A Lotus for the Regent (17 page)

Without further
warning, Kamen sat up, his tousled hair the only sign he had been sleeping. His
eyes were bright, his body coiled to spring.

“
Good morning, Lira.” He pulled her close. “Have you been awake
long?”

“
Not too long.” She nestled into his arms.

“
We have much to do today.” Kamen rose from the bed, and Ajalira
admired afresh his gorgeous body. His chest in particular drew her gaze. Its
scars were not, to her Tamari eyes, blemishes, but rather the badges of a warrior.

“
Lira?” Kamen turned to find her staring, and she smiled.

“
Just wondering about your scars.” She rose and ran her fingers over
them. “You are so beautiful, Kamen.”

He laughed. “You
will make me forget I am Regent.”

“
What must you do today?”

“
We
are moving house. I've been living in
the palace ever since I became Regent, but that was only because my house was
not a home. With you there now, it will be.”

A loud rap at
the door cut off Ajalira's answer.

“
Your Grace?”

“
Yes?” Kamen was already fastening his skirt around his waist.

“
The Lord Admiral is about to depart for Masnaport, and he wishes to
make certain of your instructions.”

“
Order a litter,” said Kamen, kissing Ajalira's brow. “You can go
ahead to our house. I will be there as soon as I can.”

And he was gone,
out the door and back into the life Ajalira already knew was full of more
responsibility than even a King should have to bear.

“
Lady Ajalira?” A deferential serving girl stood hesitantly in the
doorway. “Does it please you to dress?”

Ajalira nodded,
but she furrowed her brow. Why should this girl even be here? As court
interpreter Ajalira did not rate someone to dress her.

“
Which gown, my lady?”

“
You choose.” Ajalira took up a brush and began to comb through her
hair.

“
Please, my lady, that is my task, too.” The girl took the brush from
Ajalira.

“
But—why?” Ajalira had not had anyone assigned to dress her hair
either.

“
You are the Regent's concubine.” The girl's skill was evident in the
way she untangled Ajalira's stubborn hair. “You are the highest lady in all
Sunjaa lands.”

Wonder stole
Ajalira's voice. She had been considering her position as that of a slave, and
only Kamen would view her as anything else. She had not expected that she would
be treated as if she had just
married
the most powerful man in the west.
Kamen's kindness and his generosity both pierced her, and she wished he were
still in the room that she might kiss him again.

****

After four days
of living in the Itenu house, Ajalira still found the treatment she received
astonishing. She was treated with honor and respect, and even King Jahen had
seemed to think of her as Kamen's partner, not his property.

“
Mistress?” A slave bowed as she passed into the garden. “The Master
has returned and is asking for you.”

“
Take me to him.” Ajalira smiled as she followed the boy. She had,
upon her first arrival in the house, seen the number of slaves and resolved to
ask Kamen to free them. He had laughed and told her she could do that herself,
if she liked, but that he would ask her to make sure that was what they wanted.

The wails that
had ensued when she had “threatened” them with liberty had been enough to
reconcile Ajalira with the practice, at least as far as Kamen's household went.

“
Lira!” Kamen picked her up off her feet and twirled her around the
room. “The Losiengare made their move yesterday, and the battle is ours.”

“
What happened?” Ajalira clasped her arms around his neck as he
slipped her back to her feet.

“
Well, just as you said, they had built up a force just outside the
waters where I told them not to go. Yesterday, they sailed back into our waters
and tried to take all the ships we had docked in the port.”

“
And?” Ajalira knew that being prepared for the ambush was only part
of victory. There was still the Ausir technology to overcome.

“
And they sailed into a trap of my own.” Kamen kissed her nose. “I
had several useless, unseaworthy hulks freshly painted and put in the harbor.
Darien kept his own fleet in a cove just southwest of Masnaport. After the
Losiengare made their move, they conquered all the junks—and they had none of
their smoke bombs left for when Darien, seeing the signal sent up from the
city, sailed around behind them. There were a large number of Losiengare ships.
I expect they have little left in the way of a navy after this.”

“
So it was a pitched battle?” asked Ajalira. The repetition of
Darien's name did not seem to touch Kamen, and she was glad.

“
No, I didn't want to risk so many Sunjaa ships when the region is so
unstable.” Kamen moved to sit on a low divan, and he pulled her down to sit
with him. “I had the harbor mined, and when Darien sailed up, the Losiengare
tried to turn on his fleet with their own as well as the 'new ships' they had
taken. Of course, the new ships could not sail worth a spit, and they foundered,
setting off the mines in the harbor. The Ausir,” said Kamen, kissing her nose,
“are not the
only
ones with some seafaring technology.”

“
So they are wiped out?” asked Ajalira, reflecting on the
repercussions for the Sunjaa and the other Ausir. It was a jolt to her to
realize that she thought of the Sunjaa first.

“
As I said, I doubt the Losiengare have much of a navy left. A few
smaller caravels perhaps, just whatever they had left patrolling their own
harbors. They didn't keep a single ship from the battle. Darien chased down the
stragglers.” He cradled her face in his hands. “If I hadn't known in advance,
if I hadn't been able to prepare for assault—the Losiengare would have stolen
all the ships in Masnaport.”

“
I am glad about all of it,” said Ajalira, pressing her cheek into
Kamen's palm. “Because of their intended treachery, I have you.”

“Because
I am Regent, I have you, even though
I never wanted to
be Regent.” Kamen wrapped her in his arms. “In fact, I was furious at Saerileth
for insisting that I take up the position. Six years ago, nearly seven now,
there was an attempt to overthrow the Sunjaa King. The King and his concubine
were slain, and only the then-Crown Prince Jahen escaped. It was a dangerous
time for the Sunjaa, and Saerileth said that only I could lead the Sunjaa
properly.”

“
She was right.” Ajalira had no doubt about that, but jealousy
pricked her. “And why did not the Lotus suggest her own master to lead?”

“
The Lord Admiral was born a commoner,” said Kamen mildly. “I
wasn't.”

“
Is that when you got these?” Ajalira traced over the scars on his
chest. “During the uprisings?”

“
Yes.” There was hesitation in Kamen's voice, and Ajalira looked up
into his face.

“
What is it, beloved?”

“
I'm a bit ashamed, Lira.” Kamen twined his fingers in her loose hair.
“I had loved Darien, and I knew he wouldn't—couldn't—love me the way I wanted
him to. And I had tried in every way I could to separate him from his Lotus,
and I couldn't face living with the—”

“
Dishonor?” Ajalira wanted to kiss away the pain she saw starting to
well up in Kamen's eyes, and she wished Saerileth and Darien both drowned at
the bottom of the sea.

“
You could say that.” Kamen pressed her close. “So I went back to
face the enemy, knowing I would be captured. They caught me, as I knew they
would, and began torturing me, trying to learn King Jahen's location and
Darien's plans.”

Ajalira turned
and pressed her lips to Kamen's scars, one by one. “You have the heart of a
Tamari.”

“
What?” Kamen's chuckle told Ajalira her attempt at comfort had been
successful.

“
Suicide is cowardly,” said Ajalira. “But when honor requires death,
facing an enemy is the only honorable way to die.” She leaned up and kissed his
mouth. “Of course, you did not dishonor yourself. I know you. You are incapable
of dishonor. But that you thought you had and sought death by an enemy's hand—”
She broke off, too overcome with passion to speak further, and it was late that
night before either of them rose from the divan.

****

“
Thank you for seeing us, Your Grace.” The Kimereth ambassador bowed
before Kamen and King Jahen. Ajalira stood beside Kamen's chair, simultaneously
interpreting for him. This time, though, she was present not merely as court
interpreter, but as the concubine of the Regent. A silver coronet rested on her
head, dipping down in a jeweled tear-drop on her brow, and she knew that the
Ausir were puzzled by her position.

“
You have spoken to me before,” said Kamen. “What has changed that
you should press the Sunjaa further?”

“
Your Grace!” The Seranimesti lord burst into the receiving chamber,
and Kamen cast a wry glance at Ajalira. He had told her that it would take the
Ausir three days, maximum, to come to the Sunjaa, pushing for military
alliance. This was the second day since the Losiengare defeat. Ajalira let her
eyes sparkle at Kamen as she interpreted.

“
The Kimereth were here first!” The ambassador turned on the other
Ausir. “You must wait.”

“
No, we have been here longer than you.” The Seranimesti lord did not
lose his temper.

“
And King Jahen's answer remains the same,” said Kamen clearly.
Ajalira interpreted, infusing her words with all her pride in Kamen's wisdom.
“The Sunjaa will not ally with a divided people.”

“
But perhaps a temporary, military alliance would suffice?” The
Kimereth ambassador spoke over Ajalira's last words. “There are only two
factions left. The Sunjaa could bring a swift peace by lending their strength
to the Kimereth.”

“
Or to the Seranimesti.” The Seranimesti lord at least waited until
Ajalira had finished interpreting.

Kamen shook his
head. “I acknowledge that the Losiengare are out of the fight, thanks to their
running afoul of the Sunjaa. Whichever side has the Sunjaa navy behind it will
win, and yet the Sunjaa will lose. No matter which of you I choose, the other
will harbor hard feelings against my people. I do not want you Ausir alive
today seeking revenge on Sunjaa generations from now. But you two are
effectively asking the Sunjaa to arbitrate your war. This I could do, if you
would make it an official appeal. If you would agree to abide by my decision, I
would hear your claims and place the Ausir crown on the head of the one most
deserving of it.”

The Seranimesti
lord's mouth opened, but no words came out as Ajalira finished interpreting
Kamen's offer.

The Kimereth
ambassador took one look at the Seranimesti and said, “I am not authorized to
speak so far for the Kimereth lord, but I will sail at once to present your
gracious offer, Regent. If I hurry, I can catch the moonsrise tide.”

He bowed and
left, leaving the still-speechless Seranimesti lord staring at Kamen. Ajalira
smiled. Kamen had said that they would accept the terms, if only because by one
denying it, that faction would anger the Sunjaa.

“
Your Grace is generous.” The Seranimesti spoke at last. “And I trust
that your decision will be the only one an honorable man can make. Unlike the
Kimereth, I
do
have the authority to speak. I am the lord of the
Seranimesti, and I will, if the Kimereth agree, abide by your decision, Your
Grace.” He bowed. “But be certain, Regent, that you know all the facts before
you declare an Ausir King. The evil that you do will long outlive you.”

“
And the good that he does shall outlive even you, Lord Seranimesti.”
Ajalira interpreted for Kamen, but she added her own words at the end.

The Seranimesti
lord's eyes grew wide, and he drew himself up in obvious fury.

“
What did you say to him, Lira?” Kamen whispered.

“
I told him that the good you do shall outlive him.” Ajalira lifted
her chin defiantly.

The Seranimesti
had, as Ajalira and Kamen spoke, approached the King's dais, and he positively
glowered. "Your Grace," he said to Kamen in Vadal. "This lowborn
wench of an interpreter has insulted me, and I—"

Kamen rose,
standing face to face with the tall Ausir. "Be careful what you say next,
Lord Seranimesti. The Lady is not the court interpreter merely. She
happens
to be fluent in Ausir, but she is first and foremost my concubine."