Van Laven Chronicles (27 page)

CHAPTER 52

Comron awakened that morning with Vaush lying warm and naked at his side beneath the soft blankets. He smiled inwardly, his body still reverberating from the night’s exertion. Again and again, they lost themselves in each other. Even when he’d been self-conscious about the ugly scars covering his body, Vaush had tenderly kissed each one of them, calling them badges of honor. She was the heavenly realm he never wished to leave.

But he was equally aware that by now their enemies would’ve found their transport and tracked them to this vicinity. If last night had been heaven, today might very well mark their descent into hell.

He sat up and noticed a water bowl and two clean towels folded next to the partition. Clearly, their host’s keen sense of hospitality hadn’t changed, which meant the search had not reached their door yet. The smell of burning wood and cooked meat indicated that they were already up and about their day. He left Vaush undisturbed as he quickly washed and dressed, and sought out Nacum to arrange for their transportation.

When Vaush emerged into the small living area in the hut, she wasn’t surprised to find Comron conversing with Nacum as the small home buzzed with activity. Laka, Nacum’s young daughter, was the first person to notice Vaush. The girl’s cheeks were pink against skin white as snow. Her dark brown eyes lit up at the sight of Vaush. Laka made her way over, holding out a steaming cup of spiced liquid.

“Why thank you, Laka,” Vaush said. She accepted the cup and sipped its contents. "Mmm," she said. “Did you make this?”

“Yes.” Laka nodded enthusiastically. Strands of her shiny dark hair fell forward into her face before she hooked it back behind her ears.

“Well, it’s delicious.”

“Thank you,” Laka beamed, but then glanced wistfully at her father and Comron. “The storm has died down. Does that mean you must go?”

Vaush glanced up at Comron and Nacum. “Yes, I believe that is what they are discussing.”

“I wish you could stay longer.”

Vaush smiled warmly at her. “That is very sweet of you, Laka. But I’m afraid we have no choice in the matter. However, if you'd like,” she inclined her head at the young girl, “we could come back to visit you someday.” There was much Vaush would like to do for these kind people as a show of her gratitude for their generous hospitality.

Laka's eyes lit up even more. “Yes, I’d like that very much.”

Comron approached and Laka politely retreated.

“How are you feeling this morning?”

Vaush glanced back at the partition and blushed. “Incredible.”

“Good. The storm provided some cover for us but I fear we've already stayed too long. There’s already talk of search vessels being spotted in this area.”

“What arrangements have you made for our transportation?”

“Unfortunately, Nacum's only form of transportation consists of six dogs and a sled. But he was able to contact a neighbor who owns an enclosed motor-sled. He just left to see if he could trade one of my tolkoth buttons for it,” he said, showing her the vacant place at his waistcoat.

Taken aback, she said, “You could have bought 1,000 motor sleds in exchange for the tolkoth in that button.”

“Well, what else do we have to bargain with? These people don’t deal in credits or depository accounts.”

Glancing at their host, she smiled politely, but spoke to Comron, “We’re going to need a little more than a motor sled to get us to Novoxos.”

“Ah, beauty and humor this morning. The motor sled will get us to Monteras, my dear. Once we’re there we can acquire an interplanetary craft. According to Nacum, Monteras is fifty kilometers south, but it’s the closest town.”

She gave him an apprehensive look.

“It shouldn’t take three quarters of an hour to commute the distance in the motor sled. It won't be like before.” Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her brow. “We'll be fine, I promise.”

After a meal of dried fruit and boiled meat, Comron and Vaush expressed their deep gratitude to Nacum and his family and offered payment. Much to Nacum's credit, he refused to accept anything for his hospitality, explaining it was the custom of his people to exercise such kindness to strangers. To insist any further would’ve been a great insult to his family.

When Nacum’s neighbor arrived shortly thereafter with the motor-sled, they all went out to see it. For a moment, Comron and Vaush just stared at the gray and white dilapidated eyesore. The hull of the vehicle was rusted, the paint flaking, patched holes everywhere. The tractor treads were worn bare thin. It looked like it wouldn't travel a meter, much less fifty kilometers.

“It will do,” Comron said. He moved to open the door, nearly pulling it off its hinges. “My lady,” he said, turning to Vaush.

She plastered on a smile and climbed into the cabin, sweeping the trash off of the bench seat. Comron followed. After taking a moment to familiarize himself with the controls, he pressed a button, firing the ignition.

The rusty beast rumbled to life and the exhaust pipe belched dark gray smoke. Comron clutched the throttle, shifting it into gear and the tractor lurched forward.

“Strap yourself in,” he said while he adjusted the mirrors. He grabbed an old rag and wiped the glass on the gauges clean. “We’ll be in Monteras before you know it.”

CHAPTER 53

Fifteen minutes in the rickety vehicle felt like fifteen hours. Every bump in the path threatened to shake and rattle the sled to pieces, which left them with the ever-present danger of being forced back into the freezing elements. The sled’s small cabin afforded them a bit of warmth, but all that could change in a split second.

Comron had concealed his dismay at the seeing the condition of the contraption. Discovering that it had no automatic guiding or piloting system was equally disquieting. He'd only seen such archaic machinery in museums. He silently willed it to hold together.

Comron peered up into the gray overcast sky, looking for search vessels flying overhead. Thankfully, the sky had remained empty so far.

He returned his attention to the wintery landscape and saw the first flakes drifting down over the rolling white plains. In the distance, tall conifers stood out in stark contrast against the white canvas, like dark hulking spies bearing witness to their passing. It seemed the whole world conspired against them. With such a large bounty on their heads, he tried not to think about how abysmal their chances were of acquiring a ship in Monteras without being discovered.

Vaush sat in tense silence.

“You doing all right over there?” Comron asked, sparing a glance at her.

She sighed. “I’m just thinking about how radically my life has changed over a matter of four weeks. I meet and fall in love with my family’s nemesis, marry him, start a war, discover I’m not Bastionli after all and oh, by the way, I’m also the long lost daughter of Emperor Sorren and heir to his throne.”

He looked at her, pleased that she could maintain her sense of humor in the midst of the chaos. “All things considered, you seem to be taking it all in stride.”

She pinched her fingers together. “I’m about this close to having a nervous breakdown.”

“No, you’re too strong for that.”

“Everyone has their breaking point.”

“If you reach yours, I’ll be there to catch you and put you back on your feet.”

Her eyes set upon him. “You know, if I’m taking it all in stride, it’s because I have you to walk this path with me. Really, Comron, it’s too much for one person to bear. I couldn’t do this without you.”

He turned and gave her a warm smile. “You don’t have to.”

“Imagine if you hadn’t rescued me from Larrs. He would see me enthroned only to smother me with his controlling ambitious nature. Then there’s the fact that he killed my mother and my personal guard when he discovered that I had eluded them.”

His brow furrowed. “That’s horrible. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

“How could I reign wisely and justly with such a ruthless man acting as my High Chancellor? I’d merely be some figurehead he’d trot out at official events while he wielded the true power of the throne.”

He cocked a brow appreciatively. “I’m pleased that you drew those conclusions on your own.”

“Yes, and it serves him right that his nefarious plans should be defeated by his arch enemy. Let him live every day with that knowledge as revenge for my mother and guard.”

“I can think of nothing more fitting,” he replied.

“That and my supreme happiness with a Van Laven at my side.”

He beamed with equal joy at the prospect. “Your happiness reflects my own.”

She eyed him for a moment, obviously pleased with the look of him. “How is it that you’ve never been in love before? There must have been hundreds of women pouring all over you.”

He frowned at the turn in conversation. “I don’t want to discuss that, I only want to talk about us.”

“Come now, were you just being sweet when you said I was the first time you’ve ever been in love?”

He sighed with resignation. “No, I was being honest.”

She laughed. “Of all those gorgeous women on your arm throughout the years, you never fell for one of them?”

He shook his head.

“Comron, how is that possible?”

“I’ve never spent enough time with any one particular woman sufficiently to develop profound feelings for her.” He didn’t wish to frighten her by revealing that Crausin forbid him anything more than one or two nights with the same woman and that was the primary explanation for the apparent revolving door of beautiful women in his life.

“Why not? Because you knew you were to be betrothed and it would only complicate matters?”

He hesitated, then nodded. “Complications were to be avoided at all costs.”

“But it didn’t stop you from bedding them, did it?” She asked with a faux judgmental glare.

His gut tightened with apprehension. He’d promised her honesty…

“No, it did not.”

“How many women were there?”

“How many?” he said incredulously. “You’re the only woman that I’ll be with for the rest of my life. What good can come of these questions?”

“That many, huh?”

His jaw clenched. What was prompting this interrogation? Was she simply bored and itching for an argument? He had to turn the tone of the discussion.

“I don’t remember the exact number of women I’ve bedded, but ask me how many women I’ve made love to.”

She rolled her eyes. “How many women have you made love to?”

“Only one, dear wife…” he said letting his eyes linger upon her. “Believe me, there is no comparison to the sublime pleasure and spirituality of true lovemaking. I am ruined for anything less.” He watched the generous smile spread across her lips and he mentally patted himself on the back for his quick thinking.

They rode along in silence for the next few minutes, serene and secure in their unbreakable bond. Comron grew more confident that whatever lay ahead in Monteras they’d face it together and then—

“Have you ever shared a woman with Crausin?”

He nearly hit the floor brakes and his faced burned with mortification. “What? Where is this coming from?” How had the thing that had for so long been a pleasurable routine for him now become a cause of shame and disgrace?

“Larrs mentioned it over dinner the night before I left for our rendezvous on Patheis. He said the two of you shared Spira…regularly. At the time, I thought it was simply Larrs spewing more vile lies about you. Was he?”

Yes! He wanted to say to erase the painful look of repugnance from her face. The truth would be too much for her delicate sensibilities. But he’d promised her truth and she’d promised not to punish him for his honesty.

“Vaush, before I met you, there were a great number of things that I did that I’m suddenly too ashamed to admit. But back then I believed I was always going to be denied my heart’s desire because of my duty and obligations, so I acted rather…badly to say the least, to try to fill the void. The thing with Spira…and the other women, it was just another game I played, nothing more.”

Her face turned with revulsion. “But she was your fiancé, the future mother of your children! And the two of you satisfied your lust on her like she was some common whore.”

“It was her idea!” he replied. “She insisted upon Crausin’s presence, she loved having us both at the same time.”

Vaush sat aghast. “What?”

He closed his eyes a moment. “She was in love with Crausin, not me. They’d been lovers since before our engagement. I only discovered it on the night of our betrothal party.”

Vaush looked as if she’d be sick. “And you were still going to marry her despite this?”

“My Duke commanded it, Nethic required their assets.”

She turned away and stared out the window. “I don’t know whether to pity you or punch you for being so cynical about the whole thing. How could a father do this to his son, force him to marry his mistress and share her in bed?”

“Can we please not talk about this anymore,” he said testily. “It has nothing to do with us.”

“Our past defines and shapes us, Comron.”

“To an extent, yes. But if I’ve learned anything over these last few weeks, it’s that love has the power to triumph over all the horrible atrocities from our past and make us act in ways we never imagined we would.” He turned to her. “For pity’s sake, Van Laven learn to love Bastionli, how’s that for overcoming one’s past?”

Still brooding, she tried to hide the smile teetering on her lips. “Well…technically, I’m not Bastionli by—”

“Irrelevant since I fully believed you were Bastionli when I fell hopelessly…desperately…and passionately in love with you.”

And there it was, that full, sensual smile that he felt down to his very core. “Well, as long as you keep your lurid past buried deep in the past, I will let this go.”

“It’s dead and buried. I pray you never to bring it up again.”

She cast him a rather dubious look then turned her attention to the landscape. “So what exactly is the game plan once we reach Monteras?”

Grateful for the change of subject, he didn’t hesitate to respond. “Nacum told me that Monteras is a trading outpost with travelers from abroad which means a ready supply of transportation.”

“So we’re hoping some off-worlder will be willing to part with his transport for the right price?”

“Someone will part with their vessel, one way or the other,” he said rather coolly.

“You’d steal one?”

“If that’s what it requires.” He looked at her. “Unless you’d like to spend the winter hiding out in Nacum’s hut.”

“I wouldn’t dream of imposing any further on their generous hospitality,” she said, ignoring his barb. “But how do we find this person?”

“There’s a tavern in the center of town where the locals like to gather and the merchant travelers go to unwind. I’ll find someone there and make an offer that’ll be difficult to ignore.”

“You’re not afraid you’ll draw unwarranted attention?” she asked. “What if Recaban’s spy network is already there?”

“More likely Recaban’s men. I’ll be careful not to draw too much attention. In fact, that’s why I plan to go alone, they’ll be looking for a couple of our description.”

“True, but I don’t like the idea of you going in there alone,” she said in worrisome tone. “What if something happened to you?”

He grinned. “I can take care of myself just fine.”

“And where am I supposed to be during the negotiations?”

“We’ll find a place to hide the motor sled and you’ll remain with it, hidden out of sight until I return.”

She nodded though her expression was grim. “With what will you negotiate? The minute you access your bank accounts your father will be immediately alerted and learn our location.”

“I’ve a few unregistered accounts in reserve for just such a situation.”

“But won’t that tip off the buyer? You might as well announce that you’re buying the transport with stolen funds. No one will sell to you then.”

It both pleased and astounded Comron that Vaush possessed a measure of naiveté, believing so staunchly in the innate virtue of humanity and that this town couldn’t possibly be filled with cutthroat merchants who’d just as soon shoot you as look at you. Wave enough credits under their noses and they’d not only sell you their ship, they’d throw in their sainted mother for good measure.

“You let me worry about that, love.”