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"Why not?"
"Well, there's a matter of inheritances. He opened Anksha's smock and rubbed
her puffy belly. Timadi will be my legitimate heir. The others would all be
bastards."
"So?"
Isranon remembered that his father had not married his mother until it became
apparent that Isranon had been born sa'necari. On the other hand, he had
married Anksha as soon as he knew she had become pregnant by him. Yet, Timadi
could not possibly be sa'necari. The child that Anksha carried was clearly a
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demon-eater. Sa'necari never married their non-sa'necari lovers unless they
had produced a sa'necari child, because sa'necari genes were recessive and not
dominant except when both parents were sa'necari. Anksha, if they turned out
to be sa'necari, they would quarrel over inheritances."
And I will not be here to raise them.
"I can handle it."
A small, uncertain smile touched Isranon's lips. I'm sure you can. Why is it
so important to you?"
"I'm afraid I'm going to lose you."
His arms tightened around her. You're not going to lose me. Yet.
"Yes, I am. Anksha pushed away from him and fled.
Isranon started to go after her and then decided not to. He stretched out on
his bed, trying to remember who he had shared Kalirion's prophecy with. Nans
was one. He felt certain that she would not have told Anksha. Was there anyone
else?
* * * *
Anksha found Nainee in the tent she shared with Haig. Trained as a hostess,
the elegant nibari had an out-going nature that matched her training. She sat
with her bodice open, holding her infant to her breast while he suckled.
"I want lots of Isranons."
Nainee looked startled. What do you mean?"
Anksha pressed her lips together, considering her words and struggling to set
aside the comfortable childhood patois that she frequently retreated into. It
would be nice to have lots and lots of them. Dawnhand only had four children.
Waejonan killed his daughters. His son had only a single child."
"I know the legend."
"History. Anksha corrected her. I was there. Waejonan raped each of his
little girls before he sent them to the military brothels. I was very little
then. She held her hand out, indicating the height of a five-year-old child.
I went after Waejonan, but I wasn't big enough to stop him. He and his
soldiers.... Anksha shivered, a single tear running down her face. She had
repressed the memories for centuries until Isranon awakened them months ago.
They raped and beat me ... tossed me on the garbage heap to die."
Nainee went cold at the images, returned her son to his cradle, and gathered
Anksha into her arms. I didn't know. I'm sorry it happened."
Anksha sniffled and rubbed the back of her hand across her eyes. Is okay. I
grew up and I killed him. She sucked in a breath to steady herself. So I
want lots and lots of Isranons. Too many for the enemy to find and kill them
all."
"And how do you propose to do that?"
"Nibari. I need your help."
"Tell me what to do."
"Send Isranon mostly, and if possible only, nibari that are in season."
Nainee chuckled. You have yourself a conspirator. Choose out some nibari of
good bloodlines and when they come into season, convince him to play a bedroom
game with say, three of you; trick him into seeding them. Then you'll get your
Isranons."
"Sounds good."
"And, let Haig and I help you. When we get to Ildyrsetts, we could hold a
small, private orgy, with just the Lemyari, a bunch of ripe nibari, you, and
Isranon."
"Sneaky. Anksha grinned.
* * * *
Seeing Luck and Travis walking toward him, Stygean ducked his head as he
walked past them heading toward Randilyn's tent to have his back tended.
Luck nodded at the boy. Isranon seems to have taken a liking to that one."
Travis glanced to see which one Luck meant and shook his head. If he hurts
Isranon, I'll cut his throat. Travis stiffened and then shook his head.
Never thought I'd say that about a kid. But after what happened with
Corbienne "
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Stygean flinched when he heard Travis threaten his life, but kept on walking.
Everyone hated him here. Everyone wanted to kill him. Everyone except except,
maybe Randilyn. She always seemed so kind.
"You never had a kid with fangs to consider, Travis."
"Yeah."
"You missing Iuf?"
Stygean's eyes slewed around, and he walked slower and slower; listening as
long as he could to what they were saying, expecting another threat, and
wondering if Luck wanted to kill him also.
Travis mouth tightened. It shook me up, Luck ... finding him like that. Her
fangs in his throat ... and him turning blue."
"I feel his loss like a blade in the gut. Luck squeezed Travis shoulder.
Look, I picked up a couple of bottles of cheap whiskey at that last town. You
want to help me kill a bottle?"
"Sure do."
Their voices faded into the distance, and Stygean breathed a sigh of relief.
He reached the medical tent and poked his head inside. Randilyn?"
Randilyn sat at a small table near the left side of the substantial tent,
grinding dried herbs to powder with a mortar and pestle. She glanced at him
and smiled. What do you need, Stygean?"
He sucked in a breath. Isranon said to have you treat my back."
She set her work aside and reversed a chair for him. Take your shirt and
tunic off. Then straddle the chair so I can have a look at it."
Stygean went inside and noticed how much warmer it was in the tent than
outside as he gingerly removed his tunic and shirt. He straddled the chair and
propped his arms on the back. It's warm in here."
Randilyn smiled and indicated a brazier. Dawnreturning made us some hot
stones. Say a special word and they heat up."
"He's sa'necari. Stygean squirmed inwardly at all the strange abilities that
Isranon demonstrated. It tilted his sense of reality and threw everything he
had been taught out of kilter.
"Yes, Randilyn murmured distractedly. She looked over Stygean's back,
frowning. Some of the long tears had a yellowish film over them and looked
swollen with pus. Have they been feeding you?"
"Nibari? No. Jun didn't want me healed by blood until he was satisfied I had
suffered enough."
"Were those Jun's exact words? Randilyn opened a small chest and started
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