Page 61 of Dead Crown
Jaki traded the horse in for a fresher one. It was a struggle to mount the new one since he was stiff everywhere, and he had to wait when they stopped at a general shop for food. Afterward, Jaki took him through the town and away before he made Lumi sit side-saddle and use the glamor.
“Think of what you want to look like and squeeze the center. If you’re a woman, it won’t matter if you’re in men’s clothes. You have your cloak.”
The gold disk didn't look overly special, and he pushed it as he tried to picture a courtier woman he remembered. A warm, tickly feeling spread down him.
Jaki peered at his face. “Now you’re a lady with a newborn baby. Er, you look familiar.”
“I picked a woman at court. You don’t have a way to hide yourself."
“I’ll keep my hood up. If we switch and change our looks, it’ll help, and you can stay side-saddle. I’m not saying it’ll feel good, but it won’t be so harsh down there, right?”
“I think so, but help me down. I have to change Jacqueline first.”
***
Lumi could have fallen asleep against Jaki before they stopped for the night. Riding side-saddle did help even though it wasn’t enough. Since the rest of him also hurt, and they’d been going without a break, he started to cry from sheer exhaustion and achiness after he sat by the fire. Jaki had collected the wood for Lumi to light, and the warmth was good. Still, he almost wanted to stick his body in a pile of snow to numb it.
Jaki put the Crown on his head for warmth. “I’m sorry. I-”
“No, I’m sorry because I shouldn’t be crying.”
“You gave birth pretty recently, and you’re hurt. I’m sorry for having to drag you all of the way like this. A pregnant person should have a stable, safe place during and after pregnancy. They shouldn’t…” Jaki rubbed his forehead. “Let’s eat something.”
Lumi almost expected questions to start once they’d eaten bread and chippy buns. The buns must have been outrageously expensive, and they were bland and cold, but he didn’t complain. Food was food, and he needed to make milk for his daughter. Jaki didn’t ask anything of the spy who’d lurked in his court. Instead, he took care of the food and even went to bury the dirty nappy. It wasn’t like they could properly clean the cloths, and they had plenty of spares.
“I’ll get you more nappies and cloth for her later,” said Jaki. “Anything you both need or want, you’ll have.”
Lumi peeked down into his cloak at his daughter who was full and dry. “Do I have to work again…like before?”
Jaki said nothing for a second. “Do you mean do I expect you to be a pleasure slave?”
“I’m not good at anything else. Tivar taught me how to act, and I sank into the role quite well. I don’t have any other skills.”
“Lumi, I’m not bringing you back to be the court’s whore.”
“I don’t have money-”
“You don’t have to pay for anything. I’m not bringing you home to work or anything. I’m not even going to tell Father about you being there for a bit. I want you to simply rest and focus on your child. I’ll handle everything, and I don’t expect money or to be paid back. That is your home too in case you forgot.”
“But I was a spy,” Lumi whispered. “Spies who commit treason aren’t taken in and given whatever for free.”
“You were forced into it, and you’re family. I’m not going to tell my half-brother he has to go back to fucking whoever just so he can feed his daughter. That’s my niece. You need sleep too. It’s been a long day, and we have to go early.”
Jaki said the best way for them to sleep was if Lumi kept his back to the fire, Jaki put his back to Lumi, and Jacqueline was placed between them. She’d have the warmth of two people, and they wouldn’t have to worry about her being singed by a stray spark. If Lumi wore the Crown, he’d be kept warm too which would help his daughter.
“You’ll get cold,” said Lumi. “I’m blocking the fire.”
“I’ll be fine. There’s enough warmth from you two behind me.”
While his front faced the cold, unforgiving air. No. Lumi took the Crown off and forced it on Jaki’s hooded head. “I don’t need both things.”
“Lumi-”
“Take it.”
“It’s yours anyway.”
“I don’t care. I’ll throw it out in the woods if you won’t wear it. I’m not having you face the cold with no fire by you.”
