Aiduels sin, p.22
Aiduel's Sin, page 22
However, what if she were to abandon Jarrett to flee from here, but Arion did not join her? If that happened, then once again she would have lost everything, and she would be forced to face the world and the panic of night-time on her own.
What are you going to do, Lana? What are you going to do?
She felt anxious throughout the night. However, before dawn arrived, she had come to an initial conclusion. She was resolved that she would need to reveal more about herself to Jarrett, if there was to be any hope of a future with him.
–
The next morning, she spoke to the young duke as soon as he awoke. He was on his back in bed, and she was resting naked against him, with her head on his chest.
‘I’ve been awake all night, Jarrett,’ she said, her voice serious. ‘I’ve been thinking about what you told me.’
‘And what have you been thinking?’ he asked, his tone equally sombre.
‘That I’m terrified about what’s going to happen. Do you really have no choice in this, Jarrett? Are you truly decided that if this holy war comes, you’re going to fight against Andar?’
‘I’m absolutely certain about my decision, Lana. My faith tells me that I must do this. But even if that were not the case, I can’t face the alternative for Berun.’
‘What alternative?’ she asked.
He gently moved himself out from underneath her, and sat up to face her. She rolled onto her back, displaying her naked body to him, and she could sense the reaction of his desire despite the gravity of their conversation.
‘If I were to stand with Andar and the Pavils on this,’ he said, ‘then Berun will be in the front line of the war, facing an invading army the likes of which Andar has never seen. Not only would I then be betraying my faith, but my army would likely be slaughtered, and Berun will fall. If I choose that option, I’ll be dooming my eternal soul, and my people and this land. And our future together. I can’t do that, Lana.’
Allana was silent as she considered his words. She knew that she could compel him to change his mind, if she chose to. However, the disastrous consequences which Jarrett had outlined seemed to render that option equally unattractive. Instead, she arched her back and stretched her arms out across the bedsheet, and once again she could feel his lust for her mounting inside him. It was time to share some of her secrets.
‘Could you ever forgive me Jarrett, if I’ve told you a little lie about who I am, and if I’ve done something bad in the past? Something which wasn’t my fault, but which means that Aiduel’s Guards might arrest me and kill me, if they return here?’
In the aftermath of his shocked reaction to that statement, she shared her true name. She then proceeded to tell him about the events of the murder and flight from Sen Aiduel, and her imprisonment in and escape from the fortress of Aiduel’s Guards in Septholme. Of course, she told him a version of that story which varnished the truth in her own favour. She brushed over some of the more gruesome events, and entirely omitted any details about her powers and her interactions with the Sepian family.
At the end, she said, ‘And that’s why, if your actions mean that Aiduel’s Guards might return here, and in greater numbers, then I’ll have to run away. As soon as possible, because I dare not stay, Jarrett. I’ll have to leave you.’
After her final words, he did not speak for several seconds. His expression was hard to interpret, but she could still feel the desire beating inside of him as he stared at her.
Finally, he said, ‘No.’
‘No?’ she repeated.
‘No. You’re not leaving me, Lana. I’m not losing you, too.’
He has lost his mother and his father, Lana, and he desperately needs you. That gives you power.
‘But how can you expect me to stay, after what I’ve done? If this war happens, and Aiduel’s Guards realise who I am, they’ll arrest me. They’ll kill me, Jarrett.’
‘You mustn’t leave me, Lana.’ There was now a hint of pleading in his voice. ‘Please. I forgive you for whatever you’ve done, and I love you, with all of my soul. And I’ll find a way to keep you safe.’
‘But how?’
‘Right now, I don’t know. But give me some time, please. Hours, days, that’s all I need. Just don’t leave me. I’ll find a way.’
She looked at him, at his muscular form and earnest expression, and she could feel his need for her burning throughout his body. He was suddenly desperate to please her, and she liked having that power and control over him. She felt her own desire rising to match his own.
‘I believe you Jarrett.’
Give him time, Lana, and then you can decide.
After that thought, she reached a hand up onto his arm and pulled him down towards her.
–
Two days later, Jarrett invited Allana to go horse-riding with him, and she happily accepted. Their destination was a gently-sloping hill to the north, which rose out above a sprawling pine forest, and which offered unbroken views back towards Berun Castle.
It was a chilly but beautiful winter day, the sun in the clear sky above having melted the morning frost by the time that they set off together. Allana was soon delighting in the freedom of riding, although she quickly noticed that Jarrett was unusually quiet and pensive.
After they had reached the hilltop and had dismounted, Allana took a moment to savour the view across the lands back to the castle.
‘It’s so beautiful here,’ she said, her breath misting in the chilly air.
Jarrett did not reply, and in puzzlement Allana turned towards him. The expression on the young duke’s face was unfamiliar; he appeared both excited and bashful.
‘What is it, Jarrett?’ Allana asked. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘I’ve had another letter,’ he announced, and abruptly clasped her hands in his. ‘I wanted to bring you out here, to somewhere special, to… share this news with you. Two senior foreign leaders are travelling in secret to come here, to arrive in a month’s time. They’re visiting to finalise matters in relation to our mutual… objectives.’
He proceeded to tell her about who those visitors were going to be, before adding, ‘But this is our opportunity, Lana! I think I’ll be able to use this meeting to free you of all of your worries.’
‘What do you mean?’ she asked. ‘How?’
With an excited voice, Jarrett then outlined his plans to her. As he did so, Allana started to smile. It was clear that the duke had thought things through in detail, and Allana could quickly perceive that the coming encounter with the foreign leaders might shape her entire future.
When he had finished, Jarrett said, ‘I hope now that you can see how much I’ll fight to protect you? How I never want to lose you?’
‘I do, Jarrett.’
‘But these are serious people, Lana, and I’ve been in agony for these last two days. If I’m to do this, then I need something back from you. I need two promises from you.’
‘What promises, Jarrett?’
‘First, you must promise me that you won’t ever leave me, if I secure these things for you.’
‘I promise. If you get this for me, and I feel safe, I promise I won’t leave.’ She maintained eye contact as she said this.
Better to make the promise for now, Lana. You can decide later whether or not to keep it.
‘And second,’ he said, while suddenly kneeling down before her, with the beautiful wintry landscape of Berun directly behind him as he stared into her eyes, ‘you must promise me that when this coming war is over, you will become my wife.’
–
Four weeks later, Allana was waiting in the Grand Hall of Berun Castle, on her own. A fire was blazing in the great hearth of the hall, helping to soften the deep cold of winter within the draughty room.
Allana was sitting on an ornately engraved chair, which was in the centre of the dais at the end of the hall. She was dressed in the finest gown that she owned, one that revealed an eye-catching amount of bare chest and cleavage. She was fully aware of the chill in the air, but she wanted to ensure that Jarrett’s visitors would feel desire for her, in case any intervention was necessary to secure the day’s outcome. Enduring a little discomfort would be more than worthwhile, for that.
The chair that Allana was seated in had once belonged to the dowager duchess, and it was positioned alongside the duke’s own grand chair. In the last few weeks, Sillene’s seat and the status which it represented had been claimed by Allana. Opposite these chairs, two further seats had been placed for their guests. Close by, a table had been set out, which was loaded with a sumptuous display of food and drink.
Jarrett had been informed minutes before that his two visitors had arrived in the courtyard outside. He had gone off to greet the arrivals, leaving Allana on her own for a few minutes.
This is your opportunity, Lana. Today, you can secure everything that you deserve.
As she was thinking this, the main doors to the hall opened and Jarrett entered. He was followed by two men, both of whom were hooded and wearing nondescript robes. Jarrett turned to close the door after them, and then he walked towards Allana. The two newcomers followed him, both pushing down their hoods as they did so, while Allana stood up to greet them.
‘Your Highness, Your Eminence,’ stated Jarrett, gesturing towards the table as he spoke. ‘Please, take off your travel robes and help yourself to whatever food and drink you desire. It must have been a difficult journey in this weather.’
The two men appeared to be in their late-fifties or early-sixties. They were each of average height and were dwarfed by Jarrett. The first was handsome for his age, with a stocky build, grey hair and a neatly trimmed full grey beard. Allana noted the way that this individual’s gaze drifted over her figure, and she sensed with satisfaction that he was a man of strong appetites. The second arrival was scrawny-looking, with a gaunt face and oversized eyes, and her immediate assessment of him was that he contained no equivalent hunger.
As the two men drew close, Jarrett announced, ‘Gentlemen, please may I introduce Allana. She has full awareness of our discussions and has my complete trust. Allana is my companion and my adviser, and we’re to marry.’
Allana forced herself to refrain from smiling as he said this. She had accepted Jarrett’s proposal of marriage.
She could see the two newcomers exchanging glances in reaction to the announcement. She curtseyed to them both, noting how the grey-bearded man’s eyes were devouring her form as she did so.
Jarrett continued, gesturing towards this admirer. ‘Allana, please may I introduce His Imperial Highness, Prince Lorrius El’Augustus, brother of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Jarrius El’Augustus.’ The man nodded his head in reaction to this. ‘And our second illustrious guest is His Eminence, Archprime Runus Kohn of the High Council.’
‘Your Highness, Your Eminence,’ said Allana. ‘I am Allana dei Monis. It’s an honour to meet you.’
She observed Archprime Kohn raising an eyebrow in response to either her words or her accent. She suspected that he might have recognised her full name.
Prince Lorrius simply nodded again then turned to Jarrett, before glancing towards the four chairs. ‘It has been a long journey, Duke Berun, and I look forward to sitting down to rest my legs. But first, may I say how distressing it is not to be able to see my cousin Sillene here. When I heard of her illness, it upset me greatly. Such a tragedy.’
‘Yes, Your Highness,’ replied Jarrett. ‘A great tragedy. Mother’s illness came on very suddenly, while I was away in Andarron. Sadly, her mind is… not what it was.’
Jarrett doesn’t need her any more, Lana. He only needs you.
‘A great woman, your mother,’ said Lorrius. His accent was refined but Allana also found it to be a little oily. ‘Always formidable, and not one to suffer fools. And so sad that you were away at the time. Another matter to blame that idiot Inneos for, eh?’
Jarrett acknowledged the comment, and then the two men made small talk for a handful of minutes, after they had all moved to the chairs. Runus Kohn was silent during this exchange, his expression dour. To Allana, it appeared as if the man had no taste for social niceties, and just wanted to get onto business.
Eventually, Kohn cleared his throat and said, in a voice that was as sullen as his demeanour, ‘Lorrius, please. We’ve travelled a long and perilous way for this clandestine gathering. I, for one, would like to get started.’
‘Very well, Runus,’ said the Elannis prince, before sitting forwards in his chair and adopting a more serious manner. ‘I’ll start then. We all know why we’re here, Duke Berun. And from our correspondence of recent weeks and months, and your acceptance of this visit, we believe that our minds are set on a similar course. That our interests are aligned. In simple terms, our purpose in being here is to discuss the following objectives, and the means to achieve them. First, the removal by force of the House of Pavil from the throne of Andar. Second, the instatement of a new monarchy to this country, being one which is more closely… bound, to Elannis and Dei Magnus. Third, the restoration of the one true Holy Church throughout this land. To ensure that there is no possible confusion about our intent, is that also your understanding, Duke Berun?’
In response to this, Jarrett nodded, then said, ‘Agreed. That is also my understanding of the purpose of this meeting.’
With those words, Allana knew that Jarrett was committing himself and his people to treason against the Andar crown.
‘Good,’ said Lorrius. ‘To be clear, I’m here as the representative of my brother, Emperor Jarrius, and I have his authority to negotiate and agree matters within certain boundaries, on behalf of Elannis. Archprime Runus is here as representative of the Archlaw and the High Council, and carries equivalent authority on behalf of Dei Magnus. You can therefore have assurance that what we agree here today, if we state it as residing within our authority, will be supported by our nations. I trust that this is also clear, Duke Berun?’
‘Yes, it is,’ replied Jarrett. ‘And of course, I have full authority to speak on behalf of the House and territory of Berun.’
‘Very well,’ said Lorrius. ‘Let’s get to business. First, we can discuss the how of what we want to achieve. Then, Duke Berun, we can discuss the conditions for your involvement which you’ve alluded to within your correspondence. Are we agreed?’
Again, Allana watched Jarrett nod in response to this, and then the discussions began in earnest.
–
Two hours later, the three men had covered a lot of ground in their conversation. Allana had contributed only minor amounts to the exchange, but she had stayed because she wanted to be present when Jarrett set out his requirements. She needed to witness whether he was successful.
‘That concludes our strategy discussion, Duke Berun,’ stated Prince Lorrius, who had been the most dominant participant in the conversation. ‘To summarise, now that we’ve established where Prince Markon is being imprisoned, and have the means to free him, your co-operation will form the final element of our plan.
‘Once we’ve acted to free Markon, Elannis will also be free to act, and that will trigger everything else. The Elannis army and the Dei Magnus navy will both be ready to move by then, in overwhelming force. The Archlaw and the High Council are in turn primed to issue the Proclamation of Crusade once Markon is safe. And under the assault of our combined land and naval forces, alongside the unrest to be stirred following the proclamation, Andar and the Pavils will soon be reeling. The rebellion of the Houses of Berun and Condarr will be the final essential piece, which will ensure the complete collapse of the Pavil reign.’
‘All understood,’ said Jarrett, his tone neutral.
‘Very well,’ replied Lorrius. ‘And so, we come on to the question of the price of your assistance in these matters, Duke Berun. Please share with us these conditions, which your letter referred to.’
Before Jarrett started to reply, he glanced towards Allana. She nodded and smiled at him, trying to show encouragement. There was no going back now.
This is your opportunity, Lana. Your chance to wash away the past.
‘I will start with some… personal matters,’ stated Jarrett. ‘In the context of what we’ve just discussed, these may seem trivial to you. But they’re deeply important to me and to my betrothed Allana, and I’d ask you to receive them as such.’
As Jarrett mentioned her name, Allana felt Prince Lorrius’s eyes upon her again. The Elannis royal clearly relished the sight of her physical form.
‘To begin,’ continued Jarrett, ‘I’ve already mentioned that I intend to marry Allana. However, it can create problems if a member of the nobility marries a… non-noble. And also, there are some other issues. But these are problems which could be easily resolved by a member of the High Council.’
‘Go on,’ stated Archprime Kohn, his eyebrow raised up again.
‘Well, Allana has disclosed to me that she was involved in an unfortunate incident, a number of years ago. High Priest Ronis dei Maranar, of Sen Aiduel, was killed in an incident which involved Allana.’
For the first time, Allana observed what appeared to be an expression of interest on Kohn’s face, as he regarded her again and exclaimed, ‘I knew I recognised that name! Dei Maranar, of course!’ His dour expression then returned. ‘Anyway. Continue.’
‘Allana has been pursued by Aiduel’s Guards as a result of this matter,’ said Jarrett. ‘At one point, they imprisoned her, but she escaped, and there were deaths involved, of a number of soldiers from that order.’
‘This is all very interesting, but what do you actually want?’ Kohn asked.
Allana’s heart was beating fast, as her past crimes were spoken about in the open. Jarrett had prepared in detail to discuss these matters, and Allana had reinforced and confirmed what he was going to ask for. However, she was still nervous.
