Hallowed Bond (Chronicles of Ylandre Book 2) (10 page)

Riodan shook his head. He partially unwrapped the package to reveal a bottle. Dylen stopped short when he saw the color of the bottle’s contents—a deep blue akin to a midsummer sky. The color of the potent Deiran conception suppressor.

“Why in Aisen did you buy
mirash
?” he said. A moment later, he stared at Riodan in dismay. “Nay, you don’t expect me to… Rio!”

“Why not?” Riodan countered, his cheeks coloring. “You’ve had me already. What difference would this make?”

“A whole world,” Dylen replied. “You’re no ordinary commoner. It’s barely permissible as it is for you to yield your arse outside of marriage. But the only Deir you may sheathe genitally is your lawful spouse. You know this, Rio.” He took the bottle and rewrapped it. He heaved a rueful sigh. “You don’t know how hard it is to refuse your offer. I count it a great honor that you should want to give me this privilege. But I won’t compromise you any further than I already have.”

“Compromise me?” Riodan frowned. “Are you saying this is all you want?” he unhappily asked. “A mere affair?”

Dylen pulled him into his arms and held him fast, their foreheads touching.

“If it were only up to me, we would always be together,” he murmured. “But your life is not mine to direct, and we can’t tell where fate will take us. Nay, listen to me,
ariad
,” he pleaded when Riodan stiffened and tried to pull away. “As Veres is my witness, I love you with all my heart and soul. But I dare not hope overmuch about the future. We cannot indulge in foolhardy ventures. Not while our circumstances remain as they are. Were we to part—and the chances are great that we will, we can’t pretend otherwise—you will probably make a good match with a Deir of equal if not better standing. How think you would he respond were he to discover that you had already

given all of yourself to another? He would likely take offense, and that could affect your marriage adversely from the very start.”

Dylen waited while Riodan digested his words. Finally, Riodan relaxed and leaned into his lover’s embrace.

“Why do you have to be so practical?” he muttered.

Dylen sadly smiled. He released Riodan and slipped an arm around his waist to draw him close as they resumed their stroll.

“I remember you said you have never serviced a patron thusly either,” Riodan said after a while.

“I have never yielded myself thusly,” Dylen corrected. “But some of my patrons have.”

Riodan looked at him in some surprise. “Truly? There are Deira who take the chance?”

“Only a very few. And none of them bachelors with marital prospects. Indeed, the Deira I have bedded that way are all wed. They say the pleasure is different, and one they greatly enjoy.”

“But why not just turn to their spouses for that purpose?”

“Skill and experience matter. And also societal strictures. Particularly if the Deir in question requires his spouse to only play the mare. A childbearer is also expected to come to the marriage bed completely untouched save if he has been initiated by his intended beforehand.”

At Riodan’s wide-eyed gape, Dylen laughed mirthlessly. “You’d be surprised how many amongst your class adhere almost obsessively to the roles they have been assigned by their families. Take our Ardan’s own father. Dyrael was forbidden sexual encounters with anyone before he wed Keldon Essendri. For all that he was of the same line of descent and as royal of blood, the mere fact that he was to be consort required that he reserved himself for Keldon alone.”

“How awful for him.”

“Indeed.”

They paused to hail a public coach. As they boarded the conveyance, Dylen added,

“Mind you, I’m never comfortable when it’s requested of me. Even with the use of
mirash
, the risk of conception is always present.”

“Yet you proceed,” Riodan mildly sniped.

“For the right price,” Dylen countered. “And on the condition that the patron will take sole responsibility for any and all consequences.”

“But you’d still refuse me even if I made the same assurances.” When Dylen nodded, Riodan pouted. “How I do wish you were less honorable about these things.”

“You wouldn’t love me if I were,” Dylen pointed out.

“You’re right, I wouldn’t,” Riodan reluctantly conceded. “Still…” He reached for Dylen’s hand and wove their fingers together. “I won’t stop hoping that we might bind to each other one day. If we could, if that were possible—Dy, would you leave your profession?”

Without hesitation, Dylen replied, “Yes, I would.”

“But if it isn’t possible, if I’m forced to bind to someone else…” Riodan bit his lip then asked, “Would you consent to be my leman?”

Dylen did not reply at once but stared out the coach window. Riodan fought the urge

to press him for an answer. At length, Dylen looked back at him with a crooked smile.

“If you ask it of me,” he said. “
And
if there is no love between you and your mate.

I’ve never come between spouses before. I won’t start now. Not even for you,
ariad
.”

Riodan said no more. His eyes gleaming, he pressed a tender kiss to Dylen’s lips then leaned against him and rested his head on his lover’s shoulder. They rode back to the Quarter in companionable silence.

The first inkling of something unusual in the offing was the elegant carriage parked in front of the Teris townhouse. Few conveyances plied the narrow street and one as expensively appointed as this carriage starkly stood out. They gave it a cursory, if curious, once-over before turning to mount the stairs to the porch.

A Deir in livery peered out at them from behind the carriage. The Deir gasped and hurried forward in obvious relief.

“Master Riodan!” he called.

Riodan froze and looked over his shoulder at the retainer in disbelief. His eyes widened in recognition. Barely mustering a nod and a faint smile of acknowledgement, Riodan turned to look at Dylen in alarm.

“I take it your parents have found you,” Dylen said.

Riodan cursed under his breath. “So it seems.”

They entered the house quickly and promptly bumped into a scowling Tarqin. The elderly servant merely gestured upward then discreetly retreated to the kitchen.

The lovers hastened up the stairs to the parlor. Riodan almost froze again when he espied the elegantly attired Deir standing by the hearth engaged in stilted conversation with Hirlen. Dylen took him by the elbow and urged him forward. The movement drew the Deir’s attention, and he straightened, his countenance stern and disapproving. Save for the bronze hue of his hair, there was little resemblance between him and his son.

“Good evening,
Aba
,” Riodan politely said.

Theron Leyhar did not waste time on pleasantries. “It’s about time you arrived,” he scolded. “By Veres, you led me a merry chase!”

Riodan pursed his lips. “It’s hardly my fault that you didn’t think me bold enough to leave Sidona,” he retorted. “How did you find me?”

The ambassador’s eyes narrowed at his son’s belligerent tone. “My agents discovered you had enrolled at the University and spoke with some of your schoolmates.

One of them said you had befriended a
hethar
and that he might know where you were.”

Theron did not quite conceal his distaste. “I perforce visited his club in the hope of locating you.”

“Leyhar-
dyhar
went to the Seralye and asked for you,” Hirlen informed Dylen.

“Zarael directed him here.”

Giving Dylen his full attention for the first time, the ambassador studied him briefly.

“So you’re the
hethar
my son’s friend mentioned,” he said almost accusingly.

“Was it Ithan Soleri you spoke to?” Riodan brusquely asked.

“Why yes, that was his name.”

“He’s no friend of mine!” Riodan spat.

Theron stared at him in some surprise. “I see. Well, no matter, he was right about how I could find you.” He turned to Hirlen once more and said, “It was kind of you to

take Riodan in. And let it not be said that the Leyhars are ingrates. I will compensate you for whatever help you extended to him.”

“Nay,
Dyhar
,” Dylen corrected him. “What aid we gave Rio was out of fondness for him and not for gain of any kind.”

Theron visibly bristled at Dylen’s use of the shortened form of Riodan’s name. “Of course,” he stiffly replied. “But I will take him off your hands now. Gather your things, Rio-
min
. Let us go home.”

Riodan snorted. “Home? To what? To be shackled to a sadistic blackguard only a few years younger than yourself? Nay,
Aba
, I’m staying here with the Deir I love.”

Theron’s eyebrows rose in obvious disbelief. “Love? You mean him?” He glanced disdainfully at Dylen. “You should know better than to squander your affections on mere riffraff.”

Taking his cue from Hirlen, Dylen stifled the impulse to throttle the ambassador for his inexcusable rudeness.

“You will not speak thusly of my lover!” Riodan hotly objected.

Theron scoffed. “You will end this nonsense immediately, Rio. Do you wish to taint your future? It’s one thing to be known to frequent
hethare
. A distasteful way to spend one’s time I must say but commonly practiced enough to be deemed acceptable behavior.

But an actual affair with one is out of the question if you value your position in society.”

“I don’t care,” Riodan mulishly responded. “I intend for Dy to be my leman.”

“Are you daft?” Theron exclaimed. “Deira of good repute neither wed nor take
hethare
into their households! You bear a respected name, Rio. Your concubine must be above reproach—either a biddable virgin or a virtuous widower. He must not have consorted with many partners before or during your affair.”

Riodan rolled his eyes. “In other words, only one who has never been tupped except by a dearly departed spouse is fit to be a respectable Deir’s partner. Well, that should disqualify me as a suitable candidate for the marriage mart unless it’s for some unfortunate dupe below us in station.”

“What do you—?” Theron gaped in horror and stabbed a finger at Dylen. “Saints above! Do
not
tell me you’ve yielded yourself to
him
!”

Riodan raised his chin defiantly. “Irrevocably and frequently. So you see it’s useless to nurse illusions about the state of my backside,
Aba
.” He smirked. “It has been thoroughly speared, plowed and ridden.”

“Rio, there’s no call for crudeness—” Dylen started to say reproachfully.

But the ambassador interrupted, his face scarlet with umbrage. “Deity’s blood, Riodan!” he exploded. “Are you mad? Giving the likes of him the privilege of-of—”

“Deflowering me,” Riodan finished for his sputtering sire. “On the contrary, I counted it an honor to shed my virginity in his bed.”

“You fool! Do you realize how much that diminishes your worth? Veres almighty, if Ramil Barath learns of this, he will withdraw his suit forthwith!”

“He will? Then I should send him a detailed account of how vigorously Dylen buggers me that I may rid myself of that knave soonest!”

“Impertinent whelp!”

With the pair’s argument escalating into a full-blown quarrel, Dylen and his father moved to impose calm. But before either could speak, Riodan gave his ire full vent.

“Ever have you given thought to your wishes alone without a care for mine!” he

shouted. “Well, I’m done with you and your damnable ambitions!”

“You have not yet reached your majority, Rio!” Theron angrily reminded him. “I still have a say in your life!”

“Only if I remain within your reach!” Riodan threatened, “Force your wishes on me,
Aba
, and I swear I shall conceal myself so well you’ll find yourself snug in your grave before you ever see hide or hair of me again!”

Riodan stormed off, entered Dylen’s room and shut the door with a deafening crash.

Theron tried to follow him but found his way blocked. He glared at Dylen.

“Get out of my way,” he snapped.

Dylen did not budge. “He won’t listen to you,
Dyhar
. Not while he’s in that state. I advise you to wait until his rage has waned. I’ll see what I can do then.”

Theron’s eyes narrowed. ”If you love him, let him go,” he declared, his voice hard.

“There can be no future together for the both of you.”

“I’m well aware of that,” Dylen quietly replied. “Riodan, however, has not yet seen as much of life as you or I have. What he desires he believes he can attain even in the face of censure. And you of all people will not convince him to accept otherwise.”

“But you think you can?”

“Given time and if I do it my way.”

“By bedding him into capitulation?” Theron growled.

“If need be,” Dylen readily admitted. “Honey trumps vinegar in the art of persuasion.

Surely you know that, Ambassador.”

When Theron scowled at the tacit rebuke, Hirlen quickly added, “I would also suggest that you don’t require him to return to Sidona. At least, not until he has finished his studies. Riodan has settled well at the University and gained many friends. To force him to leave will only set him more firmly against you.”

After a tense while, Theron gave Hirlen the barest of nods. “Send word when he is ready,” he crisply said.

He stalked away and went down the stairs.

Dylen looked at his father. Hirlen’s gaze was sympathetic. Sighing with resignation.

Dylen headed for his bedchamber.

Dylen allowed a few days to pass before broaching the subject to Riodan. It was time enough for his lover to becalm himself and listen to counsel he did not like the least bit.

But listen he did when Dylen finally discussed the matter with him the one evening of the week when he did not report for work. Hirlen had already left for the Seralye while Tarqin busied himself with mending and sorting the laundry.

Riodan stood up and paced around the parlor restlessly. Dylen let him be. At length, the young Sidonan stood before the window and stared out at the street below. Dylen joined him, pulling him into his embrace to lean back against him.

“I can’t believe you agree with
Aba
,” Riodan whispered.