Chapter Sixteen
Jaki had never appreciated East Iceland so much. Sure, it was dying like the other half, and bandits roamed around, but there was less chance of being captured by Tivar’s men.
They likely wouldn’t go past the border. To be caught by East Iceland soldiers would lead to imprisonment, and they’d be tortured for information before a dove even made it to Elswere to say they’d caught someone from the enemy side.
They were pretty safe from Tivar. Jaki still had to be careful of bandits, but even Lumi seemed to feel a bit safer. What little strength he had was sapped as they rode for three days. It was no wonder, considering the physical and mental strain he’d been under.
Jaki had never appreciated home so much either.
When they finally entered the grounds, no one questioned why he had no guard after being away, so they must have assumed he’d taken one or two from the city and dropped them off.
Those in the city and the Castle grounds didn’t mix for shifts, so Father wouldn’t even know.
Lumi drew stares even though he had his hood up and his face hidden. Jaki took him in a side entrance.
“I think you should have your own rooms,” he said in a low voice when they entered the main grounds. “I was going to put you in mine, but that’s not a good idea.”
“If a servant recognizes me…”
“I’ll make sure you’re left alone. Once in a while, my Father comes to my rooms to see me. You know his sight is poor, but if he recognizes you…I need to break things slowly.”
Lumi paused in the courtyard they were in. “Maybe I shouldn’t be here…there are too many people, and I don’t-” He cut off. “I’m too tired to act.”
He looked so lost as he stood there with Jacqueline nestled against him in her sling. He’d been away from home only to return as a pawn of Tivar. Now, he was back once more with a freedom he didn’t know what to do with anymore.
“Nobody’s expecting you to act,” said Jaki. “Besides, I think it’s time we send away the court. I’ll figure things out, all right?”
He barely knew what to do besides focus on the couple of things he could control at the moment.
Jaki took him to his rooms and had him sit in the bedroom, so he could call a servant. He told her to set up a room for a guest, and they weren’t to be disturbed since their health was poor. They’d also need a cradle.
There was another open-ended hallway with a nice set, and he wanted Lumi close by.
Technically, he would prefer to have his brother in his rooms to watch over him and their daughter, but maybe it would be better if Lumi didn’t have someone hovering at all times.
The servants didn’t question the orders.
Once the new quarters were prepared, he brought Lumi to them.
The servants probably wondered who had a baby and why the parent was sick.
They could mutter among themselves all they wanted.
Jacqueline started fussing almost as soon as they got in, and Lumi headed right for the bedroom so he could feed her.
Jaki crouched by the side of the bed to look at Lumi who had sat in the middle. His bruises had faded to green and yellow, but they hadn’t gone away since the beating had been quite severe.
“I want to bring the physician in to heal you and make sure you’re alright,” said Jaki. “She’ll keep her mouth shut. If you really don’t want to see her, you don’t have to. She’ll likely expect you to get undressed, and I understand if you don’t want to. You can say no to anything.”
Lumi adjusted Jacqueline a little as she fed from his pec. “I’m fine.”
“I would feel better if you did. If you have any strange pains or something is wrong, you can tell her. She can look over Jacqueline too.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll stay in the sitting room, and if you feel unsafe for any reason, you can yell for me.”
***
“I have someone I need you to look at, and you have to keep quiet about them,” Jaki told the physician in a stern tone. “Not one word about them better leave your mouth.”
She nodded as she sat at the desk in her workroom. “Are they sick or is it an injury?”
“They’ve had a baby and…a rough time,” Jaki said, although that was the understatement of the century.
“I want to make sure they’re okay, but if they say to stop touching them or anything of the sort, stop.
It’s…” She’d recognize him even though most of the dye was gone.
“It’s Lumi, who was the pleasure slave. He’s not one now, and he’s had a baby. ”
Her mouth dropped slightly. “Oh, he must have been distraught. No wonder he disappeared. It’s quite rare for anyone with grey fever to have a child later.”
He’d never had it, but Jaki wasn’t going to explain everything to her.
“Why did he come back?”
“That’s his business.”
She followed him after she collected a few things in a satchel. Jaki let her go into the bedroom while he sat by the fire. He’d tell Father he had a friend over first, and later, he’d break the actual news once he figured out a way to admit the truth. He couldn’t do it right at the moment.
It wasn’t something he could hide for life, and Lumi couldn’t hide forever either. He needed to be coronated, and Jaki would have to admit the baby was his.
A lot of things needed to be done, and for a moment, the future threatened to overwhelm him. He liked having a plan of action and executing it, and while things had been uncertain when he left, he’d been able to do what was needed.
It was a little more difficult when it came to Elswere. No man wants to learn he’s been cluelessly screwing his nephew or that his nephews had a child together.
To distract himself, he tried to imagine Tivar returning after a night of naughty games and sex at the whorehouse.
Jaki wished he could have seen the bastard’s face once he finally entered his bedroom and realized Lumi simply wasn’t there and the Crown was missing.
It gave him a little prickle of savage pleasure.
Tivar had probably gone into a drunken rage, searched the whole Castle, and questioned the servants. He’d learn of a “lord” visiting and a strange “sick” man looking for his baby. With a fake story in place to explain Lumi, he’d order men to go out and search.
He’d also be utterly infuriated about the Crown being gone. East Iceland held all of the cards. They only needed to go to war and unite both sides.
The physician finally came out with her satchel and stared at Jaki. “Is that why he vanished so suddenly? He had your child and was afraid you’d be angry?”
Jaki hadn’t expected such a bold question from her. “She could be anyone’s.”
“You’re the only one around here with pink eyes. I’m not stupid, Your Majesty. She looks like you both.”
Others would notice too. “Whatever you think, keep your mouth shut. I don’t need rumors floating around before anything has been decided. Lumi’s been through enough without people whispering behind his back. I’m more worried about his and Jacqueline’s health.”
Surely, she’d also noticed the resemblance between them too now that Lumi wasn’t dying his hair and the fur on his ears and tail. Even though everyone thought Edur was dead, it didn’t mean she couldn’t figure it out.
Jaki had guessed unlike everyone else.
“He’ll be fine.” She drew nearer. “I healed the bruising that remained. In his delicate areas, he’ll be fine too.
He knows that if anything changes, he can ask for me.
I told him no sex for six weeks to ensure his insides are fully healed.
An abundant male can sometimes get pregnant quite quickly again like a woman after birth.
Not always, but it can happen, and I recommend anyone capable of birth to wait at least a year between children. It’s healthier.”
“I highly doubt he plans to have another baby anytime soon.”
“I tell all of my patients this regardless of what they intend at the moment. Jacqueline is also well, and Lumi’s producing enough milk.
He still needs to eat more because he’s a bit thin.
As the baby grows, he’ll need to feed her more.
A newborn’s stomach is quite small. Her appetite will grow larger. ”
“I’ll make sure he eats enough.”
She paused. “He’s different from before. I don’t know what happened to him when he left…I’ll assume it wasn’t good.”
He took a deep breath. “There are a lot of cruel bastards out there.”
She looked down. “I’d recommend peace and quiet, Your Majesty. I’ll bring him a jar of herbs, and he should steep two large spoonfuls in hot water to drink every morning. It’s to help the mind, although I can’t guarantee results.”
Jaki had heard of the herbs for melancholy and such. How well they worked was debatable.
“If he tries to refuse, insist he take them,” she added. “Men have a habit of pretending they don’t need certain things, but it’s not something to be ashamed of. The mind can be worn out and injured just like a body part.”
Once she left, Jaki went in to see Lumi who was lying on the bed. Jacqueline was next to him and holding one of his fingers.
“It seems you’ll both be physically fine overall,” Jaki said as he sat on the bed.
“Yeah,” said Lumi. “I feel better with the bruising gone.
“You need to take the herbs she’ll give you,” said Jaki. “Every morning.”
“I will. I want to take a nap now.”
“Do you want a bath first?”
“No. I’m tired, and I just want to sleep.”
It’d be the first sleep in a real bed in a truly safe place.
“All right. I need to go see Father.”
***
“My friend isn’t feeling well.” Jaki settled into a chair. “I didn’t like the physician he had at home, so I brought him here. Ours is a lot better. He also needs total rest and wasn’t getting it at home. Er, he has a lot of siblings, and it’s never quiet.”
Elswere nodded as he sat in front of the fire in his sitting room. “Makes sense. Er, is he dying?”
“No. He needs better care, and it’s been quite a strain on him, so he’ll be staying for a while. Nobody is to see or bother him.”
“Okay. What was his name? Erik?”
“Mhm.”