Page 11 of Dark Shaman: The Lost Treasure (The Children Of The Gods #98)

AREANA

A reana watched Navuh slice into his perfectly prepared lamb, noting the relaxed set of his shoulders and the absence of the perpetual furrow between his brows. Such moments of peace were rare enough to be treasured, even if they were as fleeting as morning dew in the desert.

"The wine is excellent," she said, lifting her glass to admire the deep burgundy color. "From the new shipment?"

"You spoil me." She smiled.

"It is my pleasure to do so."

It was, but only on his terms.

Areana took a sip, letting the complex flavors bloom on her tongue. After five thousand years, few pleasures remained that could truly surprise her palate, but Navuh's dedication to acquiring the finest of everything for her occasionally yielded gems like this.

"Speaking of acquisitions," she said, setting down her glass, "I wanted to discuss something with you."

His hand paused halfway to his wine glass. "Oh?"

The single syllable carried a weight of suspicion that would have silenced most people, but Areana had not survived five millennia as Navuh's mate by being easily cowed.

She had mastered the art of navigating his moods, like a caravan leader deciphering wind patterns.

She knew when to adjust her course, when to capitalize on the prevailing winds, and when to patiently endure the storm until it subsided.

"There is a new resident in the harem." She cut a delicate piece of asparagus. "Well, not really new since he has been there for the past eighteen months, but he is relatively new. His name is Elias."

Navuh's shoulders tensed, the moment of peace evaporating like smoke. "What about him?"

"You should permit him to interact with the ladies." She kept her tone light, conversational.

"No." The word came out sharp and final. "He does not look enough like me to be allowed to father their children. How do you even know of him? His instructions were to stay away from you and my concubines, like all others who do not bear any resemblance to me. "

Areana smiled, the expression both gentle and knowing. "My darling, you should know by now that nothing happens in the harem without my knowledge. I know everything that goes on within these walls."

"Apparently." His dark eyes narrowed. "But as you mentioned, he has been in the harem for eighteen months already, and he has only now come to your attention. How did that happen?"

"Elias has been treating the human staff with his herbal remedies, so of course, the rumors about him spread.

He's quite skilled, from what I understand.

The servants call him their shaman." She paused to take another sip of wine.

"Which brings me to another related matter—we desperately need a proper physician for the clinic.

Sonja and Mariam are expecting, and we don't even have a midwife.

I can probably manage, but I would prefer to have a qualified medical professional on hand for when their time comes. "

She knew she was sealing some poor physician's fate by asking, but there was really no way around it.

"I'll arrange for someone to be brought in," Navuh said. "But that doesn't explain how you became interested in Elias and why you want him mingling with the concubines."

"Tony mentioned him," Areana said. "The ladies were intrigued by someone whom the staff refer to as a shaman.

They crave someone new and exciting who can actually engage them in conversation and alleviate their boredom.

No offense, but the males you bring for them to play with are not intellectually compatible with ladies who have lived for over five thousand years and used that time to acquire the knowledge of several scholars.

Good-looking lovers are just not enough to satisfy them. "

"They have Tony for conversation," Navuh pointed out.

Areana laughed. "Tula has claimed Tony entirely for herself, and she's not sharing him."

"Then I'll bring in more men." Navuh's jaw set stubbornly. "Men who resemble me and can carry on an intelligent conversation."

"Right." Areana put down her wine. "That is going to be extremely difficult, my love, since you are one of a kind and no other flesh and blood male can resemble you both in looks and brains."

That got him to smile. "I agree. So, what is the solution?"

"Perhaps it is time we reconsidered that particular requirement. Especially nowadays, when genetic testing can prove and disprove paternity with ease, having sons who look like you is much less relevant."

His expression darkened dangerously. "On the contrary. It makes it even more important. The children born in this harem must be believable as mine, or such tests will be brought up. We can't have that."

"My love," she said gently, "you could always say the boys take after their mothers. You've done it before when the resemblance was marginal."

"Elias looks too European even though he's not," Navuh said. "I believe he's Armenian."

Areana sighed. "You have been complaining about the ladies not conceiving lately. When was the last child born to any of them? Fifteen years ago?"

He nodded. "Eighteen. I'm suspecting that they are using contraceptives against my explicit wishes."

"The Fates decide who conceives and when, my darling.

But perhaps in order to conceive, the ladies require genuine passion, real excitement, something to stir hearts that have grown weary with five thousand years of sameness.

" She looked into his eyes. "Immortal conception is different from that of humans.

Ovulation happens on demand when the female's body recognizes a compatible male.

Maybe all these handsome simpletons are simply not enough? "

"Are you saying the men I provide are inadequate?"

She heard the dangerous edge in his voice but pressed on.

"I'm saying that variety is the spice of life, especially for females who have lived as long as we have.

You are gorgeous, my darling, and any male who resembles you is blessed with good fortune.

But even the finest wine grows tiresome if it's all one ever drinks. "

His eyes blazed as he reached for her hand. "Are you getting bored with me?"

She gasped. "Never! We are truelove mates. You are the only one I will ever want."

Navuh deflated and pushed his plate away, his appetite apparently gone. "Elias is not particularly handsome, and I don't find him particularly knowledgeable either. He has good instincts, which is why I keep him."

That was something she wanted to find out more about, but now was not the time to annoy Navuh with questions.

Areana leaned back in her chair, taking her wine glass with her. "They might discover that Elias is no more interesting than the other males you made available for their use, but sometimes just the excitement of something new and different might have a positive impact."

He narrowed his eyes at her. "You seem to have given this considerable thought."

The suspicion in his voice made her tread carefully.

"I think of little else but the well-being of those under my care.

The ladies grow listless, going through the motions of their daily routines without true engagement, and they grow reckless in an effort to find stimulation.

Take Rolenna's glassmaking experiments for example. I fear for her safety."

"Why do you think one unremarkable male who calls himself a shaman will change that?"

"I do not expect him to perform miracles. But if even one of the ladies finds renewed passion with him and conceives a son, it is worth the small concession."

Navuh was quiet for a long moment, his fingers drumming against the table. She waited, having learned that patience was often her strongest weapon in these negotiations.

"Fine," he said at last. "I'll speak with Elias."

"Thank you." She kept her triumph from showing on her face.

"Don't look so pleased with yourself," he said, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice now. "I know you too well, my dear. This isn't just about providing variety for the concubines."

"Oh?" She affected innocence. "What else could it be about?"

"You're bored as well, and you are looking for excitement even if it is to witness one of the ladies flourish with a new male."

She couldn't deny it, so she didn't try. "Perhaps we all need something new to get our blood pumping. Even you seem to find Elias interesting enough to keep him on hand."

His expression shuttered immediately. "That's different."

"Is it?" She topped off both their wine glasses. "What does a shaman do for the great Lord Navuh? Brew headache remedies? Create soothing teas for stress? You have no need for any of that."

"He's useful in other ways," Navuh said. "That's all you need to know."

"Come now," she coaxed. "We've been together five millennia. Surely you can tell me why you keep him around."

Navuh was silent for so long that she thought he wouldn't answer.

Finally, he said, "He is intelligent, and he has a good strategic mind.

What I find the most useful, though, is that he is completely removed from the Brotherhood's operations.

Sometimes, an outside perspective is valuable.

Elias doesn't know the various participants and he doesn't have any direct involvement in any of our activities.

I can present scenarios to him hypothetically, and he provides insights unclouded by politics or personal interest."

It was plausible, but Areana knew her mate too well to believe it was the complete truth. There was something else, something he was deliberately keeping from her. But she knew better than to push him to reveal more.

"That is very wise," she said instead. "He is a neutral sounding board, and that can be valuable."

One of the fundamental truths of their relationship was that they did not share everything with one another.

They were bound by love and fate, but their goals were not the same.

She worked to minimize the damage his ambitions caused, while he worked to expand his power regardless of the cost. It was a dance they'd perfected over the millennia, neither able to change the other, but willing to coexist because they had love and devotion despite it all.

"When will you speak with Elias?"

"Tomorrow," he said.

"Wonderful." She raised her glass. "To new possibilities and at least one more son."

He moved around the table to her, one hand coming up to cup her cheek. For a moment, his thumb traced the line of her cheekbone with surprising gentleness. "You know I can deny you nothing."

"I know you tell yourself that," she said softly. "Even as you deny me the things that matter most."

His hand dropped away. "Areana?—"

"Navuh."

He kissed her forehead, a gesture both tender and dismissive, and left without another word. She stood alone in the candlelight, surrounded by the remains of another meal that had ended too soon.

Five thousand years, and still they danced around each other, never quite meeting in the middle.

He kept his secrets, and she kept hers.