A Bond of Three (36 page)

T
ANISH
STARED
at the flowers that lay before the entrance to the
Seruanal
. Their soft perfume filled the air, their colors bright against the white stone floor. “There seem to be more each day,” he observed to Sorran. “It delights my heart to see my people bringing offerings to the
Seruani
.”

Sorran smiled. There had indeed been changes since Tanish had revealed the
Seruani
’s history, though it had taken time. Tanish’s decision to keep the
Seruanal
as a place where all Terunans might meet with the
Seruani
had been wise. Within a few weeks of his proclamations, it became clear that new
Seruani
were appearing, and Tanish’s wish for a reemergence of their previous gifts had proved prophetic. The first sign had been a return of the healers—only a few in the beginning, but their number was growing.

“Your father spoke to me once of the disappearance of the healers, that Teruna was paying the price for some sin of the past.” Sorran could still hear the king’s voice in his head. “He dismissed it as nonsense, but it seems to have proved a just theory. In giving back the
Seruani
their former status, the price has been paid and a new Teruna emerges.” His smile widened. “I spoke with Deron yesterday,” Sorran said. “His sister, Mishoka, is a healer. Deron’s grandfather had been ill, but when Mishoka laid hands on him, he recovered. Deron’s family is so proud to have a healer among its members.”

Tanish pulled Sorran to him and kissed him. The guards who stood around the
Seruanal
grinned. They were becoming accustomed to seeing their king being affectionate with one or both of his consorts. Sorran loved it when Tanish embraced him freely, and it was wonderful to see the way his subjects greeted him when they rode out together. The three of them often took a ride through the capital, and it was commonplace to be stopped by passersby wishing to speak with them or bless them.

Feyar emerged from the
Seruanal
, smiling. “I met with Tehar. She wishes to leave the
Seruanal
to take a house with Erasan.” He gazed beseechingly at Tanish. “I have seen where Erasan dwells. Can we not find them a better house,
terushan
? They have served the royal household faithfully.”

Tanish nodded. “I will speak with Koraya, the minister for housing. I am sure we can provide them with a comfortable dwelling.”

Feyar gave him a look of gratitude. He glanced back at the
Seruanal
. “It is such a different place now.”

Tanish followed his gaze, his expression tinged with sorrow. “It is a pity Malin did not live to see this.” The chief adviser had died peacefully in his sleep four months after their wedding. Both Feyar and Sorran had comforted Tanish, who had known nothing but kindness from Malin all his life. The new chief adviser, Roshenkor, was a good, capable man, and Tanish seemed pleased with him. He was younger than Malin had been but appeared to have wisdom beyond his years.

Sorran loved spending time in the
Seruanal
. He meditated in there each morning, for it was a place of tranquility. When he had discovered the
Seruanal
was next to the enclosed garden, he’d begged Tanish to have a door put into the wall so that the
Seruani
might share the peaceful haven. Tanish had brought in a workman the very same day, and now Sorran sat on a cushion to meditate with the tranquil oasis in front of him, the relaxing sounds of the fountain trickling through to fill his senses.

“Your Highness.”

Sorran put aside his musings to regard the servant who hovered nearby. The servant held out a leather pouch. “This arrived minutes ago, brought by a rider from Vancor.” He bowed as he handed it over and then withdrew.

Sorran beamed. “This must bear a message from my parents.” He had not seen them since the wedding, but every few weeks a letter or a gift would arrive. It seemed the alliance was proving successful, for there had been no more rumblings of attack from Kandor. Erinor had assured them he had seen nothing in his visions to indicate that such a thing was imminent. The young
Seruan
was often in the
Seruanal
, and Sorran loved to spend time with him. Erinor’s visions were more frequent, and he was proving more adept at interpreting them.

Tanish laughed. “I know you are gifted,
dorishan
, but even you cannot see through that bag to read their message.”

Feyar chuckled. “Oh, do not laugh,
corishan
. I am convinced we have not seen all of Sorran’s gifts.” He gave Sorran an affectionate glance.

Sorran’s cheeks grew hot. Feyar had shared with him his theory that Sorran had been the catalyst for all the changes occurring around them. Although he had protested, on reflection Sorran was forced to admit that perhaps there was some truth to this. His gift for healing seemed to have been shared with his husbands since that strange light had flowed out of them. If one of them was in pain, the others had but to lay hands upon him and the pain melted away.

Suddenly there in his mind was the dream that had awoken him the previous night. Three times he had dreamed thus, and each time it had brought him to tears.

“What is wrong,
dorishan
?” Feyar stepped closer and put his arms around Sorran. “You tremble, and your mind is troubled.”

Tanish stroked down his back, rubbing gently.

Sorran knew he could hide nothing from them. And in that moment, everything in him was telling him to share with them. “If the Maker saw fit to bless me with more gifts, I would pray for a miracle.” He closed his eyes, the dream still vivid.

“Tell us,” Tanish demanded, slipping his arms around both of them.

Sorran laid his head upon Tanish’s shoulder and drank in his lovers’ comforting presence. “I would pray that we might have a child.” He whispered the words, the first time he had dared give voice to his longings. When silence greeted him, he lifted his head to be confronted by two pairs of eyes, wide with wonder.

“How long have you desired this?” Tanish asked him softly.

Sorran sighed. “Since the day we buried your father. And I have dreamed of it since.”

“Yet you have never spoken of it.” Feyar kissed him tenderly.

Sorran smiled. “Why give voice to something that can never be?” He gazed at them with love. “Though I may harbor desires to father a child, I had no way of knowing how you felt about such things. And I was too nervous to speak of it.”

He caught his breath at the look of longing that crossed Tanish’s face. “A child….”

Feyar smiled. “I can see you in my mind’s eye, Tanish, playing on the beach with a little boy or girl. Or Sorran, teaching him or her to read.”

“And you?” Sorran needed to know. “Is there no desire in you to be a father?”

Feyar’s eyes were full of sorrow. “I have but shadowy memories of my father. He died when Merulan was born.” He straightened. “Yes, there have been times when I have considered becoming a father. I thought it unlikely, being
Seruan
, for surely no one would want a child fathered by one such as I.” He smiled. “Tanish has changed all that, of course.”

Sorran could see Feyar cradling a little boy, rocking him to sleep. “I think both of you would be wonderful fathers.” Then he shook himself. “But enough of such dreams. Let us hear news of Vancor.” He pushed aside his fantasies and opened the leather pouch, withdrew the heavy folded paper, and began to read. Within seconds, shock rocked through him, followed by a realization that hit him so strongly, his legs gave way beneath him and he sank to the floor.

Tanish and Feyar were beside him in an instant.

“
Dorishan
, what ails you?” Feyar’s voice was laced with concern.

“Tell us,
terushan
.” Tanish’s strong arm was around his shoulders.

Sorran breathed deeply. “It seems there was a purpose to our laying on of hands with my mother.” He raised his chin and stared at their startled expressions. “We healed her.”

Tanish’s brow furrowed. “Healed her? Of what?”

Sorran smiled. “It is a story for another time, but it is enough for you to know that… she is with child.” He felt dizzy with delight. “I am to have a brother or sister, and Vancor shall have another prince or princess.”

Feyar clasped Sorran tightly to his chest. “That is great news.”

Sorran shook his head. “There is more. My mother writes here that since our wedding, she has been granted the gift of healing.” He stared fixedly at them. “Do you understand, my loves? We shared our gift with her. Imagine if she too was able to pass on that gift.” His mind reeled at the implications.

“Then does this mean that if we heal someone, we pass on our gift to them?” Tanish asked. His eyes widened. “And what of your gifts? You shared them with us. Can you share them with others?”

Sorran gave a roll of his shoulders. “I do not know. Time will tell.” He moved to rise from the floor, and his husbands helped him, supporting him in their arms. Sorran leaned against them, grateful for their strength. He pondered on the letter. “Perhaps it was my unborn brother or sister in my dream,” he mused. The thought weighed heavy on his heart.

Not a child of mine.

“I should like to ride with you this morning,” Feyar declared, his voice breaking through Sorran’s pensive mood. “It is a beautiful day.”

“Yes,” Tanish agreed. “The air is exhilarating today.” He took Sorran’s hand and kissed it. “Come with us.”

Sorran smiled. “A ride with my husbands? What a delightful prospect.” He folded up the letter and returned it to the pouch.

Tanish led the way to the stables. Timur was brushing down Nerita with a firm hand, but Sorran was surprised to find Erinor engaged similarly with Forena. The young
Seruan
blushed profusely and bowed before them.

“Your Majesty,” Timur blurted out, “Erinor has been working with me in the stables for—”

Tanish held up his hand to silence the groom. “Timur, I would never question you as to how you run the stables. You are the head groom now.” When Timur let out his breath in a steady stream, Tanish chuckled. “Is Erinor proving to be a good groom?”

Timur nodded enthusiastically. “I was going to ask if I might take him on as my apprentice. He is a hard worker, and the horses respond well to him.”

“I can see that,” Feyar said, as Forena pressed his nose into Erinor’s side and gave him a nudge. He laughed. “He wants you to carry on.”

Erinor laughed with him. “Forena loves it when I brush him down.” He stroked the horse’s nose, and Forena whinnied softly. “Beautiful horse,” Erinor whispered.

Sorran bit back a gasp when he caught sight of the expression on Timur’s face as he watched Erinor.

Timur jerked his head and flushed when he realized he was under scrutiny. He cleared his throat. “I’ll ready the horses.” He gave a nod toward Erinor. “Lead Forena out into the courtyard, and I’ll bring Nerita and Zenobar.” Erinor dipped his chin and nudged Forena out of the stable.

When both were out of sight, Sorran could hold it in no longer. He let out a wry chuckle.

“What is it?” his husbands demanded, almost at the same moment.

Sorran grinned and lowered his voice. “You did not notice Timur’s lovesick expression?” When they stared blankly at him, Sorran laughed. “I do not know if Erinor is aware of it, but Timur is attracted to him.”

Feyar’s grin equaled his. “Timur is in love with Erinor?”

Sorran laid a warning finger on his lips. “It may not yet be love, but I sense something between them.” He let out a happy sigh. “I wish them much joy in each other.”

Tanish took Sorran in his arms. “If they have half the joy I experience in your arms, then they should consider themselves truly fortunate.” He leaned in and kissed him, taking his time. Sorran melted into the kiss, sighing with pleasure when Feyar moved to press up against his back, his lips on Sorran’s neck.

“Oh yes,” Sorran whispered before cupping Tanish’s head to pull him closer and letting out a low moan when Feyar slipped his hand around Sorran’s chest to brush his fingers against his nipples. Sorran shivered. “Later, my husbands.” It was always thus between them. Sorran knew from experience that all Feyar had to do was stroke over Sorran’s half-erect cock to have Sorran ready to return to their bed.

Feyar chuckled against his ear. “Tonight,
dorishan
.”

Tanish laughed softly into their kiss.

“Tonight,” Sorran murmured, his mind already envisioning the three of them naked, bodies gleaming with perspiration…. With an effort he wrenched himself from their arms. “You are far too tempting, my husbands.”

Timur’s discreet cough from the doorway made them all break apart. “Your horses are ready,” he said with a bow. Sorran could see his half smile.

They walked out of the stable into the bright sunshine where their horses awaited them. Timur and Erinor aided them to mount, and Tanish nudged Nerita with his knees to move on. Timur hurried ahead to open the gates and stood back, waving at them as they left the palace grounds.

Seconds later, the cheers and cries began as the people spotted their king with his consorts. Sorran waved and smiled when people greeted them. There was always such joy in these encounters. He noted that Feyar seemed more relaxed than he had been when they were first married. His change of status had been difficult for him to accept, but the people’s genuine liking for him had worked its magic.

They rode through the winding streets, acknowledging the greetings and blessings, and headed out through the western gate.

“Do you remember the first time I rode out with you?” Feyar’s cheeks were flushed. “I met you here.”

“I remember,” Tanish said with a smile. “The day the storm forced us to take shelter.” His eyes gleamed. “The day we kissed Sorran, naked in the rain.” He licked his lips.

Desire raced through Sorran, and with reluctance he nudged Forena into a gallop. “Did I not say what a temptation you are, my husbands?” he called back to them. Their laughter floated on the breeze. Sorran galloped away from them, through the fields and rolling countryside that had grown so dear to him. He could hear his lovers behind him, the thud of horses’ hooves telling him they kept pace with Forena. Sorran exulted in the feel of the sun on his back, the breeze ruffling the leaves, and the sound of….