Wray (40 page)

“I believe this belongs to you.” he said and
extended the blade to her, jeweled hilt first.

“My knife!” Kim exclaimed, eagerly reaching
forward to take it. “Thank you Tora. I thought I’d lost it in the
river.”

“It was along the bank where you fell in.” He
told her and felt his cheeks darkening at her sincere thanks. “How
did you ever come by a blade from the Kaliszian Royal family?”

“General Rayner gave it to me on Pontus.” Kim
frowned. “He’s a member of the Kaliszian Royal family?” she asked,
looking at Wray.

“Cousin to the Emperor. They are as close as
brothers.” Wray told her and realized he owed Rayner a debt he
could never repay. If he had not given Kim that blade, she would
not have been able to free herself. Yes, he owed him a debt.

“Oh. So I insulted Emperor Liron’s
‘brother.'”

“Yes.” Wray said simply.

“You
insulted
General Rayner and he
gave you a
blade
!” Tora looked from Kim to his manno and
knew there was a story there, but saw in his manno’s eyes that it
would have to wait.

“Yes. I’ll have to apologize.” Kim said
looking at Wray.

“No Kim. You were correct in what you said
and the fault was mine that is why Rayner gave you the blade. Now I
want you to rest until Caitir returns with your meal.”

Kim was about to pull her hair out. “I’m
fine
!” she said for the umpteenth time. For the last two
days, Wray had refused to let her out of bed, claiming she needed
to rest from her ‘ordeal.' And Curador was no help.

Apparently, Tornian females secluded
themselves once they conceived and allowed no male near her until
after she ‘presented’ the offspring. Wray informed her that the
male would give tributes to another female, usually the one that
presented his female and she would help the female through the
process.

Kim couldn’t believe it. She quickly informed
Wray she wouldn’t be doing
any
of that. She wasn’t
‘secluding’ herself away. She was staying right by his side and in
his bed.

The relief on his face had surprised her. Had
he actually thought she wouldn’t let him near her? That she’d
refuse to Join with him until after this baby was born? She quickly
dispelled that possibility the night before, but he still was
refusing to let her out of bed.

“You are with
offspring
Kim.” Wray
ground out, since it was only the three of them in the room. “You
need to rest.”

“I’m
pregnant
! Not s
ick
! There
is absolutely no reason for me to stay in bed.”

“But…”

“I’m not a Tornian female Wray. I’m not going
to be acting like one now.” Ripping back the covers, she slid out
of the bed.

“Curador!” Wray looked to the Healer for
help.

“Sire, I’ve scanned her every day, there has
been nothing to indicate she needs to remain in bed.”

“Goddess!” Wray said, turning away. He wanted
to throttle Curador.

“Good.” Kim said. “It’s settled.” Walking
over to Wray, she ran a soothing hand along his back. “Wray.” She
waited for him to look down at her. “I vow to you that I am fine.
The minute I think there is something wrong, I will tell you.”

“Not the minute. The second.” Wray demanded,
his voice hoarse. “I cannot lose you, my Kim.”

“The second.” She agreed.

Finally nodding Wray wrapped his arms around
his future.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“It is time Kim.” Wray told her the next
morning. He had finished all his meetings with Reeve, had gotten
his answers, not satisfactory ones, but answers none the less on
how Fala and Gyula had been able to abduct the Empress.

He now wanted to get his Kim settled in House
Tornio, present her to the Assembly of Lords and have her declared
Tornian. She carried his offspring and he wanted her to have every
protection under the Law.

“I’m ready.” Kim said, walking up to him. She
knew he was concerned for her safety and she had to admit she
wasn’t very fond of Vesta, Lord Reeve or his warriors. She avoided
them as much as she could and had been grateful when Wray had
brought down more of
his
warriors from the Searcher to guard
her. Entering the outer chamber, Kim found Tora waiting.

“Empress.” Tora said then crossing an arm
over his chest bowed to her.

“Kim, Tora.” She told him. “My name is ‘Kim.'
Please call me that.”

Tora looked to his manno who just shrugged,
telling Tora it was his decision.

“In private then… Kim.”

“Why only in private?” Kim asked, frowning at
him. “If we’re going to be a family why the title.”

“Males are not allowed to directly address
another male’s female Kim.” Wray told her, “Not directly, and they
are
never
allowed to be familiar enough to use her
name
alone.”

“But I speak to males all the time.” Kim said
looking from Wray to Tora.

“Yes.” Tora spoke before his manno could.
“But you are… unique.” He said, trying to stop his lips from
twitching.

“Did you just politely call me strange
Tora?”

“Who me?” Tora asked too innocently. “I would
never do such a thing… Kim.”

Wray enjoyed the banter between his male and
Kim. It felt right, their teasing each other. They had yet to tell
Tora about Kim’s condition and he wondered if they should.

“It’s up to you.” Kim’s statement had Wray
looking at her. She turned from Tora and placed a hand over the
place, their offspring rested telling him she knew what he was
thinking.

“You would be… comfortable with Tora
knowing?”

“He of all people has the right to know.” Kim
said softly.

“Know what?” Tora asked, looking from his
manno to Kim.

“When Curador examined her he discovered that
Kim is with offspring.” Wray told Tora his arm going around Kim
pulling her close as he watched Tora’s reaction.

“What?” Tora’s eyes went wide then went to
Kim’s hand that still rested protectively over her stomach.

“I’m with offspring.” Kim told him.

“But… I thought it wouldn’t be possible…”

“It seems we were wrong and that the Goddess
has decided to bless us.”

“How long have you known?”

“As I said, Curador was the one who
discovered it when he scanned Kim.”

“Yakar didn’t notice it on the Searcher?”
Tora found that hard to believe.

“I wasn’t with offspring, then.” Kim told him
quietly and felt her cheeks start to pinken. “Your manno and I had
not yet Joined.”

“So it is…”

“It is
my offspring
!” Wray told him in
a hard voice. He would have no one doubt that, especially not his
own male.

“Will it be fit?” Tora asked the question Kim
knew everyone would be wondering when they found out.

“Curador has found no problems indicating it
wouldn’t be.”

“He is going to need your support Tora.” Kim
told him softly and felt her eyes fill at the thought of what her
child was going to have to tolerate. “Even more than Van did.”

“What do you mean?” Tora demanded. Why would
her offspring need his support?

“I know, from what’s been said, that had your
manno taken another Empress… a Tornian female that there would have
been a conflict between you and her offspring.”

Tora said nothing, just nodded stiffly.

“Conflict because some might want to support
him
as Emperor instead of you, even though you are Wray’s
first male.”

“He would also be his first male, just from
another female.”

“Yes… but no one is going to do that with
this child.” Kim said sadly. “Because
I’m
not Tornian
therefore
he
won’t be. Many are going to shun him, that’s
why I say he will need the support and acceptance of his older
brother, the future Emperor if he is going to survive.”

“He w
ill
be Tornian!” Wray denied
angrily. “He is
my
offspring!”

“Wray.” Kim turned putting a calming hand on
his heaving chest. “He will be
half
Tornain
half
human. It’s going to make him
different
. Your people don’t
seem to tolerate that very well. People being different.”

“What do you mean? Every House is different
and we tolerate them all.”

“From every
Tornian
House, Wray. I’ve
seen how even
your
warriors look at Caitir and Jael because
they aren’t Tornian. They would look at me the same way if it
weren’t for you. The Kaliszians are your allies, but there are
those that see them as less, because they have to rely on you for
food.”

Wray opened his mouth, then snapped it shut.
She wasn’t wrong and he didn’t like it.

“
Our
child is going to be viewed that
same way… because of me. They will think him small and weak...
because of me. You and I can do nothing about that… because only
Tora can.”

“What?” Tora looked at her stunned. “Me? What
can I possibly do that my manno can’t?”

“You can accept him as your true brother,
just as you did Van.” Kim told him. “It will show others that he
truly is fit and worthy of being a Vasteri.”

“And if he isn’t?” Tora couldn’t stop the
words, and immediately regretted them at the devastated look they
put on Kim’s face before she turned away, to bury it in his manno’s
chest.

“He will be!” Wray growled at Tora then
lowered his head to repeat it in Kim’s ear. “He will be Kim.
Curador had found no problems and the Goddess would allow nothing
else. Not after all you’ve been through.”

“We’ve been through Wray.” Kim raised sad but
determined eyes to him. “We’ve been through and you are right.” She
turned back to Tora.

“The decision, of course, will be yours.” She
said coolly. “No one can force you to accept him. I know this
better than anyone else.”

Tora found he didn’t like her using that cool
tone when she talked to him. Before, even when he didn’t deserve it
her voice had been filled with warmth and caring. His thoughtless
words had caused this and he needed to correct it.

“My apologies Kim. I did not mean to concern
you with the fitness of your offspring. I was just… surprised.
After all the strength and courage you have shown, I can’t believe
any offspring presented by you, wouldn’t be fit and worthy,
especially when combined with House Vasteri. He will change our
universe.”

“He will be a new beginning,” Kim found
herself changing the Goddess’ words. “But will his big brother give
him his support?”

Tora knew whatever he said now would affect
his entire life. He of all males knew what it was to be treated
differently, all because of an accident of birth. Yet Kim had been
correct, the way this male will be treated would make his treatment
mild. Could he turn his back on him? He felt his chest tighten at
the thought. It would be like turning his back on Van. Van…

Van would see this whole thing as a great new
experience. Someone new to play his little tricks on. He would have
easily welcomed him into House Vasteri and would have protected him
with his life if necessary, as he had with Tora. Could Tora do any
less?

“He will have my support.” Tora told her.
“Not because he is your offspring, but because he will be
my
brother. My second. All will know this. My vow.” Tora declared then
again crossed his chest and bowed to her.

Wray listened as his first male spoke and
felt his sense of pride growing. Tora was becoming a fine young
male, showing all the traits that would one day help him lead their
people.

“Thank you Tora.” Kim said, her voice once
again filled with warmth, if a little watery.

“No thanks is necessary.” Tora looked to his
manno. “You know this will cause great speculation when you
announce it to the Assembly.”

“We are not announcing it yet.” Wray told
him. “As of right now only Kim, me, you and Curador know.”

“What? Why?”

“Kim wishes some time to adjust. To become
comfortable in our House and with our people before they are
told.”

“It could anger some. You are withholding
that compatible females have been found.”

“Yes, but that will be handled when the time
comes. Right now, all that matters is making sure Kim is safe and
happy.”

“It will cause problems for you Wray?” Kim
gave him a concerned look. “My not wanting to announce I’m with
offspring.”

“No Kim.” Wray shot Tora a look telling him
to be quiet and saw him nod his understanding. “It will not.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“Tora?” Kim turned her eyes to him seeking
confirmation.

“It is at the Emperor’s discretion when he
announces the Empress has conceived.” Tora told her, he just didn’t
add that no Emperor had ever waited before.

“Okay then.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Kim took her seat on the shuttle, glad to
finally be leaving Vesta. Lord Reeve had gone on and on about how
sorry he was for what had happened to her here. About how he prayed
that she wouldn’t hold what Fala and Gyula had done, on their own,
against his House.

Kim hadn’t believed a word he said. His words
never matched the look in his eyes. His eyes said he thought she
was responsible for everything that had happened.

Turning, she smiled at Caitir and Jael, who
were sitting several rows behind her. Both their eyes filled with
excitement and a little fear. Kim could relate. They were both
going to a strange new place. Seeing the empty seat beside them,
she frowned. Where was Curador?

Looking back towards the hatch of the shuttle
she saw Wray give Veron a sharp look before his eyes found her.
Veron had pulled Wray aside, just as they were entering the
shuttle, Kim had proceeded to take her seat but now she wondered if
she should have.

“Tell the pilot to take off.” Wray told Veron
then walked over and sat down next to Kim.