Free The Concubine by Francette Phal Page A

to find her with a smile on her face.
     
    She captures my hands and sighs. “The years have been terribly kind to you, Lealin. Forgive me for being just a bit jealous of your ageless beauty.” her swollen abdomen bumps me in her attempt to embrace me. I return the hug with a faint smile.

“You flatter me, your highness.” I bring her to the fur bedding and aid her to sit by my side.

“Somia. I truly believe I have missed you, love of my husband’s life.” the title she bestows upon me with teasing reverence. 

“I’m the love of no one’s life.” I petulantly remark after a brief silence.

“Do you know,” she begins mindlessly. “The night the palace was attacked I was hidden and swept away by Salyn. I was not aware of what had happened until I saw the carnage and chaos. But Salyn, such a brave knight,” she sighs whimsically and I briefly wonder why. I open my mouth to ask her but the continuation of her tale deters me. 

“He took me away deep into the hidden catacombs of the palace along with a handful of the palace court and guided us to this secluded village. When we arrived in search of sanctuary the villagers took us in, it wasn’t until days later Salyn came and explained to me that lord Valancette’s army trapped Marik and his troops at the bottom of the mountains and slaughtered everyone! Salyn told me that two poisoned spears had been embedded in Marik’s abdomen and the other one through his leg, and a sword nearly split him in two at the waist it was so deep.” I gape, incapable of forming words at the horror of it all.

“He was brought here, bleeding and fevered, within an inch of his life, Lealin! He called your name. Priests were summoned to bless him safe passage, no one believed him to live through the night. Through it all, Salyn told me, that it was your name that he called, like a prayer in his fevered delirium he cried out for you. Days after I asked to see him, when I stepped into the room, he was shivering and retching on the floor, he looked at me with such eyes Lealin. They seemed so haunted. He pleaded for me to help him find you, his wounds bled while he fought through his surviving men to find you. He nearly killed Salyn for leaving you behind…”

“Please stop…I…God!” It’s too much! 

“I do not mean to hurt you.” She pats the back of my hand in comfort. “Your sons our truly lovely, I hope I have a boy…with Salyn’s green eyes and my…”

“Salyn?” I did not hear right. 

The smile she bestows is a beacon of unrestrained joy. “Yes! Salyn.”

“But…“

“Marik is not for me. Politically yes, I will remain wed to him, but I could never find happiness and undying love with him…”

“And you have found that in Salyn?”

“Yes, he is kind and simple minded. In him I have found a friend and lover. He will give me a happy future with a bevy of sweet and shy red haired children. He has proven himself to me and to Marik these past years and Marik has kindly blessed us.” So much has happened, so much that’s been left unsaid….so much anger and pain.

“What are their names?” she quietly asked of me.

“Fintan and Ciaran.”

“Lovely. Are they…”

“Leave us, Somia.”
    Your voice incites a jump in both of us, unaware of your presence until now. You walk further into the tent, face devoid of emotion.
    We share a look, one that only we both understand before I help her to her feet. “Tonight we will speak some more.” she squeezes my hand reassuringly. On her way out she halts at your side, a hand on your shoulder she leans close to whisper something that causes you to glare down at her grinning face.

“Play nice, Marik.” She intones before making her exit.

The awkward silence is oppressive. To distract myself I search and find which of your legs has been injured, and the almost indiscernible limp is so slight and controlled that I would not have noticed had it not been for the fact that I have seen you walk without it.