Flower of Bulann

Chapter 50

Ovinna had heard Kinna and Vior's conversation, but rather than elation at her friend's news... she felt only dread.

It had taken several days for her to reason out why, but Ovinna had put it down to one simple fact, were Kinna to have a boy... surely she would want her own son to succeed Vior.

Ovinna couldn't help but wonder if her friend would do her and her son harm.

She found herself planning ahead in case of such an occurrence, Ovinna took him to the training yards daily to see the guards and warriors.

He had been given the affectionate nickname of 'little dragon', Vior's personal guard taking a particular liking to him.

Ovinna felt a little guilty she was resorting to currying favour with the military, but the political wing of the Faden were firmly behind Kinna and her strong connection to the Hyenta.

Ovinna also began to show Vior open affection, she had come to an understanding with Kinna that she had... needs, and that as her husband, only Vior could satisfy them.

Begrudgingly, Kinna accepted her request, perhaps a little out of guilt for her own infidelity. Either way, Ovinna got what she wanted, and with that, a little influence over her husband.

She found him unwilling, at first, to accept her ideas... so she had changed her tact early on... agreeing with Kinna's point of view before building upon it with her own.

After several months, Kinna had fallen pregnant. And although Ovinna was still worried about her son's future, she could console herself with the knowledge she had done all that was humanly possible.

It wasn't until the summer that anything of note happened, Kinna was being extremely cautious and Ovinna couldn't blame her, this was her one chance if Hide was to be believed.

The long lost brother of Vior had departed several weeks prior, making sure the pregnancy concoction had worked. Vior had offered him a prominent place as his health minister, even given him leave to peddle his wares without taxation... but Hide had refused.

"I have promised my mother that upon completion of my mission here, I would return... already I have tarried in your gracious hospitality for too long," he had told Vior one night, the two brothers clasping forearms in a sign of mutual respect.

Ovinna expected to see the strange man once again, although she had spoken to him but a handful of times.

Hinata, strangely enough, seemed to hold him in high regard... something which she herself had known only a handful of men to do.

A messenger arrived in the afternoon as she sat drinking tea with Kinna, the two of them in an uncomfortable silence that neither Hinata, nor her maid Giana would break.

"A message from Lord Kuan," the man stated aloud, dropping to one knee before Vior.

He wore the armour of the Lu clan and Ovinna could tell from his clothes condition he had not rushed here.

Vior leant forward from his seat, taking the proffered letter. His eyes scanned the seal before he cracked the wax, unfurling the letter and running his eyes swiftly over the text.

Vior nodded, motioning his scribe to come over and take down his words.

"Tell Lord Kuan, that I accept his proposal. Though the ceremony will wait until their fourteenth birthdays as is tradition," he said with a smile, the scribe melting a drop of black wax upon the furled letter before Vior stamped it with his seal.

Once the messenger had left, Kinna looked up to Vior, coughing lightly to gain his attention.

"Is something the matter?" He asked with concern, quickly rising and descending the steps to where they sat.

"No, I was just a little curious... about the letter?" She asked coyly, running her finger around the rim of her cup.

"I was planning to tell you both later... but I suppose it matters little. Kuan has proposed an engagement between my son and his daughter," he said happily.

Ovinna was only too aware of his love for Kuan, and that love had blinded him to how he had strengthened her position, whilst weakening Kinna's.

"I am happy for you," Kinna said with a forced smile, though Vior did not notice it as always.

Ovinna was only too happy for Kinna's ire to be directed at their husband, and not at her.

"Is it not early for Jaefan to be betrothed?" Ovinna asked, not because she believed that. But to deflect attention away from her.

"Not at all, a strong tie to the Lu will be of utmost importance... especially if I should be killed..." he said aloud, trailing off as they all had to contend with the fact that there was war on the horizon, the western one to be specific. The Uzada had been preparing for an offensive, and now it seemed imminent.

"And with the Hamata being placated, it would seem you are in a bind," Tai'ishi said from the doorway, the faceplate he always wore still present.

"Although you are always welcome, friend. I must ask why you are here?" Vior said, barely able to hide his annoyance.

Tai'ishi came down the steps and into the room, Vior's blackguards on edge even with him unarmed.

"Because my father swore, on payment of gold coin, he would not attack the southern border of  Uzada land for the next five years," the demon faced man said with a cold finality.

"He did not, however, say we would not attack from the east... with the Faden army, naturally," he continued, and Ovinna knew he was smiling beneath that face plate.

"How many men did you bring?" Vior asked with interest, standing slowly.

"None, as of yet. But at your assent, I can have ten thousand men on the march."

Ovinna recognised that the number was fairly insignificant, she was sure Vior could put around seventy thousand into the field without depleting the border defences... but the shock of seeing the red devils of Hamata, the Uzada would certainly hesitate, especially if it were Tai'ishi's howling devil cavalry.

"Can they be here in the next two weeks?" Vior asked, for they would agree terms in private later.

"Oh, most certainly. My devils move upon the wind," Tai'ishi chuckled, standing before Vior.

"Then send them," Vior replied quickly, ushering his friend into a side room.

Ovinna put her eyes back upon Kinna once more, hoping to start a conversation with her... but Kinna seethed with restrained anger, again Vior had failed to read the mood and put the state before his first wife... but as she raised her cup to her face she couldn't help smiling, she and her son were safe.