As soon as Jata Naira returned, Srinivas appeared and clutched her arms with Elijah sighing behind.
"What happened?" She said to the two omegas who were clearly startled by something earlier. The crowd of Carolingians had dispersed with most either returning to the Barracks, their temporary housings, or still getting drunk at the feast.
The sounds of boisterous laughter floated up into her ears and knew that the last thing was still true.
Elijah said, lowly, with several wary glances around the area, "Akhutenan's lover brought his newborn to the event, but--" he broke off and shook his head. "Someone stole the child right from under their noses."
"Within the same night that the ex-Commander breaks out?" She snorted. "He stole the child, and it's going to be brought back with him to his Empire, I imagine."
"In my opinion," Elijah added. "I don't know either of them well but the Commander appears more distraught than the omega father does. That may be something to make note of."
It certainly was.
How was Akhutenan's concubine wrapped in this? Although, in his defense, raising another alpha's child within your household was a dangerous choice. An open wound with no bandage to staunch the bleeding.
As they winded down the trail of the Campgrounds, they found out why there was such a celebration.
"He was found returned to his sleeping cradle! Such a marvelous end to an exciting evening!"
"I don't know who took him, but I'm glad he was returned," a soft voice said and as the feast fell into view, Jata Naira caught the form of a tanned omega with painted lips, thick painted lines around their eyes and brows, with long wavy hair trailing down their back. He wore the customary garment of the Carolingian with loose layers that flipped and sparkling gold linings on its edges. The baby gurgled a giggle, and the people cooed back. "He looks so much like his father, doesn't he? The Empress invited the Commander for a proper naming so that he can get a title and an age ceremony reward. She appreciates the work he's done for both our empires."
The baby peering out from beneath the wrappings certainly carried the makings of Akhutenan. It could be argued the babe was born with mostly its omega mother's features but by Akhutenan's relieved expression, it may not matter either way.
She snuck in around the group of people, neither of which looked like his captains and generals, even Roy was missing, and gestured Elijah to bring Akhutenan over to the former alchemy cabin. Srinivas' hands slid down into her own as he tightened his hold on her in the walk back. There was little judgment in his fear when the wind whipped around a tree and its shadow curled a furious form.
"You haven't been out from the underground in a long while, have you?" Jata Naira said as she patted his arms but kept him close. "Are you cold?"
The omega remained quietly still but shivered after each gust of wind. Jata Naira took it upon herself to remove her middrif fur and wrap it around his shoulders. Her thumb pressed against his cheek and those wide eyes peered up at her. His nose crinkled and she had to drop her hand from his cheek before she embarrassed herself.
Reaching the enclosed area with the decaying alchemy cabin, she found a stump to sit on. Srivinivas twisted around but couldn't find a place and deigned to drop into her lap instead. Her hands caught around his waist and she said, "You realize this is improper."
"Don't you mean to take me in as a concubine?"
Jata Naira cleared her throat and clarified, "I--well, yes, but--"
"Then I see no reason why I can't do this much," Srinivas said matter-a-factly and raised his head to watch for others to appear. His rather thin robe covering his body was loose and form-fitted to his body. "It's better I stay by your side. I know my place."
Where the young Saavedra was small and waif-like, it was not so for all parts of him, say his hips and thighs that lay on her.
She requested Elijah to buy something for them to wear for the event, but the omega was used to spending far less money than she would, so those elaborate robes that she had imagined on their person are now the thin wrappings of nearby tribes. No less desirable but unexpected.
"Right," she said. Her mouth moved to speak but the words weren't going to be enough to explain the hows, whys, and wheres. "In a few years, when things are settled, we'll have you and your brother meet again."
"Settled?" Srinivas perked up. "Is he okay? I thought I would see him here but--"
"He's chosen a spouse to marry per the Empress' allowance," she cut him off. "From what little I've seen, he's happy."
"Good," Srinivas sighed. "Good."
Srinivas shivered again as a gust of wind swept through and she couldn't help but pull him tighter with her hands providing some heat.
Footsteps echoed in the night as Akhutenan, Elijah, and, the ever dubious Wuhayb at his shoulder, now wearing the regalia of a Captain.
"Ah! You found Captain Wuhayb," she said. "I imagine you had him working on some errands or an important duty called you to action."
Wuhayb nervously shifted.
Akhutenan raised his hand, and said, "There's no need for that. He's explained the situation to me and apologized."
"Apologized?" she nearly laughed in his face but thought it best to keep it to herself. She replied, "The Prince is still missing. Your child was snatched, too, but since he's returned, what is the value in pursuit? None!"
"I don't understand your frustration."
Jata Naira was tempted to reprimand the man, even as an elder, but--he was also her nephew. She said, pointedly, "Your lover and your right-hand man are in the middle of what may be the knot that unravels or complicates the weaving between our great Empires, and you think an apology is enough."
"I trust them," Akhutenan said clearly and then crossed his arms. "I refuse to punish them."
"Just tell me what they told you," Jata Naira sighed. "What happened? Why? Who's involved?"
Akhutenan shifted uncomfortably, and Jata Naira snapped.
"You mean to tell me this scheme was obvious enough for you to reach out and all they did was apologize," Jata finished blankly. She didn't want to suffer this man any longer. "Fine, I'm having them both arrested. They have a day to get their story straight and I--"
The two men's faces broke out in sweat before rustling behind them sounded and the sound of gurgling appeared with Donte cradling his baby, swaddled against his chest.
"There's no need," Donte broke in and placed a placating hand on Akhutenan's shoulder. "I can explain this easily. Wuhayb here was the person who helped Berman escape physically and I was the one who plotted the escape. I hated Berman and wanted him dead. I knew there would be no judge and jury who wouldn't set him free with the right money and network. I also knew Akhutenan wouldn't be able to kill him. His wife is Berman's legitimate daughter. So, I took it upon myself."
Wuhayb added, "Part of my entrance into nearly losing my inheritance was by taking Berman's advice. I have no qualms or guilt over his death and killing him as he deserved."
Akhutenan twisted his lips but kept silent.
And now things start to fit together.
These liars thought that she didn't know about Akira Lin, but his appearance makes everything make sense. She remembered Donte's hatred bleeding into his eyes that day her grandfather sold him. His allegiance makes the most sense. And if Wuhayb is speaking in partial truths as well, then the debt was likely Berman's fault, but why would a noble deal in such dirty work? He'd create a business and a fake persona, but why do that when Akira Lin already has that? He wouldn't.
But now she knew Wuhayb and Donte were Akira's men. And that, perhaps unbeknownst to her Imperial Mother, so was Akhutenan, by default.
Akira Lin switched from one man to another with little difficulty. Now that she could see how he did his work, she felt a grain of respect. Her grandfather wouldn't be able to keep up with someone who kept his pieces close and his range of attack, even closer.
She nodded and then said, "As long as all things are tidied up. Make sure to send the body so that our Empire isn't punished for this. This is your Empire's mess to clean up."
"Of course," Akhutenan sighed in relief. "The situation is handled."
"As it should be," she said before sliding Srinivas off her lap and gesturing for Elijah to come towards her. "There is some city planning and work that needs to be finished that's been delayed for far too long."
"Do you plan to return to the city?" Donte said, his mild concern and detached expression clear on his face. "Now? You might as well spend the night."
Jata Naira laughed. Oh, absolutely not. She returned, "I appreciate the offer but I do have work to finish." and trailed down the path leading outside the Campgrounds.
Both Elijah and Srinivas shared looks with each other that Jata Naira could see out of the corner of her eyes. As they reached the end of the Campground's line, her guards stood in view with Nwaijaku at the front.
"Everyone has been accounted for, including the Prince," Nwaijaku clarified. "But I don't like it."
Jata Naira nodded. "I know and we will deal with at another time. The official recruitment day has been delayed for a few more days. It gives us time to plan and also review some of the recruits to see which ones will better help support us."
"There was someone in there," Srinivas said and then tossed a wary look at Elijah before Jata Naira gestured him to continue. "His name is Mbizi and he's younger than me. I think he would be a good recruit but--"
"--he's an omega," Elijah pointed out. "I tried to keep the younger omegas out of sight but my father likes to check his lists multiple times. He hasn't found Mbizi or a few others yet. Bomani, my brother's husband, looks the other way as well but they will need to be moved soon."
Jata Naira had just the idea.
"I will have a use for them," she said. "Send them to the palace but not openly. I will have a few of my father's head servants train them."
Elijah nodded. "I will send message unless-"
"You will not be returning to them," Jata Naira finished. "I will make sure your message is received. Now, let us see where I believe my future home should be built."
They pushed past the okala ete tree farm and asked Elijah, "Does your family own this farm too?"
"No," Elijah laughed. "This is part of the land taken by the Carolingians. I believe the holder of this farm is now Castillo Reviere, to my knowledge."
She nodded.
It makes sense that the young man scrambling for a foot in the capital focused on weaving then. The trees were tall and healthy but it reminded her how much of their land had been given to people who did not know the value of a plant outside of its monetary value.
But what could she say as she reached the open expanse of the mountain, directing where the building would be posted, marked, measured, and spaced? Elijah kept note of the things she said and of the foundations underneath.
They would have to make several solid, locked doors between the corridors so that someone from the Campgrounds couldn't find their way in easily. Part of her thought it was easier to simply collapse some of the corridors, but she hadn't lost complete trust in Akhutenan yet.
They worked long into the evening, where the guards left and returned with more guards, servants, and two tents. One for Elijah and Srinivas with the other for Nwaijaku and her. Those few days in-between with marking, designating, and planning the skeleton of the house was finished.
"It's beautiful!" Srinivas said as he looked over Elijah's shoulder and the rough markings of his work were daintily lined on large parchment. "And it has so much personality."
"I need to let your guards and builders know what materials will be needed," Elijah said carefully. "Should you--?"
"I warned them that you would be coming and anyone who ignored your orders would lose the opportunity for any payment," she told him. "Finish your job and have no worries."
Elijah smiled and rushed off with his roll of parchment tucked underneath his arms before shuffling off.
"Do you--?"
Srinivas looked confused before he said, "I don't blame him but it does make it difficult to speak with him. I've seen him every day for over a year and this is the first time I've even said a word to him."
She was unsure how to approach him. Her apprehensive look must've prompted him to speak, "You can ask."
"Did anyone ever--?"
"Touch me," Srinivas bluntly said. His eyes veered over to the animated Elijah, describing his sketches to the builders. "Yes and no. Sometimes Youssef would be in charge, and he wasn't allowed to sell me without going through Nabel, but if someone wanted to use my mouth--"
"I'm sorry," she told him. A seething anger spread as she thought about hunting down every single one and cutting off their dicks. "I'll talk with Nabel."
"I don't know," Srinivas added with a small smile. "There's no point anymore."
"You should never have to know what it's like to be discarded," she huffed.
Srinivas answered, with mischief in his eyes, "Then I guess you'll have to keep me, won't you?"
The builders huddled around Elijah before each of them took their section of the sketches and wandered off to either use their materials or bring more materials in for building the housing. She gestured to one of the recruited servants, a tanned, brunette omega with a light beard, greeted her with a bow.
"I'm making you in charge of the housing procession, understand?" The Princess told the young omega.
The omega bowed again. "Should I set up rooms by individual preference, or would you prefer a servant from the palace to give me pointers for your general preferences?"
As if summoned, a kajawa rolled into the location and one of her omega father's maids appeared with a more formal, majestic tent. The head maid, an older omega woman, shouted at her assistants to move faster.
She sighed at the appearance as the builders and guards watched the over-decorating of the tent with plush cushions, food plattered on the table, and carpets lining the flooring and entrance.
The servant bowed and said, "Your fiancé wishes to visit, and the Imperial Consort prepared your tent for the meeting. I will be your chaperone, and they will send their own."
"The marriage ceremony is before the next season," she furrowed her brows and said. "Is he worried about my lack of character?"
"It is presumably because he has heard too much about your character."
Jata Niara nodded.
It was likely the result of missing the Malahi Naming Ceremony and the incident at the Campgrounds that Babatu is sending out ways to scope out her intentions.
She nodded and then gestured to her newly recruited servant. "I've sent several servants to be trained in the palace, but I also have recruited a few to be trained for my new housing. This is--?"
"Myron Thorpe," he greeted, lowering his head in a bow. "I am blessed to be serving the Princess."
The older servant sniffed but wasn't one to refuse orders. She snapped at the omega to follow her as she ordered her assistants into waiting positions.
She turned to Srinivas and said, "You need to wait in the kajawa until he leaves."
"He will be the main spouse, won't he?"
Jata Naira frowned. "I don't believe in putting you in a hierarchical system; our class and title system will do it well enough. But because of reasons, I won't be making you or most of concubines known to him. Our politics between are families are--"
"--complicated." Srinivas nodded. "I will sit and wait for your notice."
In curiosity, Elijah also wandered over and perused the tent, the food, and how it was set up. She could see his mind assessing how fast the poles were lifted and the balance between the workers and the rope that helped do it. He was fascinated by it, and she said to him, like Srinivas, "My future consort will be arriving."
"Yes, I heard," the omega blinked. "I'll be sure to stay out of the way."
"I don't want him knowing what you look like," she said pointedly. "It will cause issues down the road. Srinivas was sent to wait in the kajawa and there is room enough for you."
Elijah tilted his head in confusion. "I don't understand why I must hide."
"Have I--?" Jata Naira paused. "Have I not made my intentions clear?"
"To have me help you build this house? Of course you have," Elijah smiled. "It's a heavy undertaking, but I'm up for the task."
She reached her arms around his shoulders and straightened his eyes to stare directly into her own and said, "It is not appropriate for an alpha to whisk an omega away, unless they have intentions to bring you into their family. There is no bone in my body that would have disgraced you so."
"I only--I thought--" Elijah stuttered before his eyes broke the connection. "I don't have the status, the title, the dowry, or anything worth--"
"You don't believe your talents are dowry enough?" She said softly and then tapped his chin, bringing his attention back to her. "You are far more valuable than you know. I am lucky to have found you before someone less clever did. I wouldn't have been pleased if you were with anyone but a royal or a noble, at least."
"My father wants any one that I marry to pay back my education," Elijah admitted guiltily. "It is a steep price."
Jata Niara sighed and then tilted her head towards the kajawa. "Go before I carry you into the kajawa, because I will do it."
With a hesitant step, the omega stepped towards the kajawa with a curious look around it before disappearing inside.
"Should I be letting the Imperial Consort know how many concubines you've snatched up?" Her father's maid said, rather snidely.
It was a fair scrutiny.
But the connections she built in the next ten years would make or break her ambitions.
"Let him know that I'm building our foundations for the future, even in policies," she answered. "And that is all, understood?"
The senior maid nodded and then bowed.
A pot of recently hunted meats were brought over and she was disappointed to have missed its hunt. She built a pit with some of the crushed granite that Elijah had used as examples for the builders to look out for when using the material. There was something about the sharp acuity Elijah's eyes sparkled when something inspired his next idea. It was the rare sort of pure curiosity that she remembered once having for politics before realizing that her place was never to be in such a position.
Not like that.
The fire coaxed heat into the stones and smoke wafted into the sky as she roasted the meats with oils and spices she imagined her mother had prepared for her since they tasted vaguely of yam. More foods were brought over, including the aforementioned yams and soup dishes with gold lanterns posted as a kajawa strolled up near their destination.
It was elaborately designed but traditional with its coloring and open sides with only enough wall to hold the riders in above the ribcage and its hood the main coverage. A few guards on camels with swords hitched arrived and her own guards blocked them at the entrance.
Internally, she sighed.
It appeared Babatu was against such a pairing. It must've been the Empress Consort's doing then. Likely to protect her children from attack under the orders of her grandfather, she pressured him into offering the arrangement.
If Khaemwaset's husband was the head of household and her main spouse was his sibling. They shared ills and woes the same. It wouldn't benefit her to damage her consort's maiden clan, especially the Minister's son.
In a brief disquieted second, she heard the whizzing air fly past her as shouts from her guards sounded, "Protect the Princess! Find cover! Find cover!", she detached her blades from her hip and then swatted the soaring arrowhead that would've hit her this time. Two arrows and the cracked form of one settled beside her.
The assassin was an amateur but a good shot.