Blood Legacy: Heir to the Throne (19 page)

“Of course, my lord. Thank you for such an honor,” Devon replied.

Obviously in a foul mood, Aeron made a dismissive hand gesture. “That is all, you may go.”

As much as Devon wanted to leave, he stood firm, knowing he had to speak his piece. Aeron raised glowering eyes to him.

“What?” he demanded, his tone scathing.

Devon gathered his courage and did his best to steady his voice.

“Perhaps you should reconsider your challenge,” Devon said, resignation in his voice. Aeron would probably kill him.

The table between them took the initial brunt of Aeron’s volatile temper as he leaped to his feet and smashed his fist downward. It was a testament to its construction that it merely split down the middle as opposed to exploding.

“And is her influence so great now that she turns my own line against me?” Aeron asked, both fury and frustration in his voice.

Devon kept his eyes to the floor. “Of course not, my lord. I live to serve you.” He knew he was pushing his luck, but he had to continue, “It’s just that…”

“What?” Aeron said through clenched teeth.

Devon took a deep breath, then blurted it out. “She has a son, my lord.”

Aeron stopped dead in his tracks. “What did you say?”

Devon was now able to hold his master’s gaze. He felt he might actually live through this conversation. “She has a son, my lord. Your son,” he clarified, as if there was any need.

Aeron was frozen. Out of all the things that could have come from his manservant’s mouth, this was truly the most startling. He could not even process what he was hearing.

“How do you know this?” he asked slowly.

Devon’s confidence was returning. “I asked her, my lord, in front of the general assembly.”

“And she told you?” Aeron said, incredulous.

“Yes,” Devon said, “she did.”

“What exactly did she say?” Aeron asked, his astonishment even greater.

Devon thought back to the conversation. “She said she had a son, and when I asked her if it was yours, she replied no, that it was her son. She then relented, saying something to the effect that you were,” Devon paused delicately, “instrumental in the process.”

That sounded exactly like something the girl would say, Aeron thought to himself, slowly settling into the chair in front of the now-demolished table. This was almost impossible to comprehend. If Victor was capable of reproducing outside of the Change, however, then his unruly progeny probably was, too.

“You may leave now,” Aeron said without looking up. Devon bowed but his master paid him no mind, so deep in thought was he. Devon quickly departed.

Aeron stared at the destroyed table without really seeing it. If anyone else knocked at his door this evening, he was not answering. He leaned back in his chair, placing his feet on the half of the table still standing.

In all of his complex and convoluted musings, he did note that Abigail failed to mention this most momentous news.

CHAPTER 18

RYAN STOOD IN THE COURTYARD. Although this portion of the council chambers was also underground, it was one near the surface. Through clever construction it was actually well-lit with natural light from the sun. It was even possible to tell it was morning by the quality and brightness of the light.

A series of weapons were laid about on a nearby table, and Ryan inspected them without urgency. She was early and Aeron had not yet arrived, so she had ample time to examine the armaments. She picked up a katana and swung it experimentally. It was the sword Kusunoki had made her. Since Aeron had made the challenge, the first rotation of weapons was her choice. She would have chosen the katana even if it had not been one of her favorites, simply to irritate Aeron who despised the weapon.

She replaced the katana and lifted the much heavier broadsword. She anticipated that this would be Aeron’s preference, the second rotation his choice. Its heavier weight and sturdy composition would favor his fighting style. Still, she swung the weapon effortlessly, enjoying its balance and feel. The weight would not matter; although it was not her preferred, she had been born to use the English broadsword.

She set the broadsword down and lifted the third set of weapons, Sais, a pair of forked blades designed for elaborate defensive moves and blinding offense. These had become Ryan’s favorites, complementing her speed and lightning fast reflexes. If Aeron made it this far, he would be at a distinct disadvantage.

Ryan replaced the weapons. She did not think they would get to the third round. And if they got to the fourth, she did not have much of a plan. Perhaps they could throw rocks at one another.

This thought amused her, and Kusunoki, sensing the mirth, glanced over at his pupil. She appeared completely poised, not overconfident but rather pleasantly taut, a tension born of anticipation rather than fear. He grinned. That was another thing she had in common with her father: Ryan ever loved a good fight.

Several figures filed in, and Ryan glanced up to see Abigail, Marilyn, Ala, and Susan take their seats. Ryan had forbidden all others to attend, a move that had been unexpected and greeted with much speculation. Ryan kept her own counsel on the matter, saying only that the decision had been final.

Kusunoki glanced at his favored student once more. He wondered if she wanted to avoid humiliating Aeron in front of the Others. In her younger years, the thought never would have crossed her mind and she would have proceeded in such a way just to make a point. Now that she had accepted the responsibility of the hierarchy, she seemed to take a more measured course, acting with great maturity. It was one thing to be responsible for herself; it was another to be responsible for all of her Kind.

Ryan glanced over at her teacher, her affection obvious. She looked up into the stands, catching Ala’s glance. She could feel the earth mother’s warm encouragement settle upon her. She turned her attention to Marilyn, who was eying her lithe form with appreciation and very little subtlety. The inspection brought a different type of warmth to Ryan, one located slightly lower in her body. Susan was next in line, sandwiched uncomfortably between the primal forces of Marilyn and Abigail. Susan caught Ryan’s eye, her anxiety evident. Ryan had asked her to attend on the off-chance either she or Aeron were injured, although Susan had protested she had little idea how to treat any injuries they might incur. Ryan had responded that Susan knew more about the anatomy of their Kind than anyone, and Susan had relented.

Lastly, Ryan turned her attention to Abigail, who was watching her with the same unreadable expression she had adopted the minute Aeron returned. Ryan glanced down, scuffing the ground with her boot. It did not matter, it would not change the events of this day. She felt herself glancing back up, not of her own volition as Abigail fully extended her power. Ryan felt the intensity of the matriarch’s gaze burn into her as she heard Abigail’s voice in her mind.

I have not betrayed you.

Ryan held her gaze, her intensity as great as Abigail’s.

I know, Ryan replied simply, silently.

Abigail smiled.

Ryan turned her attention to the doorway and the ensuing commotion there. Aeron stalked in, followed by Devon and some other nondescript manservant. Aeron, although handsome as ever, appeared distinctly disheveled. He actually gave the appearance of having spent a few sleepless nights although in truth he could have gone months without sleeping with no repercussion.

Ryan gave a quick glance to Kusunoki, who was eyeing Aeron with some misgiving. She quickly hid her smile, returning to scuffing her boot along the ground as if it were an all-consuming task.

Kusunoki furrowed his brow, examining Aeron. The man looked like he was recovering from a drinking binge, although none of their Kind was significantly affected by alcohol. This fight would not last a single round. He looked to Ryan, who was watching the three at the other end of the courtyard, mildly expressionless.

There seemed to be some sort of quiet but passionate discussion between Aeron and his Second, which resulted in some pacing about from Aeron. Further discussion ensued, but no apparent action was produced, other than more pacing from Aeron. In an unusual role-reversal, Kusunoki was more impatient than Ryan, who seemed quite willing to let the scene play itself out.

“You’re already late,” Kusunoki said loudly, “is there some problem?”

“A minute, samurai!” Aeron replied heatedly. There was additional, furtive discussion at the other end of the yard, which still did not produce any action.

The four women in the stand glanced at one another. Ala looked upon Aeron with obvious disapproval. Marilyn seemed very entertained by the drama while Susan was baffled as to what was happening. Abigail’s gaze was on Ryan. The older woman had the growing suspicion that the girl had perhaps outfoxed them all. Ryan picked up one of the Sais, content to twirl it about her wrist in a practiced manner.

There was no more discussion occurring at the far end of the yard, just a lot of pacing from Aeron. Devon stood off to the side, staring at the ground in front of him. Ryan’s eyes were on Aeron, and he became very aware of her intense and somewhat amused scrutiny. He stopped abruptly.

“You–” he began, then trailed off.

“We–” he began again, stopping once more. He finally just blurted it out.

“We have a son.”

“No,” Ryan said, casually twirling the short sword, “you were right the first time. I,” she said with emphasis, “have a son. You get credit for–” she paused, searching her mind for the contemporary sports metaphor, “–an assist.”

Aeron glowered at her. “How could this happen?” he demanded.

There was a wicked glint in Ryan’s eye. “Well, if you’re uncertain about exactly when it occurred, I believe it was right after you attempted to kill me and just before I attempted to kill you. Now,” she continued, “if it is the actual mechanics of the act you are unclear on, I am certain Dr. Ryerson can explain that to you.”

Ala muffled laughter and Marilyn sat forward in her chair. This was much better than sword fighting.

Aeron struggled to maintain his temper. The girl’s infernal sense of humor always infuriated him, which she seemed well-aware of as she spun the Sai through her fingers.

“The boy–” Aeron trailed off again.

“His name is Drake,” Ryan said dryly.

“Drake,” Aeron continued, “he is human?”

Ryan was thoughtful, still effortlessly spinning the weapon. “Not entirely. I imagine he is much like I was at that age. Something more than human, but not yet Changed.” Ryan punctuated her statement by tossing the Sai with a practiced flip and impaling it in the ground.

Aeron settled into silence and began pacing once more, appearing to be trapped in some walled enclosure that only he could see.

Kusunoki glanced over at Ryan, suddenly understanding the brilliance of his beloved pupil. Ryan had a secondary motive for forbidding an audience, which was to give Aeron the opportunity to withdraw his challenge without losing face before the Others. He stood only before the Grand Council, and there would be no shame in withdrawing from the contest.

Kusunoki decided to press the issue, “Do you wish to relinquish your challenge?”

Aeron, still distracted within his enclosure, did not reply. Devon leaned toward him.

“My lord…”

“A minute!” Aeron demanded heatedly.

Ryan still seemed content to let him thrash about in indecision. She scuffed the ground experimentally a few more times, then shifted her weight to a comfortable standing position. A thought occurred to her, a question that had been bothering her. She felt she might as well ask while they were waiting.

“I do have one question of you,” Ryan began. Her tone was deliberately casual, but the undertone immediately caught the attention of all present. Aeron stopped his pacing and looked up at her.

Ryan’s tone was still offhanded, and the undertone deadly serious. “It took my father almost two centuries to recover from my attack, and he has yet to recover from the virus which affected you as well.”

The tension in the room rose dramatically.

“How exactly,” Ryan asked, “did you recover so quickly?”

Ryan expected Aeron to respond with boasting, given such a perfect opportunity to declare his superiority to Victor. She expected him to attribute it to the inferiority of her attempt. She expected him to do any number of things that would be consistent and in character with his arrogance. Instead, he did something that sent a chill down her spine.