Brianna (30 page)

“Well, well, well, the truth is finally becoming known,”

Jenneta muttered to no one in particular.

Some of the more gullible in the crowd, however, whispered uncertainly. Singy was smiling broadly. Was there something to Crystas’ accusation?

Brianna’s husky laughter filled the room. “Why in the world would I want to do that? What could I possibly gain that I don’t already have? I already carry my husband’s child. A husband, I might add, who offered the Alalakan signet he wears and all it entails to Bandalardrac in repayment for saving my life.”

Her revelation shocked everyone, including Char’s grandmother. For a woman who seemed to have anticipated everything that had happened so far, Jenneta was just as surprised as everyone else.

Char smiled at the older woman. “Don’t know me as well as you thought, do you, Grandmother?”

“Touché, Char,” she said quietly. “First a pregnant bride and now this. You continually surprise me.”

Char smiled and nodded.

“ And
is
it Char’s child you carry? Not even Medirians get pregnant so quickly,” Crystas threw out desperately.

Audible gasps echoed around the room. Crystas had gone too far, questioning not only Brianna’s fidelity but also Char’s integrity.

Char stiffened. “Brianna carries
my
child.”

“You haven’t answered me, Crystas,” Rodane snapped.

“Have you been purposely preventing the conception of my children?”

Looking about the room, Crystas found no Alalakan allies or understanding. Casting discretion to the winds, she spat, “Yes, I have. Why should I be held prisoner to an outmoded tradition with no meaning? Why should I be expected to sacrifice my body to provide a child I don’t want?”

Even Brianna, who had not grown up steeped in Drakian clan tradition, was shocked at her reply.

Disgust filled Rodane’s voice. “So be it. You may not care for clan tradition, but I will honor it to my dying day.” Grasping her dress above the right shoulder with both hands, he ripped it to the waist, displaying her right breast and, most importantly, her bare right shoulder. He removed the sparkling bluestone necklace she wore around her neck, the numerous bracelets from her arms, and finally, the wedding ring from her finger.

“The necklace is mine,” Crystas said haughtily. “I demand that you return it.”

“Wrong,” he answered in an icy tone. “It is the necklace of your Matriarchal line.
Tradition
declares that it be passed on down to the
eldest
daughter. Something you have pointed out many times these past eight years you are
not
. This necklace belongs to Fionilina.”

Rodane walked across the room and placed the necklace around the neck of a quietly pretty, very surprised Drakian woman dressed in a plain white dress. Only Jenneta’s and Brianna’s eyes narrowed in speculation. Everyone else was too caught up in the unfolding drama.

Returning to the group that stood about Crystas, Rodane handed her jewelry to his father.

“Sell it,” he said tightly. “I no longer have a use for it. Char, you are clan leader now that Brianna carries the heir. I request dissolution of my marriage.”

The entire assemblage gasped and whispers raced through the crowd. Rodane’s symbolic stripping had declared that he would divorce Crystas, but no one had expected him to state it in public. The dissolution of a marriage was usually a private affair with the announcement made after the fact. Rodane had reached deeply into Drakian clan tradition to sever his bond with Crystas. Tradition demanded that Char, as clan leader, finish what Rodane had started.

“Alalakan dem al’ Crystas,” Char declared in a tight voice, “your husband, Alalakan don al’ Rodane, seeks dissolution of your marriage on the grounds that you refuse to bear his children. Do you contest these accusations?”

Lips pinched together, Crystas glared at Char.

“No answer on your part will not stop these proceedings, Crystas. Do you wish to answer Rodane?”

“No!”

“You bore no Alalakan children nor do you wear an Alalakan dragon; therefore, there is no reason not to grant dissolution of this marriage if neither party contests my decision. Do you wish to remain Alalakan, Crystas?”

“I won’t remain in a clan that breeds with aliens,” Crystas sneered.

Brianna snorted inelegantly. “You married into a clan with Medirian blood. Mine is the same as theirs.”

“There is no Medirian blood in the Alalakan clan,” Crystas snapped. “Like mine, their blood is pure. What lies do you seek to spread now?”

Brianna smiled at her brother-in-law. “Rodane, you never told your wife that your grandmother has Medirian blood?”

Jenneta smiled broadly. “Very, very good, my dear. My mother was Medirian. How did you know?”

Brianna shrugged. “It’s pretty obvious. You have earlobes.”

Crystas stared at Jenneta as if she were something slimy that had crawled out from under a rock.

Char’s voice dripped with contempt. “Transportation to your clan’s ancestral holding will be provided. Since you do not wish to fraternize with
aliens
, I suggest you return to your rooms.

Maids will soon arrive to help you pack.”

Crystas looked about the room. Her pride would not allow her to pull her dress back up onto her shoulder. Walking across the room to her sister, she said haughtily, “Come Fionilina, we are not welcome here.”

Brianna jabbed Char in the ribs, and Jenneta sent him an imperious glance. Not obtuse to not-so-subtle hints, he said, “Gerlindenpen dem al’ Fionilina is a guest in this house, celebrating the announcement of the Alalakan heir. She need not leave if she does not wish to do so.”

Fionilina looked at her sister and shook her head.

Crystas drew her shattered dignity about her and said, “You are no longer my sister.” Turning her back on Fionilina, Crystas shot a look of pure hatred at Brianna and then stalked from the room.

“She certainly is a bitch, isn’t she?” Brianna murmured to no one in particular.

“Bitch?” Meri asked.

“It’s a derogatory term used to describe certain women on earth,” Brianna answered a bit absentmindedly. “Excuse me.

Char?”

Everyone’s attention returned to Brianna. Char’s new wife was providing enough gossip to last until winter.

“Yes?” Char looked at his wife curiously.
What is she
planning now?

“That woman,” she stated, pointing to Singy, “has insulted a member of my family. I want her out of here—now.”

Char frowned. “What are you talking about?” Surely Brianna wouldn’t make up a lie just because of one kiss.

Brianna tossed her hair back over her shoulder. Flashes of fire sparkled. “She told Ban he was a base half-breed. I will
not
tolerate such an insult to the Hardan royal family.”

“She lies!” Singy shouted.

“Would you doubt Kahn’s word, Char? Or that of Ban himself?”

Char glanced at his cousin. “Ban?”

A casual shrug. “I’ve been called worse.”

Nervous titters swept through the crowded room.

Char crossed his arms over his chest. “Did Singy insult you?”

Ban grinned. “If Brianna’s insulted, then yes, she did.”

Char turned back to Singy. “You’ll leave in the morning.”

“Char! You can’t mean that. Not after all that we mean to each other. All that we have together.”

“There is no
we
, Singy. The past is the past. You were never more than a pleasant way to pass the time.”

A very satisfied smile appeared on Brianna’s face.

Meri, on the other hand, was simmering with anger.

“Mondolonton dem al’ Singy, do not place foot on Mediria again, or I swear, you will wake up one morning with an assassin in your bed.”

Singy blanched, and those who stood near her quickly moved away. Glancing around but finding no support, she burst into tears and ran from the room.

No one followed her.

Char furtively observed a very satisfied Brianna.
She’s
learned about the Medirian assassins. Meri, no doubt.

Ban’s brow, too, was furrowed.
Kahn told Brianna what
Singy said. Does she mean what she says or did she use the
“insult” just to get rid of Singy? Either way, Brianna’s displayed
intelligence worthy of the Hardan—and Alalakan—names.

The object of the two men’s speculation sighed as she sank back down onto the sofa.
Well, maybe this assassin thing isn’t
so bad, especially if it’ll keep other women away from Char.

She groaned and shifted her weight.

The baby was kicking up a storm.

Meri’s tone was worried. “Are you all right, Brianna?”

Char immediately turned to his wife. “Brianna?”

Brianna waved him away. “Oh, stop worrying. I simply need to sit down. The baby is break dancing again,”

“Break dancing?” asked more than one voice.

“You’ll get used to it,” Char said in a more relaxed tone.

Brianna turned her attention to Rodane. Quietly she said, “Rodane, I’m sorry.”

He quickly smiled, bent, and took her hand in his. “Don’t apologize to me, Brianna. You did nothing a true Alalakan wife wouldn’t do. You defended yourself and your clan. Crystas and I had been growing farther apart each day. What happened tonight would have taken place even if you hadn’t married Char.”

“But I feel responsible…”

“You are responsible for nothing, except, perhaps, the opportunity to eventually become a father myself…if I can find a woman to love me as you love Char. Now, if you will excuse me, I would like some time alone.”

Everyone in the room watched as he walked proudly from the room.

“Well,” Jenneta said dryly, “I always said you knew how to throw a party, Xdana. This one will certainly go down as unique in the annals of the Alalakan clan.”

From where she sat on the sofa, Brianna was aware of various groups of people still watching and listening. Taking the initiative, she motioned Jenneta and Xdana to stand off to the side so that she had an unrestricted view of the gathering.

Raising her chin, she said in a clear voice, “Okay, the show is over. Go back about your business gossiping and eating the wonderful food provided by Xdana. I’m sure you’ll have to rehash tonight’s event a number of times.”

At first absolute silence reigned.

Then Jenneta’s hearty laugh cut through the silence. “You are right, Char. I find your wife to be extremely charming.”

Char stared at the door through which his brother had disappeared.
Why did Rodane say Brianna loves me? She
barely knows me.

Ban tugged the arm of the woman at his side. “Come on, Brianna’s back. I’ll introduce you now.”

As Ban approached, Brianna looked up.

“Brianna, this is Gerlindenpen dem al’ Fionilina. She’d like to speak with you.”

Brianna smiled and patted the sofa next to her. “Sit down.”

Her eyes downcast, Fionilina said, “I apologize for my sister’s behavior. Ever since the Gerlindenpen clan lost much of its fortune, Crystas has felt that life has been unfair. Even after Rodane and she married, she was dissatisfied with her life. She saw the increasing pressure to bear the Alalakan heir as her way of controlling the entire clan. Then word reached us that Char had married a woman from a newly discovered planet. A few months later, we heard that you were carrying the Alalakan heir.”

Fionilina raised her eyes to Brianna’s and continued, her voice bitter. “Crystas hates you, Alalakan dem al’ Brianna, more than she has ever hated anyone. She’ll seek revenge.”

Her new family members no longer flocked around Brianna.

However, one of them was always by her side in case anyone chose to continue Crystas’ harassment. So it was Jamiros who answered Fionilina’s warning. “Don’t worry about Brianna.

Crystas no longer has any power here, and Brianna will be well protected.”

Brianna pursed her lips.
What had Crystas done to Fionilina
to make her sound so bitter? Rodane maybe? I bet he married
the wrong sister.
“Don’t worry too much about me, Fionilina.”

Patting her stomach, she continued, “I won’t be going anywhere for a few months. And I have two Aradabs who observe every breath into and out of my mouth.”

Ban winked at Brianna and extended his hand to Fionilina.

Taking it, she rose to her feet.

Before they could leave, Brianna said, “Would you excuse Ban a minute, Fionilina? I’d like to talk to him.”

She nodded and wandered across the room. Ban’s gaze followed her. “I hope this is important, Coz,” he murmured. “That is one lady who definitely is in need of comfort.”

Jamiros snorted and mumbled something about needing a drink. Catching Char’s eye, he made his way to the buffet table.

Char began a meandering course back to his wife.

“You’d think I was made of fine china,” Brianna muttered to herself. “What in the world could happen to me while I’m surrounded by Alalakans?”

“You can always pretend we’re worried about the fortune in Gattan red diamonds you wear,” Ban teased.

“You’re just as bad as the rest of them.”

He shrugged eloquently. “What do you want to talk about, Coz? Has one of these beautiful ladies told you that she finds me irresistible?”

She mumbled a curse. “I’m trying to be serious, Ban.”

He grinned and sat down. “Well?”