Rital of Proof (35 page)

Of course Green knew her son was exceptional. He was a Tamryn, after all. She spent hours playing with him at night, a complete slave to his drooling grin.

The final night of their journey, as they lay in the sleeper, Green knew she was going to have to tell Jorlan about the Septibunal's summons.

Her lips pressed over his as he rested back on the pallet. "Cover me, Green," he murmured, his mouth moving along the soft, tender skin of her jawline. "The way you did when we were journeying to

"When I had to seal your mouth with my own to halt your cries of pleasure from being overheard by the Women?" She sighed as his arms embraced her.

"Yesss. While I looked up at the stars. I loved that, my name-giver. Love your passion and strength... "

She smiled as she nipped his chin. "Do you? And is that why lately we end up wrestling to see who gets on top?"

He grinned broadly. "It does seem to stimulate you—specially when you are sleepy."

"Really.'

"Yes. And the best part of it is, you are never quite sure
how to
react to the situation."

"Really."

"Yes. And that is when I can get you to simply
react—
to me."

"Hmm. I'm not sure I should be allowing that behavior, it—"

He burst out laughing. Green's hand covered his mouth. "Shhh! The women will hear you!" He blinked his jet lashes slowly at her. She pulled her hand away and shook her finger at him.

He stared up into her arresting face. Her auburn hair was framed in the soft glow of flamelight. He did not know how the Top Slice had produced such a woman—courageous, honorable, fair-minded, and free-thinking. Her intelligence, her wit, and her beauty were as unique as the rare blanock song. Her sensuality a constant catalyst to his own sensitivity. "You are everything to me, Green.
I love you."

Green's palm cupped his cheek. "Blaze-dragon... name-bearers often fall in love with their name-givers."

His hand came over hers. He stared penetratingly into her eyes. "This is different."

She knew that.
Felt it.
The love Jorlan spoke of was of an entirely different depth. He had formed an exclusive connection to her that was as mysterious and complex as the nightsong of Forus. This was not the simple love of name-bearer for name-giver—this was so much more.

Which made what she was to tell him that much more difficult. Green swallowed. "We must stand before Septibunal tomorrow."

He said nothing, simply waited silently for her to continue.

"They are questioning the validity of our fastening."

"How so?" he asked quietly.

"Evidence has been brought to them that seems to refute your Oath of Proof."

"That's not possible, Green." His fingers delved into her hair at the base of her neck. "My oath was true—as you well know. How could there be evidence to the contrary?"

"I don't know. It was well known that you vehemently opposed the fastening—"

He exhaled his breath. "That is not enough to call both my word and yours into question."

"No, they have something else... " She paused. "My sources tell me it is powerful evidence against a victory."

"I see. So, what does this mean—if they should 'prove' this?"

"Our fastening will be dissolved. Arkeus's position will be precarious, to say the least. Both our houses will have to pay a huge forfeiture. I might lose my titles and lands. You definitely will lose yours. Afterward, you will no longer legally have the protection of the house of Tamryn around you."

His jaw pulsed in barely controlled fury. "I am just to accept this? Is my worth as a human being simply a matter of my veil? We nave fewer rights than a Klee! At least a Klee runs free when he wants to—he
owns
his life."

Green hugged him to her. "I agree with you. It is wrong, and if we get through this I will do everything I can to effect changes in the House of She-Lords."

"If we get through this!
What about my son?
What will happen to him?"

"That depends. Normally, he would not be of consequence to the Septibunal, but I have made him my heir. There will be a bitter battle over that, for his inheritance will be safeguarded from any forfeiture I would have to pay."

"What if he weren't your heir?"

Green raised her chin defiantly. "He is my child and a Tamryn! They will never separate me from him—I have given him a birthright."

Jorlan could not help the flash of admiration he felt for her resolve; she was an exceptionally strong woman. "Then what of me, name-giver... what shall be my fate if they dissolve this union?"

Her lips trembled slightly but her voice held steady. "You are my name-bearer, Jorlan, and a Tamryn as well. I will never let you forget that—regardless of what the Septibunal decrees."

The hand at the back of her neck roughly pulled her toward him. "Then don't you forget that I am going to hold you to that promise, name-giver."

His mouth seized hers.

He tasted of exotic terms.

It quickly became obvious to every observer in the room just who was behind the charges. Only one person on the floor of the House of She-Lords was viciously slandering the Tamryns, and that was Claudine D'anbere. And while Marquelle Harmone had returned to her seat on the Septibunal, it was plain who was pulling her strings.

When Green and Jorlan entered the room to take their seats in front of the assemblage, silence ruled. Jorlan brazenly carried his son into the meeting.

As he took his seat, many remarked that the resemblance between father and son was uncanny. The identical pairs of jet-rimmed aqua eyes captivated many a She-Lord. Several members speculated on whether or not the Marquelle would entertain prebids from their daughters. While prebids were not binding, they did hold some favor. Of course all would depend on the outcome today. The poor babe might end up on the Rue de la Nuit.

Along with his gorgeous father.

Duchene Hawke called the session to order with a nod of her head. "Marquelle Tamryn, step forward please."

Chapter Fifteen

Green stood and approached the Septibunal table.

As she walked by, Jorlan gave her a supportive nod.

"A charge has been brought before this assemblage against you that is quite serious in nature. Some of"—Hawke glanced sternly down the table at Marquelle Harmone—"have reason to believe that you misrepresented the nature of your alliance with the Reynards. Evidence has come to us that, in fact, your name-bearer, Jorlan, was not intact at the time of the Ritual of Proof."

A murmur went through the crowd.

"Furthermore, the question as to whether you knew this at the time and sought to circumvent the law by forswearing the Ritual has also been brought to bear."

"May I answer these charges?" Green stood proudly before them, her voice not wavering in the slightest, despite the inner trepidation she had.

"Before you do, I must warn you that anything you say from this point forward will be weighed. If you say nothing now, in consideration of your past deeds on this floor and for OneNation, I am prepared to call this a nolocharge and we will convene to decide the appropriate levy."

Duchene Hawke was giving her the chance to retain her title at a heavy monetary loss. Jorlan would of course be forfeit, but her son would remain with her. She turned and looked at Jorlan.

He watched her steadily. Then he surprised her by mouthing "take it."

He loved her that much. A tear formed in her eye. He was willing to sacrifice himself and be taken from his son to protect her. She shook her head no.
I will fight for both of them until the last breath leaves my body.

Facing the Septibunal once more, she said, "I will speak."

Duchene Hawke raised a brow. "Are you sure, Marquelle?"

Green nodded.

The Duchene clearly did not think she had made a wise choice. She sighed deeply. "Very well. Proceed."

"Jorlan Tamryn was intact the night of our fastening. There was no conspiracy to thwart the Septibunal. These charges are all false. The honor of my house would never let me make a false statement to the governing body I hold so dear, and who my very foremothers helped to create. To impugn my honor in such a way is reprehensible and I call forth the person who would issue such a claim. Let her say these things to my face instead of hiding behind the voices of others." Green Pierced Marquelle Harmone with a disgusted look. The woman fidgeted slightly in her seat.

Green's honest and impassioned voice seemed to sway the crowd. Low chatter broke out.

"Silence in the chamber!" Duchene Hawke roared, "Jorlan Tamryn, step forward!"

Jorlan rose with Arkeus in his arms.

As he passed by Claudine D'anbere, she called out "The child may color the severity of the Septibunal's ruling! His presence sends a subliminal message that this man is bound irrevocably to the House of Tamryn."

Duchene Hawke glowered down at Claudine. "Are you saying we cannot be impartial in the presence of a mere babe, She-Count?"

"No. I am saying the child's presence is disruptive; it is an obvious, sympathetic ploy orchestrated by the Tamryns." She reached into her pouch, pulling out a scrolled document. "This is the fastening contract that Anya Reynard was to have signed for me—before Green
coerced
the Duchene's signature onto her scroll!" The audience turned and stared at Green disapprovingly. Claudine, knowing she had significant crowd support now, smugly continued on. "If the Septibunal rules justly today, I will ask for a ruling of Conveyance!"

Green paled. If they lost the ruling, the She-Count was going to ask the council to override Anya's signature and give Jorlan to her as payment for her side of the "insult." Her eyes met Jorlan's and she knew he could read the anguish she had been able to hide from everyone else.

Instead of the apprehension she expected to see, there was a calm resignation to him. A quiet strength. His eyes' showed her his love. There was so much emotion contained behind their aqua depths! He patted and rubbed his son's back as he patiently waited for Claudine to finish. In that moment Green knew that the rulings of women could never supersede a spirit that was free.

"So you see, I do have a vested interest here." Claudine went on. "Remove the child!"

Duchene Hawke started to nod to the sentries when Green forestalled her. "No. My son has more of a right to be here than She-Count D'anbere does! It is his fate we decide today."

"Isn't that rather dramatic?" Claudine sneered. "No one has an interest in that male child. You may keep him, if you wish, but it would seem more of a liability to me. Perhaps you can have him sent to a monkery."

Green flinched at Claudine's callous attitude. Her sweet babe sent to a monkery? Not while she had breath! Her eyes filled with pride as she glanced at his beautiful, dear face. He gave her a tiny smile.

She smiled back. "Arkeus will always be on Tamryn land—
for he is my heir,"
she said softly.

Pandemonium broke out in the courtroom.

"He cannot be your heir! He is male!" Claudine blared.

Green removed her wristview and handed it over to the panel.

They viewed the proof with frowns on their faces.

"It appears that Arkeus Tamryn is the Tamryn heir—
for now."
She gave Green a stern look. "However, the Septibunal will review this issue with you later, Marquelle Tamryn." She turned her head to address D'anberre. "The child stays in the room."

Anya winked at Green. "Brava, my girl," she mouthed to her.

Although stymied, Claudine recovered quickly. "He may be called the Tamryn heir today, but I have a prior claim on his father! The line is sullied." She sneered at Green.

"My line is not sullied. I will not have the father of my heir impugned!"

"Jorlan Tamryn," Hawke addressed him. "As a Duchene's grandson, you know that the honor of your great house—the house of our Founder—is at stake here. So I ask you just once: How did you go to your fastening bed?"

Jorlan gave them all an insolent, flippant look. It was the very same brash look he had afforded them the last time he stood in front of this governing table.

Green's eyes misted over at his wonderful uniqueness. Jorlan was a handful of trouble and always would be. Another woman might not think fondly of his difficult ways and headstrong attitudes,
but she loved them.
She loved him.

He looked so utterly beautiful standing there, daringly facing them all, his new son in his arms. A son who looked so much like him that Green had already been tentatively approached by a mother interested in of becoming friendlier with the Tamryns "for their sake c their children."

Jorlan's low, beguiling voice was strong in the chamber. "I came to my name-giver the way I was supposed to—with the honor of my family intact. And... " He paused purposefully.