Seron said. “He’s gonna be fine.” He was better at that than I was. He sounded relaxed, and there was no doubt in his voice. “Did you want us to get someone to entertain you?”
“How queenly that sounds,” she said. “A court jester, if you please! No…truthfully, you know what I’d like to see?” She had definite mischief in her voice.
“Ahh, what’s that?” I asked. Girls did enjoy seeing men together. I started considering my limits, or rather, Seron’s limits, because I didn’t really have limits.
“Can I see you two spar?”
“Spar?” I cried. “Why?”
“What did you think she was going to say?” Seron cried back.
“Because that’s the kind of thing I like to watch,” she said. “Oh, Aurek, I just so want you to try having a fight after trying my tea, just once, to see if you could beat Seron.”
My face burned.
“Heh…I’m up for it,” Seron said. “Aurek, what’s your problem, anyway? I tried the tea. It was a weird effect, but pretty cool, and even I thought it might help you counteract your blindness.”
“I…I guess.”
“I’m surprised at your reluctance,” Seron said. “This seems like something you’d jump at. You’ve always wanted to be a warrior. Are you afraid I’ll still beat your ass handily?”
“Tea is not going to make me into a warrior. I’m sure you still will beat my ass handily.” I shook it off. “No—if it pleases my lady, let’s give it a try.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Aurekdel
What is the problem?
I sipped the tea.
Maybe I am just afraid that Seron will beat my ass. I’ve always said I could fight as well as anyone, and if I could see—or find some way to enhance my sense that was just as good—I’d have to prove it.
I wasn’t really ashamed by the idea of Seron beating me, though. As I felt the tea expand my senses, I thought, it would probably help a sighted person fight better too. I could sense Seron’s heartbeat. I could sense things that were behind me. But all tools required training and this one would be no exception. It was quite possible that I’d be worse today than usual, because the sensation was so unfamiliar.
No, that’s not what scares me.
My pulse quickened as I reached for a training sword.
We had moved to the training room, Himika sitting in a chair in the corner with Kajira on her lap.
I took a moment to adjust to the feelings provoked by the magic. I was use
d to relying on sound more than anything, but now the magic offered me something else. Was vision anything like this? I wished my memories were better. I could sense Seron’s movements; he stretched his arms. I could sense the way Himika was perched on her seat, her hand dancing over Kajira’s spine.
I think what truly scared me was the prospect that I would enjoy this too much.
That I would not be content on the sidelines, and would want to smell blood…
That some anger inside me would be set alight and spread.
“You ready, Aurek?” Seron asked. “Or are you just gonna stand there?”
“He has to get used to it!” Himika said.
“I’m expecting you to bring it,” Seron said.
“Oh, I’m bringing it in your face.”
“I feel like you just took it somewhere dirty.”
“That was not my intention. Now you just made it dirty.”
“Okay, I’m revising my original statement. I want you to dish it out with your sword—” He stopped. “Fuck. That was actually getting worse.”
Himika clapped her hands. “Your flirtatious smack talk is the best part.”
“No!” Seron snapped. “It’s not flirtatious! You being here is making it weird.”
She giggled. “Okay, well, just be nice to each other’s faces. I’m a queen; I deserve beautiful things.”
Seron suddenly took a swing at me. “Haah!” He stopped short of hitting me, but I felt it coming and dodged, swiftly drawing my own blade as I skirted out of the way.
“That was just a test,” he said.
“I know. But don’t go easy on me.”
He hung back a little, his sword held defensively, sizing me up. Usually I was the one playing defense, mostly just trying to hear and feel him, to take as little damage as possible, and if I could get in a strike, that was just a bonus. I mean, Seron was the best the kingdom had to offer. All I had was technique; at least I’d been able to teach Himika a few things.
Today was going to be different. I could feel it.
Seron was sizing me up. He took me seriously. I wasn’t used to making the first move. I still couldn’t see his face, which might have told me more about what he was thinking. Where he was considering making his move. High? Low? Left? Right?
There’s so much a spell couldn’t tell me.
He’s stronger than me, and yet…
Time to see if my speed will work in my favor if I can follow his movements.
I decided that, for once, I would break the standoff. I swept toward him, drawing my sword, and I sensed his muscles react to me. He was moving one way; I held back my own attack and went past him, trying to get him from behind.
Of course, he reacted in time; he always did. My slender practice sword struck the heavier one he carried, the strike would have thrown me off balance if I didn’t expect it. I widened my stance and didn’t take a moment to catch my breath; I knew he’d follow up. He always did. I felt him moving to hit me again and where I usually scrambled to listen for the shifting of his feet and the rustle of his sleeves, and to gauge the shifting air around the force of his movements, this time, I felt him.
“Not this time.” I knew just the angle in which to block him so I had momentum, I drove him back a step.
“Damn!” Seron laughed. “It’s working.”
“Woohoo! Go, Aurek!” Himika cried.
“You’re rooting for him?” Seron said.
“You don’t need anyone rooting for you,” Himika said. “Of course, if this was a real fight I would be rooting for you to stop.”
“Well, I’m still glad it’s not—that!” I said, as Seron struck back. I rolled out of the way, avoiding his strike altogether, to get him in the back of the knees.
“Ugh!” Seron almost fell. “You’re fast!”
“You know I’m fast.”
“You’re faster than before.”
“I know where to move.”
“That hurt.”
He came at me hard, and gods, we had never fought this fast before. How much has he held back all these years? He always swore he didn’t hold back, but now I realized that it would have been impossible for him to not hold back. I would have been a bruised and discouraged mess every time.
Now I felt the real Seron, and I could barely keep up.
And yet—I did keep up. I parried and dodged every move he made, even as he drove me into the corner.
No! I wasn’t about to get stuck and give up this fast. “Hah! Hah!” I dodged one blow and took the initiative—using his momentum against him, I swung him toward the wall and struck his sword arm.
“Ouch! Damn!”
“That should have taken out your arm,” I said.
“So I’ll fight left handed!”
Now we were in a full on battle, sword clashing until the reeds they were made of were splintering, taking blows. Seron’s left hand was nearly as good as his right. The room seemed a whirl of speed and sensation, but the muscle memories of my years of practice served me well. All I had ever lacked was the ability to know what my opponent was doing. Now, I was much closer.
I could feel my dragon side crying to come out; when I got into the froth of a fight it was hard not to surrender to that greater strength. But fighting in human form was its own art.
“You guys are bleeding!” Himika cried. “I told you not to go for the face.”
Seron wiped his nose. “So I am…” He chuckled. “Man, this is fun.”
“Don’t worry, my gem, that’s what healers—are—for—oof—!”
Another clash. I was getting tired. My shoulder throbbed from a good hit he got in on me. I hit back, and I realized I was grinning like anything. This was fun.
“We would have been something on the battlefield together, wouldn’t we?” I panted.
“Yeah,” he said. “Maybe it’s not too late, huh?”
And then he got me in the side. I was tiring and I didn’t sense it coming until it was a moment too late.
Suddenly, I was on the ground, trying to catch my breath. I heard the tip of his sword strike the ground by my face.
“That’s a death blow,” he said.
“Yeah—rub it in—”
“That was incredible,” Himika said, leaving her chair and crouching next to me. “The tea worked! I could see you knowing where Seron was.”
“It was starting to wear off at the end,” I said, sitting up.
“So the effect doesn’t last too long,” Seron said. “But you should definitely keep some of Himika’s tea with you for battles like the one in the swamp.”
“I’m running low on ingredients,” Himika said, slinging her arms around my neck. “But when we get back to Hemara, I’ll make as much as I can! After all, I still want to spar with you myself.”
Her excitement made me cringe. She wanted to make me stronger. But what had it offered me? Fifteen minutes of fighting?
“Don’t spoil me,” I said. “It might be better to give it to Seron. He’d really be a beast if he could sense his opponent’s muscles moving.”
“I’m already a beast,” Seron said. “I don’t mind sharing.”
“Aurek….” Himika’s voice was soft and flirtatious, close to my ear. “Don’t downplay your own strength. I know you’ll never be a warrior the way Seron is, but you’re good, and there’s no reason not to take advantage. I already lost Oszin because he feels inadequate next to the two of you and he had to go prove himself.” She sighed.
“So the problem is, in fact, that Seron is too strong,” I said.
“I guess, if you insist, now that I’m the king and no one seems to want me on the front line, I could spend more time eating sweets and lounging on a pile of pillows,” Seron said, tugging Himika closer. “With my queen.”
Himika poked him, and I could sense the motion. He cringed, as she jabbed him in a ticklish spot, but the effects of the tea were slipping away with every passing moment. “If you ever had to face down someone dangerous, I think you could h
old your own,” Himika told me.
“I hope so, my gem. I am not quite a beast.”
“We’ll see.”
Chapter Thirty
Himika
Now Seron sometimes showed up when Aurek was giving me fighting lessons. He didn’t meddle too much, but his eyes spotted issues with my posture or the way I held the sword that Aurek didn’t always catch. They worked well together and I was getting better every day. Whacking the practice dummies helped keep my focus on something other than my worries over Oszin and Ezeru.
The court indulged in lots of smaller parties, feasts and dances during this time in Irandal. Seron gave Niko a prominent place at the table. One of the lords refused to share a table with a mist dragon at first, but when the man and his wife left the table in a huff, Seron quietly got up and talked to them in private, and they returned.
I followed his lead. Even though Niko tossed out acerbic remarks like weapons, I tried to talk to him, so the people would see the king and queen accepting a mist dragon.
“It doesn’t bother me,” Niko said. “I’m used to being disliked back home, too. The merchants and bankers think I’m an impostor because I worked the black market and I’m not from some family or other. But, I don’t care what other people think of me. I’ll get the job done either way.”
He spent more time at the windows than I did. “I hope your guy knows what he’s doing,” Niko said.
“Oszin is pretty sharp,” I said.
“You’re quite worried over him, aren’t you? How are you doing here, little princess? Your brother’s always worrying over you.”
“I’m a queen, not a little princess.” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Little queen, then.”
“I pity Phoebe to be stuck with you,” I said.
“It’s factual,” he said, patting my head. “But you probably should pity her. I’m not the sort of man who was meant to be anyone’s partner. Good thing she has other men to balance her out…men who know what a family is.”
I caught a little regret in him. “You must know, or you wouldn’t be here trying to save your mother.”
He stared in silence into the dark, glittering world out the window. “Yeah, well, I just hope…”
The Kingdoms of Sky and Shadow Box Set Page 46
