Part Three
Martin walked down the stairs toward the kitchens. Dinner dishes were being washed up, and as Sara was busy. He needed to make sure things were moving along. The children were with servants for now. Some of the older children were off doing their studies, while Daniela was with Little Carlos, helping him walk as Nicolas held out his hands to guide his son’s shaky steps. At least the younger children didn’t have a clue what was going on. Rosa, Ana, Adosina, and Sara all took their dinners in Inessa’s room. Martin stayed in the dining hall, with his grandchildren, trying to pretend like the women simply wanted to have a women’s night instead of actively trying to keep Inessa from committing suicide.
Derio approached with a paper and bowed. “Navir has come back with an answer.” Martin took the paper and opened it.
Request denied. You are to sleep with Inessa tonight.
Martin stopped, staring at the paper.
“Martin?” Derio asked.
“To my study.” He forgot about checking on the kitchens. This was far more important. “Now.”
Derio nodded as they moved into the study. Martin opened the window, allowing him to connect with the tree before he set the page down and took out his quill.
It wasn’t a request. It was me informing you I will not sleep with her tonight, Martin wrote.
He handed the paper over to Derio who read through the message and touched the trees, sending it along. Martin gathered a quill and ink for Derio, who wrote the reply, handing it to Martin.
And as Acting Senior High Elder, I am ordering you to sleep with her.
The paper crumpled in his fist before he smoothed it out on his desk and picked up the quill. I have it on good sources she is going to kill herself. I will not sleep with her until she has recovered from this shock.
He handed the paper to Derio, who again relayed the message. Derio began writing out Navir’s reply, and it made him nervous the longer the answer was. There was no way he could sleep with her tonight. Inessa was in a bad state of mind.
Derio handed over the paper.
You have fallen into her trap. She’s clearly faking it to get out of sleeping with you. She has proven to be an adept liar and is playing on your emotions to get what she wants. This is the punishment we agreed on, and therefore you must sleep with her.
Martin groaned, leaning back in his chair, breathing deeply as his anger threatened to take over. He picked up the quill again. She is just a child. We must show her compassion.
Derio passed the message on. Martin was tempted to march right over to Navir’s house to continue this conversation in person. There was no way Navir could think this was a good idea.
She lied to us. She abused the privileges. She is a criminal. She deserves no compassion. We need to uphold the law, and we cannot go easy on her just because of her age. You will sleep with her tonight or High Elder Fadrique will.
Martin crumpled the paper into a ball, throwing it against the wall, anger threatening to take over.
“Martin?” Derio asked.
“End the conversation. I cannot talk to him anymore,” Martin said. Derio nodded, touching the branches of the tree for a moment before reaching up and closing the window. “And Derio? Please keep this knowledge to yourself.”
“I will not tell a soul,” Derio said before leaving the room. Martin rubbed his temples, feeling disgusted with himself. There was no way he could do this. Inessa was in a bad state, hardly responsive.
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Tears were streaming down his face before he realized what was happening. He covered his mouth, giving a tiny gasp, then another. He had been so concerned with Inessa’s state of mind that he didn’t pause to think about his own. He couldn’t do this either. He couldn’t go to her, on a day she wasn’t even fertile. This was pointless. It was… evil.
Martin let out a breath again, remembering Navir’s warning. If he didn’t do it, Fadrique would. He could just lie, but in his heart, he knew he never could. They knew too much about his sins he kept from Sara. If they found out he was disobeying a direct order, Navir would let Sara know about what he does every third month of the year. All the women Martin slept with. Navir didn’t care about losing his wife, but Martin was terrified of losing Sara. And therefore, had to sleep with Inessa. There was no doubt in his mind Inessa would kill herself before she stepped foot in Fadrique’s home. So, he had to do it. To save her, too.
Martin took the time to calm himself down before opening the door to his study, requested a glass of wine before returning to his desk, pulling open one of the drawers and taking out the small bag from Navir. The wine was brought, and he poured the entire contents of the bag in the wine before he stood up, heading toward Inessa’s room.
He held the glass in one hand as he raised the other to knock on Inessa’s door. He hadn’t seen her since the trial, as he doubted she would want to see him.
The servant girl opened the door. All the women were there in Inessa’s room. Ana was pushing against something, most likely using her gift to keep the demons away. Adosina was sitting next to Inessa, and Sara was on the other side with a tray of food, tempting her with all sorts of delicious smells to get her to eat. Rosa was pacing, looking worried but trying to stay strong. Inessa was sitting with her arms folded on the desk, her head buried in her elbow.
Everyone stilled when Martin walked in. Inessa didn’t look up. Martin gave a bow. “I brought some wine.” Sara took the glass, glaring at him suspiciously. “Make sure she drinks all of it.”
Sara brought it forward, giving a sniff. “What’s in here?”
“Just… make sure she drinks all of it,” Martin repeated before he turned around and started out of the room. He wasn’t going to press it. He honestly didn’t care if Sara threw it out the window. Inessa wouldn’t get pregnant for another few more weeks at least.
“Martin!” Sara shouted, setting the wine glass down on the desk before following after him. “Martin! What does this mean?”
“Just have her drink the wine.”
Sara grabbed the back of his robe, forcing him to stop and face her. “Are you sleeping with her tonight?”
Martin hesitated, glancing at the door that was left wide open, enough for all his daughters in the room to hear. “I must.”
“No, you mustn’t,” Sara said.
“I have my orders.”
“Then change them. You are a High Elder. Doesn’t that mean anything?” Sara asked.
“I cannot go up against the Acting Senior High Elder without consequences.”
“Then by all means, let the consequences happen! He cannot do this to you, and you cannot do this to Inessa!” Sara said, her voice rising in anger.
“The consequences are she will be sent to High Elder Fadrique! I am concerned about her life! It’s why I’m sleeping with her tonight instead of him,” Martin said, his voice matching hers in volume.
“She doesn’t want either one of you! She needs to be left alone! Does her life mean so little to you?” Sara asked.
“You wanted little to do with her since the moment she arrived. Don’t pretend like you have the moral high ground when you just started caring about her a couple weeks ago.” Sara shook her head, seeming to be angry that there were tears in her eyes. “If you cannot understand that sleeping with her instead of her going to Fadrique is a mercy, then we have little more to discuss.”
Sara shook her head. “Choose a guest room in this house to become your permanent room. I care not where.”
“This is my home. You cannot tell me where to go,” Martin said.
“Yes, I can. The moment I married you this house became mine just as much as it did yours. I am its matron. If you cannot act like the gentleman I married, then you do not get to share my bed. If you think you can tell me what I can and cannot do in a home that I frequent far more than you, go ahead. Kick me out. Keep this house running like I have on top of these duties you do as High Elder. See how quickly you crumble.” Martin found himself glaring at her. He never thought he would, but he did. Sara shook her head, looking away. “This marriage is done,” she said quieter.
“Sara-”
“You and I are now simply guests in each other’s home. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep fighting with you. It’s too exhausting.” She turned around, walking back into Inessa’s room. Martin stared at the door, knowing he needed to fight for her, but what else could he do? If he didn’t sleep with Inessa, Fadrique would. And if Fadrique slept with her…
Navir might not have to reveal the blackmail. He might lose Sara anyway.
The door opened, and he hoped it was Sara, but instead it was a servant girl who gave a small curtsey before holding out the empty glass.
“Inessa drank it all. I watched,” she said. Martin took the glass, his fingers wrapping around it, staring at it with numb eyes. “Sir?”
Martin looked at the servant girl. She must be new. He hadn’t learned her name yet. “It’s just Martin,” he said. “I don’t…” he looked back down at the glass in his hand. “I want you to just call me Martin.”
The servant girl gave a curtsey before entering the room again and shut the door.