By Chance Met (26 page)
The stipulation is simple but has far-reaching consequences for my family. Beginning with his own self, the heir of every other generation of Clan Arthanna has to choose his consort from the members of House Shiron. Failure at any time to fulfill this pact will give complete ownership of the entailed territory to the reigning Hamir.”
Naeth stared at Reijir in shock. “A fifth of Ilmaren! And every other generation starting with your sire. Then… then that means your eldest son will have to take a Shiron to spouse.”
“That is correct.”
“And there is no way of circumventing it?”
“None.”
“But why demand such a concession?”
“Simple. By binding Ilmaren heirs thusly, my Shiron relations are ensured of participation in the rule of Ilmaren in perpetuity and continued influence in Ylandre’s royal court for so long as there are Arthannas.”
Naeth was at a loss for words, stunned by the extensive planning for a future that none of the contractors of the pact would likely be around to witness. And what a
scoundrel Rodeth Arthanna had been. Not only had he abused his sons and tyrannized the people of his fief, he’d also risked the inheritance of generations of Arthannas to come.
Furthermore, by making Reijir his successor, he had put him in the distasteful position of dictating his heir’s future. Considering how deeply Reijir had resented Rodeth’s constant interference in his life, to be forced to do the same to his own son was frustrating to put it mildly.
And all because of Rodeth’s inability to control his lust.
“Marrying kin whose goals hew closely to one’s own is preferable to forced marriage with a total stranger,” Reijir dryly pointed out.
Naeth looked at him suspiciously. “Did you read my mind?”
“Nay, it was you who projected your thoughts for me to see.”
“Oh. Well, I
am
shocked by the whole arrangement.” Naeth shook his head. “Saints above, what a steep price to pay for one night of pleasure.”
“But preferable to the alternative.”
“Which was?”
“The penalty for violating a priest or acolyte was death by quartering. It still is.”
Naeth blanched. “
Heyas!
No wonder they accepted the Shirons’ demands.”
Reijir’s smile was mirthless. “No wonder indeed.”
“But your father?” Naeth ventured. “I can’t believe he was willing to subject his own grandchildren to the consequences of that stipulation.”
“He was willing. You must understand,
Adda
was raised to do as his family bid. But he was a good father. He brought us with him whenever he visited Dyare, and he did his best to protect us from
Aba
—when he died, we lost our strongest shield. It was his one act of defiance against his family that freed Keiran to live as he wished.”
“You uncle said he settled money on Keiran.”
“
Adda
suspected early on that
Aba
would bypass Keiran. He left a hefty portion of his properties to him in his will, which Keiran received when he reached his majority.
That was why
Aba
was in such a hurry to marry him off the summer he died, before Keiran could lawfully refuse the
thein
to whom he’d been contracted—a loathsome Deir many years his senior but very rich and willing to trade land for kinship with the Ardan by affinity. But in any case, even had
Aba
not died and married him off as planned, Keiran would have had the means to dissolve the marriage at once. His inheritance from
Adda
made him wealthy in his own right.”
“So that’s why your brother is so—so free-spirited.”
“After having a detested nuptial contract hanging over his head for the better part of his life? He’s entitled to be.”
“True.” Naeth curiously regarded his lover. “But what will you do about that stipulation? You made it clear you didn’t wish to foist it on your heir.”
“Only because it completely strips us of choice in the matter. It should fall to either my son or me to decide whether he will wed for love or duty. I meant it when I said I don’t object to arranged marriages. Many of the unions in House Essendri were arranged yet few of them were less successful than those forged in love. I just resent being forced to deal with the consequences of my sire’s folly.”
“So you won’t defy it?”
“And cost my children a great portion of the fief? Nay, I must safeguard their inheritance as best as I can.” Reijir fell silent, idly running his fingers through Naeth’s
hair. At length, he said, “Keiran and I have oft discussed how to make it easier for my heir. We’ve agreed the best course of action would be to choose the most promising of our Shiron nephews and request limited guardianship of him. If I raise my son with his prospective mate, they may forge bonds of loyalty and affection between them. Veres willing, they might come to be good friends and allies and, hopefully, lovers as well.”
“But what if they don’t fall in love?”
“Then I won’t forbid my heir to take a leman.” Reijir had to smile at Naeth’s shocked frown. “It isn’t unusual amongst bluebloods to marry out of duty and keep a leman for love. Why think you did Rohyr not release Lassen when he wed our cousin Tyrde? It was the only way he could stomach that unwanted union.”
“Then the rumors are true? He was coerced into that marriage?”
“Yes.”
“But his marriage to Lassen-
tyar
—it’s a true love match?”
“Very much so.”
Naeth sighed and laid his head down again. “How very romantic,” he remarked.
“Would that we could all be as blessed.”
He tensed, realizing he had once more touched on a possibly contentious issue. But Reijir did not respond, and he slowly relaxed.
In the ensuing silence, he became aware anew of Reijir’s body—his singular enticing scent, the gentle up and down of his chest as he breathed, hard muscles swathed in smooth flesh under his cheek, one dusky nipple just inches from his lips.
Naeth cleared his throat and, raising his head to look at Reijir, murmured, “By the way, I took
mirash.
”
Reijir faintly smiled but said nothing. Naeth sighed and resumed his position.
Ever since Naeth miscarried, Reijir had not taken him in reproductive intercourse again. Naeth did not know whether the avoidance was simply to protect him from conception or due to an aversion on Reijir’s part to begetting a child. Naeth hoped it was the former, but feared the latter was the more likely reason. That he might also resent Naeth’s concealment of his condition and perhaps still harbored guilt as well, Naeth preferred not to think about.
Needless to say, Reijir’s temper was hardly improved by an excursion that only reminded him of his sire’s misdeed. Naeth spent the following day nursing an aching rump and a depleted libido.
The eve of the Hamir’s return to Khitaira, Naeth nearly bumped into him as he headed for Reijir’s apartment. Lihom stepped out of his room just as Naeth was about to pass his door. Naeth wondered uncomfortably if the fief-lord had been waiting for him.
Lihom smilingly accepted his apology then said without preamble, “I hear you are a baronet in your own right.”
Naeth started at the sudden query. “If I accept the title,” he admitted.
“So it’s true. You desire to give up your inheritance.” Lihom pursed his lips in apparent disapproval. “Perhaps you should reconsider your position. For the sake of any children you might bear my nephew, if not your own.”
Color rose in Naeth’s cheeks. “I don’t understand, Your Grace.”
Lihom glanced in the direction of Reijir’s suite. “There will come a time when Reijir will wed and I dare say he will choose someone of equal station,” he explained. “No mere country
serl
will do, surely you know that.” When Naeth looked down at his feet and nodded, the Hamir said, “Good, you are realistic about the situation. Well then, what if he can no longer keep you in the manner to which you have grown accustomed? There is no telling if his Heris will tolerate a leman, especially one who not only resides in the same house as he, but might have borne by-blows who may eventually compete with his own progeny.”
Naeth gulped at the Hamir’s bluntness. “I have no intention of competing with whomever Reijir marries,” he protested.
“Accidents happen all the time which you have some experience of,” Lihom pointed out, understandably making Naeth wince. “
I
settled a considerable fortune on my leman long before I wed. He poses no threat to my spouse, not even the children he has borne me.”
“You willingly sired children on your leman?”
The Hamir shrugged. “He desired children of me, and I could not deny him. And as they are my natural children, they will by law receive a portion of my estate one day. But they carry his name, not mine, and the bulk of their inheritance will come from him. This way, there is peace between my mate and my concubine.”
Naeth regarded the Hamir curiously. “Did you marry for love or duty,
Dyhar
?”
Lihom softly chuckled. “Let my put it thusly: I was not forced into wedlock as your Ardan was his first marriage. But neither do I yearn for the bed or company of my spouse. My leman already amply provides both.”
He regarded Naeth gravely. Apparently satisfied with what he saw, he counseled,
“Think of the future, child. You will not always have my nephew to protect your interests.”
The Hamir turned and reentered his room. Naeth blew his breath out and continued on his way.
Chapter Seventeen
It was about a week after Lihom Shiron’s departure that a
thein
of Edessa came to the Arthanna house for a talk with Reijir.
Business
, he officiously informed Naeth as the latter conducted him to the blue parlor.
Business indeed
, Naeth thought with a contemptuous snort when he discovered the reason for the baron’s visit.
He listened with mounting incredulity as the
thein
offered his son in marriage to Reijir as if he were negotiating an exchange of goods. Naeth was no ignorant bumpkin to think ill of arranged marriages but, saints above, could the baron not have discussed the matter without reducing his son to mere chattel? Or making Reijir sound like a prized stallion being auctioned off to the highest bidder. Small wonder nuptial negotiations among bluebloods were oft referred to by the cynical as the marriage mart.
He studiously ignored the budding ache in his heart brought on by the thought of the Herun binding himself in marriage.
Naeth was aware this was not the first proposal Reijir had ever received. But he had not been present during previous such discussions so it irked him now to listen to the details of the baron’s suit on his son’s behalf. And a part of him was deeply annoyed that Reijir deigned to entertain any suit at all. A foolish reaction, of course, but he could not help his jealousy.
It was aggravating to listen to his lover discuss possible matrimony with someone other than himself. Naeth stifled a sigh and served the wine.
He had insisted on continuing to act as Ruomi’s assistant, proud that he could be productive even if he was Reijir’s dependent. But now he questioned the wisdom of his choice. This was his first time to witness Reijir being courted, and he knew it would not be the last.
When the
thein
left at last, smugly bearing Reijir’s assurance that he would study his proposal, Naeth quickly returned to the parlor. He took a moment to slow his breathing so as not to appear as if he’d rushed back from ushering the baron out of the house. But before he could reenter the room, the door opened and Reijir emerged. Seeing Naeth, he lifted his eyebrows questioningly.
“I came back to see if you needed anything,” Naeth said.
Reijir regarded him with an amused tilt of his lips. “Rest assured, Naeth-
min
, this latest suit doesn’t interest me at all.”
“I wasn’t going to ask about that,” Naeth protested though a blush stained his cheeks.
“But you were wondering about it,” Reijir teased.
He fondly ruffled Naeth’s hair then headed for his study. Naeth followed him.
“Are you tempted by any of the proposals?” he dared to ask.
Reijir glanced at him over his shoulder. “None have met my exacting standards thus far,” he replied.
“The terms of the suits?”
“Nay, the candidates for my consideration.”
The Herun entered his study. Naeth hesitated then entered as well. Reijir looked at him in some surprise.
“Is there anything else you want to know?” he asked with a small smile.
Naeth bit his lip then took the plunge. “You said you would permit your son to keep
a leman if he didn’t come to love his lawful spouse. Did you really mean that?”
“I did.”
“What about—” Naeth took a deep breath before forging on. “What about your own spouse? What if you don’t love him? Will you do the same? Keep a leman, I mean.”
Reijir’s eyebrows shot up. After a moment, he tapped Naeth’s nose with a finger and said, “A dutiful spouse is no match for a doting lover, Naeth-
min
.”
Naeth bit his lip. “But what if your Heris doesn’t approve?” he pressed.
Reijir gazed at him wonderingly. “Why these questions? Is this about Uncle Lihom’s visit? Do you think I will bow to pressure and marry myself off soonest just to please the Shirons?” He gently chucked Naeth under the chin. “Rest you, marriage is not my priority at the moment.” Reijir turned and walked to his desk. “Please give these to Ruomi. He’s expecting them.”
As he signed several documents, Naeth anxiously stared at his back.
Reijir had not really answered his question, and with Lihom’s advice still fresh in his mind and his doubts stirred by the most recent suit for Reijir’s hand, he did not feel all that reassured. If anything, Reijir’s failure to give him a clear answer only served to heighten the feeling that theirs was a one-sided relationship that depended heavily on their physical intimacy. Take away Reijir’s lust for him and what would Naeth have?