Page 40 of Twins for the Barbarians

“That was insanely reckless,” Helios snaps. “Our first night here, and you sneak off in the dead of night? I asked you earlier not to do that.”

“Well, it’s not like it’s forbidden! The door was unlocked,” I say in my own defense. My ego is a tad bruised, but I know they’re both right. They’re worried about me and determined to keep me safe.

Frowning, Kharo surveys me. “Here we are, guests in sensitive circumstances, and you give these people a reason to keep us under surveillance, which is precisely what we don’t want since Helios and I intend to investigate this place. It’s like you weren’t even listening earlier.”

“I was listening,” I say defiantly. “And I appreciate that you want to keep me safe, but I’ve already told you I won’t stand idly by and let you do all the work. I’m not a damsel in distress, and I don’t need you to rescue me at every damn turn.”

Helios comes closer. “We know you aren’t fragile, but we also know you can be reckless with your own safety. We’ve come too close to losing you already, and we aren’t willing to do it again.”

His chest is rising and falling rapidly, his words coming out in hot bursts.

“Listen,” I say, looking between them. “I will not promise you that I will stand in the background here, but I will promise to be careful. You’re going to have to live with that.”

The two men share a long look between them, and Kharo finally stands. Coming over to me, he puts a finger under my chin and lifts my chin so I’m looking him in the eyes. “And you’re going to have to live with us doing everything we can to protect you.”

“Fine. Just don’t interfere with what I need to do here,” I say firmly.

Both men shake their heads in exasperation, but neither disagrees with me.

20

Alicia

The next day, King Solomon Daron welcomes us into his breakfast room to enjoy a most generous meal before we’re escorted into the city’s archival library. He sits proudly at the head of the massive table filled with plates loaded with freshly baked pastries, cured meats, steamed vegetables, and fresh fruits.

His wives sit next to him while servants move around and make sure we always have fresh water and herbal tea in our cups. Morning sickness has become a bit of a staple. I’m becoming increasingly convinced that I am, in fact, with child, but I’m keeping it to myself for as long as possible.

Without tests, without confirmation from Cynthia, I can’t be sure. And if Kharo and Helios find out about it, they will absolutely tie me to the bed and never let me leave the room again. We have too much work to do to risk it.

“I hope you all slept well,” Solomon says, scrutinizing us. “I ordered that you be given our best guest rooms.”

“I slept like a baby,” Kingo replies, half-smiling as he loads his plate with honey-glazed pastry swirls and fruits.

“How are you feeling?” Leela asks him. “Did the nurse we sent take good care of you?”

Kingo smiles broadly. “She most certainly did, Your Grace. I’m nothing but thankful. Whatever poultices she used on my wound, I’m healing much faster.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” she says. “I’ve arranged for her to visit your quarters every evening until you no longer need to change the dressing.”

“She said I will be able to remove the dressing in a week or less.”

“In the meantime, do you think you can move around?” I ask him.

Leela gives me a worried look. “Perhaps Kingo should stay here and study the palace archives in peace for a day or two before you take him out with you.”

“My darling Leela, ever the cautious caregiver.” Solomon chuckles softly, offering his youngest wife an endearing smile. “Not a day goes by that I don’t give thanks for having taken you as a wife, my darling. Your care and compassion are unparalleled in our city.” He pauses, then kisses Sarin and Neya’s hands. “Although Sarin has a brilliant strategic mind, and Neya’s quick wit is unique. I have truly found three of the best wives I could have asked for.”

“You are truly a fortunate man, then,” I reply, smiling gently. “Might I ask, is it tradition here in Opal City that all men take three wives?”

“Oh, no, but I allow my people to do so if they wish,” he says. “We don’t follow the old ways here, and not out of bitterness, in case you were wondering. We simply believe that love is love, and a bond between souls shouldn’t depend on specific numbers but rather on the willingness of people to actually be together.”

“Fair enough,” Helios politely concedes with a nod. “In old Sunna, there would have to be an established bond between two males and a female for a marriage union to be approved.”

“In Opal City, you only need love,” Solomon replies, beaming with pride.

Kharo frowns slightly. “Our traditional bonds are forged with love as well. It’s a matter of biology, not just emotions and tradition. One of the reasons we’ve evolved to this position at the top of the food chain is because of these bonds between two males and one female. It kept our ancestors from useless fighting that ultimately decimated the first clans.”

“I doubt you’re in any position to address the survival of our species in this current climate,” Solomon says and chuckles dryly. His wives snicker in unison. That stung. It was well-deserved, truth be told, but it stung.

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