Chapter 7

• Brodey Bodfor
• We have been here already for fourteen days and I was ready to leave. All the meetings were leading us nowhere. Alpha Levan and Alpha Renrit teamed up together trying to gain more land that had been under the control of the northern brothers for the last 2118 years. Before we took over leadership, the sorceress occupied the lands for 521 years before anyone noticed their existence. There was no way we were going to hand over the Temple of the Elements, the Temple of the Blood Moon and the Temple of the Ancients.
• Faetha stood up while we were all yelling at one another, “I believe that all of you are for getting one major factor!” She began. “The five of you have forgotten, my sisters to the north and my brothers to the south.”
• Faetha used her powers to move the globe of Dorhelhound around, pointing to all of the towers that held the most powerful sorcerers and sorceresses. Reminding the Alpha King that he holds no power over the High Priests and Priestesses. She reminded him of the agreement that had been in place for over 2000 years.
• “For over 2000 years there has been no war. If the Alphas from Galata, Bazzu, Azgar, Unzarar and Burha continue to push the issue of taking Northern lands to further their agenda. The Sisters and Brothers of the towers will intervene, something none of us want to happen.” My father added to the argument.
• Besides the obvious, we did not want the Alpha King and his brother Alpha Renrit to gain more power and control. The Priest and Priestess of the temples have entrusted us to speak in favour on their behalf. They, like ourselves, see the advancement of the future as profitable. Though some things are meant to remain as is. There is materialistic profit and then there is profit of the soul. When one needs more profit from the soul, one needs a place of sanctuary. The temples offer what is needed not what is wanted. We the northerners understand this, and that is why we provide for the dwellers of the temples.
• The only thing that seemed to be worthwhile was speaking to our neighbours who were located across the Sea of Cerberus. The Alpha of Lanal, Cirris, wanted to do more trading. Sufa, she is the leader of Port Crypt, was interested in gaining more business in the fur trade with the Nomadic clans. The Priestess of the Dark Crystal Temple wanted only to renew the trade agreement we had with her. Faetha had no interest in dealing with the other Alpha’s. Only during meals did she converse with the lower ranking leaders.
• At the last meal that Faetha was attending before she left the castle, Faetha asked my Uncle Zevar about the well being of Finja.
• My uncle had explained that after the whole event, Finja had decided to do all of her duties from her home. Not wanting to cause any more of a scene.
• No one questions things further. Faetha was the only one who had not been there to see what the Alpha King had done to Finja. Studying Faetha, something told me that if she had been there to see the event, she might have done something about it.
• Internally I had to smile, Faetha and Finja had one thing in common, they were not scared of the Alpha King.
• Sighing, I remembered how even I stood there like an idiot.
• I listened to Faetha excuse herself from the table. Following Faetha to the exit, I called out her name, getting her to stop walking. Curious as to why she would want to know more about Finja, “What interest do you have in her?” I asked Faetha.
• Faetha laughed softly, “You will see soon enough my dear friend. The past always repeats itself. And Finja is just one part of this!” She glared at me, her mood changing, “I see you still struggling my dear friend.” Faetha hugged me. “You will see that in the end, all good will come out of a nasty event!”
• Parting ways from the dining hall, I went to my room.
• With a rap on the door, my brother strolled over to me as I was looking over some pages, “I have more information on Finja Longarm!” My brother said with a pat on my shoulder.
• I placed what I was reading down so that my brother could have my full attention, “what did you find on the female?”
• Clearing his throat, “When Finja was 11, Rimvan Longarm won a lengthy custody battle. When Finja was 12, Rimvan moved her to Erolzwald to be with his mate, Cithra. Cithra had enrolled Finja in the community secondary school, which Finja completed when she was 16. It appears that Finja has been working for the Alpha King since she was 19, legal age. Unofficially she has been working for the Alpha King since she was 16. I also found out that she has a child, a seven year old daughter, Fiathuen. The child was born out of wedlock, a bastard child!”
• I raised a brow, “What is known about the child?”
• “Interesting fact, Finja is labelled as a human, has never shifted! Which might explain why Finja did not respond to the mate bond that you two have together. Another interesting thing, Fiathuen has never attended any public or private school. Fiathuen has a tutor giving Fiathuen her education. Not factual but rumour based! No one knew of Finja’s daughters existence until Fiathuen was two years of age. The Longarm family kept Fiathuen’s a secret. The rumour that is going around the palace is that Finja is a scarlet that will spread her legs for anyone. It appears that every male of high ranking has tasted the flesh of Finja. Though at the moment she is bedding Beta Morris and his wife Ire. ” He seemed a bit off. “I did find that the part of Finja sleeping with Beta Morris and his wife is true. The other part, there is no evidence to back up the rumours.”
• I listened to everything that Howley had to say. It only made things easier to reject Finja Longarm. But one thing bothered me, “how is it that someone who finishes secondary school, is accomplished in a field that is dominated by males, ends up being pregnant out of wedlock?”
• Howley snorted, “I have a theory?”
• “What?” I was intrigued!
• Howley was quick to respond, “There are rumours that Finja took a trip to Burha when she was 19, one of her first assignments as an official employee to Coldfurgus. I am going to guess that Finjs was away from her father and had too much fun. When she came home she came back with more than she thought! It is not far fetch, but give me enough time and I will have the information!”
• I was thinking about everything my brother had told me.
• “What do you plan on doing?” My brother asked.
• I snorted, “the right thing! The evidence shows that Finja Longarm has a child out of wedlock. I also have not forgotten the fact that she is human, our terrain will kill her the first winter. And most of all she is of a low ranking family bloodline … I will be rejecting her the first opportunity that I have. I will just make sure it is in private. This will cripple her and she does not need anyone to see what is to come.” Even to my ears these excuses sound pathetic.
• Howley cleared his throat, “you might want to hold off on things and get to know Finja!”
• I was not a fool, Howley plus the others had grown fond of the Longarm family.
• “Okay!” Howley glared at me, “at least give me one more day to dig up more information on Finja Longarm. You could be making a mistake by being too harsh in your judgement!”
• I glared at my brother, “fine! Find whatever information you want, but my mind is made up!”
• “I know you are hell bound in finding anything and everything to justify the rejection!” My brother strolled out of the location. “I think you are making the biggest mistake of your life!”
• I waited for the door to be closed, “no … showing up here was the biggest mistake of my life!” I hissed slowly.
• ***
• I was enjoying the quiet when Howley knocked on the door. While everyone else was out enjoying themselves I chose solitude. The isolation would have been great if my brother had not shown up.
• Howley had a wide smile on his face, holding a file in his hands as he sat it on my desk. “Finja did finish her schooling early, much sooner than anyone realizes. She took the equivalency test when she was 15, getting the results when she was 16. She is a genius, and her daughter Fiathuen is like her mother.” Howley continued with his story as he made himself comfortable on my bed. “Every third day of the new month, Finja goes to a therapist. I found out the reason Rimvan won the custody battle was because Finja’s stepfather took interest in her. Rimvan found the stepfather on top and inside of his daughter. Finja was only ten years old at the time.”
• I sat in my chair, blown away, “where did you get this information?” I raised a brow at my brother. “Who did you fuck to get this knowledge?”
• My brother started to chuckle, “no one dear brother, Zehna shared this information with me. Rimvan’s middle child. She also informed me that Rimvan and Zevar have a deal!” Howley glared at me as if I knew what was going on, “they are getting a pardon for Alpha Bloodrose’s doings!”
• Now my brother had my attention, while he was laughing.
• “You know like the rest of us that Alpha Nyfus Bloodrose was poisoned and that is the reason he committed treasonous actions. And poor Levreh paid the price. Our great grandfather swore that if the descendants of the Bloodrose bloodline were found, they would be given a pardon, which was overdue. When Rimvan got a hold of Uncle Zevar five years ago and met at Gramour Peninsula, our uncle knew then and there who Rimvan’s bloodline was. Brodey I know you have stated that you will reject Finja … I am telling you to reconsider and get to know the lady first before you do anything rash! They are not of poor bloodline as you are thinking.”
• I sat there in my chair as my brother studied me, waiting for a response.
• “Fine!” I said as I stood up, “I will think about things first before I make a decision.” Opening the door for him to leave, “I have work that needs to be completed and this conversation is done!”
• Howley seemed to be happy with what I had said. I glanced at the file that was left on my desk. Pushing it to the side, I pulled out the photo of my late wife that I kept in the front drawer of my desk.
• Vuna was the light of my life! I could not have pictured myself with anyone more perfect than her. It has been three years since my wife and unborn daughter died. The pain of losing them still has not subsided.
• “They will never understand!” I softly said.
• The pain in my chest was building as I sat in my chair, holding the photo of my pregnant wife! Uncontrollable grief took over as I began to cry!
• *Flashback*
• I had come home from a long day of work. All I wanted to do was eat dinner and snuggle in bed with my wife. What I had not expected to see was candles lit on the table. My heart started to rapidly beat faster, ‘did I forget a special occasion?’ I thought as I took my boots off at the door.
• Hanging my coat up, “Vuna!”
• There was no response!
• "Sweetheart?" I called out trying to think if I had forgotten anything that Vune had told me that was coming up.
• "Love of my life?"
• I waited as I glanced around the area. Crossing my fingers that I had not forgotten things.
• "Did I forget something?" I walked over to the stove, 'Oh please say I didn't forget something important!' I thought to myself.
• Lifting the ladle, and the fragrance of venison stew hit my nose. “My favourite!” I said with a smile as I placed the lid back down on the pot.
• I heard the click of our bedroom door. Giggling was heard from behind me, I turned my head to see Vuna. My jaw dropped as she was wearing my favourite dress. The corset pushed her breasts up making them a lot bigger than normal. Defying her waistline, rounding her hips. The length of the dress hung off of her body perfectly. The fabric swayed in a hypnotic motion with each step she took. Her face was decorated with a combination of her native art along mine native art patterns. I glared at her with adoration, thankful every day she said yes to marry me.
• Swallowing the saliva in my mouth I kept my eyes on Vuna as she took each step. "Did I forget something?" I asked slowly, hoping this was just a romantic dinner that she felt doing.
• Her face pinkened as her smile increased in size, “Can you please pull out the food from the oven?” Vuna asked as she strolled over toward me.
• Not questioning things I pulled out a single bun out of the oven. I gave Vuna a questioning expression. “Why is there only one bun in the oven?”
• Vuna giggled more, her eyes sparkling as the wheels in my mind slowly processed the whole scene.
• “This is not a joke?” I asked as I placed the bun on the counter. “Tell me I am not getting the wrong idea?”
• Vuna wrapped her arms around my neck, “there is a bun in the oven we just have to wait another 100 days.”
• Vuna laughed as I spun her around. “I am going to be a father!”
• For many long years, we had been trying to extend our family. I was able to say the words that we both had longed to say. Kissing Vuna as if there were no tomorrow, I took the pot off the burner. Leading her to the bedroom …
• My vision cleared as I wiped my face dry. I miss Vuna more every day. I know I have been told that over time things will get better. For me, it was the complete opposite, the heart only ached more.