Chapter Eleven #2
The thought made him stop in his tracks.
Wait. No, he thought. He was going to Serenity as an ambassador, in order to begin negotiations for erecting temples in Weysa’s name.
That was the main reason for going. He was not going just to be with a woman.
He was not leaving a newly conquered city—which needed him to take the reins of it desperately—in his brothers’ hands at such a crucial time just so he could—
“Jaykun? Is something amiss?”
He blinked and realized Jileana and Dremu were looking at him curiously. That was when he realized he had come to a halt.
“No. Nothing,” he muttered, pushing past them and moving on.
“I-I-I don’t w-want to go to Serenity,” Dremu whispered to Jileana. It was clear he was terrified by the thought.
“Either you come to Serenity,” she whispered back, “or I tell him you tried to kill me. It is your choice. Previously you said you had no choice but to kill me. Well, now you have choices. Live with me or die by him. Which do you choose?”
Dremu gave her a look. “Live of course,” he said. “Who would choose to die? But … Serenity? I have heard stories …”
“Most of which are probably lies or exaggerations. Don’t worry. It is a very nice place. You will learn to love it.”
“But how will I be able to—?”
“Trust me,” she said softly, reaching to squeeze his forearm. “You are under my protection and guidance. All will be well.”
Dremu took a deep breath and nodded.
“Jaykun, Dremu can carry any belongings you wish to bring with you. He will act as servant for you.”
“I have my own servants. I will bring one of them.”
She moved up to him and put a hand on his arm to draw him to a stop. “Dremu and no others.”
“Why?” he demanded to know.
“Passage to Serenity is limited and I must choose very carefully who to bring. You and Dremu may come; all others must stay.”
Jaykun didn’t like it. Why was she suddenly taking an interest in this person she had just met? It didn’t make any sense to him.
But the fact was that the passage to Serenity was controlled by her, and as a visiting dignitary, he had to be the one to accede to whatever Serenity’s customs were …
for now. That might change later if he found the people of Serenity intractable about building the temples he requested.
But he did not wish to consider the ramifications of their potential refusal.
Not at present, in any event. He had more than enough on his plate as it was.
He would have put this trip off if not for the limitations on their travel.
He chose to ignore the voice in his brain that whispered he could have just as easily done this in the springtime as now.
“Very well. Have it your way,” he muttered to her. Then he led the way to his rooms. Sitting on the floor was a small trunk. He pointed to it.
“Take that, boy. You will be in charge of my belongings. If anything happens to them, it will be your head. Understood?”
“Yes, my lord,” he said, and with all haste he went to fetch the trunk, lifting it with a small amount of difficulty but managing without complaint in the end.
Jaykun turned to Jileana. “I need to say goodbye to my brothers and manage this news about the finia. Shall I meet you at the docks?”
“No. Not the docks,” she said with a shake of her dark head. “The cove.”
“The ship is anchored near the cove? Why does it not just come to the docks?”
“All will be explained. Just meet me at the cove.”
“Very well, then,” he said, reaching to ring her about the back of her neck with one strong, demanding hand.
He jerked her close and seized her mouth with his, laying claim to her in front of the other male, making certain Dremu knew who owned her affections at that time.
He tried not to examine the proprietary impulse too closely as he let her go slowly, taking in the smile she gave him and feeling the better for it.
Then he took his leave of her and headed for his brothers in the dining hall, the servant following steadily behind him.
“Well, brothers, I am off. Do I look the diplomat?” he asked, indicating himself and the finer than usual clothing he was wearing.
“Every inch,” Dethan said.
“Jaykun, I must protest again,” Garreth said. “Now is not the time for you to leave.”
“No, it is not ideal,” he agreed. “But if I do not go now, I will not be able to until the summer when you return, and by then I hope to be laying siege to Moroun or perhaps one of the cities on the far continent. No. Now is the better choice.”
“Methinks you are thinking more with other parts of your body than with your brain,” Garreth said with a frown.
“Enough!” Jaykun said, slamming a fist down on the table. “I will not listen to you and your half-conjured ideas as to my motivations in this. Just … just manage this city for the next few days. That is all I ask. Please.”
“You know we will,” Dethan said soothingly. “Whatever your reasoning, we are here for you, willing to do whatever is necessary. Now be off with you. All is in good hands here. You can be assured of that.”
“Thank you, Dethan,” Jaykun said with a sigh. “Garreth, forgive my temper.”
“You do not like to be questioned. You never did. Which is no doubt why I always questioned you,” Garreth said with a chuckle.
“No doubt,” Jaykun agreed, smiling. “See you in a few days, brothers! Try not to foul up my city in the meanwhile.” He turned toward the door, caught sight of Dremu, and belated remembered to tell his brothers about the finia.
“Oh, and you should know that it is the finia behind the attempts on our lives.”
“How do you know this?” Dethan demanded.
“This boy overheard the fortunary giving commands,” he said, nodding to Dremu.
“I thought the finia was under guard,” Garreth said.
“I allowed her limited visitors,” Dethan said. “I thought the fortunary would be harmless enough. It isn’t as though he were her vizier or her head of guard. I see now my error.”
“It is not our way to imprison the leaders of the cities we conquer,” Jaykun said. “They are usually harmless enough without gold or armies or advisors.”
“Usually. Perhaps we have been too lax with our methods,” said Garreth.
“It has worked for us in the past,” Dethan said. “The finia is the exception, not the rule.”
“Very well. The finia’s life is forfeit. And the fortunary will fare no better. Are we agreed?” Jaykun said.
“We are agreed,” Dethan said. “Now you best get going. You need to be on that island before dusk.”
“I am well aware,” Jaykun said dryly.
“And no dallying on the ship! This is a diplomatic mission! Some comportment please!”
Jaykun rolled his eyes and turned his back on their laughter, heading out of the castle and toward the cove.