Indenuel walked out of the house toward the gardens. He wasn’t sure how far from the house he could be, but he was starting to feel antsy about it. Half the military still surrounded Martin’s home, the reminder of what had happened the past few days, so he stayed close to the house. A servant came forward with a chair, and Indenuel thanked him before sitting down, facing the gardens. He placed his elbows on his knees, interlocked his fingers, and rested his chin on his knuckles. A lot had happened today. Tolomon was on the mend. He had a vision of the past. He learned of…

Indenuel couldn’t even say it to himself. A part of him ached thinking about God.

A servant appeared, placing a chair next to Indenuel. He looked behind him to see Martin coming forward and sitting next to him.

“Your confession is scheduled for tomorrow morning after breakfast. Before Captain Luiz gets here,” Martin said.

Indenuel nodded. “Thank you.”

“We’re all going to be there.”

He winced. “All of you? But I only need to speak to Navir.”

“You are the Warrior. This concerns us all,” Martin said.

Indenuel’s nod was distracted as he again looked at the gardens. “The prophet says hello.”

Martin raised an eyebrow. “The prophet of the fifth age?” Indenuel nodded. “Me? He wanted to say hello to me?”

“Apparently, he admires you. He said something about being a fan? And that he’s rooting for you. Whatever that means.”

Martin looked away, a genuinely troubled look on his face. “He must have me mistaken for someone else. I am no one to admire.” Martin wasn’t just saying it to sound humble. He sounded like he was serious. A carriage rode by the house, heading for the stables. “Ah, that must be Addy. Which means dinner will be served shortly. Would you like to tell Tolomon?”

“Of course,” Indenuel said, standing. They headed inside the house right as Adosina walked in. She smiled brightly and ran to give Martin a hug.

“Is Ami in the kitchens?”

Martin nodded as he broke away from her. “Dinner is almost ready. Tolomon has gotten his appetite back in full force.”

Inessa came in through the door, sharing a look with Indenuel before turning away. Adosina was there in his line of sight, smiling brightly at him. “So, you’re staying for dinner! Are you staying for the rest of the week?”

“At least until Captain Luiz has finished testing Tolomon tomorrow. It sounds like no final decisions will be made until that test is over,” Indenuel said.

Adosina took his elbow, giving him a smile. “Please stay as long as you need. Our home is always open.”

“Thank you for your hospitality,” Indenuel said, forcing himself not to look at Inessa. Adosina smiled again before turning toward Martin. “Inessa and I just went shopping. Tima wouldn’t let us give her a copper, so I shall give the money we did spend to your schools in her name.”

“You took Inessa with you?” Martin asked before he even noticed her by his daughter. “How… how lovely. I’m sure Tima has a list of the requirements for a concubine dress.”

“Stop your fussing, Api. Tima is a genius, and follows the rules, too. I’ll go see if Mother needs any more help in the kitchens.” Adosina squeezed Indenuel’s elbow again. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t make too much for you.”

He gave her a relieved smile. “Yes, please.”

She laughed and disappeared down the entryway toward the direction of the kitchens, which left Indenuel, Martin, and Inessa alone.

The pause was perhaps only a moment long, though it stretched for eternity like time itself had stopped. He didn’t know where to look. None of them did.

“I’m going to check on Tolomon,” Indenuel said, turning his sights toward the sick room. He gave a hesitant bow before trying his best to walk away.

Is this how normal people walk? Is this too fast? I hope not. This feels way too slow.

Indenuel knocked on the door before walking into the room. He took a few steps in to see Tolomon getting things sorted. He didn’t know why he expected Rosa to be there, but she wasn’t.

“Ready for dinner?” Indenuel asked.

Tolomon looked up. “Are you?”

“I’m never ready for Sara’s dinners.” Tolomon’s smile was small as he finished making his bed. “My confession is scheduled for tomorrow morning.”

He gave a nod of approval. “Good.” He walked over to Indenuel, patting him on the back. “You’re doing the right thing.”

Indenuel said nothing as they walked out of the room. Inessa and Martin were talking quietly, she was playing with something on her sleeve as she talked. Indenuel forced herself to look away as they headed for the dining hall.

Indenuel sat down as Tolomon eased himself into his seat. Indenuel shot him a concerned look. He waved his hand before straightening in his seat. He placed two hands on the table, closing his eyes as though to orient himself before opening them and smiling. Indenuel watched with a mixture of concern and horror.

“I am fine. Simply recovering,” Tolomon said as Martin and Inessa walked in the room. Indenuel decided to drop it. Rosa sat down next to Tolomon, and he watched her instead, watched how she fiddled with the perfectly placed utensils next to her. He had done that once.

“I believe we’re all here,” Sara said with a beaming smile.

Martin nodded. “Indenuel?”

He nodded, then paused. Everyone bowed their heads, ready for the prayer, and he realized, far starker than he should have, that God wasn’t there to hear it. He winced before he brought his hands up, giving a final look at Martin who watched him carefully, fully aware of what he was thinking about, before he bowed his head.

Indenuel cleared his throat. “We give thanks to God for this food.” He felt like a hypocrite. With this prayer he was essentially telling Martin he would willingly lie for the High Elders. “May it give us strength to prepare for the Savior’s coming.” His eyes warmed again, threatening to spill more tears he didn’t want to shed. Wasn’t there a limit to the tears one could shed in a day? “And may we always be in service of Thee.”

“God be with us,” everyone said.

Indenuel kept his head bowed as Tolomon reached over to taste the first bite. He didn’t feel like he could look at anyone. How could the High Elders do this? He ate a bite to get the rest of them eating but remained quiet. Martin patted his arm before diving into his dinner.

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“Captain Luiz will be here tomorrow, right?” Diego asked.

“Yes. You will not bother the man. He’s here to check Tolomon,” Rosa said.

“Tolomon’s going to beat him, right?” Aaron asked.

“No,” Tolomon said. “He’s here to fight me until he beats me.”

Aaron looked genuinely confused. “And if he never beats you?”

Tolomon smiled. “He will. I’m still recovering from grey death. He will fight me until he knocks me out.”

Aaron’s face fell. “But you’re the best. You never get knocked out.”

“Well,” Tolomon said with a wink, “It might take him a while to knock me out, but that is the eventual outcome.”

“I bet he lasts until midmorning,” Gustav said.

“Gustav,” Ana said. “No betting.”

Gustav gave a shrug.

“After lunch! He’ll last until after lunch!” Aaron said.

Rosa placed her wine glass down. “Let’s not put any unneeded pressure on Tolomon. After all, he is recovering from something few have ever survived.”

“Which means he’s going to last until after dinner!” Diego said.

“Diego,” Rosa said.

“I shall be sure to make a hearty breakfast,” Sara said.

“Thank you, ma’am,” Tolomon said. “You are far too kind.”

“You have done your duty, and through Indenuel’s incredible powers, you are alive,” Sara said.

“Oh, no, Sara. Certainly it is through…” Indenuel froze. Martin always told him to deflect the praises he received to God. An ache started to grow that stopped his speech.

“I think what Indenuel is trying to say, is we must never forget it is through the mercies of God we have these gifts,” Martin said quietly.

“One might think I am already in the afterlife after tasting your delectable food,” Tolomon said, finishing his plate.

Sara’s smile was wide as she motioned more food to Tolomon’s plate. “I will certainly give your compliments to my staff, where it is most certainly deserved.”

Indenuel marveled at Tolomon as he started eating his second plate of dinner while he had barely begun his first. He began to eat his mashed potatoes when he glanced over at Inessa. Once again, she was fine to be ignored. Another topic started up, and Indenuel watched her as she picked up a spoonful of mashed potatoes, bringing it to her lips. There was something dark on her wrist. He squinted, trying to get a better idea of what it was. “What is that?” he couldn’t stop himself from asking.

The dinner table grew quiet as everyone turned toward Inessa. She did not even realize the conversation had turned toward her until she set down her spoon to look up and see everyone’s gaze on her.

“Pardon?” she asked.

“That. On your wrist. What is it?” Indenuel asked.

He saw it. The smallest, almost imperceptible widening of her eyes before she lowered them to look at her wrist. Carefully she brought the sleeve down enough to show a dark bruise. “It’s… I don’t…” She covered it again. “A silly story. I’d rather not say.”

Indenuel’s head cocked to one side, his eyes narrowing. He knew exactly what that meant. He had said something similar for plenty of things Mountain Pass didn’t want to hear, giving them every excuse to drop it if needed. He was not going to let the same thing happen to her.

“On the contrary, Inessa. I’d rather like to hear it. Heaven knows we’d all need a laugh today.” She had taken a drink of her wine and set down the glass. She looked at Indenuel, and he stared back. “Must be quite the story to get a bruise that dark.”

Inessa tore her gaze from Indenuel and stood, her chair scraping against the floor. “Martin, may I be excused?” She didn’t look at him, instead staring at the table. Staring at no one.

“Of course,” Martin said.

She didn’t even curtsey. She simply turned around and walked out of the dining hall. Once she was gone, the conversation returned, Ana helping it continue until Inessa was practically forgotten again as Tolomon started on his third plate.

Indenuel turned toward Martin. “How did she get that bruise on her wrist?” Indenuel asked, his voice quiet enough. He doubted Martin did anything to her, but he needed his verbal confirmation.

“I don’t know,” he said just as quietly, stealing a glance at Sara before looking back at his plate. “I just saw it now with you. Do not concern yourself with it. I’ll go heal it later and talk with her.”

Indenuel nodded, trying to focus on his food. Tolomon finished his plate, a look of exhaustion on his face. “Thank you for dinner, Sara, but I believe I need to go rest again.”

“Recover your strength, Tolomon,” Martin said.

He nodded before slowly standing. The conversations continued as Indenuel watched with more concern as Tolomon made his way to his bed. Something told him he was going to sleep solidly through the night. Rosa stole a glance at the doorway, and it was a look Indenuel could not mistake for anything else, brief as it was. She felt a concern for him that was far deeper than just friends.

“You honestly think he’ll make it past dinner?” Gustav asked Diego.

He nodded, just as confident as ever. “I’ll bet every copper I own.”

“Diego,” Rosa said.

“Gustav,” Ana chided at the same time.

Diego simply shrugged.

***

Inessa curled up on her seat at the window in her room, looking out among the grounds. In the dying light of the sun, it was a completely different world. Day birds settled in for the night, and the nocturnal ones enjoyed their last moments of rest. The staff moved the leftover food to a cart to give out among the poor tomorrow, and the gardeners gathered their tools into the shed before the light was gone.

There was a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” Inessa said.

Martin opened the door, a small smile on his face. “Good evening.” She didn’t move from her spot. Instead, she hugged her knees closer to her chest and looked out the window, preparing her speech she had been practicing since that morning.

He walked in enough to close the door but stayed far away from her. “What happened to your wrist?”

She pulled the sleeve down enough to show him the bruises again. “High Elder Fadrique.”

His face fell. He looked at her wrist, then approached. “Today?”

“This morning, yes,” she said. “He… he came to threaten me that…” She wetted her lips, trying not to let the terror come over her. “That if you do not get me pregnant, he will still have three more months to try, since he hasn’t had me as long as everyone else.”

“No,” Martin said, covering her wrist with his two hands. “No, I would not allow that.”

She closed her eyes, feeling the relief of that assurance. Martin closed his own eyes as he healed the bruises and released her hand. “Thank you.”

So, she was back to her choices. Pregnant with Martin’s child, or to go home in disgrace. But at least she’d never go to Fadrique again. “You know, then? What he did to me?” And the other concubines?

“I suspected. Especially after Navir said there was a good reason why you were given to me three months early.”

She realized what it meant. He suspected, but like all the other High Elders, he did nothing.

“I’m sorry, Inessa. For yesterday. I behaved rudely,” Martin said.

She stared at him confused and folded her arms. “I don’t…”

“I am worried about you and…” He pointed toward the door, but hesitated. “The truth of the matter is, I know you’re lonely here. I know a woman of your…” He gestured toward her, looking like he was trying to figure out a word to describe her, but was finding it too uncomfortable. Instead, he sighed. “You shouldn’t be with me, but you are. You and Indenuel… if I wasn’t… if this law…”

“Like I said before, Martin. I am an adult, even if I am younger than Adosina.” Martin grimaced, but she kept going. “Indenuel and I both are adults. We are fully aware of the consequences of what might happen if we break the law. Yes, I have feelings, but I won’t act on them. You have my word.”

Martin nodded. “Thank you. And again, I am sorry for how I acted yesterday. It was unbecoming of me.”

Her brows furrowed in confusion. None of the other High Elders had ever treated her like this. She was treated more like a number, a scheduled nightly appointment. Nothing to apologize to. “I forgive you.” It felt weird saying that. She shouldn’t have needed to say that to a High Elder. Like an equal.

His smile was grim and his nod short. “I will try not to treat you like a child. It would be easier for me.” She tucked her hair behind her ears, looking away. “So, you went shopping with Addy today?”

Inessa nodded, not looking at him. “Yes. To her dressmaker. Tima seems bound and determined to make me some beautiful dresses to get more business from the other concubines.”

“Smart business move. I trust she’ll follow the guidelines.”

“Her assistant was reading from the book all the different rules. She did not seem deterred.”

There was a lull in the conversation. Inessa didn’t know if Martin felt it, but this silence didn’t feel so prickly. She felt no urgency to find something else to talk about in order to fill the void, something to distract themselves with the fact that she was his concubine. They were simply quiet.

“Can I get you anything? Do you need something to drink before you go to bed?” Martin asked.

Inessa rubbed her arms, still feeling confused. “No, no. I…” She began fiddling with the hem of her sleeve. She could almost feel her mother slap her with a spoon for such fiddling, but she doubted Martin would mind. “I don’t drink anything before bed.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah it, um, childhood training.” She’d already said too much, but he looked as though he genuinely wanted to know. She cleared her throat, looking away. “My mother never let me drink anything before bed. She said it… it made pimples grow on my face. And if there was one thing my mother couldn’t tolerate, it was pimples on my face.”

Martin raised an eyebrow. “I had never thought of that.”

Inessa shrugged. “My mother thought of it enough for the both of us.”

He chuckled as he turned, heading toward the door. “Well, should you change your mind, you can always alert one of the servants.”

“I will. Thanks.”

He left, closing the door. Inessa stared at the windowsill in front of her, feeling confused. Martin had been incredibly kind to her, asking forgiveness, apologizing. And yet he still refused to acknowledge the abusive monster Fadrique was.