Griffin's Shadow (2 page)

“The woman who raised me—Claudia—always said my mother and father loved each other, and that my father gave my mother his ring so, one day, I might use it to find him. I always took that story with a grain of salt,” Jelena said.

“Grain of salt?” Sen repeated quizzically.

“An old Soldaran expression. It means to doubt a little. I’d always hoped to find him some day, but I kept telling myself to be prepared for him to reject me. I still cannot believe what you’re telling me is true, though! Why would the king travel alone in the borderlands?”

“Keizo wasn’t king yet back then. His eldest brother Okame ruled, so he had no expectations of ever sitting on the throne. Okame had a family, you see—three sons and two daughters.

“Keizo was restless as a younger man and often traveled far from home. He even journeyed to the human lands east of our borders…not to the Empire, of course, but there are still human countries not yet under the yolk of the Soldarans and who don’t hate us. Ai, the stories he used to tell… I remember a time, ‘bout eighteen years ago, when my old friend Zin—all his close friends called him that back before he became our king—showed up at my gate dirty, thin, and hobbling on a poorly set broken leg.

“He wouldn’t tell me exactly what had happened to him, only that he’d had an accident, but that he’d received help from someone. This person kept him alive until he was strong enough to make it back home.”

“My mother,” Jelena whispered.

“Seems so. Keizo was tight as an oyster, though. Never said any more about it. He stayed near two weeks, then returned to Sendai. Shortly thereafter, word reached us that King Okame and his entire family had drowned in a sudden unseasonable storm off the coast of the Arrisae Islands. They’d been spending time at the royal retreat on the main island. The ship bringing them back to the mainland struck a reef during the gale and foundered. Everyone on board perished. When next I saw my childhood friend, he was my king and I was accepting the post as Commanding General of the Armies of Alasiri.”

Sen fell silent, as if he knew Jelena needed a few moments to digest the astounding revelation he had just laid upon her.

My father is the elf king! How am I ever going to take this all in?

Jelena had lived with the shame of her mixed blood all her life, and even when she thought she had escaped racial bigotry, she had encountered it again, albeit in a less virulent form, among her father’s people. Now, she had just learned the blood of elven royalty flowed in her veins.

Will this make any real difference? I am still hikui…a half-breed,
she thought.

The twins squealed in delight as their mother finished reading.

“Please, Mother…,” Jena begged, and Mariso breathlessly completed the sentence, “Read us one more!”

“No, girls,” Amara replied as she closed the book. “It is time for you two to go to bed. We must get up very early. ”

“Ooooooh!” the children cried.

“Girls! Do as your mother says,” Sen commanded, his voice stern, but affectionate. “You don’t want to get left behind tomorrow morning because no one can wake you, do you?” Mournfully, the two little blond heads shook in unison. “Very good. Now, come and kiss your old father good night.”

After Amara had taken the twins off to bed, Jelena resumed her conversation with Sen.

“What will all of this mean, Father?” Jelena asked. “If I’m truly the king’s daughter, does that mean I’m a…a
princess
? Even though I’m hikui? You said my existence will complicate my father’s life. How so?”

“Keizo has a younger brother, Prince Raidan, who is officially his Heir, at least until he marries and produces a child…an okui child,” Sen replied. “So far, the king has shown no inclination to marry, and his longtime companion has not born him any children as yet. The prince…well, let’s just say he won’t exactly welcome with open arms anyone who could become a potential rival to his claim.”

Jelena frowned. “So you think Prince Raidan—my uncle—would view me as a threat?”

“Yes,” Sen replied.

Jelena shook her head. “I’ve gone from bastard half-breed scullery maid to king’s daughter in the blink of an eye…. This is all so unreal.”

“What are you two talking about over here? You both look so serious.” Ashinji had come up behind her and he now slipped his arms around her waist. “You’ve been huddled with my wife for too long, Father. I miss her and want her back.” He planted a kiss on the side of her neck, then rested his chin on her shoulder.

Jelena’s breath caught in her throat, the way it always did when Ashinji kissed her there. “Your father had some important news for me, Ashi, about my own father,” Jelena explained. “I’ll tell you everything later, when we’re alone.”

Ashinji looked first at his father and then at Jelena. “I gather from the looks on your faces that the situation isn’t entirely good,” he commented.

Sen said nothing and Jelena turned her head to kiss Ashinji’s cheek. “Later, I promise,” she repeated.

“Well, then! I think we’d all best get to bed,” Sen said, loud enough to catch Lani, Sadaiyo, and Misune’s attentions. “We’ve got an early start tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll meet you in the stables at dawn, Father,” Sadaiyo said as he and Misune exited the sitting room, arm in arm.

“G’night, Father,” Lani murmured sleepily, planting a quick kiss on Sen’s cheek as she followed her oldest brother out. “’Night, Ashi, Jelena.”

“I’m still surprised that Mother and the girls are coming to Sendai with us,” Ashinji said after Lani had left.

Sen shrugged. “It’s been years since your mother saw the capital. I think she’s grown a bit restless out here in the country and wants to get a taste of the city for a change. I also know she’s looking to show Lani off… Not much in the way of useful young men this far east, you know. What better place to snag a rich young heir than at court, eh?”

Jelena remembered Ashinji mentioning his sister had taken a fancy to Misune’s older brother Ibeji.

Perhaps Father-in-law believes one match between the Sakehera and the Dai families is enough,
she thought.

“Come, husband. Let’s get to bed,” she said.

Ashinji nodded in agreement and as the two of them headed for the door, Sen called out, “First light, children! Don’t oversleep!”

~~~

Later, as they lay snuggled together beneath the coverlets, Jelena told Ashinji everything his father had told her about her sire.

“If this is true and you really are the king’s daughter…it could change everything, Jelena,” Ashinji responded, his voice soft and pensive. Jelena could hear the worry behind his quiet words. She grabbed his chin and pulled until he looked into her eyes.

“It changes nothing, Ashi. None of us knows how the king will greet the news that he has a hikui daughter. He may reject me outright. Or he may acknowledge my existence but refuse to have any direct contact with me.”

“Or he might accept you with open arms and proclaim you his Heir.”

“You know as well as I do that I can’t be his Heir. It’s the law. Even if, by some miracle of the gods, he does accept me, I will still be your wife and a Sakehera first. My future is with you, no matter what.”

“I still can’t help but worry about where this all could lead,” Ashinji murmured.

He slid downwards and rested his head between her breasts. Tenderly, Jelena ran her fingers through his hair. “You’ll never lose me, Ashi, I promise,” she whispered. He said nothing and instead replied with his body.

As they made love, his caresses were gentle as usual, but at the same time, a little desperate. Afterwards, he held her tight against him, as if he feared to let go; even as they both drifted off to sleep, his arms never loosened.

Departure Day

"Jelena…wake up, love. We must get ready to go.”

Jelena groaned and pulled the covers over her head. She’d had some difficulty falling asleep last night, so it seemed as if she had just drifted off. Now, Ashinji was pestering her to get up.

Ohhhh, I don’t want to leave this bed. I’m too comfortable!

A little candle flame of memory sparked in her head. She sat up abruptly, and her forehead met Ashinji’s nose with a painful smack.

“Owww!” they both yelled.

“Ashi, are you all right?” Jelena cried, rubbing her head with one hand and reaching out to her husband with the other.

“Mmmmph,” he mumbled behind hands cupped over his nose and mouth. Jelena grabbed his wrists and pulled his hands away, then gasped with dismay.

“Goddess’
tits
, your head is hard, woman!” Ashinji growled. “That is the last time I try to wake you with my nose pressed to your face!” In the feeble glow of the night lamp beside the bed, Jelena saw the slow trickle of scarlet that ran down from one nostril and dripped off Ashinji’s chin into his open palm. “Ai, this is going to really hurt later on,” he sighed.

Jelena bit down on her lower lip, unsure if she wanted to laugh or cry. Ashinji must have noticed her stricken look, for he immediately sought to reassure her. “I don’t think it’s broken, just bloodied. I’ve had plenty of these before, every soldier has. Don’t worry.” He crawled out of bed and padded over to his floor chest where he proceeded to rummage through its contents. He pulled out a piece of cloth and pressed it to his nose.

Jelena got up and sidled over to wrap her arms around Ashinji from behind. She laid her cheek against his head; even after a day and a night, the aroma of sweet almond still clung to his hair.

“Careful, my love,” Ashinji warned, his voice muffled by the cloth pressed to his nose. “If you keep touching me like that, we’ll never get out of this room and my father will be forced to leave us behind.” He twisted in her embrace to face her.

“I think we have a little time yet before we must go,” Jelena whispered, her eyes smoldering with desire. The bloodied cloth slipped from Ashinji’s fingers.

A soft knock at the door interrupted their kiss. “Oh, damn, damn…” Ashinji muttered. “That must be Akan.” Jelena scrambled for the bed and dove beneath the coverlets while Ashinji threw on a robe and went to open the door.

“Good morning, my lord. I’ve brought you something to eat.” Akan was a small, older man, lame in the left leg from a childhood accident. He had served as Ashinji’s valet ever since Ashinji had been old enough to have private quarters. Whenever his young lord returned home on leave, Akan resumed his old duties.

The valet entered, carrying a large tray in his hands. He limped over to the low dining table and set his burden down.

“Thank you, Akan.” Ashinji said, sniffing and wiping his nose on a sleeve.

The valet bowed. “I hope my lady likes blackberries,” he said, glancing discreetly in Jelena’s direction. “They were picked fresh just yesterday. My lord Sen instructed that the best should be sent up this morning especially for your enjoyment.”

Jelena sat up, careful to keep herself covered. “I love blackberries! Tell my father-in-law I said ‘thank you’.” Akan smiled and bowed to Jelena then turned once more to Ashinji. “The bath is ready whenever you and my lady wish to use it. My lord Sen says not to dawdle.” He smiled again in gentle amusement. “I’ll send up Jawara to assist with your armor when you are finished. Uh, my lord Ashinji, do you need help with your nose?”

Ashinji grimaced and shook his head. “No, thanks. I think I have things under control.” Akan nodded, bowed a final time, and departed.

Jelena bounded out of bed and threw on a robe, then sat down at the table and began attacking the blackberries with relish while Ashinji sipped a mug of tea. Besides the berries, Akan had brought smoked fish, fresh bread, soft cheese flavored with herbs, and the favorite breakfast food of all elves—or so it seemed to Jelena—sour yogurt.

“We’ll be on the road at least seven days, possibly longer. The wagons and my mother’s carriage will slow us considerably.” Ashinji commented. He grabbed the yogurt and took a mouthful directly from the pot. Jelena wrinkled her nose in distaste. Try as she might, she could not cultivate a taste for the thick, tangy, fermented milk.

“I’m still not exactly sure why my mother chose to come along,” Ashinji continued. “She’s never expressed any interest in attending court before.”

“Your father says it’s to find Lani a husband. Many more boys to choose from!” Jelena giggled.

Ashinji shrugged. “I guess that’s a good reason. It’s true my parents will have a much bigger selection in Sendai than they would all the way out here. I don’t know how cooperative Lani will be, though. My sister has a mind of her own and a strong will to match. She’s set her sights on Ibeji Dai and I’m not sure she can be dissuaded.”

“Perhaps your parents will allow Lani to choose for herself who she wishes to marry, like they did you.”

“Sadly, no. Lani is too important. She’s the oldest girl and tradition dictates the match made for her must be as good as the one made for the Heir.” Ashinji sighed. “Lani and I are a lot alike. I know how much she resents being treated as a commodity, but that’s how things are. The twins, now, they are the truly fortunate ones. No one will much care who they marry, or even
if
they marry. Youngest children are the only ones allowed that kind of freedom.”