The Warrior and Calissande

Chapter 15: A Matter of Grave Importance

Alcarn and I walked away quickly from the center of the courtyard, and I dared not look back to see Calissande looking at me in disappointment. After I killed the camaspoza after granting her clemency, I knew my lady wife would be unhappy with me. By talking with Alcarn, I would give my fiery wife time to calm herself.

"My lord," Alcarn said to me after we had walked a distance, "I wish you to know that I lied in my confession. I said that I asked the camaspoza to open to me, but I did not. She came to me every night, my lord, and I am ashamed to say I did not resist. I was trying to protect her during my confession, only for her to turn on me and accuse me of that which is reprehensible to a gentleman. That, I can assure you, was also a lie on her part."

Nodding, I answered him. "I suspected as much. I did not believe her when she said that and it was one of many lies she told. Perhaps you will be better off without her."

He nodded. 

"Now that she is not part of my decision, I will not send you north, Alcarn, but neither can I allow you to stay. First, because regardless of the circumstances, you betrayed my trust when you fucked the camaspoza, and second, because I will not allow any reminders of the camaspoza around my lady wife. Seeing you or the babe would be a reminder to her of that which is best forgotten, so you must be away from here."

"I understand, my lord. I have a small cottage left to me from my parents in their kingdom of Kurtah, two weeks' journey from here, and there I shall take my son. It is far enough away that you shall never set eyes on me again, yet not as far north as Giljan. I fear for that kingdom, my lord, and confess I am relieved not to be banished there. The talk of unrest in that region makes me think the king will need to make a strong statement there soon to suppress the insurrection rumors."

I said nothing, but I knew what plans and spies my king long had in place there. It was not knowledge for Alcarn; indeed, only a handful of us knew. It was safer to change the subject than to pursue that topic any longer.

"I will allow you time to find a wet nurse to accompany you on your journey...and I would suggest you not fuck the wet nurse as you travel to your cottage, Alcarn."

"That I will not do, my lord, on my very word. I have learned my lesson all too well."

Clasping his shoulder, I gave a short, unamused laugh. "I wish you the best, Alcarn. Despite how things turned out, I had always considered you a friend."

Alcarn left a week after our talk, and life began settling down. Calissande and I continued to repair the rift I had created in our marriage, and though I slept beside her every night, I did not push for anything to happen in our bed chamber, despite my aching cock. Some days, it was all I could do not to bend Calissande over the bed, as she had told me once she so dearly wished for me to do because I owed it to her as my lady wife. A year's wait had never seemed so long, but I was determined not to push her to show that I honored her and put her health and well-being above my own.

Felicity grew, and became more and more interesting with each passing day. She made us laugh with her demanding moods, and I would often hold Calissande on my lap while she nursed my tiny lady.

"This is about the only time she is not squawking at us," Calissande noted with a soft smile.

"She has a temper like her mother," I observed.

"I attribute her growly grumpiness to you, Carrick," she corrected me, her little nose in the air, her cheeks turning pink at the obvious lie. I was the most patient of husbands and if my lady wife did not recognize that, then I would need to remind her of her great fortune. I grinned thinking of how well that would go over with her.