Mist brushed against Inessa’s face, or at least she thought it did. The fear, though, was real. She saw nothing but heard everything. The screams, the shouts, the cries of pain. Listening to the shattering of bones, the shredding of skin, brain matter and organs spilling onto the ground. The fog cleared, and Indenuel stood among the dead High Elders, his back to her, starting to turn. Then all at once he faced her, his eyes burning black. He walked toward her with unnatural, jerking movements, no smile on his face. She couldn’t run even though she desperately wanted to. Run away from the look of pure evil on her husband’s face coming ever closer.
“You’re welcome, Inessa.”
Inessa gasped as she sat up in bed, covering her mouth. Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Maybe this time she hadn’t been loud enough to wake Tolomon. She stayed in bed, hand over her mouth, as Indenuel slept peacefully next to her. She closed her eyes, the haunting feeling of the dream still there. The same nightmare she had ever since that sabbath day. He had shouted at her about involving Dalius, and his eyes flickered black. She had been terrified of him that day, even though he had been so sweet to her since. But the dream remained, resurfacing too much to pretend she let the fear go.
The door opened and Tolomon walked in, fully clothed with a cup of tea and a tea pot. Inessa looked at him, tears in her eyes.
“This makes it every night since Sabbath,” Tolomon said as she got out of bed and covered herself in her bed robe. “I’m ordering you to drink some dreamless tea. You may fight me if you wish, but you will lose.”
Inessa tried to smile, but she couldn’t. She thought she was getting better, and she assumed this victory with the concubine law would make her dream of something else. Something happy.
She finished wrapping the bed robe around her before she took the cup Tolomon had already sipped from. She winced, still scared, the spike of panic as she waited to make sure he was still on his feet. He remained, watching her take a sip of tea. Pablo came with a tray of apple pastries. Inessa frowned.
“What are these?” Inessa asked.
“Sara’s apple pastries. The ones you never touched at dinner. She’s right, Inessa. You’ve dropped too much weight, and you need to eat,” Tolomon said, taking a small bite before handing the pastry over to her. “Same dream?”
Inessa sighed as Pablo left. “Except he said you’re welcome after it was done.” She took a bite of the pastry. Tolomon shook his head, not necessarily looking at her, but it was probably because she was only in a bed robe and this alone was a huge breach in etiquette. Though Inessa found herself not caring as the days went by.
She tried to drink the tea as fast as she could. It always left a bad aftertaste in her mouth. She finished the cup and Tolomon poured her another one. “I’m sorry for waking you.”
“Hence the dreamless tea. I’ll give you more tomorrow before bed.” Tolomon remained a respectful distance from her, yet it was starting to feel normal to have him here in her room.
Inessa nodded again, continuing to sip the tea, trying to muscle down the odd flavors. Not just the dreamless tea, but that with the apple pastry. She looked over at Indenuel in the bed, sleeping soundly, his face peaceful. A vastly different sight than the one in her dreams. Inessa honestly wondered if Indenuel knew she was having such horrible dreams the past few nights. Sometimes Indenuel would wake long enough to check on them before going back to sleep, but he’d been completely asleep these past few days.
Inessa took another sip before her eyes fell on Tolomon. He was looking out the window, but not in the way he usually did. He wasn’t looking for stalkers or killers, he was enjoying the sight. The way the moonlight reflected off the gardens. He was smiling. Inessa raised an eyebrow, curious. She had never seen Tolomon so at peace before.
“Tolomon?” she asked.
He glanced over at her. “Yes?”
“You’re… really happy,” she said.
His smile grew, glancing out the window again. “I guess I am.” He poured some more tea into her cup. “But you? Are you alright?”
Inessa didn’t want to talk about herself. She blew on the still hot cup of tea, preparing to muscle it down. “I knew my marriage wouldn’t be as blissful as it was that first day, but… but I didn’t expect this.”
“I honestly thought it would be another year before you two got married. I held on to that hope, anyway. Despite the annoyance there was at being your chaperone, I think the quick marriage after the war was risky.” Tolomon looked out the window again. “There’s a lot of hurt that comes with war, and it doesn’t end in a soldier’s mind once the swords are sheathed. Indenuel went through something no man ever should, especially at such a young age. I’ve been trying to convince him to get out of the city. To go travel the world.”
“That would be nice.” She sipped her tea, looking at Indenuel. “Do you think we could truly be happy?”
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
“Yes,” Tolomon said without hesitation. “As long as Indenuel quits being a stubborn ass and thinking he has to do everything himself.” Inessa gave a twitch of a smile before sipping her tea again. She hadn’t ever seen a happy marriage growing up. Hardly anything that came close to a marriage. She had her dreams of true love and a lifetime of bliss, but they were only dreams. Dreams, like nightmares, ended eventually. “Marriage takes work,” Tolomon continued. “Communication, dedication, and love. At least so I’m told by Nathaniel and Rosa. I’m not necessarily married myself.”
“You sort of are,” Inessa said.
Tolomon shrugged. “Strict definition of law no. In everything else yes.” He set the teapot down. “He needs time. And love. And someone willing to call him out on his shit.”
Inessa shook her head. “He’s scary when he’s angry. I don’t like it.” She kept her eyes on him, nervous he would wake up and get angry again, even though he never had any other time.
“You soften him,” Tolomon said. “And don’t worry. Whenever he’s with you, so am I. You have nothing to fear. I will not let you get hurt. But trust me when I say Indenuel would rather die than hurt you.”
Inessa sighed, looking at her cup, remembering how closely Indenuel held her last night. How much he was in a quiet panic. “Yeah. I know. He’d also rather go to Hell then see me get hurt by anyone else.”
Tolomon nodded, his smile dropping ever so slightly. “Yeah. He would. Again, he’s a stubborn ass.” He took her empty cup from her. “You just love him, alright? Make sure he feels it. Make sure he understands. And know he feels the same way about you.”
Inessa nodded, wrapping her bed robe around herself again. “Thank you, Tolomon.”
He took the teapot, giving a bow. She waited until he was out of the room before she took off her bed robe and climbed into bed. She remembered the Indenuel from her nightmare but knew that wasn’t actually the person laying across from her. She didn’t have the power of prophecy. She was barely strong enough in her own power, let alone one she could never have. What she saw in her dream was not the future.
She promised at their wedding to take him, all of him, but she didn’t have to take the dream part of him. The fear of what he might become was not something she promised to love. She touched his shoulder and placed her head against his back, listening to his even, steady breathing and drifted off to sleep.
***
Indenuel walked through the gardens, holding Inessa’s hand. She liked being among the flowers, and it wasn’t nearly close enough to the gate where passersby could see her. To be outside so soon after an attempt on her life was a huge accomplishment for her, even if Tolomon was walking next to her instead of behind them with the hilt of the dagger hiding in his palm. It was fresh air, something they all needed, but especially Inessa. Though she wasn’t nearly as jittery, it was still enough for Indenuel to be concerned. Indenuel would be the first to admit he was always concerned, though. Especially when it came to Inessa’s life. The High Elders were still shut up in their own rooms, working on reforming the concubine law, but they wouldn’t meet for another few days. At least they were busy in the Cathedral instead of spreading their usual lies.
Pablo greeted them on the way out of the gardens. “Pardon, sir, but there is an Oraminian in the sitting room who would like to visit you.”
“Oh, thank you Pablo.” It must not be Baleeah. Pablo never bothered introducing her anymore. And Baleeah never stayed in the sitting room.
“Also, we have some unsettling news for the lady of the house.”
Indenuel winced, his hand tightening over hers. “What is it, Pablo?” she asked.
“It seems an acquaintance of yours, Carmen, concubine of Fadrique the Weather Controller, has killed herself last night,” Pablo said.
Inessa gasped, letting go of Indenuel’s hand to cover her mouth. Indenuel frowned, narrowing his eyes. “Are you certain?”
“Yes, sir. She was discovered this morning with a dagger through her stomach,” Pablo said.
“No.” It wasn’t said in sorrow, it was said with a desire to correct the information. Inessa had tears in her eyes. “She paid good money to have a vial of fast acting poison that would let her death be more like a restful sleep.”
Pablo was confused. “Um, pardon?”
“She showed me.”
Indenuel, concerned, studied Inessa. She met his gaze, her chin trembling. “It’s… it’s the thing concubines always…when it gets too hard, we… we make sure we have a way out.” Indenuel’s frown deepened, glancing at Pablo, who looked far too uncomfortable with her words. He shared a glance with Tolomon, who looked far more reserved about the revelation.
Inessa had a hand in her hair, tears streaming down her face. “She was murdered, Pablo. Why would a concubine kill herself right as negotiations were happening to make the law better?”
Pablo shifted uncomfortably on the balls of his feet. “Is this… shall I bring up your concern with the High Elders, ma’am?”
Inessa stared at Pablo, eyes widening. Indenuel felt nauseous. The High Elders won’t help. Honestly, of all the High Elders, Indenuel would put money on Fadrique to be the kind of man to actually murder someone. Considering how little he cared about his concubines, it wasn’t a large leap of logic for Indenuel to believe it was Fadrique who murdered Carmen. Telling the High Elders would be dangerous.
Indenuel glanced at Tolomon, who kept his face unreadable. “Shit,” Indenuel said, rubbing his jaw. They’d done it. Pushed the High Elders so far, they were starting to murder people.
Inessa broke away from Indenuel as she covered her face, letting out a sob. Indenuel didn’t let her get far, rushing toward her with Tolomon already on the other side of her.
“Would you like me to tell your Oramin visitor to come back another time?” Pablo asked.
“Yes,” Indenuel said at the same time Inessa said “No.”
Inessa dropped her hands just enough to look at Indenuel. “Please. I’d rather just be alone right now.”
“Inessa-”
She picked up her skirts, running into the house. Indenuel about followed her when Tolomon grabbed his arm. “When she’s ready, she’ll come find you.” Tolomon glanced at Pablo. “Have a servant posted at her door. Alert me if anything seems out of the ordinary. Anything at all.” Pablo nodded, and headed back into the home.
Indenuel didn’t like it. This was a nasty blow, and he wanted to be there. But honestly, what could he do? He was never good at giving comfort. Indenuel closed his eyes, not sure he was ready to visit someone today, either. They had a completely different matter to deal with. The High Elders always looked away when other people were murdered, but if Fadrique actually took the step to do the murdering himself, then they were becoming far more dangerous. Was it actually a High Elder that poised Inessa’s food that night?