Rune and Ruin

Seeds of the Gods - 20 - Cultivation

395 B.C.E. - The Villa of the Fyrrin, City of Rune, Capital of the Tasuri, Center of the Tasurian Peninsula, Early Summer, Month of Quintilis

From his memory

Falx crumpled the missive. The vellum felt smooth and soft on his hands, nothing like the words it contained. Those were sharp as daggers. The Senate had completed their vote. Falx would not be taking command of the army of Rune. His father would remain in exile. The House of Fyrrin would remain in limbo, with the blind, senile Senators futile trying to balance their power against Falx's. Bastard idiots. Falx was fuming, but this decision had not come as a surprise.

"General," Quintus watched him pace with a grim look on his face. "Do we go back on the march?"

"No," Falx said immediately. Gods, how he wished he could. It was expected. The Senate was clearly trying to buy time. Time for what remained to be seen. "I am waiting for my female to be named my Comitari."

"They..." Quintus's eyes darted to the crumpled paper in Falx's hand. Understanding dawned in his eyes. "They didn't include that decision?"

Falx nodded shortly. "I assume they didn't have time to include it. This decision," he tosses the ball of vellum to the side with disgust, "was made before we put a claw back in Rune. There's little hope for a good outcome. The Senate will balk at an Acera slavegirl being attached to my name, even as only a Comitari, but I can't surrender yet. We stay in Rune."

His General nodded. "Perhaps they will give you this? She is meant to be your tribute. She is already in your bed."

"They exiled my father, Quint," Falx said quietly. "They aren't intimidated by my armies. There's no guarantee this will go our way."

Quintus cleared his throat. "Then... the other option?"

Falx stiffened, then shook his head in warning at his friend. On silent feet, he padded to the curtain and snatched it open.

Thania's grey eyes widened comically as she gasped in shock.

"Spying, love?" With a grin, Falx yanked her into the room.

"I was-," Thania said, breathless from her surprise, "-not. I was not spying."

"Mmm," Falx chuckled as he hauled her up against his body, relishing the feel of her soft form against his stone-hard cock. "Kiss me."

Obediently, Thania stretched up on her tiptoes and pressed her mouth to his. Falx still had to bend his head to meet her lips, but it was not a hardship. Gods, she was so soft. He was back in his hatchling villa, but it didn't feel like home. Thania did.

"What is a comitari?" Thania whispered against his mouth.

Falx couldn't stop the small grin from crossing his face. Of course, his sharp-witted little Acera would hone in on the strange Runion word she didn't recognize.

"It is like a wife," Falx replied smoothly to her.

Her eyes darted to Quintus as if the last few weeks in his presence taught her that he was not as adept at lying as Falx.

"Eyes on me," Falx commanded softly. Those grey irises snapped back to him. "I can not take a bride that isn't a noble Tasuri, but I can elevate your status to a Comitari."

Thania watched him for a moment. "What is the difference, then?"

"A wife inherits," Quintus grunts. "A Comitari can only be given one-tenth of her male's estate." There was a note of bitterness in his tone. His mother had been a Comitari to a lesser noble.