Boyett-Compo, Charlotte - WindTales 02 (25 page)

Emperor Akito Shimota gently closed the door. He swept his arm toward a chair. “May I?"

“Of course!” Syn-Jern felt ill at ease that he was indisposed in the presence of so august a person as the

Emperor of Chrystallus.

The Emperor sat gingerly on the very edge of the damask-covered chair, his feet planted firmly on the

floor, and rested his palms on his knees. “You are feeling better?” he inquired politely.

“A little,” Syn-Jern acknowledged. “I don't think I'll be doing any handstands any time soon, though."

Akito Shimota frowned. “I wish to render my most abject apologies, Lord Syn-Jern. The enormity of

Masarawa's perfidy has filled me with great shame."

“I don't blame you for what that bas...” Syn-Jern cleared his throat. “The man thought he was carrying

out your wishes by bringing us here at any cost."

“It was not my wish that he do either you or your men harm, Duke Sorn. I requested your presence; you

were free to decline if you so desired. I thought I made that clear to Masarawa.” He looked away,

thoroughly ashamed. “I see I did not."

Syn-Jern wanted to put the man at ease. “Maybe it was my abrasive personality that caused it. I hinted

the man wasn't to be trusted."

Twin black brows leapt upward. “Truly?” The Emperor almost smiled. “No man has ever dared

question Masarawa's trustworthiness."

“Well, I didn't know him from Alel's house cat,” Syn-Jern admitted.

A smile finally tugged at the corners of Akito's small mouth. “And would not have cared had you

known?"

Syn-Jern smiled, too. “Probably not. I've never been accused of having a whole lot of tact and

diplomacy, Your Highness."

“I have heard many intriguing things about you, Syn-Jern.” His forehead puckered. “May I call you by

your given name?"

“My friends call me Syn,” was the reply.

“I am Akito,” the Emperor offered. “Please to call me such."

Syn-Jern turned a deathly white color. “I wouldn't presume to call you..."

Akito fanned his hand in dismissal of the objection. “I detest titles and men who feel the need to employ

them.” He leaned forward, lowered his voice. “I find most of those who do so are only out to curry favor

with the Imperial House and are not to be trusted.” He sat back and crossed his arms over the elaborate

silk robe he wore. “My family has often bemoaned my lack of courtliness. My father expressed his

doubts to my mother that I would ever be sensible enough to sit the Lotus throne. Call me Akito,” he

said.

Syn-Jern liked this small man with his long black braid and wicked grin. Everything about Akito Shimota

bespoke warmth and friendliness.

“You said you'd heard about me?” Syn-Jern asked, feeling more comfortable in the man's presence.

“What have you heard?"

“That you have set yourself the task of destroying the Viragonian Tribunal."

Surprise lifted Syn-Jern's forehead. “Who told you that?"

Akito smiled. “I have spies everywhere, even in Virago."

Syn-Jern flinched. “Spies who knew I was on my way here?"

“No,” Akito was quick to tell him. “As far as I am aware, no one in Virago knows your whereabouts at

this moment, although I am told the whole of the Tribunal and Palace Guards are on the lookout for you

there."

Syn-Jern's face groaned. “Oh, that's wonderful."

“Not to worry,” Akito stated. “By the time we are finished with you, no man will be able to stand against

you, Syn."

“By the time you're...” Syn-Jern squinted. “What exactly does that mean?"

“I married a Chalean,” Akito said, dropping the statement into the conversation as though Syn-Jern had

asked about his guest's marital status.

Syn-Jern stared at the man. What did Akito's choice of a wife have to do with anything?

“I joined with her much against my parents’ advice, I might add,” Akito continued. He shrugged

elaborately, twisting his lips as he did. “Another example of what my father liked to call ‘Akito's infernal

rebelliousness'.” The Emperor chuckled. “But he later recanted after he'd spent time with my lady. He

came to love her as I do."

Syn-Jern could think of nothing to say. He suspected there was a reason the man had brought this up so

he just listened quietly, keeping his thoughts to himself.

“We have been extremely happy, she and I.” Akito smiled wistfully. “Our marriage is nearing its silver

anniversary."

“But you can't be more than thirty!” Syn-Jern protested.

“On the contrary,” Akito beamed. “I will be fifty on my next birthday and my Lady-Wife will be

forty-two."

Syn-Jern shook his head. “Must be something in the water here."

Akito threw back his head and laughed. “See,” he said, pointing at Syn-Jern, “that is why you will have

your people's support when you return to your homeland. You have not lost your sense of humor despite

your imprisonment in the Labyrinth."

“You know about that?” Syn-Jern was stunned.

“I know all about you, Syn-Jern,” Akito confessed.

“From your spies.” It was an accusation.

“Yes, from them, but also from your friends and your very beautiful Lady-Wife. They dined with me last

evening and we had a long, long talk. Until my physicians insisted the Lady Genny retire for the night.”

The smile slipped slowly from the Emperor's face. “May I extend my congratulations on her impending

motherhood?"

There was something in the way Akito expressed his sentiments that made Syn-Jern uneasy.

“We have not been so lucky, my wife and I,” he said, looking down at the hands he had folded tightly in

his lap. “We have tried, but there will never be issue from our union. I fear the fault lies with me, not her."

Syn-Jern's heart went out to the man. “I am sorry."

“I, too,” Akito answered. “But we have decided to adopt a boy and girl from my wife's country. Twins,

I am told."

When there was a long silence, Akito looked up guiltily. “Please,” he asked, his eyes contrite, “do not

think I will hold their lineage against these children. I would never do such a thing."

“I'm sure you wouldn't,” Syn-Jern agreed.

“I will love them and cherish them as though they had sprang from own loins!” Akito stressed, seeming

to need Syn-Jern's approval. “I would never abuse them in any way. You must believe that!"

“I do."

Akito shivered. “Do you, Syn-Jern? Do you believe I will be a good father to these children?"

“Aye,” Syn-Jern replied, knowing he meant it.

The Emperor seemed to relax. His smile returned, albeit tremulously, and he unclenched his hands. “So,”

he said, changing the subject again. “When you are well, we will begin your training."

Syn-Jern blinked. “I beg your pardon?"

“Pretorius and I.” There was smug satisfaction on Akito's ivory face.

“Pretorius?” Syn-Jern felt a shiver of apprehension travel down his spine. “You know him?"

“Naturally,” Akito responded. “He taught me the precepts of your Storm Warrior Society, as well as the

dogma of the Serenian Wind Warriors. He is an excellent teacher."

There was a quiet knock at the door.

“I believe that would be my Lady-Wife,” Akito whispered conspiratorially. “She wonders what is taking

me so long. She has been away for several weeks, visiting her sisters. Now she wants my full attention.”

He grinned. “And her nosiness demands she find out all she can about you!"

“I can't receive Her Highness like this!” Syn-Jern gasped. He could feel his nakedness from the tips of

his toes to his burning face. “I don't have anything on under these covers!"

The Emperor snorted. “It matters not.” He padded to the door and opened it quietly. “His head still

bothers him,” he heard Akito explaining, “but I believe he is ready.” There was a soft mumble, then the

rustle of silk.

The Empress of Chrystallus came into the room, touched her husband's arm lightly, and then glided

silently to Syn-Jern's bed. Her smile was bright and warm and her touch as she reached out to lay it along

Sorn's cheek, was cool and possessive.

“Good morn, Lord Syn-Jern,” she whispered. “Remember me?"

“Rowena!” Syn-Jern breathed, his entire world coming to a halt.

She grinned. “Aye, Milord. Simply Rowena."

[Back to Table of Contents]

Genevieve Sorn was not happy. She'd been waiting to see her husband for well over two hours. Lin Su,

the personal bodyguard His Highness, the Emperor, had been assigned to Syn-Jern, and had assured her

his new master was fine.

“He took a small amount of broth upon waking; drank two cups of tea.” Lin Su inclined his head. “At

the moment, His Imperial Majesty is visiting with him, Lady Sorn. They would not wish to be disturbed."

The mountain of a man that was Lin Su made for an excellent obstacle for he would not allow Genny to

enter Syn-Jern's chamber, neither would he knock to announce her.

“And just when do you suppose they will be through with their chat?” Genny snapped.

Lin Su shrugged massive shoulders. “It is not my place to anticipate such things, Lady Sorn.” His lips

twitched beneath the camouflage of his thin mustache and he returned her hostile gaze with a complaisant

one of his own. “Perhaps, soon, though."

Genny was not amused. She stamped her foot with frustration and was about to turn away when the

monolith standing before her had dropped to the floor like the rock he was, his forehead pressed close to

the carpeting.

“What the hell are you doing?” Genny gasped.

“Showing obeisance,” came the answer.

Genny turned, her eyes going wide at the sight of the titian-haired woman walking toward her. Towering

over Genny by a good foot, the woman took advantage of the younger woman's shock by pushing

Genny none-too gently aside and rapping softly on Syn-Jern's chamber door.

“Who are you?” Genny demanded.

The woman ignored her as the Emperor opened the door. When the door closed in her face, Genny

took a step toward it, reached out to take the handle, just as Lin Su leapt to his feet and caught her hand.

“You may not, Milady,” he informed her.

Genny tried to snatch her hand away, but the giant had it locked firmly, if gently, in his huge paw. “Let go

of me!” she snarled. “I want to see my husband!"

“Perhaps you should lie down, Lady Sorn,” he said, pulling her toward her own chamber door.

“I don't want to lie down!” she hissed.

“I think perhaps you should rest now, Lady Sorn,” he repeated and put his giant paw of a hand on

Genny's neck. Almost instantly, Genny collapsed in the big man's arms.

The Emperor took that precise moment to exit Syn-Jern's room. “Is she ill?” Akito asked, rushing

forward.

“Nay, Highness,” Lin Su assured him. “Only sleeping."

Akito looked at the big man. “With help from you?"

“She wished to enter the Duke's chamber; I could not allow it."

“No,” Akito agreed. “It would be most unwise at the moment."

* * * *

“Does he know what you did?” Syn-Jern grumbled.

Rowena smiled sweetly. “Akito is privy to all I do, Milord Syn-Jern."

“Including my rape?” he snapped.

“Your seduction,” she corrected.

“Nay, Lady!” he hissed. “My rape!"

The Empress sighed. “Call it what you will."

“It was rape!” he stressed. His hands clenched the bedcovers.

“It was necessary."

“For what?” he barked.

“Milord Syn-Jern,” she said with a long exhalation of breath, “please do not shout. I am not hard of

hearing."

He narrowed his eyes. “What will you do? Call another one of your Necromanian she-devils to gag

me?"

She met his glower directly. “If need be to insure your cooperation."

Without the first moment's hesitation, he flung the covers from his legs, ignoring her short gasp, and

stood there, weaving for a moment, looking for his clothes. “I want my gods-be-damned clothes,

woman!” he demanded.

Rowena dragged her gaze from the thick nest of blond curls at the juncture of his thighs. “No doubt you

do, but until the physicians have assured me you are well enough to dress yourself, you shall not have

them."

“I want my clothes!"

Her chin came up. “You certainly won't get them using that tone with me, Milord Syn-Jern.” She stared

him down until he turned away, yanked the sheet from the bed, and draped it around his body. “Where

do you think you can go?” she asked as he headed for the door.

Syn-Jern jerked the door open, ran up against the obstruction that was Lin Su. He pushed with his free

hand since his left was holding the sheet. “Move,” he ordered.

Lin Su looked past him, saw his Empress shake her head. “I am sorry, Duke Sorn. You may not leave.”

He splayed his hand in the center of Syn-Jern's chest and pushed gently.

“Go to hell!” Syn-Jern snarled and tried to get past the man. He found himself lifted in a firm bear hug,

taken back into the chamber, and deposited in the middle of the floor and the sheet torn from his body

despite every effort to retain it.

Syn-Jern bellowed as the giant left him with nothing to wear, taking the sheet with him as he left the room

and closed the door.

With a growl of pure animal fury, Syn-Jern turned on Rowena. “Am I your prisoner again?"

“No."

“Then let me out of this room!"

“Not until we have talked.” Rowena settled back on the settee and regarded him. She patted the seat

beside her. “I promise not to molest you."

Despite the fact that he was entirely naked, Syn-Jern stood, arms akimbo, and stared at her.