The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil (86 page)

She was weary of the constant attention. Since their arrival to Targas she experienced not a single moment of privacy. Even when sleep came to her, Edric and Callum remained at her side with Thade and Cadell not far off.

An uncomfortable pain around her midsection was enough for Aiva to know that sutures had been placed over the wound caused by the raider’s blade. Her right hand was wrapped, the swelling already showing signs of recession. She was surprised to discover her father and the General nowhere around upon opening her eyes. It seemed strange that they would leave her in Callum’s care with no one other than Edric to supervise.

Traces of blood were visible on the blade of Callum’s knife when he finally drew it away, discarding the remnants of the sutures on the bedside table. He exhaled to relieve the tension in his muscles from his concentrated efforts. “Well, that takes care of one,” he said, offering the knife to Edric across the bed. “I think it best you handle the ones near her shoulder. The area is not one which I believe I am allowed to touch currently.”

“Callum, you know I’m not the best at medical procedures. I would do more harm than good,” Edric leaned away, his hand extended defensively to decline Callum’s offer. “If I’m here, our fathers won’t say anything. Just mind your hands.”

Callum glanced down at Aiva, uneasy at the thought. “It’s a simple task, Edric. I could walk you through it.”

“Please, don’t ask me to do this. If you want to teach me another time, that is fine, but I prefer the lesson not involve my sister as a test subject. You have more experience. It is what your military training was for.”

“If my father sees me anywhere near her, he will remove my hands. That would be inconvenient for everyone,” Callum clenched his jaw. He knew Edric couldn’t be swayed. The only thing on Callum’s side was the fact that Edric no longer held authority to give Callum a direct order. As Aiva’s husband, Callum now sat as an equal to her brother. A Prince. Next in line as King. While he held no position of power over Edric, it left them at a stalemate.

Aiva listened to the continued protests between the boys, her head aching from the lingering illness. Their loud voices were doing nothing to help. She lifted a trembling hand to Callum’s shoulder, praying her expression revealed the sternness she hoped to display. “Callum,” she stated firmly. Edric might not be able to tell him what to do, but she continued to hold the power. She was the future Queen. “Switch places with my brother and finish the task quickly. If our fathers return, I will explain to them that you are following my direct order. They cannot argue my authority over you.”

Both boys paused in their argument, staring at her, disbelief filling their eyes. Edric laughed quietly to himself, an impish grin on his face. “Well, would you look at that,” he chortled. “I think our little Aiva just pulled rank on you.”

Callum’s head tilted to one side, thoughtful. “You know, when we were younger and she bossed us around, we teased her and ignored the commands. I… do not think I am allowed to do that anymore.”

“That doesn’t bode well for you,” Edric nodded, quickly maneuvering around the bed to take Callum’s place, motioning him to the other side. “Welcome to the life of the Levadis men. Try not to spoil her too much. It will go to her head.” His face contorted suddenly, the smile on his lips fading away. “I suppose, that is only my advice if you remain within the family. It’s perhaps foolish of me to assume you managed to work through your issues during the time you spent away.”

“The topic of our marriage is – complicated – to say the least. We… under normal circumstances, an annulment is no longer considered an option for us. The decision ultimately lies in the hands of your father.” Callum shifted his weight, averting his gaze from Edric’s. Awkward at the sensitive topic, he took Edric’s direction in finding his way to Aiva’s other side, hesitant in his movements to remove the fabric which covered the skin of her shoulder.

A heavy tension became almost visible between the three of them at Callum’s words. Aiva knew Edric was no fool. He would recognize Callum’s implications in regards to the annulment. There weren’t many possibilities when an annulment suddenly became a lost option. Brow furrowed, Edric pressed his lips together. His desire to speak was obvious though he seemed to lack the words.

Content with the silence, Callum went to work at the sutures on Aiva’s chest. Conversation was best left alone during the procedure. Aiva flinched at the initial chill of the blade against her skin. She could see his hands more clearly, fascinated by the process he used to clip the sutures, his fingers gently tugging the pieces free. He worked faster at this wound than he had the last. Aiva couldn’t be sure if it was because of the location being less vital, or if his nerves forced him to hasten, anxious to complete the procedure before the return of their fathers, while also aware of Edric’s watchful eyes.

Edric waited for Callum to set the knife aside before regaining his vocal cords. “Dare I ask why the annulment is no longer an option?”

“Now is really not the best time for this…”

“The request was already presented to my father. You assured me it was what you desired and that there were no – complications – which would be cause for argument.”

“Things change, Edric. It wasn’t something expected. Please know that when the issue was discussed with you in Palinon, you weren’t misled. At the time our situation was quite different than it is now.”

Edric’s face wrinkled into an expression of confusion. He looked mildly disgusted. Unsettled by the thought. “She is my sister, Callum.”

“Trust me, I am aware,” Callum sighed. “However, she is also my wife. At least for the time. You cannot fault me. Nor can you fault her.”

“It is… I am somewhat repulsed by the thought.”

Aiva sat up on the bed, her eyes shifting between the two boys. It felt appropriate for her to come to Callum’s defense while at the same time she couldn’t bring herself to speak. There was no way for her to ease Edric’s discomfort. To say anything might make things worse. The last thing Edric needed was to hear further confirmation of their relationship from her lips.

“You supported the marriage, did you not?” Callum asked quietly. “Did you not consider this to be inevitable? It is what a husband and wife do.”

“It isn’t something a brother wants to picture their little sister doing. How would you feel if I implied having behaved in that fashion with Calie? I have to believe it would distress you.”

“Edric, you are not implying this, are you?”

“No…” Edric shook his head, vehement in his denial. “It is strictly hypothetical. If I was married to your sister, would you not prefer to remain blissfully unaware and under the assumption that such activities never occurred between the two of us?”

Callum held Edric’s unflinching stare, locked in a silent challenge. After a few moments he released the air from his lungs with a reluctant shrug. “You’re right,” he nodded. “Such things are better left unknown. I say we agree to never have this discussion again.”

“I won’t argue. However, I refuse to explain this to my father,” Edric shook his head, adamant in his decision. “In fact, I think it best for you to be the one who explains that his daughter has been violated.”

Aiva’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She couldn’t keep silent. It was too uncomfortable for her to bear any longer. “It was no violation, Edric,” she cut in. “I approached him. It was my decision.”

“Sweet Sarid, Aiva! Do not tell me this,” Edric groaned. Burying his face in his hands he grumbled in frustration. “I don’t want to picture the two of you together. No offense, but it sickens me to a degree. I view you both the same as I always have, and in my mind you will always be too young.”

“If it does anything to ease your conscience, Edric – would you prefer the raiders to have gotten her first?”

The room fell eerily silent at the statement. There was no hint of color to Edric’s face, eyes locked on Callum, somber. Mouth agape in unspoken horror. All at once the memories of the attack along the road flooded into Aiva’s mind. She was mortified to think of Edric knowing what almost happened.
Nothing happened
. Tears filled her eyes. Callum had no way of knowing the truth. She had hidden it from him through her own humiliation and unwillingness to admit that she’d even allowed herself to be placed at risk for such a terrible, unspeakable fate. His mention of it now was no coincidence. He baited her. Forcing her to reveal the truth. “Callum, don’t,” she whispered. “Please, leave it be.”

Edric ignored her quiet pleas. He was quickly working himself into a rage, the white of his skin gradually transforming into a rich scarlet hue. “Callum, did those men touch her?” Angrily he leaned across the bed, fingers tangled in the tattered fabric of Callum’s shirt, a hard jerk of his arm pulling Callum forward and off balance, nearly knocking him from his feet. “Tell me!” he shouted. “What did those men do to my sister?”

“She refuses to tell me!” Callum yelled in defense. He lowered his arms to place his palms on the bed, supporting his weight to avoid falling on Aiva. “My heart has been in pieces since the moment I found her in the woods underneath that man. I would have torn every limb from his body had he not already been a corpse upon my arrival.”

“Callum, you are mistaken!” Aiva cried out.

“Mistaken?” he exclaimed. “What would you have me believe, Aiva? Your clothes were ripped practically from your body! Given the appearance of you both, I know exactly what it looked like. You are the only one who can ease my mind if you can tell me that he met Sytlea before he caused you harm. Why have you not granted me that peace – unless it’s not something you can offer?”

Racked with sobs, Aiva drew her knees into her chest. At her distress Edric released his hold on Callum, both of them kneeling on the bed at her sides, arms wrapped around her in attempts to console her tears. She didn’t understand why it was so difficult for her to answer. Her body suffered minimal trauma from the incident yet her mind remained petrified at the mere thought. All the things which might have happened but never did.
I should be grateful. Why can I not simply appreciate the fortuitousness of having escaped unharmed?

“I can offer that peace,” she sniffled. Desperately she clung to both boys, not wanting to let them go. “My dagger found its mark before he could accomplish his wicked intent.”

“Why did you not tell me, then? Why have you remained silent?”

“Because I was afraid, Callum. I cannot recall ever having felt that much fear. Not even when faced with the tiger in Tunir did I feel so helpless. Death somehow holds less fear than the thought of the utter ruination that man was capable of causing. The thought of living with that humiliation. And it was all my fault!” Aiva felt her body shaken by another wave of sobs. “While I was lying there, I kept thinking how much of a fool I was for not listening to you.”

Overcome with relief Callum tightened his arms around Aiva, showering soft kisses over her tear-streaked face. “It is not your fault,” he breathed. “You were coming back for me. I knew you would do it. I tried to regain my horse fast enough to prevent you losing much ground but I was too slow.”

“I couldn’t leave you. I was afraid they would kill you.” Gently Aiva placed her hands against Callum’s cheeks to pull him toward her. Their lips met in a tender kiss. Everything else in the room faded away around them. Aiva could think of nothing but him. The feel of his arms. His mouth. She found herself forgetting her brother’s presence until she heard him clear his throat, reaching between them to separate their passionate embrace.

“Could you try not to do that in front of me? We had an agreement…”

Aiva blushed, a smile spreading over her lips. “I am sorry, Edric,” she apologized. “Perhaps you could turn away? Then it wouldn’t be so bad.”

Callum laughed, pulling Aiva to him again. “Yes, Edric. You could simply turn your back. Then you wouldn’t have to see anything.”

The sound of a key turning in the lock sent them all into a panicked silence. In perfect synchronization Callum and Edric rose to their feet, taking a few steps away from the bed to create a gap between them and Aiva, trying to appear nonchalant at the sight of Thade pushing open the door. At their awkward stance Thade glanced between the two boys, eyeing them, suspicious. “Why do you look as though you have been caught doing something you are not supposed to?”

“We were not doing anything, Father,” Edric coughed. He and Callum looked at one another, giving a confused shrug, feigning innocence.

“Yes,” Thade frowned. “That is exactly what you have always said when caught up to no good, which only serves to worry me more.” His eyes moved to settle on Aiva, immediately noticing the redness of her eyes. “If you are in fact not doing anything, then why is my daughter crying?”

“She is worried about Shae. I’m sure you can sympathize with her concerns,” Edric lied. Although she hated to be dishonest with her father, Aiva was grateful to Edric for not telling him the truth. His statement was not entirely false. She was worried about her sister. She simply had no desire for her father to become aware of the events which transpired on the road to Targas. He would be less willing to let it go than Edric and Callum. She wiped at her face with the blankets to rid the final tears, forcing a smile to assure her father that she was alright.

Callum’s body grew taut to see General Cadell appear over Thade’s shoulder in the hall. At his arrival, Thade moved further into the room, allowing Cadell to make his way through the door, motioning for Edric and Callum to leave. “I do not have time to sit and attempt deciphering what you are up to, Edric. For now, I need you and Callum to step outside. Do not wander far. You may be called for again.”

Taking a step closer to the bed, Callum appeared hesitant to leave Aiva’s side. Aiva took his hand in hers, squeezing it tightly, afraid to let him go. Footsteps approached outside the door to reveal Commander Varik, her father beckoning him to join them. What was going on? It didn’t make sense why they would send Edric and Callum away while surrounding her with the most prominent men of the Tanispan military. The thought made her uneasy. Were they coming to take Callum away? She couldn’t let that happen.