"It seems my time in Kemet draws to a close," he said.
The women's faces fell collectively, a garden of wilting flowers.
"My lord~"
"You cannot possibly leave."
They cooed and surrounded him, hands wandering, bodies pressing up against him.Making him more compliant to their whims.
Caius raised one hand, and the protests ceased.
"The Great Khan takes a bride.I must return to the Steppes to welcome the new Khatun."He said it lightly, as though he couldn’t care less who sat beside the Valthorne Khan."Protocol demands it.The Khanvaaris must be present to receive her."
The women exchanged glances.They knew better than to argue with Caius, seventh of the Khanvaaris, master of trade and information.
The Valthorne were not sentimental people.They did not pass power through bloodlines like the Borjigin or purchase it like the Bacchalians.They simply took it, kept it and proved every day they deserved to abuse it.
Eight seats.
Eight men.
Caius had held his for five years, and he intended to hold it considerably longer.
"When will you return?"the youngest princess asked, her voice small.
"Soon enough."Caius smiled, a charming devil."The trade route must be established.I will miss you all dearly while I am gone."
Their faces softened, their pouts easing.
He turned his gaze away from them as his eyes drifted across the turquoise water toward the distant palace walls, and the warmth in his gaze cooled.
The Great Khan was taking another wife.
Five women sacrificed to Sisi's endless hunger, to her fear of what a true alliance might bring.Five brides dead before they could give Ragnar what he truly needed—an heir to solidify his reign.Though the Valthorne were a strength-based tribe, they were still in their first generation of men, who knew what the future held, especially if the Great Khan began his conquest across the main continent.
Caius's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.The women around him, occupied with their own chatter, noticed nothing.
"Why is everywhere so quiet?"Azul asked as Borji walked into her room.She sat up upon hearing his footsteps and rested her back against the wall.
"Obiageli is sick, so no one is visiting the Ugoeze; they're congregating around her," he said as he dragged a wooden stool to sit beside her bedside.
"Who is Obiageli?"
"You wouldn’t have heard her name before; she's the Second Princess."
The Ugoeze's second daughter, a precious pearl in the hands of the Tribe.She had been sickly as a child and so never made public appearances, but every year, it was said that the Oracle of the Udamili would slaughter ten heavy cows and pray to Ani for good health on her behalf.
"Here.Food," Borji said gruffly.
Azul looked up at Borji through her lashes.
He scoffed."It's from the kitchen; don't worry.You know I wouldn't poison you, right?"
She smiled and took the plate."I know."
"Then why won't you eat anything I bring you personally?"
Azul shrugged, her shoulders barely moving beneath the heavy shawl.She was bedbound until she had the strength to move, so she planned to recover at leisure.
