Flower of Bulann

Chapter 42

Kuan broached the castle gate at speed, he had witnessed the birth of his saughter less than a week ago... then had immediately set off to see his brother.

These shadows had been giving information periodically, much of which Kuan knew to be false.

They had spoken of Vior plotting to kill Hirro, even himself, but Kuan knew his brother better than anyone... these shadows were against them, perhaps even against the Hyenta as well.

The gates swung open without him even halting Windrush's gallop.

He reigned in the stallion before the castle entrance, vaulting from the saddle and demanding an audience with his brother.

The guards bowed and led him inside, for the two of them were equals in command, even if Kuan himself would often trust in Vior's judgements over his own.

Vior met him outside the nursery, cementing that perhaps the rumour of Vior impregnating a maid was actually true.

The two hugged, but Kuan backed off when his guards caught up, gripping his brother's forearm in a more manly fashion.

"It is good to see you, brother," Vior said with a smile.

"I assure you, the feeling is mutual," Kuan replied before peering beyond Vior to the closed door. "Is Kinna in there with the baby?" He asked, keen to see his brother's child.

"No...". Vior replied dejectedly. "It is her handmaiden... and my second wife, Ovinna."

"Ovinna!?" Kuan blurted out in surprise, he had, perhaps wrongly, assumed his brother would never take another wife... and yet.

"Come with me, brother. I shall explain all over tea... or do you wish to see my son now?" Vior offered, Kuan's face turning grave.

He placed a hand upon Vior's shoulder, halting his brother.

"Do you know what this means, Vior?" He asked, though Vior must know... surely?

"It means that my son will inherit the clan upon my death," Vior replied with a face that betrayed he didn't understand.

"And how does Kinna feel about that? Did you forget her situation before we stole away with her? She stood to inherit nothing... now, when she has a child, they will be in the same position," Kuan explained, Vior threw up his hands in defeat.

"It could not be helped,I could not bear to see Ovinna cast out... nor would Kinna, despite how she acts these days," Vior replied in a foul mood... perhaps he should hear him out before condemning his brother further though.

The two of them sat down to tea, where Vior recounted what had taken place over the last year. Kuan in turn explained his own situation... surprised his brother did not condemn his decision to appoint a woman as clan head.

"Neither of us have had it easy," Vior concluded.

Kuan nodded. "Yes, but I must confess that I do not envy your own position, brother," he joked, Vior giving a dry laugh in response.

"I fear I must agree, Kinna was already upset with herself unable to conceive a child... and with Ovinna doing so... I fear for her health," Vior lamented, shaking his head as he put down his tea.

"Perhaps she will recover with time?" Kuan offered. "As she did after we rescued her from the Hyenta castle."

Vior shook his head once more. "I do not think so, she has been worsening these past months... she rarely comes to our bed at night now," he said, beginning to tear up. "I only pray that she is not having an affair."

Kuan stood up and struck Vior hard across the face, his brother reeling from the blow and falling backwards.

"How could you insult your wife so?" Kuan shouted angrily. "Did I not give her up to you? Am I a fool for doing so?"

Kuan expected Vior to jump back up and retaliate, to say that he was simply frustrated, that Kinna would never do such a thing...

"Perhaps you are... for I fear she no longer loves me, that through my own actions I have driven her away from me," he cried, the mask he had been wearing since they met falling away. "I just want my wife to be as she was, is that too selfish to ask, brother?"

Kuan went around the table and knelt beside his brother, tapping their foreheads together.

"My brother, just make it through tonight... and in the morning we will discuss the topic of these shadows further," Kuan said in a whisper, Vior nodded his head.

"Thank you, brother. These pent up feelings have been threatening to drive me mad for so long now..." Vior replied, wiping away his tears.

"I am here now, brother. We will deal with everything together, for as one we are unbeatable," Kuan told him with a smile.

Vior patted him upon the shoulder as they stood.

The two brothers parted and a servant led Kuan to the guest bedroom, his own room had apparently been somewhat neglected with the coming of Vior's child, but after almost a week sleeping rough, any bed seemed inviting.

Sleep did not come easily to him that night, the hoot of owls and the screeches of the wildlife felt as though they were in the room with him... but that noise allowed him to perceive his bedroom door slide open briefly before closing... had the shadows come for him?

Kuan snatched up his sword and rolled to his feet, his modesty be damned in this situation.

"Show yourself," he demanded of the darkness. "How did you get past my guards?"

"Because I am the lady of this castle," came the slurred voice of Kinna, she swayed slightly as she knelt upon Kuan's bed, letting her dress fall away as she did so.

"Oh my, how scandalous!" She giggled, lying down and letting her gown fall open exposing herself to him in the moonlight.

"Lady Kinna, you cannot be here... and certainly not in this manner of dress," Kuan protested, putting his sword down... though this threat was greater than any shadow.

"Sit here beside me and I may leave you in peace," she teased, purposely exposing whole body to him.

Kuan did as she asked, though he covered up his crotch with the blanket whilst doing so.

"You may leave now," he said sternly, not daring to look her in the eyes.

Kinna instead knelt up and ran her hand down his chest until Kuan caught her wrist.

"That is enough, Lady Kinna!" He reproached her, but she looked so hurt.

"I have often wondered, Lord Kuan. What would have happened if I had been yours and not Vior's, would you have given me a child?" She whispered, brushing her lips against his.

Kuan wasn't able to stop her... unable to resist Kinna and the words he had always wanted to hear...