Lumi had a hard time imagining being married like so many other people with normal lives, and it was even harder when he gazed at himself. His stomach had gone down a little, but it wasn’t anywhere near flat like before, and the skin was loose. Red marks were on his side and belly. He even had a couple on the sides of his swollen pecs, and his nipples had darkened.
He’d gotten used to the long scar down his torso, and it bothered him again. Jaki already knew it was there, but he didn’t have the same tight, mostly smooth skin and body like last year.
He hadn’t seen Lumi naked or much of his body at all in days since taking him away. What if he thought the initial look right after birth was already better? Lumi’s trousers and loose shirts hid his belly. Maybe Jaki was imagining he’d be getting a husband whose skin was tight and firm once more.
Lumi had no idea how or when that happened. He’d never seen a woman or an abundant male naked after giving birth. How long would his stomach look puffy with the stretched skin? Were the marks going to go away soon? What was Jaki going to think if Lumi undressed in front of him? It might take months for him to look more normal.
One of his pecs leaked milk as he stared at himself in disgust.
Chapter Twenty
Father didn’t want to see the Crown, and he seemed a bit doubtful about the whole idea, but he said he trusted Jaki and Lumi’s idea. The court was already talking about the poem in the Temple. If anyone guessed the meaning, they didn’t say so, and Jaki didn’t want to reveal to everyone right then that he’d taken the Crown.
Elswere had also taken Jaki’s advice about sending the court home. Due to snow and distance, not everyone could simply leave right away, but soon enough, they’d all be gone. Jaki was in his Father’s rooms a couple of mornings later when someone knocked.
It was Lord Smith. After the pleasantries, he spoke. “I heard you were going somewhere. Someone’s making preparations.”
“I’m going to pray at Rinder’s tomb.”
Lord Smith squinted. “Why would you pray to Rinder?”
“No, I’ll be praying to Elira at his tomb. When I return, we’ll be going to war with West Iceland. Considering the state of things, it seems fitting to go to the first King’s tomb. I doubt he expected his Kingdom to one day fall this low. Neither did the Goddess.”
“Ah. I see. I doubt anyone ever imagined this. I heard the High Mage was going with you.”
“He’s just to witness it so no one can say I messed with anything inside.”
“You could pray at the Temple.”
“I’m not the first who’s felt the need to go there.”
“True. May I sit?”
Elswere gestured. “Go ahead.”
Lord Smith sank into an armchair by Jaki’s. “I wanted to ask you something. I know I’ve already been leeching from your home for food and wine, but I have an issue. I have no wife or family back home. With the state of things, I didn’t bother looking for a spouse.”
“You’re not the only one,” said Elswere.
“I have a few servants who keep the place clean, and they’ve been there for a very long time. Despite the cost, I’ve been ordering food from elsewhere for them. Last time I wrote, just to check on things, one of the servants had a baby. I don’t think she and her husband were intending to, and that’s probably why she didn’t mention being with child before. Anyway, it happened, so…I can’t put them out to starve. She’s still recovering too.”
Jaki could see where things were going.
“The food I order for them is as cheap as I can get to stretch my money. There’s not much coming in for rents and taxes in my holding. The price of food is too dear, and several farmers gave up entirely a few years ago. The last shipment to my home was stolen, and they’ll be living off beans until another comes. I was wondering if I could have a little of your stores here to bring to my servants. It’ll be a while before I can get anything else. The distance…”
“Of course,” said Elswere. “With the court going, we’ve got enough lentils, porridge, and ingredients for horsebread to feed us and the remaining servants. Take some.”
“Aren’t you glad that’s what we order and eat now?” asked Jaki.
Elswere grumbled. Lentils certainly weren’t his favorite food. “Take what you need for your servants and yourself, of course.”
“Thank you,” said Lord Smith. “I’ve already sent a note ahead to muster the fighting men. We’ll meet you at Venter.”
Elswere nodded. “You’ll be under Jaki, and he’s got his head on straight despite being young.”
“You’re fighting?” Lord Smith glanced at Jaki.
“Of course.”
