“Hungry?” She asked with a slight laugh, looking at the enormous spread of bread, fruit and cheese splashed over the table.
Gwaynn only nodded his mouth full of food. He offered some to Cobb, but the big man just shook his head and sat down opposite him. Samantha however, found herself reaching out and taking a bit of apple and a slice of cheese.
‘Food…the Botnick’s food,’ she thought with another feeling of wonder. They sat silent for a while, lost in their own thoughts until Samantha noticed that Gwaynn was no longer eating. She glanced up to find him sleeping, chin on his chest, sitting upright in his chair.
She smiled and scooted her chair back. Instantly he was awake and clamoring unsteadily to his feet. Samantha put out her handless arm to steady him and he took it, looking at her with confusion, then love.
“Come,” she said and led him back upstairs and put him into bed.
“Shouldn’t,” Gwaynn protested weakly, but was soon sleeping once again. The early afternoon was dark and a steady rain began to fall, pattering softly on the roof of the porch just outside their open window. Samantha thought about going back downstairs to Cobb, who was taking Emm’s death hard, but instead she found herself pulling off her clothes and climbing under the covers next to Gwaynn. He didn’t move as she turned and pressed her naked backside to him.
She rested quietly for a time, watching the rain through the open window and thoroughly enjoying the breeze that occasionally pushed into the room bringing the sweet smell of clean, moist air. It was growing colder and she wondered vaguely if the rain would turn to snow that night. She smiled and then the baby kicked her…hard. She gasped and her hand went to her belly. Moments later the kick returned, softer this time but the pressure continued, and to her surprise, Samantha found that through the womb, her belly and skin, she could feel a foot, perfectly formed beneath her hand. She rubbed the bulge softly for a few seconds then all at once it was gone. The lace curtains billowed inward and smell of rain filled the room and the cold air caressed her face as far off a soft clap of thunder sounded and rolled away.
“I love you,” Samantha whispered to the baby. “I can’t wait to be with you. Life is sweet…life is so sweet.”
She lay awake for a long time before the rain and the dark of the day finally lulled her to sleep.
ǂ
Gwaynn woke the next morning to the sound of muffled voices coming from the kitchen below and to the smell of eggs frying. His stomach growled loudly and he sat up with a smile…feeling shaky and very, very hungry. He pulled back the covers and found to his surprise that he was naked. He did not remember removing his clothes the night before…no, the day before. Actually, he had no earthly idea what day it truly was, nor did he really care. The smell of food was becoming intoxicating, driving all other thoughts from his mind, so he dressed quickly and headed down the stairs to satisfy his stomach.
He descended the stairs as he always moved…on the balls of his feet, his step light.
“….ourse the Temple Knights still pose a problem, but Mastoc as High King is finished.”
Gwaynn heard a voice say and instantly froze three steps from the bottom.
“The Knights are laying siege to Manse. What if they attack again?” He heard Samantha say. There was a pause, then…
“If they do, Grace believes they will succeed,” came the reply, “the city cannot hold with its present defenders alone.”
“Well then I’d call that a big problem,” Samantha shot back.
A chuckle sounded…a feminine chuckle and Gwaynn finally placed the first voice…the Solitary Tarina re N’dori.
“Yes…the Knights pose a problem and they may take Manse, but with the Deutzani and Palmerrio destroyed and King Weldon prisoner, the Temple Knights will have a very hard time holding onto the country.”
There was another pause and Gwaynn nearly continued down the stairs.
“Gwaynn is the only logical choice now for the next High King,” N’dori said brazenly and Gwaynn was frozen once again. “Caiman’s forfeited his family’s claim to the position. The Families will never trust him again nor Prince Nigel, his eldest. He’ll also be stigmatized by his father’s actions, but he has little ambition in any case. He’s soft and only cares about his music. Still, something will have to be done about him if Gwaynn is to be elevated to the position.”
“High King!” Samantha exclaimed loudly.
N’dori laughed again. “Yes…unless the Families would be willing to accept Audra’s son Aiden as heir…but then Gwaynn would have to be willing to allow a Deutzani to rule over the Inland Sea.”
Suddenly Gwaynn was moving again. “That will not happen,” he said gruffly moving quickly into the kitchen. He stopped short, staring at the table which was laden with an enormous variety of food. Samantha and N’dori were sitting and apparently nibbling at the offerings while Cobb stood over the stove, cooking eggs and pan fried potatoes.
“Good morning King Gwaynn Massi,” N’dori said with a smile and a gesture for him to sit, He did so and immediately began to eat.
“King Gwaynn?” He asked, knowing that his claim to the throne should not be recognized by those of Noble Island. The rulers of the families ascended only through the blessing of the High King and no one in Massi believed that Mastoc would give such a blessing to Gwaynn any time soon.
N’dori nodded. “Noble Island has chosen a King or two throughout the years,” she said with a nod, “including Mastoc’s line so many centuries ago.”
“And the High Tar of Noble?”
“Tarina…” N’dori corrected. “High Tarina Nystrom. She’s a supporter of yours,” the Solitary added.
“What of Ethelridge?”
N’dori scoffed. “She no longer holds sway over the Council…she gambled and lost on the strength of her sophistry. When Kostek decided to step down as High Tar and join your cause, it gave the Council pause. When the rest of us decided likewise it was enough of a threat to the Noble way of life that they amended their ways and elected Tarina Nystrom. She leads the Council now. She’s gritty and tough…you’ll like her,” N’dori added.
Gwaynn nodded but did not say anything, he just sat and ate for a bit. He ate a variety of meats, nuts, fruits and cheeses, plus nearly a half dozen eggs and a huge plateful of potatoes, his enormous appetite amusing Cobb to no end.
“More my King,” the simple man said with a laugh. “Eat more. You’re hungrier than Samantha was that time we…”
“Cobb!” Samantha yelled. Cobb immediately turned back to the stove, clearly mortified by his mistake.
Gwaynn, however, only smiled. “Perhaps I should starve you more,” he whispered to her under his breath and Samantha threw a piece of cheese at him.
“No need,” she whispered back and stuck out her tongue.
N’dori watched the exchange of the two young people with obvious pleasure but they all soon settled down to the act of eating with Cobb finally joining them. Even so Gwaynn continued to wolf down food for a good ten minutes after everyone else had pushed back from the table.