A Lotus for the Regent by Adonis Devereux Read Free Book Online Page B

resupply their depleted
navy. They spoke of not being allowed as far south as Masnaport, but they plan,
once you have built up a sufficient number of ships north of Masnaport to guard
your border, to sail in and fire smoke cannons upon your fleet."
    “ Smoke cannons?”
    “ Yes, sir. They said—and I do not know the details, for they did not
speak much of them—that the human sailors would lose first their sight and then
their breath altogether, but that the Ausir would have masks prepared. I
presume the masks would purify the air for them.”
    Kamen looked back
toward the closed door they had just exited. "Truly? How do you know
this?"
    "They were
whispering about it in corners, between here and the meeting hall. They even
spoke of it some last night, for doubtless they knew what you, sir, would
propose."
    Kamen looked down
at the woman's breasts, their full curves visible through her thin gown. His
gaze snapped back to her face. "What's your name?"
    "Ajalira,
sir." Kamen's hands rose toward her, but he forced them back down. The way
she said her name made Kamen want to pull her to him.
    "I'm
Kamen."
    The woman's
beautiful lips curved up into a smile, and she looked down at her feet.
"Yes, I know who you are, sir."
    Her hair, her
eyes. Her bare neck and shoulders. He wanted her like he had wanted no other
woman. For the first time in years, he did not think of Darien. His gaze traced
her contours, and when he looked back into her face, he found her staring at
him.
    "Why do you
tell me these things?" Kamen wondered how she even understood Ausir. Did
the guildhouse teach its kitchen staff languages? Was that not the purview of
the Lotuses?
    Ajalira straightened
her shoulders. "They are deceiving you. You brought them here in good
faith, and they are planning on lying to you. It is dishonorable, and I, too,
would be dishonored if I said nothing of their treachery."
    Kamen leaned back
in surprise. Uncommon beauty and uncommon courage. "Thank you for telling
me and risking the Guildmaster's anger."
    Ajalira shook her
head. "It was my duty to tell you. Besides..." She looked away and
smoothed down her robe with the palms of her hands, clearly a nervous gesture.
    Kamen was bold and
took her hands to steady them. "What?"
    Ajalira looked
into his eyes. "It is not right that a man such as you should be so
abused." She gently removed her hands from his, and Kamen did not press
the matter. Perhaps she spoke of his position as Regent, not personally.
"What are you going to do, sir?"
    "Nothing."
    Ajalira cocked her
head. "Nothing?"
    Kamen flashed her
a grin. "Nothing. I know what the Losiengare are planning. They don't know
I know. It's perfect. Why say anything?"
    Ajalira's eyes
moved back and forth, as if she did not know where to look.
    "Helping me
brings you no benefit, and yet you have." A breeze blew across the porch,
and Kamen looked toward the garden. Blossoms rained from the trees. "You
live here in the guild compound surrounded by safety and beauty, and yet you
risk much." Kamen bowed low to her in the Zenji fashion. "Thank you,
Ajalira."
    Ajalira returned
the bow, but she kept her hands folded behind her back. Kamen wanted to touch
her, and though he sensed some desire from her, he did not pursue. Some deep
conflict brewed within her, and he would not disturb her. Brittle strength.
That was how Kamen thought of her. It did not make sense, yet there it was.
Kamen bowed once more and re-entered the hall.
    ****
    Kamen did not
think about what had transpired during the day's afternoon conference. At the
moment, he did not care about the Losiengare's simpering promises. He did not
care about the Kimereth's assurances. It did not matter that he had gotten the
Ausir to agree to respect Sunjaa waters and not bring their war near his
cities, borders, or coastlines. As Kamen lay in his bed aboard the Aramina returning home, he thought only of Ajalira. The mystery of her drew him in
further. Who was she? She could not have been a mere