Choices and Devotion – Chapter Twelve

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A short passage from Chapter Twelve – Copyright © 2005 by Katie J. Gonzalez LebreyaBooks

“Again, I apologize.” The queen stepped inside towards the seating area, leaving the servant to find other duties to attend to. “I had a private matter to discuss with you and thought it better to approach you apart from your men.” She took a seat on the plush couch and patted the seat next to her. “Please, take a seat.”

Ian sat, facing her, curious now what would be so important.

“I wanted to finish our conversation from earlier. It is not because I am Lebreyan that I wish to preserve our heritage; it is because of what the Lebreyan are able to do for the people. You’ve seen throughout your travels that when entering a land long gone without a Lebreyan residing there, the crops are scorched and the animals thirsty, but within a short time of your presence the rains come back and the soil is nourished and flourishing. Because the weather is calmed by Lebreyan blood, other kingdoms have sought to live within our borders for generations. This has built the city in the strength of the gifted, and ungifted alike. The city’s magnificence lies in the wealth of our numbers. Together we are able to fight against the evil of the Serpanians. While Lebreyans have miraculous gifts, talents to fight the evils of this world, we are still strong because the ungifted have held us up. The Lebreyan are so few in numbers now that many of our outlying lands are burning dry. There are not enough with the gift to spread out to the far reaches of the lands. The people are leaving, the kingdoms dwindling, and our strength in numbers depleting. This will only get worse with time, putting all within our borders at risk for attack. It’s been of great concern, and something that seemed inevitable…but then, years ago, when you joined the armies … our people were stunned to see that you even existed. We thought we knew of all the Lebreyan still alive. To find you, Ian …” she took a deep breath. “You renewed our hope. And not just for what you have been able to do on the battlefield. But another Lebreyan…. A male…. Do you know what this means?”

Ian blinked, taken aback. “I’ve never thought of it that way. I have always noticed the stares. I hear people talking from time to time, but most seem to know that I can hear them far better than the ungifted, so they usually keep their thoughts to themselves. I’ve certainly never heard of anyone suggesting that I,” he pointed to his chest for added emphasis, “would be the solution to continue the Lebreyan race. I would have put their thoughts to rest.”

“So, you know what I’m about to ask you then?”

“I have to admit I’m surprised anyone would ask this of me, but I can only gather the reason for this conversation is being that I am the only male Lebreyan left in all the world, other than a baby and an old man, and there are multiple Lebreyan women who may seek to have children.”

“Once again you have impressed me. Your thoughts are correct, and you have saved me the embarrassment of asking such a thing from you.”

“Had I known the details earlier, I would have surmised such a scenario to arise, but I’ve only just discovered today that only Lebreyan couples can bear children, and that I’m the only solution to the survival of our race. Not to mention this means my parentage is a mystery.”

Ian rose from his seat and went to stand behind the couch. “I’m sorry to say I can be of no aid.”

The queen turned to face him from her seat. “There is a council of nearly two-hundred men and women who have concerns over our future if we are not to have the Lebreyan here to bring blessings to our weather. And like I said, without the rains, people move on, and we are left with little protection. Three of those members are Lebreyan women who wish to bear children but are unable being that their husbands are ungifted. I am beyond my child bearing years, so it is not for me that I ask. It is they who will want to know why you cannot aid them.”

“It is they directly who ask? These Lebreyan women? What of their husbands? Do they not find this request out of the question? Certainly, they don’t want to share their wives with a stranger.” He pointed to himself again. “These women are truly seeking to have me bed them?” Ian’s voice was rising, surprise and disbelief changing his features.

“I’ve not heard from the men’s point of view, but I can imagine there was a great deal of discussion before any of them presented this idea.”

“Well, their minds can be put at ease. Despite how awkward that would be, I cannot. I have the bond.”

The queen rose from the couch like lightning. “The bond?”

Ian nodded slowly.

“Where is this woman? She is the solution then, Ian! Don’t you see?”

Ian shook his head. “She is not Lebreyan.”

The queen’s expression contorted with confusion. “She must be.”

“She is completely ungifted. Nothing about her is remotely Lebreyan. Yet, I have the bond. She is everything to me.”

“Ian, this can’t be.”

“I assure you it is. And if what you say is true, that a child can only be born from the union of two Lebreyan … then I shall never have children.”

The queen sank back to the couch, her brow heavy with disappointment.

“My queen, I do not mean to upset you. I know this must have been important to you.”

“Not just to me, Ian. To Lebreya. How? How do you know you have the bond?”

“It’s with me always. She is with me always.”

“It wouldn’t be a matter of missing her. When someone has the bond, and they are separated from their true mate, they are in a good deal of pain.”

“Indeed, I am.”

The queen furrowed her brow. “Commander, I do not mean to sound doubtful, but this is all highly unlikely.”

“Overtime the pain has become a part of me. As natural as breathing. I’ve been apart from her for almost five years now. Though I’ve learned how to live with it, every one of my senses aches. My chest is tight, there’s a pounding in my head, the roiling in my stomach never settles.” Ian stepped around the couch to take a seat again. He rested his elbows on his knees and stared out toward the balcony, seeing times past. “I still remember the last day I saw her. We had been swimming in the spring, and I’d just kissed her.” He looked to the queen briefly with a small smile. “I’d never been so bold before.” He closed his eyes. “Her skin was still wet from the water. It reflected the light from my eyes; just the slightest twinkling of green light shining back at me, illuminating her features. So beautiful…. The vision replays in my mind to no end.”

When Ian opened his eyes again the queen put her hand on his knee. “Your eyes are glowing now,” she whispered, unable to find her voice.

He filled his chest with a deep breath. As he slowly let it out, the light in his eyes faded with it. “I’ve learned to train it. Or rather, train my passion for her. The light seems to follow.”

A sad smile accompanied the queen’s words, “You’re certain she is not Lebreyan?”

“Absolutely.”

“I don’t pretend to know what this means, but it must mean something, Commander. The bond existed in years past to ensure the proper man and woman would be devoted to each other, and through their union, Lebreyan children with the strongest of gifts would be born.”

“I can’t say why I have the bond, and most days I wish I didn’t. But you can see that I am devoted to her. Completely devoted. I could never take another woman to my bed. Even if it meant saving an entire race of people.”

“But the two of you cannot produce children. So, why would this be? Why the bond?”

“All I know is the way I feel for her. And that I can’t control how the bond drives me, despite how much I’ve suffered because of it.”

“I can see you have the bond. Your eyes would not glow otherwise. But who is this woman?”

“Minaya of Oriias.”

“But, Commander, she is betrothed to Lord Vincent of Doran.”

Ian stood abruptly and spun away. The queen watched as he strode to his dresser, rested his palms on the wood, and put his head down. His knuckles shown white as he gripped the dresser’s planks. A moment later he looked into the mirror and she could see his eyes glowing fiercely. They faded within a few more breaths. “Forgive me,” he muttered.

“You didn’t know?”

He turned to her. “I knew. But it nearly drives me mad to think of him touching her. To have claim to her . . ..” He gritted his teeth as he spoke, “Everything inside of me starts screaming out when the very idea enters my mind.”

She nodded her understanding. “Men kill for much less. I would hate to see what would become of you once they wed.”

“You have to understand, I cannot let that happen.” When the queen appraised him silently, he continued. “I’ve been biding my time, knowing she is not yet of marrying age. But my time is running out, as I’m sure you know.”

“Perhaps a quarter turn from now.”

He nodded. “Nearly that.”

“If she does wed him, Ian … Commander … what then?”

He looked out over the balcony again. “I don’t believe I would survive it.” They were both quiet for a time. “But I’m not worried over that. I would die keeping it from happening. Nothing but death could keep me from putting a stop to their union.”

“Ian …”

He looked her in the eyes, his glowing again. “Would you expect anything different? I do not mean to appear insolent, my queen, but is this not typical of someone who has the bond? Could I be expected to do anything less?”