The following is an original work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book/story are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The following is intended for mature audiences only.
Chapter 9
The princess was right about one thing, he had never broken a promise to her. Not since the day she arrived.
If he had missed the Masking ceremony, he never would have forgiven himself. Neither would the king, but for an entirely different set of reasons.
A last-minute errand to Nasbith had been the least of his worries.
Maintaining a passive face through breakfast was more difficult than he had anticipated. Not to mention Zahrra’s insane request.
Train with the guard, what had she been thinking?
Aesiri had been fine when she showed up with a wooden sword in hand as a small child. After what she had gone through at such a young age the king had found it amusing that she wanted to slay the enemy.
So when her fascination turned to fire-breathing drakes, Aesiri didn’t even bat an eye.
“Just another phase,” he would say with a dismissive wave of the hand.
Finneck wondered if that was how he would see her latest request.
Hoping now that Zahrra was to sit in on council meetings and presumedly no longer be a silent participant during court, Aesiri would treat her more like a viable heir. To assume he would treat her as an equal was never something the captain would even consider. To Aesiri, there was no equal in this realm.
Instead, the king was fitting her into that little box he had always shoved her in. The one where Zahrra could be hidden away until he had use of her again.
Finneck couldn’t help but wonder if things would change at all. Certain Zahrra would still be sent away just as much as she had the last eighteen years. Their people no doubt only viewing her as an emblem of the state. Someone waiting to be married off for the good of the Eildun. Not the pillar that he was sure she would some day become.
Her mother saw it.
Before the queen had died, she told Finneck what she envisioned for Zahrra. The things she knew that the little girl would be capable of accomplishing. Things she regretted not being able to cultivate and nurture in the little one.
Seemed all mothers had an intuition he would never understand.
A pain throbbed in Finneck’s chest as the breakfast in his gut solidified.
The memories too fresh not to twist his heart.
Having approached Anghasi as a friend only to turn into the harbinger of destruction. The man had had enough to deal with in his life. Choosing exile over power just proved how much love meant to him.
Finneck was the one to take that away from him and Nuala. They allowed him to take everything away from them—willingly. While their decision gave him everything.
Their decisions were forced upon them. Made to choose the path paved with the least amount of tragedy. Saving themselves as much as they could.
No, that wasn’t right. It was as much to save themselves as it was to save Finneck. If they hadn’t given up their first-born, Aesiri would have no doubt ordered Finneck to kill them both.
“It is out of the question,” Anghasi bellowed in disbelief, standing with such force the chair slammed to the floor.
“He is only the messenger, dear.” Nuala’s soothing tone fell on deaf ears.
The woman was meant for a role she would never fulfil. More than one if Finneck was really being honest with himself. Here, standing in the kitchen of their little cabin in the woods, Finneck felt he took up too much space in their modest life. And now he was also demanding their future.
Not him, the king. But to Finneck that made no difference.
“Finneck,” Anghasi said turning to the captain, “he can’t be serious. This is unthinkable even by his standards..”
The hope in the man’s eyes as he held Finneck’s steady gaze brought on a wave of dizzying nausea.
Finneck’s silence was answer enough.
Burying his head in his hands, Anghasi turned back to the table and his half-eaten breakfast. Nuala wrapping her arms around his shoulders, stood beside her husband. Belly only slightly swollen with their unborn babe.
“What does he want with our baby?” The question uttered barely above a whisper in the quiet.
“You know what he wants, Nuala,” Anghasi stated defeated.
While it was true, the product of their union was rare and almost unheard of, carrying with it great possibilities. Even Finneck didn’t quite know what Aesiri had planned for the babe. The king couldn’t exactly clam it as his own without an elaborate story. Even then, it would be known that there was no blood shared.
He could guess that if it was born male, Aesiri would no doubt give him to an affluent family to groom the child to be a successor to the throne.
But if it was female…
Finneck had no real answer to that.
To pray to the absent gods that the child be male was to pray that the world would have another Aesiri. But a female. Would he dismiss her? No, that was impossible at this point. Too many gears were in motion. Turn her over to the servants and watch her closely? That was the most probable.
Since Finneck had no clue what the endgame was with having a child such a this, he was almost as clueless as the parents.
“I can’t be certain,” was all Finneck could offer.
Silent tears fell down Nuala’s cheeks.
“And if we refuse?” Anghasi asked.
Again, Finneck’s lack of response was all they needed to hear.
“What if we claim the baby was lost?” Anghasi whispered hoarsely, the words hurting as much as the thought,
Shaking his head, Finneck didn’t want to wish that fate on anyone. Not that this situation was any better. “He would no doubt demand proof.”
Pulling away from his wife’s touch, Anghasi stood, facing his old friend. “Once he has the babe, what is to come of us?”
As inappropriate as it was, Finneck smiled. The man’s senses were finally returning. Anghasi was no stranger to royal antics nor how Aesiri operated. Once he had what he wanted, Anghasi and Nuala would become nothing but a liability. A threat to Aesiri’s position and claim to the throne. As it was, their cabin and the couple were to be watched at all hours. To allow them to live would cause all this scheming to have been made in vain.
This time, Finneck could not remain silent. Soon, his smile would not only make sense but gave his friends hope.
