CHAPTER 19. HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?
His eyes fluttered open, and he realized he was still lying in the grass. Darian reached out instinctively to where his mother had been lying, only to find the space empty.
He thought about what he did. What they did together yesterday. He wondered what would be his older brother's possible reaction and the kingdom's response. If Nymira's husband was dead, who was the father of the unborn child? Would Nome still choose to be with Nymira, knowing she was pregnant with his child?
He noticed someone's figure looming over him. "Mother?"
The reply came in a gruff voice, "Not quite, Your Majesty," Jason, the head of the guards, responded.
"Is it morning?"
"It is, Your Majesty. I come bearing a message from the queen. She wishes to see you in the council room immediately to discuss the events of last night. She seemed... quite insistent."
"I hope 'immediately' doesn't mean right this moment?" Darian yawned, still coming to his senses.
"Unfortunately, it does."
Darian sighed, pushing himself into an upright position. "Tell me at least," he ran a hand through his tousled hair. "Is she angry?"
"To be honest, Your Majesty, she appeared quite irritated."
"So she is."
It's hard to judge this woman. It's easy to get upset when you know your son knocked you up last night. Standing up, Darian gripped Jason's glove. "I appreciate your assistance."
"I'll accompany you to the castle, Your Majesty, if you don't mind," Jason offered.
"I know the way. Thank you."
"And still, your older brother... shall we say, a little irritated too."
Darian just nodded and thought, "So, I guess he knows." Along the way, castle guests who hadn't yet left after yesterday's celebration greeted him. While shaking hands, he noticed some strange looks--some judging, others playful.
"What is that about?" He noticed a dejected look on Jason's face. "Do you want to tell me something, Jason? You've got that 'I-don't-want-to-upset-the-king-with-news' look that I had seen more times than you think. What's happening?"
Jason glanced around, limited by the bulk of his helmet, ensuring no one could spot or overhear them in this secluded part of the garden. "Rumors are spreading throughout the kingdom, Your Majesty. Curious eyes have spotted the king and queen disappearing the other night after the celebration. Whispers from the servants and guests might soon weave all sorts of tales within the city and even beyond. It's none of my business, but perhaps it's time to make everything public?"
"Make public what?"
"You know what, Your Majesty," Jason said, looking meaningfully into Darian's eyes as a convoy of sentries passed nearby and saluted the king.
Darian sniffed. Now he's irritated too. "You are right. I suppose it's none of your business."
They were silent the rest of the way until a large wooden door adorned with an engraved bear's head appeared. "Wait here," Darian opened the door, instantly greeted by the familiar scents of mint, roses, and milk "Mother?"
Nymira stood at the end of the room behind a large table by the window. She wore a fresh dress with a V-neckline, her blonde hair cascading loosely. He couldn't help but think about his seed inside her. Suddenly, the idea of being both her son and the father of her child felt strange to him, yet there was an undeniable thrill to it.
"Come in," she said. "I left at dawn while you were sleeping. I wanted to make sure our rendezvous in the grass remained hidden."
Judging by my morning walk of shame, it's not like you succeeded. He walked over and looked out the window that opened onto the castle courtyard as Nome rode his horse through the gates, returning from the city.
Darian spoke first. "So he knows that we...?"
"I didn't confess, but your brother is smart. He guessed. And I fear it might shatter his heart," her fingers idly traced the edge of a table. "He's always been imposing on the outside and sensitive on the inside."
"Your favorite son," he replied.
She playfully swatted his arm. "Don't talk nonsense. You're all my favorites. When you're not trying to get under my skirt or impregnate me."
She stepped nearer and tried to kiss him on the cheek, but he used it, planting a kiss on her lips, and the kiss was far from a motherly one: instead, Darian kissed her with the fervor of a man enraptured by a woman. The flavor of his mother ignited an intoxicating pleasure, the forbidden taste. The taste of his mother. His tongue explored her mouth, savoring her unique taste. Pleasure coursed through him, his lips explored hers with an intensity that betrayed the bond of blood. Time waned until she gently parted from him. "No, Darian. We had a deal yesterday. One last time for..."
"For Nome being a King," he sighed, still feeling her on his lips. "I remember, Mother." The levity ebbed away as the atmosphere turned serious. "What did you want to talk about?"
"How do you think?" She slowly turned her eyes toward him again and touched his cheek. "I just wanted to ask you. To ask why you did it, sweetie."
"Why?" Darian chuckled softly, his lips curling into a wry smile. "You mean..."
"Why do you want to make me pregnant? Out of all the women within the realm, why me? Why your mother?" she pressed, furrowing her eyebrows.
Despite everything he went through, this question stumped him. "I don't think I know... Because I am the Serpent-Slayer, and because some traditions should be kept."
She chuckled."And that's all? Traditions? I have a feeling you're not being entirely honest, either with me or yourself. I could see it in your eyes yesterday. It's more than just preserving old traditions, my dear. It was something wild within you, fierce. It actually scared me a bit. It felt like I momentarily lost you... It's as if some primal force has taken hold of you, an animalistic urge."
Darian struggled to produce any kind of response. What could one even say in such a situation?
He remembered the look in her eyes. How she loved what they were doing, he recalled a look of animal enjoyment on her face. Breaking taboos, being inseminated by her own son. She may have been playing the strict and faithful wife, putting off such a strange relationship, but deep inside she loved it.
"Maybe I just want to surpass Nome, to be better than him. And I can't stand the thought of losing you." With a soft touch, he caressed her belly, a gesture as though pregnancy had already embraced her form. Nymira couldn't help but shiver, struck by the realization that Darian, her son, was attempting to mimic the role of her husband.
"If you bring up your brother, he never dared to cross that one line. He never let it happen in that way, not inside," she objected.
"So you don't deny that he fucked you? Just listen to yourself. You have a relationship with both of your sons. But didn't you promise to belong only to me? All these whispers behind my back, all these intercourses and talks like I don't notice anything. You forced me to do what I did. And I have no regrets. And don't deny it, you liked it when I came inside you. You enjoyed it!"
At that point, he got a smack in the face. The blow was harder than he would have expected from the queen. Blood spurted from the lip.
"Do not dare to talk to me in such a manner. I've shown you kindness for quite some time, perhaps more than warranted. Maybe it's time for honesty, my dear. If anyone within this fortress is worthy of bearing a child with me, it's Nome, not you."
She walked out, and Darian remained at the window, wiping blood from his lip. "How did it all come to this?"
=
He stood there for a while, his lip was still sore. One question headed through his mind: "Why did I do it? Why I impregnated her? Why I impregnated my Mother? It's not about traditions anymore. Why am I so afraid to admit the fact that I just... want it." He left the room still in deep thought and just as he rounded the corner, a huge hand grabbed him by the throat.
The bear-like figure of Nome, immense in size, growled out the words, holding Darian as if he were a mere insect. "You think I don't know what you tried to do yesterday, little brother? Right behind my back." Darian tried to lash out, cupping his hand around his brother's throat, but Nome didn't even twitch.
"I...already impregnated... her. I won, you fool" Darian mumbled.
"Oh, wow, and I see you are so proud of it, trying to emulate our father." Something in the way it was said startled Darian, as if he were face to face with Inglud again. But Nome kept talking. "But that's not how it works, Darian. Take in this moment, the way I hold you. Do you feel like the Serpent-Slayer? Do you think you are the one? Do you feel powerful? You're the snake on our emblem, not the bear." Nome's huge hands clenched even tighter around Darian's throat. "Let me make one thing clear now. Pray she doesn't get pregnant, because once I know she is, once I'm certain she carries your offspring, my fingers close around your throat and snap. And after that, I'll shatter the fragile neck of a child you produced with our mother. And be sure, I will have enough willpower to end the life of a baby, both my nephew and brother."
Suddenly, Nome fell silent, his attention drawn to something behind Darian. Furrowing his brows, he flung him to the cold stone floor. Darian coughed, gulping air greedily.
"We're not done yet." With that, Nome walked away, waving his cloak.
"And this is the man I promised to hand over the throne to," Darian rubbed his throat painfully. He glanced up and spotted Jason at the far end of the corridor, unsheathing his sword. The head of the Guard shoved the blade back into its scabbard and approached the king. "Thank you, Jason. Once again, I find myself indebted to you."
"I told you he's irritated," said Jason, helping Darian to get on his feet. "Should I take any action?"
"No, he'll notice any surveillance, and it'll only make things worse. I'll handle it myself."
Darian wasn't as big as Nome or Inglud, but that had its advantages. He rubbed his throat and quickly followed the bulky man, leaving Jason behind. "Go back to your duties."
Soon enough, he found himself outside Nymira's chambers. "Of course, he would come here." Nome slammed the door behind him; there were no guards. Darian approached, listening.
"Is it true?" Nome's deep voice resonated.
"True, what? Can't you see I'm nursing and trying to get Tartuff to sleep? You can't just barge in like this, dear," Darian caught a glimpse of his mother's soft voice.
"Answer my question. Did you really allow him to put a child inside you? That feeble excuse for a Serpent-Slayer. Father considered him the weakest among us for a reason."
"Choose your words, dear. Sometimes you sound so much like Lokir. He is still your brother. To answer your question, no, I didn't let him do 'it'. What kind of mother would I be if my own son impregnated me?"
