The Overlord's Heir by Michelle Howard Read Free Book Online Page B

an enemy
to battle. Miki’s breath sped up and the thumping in her chest matched the
thumping of the baby as it rolled and pressed against the tightness of her
skin.
    Finally, the
Ba’asi removed his hand but nothing could remove the concerned look on his
face. “My estimates still put the birth two weeks away according to your time
of bearing but…” He folded his hands together beneath the sleeves of his heavy
gold robes. “The youngling is highly active at this stage, a sure sign your
time nears. It…” He hesitated and after a furtive look at the Warlords, he switched
to the Raasa tongue. “It should not be so. I fear the youngling will come
early.”
    “No.” Miki wasn’t
aware she’d spoken aloud until Balal’s hand began to rub her shoulder. “Vaan
isn’t back yet.”
    “He will come, my
lady.” Argan’s voice carried as he walked closer with the confident stride that
reminded her of Vaan. “I will dispatch a messenger to Kaban tonight.”
    Everyone’s worry
was increasing her own. Miki shivered and ran her hands up and down her arms to
dispel the sudden chill despite the heat of the morning sun. A sense of
foreboding shadowed what should have been thoughts of joy at the coming birth
but without a reason for her worry, she didn’t want anyone thinking she called
Vaan needlessly. “Tomorrow. Send someone tomorrow.” Miki wouldn’t deny the
thought of having Vaan return swiftly was upper most in her mind.
     
    ***
     
    The morning started
with bickering among the four remaining members of the Kabanian Council.
Sellic, Raiden, Mallor and Riohan each attempted to convince him of their
latest desires. For the good of Kaban of course.
    “We implore you to
consider our wishes, Overlord.”
    Vaan leaned back in
his throne-like-chair and propped his chin on his fist. “My wishes were of no
import when the Council stood by my uncle and Thenl’s treachery.”
    The head of the
group, Councilor Raiden frowned. He folded his arms behind his back and eyed
Vaan with a steady gaze. “The Council acted accordingly. Perhaps the decision
proved faulty but…”
    Vaan jerked up in
his seat. “Perhaps? Thenl plotted against Kaban. His plans would have seen my Warlords
and I dead if not for the brave actions of my mother.”
    Raiden nodded. “You
speak truth but the matter is in the past. Thenl and Dakar paid for their
actions and justice was served.”
    “By my brother’s
hand and no thanks to you or your brethren,” Saran interrupted as he placed a
supporting hand on Vaan’s shoulder.
    Vaan forced
himself to take a calming breath. The Councilors in their richly appointed red
robes ever played the part of fools. In this, he would not be swayed. “I will
not make my home here. My place is at my mate’s side among the Raasa.”
    Sellic, an elder Councilor
who hated Vaan and his father before him, spoke up. “Your bride would be most
welcome to make her home here, of course.”
    “My mate,” Vaan
corrected for the Raasa joined for life unlike Kabanians and did not accept the
temporary term ‘bride’ . “has no wish to live here. She is the last of
her family in the ruling line at her home. She carries my youngling who will be
next in line to rule as Su-Su.”
    The four Councilors
could not control their varying expressions of surprise. Only Raiden smiled
with pleasure. “We congratulate you on the future birth of a Kabanian warrior.
All the more reason for you to return home.”
    Vaan rose and
towered over the men in front of him at the base of his throne. His Warlords
tensed in preparation but he signaled them with a raised hand to stand down.
This place no longer felt like home. Home was wherever Mikayla resided.
    “I have given my
answer. The Council is in no position to make demands of me. I merely await
Saran’s response to my offer.”
    Sellic sputtered
and gripped the red fabric of his robe in clenched fists. “You can not make
decisions such as this without Council approval.”
    Vaan