Griffin's Shadow (9 page)

Raidan felt a chill finger stroke his backbone.

“I and my fellows in the Society have known about this girl for some time, and we believe…”

“What?” Raidan exclaimed, shock roughening his voice. “You’ve known about her… and you didn’t tell me…or my brother? How can this be?”

“Please, Husband, just listen to me, now!”

“You knew about this girl all along…and, yet you said nothing,” Raidan whispered. His nostrils flared, the only outward sign of his growing anger. For the first time in all the years he’d been married, he felt the bitter sting of …

No. Betrayal is too strong a word. Never that, not from her.

Unconsciously stroking the gold wedding bracelet on his right wrist, he chose his next words with care. “There is nothing you do that has no sound reason behind it, Wife, so…because I trust you above all others…I will listen and…hold…my…temper!”

Taya sat down on the padded bench beneath the window and after an instant’s hesitation, Raidan joined her.

“The Society believes that this girl is the vessel chosen by our predecessors to harbor that which they sought to safeguard from their…no, from
our
greatest enemy,” Taya explained in a soft, steady voice. “The Key has returned.”

“Is this…this key some kind of magic?” Raidan asked.

“Yes,” Taya replied. “A very powerful and dangerous magic.”

In addition to her high office as Crown Princess of Alasiri, Taya served as Mistress of the Kirian Society—the secretive collective of mages whose members were drawn from the most Talented of all of the land’s trained practitioners. Most of the time, Raidan stayed out of Taya’s way whenever she and her fellow mages met and conducted their business within the royal apartments, but occasionally, he couldn’t help but overhear some of what they discussed. He had never once doubted that he’d heard only what they had deemed safe for outsiders to know, and he had no memory of hearing anything about a key.

“The accounts are clear,” Taya continued. “The chronicles of the Society state that the Key will return to the material world harbored in the body of one born to the Onjara lineage. My colleague, Amara Sakehera, has lived closely with the girl for several weeks now. In fact, her son and this girl were recently married. It was Amara Sakehera who first discovered the Key within her new daughter-in-law, and she alerted the rest of us.”

“But this girl is hikui, and I’m still not entirely convinced that she’s an Onjara. How could a half-blood have the necessary strength to carry such a burden?” Raidan shook his head, his mind still unwilling to accept his wife’s words, despite his gut’s insistence that she spoke the truth.

“She is an Onjara, Husband. Sen Sakehera suspected the truth months ago, when the girl first came to Kerala, but he had to wait until he knew her character before he could act.”

“Goddess’ tits,” Raidan cursed, not knowing whether to be angry with Sakehera, or grateful. “My brother’s ring. Of course she would’ve shown it to Sen...That’s how he knew. She came to Alasiri looking for her elven sire, after all!”

Taya nodded. “Her Onjara blood gives her strength enough. I and my colleagues here in Sendai are to examine the girl tomorrow. We’ll know more then. But make no mistake. We all firmly believe she is the Key.”

Taya was the only person he knew with a keener intelligence than his own. Raidan trusted her instincts completely. “If you say this girl is your long-awaited Key, then I know it’s the truth,” he said. “Keizo will surely claim her. He might even attempt to get the council to go along with changing the law so that she can be named Heir. What then?”

“It won’t matter. Her fate is already sealed.” Taya looked down at the intricately tattooed palms of her hands. “We of the Society are tasked with re-securing the Key. In order to do this, the magic must be separated from its present vessel.” She paused, then added, “The vessel cannot survive the Sundering. The girl won’t live long enough pose any threat to you or our son.” Taya laid her head against Raidan’s shoulder. “Rest easy, love,” she soothed.

Raidan could feel her caressing his mind and using her magic to subtly influence his mood, but, because he trusted her implicitly, he allowed himself to be calmed.

“I know you are angry with me for not telling you the truth when first I learned of it, my love, but I was sworn to secrecy, as were we all. The danger was…
is
… just too great.”

“So you keep saying, Wife.” Raidan lifted Taya’s chin and stared deep into her eyes. Her hair smelled of jasmine, a fragrance she knew he found irresistible. He slipped his arm around her waist. “You know I’d rather leave magical business to you and your fellow mages, but this…this seems too important.” Raidan could feel his agitation returning. “Just how worried should I be?”

“This is the task of the Kirians,” Taya stated firmly. “You need not concern yourself directly…Not yet, anyway. All you need to be sure of is that this girl poses no threat to you, Husband.”

“If you say this is so…” He fell silent, but despite Taya’s assurances, he still felt unsettled.

With an effort, he forced himself to turn his mind to the matter of their son. “Tell me about Raidu. What’s he done now? I don’t suppose it will go away on its own, whatever it is?”

“Not without help,” Taya responded dryly. “It seems our son has been consorting with a certain hikui girl in the town… the daughter of his favorite boot maker.”

“Oh, Goddess, no!” Raidan groaned and covered his eyes. “Please don’t tell me…”

Taya sighed. “I’m afraid so. The girl is at least four months pregnant, Raidu tells me.”

“Damn him! Well, royal by-blows are nothing new. Is he certain it’s his?”

“Oh, yes. He admitted to taking certain…magical means to insure her fidelity, but not her infertility.” She clicked her tongue in exasperation. “He is quite proud of himself!”

Raidan shook his head. “Perhaps the girl won’t want the child.”

“Of course she’ll want it! It’s a royal bastard!”

“First my brother and now my own son!” Raidan muttered with bitter amusement, unable to ignore the irony of the situation. “Raidu must learn to deal with his own messes,” he stated flatly. “Since he’s admitting it’s his, he’ll do the honorable thing and support the child and its mother, but with his own money, not ours.”

They sat quietly for a time, each of them lost in thought.

I must not let events control me! As soon as they do, all is lost!

All of these things can and will be resolved, my love, but you needn’t worry about them now… Let me soothe you, Husband…

Taya folded his hands in hers and leaned forward to gently press her lips to his. Raidan felt the familiar, welcome stirring in his loins that always happened whenever his wife touched him. The anger and frustration built up within him drained away, and desire took its place. He pulled Taya hard against him to deepen their kiss. The wards remained in place; no one could enter the room without Taya’s leave. They were completely safe.

Raidan reached up and removed the ornate gold pins that held Taya’s hair in place. With a shake of her head, she sent her auburn tresses tumbling down around her shoulders and back. Her jade-green eyes smoldered as she let her simple lounging robe slip to the floor. Languidly, she moved from the window seat to the couch and lay upon it, ready to receive him. Raidan took a moment to savor the sight of his wife’s nakedness, then eagerly freed himself from the confines of his own clothing.

With a heartfelt sigh, he sank into Taya’s embrace. After so many years together, they no longer needed words when it came to the mutual pleasuring of their bodies, and at the exact moment of climax, Raidan felt his consciousness merge with his wife’s; for a time, they were as one, sailing together on successive waves of ecstasy.

It was this unity of consciousness that Raidan so craved, loved, and valued. Because he could only achieve it with Taya, he had no desire to make love to any other woman.

Afterwards, they lay together on the couch, sipping cool, sweet wine from silver goblets. As Raidan stroked his wife’s smooth back, his thoughts were wistful.

Ai, when we were young, Wife, you could get me up again with just a smile…Ah, well. That time is past now. Age does take its toll.

This realization did not make him sad, though. The intensity of their lovemaking had only grown stronger as they had aged, even as the frequency had declined.

It’s an equitable trade.

He breathed in the intermingled scents of jasmine and sex and allowed his mind to float. Taya shifted in his arms, then sat up and looked down at him, frowning “Husband…” she started, but he laid a finger on her lips.

“Hush, Wife. Not now,” he whispered. “Tomorrow.”

The Search Is Over

"Jelena… Wake up.”

Jelena awoke with a start. She had no memory of having fallen asleep. She opened her eyes and extended her arms to Ashinji, a drowsy smile curving her lips. The bed in which she lay felt soft and comfortable, and she would not have stirred for anyone except her husband.

Despite her weariness and the lateness of the hour, the sight of his face sent a tingle of desire coursing through her loins. “What are you waiting for? Come to bed,” she whispered invitingly.

“Jelena, listen to me,” Ashinji murmured. “You have to get up and get dressed now. The king has commanded that you be brought to him.”

Jelena sat up, all sleepiness evaporated. “The king has sent for me? Now? But…but it’s the middle of the night!” In the dim light cast by the single lamp, Ashinji’s eyes looked as dark as the sea during a tempest and she saw fear in their depths.

Her heart leapt like a deer. “Ashi, what’s wrong? What is happening?” She reached out to him and the coverlets slipped off her bare torso. Ashinji drew her to him and held her so tightly, she gasped. She could feel his body shaking. He caressed her breasts and she responded with a sigh, her nipples hardening under his gentle fingers. She buried her face against his neck, drinking in his scent.

As she slipped her hands beneath his tunic, he groaned and pulled away.

“We can’t do this now. My father is waiting downstairs. Get up and I’ll help you dress.” He twitched back the covers and scooped her up, setting her on her feet by the side of the bed.

“I…I haven’t had time to unpack…I have only my old clothes…. What am I supposed to wear?” She stood with arms wrapped around her body, shivering, though the room was not cold.

“Your old clothes will have to do. I don’t think the king will notice what you are wearing.” He reached into the wooden chest at the foot of the bed and pulled out Jelena’s tunic and trousers.

As she donned her garments, she watched Ashinji from the corner of her eye; she could see him struggling to remain calm. Jelena swallowed hard and took a deep breath. “We’ve spoken of this, Ashi. If the king is my real father, it changes nothing.”

“You’re wrong, love. It’ll change everything,” Ashinji said quietly.

Jelena sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled on her boots, then rose to check herself in the looking glass. She plucked at the coiled mass of her hair, fluffing it into a less unruly arrangement, then squared her shoulders. “I’m ready,” she declared. Ashinji pulled her close and kissed her neck. “Don’t be afraid, Ashi,” she whispered. “I’m your wife now. No one, not even the king, can separate us!”

“The king can do whatever he likes with his own,” Ashinji replied, then took her hand. Together, they descended the stairs to the sitting room.

Sen and Amara stood side by side in the center of the room. Both of them fixed their eyes upon Jelena as she entered. Without warning, a wave of dizziness overcame her and she staggered against Ashinji, who locked his arm around her waist to keep her from falling.

“What is it, love?” Ashinji’s face looked stricken.

“Jelena! Are you feeling ill, my dear?” Sen must have noticed her momentary distress.”

“I just felt a little dizzy…It’s nearly passed,” she said. Ashinji stared at her, frowning. “Ashi…really. It’s passed, I promise,” she added. “I’m just very nervous about meeting the king.”

“Jelena…This is what you’ve been waiting for!” Sen laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Tonight, your search ends.”

“May Ashi come with me?” Jelena asked.

Sen nodded. “We will accompany you to the king’s presence, but he will speak with you alone. Come now, let’s not keep him waiting.”

Amara kissed Jelena lightly on the forehead. “Don’t be afraid…” then added in mindspeech,
Remember who you are!

Jelena nodded in reply.

“I don’t know when we’ll be back. Don’t wait up!” Sen called over his shoulder as they departed. “She will, of course,” he muttered as he closed the doors behind them.

Sen led the way through the dim halls of the night-shrouded castle. Jelena gripped Ashinji’s hand as if her very life depended on not letting go. After passing through a set of large doors guarded by a pair of stone-faced soldiers, the three of them walked through a final set of doors into a small room furnished with a writing table, a couch, and several stools. The man seated at the table looked up as they entered.

Jelena knew immediately that this must be Keizo Onjara.