Voices by M J Marlow (uplifting novels txt) 📕

grace your arm, my prince?”
“Hardly that,” Aden replied; hating this man and the
conversation they were having. “Melaura is a very gifted and
intelligent young woman. She will be a credit to our people once
she has learned how to behave.” He hid his relief when Ystban
bowed his head in agreement. He did not want to tell the man their
secret; but he knew it was necessary if the man was going to be
gentle. “Have your women treat her gently, Lord Councilor,” he
added and saw Ystban’s eyes narrow. “My princess is with child.”
“She will be treated with great gentleness, lord prince,”
Ystban bowed his head. “I congratulate you on your heir.”
“If that is all, lord Ystban?” Aden shrugged. “I will go to
my quarters now. I expect my wife to share my bed.” He saw
Ystban flinch. “She may be an unwilling bride, my lord; but she is
my wife. Your lessons will not keep her from her duties to me.”
“Of course not, my prince,” Ystban bowed his head. “That
would hardly look right, would it?”
He watched Aden leave with two guards and frowned. He
had hoped to have more time. But he was nothing if not adaptable.
So he went to his quarters and smiled as he entered to find me
surrounded by his wives. I was so beautiful with my eyes spitting
fire in anger. It was going to be a delight to have me in his hands
once he dealt with the Emperor and that insufferable boy. He
clenched his fists and reminded himself he needed to be patient. I
would only be his once the boy was Emperor. He would then die
from some strange fever, and Ystban would wed a grieving young
widow and become Emperor through her.
“Bring the princess her medicant,” he said to one of the
women. He saw the suspicion in my eyes and smiled. “Just a little
something to make it possible for you to remain alive, child.” He
sat down and accepted a glass of wine. “You have remembered
what happened.”
“I remember,” I nodded and remained as far from him as I
could. “You had my parents and their friends slaughtered like
animals. Why?”
“Your parents were being difficult,” Ystban replied. He
cocked his head and looked at me. “You resemble your father quite
markedly when you are angry, child. Please sit down,” he smiled
as indicated the lounge near me. “You should really be more
relaxed; given your condition.”
“He told you?”
“Of course he told me, Princess,” Ystban smiled. “Your
young husband is quite proud of his prowess. How far along are
you?”
“Since the first night,” I told him as I sat down. “A few
weeks now.” I did not take the cup the woman offered me. “I don’t
want it.” I said petulantly. But she was not offering; I realized as
the other women held me so she could make me drink. “That was
unnecessary.”
“You will learn to obey,” Ystban laughed at the look on my
face. “It is a trait that is nearly as highly prized in a Hazri woman
as silence.” He saw my shock as I ‘saw’ what he had done. “When
we get to Hazri Prime, my medics will help you forget again.” He
nodded to his women and they pulled me to my feet and held me
for him. “It is really very simple, my princess,” Ystban said as the
women held me upright as my knees began to buckle. “You give
your word that you will remain quiet and I will let your family
alone.”
“I don’t believe you,” I said softly. I pulled against the
women holding me and could not make them release me. “You
will say anything to get me to agree.”
“A bit higher dosage, lord prince?” one of the women
asked. “The princess is still too argumentative.”
“No,” Ystban nodded as he saw the fear in my eyes. He
forced me into his lap. He ran his hand along my cheek and I
slapped him. He shoved me to the floor and pressed my bracelets
together behind my back. “I enjoy our little battle of wills. She will
accept my mastery soon enough, or she will be attending funerals.”
He yanked me up into his lap and leaned his cheek against mine.
“Who shall be first, Princess? The Governor? One of the Hazri?” I
did not speak and he suddenly smiled. “The farmers!” He laughed
as I looked at him in shock. “It would be a simple enough matter to
raze their holds to the ground from one of our vessels.”
“No, Ystban,” I cried out in protest. “Please…”
“Then we have our agreement?” Ystban asked as he raised
my eyes to his. “Say it.”
“I will do as you ask of me,” I sobbed and tried to pull
away from him.
“Very good, my princess,” Ystban smiled. “We shall seal
this agreement with a kiss, yes?” He waited and I was sobbing as I
moved to kiss him; knowing this was what he wanted. He did not
let it end with the tiny peck. His hand moved up behind my head
and he held me in place as his lips ravaged mine. “So sweet,” he
sighed when he finally let me go. He nodded to his women. “Help
the princess dress now. Her young husband is most eager to have
her in his bed.” He clamped his hand on my throat. “Remember,
Princess. You speak of our past to no one, or there will be great
mourning on Jarusian.”
The only peace we had during the entire week it took to get
to Jarusian was at night when Aden and I were allowed to be alone.
Once we arrived, I was hurried to Natan’s penthouse and secured
in a bedroom under the watchful eyes of the two women. No man
was allowed near me as I was ‘prepared’ for the joining ceremony.
At least that was what I was told. Aden, of course, was not
considered in that ban. He was my husband and could visit with
me as he willed. But so could Ystban, and his visits left me
shaking in anger and fear as he continued to beat me down. But he
had not taken into consideration the Magistrate and his men. Aken,
of course, presented himself to us, but Danel and his team were
missing from among the ranks of the security forces when my
betrothed made his inspection. They were aboard the Solace, Aken
told the visitors; but I could see the truth. Danel and his people
were closer than they thought.
“Tell me about your grandmother’s cousin, Lorn Aken, my
lady,” Ystban said as he came into the room while I was being
dressed.
“I have never met the man,” I told him honestly. I winced
as the woman brushing my hair pulled on it. “The Governor has
known him for forty years.” I looked at Ystban. “But you do not
trust my grandfather, do you?”
“I have not gotten this far by trusting, my princess,” Ystban
said to me. He waved the women away and took the comb to
continue working on my hair. “You have such beautiful hair,
Melaura. I have never seen such a glorious gold. Our blondes
usually have hair that is so pale it looks like chaff.”
“You know about farming?” I looked at him in the mirror.
“I am surprised.”
“A Hazri of royal rank oversees vast holdings,” Ystban told
me. “I have always thought it best to understand as much about
what is mine as possible.” He smiled and leaned down to kiss me
on the shoulder. “I am going to enjoy learning about you,
Melaura.” He turned me to face him and crouched down so our
eyes were on the same level. “You will be mine one day.”
“I think my husband might have something to say about
that,” I hissed at him. I tried to get up and he grabbed my hair and
yanked me back down. “I promised not to tell him about you, lord
Ystban. You can quit tormenting me now.”
“And why should I do that?” Ystban laughed at me. “I
enjoy the sight of you when you are angry. Your eyes blaze in your
anger.” He heard someone coming and handed me the comb. He
stepped into the next room and I heard his voice speaking to
whoever had come in. “She is just rising, my prince. I am certain
she will be out shortly.”
I finished combing my hair and joined Aden. I did not
approach him. I kept my expression wary. Aden smiled and came
to me, kissing me warmly. I struggled as he asked and then I
slapped him across the face. Aden laughed and released me to go
get himself a drink.
“Your bride is still a trifle rebellious, my prince,” Ystban
said as he looked at my angry face.
“She will learn,” Aden shrugged. “Her anger makes her a
very exciting bedmate.” He heard my intake of breath and turned
towards me with a smile. “You thought I would keep such things
private, my wife?” I nodded and he laughed. “Hazri males are very
vocal about their prowess in bed, Melaura. And,” he continued as
he nodded towards Ystban; “the lord councilor is a trusted friend
as well as family. I have no secrets from him.” He ran his eyes
over me insolently and I bit my lip to keep from crying. “You are
looking quite lovely this morning, my wife. Perhaps we can put
that morning meeting off, Ystban?” he said as he grabbed me by
the wrists and yanked me up against his chest. “I am in the mood
for a little time alone with my lovely Melaura.”
“Her grandfather was quite insistent, my prince,” Ystban
replied. He saw Aden’s frown. “I am certain we can find a way to
make the meeting go quickly. Your lovely wife should not have to
be kept waiting.” He laughed as I turned my back on both of them.
“I am certain she is just as eager as you are to have some time
alone.”
“Then let us get to this meeting,” Aden replied as he turned
me to face him. I tried to pull away and he yanked me back. “I
expect you to be waiting for me, Melaura.” His face suddenly went
pale and I watched him fall to his knees. He fell over and I saw the
blood spreading over the back of his uniform jacket.
“Aden!”
I saw the man standing in the corner with the phaser in his
hand and I screamed and dodged as he fired again. The bolt meant
for me went crashing through the window and alarms began to
sound. I saw Ystban going to Aden as the assassin grabbed me as I
ran for help. He was fighting to subdue me when the guards came.
They took him down and I ran to Aden’s side. He was still
breathing I noted with relief. The medics came to collect him and I
went along, refusing to be parted from him. He was in surgery
when my grandfather arrived.
“He was shot,” I informed Natan as I stood watching the
surgery door. “He has lost a lot of blood, but we got him here
quickly. The shot hits his lung, Grandfather…”
“I am certain he will recover, child,” Natan said as he held
me in his arms. He looked down to see the truth in my eyes. “You
really care about him, don’t you?”
“It is something Ystban must not know, Grandfather,” I
shot the warning into his mind. I saw Ystban coming with the
guard. “What are you doing?” I demanded as they grabbed me.
“You are to be questioned, Princess,” Ystban said coldly as
I was cuffed; “as to your knowledge of the assassination attempt
on your husband.”
“I don’t know anything,”