The Overlord's Heir (6 page)

***

“This is why I
choose not to return, brother.” Standing in the central hall, Vaan glared at
the door they’d just exited.

“And you would
leave me to them.” Saran shook his head.

“You have more
patience for their machinations than I.” And Vaan already exceeded his limit
for the day.

Saran’s snort was
overly loud. “It has been years since we have been together brother. What do
you base this on?”

Vaan slid Saran a
chiding glance. “You are my own brother but I have asked and spoken to many
warriors about you.”

Saran’s brows
dipped.

“Your honor has
never been in doubt,” Vaan assured. “Everyone spoke of the kindness behind your
actions in difficult decisions. During your time with our mother, it is said
that you could listen to the oldest woman prattle all day and still walk away
smiling.”

Vaan didn’t expect
Saran’s loud burst of laughter and a grin tugged at his own lips. It was good
to see the brother he’d missed for years in high spirits. Theirs was a
relationship that had lapsed but grew closer by leaps and bounds.

Shouts flared in
the outer hall interrupting them. Saran turned when two warriors burst through
the double doors of the main entrance. “Warlord Saran, Overlord, riders
approach swiftly and they carry the flag of the Desani King.”

The commotion
pulled the Councilors from the meeting room to see what was going on. All four
crowded in the doorway listening.

Vaan stiffened,
his gaze going from the Councilors to his men. Eatan, Ramar and Merik awaited
his command. Vaan remained where he stood as one of the out of breath warriors strode
toward them. He must have traveled some distance because sweat dripped from his
chest and dust covered his black leathers.

“Anman, how far
away are the King’s men?” Saran questioned calmly.

Pride filled Vaan
as he allowed his brother to take lead. If he intended Saran to direct Kaban in
his absence, he must show his faith in front of his warriors.

Anman glanced
between Vaan and Saran before bowing to both and answering. “They will be here before
the sun shifts in the sky at the pace they travel.”

Saran nodded. “Ready
the hapfes. I will take forty warriors with me. If King Tarik wants a fight, I
will give him one.”

Anman fled the
room to carry out the orders. Vaan faced his brother. “Has this happened often?”
Since Mikayla awakened him and his Warlords from their poison induced slumber, Vaan
hadn’t thought of the failed treaty with the neighboring country Desani, and
how it affected Kaban during his absence.

Saran shook his
head, his dark hair flowing over his shoulders. “Twice in weeks but we’ve
defeated the soldiers he sends in his stead.”

“My Warlords and I
offer our assistance.” Vaan looked forward for the opportunity to battle. Outside
of practice, his sword arm had become idle in the last few months.

“I welcome the
offer, brother. As to the other matter we have yet to discuss, I accept. I will
lead Kaban by your command so that you may stay with this Raasa who has claimed
your heart.”

Saran’s broad grin
teased and Vaan returned the smile with one of his own. To his men, “Armor up,
A kala fir Galip randala.”

“All Fear a Galip
Warrior,” his men repeated.

“Wait,” Sellic
protested, glancing at the other Councilors for support. “This proves why you
must return. The Desani King has lost his mind since the death of his Queen.”

Anger surged forth
and Vaan slowly pulled his knife from his thigh sheath to finger the blade with
his thumb. Sellic’s eyes were drawn to the action and widened.

Vaan spoke slowly
so the fool would understand. “The Queen’s death rests on the head of you and
your brethren.” For in truth, Tarik had had no qualm against Kaban. He was the
first ruler to speak with a calm head and seek peace. Together, he and Vaan
sought to end years of battle. Now all had been lost through betrayal.

Sellic sputtered. “We
can not be held for the actions of Thenl and Dakar.”

“My uncle Dakar
was a Council member. None stood in his way when he sought to destroy the
treaty with Desani.”

Sellic had no
response and even Raiden maintained his silence. With blood pumping, Vaan left
with his brother and Warlords. He needed to defend Kaban and it did not involve
frivolous arguments with the Council.

Chapter 7

Mounted warriors
lined the inner courtyard of Vaan’s home. The show of strength in numbers
warmed Vaan’s heart. He turned to Saran who leaped onto the saddled hapfe being
held for him. A broad grin stretched Vaan’s lips. “We will fight together,
brother, yes?”

Saran chuckled. “Ever
have I wanted to watch the Overlord in battle. I am told it is a sight in truth
to witness.”

Vaan’s mouth
twitched. The last time his brother saw Vaan in battle he had been in the grips
of the battle rage named for their grandfather Fenal and the odds of winning
were against him. “It is good you jest or I would be in need of teaching you
the proper awe a Warlord should have for his Overlord.”

They shared
another moment of laughter which filled the air. Though prepared to meet the
enemy, the other warriors in the courtyard grinned to see such powerful men and
brothers able to revel in their pride and love for one another.

Hapani was led out
by the stable master. The feisty animal tossed its long neck, causing the thick,
black mane to flow over its brown body as it pranced on strong hind legs. Her
short forearms waved in the air, the low grunts a sign of her pleasure at
seeing Vaan. Sliding his feet into the boot hooks, he swung his legs over her
back and reached for the leads. She settled immediately with another grunt.

“Brother, we ride
on your command,” Vaan said.

Saran’s brow hiked
in surprise but he quickly masked his expression when he raised his fist in the
air. “Warriors, today is a good day. Kaban’s Overlord returns.”

Shouts and cheers
emerged. Vaan ignored the adulation. He fought for Kaban because he believed in
the people. Believed in a time when peace could be attained.

“We ride!” Saran’s
shout invigorated the men.

Thunderous hooves pounded
as the large contingent took off with Vaan and Saran in the lead. They met the
Desani not far from the land of Vaan’s home. They were in Kaban territory, an
act of war without the Overlord’s permission.

At least twenty soldiers
sat on hapfe that tossed their long necks and pranced on hind legs built for
speed. Each man wore the black and gold colors of the Royal house of Desani.
The King’s men. By the look of their glares, they came prepared for battle,
armed with swords and shields.

Vaan reached for
Primary, his symbiotic coccar beetle that produced the blue-green armor that
covered him from chest to waist.
‘Primary?’

Vaan waited,
unsure if he would receive a response. The coccar had been silent for months
since Vaan woke from a drugged sleep with his men in a cavern on Raasa land. If
not for Mikayla, he would still be in that living grave.

‘I am come,
Overlord.’

The whispered
words in his mind were familiar. Vaan turned to his left and realized by the
half smile on Eatan, Merik and Ramar’s face that their coccars spoke with them
as well.

‘It has been a
long time, friend.’

A pause.
‘The
Blessed One had plans for the Overlord. Primary had no place to interfere. Ever
have I been with you.’

Truth. While the
mental communication Vaan became accustomed to had been absent over the last
months, his armor had never failed to respond to his command. For this Vaan was
grateful. He reached for his sword hilt. With a laugh, Vaan unsheathed his weapon
and led the charge. Well versed in fighting from the back of a hapfe, Vaan used
his knees to guide. Hapani responded to his every signal.

Swinging his sword
and kicking out with a booted foot, Vaan tempered the battle rage which sought
to consume him. He reveled in the blood racing in his veins caused by the fighting.
As he remembered, the Desani men fought with courage and a determination that
spoke of intense training. Still with his battle armor protecting him from the most
heavy of sword blows, Vaan suffered no injuries.

Soon it was clear
that the twenty were no match for the forty at Vaan’s side. About to end one of
the Desani, Saran raised his sword on a loud roar.

“Hold!”

At the loud
authoritative order, Saran and every other fighter froze. Curious, Vaan sheathed
his weapon and eased back in the saddle.

A single Desani soldier
separated himself and rode alone toward the first line of Vaan’s warriors.
Steel whistled loudly in the air as forty men angled their swords and barred
the way. The rider pulled his bi-pedal mount to a stop, eyes casually circling
the grounds until they paused on Saran then to Vaan. The Desani soldier
hesitated and then spoke clear and loud. “The rumors are true. Overlord Vaan
Galip lives.”

Vaan tipped his
head to the side in acknowledgment and held the soldier’s gaze. The man shifted
his weight and dismounted. With the ankle length black tunic, trimmed in gold
and black leggings, the Desani should have appeared feminine. Instead, the
confident strolling gait spoke of a man comfortable in his own right. He kept
his weapon in the scabbard at his hip and walked right up to the warriors
unmindful of the deadly blades that could and would end his life if he took one
step further.

“I would speak
with you, Overlord, on behalf of the King.”

“Tarik is not my King.
I bow to none.” Dismounting, Vaan braced his legs apart and folded his arms
over his chest, unwilling to show his interest in what the man had to say. He
had once considered Tarik Sabarn a friend of sorts but was unsure how the
relationship would stand in light of Thenl killing the Queen, Maliya Sabarn.
All admired the King for making no secret of his love for his mixed-race wife
despite her inability to give him an heir.

The soldier grimaced
as he ran a hand over his short blond hair. “I mean no dishonor, Overlord
Galip.” He straightened and bowed slightly, right arm pounding his chest. “I
would speak with you in private. The King’s words are not for all ears.”

Vaan turned to
Saran and murmured, “I would defer to you on this brother if you seek to begin
as Kaban’s Warlord.”

Saran already
shook his dark head. “I believe it is best you have words with the King’s man.
It is long overdue and perhaps all is not lost.”

Vaan had to agree.
He started for the soldier but his brother grabbed his arm. Saran leaned close,
his words low and fierce. “I will shed rivers of blood if he seeks to take you
from me after all these years. In this I vow, brother.” Saran released Vaan’s
arm and stepped back.

Vaan’s chest
tightened with an unfamiliar sensation. This was the brother his mother chose
to raise away from the only home they’d known. She’d left Vaan under the
guidance of his uncle, his father’s brother, for he was born to be a warrior
and kept Saran at her side. “I am lost to you no longer, Saran. I shall ever fight
when you have need until the Blessed One calls me home.”

They exchanged
another look brother to brother and this time Vaan walked away unhindered.

“I am Baylor,
Overlord. Desani welcomes your return.” His brown eyes held Vaan’s without hint
of fear.

Foolish.

Vaan could cut him
down before any of the royal soldiers could reach his side. “The King chooses a
most unusual welcome.”

Baylor grinned. “There
was always chance the rumor rang false. A good soldier knows when to be
prepared.”

Vaan grunted. “You
speak truth. Say what you must then leave Kaban.”

“Of course.” A
steely look entered his eyes, turning the open friendliness to one of cold
intent. “The King wants restitution for the death of his Queen at the hands of
a Kaban Warlord.”

“Is this the
reason why Tarik has attacked Kaban in the last weeks? It saddens me but will
not bring Maliya back from the Hills.”

Baylor’s
expression tightened. “She is missed. Until someone pays, these battles will
continue. In honor of your former offer for alliance, King Tarik asks that you
turn over the one responsible and he will cease his acts of aggression.”

Vaan shifted his
weight, ready in case his words caused a negative reaction. “It will please
Tarik to know that those guilty of her murder have been handled. Warlord Thenl
killed my uncle Councilor Dakar Galip and I struck down Thenl Asgup.”

Brown eyes
widened. “Do you vow that their deaths can be proven?”

“I killed Thenl in
view of several warriors present but Tarik will have to accept my word as I
removed Thenl’s head from his neck and burned his body for the insult he gave
my mate when he sent warriors to attack her.”

Stepping back,
Baylor bowed again. “The Overlord is known for his honor. I accept your words
as truth and will convey your message to my King.” Baylor stood tall and proud.
“The Desani owe the Overlord for seeing justice served. To repay the debt, I
will tell you that when we crossed the border of Raasa land on our journey
here, a small party of ten Kabanian warriors was spotted riding in haste toward
your mate’s home.”

Vaan froze but
Baylor continued, unaware of the impact his words had. “We believe they are a
rebel band for they did not come from the direction of Kaban.”

“We ride,” Vaan called
out, spinning on his heels to head for Hapani. His chest pounded with sudden
fear, his only thought to return to Mikayla. “Warriors head for Raasa.”

Saran shouted
orders, keeping pace at Vaan’s side without hesitation. “I am here for you,
Vaan.”

Vaan could not
speak for the bitter knot in his throat. He could only pray that Argan would
protect what was his. Then his mind blanked and he let the battle rage Fenal
take him under.

***

Assa’s sad face
concerned Miki. “Have you spoken to him again?”

“I refuse, Miki.
He is a hard-headed male.”

Assa’s green eyes
glared at the object of her anger. Balal remained in conversation with his
fellow warrior Carog, unaware of the danger lurking in the form of an annoyed
female.

“Perhaps I can
help.” Miki extended the offer and pushed the bowl of fruit they shared in
Assa’s direction.

Her friend studied
the assortment of brightly colored berries and chunks of cut melon before making
a selection. Gazing at the Warlord in question, Assa’s teeth nibbled lightly on
the yellow square while she considered. Finally, she sighed and turned away
from Balal to face Miki. “I don’t think he can be helped. Balal says the
Overlord explained bed play but that I must understand he is a warrior first.”

Miki shook her
head at the foolishness of these men from Kaban. She wasn’t sure how their
females endured a life devoid of pleasure in the bedroom. “If he won’t listen
to words, you must use action.” The more she thought on it, the more excited
Miki became. Focusing on her friend’s heartbreak kept her from thinking of
Vaan.

Assa brightened.
“What are you thinking, Miki?”

She would need
help. “Have Sera and Vesa join us.” The other Raasa female were far more adapt
than Miki at seduction and she had the feeling it would take all of them to
convince Balal.

Knowing what was
ahead, Assa jumped to her feet, her smile blinding. As she hurried to the
kitchen, Balal paused in his conversation, his gaze following. Miki smiled when
Carog had to thump him twice on the shoulder to pull his attention back.

She didn’t miss
how Balal’s head jerked up when Assa returned to the dining hall. His brown eyes
narrowed when their group sat together. For a moment, Miki feared he’d join them
but his dark head tilted to the side as if waiting for Assa to acknowledge him.
When she didn’t, his lips firmed and he turned his back toward their little
group.

Interesting. Miki
controlled the smile wanting to break free. Sera and Vesa sat on either side of
Assa at the table, her gaze earnest.

“What are you thinking,
Miki?” Assa leaned over the table, green eyes hopeful.

Miki turned to the
other two women who were close to her heart as well. “We must help Assa win
Balal’s heart.”

Sera scrunched her
nose, turning her average features cute. “She already has the Warlord. He
doesn’t even look at another.”

Despite the gold
of her skin, Assa blushed and ducked her head. Dark, chin length hair slid
forward, hiding her face. Miki reached out and tugged on a section. “None of
that.” Taking up where she left off, Miki continued. “Yes, Balal likes her but
he is a Kabanian and Assa is in need of our assistance.”

She waited a few
moments and then Vera grimaced. Not far behind, Sera stuck out her forked
tongue and frowned.

“They’re not like
our men at all.” Sera in her innocence blurted out what all of them were thinking
but too hesitant to say. Miki started to laugh and then the others joined in. From
the corner of her eye, once again, Miki watched Balal’s gaze drift their way.

Vera picked up. “I’ve
only spent time with Ramar on the one occasion and it was over before I knew he
had started.” Her green eyes expressed her disappointment with this more than
her curled lips. “How do you do it, Miki?”

Three sets of
green eyes stared at her with curiosity. Heat burned her face and Miki almost
regretted the conversation. She glanced from Assa to Balal and back again. The Warlord
had turned so that he faced them completely while he carried on his
conversation.

Clearing her
throat, Miki thought how best to say things. “Vaan and I don’t have this
issue.” She decided that was all the detail she would go into concerning her
relationship with her mate. “But I do know that it’s the Kabanian way for a
male to not pleasure his woman.”

Assa slapped her
palm on her smooth forehead. “I am ruined, Su-Su. Balal clearly follows this
practice.”

Miki grasped
Assa’s hand across the table and squeezed. “You’re not ruined. That’s why
you’re going to get him alone and show him what pleases a Raasa.”

Sera clapped
eagerly. “That’s perfect.” She leaned around Assa to smile at Vesa. “Let’s all
share our input. My time with Marek is not worth mentioning.”