The Redwood Rebel (The Redwood War Book 1) (3 page)

In an arranged marriage the chances of finding that kind of love were very slim indeed, but he had still hoped that they could be friends and grow to care for one another. In years to come, who knew what might happen? But this woman, this rude, ignorant woman, seemed bent on humiliating him. He would not marry her unless she could prove herself worthy, war or no war.

There were two guards at the door to the wedding chamber, and he stumbled through into the blackness, dizzy and disorientated. He nodded curtly as the guards bowed before closing the door and throwing him into complete darkness. Remembering the Ffionite custom of the wedding night being in a pitch black room, Arun cursed lightly under his breath. He couldn't see an inch in front of his face!

'Are you in here, woman?' he asked, voice harsh from his suppressed annoyance. He expected some sort of reprimand, if anything at all, but he was not prepared for the soft but sure voice that answered him.

'Yes, Sire, I’m here.'

Using her voice as a means to navigate towards the bed, he stopped just short of where he could sense her waiting for him. She was standing in front of the bed, and he was confused by her sudden change in attitude. He wondered briefly at her transformation, but quickly brushed it to one side. Perhaps her Council had sensed his anger and warned her to appear more humble towards him.

'I don’t understand this custom,' he told her, rubbing at his eyes and trying to see. 'It seems a ridiculous way to begin a marriage.'

'I quite agree, Sire,' she replied, sounding oddly wistful. 'I think it would be better for both of us if you, at least, could see me.'

Finally able to make out her shape in the darkness, he reached out and grasped her shoulders to steady his reeling senses. When she gasped in apparent shock, he almost withdrew, but the way she flinched and felt so fragile under his touch gave him pause. Her skin was soft and she felt so much smaller than she had looked in the Hall, but he knew that there were many tricks a woman could use with the right corset and shoes. He felt her long, wavy hair brush against the back of his hand as he held her, and tried to make her out in the darkness, but had to take a moment to steady himself as another wave of drunken dizziness swept over him.

'What was that revolting wine, anyway?' he muttered, resting a hand to his forehead. 'I’ve not been so unsteady on my feet after drinking in years.'

He felt her small shoulders raise up slightly as though she were ducking her head in embarrassment. 'Truthfully Sire, I think the choice for strong alcohol was deliberate. I suppose they thought that if we weren't entirely sober it might make the whole, uh, situation a little easier.'

'You did this to me on purpose?' he growled.

'It had nothing to do with me!' she snapped back unexpectedly, apparently losing her composure. He found himself retreating slightly at the tone she suddenly used, and wondered how changeable one person could truly be. There was a defiance in her voice that wasn’t altogether unpleasant. She immediately seemed to regret her outburst, however, and shrank in on herself once more, though sounding far less timid than she had previously. 'I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I’m not entirely in control of my own faculties either.'

'I realise that. I would hope no sober person would behave in such a way as you did this evening.'

He felt her body freeze under his hand, then was bewildered to find it being slapped away as she stumbled backwards. 'Forget it. I can't do this, it’s insane.'

'Oh no, you don't, My Lady,' he grabbed her arm more by chance than design as she tried to shove past him. 'If I can swallow my pride enough to come and speak with you in an attempt to make this thing work, you can manage it as well!'

'You don't understand,' she snapped, struggling to get free. 'I’m not who you think I am!'

'I certainly hope not. Who I think you are right now doesn't bear discussion.'

'Let me go. You’re not listening!' She snarled. He ignored her and she continued to fight him, stomping down on his foot more than once despite apparently having bare feet while he wore boots. She moved as though she was used to having more strength than she currently did and he was once again struck by how small she was under his hands. She tried to punch him, but there was no weight behind it and he caught her wrist to keep it still.

All at once, he realised she was terrified. Terrified and exhausted. The realisation gave him pause, and for the first time he began to think of her as a real person. She was a girl in way over her head, with no one to lean on except for the devious Lord Cygnus, and who was about to lose her virginity to a man she had barely spoken to. Sympathy for her plight kindled inside him. No wonder she had stayed as far away from him as possible while getting herself progressively more drunk throughout the night.

'Hush,' Arun tried to soothe, pulling her tiny form against his chest and wrapping his arms tightly about her to keep her still. 'Hush now. I’m not going to hurt you.'

'No, you cussing well aren't!'

He found himself smiling slightly in surprise at the language and her continued attempt to get free, despite, he was sure, knowing she was outmatched. Afraid of hurting her, and feeling his own strength begin to wane, he decided to try a different tactic.

'They're making you do this, aren't they?'

The struggling ceased almost instantly and after a few laboured breaths she whispered, 'Yes.'

'Lord Cygnus?'

He felt her nod even though she gave no verbal response. A great weight was lifted from his foggy mind with this new information. Cygnus was just using her. If she married Arun, not only would Ffion be set to rights once again, but Cygnus, as her royal Chancellor, would be left as regent while she returned to Koren with him. He had to get rid of the man, quickly. She stood no chance with such a powerful shadow looming over her head and dragging her down. He would replace Cygnus with one of his own men, and get her away from this dark, desolate place. She would be safe with him, free to flourish into a Queen that he could be proud of.

It was with a jolt that he realised he had just accepted her as his wife. It would be tricky, but he would make it work. He knew now that there were hidden depths to this woman, depths that the rest of the world needed to see. All he had to do now was convince her to go with him.

'I know you're afraid, little Firefly,' he spoke softly, trying not to slur his words. 'But I believe that for the sake of everyone, it would be best to continue with this marriage.'

'What?'

The complete and utter shock in that one word surprised him, but still he persevered. 'Would it truly be so bad to marry me, Adrienne? I could take you away from here, away from Cygnus' influence over you.'

'Oh, I... I see.'

'We could leave tomorrow,' he insisted, her body completely still under his embrace. Leaning down slightly, he kissed her forehead and sighed. 'You could be free of this place in the morning.'

'Free?' she turned her head away from him. 'You make it sound so simple.'

'You will be free,' he assured her firmly, touched even through his muddled thoughts by the sorrow in her voice.

'But at what cost, Sire?'

'Don't call me Sire,' he said, slowly running the pads of his fingers along her throat and shoulder, down towards her soft, warm breast. He delighted in the way her flesh heated with embarrassment at his intimate touch. With his other hand he gently cupped the back of her neck and tilted her head, leaning over her so that his lips were just a breath away from her own. Before carefully pressing his mouth to hers, he quietly named his price.

'Call me Arun.'

Chapter Three

Naomi awoke a few hours before dawn. Instead of laying on the cold, dirt floor of her underground cell, she found herself in a large, warm bed. More disturbingly, she was being cradled gently in the arms of a sleeping man.

Her head shot up in shock as she remembered the night's events. At the sudden movement, he groaned in protest, wrapping her more securely in his embrace until she rested her head back down on his chest. The room was still completely dark, so she couldn't see anything of him, but as her face squeezed into an expression of severe embarrassment, she wasn’t sorry for that.

She felt her cheeks burn at the memory of the previous night, and the intimate way their legs were tangled even now. She ached almost everywhere. Her thighs burned, and the dull throb of the bruises that littered her body where his mouth had been were an insistent reminder of the experience. She couldn't help but wonder how Adrienne would duplicate such blatant signs, then quickly found that she didn't want to dwell on it.

She could hardly believe she’d gone through with it at all, and felt an unpleasant jolt at the remembrance of her own drugging. It was quickly squashed when she realised that Arun had been far more ill-used than she had, and shame coiled in the pit of her stomach. Poor man. He had no idea what he was in for, and despite the need that had driven her actions, she knew she was just as responsible as Adrienne and Cygnus for the deception. If only there were some way to warn him?

Naomi instantly realised what she was thinking and shook it off. No matter the circumstances, Arun wasn’t her problem. She had no claim to him. She didn't want any claim to him! Yet somehow, the very idea of leaving him to Adrienne seemed just so very wrong, it almost repulsed her. Then again, the sickness churning inside her could just have been the side effects of the wine she had consumed.

She'd been more than a little surprised to find last night that there were still traces of an innocent girl lurking inside herself. She had been terrified, she had to admit that, but had known more than most women in her situation. Her mother had taught her how to be a lady, but even then it was only the very basic education of a young girl making rare appearances at Court. Nothing like this. She had passed muster all those years ago, but good posture and being a proficient musician wasn’t much help for things like this.

There had been talk of marriage occasionally, and she'd known that when the time came it would just be another part of life, but it hadn't seemed all that important. Ffionite ladies didn't speak of such things, apparently. Naomi had no idea why they didn’t, considering how important it was; but that was what she had been repeatedly told on the occasions she attempted to find out.

If anything, her camaraderie with the men at arms she trained with had proven more useful. She had heard the talk, of course. It was impossible to spend any length of time in the company of slightly bawdy men and not. They had always tried to be somewhat careful around her, almost all of them having some kind of paternal affection for a wayward daughter, despite it all, but she had been drunk with them more than once, and the stories flowed as readily as the mead did.

The fact was, in Tsumetai, where her mother was from, sex was very openly spoken of. Unlike in Ffion where the idea of women knowing such things was considered indecent, in Tsumetai it was very strongly encouraged. Naomi’s mother had tried to raise her as Ffionite, mostly because her father had despised her mixed heritage, but with yearly visits across the ocean and away from his dark presence, there had been plenty of opportunity for her to absorb the different culture. She’d had to be careful, of course, but her cousins in particular had seemed to take it upon themselves to pass her the occasional book and even quashed quite early in her the shame that Ffionite girls were taught about pleasuring themselves. Naomi knew her body, knew what she liked, and she had been surprised to find that Arun had seemed to know as well.

She could at least be thankful for the fact that he had been such a gentle lover. He'd been so careful of her, she'd felt tears sting her eyes. It had been so long since anyone had touched her with any kind of care, his caresses had been almost overwhelming. He must have heard her breathing alter even in the darkness, and paused to hold her warmly. It had been sheer force of will that kept her from letting go of the tide and sobbing into his shoulder like a small child.

She hadn't shed a single tear since she had first been locked away, not once. She hated that he had damaged that protective wall just by being kind to her. No one had touched her to give comfort for so long though, and never so intimately, she hadn't expected it to move her in such a profound way.

Feeling her throat tighten and her eyes start to prickle once again, she clenched her teeth tightly. This was ridiculous. She was being so stupid and sentimental over nothing. It was just sex. It happened all the time. It hadn't even hurt, despite being told it might, and even if it had, she’d been hurt before. She had fought in a war, for crying out loud. She had a fair scattering of scars over her own body from injuries she had sustained in battle, and on more than one occasion had to sew her own wounds to keep from bleeding to death. This should be nothing to her. It was nothing to her. She had done this because it was the best option for escape.

Looking towards where she assumed Arun’s face was, she found herself curious of his appearance. This man who had no idea of her existence, but whose actions had so dramatically changed the course of her life without even realising it. He would have dark skin, as all Korenians did, and his hair was likely black, but other than that she had no idea. As she cautiously ran her fingers through his long, curly hair, she realised that he was not a large man.  In fact, he felt to be no more than half a head or so taller than she was. There was a certain kind of graceful turn to his form and movements that intrigued her, but was still somehow masculine. Again she blushed as she remembered the night. No. Definitely not womanly. But there was something... something graceful about him; compact but strong. Like a predator of some kind. Light, but quietly powerful.

Embarrassed by her own thoughts, Naomi forced herself to pull away, planning to roll so her back was to him. The movement seemed to wake him though, and he again pulled her back.

'No. Not yet.'

She could hear sleep thick in his lilting voice and knew he was only barely conscious. The room was so darkened she had no idea of the time, but there was quiet movement outside the door and that worried her. She needed to get away from him, for her own sanity, before Cygnus came to fetch her back. This man and his careful touch and warm skin was turning her into a soppy child, and she didn't like it one bit.

'I’ll be back,' she lied, trying to ease herself away without waking him too much. 'Go back to sleep.'

Arun made a soft noise of dissent, but his grip slackened at last. As she tried to escape though, his hand slid up her back and cupped the back of her neck. Instead of letting her go as she had expected, he tugged her face back down to his and met her lips with his own in a heated kiss. Naomi felt her insides quake at the intensity, but before she could react he had let her go completely. She sat back, her breath hiccupping quietly in surprise, all plans of escape flying out of her mind.

'Don't be long, little Firefly.' She could hear the smile in his voice as he rolled back over and sighed sleepily. 'I fully intend to have you again before we rise for the day.'

It took a long moment for her to feel steady enough to continue her escape. She didn't want to dwell on the emotions churning inside herself right now. She didn't want to feel them, and she didn't want to think about them.

Taking a breath, she finally slid off the large bed and began to fish about the floor for the silk chemise she had started the night in. Her soft, sleep tousled hair fell about her face and shoulders, tickling her skin and making her shiver a little despite repeatedly tucking the stray strands behind her ears. She felt cold now that she was out of the bed and away from the warmth of Arun's body, but it was just a little uncomfortable chill. She had been far colder than this.

Finally locating the chemise, she continued to shiver and had to clench her teeth tightly to keep them from chattering. It was like the cold came from inside herself and she wrapped her arms tightly around her body to try to stave it off. Shock, she acknowledged. She wondered if she should wait to be summoned or just leave now.

Thankfully the decision was taken out of her hands just as she began to walk towards the door. Lord Cygnus opened it very slightly, light pouring in as he beckoned her. It took more self-control than it should have, but despite her curiosity, she resolved not to use the faint light to look upon the man asleep in the bed. She didn't want to know. She had no claim to him and now her part was over.

She walked out the door of the wedding chamber resolutely, ignoring the aching of her bones and determined not to let Cygnus see any sign of weakness if she could help it. He said nothing, but closed the door quietly behind her. The chill that had fallen over her body became suddenly worse and she was grateful for the large hooded cloak that was settled over her shoulders by one of the guards. She pulled the hood up and wrapped the thick material close around her far too small body, trying to get warm again.

Not a word was spoken as Cygnus led her along the corridor and up the flight of stairs to his own chamber. He unlocked the door and solicitously held it open for her to pass through. She had to keep her wits about her. If there was going to be a betrayal, it would be now. They owed her the freedom she had sold herself for, and she was either going to take it, or die trying.

Adrienne was sitting on the bed, looking far too pleased with herself. Emotions still too raw, it took every ounce of self-control that Naomi possessed not to just beat the smug look off the woman's face with her bare hands.

Lord Cygnus shut the door carefully, then indicated a small, upholstered armchair for her to sit in. The glee that was radiating from Adrienne was almost sickening. Mustering as much dignity as she could, Naomi simply watched her and took the seat offered. She kept her face a blank, emotionless mask. She could endure any amount of abuse this woman threw at her, safe in the knowledge that soon she would be away from here. The next time they met, she would wipe the smug look from her face, she swore it.

'All went as planned?'

Lord Cygnus sounded only slightly concerned that it might not have done and Naomi shot him a cold look. 'You drugged me too, didn't you?'

'Only a little,' he smiled, as though she were only accusing him of stealing a biscuit. 'You looked as though you might change your mind. We couldn't have that at this late stage of the game, you understand.'

She didn't bother telling him that she had changed her mind anyway, and that it was Arun himself that had talked her into staying. Unconsciously, of course, but she supposed it didn't really matter how it had come about, anyway. It was done now, and that was that.

She carefully touched the third finger of her left hand and pulled off the ring Arun had given to her the night before. In the darkness of the room, she hadn't been able to look at it until now, only feeling its warm weight encircle the tiny digit even as he had pushed into her the first time. She tried to keep the faint blush she felt prickle her cheeks at the memory at bay once again.

Her hands were shaking slightly as she removed the beautiful thing, trying not to stare at the incredibly rare yellow diamond set in its centre. She couldn't bring herself to hand it over, so instead opened her palm out with the ring cradled gently in it.

'Citrine?' Adrienne sneered, looking down her nose at it. 'I'm not wearing that.'

'Now then, my Queen,' Lord Cygnus placated, taking the ring from Naomi's hand. 'If he awakens and you are not wearing it, he might become suspicious.'

'I don't care!' snapped Adrienne. 'I won't wear citrine. They're common. It's insulting!’

Unable to hear her make such a ridiculous mistake twice, Naomi bit out, 'It isn't citrine, it’s a diamond. A yellow diamond. An antique too, if you're interested. It's probably worth more than this whole damned castle.'

The unfailingly greedy woman's demeanour changed instantly, and she snatched the ring from Lord Cygnus, trying to jam it onto her finger. Naomi found she had to look away, an overwhelming sense of disgust chilling her as she thought of the dishonour this little scene would bring to the man she had left sleeping.

'It won't fit!'

'Let me try, my Queen...'

'Ouch! You're hurting! No, it won't go on that one!'

'Perhaps try a different finger, my Queen?'

He was not her concern, she reminded herself. She had other things to worry about, and right now all she should be concentrating on was getting away from this place and finding what remained of her family in Tsumetai. She planned to head to the Southern port of Pearpetal, about ten or twelve days of travel on foot from here when she was in good health. It would give her body time to strengthen, and even if it took her twice as long as it used to, by the time she got there she would be fit to work. When she reached the port, she had enough skill that she could earn her passage across to Tsumetai.

'Is there anything else before her Majesty re-joins her husband?'

The clipped voice of Lord Cygnus interrupted her silent planning, and she found her eyes automatically flicking to the ring now situated on Adrienne's little finger. She tried not to wonder if he would notice, and she refused to ask how they were going to replicate the marks of his lovemaking on her body, instead exhaling slowly and looking back to Lord Cygnus.