The Veil - Chapter 15

They played cards. He was young and dumb. She was young and hopeful. She was giggling now as he glared at her, jerking off one slipper.

“Oh, Obi, don’t sulk like that. You just need practice. You haven’t played cards very much.” She dealt again as he straightened in his chair. “Who knows, maybe you’ll win this time.” She spoke in her language because she refused to dirty her mouth with the Nidite language.

He rolled his eyes and grabbed her wrist gently when she flicked another card in the neat pile that was growing in front of him. “Phina,” he murmured, “Stop teasing me.” His lips were fixed in a smile when he kissed her fingers, but his eyes were serious as they met hers. His tongue was clumsy with her language, but he was willing to look like a fool for a woman.

Wide eyed, she glanced to the open doorway. “My mother,” she hissed.

“Is meeting with the other women to plan the next attack. We both know she won’t be back for hours.” He flipped her hand over, tracing the lines on her palm, pressing a kiss to the center.

“The nations have a tradition that a man and a woman give something to each other before they make love.” The muscles in her arm suddenly relaxed when his lips feathered over her wrist. “A virgin’s gift is obvious, and normal practice is to allow her to ask for whatever she wishes from her first partner.” She stood slowly. “Will you honor this?”

He smiled at her as he stood as well. “Anything.” Her eyes were dark as she cupped his cheek.

“My people need a favor from you.”

His eyes fluttered closed as she kissed him deeply. “What do they need?”

“I’ll tell you…” She blushed a little. “After. Do you promise me you’ll do for them whatever I ask?”

Groaning as she kissed him again, he nodded. “Yes. Anything.”

“Even if it means betraying your brothers?” Her breath was hot against his ear.

He kissed her fiercely, feeling himself on the verge losing control. “What brothers? I’m already here, aren’t I? I haven’t reported your mother, have I? I am already dead to them if they find out.”

She pulled away, her chest rising and falling with gasps. “That is passive betrayal. It’s something different to act against them. Give me your word.”

“Yes,” he nearly shouted. “I swear, I’ll do whatever you ask.”

Laughing, she took his hand. “Thank goodness.” She led him farther into the tent where the world couldn’t touch youth.

.~.~.~

Obi studied Qui’in as she sat down, noticing that she didn’t even glance at the glass he’d laid in front of her. Silent, he sipped at the bourbon. “I had a mentor once,” he said suddenly, allowing his previous question to go unanswered for now. “I knew I was being mentored at the time. “I loved mentor and grew under his hand, but the best thing he ever did for me is give me exposure to other teachers as well. I think I can say that I’m talented at espionage without surprising you or seeming too pompous. If Lekan had even a month, I would let him alone with you before trying to teach him myself, but we don’t have that luxury. I’m not asking to take over his tutorage. I’m asking to supplement it.” His chest was tight, and he had to resist the urge to knock the alcohol back and take hers as well. It annoyed him more than he liked to admit that he couldn’t see any features of her face and stared squarely into the middle of her veil.

The facts were, he had no cards to play. He could mock her and attempt to set her off kilter, but he wouldn’t be able to force her hand in anyway. If she told him to mind his own business, he would have no choice to do so. Yes, he was paying her, but not paying her would just be taking away Lekan’s greatest strength.

He detested how many times he’d had to beg to this woman.

His head jerked up when a knock sounded on his door. “Obi? Lunch is almost ready. I’d appreciate the company.”

The tilt of Qui’in’s head was questioning as Obi swore. He pointed to the wall just beside the door and hissed through gritted teeth when she didn’t move, “Please.”

“Obi?” The doorknob started to turn.

Getting up, Qui’in stood where the door would hide her as Obi opened the door broadly, jerking it out of Conya’s grasp.

“Is everything okay?”

Smiling into her concerned face, he nodded. “Of course. I was just finishing some paperwork. I’m sorry I didn’t answer sooner.” His cheeks seemed to cramp with the fake grin he felt he needed to slather over his face. “I’d love to dine with you.” He put his hand at the small of her back comfortably, his heart not quite beating normally as he closed the door to his study. He relaxed a little when Conya tilted her head so her hair brushed against his arm.

“I’m so glad. What would I do without you, Obi?”

He glanced back at his study as he ushered her into the dining room. “Oh, I’m sure you’d do just fine. If it wasn’t for you, I’d never go out.” He felt himself truly smile as she laughed.

“Please, Obi, you flatter me too much. I’ve been useless these past few weeks.”

“For good reason. It’s been very stressful for you.” He pulled out a chair for her. This conversation, a well-rehearsed dance that had no surprises flowed from his tongue without him having to think about the meaning of what he was saying.

It was a nice break from the chess game a conversation with Qui’in was.

He looked down when she didn’t sit and swallowed when she looked up through her eyelashes.

“What do you think of us?” Her voice seemed to waver and coil around his neck.

Still holding the chair, he stared at her. What did she want from him? “I think we’re two very unlucky people doing the best we can in an unlucky situation. I think we don’t deserve what’s happened to us. I think we deserve to be angry.” Was he shaking? Could she tell he was shaking?

Smiling sadly, she nodded. “You’re right. Do you think we’re lucky at all?”

Panic ran amok in his head. It shook his brain and froze his mouth. Did she expect him to dishonor the dead and say his brother’s accident was of good fortune? Was he supposed to tell her that he was glad she was free for the taking?

Except she wasn’t. The mourning period still stretched on before her.

So many months to wait for a brother that time had blurred while he had been in the army then disappeared before he could grow close to him again.

His hand was off the back of the chair now.

On her shoulder.

Her eyes burned into his. His grip on her shoulder tightened.

The front door slammed, and Lekan’s voice could be heard from the entryway. “Mr. Fughi! I have some friends who are hungry. Tell the cook to prepare something for us.”

Conya sat mechanically, her face drawn as Obi put his hand on the back of the chair like nothing happened. He watched his fingers squeeze and let go of the chair spasmodically, unsure if he was relieved or annoyed. Both of them looked up when Lekan and four young men trounced into the room only to stop.

“Hello, Mother, Uncle,” he chirped cheerily. “Are we interrupting?”

Standing, Conya glared at Obi as he opened his mouth. “No. We had just decided that it seemed like a nice afternoon to eat on the patio.”

There was a quiet as Lekan processed this and the foot man that had just come from the kitchen turned around and went back down. “It’s boiling out there right now.”

On edge, Obi drawled, realizing Lekan had a point even as the words left his lips, “Do you make a habit of questioning your mother, boy?”

“No, I-”

“Then leave your opinion out of her decisions.” He took Conya’s hand and led her out of the dining room. “I hope you boys enjoy your last few hours together.” A bitter part of him relished the awkward silence that remained as he left.