Chapter 18

“We should have been there early.” Trendan adjusted his cuff.

“I like being fashionably late.” Bastian smoothed his hand over his suit and adjusted the dark purple sash that was embroidered with the emblem that told everyone he was part of the royal family. Like anyone there wouldn’t know who they were. It wasn’t as if they lived a short human life span and their appearance changed. It could, his oldest brother proved that without a doubt. Bastian didn’t remember the details because he hadn’t been of an age where such things concerned him, but at some point, his eldest brother had stopped taking the elixir and allowed his body to age as a human would. In hindsight, that meant at some point Elyas hadn’t been all for the way of life here in Solrelm. He wished he’d been old enough to get to know and remember that version of Elyas because the rigid, uptight one was no fun at all.

They both stopped outside Liri’s door and stood there. It opened and her guard Riaz came out. He was grinning, which told them Aliria had probably just been vocalizing how much she loathed this tradition—again. Bastian was just pleased he remembered her guard’s name for once.

He was shocked when a woman that resembled their cousin, with a serene expression on her face stepped into view. She patted her hair which had been pulled up into organized chaos.

“Is this okay?”

Bastian smiled and held out his hand. “It looks marvelous.”

“You’re wearing a black gown.” Trendan motioned up and down her body.

She smiled. “You’re wearing a black suit.”

Trendan looked down. “Yes, we normally do.”

Liri shrugged. “It’s most definitely not my first year, so I didn’t want to outshine the new ones.”

“You’ll blend into the background in black.”

Bastian chuckled. “I think that’s the idea.”

Tor and Ulric came around the corner walking with long determined strides. Bastian’s first thought was the jig was up and the chef’s absence had been discovered. “What’s wrong?”

“We just came from the guard station.” Tor answered with a solemn look on his face. “One of the debut women is refusing their first dose of the elixir.”

Bastian blew out a breath and glanced at Trendan. This was getting more and more common, and he hated that the women in the realm weren’t given the choice. “I’ll go…”

“I’ve got this,” Liri said. She motioned to her guard. “Go, we’ll catch up.”

Trendan’s expression said he didn’t agree.

“Don’t give away any of our secrets, yet, but give her hope,” Bastian told her and then released her hand. “I’ll let your parents know why you’re late.”

She nodded. “I shouldn’t be long.” A sad look appeared in her eyes. “I’ve done this so many times lately.”

All four of them watched her walk as her guard talked on his phone, most likely finding out where they were going.

Bastian looked at his brother. “Let’s get this over with.”

“The sooner the better,” Trendan mumbled and adjusted his tie for the tenth time.

Bastian fell into step with him, but his mind wasn’t pondering this year’s event with interest. Instead, he was thinking about the woman, who would have no choice but to live an extraordinarily long life. “How long have our parents been on the throne?”

Trendan gave him a ‘huh’ look. “I don’t know an exact number, why?”

“How old is Elyas? Were they crowned before or after he was born?”

“Likely after, you know the court likes proof of fertility before succession.”

“Right.” They turned the last corner before the tunnel that would take them to the citadel. “Was low female population a problem before they were crowned or after?”

Trendan stopped and looked at him. “Why the sudden curiosity on this?” He was defensive and Bastian knew it was because of their parents. To Trendan, they were the most precious thing ever.

“I’m just trying to figure out a timeline.” Bastian leveled him with a sincere look. “I’m not accusing our parents of anything. We all know the court and elders make all the decisions and laws here. Mom and Dad are just the faces that enforce them.”

“What are you looking for?” Trendan put his hands on his hips and stared at him.

“I’m just trying to figure out when all the women’s rights were taken from them.” He motioned down the hall, “that girl shouldn’t have to be forced to live beyond a normal, natural life today. She should be allowed to ponder it and mature a decade before…”

“The girls know from childhood on that they are the salvation and survival of our realm, of every soul in the human world.”

“Exactly. No pressure, right?” Bastian heavy a sigh.

“Before,” Ulric said abruptly. The brothers looked at him; he shrugged. “My mother loved the history of Solrelm. All the realms.”

Bastian wouldn’t admit it, but he did feel relief that the horrific laws had been in place before their parents had sat on the thrones. “Okay, that’s a start.” He looked from Trendan to Ulric. “How do we access archives or history of laws and rules?”

Ulric’s eyes rounded. “I have no idea.”

“I might have to talk to Crissy.” He started waking. They couldn’t be any later than they already were.

“The Seer from Alterealm?” Trendan caught up to him.

“Yes. Alterealm has very extensive records of all the realms.”

“Makes sense.”

Bastian glanced over his shoulder to look at Ulric. “It does?”

The guard nodded. “Alterealm originally policed all the realms.”

Bastian grinned.

“That’s right, they might have it recorded, when things changed.” Trendan finally seemed to be on the same page.

“I’ll talk to the little seer later and ask if she can shift her focus to those records.”

“I don’t think focus is her strong point,” Trendan mumbled.

Bastian smiled. “I know. I love it.”

They stopped outside the door to the reception room. “How’s my hair?” Bastian smoothed the front of his suit.

His brother looked amused. “Disastrous.”

Bastian nodded. “Perfect.”

Stepping inside the doors, Bastian’s senses were assaulted with smells from too many different types of foods, teas, and colognes. “There should be a law about wearing cologne and perfume to events like this.” He turned to see if Trendan agreed, only to find a shocked expression on his face that was slowly bleeding to anger. “What?”

Trendan jerked his chin so Bastian would look in that direction.

Scanning the crowd, he reached the back of the room. Up on a platform were his parents, tasteful, not overly elaborate thrones. Sitting in them was his mother, dressed in a dark purple gown, her black hair ruthlessly tamed and piled on top of her head. Right beside her in the other chair, with a crown sitting on top of his blond hair was dear old dad. “Tre, that looks a lot like our parents we hid away to keep safe.”

“Uh-huh.” Trendan started to move through the crowd of males and parents. They bowed their heads to him as he went.

“Shit.” Bastian glanced at Tor. “Your task is to stand near them, watching until they retire later.”

“Got it.”

Bastian started walking, a plastic smile pasted on his face for all the gawkers he walked by. As he got closer, he could see the amusement in his lovely mother’s eyes. She knew they were going to be annoyed that they were here. She often made Bastian wonder if he got his rebellious tendencies from her. He stopped in front of the platform and bowed his head to them.

Going around to the steps, he went up to the chair his mother was sitting in. “Mother, you look amazing.” He smirked. “Especially for someone that shouldn’t be here.” He squatted down beside her, so he could speak without others hearing. “Why are you here?”

She smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “We couldn’t miss this, too many would question it.”

He knew she was right. He didn’t like it, but if they missed the event the entire realm looked forward to all year, rumors would be flying around.”

“I wanted to see my children.” She touched the side of his face, a teary expression in her eyes.

Nothing could crush a man’s resolve faster than his mother’s gentle touch. Placing his hand over hers against his face, he grasped it lightly and kissed it.

She smiled at him; it was one filled with secrets. “I have some amazing news.” Her smile widened.

“You taught Elyas to smile?”

She scoffed, “No, I don’t think even a queen has that power.” She glanced over at his father and then leaned closer to him. “I’m going to have a baby,” she whispered.

Bastian blinked and looked at her, she wasn’t kidding. He glanced down at her stomach area like he could see a child inside her. Opening his mouth, he leaned his head closer. “Is that safe at your age? I don’t even know my own age anymore but-but…”

“I’m fine.” She leveled him with a look that only mothers could use. “I’ve never missed my elixir. My insides are more than capable.”

“Have you seen a doctor?”

“Midwife,” she whispered, then paused to smile at a couple bowing to them.

“Have-have you told anyone?” He was prodding his brain to function. There were a few things that no one liked to think about, their parents’ having sex was at the very top of everyone’s list.

“Not yet. We were just going to tell you, boys, for now.” She touched her stomach briefly, so as not to draw attention to it. “It’s still early.”

A hundred things when through his head, her health, the risk, he could be a big brother instead of the youngest one—he clasped her hand and squeezed it lightly. “Don’t tell anyone.” He looked to see Trendan watching them, “I’ll tell Tre, do not tell Elyas just yet.”

“What’s going on?” She frowned. “Something else is going on.”

He loved it wasn’t a question and she just knew him that well. “Yes.” He kissed her hand. “Tre and I will come and talk to you and Dad about it tonight.”

She nodded. “All right.”

“You two are drawing attention to yourselves.” His father was looking at them.

Bastian grinned at his dad. “Just the way I like it.” He couldn’t think of anything to say regarding their news that wouldn’t come across as an insult to the man touching his mother. He gave him a quick, sobering look. “Tre and I will be by later to talk about some things.”

His father raised one eyebrow. “As long as you don’t try to send us into hiding again.”

Bastian thought of his mother’s news. “No, I think we can keep you closer to home now.”

His father nodded. “Come by after the dinner break.”

Bastian nodded and stood up. He checked to see Tor was close, then noticed Trendan had Ulric standing on the other side. Going back down, he avoided those standing close and went right over to his brother. “I need a drink.”

Trendan raised one brow at him. “It’s barely past breakfast.”

“I know. You’ll need one too when I tell you.”

“Shit.” Trendan glanced at his parents. “Does it have to do with why they came out of hiding to come here?”

Bastian smiled politely at a man that was walking by them. “No. Mostly about things children should never ever think about.” He touched his elbow. “Come on, let’s try to find a quiet spot for a minute.”

***

Liri immediately found him when she returned. Bastian was waiting for Trendan, who had gone to get them coffee after he shared the news with them. “How is she?”

Liri pasted a fake smile on her face, so no one would notice the stress in her eyes. “She’ll be attending after all.”

Bastian nodded and glanced around. “Hang in there, we are going to unravel this mystery.”

Liri sighed, “I know we will. Here comes Mom.” She grasped his arm. “Come save me in ten minutes, Bas. Promise me.”

He smirked. “Cross my heart.”

She exhaled a loud breath and then turned and walked toward her mother.

Trendan came back and held out a cup to him. Bastian raised it to his face and then smirked. “Laced with brandy.”

Trendan nodded and then took a sip. “You were right. I needed a drink.”

They stood there looking around at the numerous awkward couples standing around trying to converse with a stranger. “Looks like Elyas may have made a choice.”

Bastian turned to see where he was looking and then found their eldest brother near the buffet smiling and talking to a young woman. Normally he stood near the thrones looking cold and unapproachable, or normal for him.

“All the power to him,” he mumbled and then started looking at all the males in the room.

“Looking for someone we can trust Liri with?”

Bastian smirked. “You almost know me too well.” He jerked his chin to a face he recognized.

Trendan asked, “What do you have on him?”

“Nothing,” Bastian shrugged. “I just know his taste leans more to masculine than feminine.”

“Oh, well, that would do it. He’ll agree.” Trendan toasted him with his cup.

He took a sip of the alcohol-dosed coffee. “I’m to rescue her in nine minutes.”

“Then we just have forty-six more hours of this to endure.” Trendan took another drink.

“Oh, I plan to be called away on urgent business by dinner time tonight.” Bastian caught the ‘help me’ look Liri sent him.

“I wouldn’t be much of a brother if I didn’t offer to assist you with this urgent business.” Trendan leveled him with a look that said he wasn’t asking.

“Of course, I need help. Step one is telling Mom and Dad everything after dinner.”

“Everything, everything? Even Nova?”

Bastian watched Liri. “No, I think we can skip that part for now.” He gave him a cheeky grin. “They’re going to have a hard enough time when they realize I’ve converted you to my evil trouble-making ways.” He handed him the empty cup and turned to go save Liri. “You'd best get us some refills.”

Trendan looked at his cup. “It’s going to be a very long day.”